What's wrong with this picture? Pink...

Well...You can tell it's October and it's time to start seeing PINK!

I'm not sure which is more disturbing...A Pink for the Cure KFC Bucket or the Nicki Manaj Necklace!  Nicki proved that she is a joke by the way she acted on American Idol when she got all "gangster" with Mariah Carey at the judges table.  Thanks for the preview...now I know I'm not watching this season.


I have to say, that fried chicken used to be my downfall...but now that I've learned new ways to transform my health, the very thought of donations collected from fried chicken to help cure cancer is a joke.

My father died from the most horrific cancer - Throat Cancer.  He couldn't eat or taste food after he started treatment and then he lost his voice and tongue after surgery.  The result, unfortunately he died a few weeks after his surgery.

After my fathers death, I vowed to myself that if I could help make a difference in peoples lives to learn about cancer, then I would do what I could to spread the word.  This year I enrolled in The Institute for Integrative Nutrition where I am learning about holistic nutrition.  

Food is a natural way to heal your body.  I would like for you to check out this video by a guy named Chris who beat cancer with his diet.  He has a great video on why he doesn't race for the cure and I believe it's worth sharing with you.  I have to say that I support his reason.

Check out his website too for great information on how to eat the right foods for cancer.

at:  chrisbeatcancer.com

Stormy

Go Nuts!

Want to know the best grab and go snack to have on you at all times when you feel those hunger pains?

Nuts...Just a simple little baggie of mixed nuts to chomp on when your starting to get hungry and lunch is not at your fingertips.    It will curb your hunger and provide you with essential vitamins and minerals to support your body instead of eating some chips that just goes to your hips.

Look at these little beauties in their raw natural form.  Eating these nuts in their raw state will bring the best value of food to your body.  I always say - before you eat something - think about the value it brings to your body.  It's helps to make the right choice.  

Almonds – Did you know that almonds have as much calcium as milk?  Who needs a milk mustache, eat almonds.  They also contain magnesium, vitamin E, selenium and lots of fiber.  They help lower cholesterol and prevent cancer.

Brazil Nuts – are actually seeds and they are full protein, copper, niacin, magnesium, fiber, vitamin E and selenium.  Selenium is good for balance the thyroid function.  These are the big nuts that are using the last to be eaten in the mixed nut cans.  But they are full of good stuff.

Cashews - are rich in minerals such as copper, magnesium, zinc, iron and biotin.  Like olive oil they have a high concentration of oleic acid which is heart healthy.  One big handful of cashews provides one to two thousand milligrams of tryptophan an essential amino acid that helps nitrogen balance in adults and works with niacin and serotonin in the body to help your mood and sleep. However cashews are not recommended for cancer patients due to their potential levels of fungus.

Pecans – are loaded with vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin E and A, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, manganese, B vitamins and zinc.  They also help to lower your cholesterol.

Walnuts – look like little brains and for good reason.  They are extremely good for your heart and brain and contain ellagic acid a natural phenol antioxidant that fights cancer.

So make up a few baggies of nut mixes for your snack attacks in the middle of day.  

Go Nuts Today!  Literally...

Stormy

Fireroasted Blackbean & Veggie Soup

This past weekend was great - It rained all weekend and for Dallas that was something unexpected after such a long hot summer with barely any rain to wet the ground.  The combination of cooler weather and rain was such a treat it made me crave some soup.  Grab a book and snuggle on the couch!

Here is a quick and easy hearty soup that you can throw together in less than 30 minutes!  All you need are some essential pantry items and this can be made quickly without a lot of effort which is perfect for when you come in from work and need something hearty and quick.   I was surprised that my son enjoyed it so much.  More ways to get more vegetables into a teenager without them realizing what your doing!

I just happened to have some cooked quinoa in the refrigerator that needed to be used up so I added it to the bottom of the bowl and then put the soup over the top.  So this was a really filling soup.

Fire Roasted Black Bean & Veggie Soup

1 Can Black Beans, Drained
32 oz Chicken, Vegetable or Beef Stock
12 oz Fire Roasted Picante Sauce
1 Zucchini Diced
1 Squash Diced
1/2 Cup Cilantro, Chopped
1/4 Cup Red Onion Diced Fine (garnish)
Tofutti Sour Cream (Dairy Free Sour Cream)
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt (to taste)
Black Pepper (to taste)

In a sauce pan, add black beans, stock, fire roasted picante sauce and diced zucchini and squash.  Bring to a low simmer and cover.  Cook for 20 minutes or until zucchini and squash are cooked.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with a dollop of Tofutti sour cream, chopped cilantro and diced red onions.

Pick up these items for a quick and meal anytime.

Stormy

Roasted Beet & Parsnip Quinoa Salad

I love beets!  Never thought I would hear those words come out of my mouth earlier in life.  I used to say that beets were one food that I couldn't stand.  I only had pickled beets that my Grandma made and they weren't that good.  So I immediately formed an bad opinion of beets.

But then I learned more about these incredible little jewels and I love them now.  I always feel better after I eat beets too.  Especially when I juice them!

I love to roast them and keep some in my fridge when I want to add it to a salad or mix up a vinaigrette and eat it as a side dish. 

Beets are highly nutritious and are “cardiovascular health” friendly root vegetable.  (Which I need as many heart healthy veggies I can get my hands on!)

Certain unique pigment antioxidants in the root as well as in its top greens have found to offer protection against coronary artery disease and stroke; lower cholesterol levels within the body, and have anti-aging effects.

Also rich source of B-complex vitamins such as niacin (B-3), pantothenic acid (B-5), pyridoxine (B-6) and minerals such as iron, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

Parsnips are closely related to carrots family of vegetables; grown for their sweet, succulent underground taproots. They are also good in vitamin C; provide about 17 mg or 28% of RDA. Vitamin C is a powerful water-soluble anti-oxidant, easily available to us from natural sources. It helps body maintain healthy connective tissue, teeth, and gum. Its anti-oxidant property helps protect from diseases and cancers by scavenging harmful free radicals from the body. 

So...combining these two root vegetables with some fresh herbs, a splash of vinaigrette and some cooked quinoa that I have readily available in my fridge, makes a quick salad on go possible and packs a punch of nutrients in my body.

I can't stress how important it is to have items ready in the fridge to pull out and combine a salad or snack so you don't reach for something bad instead.  When I buy beets, I wash them, wrap in foil, put in the oven at 400 degrees and roast until tender.  Then I just peel off the outer skin, which it comes off easily after cooking, dice it up and throw it in my dishes.  I also just keep them in the foil packs in the fridge and peel and dice when I want to use them. 

For parsnips - Well they are excellent, roasted with the skin on and then tossed in a little olive oil and Himalayan pink sea salt and pepper.  They are sweet and caramelized - great to snack on just like that!

The beets give this dish a beautiful purple hue that makes it bright and colorful.

Roasted Beet & Parsnip Quinoa Salad

1 Beet, Roasted, Peeled & Diced
1 Cup Parsnips, Roasted
1 Cup Quinoa, Cooked
2 Tbsp Red Onion, Diced
1 Tbsp Cilantro, Rough Chopped
1 Tbsp Parsley, Rough Chopped
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Raw Coconut Vinegar
Dash Balsamic Vinegar (for sweetness)
Lemon Zest
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt (to taste)
Cracked Black Pepper (to taste)

Mix it up and eat it!

Stormy...

Raw Coconut Vinegar

 

More nutritious than apple cider vinegar - But what does that mean exactly?  Who thinks of apple cider vinegar as being nutritious?  Well that's what I used to think when I would pass the isle in the supermarket and see that Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar was highly nutritious.  Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar is excellent but I'm coo coo for coconut products...

Coconut vinegar is more nutritious because of the rich volcanic soil.  Since coconut trees are grown in this rich volcanic soil, it contributes to the sap's high mineral content, which is extremely high in potassium.   There are 17 health-promoting amino acids, vitamin C and B and a natural prebiotic that promotes digestive heath.

Coconut sap is similar to fresh coconut water and it contains lots of minerals and vitamins. Naturally fermented coconut vinegar contains vitamins and minerals like Beta-carotene, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium and Sodium.  These and other minerals form compounds in the body that convert acid body fluids into alkaline. These are known as alkalizing minerals.

Tree climbers go from tree to tree each day collecting the nectar caught in these cylinders. Then the nectar nectar ferments in about 40 to 60 days with the color changing from a cloudy white, to a clear yellow to a brownish color which is a natural occurrence of the fermentation process.

 

The vinegar ages and sediments will appear in the bottom.  This is a natural characteristic of organic coconut nectar vinegar and to savor its natural goodness, you will want to shake it well before using.

I use this coconut vinegar in salad dressings and to add a splash of acidity to a dish.   It works great to dress a chopped Kale salad which is a green that I try to consume regularly.

Toss in some chopped pecans and little olive oil and it makes a perfect side dish.  

It helps lower bad cholesterol.

Helps aid in weight loss.

Lowers blood pressure.

Helps lower blood sugar glucose levels. 

Helps remove body toxins.

Simple ingredient...great power!

Stormy