I am looking into a new stevia I just recently sent an email to Now Foods to ask them what the alcohol in their liquid stevia was sourced from : CORN.

I have bought gallons of this stuff! :(

Almond Butter Date Smoothie

 

www.foodess.com (lol...she says this is a blooper pic because this is her life at the moment: chipped nail polish and a chubby baby reaching for her smoothie)

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1 ⅓ cups milk (any type you like cows or dairy free: almond, rice, coconut) 
• 2 frozen bananas
• 6 dates
• 2 tbsp cocoa 
• 4 tbsp almond butter
• 1 cup ice cubes, optional (if you like it thick)
• maple syrup or sugar to taste, if desired ( she says this isn't necessary because the dates and ripe bananas make it very sweet- so I would just omit) 

Instructions

1. Combine milk, bananas, dates, cocoa and almond butter in the blender container and process until completely smooth, about 30 seconds on high power. Add the ice cubes and blend again if a thicker smoothie is desired, or blend in a bit of sugar or maple syrup if you prefer it sweeter.

Stevia: Why I do not not use Nu naturals. 

Nu Naturals is the brand recommended by Elana's Pantry. There claim is below. They do not disclaim what type of natural flavors they use. They just assume they are non allergenic. No one knows what is food for one person may be toxic to another. Honestly this about our health not some fad. They do disclaim that they use corn in their powdered stevia -their statement about that is below also. 

From nu naturals website:

We are using natural flavors that are plant based extracts. (could be corn)  These extracts help to increase the sense of sweetness and rounds out the flavor of our NuStevia as well as Pure Liquid Clear Stevia, Vanilla Stevia and Alcohol Free products. From endless consumer feedback, we know that people regard our NuStevia products as the best tasting and sweetest products on the market. Even though we are selling Stevia as a dietary supplement, we know taste is very important to people.

The natural flavors used in our Stevia products are natural plant extracts. These natural flavors do not contain any MSG (monosodium glutamate) or any other “natural flavors” that are known to cause allergic reactions in the body. None of the natural flavors we use are man-made chemicals. We do scrutinize the ingredients that we use very carefully and would not use an ingredient known to cause reactions.

We do not wish to disclose the source of the natural flavor because it is a trade secret. We have spent a lot of time researching and developing the best tasting Stevia products on the market and do not wish to share this information with other companies selling Stevia.

We have been adding these natural flavors to our Stevia products for over 6 years and have not received any communication from the people using our Stevia products about negative reactions. There have been over a billion servings sold without one negative reaction reported to NuNaturals. With that track record, we are extremely confident that our Stevia products are very non-allergenic.

Where does Maltodextrin come from? The maltodextrin NuNaturals uses as an ingredient in NuStevia™ White Stevia Powder™ is made from corn.

How is Maltodextrin made?
Corn is made into slurry (corn mush)
It is then liquefied
The liquid undergoes an acid/enzyme conversion
The liquid goes through filtration and a carbon treatment.
The liquid is then evaporated.
The condensed liquid is now spray dried and separated. One of the products separated out is maltodextrin.

Heartweed: This is what bothers me about their reasoning, some people are still having symptoms and do not realize that some products who do not list ALL ingredients may actually be the ones causing their symptoms to flare up. Some see "stevia" and natural flavors then the website says don't worry about what we don't tell you. Then others claim that the stevia itself is making them ill without realizing that companies like this have hidden ingredients. Maltodextrin: ummm corn is problematic and allergenic. The process in which maltodextrin is made sounds as far away from natural as you can get. 

 Paleo Brownies

These Paleo brownies are simply unbelievable- moist, chocolaty, and full of gluten-free goodness. They will knock the socks off of even the most die-hard gluten-full brownie lover. All of my taste testers said they could not believe these Paleo Brownies were not only gluten-free, but grain-free as well.

Sweetened with a mere seven dates in the entire batch of brownies, and a bit of stevia, these Paleo Brownies are also full of rich coconut oil and dark chocolate. And when I say “dark chocolate” I mean super dark chocolate –as in 100% cacao with no added sugar.

I tested this fudgey dairy-free dessert with two different brands of 100% chocolate, using Ghirardelli in some batches and Life Opening Chocolate in others; both worked equally well. Ghirardelli is cheaper, and Life Opening is organic.

Paleo Brownies

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• 1 cup blanched almond flour ( can substitute cashew flour, pecan flour, not coconut without increasing eggs and liquid) 
• ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
• 
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 4 ounces baking chocolate (100% cacao)
• 7 Medjool dates (1/2-2/3 cup) pits removed
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup coconut oil, melted
• ½ teaspoon vanilla stevia liquid 
• **** can sub 2 Tbl of honey or maple syrup and a touch of  vanilla
  

1. In a food processor, pulse together almond flour, salt and baking soda
2. Pulse in squares of dark chocolate until the texture of coarse sand
3. Pulse in dates until the texture of coarse sand
4. Pulse in eggs
5. Pulse in coconut oil and stevia until mixture is smooth
6. Transfer mixture to a greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish
7. Mixture will be very thick, smooth with a spatula
8. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes
9. Cool for 2 hours, then serve

Makes 16 brownies

When you make these brownies be sure that your dates are not hard and too dry or you will end up with a crumbly mess. Mine were beautifully moist which helped the batter come out perfectly. 
Tip: cover and soak dates in warm water for 10 minutes. drain and then add to recipe. 

Another idea: 2 tbsp of honey + a little vanilla to replace the  vanilla stevia…and swirl in spoonfuls of almond butter!

Mexican Meatza

www.onceamonth meals.com

heartweed: we use ground beef as the crust to our pizzas all the time and then just top with whatever toppings we feel like. Here is a recipe to give ya some idea. Make it your own by adding your own toppings. 

Prep 15 min | Bake 30 min
Makes two 6-inch individual meatzas, enough for 2-4 servings

Ingredients:
Meat Crust:
1 pound ground beef
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, crushed

Toppings:
1/2 to 3/4 cup of your favorite salsa ( gonna try this but we usually use citric acid free tomato paste)
Green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
Red onion, cut into thin strips
Avocado, diced
garnish: fresh lime, chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400F. In a large bowl, mix the ground beef with the crust seasonings until combined.

Make the crust. Divide the meat in half, roll into a ball, and press evenly into an 8- or 9-inch round pie pan. Cover only the bottom of the pan and smooth the meat with damp hands until it’s an even thickness. Repeat with the other piece of “crust.” Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the meat is cooked through and the edges are brown. Leaving the oven on, remove the meat crusts from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan.

Assemble your meatza. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil and place the meat crusts on the baking sheet. Spread about 1/4 cup salsa on each meat crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Arrange the peppers and onions on top, pressing them gently into the salsa. Pop the pizza back into the oven for 10-15 minutes, until hot and browned to your liking.

Garnish your meatza. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with diced avocado, then squeeze a little fresh lime juice over the top and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Tip for breakfast:

For scrambled eggs . pre chop veggies and place in freezer in individual bags. Then thaw the night before for whatever servings size you need. 1 person 1 bag...2 people 2 bags.

Paleo Breakfast Casserole with Sweet Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

www.onceamonthmeals.com

8 Eggs
2 Sweet Potatoes ( cut up by hand or use food processor)
2 Red Onions (cut up by hand or food processor)
2 Tablespoons Smoked Paprika
1 lb Meat of your choice ( raw, half cooked or cooked your choice)
Organic Coconut Oil (To grease the crock pot)

Crack eggs and place in a bowl. I like my eggs to rest after they escape the refrigerator and their shells. whisk with paprika. 

Grease the crockpot with coconut oil. 

Layer ingredients in crockpot: : potatoes and onions, eggs, and then meat. 

Cook on high 4-6 hours. 

Meat in the Paleo Breakfast Casserole

A word on the choice of meat- you can use raw or cooked, but if you use cooked, it may turn out a little overcooked. If you are worried about your meat not cooking thoroughly, saute it to a half-done state and then throw it in the slow cooker. 

No potato Beef Stew Freezer to crockpot

No potato Beef Stew

Freezer to crockpot 

1 lb. beef cubed
1 chopped onion
2 large peeled and diced turnips
1/2 can of tomato paste
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 tsp dried thyme
2 medium carrots chopped
3 celery stalks diced
2 bay leaves
2 tsp dried parsley (optional)
2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
3 cups green beans (optional)
1 cup beef broth
Sea Salt and pepper as desired

Place all ingredients into gallon zip lock bag, except broth and freeze flat. On cooking day add broth and place in slow cooker and cook on low 6 hours.

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

freezer to crock pot

4.5 Cups sweet potatoes (mashed if adding on cooking day, raw, grated if freezing)
1.5 lbs ground beef
3 cups frozen peas and carrots, or any frozen veggie mix
2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 tbsp herbs de provence (or spice of choice, salt and pepper)
3/4 cup beef broth (or water) 

**There is a little prep to this one so its not a total dump and cook. 

Brown beef with onions and drain excess fat. For the best results add all ingredients to gallon zip lock bag, except the sweet potatoes. On cooking day, cook and mash sweet potatoes and add to the top of thawed veggie meat mixture. Alternatively, grate sweet potatoes in separate bag and freeze together. On cooking day add meat and veggie mixture to crock pot and top evenly with grated sweet potatoes. Cook on low 5-6 hours

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

Freezer to Crockpot 

Ingredients

4-6 Chicken Breasts (frozen)
(2) 14.5 oz diced tomatoes with oregano, basil, rosemary
4 garlic cloves
1/2 c balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper

Directions

Add all contents to ziploc bag. Freeze.

Write on Bag

Spray inside of slow cooker with a non-stick cooking spray or coat with coconut oil.
Thaw slightly and add to slow cooker.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Paleo Diet/ LIFESTYLE  and SCD 

I am not a big fan of diets but Paleo is a lifestyle . It is not just about losing weight but gaining health. Its about food and lifestyle. It focusing on the complete person not just digestion. I am not saying I am 100% paleo but this lifestyle come pretty close to it . Bonus for me is that most recipes that are Paleo fit my dietary needs: grain free, corn free.  I have got to say I do not eat pork (pork is paleo friendly) and I do not eat it for several reasons. It is a choice you have to make for yourself but:
For me and my house we will serve no pork!.

So you will see I long list of recipes under the paleo tab. I use to be just gluten/corn free, but then I have found that just gluten/corn free is not working for me. I also have recipes under a tab called SCD - that is Specific Carbohydrate Diet. (this a HEALTH diet - not necessarily a weight diet). Many disorders of the digestion system and the brain (depression, autism,etc) can be dealt with using SCD diet. I have found that I am carb senstive and I am trying to find more SCD recipes.

The list for legal/illegal foods on the SCD is so long that I will post the link but not the list. Check it out. I have found that many of the illegal foods are foods that I have deleted through the years because they cause me issued and I have learned of new since looking at the list.



Legal foods: carbohydrates that  are monosaccharides and have a single molecule structure that allow them to be easily absorbed by the intestine wall. 
Illegal Foods: Complex carbohydrates which are disaccharides (double molecules) and polysaccharides (chain molecules) are not allowed. Complex carbohydrates that are not easily digested feed harmful bacteria in our intestines causing them to overgrow producing by products and inflaming the intestine wall. The diet works by starving out these bacteria and restoring the balance of bacteria in our gut.

Also from their webpage. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ is biologically correct because it is species appropriate. The allowed foods are mainly those that early man ate before agriculture began. The diet we evolved to eat over millions of years was predominantly one of meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, nuts, low-sugar fruits. Our modern diet including starches, grains, pasta, legumes, and breads has only been consumed for a mere 10,000 years. In the last hundred years the increase in complex sugars and chemical additives in the diet has led to a huge increase in health problems ranging from severe bowel disorders to obesity and brain function disorders. We have not adapted to eat this modern diet as there has not been enough time for natural selection to operate. It therefore makes sense to eat the diet we evolved with.

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet™ was clinically tested for over 50 years by Dr Haas and biochemist Elaine Gottschall with convincing results. From feedback from the various lists and other information at least 75% of those who adhere rigidly to the diet gain significant improvement.

Homemade Rehydration Drink Recipe

• 1 cup lemon juice (approx 6-8 lemons)
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Place in a pint mason jar and stir to combine (the lemon juice and baking soda will react, so stir it down), keep concentrate in the fridge. This can be added to 1 gallon of filtered water, or add 1-2 tablespoons to each 8 ounces (1 cup) of water.

Homemade Natural Energy and Sports Drink Recipe

 Ingredients

• 1 quart of liquid (options: green tea, herbal teas, coconut water, plain water, etc)
• ⅛-1/4 tsp Himalayan Sea Salt (regular table salt will work, but it doesn’t have all the trace minerals)
• ¼ to ½ tsp crushed Calcium magnesium tablets or powder (optional)
• ¼ cup or more of juice (optional. Can use grape, apple, lemon, lime, pineapple, etc)
• 1-2 TBSP sweetener (optional)- can use honey, stevia, etc. I suggest brewing stevia leaf into the base liquid for the most natural option.

Instructions

• Brew tea if using or slightly warm base liquid
• Add sea salt and calcium magnesium (if using)
• Add juice and mix or shake well
• Cool and store in fridge until ready to use

Read more: http://dailyhealthpost.com/natural-homemade-sports-drink-gatorade-alternatives/#ixzz36MGxfqu4 
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