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

"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