Green Green Juice Recipe

We have been juicing a lot recently, and Emerson LOVES it!  He drinks at least half of our "Green Green Juice" whenever we make it.  I have received several requests for my juice recipe since I posted a picture of Emerson helping me make juice:

While I do not have a set "recipe", I do have a template I typically follow.  This morning's juice was made with our delicious organic farmer's market finds:

I used a bunch of kale, one apple (Fiji or Gala or something of equal sweetness), a quarter of a lemon, a bunch of carrots, a quarter of a cucumber and 2 stalks of celery.  I vary the amount of each vegetable each time based on what we have.  I will also you ginger instead of lemon sometimes.  The ginger gives it a nice spice, but sometimes I accidentally use too much, which makes it too spicy for Emerson.  I will also use organic beets sometimes (but be careful because many beets are GMO).  I also do not always use cucumber.  Sometimes I like to throw in some lettuce (green leaf, red leaf or romaine), too.

Our morning juice:

Recipe: 

1 bunch of organic kale

1 apple (Gala or Fiji or one of equal sweetness)

3-5 carrots depending on size (the more you use the sweeter the juice will taste)

3-5 stalks of celery

Optional add ins: 

Cucumber

Ginger

Lemon

Beets (with greens)

Lettuce (Romaine, red leaf or green leaf)

**All ORGANIC Ingredients**

What's your favorite juice recipe?

I have found that I crave green juice on the days I do not make it.  I also have more energy and a better mood when I drink it.  I feel it gives me more energy than a cup of coffee or tea.  Try serving your delicious Green Green Juice with my favorite eco-friendly stainless steel straws!

For more delicious and healthy recipes click below:  

Amazing Almond Butter Smoothie

Low Glycemic Dairy Free Ice Cream

Homemade Healthy Cereal Recipe 

Gluten Free Dairy Free Chicken Nugget Recipe

Low Glycemic Index Smoothie Recipe (with greens)

Healthy, veggie-packed meatballs - Gluten and Dairy free

Healthy regards,

Courtney

THRIVE: Natural Family Living

My Little Picasso!

Wow! It has been a while since I have posted. We have been busy getting ready to move, but I have lots of great posts I want to write soon!!

Now that weather is warming up, I finally got to do an outdoor activity I have been wanting to do with Emerson all winter....painting! Of course I don't want him to play with toxic store bought paints so I decided to make my own. I used 1/2 cup Bob's gluten free all-purpose flour mixed with 2 cups purified water. I heated the mixture in a saucepan over medium heat until my desired consistency. I was already making fresh green juice for us so I used some I the veggies to make separate juice and use as dye. I used kale, carrot and beet juices. Next time I want to try turmeric and blueberries. I also think red onion, red cabbage and tea would make good dyes. It was a very fun and messy activity.

A few tips: I laid down lots of craft paper, stripped him down to his diaper and let him go to town with the paints. I had a roll of paper towels handy for when he was finished. The beet coloring over powered the other colors. Enjoy!!

The many uses of coconut oil!

Lately I feel like I am becoming like the dad in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Except instead of always saying "put Windex on it" I am saying "put coconut oil on it." Travis uses it all the time now, too. I am constantly finding new uses for coconut oil. I love it! It is all natural, has anti-fungal properties and a high smoke point.

Here are some of the many ways I use coconut oil. I encourage you to research and try some uses that I have not mentioned.

Kitchen: I cook and bake with it.
House: I use it as furniture polish.
Baby: it is great for cradle cap, diaper rash, chapped cheeks, dry skin, teething rash, body lotion
Beauty and body: hair de-frizzer, hair gel, blemishes, chapstick, face lotion, body lotion, eye makeup remover, bath moisturizer, put on nipples after breast feeding, after-shave, hand cream, cuticle conditioner, acne, sunscreen (natural SPF rating of 4-10)
Health: yeast infection treatment (ingesting and topically), energy booster, heart healthy, can help stabilize blood sugar, promotes a healthy thyroid, contains antioxidants, oil pulling

I keep a couple of jars in the kitchen, a jar in my cleaning caddy and a jar in our bathroom.

Healthy regards!

Benefits of Turmeric

I have been wanting to write this blog for a while.  Turmeric keeps coming up in conversations, and I have become very interested in discovering all there is to know about turmeric and its benefits.

Turmeric comes from the ginger family.  The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, which is not related to cumin.  It has a long history in ayurvedic and Chinese medicines.  Turmeric has been used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory remedy inside and outside the body for centuries.  However, the benefits do not end there.  Turmeric is also a powerful anti-oxidant, immune booster and cancer blocker.  It has also been shown to help with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) symptoms and the list continues from there.

We use this delicious spice often.  It is supposedly most beneficial raw.  We add it to smoothies, fresh green vegetable juice and dressings.  We also cook with it, adding it to our eggs, gluten-free pancakes, chicken, mashed cauliflower (our version of mashed potatoes) and more.  This healthy and all-around great spice can also be combined with a little bit of water, made into a paste and put on cuts, bruises and sore/inflamed joints.

UPDATE: (6.1.13)  I had my first bout of Mastitis, and I made a turmeric paste and let it sit on red area of my breast for a very long time.  (I used gauze and taped it over the paste so I could walk around).  My Mastitis cleared up without having to go on antibiotics.  (Warning: it will stain your clothes)

Turmeric has a beautiful saffron color so get out there and turn your food yellow!!  Remember, a little goes a long way.

For more information please go to: http://www.turmericinfo.com/

As always healthy regards!!

Chocolate Avocado Pudding ~ YUM!

Happy new year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!!

Tonight I made the most delicious spur of the moment dessert. As usual, I was craving something sweet after dinner. However, we were out of all of my typical "go to" sweet treats so I began to search our pantry.... The result: Creamy Avocado Chocolate Pudding with Coconut Milk Whipped Cream!

I only had one avocado, but next time I will use more and make more!! I took my ripe avocado, cocoa powder, agave nectar, almond milk and vanilla extract and mixed them all together with my handheld blender, topped it with my staple coconut milk whipped cream and served. Oh my goodness it was so yummy!! The boys loved it!!


I recommend doubling or tripling the recipe if you want more than 2 individual servings.

1 Ripe Avocado
Just under 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder. (Probably 1/6 cup). Would use 1/3 cup for 2 avocados
1/8 cup agave nectar (I used dark agave) ( Travis said he'd like a little more agave next time)
1/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk plus added some while blending until it reached my desired consistency.
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients together and serve.

For the Coconut Milk Whipped Cream:
1 chilled can of coconut milk
1 tablespoon agave (or to taste)
Dash of vanilla extract

Flip the can upside down and open. Pour out watery part (I save and use in my smoothies). Spoon thick, creamy part into a mixing bowl. Add agave and vanilla extract. Whip on med high until light and fluffy. Serve immediately.

Benefits of Kale!

Yum! I love Kale!!

Cancer-proof your home!