Celebrate With A Shake

I didn't plan this post but I figured...WHY NOT...it's time to celebrate!  I'm ringing in the New Year with a SHAKE...both in movement and in this smoothie.  I've been trying to use my Maca and Cacao more lately and thought tonight was the perfect time to try another one.  Here's what's in this...

2 C Almond Milk
1 Banana
1T Maca Powder
1 tea Cacao Powder
2 T Agave
1 tea GoL Perfect Food Yerba Mate Energizer

Another goal of mine here was to use more than a half of a banana.  I'm really trying to incorporate more of them in my diet and I have been working really hard to get past that HALF banana mark in my smoothies!  Guess what!?  Tonight I did it!  Woot!  I used almost an entire banana!

Also pictured is a Glass Straw from EcoJarz - my first time using the glass one and I'm LOVING it so far - AND - the glass jar - I'm reusing it from an Argo Iced Tea that I got a while back!  I now have TWO of these and love the height and heavy-dutiness to it...I'm so glad I used them and they cleaned up nice! 

Looking forward to a great 2014!  Happy and Safe New Year to you all!  Thanks for reading!

Super Sweet Avocado Treat!

I have about 7 things I COULD post today...but...I will only post this one and the one I already post below so keep scrolling!  I am preparing many more posts in the coming days and weeks!  Yes!  I have been BUSY!  But I'm also having a lot of FUN keeping busy!

If you didn't notice the title of this one you were probably wondering what the heck this green blob is, eh!?  Well, it's a Super Sweet Avocado Treat!  This is the stand alone version of this and I will be combining it with other ingredients for an upcoming post for a dessert.

You could probably call this a mousse or a pudding or a custard, I suppose.  Here is what is IN it, tho...

2 Avocados
1/4 C Coconut Oil
2 T Cacao Powder (I grinder it myself in a mini coffee grinder I use as a spice grinder)
2 T Maca Powder (from Foods Alive)
1 T Vanilla Flavored Agave Syrup (from Wholesome Sweeteners)
2 T Coconut Nectar (from Coconut Secret)
1/2 Scoop GoL Raw Perfect Food (Regular Flavor)

All in my Ninja!  It was SO SO SO Sweet and So flavorful.  It's VERY rich.  This will last me a while...I only ate a few tablespoons because it was so sweet.  But it fulfilled my sweet tooth last night that is for sure!

Most likely over the weekend I will be posting a 2nd recipe using this Avocado as the "body" of my dessert!  So stay tuned!

In My Kitchen ~ November

For this post I will be participating in In My Kitchen - November Edition.  Of course most of my entries you will see what's been going on in and around my kitchen but I figured this would be a good one to catch up on some random food things!

New Earth Superconscious Living Almond Courage.  I have to say this took me a while to appreciate and understand!  At first I was eating the contents of the bag one at a time.  I think I was a little thrown off at the texture of the dried Mulberries...not completely sure but I just wasn't totally loving them!  But then I had that Ah-HA Moment!  If you eat them by the small handful and not one by one and get all or at least several ingredients in your mouth at once - they overall flavor was much better.  More tasty!  Complex yet real!  This way...I really liked it!  This product is vegan, it's RAW, and it dandy to have on hand at the office for mid-afternoons!  I think it would be great as a cereal topping, too...but I just like snacking on them!  Ingredients include: organic activated almonds, organic sweetened cacao nibs, organic mulberries, organic goji berries, organic coconut chips, organic yacon syrup, organic mesquite pod, organic reishi, wildcrafted himalayan pink salt.

Another thing in my kitchen lately are Sesame Sticks.  The ones I get come from my local Herb Shop.  They are Non-GMO and contain Wheat Flour, Barley Flour, Soy Bean Oil, Sesame Seeds, Bulgur Wheat, Beet Powder, Turmeric, and Salt.

These are another great snack or salad topping!

Last night we did a Wildtree Tasting Party for a friend.  It was the first time we tried to make the Chai Spiced Bread.  Actually, my mother made it.  It was a HIT!  She said it was different from the other breads she has made but in the end the flavor was tasty and there wasn't any left at the end of the night and that's what counts!  All you have to do to this Bread Mix as add water!  NO EGGS NEEDED!  Yessss!  I was so happy!  The ingredients for this product are located HERE.  If you are interested in purchasing this product or any other products from Wildtree PLEASE visit our website/store!

Next Up...Maca Powder from Foods Alive.  I'm still a novice when it comes to Maca.  I have been tinkering with it a bit and hope to add some success stories to my site soon!  

This Maca Powder is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and iron, and contains trace minerals, including zinc, iodine, copper, selenium, bismuth, manganese and silica, as well as B vitamins. It also contains four alkaloids proven in scientific investigation to nourish the endocrine glands.  

It has a nutty taste, blends well with cereals, ice creams, juices, milks, yogurts, pies, cakes, smoothies, cookie fillings and desserts and can be added to a variety of recipes. 2-3 tsps per day is the suggested use of the powder.

It's been a LONG time since I have dehydrated anything in my dehydrator.  I think it's because I am longing for a NEW Dehydrator.  I really want a square one...not this round one I have from Nesco that I have had for YEARS.

Regardless I will be pushing myself to use it more in the coming months.  I will certainly report back here with my efforts.

Of course, the ultimate would be an Excalibur but I can't see myself spending like 300 bucks on one!

I know I have mentioned it before on my blog but it's worth another mention that is for sure!  The Raw Protein Marley Coffee Blend from Garden of Life.  I'm totally LOVING it and will have more ideas and recipes very soon.  So far my favorite quick and easy recipe is a scoop of this in 1 C of Almond Milk (or Cashew Milk) with 2 Tablespoons of Chocolate Peanut Butter from the Peanut Butter Company.  But I will say I am super excited about the whole line thus far and will have TONS of ideas in many upcoming posts!  I might even start contributing to their blog!  VERY EXCITING!  This among many other things are what's new and or HOT in my kitchen so far this month!  How about you!?  I could go on and on about tons of other things, too, but I will save those for future posts!

 Also Participating Post for Live It Up at Healthy, Happy, Green, & Natural

Good Intentions & Busy Week

 Yeah...THAT was about a week and a half!  Whew!  My Healthy eating intentions and attempts where good this week!  I'm pleased!  One thing I haven't done as of yet is this week's smoothie...but...I might do it for 'dessert' this evening!  This is the one that is on my list!  Blackberry Chia Maca Smoothie!
2 C Blackberries
2 C Coconut Milk
1 T Agave
1 T Chia Seeds - hydrated
1 tea Maca Powder
(Borrowed & Altered Photo from Sun Warrior)

What's this?  You might be asking...Well, let me tell you!  It's from Core Foods and it's a Defender Meal - a FULL Meal To Go!  It's High in Fiber and the flavor I had yesterday for my lunch was Raw Almond Raisin!  It's Raw Vegan, USDA Organic, and Tested Gluten Free!  This specific flavor had ALL Organic Whole Oats, Almonds, Raisins, Flax, and Ground Spices.

CORE is as fresh as Produce!  It lasts 6 months frozen, 1 month chilled, and 1 week on the go!  They suggest storing in the freezer for maximum freshness!  If you do freeze these babies than they suggest you let thaw for 10 minutes prior to eating!  All you have to do is eat ONE bar and follow it up with TWO glasses of water!  By doing this THIS product is equal to a full bowl of oatmeal and gives you FOUR HOURS of stable energy!

I would totally agree with this giving you energy!  After eating it I, personally, was in a VERY good mood, my energy level was extremely high AND my mind was on-track and quite clear!  And it wasn't one of those 'mind games' because I wasn't concentrating on the fact that I had one of these for lunch nor was I really 'expecting' it to give me 'that much' energy.  It wasn't until late in the evening that I wondered if my energy and mood had to do with what I ate...I'm chalking it up as so!

Here are some of my other findings for this product!  I thought the Whole Oat and Almond Combo provided an interesting taste and texture upfront.  Unlike anything I have ever had before!  The Raisin and Spice combo helped punch the flavor thru!  The Raisin did jump in with a sweetness all of it's own as well!  The Oat and Raisin flavors seemed to linger...that was pretty pleasant!  I was incredibly impressed with the mass and weight to this!  I was surprised at how well the ingredients stayed together while eating it yet it was still soft and chewy on the teeth!

I REALLY liked this!  It was fulling, flavorful, and walked-the-walk according to their product description and claims!  I have two others on hand.  I'm a little nervous about the one because it contains Banana and I have always HATED Banana...but...along this Blissful Journey of mine...I will give it a whirl!

Even tho the weather is going to be crappy - yet again - this weekend - I'm going to try and keep a smile on my face and some projects on tap!  What will you be doing this weekend!?

Participating: Healthy Vegan Friday's