January Favorites 2015 | Real Food, Kitchen Gadgets, and More!

January is coming to an end and that means it's time to talk about my favorite things from the past month! This month I'm sharing a real food recipe, some kitchen tools that are making my life much easier, my favorite gardening resource, and something a little out of the ordinary for me. :D [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]Tortilla Press (not the exact one I have)

Tea Stand

Seed Savers Exchange Catalog

Walking Dead Video Game

How to Make Chicken Bone Broth in a Slow Cooker

Making bone broth is a great way to get more nutrients, save money, and make meals that taste delicious. Good news is, it's super easy to do in a slow cooker or Crock Pot! You get to go about your day while a yummy pot of broth simmers away on your counter.

Slow Cooker Chicken Bone Broth

 

Ingredients

Bones from one chicken

Assorted broth veggies like celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and herbs (whatever you have is fine)*

12 black peppercorns

Salt (to taste, I probably use about a teaspoon)

Splash of apple cider vinegar

Water

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to your slow cooker with enough water to cover everything. Put on lid and cook on low for 12 to 24 hours.
2. Once broth is done, turn off slow cooker and allow broth to cool a bit. Then, strain the broth into jars or containers to remove solids. Store broth in the refrigerator if you want to use it within the next few days or the freezer to save for later.

*Note: I keep a bag in my freezer for storing vegetable scraps like onion peels, carrot ends, and celery ends. Then, whenever I make broth, I can just go in my freezer and toss some of these veggies in the slow cooker. This saves money and time. Other scraps you can keep in this bag include garlic ends, asparagus ends, ginger peels, and fresh herbs that you won't be able to use up before they go bad. Don't include cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower because they can make things a little stinky.

Does WHEN You Eat Matter? | Real Food Round-Up

We know that WHAT you eat and HOW MUCH you eat are keys to a healthy weight and healthy body. However, a new study suggests that WHEN you eat might also have an important role in this. According to this study, restricting your eating to 12 hour window could make a big difference in your weight management and overall health. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

A 12-Hour Window for a Healthy Weight

Journal Abstract: Time-Restricted Feeding Is a Preventative and Therapeutic Intervention against Diverse Nutritional Challenges

A Simple Carrot Soup Recipe from 101 Cookbooks

Should You Try a Menstrual Cup?

Being on your period isn't much fun, but is can better with a menstrual cup. Compared to disposable pads and tampons, reusable menstrual cups are cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and less disrupting to your everyday life. That time of the month isn't so bad when you use a menstrual cup. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]Diva Cup

Garden Planning: Tips and Resources

The best way to have a successful garden is to have a plan! Here are some tips for what to think about when planning your garden, as well as my favorite place to get heirloom and organic seeds and a garden planner that takes out a lot of the guesswork. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Seed Savers Exchange

SEE Garden Planner

Learn about the SEE Garden Planner

Steps to Get Plastics Out of Your Kitchen

Plastic dishes and storage containers can leach unhealthy chemicals into your food. Getting rid of them can be overwhelming, so I'm giving you a step-by-step process to help you prioritize which plastic items you should get rid of first and which ones you can hold off on. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

1. Hot/Heated Foods. If there is one thing you take away from this post it should be this: never heat your food in plastic! Risk for chemical leaching is higher when the plastic is heated so use reusable glass containers or ceramic dishes for anything you plan to reheat or that is to be consumed hot. An example would be avoiding hot coffee or tea served in a Styrofoam cup. Opt for a proper mug instead!
2. Most Used Items. Switching out the things you use on a daily basis is going to give you the most bang for your buck in terms of limiting exposure. Try replacing your plastic water bottle with a glass one.
3. Long Term Storage. The longer something is stored in a plastic container, the higher the chance of chemical leaching. Look for large glass jars or containers to store these foods instead.
4. Cold/Frozen. This is the area I would tackle last. Remember, if you plan to reheat the food you need to make sure to transfer it before heating.

Also, as a general rule in all categories, the more liquid a food is the more concerned I am with chemical leaching. Think soup vs a sandwich.

I don't think there is any need to go out any buy all new containers and have your bank account crying on the way home. If you have the money, feel free to do an overhaul, but, if your budget is more limited, institute a gradual and calculated change. Start with the containers for hot foods and your most commonly used items and replace things as you're able to from there. Also, keeping a ceramic plate or bowl at work for reheating is a great option. Just make sure you have a way to clean it after each use.

The Problem with BPA Free Plastic + Chipotle Pulls Pork | Real Food Round Up

There has been a big push for BPA free plastics in recent years, but a new study suggests that these new plastics might not be any safer. In other real food news, Chipotle has been forced to pull pork off the menu in about one-third of its locations and a new potential obesity treatment has been approved by the FDA.

[x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

The Chemical In 'BPA-Free' Water Bottles May Be Just As Unhealthy As BPA

Chipotle Pulls Pork

FDA Approves Appetite 'Pace-Maker'

3 Ways to Flavor Homemade Popcorn

Making popcorn at home is super fun, plus you get to flavor it however you like! Here are 3 different ways to flavor your homemade popcorn. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Option 1 - Traditional

Butter + Salt

Option 2 - Spicy

Butter + Chilli Powder + Garlic Powder + Cayenne Pepper

Option 3 - Sweet

Butter/Coconut Oil + Honey + Cinnamon

How to Make Popcorn 3 Ways

Popcorn can be a great snack or movie night food, but the microwaveable bags are full of chemicals and artificial junk. You can make your own popcorn at home and flavor it how you like without any of the fake stuff. Plus, it's easy and fun! I'm showing you 3 different ways to make popcorn at home, so there's sure to be an option that works for you. [x_video_embed type="16:9"][/x_video_embed]

Stovetop Popcorn

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil

1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Once oil has melted, add 2-4 popcorn kernels and wait for them to pop. These are tester kernels to let you know when the oil is hot enough.
3. Once the tester kernels have popped, quickly add the rest of the unpopped kernels to the pot, cover with the lid, and shake back and forth to coat the kernels in oil.
4. Remove the pot from the heat for 30 seconds. This allows the kernels to heat up in the oil close to their popping temperature so they will pop at relatively the same time when placed back on the heat.
5. Put the pot back on the burner and allow the kernels to pop until the popping slows down with a few seconds between pops.
6. Remove the pot from the heat and pour the popped popcorn into a bowl.
7. Season as desired and eat!

Air Popper Popcorn

Ingredients

Popcorn kernels (quantity according to air popper's instructions)

Directions

1. Make sure to follow the directions that come with your air popper. Generally, you will add the kernels to the popper, place the spout over a bowl, turn the popper on, and run the machine until only a few unpopped kernels remain.
2. Season as desired and eat!

Microwave Paper Bag Popcorn

Ingredients

1/4 - 1/2 cup popcorn kernels

Directions

1. Place kernels in a paper lunch bag. If you use a small bag, use less popcorn and if you use a large bag, use more.
2. Fold the top of the bag down 3 or 4 times to close it.
3. Place the bag in your microwave and set the timer for 4 minutes.
4. Allow the kernels to pop until the popping slows down and there are a few seconds between pops. Then, remove the bag from the microwave.
5. Carefully open the bag and pour the popcorn into a bowl.
6. Season as desired and eat!

Food Trends for 2015 | Real Food Round-Up

There are lots of food trend predictions for 2015 and a many of them fall into the real food realm. These are my favorite real food trends. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Natural Birth Control with Lady Comp (NEW and OLD Models)

Looking for a safe and effective natural birth control method? Lady Comp might be right for you!

Get your own Lady Comp (affiliate link)

Get more info on Lady Comp

Sarah Moran is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

December Favorites 2014 | Real Food, Healthy Recipes, and More!

It's favorites time! Here's all of the healthy food, recipes, and other stuff that I've been loving in December. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

1. Lard
2. Spicy Peanut Sauce from Oh She Glows
3. Delicata Squash, Millet, & Kale Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing from The Oh She Glows Cookbook
4. Serial
5. Amazon Prime

Should You Try Whole 30?

Whole 30 is a popular plan that involves the elimination of processed foods and several food groups. But is it a good idea for the average person? [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

What I Got For Christmas 2014 | Food and Cooking

If you're anything like me, you probably got a few gift cards or cash gifts over the holidays. I thought, if you need ideas for what to buy, it might be helpful to see the food and cooking related gifts I got for Christmas this year. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Fall CSA Week 10

This is the last Fall CSA box! Here's everything I got. Items are listed below, starting at the top and moving left to right.

1. Lacinato kale
2. Arugula
3. Napa cabbage
4. Cauliflower
5. Sweet potatoes
6. Baby sweet potatoes
7. Decorative corn
8. Dried hot peppers
9. Globe radishes

The peppers and large sweet potatoes went away to be eaten another time. We snacked on the radishes and the decorative corn got a place propped up in our kitchen.

The first meal is (you guessed it) eggs! You know I love me some eggs and we couldn't NOT have them in the final week. I used the kale for a yummy salad and roasted the baby sweet potatoes.

This meal is what happens when I don't plan well. We were supposed to have homemade pizza, but then I realized that we didn't have any cheese. So what did I do instead? Homemade breadsticks. That plus an arugula salad and marinara sauce for dipping was dinner. My hubby thought it was awesome.

For this last one, I broke down a chicken into parts and marinated it in a combination of tamari, garlic, ginger, honey, and water, and baked it in the oven. I cooked down the marinade to kill any nasties and used that as the sauce for the cabbage. Roasted baby sweet potatoes (from a previous CSA box) completed the meal.

And that's it for the 2014 CSA season! I hope these posts gave you a little peek at what dinner looks like at my house and some ideas for your seasonal produce. Here's to all of those yummy veggies!

Holiday DIY Projects + Winter Squash Guide | Real Food Round-Up

Holiday food DIYs are the best! Today we're talking citrus ornaments and herbed garlic salt. Plus, a guide on winter squash. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Dried citrus ornaments

Homemade herbed garlic salt

Winter squash guide

New Years Resolutions That Last

Lots of people make New Year's resolutions, but they usually don't stick. Here are some tips to make a resolution that's attainable and lasts. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Tips for Trying New Foods

Changing your habits can be tough and that's especially true when it comes to incorporating a new food into your healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make this transition easier and make you more likely to succeed. [x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Fall CSA Week 9

Here's everything I got in my box! All items are listed below, starting at the top and moving left to right.

1. Sweet potatoes
2. Savoy cabbage
3. Salad mix
4. Turnips
5. Watermelon radishes
6. Baby sweet potatoes
7. Cauliflower
8. Parsley

The sweet potatoes went into storage (we've got quite the pile at this point) and we pickled the cauliflower. It might sound weird but pickled cauliflower is one of my favorite things. : D

We ate the salad mix with some chopped apple and pulled pork I made in the slow cooker. It was delicious and made for a super easy dinner because the slow cooker did all of the work for me.

We also had one of our favs: egg biscuits. For the vegetable I sauteed the turnip greens.

The turnips and watermelon radishes went into the roasted vegetable mix for Thanksgiving dinner. We all agreed that the food this year was the best we've ever done. It just seems to keep getting better each time.

I used the leftover turkey bones to make some broth which made the perfect base for cabbage soup. In addition to the giant head of savoy cabbage, I threw in a few potatoes and some leftover chicken we had in the fridge.

Fall CSA Week 10

8 Healthier Holiday Cookies | Real Food, No Junk

Holiday cookies aren't the healthiest thing ever, but you can make them way better by simply using whole, real ingredients and skipping the processed junk. Here are 8 real food cookie recipes that have all of the yummy cookie goodness you want, without all of the chemicals.

[x_video type="16:9, 5:3, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2" m4v="" ogv="" poster="" hide_controls="" autoplay="" embed='' no_container="true"]

Unrefined Sweeteners

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeyes from A Couple Cooks
• Soft Gingerbread Cookies from Weed Em and Reap
• Real Food Chocolate Chip Cookies from Weed Em and Reap
• Cinnamon Molasses Cookies from Nourished Kitchen
• Almond Biscotti and Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti from At My Kitchen Table

White Sugar

• Whole Wheat Christmas Cookies from 100 Days of Real Food
• Whole Wheat Chocolate Peppermint Cookies from 100 Days of Real Food
• Almond Linzer Cookies from Eating Well