Make one small change!

Please don't be intimidated by the thought of healthy eating! You don't need to go to extremes like some people choose to do! (like me haha) Start by making one small change with the groceries you buy. Make that change a habit. Research and understand why you are doing it so that it means something to you and you fully understand the benefits of your choice.

Five easy changes you can make!

1. Buy whole wheat bread instead of the enriched and unbleached options
2. Choose one new fruit and one new veggie you have never bought before and learn how to cook/eat it!
3. Try tofu! Yes it is weird and you have totally prejudged it in the past, but give it a try in a stir-fry!
4. Buy a new kind of "milk" in addition to your normal cow's milk. Rice, almond and soy have different flavors, textures and health benefits. Totally get the chocolate flavored Silk soy milk if you are too freaked out right now. It's a friendly place to start :)
5. Read the labels!!! On the back of you favorite spice mix find one word you don't know from the ingredient list and then google it! Find out how it benefits or hinders healthy function in your body!

Freddie's has a great natural food section that is full of yummy foods at cheap prices!! Catch the sales!

Like I said, just making one good change is awesome! Be in control of what you put in your mouth!
Go you!!!

Super Cheesy Shells N' Cheese!

This Shells N' Cheese is full of protein and happy-fat! And totally does it for you emotionally when all you can think about is cheesy goodness.

Pasta:

Cook your noodle of choice al dente. I used straight up semolina shells, but whatever cute little noodles you love the most will work just fine!

Pimento Cheese:

1 cup cashews

1/2 tsp salt

2 oz pimentos

1 cup water

a pinch of garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

-Blend until smooth, then add

2 tsp fresh lemon

Mixers:

Whatever you love works!!

I added very very small pieces of:

Baked Tofu

Fresh tomatoes

Green olives

Salt to taste!!!

*Dairy Free *Vegan *Can be gluten free just use the right noodles!

A little info on cooking oils

I challenge everyone to question the oil you choose to cook with and make sure it is the healthiest most beneficial option! There are many great choices, you just have to do some research on the subject!!!
 Here is just one site out of many to read!
http://www.spectrumorganics.com/?id=240

A Few Things I Am Excited To Do!

Make my own bread!!!

Sprout grain!!

Cake and cookies vegan style!

Dark chocolate covered strawberries!

Oooh, keep posted for vegan mac n cheese!! My wheels are turning...I have an amazing "cheese" recipe that I got from a dear friend. Yum!

Renae’s Black Bean and Corn Salsa

*The amounts for each ingredient can be more or less according to your preference

This recipe is super yummy vegan style or chicken style!!!

Shopping list:
Veggie or Chicken Bouillon (two small cubes)
Canned Tomatoes (one can with no added seasonings! If you want the salsa slightly juicy, use two cans)
Canned Black Beans (five cans)
Canned Whole Kernel Corn (four cans, frozen works too!)
Onion (one large)
Cilantro (one whole bunch)
Bell Peppers (one red and one orange)
Jalapeños (as many as you want, or none )
Garlic (one clove)

Directions:
Have a large bowl ready! Rinse the black beans and corn and dump in the bowl. Chop into small pieces the onion, cilantro, bell peppers, and jalapeños (take the seeds out first) and dump it all in the bowl. Blend the tomatoes, garlic and bouillon and pour over the salsa mixture. Mix well from the bottom up.

Ideas:
We really like the salsa just with chips, but it is also amazing on tofu, chicken or steak tacos, or scoop it onto a bed of lettuce with rotisserie chicken chunks. You can make a great southwest soup by adding the salsa to boiling veggie or chicken broth and cooked chicken! Sprinkle crushed chips on top.

The salsa will be awesome no matter how you change it up. Have fun with the ingredients, make it your own.
Enjoy!

What is in my kitchen at this moment that I can cook with??

I seriously think that with amazing whole-food ingredients on hand you can't go wrong in the kitchen!!!

I always have various whole grains and legumes in my pantry. In my fridge are always fresh veggies in bulk-costco style!! My counter is covered with fresh fruit including avacados and tomatoes, bananas, apples, lemons...also I have a ton of garlic and some sweet potatoes and squash. In the bottom of my pantry there are red potatoes and onions. My freezer has various frozen veggies along with lots of tofu (I stock up when it's on sale!) and some organic chicken. I choose to avoid added sweeteners and spices, preservatives...anything not natural. As a result I use a lot of fresh garlic, onion and cilantro to season my food. I have also found some veggie-boullion, minced ginger, lemongrass, soy sauce, tamari sauce, curry powder...fresh ground sea salt that I use often. I recently discovered this D-lish Thai curry paste that makes the best Thai food ever!

So, with great ingredients on hand, healthy delicious meals are at your fingertips!

This is what I made for lunch today :)

Costco stir fry veggies are sauteeing in grapeseed oil, soy sauce, ginger, onion and garlic powder...with tiny pieces of baked tofu. In the oven are sweet potato "fries" (cut round) topped with cilantro, grapeseed oil and onion and garlic powder...and some fresh ground sea salt.

meat-free dairy-free gluten-free