Earthly Eating

• The Classic Biscuit of All
Makes: 10

1/2 cup unsalted butter
2-1/2 cups all-purpose organic flour
1 tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup plus 2 tbs. cold organic buttermilk
1 tbs. melted organic butter

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut butter into small cubes and freeze for about 10 minutes. Stir dry ingredients together in a bowl. Cut into the frozen butter with 2 knives. Stir in the butter milk until a dough forms. Knead on a floured surface about 4 to 5 turns. Roll out into a small rectangle and cut out biscuits. Place 2-inches apart in a buttered cast-iron skillet. Brush tops with melted butter and bake for about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

• Sweet-Potato Biscuits
Makes: 10

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 cup plus 2 tbs. cold butter milk
3 cups all-purpose organic flour, sifted
1-1/2 tbs. baking powder
1-1/2 Tsp. Sea or kosher salt
1 tbs. organic sugar
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Heat oven to 4765 degrees and cut butter into small cubes and freeze for about 10 minutes. Place the sweet potato into microwave with 3 tbs. of water added to it, cover and cook on high 8-10 minutes. Mash and refrigerate to cool. Stir in buttermilk. Combine dry ingredients together and cut in chilled butter with two knives. Stir in potato mixture and turn until a dough forms. Roll out on a floured surface and kneed 4 to 5 times. Cut out biscuits and place in a buttered cast iron skillet. Bake 20 minutes or until browned.
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Earthly Eating Tip

*When it comes to biscuits, the best thing to own is a good biscuit cutter like the one from Ateco’s. It is a reversible cutter that can shape the dough into five different shapes and even flute the edges if needed. Pick one up for under $25.

Happy Eating!

It’s time once again for the Earthly Eating Random Recipe Post from readers. Here are five that can get you in the kitchen and cooking up the good stuff. (if you submit a recipe, be sure and leave your name and location so we can credit you to your own recipe).

#1: Taco Pie
Serves: 4

1 lb. ground beef
1 can tomato soup
1/2 cup mild salsa (homemade or store-bought)
1/2 cup water
6 flour tortillas
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese or Mozzarella cheese

Cook the beef in a skillet until well browned, be sure to break the beef up completely then drain and rinse in hot water. Stir in the tomato soup, salsa and water. Heat to a boil then add tortillas that have been cut into triangles. Reduce heat to low and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Top with cheese in the skillet and serve.

#2: Organic Green Beans
Shannon Cox, Philly

3 lbs. organic green beans
1-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper separated into 1/4 tsp. full’s
6 garlic cloves
6 dill heads
12 tbs. dill seed separated into 1 tbs. each
3-1/4 cup white vinegar
3-12/ cups water
6 tbs. salt

Pack the green beans in 6 different jars leaving room at the top for air. Add the pepper and the cloves then the dill. Boil the water with the vinegar and salt and add to the jars. Process in a canner for 10 minutes or place on lid and place in the refrigerator. Let stand for about 12 days before opening and serving.

#3: Shrimp and Eggplant Sauté
Serves: 4

1 Eggplant, cut into cubes
2 Red Peppers, sliced
1 red onion
1 tsp. oregano
1 tbs. olive oil
Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
1 lb. peeled shrimp
1/2 pound Kalamata olives

Sauté the eggplant, red pepper and onions in a bit of oil on a medium sauté pan. Add the oregano and toss to coat. Add the shrimp and cover with lid and steam till well done. Toss with Kalamata olives and serve.

#4: Roasted Cod
Serves: 4

4 cod fillets
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
4 large tomatoes, sliced
Bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese, grated

Brush the cod fillets with olive oil and lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and then top with sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until fish because opaque in color.

#5: Lamb Chops with Black Beans & Rice
Serves: 4

Marinate lamb chops in 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tbs. lemon juice and 2 tsp. minced garlic and 1/2 tsp. rosemary. Cook on a grill or baked in the oven.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Better Sugar Cookies
Makes 6 dozen

1 stick vegan butter stick
1 cup organic sugar
1 large cage free egg
2 tbs. organic milk
1 tbs. vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose organic flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. Sea salt

Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Beat in the egg, milk and vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and gradually add to the wet mixture. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour. Heat oven to 375 degrees and roll dough to 1/3 thickness. Cut into 3-inch, floured rounds or with floured cookie cutters. Place on baking sheet 1-inch apart. Crown in over for about 9 minute. Cool and serve or decorate.

Happy Eating!

• Pork with peach and mango chutney: Season the pork cutlets with ground ginger. Rub into the meat then follow with salt and pepper. Panfry the cutlets until cooked through and beginning to brown on both sides. Remove and place in a serving dish. Add drained, canned peaches that have been sliced along with mango chutney to the pan and panfry until warm and browning. Don’t burn. Pour over the pork cutlets and serve along side a bed of rice with cooked green beans.

• Steak with mushrooms and onions: Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper and cook in a pan till cooked through completely. Add sliced mushrooms and onions and a bit of olive oil and soy sauce to the pan. Cook for about 15 minutes or until onions and mushrooms are soft. Serve immediately with a fresh baked potato.

• BBQ Pork Tenderloin: Mix 2 tbs, BBQ sauce, 2 tbs. orange marmalade and 2 tbs. soy sauce together in a bowl and spread over a 12 oz. pork tenderloin. Roast in a 400 degree oven for about 25 -30 minutes or until cooked through.

• Steak and Yellow Rice: Mix 2 tbs. red wine vinegar, 4 tbs. olive oil and salt and pepper to taste onto a cube steak and bake at 400 degrees until cooked through. Toss with slices of avocado, red onion and orange slices and serve.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Kielbasa Green Salad
Serves: 4

1 yellow onion, sliced
1 bag min Pirogues
Kielbasa, sliced
1 container sauerkraut

Sauté sliced onions in a bit of olive oil over medium high heat. Add frozen mini pirogues and sliced kielbasa and sauté until browned. Stir in rinsed sauerkraut and heat completely then serve.

Happy Eating!

Doing a cleanse can help clear out toxins and remove impurities from your body along with shedding a few pounds as well. It not only can help your body get back on the right track it can also help boost your energy level. Here is a simple way to give your body the 7-day cleanse for better health.

It’s best to drink water daily, but during a cleanse you want to drink either you weight in ounces of water daily or half your weight in ounces of water daily. Depending on how much water you can consume it’s best to start with half your weight and drink more or less depending on how active you really are during the seven days and make sure the water is always filtered water.

Eating health and raw/organic food is best. You want to stick with foods such as organic raw carrots, celery, beets, spinach, and apples. Eating organic you can ensure you aren’t putting back into your body what you are working so hard at removing in the first place.

For the rest of the cleanse stick with chicken broth cubes dissolved in filters water, apple juice, pomegranate juice and even lemon juice. Lemon juice has been shown to be such a great health benefit, read more about it here.

It’s best to do exercise during the cleanse, to help your body to sweat. Sweating is the best way to remove toxins and don’t wear anti-perspirants during the cleanse either they can hinder the sweating process that is normal for the body. Here are some simple exercises to get the sweat going. You can alter the number depending on how many you can do.

100 jumping jacks
50 windmills with the arms (both directions)
50 squats
150 sit ups
(Add more to up the sweat factor. You should do something everyday that makes you sweat.)
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Earthly Eating Recipe

The Ultimate in Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes 3 dozen

3/4 stick of vegan butter or margarine
1-1/4 cups firmly packed organic light brown sugar
2 tbs. soy milk
1 tbs. pure vanilla extract
1 large cage-free/range-free egg
1-3/4 cups all-purpose organic flour
1 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 pkg. (6 oz.) organic semi-sweet chocolates (found at health food stores nation-wide)
1 cups pecans, optional

Heat the oven to 375 degrees and beat the butter and brown sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in the milk, vanilla and the egg. Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda and then stir in gently the chocolate and nuts (if using). Drop tbs. of dough onto baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes or until crisp. Transfer to a cooling rack and serve.

Happy Eating!

Along with the other post on apples there are several more apple varieties worth mentioning. Here are the rest of the great apples that can be used for cooking, fresh salads and even paired with cheeses. Add some apples to your palette this summer and eat up to your health.

1. Lady: Great apples for eating raw or using for cooking. Great for applesauce and even pies.

2. McIntosh: These apples are great just cut and eating raw. Their texture will break down with heat so they don’t work well with cooking.

3. Pacific Rose: This apple is a great apple raw with it’s sweet and crisp taste. It can be used for salads in its fresh state and it will brown fast so toss in lemon juice to prevent this.

4. Pink Lady: This apple won’t brown as fast as the others with cut and works well in fresh salads like chicken salad and it also pairs nicely with cheeses.

5. Red Delicious: These are the most popular of freshly eaten apples and are great as is. They will brown quickly so eat up buttercup.

6. Rome Beauty: This apple works great as applesauce and cooking. It is known as the cooking apple.

7. Wine sap: This apple is great in a variety of ways from fresh to used in cooking and for applesauce. Toss in lemon juice though to keep from browning.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Quick and Easy Pie Crust
Makes: 1 9-inch pie crust

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chilled shortening (butter-flavor)
4-8 tbs. ice cold water

Blend flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Cut in cubed chilled shortening into the flour mixture using a pastry blender or a knife and fork until it becomes coarse crumbs that are about pea-sized.

Add water tbs. at a time till the dough can stick to itself. Divide dough in half and flatten then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes. Make sure one round is smaller than the other. Roll the dough out on a floured surface and lay into pie plate. Fill with contents and use the other dough for the top of the pie. Doing the same rolling and laying. Use a pie-bird or cut slits into the top to help vent the pie as it bakes.

Happy Eating!

If you are an apple-lover you will know that not all apples are created the same. There are so many different varieties that can be used for so many different things. Here is a simple list of the most popular apples out there and what apple taste best with what other foods.

1. Braeburn: These apples are best with sliced row and eaten with cheese. They can also be made into applesauce and when cut they will brown faster so toss them in lemon juice if left out for long periods.

2. Cameo: These apples are slow to brown when cut so they work best in salads. They even hold their shape when baked.

3. Cortland: Slow to brown and work best with pies and can have their flesh removed and taste best when raw.

4. Crispin/Mutsu: These are excellent cooking apples and make great applesauce.

5. Empire: These will discolor fast, so use them quickly when making applesauce or eating raw.

6. Fuji: Great raw and can be used in pies or applesauce. Toss in lemon juice to keep from browning too fast.

7. Gala: These are best eaten raw and their texture will age when cut so don’t allow to sit for long periods.

8. Golden Delicious: Great for use in tarts and applesauce. Toss in lemon juice to keep from browning too fast.

9. Granny Smith: Great cooking apples for pies and apple sauce. Have a great bitter, sweet taste.

10. Idared: Great for a fresh snack and can be used in pies and tarts as well.

11. Jonagold: Can work great in fresh salads and even for cooking as well.

12. Jonathan: Work great for apples sauce but will discolor fast, so toss in lemon juice.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Chicken-Apple Pita
Serves: 2

1 pkg. roasted chicken breast, cuts (Make sure they are all-natural)
1/2 medium apple, chopped
2 tbs. chopped celery
2 tbs. mayo (light)
1 tbs. apricot preserves (organic)
1 whole wheat pita bread, cut in half

Mix all ingredients together without the pita bread. Combine until well blended and cover. Refrigerate overnight and fill the pita bread halves. Sprinkle with a bit of Parmesan cheese and chives if desired.

Happy Eating!

The flaxseed plant has been around on the earth for over 4,000 years and has been used for the same amount of time and even used in the days of Hippocrates for its very health benefits that are the same as today.

Flaxseed is high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are the good fats that we all need daily. Flaxseed has been researched to lower cholesterol and to help stabilize blood sugar and lower the risk of breast, prostate and even colon cancer as well.

Flax seed has also been shown to reduce the inflammation of arthritis in many people and it help to keep the body regular as well.

You can use flax seed as the whole seed in cereals, salads and even yogurt. You can mix it in with meatloaf and hamburgers and add to baked goods such as cookies to help add it to your diet. You can coat fish and chicken with it as well. You can find flaxseed cookies on store shelves and other goods already prepared with flax seed. Pick up a flaxseed cookie and bite into it and you will be adding flax seed to your diet in no time.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Flax Seed Salad
Serves: 12

1 pound bacon
1 large bunch romaine lettuce, rinsed, dried and chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 package frozen or fresh green peas, thawed
10 ounces shredded organic cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped cauliflower
1-1/4 cup organic mayo made with olive oil
2 tbs. organic sugar
2/3 cup grated organic Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup flax seeds

Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet and cook over medium high heat until browned. Crumble and set aside to cool. In a large bowl, place the chopped lettuce, onion, peas, shredded cheese, and cauliflower and toss together to combine. In another bowl whisk together mayo, sugar, Parmesan cheese and flax seeds. Spread over salt and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Happy Eating!

Detoxing your body is a great way to remove all sorts of toxins that have built up in your body through the years. Detoxing can not only make you feel wonderful you can also drop a few pounds in the process. Here’s how it’s done.

1. Eat a lot of fiber this includes brown rice, organic fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown without the use of pesticides. And add a bit of seaweed to your diet, it’s a great detoxifying food.

2. Take plenty of liver helping herbs such as dandelion root, burdock, and milk thistle and drink plenty of green tea during the process as well. Add vitamin C to help protect and helps to drive away toxins.

3. Drink at least two quarts of water everyday during the detox and continue even after the detox is finished.

4. Breathe out stress. Breathing is one thing a lot of people take for granted. Breathe in and out deeply to allow oxygen to circulate through your system entirely.

5. Do some hydrotherapy on your body with 5 minutes of hot on your back then cold for 30 seconds and repeat three times. Then get into bed for 30 minutes and relax. Be sure and dry brush your skin before you get wet. This will help remove toxins even better throughout your pores.

6. Do something everyday during the detox that will produce sweat. Toxins are released through your sweat and this will help remove even more. These include exercising as far as cardio and try to fit in a bit of yoga as well. Jump roping, running, etc. incorporated with yoga moves that you can find here.
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Earthly Eating Tip

*Growing your own fruits and vegetables is a great way to help with your detox program. Be sure and grow them without the use of any pesticides to ensure you are getting the very best. You can even do some of your yoga poses in your garden as well. Just leave a space in the middle of your garden to place a mat down on the ground. If you add flowers to the layout of the garden it can create an even more heavenly place to get into downward dog and other poses.

Happy Eating!

When the seasons change so does the selection of what’s in season and what’s not in season in the grocery store as far as fruits and vegetables go. When you buy fruits and vegetables in season you can cut your cost way down and guarantee you are getting a fresher products as well. As far as May goes here is a simple list of what’s in season right now and what’s going to come into season soon.

For May, what’s in season right now:

1. Asparagus
2. Beans, green/wax
3. Carrots
4. Celery
5. Corn, sweet
6. Cucumbers
7. Lettuce
8. Onions
9. Peas
10. Potatoes
11. Radishes
12. Scallions
13. Spinach
14. Squash, summer
15. Potatoes, sweet
16. Avocados
17. Bananas
18. Blueberries
19. Cantaloupe
20. Limes
21. Nectarines
22. Oranges
23. Pineapple
24. Pears
25. Plums
26. Raspberries
27. Strawberries

What’s coming into season soon will be:• Beets
• Peppers, sweet
• Apples
• Apricots
• Cherries
• Watermelons
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary
Serves: 4

Olive oil cooking spray
3 tbs. light olive oil
1 tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup chopped onions
Salt and pepper to taste
2 pounds potatoes cut in half

Heat the oven to 425 degrees and coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

Stir together oil, rosemary, garlic powder, onion and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the potatoes and toss well to coat. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally until potatoes are tender.

You can sprinkle on fresh chives and dollop on some sour cream before serving. Sprinkle a bit of shredded cheese and allow to melt as well. Makes a great appetizer treat.

Happy Eating!

• Wine: Wine can have upwards of 118 calories per every 5 ounces, but recent research has shown that drinking a glass of wine with dinner every evening can help increase your heart health. Wine can also boost HDL, which is the good cholesterol. It also helps to thin the blood and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Red wine alone can help prevent blood from clotting and helps to keep plaque from forming in the blood vessels. It could also help prevent cancer as well resent research suggests. Always drink wine and other alcohol in moderation, which means no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

• Beer: Beer has been used in cooking for decades now and especially got a help from the Thanksgiving turkey along the way. Regular beer can contain about 140 calories and light beer about 100 calories. Malt beer, which is less expensive, contains about 190-250 calories. Beer is associated with a decrease in cardiovascular disease and is fine in moderation. It can add inches to your waist line if you aren’t careful, so be sure and only drink one or two a day and in any given sitting.

• Liquor: Liquor can be used with cooking as well and contains about 100 calories for ever 1-1/2 servings for liquors like vodka, gin and other forms. It has been shown to have the same health benefits as beer and wine, but you should really limit your intake of liquor because of the higher alcohol content.
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Earthly Eating Tip

*If you are looking to shed a few pounds in a quick way, consider a detox plan. That means eliminating alcohol, coffee cigarettes, and refined sugars and saturated fats. These all add toxins to your body which can hinder the healing process. Minimize your use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products as well, such as cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes. Use all-natural, organic products during your detox. Do the detox for as long as you like, your body will thank you later.

Happy Eating!

• Coffee: Coffee can contain about 2 calories per cup of just straight black coffee and with cream or sugar or other additions are made to the cup the calories can go up to even 350 calories per serving. Coffee drinking can reduce your risks of type 2 diabetes and even Parkinson’s disease as well. It can help ward off gallstones and some types of cancers even. But, coffee is only good in moderation as with anything else. Slow down when you drink it and watch how your body responds.

• Milk Alternatives: This includes soy milk, almond milk and even rice milk and the calories vary from source to source. With soy milk you can get about 100 calories per servings and with almond milk about 60 calories per serving. As with rice milk you are looking at about 120 calories per serve. Soy milk has been out longer than the other milks as far as media is concerned and soy milk, as well as the other tow milks are easier to digest than cow’s milk. Almond milk contains high amounts of vitamin E and even protein. And when buying milk alternatives look to ones that are fortified with calcium and vitamin D.

• Decaf Coffee: Decaf coffee contains about the same amount of calories as regular coffee, but if doesn’t contain the caffeine, which maybe better for some people’s system. As with regular coffee, decaf coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes as well, but the chemical used to remove the caffeine is actually harmful to your health. A better alternative is Swiss water process with is indicated on the packaging.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Kale and Chevre Soup
Serves: 8

2 cups white beans, rinse and soak overnight
2 tbs. salt
2 tbs, unsalted butter
1 medium carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1-1/2 cups tomato puree
1 cup chopped roasted red peppers
1 bunch black kale, stemmed and chopped
2 dried bay leaves
1 tbs, dried thyme
1 tsp. red chili flakes
1 cup heavy cream
1-1/2 cups soft goat cheese
1 tsp. black or white pepper
Kosher salt to taste

Place the beans and the water in a large Dutch oven over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and remove film from top. Simmer and add salt and allow to cook for up to 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, melt the butter and cook the carrots, celery, onion and garlic unto they are browned and softened. Stir in tomato puree and black kale and cook for about 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in vegetable mixture once the beans have cooked fully for an hour. Add the bay leaves, thyme and chili flakes and cook for 20 minutes. Add the heavy cream and goat cheese then salt and pepper to taste. Cook for an additional 20 minutes and serve.

Happy Eating!

• Cow’s Milk: Whole milk contains the most calories, while nonfat skim milk contains the least. Depending on the processor you are looking at anywhere from 80-140 calories per 8 oz. Milk is very nutritious and can give a large amount of calcium which is needed for women as they age. Milk also can give you vitamins A and D as well as protein too. The best milk to drink is indeed organic milk. You can guarantee you aren’t getting any added hormones or pesticides that could come directly from the cow to your body. Women who are pregnant or nursing could use milk to increase their calcium intake.

• Juices: Calories are pretty high in some juices from about 50-160 calories per 8 oz. serving, but the best part about juices are they can give you a full punch of vitamin C and antioxidants as well. Fruit juice has also been linked in helping to lower the risks of Alzheimer’s disease. Apple juice has anticancer properties on the colon. Grape juice can help with your memory and cranberry juice can help against urinary tract infections. The best juice you can drink is ones that you fresh squeeze yourself. If you own a juicer, use the entire fruit and vegetable in the juicer. You are guaranteeing you are getting the whole fiber of the product as well. Be leery of shelf juices, the longer they sit on the shelf the less nutritional benefits they have.

• Water: Water is 100% calorie free and comes from the earth naturally. Water helps to moisten membranes within the body and helps to flush out toxins that build up was well. Waste is one of the things that water helps to rid our body of and the more water we drink the more waste we get rid of. Drink pure, filtered water straight from your tap. No need to buy bottled water in plastic containers, just filter your own and store the water in stainless steel containers rather than plastics which can leach toxins into your water. If you like flavored waters simply squeeze a lemon or lime into the water instead of purchasing flavored waters which harbor artificial sweeteners and at times colors.
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Earthly Eating Tip

* Avoid messy kitchens during parties or just everyday by cleaning as you go. Quick clean counters and sinks as you use something and avoid having a pile of dishes after dinners by just loading as you use them. When dinner is over, give the plates and silverware a quick rinse and load into the dishwasher. Start the washer and tidy up around and you’re done. Take a quick broom over the floor and go have a glass of peppermint tea and relax.

Many drinks are actually pretty healthy, if you add the right ingredients. Here is a list of common beverages that can boost your health.

• Tea: Tea has zero calories and can be made from black, green, or white. It contains antioxidant compounds called catechins. It can boost your immune system and lower your risk of diabetes. White tea has the most catechins and black tea has the least.

• Herbal Teas: Most herbal tea contains about 2 calories and peppermint tea is the best to drink when wanting to aid in digestion or if you have indigestion. Ginger tea can help ease nausea and licorice and marshmallow root teas can help with sore throats and coughing. Sipping herbals tea on occasion is a great way to add beneficial aids to your diet, but to really get into herbs and tea blends speak with an herbalist to make sure you are taking the right herb for the right aliment.

• Smoothies: Smoothies can contain anywhere from 150 to upwards of 650 calories or more, depending on where and what your purchase to place in the smoothie. If you add the right ingredients you can add vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and even calcium. If you add the right fruits you can make a great smoothie that taste good as well. Try berries, banana, mango and even some watermelon or other melon as well. Blend about 2 cups o juice or milk with two cups frozen or fresh fruit like strawberries, and blueberries with bananas and drink up.
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Earthly Eating Tip

*When it comes to cooking always use organic over conventional. Organic foods are guaranteed to be the best ingredients and if the product has the USDA seal of approval you are sure to know it is the very best. Look for sugars like the Florida Crystals that are now Carbon-Free. Look for other carbon-Free products here.

• Spinach Salad with Avocado
Serves: 6

1 pomegranate
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbs. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 bunches flat leaf spinach, steams removed and well dried after washing
2 tbs, roasted, sunflower seeds,
1 avocado

Halve the pomegranate lengthwise and remove the seeds in a bowl of cold water. Discard the membrane and dry off pomegranate seeds.

In a bowl, whisk together 3 tbs, lemon juice, mustard and oil. Season with salt and pepper to your own taste. Toss spinach, sunflower seeds and pomegranate seeds with the dressing in the bowl and transfer to a serving platter.

Cut the avocado in half and remove the pit. Scoop out the flesh and slice into fat strips. Drizzle with lemon juice and place on top if salad. Serve.

• Chicken with Mustard Greens and Lemon
Serves: 6

2 tbs. olive oil
6 bone-in, skinless chicken breasts, halved crosswise
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 cup dry white wine, such as sauvignon blanc
1-1/2 pounds mustard green, stalks removed, leaves coarsely chopped
1 tbs. lemon juice, reserving wedges on another lemon
1/2 cup pitted olives

In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tbs. oil over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add half of it to the pot and cook until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Repeat with remaining oil and chicken and add to the plate.

Add the onions and garlic to the same pot and reduce heat. Cook for about 5 minutes and add wine and chicken and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat even more. Simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat.

Place green on top of chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cover and allow heat to move through the pot for about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and olive. Serve immediately with pan juices and lemon wedges on the side.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Orange Walnut Cake
Serves: 8

For the cake:
1/2 cup olive oil
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup walnuts
1 tbs. freshly grated orange zest
2 tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
Confectioners’ sugar

For Yogurt Topping:
1 cup Greek-style yogurt
2 tbs. confectioners’ sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush cake pan with oil and line with parchment paper. Brush with oil and sprinkle with flour and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the orange zest, flour, baking powder, salt and ground walnuts. Stir in eggs, brown sugar, orange juice and oil. Pour into pan and bake for about 45 minutes making sure a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool 10 minutes and remove from pan.

In a small bowl stir together yogurt and sugar and pour over the top of cooled cake. Dust with more sugar before serving.

Happy Eating!

It’s no mystery that the foods we eat can help or hurt our bodies, but did you know that certain foods can actually have a big positive impact on your brain as well? It’s true, certain foods you eat contain powerful vitamins and minerals that can help your brain perform at its peak performance level and give you the ability to overcome many mental obstacles. Here are the main foods you want to look for when trying to help the brain perform higher and better.

1. Vitamin B12: Look to chicken, salmon and yogurt. Yogurt as been shown to not only help the brain, but also help regulate the colon as well. Salmon and other fish can actually help the brain and the heart as well.

2. Vitamin B6: Look to avocados and chickpeas. Chickpeas should be added to anyone’s diet, they are enriched with great body charging ingredients.

3. Folate: Look to orange juice, spinach and asparagus. Orange juice is great any time. It can help the brain and help ward off potential cold bugs as well.

4. Magnesium: Look to spinach and walnuts. All nuts are a good thing in moderation so be careful not to go over-board with them.
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Cucumber Slices with Chickpeas and Thyme
Serves: 8

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tbs, fresh lemon juice
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
1 small garlic clove
1 tbs. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cucumber, sliced
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, cut into small strips

In a food processor, combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, thyme, garlic and oil and 1/4 cup water. Process until well blended and liquefied.

Place a tbs. of the mixture on top of the cucumber slices and top with the roasted red peppers. Finish off with some thyme leaves and serve. You can chill for about 30 before serving as well.

Happy Eating!