Put Down that Bottle of Soy Sauce!

I caught you!  Did you know most soybeans are genetically modified and your soy sauce is most likely made from those beans?  Also, the soy sauce you're using might also contain a preservative called Sodium Benzoate which is suspected to have skin or sense organ toxicity hazards.

As a FANTASTIC alternative, use Bragg's Liquid Aminos!

Here is some info from their site:

Bragg Liquid Aminos is a Certified NON-GMO liquid protein concentrate, derived from healthy soybeans, that contains the following Essential and Non-essential Amino Acids in naturally occurring amounts:

16 Amino Acids
Alanine Arginine Aspartic Acid Glutamic Acid Glycine Histidine Isoleucine Leucine	Methionine Phenylalanine Proline Serine Threonine Tyrosine Valine Lysine

Great on Salads & Dressings, Soups, Veggies, Rice & Beans, Tofu, Wok & Stir-frys, Tempeh, Casseroles, Potatoes, Meats, Poultry, Fish, Jerky, Popcorn, Gravies & Sauces, Macrobiotics. Ingredients: Our Bragg Liquid Aminos are made from health-giving, NON-GMO soybeans and purified water. They are an excellent, healthy, gourmet replacement for Tamari and Soy Sauce. Not fermented or heated and Gluten-Free. Bragg's has a small amount of naturally occurring sodium. No table salt is added. If less sodium is desired use a 6 oz. Bragg's spray bottle and dilute with 1/3 distilled water or to taste and then either add in or spray on food.
Health Benefits: A source of delicious, nutritious, life-renewing protein. Taste you'll love - Nutrition you need. Great on salads, veggies, dressings, soups, rice, beans, Wok foods, tofu, gravies, jerky, poultry, fish, popcorn, meats, casseroles, potatoes, etc Contains important healthy amino acids		Bragg Liquid Aminos contains: no chemicals no artificial coloring no alcohol no preservatives no Gluten Certified NON-GMO

Green Pea Guacamole

I was a little skeptical about this new recipe because I’m just not that crazy about green peas.  However, it turned out really good!  

Here it is…

2 cups frozen green peas

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

½ teaspoon powdered garlic

¼ cup minced sweet onion

½ cup minced tomato

Cilantro to taste

Put peas under warm water until softened but still cold.  Drain well.

Place peas, lemon juice, garlic, and cilantro in a food processor and process until very smooth.  Transfer to a medium bowl.

Stir in onion and tomato.  Let stand for 10 minutes.

*The recipe says to serve within an hour or two to retain the color but mine looked just as good after being in the frig overnight and actually tasted better!

Serve with crackers, vegetables or chips.  It can also be used as a sandwich spread.

*Recipe from Vibrant Life magazine

Did You Know?

Did you know that organic plain yogurt can be used in the place of sour cream?  We put organic plain yogurt on tacos, baked potatoes, you name it!

I like this idea because there is less to buy at the store...I don't need to buy sour cream.  Anything that makes shopping faster makes me happy!  PLUS, I know we're getting something good because the yogurt is organic.  You don't get all those live, active cultures in sour cream!

If you haven't noticed, organic plain yogurt is pretty versatile.  For example, you can also make dip with it instead of sour cream.  Like this taco dip  or this ranch dip.

So, get with it!  Toss out that sour cream and buy yourself something good.
 

from here

Sweet and Sour Sauce

I really like Chinese food.  However, we don't ever go eat at Chinese Restaurants (or most restaurants for that matter) because there is rarely anything on their menu that is natural.  So yesterday I tried my hand at making Chinese food and it was a success!  Mr. Right greatly approved so we'll be having it more often!  Here's the first step: sweet and sour sauce.  What is Chinese food without it?

1/2 cup sucanat
4 teaspoons whole wheat flour
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup red wine vinegar (I forgot I had this ingredient so I used apple cider vinegar...works just as well)
1/4 cup finely chopped sweet pepper
1 tsp salt
2 teaspoons grated ginger root
1 tsp garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced

In a small sauce pan combine sucanat and flour.  Stir in water, vinegar, sweet pepper, salt, ginger root and garlic.  Cook and stir till thickened and bubbly.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes more.

Serve warm.  See your family be impressed.

Makes about 1 1/4 cups sauce.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Taco seasoning you buy from the store may contain MSG, anti-caking agents, etc. so the best thing to do is make your own.  It's super easy!  I just make the mix and keep it in a jar in the cabinet.  That way, I always have it on hand.

Mix includes:
1/2 cup parsley
1/3 cup minced onions or onion powder
1/4 cup chives (optional)
1/3 cup chili powder
1/4 cup cumin
2 teaspoons real salt

You can use this in meat mixtures for tacos or make a yummy taco dip!

To make taco dip:  combine 2 cups plain, organic yogurt with 2 tablespoons of the dip mix.  Then just whisk together and dip in some non-GMO corn chips!

Happy whisking!

Homemade Ranch Dip Mix

Ok, so, I like ranch dip and I wanted to learn how to make it myself so I could make it healthier.
Here it is!
1Tb dried parsley
1/2 tsp garlic
1tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Mix that together and add it to 3/4c of plain, organic yogurt.

Then stick a carrot in it and enjoy!

As you can see, I had already eaten a bunch!