Everyone Poops

After watching a hilarious commercial for an actual product and hearing the words "essential oils" I decided I had everything I needed and could try my hand at making something similar. It's kinda food related, and all natural, so why not?

Ingredients:

2 oz water

5 drops clove oil

5 drops geranium

5 drops lemon oil

1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Put it all in a 2 oz. travel sized spray bottle. (Or double or quadruple the recipe and make it family sized, or maybe you need to use it a lot. I won't tell anyone)

Keep one in the bathroom and one in your purse - to go (get it? to go!)

Use:

• Shake the spray bottle to distribute the oils in the water

• spray the toilet bowl/water surface  - 4 spritzes should do

• the oils float on the surface of the water coating anything that drops in

• sit and do your business

• flush

• pretend nothing ever happened!

for airborne smells (farts), spray sparingly in the air, not too much so the oil doesnt accumulate on the floor making it slippery.

In the words of one of my favorite t-shirts... 

Everyone Poops

You can change the oils to whatever you want. Next one I will make with Tea Tree, Rosemary and Lavender

Let me know if it works for you :)

Back to school mom's lunch

I had a last minute lunch with a few of my favorite ladies on the first day of THEIR kids going back to school!

Back to school day brings back bittersweet memories for me.  For a while it was exciting, but stressful when they were little.  Sticking to the school's schedule and demands for my kids' and my time was painful, 2nd grade homework and drama drove me insane, and the almost immediate labeling of kids as learning or behaviorally challenged rubbed me the wrong way. But then we home schooled for quite a few years.  It was stressful in a different way, but so much more relaxed and low key and playful and freeing, So then back to school day was awesome, we started when we wanted, stayed in our PJ's most of the time, went to the library, to the park, played, read, read, and read some more. The later high school years came and it was stressful again sticking to someone else's schedule for their days but in the end it was all for good because they made awesome friendships and had experiences that to this day we are all grateful for.
So, even though my kids are not going back to school on this day, lots of people that I care for are going through all these emotions and experiences in their own ways so I decided to just have a little lunch and I raided the garden and came up with all kinds of yummyness.

Cucumber cups with Tzatziki sauce and a friend brought pickled blackberries (yum!)
Bruschetta
Grrilled eggplants and tomatoes
raw zucchini noodles
chicken with dairy free faux pesto sauce (with a secreted ingredient instead of parmesan)
garden fresh watermelon
gluten free bread cut in cubes and broiled with olive oil, garlic & basil

I work on getting the recipes up soon.

9 FREE Kindle books today 8-13-13

9 FREE books today only 8-13-13

**Make sure they are still FREE before you click buy**

If you see a free Kindle book that you want then get it as soon as you can.

Prices often change and it's difficult to tell how long the book will remain free.

When downloading a free Kindle book on Amazon

verify that the book is still free by making sure the price is $0.00.

If it lists a price or says "read for free" or has a price for prime members

the book is not free anymore.

Easy Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Recipes (Gluttony of Gluten-Free)

The Gluten-Free Dessert Bible (Gluttony of Gluten-Free)

Boxed Set 1 Carrier Oils Guide

The Homemade Medicine Book

Confessions of a Raging Perfectionist: Learning to Be Free

The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work

What's It Like to Be Married to Me?: And Other Dangerous Questions

25 Cool Things to Do with Wine Bottles

PUPPY LOVE BUNDLE (New Dog Series)

If you are interested in purchasing oils or learning about essential oils and how to incorporate them into your quest for a healthy life let me know, I'll be glad to share.

**ask me how to save 25% or more on the best essential oils available**

Fancy Tostones

Sorry about the lack of posts in the last two weeks. I got that new "phablet" I wanted and it's been fun setting it up just right and playing with it. Between working, having out of state family visiting for a week, and... somehow I've taken on a different little project. Helping the local animal shelter get into the 21st century with some social media exposure. You can check them out on Facebook and www.petfinders.com
I got all OCD on that project and knocked it out, but I'm sure there's more to do, and I'll be like... "ooooh shiny!" and I'll disappear again.

Anyway, I still gotta eat so I still gotta cook. So here is one of last week's experiment.

TOSTONES! (toes-toe-ness)

What the heck is tostones you say?
Only pure natural gluten free deliciousness. Duh!

Normally I just peel and  cut up the very green plantains into 1 inch or so slanted rounds, but this time i decided to use my new spiral slicer.
I made little tangled mounds and fried them until golden for about a minute on each side in grape seed oil.

Added some salt and pepper and enjoyed their crunchy goodness with some pan fried fish and a baby spinach, cucumber, tomato salad fresh from the garden.

Did you know that you can get tostones instead of french fries at most fast food franchises in Puerto Rico? And they ARE your side of fries at most authentic restaurants on the island.
True Story.

now I'm hungry, and homesick

Early morning sendoff oatmeal (Gluten and Dairy Free)

We've had family visiting us for the last week. They are planning to leave early tomorrow morning at 5am, or so they say ;) So I'm planning to feed them a warm breakfast before they go, but that is too early to even think so out comes the trusty crockpot!
Ingredients
2 apples cored and chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar (or more to taste)
1 tsp cinnamon or 1 drop of Cinnamon Essential Oil
1dash of salt
3 cups gluten free rolled oats
3 cups coconut milk
3 cups water
Directions
Place the ingredients in your crockpot in the order listed.
Don't stir.
Set to cook on LOW for 8-9 hours.

The plan is;
Wake up.
Gobble it up.
I'll let you know how it goes.

8-11-13 update

It was way to early in the morning to remember to take a photo of the finished dish.

It was quite mushy and I personally like my oatmeal sweeter, but 6 out of 8 ate it and survived to tell the tale.

The bottom stuck and burnt a bit, but that was my fault, I should have used my other crockpot that actually has a High & Low setting, and maybe grease the bottom with either butter or coconut oil and cook it for 6-7 hours instead.

Grain free secret ingredient brownies (gluten free, dairy free, grain free)

I've been a little busy with work and with family visiting from out of state. I've made lots of (I hope) yummy food but there's been no time to blog. Today I wanted to whip up a quick dessert and remembered seeing a recipe for black bean brownies.  Here's my version.

2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
3 eggs
2 ripe mashed bananas
2 tsp vanilla

optional
nuts, butterscotch chips or chocolate chips

Directions
Grease a baking dish with butter
In a high powered blender puree all of the ingredients until smooth.
Add optional chips or nuts
Pour batter into dish
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes
They are done when the top is dry
and slightly cracked and the edges have pulled away from
the sides of the dish.

I didn't have any chocolate chips to mix in so after I cooked this I went to the store and got some butterscotch chips. I sprinkled about half a cup on top of the still warm brownies in the pan and stick the whole thing in the microwave for 90 seconds. I spread the butterscotch goo all over and then cut them into squares.
Yum!

Nobody could guess
the secret ingredient and they were declared delicious both at home and art work. Win!

Zucchini Pasta

A couple of weeks ago a reader suggested this strange contraption to me. "A Paderno World Cuisine A4982799 Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable"


Here's the description: It's a "spiral vegetable slicer that cuts vegetables and fruits into curly, ribbon-like slices. By placing the vegetable or fruit on the prongs of the wheel and turning the wheel while pushing the base toward the vertical julienne blade, continuous spiral strands."

Since I am always on the lookout for grain free tasty foods, I knew I just had to have it.  Sure, I could have done something similar with a vegetable peeler or a lemon zester, but this contraption is so cool.  And since I still insist on cooking for an army, even though it's just 2 of us for dinner most of the time, oh who needs to think logically... I wanted it and I got it OK? ;)

Pretty self explanatory right out of the box. 

Prep your vegetable

stick it on the pokey prongs

push it towards the blade and the other pokey tube thingy...

crank it and keep going until your veggie runs out and you have a mountain of "noodles"

this is the final result

I sprinkled the noodles with salt and let them sit in a colander for a while to make them sweat out the extra liquid in them.  

They are delicious enough raw, cover them with your favorite sauce or seasonings and go to town. Or you can sautee them and add some fresh basil pesto like I did  here:

Heat up some olive oil and saute until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
Put your pesto on that and let it melt. Toss and devour.  Go ahead, have seconds.  I did.  I ate that whole thing, it was sooo good!

That whole large zucchini raw is about 50 calories

Sauteed in 1 TBSP olive oil makes it about 170 calories

You are welcome!

I wonder what I can shred/noodle/slice/curlyQ next?

If you are interested in purchasing oils or learning about essential oils and how to incorporate them into your quest for a healthy life let me know, I'll be glad to share. www.mydoterra.com/jamiedelgado1

**ask me how to save 25% or more on the best essential oils available**

7 FREE Kindle books today!! 7-25-13

Would you believe that I don't even own a Kindle?  I read these on my free Kindle app on my smartphone.  But I just ordered myself a new phone/tablet.  I guess it's a "phablet", can't wait to get it and play around with it and have a bigger viewing area to read all these. :)

**Make sure they are still FREE before you click buy**

If you see a free Kindle book that you want then get it as soon as you can.

Prices often change and it's difficult to tell how long the book will remain free.

When downloading a free Kindle book on Amazon

verify that the book is still free by making sure the price is $0.00.

If it lists a price or says "read for free" or has a price for prime members

the book is not free anymore.

Dog Training: How to Make Your Dog Love Obedience

great info on the different breeds and what their personalities are and how to motivate them.

Practical Duct Tape Projects

The New Green Family Guide:
A Beginner's Guide to Going Green as a Family (Green Matters)

Quick and Light: Healthy Recipes You'll Fall in Love With

Cooking from the Pantry:

The Busy Mom's Guide to Creating Fabulous, No-Fuss Meals in 30 Minutes or Less

Have a Little Hope

An Inspirational Guide to Discovering What Hope Is and How to Have More of it in your Life

(Inspirational Books Series)

Living a Virtuous Life - A simple devotional - Live Like the Proverbs 31 Woman

If you are interested in purchasing oils or learning about essential oils and how to incorporate them into your quest for a healthy life let me know, I'll be glad to share.

**ask me how to save 25% or more on the best essential oils available**

Paleo Banana-Zucchini Muffins (Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free)

Paleo  Banana-Zucchini Muffins (Gluten Free, Grain-Free, Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free)

4 eggs
4 TBSP raw honey

1 ripe banana, mashed
1 cup pureed zucchini, excess water squeezed out
1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Trim the ends of your zucchini and cut up in pieces.  Put it in a high power blender and puree it skin and all. (Good green mush!) Put that mush in a colander lined with a tea towel, or a paper towel or cheesecloth.  Let it drain for about 30 minutes, and then squeeze some more liquid out.  You can also, measure it out and freeze for later.
Mix eggs and honey, add banana and zucchini and mix in a large bowl. Mix all dry ingredients and then combine with wet ones.  Stir until there are no lumps.

divide into silicone muffin cups or lined and greased muffin tins

bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

You can add chocolate chips if you like. Let them cool and enjoy.  Or top them with some fresh Hot Pepper Jam... oooh yeah!

6 FREE Kindle books today!! 7-24-13

6 FREE Kindle books today!! 7-24-13

**Make sure they are still FREE before you click buy**
If you see a free Kindle book that you want then get it as soon as you can.

Prices often change and it's difficult to tell how long the book will remain free.

When downloading a free Kindle book on Amazon
verify that the book is still free by making sure the price is $0.00.

If it lists a price or says "read for free" or has a price for prime members

the book is not free anymore 

Simple Prayers for Worried Parents (Simple Prayers Series)

HOPE Being Gone (Trusting God in the Tough Times)

101 Non Toxic Toys





Kick the Sugar, Feel the Freedom



The Paleo Fast Diet. The New 5 Day - 2 Day Paleo Diet
Get Healthy Losing More Weight Faster

Paleolithic Slow Cooker Recipes
50 Easy, Healthy, and Delicious Recipes for Slow Cooked Meals

If you are interested in purchasing oils or learning about essential oils and how to incorporate them into your quest for a healthy life let me know, I'll be glad to share. www.mydoterra.com/jamiedelgado1

**ask me how to save 25% or more on the best essential oils available**

7 FREE Kindle books today!! 7-21-13

7 FREE Kindle books today!! 7-21-13

I am all canned out today!  Time for someone else to cook. Outside. On a BBQ. (hint, hint)  So here's a paleo BBQ book and a few more someone might find handy.  Maybe I'll make something with basil,...

**Make sure they are still FREE before you click buy**
If you see a free Kindle book that you want then get it as soon as you can.

Prices often change and it's difficult to tell how long the book will remain free.

When downloading a free Kindle book on Amazon
verify that the book is still free by making sure the price is $0.00.

If it lists a price or says "read for free" or has a price for prime members

the book is not free anymore.

 Paleofied BBQ Cookbook:

Summer Day Paleofied BBQ Recipes For One Smokin' Month

(Family Paleo Diet Recipes, Caveman Family Favorite Cookbooks)

Apple Cider Vinegar Handbook:

Nature's Remedy for Weight Loss, Detoxing, Allergies, Healthy Skin and Overall Health - Benefits, Uses, Recipes & More! (ACV is allowed on Paleo Diet & Raw Food Diet)

The Paleo Family:

50 Sensational Recipes the Whole Family Will Love: (Health Series)

Basil Recipes:

Cooking with the King of Herbs (Quick and Easy Series)

Beauty Tips: Homemade & Inexpensive Beauty Remedies

TAMING TERRIBLE TWO'S:

Learn The 7 Secrets To Taming The Terrible Two's And Turning Those Temper Tantrums Into Play Dough! (The Babylicious Mommy Series:)

Science Projects for Kids. Making Science Fun in 10 Minutes or Less.

(21 Science Experiments For Kids Ages 9 - 12)

If you are interested in purchasing essential oils or learning about essential oils and how to incorporate them into your quest for a healthy life let me know, I'll be glad to share. jamietaina@gmail.com

**ask me how to save 25% or more on the best essential oils available**