Avocados

Did you know that avocados are one of the healthiest things to eat on the planet?

It has been known for having tons of fat. However, what people don't know, is that it's actually has the healthy fats that keep your body nourished. Avocados are actually my new obsession and since avocados are so good for you, I decided to create a recipe that combines them in one of my other favorite things to eat.....BROWNIES!

Fudgy Avocado Brownies

Ingredients
1 small avocado
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp ground flax
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tsp organic dark roasted coffee or instant
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions:

*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. .

*In a large bowl, mash the avocado using a fork.

*Using a hand mixer, blend the avocado until smooth.

* Add the brown sugar, maple syrup, oil, flax, vanilla, and coffee (mix until smooth).

*In a medium sized bowl, mix together the spelt flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

*Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix on low or stir by hand until just mixed.

*Stir in chocolate chips.

*Add the mixture into a non stick baking pan (8x8 is what I used).

*Dip your spatula in cold water and smooth out

*Once smooth, bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

*Let cool.

*Enjoy

Serves 16

Nutrition Information
Calories 155.8 Total Fat 5.2 g Saturated Fat 1.4 g Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6 g Monounsaturated Fat 2.8 g Cholesterol 0.8 mg Sodium 9.6 mg Potassium 178.2 mg Total Carbohydrate 33.3 g Dietary Fiber 3.2 g Sugars 20.8 g Protein 2.8 g

World's Best Banana Bread

Banana Bread

*Ingredients*
2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup brown sugar

3-4 ripe bananas

2 eggs (or 2 flax eggs)

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt
*Directions*

*Preheat oven at 350 degrees

*Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl

*In an separate bowl, mash bananas with a fork until all lumps are gone -then mix wet ingredients together

*Combine both dry and wet ingredients, mix together thoroughly

*Pour batter into an 8x8 non-stick baking pan

*Bake at 350 degrees for about 60-75 minutes

Enjoy!
 

On hiatus!

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since I last posted because my camera broke. I'm so bummed because I can't take any pictures of the things I have been cooking lately =(. However, I determined to go to Best Buy this weekend and purchase a new camera. So, I will be posting again very soon!

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are making you fat!

I stumbled upon this article the other day about endocrine disrupting chemicals (a.k.a obesogens)! It’s a chemical found in almost everything we eat. It may be the cause of why your not loosing the extra few pounds you have been trying to lose lately. Not to mention, the other adverse health effects it causes. I highly recommend you guys read it!


Check it out!

The future potato chips

Kale Chips

I was skeptical to try these at first because they don't look anything like a potato chip, but don't let them fool you! Not only are they healthy, they actually taste just like a potato chip. They are also super inexpensive and easy to make. Give them a try!

Ingredients
*1 bunch kale
*1 tbsp olive oil
*1 tsp seasoned salt

Directions
1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees.

2. Using a knife-carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces.

3.Wash and dry kale.

4. Once thourougly dried, place kale onto a cookie sheet then drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt onto the kale.

4.Bake for about 10 -15 minutes (until the ends are slightly browned).

Wild Alaska Salmon

I was at Publix the other day and noticed they had wild Alaska salmon on sale and figured I would give it a try since we love salmon. All I can say is WOW, it blows any other fish away and taste so different from the salmon we usually eat! It has a vibrant redish color, meaty taste, and is just so juicy! It is seriously is the best tasting fish I have ever had and it’s on sale for only $9.99 per lb at Publix (usually $18 per lb). It is only in season once a year, so I definitely recommend you guys give it a try soon!

*Not only does it taste good, it’s also a power food! Here are some health benefits of eating wild Alaska salmon.

• It is full of natural vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that will help you stay healthy.  
• Rich in omega-3 fatty acids  
• High in antioxidants
• High quality protein 
• Easy and safe to digest for all ages  
• Contains no detectable mercury  
• A 6-ounce serving contains 2.15 grams of omega-3 fatty acids and 47.7 grams of protein.
• Protects heart health
• Reduces risk of sudden death from heart disease
• Reduces heart disease risk in people with type 2 diabetes
• Essential in pregnancy and healthy infant development  
• May reduce severity and pain of symptoms of crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, asthma
•  May Reduce the risk of certain cancers, particularly breast cancer
• May help reduce the severity or development of nephritis, migraine, alzheimer's disease and type 1 diabetes
• May reduce the severity of psychological disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder

Budgeting 101

As most of you know, Dan and I are newlyweds and at the moment money is very tight for us. Instead of dwelling on the negative and wishing for more, I am actually very thankful for what we have and try to make the most out of our situation. I have learned to budget every way we can. This was extremely difficult at first for me because I grew up getting things I wanted without ever worrying about the price. Now, I  look at budgeting as a game and actually enjoy saving money.  I am really shocked at how much moeny I wasted when I was younger!

Here are a few money saving tips.

1. Clip Coupons!!!! Sundays are one of my favorite days of the week! Why, you ask?? Because of the Sunday newspaper and all the coupons inside! I honestly get so excited to start clipping away when the paper comes! The Internet is also a great resource to find printable coupons. Check out these website: wow-coupons.com or slickdeals.net. Remember if you print your coupons, try and print them all on one page to not waste any paper. Remember we are trying to save both our greens!!!!

2. Shop around- Unless you need something that very moment, try not to buy it unless it's on sale! For example, I can go to the Publix by myself and buy a week's worth of groceries for under $20!  However, when I go with Dan I end up spending $50 for the same amount of groceries because he picks things without thinking about them going on sale. I try to only buy things on sale or knowing I can't find it for a lower price. I know it sounds tedious, but when you find BOGO's at Publix and use coupons together you end up spending close to nothing! The money you end up saving  really can add up!!

3. Stop impulsive shopping!!! I use to be that girl who would buy things impulsively and then it would sit in my closet for months! Now when I shop I think to myself "do I NEED it or do I WANT it?".....if I don't NEED it, I don't buy it!

*Another tip*
 If you end up purchasing it try and hold on to the receipt because it may go on sale a few days later and many stores, such as Macy's and Target do price adjustments!

4. Set a budget! Before you go shopping, say to yourself "I am only going to spend "X" amount". If it was pretty easy for you to get by on that amount, try and challenge yourself next time by setting a lower amount. You will end up saving a lot this way!

5 Date night doesn't always have to be expensive! Here are some inexpnsive things to do.

1.Have a picnic at the park. The only thing you have to pay for is the food you pack and you can make them yourself!
2. Instead of going to the movies, rent a movie from a Blockbuster Express or Redbox machine. They only charge you $1 a night and they are at most Publix's so they are very convenient to drop off.
3. Cook a romantic dinner. Cooking not only saves you money, but it's also healthier for you too!
4. Have a game night! Invite a bunch of friends over and play some board games!
5. Go to the beach! Make sure to put on some SPF if it's in the day time!!!

*Remember there is an expression "A person can never get rich, if all they do is spend"

What are some ways you save???

Bananas going bad?

What do you do when you have a bunch of overly ripe bananas spoiling in your kitchen?

Bake of course!

This morning I noticed all of my bananas were going bad, but I didn‘t want to throw them away! I figured I would get a little creative and combine some other things we already had in the house to make a yummy and nutritional breakfast. I ending up with these delicious and healthy cinnamon banana muffins. They came out great!

Here is the recipe, I hope you guys like them!

Banana Cinnamon Spice Muffins

Ingredients

*3 Ripe bananas

*1 cup of organic whole wheat flour

*1 individual serving of applesauce (4 oz)

*1 cup organic brown sugar

*¼ cup organic raw sugar

*1 tbls grounded cinnamon

*1 tsp grounded ginger

*1 tsp of baking soda

Directions

1.Preheat oven at 360 degrees.

2.Spray muffin pan with cooking spray.

3. In a bowl mash bananas with a fork-then add sugar and applesauce (mix together).

4.Then add in all the dry ingredients and mix everything evenly.

5. Using a spoon, place batter into the muffin spots- about ¾ full.

6.Bake for about 20 minutes.

7. Enjoy!

*Makes about 16 muffins

Free digital copy of "The Going Greener Guidebook"

I just received an email this morning about obtaining a free digital copy of "The Going Greener Guidebook". It is a very useful guide that provides ways we can save money and our environment.

Check it out: The Going Greener Guidebook

Yogurt, it is what’s for breakfast!

I just began eating yogurt. As a child, I never cared for dairy products because I was lactose intolerant. I actually only drank soy milk for most of my life. As I grew older, people started telling me to start adding more dairy products to my diet to help protect my bones as I age. I tried different types of yogurt and never found any that I was crazy about. Then I had a parfait at Panera Bread and found them to be amazing (despite paying $5)! I asked the cashier what kind of yogurt they used and she replied “Stoneyfield's Organic French Vanilla”....I figured I could buy the yogurt myself and make my own parfaits.
***** -

****I ended up purchasing a bunch of the individual size yogurts at whole foods for only .50 cents and used some organic raspberries + organic vanilla granola. It came out just as good and was a fraction of the price.

Why should you start eating yogurt?

                                                                                                          Here are just some of the benefits:

1. It’s a very good source of calcium.

2. It boost our immune system.

3. Studies have shown that eating yogurt with live cultures actually can keep you leaving longer.

4. It can maintain your current weight and even help loose excess weight.

5. It contains over 10 essential nutrients that our bodies need such as vitamin B2, vitamin B5, vitamin B12, zinc, protein, and potassium.

6. It lowers our LDL cholesterol (the bad type) and raises our HDL cholesterol (the good type)

7. It can lower body fat.

8. Helps prevent and heal arthritis.

8. It can boost the bodies ability to build strong bones (especially beneficial for females).

9. It can prevent developing an ulcer.

10. It can create better smelling breath from eliminating tongue bacteria and plaque.

Celebrities are eating clean too!

Apparently, celebrities are also fond of the eating clean lifestyle. I was reading OK magazine and found out that Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, and Nicole Kidman are all eating clean. Jessica Alba and Ashlee Simpson also started eating clean to drop all of their pregnancy weight within weeks! Eating clean is definitely becoming more and more popular and seems to be the best approach to a healthy  lifestyle! Even Jennifer Aniston claimed to lose 7 lbs in just 7 days when she started eating clean.

*I know 7lbs in 7 days sounds extreme, but it’s because the first week detoxes your body from all the garbage you have been eating. During that time your body decides what you need to flush out, mostly sodium and toxins that you have stored. After just 1 week, you will already feel a world of a difference!

Tasty Tuesdays!

I just love Tuesdays! Tuesday is the day that my hubby get's out of work early and we get to spend some quality time together. Today is also my Grandpa's birthday. I figured since I just love Tuesday's, I wanted to start a routine and have a tasty recipe on my BLOG every Tuesday. I know I haven't posted too many recipes on here, so I figured  this would be a great opportunity to add more. Hope you all enjoy this one!

Seasoned Fries



Ingredients
1 lb Baking potatoes
2 tsp EVOO
1 tsp Fresh Parsley
¼ tsp Sea salt
¼ tsp Freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp Dried thyme
½ tsp Dried rosemary

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 425 °F.
2.Spray cooking spray on a baking sheet.
3.Cut each potato in ½ crosswise. Place the halves cut side down on the cutting board and cut each into 4 wedges. Then place cut potatoes on the baking sheet.
4.In a bowl mix the oil and seasonings together. Pour over the potato wedges and toss to mix well. Spread the potatoes out on the sheet.
5.Bake (turning about 2 times) until tender and lightly browned for 30-35 minutes.
6.Enjoy!

Happy Monday!

Today was a great girls day of shopping! My good friend Andrea and I decided to go to Ikea and  check out what neat gadgets they have for the kitchen. I can't believe how cheap they are! I bought myself an awesome metal food grater for only .59 cents!!! How cheap is that? I also had no idea that they were planet friendly. They have gone green and placed recycling bins all over the store, it's awesome! They also ask when you are checking out if you would like to donate a $1 to plant a tree, go Ikea!!!!!  I ended up buying some other cool kitchen gadgets, energy saving light bulbs, and some amazing scented candles. I only spent a total of $7!

Ikea is definitely a great place that supports saving both greens!!!!

After a great day of shopping we decided to grab a bite to eat at Moe's. WELCOME TO MOE'S...haha, I just love Moe's!!!! Since it's Monday, they have a special where you can get any burrito combo for just $5.99. I tried their new whole grain burrito with tofu, rice, beans, veggies, and salsa, it was amazing! While we were eating, Andrea asked me if I had any good cookie recipe's. Once I got home, Andrea got me in the mood to cook up some yummy and healthy peanut butter cookies. They are great tasting and the best thing is, they are clean and only require 3 ingredients!

Easy peasy flourless peanut butter cookies

Ingredients

1 cup organic peanut butter

1 cup organic sugar

1 egg (if vegan-you can make a flax egg by adding 1 Tbls ground flax + 2 Tbls water)

 
Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F 
2.Combine ingredients and drop by teaspoonfuls on cookie sheet.
3.Bake for 8 minutes.

4.Let cool.
5. Enjoy!

 
* Feel free to double the recipe if you want to make a larger batch.

Try this recipe for yourself and let me know what you think.

Naples Getaway!

Sorry, I haven’t posted since Friday. Dan and I actually went on a relaxing mini vacation to Naples, FL for his mom’s birthday. Naples is absolutely gorgeous and for those of you who have never been there, I definitely recommend checking it out! We stayed at a gorgeous beach resort that overlooked the breathtaking view of the ocean. I was a little apprehensive to actually go into the ocean because of the oil spills. However, the water was crystal clear with no sight of any oil to be found.

We also did some shopping and found this really cute skin store that sells all natural and organic soaps. I bought soap made from the Dead Sea's salt. They say it’s suppose to be amazing on your skin. Let’s hope so because I got really badly sun burned =(.

One With Nature Dead Sea Mineral Soap, Dead Sea Salt, 7-Ounces 

 

Organic pink lady apples= BEST APPLE EVER!!!!!!

I tried my first pink lady apple yesterday and have to say it's on a whole another level of taste than any other apple I have ever eaten! It's super sweet, really juicy, and it's also pink (my favorite color). -
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The nutrition is great too. In 1 medium apple there is only 70 calories and 4 grams of fiber!

*Let's just hope the saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is true because at this rate I will never have to go =).
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Top 12 Dirtiest Fruits and Vegetables!

Okay, so we all know how expensive organic fruits and veggies are right? I certainly know I don‘t purchase all my produce organic because of the hefty price tag that comes with the organic label. I always wondered to myself which I “need” to purchase organic vs. “only if it is on sale", and if you did too here is our answer.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) performed a study on what are the 12 dirtiest fruits and veggies out there and here are their findings. They found the pesticide levels on these 12 items were strikingly high! Even if your not into spending the extra cash, you may want to spare a few extra bucks and be open to buying these items organic!

DIRTY DOZEN
1. Peaches

2. Apples

3. Sweet Bell Peppers

4. Celery

-

5. Nectarines

-

6. Strawberries

7. Cherries

8. Lettuce

9. Grapes

10. Pears

11. Spinach

12. Potatoes

*On the other hand they also found the top 12 cleanest fruits and veggies.

Cleanest 12

1. Onions

2. Avocado

3. Sweet Corn (frozen)

4. Pineapples

5. Mango

6. Sweet Peas (frozen)

7. Asparagus

8. Kiwi

9. Bananas

10. Cabbage

11. Broccoli

12. Eggplant

*A rule that I try to follow when purchasing produce is: if there is an outer layer that you don't eat (such as a banana or a pinapple) it doesn't have to be organic.

What fruits and vegetable do you HAVE to buy organic and why?

Make your own all natural toothpaste!

I decided to get a little crafty today and make an "all natural do it yourself toothpaste". It’s cheap, clean, plus not to mention works and taste great!

Try it for your self!

Ingredients needed:
*3 Tbls of baking soda

*2 Tbls of coconut oil
*1/2 of a small packet of stevia
*25 drops of peppermint oil

Instructions
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl using a fork. Then store in an airtight container

* Think green and use an empty food containers with a tight lid*

Miami Thrice!

Wow, I'm actually speechless! Lebron, Wade, and Bosh all signed onto the Miami Heat!!!! Can you say ultimate dream team???? Dan and I are super excited to see the Heat win another championship!!! Seriously, if they don't win it this year I will be really surprised!!!

*Blast from the past *

Here is a picture of Dan and I all dressed up to go to the heat game last season. Hopefully we will be able to get some tickets this year despite all the hype.

On another note, I visited two of my favorite places today...

First stop- Whole Foods

What did I buy and how much did I spend you ask?

*Stoneyfields organic yogurt (individuals)- .On sale for .50 cents each (x4)

*Santa Crus organic strawberry lemonade- On sale for $1 each (x2)

*Kashi chocolate & oatmeal cookies- On sale for $3.24+ Coupon= $2.24 each (x3)

*Silk pure almond milk- FREE (with the purchase of 3 boxes of kashi cookies)

*Organic 365 soy sauce- $2.69

*365 Panko bread crumbs- $1.99

*Almond Butter- $3.98

*365 Organic vegetable broth- $1.99

*Annie's organic mac-n-cheese- On sale for $1+ coupon= .50 cents

*KIND bars- On sale at .75 cents (x2)

*Organic pink lady apples- On sale for $1.99 lb -I got a little over 2 lbs for $4.46

*-.20 cents for bringing my own bags and saving trees =)

Total- Only $27. 63

Second Stop- Yogurtland..........soooooooooooo good!!!!!

What did I get and how much did I spend you ask?

I got a mixture of vanilla and ghiradelli chocolate yogurt with kit kats and yogurt chips on top. I know kit kats aren't exactly clean, but I am ok with that every now and then =).

I devoured the whole entire thing and it only cost $1.32, how cheap is that!!! They only charge.30 cents per ounce!!! I just love yogurtland....I can't wait to go back!!!!

What kind of toppings do you guys add on your yogurt?

How much daily protein does you body need?

I stumbled upon Kashi's website this evening and found a fun protein calculator. It gives you an estimate of how much protein your body needs to function normally per day. It's simple-all you need to do is enter your age, gender, height, weight, and activity level. I found out that I need 72 grams of protein and Dan needs a whopping 151 grams of protein daily because he's an athlete.

http://kashi.com/articles/protein_calculator

How much protein does you body need? Are you getting enough protein in your daily diet?