Sprouting: How To

Did you know that when you spout you can get up to 600% more nutrition and vitamins? And sprouting makes releases enzymes, which makes them easier to absorb in your body and digest.

To look at some of the benefits of sprouting: Kitchen Stewardship, Healthy Eating, Sprouts as Medicine and Real Raw Food.

I get all my health food and good quality, good priced items at Kitchen Kneads. They have amazing products, wonderful service and a large variety of items. Great for food storage or everyday cooking/baking. Also, Free classes are taught every month at their store! Their website is in the making, which I will post as soon as I get it (and you will be able to order online! Yay!) Kitchen Kneads is located on 7579 Redwood Rd, West Jordan. *More pictures from Kitchen Kneads at end of post. 

Sprouting is easy, little effort that produce great results and nutrition. You can put your sprouts in smoothies, sandwiches, salads, etc. Anyone can do it! Let me so you step by step how...

Chocolate Pear Banana Protein Shake

I think I am in Love. And addicted. 

Let me tell you why:

I make this shake almost every day. That is the addiction part. It is my favorite treat/drink/food to eat after I work out!

I go to this AMAZING exercise class that I LOVE! Thanks Jan! I get my butt kicked and finish off with some push ups, come home and I am hungry. After I wash of my stink, I make this shake. Ready to feed my muscles. Yes, sometimes I will flex in the mirror and kiss my arms (LOL, cuz I am crazy) and my husband calls me a "monster". Ok. Ok. But I work hard. So there you go. 

Let me tell you, over 20+ grams of protein per serving (the shake makes 2 servings) it is just what my body and muscles need. It is ALL natural and raw. Plus it tastes SO DANG GOOD! I mean, have you ever had a chocolate smoothie from Wendy's? It is about the same thickness, but a million times better for you. I will tell you what is in it, but first let me back up it up with some facts: 

In Sports Medicine it says "One study found that athletes who refueled with carbohydrate and protein had 100 percent greater muscle glycogen stores than those who only ate carbohydrate. Insulin was also highest in those who consumed a carbohydrate and protein drink.

Protein Needs After Exercise
Consuming protein has other important uses after exercise. Protein provides the amino acids necessary to rebuild muscle tissue that is damaged during intense, prolonged exercise. It can also increase the absorption of water from the intestines and improve muscle hydration. The amino acids in protein can also stimulate the immune system, making you more resistant to colds and other infections."

Here is another Link to 6 Smart Snacks to Eat after a Workout. 

Oh ya, I usually drink both servings. That is if my husband or kids aren't around (they like it too). But in saying I drink both servings, that is my entire lunch. It fills me up. The shake is also loaded with fiber. Another one of my favorite things...fiber!

So I recently got a Blend Tech and I think I am having a love affair with my blender. It's ok, I told my husband. Before I made this shake, my "after work-out snack" would be: some peanut butter with 8 dark chocolate chips melted in the microwave. Then I would mix in some hemp seeds and dip a banana in the mixture. After I got my blend tech I started experimenting and came up with this marvelous shake!

The pictures don't do it justice. I am telling ya, I am licking out my cup at the end. And while I am eating it, I am doing a little jig. 

After, I am completely satisfied. Satisfies my sweet tooth. Satisfies my hunger. Satisfies and gives me energy and strength. Satisfies my belly. Get in my belly! 

Enough rambling, let me get on to the recipe: But wait! Before I do, let me give my thanks: Thanks Jan for your workouts-You Rock! Thanks Blend Tech for your amazing blender! Thanks to my kids for coming and getting dragged along when I go workout! Thanks to all my friends who call me "muscles" and those who I work out with and dance while we work out...I love ya! Thanks to my hubby for loving me and my bod! And thanks to my brain and butt for making a commitment to get my butt moving and exercise. Seriously, exercise is a addiction all in itself! Thanks! And thanks to YOU readers for reading my blog, even though I lack here and there with posts. 

Strawberry Citrus Chiffon Pie

This Pie is great All year long! Holidays, Hot Summer Days, Special Occasions. 

So I don't know what happened to January. Hmmm. I do know what happened in November. I made this pie for Thanksgiving. It was one of 6 different pies I made. The freshness of the strawberries and the tart of the orange gave this pie a nice change from the savory of the pumpkin pie and richness of the chocolate pie I made. 

This pie would be excellent to make in the spring and summer when strawberries are at their peak. Plus, the filling is no-bake, so you don't need to heat your house on a hot summer day. 

Thai Coconut Lime Soup

This Soup is one of the best I have ever made and eaten!!! It is light, delicious  and fast and easy to make!

I made this soup last night for a family party. It was a huge success! My pot was empty, and rather quickly (that was a huge compliment). I was thrilled! This soup is definitely in my top 5! 

So I need to quickly blog about it, because when I cook I normally just throw in spices here and there. If I wait too long to post the recipe, I would be afraid I would forget what I put in it. Plus I had a few requests for the recipe. Thank you Sterzer's for a fun party and for enjoying my soup as much as I did! Loves!

Having said that, here is the recipe and what I did...

Candy Bar Trifle

This is a crowd pleaser for Everyone! 

So I have been M.I.A...missing in Action with blogging. Whew have I been a bit busy. Unfortunately blogging wasn't at the the top of the priority list. Plus I couldn't start a new post on my page...something was not working. Grumble. Anyway, I needed to get my frustrations and disclaimers out there. 

This dessert I made for Thanksgiving. Adults and Kids alike loved this dish. And it was the easiest to make out of the 6 different pies and 1 trifle I made. Easy is good. And when it tastes good, life is good. 

It would make a great dessert for any Holiday or any Occasion. So Enjoy! 

Halloween Fun: Skeleton Veggies & Brains

Balance out the candy you will eat with some veggies!

Here are some other ideas for a fun Halloween dinner...

Also see: Mummy Pizza's, Pumpkin Recipes x3, and Bloody Fingers and Toes. For a drink, I got some dry ice and put it into red juice. I called it "Vampire Blood". 

Happy Halloween! Fall time fun for everyone!

Halloween Fun: Mummy Pizza's

Before you go Trick or Treating...eat dinner. Mummy Pizza's!

For Halloween last year, I made the kids dinner. They really enjoyed it. I took dry ice and put it in some red juice and called it "Vampire Blood". We also had "Mummy Pizza's", "Bloody Finger's and Toes" and others. Here is a picture...

Have a fun safe Halloween!

Kid's Kitchen: Pumpkin

Lesson 15: Pumpkin

1. Pumpkin Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
2. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
3. Pumpkin Pretzels with Cinnamon & Sugar Topping

Halloween Fun: Bloody Fingers & Toes

Get in the spirit of Halloween...

For the next month, I am going to dedicate my next few posts to Halloween Fun! I did this last year for my kids on Halloween. This is what I made...

Whether it is fun for you, your family, your kids, friends etc. These are easy recipes and so fun to eat during Halloween!

Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

Do you like both Pumpkin AND Zucchini Bread? Well, here is the best of both!

It reminds me of the song from Hannah Montana "It's the Best of Both Worlds". 

This is really good. And I think I need to make some more, because with all the zucchini I have, gotta do something with it. 

My family loved this bread. It was gone quickly. Makes 2 loaves.