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Posts Tagged ‘NuStevia’

The Backyard Salad- and Giveaway

Posted in Entree, NuStevia Recipes, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 14, 2012 | 15 Comments »

This past weekend my husband and I were thoughtfully invited to an annual crawfish gathering in the neighborhood.

I opted out of anything crustacean related, and instead brought along a fresh green salad, with a summer edge and hearty twist.

I wanted something light, but also something satiating enough to stand “alone”.

To create a backyard, barbecue feel, I used juicy portabello mushrooms for meatiness, if you will, and freshly “roasted” red peppers. These are my “go-to” dense salad “dressers.”

Weight:

To get started, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. On a cooking pan, place 2 large portabello mushrooms, (caps only), and 1-2 red peppers, deseeded and cut into halves. Let bake in the oven until mushroom is juicy (about 10 minutes), and the red pepper’s skin is wrinkling (12-15 minutes). Remove and towel dry the mushroom. Allow to cool. Remove the red peppers, allowing time to cool, and then carefully peel off it’s wrinkly skin. Towel dry. Set aside.

Base:

  • 8 ounces of organic arugula
  • 8 ounces of organic fresh spinach leaves
  • 1/8 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 cup golden cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 garlic choves, chopped (optional)
  • Fresh basil and parsley optional, know your audience on this one… I opted out. 

Dress:

  • 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus 2 tbsp
  • 1 tsp fresh minced garlic
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley leaves and stems, roughly chopped
  • 3 tbsp fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • 6 drops Orange NuNaturals NuStevia
  • Blend in high speed blender (like Magic Bullet) until smooth

Realign, and Combine

  • Toss the Base with the Dressing
  • Thinly slice and then halve the mushrooms and red peppers
  • Add on the weight
  • Sprinkle on a quality sea salt, like a sweet Pink Himalayan

Give it a final toss, and then go.

The salad will wilt significantly with the weight of the dressing and toppings. I love this because it gives the salad a massaged and denser feel.

The Result.

The mushroom and peppers are mild in flavor but “heavy”, and completely balance out the spicier arugula, creamy spinach, and fresh tasting herb dressing that is also surprisingly and just perfectly sweet! 

Had their been more grilled veggies, I would have been adding this to the salad also.

Those that tried it, loved it! And I am sure the crustaceans would have preferred it also. 

Want to make this salad? The orange NuStevia I added to the dressing was what really gave this dressing a unique gourmet and summer flavor. (And it was oh-so-simple).

GIVEAWAY. 

I have a little Giveaway to announce. NuNaturals is generously awarding (4) Four readers the opportunity to win their new Orange and Lemon flavors! The orange is what I tried out for this salad. I can’t say that these new flavors will replace my attachment to the Vanilla and Original Alcohol-Free NuStevia’s I use regularly, but I invite you to give it a try!

Giveaway Rules? 

Pretty simple:

  1. “Like” the NuNaturals Facebook page,
  2. “Like” my Facebook GLOW page,
  3. Then let me know you did so by commenting below with what you want to make with your goodies (it could be as simple as adding it to your tea).

*NuNaturals asks that you are in the U.S. and have an address that they can ship to (that is not a P.O. Box).

Contest Starts Today, and I’ll announce the 4 winners a week from now.

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Keeping Life Sweet, and Staying OFF Sugar

Posted in ADD and ADHD, Anxiety, NuStevia Recipes, tagged , , , , on January 17, 2012 | 14 Comments »

Like many kids and adults, I liked life sweet.

But just like any drug, my bliss and sugar high always brought me lower than I started, and yearning for more.

Of course, at a young age, we do not make this connection. As an adult, we attribute these feelings to being “normal.”

Had I fully realized the actual detriments of my diet, however, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble.

My constant insecurities were generally along the lines of stubborn baby weight, (which was more like a puffiness I never could sweat off), and later down the road, hormonal imbalances, acne, anxiety, and depression.

There were many things about my genealogy that were imperfect and contributing to my predicament, but I was never able to fully accept that DNA was the root cause for my problems, and where diet was concerned, there was not one piece of information I read that did not contradict itself. Fats, low fats, low calorie, sugar-free, exercise, pills, medications, and beauty products all seemed to be the “solution”—or never-ending solution, that is.

It was all absurd.

Regardless of whether I feasted on regular sugar, or the diet stuff, my body, moods and skin were left in a constant limbo. Neither “regular” or “diet” products contributed to my well-being, and instead: stressed hormones, left me sleepless, or exhausted, and unable to stay away from sugar without feeling like I was missing out, or depriving myself.

I had no idea that, aside from the other “food,” and processed and refined flour I was also enjoying regularly (which converts to simple sugar also), sugar was not just something that would tick off the dentist, but rather— poison me.

Sugar, refined, processed, and the diet stuff too, all leave an acid “ash” residue in the body. That is, after the body has used, or most likely– been unable to use for energy, the “waste” residue remaining lowers the body’s internal pH. When the body is “out of balance,” it invites bacteria, yeasts, and weakens the immunity. These yeasts (like Candida) which further contribute to the problem, thrive on sugars, refined foods, and foods that are not readily broken down (ground chicken tacos with cheese, etc.). These imbalances, or toxins, affect everything from our complexion, and weight, to our body’s ability to fight against aging and disease, as well as find happiness.

While I would be lying to say that the removal of sugar itself is the answer to everything (baked potatoes and rice are converted to sugar also), it can be extremely difficult to get that jump-start on a healthy “diet” without feeling deprived, or remorse for the attachment you had to some foods, when you decide to cut out the “bad”– cold turkey.

I certainly had emotional attachments to foods, and food groups, but one of my biggest issues was leaving alone the sweeter things. I liked life sweet.

And low and behold, I still do… because life is meant to be sweet.

Though I consider the best source of sugar is via carrots (juiced, or raw) and beets (juiced, grated raw, baked, or roasted), this would be like suggesting everyone use bicycles as their main mode of transportation.

Healthy,

Beneficial…

and… Unrealistic.

I get my fair share of carrots, but in between, I have to say I am still a fan of stevia. Stevia, an herbal sweetener, is very low calories and highly concentrated making it sweeter than sugar. While I would not go as far as to check it off as a “miracle food,” I do think that it is a great alternative to highly processed and chemically altered sugar, and faux-sugars. It is also extremely helpful in transitioning to a lifestyle focused on whole foods.

I must say that I am loyal to NuStevia because I know the product fairly well, and have been using it for 5 years now. While I now stray away from most powdered sweeteners, as I do not love the additives that prevent the stevia extract from caking, and such, I absolutely love the liquid versions that NuStevia has to offer (it also comes in an alcohol-free version also– I like these best!).

(With all of the brands of Stevia making it to the market, I also like that NuStevia is not owned by our dear “friends” that also happen to mass produce sodas).

Which is why I am always excited when NuNaturals asks me if I would like to hold a NuStevia giveaway.

Of course!!

Why?

I like this brand for their honesty, and taste. I also enjoy it in many of my recipes, and I want you to be able to enjoy it also.

How to win?

Just comment, tweet, Facebook, and get the word out. Then come back and comment below to let me know that you did! Why do you want to try NuStevia? Have you ever tried Stevia before? Are you excited to try it for yourself and your family? Any recipes that you would like to enjoy?

~ FOUR (4) WILL WIN! ~

4 readers will win a box of 50 NuStevia white packets, and 1 Liquid Vanilla NuStevia (my fav product!).

If you like life sweet, YOU WILL LOVE NUSTEVIA.

Can’t wait to hear from you all!

In addition: SAVE MONEY!

Save 15% on your entire order when you type in the code: BLG0612 at checkout! and receive FREE SHIPPING to the CONTINENTAL U.S. on all orders TOTALING $35.00, and over, AFTER this special discount.

Contest starts now! Winners will be announced on Monday, January 23rd, 2012!

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Raw Anti-Pasta Salad. Eating Healthy at an Outdoor Function!

Posted in Recent Posts, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

I recently made the trek back to New Jersey to attend a family reunion hosted down at the lovely New Jersey shore (not to be associated with the TV show, thank you very much).  It was a crazy weekend, jam packed with what resulted as too much time in the airport and not enough time doing what I love… spending time with my favorite people, and sharing fun recipes and health facts with ya’ll!

Every year the family gathers in from Manhattan, San Diego, Florida, New Jersey, Austin, New Hampshire, and even Thailand, so it is always pleasant (and hectic) to see 28+ of us in one place.

While we are all scattered about throughout the weekend, the one thing that connects us, and has always connected us, is food.

There is never a shortage of food at our family get-togethers.

Never.

Family gatherings of this type seem to warrant the “o.k.” to indulge in the All-American diet.  With the family consuming immeasurable amounts of pizza, hot dogs, burgers, cheese and chips… I tend to stick out, just ever-s0-slightly, like a sore thumb.  If you ever run into this situation, which I assume many of you will, especially as summer gets into full swing…

Try not to worry…

There are some “easy” remedies for feeling ‘out of place’ at an All-American foodie function.

Remedies…

1.    Ask your host to put aside some undressed salad for you.  My family knows to do this already without me even having to ask.  A couple of years ago though, they looked at me in disbelief—now it is just common knowledge that I will probably be dressing my own salad.  Why ask them to put aside some naked greens?  More often than not, salads are dressed with prepackaged and/or creamy dressings.  These dressings have a number of unwanted ingredients you will probably want to steer clear of (even the homemade ones). 

- Easy “American” dressing… mix olive oil with the mustard available on the hot dog dressing table.  If there is any honey on hand, you can easily sweeten it up with a touch of honey, raw agave (or… if your like me and carry NuStevia with you, Stevia!)  *Get 15% off your NuStevia order by typing in BLG710.  Offer expires today (07/01/2010). 

2.    Bring along a ripe avocado, or a little of your favorite olive oil, or dressing.  Carry in a small Tubberware and stash in the fridge when you get there.  If I am just bringing olive oil, I don’t bother storing it in the fridge.  If salad is the only healthy option, pop on the avocado and/or dressing.

3.    Offer to bring something for yourself and the guests to share.  Explain to your host that you hate to be a pain, but would love to bring something because… you have allergies, or certain dietary restrictions, or you’re a vegetarian, or (fill in the blank).  Tell them to please “not to worry” about you… and that you think he/she will absolutely love your (fill in the blank).  Tell your host that you are so excited to get her/his feedback on this dish, and even more excited to see them!

4.  Don’t get caught up in the guilt of not indulging in something that doesn’t suit you!  My uncle makes delicious smelling organic muffins, cakes, everything…  I love breathing in their sweet and creamy aromas, but I do not eat them.  I cannot be stressed about someone being offended that I will not be able indulge in their labor of love.  I hate to disappoint, but there has to be another way to show my love, rather than eat a muffin that will leave me feeling weighed down.  They do smell marvelous though.

4.  Bring along your own healthy dessert.  I always carry dark chocolate.  I bring enough to share, just in case someone asks! (They always do!)

5.    Want to feel apart of the crowd?  I love condiments (ketchup, and BBQ sauce).  One of the ways I have always prevented myself from feeling “left out,” is by dipping my grilled veggies into my favorite condiments.  Many people are surprised to find that they crave the sugary condiments more so than the food that they are using to dip into it.  Ketchup, and the like, are not healthy (they are all sugar), but I like to keep life fun (and yes, you can do this with ketchup.  I swear!)

6.    If you are at a family function, where you may have more say in the way food is being managed, help in the kitchen and make do with what you have (or what is close by).  Some of the most commonly grilled veggies of the summer are zucchinis and summer squash.  With a simple carrot peeler (all that was on hand), you can whip up a fun summer salad that is worlds more exciting than your typical mixed greens.  Snatch some sun-dried tomatoes from the anti-pasta dish, garlic from the kitchen, and toss in some of your other favorite raw veggies.  If burgers are on sight, you better be sure that there are onions (and tomatoes) too.

7.  Bring along your favorite raw nut bar!  I am not a huge fan of packaged goods, but to be on the safe side, and to avoid starvation if there is nothing available to you… stash a (enter: favorite healthy, raw, snack bar here), or dried apple chips in your bag. 

Lucky for me, I had the luxury of making a trip to the local grocer, but I tried to use ingredients that would be more likely to be readily available at a summer BBQ.

Makeshift Raw Anti-Pasta


2 zucchini, shredded with a carrot peeler

1 summer squash, shredded with a carrot peeler

1/3 cup sliced red onion (snatched from the hot dog station)

14 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked for 30 minutes, rinsed, and chopped, (especially if they are marinated in an unknown substance)

2 handfuls of mixed greens on hand, (I used arugula)

1 garlic clove, chopped

Toss with 2 tbsp cold pressed olive oil, add in avocado, (if you choose, and then lower the amount of olive oil used), and balsamic vinegar (optional)

Sea Salt to taste

And there you have it… a raw “American” makeshift anti-pasta

P.S.  I did not have the luxury of having a blender, but if you do… combine the sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, and 2 tbsp of water in your blender or Magic Bullet.  Blend until creamy and smooth, and toss with your remaining ingredients.  Easy and delicious!!

What do you do to stay healthy at a outdoor “All American” function??

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