Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Fries

I'm back, though you probably were not aware that I'd left...other than no new posts. Lets just say September and most of October have been busy. Majorly busy. Lots of life changes ( new kitten), lots of work ( I've been selling at the Farmer's Market! ) , then my usual doctor visit.  But today I'm back, with a yummy recipe for the cool weather. With Halloween coming up you might be like me and having something simple, like burgers. I'm doing a craft and artisan fair ( with my new Christmas herbal tea line!) on Halloween, so after I get home it'll be a quick meal and horror movie marathon ( our town does trick or treat on the 30th this year, bummer,  I always like it on the actual day).  Anyway, these fries. Oh my. I've seen recipes for either sweet potato fries or Butternut fries...so I decided to mix the two legendary fall veggies and have the best of both worlds. Yum!

They're amazing, I just ate most of this bowl. They're that good. Actually so good I'd eat the whole bowl, but I shared.

As for my Christmas teas I mentioned , I'll tell you all about them. :)  First is my Mountain Christmas Tea, it's basically all the flavors of Christmas into one amazing herbal tea. It's sweet, refreshing, and cozy.

Next is my Merry Berry Christmas tea, it's sweet, yet slightly tangy and would make sugar plum faeries dance with glee. 

Then there is Peppermint Dreams, it's well..minty lol with a touch of birch and vanilla.

Gingersnap is my mother's favorite. It's well..gingery, with cinnamon and cloves and other sweetness in it. It's comforting and would accompany gingerbread men cookies quite well.


So that's a bit about my teas check Etsy, or my business page, or just message me on facebook to order one. :) Of course I won't list them on Etsy and my business page till November.


On to the fries! Remember to try to use organic! 




Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Fries


* 1 Small Butternut Squash
* 1 Large Sweet Potato 
* 2 Tbsp Olive oil 
* 1/2 tsp Garlic powder 
* 1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash seasoning
* 1/4 tsp Thyme 
* 1/4 tsp Sage 
* 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar 
* 1/4 tsp Sriracha 

Directions : 


Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
Peel the Butternut Squash with a vegetable peeler ( cut off the top with the stem first) , cut in half, scoop out the seeds.  I prefer to cut off the bottom and slice it up, and simply cut off the stringy stuff. This gives me more squash so nothing is left to waste. Next peel and slice up your sweet potato. Add squash and potato to a large bowl. In a small bowl combine the last 7 ingredients and mix well.  Pour the seasoning onto the fries, coat the fries well.  Pour the fries into a pan ( though I prefer to bake the fries on a rack in a pan for more even baking) with parchment paper. Bake for 35 minutes or until done.  

Enjoy :)  
   

Meal Plan

I've had an idea. It's never really dawned on me before until today. Why not create a meal plan and share it? I recently had a rough week sticking to my "diet". I realized it'd be easier if I already  had a plan for the day and stuck to it, then of course share it for those of you in need of a meal plan, but don't like the idea of paying people for one.

Like my big watermelon? It weighted 34.4 pounds! By time I eat it all, I'll be sooo sick of watermelon, till Spring. So below is a simple free 5 day meal plan, if you like it, let me know I'll post more. :) If you'd prefer to make your own here are some tips :

* Food Blogs - check out all the healthy recipes on all your favorite food blogs and jot down your favorites. Don't forget to bookmark and print the recipes!

* Pintrest -  Just search your prefered diet ( vegan, vegetarian, paleo, low carb ect. ) and what ever your in the mood for or use words like " healthy breakfast" or "vegan lunches" and such.

* Instagram- Just follow all the healthy accounts you can find, check daily for inspiration and most accounts give recipes with the photos. Make sure to jot down your favorite recipes.

* Tumblr- Like Instagram, just follow healthy accounts, and check for yummy recipes and print them out.

* Food Companies - It might be strange but if you recently went shopping, check the websites of all your healthy foods, yes even the produce and meat ( if your eating meat). They nearly always have recipes on the sites, and who better to get cooking tips from, than the people who made, or grew the product. Just print the recipes :)

Once you have a decent amount of recipes you love, begin mapping out your days with which recipe for what meal , each day. It's best to do this a few days before your plan will start so you have time to shop for things you might need. It can help you save money in the long run ( if your only buying for what is needed for a week and not just guessing, you avoid random unneeded items that wont be used until you discover it months later and use it.) . If your super busy you might want to look into meal prepping as well.

So here it goes, my simple Mostly Vegetarian Meal Plan 

 * Remember to use organic if possible. Also I will provide links to recipes as needed.
 You may switch ingrediants as needed to fit your dietary needs.
 Day 1 

Breakfast : 1 serving Baked Eggs with Hummus : 
http://sabra.com/recipes/Baked-Eggs-with-Hummus

Snack: 1 Apple Sliced, Preferred Nut butter Spread on apple slices.


Lunch: 1 Serving Bean Tacos : 
 http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/black-bean-tacos-with-roasted-peppers-and-onions/ 
 http://www.marinmamacooks.com/2012/06/paul-mccartneys-refried-bean-tacos/

You may enjoy a side salad as well.


Snack: Blueberries with honey or Celery with Hummus , ranch, or nutbutter

Dinner : Go with the flow. I like having dinner options open. Enjoy a filling salad, or baked falafel.


Day 2

Breakfast: Fruit Parfait : 
 http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/fresh-fruit-parfaits


Snack:  Carrots and salad dressing.

Lunch: Veggie Curry , you may add a dollop of hummus. :) 
http://minimalistbaker.com/30-minute-coconut-curry/

Snack: Apple or other fruit.

Dinner: Go with the flow :) Veggie burgers are lovely though, or you can have a nice veggie soup.



Day 3

Breakfast: Baked Egg Scramble : Basically 1 egg prepared for scramble, poured into a ramekin or muffin tins. Add peppers and onion, preferred seasoning ( i like Mrs. dash), bake at 400 for 15 minutes. You can top with cheese if you like. Have a side of fruit, yogurt or toast. 


Snack:  Fruit or nuts


Lunch:  Hummus and Veggie Wrap :
http://www.simple-veganista.com/2014/06/hummus-veggie-wrap.html

Snack: Nut and cheese or fruit plate.

Dinner:Go with the flow, but loaded baked sweet potatoes and a salad is a great idea.


Day 4 

Breakfast: Yogurt and fruit with a drizzle of honey and nuts OR granola.


Snack:  Apple

Lunch:  Southwest Salad : 
 http://www.homesweetjones.com/vegan-southwest-salad-creamy-avocado-chipotle-dressing-2/

Snack: Bliss Ball : http://happyholisticliving.blogspot.com/2015/08/cocoa-bliss-balls.html

Dinner: It's up to you, but this looks amazing.
 http://www.homesweetjones.com/baked-eggplant-parmesan-stacks/



Day 5

Breakfast:  Huevos Rancheros : 
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/04/huevos-rancheros.html

Snack:  Nuts, seeds or fruit of cucumber slices.


Lunch:  This yummy pizza : ( you may totally add cheese if you need it, but this is great on it's own)  http://www.simple-veganista.com/2012/07/veggie-lover-pizza-gluten-free.html

Snack:  Popcorn, yay!

Dinner: You know the drill, but here are a couple ideas. 

http://www.homesweetjones.com/cedar-plank-salmon-oven/    with a salad. 

http://www.simple-veganista.com/2014/03/chinese-chop-salad-peanut-sesame.html


So there we have it. A simple meal plan. I didn't add dessert, I assume you can figure out something lovely to have. :) Hope you enjoyed this.

Cocoa Bliss Balls

Happy Tuesday. Ok it's been a rather depressing Tuesday, rainy and gloomy all day, as well as trying to fix things on the website. Thankfully I have a yummy treat in my fridge. Cocoa Bliss Balls are delicious , vegan, and wonderful for satisfying your chocolate cravings.

The picture is awful I know. I made these quickly and just decided to post the recipe. There are tons of chocolate bliss ball recipes out there, I like using ideas from lots of different ones. I kept these simple though. Remember to try to use Organic ingredients. 



Cocoa Balls 

* 2 Cups pitted dates
* 2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder 
* 2 Tbsp Cocoanut Milk ( may substitute water or other nut milk) 
* Dash of salt 
* 2 Tbsp Chocolate Chips
* 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions : 

In a Food Processor or High Powdered Blender , add the dated, blend till they become lightly chopped. Add the rest of the ingredient. Blend till combined, yet chunky. Scoop out mixture and for into balls. Allow them to chill in a fridge or freezer for 20 - 20 minutes. After they are done chilling you may roll them in mini chocolate chips, cocoa powder, or shredded cocoanut. 

Enjoy :)  
 

Simply American Pinto Bean Burgers

So it's basically the last full month of summer. It's sad I know. But there are still plenty weekends left for grilling or just having a quick dinner. I consider myself Mostly Vegetarian, as in, I have some meat once in a while, but mainly live on fruit, veggies, nuts, and seeds. I'm like a fairy who craves meat sometimes. My Bean Barely and Kale burgers are nice and all, when my kale isn't frozen for soups...yeah. Also sometimes I just crave a meaty-ish burger with "American flavor" you know, ketchup, mustard, pickles... basically the classic American Cheeseburger. While searching the web for a good recipe, every single one I found seemed to take 2 hours to make and you had to add the tears of a unicorn, fairy dust and dance around the bowl singing kumbaya. I'm kidding of course, but I didn't see the point of using the same basic ingredients and 3 different methods ( that took hours) for the same type of burger. So I made my own.

Also I don't want the carbs of a big cheeseburger on a wheat bun...so I stuff the burger in a low carb Pita.  Pictured is a Vegan version ( no cheese).  It's a simple and great recipe, plus you can freeze the burgers after baking for using later.  Remember to try to use Organic. 
  
Simply American Pinto Bean Burgers 

* 1 and 1/2 Cup Cooked Pinto Beans 
* 2 Tbsp Ketchup 
* 1 Tbsp Mustard
* 1 tsp Liquid Smoke 
* 1 Can Mushrooms, Drained 
* 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
* 1/2 tsp Onion Powder 
* 1/4 tsp Sriracha
* 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce ( optional) 
* 1 cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs ( You may add more if needed) 

Directions: 

Mash the beans with a fork till mostly mashed, but small bean halves remain. Add in wet ingredients and seasonings. Mix well. Add in bread crumbs till a soft "dough" is formed. With a spoon drop mixture onto a prepared pan, shape into patties. Bake at 400, for 7 minutes on each side. Enjoy with preferred toppings and bread ( or just lettuce) 

Enjoy :) 

This is the Cheeseburger version. No that's not a bug on the plate, it's a bean crumb. lol

Creamy Garlic Lemon Hummus

Happy August! This blog is officially a year old now, actually it was at the end of July...I totally missed it. Oh well, there are so many birthdays coming up for me. Today I have a great hummus recipe. Hummus is super healthy and very popular among vegetarians and vegans. Hummus is loaded with protein and nutrients, plus it's just yummy.

It looks great right? Sorry I don't top it with oil like some people. I just don't like a big bite of hummus, smothered in even more oil. You see, I make my own Tahini ( I use this recipe from thekitchn)  and well, I see all the oil added to it, and I feel as if smothering the hummus in oil, just isn't the best way to go. Coming up with this recipe was rather fun, and scarey. When I made it, I had never tried hummus before. I was dreadfully curious and thought I'd make my own ( I like having control over what goes in my food) plus I have a confession...I hate chickpeas unless they have really good seasonings, and even then sometimes I can't stomach them . It turned out so good ( I loved it, didn't turn my stomach at all!), and creamy.  Below is the recipe, remember to try to use organic. Also..some of the seasonings aren't typical hummus seasonings, but I don't care, it's just too good.


Creamy Garlic Lemon Hummus 

* 1 can Chickpeas ( Garbanzo Beans)
* 2 Tbsp Tahini  
* 4 Cloves minced Garlic  
* 1 Tbsp Lemon Juce 
* 1/2 Tsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning
* 1/8 Tsp Onion Powder
* 1/4 tsp Cumin 
* 2 Tbsp Water
* Salt to taste 
* Feta cheese and Pumpkin Seeds to top ( Optional) 
* Assorted Veggies and Pitas/Crackers to dip 

Directions: 

A small note on the Tahini recipe. I use Cocoanut oil in place of olive oil. 

Add the minced Garlic to the food processor, process for 30 seconds. Add remaining ingredients except Toppings and veggies/pitas/. Process till smooth, scraping the sides down as needed. Once desired consistency is achieved, serve cold or room temperature with veggies, pitas, crackers, and cheese.

Enjoy :) 

Sunny Skies Fruit Tart

I still have a major sweet tooth since I made my  Blueberry Crumble.  It went very fast and I'm still craving sweets. Making a Fruit Tart is probably the easiest way to get more fruit in your diet. I arranged my fruit in a cute sunny type pattern ( or perhaps flower like, depends on how you look at it) . I think it's just so fun for summer.

The crust is basically the top from the blueberry crumble, just pressed into the pan and baked before adding filling. It's a simple, yet pretty and healthy dessert. I know most fruit tarts have a type of pastry filling, but I didn't want all that sugar, and if using cocoanut yogurt and maple syrup in place of honey, this could be vegan.So I did some research, and people use yogurt all the time. The recipe is below, remember to try to use organic is possible. 


Sunny Skies Fruit Tart 

* 1and 1/2 cup rolled oats
* 1/4 cup sliced almonds 
* 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 
* 1 egg 
* 1/2 cup Honey ( or less if you prefer, may also use maple syrup in place of honey) 
* 1 and 1/2 cup Organic Vanilla Yogurt ( you may use coconut yogurt or soy yogurt to make it vegan)
* Assorted Fresh Fruit ( I used Peaches, Strawberries and 
 Blueberries)


Directions : 
Combine oats, vanilla, almonds, egg, and honey in a large bowl. Mix till everything is well combined. Press into a prepared ( lightly greased) tart or pie pan. Bake the Crust at 350 for 15-25 minutes or until browned. 
Once the Crust is baked, allow to sit and fully cool. After the crust is cooled, fill the crust with the yogurt. You may swirl a bit of honey on the yogurt for extra sweetness. Next arrange fruit as desired on top. You may prepare a glaze ( basically heating apricot preserves till liquid and shiny, then brushing over the fruits) to brush over the fruit, or use another type of fruit preserve unless your serving this tart right away. 

Hope you enjoy this recipe :)  

Amazing Almond Recipes

Happy Monday! I know most of you are likely groaning like a zombie because it's the start of the work week. I'm one of those insane people who love Mondays because I'm not happy unless I have something to do. My brain simply runs with about a million different ideas each day. So anyway, I heard about the nice people of  nuts.com.

And got involved in their project, getting people talking about almonds.  However instead of one recipe, I have two! Though before the recipe part, I'm going to give some reasons why almonds are amazing.


Almond Nutrition Facts : 

*As a Master Herbalist , I often suggest diet changes along with herbal suggestions. Eating a handful of raw almonds daily is what I suggest for most cancer patients. Almonds are great for helping to kill cancer cells. 

 * Almonds contain Vitamin E and Vitamin B2, as well as copper, magnesium, phosporous and many other awesome nutrients. 

* Almonds can lower your LDL cholesterol and help reduce Heart Disease risk. 
* Almonds are full of Fiber, and wonderful for helping reduce Diabetes risk. 
*Almonds are wonderful for improving blood fats. 
* Eating Almonds can help you lose weight and lowers risk of gaining weight

So 6 awesome reason to buy a big bag of almonds and eat them daily :) I highly suggest it.  Now on to some great recipes ( once you have some almonds in your possession ).


Warm Vegetarian Curry Salad with Almonds. 
 

This is the most amazing salad ever ( ok I think most salads are the most amazing salad ever. Except in the case of stale , sitting out too long fast food salads. Gross. ) but it really is. It's warm and spicy and sweet. Juicy yet crisp. Warm, but cool and refreshing. All Served with warmed Lavash, because I couldn't find Naan at the store ( I have yet to make Naan ). But Lavash is an amazing bread, plus this was low carb.
Most of the veggies are fresh from my garden or the farmer's market. I think maybe 4 ( carrots, lettuce, squash, mushrooms) are store bought. So it's a super healthy salad, with yummy slivered almonds. Recipe is below, remember to try to use organics!


Warm Vegetarian Curry Salad with Almonds 

For the Curry Veggies : 
* 1 Carrot, Chopped 
* 1 onion , chopped
* 1 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped 
* 1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped
* 1 Yellow Bell Pepper , Chopped
* 1 Yellow Squash, Sliced ( can use zucchini) 
* 1 Cup Sliced Mushrooms ( Can be white button or portabella )
* 2 Tbsp Slivered Almonds
*  1 tsp Curry Powder 
* 1/2 tsp Chili Powder 
* 1/4 tsp Ground Ginger 
* 1/4 tsp Cumin 
* 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder ( or minced garlic ) 
* 1/2 Swonson's Flavor Boost Packet ( If you can find an organic brand  like this, wonderful , but if not, it's fine. )
* Salt and pepper to taste 
For The Curry Rice : 

* 1 Cup Brown Rice 
*  1 tsp Curry powder
* 1/4 tsp Cumin 
* 1/8 tsp ginger 
*1/4 Chili Powder 
* 1 tsp garlic powder 
* 1/2  Swonson's Flavor Boost Packet 
* Salt and Pepper to taste

For the Salad : 

* 2 Cups Romane Lettuce , Torn
*  1 Cucumber, Sliced
* 1 Cup Whole Kernal Corn, warmed
* 1-2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes , sliced.  
* Warm Lavash Bread, Sliced 
* Slivered Almonds
For the Dressing :  
 * 1 tsp Curry Powder
* 2 Tbsp White Wine Vinegar 
* 1 tsp Honey 
* 1/2 tsp Olive Oil 
* 1/8 tsp Ground Ginger 
1/4 tsp Parsley 
Salt and Pepper to taste 

Directions : 
 Make rice as directed on package, however in the last few moments of simmering, add the seasonings and mix well. Cover and sit to the side once finished.  Next add all Curry veggies, almonds and seasonings, to a frying pan, saute' until carrots are mostly cooked through ( soft , yet still crunchy). Cover and sit to the side. Next Mix together all salad dressing ingredients. 
Now assemble the salad. Make a bed of lettuce  at the bottom of the bowl, then top with tomatoes, cucumber, corn, curried veggies, and curried rice, sprinkle slivered almonds on top and drizzle dressing over the salad and serve with warm lavash. You may also add fresh cilantro.  

It's great for lunch or Dinner :) 



Fairytale  Refined Sugar Free Blueberry Crumble 

This is such an amazing dessert! I came up with this after we bought a 5 pound box of blueberries!

 It's like heaven on earth. Now on to the lovely recipe! Remember to try to use Organic, or Non-GMO


Fairytale Refined Sugar Free Blueberry Crumble

* 2 Cups Fresh or Frozen Blueberries 
* 1 and 1/2 Cups Rolled Oats 
* 1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds 
* 1 Egg 
* 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract 
* 1/2 tsp Orange Extract 
* 3/4 Cup Honey 

Directions : 
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together oats, almonds, egg, vanilla extract, orange extract, and 1/2 cup of honey ( reserve the rest). Mix well, until everything is sticky.  Next spray a pie plate with cooking spray. Add the 2 cups of blueberries. Drizzle remaining 1/4 cup honey over the blue berries. Spread the oat mixture on top of the blueberries.    

 
  Bake for 25 minutes or until crust is browned, and juices are bubbly. 

Enjoy with fresh whipped cream. :) 

I hope this has been a lovely and informative post, also I'm not being paid to mention nuts.com, I just really like their idea, and enjoy nuts.