I have a super easy way to make Iced Tea that does not include boiling water or sitting it in the sun all day, and uses a mason jar — which we all know I love!
Just take a jar, put in 4 tea bags, fill it to the top, screw on the lid and put it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, take the bags out and give them a little squeeze over the jar. Voila’…you now have iced tea concentrate!
When you want a glass of tea, pour about 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water into a glass of ice and stir. I adjust the amount of concentrate depending on how weak or strong that particular brand of tea is.
Here is the blog that I got the idea from, there are a bunch of comments regarding specific measurements if you are someone who likes more details.
*the picture above was taken before the jar sat overnight. The concentrate gets much more, well, concentrated:)
I plan on adding some fresh mint leaves or lemon balm from my garden for even more flavor. Herbs are incredibly good for you so this is a great way to take advantage of their health benefits.
I’ve been able to get more greens into my kids this summer than ever before, thanks to our new Vitamix blender. I have been wanting a Vitamix for years, and finally saved enough Amazon bucks (thanks to you all clicking on my amazon links in the sidebars!) to get one for our family. They are pricey, but MY WORD they are worth every penny.
We have been making green smoothies at least 5 times a week. I’ve been freezing them in Popsicle holders which my kids love. Kids are used to seeing green Popsicles, so this is a great way to get picky little ones to eat green.
Back to the Vitamix. I got the top of the line, the professional series 750 The difference in this blender compared to others is its power. I can make crushed ice in seconds. It chops our greens so small that they just end up coloring the smoothie, there are no tiny green pieces to get stuck between your teeth or for your kids to turn their noses up to. The series 750 has pre-programmed settings so I can walk away and let it do its thing. There is a smoothie setting, a puree setting (oh my the peach and strawberry puree’s I’ve made are to die for!) a soup setting (it whips so fast that it creates just enough heat to make perfect soup), and my fav, the self -cleaning setting. You just fill the container half full of water, add a drop of dish soap, and push the button. It cleans itself!
With all the quality and precision of a commercial machine and a quieter, more elegant design, the Professional Series 750 offers five pre-programmed settings, including a self-cleaning option. The ultra-responsive Variable Speed Dial and Pulse feature allow you to precisely chop and mix ingredients to your exact specifications, making this blender the ultimate sous chef for your home kitchen.
Five pre-programmed settings ensure simple cleaning, walk-away convenience, and consistent results for smoothie, frozen dessert, soup, and purée recipes.
Newly designed 64-ounce container is perfect for family meals and entertaining, while fitting comfortably under most kitchen cabinets.
It is big, POWERFUL, and I love it. If you have been thinking about getting a Vitamix, I highly recommend them! If you use this link from Amazon I will get percentage of your purchase, which I will put towards the food dehydrator I’ve been eyeing..and will be most grateful.
Shipping was free through Amazon and delivery was quick. I was a happy girl the day this came in the mail!
On to our green smoothie! This is a delicious smoothie that my girls really like. It has twice the amount of fruit most green smoothies have compared to greens, so it is a good started smoothie. As you get used to the flavor of greens, I encourage you to use less fruit and more greens.
Green Smoothie For Kids
2 cups (I use handfuls) or spinach or kale ( I used baby kale)
1 cup water
1 cup frozen mango
1 cup frozen pineapple
2 frozen (or not) bananas
Place greens and water in blender. Blend until greens pieces disappear. Add the fruit. Blend until smooth.
If you look at the recipe, it counts for 8 servings of fruits and vegetables. This recipe made enough for my 3 girls to have about 4 ounces each, and I had about 12 ounces, which means this counted for 4 of my 8 daily servings of fruits and veggies for the day! Not bad for a snack, huh? This is precisely why I am a big fan of green smoothies.
Isn’t the color amazing? This is sweet, tropical-tasting, and delicious!
The bananas make it so creamy. I always make sure I have frozen bananas in my freezer, as they are the base for most of our green smoothies.
Well, I woke up today with my symptoms much worse. I had a doctor appointment at 2, and she drew more blood for more tests & scheduled a brain MRI on Monday. I already had bone scan and CT scan scheduled on Monday, so what’s one more, right?
We are not sure if all these random symptoms are due to low potassium or not. Many of them fit the bill, but they want to make sure we are not missing anything. In the meantime, I am doing my best to make sure I’m ingesting as much potassium containing foods as possible, and supplementing with magnesium as it helps with absorption of potassium.
Potassium is:
is a dietary mineral necessary for balancing the pH of your body and for keeping fluids in balance as well, so it’s important for normal blood pressure regulation (it works in opposition to sodium). Potassium is also needed for normal muscle growth, and for nervous system and brain function. It’s found in many different foods, especially fruits and vegetables, so you may be getting plenty of potassium in your diet right now. If not, here’s a list of foods that contain potassium.
It has surprised me that in my reading I have found that many people are low in potassium but do not even know it. Both men & women need 4,700 milligrams a day.
Some of the symptoms of low potassium include:
Fatigue
Muscle Twitching
Tingling/Numbness
Muscle Aches
Nausea
Feeling Chilled
Headache
Constipation
Muscle Weakness
Foods high in potassium:
Raisins
Prunes
Apricots
Dates
Strawberries
Bananas
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Citrus fruits
Beets
Greens
Spinach
Tomatoes
Mushrooms
Soy and soy foods
Many veggie burgers
Peas
Beans
Turkey
Beef
Salmon
Cod
Hemp Seeds
Chia Seeds
Coconut Water
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Here is a potassium-filled recipe from Bon Appetit that I’m planning on making this weekend, but instead of straining the pulp, I’m going to make a smoothie!
Cantaloupe Basil Agua Fresca
Ingredients
15cupschopped cantaloupe (about two 3 1/2-pound melons)
3/4cupfresh lemon juice
3/4cuploosely packed fresh basil leaves
Special equipment
Cheesecloth
Preparation
Working in batches, purée cantaloupe in a blender until smooth.
Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl; line sieve with cheesecloth. Strain purée into bowl; gather cheesecloth into a bundle and squeeze any remaining juice into bowl. Repeat process with fresh cheesecloth, straining into a large pitcher (you should have about 5 cups juice).
Add lemon juice, basil, and 2 cups cold water to pitcher. Let steep at room temperature for 1–2 hours. Fill glasses with ice. Divide agua fresca among glasses.
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I will let you know when I get scan results. Love to you all!
If you have read my post, 5 Reasons To Drink Lemon Water In The Morning, you will know I’m a HUGE fan of lemon water. I feel like I can’t function well in the morning without hydrating with lemon water, and I always have it before my cup of coffee in the morning.
Now that I know about this awesome water bottle called AquaZinger, I have been drinking lemon water all day long!
This is really the coolest thing. It is a water bottle that has a built in grinder in the bottom. It also has a filter, so seeds and chunks stay at the bottom.
You simply start by cutting a lemon in half. I’ve learned that by cutting off the very end of the lemon, it makes grinding a whole lot easier! When I first purchased my water bottle, I felt frustrated at how much muscle it took to do the grinding. Now that I watched the below “tips” video and know the tricks, it is easy and I love it!
You then take the filter piece and push it down into the fruit.
Like so…
…then you take the water bottle part and twist it on. The twisting action is what grinds the fruit.
See? Isn’t that so nifty? It really is easy.
Here is a view inside the AquaZinger bottle. That filter keeps all the seeds and chunks of fruit from going down your throat!
Add cold, filtered water. Then give it a little shake.
I refill it all throughout the day, and usually only use one lemon half a day, sometimes two if I am extra thirsty and find myself filling it up more often.
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5 Reasons To Drink Lemon Water Every Morning
Number 1
It balances pH–Lemon is an acidic food, but once metabolized, it becomes alkaline. I work very hard at keeping my body alkaline. Why?
To put it most simply, alkalies help keep the oxygen in our blood at a safe pH level, and this helps our body heal itself, assimilate nutrients and fight off unwanted sickness.
It keeps skin clear and glowing! I have noticed this. Hydration from drinking lemon water is great for moisturizing our skin from the inside out. Lemon also contains lots of Vitamin C, which helps with wrinkles and blemishes.
Number 3
It kick starts the digestive system–a big glass of lemon water is a great way to start the day. It encourages the liver to produce bile which in turn aids in digestion. It increases urination which helps purify it. It also helps with heartburn and constipation.
Number 4
It helps with weight loss–I have read that keeping the body in an alkaline state helps people lose weight faster. Lemons are high in fiber pectin, which helps keep one full, longer. They also have a diuretic effect, which helps with water weight gain.
Number 5
It helps control the coffee habit–I will drink coffee sometimes, but only if I have had my entire glass of lemon water. Many days I feel like the lemon water wakes me up more than coffee does…
…which brings me to bonus Number 6:
It helps kick the pop habit--I have found that adding lemon to sparkling water and adding a whole lot of ice satisfies any soda craving I might have. I gave up soda pop the minute I was diagnosed a year ago, and I really don’t miss it. I don’t think I could stand the sweetness of it now, but I DO miss the fizz, so my “Lemon Spritzer”–lemon +sparkling water+ice–is the perfect solution!
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My sister-in-law has the Citrus Zinger and loves it. I may eventually get one of these, too, but I have really grown to love my Aqua Zinger. I like that it grinds the lemon peel up, too, so the lemon flavor is extra strong and I get the benefits of the essential oils in the peel. If you watch the video below, you will see that the Aqua Grinder is not just for lemons, but for any type of fruit. I have not experimented much with other types of fruit, but when I do I will let you know!
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To purchase the Aqua Zinger & Citrus Zinger – Click here.
One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to eat some form of greens everyday. The more I read on the health benefits of greens, the more I realize how important it is to consume them daily and in large amounts. I am devouring the book Eat To Live Eat To Live by Dr. Fuhrman. It is by far one of my most favorite books on nutrition, second only to The China Study. This recipe is taken from that book.
Here is what he says about greens:
“Dark green leafy vegetables –kale, spinach, arugula, swiss chard, romaine, mustard greens, collard greens & watercress–get the very highest score in highest nutrient density foods. They contain the very most phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals of all foods. They are rich in all necessary amino acids. They are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients that protect us from a variety of threatening illnesses.”
Greens rock!
I love a good salad, and it is a good thing since I eat them most days for lunch AND as a side to dinner. I also love green smoothies. But sometimes, I just want to get my greens in quick and not have to think about it the rest of the day.
This Blended Mango Spinach Salad is an awesome way to do just that. It only makes about 4 1/2 ounces, so to gulp it down takes just minutes. Most of my green smoothie recipes make 2 cups of smoothie which takes a chunk of time to finish. This blended salad recipe is the same idea of a smoothie, and uses the same amount of greens as a green smoothie (3 cups!) but it is more concentrated.
The mango adds a nice creaminess and sweetness. It tastes very fresh and quite green. I like it, quite a lot, but I’m also used to the taste of green smoothies and greens. I could not drink 2 cups of it at once, but as a quick “shot” of nutrition, it is perfect. I will be making it often.
Beautiful greens!
Only 3 simple, super healthy ingredients.
Cut your mango and do your best not to eat it just like this!
Mango art!
Slice mango chunks off of skin right into blender.
Blend mango & spinach.
Check out that beautiful color!
Add greens and milk.
Blend again, and you are done!
Now chug it, slurp it, drink it up! Your body will thank you for this extra shot of energy and goodness!
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Blended Mango Spinach Salad
2 cups spinach
1/2-1 cup romaine or other greens (I used a mix of baby chard, kale & watercress)
1 cup fresh mango
1/8 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
Peel and chop the mango and place in a food processor or high powered blender. Add the spinach. Blend until combined. Add the greens and milk. Blend until creamy.
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Check out the nutrition facts in that green shot of goodness!
759 g potassium
5 g fiber
3.4 g protein
Almost 200% of your Vitamin A
Over 100% of your Vitamin C
Great source of iron, magnesium & calcium!
Nutrition Facts
User Entered Recipe
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories
128.0
Total Fat
0.8 g
Saturated Fat
0.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat
0.2 g
Cholesterol
0.0 mg
Sodium
74.4 mg
Potassium
759.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate
31.3 g
Dietary Fiber
5.0 g
Sugars
24.8 g
Protein
3.4 g
Vitamin A
194.0 %
Vitamin B-12
0.0 %
Vitamin B-6
19.8 %
Vitamin C
118.3 %
Vitamin D
0.0 %
Vitamin E
17.7 %
Calcium
10.6 %
Copper
14.9 %
Folate
49.4 %
Iron
14.7 %
Magnesium
21.5 %
Manganese
42.6 %
Niacin
8.1 %
Pantothenic Acid
3.2 %
Phosphorus
6.2 %
Riboflavin
15.5 %
Selenium
2.7 %
Thiamin
11.1 %
Zinc
3.6 %
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What do you think?
Do you think you could handle a nice, sweet, fresh shot of greens?
Let me know if you try it and what you think.
I just chose a winner for my last Celestial Seasonings 31 Days of TeaLC giveaway, and there was so much excitement about it that I though we should do one more!
I talked last week about just how much I love hot beverages in the winter. I love chai, coffee and tea, but because I am a cancer survivor, health and immunity are super important to me. With this in mind, I have been wanting to drink less coffee and more tea, and joined in on Celestial Seasonings 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. My personal challenge is to replace my typical 2nd cup of coffee, the one I usually drink in the afternoon, with tea!
My friends at Celestial Seasonings recently sent a bunch of their new wellness teas, just in time for my 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. I have LOVED trying out their new products, and have been reallyimpressed with the emphasis their teas have on health! This month is more than half way over and I have found that this 31 day challenge really isn’t much of a challenge for me because it has been a very delicious challenge!
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During my last giveaway, I asked you to comment on what your favorite Celestial Seasonings teas are. I loved the response I got from you! Here are the most popular flavors according to New Nostalgia readers!
~ Sleepytime teas were by far the most popular. Many of you commented on how they really do work and help you fall asleep. The Vanilla, Peach and Sinus Soother were the most popular flavors.
~Raspberry Zinger was also very popular, and came in second.
This tea is very timely for what I have seen and experienced here in the Midwest. It seems like EVERYONE is battling colds and flu. We have managed to stay fairly healthy. I do have one girl with some cold symptoms. When she told me she had a sore throat one evening, I was excited to experiment with Sleepytime Throat Tamer. I made her some, added some honey, and she said she really liked it and that it definitely helped. She drifted right off to sleep after her tea. She is 11 and is really starting to enjoy tea, especially herbal teas!
When the seasons change, minor throat irritations are all too common. Steep yourself in soothing goodness with Sleepytime Throat Tamer™. This special blend features all of the calming and relaxing qualities of our beloved Sleepytime tea, including aromatic spearmint from the Pacific Northwest and soothing Egyptian chamomile. Sleepytime Throat Tamer adds licorice root and slippery elm bark to coat and soothe a sore throat, while the rejuvenating infusion of lemongrass and ginger provides a comforting aroma and flavor. You’ll feel soothing relief from the very first sip! *
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The next tea that I have really been enjoying is the Metabo Balance Green Tea. I am on a medication for 5 years due to my cancer history. This particular medication makes you gain weight. It messes with hormone levels and because of this I have noticed a change in my body shape, and in my tendency to gain weight around the middle. I have been blessed to never have had to worry about weight gain, until now! I’m hoping this tea will help regulate my metabolism. This tea is delicious–it has hibiscus, orange peel and grapefruit flavor. It is a green tea which is great for everyone, but especially cancer survivors!
For many of us, maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge. Support your metabolism by adding Metabo Balance™ wellness tea to your healthy diet and active lifestyle. This all-natural blend features authentic green tea leaves and potent green tea extract for sustained energy and metabolism support, plus garcinia cambogia and a delicious tropical grapefruit flavor for great taste with no calories!*
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
I own an electric tea kettle, and it is by far one of my most favorite kitchen appliances, especially in the winter. I fill it with water in the morning, then flip the button to “on.” In just a minute or 2, I have hot water for my tea. The kettle keeps the water hot for a long time, so I refill my mug often. If it has been a couple hours since my last cup of tea and I want more, I simply flip the switch to “on’ again. It is a great way to have hot water handy all throughout the day. I LOVE it.
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Would you like a chance to win a month supply of Celestial Seasonings tea?
I am a HUGE fan of warm, comforting drinks in the winter months. There is just something I love about having my hands wrapped around a big, warm mug of a hot beverage. I love chai, coffee and tea, but because I am a cancer survivor, health and immunity are super important to me! With this in mind, I have been wanting to drink less coffee and more tea, and have decided to join in on Celestial Seasonings 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. My personal challenge is to replace my typical 2nd cup of coffee, the one I usually drink in the afternoon, with tea!
My friends at Celestial Seasonings recently sent me a bunch of their new wellness teas, just in time for my 31 Days of TeaLC Challenge. I have LOVED trying out their new products, and have been reallyimpressed with the emphasis their teas have on health! I have so enjoyed experiencing their different teas that I find myself drinking much more tea than I anticipated. This 31 day challenge really isn’t much of a challenge for me because it has been so much fun!
I own an electric tea kettle, and it is by far one of my most favorite kitchen appliances, especially in the winter. I fill it with water in the morning, then flip the button to “on.” In just a minute or 2, I have hot water for my tea. The kettle keeps the water hot for a long time, so I refill my mug often. If it has been a couple hours since my last cup of tea and I want more, I simply flip the switch to “on’ again. It is a great way to have hot water handy all throughout the day. I LOVE it.
There are 2 teas from Celestial Seasonings that I must talk about. I will start with my most favorite–Natural Detox Wellness Tea. I was super excited to see a Celestial Seasoning tea containing Milk Thistle. I have taken Milk Thistle in supplement form ever since I finished chemo & radiation. Milk Thistle is known for its detoxing properties, and is great great for the liver. Chemo wreaks havoc on the liver, which is the bodies main detoxing organ, so restoring my liver to its full working condition was really important to me. I was hoping I would like this tea, especially if it meant eliminating an expensive supplement that I would usually take in pill form. This tea did not disappoint. The creamy vanilla flavor is really comforting. It is interesting for something to taste “creamy” when it is not, but it does! I love it, have drank a ton of it already, and I’m not even close to being tired of it.
My second favorite tea that they sent is their Antioxidant Max Green Tea Blueberry Pomegranate. Green tea is another really important ingredient in a healthy diet. Green teas provide powerful flavonoid antioxidants that can help reduce the cell-damaging effects of free radicals. This is not only good for cancer patients whose treatment is so harsh and damaging, but also for healthy people who want to stay that way. Cancer is simply cells misbehaving that are damaged, so it makes sense that reducing free radicals that damage cells is cancer preventative.
This tea would taste great in the warm months, too. It would be really refreshing to serve it iced.
