Egg in a Clover

One of my favorite memories growing up were Egg in a Basket. My Dad would cook those up for us in either english muffin bread or sourdough bread. They always hit the spot with the crunchy toast, the buttery flavor and the warm egg running through. I loved it. Just talking about it makes me want to cook up some gluten free bread so I can have that for breakfast.
This gave me an idea. Have you noticed when you cut a bell pepper across in slices, it looks like a four-leaf clover? Amazing! Isn't it? What wonderful things God blesses us with.
A lot of the recipes I post are more adult-oriented. Today I wanted to create a post that was more kid-friendly but that was also healthy. I've seen a lot of recipes that are laden with sugar and green food coloring. Celebrate what's naturally green this Saint Patrick's Day! This is a great breakfast idea for the morning of Saint Patrick's Day...

Ingredients:
Eggs
Green Bell Pepper
1 ts Coconut Oil (or oil of your choice)

1. Cut out top core of bell pepper. Slice into 1/3 in segments.
2. Melt coconut oil in a skillet on medium.
3. Lay slices of bell pepper in skillet. Crack egg into each slice. Cover until well cooked.
4. Top with diced tomatoes, pepper and salt or seasoning of your choice. This is an easy and healthy way to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day!
Aren't these yolks so vibrant? They come from my Mom's chicken. I so enjoy it when she brings me a dozen of fresh eggs. I feed Amaressa eggs almost every day so we go through quite a few eggs. Thanks Momma!

Quick Roasted Baby Kale Salad with Coconut, Pecans and Toasted Sesame Oil

Have you been following Alisa's Garden? She's had some great recipes showcasing this week. Photographs by moi.
Zucchini Pesto Lasagna (gluten and grain free, dairy optional)
Roasted Asparagus and Leeks

My Mom has made a delicious roasted kale salad (with the larger leafed kale). It's just so delicious. I wanted to make something similar but that took barely any prep time (you don't have to "debone" the kale or chop it unless you don't use baby kale) and had similar flavors.

I'm also trying to diligently use up what is available at my home. I have plenty of limes (no lemon to be found) and I had some white beans I had just cooked so I knew I was going to throw those in. I really liked the shredded coconut my Mom had used in her recipe so that was go. I've also been craving toasted sesame oil (which I bought through Azure Standard) but one has to be careful with this rich oil so that it doesn't overpower the other flavors. It needs something to stand up to it and help smooth out its rich tones.

This was a protein rich meal with the beans and pecans. However if you are making it a side dish, feel free to skip the white beans. I ate it that way as a side tonight with deer steak (my husband hunted and grilled - gotta love that guy).

Quick Roasted Baby Kale Salad with Coconut, Pecans, and Toasted Sesame Oil
Ingredients
2 c packed baby kale
1/3 c chopped pecans
1/3 c white beans
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 tb coconut oil
1 tb shredded coconut (unsweetened)
Toasted Sesame Oil to drizzle

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Toss all ingredients except sesame oil.
3. Roast 10 minutes, tossing leaves halfway. Some leaves will be crunchy, some will just be perfectly warm.
4. Drizzle with toasted sesame oil and enjoy!

This serves one.

The Meaning of a Four Leaf Clover

I don't believe in luck.

"Good luck" is actually a blessing while "bad luck" is a opportunity for growth.

And boy, do I have a ton of those!

However I love the symbolism of a four-leaf clover. Did you know there is only four-leaf clover for every 10,000 three-leaf clover? How's that for being different!

A four-leaf clover is a symbol of uniqueness, rarity. They are treasures to be cherished. Where are the four-leaf clovers in your life? Where are your treasures? Are you nurturing them? Are you allowing them to grow?

I pray that you are blessed this Saint Paddy's Day with Faith, Hope, Love, and Joy...

There is no luck to be had... only growth.

Here are two St Paddy's Day Cards. Simply print on cardstock, cut, put in envelope, and hand out!
(Do not redistribute these or repackage them and sell them on your blog).
Growth Clover Card
Four-Leaf Blessing

I'm very excited to announce that I've teamed up this week with Alisa Lewis from Alisa's Garden. We are going to be showcasing green recipes the rest of the week so make sure to come back and indulge in green goodness.

Jasmine Pearl Infused Coconut Chia Pudding with raspberries

{Pin this}

Chia  or Salba is the new super seed... or really, it's one of the oldest super seeds. They are more rich in Omegas than flaxseed and because of their high antioxidants, they don't need to be refridgerated - without it, they can stay fresh for up to two years. They also don't need to be ground, unlike flaxseeds, for your body to absorb the nutrients.

These babies have more calcium ounce per ounce than milk. They are a good source of fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron. Chia seeds are also a complete protein. One tablespoon contains 2 grams of protein, nine percent of your daily calcium and seven percent of your daily iron (this is based on a 2,000 calorie diet).
How exactly do chia seeds turn into this delicious tapioca-like pudding? They absorb the milk (or juice), creating a fun, seedy delicious goo. In Central America, they add chia seeds and lemon or lime juice with a little sugar (certainly optional) to water to create "chia fresca." I'm definitely going to be trying this instead of purchasing more fiber products.

Chia seeds can be found at your local health food store or online. Amazon has several brands as well as vitacost. I bought mine through Azure. They had the best price $5.65 for one pound.

So on to our recipe...

I chose jasmine pearl green tea to infuse the coconut milk. Jasmine has a lovely, subtle scent. It pairs well with fruits, peaches, raspberries, and plum in particular. And coconut milk adds a fun tropical flavor. I resteeped this tea for a refreshing cup after and it was delicious with the hint of coconut milk still present. I used frozen raspberries that I had picked last summer since raspberries aren't in season and I wanted to use what I had on hand. Feel free to use a different berry if you like.

Jasmine Pearl Infused Coconut Chia Pudding with Raspberries

Ingredients
1 tbls Jasmine Pearl Green Tea (I used Rishi Tea Organic Jasmine Pearl Loose Leaf Tea )
1 1/2 c coconut milk
1/4 c chia seeds (whole)
1 cup raspberries
Optional 1 ts agave nectar

Directions
1. Heat the coconut milk until gently boiling.
2. Remove from stove. Add jasmine green tea. Let steep for ten minutes.
3. Add chia seeds once milk is cool.
4. Let sit thirty minutes to overnight in fridge. (I put them in glass yogurt containers)
5. Top with fresh or thawed raspberries. ENJOY!

This recipe is ch..chia-rrific!

This is a good, short article from Dr. Weil about chia seeds.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! We had such a lovely time with Amaressa taking her downtown.

Nourishing Nettle and Root Tea with Lemon

Stinging Nettles are a very nourishing plant. Despite their literal prickly appearance, they are delicious and nutritive. Once dried, ground, or steamed, the prickly hairs no longer have that ouch factor.
The tea of Stinging Nettles is a great general tonic. A tonic helps to increase the feeling of wellbeing. It is intended to improve, invigorate, and/or strengthen the functions of the body and spirit. According to Rosemary Gladstar, in her book Herbal Healing for Women, "(Nettle) is one of the best sources of digestible plant iron and is rich in calcium, vitamin A, and chlorophyll." (p 251) It is also very strengthening to the kidneys and blood. Its taste is earthy. It's green depths make me think of the fall forest up by my mother's home.
Dandelion, Ginger and Burdock Root are all very lightly detoxifying. Ginger Root helps aid digestion and circulation as well as being antiviral and antibiotic. Dandelion Root aids the liver, helps regulate hormones. Dandelion and Burdock mix well. Burdock Root, also known as "Gobo," is commonly sold in Asian markets as a vegetable. It very nutritive and is a great anti-inflammatory, also aiding the liver and blood.
I've added some star anise and licorice for more flavor and a little sweetness but cinnamon would work well instead. Star Anise aids digestion. Licorice Root is helpful in treating adrenal exhaustion. Lemon Juice helps alkalize the body, nuetralizing your ph. It helps the body get rid of toxins through the digestive tract by aiding bile production in the liver. It is also calming and restorative with its Vitamin C bounty. Nourishing Nettle and Root Tea with Lemon
1 tb Dried Nettle Leaf
1 tsp Dried Dandelion Root
1 tsp Dried Burdock Root
1 in. piece fresh Ginger Root, peeled
1 Star Anise
1-2 slices licorice root

Combine all ingredients in teapot. Pour boiling water over. Let steep for 10-15 minutes for full herbal benefits!
ENJOY!

Raw Vibrance

What do you think of when you heard the word "juice"?
Sugary syrup? Synthetic chemicals? Cavities? Danger, Will Robinson?
What about vibrance? Health? Raw vitamins?
Today, I'm going to change the way you think about juice.
When juicing a vegetable or fruit, it's broken down to its pure liquid existence. That color? That beautiful vibrance? That raw taste? This is the vegetable's essence. Juicing vegetable or fruits creates concentrated nutrients - like drinking vitamins. A lot of natural healing centers utilize fresh vegetable juice to heal the body from degenerative diseases because the juices are pure nourishment. All those nutrients help to detoxify the body on a cellular level.
They're also easy to consume. Just try chowing down on a pound of carrots. How far did you get? Thought so.
Of course, this doesn't mean you should only eat your vegetables and fruits through juicing because fiber is lost in the juicing process. Fiber is needed to help get things moving, if you know what I mean.
Where can you get a juicer? Try supporting your local health food store and asking if they would sell you one. You can also look on amazon. There are great review on Champion juicers.
Every juicer is a little different. Read your manual and look at online reviews to help get a feel for yours. Some juicers need you to switch feeding it dense and watery produce while others need solely dense then watery produce.
I hope you enjoy these recipes!
March to the Beet
1 Large Beet
2 Carrots
1 Apple
I think this is my favorite. Beets are so vibrant. Just look at that color! What delicious antioxidants! Spa Juice 2.0
1 Cucumber
1 in piece of ginger
1 apple
2 Lemons
This brings Spa Water to a whole new level. It's got the right of amoung of zing to liven up your day. Cucumber juice is great for quenching thirst. Lemons are full of Vitamin C. Don't you Carrot all?
4 Large Carrots
1-2 cloves garlic
Carrots offer a wide range of vitamins and are SWEET to boot! Throwing a clove of garlic in will aid your immune system. I think you will definitely care for this one. The Green Monster
2 cups baby kale or 1 bunch large kale
1 apple
10 sprigs parsley or a small handful
1 carrot
This Green Monster is going to turn your world upside down. Kale is full of calcium and parsley is a great antioxidant. Bottoms up!

Amaressa enjoying her delicious juice! She hopes your get your raw vibrance!

Grapefruit Dry Scrub

A New Year means a chance for a New You. It's the time for rebirth. It's time to revitalize yourself, a great time to detox. It is a great time to scrub out all those toxins.
Usually Detox starts from the inside. Today we are going to start on the outside - the body's largest organ: Your Skin.
Everyday your skin triumphs over obstacles. It's a barrier to the harms of the outside world. It attempts to purify your body, shedding harmful waste products most of which we induce. However your pores can get blocked. Drybrushing (or dry scrubbing) can help aid your skin's detoxification. It helps to open pores and increase your circulation. It sheds dead skin layers. It can also help reduce cellulite and improve cell renewal.
What is dryscrubbing? Instead of using a wooden bristle brush, a dry salt scrub is used. A dry scrub includes clays, herbs, salts, and a few essential oils to aid your body's detox. All ingredients can be found at a local health food store or from Mountain Rose Herbs.
Complete a dry scrub before you hop in the shower or bath. Adding water will only aid your skin's elasticity and will not have the same effect. After scrubbing down, don't wash it off and just hop in the bath. This will help draw the toxins.
The herbs are known anti-inflammatories. Frankincense is an ancient healer. Though in a pinch, they can be omitted. Also, pregnant women should stay clear of Juniper Essential Oil.

Grapefruit and Juniper Berry EO Salt Scrub
1/4 c Salts (I chose a combo of epsom and Dead Sea salt)
2 tb French Green Clay
1 tsp Frankincense Powder
1 tsp Orris Root Powder
5 drops Grapefruit Essential Oil
3 drops Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Directions
1. Combine all dry ingredients and mix until combined.
2. Add Essential Oils while mixing thoroughly.



How to Dry Scrub:
1. Always brush towards heart center. This means from toes upward, from fingers inward.
2. Start scrubbing at the soul of your feet and move upward.
3. Scrub your abdomen counter-clockwise circles.
4. Lightly scrub chest. Do NOT scrub nipples.
5. Hop in hot bath or shower.
6. End with a cold rinse to continue aiding circulation.

Now go take a load off!