I've Moved!!!

Hi Everyone!

I've moved across the nation and to another blog.

You can follow my adventures here:

http://peacefulportland.wordpress.com/

I'll be posting new recipes, sustainable home solutions, and many photos!

Papa Sprout's Super Sweet and Simple Juice

Carrots are health food superstars. They are packed with beta-carotene, antioxidants, and potassium, along with many other nutrients, making them a bargain at the grocery store! Carrots improve eyesight, promote healthy skin growth, and protect against cancer. Those are just some of the many jobs this small orange vegetable performs. 

Beets are amazingly healthy too. They improve memory, lower blood pressure, and improve liver function. I still have not brought myself to eat a beet in its purest form and I know I am not alone. By juicing beets you can still retain all of the benefits of the solid vegetable without the tough texture.

Together, beets and carrots create Papa Sprout’s Super Sweet and Simple Juice! The recipe for this juice is simpler than Papa Sprout’s Garden Green Ginger Juice, but still packed with nutrition. The next time you are ready to juice, but short on time, try this simple recipe that will keep you going for the whole day.

Papa Sprout’s Super Sweet and Simple Juice

Ingredients:

3 whole carrots peeled

2 beets peeled

*A Yankee cup was used in this post in honor of opening day. Go Yanks!

The Benefits of Homemade Iced Tea

Recently I wrote about all of the health benefits of tea.

Tea is always delicious, but with this gorgeous weather we have been so lucky to be enjoying, who wants hot tea? Iced tea is delicious and refreshing! The only problem? If you go to Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, or any other beverage store it can cost up to $3 for this treat. If you are ordering iced tea out it also tends to have additives like sugars and syrup.

Since the price is sky-high at these beverage centers you would expect that an iced tea maker is expensive AND time consuming. Nothing could be further from the truth!

I snagged my Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker off of Amazon for $20! In the morning I fill the base with water, add ice and tea to the pitcher and press a button. Within 5 minutes I have delicious and pure iced tea! You can add some sliced lemon to spice it up. 

Because it is so easy to use and iced tea is a great break from the regular hot beverages, I have found myself drinking multiple cups a day. It keeps you hydrated, delivers an antioxidant kick to your system, and tastes great! I do not like to have extra appliances around in the kitchen, but an iced tea maker is an essential tool! You will find yourself saving money and enjoying a healthy beverage everyday.

Get Your Sour Cream Fix!

I love sour cream! You can put in burritos, on top of soup, and in a taco salad. Sadly, sour cream is loaded with saturated fat. If you skip the fat for a low-fat or non-fat version, you are simply trading fat for carbohydrates, which may be even worse than just eating the fat.

With a wide list of foods that re enhanced from sour cream, what are we supposed to do? We certainly can’t eat these foods bare! Then one day, the perfect substitute was born! Not only is this substitute not bad for your health, it’s actually beneficial!

Plain Greek Yogurt is the unlikely substitute. The next time you want to throw a huge dollop of sour cream, think again. Non-fat plain Greek yogurt is creamy and thick and a bit sour. Beyond its strikingly similar taste is the fact that Greek yogurt is loaded with protein. One 6 oz serving contains 1/3 of your days protein needs! Greek yogurt contains less additives and sugar than yogurts like Yoplait or Dannon. 

The Greek yogurt flavor must be plain, the other varieties will not taste like sour cream, but they will taste great on their own! Chobani is my favorite brand partially due to my Upstate New York pride (it brought jobs to Upstate) and partially due to the fact it has the best ingredients. Brands like Trader Joe's add more sugar than Chobani. Lastly, they are a a business that treats their customers and employees well. Employees are given a case of Greek yogurt every week. They truly believe the "customer is always right" and often fix problems with free yogurt!

Tea: Our Old Friend

Tea has been around for over 12,000 years! The earliest record of tea takes us to China. It was not until the 17^th century that tea was even on the radar of our European ancestors. It would be another 200 years until afternoon tea became commonplace in Great Britain.  

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world (water is number 1). So why do most American adults prefer a cup of joe to a cup of antioxidants? Coffee has more caffeine and is more readily available in our culture, but lacks the health benefits of tea.

The antioxidants in tea help prevent against cancer, tumors, and genetic mutations. Wow! But that is not all! Tea has been shown to prevent heart disease (our nation’s number 1 killer), slow the affects of aging, improve and maintain cognitive brain functioning, improve immune system response, normalize blood pressure, promote dental health, and to prevent diabetes. You mean those tiny leaves can do ALL of that? Yes, and they’re still not done! Pick a cup of tea over coffee and you are offering your body more hydration. When we are dehydrated we get easily fatigued and can feel sick.

There is even more good news about tea: it comes in an absurdly large amount of flavors. Last night I was fortunate enough to be gallivanting around the West Village. The BF and I walked past McNulty’s Tea and Coffee Co., Inc., on our way back to the PATH station. We had walked passed it before many times on our way home from The Blind Tiger Ale House, but it was always closed (I guess most people don’t like buying tea at 1AM).  It is a small store filled with jars of every flavor of tea you could think of! And the staff knows their tea! After smelling a few dozen jars we settled on 4 flavors: blueberry, berry crème, apple mint, and blood orange. We’ve both had a lot of fun brewing the different teas and tasting them!

Don’t forget your honey! Honey is a great natural energy booster and can help cure a cough. More importantly it makes your tea taste like a little treat and is better for your health than the cream you add to coffee. 

Mrs. Meyer's Laundry Detergent

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day has a wide variety of earth-friendly products. Mrs. Meyer’s crown jewel is their Laundry Detergent.

My Tide addiction began 4 years ago. Before I left for college a harsh reality overcame me: my mom would not be there to do the laundry! I searched my first semester for that familiar sent of clean and my love of Tide detergent was born. 

And 3 years later I began to think. Clothing is very intimate. Your shirt and pants are rubbing up against your skin all day long. Do you want chemicals coming into contact with your skin 24/7? With this questioning, the bond between Tide and me was broken forever.  I relapsed once or twice while I was using different kinds of natural laundry detergent. I am happy to report I have been clean for over 4 months now thanks to Mrs. Meyer’s!

The scent is fabulous and light. It is not as strong as Tide, but it is pleasant and never makes me question if my clothes are clean.  The actual cleaning power of Mrs. Meyer’s is immense! My clothes are stain- free! While the price may seem steep you use about 50% less in volume than you would for Tide because Mrs. Meyer’s is very concentrated.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lavender Laundry Detergent: 5/5 

Earthworm Drain Cleaner

I love a clean home, but I do not love all the hazardous products that go into making a home clean.

I am always on the lookout for organic cleaning products that have the same power as their chemically composed counterparts. I want effective AND safe agents to aid me in the fight against dirt, grime, and dust. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to drain cleaners, I was very disappointed by Earthworm Drain Cleaner. My bathtub has been clogged for over a week. The Earthworm container looked promising and the smell was pleasant (fresh citrus and sage). The outcome was awful. I bought two 32 oz containers. A few days later and more than $10 poorer, I have learned my lesson, the organic community has yet to make a great drain cleaner. There was miniscule progress. After using two containers full (each container has 2 "treatments") I am ready to literally stop pouring money down the drain. 

My search will continue. For now, I will stick to what works: Drano. 

Earthworm Drain Cleaner: 1.5/ 5

Yoga for Hip Pain Relief

 Yoga is by far my favorite form of exercise. The rush of relaxation at the end of a session is enough to keep me coming back for more, but yoga has even more benefits! One of the most important things you can gain from yoga is pain relief. In an ideal world we would all have time for a full-length yoga class everyday and our joints would feel amazing. But we live in the real world. And not everyone is in love with yoga. For this reason, I am focusing on specific areas of pain and specific poses, or asanas, to help alleviate this pain. Please keep in mind that doing a full practice is more beneficial than simply repeating the same asanas.

Flexible hips help us to stay mobile. The following poses help alleviate hip pain by stretching out your hip joints.

Half Pigeon Pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

Start in Downward Facing Dog. Sweep your right leg up into the air and then bring it down past your left leg. Bend your right knee in front of you and place it on the mat while extending your left knee out straight behind you. Square your hips toward the front of the room. Gently extend your arms forward and place your forehead on your mat. Keep breathing and stay in the asana for one minute.

To come out of the asana, gently rise your head, press up on your hands, and bring your right leg back into Downward Facing Dog.

Repeat on the left side.

Modification: Foot to Knee Pose*

If Half Pigeon places too much pressure on your knees, use Foot to Knee instead. Lie down on your back. Bring both knees up to your chest. Bend your right knee and let it rest on your left knee. Thread your right arm under the right leg and take your left arm outside your left leg and using both hands, grab the left knee and pull the knee toward your chest.

Repeat on the other side.

*Yoga also focuses on being in tune with your body. If you are not able to do a certain asana, there are often modifications. Listen to your body and do not put yourself in an asana that causes pain. 

Quinoa: The Miracle Seed

For a while quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) mystified me. What was this strange ingredient that kept popping up in restaurants and on cooking shows? It’s not a grain, but cooked like one? It’s a seed?! Luckily, one of my friends is a great cook and offered to make a meal using quinoa for me. My life was forever changed and I have been enjoying the health benefits of this super seed ever since. Her recipe follows below.

The Benefits:

-very high in complete protein (this aids in tissue repair and growth)

-high in magnesium (magnesium is a mineral that helps to relax blood vessels)

-no sodium (sodium is NOT your friend)

-faster and easier to make than rice (replace rice with quinoa)

-high in fiber (keeps you full and aids in digestion)

-contains iron and calcium

-complex carbohydrate 

-contains Vitamin B

Inayat's Progressive Indian-style Quinoa

 Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil OR grapeseed oil

1 cup quinoa

¾ cup water

1 head of organic broccoli, chopped

1 head of organic cauliflower, chopped

2 large organic carrots, chopped

4 cloves organic garlic, minced

2 teaspoons mustard seed and to taste

1 teaspoon pepper and to taste

salt (if you must) to taste

Directions:

1. In a saucepan bring the water to a boil. Add quinoa and reduce to a simmer. It will take between 15-30 minutes for the quinoa to be ready. Keep stirring every few minutes. When the water is soaked up by the quinoa it is ready. Add mustard seed and pepper once quinoa is fully cooked. Do not be shy with the spices! They add a delicious and unique flavor.

2. Meanwhile, in a separate pan, heat the oil and add the minced garlic. Cook for 30 seconds.

3. Add mustard seed and pepper and stir. Add the broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots to the pan. Cook until tender.

4. Combine veggies and quinoa. Add more mustard seed and pepper to taste. 

5. Enjoy!

This recipe lends itself to great variation. Add different vegetables and try different spices!

Dogfish Head Tweason'ale

This ale is not organic, but it is gluten-free. Even if you have no allergies to gluten you can still benefit from gluten-free products. Tread lightly and do not go completely gluten-free as you can develop an allergy from eating a completely gluten-free diet.

Too much gluten in your diet can make you feel tired. The majority of beers contain gluten because gluten is found in barley, rye, malts, and wheat. So the next time you want to sit down and have a few beers consider adding a gluten-free ale like Tweason’ale. 

The ale is sorghum-based, which is a genus of grass. It is sweetened with strawberries and buckwheat honey. The ale packs a carbonation punch that makes it extremely refreshing. There is 0g of sugar in the final product; therefore, the end product is not too sweet. Alcohol is metabolized as sugar once it enters your body so it is better to ingest a product that has no added sugar. Consuming sugary alcoholic beverages makes you tired the next morning.

This ale is a great choice and a great value! In Hoboken, it cost $10 for a 4 pack. Keep in mind this ale was brewed with fresh strawberries and is higher in alcohol than a normal beer. Tweason’ale has an ABV of 6%.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 170

NO Fat

Sodium: 3%

Carbohydrate: 4%

Sugars: 0g

Protein: 1g


Please enjoy responsibly! 

Papa Sprout's Garden Green Ginger Juice

I have recently become interested in juicing. I have heard a lot of positive and negative things about juicing fruits and vegetables. We will delve more into that debate at a later date. Fruits and vegetables carry so many vital nutrients that drinking one juice is great for your health. You would become too full before you could finish eating all the fruits and vegetables in just one juice. Juicing helps you to get a wide range of nutrients in one compact glass.

My BF’s father who I refer to as Papa Sprout (he works in the produce business) began drinking two juices daily this year. He shared with me his Garden Green Ginger Juice recipe. Papa Sprout now has increased energy and looks great!

Papa Sprout’s Garden Green Ginger Juice*
Ingredients: 

1 organic granny smith apple

½ a bunch of organic kale

½ bunch of organic spinach

1 bunch organic celery

1 organic lemon OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon grated organic ginger

pinch of organic basil

pinch of organic parsley

*due to the way produce is sold all measures are approximate

Directions:

1.    Beginning with the kale, add all ingredients except the ginger and lemon into the juicer.

2.  Once everything has been juiced squeeze lemon juice into glass.

3.  Grate ginger over top of juice.

4.  Stir and drink up!

I am still not crazy about the taste of juiced vegetable drinks, but the herbs and ginger in this recipe boost the flavor and kill the bitter kale taste.  

Samuel Smith's Organic Handcrafted Raspberry Fruit Ale

Making an organic choice is now available over the weekend too!

Samuel Smith’s Brewery is Yorkshire’s oldest brewery. Their raspberry fruit ale is brewed in England and then imported into the United States. Samuel Smith's works in partnership with the Melbourn Bros. Brewery to bring you this delicious treat! It is labeled USDA organic.

I prefer very strong ales, but this ale was scrumptious! It was incredibly smooth and tasted almost like fruit juice, which is both awesome and dangerous. I have had many fruit, vegetable, and wild ales as they tend to be sweet and flavorful. The raspberry fruit ale was less sweet and more tart than a lambic beer, which made it more palatable. Also lambic is usually more expensive and has an ABV of 2-3%. Samuel Smith’s is a 5.10% AVB ale and cost $5.99 for 1 pint 2.7 fl oz. 

Samuel Smith carries many organic beers including: cherry fruit ale, oatmeal stout, cider, and lager. Their products are more expensive than a Bud Light, but your body and mouth will thank you!

Please enjoy responsibly! 

Coconut Water: Life Force in a Bottle

Coconut water has been gaining popularity in the last few years. What is this mysterious liquid? Greatness in a bottle! Coconut water is packed with more potassium than two bananas (per 17 fl oz). Potassium is key in lowering blood pressure, boosting energy and clear skin. Coconut water is also low in calories, low in sugar, has no fat, is very high in Vitamin C, and contains Magnesium and Calcium!

All of these components sound great, but what does it mean for your everyday life?

-Coconut water can be used daily to rehydrate after a workout. It is an excellent choice in comparison to sports drinks like Gatorade, which is loaded with sodium.

-Coconut water is one of the best things to drink when you are sick and unable to eat. My dear family friend, Amelia, first introduced me to coconut water when I was not feeling well. She told me when her grandchildren get sick it is the ONLY thing they can keep down. Unlike water, it delivers a stream of nutrients that the body needs in order to recover from illness.

-Coconut water's best kept secret is that it is the ultimate hangover cure. Drink one before going to bed after a night of drinking and you will be very thankful the next morning! If your night was on the crazy side and you were unable to drink a coconut water before falling asleep have no fear! Drinking one or more coconut waters the morning after will still make you feel leagues better than your friends that rely on Alka-Selzter and greasy food.

Last year, my boyfriend spent months in and out of doctors offices for high blood pressure. At 21 years-old it is scary to be put on high blood pressure medication. After lowering his sodium intake and increasing his coconut water intake (he drinks at least 17 fl oz a day) he now has great blood pressure and is very healthy and happy! He is no longer on any medications.

Drink coconut water chilled to enjoy it at its finest taste!

Easy Morning Protein Shake

I have been drinking this shake every morning for the past 6 months. Not only is it delicious, but it is inexpensive, packed with protein, and incredibly easy and fast to make!


Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
1 Tablespoon creamy, unsalted, organic peanut butter
2/3 cup vanilla greek yogurt
1 ripe organic banana
2 large ice cubes (optional)


Directions: 
1. Starting with the milk as a base, blend all ingredients together.
2. Enjoy!


The first time I made this shake for my boyfriend he refused to believe it was healthy. "It tastes like a candy bar!" he exclaimed. This protein shake is a great treat to start out the day or to reward yourself with healthy a dessert! 


Nutrition Facts*
Total Fat: 16%
Saturated Fat: 6%
Sodium: 5%
Potassium: 18%
Total Carbohydrate: 15%
Sugars: 27g
Protein: 22g



*approximate due to variation in banana sizes

The Beginning

We all want to be healthier, but what does it mean to be healthy?

Life is about balance. We can’t all be gold-medalist endurance runners, Tour de France winners, or even 5K runners, but we all can make little changes to improve our quality of living. In a world that is fast-paced an organic lifestyle seems impossible and time-consuming. I want to prove you can have it all- health, success, and happiness. 

I created this blog as a center of organic living ideas. It will include organic food reviews, recipes, household cleaning supplies reviews, exercise techniques, and anecdotes. I hope you enjoy reading about my quest for a life of balance, health, and happiness.