Don't suffer through a kale salad.........drink em up!

It's 3 pm.....and like clockwork everyday I want to munch on something. 

I usually want some form of sugar, fat or salt. 

Instead of just saying I won't snack or should eat a bowl of veggies is a non-reality I have come to grips with. If I don't have something then I will end up eating food that isn't good for me. Like my daughters goldfish or graham crackers (spread with pb and topped with choc. chips....yes....it happens)

So INSTEAD! 

I give you my afternoon pick me up!

My version of the "green" drink! As much as I would love to be someone who can down an all green smoothie with ginger and lemon juice in it, no matter how I try I just can't. I don't like it and then start adding way more stuff to try and compensate the taste and before I know it I have a FULL blender of fruit, yogurt and anything else I could throw in !

That is why you actually do have to be careful with these smoothie blended drinks. You can easily drink in one glass (and quickly!) what would have been a plate full of food. This is why I make mine with lots of almond milk and ice for filler instead of tons of fruit. Cram as many greens as you want in there but watch your fruits and sweeteners. 

I make a million variations of this drink but this is the basic:

2 Cups Almond Milk (or milk)

Several cups of spinach or kale

1 cup ice

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

large scoop of peanut butter

quarter of a banana 

dash of honey (small)

Bananas are a high carb and sugar fruit so add only what you need for sweetness. 

Use only a little honey :) I know it's temping but it is a green drink after all!

This gives me the sweetness that my tongue is craving without the junk. I love watching my kiddo slurp up all those dark leafy greens!!! I usually pour the majority in my glass and then use what is left as the base for her smoothie to which I add more banana and frozen fruit.



Drink up and ENJOY~

Re-purpose that tuna Salad :)

When you are pinching pennies you eat a lot of tuna.........a lot of ton and peanut butter (no jelly or bread if you are paleo haha)

Thankfully tuna on a salad is quick and versatile -- so maybe give tuna another chance! Dress it up with some yummy extras. 

Try mixing your tuna with (full fat) greek plain yogurt, mayo and lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper, or dill dressing. 

Place on a bed of greens or chopped romaine and add your favorite veggies. Of course homemade kraut has to be on there too! 

This is my sisters favorite version of tuna salad. On a bed of kale with hard boiled egg and avo. 

Or add in olive oil, salt and pepper, lemon juice and mix all together :) 

Happy Tuna-ing!

Pumpkin Grain-Free Pancakes

These pancakes are absolutely amazing you won't even miss the flour. As I type this at 10:15 pm I am snacking on a few from the fridge left over :) I also love that they are super filling yet you don't feel "heavy" like you do after eating pancakes full of flour and sugar. 

Here is the Recipe:

1/3 cup Coconut Flour

1/4 cup coconut sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon clove

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

pinch of salt

6 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

1 cup pureed pumpkin

2 tablespoons Butter

2 tablespoons honey

Mix all your dry ingredients together with a fork

Combine wet ingredients, add in dry and use blender or immersion blender (clumps aren't yummy)

This grass fed butter is YUMMO

Melt coconut oil or butter on the pan and make sure not to poor too much batter for each pancake, this is because they take quite a bit of time to cook through and if it's too heavy it will be hard to flip. Make sure the burner is on medium otherwise they will burn (like this first batch did :) and flip carefully when they begin to bubble. 

Serve with a big slab of grass fed butter and fresh berries ! These pancakes are so moist but still have that warm bread feel of real pancakes. They taste like pumpkin pie cake! 

And of course ham and eggs too......what can I say, I need a large breakfast to make it till lunch :) 

ENJOY

Monday Tip Day :)

Sometime you just need that warm comfort that ONLY pasta can provide. I'm not "dieting" or counting calories, but having a bowl of processed white flour that has more carbs than is probably need in a whole day just leaves me feeling sluggish and gross. So my tip for the day?!?!? Have your pasta sauce over another "vessel" other than pasta. My new favorite way is over kale :) 

I just saute the kale in a pan with garlic salt and a splash of water then cover so it can get soft. 

Then pile on your sauce! YUM! I'll share my homemade easy sauce in a future post. My next try is going to be spaghetti squash, I'm sure it'll be great!!!! Pictures to follow!!!! 

Make healthy choices today!!!! You'll feel better :) 

Linking up today!

Lunch!

MMmmmmm. I know you're never supposed to drink your calories.......but this looked so good in Cooking Light Magazine I had to have it for lunch. LOVED it! :) Try the recipe here!

What did you have for lunch????