Fermented Beet Kvass

It's Fermented Friday and time for another recipe for a newfound health drink that I stumbled upon as I try to make all kinds of homemade, healthy foods and drinks.

I love beets! They are so yummy and earthy tasting, and they have tremendous health benefits, including purifying your blood. They are great in salads, juiced, sautéed with sweet potatoes, and roasted. Having explored through hoards of fermenting recipes the past few weeks I came across a recipe for homemade Beet Kvass. What a fancy name! What is this concoction? I had never even heard about it, yet my love of fermentation and my love of beets were telling my body that this was something I needed to try!

This post will share with you just how easy this is and drinking 4 ounces each morning and evening have shown to lower blood pressure, purify the blood, aid in digestion and detoxify the liver. It is rich in B vitamins and minerals such as copper, potassium and magnesium. It is a great health tonic to add to any diet.

Ingredients:

Beets (3-4) peeled and chopped (save the discarded greens for yummy salad or sauteed with garlic and onion)
3 tbs sea salt
Filtered water
Whey

Place the chopped beets, in a large glass jar (1/2-1 gallon) add salt and cover with water. Cover with either a paper towel or tea towel and secure with a rubber band. Let the mixture sit on your counter for 3 days then bottle the liquid saving the beets, and a few tablespoons of liquid to brew a second batch. Add about a tbs more of salt and add water to cover and repeat the fermentation process for 2 days and bottle. When the beet kvass has been bottled let it sit in a cool, dry place for another day or two to allow for them to ferment for a couple more days. Place the jars in the fridge where they can stay until you are ready to drink.

Basically the brew tastes like salted beet juice. It has a very earthy, salty taste. Mine did not have the same carbonation taste that I am used to in fermented drink, but it was yummy nonetheless and gave me tremendous energy! I feel so great after I have a glass and really enjoy it.

Have you tried Beet Kvass? Please share your thoughts and experience!

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.

Tips to Save Money on Eating Healthy!

Anyone who does regular grocery shopping is sure to notice how much grocery prices have increased in the last few years. A family of 4 can spend more than $500 a month on grocery shopping, which I happen to think is a lot! With the cost of food going up I have been trying to do whatever I can to help lower our monthly grocery bill. This post will share with you some of the tips and tricks I have learned to help lower how much we spend on food every month while also creating healthy options to eating.

• Plan Ahead

Planning out meals helps to make sure you have everything on hand to cook and makes sure you don't go overboard at the store buying things you don't need. When I go shopping without a list I find myself making a lot more impulse buys, and then when its time to make meals I have crucial ingredients missing which means another trip to the store. By following a meal plan I feel much more organized, have everything on hand to make yummy healthy meals and save time and money! I also offer a weekly meal plan service for $5 a week (or $15 a month) which includes a weekly menu of easy, heathy recipes, grocery list and even a double meal recipe to freeze and leftover suggestions. For more information on participating in my weekly meal plan service you can email me at Victoria@yogimami.com

Homemade lasagna with leftover ground turkey meat

• Get Creative with Leftovers 

When I make my 2 week menu plan I try to think of what I can do with leftover food so that it don't get trashed. My husband is not a fan of leftovers so I have to try to make it into something different from what we had the day before. This includes leftover turkey meat made into a meat sauce for spaghetti, or leftover pork roast as pulled pork sandwiches. Its a great way to make a super easy meal because the meat is usually already cooked that you can throw something together in no time.

• Make Your Own

For those of you who have been following you know I have been making my own EVERYTHING lately. At least that is how it seems to me. Broths, butter, yogurt, mustard, mayonnaise, salsa, granola, salad dressings and pretty much all breakfasts, lunch and dinners. When you make it yourself you have the added benefit of controlling what you ingest and keeping yucky ingredients at bay. And honestly, it takes a little time, but it is all typically very easy! Also, the sooner you start the easier it gets. You can spend a few hours on a weekend preparing and putting together for foods and condiments that will last you several weeks.

• Use Your Freezer

When I make soups or stews I tend to make larger batches which I can then put in the freezer and save for another meal. This is awesome for those nights where we don't want to go out or order take out, but really really don't want to cook. I can defrost a batch of Chicken Tortialla Soup or Chili, warm it up on the stove and still have a home cooked meal with very little effort! Its a great way to store leftovers to have on hand when you get sick and want to still eat something healthy without having to cook or resorting to unhealthy canned soups. It's also perfect to pull out if you are going to be out for the night and need a meal for a babysitter to warm up.

• Cut Meat Portions in Half

After watching documentaries like Forks over Knives and reading books such as the China Study I learned the benefits of eating more plant protein over animal protein. I am a typical meat and potatoes girl so I could never become vegetarian or vegan, I just know that about myself. But I am able to recognize that too much meat is not a good thing so I cut our meat portions in half and just added extra sides. I will usually have 2-3 different sides with a meal, with the majority of them being some sort of healthy grain or veggies.

• Add More Veggies

Because we were eating less meat we were doubling up on the veggies. I would make something like chicken stuffed with kale, red peppers and some cheese served over garlic quinoa and have a kale salad with  cranberries, almonds and lemon tahini dressing. Boosting your intake of fruits and veggies helps to fulfill your nutrition intake while leaving your body satisfied. Fruits and veggies cost less than

• Buy What's in Season and Local

When I make my list I usually just put Fruit or Veggies, meaning that I will buy whatever is in season and on special. From there I am able to get great produce for a good price and then decide the rest of my meals from there. I love shopping at my local Coop or Farmer's Market because you can get beautiful produce that didn't sit in a truck for days or weeks to get delivered which means its a lot fresher and contains more nutrients. Compare a $1.99 bag of lettuce at the commercial grocery store that has been sprayed with chemicals to make it appear fresher for longer to a self selected mix of lettuces (the same amount) for $1.

• Grow Your Own! 
  

I am so envious of people who have these beautiful, bountiful gardens. We do not have much space but I have been growing some things on our patio and making use of some window ledges. I grow most of my own herbs, some greens and have even grown some things out of kitchen scraps. I try to grow what we use a lot of like Kale, chives, garlic, beets, carrots, cilantro, chard and potatoes. Our bounties are small, but I like to try to make the most out of what I can such as making a pesto with carrot greens. I use my garlic scapes chopped to season butter and other dishes practically for free and even beet greens and kale as a sauteed side or a salad. Sprouting is another option to incorporate live food into your diet and its so easy to do yourself for just pennies compared to $5 at the the stores. 

By incorporating these habits into our lifestyle I have cut our grocery bills almost in half! I am loving the changes that I made both in our wallet and our families health. It's fun and fulfilling and brings me a sense of joy knowing that I am doing what I can for us to live the healthiest life we can while saving money.

I would love to hear about any ideas or suggestions you have to live healthy on a budget?

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.

Breakfast of Champions!

We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so make sure you are starting your day off on the right foot with these easy, healthy recipes. Both are kid tested and Yogi Mami approved and are perfect for anyone who is on a gluten free diet or looking for some wheat free recipes. These are chock full of nutrients without having to give up taste and are a great alternative to other commercial breakfasts that typically contain yucky ingredients. And the best news is that these recipes are quick and easy and can even be made the night before if time is a major issue.

Coconut Banana Pancakes    

• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup mashed banana 
• 1/4 cup almond milk or coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp maple syrup
• pinch of sea salt
• pinch of ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Heat up a pan on medium heat and add coconut oil or butter. Make smaller silver dollar sized pancakes and cook on both sides until cooked. These were delicious topped with some homemade butter and fresh blueberries from the Farmer's Market! Everyone loved them! You could even add some chopped apples or berries directly in the batter while cooking. So many options! *If you are pressed for time you can make the pancakes the night before and refrigerate and warm up in a toaster oven the next morning!

                                                                                                            Quinoa Parfait

• Quinoa
• Almond Milk
• Butter
• vanilla extract
• cinnamon
• salt
• yogurt
• berries
• nuts

Let quinoa soak overnight and then cook up like normal adding a little almond milk and butter. Add a dash of salt, cinnamon and 1tsp of vanilla extract when cooked and mix. Add to some yogurt (CLICK HERE for my easy homemade recipe) add some nuts like sunflower seeds, almonds and some fresh berries. Drizzle with honey and enjoy! *To save time you can cook the quinoa the night before (just soak for a couple hours before cooking) refrigerate and warm up the next morning adding the almond and butter and other ingredients when re-warming. Add extras (nuts, berries, etc.) after re-warmed.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and would love to hear if you tried them or would like to share your own easy, yummy breakfast recipes!

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 Sweet Treats

My kids love sweets, unfortunately for them they have a big, bad, mean mom who doesn't let them indulge in their sweet tooth as they please. In fact, I make it a point to try to avoid any un-necessary sweeteners in foods and can notice a difference in my kids listening and attitude habits based on what they eat. However, I don't want to be a total fun hater so I try to make yummy, nutritious treats for them whenever I can. This post will share with you my family's 3 favorite dessert/treat recipes that you or your kids can enjoy while also being healthy!

Banana Softserve

Homemade Softserve

1-2 Frozen peeled bananas
2-3 Tbs of milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Dash of salt
Couple dashes of cinnamon
1 Tbs. Pure Maple Syrup/Honey
Additional Flavors to your liking

This recipe is perfect for a summer treat. My kids go crazy for it and I can whip it up in no time! It's can be made dairy free and in different flavors. When I have bananas that are going to go bad I peel them and throw them into a ziplock in the freezer. When I want to make ice cream I take a couple of frozen bananas and throw them into a blender or Babycook. Add some milk (almond, hemp, coconut, etc.) vanilla
extract, maple syrup or    honey, salt and cinnamon. Then it's time to
puree. It's so easy and comes out the perfect consistency of softserve. You can substitute the cinnamon for cocoa powder, or you can add frozen fruit, even peanut butter and jelly. I can't wait to experiment with numerous other flavors this summer!


Chocolate Mousse

1-2 Avocados
1 Tbs Cocoa Powder
2 Tbs Honey/Pure Maple Syrup

This creamy, chocolatey dessert is equally as yummy as it is healthy. The main ingredient here is avocado. Sounds weird I know, but trust me on this. It's sure to get even the pickiest eater to get some of they green superfood without even knowing it! Again, in a blender or Babycook add avocados, cocoa powder and maple syrup or honey. Blend until completely mixed and viola! You've got yourself a dose of healthy fats and vitamins disguised as a delectable treat.

Fluffy Sourdough Cookies

1.5 cups flour  

Sourdough Cookies

1.5 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cups sugar
1 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup Fresh Sourdough Starter
1 tablespoons water

I am constantly looking for new recipes to use my sourdough starters. Eating Sourdough provides lots of vitamins and minerals, help to maintain a healthy GI tract and help the body to absorb nutrients. I have been making my own Sourdough starters for a few months now and I love how easy it is. I still have yet to perfect the art of making a Sourdough loaf, but I am growing my confidence and hope to master it soon and make a post about it. This recipe is only for about 12 medium sized cookies so if you want more you can double (or triple) the recipe. Preheat the oven to 375F. In a bowl cream together the sugar, egg, butter and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients and mix together with the wet ingredients. Drop the dough in balls onto a cookie sheet and cook for 12 minutes. They were so soft and fluffy and my husband and kids loved them! Next time I will try substituting the sugar for honey or maple syrup and see how it turns out as I always like to find natural alternative to sugar. These  will definitely make another appearance in the near future!

I love having easy, nutritious and super yummy recipes on hand so that I can try to indulge in our cravings without filling up on empty, useless calories. At least with these recipes I can know that they are free of yucky ingredients and provide dietary benefits. 

I would love for you to share your favorite healthy treat/dessert recipes!

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.

Sleep Like a Baby?

Whoever invented the term sleep like a baby obviously never had one! Usually babies are pretty good sleepers the first several weeks after birth, they will sleep anywhere, anytime no matter what is going on. But as the babies begin to get older they tend to be very particular about where or how they sleep which can be very trying for parents. Usually they will do whatever they can to get the baby to fall asleep, including driving around in the car until the child finally passes out or co sleeping into the school years.

Many crunchy mamas are very much into co-sleeping. I feel to each his own, but for me and my husband we preferred to put the kids in there own bed once they were around 6 months old. We wanted to train them to sleep in their own room allowing us our private time and reserving sleeping in our bed for rare occasions (sick babies or if they are really scared). This post is to share some of the sleep training tricks that have worked for us and have helped us to have some alone time once the kids go to bed.

The most important thing to do is to try to establish a routine. Kids love routine, it just might not seem like it at first. Over the years I have observed that when we stay pretty close to schedule the kids are in better behaved, not as whiney and fussy. But when we are on vacation or just off schedule it's Crazytown! Our schedule has been the same for about the past 3 1/2 years. We have dinner, then a little playtime/story time, then it's time for the bath with my secret sleepy potion, brush our teeth, and then we end with some songs and then down for bed. The sleepy time potion I use is an essential oils combination of Chamomile and Lavender. I put a few drops in the tub and when they were babies I had some in a spray bottle that I would spray on the sheets at bedtime to help calm and soothe my little ones.  (You can buy a blend from my online store HERE)

Sleep training is not easy and many parents despise letting the baby cry it out. It was hard for me at first because I felt so sad, as if I was abandoning my child. Or at least that they would think I was abandoning them. The first day or so I would would take awhile with A LOT of crying. I would go in every 20 minutes or so to comfort them, let them know that Mama was there, sing a song and then put them back down. They need to get used to being by themselves and that is a big adjustment. After all, they started in your womb and then paired with the few months of co-sleeping, they are used to being near the mom and dad. It takes time and patience but I promise you it gets better each day. After about a week or so they should be comfortable settling into their routine and it will all be downhill from there.

From my experience with two children I have noticed that anytime I have to try something new, whether it be sleep training, potty training or weening from bottle/pacifier it usually takes about a week or so for the hard part to be over. With patience and time it gets so much easier and the unbearable part is over before you know it. Just remain consistent and understand why you are doing what you are doing. Just because your child is crying and unhappy for a short period does not mean that you are neglecting or causing your child psychological damage. I personally think that it teaches many important life lessons and preparation for how to deal with changes in the future that are important to ones growth and development.

I would love to hear any stories, information or helpful tips about sleep training or handling any other milestone changes with children!

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.

Got Kale?!

Kale, the yummy super food veggie! Kale packs more nutrition per bite than anything else you can eat! The first time I had Kale I was in my mid-twenties. I couldn't believe I had never had it before, although I'm not sure my less healthy version of myself in my younger age wouldn't have appreciated it as much as I do now. I cook with kale weekly either picking up a bunch at a local Farmer's Market or Coop or even getting some baby kale greens from my garden. This post is devoted to my love of Kale and some yummy recipes that my family loves!

Kale Soup:

• Potatoes (cubed)
• Vegetable (or chicken) broth
• Carrots (diced)
• Garlic (chopped)
• Onions (sauteed)
• Kale (chopped)
• White Beans (pre-soaked)
• Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper

Turn a large pot on medium heat and add some olive oil. Sautee up the garlic and onions for a couple of minutes until translucent. Add chicken broth, veggies and beans. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let pot come to a boil and then turn to a simmer and cover. Let the soup simmer for 45 minutes to an hour and add kale to soup for the last 20 minutes. Serve with a crusty loaf of sourdough bread and if you are feeling really ambitious, you can CLICK HERE for a super easy recipe to make some homemade butter while the soup is cooking!

Kale and Spinach Balls:   

Homegrown Garden Greens

• Frozen Kale
• Frozen Spinach
• Egg
• Breadcrumbs
• Salt & Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Shredded Parmesan

Defrost Kale and Spinach. Preheat oven to 350-F degrees. In a bowl mix greens, add egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix all ingredients together by hand. Roll the mixture into balls and place on cookie sheet. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the balls start to brown a little. Serve immediately or can save in tupperware in fridge to be consumed within a couple days as a side or a snack. These reheat well and my kids love them. It's a great way for them to eat their veggies!

Kale Salad:

The base of this salad is chopped kale (ribbed optional, I happen to like the ribs!) you can add lots of yummy additives. I've tried all kind so you can pick and choose based on your likes so please experiment! Bell peppers, goji berries, pepitas, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, carrots, green onions, cranberries, avocado- you name it! Throw it all in there for a yummy power packed side, or go big and have it as a meal itself. Now the trick to a good kale salad is to let the dressing sit and marinade for about 10 minutes. Most salads will begin to wilt after sitting dressed for too long, but kale is thick and hearty. Tossing it and allowing it to sit for a few minutes allows the flavors to marry. I usually make a homemade dressing with whatever I have on hand. CLICK HERE to checkout some of my homemade dressing recipes which are a much healthier, and cost effective alternative to store bought dressings.

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.

Fermented Probiotic Salsa Verde

A few posts back I wrote about my Homemade Salsa Verde that has become a family favorite. As I have been continuing my goal of making everything homemade and healthy I decided to try a fermented version of the yummy salsa to add a health boost. It turned out amazing and so easy!!

All you need to do is make the tomatillo sauce following THIS recipe. Once you do that you blend in some whey (CLICK HERE to learn how to make your own). Put it on the counter, cover with a secured paper towel and let it sit for 2-4 days. Then you can put a sealed top and put in the fridge. That's it! So easy and full of probiotic benefits!

Salsa Verde is good on chicken, fish or any Mexican dish The sauce is great for enchiladas, but if that is the case you can skip the fermentation process since the heat from cooking will just kill all the good bacteria. Below is the recipes of the meal we ate with my new fermented condiment. The menu is super healthy and gluten free that I put together for one of our dinner during the Spring Real Food Challenge.

A Fermented Feast!

• Turkey Tacos
• Mexican Quinoa
• Homemade Guacamole
• Sauerkraut Coleslaw

Tacos:

I make these bad boys about once a week. My family loves it! You can use any ground meat that you choose. I typically use turkey but you can do beef or even bison! For tortillas it is best to try to get organic corn (since 90% of corn is GMO). I like to add lots and lots of veggies to my tacos too then I usually have leftover meat to make things like spaghetti, lasagna or even taco salad. Chop some garlic, onion and carrots to add to the meat. Place a pan on med heat with a little olive oil. Add veggies and sautee for a couple minutes before adding the meat. Brown the meat adding salt, pepper, paprika, cumin and maybe a bit of cayanne pepper (depending on how spicy you want it) and cook the meat. I like to garnish my tacos with some cheese, chopped cilantro and chopped red onions. Oh and don't forget the salsa!

In a separate pan heat up some oil (I prefer coconut or sunflower) and cook up the taco shells. Placing on a paper towel to cool.

Mexican Quinoa:

Pre-soak Quinoa in water for a couple of hours. Drain an then cook quinoa according to package. Add chopped garlic and chopped tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, paprika and cumin. Add some lime zest and some lime juice.

Guacamole:

Scoop out avocado and place in a bowl saving at least one pit. Add chopped garlic, lime juice and some salt and pepper and mash with a fork. Add the pit to keep from browning and put in fridge.


Sauerkraut coleslaw:

Making your own sauerkraut is easy CLICK HERE (but takes about a week to ferment so plan accordingly). In a bowl add sauerkraut with some of the liquid, you can add chopped red onion, garlic and cilantro. Add some lime zest and lime juice, salt and pepper and a dash of cumin. Mix and let it sit in the fridge for at least two hours.

This meal was so simple, so healthy and so delicious! I can't wait to make it again.

I would love for you to try your own fermented salsa and tell us how it was!



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.