Jumat, 29 Juli 2011

Crock Pot Barley Pilaf with Summer Squash, Sugar Snap Peas and Fresh Berries with Citrus-Mint Dressing


















This is another recipe that I came up with out of necessity for a few reasons.

One.  It's to stinking hot to even consider turning the stove on. The thought of it makes me tired and cranky.

Two.  My budget is less than glamorous at the moment and so I'm having to get really creative with my meatless dinner recipes so as not to have a full on revolt happening. Four meat loving kids and a hungry husband can be dangerous unless I come up with something filling and flavorful for dinner.

Three.  I have a big bag of barley in my pantry that has been staring at me for the last several weeks asking me why it's been neglected.





Well, necessity is the mother of invention right? And this one turned out so very good that I decided to share it with you lovely people. Barley is a whole grain and very healthy. When I think of barley my mind goes straight to barley soup made with mushrooms, carrots and maybe beef. I can't even imagine eating soup while it's 118F degrees outside so I went with my usual flawless plan; a crock pot, more veggies and a bit of fruit to sweeten it up. Bravo!



Throwing the barley and dried mushrooms (best invention ever) into the crock pot with home made chicken stock was simple and sweat free. I tossed in some summer squash and sugar snap peas, raw and threw together a simple mint vinaigrette using my cute little hydroponic mint plant really pulled this together into a sweet dinner. Even the kids liked it!



TIME    4 HOURS (CROCK POT)        SERVES 6

Ingredients:

1 cup dried barley
3 cups chicken broth (preferably home made)
handful of dried mushrooms (I used shitake)
1 teaspoon salt
3 summer squash (yellow)
large handful sugar snap peas
large handful fresh blueberries
4-6 fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup slivered almonds or nut of choice
chopped lettuce to serve on (I used a head of red leaf because it was cheaper)


Place barley, broth, salt and dried mushrooms in crock pot. Cook on med-high heat for about 4 hours checking after 3 hours.

Meanwhile, chop squash into small bite size pieces, slice strawberries and sugar snap peas. When barley is done spoon on top of chopped lettuce and sprinkle veggies and fruits and nuts over top. Serve with Citrus Mint Dressing.  (A Strawberry Vinegraitte would be nice too)


FOR THE DRESSING

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves from your cute little indoor herb garden
1 clove garlic or shallot
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime or orange juice depending on your fancy
1/4 cup EVOO or  grape seed oil
if you prefer you could use vinegar instead of citrus. I've used both.
1/3 cup white wine or champagne vinegar

Blend all ingredients in a blender until combined. You can whisk if you'd like but I find the ingredients tend to separate much faster.






This post is linked to:

Fresh Food Friday
Seasonal Saturdays
21st Century House Wife
Tasty Tuesday's

My Secret Weapon to Beat the Heat. Strawberry-Coconut Smoothies P.S. Dear Monsoon: Please hurry.




Rain would be a true God send right now here in Phoenix. It always looks like even the cacti are going to give up and die during the endlessly long summer's here. I guess too much of anything can wear on one's nerves. Come July, after most people get tired of mindlessly commenting or joking about the stifling dry heat, all one can do is wipe off the continual beads of sweat rolling down their necks and pray for the monsoon.

Monsoon season is nothing short of a true miracle. Natures wrath at her finest. After months and months without a single drop of rain the sky darkens without notice and beautiful violent rains pour from the wakened sky and hit the hard, cracked desert floor. There is no drier dust than that found in the Arizona desert in July. Just when the cacti start to wilt and the weary desert animals are ready to call it quits, God sends them relief. And He doesn't skimp on the job. 

The smell is my favorite part of the monsoons. It's no ordinary rain. The layers of dust and sand that have accumulated on the streets and in my nose can only be washed away by the heavy rains of August. I wait anxiously starting mid July for the chance to sit outside amidst the sheets of rain and furious winds that wash every trace of dust from the startled desert. It lasts only for a few minutes but is enough to quench the deserts thirst for many more months. It is energizing   refreshing   uplifting invigorating and restores even the most lifeless soul.


During these long, hot months in the desert it is difficult to want to eat, let along cook anything. We need to save every single ounce of energy that we have so that the heat doesn't drag us down and reduce us to ashes. Water is our best friend but my secret weapon is coconut water which instantly rejuvenates me and gives me the energy to make it through the entire days obstacles which includes getting the mail while the sun is still out.

You think I'm joking?



Coconut Water + Frozen Berries =  Extreme Heat Blaster





When I'm feeling like I want a sweet treat and need some extra refreshing, I always go for these Strawberry-Coconut smoothies. They take all of 3 minutes to make and are a gazillion times healthier (and tastier IMO) than milk shakes or fast food smoothies. I think it important to note that even the drinks labeled "Real Fruit Smoothies" are not in fact good for you. At all. Period. And that includes popular Juice Joints. Sorry.


I keep a big bag of frozen berries from Costco in my freezer and plenty of coconut water around to make these smoothies throughout the summer months. They taste even better when sitting in the pool oddly enough. :)



This post is linked to

Fresh Food Friday

Senin, 25 Juli 2011

Looking Like Myself ~


DO YOU LIKE MY BLOG…OFFER ME A SHAKE TODAY

Taken Last Weekend ~ Vacation
LOOKING LIKE MYSELF…what do I mean by that?  Well, I have my genetics and my lifestyle of fitness and nutrition that creates…drum roll…ME!  I am not supposed to look like the girl in the magazine, the movies, or anywhere else for that matter.  Back in the day when I competed, did I look at magazines, other girls and think…I need to look like that…why is my body not responding the same way as hers…check out how tight her backside is…on and on…YIKES...and BIG YUCK.  I am so happy to come full circle with knowledge, age (yes…it is fabulous), and wisdom.  I embrace who I am, what I look like…and being the BEST ME…not anyone else.  It would be such a stressful life to constantly compare myself to her, then her, and oh my…her…OH hell to the BIG NO.  Life is too short to even think unrealistic thoughts, goals, and for crying out loud….I AM NOT HER, HER, OR EVEN HER.  Did you know that ALL images in magazines are photo shopped to soften here, cut there, and create unreal images of girls, women, and men representing something that they are not.  I am not saying that they are not fit, although some probably are not in the greatest shape …BUT…lines, bumps, blemishes, rolls, bootie, hips are quickly painted away with a few strokes of a computer…for crying out loud…you can get a photo shopped 6-pack now…lol.  Really????  I am not saying I am anti-photo shop, but if I look at a photo and struggle to recognize who it is and have to go to the credits…I say…horrible…off that soap box.   

 Some of my older model images are slightly photo shopped…not all…but some…and I have to say it is an art of knowing just how much…and loved when some softness was needed.  Overall, I prefer the edgy REAL image that shows me, right here, right now…and those… I embrace the most;)  I really enjoy taking self portraits…no photo shop…most without makeup, and posting them on the blog so that you can see ME, at 47, after kids, injuries, surgeries…and Staying Healthy with my lifestyle. 

Love the NOT overdone photo shop
It is important to want to be ME and not someone else…that tells me that I accept, embrace, and honor who I am as Darla, the woman, wife, mother, trainer, daughter, sister, and friend…How could I even walk the shoes of helping people get healthy if I did not believe in this.  I hear so often…I want to look like you… and I smile, take it as a compliment…and let them know that the goal is to look like them…their BEST self with the wonderful genetics they have. I am a mother with a beautiful daughter full of youth, smooth skin, and body that a 20 year young woman should have and it feels like a reflection in the mirror…ME and that body 20 years ago…BUT that is the point….that was 20 years ago… and all I can do and want for me is celebrate who I am TODAY…and for 47 years young…I am pretty darn happy with that. 

Not Shopped
I embrace my fine lines earned from laughs, smiles, and a few frowns along the way and also the energy that I still maintain from taking care of myself…and say…YES YES YES.  I believe that aging is a privilege and an honor and although there is no such thing as the fountain of youth…the only way to keep this body and mind young is through living a healthy life…that means regular exercise, healthy foods, plenty of rest, and balance of work and play.  Also, living a healthy life and feeling youthful decreases my risk of illness…I want to do my best to live a good long life.  When it comes down to me and my mirror…there is acceptance and I look back and smile…YEP…the lines are there…I EARNED EVERY ONE!!!

 

THIS IS ME!!!!

Motivation of the Day:  Don’t Compare Yourself to Others in Your Journey of Life…Let Your Life be Yours…and Live it to the Fullest!

My Workout of the Day:
ARC Trainer: 30 minutes
Body Stuff: (light today…a bit tired) 1 minute intervals
Modified french press (repeated 4x in between legs)
1 set cross back step ups
1 set reverse lunges
1 set squat lateral lifts
STRETCH TIME

Meal 3
Nutrition of the Day:
Coffee, one cup
1-1 Chocolate Cherry Whey Protein Muffin
2-Post Workout Shake/ ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
3-Shredded Chicken & Spinach Wrap
4-Small potato topped with n/f Greek Yogurt
5-Ground Turkey Breast Burger & Grilled Corn
6-Watermelon/Protein Ball


Personal Share:  Hubby wanted to prepare a full course healthy meal for me, so last night on the menu was: Appetizer: Grilled Jumbo Shrimp marinated in an orange ginger sauce and Chicken Sausage Skewer ~ Main Dish: Grilled Salmon and Brussel Sprouts ~ Dessert: Grilled Peaches stuffed with Goat Cheese topped with crushed Raw Walnuts.  He paired the dinner with a light Muscat wine.  The meal was absolutely fabulous….and we created a small video of part of it…bloopers are fun.  Enjoy the images as well.

 




Stay Healthy!


IF YOU ENJOY MY BLOG, LIKE IT, LEAVE A COMMENT AND IF INSPIRED…OFFER ME A SHAKE!

Jumat, 22 Juli 2011

Little Expense, Big Savings: What's Your Favorite Frugal Buy?

We purchased this toothpaste squeezer doohickey for $0.99 cents about four months ago: 


Since then, we're buying way less toothpaste. It should save us quite a few bucks in the long-term, too, provided we don't lose it / the cat doesn't eat it / it doesn't get sucked into the sweltering pit of despair we call "outside right now."

Which leads us to this softball question for a fiery Friday:

Sweet readers, what's your favorite frugal buy?

Do tell! Pass it on!

Rabu, 20 Juli 2011

Why and How to Freeze Blueberries

Ahh, summer. Full of hazy days, humid nights, and lots and lots of blueberries. Those sweet orbs of azure joy are welcome anytime of year, but especially right now, when they provide a fruitacular (fruitacular?) balm for the grossest weeks of summer.

That's a flowery way of saying that blueberries are currently on major sale at both my supermarket and Costco, going for about $0.16/ounce. That's just about as cheap as they'll get around here, and I want to preserve the bounty for the winter months. (That's when I  crave blueberry pancakes, but have to usually settle for acorn squash pancakes. It's just not the same.)

Fortunately, freezing blueberries for future use is easy as (blueberry) pie, and a heckuva lot cheaper than buying off-season ones come January. All you need to do is follow these simple steps. You'll thank me come Christmas (because surely, there's no one more deserving of expensive gift-like things than a babble-prone, extremely lax blogger you barely know.)

Anyway, let's get to it. 

Step 1: Cut a hole in the box. Buy an Ark-of-the-Covenant-sized carton of blueberries from your local farmer's market, big box store, or preferred fruit venue.


Step 1.5: Get some freezer baggies while you're at it. Honestly, they're nice to have around, regardless. Tom Bosley was right on.


Step 2: Take a picture that you may someday use as a computer background. Make sure it is well-lit and in focus, so people (note: your mom) think(s) you're super awesome.


Step 3: Measure out your desired amount of blueberries. It could be in cup or half-cup increments, or by weight. Whatever you prefer. For my own nefarious purposes, I did eight ounces at a time.

Step 4: Place the blueberries on a small baking sheet. Stick that sheet right in your freezer.

NOTE: Blueberries are weird in that you should generally wait to wash them until right before using 'em. Less mushiness that way.


Step 5: Freeze for a few hours. Overnight is best.

Step 6: While the freezing process is occurring, watch the finale of Friday Night Lights and contemplate your values. Hope that someday you may make Coach Taylor proud.


Step 7: Once berries are frozen through, pour them into a freezer-safe Ziploc baggie. Get as much air out as possible, using a straw or your purty, purty mouth. Then, label that sucker.

NOTE: You do not have to write "Frozen Blueberries," as so brilliantly demonstrated here. Odds are you'll know they're frozen when you remove them from ... wait for it ... yep, the freezer.


And that's pretty much it. The blueberries should keep for a couple of months this way. (If you start seeing major freezer burn or frost buildup, it's probably a pretty good indication they should be used soon.) Try them in smoothies, crisps, or the aforementioned flapjacks. Viva la France!

Selasa, 19 Juli 2011

Throwback: 68 Cheap, Healthy No-Cook Recipes

Sweet readers! Something new coming late today, but I figured this was a good time to re-post this one from last year. Enjoy, and stay cool.

Alas, CHG’s No-Cook month is slowly coming to an end. It’s been a joyous, ovenless journey, sweet readers, and we couldn’t have done it without the blistering sun or the stifling humidity. Thanks, Mama Nature.

Article-wise, we’ve already discussed 13 Ways to Cook without an Oven as well as 18 No-Cook Meal Ideas. This week, we’re giving you the actual recipes: 68 inexpensive, nutritionally sound dishes you can make without ever lighting anything on fire. (Hopefully.)

Each one of these links comes from either Cheap Healthy Good or my weekly Healthy & Delicious column over at (newly redesigned!) food dynamo Serious Eats. This means three things: A) we know they work, B) there are pretty pictures involved, and C) um … turns out there were only two things.

Enjoy, everybody! And as always, if you know of a really great no-cook recipe not mentioned here, please (please) add it to the comment section.

DIPS AND SPREADS
Black Bean Dip
Blueberry Salsa
Green Garlic and Garlic Scapes Pesto
Guacamole-Bean Dip Mashup
Lemony Hummus
Mango Salsa
Pesto (Don't toast pine nuts.)
Seven-Layer Taco Dip
Tomatillo and Yellow Tomato Salsa
Tomatillo Guacamole
Tomato Avocado Salsa
White Bean Dip

CONDIMENTS
Creamy Caesar Dressing
Grasslands Herb Salsa
Horseradish Mustard
Lemon-Ginger Dressing
Spicy Brown Mustard
Vegan Mayo
Vegan Worcestershire Sauce

COLD SOUPS
Buttermilk Cucumber Soup
Cantaloupe Soup
Fruit Gazpacho
Summertime Gazpacho

GREEN SALADS
Chlorophyll and Awesomeness Salad
Chopped Salad
Grape and Feta Salad with Rosemary
Grapefruit and Avocado Salad (Skip toasting almonds.)
Relaxed Kale and Root Veg Salad
Strawberry and Avocado Salad

MAINS, NON-GREEN SALADS, AND SIDES
Autumn Apple Salads
Basil Tofu Salad
Beet and Cabbage BBQ Slaw
Black-Eyed Pea “Caviar”
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Chickpea Salad
Daikon/Jicama Mango Slaw
Greek Antipasto Pita
Greek Salad Skewers
Greek-Style Chickpea Salad
Greek Tofu Salad
Herbed Tuna in Tomatoes
Marinated Mushroom Salad
North African-Style Chickpea Salad
Orange Yogurt
Peach, Tomato, and Basil Salad
Refrigerator-Pickled String Beans
Sprouted Grains
Sublime Fruit Salad and Mint
Summer Panzanella (Bread Salad)
Watermelon and Feta Salad with Mint
White Bean and Roasted Red Pepper Wraps with Spinach
Yellow Tomato Salad with Roasted Red Peppers, Feta, and Mint
Zucchini Carpaccio with Feta and Pine Nuts

DESSERTS AND SNACKS
Cantaloupe with Honey and Lime
Chocolate Cherry “Ice Cream” Popsicles
Date Coconut Balls
No-Cook Berry Crisp
Plums with Orange and Mint
Strawberries with Balsamic Vinegar
Strawberry Mousse
Tamarind-Blueberry Granita
Three-Ingredient Banana, Honey, and Peanut Butter Ice Cream

DRINKS
Basil Lemonade
Cranberry and Blackberry Champagne Punch
Mango Lassi
Mojitos
Sweet Lassi
White Sangria with Fresh Fruit Ice Cubes

Cherry Lemonade, Limeade, and White Peach Bellinis are all delicious, as well, but require simple syrup. There are ways to make it without using heat, but these three recipes all include a boiling step.

And that's it. Readers, any suggestions? We would love to hear.

~~~

If you like this article, you might also be over the moon for:

Kamis, 14 Juli 2011

YES...I AM TALKING ABOUT REALLY PERSONAL STUFF~ ME at 47

DO YOU LIKE MY BLOG, OFFER ME A SHAKE TODAY!

Give me some Watermelon
Yes, I am 47…am loving it, embracing it, feeling pretty darn fit, sexy and my BEST ME…that is for sure.  I absolutely love to blog…it is an outlet, and I am a very social person…have to be in my business…but for the most part…that is my personality.  The beautiful part about writing is being able to be expressive and so guys…just to let you know…I am going there about being a woman at 47.  As a trainer, I talk with my beautiful female clients everyday about absolutely everything fitness….right down to periods, cramps, constipation, hormone headaches, anxiety, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness…well you get the picture. 



Being 47 and a woman, I am not exempt to the YUCK changes that the body goes through at my fabulous age.  Do I feel like I am 23...YES…my body sometimes reminds me that I am not in the area of female changes….OH REALLY!!!  Now this is ridiculous…OK…things I do not like…night sweats….OH MY… soak the sheets and put myself in the heavy dry cycle for heaven’s sake.  Moving on to hormone headaches…when these hit....not fun…I do find that the OTC menstrual cramp medicine helps.  Let’s see…YES…irregular bleeding…another one of my non-favorites….I mean really…am I hemorrhaging or what….sorry guys…but ladies, I am sure some can relate.  One month can seem slight and the next month…I do not dare step out of the house…and walk to the bathroom cross-legged…yep yep yep…been there.   Why spend exorbitant amounts of money on fancy panties…NO WAY…Target here I come…lol.  Not to say that I do not have some of the fancies...but definitely not on PLAGUE days.  I was thinking about how much planning goes around this unkind week of the month…can I plan a vacation, weekend getaway, out with friends for the day….OH MY…wait everyone, let me grab my calendar so that I can count my days to ensure that Aunt Flow will not be along…I mean really…now bless the men who are understanding to their wives & significant others when it comes to women and going through changes. 

The thing about being 47 and experiencing things like night sweats, crazy bleeding, anxiety, and a whole different lower part….YES…the vagina does change as we age….OH MY…I said the V word, is that a pro-active approach is necessary.  My goal in life is to be the BEST ME at every moment and in every way…so I do take steps to have a healthy under carriage…lol.  This is a subject that many people are afraid to talk about and to write about…NO WAY…so, I will be the brave one and put it out there.  Things that I do to maintain my female reproductive health is using transdermal (rub on the skin) creams like progesterone and testosterone.  I am also a researcher regarding any natural way to maintain my body to include my vagina, and overall feeling of well being.  Hormonal changes are definitely not fair and I am doing everything possible to keep my body balanced.  I have incorporated eating ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds & watermelon in my daily nutrition as a way to maintain a healthy libido. 

Raw Pumpkin Seeds...Giving them a try!
I am looking into things like L-Arginine and other similar supplements to keep myself in check.  I also read that using olive oil 3x per week massaged into the inner labia of the vagina keeps the tissue moist and supple.  YES…I am 47, but my goal is to do all I can to feel my BEST in every way…so talking about something like this I feel is very important…is it OH MY…I can’t believe she is writing about this…MAYBE…BUT…that is ME.  This is my life to motivate you and sharing about my life, and what I do to maintain my physical fitness in every way.  This is a subject that is very important for me and ultimately my relationship with hubby…who I must share is a very understanding man when it comes to absolutely everything woman…thanks Babe!  Do I want a dried up prune, unhealthy undercarriage for myself…OH MY Hell to the NO…well that might be overdoing it a bit…but really….I DON’T…so off to research more about olive oil.

 Motivation of the Day:  Look at Every Circumstance in Life as a Learning Experience to Grow and Be a Better Person

This is What I Can Do...Neg Pull Ups!!!
My Workout of the Day:
30 min ARC trainer

Body Stuff: Sets repeated 4x/1 min Intervals
Set 1
Incline Chest Press Smith: 40lbs on bar (1st time trying these...will see how I am tomorrow)
Neg Pull Ups
Set 2
Squats 10lb sandbag
Lunge Backs 10lb sandbag

My Nutrition of the Day:
Coffee 1 ½ cups
1-Pre-workout shake (lighter side)
2-Post-workout Shake (everything)
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
3-Lean Turkey Wrap (spinach/onion/tomatoes/mustard)
4-Grilled White Fish & zucchini
5-Protein balls (vanilla whey/flax/peanut butter/raisins)
My Published Stay Healthy Recipe for Meal 4
IF YOU ENJOYED MY BLOG, LIKE IT, LEAVE A  COMMENT, AND IF INSPIRED…OFFER ME A SHAKE!

STAY HEALTHY!








Got Time for a Quickie? A post people....... Great Give Away and a Wonderful New site.

First, I just wanted to remind you all that tomorrow is the last chance to enter for the case of Alaskan Salmon. An entire case! Honestly, it was really good stuff. Pure Alaskan Salmon's site says that it is sold retail at Whole Foods so since we've already managed to devour the case they sent us I guess I'm going to have to trek on over to the nearest Whole Foods near our home.

Enter here and please spread the word if you will. tweet tweet.


Also, I find it interesting that my blog is finally getting a little bit of attention lately. Just a little, I'm sure I won't let it go to my head, no worries. I am so excited to have been invited to be a contributor at a newly launched site called Bliss.com by Glam Media. I love that this space is dedicated to total healthy living and well being. Eating Well and Fitness articles as well as Mind, Spirit and Body, Self Empowerment and more. Do head over and say hi!



I have to leave you with this random, fun photo I found while surfing the web.
xo








Jumat, 08 Juli 2011

Pecan Crusted Sweet Potato-Salmon Cakes and a Give Away!




















For those of you who were thinking that you were going to skip right on down to the give away part of this post,  I've got news for you....


You're just not allowed to. Furthermore, you'll be sorry if you do.
Why?  Because I said so. That's why.
 That was said in my sternest 'mommy' voice just so ya know. 


I'm really excited about this recipe and I truly hope you will try making this in your home. It's a keeper. We love salmon here and would eat it every single day if I could afford it. Salmon is so good for you especially if you choose wild and not the farmed a.k.a. "Fresh" or "Atlantic" varieties. When wild salmon isn't in season or if your budget is tight like mine is, canned salmon is a wonderful option. Again, just make sure your choosing wild salmon vs. farmed. How can you tell the difference? It should be labeled farmed somewhere on the packaging. A good rule of thumb is to choose salmon from Alaska or Canada.

You've probably already heard about Omega-3's and how essential they are to your health and well being. Alaskan salmon are a nutritional powerhouse, rich in protein, long chain Omega -3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, calcium, along with many other vitamins and minerals. You’d be hard-pressed to find a food more nutritious than Alaska salmon. Which may be why over 90% of Americans are deficient in Omega fatty acids.







Wild Alaska salmon are some of the richest sources of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids.
The human body cannot manufacture it’s own omega-3’s, so it is from food that we must obtain them.
Omega-3’s are thought to provide substantial health benefits for people of all ages; providing a nutritional foundation for optimal heart, brain, mental, visual, immune system and pregnancy health.


O.K. onto the recipe because it is pretty awesome spectacular  a culinary piece of genius that should be honored for all of time and I know you're going to want to make it tonight for dinner.
Exaggerate? Who me? Not this time my friends, not this time.

I can't take all of the credit for this perfect dish. Pure Alaska Co. was nice enough to send me some cute recipe cards along with their salmon. One of the recipes was for this Wild Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes which I slightly altered and embellished a bit as I tend to do.  I can say with all honesty that this is the best tasting canned salmon by far that I have ever had, and mamma knows salmon.




Pure Alaska Salmon Co. practices sustainable fishing which is important on more levels than many of you you may be aware of.  I encourage you to visit their website which is informative and actually quite interesting. I really liked this quote found on their website.

"Most of us do not have time to be social activists, but in our food choices we have the ultimate and most powerful “vote”: our dollars — money talks."


O.K., o.k. here's the recipe. Geeesh! Now you can save the recipe and please, please do enter the give away!!! I love sharing the love.





A couple of tips:
  1. Remember not to use Olive oil for frying. It's not meant for high heat and will taste bitter and change the chemical make up making it unhealthy.
  2. I boil my sweet potatoes whole, with the skin ON for about 30 min. This helps retain the nutrients. I then cut the potato and throw it in my blender with the skin ON for added fiber.
  3. Do not discard the skin and bones from the salmon. They are choke full of vitamins and nutrients such as calcium and I SWEAR you will not notice them.
  4. Do not make cakes to big, they will fall apart. Do not cook on to high of heat, they will burn before they cook.











TIME 30 MINUTES        SERVES 6
Ingredients:


1 large sweet potato, roasted or boiled and mashed
3 – 7.5 oz cans Redhead and/or Thinkpink, drained
2-3 tablespoons grape seed oil (good fat, high heat tolerant)
½ cup red pepper, finely diced
½ cup sweet onion, finely diced
¼ cup Italian parsley, chopped fine
2 tsp salt
1/4 teaspoon Jamaican allspice (combination of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg if you don't have)
1 teaspoon Bragg's Organic Sea Kelp Delight seasoning
1 cup whole grain bread crumbs (about 2 pieces of bread)
1 1/2 cups pecans, ground

Garnishes:
Green onions
Parsley
Lemon
Tomatoes
Kale or Baby Spinach



In a large stock pot, boil whole sweet potato with skin on 30-40 minutes till fork tender.
Remove from water and pulse in blender till smooth.
In a food processor (or you're awesome, do all Ninja blender) pulse pecans till finely ground, remove. Pulse bread till ground. {I make my own bread crumbs in batches then freeze in a Mason jar, cheaper and tastier than the store bought stuff}

Heat a skillet on medium heat, then add oil. Saute peppers and onions until browned and softened, about 2 minutes.

Combine sauteed vegetables, drained salmon (including the highly nutritious skin & bone),  parsley, salt and spices. Mix well.

Put bread crumbs and pecans in a shallow dish, sprinkle with a bit of salt. Form cakes in desired size, about ½ inch thick.
Cook in skillet at medium heat 3 to 4 minutes each side, or until well browned.

Serve on top of Raw Kale and with and a squeeze of lemon or lime if desired.



For the Give Away:

Pure Alaskan Salmon Co. is giving away an entire case of their canned salmon to one lucky reader.

To Enter you should leave a comment and please be a subscriber of Simply Healthy Family
For extra entries:
Follow Simply Healthy Family on Twitter
Join Simply Healthy Family on Facebook
Tweet or Share this Give Away on either Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon or another sharing network
Please remember to leave a separate comment for each.
A winner will be chosen randomly on 15th and notified via email (leave a link or email address so I can notify you!)





This post is linked to

Fun with Food Friday's
Seasonal Saturday's
Tasty Tuesday's