Holistic Instincts

I recently started making beans on a regular basis for my family and I remember now how much of a comfort dish this is.  Best of all, it is one of the easiest dishes to make at home. Beans are a legume prized and eaten all over Mexico and, along with maiz, is usually served on a daily basis.  According to experts, there are possibly 200+ types of edible beans grown in Mexico, with beans being cultivated close to 7 thousand years ago.  And they were so valuable, that the Aztecs asked for them as tribute payments. Legumes, like grains, are super easy on the family budget and they can provide quality nutrition when prepared properly.  Beans are generally high in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and iron, they also contain phytic acid - basically an anti-nutrient.  Phytic acid binds to minerals, like calcium and iron, and prevents the body from absorbing them.  Diets heavy in phytic acid can lead to developmental delays in children, tooth decay, bri...

Happy New Year!  I am starting 2019 with this super simple recipe for elderberry syrup to get you and your family through winter. Berries from this plant have been historically used for wine, syrups, and desserts but it is also a powerful medicinal plant.  So much so, that ancient Greeks considered this plant the 'father of medicine', and for good reason.  It is known to contain properties that, when used within the first 48 hours of symptoms, naturally helps to improve colds and the flu (including H1N1 human flu and H5N1 avian flu  strains ). Elderberries are a great source of anthocyanidin, which is known to stimulate the immune system.  Elderberries are also anti-inflammatory and contain antioxidants, which are useful during sinus infections.  Research also shows promising results when lowering blood sugar . And while uncooked berries are considered toxic, the ripe and cooked berry is safe.  I get my berries from Mountain Rose Herbs to ens...

I know I rarely post holiday-ish recipes but since Thanksgiving is right around the corner (literally!), I thought I would post my version of this holiday staple. The original recipe for this pie called for sweetened condensed milk, but since we cannot all tolerate dairy well in my house, I use the sweetened condensed coconut milk by Nature's Charm  and it works super well!  This condensed milk is very thick and creamy, with only a slight coconut taste (to my taste buds).  The coconut flavor does NOT interfere with the taste of the pumpkin pie.  Please note that evaporated milk, coconut or otherwise, cannot be used instead of the coconut sweetened condensed milk here. As time permits, I do make my own crust and really love the Copy Cat crust by Brittany Angell.  Her gluten-free crust works very well anywhere you need a pie shell and can be easily doubled for pies that need both a top and bottom.  However, I have been known to buy premade pie shell...

It has been a while and I am back with an interesting, but delicious, recipe:  Breakfast 'Fried' Rice, made in the microwave.  And it is so good, that my kids request this recipe several times a week before school.  Your family might ask for the same from you! I originally saw a version of this recipe on BuzzFeed, but I had to make several modifications.  The cooking times didn't work for my microwave*, and I made several adjustments to the ingredients.  Once I got the recipe where I wanted it, I haven't really played to much with different ingredients (or at all, actually), and my kids really enjoy it just as it is. I use coconut aminos in place of the standard soy sauce called for in authentic recipes.  Coconut aminos is a rich sauce made from coconut sap and it is both gluten and soy free.  This sauce is a little like soy sauce so it can be used to replace soy sauce in many recipes calling for soy sauce.  And coconut aminos are packed w...

My daughter is a huge fan of a frozen coconut milk matcha drink from a nearby big-name coffee shop.  I have never ordered a matcha-flavored anything and so this is my first time actually making something with matcha green tea! Matcha green tea is a finely ground and concentrated green tea traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies for years.  It very popular among health experts, top nutritionists, since it is touted as a super healthy beverage, useful in fighting fat and even cancer.  Since matcha green tea is so finely ground, I found it really easy to incorporate the powder in this recipe and aficionados will find no shortage of recipes using this green tea, including flavored beverages and desserts! Quality matcha green tea may be a little prohibitive when it comes to price, but only a small amount is needed to make tea or this chia pudding.  And you know, that chia puddings are one of those perfect Paleo/vegan easy-make meals, which are always grea...

I grew up eating dishes like mole colorado on super special occasions.  And I mean, SUPER special.  It is a very labor-intensive dish, and one of my personal favorites.  There are many of types of mole variations, and the state of Oaxaca even stakes claim to seven types of mole.  A mole recipe will come with a long list of ingredients that usually include:  chile peppers, nuts and/or seeds (or both), tortillas and/or bread (or both), tomatoes or tomatillos, onions, garlic, herbs, spices like cinnamon and cloves, sometimes fruit, sometimes chocolate - all of which, when put together, create a most decadent sauce.  Yes, it is worth the effort.  And no, you will not detect chocolate, or cinnamon, or any other single ingredient in the sauce.  It just works..... Mole colorado (red mole) is traditionally made with very non-Paleo ingredients, such as: bread, peanuts, and additional sugar.  I have streamlined some of the ingredients to make th...

My soon to-be 13 year old daughter loves to both try new recipes and create them as well.  She is the only one in our family that tolerates dairy well, but when she gets the urge to make a dessert, she will usually oblige me and make it Paleo.  And lucky for us, she likes to make recipes like this one.  You will have to trust me when I say that these cookies are legitimately delicious! This recipe makes around 21 cookies per batch.  Her instructions do not call for you to smash each cookie down slightly before baking, but doing so may make for a denser and larger cookie. Also created by my daughter:   MX's Healthy Homemade Chocolate Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Dry Ingredients: 2 cups blanched almond flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon real salt Wet Ingredients: 1/3 cup raw honey 1/4 cup palm shortening, melted (I use  Nutiva ) 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 eggs, room temperature 1 1/2 dairy free chocolate chips (I us...

   Happy 2018!  Let's start off this year right with a brand new recipe!  I just love how easily chia puddings come together, and I really love how delicious and filling they are.  Chia pudding is one of my favorite breakfasts and it is great when you need something that is quick and portable in the mornings. Chia seeds were highly valued by the Aztecs, prized for their medicinal properties and nutritional content.  Chia, which means "strength" in Maya, was used to fuel runners and warriors because of their ability to provide long-lasting energy. We now know that consuming chia seeds provides many more benefits and they are known for promoting health skin, reducing signs of aging, supporting the digestive system, and more.  And this low-sugar pudding is a great family-friendly way of incorporating more of this super food into your diet!   As usual, I use a minimum amount of sweetener, and I really think it helps the strawberry flavor...

I came up with the recipe for these bars after cleaning and organizing my pantry and realizing I had a lot of apple sauce laying around.  Not sure how or when they took up residence in my pantry since no one in my family really eat it.  Crazy, I know. For those not familiar with AIP, or the Auto Immune Protocol, this diet is one that is greatly reduces inflammation in the body by removing all common allergens for a period of time, in order to manage chronic conditions - foods are later reintroduced slowly to find triggers.  Followers of this protocol remove eggs, dairy, nuts and seeds, grains, and more.  For more detailed information, check out The Paleo Mom . This recipe calls for coconut butter, which is easily available online or at most well-stocked grocery stores.  I used a homemade (and budget friendly!) coconut butter in my recipe, which probably affects the final product only slightly.  To make this at home, place about 12 ounces of dry, shr...

Today's post will be a departure from the usual recipe but I am really excited to share something that I have been making and using for several months.  And let me tell you, I LOVE it. You may know that I tend to be really picky about what goes into my body, and that really does extend to things I put on my body.  I have been making my own soap for a few years and I make my own lotion, as well.  I am a huge essential oil user, and about a year ago I decided to experiment on using oils to replace my natural (and sometimes costly) facial products. Fast forward to now, I general cleanse my skin with just water on no-makeup days, and follow an oil-cleansing technique on days I do wear makeup.  I won't write about the benefits of oil cleansing since everyone and their internet mother has written a lot of helpful information.  But I do have to say that as a person that has struggled with acne all through high school, and a good part of my adult life, using oi...

This.  This dish is everything!  This sort of comfort food dish came together one day after a long day of errands. In the time the pasta took to cook, the rest of the ingredients were ready to go.  And, man oh man, this was good! This recipes uses Kite Hill brand cream cheese, and as I have mentioned in previous posts and this brand is legitimately good!  It is an almond milk based product, super creamy, and it fools everyone into thinking they are having dairy. This quick dish can be made vegetarian by omitting the spicy sausage, or swapping it out with sliced and browned mushrooms. I topped each serving with some fresh basil but I know that stirring in the basil would be very delicious, too. And because we are obviously hooked, here are previous posts using Kite Hill products: Creamy Crab Dip Easy Tuna Pate Fluffy Cream Cheese Pancakes Family Favorite Lasagna And heads up: Kite Hill yogurt is really good, too. Creamy Pasta and Sausage Ca...

I did not grow up eating a lot of salads.  When I was given a side salad for dinner, I always made sure I doctored it up with lots of croutons, cheese, ground pepper, and basically anything and everything that would add to the flavor.  And then I dumped enough bottled Italian dressing to make my salad soupy.  Sounds delicious, right?  Wait, don't answer that! Bottled salad dressings were as appealing to me as pouring plain water on my plate of food.  Little did I know just how quick and flavorful a homemade dressing could be!!  The first one I ever made was my Easy 1-2-3 Balsamic Dressing , and then I am sure we a dinner salad just about every night. Over the years, I became proficient in making several types of dressings (creamy, spicy, even cheesy!) and meals always came together quickly after that.  Since going dairy-free however, it took me a long time to come up with a Caesar dressing recipe that was worthy of a repeat. A traditional Ca...

Summer is here!  Wait, I know summer truly isn't here but I live in Vegas and it is already too warm for me!  And for me, summer heat means summer drinks all day long. Along with fresh lemon, plenty of fresh ginger is used here for a punch of flavor and health boost.   Ginger, as we all know, is a root that is widely used in cooking and beverages.  But did you know that ginger has been regarded as a powerful medicinal since ancient times, too? We know that ginger is a powerful tool to use when fighting off cold and respiratory issues but compounds in ginger (chromium, magnesium, and zinc) can also help normalize blood circulation.  It can alleviate motion sickness symptoms and relieve stomach discomfort.  And, ginger also stimulates secretion of enzymes in the stomach and pancreas, which improves the absorption of essential nutrients in the body.  Plenty of reasons to add this refreshing infusion to your collection of healthy drinks to have on h...

My family just came back from a quick trip to both Michoacan and Jalisco, Mexico visiting family and we were welcomed in Vegas with lovely weather!  Nice weather means more outdoor cooking and outdoor cooking means quick and easy dishes to go with grilled veggies and meats. Avocado salsa is full of good fat, flavor, and super easy to make.  This recipe is a perfect served on top of grilled fish, steak, or chicken, and lends itself to scooping with raw vegetables. For this recipe, pebbly skinned avocados are recommended for better flavor,  I leave the avocado chunky here, but it can be mashed up with a fork (before adding the rest of the ingredients) if you prefer a smoother guacamole-like texture. And please, please, please remember to season the salsa well.  Avocados are pretty bland on their own, and though they are paired here with bright and fresh flavors, good salt is needed to bring it all together.  And though fresh lime juice almost always ty...

This recipe came about out of sheer necessity.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I had the bright idea of roasting an entire bag of organic sweet potatoes for our dinner guests.  Dinner came and went and only two sweet potatoes were eaten. I had every intention of using the roasted sweet potato for something else, but of course, I put them in them away after dinner and forgot about them for a day or two.  I then put the now-peeled sweet potato in the freezer and really forgot about them.  For a month.  Or two. I am really glad I dug around my freezer for some frozen fruit one day because I found the neglected sweet potatoes and presto!  This recipe was born and it does NOT disappoint. Sweet potatoes provide a nice dose of beta carotene and they add incredible moisture and decadence to the brownies.  And unlike my previous Amazing Brownie recipe, which calls for  cassava flour , this recipe uses a little almond flour instead, making them mu...

Folks, this is a recipe for a chocolate mug cake.  Chocolate.  Grain free.  Dairy free.  Gluten free. Chocolate....mug cake.  I think you get the picture.  :) This recipe is made in the microwave for those times when a cake craving hits, but no one in the family is willing go to the store for you.  And so you know, this cake recipe took me ages to get just right.  Paleo baking is NOT the same as conventional baking because flour substitutes just do not behave in the same way as regular flour.  But several (and I mean several) tries later, this recipe is just right. And I love that this recipe is made in the microwave.  A really nice perk when the family decides on a movie night, and four of these mug cakes can be ready in just a few minutes.  And before I get comments on the evil that is the microwave, please know that I have read several articles on both the pros and cons (check this article out:  https://chriskresser....

I first had kimchi fried rice, or kimchi-bokkeumbap, at a Mexican/Korean fusion place here in town, and when I first ordered it, I was floored.  Rice is delicious anytime and I ADORE pungent  kimchi .  I mean, I have no problems eating it straight out of the jar.  Since my family would disapprove if I ate at Komex  without them everyday, I decided to make this myself and I quickly figured out that this is a perfect weeknight dinner idea, and very budget-friendly.  I have made this dish on a weekly basis for a few weeks now, and it is literally one of our favorite foods right now. I love to ferment veggies and though I sometimes try to make kimchi, I can eat so much of it that it just doesn't last long in my house.  You can use any kimchi, homemade or store bought - but I like traditionally fermented kimchi by Pickled Planet , which is my current favorite store bought brand.  I also really like kimchi by Mother In Law's . This recipe calls ...

Enter any Mexican home, and I promise you, you will find some type of salsa readily available at any given time.  Every home cook has an 'every day' recipe - and experienced cooks have several recipes up their sleeve, each salsa specially designed to go with different types of meals, occasions, or holidays.  I am not joking! And it really does not matter what meal is being served, salsa is always there waiting for someone to spoon into a nourishing soup, drizzle over the breakfast plate, or to jazz up some simply grilled or roasted meats and veggies for dinner.  Have leftovers?  Add some salsa and you've got a new meal! This salsa is one of my 'every day' recipes, great to have on hand to spice up any meal, and perfect because it keeps well in refrigerator for several days.  My salsa uses tomatillos as the base, plus the typical dried arbol chiles, easily found in most well stocked grocery stores.  Dried arbol chiles can make salsas quite spicy, bu...

I really think that one cannot have too many pancake recipes.  They are easy to make, quick to cook, and super yummy served along side some crispy (nitrite/nitrate-free) bacon.  Right? I often make my Perfect Pancakes  on the weekend, since the texture is as close to 'real' pancakes as you'll ever get but sometimes I run low on cassava flour and need another option, and these pancakes are IT. To keep these dairy-free, I used Kite Hill's  Cream Cheese spread.  This almond milk spread greatly improves the texture of typically dry or flat almond flour pancakes.  Plus, this addition boosts the protein content and fluff factor, as well! This recipe calls for blanched almond flour - using almond meal will affect the final texture. Since the texture and melting properties between dairy cream cheese and Kite Hill cream cheese may be different, I would not recommend subbing the dairy stuff for the dairy-free cream cheese in this recipe. These almond fl...

Before I post the recipe, please let me apologize for not have a picture for this yummy dish.  The finished meal was delicious, but it turns out, I cannot take a good picture of most meals...I just can't. These short ribs, however, are perfection! I made this dish in my beloved Instant Pot , but I have included directions for stovetop* cooking.  And I imagine that this recipe can easily be adapted to cook in a slow cooker, as well. This recipe calls for star anise , which gets its obvious name from its shape.  It is a spice that is heavily used in many cultures due to its lovely licorice taste and fragrance.  But star anise also has surprising medicinal uses, too!  Star anise is the main source of a chemical compound that is synthesized to make flu medications.   Not surprising that this spice is used in a lot of warming winter soups and stews, such as this one. These short ribs call for whole star anise, which can then be easily removed from the f...