Organic Food Bar

If you need a healthy filling snack made with real ingredients then you gotta have the Organic Food Bar. I have tried so many different kinds of bars and all I tasted was chemicals. Some tasted like candles while some others...I don't think I can describe the taste, did it even have a taste? I only ate them because at some point in my life I was hooked on a high protein diet and wanted to get my daily feed of protein so I ate protein bars as meal replacements.

I was suggested initially by a friend to try these Organic Food Bars. They are filling, nutritious, taste great and they have a considerable amount of protein derived from vegetarian source. What I love the most about these bars are that they are natural and the ingredients are real. It is sweetened by a natural sweetener called Agave syrup, which is very low in Glycemic Index.

The bars are high in calorie, one bar is about 310 calories. I usually have half a bar and save the rest. Since the bar has real ingredients, it is quite filling.

I love the Belgium Chocolate Chip flavor the best, but they have many flavors. The only flavor I don't like is the one called Protein. It has extra protein made up of brown rice protein. I don't like brown rice protein and this flavor has a distinct taste of powdery brown rice protein. All the other flavors are great.

http://www.organicfoodbar.com/

So next time you are craving for something sweet, try an Organic Belgium Chocolate Chip Food Bar made with almond butter, sprouts, agave syrup and pieces of chocolate chips that makes this bar so delicious.

Spelt

 
What is Spelt?

Spelt is a grain that comes from the wheat family but is used as a safe substitute to wheat by those who have wheat allergies and wheat intolerance.

Does Spelt have Gluten?

Spelt does have spelt gluten. It is different than wheat gluten but yes, it has gluten and thus spelt is not appropriate for gluten-free diets.

Spelt Products

Spelt can be used for pretty much anything to bake with. I use spelt flour to make muffins, cookies etc. It tastes very much like wheat. The good thing about spelt is it does not get very doughy, like some of the white breads made from wheat flour.

I started eating spelt because of wheat intolerance but I have now started to like the taste of spelt and love many of the spelt prepared products. One of which is the yummy Sesame Spelt Sticks; they are crunchy and delicious and make a healthy snack. I warn you to eat responsibly in small quantities as they are quite addictive.


http://shilohfarms.com/productDetails.php?navid=271&itemNumber=244346

I m also very fond of spelt breads made by Berlin Natural Bakery. Their White Spelt Bread tastes like any other white bread with the benefit of the healthy Spelt grain that feels so good in the stomach.

http://store.berlinnaturalbakery.com/store.html


Spelt Pizza

If you live in or around Manhattan or you ever come by, you have got to try this pizza place called Cafe Viva, that makes natural pizza crusts from different doughs and my favorite one is the one made with spelt. The crust is crispy, wholesome and out of this world. Now, it is not a crust you would compare to your regular Italian pizza but it has a taste of its own.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-viva-natural-pizza-new-york

Mother Earth feeds us with several different kinds of grains, fruits and vegetables, all we need to do is explore our options. Eat Healthy, Eat Natural and Listen to your Body.

Spring Salad with Pears and Walnuts

1/2 head of green lettuce - chopped roughly
2 cups of mixed greens
4-5 Walnuts
1/2 pear cut into small pieces
Cherry Tomatoes - 5 cut into halves
Cucumber 1/4 cup cut into small pieces

Optional - Steamed Asparagus chopped into small pieces with 1/4 tablespoon olive oil and salt

Dressing - 1 tablespoon white wine of your choice, 1/4 tablespoon lime juice and 1 teaspoon Herbamare

Mix the greens, pear, walnuts, tomatoes and cucumber in a big bowl. Add the optional Asparagus. Mix the ingredients for the dressing, pour it over the salad and mix it thoroughly.

Enjoy the nutty taste of walnuts along with the sweet taste of pears mildly distracted by sour sweet taste of the cherry tomatoes. The dressing enhances the fresh green leaves of lettuce, making it juicier
than ever.

What is Herbamare?

Herbamare is a flavorful table salt prepared with fresh organically grown herbs. It contains a perfect balance of herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, kelp, garlic along with sea salt, giving the salt a mild flavor and yet not taking it away from its natural taste. I call it the salt with a boost. I enjoy Herbamare on steamed veggies, use it on fresh avocado or make a simple dressing of lime juice, Herbamare and olive oil. Next time something calls for a salt, try the flavorful seasoned salt, Herbamare.

Organic Swiss Chard from my CSA Share

I picked up my second CSA share of freshly picked fruits and vegetables this Wednesday.

In my share, I got fresh, green leafy Swiss Chard, with stems that were white, fleshy and juicy. I could not help myself but eat the stems raw and guess what?? They were sweet, juicy and yummy :)

All I did was chop the Swiss Chard and sautee it with 5-6 Cloves of Organic Garlic and 1/2 tablespoon Avocado Oil. Then, I covered it until the veggies became soft. What turned out to be my lunch today is simply out of this world. I could taste the juicy, sweet green leaves with the buttery taste of avocado oil enhancing the flavors of the vegetable, making it feel like the most delicious food that ever existed on this planet.

Am I loving my Chard or what!! :)

Qunioa

Quinoa, pronounced as Keen-Wa, is not a grain but a seed and it is a delicious one! Quinoa has originated from South America and has made its way into the U.S. mainstream market and restaurants now, popularly known for its high protein content.

Quinoa's protein content is very high (12%–18%) and it contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and easy to digest.

The most popular type of Quinoa is the white colored one, but it comes in red and black. The red and black Quinoa is a lot heartier to me than the white one, although all three have a unique taste of their own.

Here is a simple recipe for preparing Quinoa.

Quinoa Vegetable Mash

1 cup Quinoa (White, Red or Black)
2.5 cups water
2 cups mixed vegetables for eg. broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots.
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1 potato (red or white) cut into cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
Optional Ingredients for extra flavor: Garam Masala / Curry Powder / Garlic/ Red Hot Pepper powder / Hot Green Peppers
Salt to your taste

I prepare this in a rice cooker but you could also use a non stick pot. In the rice cooker, it is extremely simple. Just add all the ingredients and let it cook. Once the Quinoa is cooked, mash it up so all the veggies, potatoes and quinoa blend together completely.

In a pot, add all the ingredients and simmer it for about 15-20 minutes or until the water is completely dried out. Stir it occasionally to make sure it does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Once the germ separates from the seed, quinoa is cooked. Turn off the fire and let is sit for 2-3 minutes. Mash the veggies, potatoes and quinoa to blend it altogether.

Enjoy a healthy, wholesome and an easy-to-cook meal.