Tag Archives: GMO

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Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

I got a…”You have mastered Pumpkin Bread!” from the fam and I must say it is pretty durn good.IMG_1126

This Pumpkin bread is Gluten Free, Grain Free and almost Sugar Free. This recipe not only taste good but it truly is healthy. Supplying you with protein, complex carbs and healthy fat. It is a total win win! You feel like you are doing oh so bad when are actually doing oh so good! You could even slice off a piece, toast it and smear a little almond butter on top…oh hush your mouth! Doesn’t that sound GOOD?

The Recipe…

1 cup almond flour

1/4 cup coconut flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

3/4 cup pureed pumpkin (I use organic canned pumpkin)

1/4 cup raw local honey

1/4 unsweetened organic applesauce

3 eggs

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

10 drops of stevia

Combine all wet ingredients then add the dry ingredients. Using a fork, stir until blended well. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake @ 325 for about an hour.

As always, if you fix this recipe please share with me your thoughts. Also, please share on your social media outlets.

Enjoy!

Jennie B

 

 

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Trader Joes…Oh How I Love Thee

Have you been to a Trader Joes? If you have one that is local, or fairly local, I encourage you to go check them out. They have all kinds of goodness and much of it is cheaper than your bigger grocery stores. I mean just look at this picture of my local Trader Joes. Doesn’t it just look inviting and fun? IMG_20160205_105340398

I want to share with you one of my first experiences at this Trader Joes. Not only do they have good prices on a lot of their items but they also have a good selection of gluten free items. You can click HERE to check out their list of gluten free items.

If you have read my story  you know that my husband is gluten intolerant. When he went totally gluten free I was so overwhelmed!!! From reading books, to surfing the web (because everything on the web is TRUTH! Right? Yes I am being sarcastic). I mean, the whole gluten free thing was not on my radar to learn at that time in my life. Well…I didn’t get to choose when Jennie B learned all about gluten, it was kinda thrown at me. So, I set out to get him off gluten. Please remember that just because something is “gluten free” DOES NOT mean it is healthy! There is gluten free CRAP out there just like there is regular CRAP out there. Anyways, I printed off Trader Joes gluten free list and headed out. I walked into to store (feeling very OVERWHELMED). The experience of Trader Joes is not like your typical grocery store. Just the energy in there alone can get your heart racing, but in a good kinda way. They are totally up beat, fun peeps running the show. I had this list, and a long one list at that, didn’t know where over half the items where in the store and when I would find them I would have to make sure they were in fact GF. They have a little, and I mean little, GF sign on the products that are gluten free, which can be tricky to find. I bet I went back and forth from this aisle to that aisle back to that aisle saying, “Excuse me!”, “Where is this?”, “Where is that?”, “Do you know if you have this?”, etc. I mean I was ready to pull my hair out. I was wishing they served wine at the end of every aisle! No joke! (Yes, I would have drank that wine and called the hubs to come pick me up and all HIS GF groceries). It was an experience, let me tell ya!

That was the then and this is now! I LOVE Trader Joes. I mean I truly get excited about going to TJ’s! I really do, and NO I do not need the wine at the end of every aisle. Lol!

I thought you may enjoy some of my favorite items that I purchase on a regular basis. There is definitely more, but here are some of my top ones. I hope maybe this will inspire you to get to a Trader Joes and also to show you that you can get healthy items cheaper if you shop around.

Organic Apples and Pink Ladies at that!!!!

This is probably my #1 Fav and LOOK at that price!

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Organic Liquid Stevia. This is my #2 Fav.

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Organic Unrefined, Cold Pressed, Coconut Oil

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21 Seasoning Salute (I use this on A LOT)

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Organic Quinoa (Frozen, just heat up and serve…Yes please!)

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Organic Green Beans

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Organic Pears

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Organic Brown Basmati Rice

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Organic Green Tea

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Organic Beets (This one is for the hubs…Jennie cannot stomach beets)

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Trader Joes is also a great place to find processed meats that DO NOT contain sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite, one of the top five ingredients we should really try to eliminate from our diet. They also have decent prices on nuts, nut butters, frozen organic veggies, fresh organic veggies like spinach, kale and broccoli.

You can also find skin care products, Vitamin E oil, cleaning products, etc. Like I said up top, if you have not experienced Trader Joes, go check them out.

I would LOVE to hear some of your favorites finds from TJs.

Much Love,

Jennie B

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Jennie B’s Healthy Fried Rice

Do you or someone in your house hold like that greasy fried rice you get at your local Chinese restaurant? My son Loves it…I mean he could eat it everyday I do believe.IMG_1113

I wanted to come up with a “Healthy” version of the good ole Chinese Restaurants Fried Rice…I did AND it has been a HIT!

Did you know that local Chinese restaurant of yours uses white rice? Which is a bad (simple) carb. Now some may argue and say white rice is an okay carb, but white rice has been stripped of the majority of its nutrients and of its fiber. Brown rice is what you will find being served in Jennie B’s kitchen. My favorite is Trader Joe’s Organic Brown Basmati Rice. Brown rice is a complex (good) carb. It provides us with nutrients and fiber.

Jennie B’s Fried Rice Recipe

Cook your rice as directed.

-1 cup of your cooked Organic Brown Rice

-1 scrambled Egg

-1 tsp of EVO

-1-2 tsp of Organic Soy Sauce (I use Gluten Free) If it is organic than it is nonGMO

Scramble your egg first in a skillet. Then add your cooked rice, EVO and soy sauce. Continue to stir and get the rice a little “fried”. You are pulling that moisture out a bit by doing this. Add a little pepper if you’d like and it is ready.

Adding pulled or diced Chicken Breast is also very good. Serve it up with a salad and you have a balanced meal!

NOTE: If you are fixing this for more than two or three people you need to double the recipe.

As always, please let me know if you fix it and your thoughts!

Also, don’t forget the share bars for your social media outlets that can be found at the top and bottom of all my post. Share the LOVE.

Much Love,

Jennie B

 

 

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Gluten Free, Sugar Free… Oh So Good Strawberry Pie

Jennie B’s Ohhhh So Good Strawberry Pie

While it has taken me a couple of attempts to get this right, I think I finally got it!

I took my moms full fledge Strawberry pie recipe and made it my own. This pie is not your typical “gel” strawberry pie that you are probably use to eating. You know the ones that are made with that nasty remade gel? You go and buy that gel, bring it home, pour it over some strawberries, put that in a pie crust and you have your strawberry pie. The only thing bought in this recipe is the gluten free crust. You can totally make your own, it is just easier to buy a pre made that is made with the same ingredients I would use.

You will have to play with how many berries it takes to fill your pie shell depending on the size of the berries and the size of your crust. For this recipe I used just your basic size and my berries were pretty big. You also will have to make more of your “gel” if you either like more gel OR if your pie crust is bigger.

The Recipe…

-Bake your crust and let cool as directed.

-Cut up 25-30 berries and let dry (cut to the size of your liking). Once dry, place in your cooled crust. IMG_1175

-Cut up about 20 more berries and put in sauce pan. Mash with a potato masher. Add a little water, if needed, to make 2 cups. Bring to a slow boil.

-Add 10 drops of Stevia and 3 Tbs of nonGMO corn starch or arrowroot powder. (Add cornstarch a little at a time so it will not clump up on you. I use a small sifter and stir it in as I add it.) Once it starts to thicken pull off the stove and let cool. It will thicken even more as it cools. (Hint: if it gets to thick just a little water to thin back out a bit. Add very little at a time.) If you prefer to add a “sugar” (like coconut sugar) or a baking stevia, start with 1/2 cup and taste test before adding anymore. It often depends on the sweetness of the berries as to how much sugar you may need and individual preference.IMG_1173

-Pour cooled “gel” mixture over strawberries and chill.IMG_1177

Side Note: You can add a tin layer of cream cheese (low fat if you prefer) on the bottom of the crust and this will help prevent the crust from becoming soggy. That is why you want your berries to be good and dry. We do not have the problem of the crust getting soggy due to the pie not lasting long enough.

As always, if you make it please let me know what you think. Also, share the love and you can click on the share bar to share on your social media outlets.

Enjoy!

Jennie B

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Fair Trade

Are you starting to notice this seal more and more? The Fair Trade Certified Seal?Fair-Trade-Certified-Logo-Pantone-375-U-216x300

In reading their website Fair Trade Certified is very similar to a host of non profit organizations around the world who help those in poverty not only to make a living but a future for their families and communities. One that we hold near and dear to our hearts, personally, is Miracle Power in Kenya. They house orphans and widows all while providing the children with an education and teaching the widows a skill, which provides them with income. Not only are their goods sold in Kenya, but they are brought back to the states and sold locally in our home town. I could go on and on how the Lord continues to work between our home town and Kenya. What continues to happen is amazing!

Back to this seal…What is this seal all about? Per fairtradeusa.org it is stated that:

Fair Trade Certified™ products were made with respect to people and planet. Our rigorous social, environmental and economic standards work to promote safe, healthy working conditions, protect the environment, enable transparency, and empower communities to build strong, thriving businesses. When you choose products with the Fair Trade label, your day-to-day purchases can improve an entire community’s day-to-day lives.

Isn’t this wonderful! Fair Trade is improving the lives of thousands all over the world. While changing lives it is helping farmers implement environmentally sustainable practices. Which in return the world as a whole benefits from.

Here is what Fair Trade does…

-Coops are created and farmers are able to deal directly with the market buyers and get paid a living wage. Part of their earnings are reinvested and therefore makes a difference in their community.

-Fair Trade empowers women. Women that are hired through Fair Trade market farmers are guaranteed health care, certain job rights and freedom from harassment. This provides for a much better future for the women and their families.

-Fair Trade revenues are helping keep the farmers children out of the fields and in school. It helps provide funds for their schooling. Fair Trade revenue generated by the US market have helped to build schools in some of the most remote areas of the world.

-One of the standards the Fair Trade coop provides is access to health care and proper nutrition in order to keep the farmers and their families healthy.

Not only does Fair Trade Market do all the above but their values speak loudly! Pulled from their website, here are their values…

Empowerment: We believe in empowerment and freedom of choice as means to a better world.

Integrity: We strive to always act ethically and we value relationships built on honesty, mutual respect and trust.

Sustainability: We engage in sustainable solutions to global problems that affect the earth and its people.

Innovation: We transform the world through entrepreneurial creativity and lead by example.

Excellence: We believe that quality of life, work and performance are critical to achieve our mission.

Personal Development: Strong organizations rely on strong individuals. We encourage and support each other to realize our fullest potential, and will thereby strengthen our internal community.

Community: We value our global and internal communities’ diversity of perspectives, and know that each may hold a piece of the solution. We collaborate and partner for mutual success.

Fairness: We work to create opportunities and extend the benefits of globalization to all people, everywhere.

Impact: We build positive solutions that achieve meaningful social and environmental change in the world.

Fairtrade Market Certified products can range from coffee to wine.

Fairtrade Market Certified partners are growing as well. From Trader Joe’s (just another reason to Love TJ’s) to Dr. Mercola’s products (just another reason to Love him as well…oh and if you do not follow him on social media or get his emails. You should. Check him out!

I am truly excited about this seal and I believe we will be seeing more and more of it. Especially if we spread the word. Share this post on your social media outlets to make more peeps aware. (If you want to of course)

Much Love,

Jennie

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What does That Seal Mean?

Do you know what the USDA Organic seal REALLY means? Do you get confused as to what you should buy organic and if it is worth spending the extra money. I hope to make this as plain and simple as I can and help you understand what the organic seal really means. 2000px-USDA_organic_seal.svg

Okay, so you go to the store and you see a product that says it is organic. First off it has to have the USDA seal on it to be certified organic. Now, there are three different components to this.

  1. 100% Certified Organic – This means that EVERYTHING in that product is organic. You will not see the 100% Certified Organic very often. You will usually see just Certified Organic.
  2. Certified Organic – This means that at least 95% of the ingredients in a processed food is organic.
  3. Made with Organic ingredients – This does not contain the seal but can say “Contains organic ingredients” or “Made with organic ingredients” and either of these can be stated on the packaging. This means that 70% of the ingredients must be organic and those ingredients will be found in the ingredients list.

An added bonus to buying organic is that you are also buying nonGMO. In order for anything to be certified as organic is also cannot contain any genetically modified organisms. You can read more on GMOs by clicking HERE.

I know, it can get SO confusing. One thing I want you to remember is that just because a product is “Organic” DOES NOT mean it is good for us. There is “organic” crap out there just like there is non organic crap. Yes, there is organic sugar, but guess what? It is still sugar! There are organic cookies, but they are still cookies made with organic crap! Get the point?

What should you buy organic? This is where you will have to decide for yourself what is most beneficial for you and your family. I know most of us cannot afford to buy everything organic or have access to everything organic. For myself and my family I try to purchase organic foods that we eat the most. For instance, my son drinks cows milk everyday, therefore I have had him on organic milk since a baby. I eat spinach everyday, therefore I buy organic spinach. We all three eat an apple everyday, so I buy organic apples. A great way to purchase organic foods is to join a local CSA and to shop at your local farmers market. An added plus to this is you are supporting your local farmers. Be sure to ask if any pesticides or chemicals are used when buying local. Also it is great to stock on fruits and veggies when they are in season and then freeze or can them to have all year round.

You may be thinking, what is recommended that you should buy organic? Produce wise a good rule of thumb is if you eat the entire fruit or vegetable, try to purchase organic. Example, you don’t eat the peeling of a banana but you do an apple. The dirty dozen (plus two) and clean fifteen break it down:

dirty-dozen-ewg

Now, meats, poultry and dairy. In order for livestock to be considered organic they must eat organic feed, have access to the outdoors and not be given antibiotics, hormones and any animal by products.  Let’s think about this, non organic livestock is shot up with steroids (so they can grow faster and bigger) to produce more, they are given antibiotics, fed GMO feed, etc. We then eat them. We eat what they eat. This also holds true for their milk supply. Everything they are given gets into their milk supply, so we end up drinking all that mess too. The same goes for poultry and eggs too. Hmmm…don’t you think meats, eggs and dairy should be purchased as organic?

When looking at what you should be purchasing organic I would encourage you to sit down and evaluate what you and your family eat the most of that you should try to purchase organic. I do want to make one thing clear. If you cannot afford organic that is OK! A non organic apple is much better than a bag of chips. I also encourage you to shop around and pay attention to prices when shopping. You may be very surprised! For instance, organic Kale at our local Kroger is $0.99 and non organic Kale is $0.99. Why would you NOT buy the organic? Organic apples at Trader Joes are $0.79 an apple which is cheaper than a non organic apple. You may have to do a little homework but in the long run it is very much worth it knowing you are feeding your temple and your families temples better.

Much Love,

Jennie B

 

References: helpguide.org and greener choices.org

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Oh NO GMOs

organic-nongmo

GMO’s are genetically modified (or engineered) organisms that have been altered in a way that does not occur naturally in our environment. Simply put, humans are producing the crops, not nature, the way they were intended to be produced. This is the kind of food I want to eat. NOT! The bad part is, GMO’s are in so much and we don’t even realize it! If it is not stated as nonGMO on the label, or organic, then you are eating food, or crap as I like to call it, that is either totally genetically modified or an ingredient has been genetically modified. If you want assurance that you are not eating GMOs the best bet is to buy foods that are certified organic. If it is organic it can not be a GMO or contain any GMOs in the product.

The top five genetically modified foods are…

  1. Soy
  2. Corn
  3. Cotton
  4. Canola
  5. Sugar Beets

While the order of the top five shift from time to time, an average of 85-95% of these crops produced have been genetically modified. Now you may be thinking, well I don’t eat ANY soy. I eat corn on the cob in the summer, occasionally. I don’t bake with Canola oil. Sugar Beets? Who uses sugar beets? Okay, so lets think about this. Corn…corn is in like everything, corn is one big ole by product in a lot of crap. What is HFCS (High Fructose CORN Syrup) made from? CORN! What is corn starch made from? CORN! What is Dextrose made from? CORN! What do all these have in common? If you eat anything that comes out of a plant, not a growing plant in nature, a plant like a distribution plant, you are more than likely eating a product that contains some GMOs. The only way to know that you are not eating GMOs is if it has the nonGMO or Organic stamp on it. I know, it can get very confusing.

So, what about the Sugar Beet. If you follow me you know I HATE sugar and anything that has to do with sugar. Sugar is hidden under so many different names and guess what, most of them are A.) Derived from Corn or B.) They are just straight up genetically modified. Here again this just adds another layer of “badness” that the food industry is “feeding” us. Did you get the pun there? Haha! Sugar is bad, it is hidden under SO many different names and now you find out you are eating genetically modified sugar! Shew, just another reason to eat real food! Right?

Hmmm…Real Food, well if you go to the store and get some corn for that cookout this weekend and it is not organic, guess what…you are probably buying genetically modified corn. I know, you are like, well geez, what can I eat? I know everyone cannot afford EVERYTHING organic. I can’t! Therefore what my family eats the most of I try to purchase organic. I do want to point out a lot of times organic is not much more expensive and actually sometimes cheaper. You have to shop and compare. Also a great thing to do is purchase fresh fruits and vegetables when in season, from a local farmer that you trust or join a CSA and put things up so you have them all year round. You know, like they did in the good ole days.

Now…lets touch on dairy and meat just a bit. A cow eats feed that is genetically modified. Then gets shot up with hormones to make it grow bigger, faster. A cow gets sick. The cow gets antibiotics. Where does all this stuff go? Muscles, bloodstream, in their milk. Uuummm, do you know where I am going with this? Who eats the meat and drinks their milk? What are you eating and drinking? Yep, all that crap! I love this saying, “You are what I eat.” (If animals could talk).

I hope you have a better understanding of GMOs. This post could go on and on. From Monsanto (the world’s largest genetically modified producer) to the pesticides used on GMO’s. A REALLY good documentary to watch on GMOs is GMO/OMG. I learned a lot from just watching it.

Much Love,

Jennie

References nongmoproject.org, naturalnews.com, consumer reports.org