Quinoa & Tea Breakfast Bowl

For most people breakfast is pretty routine.  While there is an ease to routine, changing things up can give you more variety with flavor and diversity of nutrients. Since breakfast can be pretty predictable at times at our home, I thought I would branch out.
This Quinoa & Tea Breakfast Bowl came to me while I was steeping my nightly tea.  For those who have not cooked with Quinoa,(pronounced KEEN-WHA) it is much like couscous or rice. You use a 2:1 ratio of water to grain for cooking.  Unlike rice, quinoa cooks much quicker (about 15minutes). Quinoa can have a hint of soapy, bitter, saponin remains from the outer shell when it is removed in processing.  Saponins do not affect the nutrient value of the grain, but will affect the taste.  To be sure your quinoa will have nothing but a pure, mild, nutty flavor, give the quinoa a rinse before cooking. The grains are too small for a colander, so rinse the quinoa with water in a small cooking pot. Use the lid to carefully drain off as much water as you can. Only rinse the amount you are cooking.  Store the rest in a cool, dry location like a pantry or freezer.   
What makes this breakfast bowl so great is it allows for lots of versatility, so you can get playful with different teas, spices and fruit. This works especially well with kids. Giving them choices, allows them to take part in their healthy eating habits. 

Quinoa is an excellent breakfast grain.  It contains 6grams of protein per 1/4c serving, which will help you stay satisfied through lunch and will prevent an insulin spike from the naturally occurring complex carbohydrates. Quinoa also contains a variety of bone building minerals like magnesium, potassium, copper and zinc, however it’s phytic acid content can inhibit the absorption of these important minerals.  Soaking and then cooking the quinoa, reduces it’s phytic acid content which improves mineral absorption. This grain from the Andes, is also rich in protective antioxidants.  Pair this with the abundant antioxidants in the tea and you have yourself one lean, mean disease fighting breakfast!

The recipe can be made in larger batches and kept in the fridge to be used throughout the week.  Talk about a stress-free start the school year!

Ingredients:

2 bags of Chai Tea (or tea of your choice)

1 cup quinoa

2 cup water

1/3 cup chopped dates

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup dried cranberries

Coconut milk and honey to taste

Place quinoa, water and tea bags in a pot and set to medium until the water starts to boil.  Reduce to low and place a lid on the pot until all the water is absorbed. About 10 minutes.  Remove tea bags by squeezing out any extra liquid.  Fluff quinoa and spoon it into breakfast bowls.  Top the tea-cooked grain with dried fruit and pumpkin seeds.  Drizzle with coconut milk and a little honey.   Enjoy!

Add quinoa to pot and rinse.

Add tea bag(s) and water.

Allow it to cook and spoon into bowls.

I added dried cranberries, dates and pepitas ( pumpkin seed).

Drizzle with coconut milk and honey.

BREAKFAST ANYONE?

A few other flavor combos you may want to try are:

Green Tea, honey & Raspberries

Cocoa, almonds and bananas

Blueberries, Chamomile & Walnuts

What flavor combo will you come up with?

Honey Sesame Seed Candy

 
As a kid, I loved these Sesame Seed candies that were sold in most Canadian corner stores. They were 35 cents a pack. Although I am pretty sure I am too young to be telling a back in the day tale, these little treats were so delightful. They were both sweet and nutty and they had a little crunch to them.  Today you may be able to find them in the occasional health food store. Health food?  Yes, these little treats are loaded with an abundant source of nourishing minerals and antioxidants. 

Did you know...

Sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans, that have been shown to have cholesterol lowering effects in humans and can prevent high blood pressure. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage. Sesame seeds are an excellent source of copper, which is known for reducing the pain and swelling in rheumatoid arthritis. Copper also provides structure, strength and elasticity in blood vessels, bones and joints. These tiny seeds are also a good source of magnesium which has been found to prevent the spasm in both airways and blood vessels which make magnesium an important mineral for helping ease the symptoms of asthma, migraines and may be helpful at preventing heart attack.

I had some sesame seeds in my pantry which made me think about these honey sweetened treats.  So I thought I would whip up a batch.  I must admit, the  first batch of boiling honey ended up down the sink.  I walked away for just a minute and it burned!  What a waste of perfectly sweet honey.  I hope the bees will forgive me.  Round 2 yielded a much better batch.  Here is what you will need: 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sesame seed

1/2 cup honey

Dash sea salt or more to taste

1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Line a baking dish with parchment paper or use a silicon baking dish.  Heat honey in a sauce pan until it boils. DO NOT WALK AWAY.  Stir to prevent the bottom from burning and preventing it from over boiling.  Let the honey boil until the temperature reaches 300 degrees (hard crack temperature) on your candy thermometer. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, simply place a drop of the honey in ice cold water. If it hardens it has reached a hot enough temperature needed to make this candy. The longer you boil it, the harder the candy will get.  But don't over boil or it will burn. Remove the honey from the heat and add the sesame seeds, salt and cinnamon.  Mix until combined. Pour the mixture onto parchment or in silicon pans.  Press down tight with a spatula or the back of a greased spoon.  Cool to room temperature and hardened. Turn the block of hardened candy onto a cutting board and cut  into squares.  Store in an airtight container. ENJOY!  

Pour honey into a sauce pan.

Allow honey to boil long enough to reach 300 degrees. Stir constantly.

No thermometer- No problem.  Test for hard crack with cold water.

Add mixture of sesame seeds, salt and cinnamon.

Stir until evenly combined.

Press mixture in pan. 8x8 works

I doubled my recipe to make a large batch.

Cut into even bars or squares.

Eat and enjoy a guilt-free treat!

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken

The most wonderful thing about this  Moroccan Chicken is not the fact that it is easy to make; nor is it the wonderful smells that will drift from your kitchen; nor is it the tender, flavorful chicken that will surprise you with hints of complimentary flavors that will make your mouth water; instead it is the plentiful health benefits you will get from eating this Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken.

Moroccan food is known for it's abundant use of spices. Many of these flavorful additions are also health promoting.  Cumin adds a earthy, peppery flavor to your food and is an excellent source of iron. Iron plays an important role in the transport of oxygen in our blood but is also needed for energy production and metabolism. Cumin has been shown to be protective against stomach and liver cancer and will stimulate pancreatic enzymes needed for digestion. Cinnamon has a warm sweet taste with a pleasant fragrance.  It has many antimicrobial properties and will inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi which is why it is helpful to eat during times of infection. Cinnamon is probably best known for it’s ability to help control blood sugar levels but can also fight inflammation and prevents unwanted clumping of blood platelets.  Ginger is aromatic and warm.  It has the ability to relieve gastrointestinal distress and will reduce nausea, motion sickness and dizziness.  Ginger has also been found to be very effective at relieving the pain associated with arthritis. Turmeric is an orange spice with a mild  flavor.  It contains the antioxidant curcumin, which fights inflammation. It’s anti-inflammatory benefits help many conditions including irritable bowel, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis and rheumatoid arthritis.  

All these health promoting spices in one, easy to make meal.

 
 
 Ingredients:

2– 21/2 lbs of chicken thighs, breasts or legs

1 large sweet onion, diced

2-3 tablespoons coconut oil

1 lb carrots, diced

1 large sweet bell pepper, chopped

1 cup dried apricots, sliced

3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/2 cup vegetable stock

1 can ounce of diced tomatoes

1 15 ounce can of chickpeas

1 Tablespoon grated ginger

1/2 tsp dried ginger

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp turmeric

1/8-1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper

1 tsp sea salt

Fresh ground black pepper

3 Tablespoons honey

If desired, de-skin your chicken and place it in the bottom of your crock pot.  Saute diced onions in coconut oil  until they are tender and slightly golden brown. Add them to the pot with carrots, bell pepper, apricots and garlic.  Add in all your spices including fresh grated ginger and honey. Add the chick peas, diced tomatoes and vegetable stock.  Cook on high heat for 3-4* hours and leave on warm until ready to serve.  Serve with a lemon or orange wedge and a sprinkle of cilantro over a bed of rice. 

* Cooking times may vary depending on your crock pot. 

Diced bell peppers and carrots.

Sauteing diced onions in coconut oil.

Sliced dried apricots.

Add the onions to the pot.

Cumin

Cinnamon

Add coriander

Fresh grated ginger as well as dried.

Turmeric

Raw wildflower honey.

Chickpeas and diced tomatoes.

Add the vegetable stock.

Cover and let the slow cooking begin.

3 hours later

Roasted Carrot Bisque

 
This soup offers a blend of aromatic flavors, with a subtle sweetness of spring.  Loaded with carrots and ginger, this soup is packed with a powerhouse of Vitamin A and  anti-inflammatory benefits.  It is also so tasty, you might find yourself licking the bowl.

1.5- 2 lbs of carrots, washed and sliced into large chunks
2-3 tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil
sea salt
1 large onion, diced
1 large garlic clove, finely diced
1 Tablespoon of fresh grated ginger (or more to taste)
1 teaspoon of coriander
5-8 cups of vegetable stock
2-3 Tablespoons of honey
1/2-3/4 c of heavy cream * optional

 Place carrots and onions in a large baking dish (9x13) and drizzle them with olive oil.  You can also use coconut oil which adds another depth of flavor.  Sprinkle with sea salt and toss to coat.  Cover and place in the oven, at 375 F for 35 minutes or until soft and slightly browned.  Allow to cool with cover on. This will help soften the veggies even more. In the meantime, warm some stock on the stove in a medium size pot.  Once carrots and onions are cooled, place them in batches in a blender with some stock and blend until smooth. Add back to the pot and simmer. Add coriander, diced garlic, grated ginger, honey and heavy cream.   Adjust the thickness by adding more or less stock as you desire.  Add sea salt and fresh pepper to taste and enjoy!

Roasted carrots and onions

Carrot and onion puree

Grated ginger

Only a little heavy cream.  This is optional.

Stir in honey and spices.

Roasted Carrot Bisque

Yes, the kids will love it.

Can't talk. I am eating my soup.

Savoring every bite.

Non-Toxic Sparkling Clean Dishwasher Detergent

Did you know that the #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent.  Most dishwasher detergents contain chlorine, as well as a variety of other toxic chemicals that are labeled "HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED".  Now, it is very likely that some of the dishes in your dishwasher are not getting a complete and full rinse. Residue from these detergents are likely being left behind on some of your dishes.  Have you ever noticed the water that gets pooled in the lips of lids or the shallow pools in the bottom of your mugs?  This rinse water isn't exactly clear and colorless, is it?

Our friends at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have been working  tirelessly to protect human health and the health of the environment.  Since the ingredients in household cleaners are not regulated, many known carcinogenic compounds and substances known to harm fetal development are in household cleaning products.   If you are not reading the labels of the items you bring into your home or don't know the effects some of those chemicals can have, you may be putting you and your family's health at risk.
Thankfully the EWG has created a Guide to Healthy Cleaning, which provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for a wide range of cleaners and ingredients. EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning contains information and safety assessments for 2,109 products, 197 brands and more than 1,000 ingredients.
Of the 103 dishwasher detergents evaluated only 11% were given an A rating.  24% were given an F rating.  (May contain ingredients with potential for developmental/endocrine/reproductive effects; cancer; skin allergies/irritation; acute aquatic toxicity or respiratory effects.)  Among the worst offenders is 7th Generations Automatic Dish washing Gel. (RATING AT AN F) Although many of their other products consistently rank in the A category for being safe. This one by 7th Generation took me by surprise.

I have used a variety of A rated, dish washing detergents in my machine.  Some did not clean so well, while others became difficult to find.  So we decided to make our own.  With the help of my hubby, we came up with a NON-TOXIC Dishwasher detergent that is easy to make and leaves your dishes sparkling clean!  We have not calculated the cost of making it, but I am sure it is pennies a load.

NON TOXIC SPARKLING CLEAN DISH DETERGENT
1 Part BORAX
1 Part WASHING SODA
1/2 Part CITRIC ACID POWDER
1/2 Part SALT (cheap table salt is best)

 * all ingredients are readily available at your local grocery store.  If you have a hard time finding citric acid powder you can easily find it on Amazon.

Combine all ingredient in a large bowl and stir until well combined.  Place in a airtight container for storage.
USE: 1 TABLESPOON/LOAD 

1 Tablespoon/load

If there is excess, place in pre-wash compartment.

* Citric acid attracts water, so you will notice the detergent will begin to clump and harden somewhat.  This does not change it's effectiveness.  Because it can be a little difficult to scoop out the detergent when it is hardened, you don't want to make too big of a batch.
I usually make mine using the following measurements.
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
1 cup Citric acid powder
1 cup salt

We run our dishwasher nightly, so if you don't, you may want to consider making smaller batches.   
**UPDATE**  If you are finding this recipe is not fully cutting all the grease on some of  your dishes, you can add 2 DROPS of your favorite liquid dish soap.  Just a few drops is all you will need.