Gluten Free Trail Mix

So after working a double shift at my part time job I came home to a wonderful dinner made by my sweetie. Gorgeous pan cooked wild Keto salmon in coconut oil with a delightful topping of Dijon mustard, paired with lightly sautéed kale, quinoa, and baked sweet potatoes...so happy! 

I was in a rush to get home because we had plans to go to my friend, Crystal's house to play cards. The older I get the more things like invitations to card games, butterflies, and finding my favorite fair trade GF DF chocolate bar with a $0.50 coupon attached excites me...yes, the simple things. 

Anyway, all invited were asked to bring a snack to share. Since these days I can barely seem to keep it together (health counselor being way too honest), I scoured my pantry and fridge for something appropriate to throw nicely together. 

First I scooped a jar full of my homemade sauerkraut that I made a few days ago with my friend, Micah. I wasn't satisfied though. I wanted one more item to bring.

I then got a brainstorm...trail mix! It's easy to make, yummy, and most importantly I had just what needed.

Thought I would share with all of you what I'll be sharing at the card game. Hope you will try it! So this was not measured at all, I simply went by what I saw and looked good.

Ingredients:

Raw sprouted pumpkin seeds

Unsweetened coconut flakes

Raw pecans

Raisins (Even though I don't like them; I'd prefer goji berries, but I'm all out of them)

Equal Exchange Dark Chocolate chips

1 Broken up organic rice cake

Raw almonds

1 1/2 turns of Himalayan Sea Salt 

Tell me if you make this trail mix for your family. I guarantee your kids will love it! 

Helping you to be a good steward of your health!~Marie A. Ligorria 

5 Things To Do With Quinoa (4)

During the "wintery" weather I love nothing more than a wonderful, healing, steamy bowl of soup. Soup when made at home is so very nourishing, economical, and can feed a family for several days. Include lots of local, seasonal veggies, organic herbs and spices, and be sure to use homemade bone stock for all of health benefits.

Soup is really versatile. If you are following a recipe, don't get locked in to ingredients. Explore your kitchen, use what you have, and play. Try a variety of of different flavors together, you may create a masterpiece in a pot. Don't skimp on the flavor with spices either, be generous. Do be careful if you like a little kick in your soup though. Keep in mind spices like cayenne travel far a wide in soup. In that case, a little goes a long way.

A "SOUPER" addition to soup is quinoa. Instead of chicken and rice, do chicken and quinoa or instead of noodles in your mom's minestrone recipe, swap it out for protein rich, gluten free, delicious quinoa! Really you can add it to any soup you like. It creates a really nice body in the soup as well. If you have any leftovers in the fridge, toss it in there. You will enjoy it!

Quinoa,Tomato, & Zucchini Soup Recipe

4 Cups Homemade Organic Chicken or Veggie Stock
1 1/2 Cans of Native Forest Whole Coconut Milk
1 1/2 Jars Bionutrae Organic Strained Tomatoes
4 Zucchini, chopped with skin on
1 Medium Red Onion, chopped
3 Fresh Garlic Cloves, minced
 2-3 Tbsp Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Dried Organic Basil (Please feel free to use fresh if you have it, about 1/4 cup chopped)
1 Tsp Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt
1 Tsp Organic Garlic Granules/Powder
1/4 Fresh Ground Organic Black Pepper
3 Cups Cooked Organic Quinoa

Directions:

 In a large pot saute the zucchini, onion, and garlic in coconut oil.
Once soft, add stock, coconut milk, and tomatoes.
Add the spices and quinoa.
Simmer on low to medium for 30 minutes.
Serve with salad & enjoy! (Truth be told, if you do dairy, this soup screams for a grilled cheese. Try paleo bread with goat cheese and a little fresh spinach...lovely!)

Eating Healthy On The Go

So I'm a single homeschooling mom, I'm running a health counseling business, I'm making and selling body care, plus I work  part time at a small health food store. I think it's fair to say that I'm busy. 

I love my life and all that I'm doing. It sure takes a lot of healthy fuel to keep me going though. In order to go at this hectic pace, I also need to make time to slow down. Guess what...I have great energy, but I'm not super woman. I need to rest and so do you. I really try to get in bed by no later than 9-9:30pm. I don't always succeed, but I'm mostly consistent. I'm an early riser, and true sleep is important.

I often wish I had two of me and that there were two extra hours stuck in the morning somewhere, but that's not the case. Getting good rest makes a huge difference. Guard your sleep time.

So back to the fuel, you might ask, what are you eating? The answer is I'm eating as simply as possible. I thought I'd give you a list of foods to have prepared or just ready produce so you can just grab them or foods easily warmed.

Foods to Prepare

Cook 2-3 cups of brown rice each week to use for just sides, to throw in soups, and to make veggie patties.

Make 2-3 cups of quinoa to have on hand to throw in salads or soups, for veggies patties, or bars.

Soak and cook 2 cups beans and legumes, alternate kinds each week to use for different dishes, throw them in salad, soup, tacos, or purée them for homemade refried beans. They are inexpensive and full of fiber.

Take the time 1-2 times a month to keep homemade organic chicken stock in the fridge. Really the nutritional benefits are immense, and you can make a quick soup if it's ready as well as cook veggies or grains in it. Then use the chicken meat...won't use it all in one week? Freeze some and take it out later.

Bake 6-8 sweet potatoes weekly. You would believe how these come in handy! They are awesome just to grab to warm up at work and eat. You can also mash the flesh though for various recipes. Leave a few unbaked too for roasting or sautéing.

Hard boil around 8-10 eggs and you will have a portable meal. There is super nutrition in farm fresh free range eggs. 

Prepare a pot of soup each week in the winter. Soup is wonderfully portable in a thermos. 

Having muffins and breakfast bars made and keeping them in the freezer is huge! Find a recipe you like and be diligent to make it. Make the toaster oven your friend with these.

Homemade trail mix is awesome. I keep washable snack bags available to fill with my own variety of trail mix.

Produce I Keep Around

Slice up organic carrots. If they are ready you can just eat them as is, roast or sauté them, throw into soup, or lightly steam them. Kids love carrots!

Chop up a head of broccoli and keep it ready. No time to make a salad? Grab some broccoli and home dressing, toss it in a mason jar along with a hard boiled egg-score! This makes for easy steaming too.

Chopped kale is a life saver. I get mine at the farmers market, 3 big bags for $5. It's not pre-chopped, of course I have to do it, but this superfood is worth it. Throw it in smoothies, soups, veggie patties, sautes, and of course salads. 

Grab a ripe avocado and a spoon as you run out the door! Seriously, it's full of healthy fat, fiber, and protein; the things are perfect. 

Organic apples are wonderful for snacking and chopping up for salads.

Always have plenty of onions, green onions, and garlic cloves around. They don't cost much and add tremendous flavor.

Prepared Foods/Condiments I Like To Have On Hand

Trader Joes or Kirkland Brand Organic Peanut Butter

Raw Almond Butter

Sunflower Seed Butter

Ziyad Tahini

Organic Maple Syrup

Coconut Sugar

Himalayan and Celtic Salts

Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos

Coconut Secret Coconut Nectar

Y & S Raw Honey

Local Raw Unfiltered Honey

Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar

Bionutrae Organic Strained Tomatoes

Jar or Two of 365 or Eden

Organic Apple Sauce

Native Forest Whole Canned Organic Coconut Milk

Spices: Ground Organic Garlic, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Ginger, Chili, Cardamom

Dried Herbs: Organic Black Pepper, Basil, Oregano, Dill, Rosemary, Minced Onion, Parsley

Nuts/Seeds/Dried Foods

Raw Cashews

Raw Almonds

Raw Sesame Seeds

Raw Pecans

Raw Walnuts

Raw Pumpkin Seeds

Medjool Dates

Raisins

Hempseeds

Flaxseeds

Chia Seeds

Sulfur-free Sundried Tomatoes Not In Oil

Quinoa

Brown Rice

Organic Brown Rice Pasta

Goji Berries

Shredded Organic Unsweetened Coconut (Flakes too)

Almond Meal

Cashew Meal

So there is a peek into my pantry and refrigerator. I hope the prepared food ideas were helpful. Be healthy, be blessed, be a good steward!