Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Mountain Dew 2.0

So my husband is addicted to Mountain Dew. I cringe almost everyday about this. So I am trying to give a better alternative. Check it out. 


It really does taste similar and you can add sparkling water for fizz but he preferred it without. The taste seems to be more "on" without the carbonation for this version. I mean really, I don't have HFCS, dyes, and other junk, so is it going to be an exact replica? No. But this is pretty darn close, and can't that be good enough to drink when you're saving yourself from a boat load of health problems?? I think so and so does he. He is seeing the light :) 


It's this simple....








Homemade MD (Mountain Dew 2.0)
3 limes
1 lemon
1 heaping cup sugar 
Water

1. Blend lemon/limes with or without skin. 
2. Drain and discard pulp/rind. 
3. Put in pitcher.
4. Add sugar and water to top. 
5. Enjoy. Fill bottles if you'd like for convenience. I recycled Mike's Hard Lemonade bottles because the caps screw on/off. Glass is great to reuse continually. I am going to try and freeze them so I can make a whole bunch at a time. 
6. Encourage your family with easy, homemade, and tasty drinks so they won't want soda anymore! :)




....don't be fooled, this process from start to finish took me like 10 minutes! 





Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Summertime Hummus Dip

I really like hummus these days. I found a dip on Pinterest but drastically changed things on it so this is my version :) it is definitely a great poolside or BBQ party dip that is healthy too!

Start with garlic hummus on the bottom. You can buy it or make it with this RECIPE. Spread it on the bottom of a pie pan or dish deep enough to layer goodies on top.


Then chop 1/4 red pepper and yellow pepper and put on top. 


Next add 1 chopped Roma tomato and 1/2 a cucumber depending on size (mine was large). 


Sprinkle feta cheese on top. 



Then I decided to add red onion to half of it...excellent choice! 


I also love the color it adds :)


Eat with tortilla chips or pita bread. Hurry cause it will be gobbled up if you put it out! 


Monday, May 20, 2013

Homemade Hummus


In a blender or food processor, place one can (15 to 16 oz) drained garbanzo beans, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 clove garlic cut in half, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp salt. Blend well, occasionally scrapping the sides. Spoon into serving dish, garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve with pita bread wedges, tortilla chips, or raw veggies. 




It's awesome and so easy!

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Grilled Baguette Sandwich with Avocado Salsa



The warm weather has me craving fruits, vegetables, and grilled food! This sandwich was seriously a great idea. It is definitely a more crispy sandwich so if you like softer bread then get a soft french baguette or loaf. Whole Foods inspired it because I got pretty much all the ingredients there and splurged on the cheese. Those samples....

I love when recipes come together as you're making them. It's like writing a song or painting a picture...at least that's how I imagine it. It's like a masterpiece. Ha. Anyways, loaded with flavor and healthy super foods, here are both recipes!


Grilled Baguette Sandwich (serves 2)
1/2 long baguette
1 chicken breast or 4 chicken breast tender strips
olive oil
pepper
garlic salt
Parrano Uniekaas Dutch Cheese (this was my splurge...you could do parmesan or mozzarella)
1 roma tomato sliced
1 slice of a red onion








Directions
1. Drizzle olive oil, pepper, and garlic salt over the chicken on a plate. Then put on a grill, cut baguette to make a sandwich. 
2. After chicken is cooked halfway on the grill, add the baguette on the top row of your grill so it is farther away from the flame and doesn't cook too fast or too much, with the cheese, tomato, and onion on the bread. 
3. Let the chicken and baguettes cook so the cheese melts. 
4. When both are done, take off the grill and put the chicken on top of the bottom slice and add the top slice to make a sandwich. 
5. Eat with fruit and avocado salsa!




Avocado Salsa
2 ripe avocados
2 roma tomatoes
1/4 cup red onion
1/8 cup cilantro
1/2 juice of a lime
pepper
garlic salt






Directions
1. Peel and cut avocado into chunks.
2. Dice tomatoes, red onion, cilantro.
3. Combine into a bowl and squeeze 1/2 lime until juice is out. Sprinkle pepper and garlic salt.
4. Stir to combine.
5. Enjoy with tortilla chips. 


Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Lemon limeade

I may have found a replacement suitable for Mountain Dew...just maybe. I may try one thing that I could not possibly see being a perfect replacement, which is add carbonation. 

But this recipe is seriously so simple, there is no reason any of us should be buying soda for our families now. Who knew you could make tasty and flavorful drinks in a few minutes with little cost?! 

Making homemade limeade coats about 28 cents per 12 ounces. Buying a 24 pack of MD for $7 costs about 30 cents per can (12 ounces). But if you buy a bottle if it at a gas station then you are paying more for that small bottle than a whole 2 qt pitcher of homemade, which is common. 

Lemon Limeade
2 lemons
3 limes
1 cup sugar
Water

1. Blend the lemons and limes with water (to fill line). I used my nutribullet so I put them in whole. If you use a regular blender you may want to consider peeling both and then blending. 

2. Strain through a small colander into a bowl so the pulp/skin isn't in the bowl. 

3. Pour in a pitcher and add 1 cup sugar. 

4. Stir and fill to 2 quarts or 64 oz on your pitcher. 

5. Serve! Add ice if desired :) 









Monday, May 6, 2013

Goals and Struggles

I haven't posted much lately. The weather has been so nice and warm that it's not as fun to be in the kitchen trying new things. We got pictures taken one night....so this is my life :)












I did make guacamole this week and it was very good. Maybe I will post that recipe. We had it at a friend's house and I got the recipe and made it later in the week. I am going to make a new drink, lemon limeade. Maybe it will be  good it'll get my hubby off his Dew....I am trying. Ha.

What are your goals? I have several and right now none of them include losing the rest of my weight, that's where my struggles lie lately. I still have my 8 ish pounds to lose but it's on hold to keep my weight up for breast feeding (mentioned in a previous post). I am having a hard with this because of summer and wearing less covered clothes! I love that I figured out how to keep my milk supply up and plenty but its hard that it means not getting to my goal weight. But God wants me to lean on Him and not have my identity tied up in my looks/weight. So just say a prayer for me in this area of my life.

My goals include more flexibility and balance. Both require discipline, perseverance, and patience. Both are areas that deteriorate as we age and are very important to keeping a lean body as well.


I am working on formulating a detox plan for when I'm done breast feeding. Be ready to get an abundance of posts on what I will be doing and I would love it if anyone would want to join me. It will involve all fresh foods, certain supplements, some other health beneficial things, and no gimmick shakes or pills.

Another goal is family oriented. Actually it's 2 goals. One I already mentioned, getting my husband off Mountain Dew. This is on my heart lately and might sound silly but my husband's health is very important to me. I am trying to be encouraging about it and looking for ways to tantalize his taste buds with REAL ingredients from fruit and sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup! It is so bad for his health to drink it and he doesn't drink in moderation, although its better than it used to be.

The other family goal is a long term one (as well) and it is finding a workout routine that involves my husband. I really want to share my love for exercise with my mate and I want him to enjoy it too. So I am praying about ways to get him exercising with me and loving it!

I have pictures about my recent activities and some that pertain to my goals and the vision I have for me and my husband.