Meal Plan Monday

I love the New Year! For me it symbolizes a new beginning. A time to reflect on the year past and decide what changes can be made in order to thrive. Like most people, I like to focus on improving the health of myself and my family. My goals for the new year are to make an even greater effort to eat healthy and establish a daily exercise and meditation routine. I have noticed myself beginning to slack towards the end of the year and getting caught up in the overindulgences of the holidays. Im very excited to experiment with homesteading, specifically fermenting and sharing my experiences with others.

After returning from a two week vacation I look forward to getting back to my normal routine of cooking and have decided to share my two week menu plan I have created for the beginning of this year to help spread some inspiration! I don't necessarily assign specific meals to certain days, I simply right down some ideas that sound good to me and then decide usually the day before or morning of what we will be eating for dinner. It has dramatically cut down on the stress of cooking as well as my spending because I only by what I need to complete the meals, and limit having to run out for missing ingredients.

The meals I have chosen for the next two weeks are:

Whole Chicken
Turkey Tacos
Stir Fry
Chili
Enchiladas with homemade tomatillo sauce
Lettuce Wraps
Lasagna
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Pizza
Baked Potatoes
Kale and White Bean Soup
Garlic Lime Shrimp and Quinoa

My menu ideas are main dish only, I buy whatever fruits and vegetables are in season and on special and make the sides accordingly.

Do you meal plan? I would love for you to share some ideas!

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.

Easy-Peasy Homemade Salad Dressings

I promised this post awhile back, but with all the hustle and bustle that has been going on these past few weeks I haven't had a chance to sit down and get this out. Here it goes!

This post will share some recipes for very easy, healthy, homemade salad dressing. I typically make my own dressings because its cheaper and much healthier than buying store bought. Salad dressings are top offenders of GMO and MSG, two yucky ingredients I try to avoid at all costs. My family and friends always rave about how yummy and fresh my dressings taste.

Ranch Dressing:

1 cup of Greek Yogurt
1/2 juice from medium sized lemon
Seasonings: Dill, Garlic, Salt and Pepper

So anyone who knows my recipes knows I'm the worst about providing amounts for seasonings. I feel like everyone has different tastes so I suggest that you start light and add to appeal to your flavor.  You can use fresh dill and garlic or powdered seasonings. Your choice. I prefer the fresh herbs if available. You can mix with a spoon or add all ingredients into a food processor.

Lemon Tahini Dressing:
1/4 cup Tahini
2 tbs of olive oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 garlic cloves
1/4 cup of nutritional yeast
salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients into a food processor to mix. You can add water as needed to thin out. This is great on a yummy kale salad!

Italian Vinaigrette:

Olive Oil
Red Wine Vinegar
Basil
Garlic
Salt & Pepper

This one is simple and easy! Who doesn't like a vinaigrette?

Balsamic Vinaigrette:

Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Salt & Pepper

You can also add herbs to this if you wish. Some garlic, basil, thyme. Whatever tickles your fancy!

Creamy Avocado dressing:

Avocado
1/2 cup of greek yogurt
Lime juice
Garlic
Salt & Pepper

This one is yummy on pretty much anything. You can add some paprika, cumin and/or a little bit of cayanne pepper for a taco salad! Add shrimp, ground turkey or chicken!

I love salads! I love adding more and more ingredients until it is a yummy combination of greens, cheese, fruit, seeds or nuts, and even more veggies. They can be the perfect side, or even a whole meal. The possibities are endless!

What would love for you to share what your favorite type of salad is!

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.

Homemade Vietnamese Pho Soup

I love Pho! Oh man, do I love it. Even on a hot day I will crave this delicious, Vietnamese soup.  Pho is pronounce Fa, not Foe, and there are many different versions of this noodle soup from chicken to shrimp to tripe (cow belly). My favorite is the Pho Bo (Beef Pho), preferably the rare beef soup. This post is going to share with you my Pho-nomenal homemade Pho Bo recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

4-5 Beef Bones (knuckle or leg preferably, but any will do. Including Oxtails)
1 whole yellow onion
about 4 nubs of fresh ginger. For this recipe I used one large piece
Spices: 2 Cinnamon stick, 1 tsp Cloves, 1 tsp Fennel Seeds, 1 tsp Pickling Spice, 5 Star Anise, Salt to taste
Chopped Green Onions
Chopped Cilantro
1 gallon of water
Fish Oil
Flank Steak (1-1.5 lbs)
Rice Noodles

Garnish Tray:

Mung Bean Sprouts ( Try sprouting your own like I did!)
Thai Basil
Lime wedges
Jalepeno slices (optional)

Condiments:
Hoisin Sauce
Sriracha Sauce

The first step in making the Pho is to par-boil the bones for about 10 minutes to remove all the yucky stuff. There will be a lot of scum in this process. After they are done boiling you can dump out, rinse the bones and rinse out the pot. Fill with a gallon of fresh water and get ready to make the soup.

Charred onions and ginger

The next step is to cut the yellow onion in half, cut the fresh ginger in half lengthwise and char them. You can either hold them with tongs over an open flame, or I moved my open rack up to the top one and placed them on a cookie sheet under the broiler. Allow ends to get black and charred. It takes about 15 minutes. When finished you can remove from the oven and let cool. Once cool you can remove the oven skin. I pierced the ginger and onion with a knife to help release the flavors.

Now the soup is ready to begin. Put the onions and ginger into the water with the bones, and place the spices in a mesh bag, or cheesecloth and place in the water. Add about 1/4 cup of fish oil and bring to a boil. Add some salt (you can keep adding to taste during the process so start out with a low amount at first) Once it starts to boil turn down to a simmer, cover and let simmer for anywhere from 3-5 hours. Watch it occasionally and stir it, taste it and you can add seasonings accordingly.


When you are almost ready to eat, cook up the rice noodles following the instructions. Remove the beef bones, onions, ginger and spice bag so that all is left is the broth. You can leave it as is, or I like to add chopped green onions and cilantro because I like a lot of veggies in my Pho.

Yummy Extras

Turn the broth back on till it begins to boil for a minute or two. Slice the flank steak, or whatever kind of meat you are using and cut it against the grain while the meat is uncooked. Add the noodles to a bowl, add the hot broth and add the meat in immediately so that it cooks in the broth. I was a little scared of this at first, but I promise you it's so Pho-king good and cooks up perfectly. If you wish, you can sear the beef on each side before you slice the meat. You can then begin to customize your soup by adding all the fixings. The bean sprouts, some lime juice, yummy basil. I've even heard of people adding more cilantro and mint. You can also season with the hoisin sauce and Sriracha making a nice little balance of sweet and hot.

Now for how cheap Pho is, it's probably easier to just run out and pick some up, but it's so fun to make your own, and you can impress your friends!

I would love to hear if any of you try this and what you think of it!

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.

Frugal Friday- Mommytime!!

Being a mommy is a very giving, selfless job. I can hardly remember the last time I got a mani-pedi. Or a massage. Those days are long gone! Not that I'm complaining. I'm a pretty low maintenance girl when it comes to beauty stuff. Being at home with the kids all day working and homeschooling, most days I don't  even wear makeup. Or put it on right before I'm expecting my husband just so I don't feel like I've been a mess all day (Which usually I am, between dirty grimy kiddie hands and trying to clean, etc.!)

Thanks to our beloved Pinterest, I have found so many great ideas of how to stay looking good without having to spend time and money. This post will share with you some healthy, home beauty products that have amazing results!

Bentonite clay mask- I have a love affair with bentonite clay. It is a definite must have for the house as it has so many uses. It's a powerful poultice and makes a great facial mask. Rumored to have been used regularly by Cleopatra, as well as ancient Aztec warriors it has age reducing benefits and works well to restore youth and beauty. You can find this at most health food stores (not at Trader Joe's) or online. Most jars have the instructions on the package. You mix some powdered clay with vinegar or water (I prefer vinegar) and put it on as a mask. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes. The mask will get really hard and may even itch a bit. When you wash your face it will be bright red and pulsating for a bit. Don't worry! This is normal. The clay and vinegar mixture works to remove deep impurities. This mask works best when done once a week.

Microdermabrasion- The recipe is simple. One part water, one part baking soda. mix it together and scrub all over your face. Rub in circular motions paying particular attention to areas where you have blackheads or clogged pores. Wash it off and dry. Viola! Your face is bright and beautiful! Just like the mask, I try to incorporate this scrub into my weekly facial routine.

Teeth Whitener- Mix a small amount of water and a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into a glass. I like to use this as a mouthwash before I brush. I just swish and swirl it around for a few minutes and then brush my teeth. The hydrogen peroxide helps to brighten and whiten your teeth and is a common ingredient in most whitening products.

Detox bath- This can be a nice, relaxing little escape. That is if you don't have interruptions by crying children over someone not sharing, not wanting to go to bed, etc. For me it seems like even if they are asleep, the second I get into the bath some major disaster occurs! HA! Anyways, this bath can be done two ways, you can use either epsom salts or some of the powdered bentonite clay. Either one has beneficial affects for the body. The epsom helps to draw out toxins while also replenishing magnesium (a common deficiency in most people) while the clay works well to remove toxins and heavy metals. Detox baths help to stimulate the lymphatic system and cleansing our largest organ, our skin. Drawing out these impurities often is a great way to keep your body fresh and functioning well.

Now don't get me wrong, these in no way substitute a kid free, husband free, dog free spa pampering session! But I think most mommies would approve at how easy, cheap and accessible it is to do these at home on a regular basis. Besides, what about the fact that just one of these treatments at a high-end place would be probably double of what you can get all the ingredients combined to DIY? You can get hydrogen peroxide, epsom salts and baking soda all at the Dollar Tree. That right there saves you a ton!

Do you use any homemade beauty products? If so, please 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.

Fermentation Fun!- Homemade Sauerkraut

My name is Victoria, and I'm a fermentaholic. Seriously, I'm obsessed in a where-has-this-been-all-my-life, type of way! I started about 6 months ago brewing my own Kombucha and have been experimenting since.  It's such a fun easy way to make your own food and the health benefits of fermented foods are tremendous.

My most recent experiment was Sauerkraut. It was very easy, with the hardest part being patient and waiting for the food to naturally do it's thing! I always get a little nervous when I ferment. We have all been conditioned to believe that pasteurization is necessary and to be fearful of all bacteria. The truth is that fermented foods have lots of health benefits, and can increase vitality and wellbeing. This post is to share with you how easy it is to make your own sauerkraut!

Homemade Sauerkraut:

• Head of green cabbage
• Sea Salt
• Filtered water
• Jar
• Cover- Paper towel, tea towel, coffee filter, cheese cloth, etc. 
• Rubberband
• Something to weigh down the cabbage to stay submerged (right now I use a plastic baggie filled with water but am still searching for a better alternative that is nonplastic) 

Shred the cabbage and place into a bowl and cover with salt. Massage and knead the salt into the cabbage to bruise and help to release the juices needed to help ferment. Pour the cabbage/salt combo into the container and fill with water enough to submerge the cabbage. Place the weight on to help hold the cabbage under the water.  I cover my container with a paper towel and use a couple of rubber bands to keep it safe and clean from bugs, dust, etc. 

Let your batch sit for 7-14 days and it will be ready to bottle. Now beware! This is a stinky, smelly process. My fermentation station is setup in the garage because, although I've grown to love that smell, I don't want it in my house. I check on my brews every couple of days, testing and trying until it matches my taste. That is the beauty of fermenting. You can extend the process if you want it more sour and tart, or shorten if you want it more sweet tasting. 

Now chances are there will be some sort of whitish scum on the top of the batch- Don't despair! This is "The Mother" a sign of healthy bacterias infusing our food creating your own homemade probiotics! Amazing isn't it! You can just scoop off and discard a bit of the top layer and below should be beautiful, yummy sauerkraut! When bottling leave just a little room for air at the top and the batches will continue to ferment until placed in the fridge. They can be stored in a pantry almost indefinitely!

Fermentation is one of the safest and healthiest ways to preserve food. Many people fear bacteria in their food but good bacteria, lactic acid producing bacteria, can be used to extend the life of your food.  Warning signs to look for when fermenting are: pink cabbage, mold, slime, and a yeasty odor. If you see a white film on top- Smile! You are fermenting! You want to allow your food to ferment for at least two weeks when its warm out and even longer when the weather gets cooler. Allowing it to fully have time to ferment increases the Lactic Acid Bacteria lowering the PH and preventing spoilage.

Im hooked and so excited for all the possibilities that lacto-fermenting has to offer. I can't wait for all the future experiments such as making my own yogurt, adding veggies and other ingredients to future sauerkrauts, fermenting salsas and chutney's! Who knows, maybe even trying to brew my own beer and wine!

Have you tried fermenting? We would love to hear all about it!!

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.

Maniac Monday

It's Monday! Instead of waking up feeling inspired to start my week I felt tired and worn out! This past week of traveling back and forth to celebrate two thanksgivings with both sides of the family has me longing for nap time (Please oh please let my kids nap at the same time today! Mama needs it!) My house is a disaster, I haven't even begun anything in the form of Christmas presents and I'm really starting to feel the financial pressures of the holidays along with the fact that I'm making a lot less money now that I'm able to stay home with the kids as opposed to working full time.

As my morning started out rough I began to panic about how things such as how fast the year has gone by, how much more I would like to start contributing financially to the family, what to get this person and that person for Christmas and finally had to take a step back. Why all the stress? It's completely unnecessary and does no service! BREATHE! Everything is gonna be alright!

I took the kids and the dog for a walk outside and it was so refreshing. The air was cool and crisp, and the birds were chirping. We stopped at our favorite little spot for the kids to run around for a bit. As I just stood and watched the kids play I remembered something I had read over the weekend about Earthing.  Earthing is the belief that modern lifestyle has us disconnected with the Earth and it's beautiful energy, which causes us to be stressed out and vulnerable to illness.  Simply walking barefoot on the earth for a few minutes a day can absorb the energy helping to feel more grounded and connected. So I took off my Uggs and walked around barefoot on the cool damp grass for about 15 minutes. Will I sound like too much of a hippie when I tell you how amazing it felt. I could literally feel the energy being drawn up through the soles of my feet. I began to feel energized and motivated. I used this time to meditate with the universe and ask it to guide me and reveal what I am supposed to be doing. At the end of the short session I felt so much better about where I am in my life. It helped to answer some of my questions as to what I can be doing differently while also showing me that patience is key.

Being a mommy I don't get as much quiet alone time to be with just myself, my thoughts and the universe. Today was a great reminder of finding solace in a very simple way, just by walking barefoot on the dewy grass while watching my kids enjoy life. It helped me realize how I need to open my eyes and take advantage of moments like this when I can rather than being over consumed with the pressures and duties of everyday life. Instead of waiting till I get some peace and quiet without coming up with one of the million of excuses of other things I should be doing rather than meditating, I need to create more time to connect with myself and nature. I look forward to including earthing in my daily rituals and feeling more grounded and stable.

Have you tried Earthing? We would love to hear all about it!

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.

Pumpkin Trifle Recipe

I have wanted a trifle dish for the past couple of years after regretting not registering one for our wedding. At the time it didn't cross my mind and as I began to cook more, and of course thanks to some   Pinspiration (inspiration from none other than Pinterest!) it became something I longed for. While going through my late grandmother's belongings, I acquired her trifle dish, and began to think of all the yummy possibilities that were in my near future.

After having the dish for over a month and still not having used it I decided to make a yummy pumpkin bread trifle to bring to Thanksgiving. I was ecstatic and couldn't wait to make it. It turned out so amazing that I wanted to share the recipe!

Pumpkin Trifle

Buy some pumpkin bread or Trader Joe's box Pumpkin bread and muffin mix (which is what I did). Cut the bread into cubes.

Buy a can of Sweetened Condensed Milk and boil completely covered for 2 hours (make sure the can is completely covered at all times. Do not let the water even get to the top of the can or it can explode!) I cooked mine for about 2 1/2 hours just to make sure since it was my first time. You need to keep watching the water level to make sure that it is always higher. That was probably the hardest part of this  recipe. I was VERY excited to try this. Once it has boiled pull it out with tongs and set aside to cool off. Once it has cooled place it in the fridge.

You can buy candied walnuts or I made my own by turning a pan on medium heat and toasting them slightly and then poured about a 1/4 cup of sugar with a cup of chopped walnuts and a dash of salt and some cinnamon. I stirred frequently especially when the sugar started to melt, until the nuts were coated and then took off the stove to cool and set aside.

I used a can of organic pumpkin and mixed some cinnamon and a dash of vanilla extract.

I bought a box of storable whipping cream from Trader Joe's to use as a layer. Make sure you store this in the fridge at least 6 hours before you want to make it! I whipped it up with a teaspoon of brown sugar, a dash of vanilla and some pumpkin pie spice. It didn't whip up as nicely as I hoped it would, but I didn't beat up on myself too much because this was my first time using whipping cream.

I layered the pumpkin bread with the candied walnuts drizzled some caramel and topped with canned pumpkins. Then added another layer of bread, nuts and caramel. For the final layer I mixed the rest of the canned pumpkin with the whipping cream to make a pumpkin mousse. Then topped with the rest of nuts and drizzled some caramel. The dessert was a hit, so fun to make and doesn't it just look beautiful! Grammy would be proud! This recipe will definitely be made again!

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.