Month: April 2015

Raw Almond Joy Bars (Paleo, Vegan)

Recipes

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don’t. Almond Joy’s got nuts. Mounds don’t. But, who cares about Mounds because Almond Joys are where its at. Truth: I would weight 9million pounds if I satisfied my craving for Almond Joys every time I had one. Plus, I believe that what we eat strongly affects our energy, our mood and our health. So, I’m in a standoff with myself. Can I make a delicious treat and eat it too? The answer is: YES! Enter, this super recipe. Mind. Blown. It’s everything we love about sweet treats, but, more importantly, every ingredient nourishes your body. Enjoy!

NO-BAKE ALMOND JOY BARS (VEGAN, PALEO)
Serves: 15
INGREDIENTS
Crust:
  • 1 cup almond meal
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil (I use this)
  • ¼ teaspoon pure almond extract
  • Pinch of salt
Coconut Filling:
  • 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup (I use this)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon water
Chocolate Topping:
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup melted coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (at room temperature)
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper and set it aside. To prepare the crust, combine the almond meal, maple syrup, coconut oil, almond extract, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir well until a sticky dough is formed. Press it evenly into the bottom of the lined loaf pan, and set aside.
  2. To prepare the coconut filling, combine all of the filling ingredients in the mixing bowl and stir well. Spread the coconut mixture over the crust, then use a spatula to smooth the top. Set aside.
  3. To prepare the chocolate topping, combine all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl and use a whisk to create a silky smooth chocolate sauce. Pour the chocolate sauce over the top of the coconut layer and smooth the top with a spatula. Place the pan in the freezer for one to two hours (or until firm).
  4. Pull on the parchment paper to remove the solid bar from the pan, then slice into bars and serve directly from the freezer. These bars will soften fairly quickly if left at room temperature, so them chilled until you are ready to stuff your face serve your guests.
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Recipe Cred: The Detoxinista 

Sea Salt: A Secret Weapon in Beauty

Wellness

Salt, Salt. Magical Sea Salt. It’s so good for you, friends! (read more about the benefits of sea salt here). But, did you know that it’s a secret weapon in your beauty routine, too? It helps balance and improve skin hydration, strengthens your skin and it aids in cell-to-cell communication which slows down the aging process. Here are 6 ways that sea salt can help a beautifying sister (or brother) out:

1. Balancing Mask: Salt and honey have anti-inflammatory properties that sooth skin and help calm breakouts and irritation.

Do it: Mix two teaspoons sea salt (preferably finely ground. I use Real Salt) and four teaspoons raw honey (I use GloryBee Raw Montana Honey). This will create a spreadable paste. Apply evenly to clean, dry skin (avoiding eyes). Leave on for 10-15 minutes. Before rinsing, soak a washcloth in warm water and wring out. Lay the warm washcloth on your face for 30 seconds. Use your fingers to gently exfoliate in a circular motion while rinsing off the mask.

2. Oil-Sapping Facial Toner: Salt deeply cleanses your pores, balances oil production and removes bacteria that causes breakouts and acne.

Do it: Mix one teaspoon sea salt with four ounces warm water in a small spray bottle. Mist on clean, dry skin (avoiding eyes). Make sure the salt has dissolved in the water before using. You can do this once or twice daily.

3. Quick & Immediate Anti-Dandruff Scalp Treatment: Salt helps loosen and remove existing flakes while stimulating circulation. Salt also helps absorb excess oil and moisture to prevent fungal growth (ew, I know).

Do it: Part your hair a few times and sprinkle one to two teaspoons of salt on your scalp. Using wet fingers, massage your scalp gently and thoroughly for 10-15 minutes ideally (I know, I know. Who has time to massage their own scalp for that long. So, do it for however long works for you.) Then, wash and condition your hair as you usually would.

4. Teeth Whitener: Salt & baking soda are abrasives that help remove stains and brighten teeth. Salt also contains fluoride, which is an added benefit for your teeth and gums.

Do it: Mix one teaspoon salt and two teaspoons baking soda. Dip a damp toothbrush in the mixture and brush teeth normally.

5. Exfoliating Body Scrub: Salt is a gentle and natural exfoliate that sloughs off dead skin. It also contains minerals that soften skin and restore hydration.

Do it: Mix a quarter-cup salt and half cup olive oil (or softened coconut oil) into a thick paste. Apply in the shower with a washcloth, loofah or your hands, gently scrubbing your skin in a circular motion.

6. Relaxing Salt Bath: Salt baths have been used for centuries to cleanse and detox your skin. Salt’s mineral content helps restore the protective barrier in the skin that helps hold in hydration. PLUS, the magnesium in sea salt (and Epsom Salt) reduces water retention (bye bye, bloating). Read more about the benefits of salt baths here.

Do it: Add one-third cup salt to a tub filled with warm water. Swish and dissolve the salt. Soak for 15-20 minutes. Optional: Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

Happy Salting!

DIY Exfoliating Lip Facial

Wellness

Oh the weather outside is frightful(ly dry), but this DIY lip facial will make your lips delightful. Help yourself out and make your puckers kissably smooth with this at-home version of Bliss Spa’s Fabulips Treatment.

What You’ll Need:

SCRUB: Mix 1tsp brown sugar & 1tsp olive oil

MASK: Mix 1tsp yogurt & 1/2tsp honey

TREAT: Coconut oil

How to:

1. SCRUB. To smooth, rub the lip scrub with your finger in a circular motion for 30 seconds. Remove with a warm cloth.

2. MASK. Spread on the soothing lip mask. Leave on for five minutes then remove with a cloth.

3. TREAT. Lock and load the moisture with a little coconut oil or Vaseline Lip Therapy Creme

Paleo Stuffed Peppers

Healthy Meals, Recipes
This was an ol’ staple growing up. My mom used rice & ground beef, but I’m using cauliflower and ground turkey, instead. Heads up, this is not a quick meal (I will post lots of those), but it is delicious.
Ingredients:

3 Large Bell Peppers

4 Cups Raw Cauliflower
1LB. Ground Turkey
Olive Oil
4 Cloves of Garlic
1 Onion
Mushrooms (as many as you want. I personally love them, so I use a lot)
1/2 Can Tomato Paste OR Already Seasoned Pasta Sauce
Salt
Crushed Red Pepper (or seasoning of your choice)
Here we go!
Step 1: Make Cauliflower “Rice”
Place the 4 cups of raw cauliflower in a food processor until it reaches a rice like consistency.
Step 2: Sauté the Veggies
In a sauce pan, sauté the garlic, onions, mushroom & cauliflower rice in olive oil until the cauliflower is soft (approximately 4-5 minutes). Then, set aside while you cook the turkey.
Step 3: Sauté & Cook the Turkey
Add olive oil & 1/4 onion to a skillet and fully cook the ground turkey.
Step 4: Mix!
Mix in the cauliflower/onion/garlic/mushroom sauté to the turkey and season with the salt & red pepper.
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Step 5: Stuff the Peppers
Cut off the tops of the peppers and gut them. Then fill each pepper to the brim with the cauliflower/turkey sauté.
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Step 5: Cook!
Fill a medium sauce pan 1/3 of the way up with your pasta sauce (I use tomato paste and add garlic, 1/2 onion and a touch of red wine. You can even go crazy and add bacon). Place the stuffed peppers in the saucepan so they are upright. Cover and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour on medium heat. Note: Make sure the peppers don’t get too soft. If they do, that means they are ready to eat so remove & cool right away. Drizzle the top of the peppers with a little parmesan cheese.
Step 6: EAT
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