Healthy Lentil Soup with Bone Broth

Lentil Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 large chopped onion
• 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• Salt and Cayenne or ground black pepper to taste
• 3-4 cups water, start with 3 add more if you like it thinner
• 4 cups BrothMasters Bone Broth
• 2 cup red lentils
• 2-3 cloves garlic crushed
• Juice of 1/2 lemon, lime or red or white wine vinegar (or more to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat 3 tablespoons oil over high heat until hot. Add onions and sauté until they begin to change color, about 4 minutes.
2. Stir in Tomato paste, cumin, salt and pepper. Sauté 2 minutes.
3. Add broth, water and lentils. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover pot, turn heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils are soft, about 30-45 minutes.
4. Add crushed garlic. Heat for another 15 minutes.
5. Use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the soup, leave it a little chunky. Add lemon juice to taste. Pick a garnish.

MYO Holiday Gift - Cranberry Orange Butter

Cranberry Orange Butter

2 lbs of bagged cranberries, rinsed and picked through
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar, divided
1 to 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup orange juice
zest of 1 orange
1 tsp vanilla

1. Put the cranberries, 1 cup of brown sugar, the cinnamon, and the apple juice in a crockpot.  Stir to combine.

2. Turn crockpot to high and cook for 2 to 3 hours, until cranberries have popped.

3. Puree the mixture in blender (may take 2 batches).  Be careful, it's hot!

4. Return the cranberry puree to the crockpot and cook on high with lid ajar for 1 to 2 hours.

5. Whisk the cranberry butter well to incorporate any thick parts.

6. Turn off crockpot and add additional 1/4 cup of brown sugar, orange zest, and vanilla.  Mix well.

7. Transfer the cranberry butter to clean jars with tight fitting lids.  Refrigerate for up to one month

MYO Holiday Gift - Bath Bomb

Bath Bombs are HOT gifts but can cost $10 or more at the store.

You can MYO (make your own) for about $2 each so you can afford to give them to everyone on your gift giving list!

It's also a perfect "craft" slash science project to make with your child, for them to give to their teachers as holiday gifts!

The best part of this project is it's easily customized!  You can pick the color and scent of your choice.  We used Royal Spa Essential Oils.  They come already blended in formulas perfect for any need.  And you can get 20% off using promo code: 20OFFMA when you shop this LINK.

Here's the recipe we used...but you can find lots of them around on the internet.

 

Tip:  We bought our citric acid online from Alpha Chemicals

Delicious & Nutritious Mushrooms Soup!

Mushrooms have a rich flavor that makes this soup "hearty" without all the carbs or fat!  

Mushrooms are also a great source of selenium (good for your bladder), Vitamin D, antioxidants and they help your body metabolize fat!  

Hearty Mushroom soup 

1 tbsp butter 
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 cup chopped onion 
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 can black beans rinsed & drained
2 tbs soy sauce or tamari
1 lb quartered cremini mushrooms
1 lb portabella mushrooms
1 tsp.paprika
2 tsp minced garlic
2 1/2 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups almond milk
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp finely ground black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup of half & half optional -- Add butter or olive oil to pot & add onions, celery, & cook, stirring continuously, until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add clean chopped fresh mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until mushrooms release their liquid and have begun to brown around edges, about 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Pour all into blender & add beans & 2 cups of beef broth & blend on high for 2 min.
Pour back in to pot & add remaining liquids,(except half & half if you desire to use) thyme, salt, pepper, paprika and soy sauce or tamari stir to combine. Bring the soup to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more beef broth if a thinner consistency is desired. Remove the soup from the heat and add the half & half if desired Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-eats/nutrition/5-health-benefits-of-mushrooms/5/

Improving Skin Elasticity & Hydration on a Molecular Level

I love when science and beauty come together!  I've always liked science because there is proven & measured cause and effect.  I don't like guessing games.  And when I heard that there is scientific proof that an ingredient could help improve my skin (I'm pushing 45 and really starting to freak out about sagging and wrinkles) I was SOLD!

Here's an excerpt of the article I read at Whole Foods Magazine that really enlightened me that it's not all creams and topical potions you need to keep your skin looking it's best at any age.

An often overlooked antioxidant in the skin health equation is French maritime pine bark extract, often branded as Pycnogenol (manufactured by Horphag Research).  A 2012 study published in the Skin Pharmacology and Physiology journal found that Pycnogenol works on a cellular level to improve several factors of skin health (5). The study involved 20 women who took Pycnogenol over the course of 12 weeks.

Upon assessment after week 12, the subjects benefited from increased skin elasticity and hydration. The study concluded that Pycnogenol worked on a molecular level to alter gene expression by increasing hyaluronic acid synthase-1 (HAS-1), an enzyme that plays a critical role in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid (5). Pycnogenol was also shown to play a beneficial role in the gene expression of collagen synthesis, allowing the proper creation and utilization of the ever important skin nutrient that is collagen (5). In conclusion, the study states that Pycnogenol may be “useful to counteract the clinical signs of skin aging” (5).

While this study was conducted with the supplement form, numerous natural personal care products incorporate the ingredient into topical skin formulas.

Well, since the study was on the oral consumption of Pycnogenol, I decided to seek out the best form available which turned out to be a liquid delivery system by a company called Isotonix.  Their product called OPC-3 Beauty Blend contains 40mg of Pycnogenol per serving plus other beauty boosting ingredients like biotin, hyaluronic acid, vitamins C, D3 & E, grape seed extract, billberry extract and citrus bioflavanoids (that bitter white stuff on the inside of the peel - which of course my mother always said was the best part of the fruit for you - I hate when she's right).  But I digress, the point is that I've been taking OPC-3 Beauty Blend daily and not only do I notice a difference, but other people commenting that my skin looks radiant!  And for me, although not scientific, that means it's really working!  

If you'd like to give it a try, you can receive 10% off your first order using my exclusive promo code: 10OFFMA only through this link: http://bit.ly/29Z95CZ

Splenda Isn't So Splendid - Linked to Leukemia in 2016 Study

Splenda isn't looking so splendid after an independent Italian study this year. 

The study found that sucralose caused leukemia and related blood cancers. 

Since the study was published, the President of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Michael F. Jacobson, released a statement telling consumers “We recommend that consumers avoid sucralose, or Splenda, and we recommend consumers also avoid saccharin, aspartame and acesulfame potassium.”

For more information on the study you may enjoy these articles:

https://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm#sucralose

http://www.davidwolfe.com/splenda-linked-to-leukemia/

3 Reasons to Enjoy Cruciferous Vegetables

Oven Roasted Cauliflower & Cabbage

Health agencies recommend that we eat several servings per week of cruciferous vegetables -- and for good reason.

1. One of the big reasons to eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables is that they may help to lower your risk of getting cancer.

2. Another way cruciferous vegetables may help to protect against cancer is by reducing oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the overload of harmful molecules called oxygen-free radicals, which are generated by the body.

3. Diets rich in fish and vegetables (including cruciferous and dark-yellow veggies) may also help to protect against cardiovascular disease. A recent study found that such a diet was linked to lower levels of markers of inflammation in the body. These markers may signal an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Source: http://www.m.webmd.com/…/super-veggies-cruciferous-vegetabl…