Nourished Inside and Out

“We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.” - Marcel Proust This morning was not particularly different than any other, except for one thing. On his way back from the laundry room, my husband came back with a look in his eye – an urge to overhaul some room of the house. Just by catching my eye, he felt my hesitation. I knew it was the laundry room. It had become a mess of serving dishes and cooking gadgets, a stash for the overflow of toys, and sto

Yields: about 6 cups Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Kale and Parmesan cheese complement each other well as they come together with half whole wheat flour to create a tasty and savory cracker. Ingredients 1/2 cup chopped kale, tightly packed 1 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus a few tablespoons for garnish if desired 3 tablespoons butter, melted or softened 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons water 1 cup whole wheat pastry

Yields: 48-50 mini or 12-14 regular cupcakes Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Celebrate any holiday or event with these deliciously sweet cupcakes, made with whole wheat flour and pureed strawberries and beets. Best of all, they are naturally colored and perfectly pink, without any artificial flavor or color! Ingredients 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries 1 tablespoon peeled, diced beets 1 cup cane sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 eggs 1 stick (1/2 cup) sof

Ah, fall is now in full swing, greens being swapped for bright yellows, oranges and shades of reddish brown. I am not as good about getting my fall garden prepped as I am about the spring garden. However, we are fortunate that many of the spring/summer crops keep on giving through the fall (and even early winter!) Here is the kale that I started inside last March or so, and it keeps on giving! I took my youngest out to harvest the last of the tomatoes. Here she is helping

Yields: about 1.5 cups Prep Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Beets are loaded with iron, potassium, and fiber while white beans bring in calcium and magnesium to this vibrant dip! Great with veggies, pita chips or even on a wrap, the nutrition and taste can’t be “beet” in this one! Ingredients 2 medium beets, peeled and diced 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 1 small garlic clove 1/16 teaspoon ground black pepper (more for a bigger kick)

Yields: 30-36 cookies Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 2 hours (plus soaking time) When looking for a sweet treat, these gluten free cookies not only satisfy the craving, but the sweet potatoes also pack a nutritional punch of fiber, vitamin A, potassium and copper. The two ingredients, molasses and oatmeal in the recipe add a healthy dose of iron as well. Ingredients 1 medium sweet potato, diced, and steamed with the skin on (about 1 1/2 cups) 8 dates, soaked a

“Don’t take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream.” - Don Miguel Ruiz I was driving the other day, moving into the left hand turn lane when I started to hear a few honks. Making a left turn always makes my heart beat a little faster and my palms sweat. The only two accidents I have ever been in, involved being hit in the left turn lane. As soon as that light turns green, it b

Yields: about 2 cups Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Rich and full of deep chocolate flavor, this frosting is made with half the butter, bringing in healthy fats and vitamin rich avocado to fill the other half. Ingredients 2 cups sifted powdered sugar 1/2 cup good quality cocoa powder 5 tablespoons softened butter 1/2 medium avocado 1 tablespoon whole milk 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions 1. Combine all ingredient

Fat has gotten a bad rap over the years, with people gobbling up low calories and high sugar laden low fat products. Now, it seems the tide is turning a bit, and there is the recognition of just how valuable the right fats are in our diet. Here is a quick fact sheet to give you the lowdown and some facts on fats! 1) Fat is good for you! In fact, essential fats can: - reduce the risk of many diseases, including cancer and heart disease - ease symptoms of arthritis, - decrea

Yields: about 8 -10 cups Prep Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Rich in vitamins A and C, and with additional vitamins and minerals from homemade stock, this soup is a winner. Pureed sweet potatoes are added towards the end. Undetected, they add extra nutrients and a hint of sweet richness to round out the soup. Ingredients 2 medium carrots, diced (about 3/4 cup) 1 stalk of celery, diced (about 1/2 cup) 1 small white or yellow onion, diced (about 1/2 cup) 1