Honey Ginger Cream Soda

I took one of those online quizzes a friend had posted on Facebook. Supposedly, it would tell me my secret obsession and all I had to do was pick pictures. Simple, right? I just knew, like most of the online quizzes it would be way off. You'll never guess what my secret (not so secret) obsession is. My results concluded that my secret obsession is food! Not, as I might have hoped, love or faith or even nature.

The truth is, those who know me well know how I love food. As a normally reserved, quiet soul I can talk all day about food!

Today I want to share my own latest concoction. If you like ginger you will love it. My ginger loving friends all agree, it's a tasty, satisfying drink.

Ginger is not only tasty, it's got a long list of health benefits

Honey Ginger Cream Soda

About 1 1/2 inch piece of fresh ginger,

 pealed and chopped

1 cup coconut milk (or half and half)

1 tablespoon honey

club soda or sparkling water

ice

Place the first three ingredients in a blender (I like the Magic Bullet for this) and blend until good and smooth, about 2 minutes.

Pour through a fine strainer. Put 1/4 cup in a tall glass, add ice and carefully top with the club soda, as it will foam up. Makes about 4 servings.

Adjust the amount of ginger to your liking

I'm a big fan of local raw honey

Straining it makes your drink nice and smooth

Store the remainder in the refrigerator 

As we enter the hectic holiday season don't forget to take time to eat healthy, relax and enjoy the true meaning of the season! I'll leave you with some photos from our weekend hike. A lovely walk on the boardwalks of Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Twin Barns

Boardwalk on the delta

The landscape changes dramatically with the seasons

Jonathon Livingston

Linda <><

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Greek Salad with Farro and Kale

Greek salad is a quick, healthy salad with lots of variations. It's also one of my husbands favorites and can easily be made as a main dish. We've been creating this version or something like it quite a bit lately. Throw in some chicken to make it even more protein packed.

2 tomatoes, roughly chopped

(or a pint of halved cherry tomatoes)

1 large cucumber, chopped

1/4 to 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 cup  Kalamata olives, halved (or to taste)

1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

2 big handfuls kale, roughly chopped

1 1/2 cup cooked farro

2 tablespoons dried oregano 

olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper

feta or crumbled goat cheese

Mix all ingredients up to the oregano and add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Top with cheese. Serve intermediately or chill. It's better the second and third day. 

We also like it with brown rice or quinoa instead of the farro. I slice my onion with a simple mandolin slicer, one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. There are no exact amounts to make this salad perfect. It's much better with home grown tomatoes, but I've got a long wait for that. I usually put the tomato and pepper starts in after Mother's Day. Here in the Pacific Northwest growing tomatoes is an art and the season is short. Wish me luck! And have a great Mother's Day weekend.

Doodle of our backyard on my daughter's Economic's notebook

Linda <><

I Heart Almonds

In honor of American Heart Month 2014 and, of course, Valentines Day, here's one of my favorite quick snacks. Almonds are a tasty, healthy snack.

This is a fast way to roast almonds. The amounts for all of the ingredients is completely adjustable. The time required for roasting depends on the amount of almonds.

Microwave Smoked Paprika Almonds

1/2 cup raw almonds
(I get the big bags at Costco)

olive oil in a spritzer
smoked paprika
salt

Place the almonds in a plastic container with a tight lid or a ziploc bag. Spritz with olive oil to cover. Sprinkle with a good bit of paprika and some salt. Cover and shake to cover the almonds evenly.

Spread almonds on a microwave safe tray or plate. Microwave about 2 minutes, until almonds are hot and fragrant. Let cool and enjoy.

On a side note, but also heart related, I'm teaching my daughter to drive. Emma is my sweet 25 year old. She has Aspergers and tried learning to drive in her teens, but it didn't take. Now she seems more motivated. As a college graduate, she sees the advantages all to well, the independence it provides and the edge it might give in her ongoing job hunt. She's really doing quite well, but the heart of every parent teaching their child to drive(no matter the age or circumstances) gets a workout. 

Have a happy Valentines Day and take care of your heart every day. Eat right, exercise, pray and love well. 

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalms 37:4

Linda <><

Oatmeal Love

Do you have a favorite way to fix oatmeal? I've seen more than I can count, from the oatmeal box to the internet, but my favorite came to me in a different way. It is made with old fashioned oats and it's quick. It makes me wonder why folks ever use the individual packets with all of their unhealthy additions except in extreme situations on the road and such. 

I was buying oats in bulk at our local grocery store when an elderly man told me how he makes it.  He said he simply puts one half cup old fashioned oats with one cup milk or water and microwaves it 5 minutes. It works great and it's pretty much how I always make oatmeal now! Here are two twists on it we love. This makes two small servings or one large serving.

Chocolate Cherry Microwave Oatmeal

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 tablespoon chia or ground flax seeds (optional)

2 tablespoons cacao or cocoa

1 tablespoon maca (optional)

1 tablespoon maple syrup (or to taste)

1 cup milk (your choice: soy, almond, cow's milk

         --I like almond)

1 cup frozen cherries (fresh in season)

chopped almonds

Oatmeal Ingredients 

Mix all ingredients except almonds in a large microwave bowl and microwave on high 5 minutes. Stir, divide in 2 bowls and top with nuts.

Apple Cinnamon Microwave Oatmeal

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 tablespoon chia or ground flax seeds (optional)

1 tablespoon maca

1 tablespoon cinnamon (or to taste)

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 cup milk (your choice: soy, almond, cow's milk

         --I like almond)

1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries

2/3 cup applesauce (or to taste)

toasted walnuts

Mix all ingredients except walnuts in a large microwave bowl and microwave on high 5 minutes. Stir, divide in 2 bowls and top with nuts.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Our mornings are early and quick so this is a great, healthy fast breakfast! Do you have any quick healthy breakfasts? I'm always looking for variety. We eat everything from frittatas to smoothies. On the road we'll often just eat fresh fruit and a hard boiled egg.

It's just one other gift from my mom. I never miss breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day. Mom would actually cook a big breakfast for the whole family before leaving for a day of teaching high school. Thanks again, Mom, for instilling in me this healthy habit!

Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself.

1 Corinthians 6:19

Linda <><

In the Blast Zone

This week's hike took us into Mount St. Helens' blast zone. We were searching for sunshine again, but we didn't find any. We never even found Mount St. Helens!

Rainbow at Norway Pass

What we did find  was the beauty of rebirth in an area completely devastated by a volcanic eruption 33 years ago. The area we hiked has been protected to return to it's natural state. It was simply fascinating and beautiful. 

Snow on Mt. Margaret trail

It was also rainy, windy and even snowy at the height of our climb. I can't wait to go back when Mount St. Helens is not hiding behind clouds!

Spirit Lake from Windy Ridge

Have you ever felt your life was nothing less than a blast zone? I have. But I believe when we let Him, God can bring beauty for ashes not just on a mountainside, but in our precious lives as well. 

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
~Isaiah 61:3

Since we will be falling back soon and any time change messes up our inner clock I want to share my favorite energy smoothie. I don't drink coffee or caffeinated tea, but this really does the trick when I get drowsy.  

Love Chocolate Energy Smoothie

1 banana

1 tablespoon peanut or almond butter

1 tablespoon maca powder

2 tablespoons cacao powder or cocoa

1 teaspoon cinnamon

about 1 cup milk

(almond, soy or cow's milk)

ice

Place banana, peanut butter, maca powder, cacao, cinnamon and about 1/4 cup of the milk in a blender and blend until smooth. Add ice and fill with more milk. Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

This makes one smoothie. I like to use the Magic Bullet, but you can use any blender. All of the amounts can be changed to your liking and some sort of sweetener can be added.

Linda <><

The Day I Stopped Drinking Brown and Started Drinking Green and Red

It was his health I was concerned about. Forcing healthy food and exercise on my husband didn’t work. Neither did nagging. I prayed. He came home from work on a Thursday afternoon last August excited about a documentary his radio station mentioned. We watched it that night and radically changed our diet the next day. Thus began last summer’s second life altering experience.

We watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and immediately Jim was ready to try it. Reboot With Joe  was free and provided all the material we needed to get started. First, we did a five day reboot, then a ten. I began grudgingly, but as the pounds fell off and I truly felt better I got on board. We both began transforming from the sloths who had a love affair with the couch to active adults, ready to run, hike, bike and kayak, all the things we used to love, but were making more and more excuses to avoid. 

People find different ways back to health. This worked for us. We aren't vegan though we've gotten a lot pickier about the meat we eat. I really like Dr. Joel Fuhrman and his ‘nutritarian’ diet. Simply put it is getting the most nutrition out of the calories we take in. Here are our biggest changes: no more soft drinks, very limited processed foods, loads of fruits and veggies, and only good quality meats and seafood. Smoothies, fresh made juices, salads, soups and roasted meals comprise most of our intake. By making these changes, I feel like doing more, I ache less and I even gave up all caffeine, unless you count the caffeine in chocolate. Because, trust me, I will never give up chocolate! I've found ample healthy chocolate recipes to satisfy me, like Cocoa Oat Truffles.

So this, last summer’s second happening, has made a most visible transformation in my life. Besides looking better after dropping 25+ pounds, I feel healthier, more energetic, even my hair and skin are thanking me! I think this quote says it all, Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!