Holistic Instincts

   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...