Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Book Review & GIVEAWAY!

Q: What do you do when you end up with duplicates of a brand new, best-selling paleo cookbook? 
A: You share the love! 

This week, BWB is giving away a freshly minted copy of the fabulous Juli Bauer's Paleo Cookbook. If you haven't heard of this cookbook then you may need to reevaluate your social circles (and/or move out from under your rock- you guys know I joke, but seriously...).  It's a gorgeous New York Times best seller and full of deliciousness that ANYone will be able to appreciated...gluten-free, paleo, or not.  It would be a beautiful addition to any cook book collection! 

To ENTER, simply visit the BWB Facebook Page and "like" the giveaway post! Also, make sure you've "liked" the BWB page and that's it! There are other ways to get extra entries listed on the post, but everything else is completely optional. ONE winner will be chosen on Friday, 10/16 at 9 pm EST.  

Highlights of Juli Bauer's Paleo Cookbook ~ 

Each chapter has a photo index at the back of the book. If you eat with your eyes, like I do, then this is a major bonus. Not sure what sounds good? Then take a gander at what LOOKS good!

CHAPTERS INCLUDE: 
breakfast
poultry
beef
pork & lamb
fish & seafood
soups, salads & sides
snacks
desserts
drinks & shakes 
basics

Everything is laid out with such care that you literally want to lick the pages. And she really didn't leave anything out. From street tacos to buffalo chicken casserole and sticky wings, marinated steaks, burgers, and ribs to roasted veggies galore...you'll find all of your favorites. Finish with something sweet (think: ice-cream, cake, cookies) and what I really love is that it is a complete cookbook. The "basics" chapter is awesome, filled with sauces, dressings, dips and everything else you need to complete a meal. 

I also really like the unique flavors (Mexican Meatloaf? Lemon Truffle Cauliflower? Pistachio Rosemary Lamb Chops? Coconut Cashew Chicken Fingers with Mango dipping sauce?). There really is something for the foodie in everyone. 

Some notables that we have loved: 
Chocolate Hazelnut Pumpkin Bread
Sweet Potato Waffles
Mini-Cinnamon Pancake Bake
Pumpkin Frappe
I have not made this but it's definitely an eye catcher:
Layered Flourless Chocolate Cake


 So whatcha waitin' for? Get your name in the hat right NOW! 








Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Pump up the Pumpkin!


DIY Pumpkin Pie Spice

I'll never forget the time I was forced to spend $4.99 on the smallest jar of Pumpkin Pie Spice known to man. From then on, I vowed to never get caught without this spice blend during Pumpkin Season! 



4 T CINNAMON
2 T GINGER
2 t NUTMEG
1 t CLOVES
1 t ALLSPICE

Blend your spices in a jar of your choice, seal, and store to use as needed all season long! 


[gluten-free, vegan, allergy-friendly]
PUMPKIN GRANOLA 

Add a little fall flair to your lunch boxes this month! Use our basic Gluten-Free Granola Bar recipe (below), using 1 cup of pumpkin seeds as a mix-ins and adding 2 t Pumpkin Pie Spice.
Make this as bars or loose granola. 

(click for printable recipe)

What you need: 
scant 1/4 cup coconut oil + 1 T palm shortening to equal a full 1/4 cup
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/3 cup coconut sugar
2 cups [gluten-free] QUICK cooking oats
1 cup of mix ins (use anything- seeds, chopped nuts, dried fruit- we used 1/2 cup hemp hearts + 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Just don't use chocolate, as it will melt.)
optional:
1 tsp vanilla (or extract of choice)
1 tsp cinnamon (or spice of choice)
2 T Enjoy Life brand chocolate mini-chips

What you do:
1. Mix your oats and mix-ins in a large bowl. Set aside. 
2. In a small pot, melt oil/shortening, honey and coconut sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Boil for about 30 seconds. 
3. Remove pot from heat. Stir in any extracts or spices and pour hot liquid mixture over dry ingredients. Mix very well to incorporate all ingredients. 
4. Pour into a lightly greased (or line with parchment paper) jelly roll pan and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. This makes about 12 Little Piggy sized bars- so you won't use the entire jelly roll pan. Keep it packed together on one side of the pan. You really want to press them down so they stick together. 

5. Optional: While granola is still a little warm, sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press them down. 
6. Cool to room temperature or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Store at room temp in air tight container or freeze and thaw as needed. 

Notes:
To make loose granola, simply follow steps 1 - 3. Instead of pressing into bars, crumble your granola mixture and spread it out over a parchment lined baking sheet. It will stick together into bits of various sizes. Allow to cool to room temperature. Store the same as the bars. 


Piggy Playtime: How Does Your Garden Grow?

3890 Old Ranch Rd, Colorado Springs, CO
Saturdays 8 - 11 am (seasonally)

If you live in northern Colorado Springs, rejoice! We now have a local, organic garden for fresh veggies. Just north of Briargate, (right off Powers) The Shire Market also has convenient ready to go options, all at great prices. Be sure to bring your cash, shopping bag, and questions! The employees of this family owned property (run by Phelan Gardens) are helpful, patient, and informative. 


The Piggies learned to pick carrots! 

It was super exciting. 
They had a dance party in the green house, with all kinds of basil, tomatoes, and peppers. 
Most of the lettuce had gone to seed this season, but squashes are kickin!


Freshly picked, pre-packaged options. 

Eat Local! 
Ever wonder what to do with your haul? Give these farm to table recipes a try. 

Our picks from Saturday,  8/29:
tomatillos, banana peppers, kale, giant zucchini, spaghetti squash, various leafy greens


[gluten-free, paleo, vegan, allergy-friendly]
Roasted Salsa Verde
(click for printable recipe)

This easy, creamy twist on a regional favorite combines lightly roasted veggies with fresh avocado! Depending on the peppers you use, your flavor can range from mild to spicy. 

Roasted Salsa Verde
What you need:
2 red onions, peeled and quartered
1 lb tomatillos, peeled and rinsed
2 poblano peppers, hatch chiles, or jalapeños (you can mix & match here), sliced in 1/2 and deseeded
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 t sea salt (or to taste)
1 t cumin
1 T avocado oil or other mild tasting oil
2 ripe avocados, remove seed and peel
1 t lime or lemon juice

What you do: 
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Place onions, tomatillos, peppers, & garlic cloves on baking tray. Drizzle with oil and roast 15 minutes or until they begin to blister. 
3. Put roasted veggies in food processor and pulse until slightly chunky. 
4. Add seasoning and avocado. Pulse until avocado has been mixed in smoothly to the salsa. 
5. Add splash of lime or lemon juice and pulse to mix. 
6. Refrigerate in sealed container or freeze. 

[gluten-free, paleo, vegan, allergy-friendly]
(click for printable recipe)

This mock apple pie will fool your grandma! Made with a giant zucchini, instead of apples, makes it a much more economical treat and a sneaky way to get in those veggies. 


Z'apple Pie
What you need: 
10 - 12 cups chopped zucchini (peel & cut lengthwise, scoop out seeds, cut into 1/4 inch slices and then chop into pie sized pieces)
1 cup granulated sugar of choice
3/4 cup brown sugar or SUCANAT
1 1/2 T cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/4 t cloves 
or use apple pie spice of your choice
2 t cream of tartar
1 1/2 T arrowroot 
1/2 t sea salt
1 t apple cider vinegar
2 T ghee, butter, or cold coconut oil (in small chunks)
1/2 t sugar & 1/4 t cinnamon for sprinkling on crust

What you do: 
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cook zucchini pieces in boiling water for a few minutes, until just tender. You do not want them too soft! 
3. Remove zucchini from stove, drain and allow to cool. Spread zucchini over several paper towels and press paper towels on top to squeeze out more water. 4.  
    Repeat until you've removed as much moisture as possible. 
5. In a bowl, toss zucchini with sugars and spices, cream of tartar, arrowroot and sea salt until well coated. 
6. Put your ready-bake pie crust in a 9 inch pie pan and poke some holes around the bottom. 
7. Fill pie crust with zucchini mixture. If you have a lot of liquid that settled to the bottom with your zucchini mix,   
    you'll want to put some of it into the pie crust, but don't overflow it. 
8. Dot the top of mixture with chunks of your ghee, butter, or cold coconut oil.
9. Drizzle vinegar over top of mixture. 
10. Gently place top pie crust, seal edges together, and poke a few holes in top. 
11. Brush crust lightly with water and sprinkle on the sugar & cinnamon. 
12. Bake for 15 minutes at 425. 
13. Place a parchment or foil liner over the edges of your crust to prevent burning (cut a hold out of a square piece of parchment or foil)
14. Reduce heat to 350 and bake for 45 minutes, removing the crust liner during the last 10-15 minutes . 


[gluten-free, paleo, vegan, allergy-friendly]
(click for printable recipe)

Kale is the ultimate green leafy veggie. You can sneak it into smoothies, sauté it with onions and garlic, add it to your favorite soups or bakes...or eat it like a chip. Now, go get crunchin!



Kale Chips
What you need:
1 bunch of kale, rinsed/dried/de-stemmed & cut into somewhat uniformed sized pieces. 
liquid oil for drizzling
desired seasonings

What you do:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Toss prepared kale leaves in a little bit of oil. You just want them lightly coated, not soggy. 
3. Toss oiled leaves in seasoning of choice 
4. Lay leaves in a single layer on a baking pan and bake for about 10 - 15 minutes or until crispy (but not burned!). For more even crisping, toss your kale chips several times during baking.