Quinoa Fried "Rice"

It was a typical summer day, it was hot, the kids were full of energy and it was time to figure out what to make for dinner. I hadn't gone to the store in about a week and what I had on hand to make full meals was slim pickings. I had some leftover pork I needed to use, but no buns so I couldn't do my typical pulled pork sandwich routine I often did to use up the rest of the meat. I was in the mood to get creative and figure something out without having to ask the hubby to pick up something from the store or rely on take out.

I began to search the internet for ideas when I came across a recipe for fried rice. The only problem was, I had no rice in the house. What was a mom to do? Then I remembered that I had seen an idea somewhere for making fried rice with Quinoa! Or did I just make that up? I searched Google and lo and behold! I found many recipes which I quickly scanned for inspiration. Awesome! I began to come up with how I can make my own version using the ingredients I had on hand. I was a little worried about what my husband would say about the meal, but figured it was worth a try. Let me tell you, IT WAS! It came out so good! Like amazingly good. In fact, my husband told me I could sell it (apparently by opening my own restaurant? Because he thinks I need more people to cook for?!) I have been dreaming about this meal for weeks now. I can't wait to try it again with different ingredients. The possibilities are endless and can be made with many different variations. This post will share with you my recipe for yummy, healthy, quick quinoa friend "rice". My version was pork fried rice, but it can easily be made with any meat or as a vegetarian meal.

• Quinoa
• Pork
• Egg
• Garlic
• Vegetables
• Sesame oil
• Broth or water
• Salt and Pepper
• Tamari or Soy Sauce

 I had leftover pork tenderloin that I used for mine, it was already seasoned and cooked. I soaked the Quinoa and cooked accordingly. Once that was done I put some oil in a pan and sauteed up some chopped garlic and onions until translucent. I then added the chopped veggies. Anything you have will be good. I added carrots and celery, peas and purple cabbage but it would also
be great with bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, edamame, etc. Sautee for a few minutes until soft. Remove from pan and add scrambled egg. Cook the egg, breaking it up, add the veggies back to the pan, and add the meat. Cook for a few minutes for the meat to warm. Then add the quinoa and stir well to combine. Let it cook a few more minutes and add a little more oil if necessary, season with salt and pepper and add soy sauce or tamari.

Make sure you eat this meal warm. It was delicious. I can't wait to try it with shrimp, or chicken or beef, and other veggies too. I can't wait to make this again, in fact, I think we will be having it in a couple of days because it was just too good!

Have you tried making Quinoa fried "rice"? We would love for you to share your version!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Summertime Fig Recipes

I had some figs that I picked over at my sister-in-laws house. I absolutely LOVE figs. I usually eat them as is, but started thinking of all the fun creative ways I could use them up. The new recipes were a big hit, so of course I had to share! This post includes two fun ways to eat figs. 

The first recipe I made was a balsalmic fig sauce. We ate it drizzled over lamb chops and then leftovers drizzled over baked chicken. The hubby loved it. It took a bit of time to cook, but was well worth it.

Filling of 2 large figs
1 cup chicken broth (homemade or low-sodium)
3 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 Tbs. Raw local honey
chopped fresh herbs (oregano, thyme) 
2 Tbs. Butter
Salt & Pepper

Pour broth and vinegar into a pan on medium high. If you will be pouring over meat that was pan seared or cooked-add the liquid to the pan after you remove the meat to incorporate the brown bits into the sauce and add flavor. Stir until sauce is reduced to 1/2 a cup. Stir in fig filling, honey and herbs and let sauce reduce by another 1-2 Tbs. Add butter and swirl till melted. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over meat and enjoy! It was so yummy. I will definitely be making this again once I get my hands on some more figs!

Fig & Brie Grilled Cheese

• Figs
• Brie
• Bread
• Butter 

Very simple, two slices of bread- Lay sliced brie on one piece and then scoop some fig filling on top of the cheese and top with the second slice of bread. Butter each side and grill up in a pan. Easy peasy! The taste was devine! I can't wait to try this again, I think it would even be good with a slice or two of ham. Monte Cristo style minus the egg batter. Although, I wonder how it would taste battered and maybe with a bit of maple syrup. Mmmmmmm..............

Do you have any interesting recipes using figs? We would love for you to share! 


Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Top 5 Healthiest Oils to Use

There seems to be quite a bit of confusion as to which oils are actually the healthiest for consuming. With so many different options out there I decided to share this post to discuss the best oils to have in your house and some information on the best ways to use each.

First off, ditch the canola oil and vegetable oil!  These oils are GMO, processed, hydrogenated, refined and just plain yucky. These nasty oils come in the form of margarine, shortenings and low trans-fat spreads. It is hard to go out to eat to a restaurant that doesn't use the cheap oils to accommodate the mass cooking at very low cost.  Both Canola and Vegetable oil are trans-rich toxins that, perhaps more than any other components of the modern American diet, has contributed to increases in cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, ED, stroke, dementia, and many other common diseases. For years healthy saturated fats have been demonized as being unhealthy, when actually they are the healthiest and best processed by the body and support immune health. This propaganda is starting to come to a head as many people are waking up to the truth as to which oils are the best to use.

So maybe you can't always control how restaurants cook your food, but while at home you have the option to cook with healthy, beneficial oils without breaking the bank!  Try to use only organic, unrefined, unprocessed, virgin oils when possible. It will make all the difference. The least processed option is naturally, always the best. Here is a list of the best oils to use:

Coconut Oil is a great way to increase the amount of healthy fats in your diet. It is one of the most nutritious oils and offers many health benefits. It has antiviral, antibacterial and antimicrobial benefits. It is also a powerful antioxidant and helps in the absorption of other minerals. The oil is high in Lauric Acid which converts to Monolaurin in the body which has been shown to fight disease and viruses and boost immunity. You can use this oil to cook, as skin lotion, in smoothies, and even hair conditioner. It helps to reduce scars, stretchmarks and age spots. It can be a substitute for butter or any oil when cooking and can even be used as an all natural shaving cream or eye makeup remover.


Olive Oil is another wonderful oil that can be used for cooking, personal care, natural remedies and more. The oil has high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids which promote good cholesterol and help to lower bad cholesterol. It is very gentle on the digestive system and contains vital vitamins and minerals. Olive oil also contains antioxidants which neutralize free radicals. It can be used as a moisturizer, a hair de-tangler, furniture polish, to fix squeaky doors or even to cure an earache.

Hemp Oil should not be cooked hot, but can be used in salad dressings, added to pasta or rice or used for cosmetic or medicinal reasons. It is an excellent moisturizer that helps to energize the skin and increasing skin elasticity. It balances hormones, contains the right balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and helps to treat high cholesterol and diabetes.

Sunflower Oil is not a popular oil to cook with, but has tremendous health benefits. It has a neutral taste so it is ideal for cooking and frying. Sunflower oil provides more Vitamin E than any other oil and assists the body in maintaining water in the cells making it great for beauty products. It contains high amounts of Vitamin E, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Calcium and many other nutrients that are essential to the body. Including it in your diet reduces the risk of heart disease, lowers cholesterol and promotes the creation of new cells in the body. It has shown to reduce asthma, colon cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.


Sesame Oil is high in nutritional content and has shown to have capabilities in fighting, reversing and preventing many diseases and illnesses. They are very high in calcium, magnesium, copper and manganese. It promotes beautiful skin, oral health, reducing stress, and protecting against radiation-induced DNA damage. It's high in protein so it is a great inclusion in a vegetarian diet. It can be used in homemade cosmetic products and medicines as well as in cooking.

Replacing dangerous, unhealthy oils with healthy alternatives doesn't have to cost a fortune. When you buy in bulk you can typically get the oil for cheaper and trust me, you will use it. From cooking to easy natural health and beauty products, chemical free cleaning products and first aid - and with so many benefits.

What oils do you have in your house and how do you use them?

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.