Slice 3 pounds carrots and put in boiling water for 3-5 minutes, keep crisp.

Chop 1 large pepper and 1 large onion. Mix in bowl with drained carrots.

Mix well in sauce pan:
1/2 cup oil. Sunflower or grapeseed oil work well.
1/2 cup sugar and 1/8 tsp pure powdered stevia
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp dill weed
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 large clove garlic
1 – 14.5oz can Fire Roasted crushed tomatoes. I use Muir Glen organic

Heat to a gentle bubbling. Pour over veggie mixture. Refrigerate before serving. Best if you prepare the day before needed.


Sweet Leaf Tea Stevia Ext Powder Shaker, 0.9 oz

Broth:
2 – 32oz Organic Chicken Broth
1 large onion
6 dried shiitake mushrooms
10 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
3 Tbl soy sauce
12 – 1/4 inch thick coins of fresh peeled ginger
1 Tbl brown sugar
1 Tbl rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
small bunch of cilantro stems

Pho:
rice noodles
chicken breast
fresh soybean sprouts
1/2 cup sliced green onions
small bunch fresh cilantro leaves
1 lime, cut into wedges
hot sauce

Make Broth: Place all ingredients in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for one hour. Strain broth and return to pot. Discard solids.

To make Pho: Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain.

Put rice noodles in large bowls, Ladle broth over noodles. Top with cooked chicken, sprouts, green onions, and cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side. Squeeze lime juice in just before eating. Use hot sauce to taste.

This soup is a wonder immune booster.

2 bundles of Roland Cellophane Bean Thread Noodles.  They come in a 8.8oz pack with 5 bundles.

2 Tbl rice vinegar

2 Tbl fresh lime juice

1-1/2 tsp  fish sauce

1 tsp turbinado or brown sugar

1 tsp hot sauce

1 chicken breast

1/2 cup grated or matchstick carrot

1/4 of a red bell pepper finely cut into strips

1/8 cup thinly sliced sweet onion or 1 chopped spring onion

12+/- sprigs of fresh cilantro cut

handful mung bean sprouts

1.  Bring enough water to a low boil to just cover the bean thread bundles.  Turn off burner and place bean thread noodles in the water and cover.  Let stand about 15 minutes while you prepare the remainder.  After 15 minutes drain in a colander.

2.  Cut chicken breast into small pieces and cook in about a Tbl of olive or grapeseed oil.

3.  Combine vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and hot sauce.  Whisk together and let sit.

4.  In a large bowl combine carrots, peppers, onion, cilantro and sprouts.  Add chicken and well drained noodles.  Whisk dressing then pour over ingredients.  With a pasta server or fork and spoon lift and turn ingredients until well mixed.

Makes a hearty meal for one person or a good addition to a meal and shared with 2-4 people

It’s quick and healthy.  Enjoy.

1 Cup Soy Milk

1 to 1-1/2 inch ring of fresh pineapple.

8 large frozen strawberries

1 tsp coconut oil

MSM  If you have never used MSM you start with 1/8 tsp and build gradually.

1 Tsp Merlin’s Herbal Magic Roots Elixir-find it on the same link as the Spirulina.  Great stuff.

1 Tbl powdered Spirulina

Stevia to taste

Blend it all together.  Enjoy a filling and nutrient dense liquid meal.  This is energizing and caffeine free.  It will help alkalize your body to boost your health.

If you have an interest in losing weight I recommend that you increase you nutrient rich food sources and decrease the items you are consuming that have little or no nutritional value.

Enjoy two nutrient rich beverages a day. I enjoy one in the morning and usually one right after work. Here’s an example:
1 cup orange juice
1 cup coconut milk
1 Tbl Spirulina-Plant based complete protein, vitamins, minerals, etc. Can’t say enough. It’s great.
1/4-1/2 tsp MSM-sulfur, important for cellular & joint health. Keeps the cells flexible
1 tsp Merlin’s Herbal Magic Roots Elixir-Energizing & alkalizing herbal blend-Find this at one of the above links under Tea & Spices
6-8 frozen strawberries
Stevia-no calorie natural sweetner

If you want it to be more filling you could use yogurt or kefir instead of one of the other liquids.

Weight lose not just about what you eat.  Find ways to have fun exercising.  Get out and walk, swim, bike ride, take a dance class.  Do a variety of activities so you don’t get bored.  You don’t want your mind to get bored and you body needs variety also.  You will burn calories and boost your feeling of well being.  Make it fun, not work.

This morning started out feeling like I had so many things to do I didn’t know where to start.  I knew a to do list was in order.  After the animals got fed I made my morning smoothie.  The recipe varies to keep it interesting:

1 Cup orange juice

3/4 cup coconut milk

1 Tbl Spirulina-Amazing complete protein

1-1/2 tsp Opti-MSM (organic sulfur) If you’ve never used this you need to start with smaller amounts.  Great for joints, skin, hair, nails, healing, cleansing, etc.

1/2 tsp Merlin’s Herbal Magic Roots Elixir-Cleansing and energizing without caffeine.

1/2 tsp Maca-Balances endocrine system.

Stevia-No calorie natural sweetner

8 frozen strawberries

Blend and enjoy.  It tastes great.  It’s very green.  Very fulfilling.  Packed with nutrients.

I decided to take my smoothie and go feed the fish in the pond and pick tomatoes.  I spilled 3/4 of the smoothie.  Ugh.  The ants around here will be supercharged.  I knew it was time to slow down and not worry about getting anything done.  Breath and just feel good.  That’s enough right now.

I love these products. You can find everything but the Stevia at the link below.
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This is my favorite black bean recipe.  I’ve discovered I prefer using dried black beans and cooking them in a pressure cooker.  Pressure cookers are a worth while investment.  I use mine for dried beans, brown rice, squash, and potatoes.  It cuts the cooking time down and the flavors are great.

I enjoy black beans and brown rice.  It doesn’t matter which you cook first they both keep and reheat well.  Together they are a great virtually fat free high quality protein.

I recommend organic as much as possible.

Black Beans:

Ingredients:  2 cups dry black beans                1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons sea salt                       1-1/2 teaspoons fennel seed

Directions:

1.  Place beans into a pressure cooker and fill with enough water to cover the beans by 1 inch.  Bring to a boil without the lid and boil about 2 minutes.  Remove from heat, drain and cool about 1 hour.

2.  Add water to the beans again enough to cover the beans by 1/2 inch.  Add sea salt, fennel seed, cayenne pepper.  Put the lid on and set the pressure cooker on high or 15 pounds, depending on your indicator.  Bring to a boil and cook for 35 minutes.  Release the pressure according to the manufacturer’s instructions for your cooker before opening the pot.

Serve hot with brown rice.

Optional:  sprinkle with grated Colby Jack cheese and salsa.

Here’s great info I found on the health benefits of black beans.

Maca and Spirulina can taste a bit “strong” in a smoothie.  This recipe works well and is loaded with vitamins, minerals and protein.

1-1/2 Cups Chocolate soy milk

1 tsp Spirulina

1 tsp Maca powder

1/16 tsp pure stevia powder

1 banana

1 tsp Sunflower butter

1 tsp Hemp oil

6 ice cubes

Everything goes in the blender till smooth.  Enjoy.

I find the best way to take your daily dose of Peruvian Maca root powder is to add it to a smoothie or juice.

In a blender I put 1 cup of Kefir,  Kefir is related to yogurt.  It is pourable.

1 tsp Maca root powder

1/2 tsp to 1 tsp Spirulina powder

1/8 tsp pure Stevia powder

1/2-1 cup frozen fruit of my choice

1 tsp of Hemp oil.  Use can use Flax seed oil or any number of healthy oils.

I blend it well.  Pour and enjoy.

You can do many variations on smoothies.  Experiment with ingredients and see what tastes good, but remains healthy.

I have also used juice and ice in the blender when I’m out of Kefir.  You could also use yogurt, hemp, soy, rice milk.

To order your Maca go to the Nutrition page and click on the link.  There is more information about the benefits of Maca.