Rethink your food

Hello blog land, Sarah Here and I just wanted to share this quick, thought provoking video. Take 5 minutes of you time and check this out. 

Make an informed decision on every day eating .

Sarah & Christina

Super Easy Pizza-For Now and For Later...

Ok, so this is my (Christina's) gorgeous sister, dressed-up niece Gia and "still-in-his pajamas" nephew, Gray-Gray and this week we happened to stumble upon and ingenius idea...

Pita/Flat bread Pizza!!!

We didn't have a whole lot of food in the fridge but after our Meditteranean themed Easter we did have TONS of flat bread left over. 
So we put our heads together and decided to use the left over pasta sauce, shred some fresh parmesean on top, stuck it in the toaster oven at 350 degrees for hardly anytime at all and there you go!
Pizza! 
 Now this is huge for those of you who are horrible at making your own dough, ahem...me!
Or you might just find yourself in a pickle like us and have hardly anything in the fridge! 


Now I must say this, we didn't put any veggies on or in this pizza!

I know! I know! Shame on me!

But like I said we were in a bind!
Geez!
But now knowing how easy this was to make this, this is what I would do differently next time...

1.  Make a sauce with a ton of different processed veggies snuck in there!
2.  Shred a bunch of fresh parmesean cheese.
3.  And then prep a ton of these "pizza's", stick some wax paper in between each one, throw them in a zip-lock bag and in the freezer.  That way when you are in a rush or have nothing to cook it's there ready to toss in the oven and eat!
No preservatives like the boxed pizza you may have been buying before!

These pizza's are not just great for the little one's but for you or your hubster when he's at work!  Or for play dates, parties, dinner, etc., etc...

Have fun with it! 
Let us know how it worked!

Butterflies and Eskimos,

Sarah & Christina 

Simple Yet Savvy Idea #1

As times get more and more financially difficult for a lot of us I thought I (Christina) would take some time to share with you all what to do with the cut-off crusts of your kids bread slices

or the end pieces (or as we call it in our home...the "butt", ha, ha) of the bread loaf.

Or what about those hot dog or hamburger buns that just sit there and get old cuz everyone already polished off all the hot dogs and hamburgers.

So.......... 

Thanks to my mamasitas she taught me this amazingly frugile and very useful tip while growing up in her home.

Many of you might already be doing this but for those who just toss those poor little pieces in the trash, hopefully this will enlighten you and motivate you to save them!

I use them to turn them into BREAD CRUMBS!

So I never have to waste money buying them at the store!

Genius, huh?

Ahh...thank goodness for mothers!

You can use them in so many dishes...meatloaf, to bread chicken, on top of casseroles, hamburgers...the list goes on!

Because my family eats bread like it's going out of style and my kids don't like the crust or the "butt" of the bread I simply store them daily in a little pan right above my toaster oven.  That way whenever the toaster oven is on, they are drying out quickly and will be ready for me to blend up.

So when the time comes that there is a lot of bread stored up I toss the pieces in the food processor.  After processing, I put all of it into a bowl and mix in

garlic powder,

onion powder,

dried basil,

dried parsley,

&

salt.

So simple! 

I have a large glass container/jar that I keep it in so when a recipe calls for bread crumbs it's ready to go!

What a great way to save money, too!

Butterflies and Eskimos,

Sarah & Christina

Apple pie craving!!!

Hey y'all It's Sarah,

I don't know how I grew up in the city, because as long as I could remember 
I have always want to live on a farm. The proof of this is my obsession, love of apple pie! It's true, I lose my mind over apple pie. It just oozes with old country goodness.

 
Store bought can go over board with the sugar, not that I won't eat sugar when I'm at a party or something but it can be a bit much.
 I did a little research and found out the a "certain" restaurant chain who are know for their famous pie's
dump 570 calories, 31g. of fat, and 29g. of sugar in just one slice of apple pie!!! That's not including all the partially hydrogenated fats and syrups in there.


Bummer!

But I need that yummy apple deliciousness on a regular basis, ahhhhh! 
What ever shell I do!?!


I know I'll bust the "original recipe!"


enjoy!
 My busted out Apple crispiness

  Filling:

4-6  organic granny smith apples (organic is optional)

agave nectar and/or honey (to taste)

1tsp. cinnamon

1tsp.vanilla

Topping:

1 1/2 c. oatmeal and/or your favorite healthy granola

3tlb. ground flax seed

1/4 c. chopped almonds (optional)

1/4 c. shredded coconut (optional)

1tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. real butter

1/4 c. raw organic cane sugar (optional)

1. core and slice apples, then in lg. bowl mix apples, sweetener, cinnamon,and vanilla. Set aside in fridge while you prepare the next step.

 Real raw sugar, that's what it should look like,hahaha!

2.In separate bowl mix together all other dry ingredients, Then cut butter into cubes and press into oat mixture with your fingers until it is all mixed.




Tip! If you don't have time to make this from start to finish, you can cook the apples stove top and then throw on some granola for a quick apple pie fix!

This is my fave! I get it at Costco for around $6

4. next you'll dump the apple mix into a baking dish, and then pour on your crumble.

5. Cover with foil and bake @375 for about 45 min.s or until bubbling.

after 45 min. take of foil and let the crisp brown for about 5 min.

Here She is all beautiful and golden brown!

I like to add a spoon full of mascarpone cheese. Oh it's soooooo good!

It is ridiculously healthy for you too!

So if there are any foods that you love but know are bad for you, let us know we love a challenge and want to try to help you find a better way to enjoy that things you love!

  Eskimo's and Butterflies  
Sarah & Christina 

PB,J & Spinach Sandwich...Say What?

Ok, ok, so I (Christina) know what you're probably thinking right now...

"There is no way I or my family would ever, ever, ever

eat that! No way! Uh-uh! Never gonna happen!"

But don't write this recipe off just yet. You have to at least try this just once!
Promise me! 
Actually, give it a couple of times and soon you and your family will come to know this kind of PB&J as the "norm" and the old version as "weird". It is a great way to sneak in some healthy spinach. 

I killed this spinach so it could be eaten without too much recognition!

So basically, all it is, is a regular peanut butter (the healthy kind, not the Skippy, Jif, Peter Pan, hydrogenated-oil kind but the kind where the ingredients are basically just peanuts), jelly (low-sugar) with organic spinach (non-organic spinach has tons of pesticides on it. It is very reasonably priced, too.) on whole grain bread.  The trick is mixing and some-what hiding the spinach as best you can.  Oh, and don't forget to dice the heck out of it so that it's in such tiny pieces.

You can also switch it around and instead of using peanut butter, try almond or sunflower seed butter.  Costco's almond and peanut butter are priced really well and they come in large quantities.  Also, Trader Joe's PB.  It is very cheap and yummy, too!  So, no excuses! K?

 I have to warn you though...

sunflower seed butter tastes pretty gross.  I try putting a dab in the sandwhich with the other peanut or almond butter so it's in there but not detectable to little taste buds. The nutrition in both these butters is out of this world!!!

Also, try using honey or agave instead of jam. 

Eventually you and your kids will get sick of PB,J and Spinach sandwhiches so doing this will ensure a healthy alternative.

$2.99 at Trader Joes but worth it! It is the best jam, ever!

Now, when you serve these the key is to act totally normal, cool and calm. 
When you hear the gasps and the fake gagging noises all you have to do is pass it off as if it is some kind of magic ingredient that all the super hero's or princess' eat in their PB&J's.  Just adapt it to whoever you are serving it to.  You might want to rename it, too.  For example, call it "Superman's Favorite Sandwich" or "Rapunzel's Beauty Food". 
Have fun with it!
  And don't forget to start with just a little bit of spinach.  Don't put so much that they'll refuse to try it!  A little bit at a time is better than nothing at all!

It's pretty amazing cuz you honestly can't even taste a difference!
I promise!
I want to hear all the reactions you get or your thoughts!
Good Luck!

Butterflies and Eskimos,

Sarah and Christina

"Good Morning Susie Sunshine" Breakfast Smoothie

Well, well, well.  So this morning I (Christina) was feeling a bit too lazy to actually make oatmeal.  So instead of reaching for a box of preservative-packed cereal, I decided I would take an oatmeal short-cut!

Genius, huh?

Actually, not really.

It's a pretty common, well-know fact that putting oatmeal in a smoothie is a delicious alternative.  So I can't take the credit. 

Did you know that most North Americans are chronically under-fibered? 

So, not only does oatmeal taste great but it provides a great source of fiber!

 So with that here is the recipe to a great smoothie to start your day right...

Place in the blender the following:



Your little ones will enjoy this, too!

2/3 c soy milk                                 

1 cup plain, fat-free yogurt

1 banana

1 c frozen mango

3/4 c uncooked oats

*if you are using fresh mango, just add some ice.  also, go ahead and add flaxseed, wheat germ, or spinach to amp up the nutrition!

Hope you enjoy it as much as my little guy and I did!

Butterflies and Eskimos,

Sarah and Christina

"Buried Treasure" Pizza!

Ok, ladies and gentlemen!!! Christina here and yet again in the kitchen!  One of the most deceptive yet amazingly successful veggie-packed meals you can sneak into dinner time is 

PIZZA!!!

There are three VERY important tricks to getting the veggies into the pizza without anyone knowing but you...

#1.  Put all veggies in the food processor until it is all "crumbly" and resembles nothing like it's original state!

#2.  Mix it into the sauce so it just looks like the herbs and onions that come in pizza sauce normally.

#3.  Make sure the cheese (I prefer fresh parmesan) covers most of it up (not too much cuz the idea is for the pizza to be healthy!)

Now, you can get as crazy as you want and throw in whatever veggies you want your family to eat.  I throw mushrooms, zuchhinni, bell peppers, onion, garlic, spinach sometimes all at the same time together or with just one or two veggies.  If you are introducing veggies in your cooking for the first time then my advice is to start SMALL!  You don't want to scare off anyone with your cooking! My little ones totally grub off this pizza because they can't see or feel the veggies when they're chewing it.  I'm the same way!  I know I should eat collard greens or kale but I hate it!  Unless of course, I throw it in the food processor and it's so small that I'm not chewing on something huge and leafy! 

Don't forget that the goal is to get it in! 



My hot hubby gettin' creative!



Ingredients (on this particular one):

• Jar of Spaghetti Sauce (I buy the Trader Joe's $1.79 one)
• 1 Zuchhinni
• 1/2 a carton of mushrooms
• 5 mini bell peppers (orange, red and yellow. I buy the bag at Costco.  It's super cheap and lasts a long time)
• 3 garlic cloves (yumm...this is good at disguising certain strong veggie flavors)
• 1 onion  (another good one to mask the taste of nasty certain veggies)
• A large handful of Spinach, washed, (I buy this at  Costco as well.  It's organic and inexpensive.)
• Block of Parmesan cheese, grated (a little more expensive but in my opinion healthier than mozzarella)
•  3 bags of uncooked pizza dough (if you can make your own-even better! I buy it at Trader Joe's for $1.29 each)

 Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2.  Wash and prep veggies.
3.  Toss in food processor and process until desired consistency (the smaller the better chance they'll eat it!)
4.  In large bowl, mix spaghetti sauce and veggies.
5.  Add any spices or herbs. (I like parsley, basil, onion and garlic powder, and salt.)


Little ones make great helpers!



6.  Roll out dough and place on greased cookie sheet.
7.  Pour sauce on dough.
8.  Grate cheese and generously (but not too much, tee! hee!) sprinkle on pizza.
9.  Place in oven for 20-25 min.  Check the bottom to ensure that the pizza dough is cooked all the way through.
10.  Enjoy!

Feel free to comment or ask any questions!

Butterflies and Eskimos,

Sarah and Christina



This pic is sideways! oops!



"The Pink Rabbit" Smoothie

"The Pink Rabbit" Smoothie!

An old grapefruit, two oranges (one ripe and the other on it's way out), and a bunch of big, juicy but slightly shriveled red grapes were dying to be eaten.  They had been calling my name these past few days, yelling, "eat us! eat us! eat us! lest we perish!".  They were slowly facing death when I, Christina took pity on them and decided to toss 'em in my blender. 

Uhhhh...so glad I did cuz it made the absolute best smoothie!  This time I decided not to go to buck wild and throw in my usual greens or flax seed.  I thought, "what the heck, let's just keep this sweet and simple".  I did andit turned out so yummy and really pretty, too! Who knew?

So with that, hopefully you'll enjoy this as much as the kids and I did!

Ingredients:

1 Grapefruit, peeled, quarted and preferably the sweeter kind

2 Oranges, peeled and quarted

A cluster of grapes (mine were getting kind of         "raisiny" looking, so they don't have to be totally fresh)

Handful of ice

1.  Toss in the blender

2.  Presto! Done!

Ok, really now!  How easy was that?  It literally took me about 5 minutes.  We got some great, healthy and wholesome vitamins and minerals in that reallly pretty beverage!  Yay!



Eskimos and Butterflies,

Sarah and Christina



Pure and Utter Bliss Granola

Hi y'all! Christina here to tell you about a super EASY, super DELICIOUS and super INEXPENSIVE homemade granola.  This recipe comes from my body builder friend, Ms. Lisa!  Yes, I did say BODY BUILDER!

She is an amazing mom who cares deeply about not just her health but the health of her entire family (4 kids and a hubby!).

I was at her house when she had me try this out!  OMG!!! It was so fabulous that I had to try it out in my kitchen and on my family.  I tweaked it just a tad by substituting 6 Flake Grain Cereal for oatmeal (which totally looks and tastes like oatmeal but with way more nutrition and it was only $.69/lb. at the store!!!) and added chopped up dried apples to it.  What I discovered was pure and utter...



He was so grubbin' on it!

 BLISS!

Granola is not only a fantastic breakfast option but it is sooooo yummy for snacks.  I like to add fat-free, plain yogurt (Sarah prefers Greek yogurt), fresh or frozen berries, flaxseed, wheat germ and if you prefer, a little drizzle of honey or agave. You could also celebrate the warm weather by making a tropical, carribean flavored granola with chopped, dried pineapple, pecans, dried banans, and coconut! OOOOh!  The options are endless!

So go ahead...try it out!  Never again will you have to buy expensive, store bought, preservative packed granola! 

4 C Oats (or the 6 grain flake if your store carries them.  There is red and white wheat, rye, oats, barley, and sunflower seeds in this mix.  Sounds gross but totally tastes just like oatmeal.  Trust me!)

1 1/2 sliced almonds or chopped walnuts

6 Flake Grain Cereal

1/2 C brown sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon                                               

1/4 C canola oil (or less, if you prefer)

1/4 C honey

1 t vanilla

*if you prefer, add any dried fruit (apples, apricots, pears, raisins, etc.) to this recipe.  Just chop it up and toss it in, then cook it!

1. Preheat oven to 300

2.  In large bowl mix all the dry ingredients together.

3.  In a small sauce pan warm oil, honey and vanilla on the stove.

4.  Pour the warm liquids over dry ingredients in large bowl until thoroughly mixed.

5.  Spread on a really big, greased cookie sheet.

6.  Bake for 40 min.

7.  Stir every 10 min. 

8.  Let cool on a rack.

9. Put in a sealed container or if you're me...EAT IT NOW AND ENJOY!

Hope you enjoy this recipe!
And thank you, Lisa for this fabulous recipe!


Even my 12-yr. old loved it!



Eskimos and Butterflies,

Sarah and Christina



"The GIANT Green Monster" smoothie!

Hello lovelies! It's Christina and I just have to share this funny story. Ok, so I had an avocado and LOTS of bananas in my kitchen.  The kidlets were ready yet again for another snack!  I swear I might as well just set up camp in my kitchen cuz I'm in there cooking, baking, prepping, heating up (I don't use a microwave so that's a chore in itself), etc., etc.  

So into the blender went the typical smoothie ingredients plus my super sneaky weapon...AVOCADO!!! Now normally my youngest wouldn't dream of putting any of it into his precious little mouth but little did he know as he was gulping this smoothie down that it was in there! Ha! Ha!  Thank you God for a little creativity!  Ok, so here it is...hope it works for you and your fam.  Oh and by the way...it is absolutely delicious and tastes nothing at all like avocado! 

Ingredients:

2-2 1/2 Ripe Bananas

1 1/2 C Almond or Soy Milk

1 Ripe Avocado

1 T Honey or Agave

1/2 t vanilla

*to boost up the nutrition I highly recommend throwing in a couple of tablespoons of flax seed or wheat germ=soooo good for you! 

Handful of Ice


Eskimo's and Butterflies

Sarah & Christina

New Blog!!!! Fruit Smoothie!

Hello Blog world!!!

We are so excited about our new Blog! You can read our story on our "About us" page. Basically We love to be Healthy, and We just got a little fed up with people saying it was too hard to have a healthy lifestyle, or that they just didn't care about eating right.

We are NOT Doctors or nutritionist. We have just taken responsibility for our own health and educated ourselves.

So to kick off our first blog post we want to give you a yummy, super healthy smoothie recipe !

 Now we are all about sneaking veggies into our kids food when ever we can, So remember to make food fun ! 

Give your kids their meals in fun and colorful bowls and plates, this doesn't have to be expensive. Most of the time you can get them at your local $1 store, $1 bins at Target, Micheal's crafts, Joanne's or when a holiday is over and everything is being marked down.

   

Give your meals fun names! Case and point, I could just call this smoothie 

" Fruit smoothie "  Blaaaah! boring !

Instead.... I'll call it "Tootie, Fruity, for my Cuties" Smoothie! (and not tell them I put spinach in there, Hehehe...)

What kid isn't going to love the fun and loving names you create for them. I guarantee they will ask for it by name!

Also, smoothies are just Cooler with twisty straws! So get some!

 

You'll need:
1 ripe mango
2 ripe kiwi's
1 banana
1/2 c. of frozen organic blueberries
The juice of 1 orange
1/2c.  uncooked oatmeal 
3 tlb. ground flaxseed
1-2 hand fulls of spinach (I know it sounds wierd, but you won't taste it at all!)
1-2 tlb. Agave nectar or honey (whichever you prefer)


Add everything to your blender and blend!

This smoothie is chalk full of healthiness!

The kiwi and orange juice has tones of vitamin C, potassium in the banana, antioxidants in the organic blueberries, fiber and whole grains in the oatmeal. Then You have omega 3 fatty acids in the flax seed and vitamin A,C and E in the spinach, which also helps keep cancer away!

Last but not least... Agave nectar is great! It has a low glycemic index so your kids won't get a sugar rush.  That's always a plus, hahaha!

My Kiddo's loved it!

 Let us know what you think!

  Sarah & Christina