Fresh Tomato Basil on a Wheat Roll

Tomato Basil on Wheat

So I went Vegan tonight... Not in the mood for any kind of animal today, lol 

So remember those Whole Wheat Dinner rolls I made.. I made a bunch,  so needed to use them before they started to mold.  Yummy... I toasted the rolls in my cast iron then topped off with tomato and basil.

Ingredients: 

Organic Whole Wheat Rolls, sliced in half's (homemade recipe link above)

Organic Tomato, sliced thin

Fresh Organic Basil leaves

Sprinkle of Sea Salt and Organic Black Pepper

Warm your Cast iron pan to med low. Toast bread slices first till desired crispyness. Then place sliced tomatoes to sear for a few until desired browning.  Then top the rolls with tomato and basil leaves and sprinkle the tomato and Enjoy!!

Optional topping of Mozzarella for those of you who love cheese!!!

I hope you enjoy my simple recipes... Well some of them are anyway.

Enjoy !!! Buen Provecho!!

Organic Girly 

Joy of Learning

The Joy of learning !! Just out of having fun..... I am on a second year journey of homeschooling... It  was very difficult for me to allow for the free flow of learning. I am a product of the public school system... The traditional learning of the institution. It worked for me, I adjusted and adapted to this particular environment. I flourished! 

However, I noticed that my desire for learning was ignited in college. I never really enjoyed school in the elementary and secondary years. I was an A student, but never was super excited for school. 

So when I was a freshman in college, It was like a new door opened to me. The joy of majoring in what interested me!! It caused a roller coaster of love for knowledge. Soon, I was taking my general education requirements but I did not perceive them as boring or not applicable. My perspective changed. I viewed it as stepping stones for what I loved studying.

Therefore, as I homeschool my children.. I am learning to embrace the desire of my children’s interest in a particular subject. Then tailoring all subjects around it and including all five subjects in a particular theme. 

I love the passion I see when my children light up... So to keep that fire going, I have decided that this is our direction. If my children are interested in lizards (as they are right now and my youngest loves rocks), I will find a way to incorporate all five subjects in some form or fashion.. Maybe we will do multiplication and division facts with lizards, and counting with rocks lol. 

The methods of teaching my children has changed since the first year of homeschooling.  My children have taught me that learning is not just done in a classroom. It is something that happens everyday. Furthermore, the desire for learning will continue to burn if fanned.  

Learning is a lifelong process and it should not stop in the classroom.


"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deut 6:6-9


I read this scripture every morning when I awake....God's word is clear on teaching (whether you homeschool or not). He is commanding and encouraging us with the importance of always teaching our children the goodness of God, regardless of location. His word is so powerful and full of love for humanity, it is not just to be taught one or two days a week. It is to be taught through out the day, every day. This is how adeqaute learning takes place. I apply this scripture in our daily spiritual life as well as homeschool. 


Learning is all the time and when filled with the love of God's word it penetrates down to the very core of your child to one day produce fruit in their life.




Organic Girly

Sauté Garlic with Spinach

I love the taste of garlic... and I love raw Spinach.... Perfect combination.

It is a healthy snack, I usually prefer this in the evening as a treat. I know I'm weird, but thats okay!!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of Minced Organic Garlic

1/2 Organic Lemon

Handful of Raw Organic Spinach, cut 

1 tsp of Sea Salt

2 tsp of Organic Olive Oil 

Coat pan with olive oil and allow pan to heat to med-low heat. Then place minced garlic in pan and sauté garlic till golden brown and add raw spinach for a few seconds and mix. Then remove from pan and place in bowl. Squeeze lemon over garlic and spinach and sprinkle with sea salt.

Enjoy!! Buen Provecho!!!

Organic Girly

Organic Strawberry Jam

Homemade Organic Strawberry Jam

Tis the Season of Strawberries!!! Feeling Merry Already!! 

I love Strawberries.... Sweet and Satisfies my Sweet Tooth.

This was my first attempt at making Jam... Not a big Jam person but my kids love Old Fashion Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches and topping it on whole wheat pancakes!! So I decided to make it, instead of buying it, like I normally do.

Ok!! So I try my best to stay away from refined sugars etc.... So, I researched ways of making my special strawberry jam more healthier. I used local raw honey and xylitol to sweetened my jam instead of sugar. 

Xylitol is diabetic friendly and helps fight against tooth decay.. great sweetener!! Another Perk: Your body does not process this as a sugar. It does not interfere with blood sugar levels or get stored as fat. Love it

Recipe:

2 cups of Organic Strawberries, sliced

1 cup of Xylitol, non GMO

1 tbsp of Raw Honey (preferably local)

1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice

Place sliced strawberries into saucepan with honey, xylitol, and lemon on low heat till xylitol is dissolved. Then, increase the heat to medium, until strawberries have a somewhat pureed or dismantled. (Or you can smash them prior to placing them in saucepan)

Then remove from stove top and place in glass jar(with lid) of your choice leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace, and seal. 

For a more syrup texture, add a little less xylitol.

It was a great hit with my kids!! Enjoy, Buen Provecho!!

Organic Girly

Red & Green Lentil with Barley Soup

One of My favorite soups... Lentils with Barley Soup 

Barley 

Ingredients:

1 cup of Red Lentils, uncooked

1 cup of Green Lentils, uncooked

1/2 cup of Barley, uncooked

2 Quarts of Veggie Broth or Chicken Broth 

1 cup of raw onions, minced

1 cup raw carrots, minced

2 tbsp garlic powder

2 tbsp onion powder

Toasted Bread:

Sliced bread of your choice

Coat fry pan with olive oil on med temp,  sprinkle seas salt and garlic powder onto fry pan and place sliced bread to toast, remove when desired crispiness..

Perfect for soup diving...

In a slow cooker (crockpot), combine all ingredients in the stoneware of slow cooker. Place on low temp and cook for 4-5 hours, with occasional stirring and checking for broth absorption by lentils and barley. If needed add water until desired. 

All raw ingredients in the soup, initial start 

On a stove, combine all ingredients in a large pot. Place temp on med-low to med... and allow cook for 1 hour 30 mins. On the stove, the pot must be watched closely for burning on the bottom of the pot. 

I prefer crockpot for my soups.. Set it and forget it lol 

Finished product 

Olive oil toasted sliced bread with herbs..

I make this soup in bulk and freeze for later days.... That way I have lentils soup when I am in the mood. This helps stock up my freezer with quick meals for the family..

Enjoy! Buen Provecho!!

Organic Girly 

My yummy bowl of soup

Personal Oat Bran Spinach Pita Pizza

One of my children's favorite lunch meals. I love pizza and when I decided to change our family's eating habits, I made the healthy version. Oh, and I added more veggies to it.

There is two ways to do this.....First, you can make your own pita bread from scratch or Second, purchase pre-made pitas from the store. I chose the latter (just for now, until I make my own)

Here are some Nutritional info on this favorite lunch recipe...... 

This is just a preview of what is in this scrumptious personal pizza

Recipe:

1 Pre-made Oat Bran Pita

2 tbsp of seasoned tomato sauce (sea salt, garlic and onion powder) 

(Sometimes, I use my spaghetti sauce)

handful of cut Organic Spinach

Sprinkle of Organic Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

side of Organic Green Grapes

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees, Time to decorate the pita. Spread the 2 tbsp of sauce on pita in a circular motion, sprinkle the cut spinach and top with sprinkle cheese. Place in oven on baking sheet or pizza stone. Wait about 7 minutes or less depends on your level of Crispiness..add side of grapes to plate.....All Done!!! 

It makes four slices; however,  my daughter ate one slice before the pic was taken...Sorry, these are just that good...

There are so many variations you could make with this pita....Breakfast Pita Pizzas or Make it with different toppings....Enjoy! Buen Provecho!!!

Organic Girly 

Cafe con Leche (Cafe Espresso)

Cafe con Leche

 

The classic cafe can be used to help with energy; however, as with everything, it must be in moderation. I have enjoyed this type of cafe since I was a little girl. My grandmother (mi Abuela), used to make this for us for breakfast (yeah, not the healthiest, I would say, but with some Cuban bread and butter, we were happy kids). 

 

I would say to add this to your healthy lifestyle, cut out the Cuban bread and butter....and just stick with the Cafe con leche. You could drink this with a bran muffin or a much healthier substitute. 

Organic Cinnamon (Canela organica)

I like to add a little bit of organic cinnamon to my Cafe con leche...It adds a pinch of spice..Which I love. Try it!!

I use a Stove top Espresso Maker (old school style, I prefer it).The measurements for ingredients are dependent on the size of espresso maker used. So follow quantity suggestions per maker.

Ingredients:

Organic Espresso Roast: I would use the Organic Espresso Roast or Fair trade Espresso roast to minimize your exposures to Genetically Modified Organisms in crops as well as pesticides.

Organic Milk(either Organic Almond or Coconut Milk)

 

 

 Xylitol or Stevia to sweetened your cafe

1tsp of Organic Cinnamon (canela organica)

 

Recipe:

1 shot of Organic Expresso

1 cup of Organic Milk

3 tsp of Xylitol or 2 tsp of Stevia

Use Espresso maker to create your tasty Espresso. Place a small pot on stove top with med low heat. Add Already made Espresso, milk, and your choice of Xylitol or Stevia to the mix and stir until desired temperature.

Enjoy! Buen Provecho!!

Organic Girly

 

*Stay away from processed sugars as much as possible, this is why I omitted it from the recipe. These sweeteners do not interfere with your blood sugar levels (I am not a physician, but I have read the studies on the importance of a balanced pancreas functions).

Organic Turkey Queso Burgers....Better than Mcdonalds !!!

Organic Turkey Queso Burgers


Yummmo!! I do like Turkey burgers....with cheese!! I do say: I make a better  version of it than Any Fast Food Restaurant... Organic ingredients ensure that chemicals and preservatives as well as Genetically Modified Organism are not in them... You know Good Old Fashioned Food, The way Mamas used to make in the 1950s before the Garbage hit the mainstream grocery markets...


Recipe:
1 lb of Organic Turkey, Ground
1 cup of Organic Onions, minced
1 tbsp Lemon Thyme Spice Seasoning
1tbsp Garlic Powder
4 Organic Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cut into squares
Organic Whole Wheat Bread, Sliced loaves
 1 cup of Organic Spinach

Organic Ground Turkey

Begin by placing ground turkey into a bowl and mashing with hands to crumble. Once ground turkey has been pulverized to mushy texture, add lemon thyme spice, garlic powder and mix with hands again. Be sure to mix the seasonings into all areas of ground turkey... Then add minced onions to the ground turkey bowl. Spread and ensure again, all onions are spread throughout ground turkey.

You may begin forming patty sizes...I made slider sizes.... Excellent size for parties or just lunch boxes.

Place formed turkey patties on skillet , heated to medium and flip until cooked thoroughly. 


Cooked Turkey Burgers

Time to Dress our Turkey Burgers with Cheese (optional: place cheese slices on top of patties prior to removing from heat skillet for a nice melted perk)



Organic Spinach



Add the Fresh Spinach and Cut the Whole Wheat Slices in Fours (sliders)

An Excellent Burger, Anyone could enjoy!! (unless your Vegan...lol) Buen Provecho!!

Organic Girly

Avocado Lemon Salsa

Avocado Lemon Salsa


My cousin first introduced me to this recipe a month or so ago and I have been hooked on it. It has so many flavors that it excites your taste buds. You've got salty, citrus, spice and crunch!! Great combinations.



Recipe:
2 Haas Organic Avocados
1 Lemon
1 Handful of Fresh Organic Cilantro, sliced
1 cup of diced organic tomatoes
1/2 cup of minced organic onions
2 tsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of sea salt
1 cup of Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla chips




Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix together, squeeze lemon and mix...ALL DONE...Dip the Chip!
That simple!!

This Salsa can be stuffed in a pita, on a sandwich, or enjoyed by itself

Enjoy! Buen Provecho !!!

Kelloggs & Genetically Modified Organisms!!

            I am writing this blog post because I know many of you purchase Kellogg's products. Some of you might not know that you are purchasing Kellogg's products (I didn't realize it until recently). Kelloggs is an umbrella company and some of it's brands include KASHI, MORNING STAR FARMS, BEAR NAKED, GARDENBURGER. I had to caps lock those for bluntness..... Here is some Kellogg's Products:

                It is unfortunate that Kellogg's has jumped on the Genetically Modified Organism Bandwagon...They currently and have been using Monsanto's Genetically Modified Organisms:.... gmo sugar, gmo corn, gmo canola etc.... However, you would never know!!! 

                         WHY? The public does not know that the products they purchase have these virus infestations in their foods!! Monsanto has pushed  the USDA on the use of GMO's in USA. Therefore, they were successful on this push, and It is okay for them to grow GMO produce now and be a distributor to many food companies like Kellogg. Mind you, Monsanto is the same company that created Agent Orange, and  Round Up Ready .These are pesticides and herbicides embedded in the GMO crop.They have accelerated the use of these crops. However, they have been adamant of not labeling products ingredients with GMO for public knowledge. Thus, Monsanto claims GMO crops and foods have no significant health risks associated with the consumption. Differently, the European Union has banned the use of GMO until scientific evidence states otherwise. Here a side note:

"Monsanto has refused to release all the results of its own tests on the maize (corn), although it has now been ordered to do so by a German court."

If they are going to use this type of seed then it is their responsibility to educate the public on the ingredients in their foods. The USDA and FDA have fallen short of their responsibility. It is because of Monsanto's infamous influence and financial power on the government with their lobbyist  (Sure, I don't doubt it one bit). 

For those of you who do not know what exactly is a GMO, here is a link

          I encourage you, every single one of you, to be active in this.... This is the future of your food, your children's foods, and the coming generations. God has not called us to sit back and do nothing... that is Idleness... Many of you may not see this as an important issue. But have you ever thought.... Why are foods labeled Organic now?  Before the 1950s and 1960s, the industrial revolution had not infiltrated the food companies.. There was no need for the labeling of Organics because everything was Organic already..... Since the 1950s and 60s, there has been a movement, a Organic movement to educate the people of the United States the right to good wholesome foods without chemicals and preservatives, especially genetically modified foods. 

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government-lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." Patrick Henry

         Past genereations had to deal with civil rights with African Americans and Woman rights.... Freedoms that our ancestors fought for. This passion and desire for better was demanded by the people from the government. However, this generation has to stand up and have the burning passion to declare and demand the civil rights of knowledge. The knowledge of the foods sold to us and given in the private and public schools. It is not limited to just schools: Grocery stores, Restaurants.... You know the food you just ordered at your favorite restaurant ( unless it was made with organic ingredients ofcourse). This is our baby to demand and require from the government. The right of the American People to know what is being sold to us, given to our children, and the future of food. 

Many of you cannot afford to purchase Organic food, and I am aware of that!! However, there would be no need for the purchasing of Organically labeled foods if companies like Monsanto and the government did not allow for the production of the GMO food. Similarly, the non labeling of these products are deceiving the public's ability to decipher if it is worthy for their family's meal. Organic labeling is not going away....It is now our duty to ensure the people's civil right to know what is in the food we buy...Then, you decide "Do I want to buy these GMO products?" I think many people would just go the other way and purchase items from other sources that are Anti-GMO. 

So: What to do? You can continue on your merry way. Purchase these products and feed them to your family. In addition, you can act like everything is going to be okay.

OR

You can take part and be active to choose Organic whenever possible. You can sign the petition against Kelloggs... that's one place to start.  Every time you purchase non GMO foods, you take a stand against Monsanto. That ringing at the Cash Register lets companies know what you chose to feed your family.  Organic is a movement for better living. Do not succumb to complacency and contention.  Stand up for your Rights as US Citizens, as did the Europeans against GMOs. Their government listened to their cry!! If the people rise up and declare otherwise in the US, what more could our government do,  but submit to the authority of the people. It is your right!! 

I wrote this article with much passion and love for all of you, it is to educate and promote pro-activity in your daily choices.

Thank you for reading, 

Organic Girly

Here is a link to Non GMO Shopping 

Thai Noodles with Chicken & Veggies

 Thai Brown Rice Noodles with Grilled Chicken & Veggies 

I needed to experiment a little more with Asian foods. My family love Asian foods....all types. However, when my middle son came down with a severe Soy Allergy and Shellfish Allergy, we became very limited on meals. So, I have been wondering too and fro looking for a soy sauce replacement...

Not really, not that seriously, but I have always had it in the back of my mind somewhere. So, Voila!!! I found my seasoning for Thai food.. Woop!! Woop!!!. 

It is called Coconut Aminos. Beautiful taste and savory in this recipe. Anyway, try it!!

It has less sodium, no soy (soy is not a favorite, other issues I have with it).... and rich flavor of Oriental traditions. This has now become one of our family favorites...

Coconut Aminos & Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles

Recipe:

1 package of Pad Thai Brown Rice Noodles

4 tbsp of Coconut Aminos (or per taste)

1 cup of raw Broccoli florets

1 raw Carrot shredded

1/2 cup of minced Onions

8 stalks of Asparagus (end clipped)

2 Free Range Grilled Chicken Breasts (chopped) (optional)

2 tsp of Olive Oil 

1 tsp of Sea Salt

(organic produce)

Placed minced onions to saute on med-low. Allow for Onions to caramelize. Then add the chopped grilled chicken into pan with onions once it has caramelized.... (You can have the chicken grilled prior to this recipe or cook after the onions caramelize).  

Add 1 tbsp of Coconut Aminos to the chicken and shredded raw carrots. You want the carrots raw (uncooked) with this meal. It keeps a crunchy taste against the soft noodles.

 Cook until carrots are slightly tender.

Then add the Broccoli florets and cover for about 3-4 minutes until it has slightly cooked, yet still has a slight crunch.

 Raw broccoli is placed last, since it cooks rather quickly

Place Thai Brown Rice Noodles to boil while chicken and veggies are cooking. These noodles cook rather quickly and should be removed within 3-4 minutes. Stir on occasion. While noodles cook, place raw Asparagus seasoned with Sea Salt and Garlic powder and olive oil on a pan to crisp.

On medium temp, crisp the Seasoned Asparagus, cook 5-6 minutes, until crisp exterior and remove.

Then remove noodles from stove top and drain and rinse in cold water.

Uncover chicken and veggies and add  remaining Coconut Aminos to noodles,  stirring constantly

until the sauce is spread over all the noodles. It will give it a nice light brown color. 

Place stove top on low and cover for about 2 minutes for flavor infusion.

And you have completed a traditional Thai meal......It is packed with fiber from the veggies and the brown rice noodles...low in sodium and healthy at the same time.

I hope you enjoy!!! Buen Provecho!!

Organic Girly