Pomegranate Quinoa Salad

I made this salad recently and thought it was post worthy. This salad is so refreshing and even though more of a summer salad, pomegranates do have a Christmas look to them. With this particular salad, I recommend you save yourself the work of seeding a pomegranate and just buy the seeds at the store. Yes, they are more costly (4.00 at Harmons for about 1 c. but its so worth it to have them for this salad.

1 c. pomegranate seeds

1 c. cooked quinoa

1 1/4 c. yellow or red cherry tomatoes

1/2 c. chopped cucumber

1/4 c. fresh cilantro

1/4 c. fresh mint

1 T. fresh chopped parsley

1 T. fresh chopped basil leaves

For Dressing

1/4 c. olive oil (extra virgin)

1 T. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. chopped garlic

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 T. lemon juice

Combine all ingrediants for dressing and set aside. Next, toss herbs, tomatoes, cucumber and pomegrante into quinoa. Mix well and then add dressing and mix. chill for an hour and serve.

Fresh Herbs, Try them!

We just returned home from 10 days in St. George for Christmas! It was fun and it made me wish vacations could last forever! While down visiting my mom and my step-dad, my husband and I cooked gourmet looking meals for them just about every night. I have loved experimenting with fresh herbs and I came across a meal that I love and want to share. I love the combinatins of fresh mint, parseley, and cilantro chopped up and mixed together. When you use this combination of herbs, you get a lot of vitamins, flavor, and one good gourmet looking meal.

I also love to use fresh squeezed lemon juice (not the lemon juice you buy), but with real lemons and use large amounts in most everything I eat, but with this meal the lemon juice really compliments the herbs. You can add more to this meal such as fresh basil if you prefer, but here is a combination I recommend.

1 c. of brown sticky rice. (You want the rice to be a soft, short grain, so their may be others names to this rice that I am unaware of). You can also use pre-cooked brown rice from the store, but I recommend a soft, light, and fluffy rice for this particular meal).

1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 c. chopped fresh mint

a few sprigs of fresh parsley chopped

1-2 T. fresh lemon juice (or more if you are like me)

1/2 c. black beans

1 c. chopped steak

cooked shrimp

cook rice, next blend herbs together and set aside. Top rice with beans and meat/shrimp and then toss in herbs and lemon juice.

Oatmeal Fruit Bars

let me tell you how great these wholesome, fruity bars are. I originally got the recipe off the back of a Western Family Oatmeal Container, but adapted it a bit. To make these, you will need:

Ingrediants:

3/4 c. butter

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. sugar

1 c. flour

1 1/2 c. quick oats

2 c. cocunut

3/4 c. raspberry preserves or any fruit combination preserves. I used, raspberry, acai, cherry preserves.

Oven at 375. In a bowl. combine melted butter, salt and sugars. Mix well. Add 1 cup coconut and mix into batter. Add flour and oatmeal and mix. Mix dough until all combined. Grease 9 x 13 baking pan and add 1 c. of dough and press evenly around pan. Add preserves and then add remaining dough and crumble on top. Add remaining 1 c. of cocunut on top. Bake for 25 minutes and allow to cool completely. Cut into bars.

picture credited to allrecipes.com, author: Sunflower

REAL Water

When i first saw a women drinking this water, I asked her about it and where she got it. I was very curious as to what real water was. I found that this is the only water with E2-Electron Energized Technology, the most advanced water out there. It is the only alkalized, anti-oxident water with stabilized negative ions.......(this came from off the water label and I have know clue what that means) As you know from my blog, anacidic body enviornment can be unhealthy, and needs to be balanced with more alkaline which is found in almost all vegetables and fruits such as apples, lemons and limes to name a few. This water label goes into great detail how it works so I will let you discover this water for yourself. I only drink this water now. It's available at healthfood stores such as Natural Grocers, Good Earth, ect. It's rather expensive, going for 2.50 for a liter bottle. I was lucky enough a box on sale.

The Benefits of ACV.......added bonus, it's cheap!!!

This is the exact product you want to invest in. Under 4.00, this has benefits that are incredulous. Top ten reasons I love ACV:

1. It's alkaline

2. just one tsp. in water is all you need once or twice a day

3. Gets rid of cold, flu, and other health conditions

4. you can use it in bath water for great benefits

5. Great toner for face, gets rid of pimples and keeps your skin clear. Better then most toners.

6. Its cost effective

7. it doesn't taste bad

8. It's super good for you

9. it will keep you healthy

10. great for acid reflux, even though i dont have this, I do know some people who do and this works better then acid reflux medicines.

Do the research and learn more about ACV!!!!

Baked Chicken Taquittos

Do you ever wonder what to make for dinner? Is it stressful sometimes? I have to say that I am ever so thankful for food blogs. I turn to them more then recipe books. I have a few food blogs I love that has been a real help to me. What I do is look at a few food blogs, and look at recipes that use similiar ingrediants. Then I make a list of all the ingrediants needed so I can get them at the store. I like to plan out dinners for up to two weeks so I know ahead of time what to buy in advance. Here is one meal idea I felt inclined to share. Turned out great and I never thought of making these before.

Baked Chicken Taquittos

Optimize Your Workout With this product

It's called fitmixer Amino. I use this before or after I go running each day. The benefits are amazing, and the taste is a added bonus...fruit punch. It's got tons of nutrients and contains a natrually occuring sugar called isomaltulose, which has a low glycemic index and is digested more slowely then sucrose (another type of sugar. Some of the benefits of this product is that taken before, during, or after exercise, it increase oxgyen delivery throughout the body wihch is great in supporting natrual energy in the body. It contains eight amino acids that increase strength, define lean muscle, and support muscle repair. I purchased mine at Costco for 15.00, and I was told it is more expensive other places. I love this stuff, love the taste, and I highly recommend it. Once this stuff is gone, I am definately getting more.

***use one scoop in 16 oz water and mix once a day.