My Blog = My Life: health

  • DIY Herbal Air Fresheners

    DIY Herbal Air Fresheners

    The chemical aerosol fresheners you can purchase in the store may send off a pleasant odor, but they wreak havoc on our health! The highly condensed level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and artificial fragrances can cause headaches, earaches, diarrhea, vomiting - even wheezing in young children!

    However, sometimes it take more than just an opened window to clear out an unpleasant odor from a room. This Herbal Mist Air Freshener is completely natural and the scent is as lovely as you choose to make it! Mist in the kitchen after frying onions and bacon, spray inside the diaper pail, and store a bottle in the bathroom.

    To make your own herbal spray air freshener, all you need is a clean spritz bottle and 2 basic ingredients:

    1. Distilled water
    2. Essential oil (I've provided some blend suggestions below)
    Prepare by adding 7 drops of an essential oil (or a combination of oils) to every 8 oz (1 cup) of water. Experiment with different oil combinations to create a scent that is uniquely you! My personal favorite is a combination of lavender, tea tree, and spearmint - so fresh and invigorating!
    Essential Oil Air Freshener Blends:

    • Country Spice | cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, bay
    • Spring Morning | lavender, rose, geranium, rosemary, sweet orange
    • In the Woods | sage, thyme, cedar, patchouli, frankincense
    • Lover's Lane | vanilla, sandalwood, ylang ylang, jasmine, neroli, rose
    • Far East | patchouli, cedar, sandalwood, lime, coriander
    • Energizing | basil, lavender, orange, nutmeg, mint
    • Calm, Cool, & Collected | bergamot, geranium, clary sage, chamomile, yarrow
    • Garden Glimpse | lemon, orange, basil, thyme

      What's your favorite essential oil combination?

      Linking to: Natural Living, The Prairie Homestead, Mind Body Sole

    • Teaching Children In The Garden

      Teaching Children In The Garden

      It's in the garden, amid the blooms and thistles, the soil and the stony ground, the dead seeds and lush vegetation where the story of sin and forgiveness, the Fall and Redemption, and life as one who has been engrafted into Christ can be told with real-life illustrations like no other. How fascinating it is that the place our children love to play is the same ground that can be used for discipling their eternal souls!

      "Do you see that clematis? That's such a pretty vine! Jesus said that He was the True Vine. Everyone who loves Jesus has to bear fruit just like those purple flowers. Otherwise the Lord will cut off the dead branches like Mommy does so the rest can grow better."

      I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2

      "These flowers are called a peonies. Sometimes flowers like to grow in fields of grass where the horses are, even though they'll get cut down when the farmer makes hay. If God even cares about clothing a field of grass with pretty flowers, then we certainly don't have to worry about where we will get our clothes because He cares for us even more!"
      Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Matthew 6:30

      "This pot is made out of clay. The person who made it is called a potter. The Bible says that God is the Potter and we are His clay. He made us and can do with us whatever He wants to do. That should make us very happy because God's plan for His people is perfect - much better than any sort of plan we could think of."

      But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8

      "These pumpkin seeds are dead. They won't grow if we leave them on the driveway. But if we put them in the garden where the soil is really healthy, they will begin to grow and produce beautiful orange pumpkins! Our hearts have to be like the soil in the garden, ready to receive God's Word with joy and produce fruit. If are hearts are stony like the driveway, than we will fall away from the Lord when temptation comes."

      But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13: 20, 21, 23

      "What kind of plant is this? That's right, a tomato plant! How did you know? Because it has tomatoes! Jesus says of His people that by their fruits we will know them. The best way to tell if someone loves the Lord is if they want to do the things that please Him."

      Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:16, 17

      "When we're sick, we don't need to buy our medicine from the store. God tells us that the fruit from the plants He made are for food and the leaves are for medicine!"

      And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine Ezekiel 47:12

      The parallels here only scratch the surface. So much more could be said about Creation, the sin that enter the world by disobedience in Paradise, and what it means to be engrafted into Christ. Next time you're out pulling weeds, pause for a second and whisper these truths in to the eternal souls of your dirt-covered, sun kissed, wee ones.

    • Bacon-Cheese Topped Chicken

      Bacon-Cheese Topped Chicken

      I came up with this recipe shortly after we started eating the Trim, Healthy Mama way. It combines a few of our favorite flavors into one mouth-watering, plan-approved, protein-packed, tender piece of chicken.

      Servings: 4 Baking Time: 25 minutes. Gluten-free, sugar-free, nut free, soy-free
      *For anyone else who's a THMer, this staple falls under the Satisfying category.
      Ingredients:

      • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
      • 1/4 cup olive oil
      • 1 Tbsp Truiva (or plan approved sweetener)
      • 2 tsp paprika
      • 1 tsp sea salt
      • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
      • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved length-wise
      • 2 cups sliced, fresh mushrooms
      • 8 bacon strips
      • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
      • fresh chives, snipped

      Directions:

      Mix mustard, olive oil, sweetener, paprika, sea salt, and ground pepper together in a bowl. Pour into a large, sealable bag and add chicken breasts. Toss to coat evenly. Marinate in the fridge for 2 hours (the longer, the better).

      Fry bacon. Set aside on paper towel to absorb the excess oil. Discard all but 1 Tbsp of bacon fat. Saute mushrooms and cook chicken until lightly golden in bacon fat.

      Arrange chicken in 8x8" baking pan. Wrap each breast with two strips of bacon to from an "X". Pour mushrooms over top and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Garnish with chives.

      Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

      Linked up at: Trim Healthy Tuesdays.

    • 10 Healthy Snacks Children Love

      10 Healthy Snacks Children Love

      If you're on a mission to clean up your diet, getting your kids on board with the idea can seem impossible. If they're used to snacking on cookies, party-mix, Smarties, or packaged granola bars it can be frustrating for both of you to adopt healthier eating habits.
      Thankfully, there are many scrumptious, nutritious recipes available that'll appeal to the pallet the same way junk food does. But instead of artery-clogging fats, refined sugars and flours, MSG, and simple carbohydrates, you'll be serving your child snacks that are loaded with nutrition and energy to help build a growing body.
      Here are 10 snacks our kids love (and have no idea they're good for them!):

      1. Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Flax Muffins

      2. "Just Like Wheat Thins" Crackers with Cheese from Trim Healthy Mama

      3. Snicker Snackers

      4. Apples or Bananas with Peanut or Almond Butter

      5.Raw vegetables with natural, homemade salad dressing.

      6. Yogurt or kefir, with berries and raw honey

      7. Skinny Chocolate from Trim Healthy Mama

      8. Cottage Berry Whip from Trim Healthy Mama

      9. Peppermint Patties

      10. Trail Mix.

      Linked up to: Stacy Makes Cents.

    • How A Single Income Family Can Afford A Whole-Food Diet

      How A Single Income Family Can Afford A Whole-Food Diet

      Like many of you, we are a single-income, larger-than-average, (1.8 or more children), homeschooling family.

      And both my husband and I come from a rich, Dutch heritage.

      In other words, whether or not we need to be, we enjoy frugal living. I'm also a lover of nutritious, from-scratch, whole-food cooking. Overtime, we've found that you can have one and the other! Here's how we can enjoy a mainlywhole-food diet on a budget (we still eat take-out more often than I'd like to admit!).

      Cheap foods that are good for you

      1. Whole grains. Oatmeal, brown rice, and quinoa are cheap! For ultimate nutritional value, choose any of these grains and soak them for a hearty breakfast that'll keep you energized all morning.

      For a fabulously healthy, gluten-free, blueberry-muffin smelling breakfast, pour 1 cup of steel-cut oats, brown rice, OR quinoa in a crock-pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of almond milk, 1 1/2 cups water, 1-2 Tbsp of ground flax seed, 2-3 Tbsp butter or coconut oil, 1 cup fresh blueberries, cinnamon, sea salt, and sweetener (honey, maple syrup, stevia, or brown sugar) to taste. Stir. Cook on low overnight. Alternately, try using diced apple and a handful of walnut in place of blueberries.
      2. Beans and legumes. Beans are one of the cheapest proteins available and can be used to replace meat in a meal. Given a good, over-night soak in purified water, they are a highly digestible form of fiber, complex carbohydrates, iron, and folate - ideal if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

      Our favorite way to enjoy beans are in chili, taco salad, and brownies (there's a Special Agent Brownie recipe in Trim Healthy Mama that's absolutely fabulous!).

      3. Eggs. Eggs are one of the very few complete proteins available to us (they contain all 9 essential amino acids), contain only 70 calories, and are chock full of nutrition. Besides being excellent sources of protein and good cholesterol, they also contain iron, vitamins A, D, E, and B12, folate, selenium, and lutein.

      Eggs can be cooked quickly in a variety of ways (hard or soft-boiled, fried, poached, scrambled) and provide great structure and texture when added to baked goods.

      We enjoy them on their own and in omelettes, crepes, breakfasts bakes, and pizza crust.

      Foods worth paying more for

      No matter how tight our budget, there are certain foods I don't cheap out on as we feel the extra dollars are insignificant compared to the health benefits. We'd rather "pay the farmer than the pharmacy," as the saying goes.

      1. Oil. It's a safe bet that anything you can get in a big plastic jug for $4 is not good for you. Vegetable oils and margarine derived from cheaply grown or genetically modified plants like sunflower, corn, soybean, canola, safflower have little nutrition to begin with and are chemically altered and deodorized in order to make them palatable. Our bodies were not meant to consume them.

      Opt instead for healthy saturated fats that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. These include butter (preferably organic), coconut, olive, and red palm oil.
      2. Fresh, local, organic produce. We can't afford to purchase all of our produce this way, but we try our best to grow or purchase the infamous "Dirty Dozen" organically as these fruits and vegetables contain the highest pesticide residue otherwise:

      • Peaches
      • Apples
      • Celery
      • Peppers
      • Nectarines
      • Strawberries
      • Pears
      • Cherries
      • Spinach
      • Lettuce
      • Potatoes
      • Grapes
      12 fruits and vegetables that contain the contain the least contamination we don't worry about paying the organic price-tag for:
      • onions
      • avocado
      • sweet corn
      • pineapples
      • mango
      • asparagus
      • bananas
      • cabbage
      • broccoli
      • papaya
      • kiwi
      3. Dairy products and alternative beverages. Although we use several cultured forms of dairy, we don't drink animal milk products as they are difficult for the body digest. If it was legal to purchase raw cow's milk, we would certainly give it a try!

      Instead, we use coconut or almond milk. They contain high levels of vitamins A & D and are lactose free. They cost slightly more than pasteurized, hormone enhanced cow's milk, but since we rarely use it for more than our morning smoothie, we don't notice a difference in our grocery bill.

      As our budget allows, we try to purchase higher quality dairy products like kefir, greek yogurt, cream and cottage cheese.
      4. Meat. Cheaper cuts of meat are usually that way because they come from animals that are pumped full of genetically modified grain products, growth hormones, and antibiotics - the sole purpose of which is to fatten an animal up as quickly as possible for slaughter. Food Inc. is a fascinating documentary that explains how the food industry is making us sicker, fatter, and poorer through this process.

      Although more expensive, grass-fed, locally raised, organic beef and chicken is a far more nutritious alternative and of much less consequence to your health.
      5. Sweeteners. Sugar is cheap, appeals to our pallet, and is easy to come by. Consequently, diabetes, obesity, cancer, heart failure, and a host of other health concerns are also the norm. We stay away from refined sugar as much as possible and use raw honey, pure maple syrup, and stevia instead.

      While they should still be used in small quantities, these sweeteners contain healthy enzymes and minerals which are difficult to get from other foods. They also have a healthier Glycemic Index which means they don't mess with your blood sugar levels in the same way refined sugar does.

      Where to get healthy food for less

      1. Garden. Anyone can grow their own produce, even a little bit. Be it a pot on the balcony of your apartment or a 3 acre market garden, all you need is some seed, soil, water, and sun and you're in business.

      We put in a large raise bed last year for free - my husband made a tarp in exchange for a truckload of triple-mix and I used the gift cards I got for my birthday to purchase our seeds and plants.
      2. Farmer's Market. Farmer's markets are great places to find local, seasonal produce, cure meats, eggs, honey and maple syrup at a fraction of the price you find in the store. Plus, farmers generally care about individual relationships with their customers and often offer a faithful buyer further discounts and "throw in a little extra."
      3. Local Farmer. In the fall, we often purchase 1/4-1/2 a cow from a Christian farmer who grows his beef organically. We get to choose how we'd like it butchered and our freezer is well stocked for several months. We estimate purchasing our meat this way saves us 30% of the store price.

      If we had the space for it, we'd love to keep our own chickens. We go through plenty of eggs around here! Thankfully, they are cheap to come by! We buy them from Brad's co-worker whose family keeps organically raised laying hens as a sideline business.

      In the summer, we pick our own berries, freeze most of them, and turn some into sauce or jam. A relative of ours keeps a bountiful raspberry patch where we can come and go as we please.

      It didn't work out last year because of pregnancy complications, but this summer, my mom, sisters, and I plan on putting up other produce from local farms that we don't grow ourselves: peaches, pears, carrots, pickles, etc.

      4. Bulk Stores. I buy most of our grain from The Bulk Barn. We often receive coupons for $3.00 off a purchase of $10.00 or more (which I can easily spend in one visit!). I blend whole kernels with my Wondermill and the stuff I purchase pre-ground (flax), I purchase in small quantities as it goes rancid quickly. I purchase my organice herbs, teas, sea salt, and spices from The Bulk Herb Store.

      I also purchase soap and other dried goods here like coconut, almonds, walnuts, and cranberries.
      5. Grocery Store. You can save money at the grocery store by using coupons, ad-matching, checking the clearance shelf, and purchasing store-brand non-perishables like brown rice and tomato paste.

      The clearance shelf where everything is ripe and ready, is a wonderful place to get greatly discounted produce. If you have a juicer, freeze your juice into Popsicles for a healthy summer treat or into ice cubes for slushies. Peppers and onions can be cut up and bagged for pizza toppings, apples turned into sauce, and mushrooms sauteed in butter for a fine steak topping.
      6. Online. I must admit to rarely purchasing groceries online. I prefer to see the product myself. The exception to this is the extra virgin coconut oil I get from Tropical Traditions. The quality is truly remarkable. We use it a lot, especially in desserts like Chunky Cream Pops, Skinny Chocolate, and Peppermint Patties. I'm thankful it regularly goes on sale for 40-50% off.

      In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support! Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living Raising Arrows, Time Warp Wife, Far Above Rubies, Homestead Barn Hop, The Better Mom,

    • Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins

      Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins

      The hardest part about being gluten-free, according to my dear husband, is missing out on baked goods that taste good. Bread, cake, cookies, donuts, muffins... nothing quite tastes as wonderful as things made with white flour.

      Then I discovered the Easy Peasy Cinnamon Muffins in Trim Healthy Mama. Brad said he hadn't had a muffin that good since he started eating gluten-free two years ago! I've made a couple of alterations to the original recipe and apparently we have a winner! Brad takes two in his lunch every day to work and never tires of them. The kids love them too.

      Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Muffins (adapted from Trim Healthy Mama)
      Time: 15 minutes plus baking
      Servings: 24 small muffins or 12 large
      Ingredients:

      • 3 eggs and 3 egg whites
      • 3/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp water
      • 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
      • 1 tsp. vanilla
      • 1 1/2 cups ground golden flax seed
      • 1/2 cup finely shredded, unsweetened coconut
      • 1 tsp baking powder
      • 1 tsp baking soda
      • 4 Tbsp. cinnamon (not a typo!)
      • 12 tsp of Truvia (or 1 cup sugar)
      • 1 cup raisins

      Directions:
      Put eggs and whites, water, coconut oil, and vanilla into blender and blend well for 20 seconds.
      In a separate bowl, combine flax seed, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and sweetener. Stir together. Add to wet mixture in blender. Blend well. Stir in raisins.
      Let mixture set for 5 minutes to thicken. Pour evenly into paper-lined muffin tins (a quick-release ice cream scoop works great for this!). Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

    • 5 Favorite Trim Healthy Mama Recipes

      5 Favorite Trim Healthy Mama Recipes

      These recipes are reprinted with permission from the authors.

      Just Like Wheat Thins Crackers | Trim Healthy Mama,
      I had my doubts about this recipe. "Just Like Wheat Thins?!" Yeah, right. You need refined flour and sugar to achieve that kind of deliciousness, don't you? Apparently not. These crackers are amazing and taste like the real thing I can't seem to keep our house stocked though - they disappear quickly!

      • 3/4 cup flax meal
      • 3/4 cup almond flour
      • 2 egg whites
      • 2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
      • 1 Tbsp. parmeasan cheese
      • 1/4 tsp sea salt
      • dash of black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder
      • 1 Tbsp olive or coconut oil
      • 1/2 tsp baking soda
      Combine ingredients well and work into a dough ball with your hands. Place ball on parchment lined cookie sheet. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of dough ball and roll out into a slab the thickness of a cracker. Take off top piece and score into small squares. Bakes at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

      Fooled Ya Pizza | Trim Healthy Mama,
      I've always felt bad for Brad who used to eat cardboard-like gluten-free pizza crusts while we enjoyed the gluten packed version! I had heard rave reviews about this cauliflower crust from other mamas on the Trim Healthy Mama plan and decided to give it a try even though it sounded pretty gross. Boy, was I wrong! Our entire family enjoys it just as much as the real thing! You'd never know cauliflower was the magic ingredient!

      • 1 bag (16 oz.) frozen cauliflower (I used fresh)
      • 3/4 cup egg whites
      • 2 cups skim mozzarella cheese
      • sea salt and other seasonings (I used Epicure's Pizza seasoning blend)
      • pizza sauce and other pizza toppings (I used pepperoni, green pepper, red onion, cheddar and mozzarella cheese)
      Lightly steam cauliflower and squeeze out all the excess water otherwise your crust won't get crispy (I skipped this step and used raw cauliflower with great results!). Put cauliflower in food processor and pulse a few times until you end up with rice sized pieces.

      Add egg whites and pulse again.
      Add cheese and other seasonings (sea salt, Italian seasoning, onion and garlic powder). Mix ingredients together well with a spatula.
      Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and grease well. Spread crust mixture evenly across cookie sheet. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes. Cool.
      Add pizza sauce and toppings and broil until toppings are done (I baked it at 400 for 8-10 minutes).

      Peanut Squares | Trim Healthy Mama,
      These squares are so yummy! A combination of sweet and salty, we enjoy them as a snack and a dessert. They're gerat to give along with a meal to a new mom too.

      • 1 cup almond flour
      • 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
      • 1/4 cup melted butter
      • 2 tsp Truvia
      • 1 pkg cream cheese, softened
      • 10 tsp Truvia
      • 2/3 cup peanut butter
      • 3/4 cup whipping cream
      Mix almond flour, peanuts, melted butter, and 2 teaspoons of Truvia together in a bowl. Press into 8x8 baking dish and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

      While crust is baking, beat cream cheese and second measurement of Truvia together until light and fluffy. Add peanut butter and beat some more.

      In a separate bowl, beat whipped cream. Fold into cream cheese mixture and spread over cooled crust.

      Place in refrigerator to chill until set.

      Cheeseburger Pie | Trim Healthy Mama,
      This is probably our #1 favorite supper on the plan. It's all the goodness of a cheeseburger without the bun. You would never miss it! This is so satisfying and delicious. I make once a week in place of burgers on the barbie.

      • 2 lbs of ground beef
      • 3 tsp. onion powder
      • 1 tsp. sea salt
      • 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
      • pickles, tomatoes, red onion
      • 2 eggs
      • 1/2 cup mayo
      • 1/2 cup heavy cream
      • sea salt
      • ground pepper
      • 6 oz. grated cheddar cheese
      Brown ground beef and drain fat. Stir in onion powder, sea salt, and 6 oz. of grated cheese. Place beef mixture in casserole dish.
      Layer on any of your favorite burger toppings. Our family loves a combination of red onion, tomatoes, and pickles.
      In another bowl, beat eggs, mayo, cream, sea salt, and black pepper together. Pour on top of casserole and sprinkle on the remaining 6 oz. of cheese.
      Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. We like it serve on a bed of chopped iceberg lettuce and drizzled with mustard and ketchup.

      Chunky Cream Pops | Trim Healthy Mama,
      This frozen dessert reminds me of my favorite ice cream, President's Choice Chocolate Fudge Crackle... except it's waaaay healthier, made with good fats and no sugar. We love this treat. It's Brad's favorite of all the desserts I've made from Trim Healthy Mama so far.

      • 1 batch of Skinny Chocolate
      • 2 8oz. blocks of cream cheese
      • 10 tsp. Truvia
      • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
      • 2 heaped Tbsp. peanut butter
      Make up a batch of Skinny Chocolate and put in the freezer to harden.
      Beat cream cheese, Truvia, and vanilla together. Cut up Skinny Chocolate into little bits and stir into cream cheese mixture along with peanut butter.
      Place wax paper on cookie sheet. Dump bite-sized spoonfuls of mixture onto paper. Insert a toothpick into center of cream pop and transfer to freezer. After an hour, pull pops off wax paper and transfer to a Ziploc bag for easy access.
      Here's a few more pictures of other Trim Healthy Mama recipes to satisfy the foodie in you:

      Spicy Chicken Wings, pg. 323

      Taco Salad, pg. 347

      Special Agent Brownies, pg. 383

      Trim Healthy Pancakes, pg. 223

      In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Growing Home. I humbly thank you for your support.

    • Snicker Snackers

      Snicker Snackers

      We learned how to make these raw energy bites in a Goodness Me! whole food cooking class. I still have a hard time believing they're good for you. Usually anything I get cravings for is unhealthy, but I find myself wanting these things all. the. time. They're right up there with chocolate. Charity fondly calls them "Timbits" (you might have to be Canadian to get that).
      If you've committed to eating healthy (good for you!), Snicker Snackers are a guilt-free indulgence for when the urge to eat something rich is just too strong.

      Ingredients

      • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
      • 1/2 cup seasame seeds
      • 1/2 cup raw honey
      • 1/2 cup almond butter
      • 1/2 cup cocoa or carob powder
      • 1/4 cup ground flax
      • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut

      Directions:

      Combine ingredients in blender. Roll into small balls (refrigerate mixture for 1/2 an hour if it's too soft). Store in an air-tight container and keep refrigerated.

      If you love whole food recipes, you'll love the Cottage Mama's eBooks written by Kristy Howard. The Cottage Mama Plans Her Menu is a favorite in our house with 29 healthy, tasty, budget-friendly recipes and a 2-week menu plan. You can download it here for $3.00.

    • Sensational Salad and Dressing

      Sensational Salad and Dressing

      One bite of this flavor-packed salad and you'll understand why Goodness Me cooking instructor Sandy Pomeroy named it Sensational Salad! A plate or two of this, and you're well on your way to 5-10 servings of vegetables per day. I've tweaked the recipe to suit our taste, but the original came from her.

      Sensational Salad

      • 4 cups organic salad mix (choose one with lots of different leaf varieties)
      • 1 cup cauliflower florets, finely chopped
      • 1/2 cucumber, quartered horizontally, then chopped
      • 1/2 red pepper, finely chopped
      • 1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped
      • 1/2 carrot, grated
      • 1 cup kale, finely chopped
      • 1/2 cup mushrooms, finely chopped
      • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
      • 1 cup dried cranberries
      Mix together in a large bowl. Serve with salad dressing (recipe below) to taste.
      Dressing:
      • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
      • 1/4 cup flax oil
      • 1 tsp. Herbamare
      • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
      • 1 clove garlice, finely chopped
      Mix together and store in a sealed jar. Shake before using. Refrigerate unused portion.
      If you love whole food recipes, you'll love the Cottage Mama's eBooks written by Kristy Howard. The Cottage Mama Plans Her Menu is a favorite in our house with 29 healthy, tasty, budget-friendly recipes and a 2-week menu plan. You can download it here for just $3.00.

    • Cottage Berry Whip

      Cottage Berry Whip

      This recipe is a low-fat, absolutely decadent-tasting, cheesecake-like dessert that keeps you full, healthy, and satisfies your sweet tooth! When I first discovered it in Trim Healthy Mama, I said, "Where have you been all my life?!"

      I win The Best Mom In The World award when I serve this to the kids for breakfast. They think they're getting dessert!

      This recipe comes from Trim Healthy Mama and is reposted with permission fro the authors.
      Cottage Berry Whip
      Time: 5 minutes
      Servings: 5-6
      *For THMer's, this is an E, S, or FP.

      Ingredients:

      • 2 cups (1 container) low-fat cottage cheese
      • 2 cups mixed berries
      • Truvia or NuNaturals to taste (when I make this for the kids, I use honey as the sweetener)
      Directions:
      Put all ingredients into blender. Pulse until thoroughly blended. Serve and enjoy!

    • The Pursuit of Motherhood

      The Pursuit of Motherhood

      The Wise Mom, The Praying Mom, The Single Mom, The Stepmom, The Working Mom, The Healthy Mom, The Work at Home Mom, The Modest Mom, The Stressed Mom, The Homeschooling Mom, The Special Needs Mom, The Mom Who Desires More Children, The Weary Mom...

      The Pursuit of Motherhood 153 pages $7.99 $3.99

      Buy Now

      We Moms are a varied bunch, but we all have one thing in common: we have children to raise. Children, given to us from the hand of God, to raise for His honor and glory.
      Motherhood can be overwhelming (for me, anyway). Our boys, how do we raise them to be real men in a world that confuses chivalry with chauvinism? And our daughters, is preparing them to be homemakers setting them up for disappointment?
      Breast or bottle? What if you can't breastfeed? Cloth or disposables? Work from home, away from home, or not at all? Homeschool, private school, or public school? Birth control or Quiverfull?
      So many questions. So many decisions. So little time; that's why we wrote The Pursuit of Motherhood.
      The goal of The Pursuit of Motherhood is to sift through the sideline issues and encourage Moms in every situation to pursue mothering their children with all their heart, keeping God at the center of all their endeavors. "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5 (emphasis mine) The Pursuit of Motherhood is authored by 17 Moms including Kelly Crawford from Generation Cedar, June Fuentes from A Wise Woman, Jacqueline Franks from Deep Roots At Home, Melanie Young from Raising Real Men, and yours truly.
      We share in common a love for the Lord and a love for our families, however imperfect. We sincerely desire the same for you and pray that this eBook will give you an uncommon vision for motherhood an the tools to restore its glory within your own home.

      The Pursuit of Motherhood 153 pages $7.99 $3.99

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      Table of Contents

      1. The Praying Mother
      2. Mothering Through the Little Years
      3. The Working Mom
      4. The Healthy Mom
      5. The Work at Home Mom
      6. Infertility, Part I: Primary and Secondary Infertility
      7. Infertility, Part II: The Empty Womb and Adoption
      8. The Modest Mom
      9. Breastfeeding and Child Attachment
      10. The Weary Mom, Part I
      11. The Weary Mom, Part II
      12. The Homeschooling Mother
      13. Mothering a Child with Special Needs
      14. Raising Real Men
      15. Raising Homemakers
      16. Be Fruitful and Multiply
      17. Biblical Motherhood
      18. Leaving a Legacy
      Our introductory offer runs from now through Monday! Buy it today and save $4.00, or enter for your chance to win a copy below! If you choose to purchase a copy and ended up winning, you can gift The Pursuit of Motherhood to a friend.

      153 pages $7.99 $3.99

      Buy Now

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