We use vanilla in several of our recipes. Real, organic, nothing-added vanilla is pricey. I started making my own! Gave it as Christmas gifts to our kids! (Gregory and Maria...forgot to ship yours to you, so it is being used here.)
What you need:
1 large bottle of organic vodka (Found mine at BevMo)
12 organic vanilla beans (Ordered from iHerb)
What you do:
Slice vanilla beans length-wise and open
Pour a bit of vodka from bottle and add the 12 vanilla beans
Place in pantry for one month, gently shaking bottle every now and then
Enjoy in all recipes that call for vanilla!
Sunday, December 28, 2014
Matcha Latcha
Ali and David live above this great little place in downtown Santa Barbara, Boochies. They make a great spiced Matcha tea latte there! We came up with our own matcha tea latte, and Ali and David call it Matcha Latcha. We have been drinking Matcha Latchas for our breakfast. The healthy fats are very satisfying and keep us going until lunch (or that's our story and we're sticking to it)!
What you need:
1 Tbs. butter (hopefully cultured, from grass fed cows)
2-3 Tbs. good quality coconut oil
Splash of organic vanilla
Sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
Pinch of sea salt
1 large pitted date
1 tsp. organic Matcha tea
What you do:
Combine all ingredients in large mug
Add boiling water to almost top of mug
Place in Vita-Mix and blend on high for about 20 seconds
Pour back into mug
Enjoy!
What you need:
1 Tbs. butter (hopefully cultured, from grass fed cows)
2-3 Tbs. good quality coconut oil
Splash of organic vanilla
Sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
Pinch of sea salt
1 large pitted date
1 tsp. organic Matcha tea
What you do:
Combine all ingredients in large mug
Add boiling water to almost top of mug
Place in Vita-Mix and blend on high for about 20 seconds
Pour back into mug
Enjoy!
Our Healthy Christmas Dinner
Friends ask us if we miss "traditional" Christmas dishes at our Christmas dinner. My answer is NO! This dinner was satisfying, healthy and delicious! The menu included a pear/pomegranate/avocado/arugula salad, slow cooked brisket, garlic/cauliflower mash, bacon/Brussels sprouts and roasted acorn squash.
For the Crock Pot brisket (recipe from Martha Stewart):
What you need:
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2-4 garlic cloves, smashed
3-4 lbs. beef brisket
Sea salt and pepper
1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth
What you do:
Place onion and garlic in Crock Pot
Season brisket with salt and pepper and place in Crock Pot
Add broth
Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours
Remove brisket and slice against grain
Serve with garlic cauliflower mash, the sliced onions and some of the liquid
For the bacon/Brussels sprouts (recipe from Nom Nom Paleo):
What you need:
1 1/2 lbs. Brussels sprouts
2-3 Tbs. melted ghee
Sea salt and pepper
4 slices bacon, diced
Aged balsamic vinegar
What you do:
Preheat oven to 400ยบ
Rinse, remove outer leaves and slice the Brussels sprouts in half
Toss Brussels sprouts in melted ghee, salt and pepper
Place on parchment lined baking sheet, single layer
Sprinkle with diced bacon
Place in oven
Toss every 10 to 15 minutes, until done at 30 to 35 minutes
Drizzle with aged balsamic vinegar
Enjoy!
For the Crock Pot brisket (recipe from Martha Stewart):
What you need:
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2-4 garlic cloves, smashed
3-4 lbs. beef brisket
Sea salt and pepper
1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken broth
What you do:
Place onion and garlic in Crock Pot
Season brisket with salt and pepper and place in Crock Pot
Add broth
Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours
Remove brisket and slice against grain
Serve with garlic cauliflower mash, the sliced onions and some of the liquid
For the bacon/Brussels sprouts (recipe from Nom Nom Paleo):
What you need:
1 1/2 lbs. Brussels sprouts
2-3 Tbs. melted ghee
Sea salt and pepper
4 slices bacon, diced
Aged balsamic vinegar
What you do:
Preheat oven to 400ยบ
Rinse, remove outer leaves and slice the Brussels sprouts in half
Toss Brussels sprouts in melted ghee, salt and pepper
Place on parchment lined baking sheet, single layer
Sprinkle with diced bacon
Place in oven
Toss every 10 to 15 minutes, until done at 30 to 35 minutes
Drizzle with aged balsamic vinegar
Enjoy!
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Garlic Caulifower Mash
This is a great alternative to mashed potatoes.
What you need:
1 head of organic cauliflower
4-8 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup bone broth or water
Sea salt
Pepper
LOTS of butter
What you do:
Clean and break apart cauliflower
Place in pot with garlic and broth
Cover and cook on medium/low heat until fork easily goes through cauliflower
Place in Vita-Mix, reserving some of the liquid
Add LOTS of butter (preferably organic, cultured butter from grass fed cows)
Add salt and pepper
Blend to desired consistency, adding some of the reserved liquid if needed
Enjoy!
What you need:
1 head of organic cauliflower
4-8 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup bone broth or water
Sea salt
Pepper
LOTS of butter
What you do:
Clean and break apart cauliflower
Place in pot with garlic and broth
Cover and cook on medium/low heat until fork easily goes through cauliflower
Place in Vita-Mix, reserving some of the liquid
Add LOTS of butter (preferably organic, cultured butter from grass fed cows)
Add salt and pepper
Blend to desired consistency, adding some of the reserved liquid if needed
Enjoy!
Friday, December 19, 2014
Cassi's Yummy Dressing
Yes, that is what we have always called this salad dressing since December, 2014! ;-) My sister, Lori, gave us this recipe many years ago. She just informed me that it was my niece, Cassi, who came up with this recipe. Thank you, sweet Cassi! Really, it makes any salad taste delicious!
What you need:
1 egg yolk (hopefully from a pastured chicken)
2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
3 to 5 drops Stevia
2 garlic cloves
1/2 apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup olive oil (NOT extra virgin)
What you do:
Place all ingredients except the extra virgin and regular olive oil in Vita-Mix
Blend
SLOWLY add the oil
Enjoy!
What you need:
1 egg yolk (hopefully from a pastured chicken)
2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
3 to 5 drops Stevia
2 garlic cloves
1/2 apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup olive oil (NOT extra virgin)
What you do:
Place all ingredients except the extra virgin and regular olive oil in Vita-Mix
Blend
SLOWLY add the oil
Enjoy!