Mixed Whole Grains with Pumpkin, Mint, Apple, and Parsley Dog Treats

Mixed Whole Grains with Pumpkin, Mint, Apple, and Parsley Dog Treats

 Nourishing your beloved best friend with unprocessed, whole food.

How authentically do we live our lives? As we strive to nourish our selves and family with unprocessed, whole foods do we carry that out in all areas of our lives? Would you eat the food you provide to your pets?  Do you really know what exactly it is that you feed your pet? 

I have enjoyed making dog treats for many years. At first it was just a fun thing to do as I love to bake. I soon discovered that it was more economical for me to make them verses buying them and the love of making things myself for my beloved deepened. It just simply feels good to make my own foods/treats. 

As I began to think in terms of living in all ways authentically I made the connection that I can't just focus on local, whole foods for myself and family. I need to practice this in all ways. How is it that I can hold myself so accountable in some areas but yet feed my dog such junk? I do not deny that budgeting for extras can be a very difficult dance when having to think about all the dancers at the party. So with that in mind, I have become very skillful at using up leftover grains from my pantry.

There is a lot of research regarding proper diet/nutrition for dogs. Their systems are very different from us humans, thus they do require a different nutritional focus. Here are a few links to sights that you can peruse to better understand what diet needs dogs have:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-nutrition-tips 

http://www.petmd.com/dog/nutrition/evr_dg_carbohydrates_key_to_balanced_dog_food#

https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/canine-nutrition/dog-food-carbohydrates/

Over the years I have collected dog treat recipes and continue to search for new ideas. Earlier in the week I found this wonderful recipe  and put my own spin on it specifically for my dog: http://damndelicious.net/2015/09/29/pumpkin-apple-doggie-mint-treats/
My Max tends to get weird rashes and scratches a lot when he has a lot of wheat in his diet so I have intentionally reduced the amount of wheat he consumes. Plus I have a ton of mint and parsley in my garden.

In my twist on this recipe, I decided to go with a mixture of brown rice and sorghum. Sorghum for it's nutty aroma and flavor because what dog doesn't like a nutty scent/flavor? And it is a great way to use up the extra leftovers I seem to have accumulated. I made the flour fresh from the whole grains by placing them in my blender/juicer. I started out with thinking I would just only use those two grain but ended up adding cornmeal at the end b/c the dough was a bit to sticky. I needed to firm it up to hold shape. 

My recipe is: 

Ingredients

• 1 can of Pumpkin Puree
• 2 eggs 
• 1 meduim size apple
• 1 1/2 cups Sorghum flour
• 1 1/2 cups Brown Rice flour
• 1 cup Cornmeal
• 1/2 cup Flaxmeal
• 1/2 cup Mint (I used spearmint) 
• 1/2 cup Parsley (Italian flatleaf) 

Directions

Preheat oven to 350*. Shred apple, squeezing out moisture; set aside.  Blend eggs and pumpkin. Add fours by 1/2 cup until dough forms/not sticky. Add in shredded apple, mint, and parsley. Mix until well blended. If dough becomes sticky from moisture of apple just add a bit more of flour of your choice. Roll dough into 1/4 inch thickness, cut our with your favorite shape cookie cutter and bake for 20 minutes. I didn't need to use parchment paper or any oil on pan as the cornmeal helped the cookies not stick. If you are not using cornmeal I recommend parchment paper or greasing the pan. 

Store a week's worth in air tight container out of the sun and freeze the rest in weekly amount batches in air tight container. 

Making your dog treats helps the bonding experience and you best friend will be very thankful of your efforts! This is also a great activity to include your kiddos in!

Enjoy!

Chaga Tea

Chaga Tea

Medicinal nourishment!

I was introduced to the  Chaga mushroom by David Wolfe, author of "Chaga, King of the Medicinal Mushrooms" https://www.davidwolfe.com/752/ in a lecture during my Integrative Nutrition Health coaching program. Since then, I have researched and explored more about Chaga on my own. I simply love chaga tea. And most who know me, know I am all about tea! 

The Chaga mushroom can be used in many ways: oil/extract, tincture,  powder, chunked, etc. I first tried the powder form in smoothies but learned that my favorite is chunk form for tea (no surprise there!). 

I've been making tea from the herbs and flowers I grow for years. I have a special tea garden that seems to expand with each passing year. Not only have I grown into a "fresh tea snob," but I aspire to utilize my teas in a holistic manner. I value the health benefits of herbal teas. So the "fresh tea snob" thing I developed after tasting freshly made tea straight from my garden to teapot. Once you get a taste of how lovely freshly made tea is, you will notice the difference in store bought tea bags and loose leaf teas that are prepared/packaged. I do dry my herbs and dehydrate my own grown fruits and berries for winter storage of tea but by spring I'm not liking the loss of flavor that naturally happens.

I digress-let's get back to the health benefits of tea, shall we? The Chaga. It is no coincidence that Mr. Wolfe coined Chaga "King of the Medicinal Mushrooms." The health benefits are undeniably worth exploring the many ways to enjoy chaga. It has been said that chaga is one of  the only known food sources that can help eliminate radiation from the body. The documented researched benefits of Chaga are:

• Anthelmintic
• Antibacterial
• Antihypoxant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antimalarial
• Antimutagenic
• Antioxidant
• Antiseptic
• Antitumor
• Antipyretic
• Antiviral
• Bile-expelling
• Immunomodulatory
• Infection-fighting
• Skin-protective

You can find Chaga high up on older White Birch trees in cold climates. It is most abundant along the edge of water; rivers, streams, and ponds. I encourage you to look around for some mushroom farms and/or ask a trail guide for suggestions as to where you might find some Chaga and go harvest your own-it is fun! And, it is great to get out and hike, is it not?

Here is a basic recipe I use to make my Chaga Tea:

Ingredients: 

4-5 chunks of chaga

2 Liters of filtered water

Instructions:

Bring the filtered water to a boil, remove from heat source to stop the boiling; bring down the temperature. Add the chunks of Chaga and simmering (barely) for one to four hours, depending on the strength of flavor you prefer. It is very important not to boil the Chaga as you will lose some of the health benefits. Just a slight simmer to warming is what you are striving for. Remove chunks/strain and pour in to storage container of choice.  Enjoy a fresh cup warm and store the rest in the refrigerator for up to a week. Remember to gently warm it-do not bring it to a boil for your next cup. Or, enjoy cold on a hot day! 

The basic tea has a light earthy/chocolate flavor. There are so many different recipes for the tea, so browse the internet and find something that you like. Since I live in Maine and like to promote  local foods I sometimes add blueberries to my tea. I will let the tea steep for an hour then add fresh blueberries, simmering/steeping for about 30 more minutes. Or,  in the winter time, I will place some dehydrated berries in my tea ball and steep in cup. I have most recently explored simmering a few peeled, cut in quarters, and seeded apples along with mulling spices of orange peels, lemon peels, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, all spice, ainsie star. Chai spices also work great! 

I have developed a few resources for Chaga. I only purchase and consume Chaga harvested here in Maine. When and if I receive permission to share my resource contacts, I will update this post with their info. I encourage you to try Chaga tea! Your health deserves you to nourish it!

Share your favorite Chaga Tea recipes with us! 

What Does Your Life Look Like?

What Does Your Life Look Like?

What shape does your life take on?

Most of us have an idea of how we feel our life is shaping up. Sometimes we feel really good about life, and sometimes we feel out of balance. Life is up and down. It is a long road with twists, turns, hills, valleys, and everything in between. 

It can be hard to see the bigger picture when we feel stuck, or out of balance. It can be hard to know what direction to start in. This is exactly how I was feeling when I started my Integrative Nutrition Health Coach education. The very first activity we were given changed my world! It showed me how to look at life as an entire whole made up of parts that ebb and flow. It gave me the visual I needed to understand why I felt out of balance. 

It was so helpful to me that I want to share it with you, the reader, in hopes that it may somehow give you a new perspective. So grab a piece of paper, a pen or pencil and come on back to try an exciting activity! 

Ready? Okay. First draw a circle as large as your piece of paper will allow for. Next, draw a line down the middle of your circle, then draw a line across the middle. Your circle will now have four parts. Draw two more lines, centering them in middle of your quadrants so it now looks like you have a pie with 8 slices. 

Along each line write one of the eight words, in any order you like. It doesn't have to be in any specific order. Just make sure you have used each word. Use only the word, not the definition in parentheses 

1) Relationships (all relationships in general; inside and outside your immediate circle).
2) Career (what you are doing for work currently).
3) Finances (be honest with yourself).
4) Spirituality (do you have a belief system, do you uphold it, are you consistent).
5) Health (overall health).
6) Energy Level (are you physically activity, do you feel exhausted all the time, etc).
7) Living environment (home life, organization, ability to manage your environment).
8) Pleasurable Experiences (do you experience joy/fun/satisfaction). 

Here comes the fun part! Make a dot in the center of the circle where all the slices meet. The center dot indicates dissatisfaction and the periphery of the circle indicates complete satisfaction. Place a dot on the line in each category to indicate your level of satisfaction within each area. (Most people fall somewhere in between). Connect the dots to see how your life takes shape.

Identify the imbalances. Determine where to spend more time and energy to create more of balance circle.

This is a fun way to see how your life takes shape. What are the areas that are in balance? What are the areas that need more attention? It is natural to be a little out of shape, after all, nobody is perfect. When we focus on one or two areas, other areas may change in how you feel about them. That is the natural ebb and flow of life.  The idea is to try and have a more rounded, or balanced, circle of life. 

Try this activity every so often, perhaps every 6 months or yearly, if that works better for you. Watch as your life takes on different shapes. 

I hope you enjoy and feel free to share what this exercise was like for you! 



  

Macadamia Nut~Pesto (healthy update)

Macadamia Nut~Pesto (healthy update)

My healthy twist on an old favorite dish!

Greetings! It has been awhile since I have posted; life has been happening! I'm so excited to be back and want to share this delightfully delicious dish that I just today updated to a healthier version. I was introduced to the original recipe http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/macadamia-nut-pesto-fettuccine by a friend I met in a college class, back in my UMA days (before transferring to USM). 

I found myself having some extra time to peruse my collection of recipes this morning. I was craving something creamy and garden fresh, so the word pesto caught my attention. My herb garden is abundant this season and what says summer like freshly picked basil from the garden?

Due to my over indulgence in dairy the past month, I am feeling blah. I know better, and also know it is time to get back on track and follow more of an anti-inflammatory diet. Time to challenge myself by remaking a favorite dish to something that won't cause as much bloating, etc. 

And here is what I came up with!

I substituted the white flour fettuccine for Red Lentil Spaghetti (gluten free, therefore anti-inflammatory) and the half and half for Hemp Milk unsweetened. While I still used the parmesan cheese, the reduced dairy is a big help! And, for me, it is easier to digest the parm cheese vs the half and half. 

 

There is some serious creaminess going on in this twist! I LOVE the enhanced flavor the change of pasta provides for.

Go ahead and give the recipe a try. See how you can twist it up to suit your taste! 

*I did not use as much basil as it calls for as I prefer a lighter basil flavor. The lentil/brown rice spaghetti is a bit sticker than regular pasta so use oil of your choice while cooking it and then lightly coat before mixing it into the pesto.  

Share your ideas with us!

Recycled Egg Shells For Calcium Rich Soil

Why Recycle Egg Shells?

How do egg shells help nourish plants and soil?

Recycled egg shells? Recycled styrofoam egg cartons? Are gardeners stingy and budget sensitive or just plain crazy? While they may be mindful of budgets, they are crazy about calcium rich soil! They are very skillful in utilizing natural resources for soil amendments.

As a Master Gardener and someone who is mindful of not leaving a foot print on the earth, I cringed when a well meaning friend handed me a bunch of styrofoam egg cartons she had saved. Oh, the thoughts racing through my head! Why would anybody use styrofoam in this day and age? Does't she know what that type of carton does to our landfills, our earth? I don't want to be seeing styrofoam popping up from the earth in year to come...yes, my thoughts went on and on. It was a year or so later (yes, I stuffed them in a back closet and left them for that long refusing to use "styrofoam.") before I made the connection that these NOT SO ENVIRONMENTALLY friendly cartons would actually make great trays for holding egg shell planters! They are water proof so they protect surfaces and hold extra water as needed. And of course, the important thing-they hold the egg shell perfectly. I now take care of those cartons I was so mortified with, saving them after each use for years ahead. None of them have a cost to me and it is a great way to recycle and reuse. Compare that to the cost of buying seedling trays...

So why recycle egg shells? How do they nourish the soil? Egg shells are rich in calcium! Calcium is a very important nutrient in both plant and soil, with only nitrogen and potassium required in larger amounts by plants. It is brought into the plant by water the plant takes up. While we typically tend to see calcium supplemented with the use of lime, egg shells are also a great choice! And, a staple in most homes. Since I raise laying hens for my own, fresh, organic, free range eggs, I appreciate being able to use my own natural resources. 

Role of calcium in plants and soil

• Plays critical role in the metabolic process of other nutrients uptake and carbohydrate removal.
• Neutralizes cell acids.
• Strengthens cell wall structure.
• Improves soil structure in heavy clay soils.
• Binds organic matter to clay.
• Decreases sodium content in soil.
• Protects plants against heat stress, diseases, fungi, and bacteria.
• Affects fruit quality

Every plant needs calcium to grow, without adequate amounts, plants experience a variety of problems. 

Signs of calcium deficiency

• Brown roots, stunted growth.
• Bulb and fruit abnormalities/damage. 
• Necrosis at tips in young leaves and deformed leaves.
• Chlorosis. 

Using a calcium spray can yield a higher crop of tomatoes, squash, and make a difference between a sweet/tart to bitter apple. You can make your own calcium spray by bringing 20 eggs in 1 gallon of water in a covered pan to a rolling boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and let cool for 24 hrs. Strain water of shell pieces and store in air tight container in a cool, dark place. Use the spray lightly on your calcium deficient plants,or use lightly to fertilize. 

It is important to note that acidic soil is often associated with calcium, however, this is not the case. Whenever you add a nutrient to the soil, you change the balance. You may need to adjust your nitrogen and potassium levels. A good soil has a pH 7.

I love using the shells to start my seedlings. When the seedling is ready to be planted into the ground, I gently break the shell before planting it directly into the soil to help the roots spread easier. By using the shells as a planter, I double the recycling power of them as they also add calcium to the soil. 

You do not have to break the shells up into tiny pieces or grind into powder if using in the soil, they will eventually break down on their own, it just helps them to decompose quicker if you break up the shells. And don't forget your compost! Toss your unused shells into the compost pile!

Share your gardening recycling and soil amendments with us! Nourish our ideas as you nourish your garden! 

St. Patrick's Day Shake

St. Patrick's Day Shake

Healthy twist on a Shamrock Shake!

Once again I am delighted to share a recipe that was shared with me by my daughter, Chelsea!

In my previous post, I explained that Chel had sent me a note with some recipes. Well, this is the other recipe on that adorable little postcard note. And it came just in time to experiment with different alternative recipe twists. 

The alternative recipe experiment was sparked by Chel asking for an alternative to the sweetened condensed milk. There are many people who are not able to consume dairy so I hope the recipe below is helpful to those who are lactose intolerant or are just trying to reduce dairy intake for personal reasons. I also hope it inspires others to experiment and create own recipes!

I am excited to celebrate St. Patty's Day starting with a morning shake!

The original recipe:

    *1 Can condensed milk

    *1 Avocado, peeled and seed removed

    * 2.5 or 3 tablespoons pure raw honey

    *1 cup ice

    * 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

    * 1 drop Young Living Peppermint Oil 

Recipe by Young Living

https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover

My favored alternative recipe:

    *1 cup sweetened almond milk

    * 2 tablespoons tapioca flour mixed with 1/4 cup almond milk 

    *1 avocado, peeled, seed removed

    * 3 tablespoons raw honey

    * 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

    * 2-3 drops of essential peppermint oil (I used Young Living brand as I prefer the way the process their oils)

Mix the tapioca mixture in with the cup of almond milk, add other ingredients and blend until desired. 

I did not use ice because the milk was cold and thin, unlike shelved canned condensed milk. I added the tapioca flour mixed with almond milk to thicken the shake. I experimented with arrowroot flour but it was a bit on the slimy side. Also, tapioca is a bit sweeter than arrowroot. I also found that just one drop of the peppermint was not strong enough. If you prefer things on the sweeter side, I suggest you add a just a pinch of stevia. I prefer not too sweet.

I love how the tapioca flour thickens this! As you can see from the picture, it is so thick the straw stands straight up! You can experiment with how thick you prefer by reducing amount of tapioca flour or just adding ice. Try using different nut milks or rice milk for different flavor effects. I bet cashew milk would be delicious! 

Share your favorite twist on this recipe with us! Post pictures of  you enjoying your St. Patty's Day shake with us! 

Spring Sugar Scrub

Sugar Scrubs

Lemon Mint Sugar Scrub

Most of you who have known me for awhile know that my passion for sugar scrubs is not new. Long before I started blogging or posting my creations on Facebook I've dabbled in making my own natural products. Perhaps I can spend some time gathering things I've done over the years and formidably blog them here. That would be a project in it's self...

Last week I received a little note in the mail from my daughter, Chelsea, sharing a recipe for a sugar scrub. Chelsea is very passionate about essentials oils and from time to time shares from her developing business things I might like. She is a avid lover of https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/products/essential-oils?gclid=Cj0KEQiAsP-2BRCFl4Lb2NTJttEBEiQAmj2tbTyHvplocV88J-SQgVT89kJ4rH88OdPmM0frj3Qiko8aApfT8P8HAQ 

I thought I would whip up a batch to share and surprise a yoga student with a special treat as well thank a woman, Nancy, who has generously shared her studio space with me so that I can grow my yoga classes and she can grow her studio. 

Here is the fun I had this afternoon!

 

The recipe for Lemon Mint Sugar Scrub is:  (I do NOT own copy right to this recipe, it has been shared with me, and I share with you-for your personal use only)

*1 1/4 cup sugar 

* 1/2 cup coconut oil

* 1 TBSP lemon juice

* Lemon zest from half of a lemon

* 5 drops each of essential oil of lemon and peppermint.

Mix ingredients together and jar as desired. (fills 3 4oz jars)

~Benefits from this recipe include moisturizing effects from coconut oil and exfoliating experience from the sugar& lemon.  

Special thanks to my daughter, Chelsea, for her sharing. 

I am very excited to share these treats with two special people!

Feel free to share your creations and how you treat it to others.