Middle-Age Wisdom Recipes…I decided to search the internet for delicious chocolate recipes, but that are still on the healthy side. Many of these are vegan and/or gluten free. I hope you enjoy!
I first posted this article on February 13, 2020 in honor of Valentines day. I decided to repost it as today’s recipe article, due to my wellness tip of the day for my MAIN BLOG.
So, in honor of this wellness tip, I present these 10 “healthy” chocolate recipes!
Here’s the original article:
Normally, I’d be sharing insomnia recipes with you all today. However, since tomorrow is Valentines day, I decided to search the internet for delicious chocolate recipes, but that are still on the healthy side. Many of these are vegan and/or gluten free. I hope you enjoy!
(If you are sensitive to high fiber foods, this one is best avoided)
Closing thoughts…
As I always say, eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. You just need to be a bit creative with the ingredients. I hope you enjoy time with your loved ones tomorrow.
It’s apple harvest time, and our county has some of the best in the world! We enjoy apples fresh from the tree, applesauce, apple muffins, apple cakes and bread. Baked apples are a special treat, and in our home they hold lots of memories of making them together.
Of course, there are so many ways to make baked apples, lots of different fillings and sweeteners. Use whatever nut you like, or omit them. No cranberries? Use raisins, or dried cherries.
The great apple baking test
The kids and I recently baked up a big batch of a dozen different types of apples to see which ones we liked the best, and good old standbys of Fortune, Empire, and Jonathan won hands down. These apples absorbed the flavor of everything else, and yet kept their pronounced apple flavor and shape, both important.
Today’s post is quick, but very cool, at least to me. 😊 Below is a link to an article which highlights 20 actual pioneer recipes, which were used during their journey to begin a new life. You have everything from “mud apples” and “chuckwagon beans”, to “vinegar lemonade” and “dutch oven trout”. I hope you enjoy this little journey back in time.
Pioneer life was not easy and the daily chores of managing a house where more than a full time occupation.
Cooking was a major part of each day. Early settlers butchered their own meat and made corned beef, sausage, smoked and dried meats. Large gardens yielded produce for canning, pickling and other preserves. Root cellars stored potatoes, carrots, and onions. Milk was separated into cream for butter and baking and milk for drinking. Breads, cakes and pies were of course all baked at home from scratch from whatever was available…
One of my favorite things to do is look for vintage and old timey recipes. I decided to scour the internet for depression era recipes for today’s article. I thought it fitting since many items are scarce in grocery stores today. My grocery store is almost always out of flour. Eggs are a hit and miss. Sometimes they have a ton, sometimes none at all.
I always admired people who lived during the great depression. We can, by no means, compare ourselves to what they went through. With shanty towns, food lines and the dust bowl, things were much worse back then. We live in luxury by comparison. With that said, there are certain things that may be hard to get and we can learn a lot from their strength and creativity.
I tried to find recipes that had basic ingredients. Because they were cheaper, hot dogs were often used as the protein. I have included 2 such recipes here. Under normal circumstances, hot dogs wouldn’t be included as an ingredient on this site, but I wanted to include it for authenticity. Feel free to swap out the hot dogs in favor of a healthier meat or sausage. The main point is use what you’ve got on hand and get creative, as they did.
This one looks rather interesting. But, is a perfect fit for our theme today. If you have limited resources, this is a great recipe. The author of the recipe says: “This historic pie has been in our family for many generations and is always at all of the family get-togethers.“
This recipe is a wonderful way to fill some bellies and stretch just a few ingredients a long way. As the recipe author says: “Indulge in the comforts of old-fashioned cooking with this classic recipe for Old Timey Country Potato Soup. This easy potato soup recipe will give you something delicious and hearty to serve anytime you’re debating over what to put on the dinner table.”
These are very interesting and remind me of a similar cake recipe: water cake. From the author of the recipe: “In the 1930s, producers of a popular radio program called Jake and Lena invited listeners to write in for this recipe. My mother changed the name from Jake and Lena Cookies to Poor Man’s Cookies because they contained no eggs, milk or nuts. Despite the name, the cookies are rich in taste!”
If your grocery store is anything like mine, regular flour is a scarcity. If this is the case, and you have corn meal in your pantry, give this recipe a try. With only four ingredients, it couldn’t be easier!
This recipe looks soooo good, and soooo easy! The recipe comes from the author’s own grandmother! I would venture to guess that most pantries will have the ingredients.
According to Wikipedia: Shoo Fly Pie is is a molassespie or cake that developed its traditional form among the Pennsylvania Dutch in the 1880s, who ate it with strong black coffee for breakfast.
This recipe goes back to rationing during World War II. While technically not “depression era”, it does fit in with the “limited pantry” theme as well as the “no flour” thing! WHY? It has no flour!
At the time this lovely video was made, in 2009, Clara was 91 years old. In this video below, she shares a staple of life in the depression: poor man’s meal. I highly recommend watching the video. Clara shares some of her history as she makes the meal.
According to Mental Floss, this recipe is a generic name for recipes made from soup kitchens soups or thin broth. One recipe calls for spaghetti and hotdogs, such as the one shared by Just a Pinch.
In my oh so humble opinion, you can NEVER have enough vegetable recipes!! A plant based diet is key to a healthy body and long life. Here’s are 50 vegetarian recipes from Veg Recipes from India!
“In this critical time, it is essential to have food that your body needs. You can make a conscious decision to move into healthy eating habits and choices.
I am sharing vegetarian plant-based foods and recipes which I am personally going to focus on and prepare at home. I am not going to overboard as an excess of everything is not good. Balance is the key. But I would like to include more of these immune-boosting food in our diets than earlier.”
FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW FOR THE MAIN ARTICLE AND ACCESS TO THE 50 RECIPES
Middle-Age Wisdom Recipes…I decided to search the internet for delicious chocolate recipes, but that are still on the healthy side. Many of these are vegan and/or gluten free. I hope you enjoy!
Normally, I’d be sharing insomnia recipes with you all today. However, since tomorrow is Valentines day, I decided to search the internet for delicious chocolate recipes, but that are still on the healthy side. Many of these are vegan and/or gluten free. I hope you enjoy!
(If you are sensitive to high fiber foods, this one is best avoided)
Closing thoughts…
As I always say, eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring. You just need to be a bit creative with the ingredients. I hope you enjoy time with your loved ones tomorrow.
With the recent popularity of low carb and keto diets, almonds (specifically, almond flour) has become very popular as an alternative in baking. But beyond the use as a low carb flour, almonds have many health benefits.
Yesterday, I talked about phytomelatonin as a way to boost melatonin levels in the body. You can read that article on my main blog HERE. You can read more about the health benefits of melatonin HERE. Below you will see a chart of the foods highest in phytomelatonin, or plant based melatonin. As you can see, almonds are packed with this super hormone.
Almond Nutrition
(3)
529 calories per cup
130 calories per ounce (approximately 23 almonds)
Carbs: 5 grams per cup
Protein: 30 grams per cup
Fat: 71 grams per cup (more than 50% are heart healthy monounsaturated fats)
Health Benefits of Almonds
(1,2,3)
high in melatonin
high in many other nutrients including (1): Fiber: 3.5 grams, Protein: 6 grams, Fat: 14 grams (9 of which are monounsaturated), Vitamin E: 37% of the RDI, Manganese: 32% of the RDI, Magnesium: 20% of the RDI, as well as copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and phosphorus.
high in anti-oxidants
help with blood sugar control
can lower cholesterol
lower caloric intake by reducing hunger
anti-cancer properties
delay wrinkles
improve skin complexion
aids in weight loss
boost brain health
improve bone health
anti-inflammatory
Now that you know WHY you should be eating almonds, here are 10 different recipes for creative ways to eat these healthy gems, PLUS how to make almond milk! ENJOY!
For people who are dairy free, milk alternatives have become very popular. By making your own, you avoid the harmful additives found in store bought varieties, such as carrageenan, which is added for texture and shelf stability.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a whole food advocate. I feel we were meant to get nutrients from whole foods, not man made, highly processed supplements. Supplements have their place, when accounting for nutrient deficiencies. However, the average, healthy person, who eats a mainly whole food diet, doesn’t necessarily need artificially produced supplements.
Yesterday, I published a Brain Talks article on my main blog called:
In that article, I highlight the importance of melatonin in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. That article explains that melatonin is a master hormone that is not only necessary for sleep, but also:
a potent anti-inflammatory agent
inhibits the secretion of amyloid plaque, seen in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients
decreases insulin secretion
regulates the levels of all other hormones
a powerful and effective antioxidant and anti-toxin agent
reduces free-radicals
regulates the immune response
reduces toxins
protects the liver
Melatonin is produced naturally in the body, through proper sleep and a nutritious diet. However, research shows we can boost melatonin levels through supplementation or by consuming foods high in melatonin.
As part of my master’s thesis, I researched phytomelatonin, or melatonin found in plants. I discovered several researchers who calculated the melatonin content in plants. Below you’ll see a chart listing the top 13 melatonin containing plant foods.
SOURCE – (1)
Experts indicate typical artificial supplement doses of melatonin range from .20 milligrams (mg) to 5 mg daily. As you can see, the amounts in the chart are measured in picograms/gram of food weight. 1 picogram (pg) is a very small unit of measure and equals 0.000000001 milligram (mg).
Dried goji berries, the food which contains the most melatonin, contains 103,000 pg/gram. So, 100 grams of goji berries would then contain 10,300,000 pg of melatonin or .0103 mg. This is obviously a long way from a normal dose. However, the idea isn’t meant to replace supplements, as much as it is to reduce the amount of artificial melatonin needed, if someone is deficient. If an individual is healthy, simply adding in melatonin rich foods will eliminate the need for artificial supplements all together.
Other benefits of goji berries
Besides, goji berries are a super food and a wonderful addition to any diet. Benefits of goji berries include:
Boost brain power and prevent neurodegenerative disease
Detoxify the liver
Boost fertility
Ease mood and improve quality of sleep
Improve eye health
Balance blood sugar levels
Boost the immune system
Beautify skin
Prevent heart disease
Boost energy
Now, onto some healthy but delicious recipes to include in our diet, that will boost your melatonin levels and so much more!
Arnao, M.B., and Hernandez-Ruiz, J., (2018). Phytomelatonin versus synthetic melatonin in cancer treatments. Biomedical Research and Clinical Practice DOI: 10.15761/BRCP.1000170
Ahh, the holidays season is here! During this time of year, full of sugary treats and fattening snacks, it’s good to have a few healthy recipes in your box. Have no fear! I’ve got you covered. Today, I’m have 8 healthy holiday recipes, with videos and printable recipes! I hope you enjoy!
These tasty little morsels are bursting with vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. Plus, they're sweetened with dates and maple syrup, so, you'll find no processed sugar here.
Credit: PopSugar Fitness
Ingredients
1 cup pitted dates
1 cup soaked cashews (soak a minimum of 3 hours or overnight)
1 cup raw cacao powder plus more for rolling
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
2 tbs maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
shredded coconut for rolling
Directions
Place all ingredients, except shredded coconut, in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, scraping sides as needed.
Roll into tablespoon size balls.
Coat balls in either cacao or shredded coconut.
Freeze for a few hours, preferably overnight.
Remove from freezer and set at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to serving.
4 to 8 pound Prime Rib of Beef, BONE-IN, fat cap removed (ask the butcher to explain)
kosher salt as needed
1/4 cup soft butter
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence (this is just a dried herb blend – you can use any thing you like, or just salt and pepper)
Directions
Leave prime rib on counter for at least 6 hours – preferably longer. (It must be at room temp, or the recipe won’t work.)
Preheat oven to 500 degrees
Mix butter, Herbes de Provence and black pepper together and spread all over prime rib.
Sprinkle salt liberally over the buttered prime rib
Cook the beef at 500 degrees for 5 minutes per pound. Multiply size of roast (from packaging) by 5. This is the length of time you’ll cook the beef at 500 degrees. For example, if your roast is 4 pounds multiply 4 X 5 = 20, so you’d cook the beef at 500 degrees for 20 minutes.
After the allotted time, turn oven off and leave for 2 hours. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR.
Remove from the oven and serve. Bones can be removed if desired prior to serving.
Tired of Green Bean Casserole? Try this refreshing and tasty recipe from Gordon Ramsey
Credit: Gordon Ramsey
Ingredients
1 head of garlic
2 pounds fresh Green beans (cleaned)
salt
2-3 tbs White wine vinegar
2 tsp dijon mustard
2 tsp honey
150 ml olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Wrap the garlic for the dressing in foil and roast in the oven for 20–25 minutes until soft. Remove and leave to cool.
While garlic is roasting, blanch the green beans by plunging them in plenty of boiling salted water for 1½ cooked, but still crunchy. Run immediately under cold running water, then drain and leave to one side.
Toast almonds in a medium-hot dry frying pan for 2–3 minutes until golden.
Squeeze the flesh from the garlic heads and mash with 1 tablespoon of the white wine vinegar until a smooth paste is formed. Add the mustard and honey and mix well. Pour in the olive oil in a slow drizzle, stirring constantly to thicken. Taste and season as necessary, adding a little more vinegar if needed.
Dress the green beans, toss to coat well, top with toasted almonds and serve.
On Tuesday, I published a list of foods to boost memory and heal the brain. The following recipes combine foods from list, which you can find below. For more detailed information on each food, you can find the article here..
Avocado
Eggs
Coconut oil
Dark Chocolate
Pumpkin seeds
Kale
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea vegetables
Fermented foods
For each of these recipes, I tried to combine more than one food from the list into each recipe. For the most part, I was successful, with a couple exceptions. Here we go!
This recipe combines kale and avocado in a brain healthy detox smoothie/juice. If you don’t like avocado or kale, smoothies are a great way to add them to your diet.
If you’re not a fan of leafy greens, you can’t go wrong with combining baby spinach and baby kale in a creamy sauce. Serve it with a brain healthy egg for a great meal!
This recipe combines 3 brain healthy foods: nuts (walnuts & almonds), seeds (pumpkin seeds, and coconut oil. Add this into some gut healthy fermented yogurt for a winning brain healthy combination.
This recipe is a wonderful and flavor packed way to add 3 important brain foods into your meal. This pesto includes pumpkin seeds, kale and coconut oil, along with cilantro, lime, garlic and ginger to make a delightful pesto sauce.
This recipes uses coconut oil and cocoa powder to make indulgent and delicious homemade dark chocolate bars. I would recommend replacing the cocoa powder with RAW CACAO.
Combining Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Turmeric, this salad dressing is the perfect addition to your brain healthy leafy greens salad.
Sea Vegetables.
I find the best way to add sea vegetables to the diet is to season foods, sauces, soups, etc, with dulsi granules, such as the ones below. You can find them HERE.
Korean Rolled Omelette With Seaweed
Kitchen Bowl
If you’re looking for more than just seasoning, how about this traditional rolled omelette from Korea, which combines brain healthy eggs AND Nori (a type of seaweed)
What better way to get healthy coconut fat AND fermented foods than with coconut milk yogurt you make yourself? This recipe only has 2 ingredients and couldn’t be easier!! Serve this with your keto granola for a winning, brain healthy combo!
FERMENTED TURMERIC ROOT!!! Turmeric is a wonderful root with so many brain healthy and anti-inflammatory priorities. Fermenting it is a brilliant idea and, with just 3 ingredients, is SUPER easy. It just requires a bit of patience. Colleen recommends using it to make some homemade soda, like THESE. Or just add it to salads or smoothies for a gut and brain health boost!
photo source
Closing thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading through the list. As I always say, cooking healthy doesn’t have to be boring. It just requires a bit of creativity and ingenuity, like replacing an unhealthy ingredient with one of the brain healthy foods from this week’s list.
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