by Michelle on March 14, 2010
Today I made my first “healthy” cookies from Healthfoodlover.com and they were actually quite delicious! It was definitely the quickest cookie recipe I’ve ever made, not to mention the most nutritious. The ingredients I used are listed below:
- 1 apple (peeled & pureed)
- 2 Tbsp organic butter
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup organic flour (I did not have any sprouted flour as used by Healthfoodlover)
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 egg
- 1/2 Tsp baking soda
- 1 Tsp Cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- Coconut oil (to grease the pan)
I mixed the butter and syrup together until creamy, and then stirred in the egg. I then added the apple, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Lastly, I stirred in the oats and then dropped spoonfuls onto the cookie sheet. I baked them at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes and served them warm.
by Michelle on March 11, 2010
You may remember back last fall when we noted that one of the tips to improving digestion was to thoroughly chew food (instead of swallowing it down as quick as possible). So not only is taking time to chew the important first step in the digestion process, but the speed of eating in general determines how your body will react to the food.
I came across the benefits of eating slowly reported in an article by naturalnews.com, which states that eating slowly can reduce caloric intake and therefore help to prevent obesity. In a study reported in the article, two groups of people ate the same type and amount of food, but one group ate it slowly, over a period of 30 minutes, and the other group ate it within 5 minutes.
As you might guess, the group that ate more slowly showed greater signs of the hormones that make us feel full. This satisfied full feeling helps prevent overeating, but does not occur in time when foods are eaten too quickly (thus overeating can much more easily occur). Another study even showed that people eating slowly consumed about 10% less in calories than those who ate quickly.
Unfortunately, with busy schedules and lifestyles that often involve consuming meals on the go, it is easy to forget to slow down, chew thoroughly, and simply enjoy food. If you’re looking for additional tips on how to eat more slowly, such as using smaller utensils and specifically setting aside time to eat, check out this link.
by Michelle on March 7, 2010
I’ve been making my own homemade croutons recently (and not just because I ran out of store-bought ones!). They are super easy, delicious, and you can custom-make them to your own personal taste. The best part is that you can use quality ingredients of your choice and avoid any preservatives (for example, the dangerous BHT) that you would find in store-bought croutons.
The Fannie Farmer Cookbook by Marion Cunningham is the source of this homemade baked crouton recipe and you only need two ingredients: bread and butter. I used fermented multi-grain bread from the local Little Rooster Bread Company and Organic Valley butter.
All you have to do is butter both sides of the bread (removing crusts if desired), and then cut the slices into small squares. Then bake at 350 degrees (turning as necessary a few times) until the croutons are lightly browned. This took only about 10 minutes in my toaster oven.
To make herb croutons, before slicing the bread, I sprinkled it with parsley, basil, thyme, bay leaves, and rosemary. You can use any herbs you like and adust the taste accordingly. If you would like to add a garlic taste to the croutons, simply add pressed garlic to the butter before spreading it on the bread.
by Michelle on March 1, 2010
Today’s recipe is quick and easy- perfect with breakfast (I pair mine with toast) or as refreshing summer beverage. I use only 3 ingredients- freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, and a small amount (about 1/4 cup) of frozen raspberries.
I start by juicing one grapefruit and then two oranges. I love the taste of grapefruit, but if it is too strong for you, try adding the juice of a third orange. I then add the frozen raspberries to the juices and give it all a good stir.
The raspberries are very sweet and are absolutely delicious as they blend with the orange and grapefruit juices. Since the raspberries are frozen (but thaw quickly), the juice is extra cold and refreshing. I hope you enjoy it!
