Weekend lunch recipe for the whole week: PB&J bowl

One of my favorite cafe's in south Florida is this reggae surf boarder lovin raw resteraunt called 3Natives. They make these envigorating acai berry bowls that will rot my pocket out if I don't be careful. Hubby and I are trying to eat healthy again however here's a little secret. My hubby pretty much hates veggies, so I decided to come up with my own rendition that is easy on the pocket, includes veggies but tastes like strawberries therefore easy for my hubby to eat. 

The veggie in this bowl is Kale. After having done a bit of research kale isn't as good as people have been thinking when it's raw. Cooking it slightly helps to break down some of the "poison" in the kale and release enzymes that help your body digest it better. Hence why I decided to cook the kale instead of juice it raw.

Here are some websites I read on the topic: 

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/01/the-dark-side-of-kale-and-how-to-eat-around-it

So now that we are cleared up on the kale issue, let's move on to how to make this filling fun lunch bowl...

Here's what you need.

One bag of chopped kale

2 bags of frozen strawberries.

Or 

1bag of frozen stawberries and one quart of fresh

4 pears or apples pealed and sliced 

1/4 cup of apple juice

Or 

Juiced pears and apples

One bag of coconut

Jar of peanut butter

Bee Pollen (optional but a super good additive for those trying kick low energy levels and negative thought patterns)

A juicer (optional)

Large pot

Blender or food processor

5-6 Freezer safe bowls with lids

(Soufflé bowls work great)

 

Recipe

•Juice apples or pears if using a juicer.

•Steam kale using 1/4 of the juice

 -turn stove on to medium high

- toss kale in and pour juice over the kale

- cover pot with lid. 

-kale is ready when tender and bright green.

-be careful to no over cook kale to retain vitamins. 

• Add the bag of frozen strawberries and stir to soften them.

 

•place strawberries, kale, juice and Pear/Apple chunks into blender and blend till no leaves are discernible (you don't want those veggie haters to know your secret! Or send you Nasty photo texts)

•pour into bowls filling them only half way. 

•let stand for 10 minutes 

•cover them and place in freezer

I have the benefit of being able to PUL one on the day my husband needs it and complete it so it's fresh, however if I was super prepared I would wait for aboutn2 hours and then pull them to finish making them the same day - that way if I get sick my husband can still have lunch that day.

The key is that they need to be frozen. 

• once frozen, pull them and spread a nice thick layer of Almond butter or Peanut Butter on top (the more peanut butter the more manly it gets)

•cover that layer with coconut

•top with sliced strawberries and bee pollen

-if using frozen strawberries, run them under water For a few seconds to soften before slicing

•cover and place back in the freezer  til needed 

These guys will thaw all morning and be ready just in time for lunch. 

Bon apetit! 

Tip of the day: Noodle Necklace

M

I am running low on sleep because my little fox is getting teeth. Dinner seemed like an ominous task to me tonight. Keeping both children occupied and happy was beginning to be challenging. When my little fox began to cry and owlet needed yet another activity my noodle dinner came to the rescue. I quickly remembered my mom teaching us how to make edible necklaces as children.

What you need:

•Large Noodles  with holes (can be smaller for older children)

•String, yarn or leather strap long enough to wrap around child's head and then some

•plastic bowl or container 

•An energy filled toddler 

Tip: 

Fill a plastic container full of noodles

Tie a large knot at the end of the string.

Demonstrate to the child how to thread it.

You can tell her it's an edible necklace because it is!

If you're excited they will be excited!

Next have her put one on while you hold the thread to help her gain confidence. 

Now encourage her to try it herself. And cheer her on as she does it. Once she gets the hang of it see if you can't sneak in putting away a few clean dishes. She may not even notice if she is having fun!

Once she is done help to tie ends together leaving it large enough for her to take it on and off herself.

Part of the fun is to practice taking it on and off.

The other part is eating it.

All if it hones in on her fine motor skills.

Note: if you are afraid of your child choking while crunching it only let her wear it during the "special" designated times. Also make sure your younger children can't get to the pasta. My toddler tried to feed my baby one for example. So this isn't a fool proof activity but at least you had some bonding time with your child. 

Keep loving life!

Tip of the Day: moldy curtain lining

I really have to credit this tip to my aunt. She and her mother are the cleanest people I know.  When I was very little my father was preaching a sermon and  asked me in front of the congregation to tell him a famous woman's name known for cleanliness. He was looking for the name Martha Stuart, but I replied "grandma!" It may have been my grandma who passed this knowledge down, but many years later When I was living north of Chicago my aunt and I were chatting about dorm room dirties. I had mentioned how hard it was to share a dorm suite with so many other people. She mentioned this easy trick for cleaning nasty mold off the shower curtain to save time and money. I have used it many times since. Now that we live in Florida, the mold is a nice red color. Even so, the tip hasn't failed me. I used it just the other day.

Supplies: 

Dirty shower liner

Top loading machine

Vinegar or bleach

Detergent

Tip:

Fill top loading machine with warm water.

Add a half a cup of bleach or white vinegar (vinegar is the more eco friendly option of course, and this is the one I used.)

Then

Simply throw the plastic shower curtain liner into your top loading washer with some detergent. (I also threw in some white rugs)

Run the cycle just as you would any other white load.

The results are as if the liner was brand new. Just hang it back up on its rod to dry.

That's it!

Stay clean and adventurous my friends. 

Tip of the Day: last drop O' honey

We have moved to the land of Disney.

My daughter, like her mother, and grandmother, has an affinity for Winnie the Pooh. She lovingly calls flowerpots honey pots. Tonight she was sick and my husband made her a special honey and lemon drink while I read her Pooh Under the Weather. After I tucked her in bed I decided to make myself a preventative tea using some essential oils, green tea with ginger and honey. However I discovered our "honey pot" was almost gone!

There is always some honey stuck around the edges. If you are anything like Pooh you can't let even a smackerel go to waste. So here is what I did. 

You need:

Nearly empty honey jar 

Hot beverage

Funnel

Tip of the day:

Pour some of your hot beverage into the "honey pot" or in my case squeeze bottle. It may be wise to use s funnel for more narrow openings.

Close the cap

And Shake!

Pour your now sweetened tea into your tea mug and voila! You now have a clean honey pot and a sweetened tea.

Don't forget to recycle or up cycle the empty container!