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GF, Vegan & Raw/ Healthy Eating/ How-Tos/ RECIPES

How A Sip Of Soda Impacts Your Health

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I’m a visual person, so when this came up in my Facebook feed, it caught my eye.  We all know soda is bad for you, but this image helped me understand why it is bad.

I was at the pool with my kids when I first saw this, and they asked for a pop, and this image was enough for me to say NO!  I gave them ice water, they gulped it up & jumped back into the pool.

If your reaction is “but it TASTES good” and you are one that loves fizz, then try this recipe:

Fresh Lime Soda

This recipe is easy, and will not spike your blood sugar!  Even my kids love it.

 

RECIPES/ Sides

Delicious Strawberry-Kiwi Spinach Dump Salad

There have been times when I was asked to bring a dish to share at a party, and I am running behind with no time to cook.  What to bring?  Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Dump Salad! 
Grab a large bowl and serving tongs, hit the grocery store on the way to your party, cut up your fruit once you get there, then dump it all in and enjoy!
As you can see in the photo above,  it uses Kashi Asiago Cheese crackers in place of croutons.  They soak up the dressing just enough and because they add a cheese taste, you can skip buying cheese.  This makes the salad much easier on the budget and some stomachs!  After the salad sits for awhile, the crackers get a bit soggy, but I’ve had people say that is the best part!
Strawberry Kiwi Spinach Dump Salad 
(a no recipe, recipe)
1 pkg spinach
slivered almonds
Kashi Asiago Cheese crackers
Kiwi, skinned & chopped
Strawberries, chopped
Newman’s Own Balsamic Vinaigrette
Put in a bowl, toss & enjoy!
I recently brought this to a family gathering at my sisters, and it was well received.  My dad was the official grill man of the day.  Why does everything grilled taste better when Dad grills it?

I totally forgot to take a photo of the finished salad, but you can see it back there behind my Fresh Lemon Pasta with Asparagus & Tomatoes.  Feel free to say hi to one of my favorite nephews, whom I promised someday would make the blog.  E–that day has come!  

Brunch/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES/ Sides

Rainbow Fruit Platter

Whenever I’m asked to bring a dish to a potluck type dinner, I have to make a choice between bringing owey- gooey -chocolaty- naughtiness, or something to show off that a plant based diet can be delicious, too.
Honestly, I often choose the naughty, because a girl can’t be good all the time and lets get real, naughty is fun! A potluck is a great excuse to make something yummy to share with others, all the while keeping it out of my own house as there is never leftovers!
But sometimes, I know there will be plenty of sugar at a gathering and I bring something that I know everyone will enjoy & that is good for the body, too.  I love showing others that eating healthy can be a delicious and beautiful experience, and what better way to do that then with the beauty of a rainbow fruit platter?
Would you look at all those beautiful colors, shapes and textures?  God sure is a great artist.
This platter was a cinch to put together.  All fruit was from Trader Joes.  I loved that they even had kumquats!  I ran to the store the morning of our family potluck, grabbed the rainbow of different fruits, and had my girls help me wash and arrange them onto a large platter.  The cantaloupe and pineapple were already precut.  I rarely pay the extra money for this, but this day convenience was worth the extra pennies!
Everyone “oooed” and “awed” over this platter as I walked in with it.  It was especially so fun to see the excitement of kids!  They love anything bite sized and bright colored.  When I went to grab the platter at the end of the potluck, there were only a few lonely grapes rolling around.  Who knew that fruit would be as popular as chocolate?

How-Tos/ RECIPES

Q & A, part one

“You mentioned on your page that you make strawberry bread – this sounds so interesting – can you share your recipe. Thanks.” – Sandy R.
The strawberry bread I mentioned in the post “Hulling Strawberries With A Straw“is a recipe from my childhood.  I used to make mini loaves when I was 11 or 12 and sell them at my mom’s craft boutiques.  I loved how it made the house smell, and they sold like crazy!  This recipe from Taste and Tell is the same one I used as a child.  If I were to make it today, I would use coconut oil, whole wheat flour, and maybe a sugar substitute.

“On your post on May 9 (Simplifying My Morning Routine) you posted a picture of a white bench and shelf (I am guessing in your entryway). Can I ask where you got them? I need those things exactly! Thank you,” Carol H.

The white bench and shelf are from this article at Women’s Day.com.  Its a great look, isn’t it?

“What does the banana do? Could I leave it out? I’m allergic to latex and bananas are a cross species or something…so fresh bananas make me react.” – Halle

The banana in Chocolate Almond Chia Oats really acts as a thickening agent and to add substance and creaminess to the recipe.  I’m not sure what else you could use.  Maybe some pureed strawberries?  In smoothies I substitute peaches for bananas because they both add good bulk to the recipe, but chocolate and peach doesn’t sound appealing to me for this recipe.  Try strawberries.

“I have a large bottle of concentrated lemon juice in my fridge and use that. Easy, quick, and no mess, no fuss. Is there a reason I should not be using that?”  – anonymous

Hi there!  Thanks for your question.  The fresh squeezed lemon juice in my 5 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water in the Morning post is in my opinion very important.  Fresh is best.  I’ve read in many juicing books that the minute juice hits air it starts to lose nutrients, so the sooner you can drink juice after it is squeezed, the better, which is why I am a big fan of freshly juiced juices!  Bottled also contains preservatives-sulfates I believe-so another reason to stick with fresh.

“What brand is your antique juicer?” – Cindy
Funny what I learn from my commenter’s.  I thought this was antique, until I wrote the post and asked for help in finding another from my readers.  In the comments, I found that this is a older model from Crate and Barrel.  Whoops! They don’t sell them anymore, but there is one very similar at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

“How much chicken do u use?!”  – anonymous

In my Crockpot Fajitas-A Fix and Forget Recipe, the recipe calls for 1 1/2 lbs of chicken, but as you can see in the picture in the post, I used a little less.  It is a forgiving recipe.

“Hi! What are the muffin looking things in this photo (from the sponsor page)? They look so neat!”  – konacupcake

That is a picture of my Oatmeal Freezer Pucks.  I make a big pan of steel cut oats, then freeze in large muffin cups.  Pop them out, store in the freezer, and have awesome, fresh tasting steel cut oats in minutes in the morning!

“This is a beautiful article in tribute to one of my favourite things, esp. since I grew up drinking it fresh squeezed, in season. How does one get to write a sponsored ad and what is the compensation? If it was 100% Florida orange juice (which is so expensive for our huge family that I only buy it on special occasions), I wish I had kept up with my blogging better!”  – michelle mad docks

I am so glad you enjoyed the article featuring Florida orange juice in my Chilled Melon & Citrus Soup with Kiwi Salsa. I work with a company called Social Spark.  They hook up advertisers and writers.  Social Spark sends me offers from different companies, and I chose which ones would be a good fit for New Nostalgia.  The compensation is a sliding scale based on how many page views a blog receives each month.  It has been a blessing to our family to be able to write some occasional paid posts.  Note that any paid posts starts out with acknowledgement that it is one.  Also know I will never promote anything I don’t support here on New Nostalgia.  For more information, visit Social Spark.

“I was wondering what kind of taste the ginger adds. I don’t like ginger, but don’t know how much of it you can feel. I watched the movie too and really wanted to do it, but then went on the website and saw ginger and my mind just shut it off. I know….excuses, excuses, but still…if I left the ginger out would the juices taste yucky? Could I replace it with something else?” – Luliana

I don’t think it is “excuses, excuses!”  I get that your brain would say no if I kept seeing an ingredient I didn’t like pop up in juice recipes.  Yes, you can taste the ginger, depending on how much you use.  You don’t have to use the ginger in any of the recipes in the post, Juice Cleanse Day 3, especially if you don’t like the taste.  For people who do like the taste, it adds a freshness and helps mask the taste of some of the greens.  It also has great health properties, BUT no problem if you want to skip it.  You could add another half of lemon instead..or just skip it all together.

“I was on your blog site awhile ago and thought that I found a list of about 10 leg exercises ( simple planks, wall sitting etc.) and it was called the “sexy leg workout”. I recently searched your site and I can not find it. Is it still on your site somewhere?” – Diana

That was from my post Simple Workout Inspirations.  I was not sure where that was located, either, so I used the search box in my sidebar and searched the word “workout.”  FYI if you ever need to find something else on the blog…or, just leave another comment! 🙂

Would it make a difference if I left out the cranberries?”  – Libby

Hi Libby.  No, it would not make a difference.  You could substitute dried cherries if you like them, or just leave them out all together.  These Chewy Granola bars are so awesome, I may have to go make some now!

 

Brunch/ GF, Vegan & Raw/ RECIPES

Strawberry Banana Raw Breakfast Oats

Chia oats is our go to snack and breakfast around here.  Full of fiber and protein, (13 grams of fiber & 11 grams of protein!) they are super healthy and super filling!  You can make them ahead of time and let them sit in the refrigerator for up to a day.

Start with mashing a banana.  Don’t like bananas?  Not sure about a substitute, as bananas are the base of the dish.  Maybe mashed mango or peaches?

Our usual chia oats calls for banana, peanut butter and a bit of maple syrup.  This time we skipped the peanut butter and added strawberries instead.  Yum!

Chia is a superfood that we eat everyday around here.  
————–
A little bit about:
Navitas Naturals Chia Seeds Aztec Superfood, 16 Ounce Pouch
~the are jammed packed with protein and minerals and healthy fats and fiber
~they provide more plant based Omega 3’s than any other food, even FLAX
~they have 5 GRAMS of fiber PER TABLESPOON!
~they are flavorless and dissolve in juice, soups, stews, shakes etc..
~they are FILLING!

Here is a great post on the benefits of chia seeds and different ways to use them.

Back to the recipe, I don’t really measure.  I use 2 handfuls of oats.  It is a very forgiving recipe, no need to be exact. We have made chia oats so often that even my 9 year old knows how to make them.  

I use 2 palmfuls of chia.

One capful of vanilla.  So easy!

We eyeball the almond milk…

…then stir it all up.

This is how it should look right after stirring.  You want it a little runny.  As it sits, the chia seeds soften and swell and the oats soak up some of the milk.  

Let it sit in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to soften the oats and thicken.  A little someone ate up the oats before I could take a final picture!  She added a bit of agave and they were gone before I knew it!

Strawberry Banana Raw Breakfast Oats

1 banana, mashed
4-5 strawberries, cut up
1 cup oats (or two handfuls)
2 tbls chia seeds (or 2 palmfuls)
1 tsp vanilla (or 1 capful)
1-1/2 cups milk (almond, coconut, dairy)
________
a drizzle of honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
________
Mash banana.  Add strawberries, oats, seeds & vanilla.  Add milk.  Stir.  If too thick, add more milk, you want them slightly runny like picture above.  Let sit for 10-15 minutes in the refrigerator.  Before eating, drizzle with sweetener of choice.  Can be refrigerated up to a day.  
HEALTH/ How-Tos/ Natural Products/ RECIPES

Incredibly Easy Homemade Disinfectant

I can’t tell you how great it has been to no longer choke as I am cleaning from the fumes of harsh chemical cleaners!  I love that I can assign my daughters different jobs around the house and not worry about handing over bottles of cleaners to them.  It just is a good feeling.

This homemade disinfectant can’t get any more simple.  It just uses hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of essential oils for scent, which is optional.

For heavy duty disinfectant jobs, like raw chicken, I’ve read all over the Internet about a this study, which uses a hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, in two separate spray bottles.

“It doesn’t matter which you use first – you can spray with the vinegar then
the hydrogen peroxide, or with the hydrogen peroxide followed by the vinegar.
You won’t get any lingering taste of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, and neither
is toxic to you if a small amount remains on the produce. As a bonus: The paired
sprays work exceptionally well in sanitizing counters and other food preparation
surfaces — including wood cutting boards. In tests run at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, pairing the two mists killed virtually all

Salmonella, Shigella, or E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated food and
surfaces when used in this fashion, making this spray combination more effective
at killing these potentially lethal bacteria than chlorine bleach or any
commercially available kitchen cleaner. “

 

Homemade Disinfectant

Hydrogen Peroxide

10-15 drops of essential oil (optional–for scent)

Spray bottle

I chose Lemon essential oil as my scent.  I LOVE any citrus scent!  You can order the oil I used here on Amazon. 

I am on a roll in making homemade cleaners as I am tired of paying the prices of organic cleaners.  I wanted an easy way to label them, so I got my daughters alphabet stamp kit out and made a bunch of labels.  You can find links to more of my cleaning recipes below!

Between my cancer history and my daughters asthma issues, I am passionate about getting as many chemicals out of our home as possible.  Making my own cleaners is a super easy way to make a HUGE difference in cleaning up the air in our home.

Homemade Glass Cleaner That Smells Great

Awesome Homemade All Purpose Cleaner

Under The Kitchen Sink Cleaner Organization

*update-an opaque bottle is a must for hydrogen peroxide.  Guess I will have to go shopping.  I’ve read that a small spray bottle top can fit right onto the bottle that the hydrogen peroxide is sold in, so that is my plan!

RECIPES/ Sweets

10 Very Naughty Desserts

I volunteered to bring a dessert to a family gathering we are having tomorrow. I love it when I am asked to bring a dessert to a gathering, because it gives me the excuse to make something very, very naughty.  I like that I can leave any leftovers at the gathering, so it doesn’t sit around here.  I also like that I can search all my Recipe Pins and look for something I normal would not make to have here at home.

I thought I would share some of my options with you!  Hmm…how to choose?

Chocolate cupcakes topped with ganache & caramel drizzled Ruffles.  Oh WOW!

Recipe for Caramel Slice-“best food ever created” says a Pinner.

Yellow Cake Mix + Peanut Butter + Chocolate = Easy Dessert…Yum!

Preheat over to 350 degrees.  Smoosh pre-made cookie dough into muffin tin.  Place Reeses peanut butter cup or oreo on top.  Top with boxed or pre- made brownie mix. Fill 3/4 full.  Bake 18 minutes. (no link)

Brownie Batter Dip-serve with pretzels.  Can you tell I love chocolate + salty +sweet?

Pretzel cookies with chocolate & peanut butter chips, for my salty/sweet tooth!

Source: food.com via New on Pinterest

6 minute microwave caramels.  Literally just measure ingredients and stir.  Add some sea salt to the top and  you have fancy salted caramels.

Source: myrecipes.com via New on Pinterest

Lemonade Cake.  Another Pinner says “this is my favorite cake in the whole world…my Aunt Catherine introduced it and now the whole family loves it.  Great summer recipe!”

Cinnamon Roll cake.  Pinner says “it literally melts in your mouth. Great for breakfast or dessert.”

Better Than Crack Brownies.  I’ve made these.  They are amazing.


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So which one would you choose?  I’m gonna go for something chocolate and easy!

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