Kitchy Tips, Probios, Protein & Smoothies

Life is hard; food doesn't have to be #172 [vol5, 6.3]

Tip: Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs

Everybody has their way of peeling hard boiled eggs. Here’s how I’m doing it these days with fresh eggs.

Gently tap the shell on the smallest end (top or bottom) until you hear it crack. The sound changes but the shell doesn’t actually come open.

Boil eggs as usual. I put egg in cold water, bring to a boil, cover then turn off heat for 9 minutes. Submerge in a bowl of ice water. Peel.

Smoothies

Maybe it’s the summer warmth that leads me to summer smoothie making. The convenience of nourishment on the go is always welcomed. I’ve been making daily smoothies for breakfast (or lunch) and love it.

Here are the ingredients I’ve been using in various combinations:

Kefir is quickly becoming my favorite daily super food. Probably best known for its probiotic powerhouse effect for populating the good guys. Homemade kefir boasts of over 60 strains of probiotics. The store bought variety is still an amazing source of at least 12 different strains (yogurt usually has one, maybe two). Kefir boosts immunity in the digestive system, improves digestion by breaking down food more efficiently, fights infection, inhibits growth of harmful bacteria like salmonella, E. coli, and helicobacter pylori.

Kefir contains enzymes that can help break down lactose, making it a good option for people who are lactose intolerant or have trouble digesting dairy. It’s a good source of calcium and vitamin K2, which helps activate osteocalcin, a protein that promotes bone metabolism which reinforces bone density and reduces the risk of fractures.

Buy it at Kroger or make it at home with a starter.

Pineapple & Papaya + All the Frozen Fruits

I’m enjoying all the frozen fruits (and sometimes veg!) in my smoothies. There are smoothie blends in the freezer section yet I find it more fun and cost effective to make my own.

• banana

• pineapple

• strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries

• papaya (bought fresh for a group but wasn’t v popular so I froze the extras)

• riced cauliflower

• kale or spinach

Did you know that canned pineapple has 40% less vitaminC than fresh or frozen? The heat from canning destroys the vitamin C and all of the enzymes.

Pineapples have an enzyme called BROMELAIN and we used it as a supplement after my oldest son’s reconstructive facial surgery.

Bromelain is promoted as a dietary supplement for reducing pain and swelling, especially of the nose and sinuses, gums, and other body parts after surgery or injury. It is also promoted for osteoarthritis, cancer, digestive problems, and muscle soreness. Topical bromelain is promoted for burns. Source

Papain is an enzyme that occurs in raw papaya fruit. It is a protease, meaning it breaks down proteins. You can purchase papaya enzyme as a supplement and it helps with reflux — a better option to Tums. I ate papaya enzyme like candy in my last two pregnancies. Papain also contains substances that might help fight infection and heal wounds.

When we lived in Fiji, I learned that papaya is an effective natural laxative. One of our children was constipated and eating a couple of servings of fresh papaya was just what the doctor ordered!

More protein (sometimes getting 40g protein per smoothie!):

• cultured cottage cheese - means it has probiotics - Good Culture brand (is a B Corp that values people and the planet!). Find it at Kroger, some Wal-Marts and Costco (only sells reduced fat variety). Preference is always purchase dairy with whole fat to help with balancing blood sugars and hormones.

• Peanut butter - preference is natural, without sugar and organic since peanuts are heavily sprayed with antifungals.

• pea protein - I’ve used both vanilla from Arbonne with added vitamins /minerals and an unsweetened one from Azure. Some protein powders carry heavy metals so it is important to me to buy from a company that has third party testing, like from the Clean Label Project.

  

Probiotics for Kids

Last week I wrote about eating probiotics vs taking a pill. I do both. I’ve found a probiotic for kids that I promise even the pickiest kid WILL ASK FOR because it tastes like a pixie stick. Don’t just take my word for it.

I’m happy to mail a sample (leave a comment or reply to this email) or order by faith.

For those who love to take advantage of deals:

Get 10% off with code: Arbonne10

Or get 20% off for the year by becoming a Preferred Client.  It’s free this month, normally $29. 

Preferred Clients get free shipping and a free gift of your choice (from the best sellers, worth $40-60, depending on what you choose) when spending $120 (which is $150 retail).

If you add $150 (retail, which is $120 preferred customer price) to your cart at checkout, it asks if you want to become a preferred client.

I think every kid in America would benefit from a daily probiotic.

Mexi-Cauli Rice from Costco

I bought a bag of frozen seasoned cauliflower rice from Costco (with 5 (10oz) packages inside). I’ve used it as a stand alone side dish. Last night I added it to a pound of local grass finished ground beef for tacos (plus pulverized dried mushrooms - hide all the nutrition!!).

I posted a quick video of it on Instagram then read the ingredient label (why didn’t I read it while at Costco?!!) and found yeast extract, which is a pseudonym for MSG. Gah. Why?! My husband is very sensitive to MSG. So far this hasn’t been a problem for him so I will continue using the remainder but likely won’t purchase again. The rest of us aren’t sensitive to it. However MSG is a neurotoxin and I don’t want to regularly consume it.

Hospitality

WELCOME!!

This week we hosted two gatherings. The first was an extended family birthday party. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and a niece all celebrate June birthdays. So fun to live close enough to celebrate in (almost) real time!

Then we had overnight guests from Orlando en route to Minnesota. The Fagerstrom family were friends from our years Little Rock. Brandi was one of my first real food converts. Twelve years ago we hosted them for dinner their first month of living in Little Rock. I never dreamed she would transition from the standard American diet as quickly as she did. Pictured below, middle, giving her kefir grains. She’s used them in the past but lost them in her move to Orlando. Her fourteen year old son said, as I explained how to make their dinner bowls, “I love fermented veggies!”

Love having guests in our home!

What We Ate

1/ Family dinner for twelve: hamburgers, hotdogs, mac and cheese, raw veg and dip, plus birthday cake made by my MIL.

Watermelon is the easiest summer appetizer, dessert or random gift!

2/ The day the Fagerstroms came into town, I also took dinner to a family with a new baby. So I doubled our dinner which was Mediterranean meatball bowls (my fav meal of all time - bowl pictured far right, above.) This meal is copied after Cava, a restaurant similar in style to Chipotle except with Mediterranean flavors.

I also made Alexandra’s smooth and creamy hummus. Fantastic method and recipe. I doubled it since I had frozen garbanzos and just enough tahini. Warning: doubling this recipe in a Vitamix ended up being 10x the mess. Next time I will make two single batches instead of trying to double it. I sent some on the road with our overnight guests.

Life is hard; food doesn’t have to be.

Julie

PS - next week I’m going to California for a traditional foods intensive training with Hilary Boynton (Heal Your Gut Cookbook author). I learned of her through the Weston Price Foundation 12+ years ago. She is passionate about changing school lunches in America and actually is the lunch lady at a private school in Topagna, CA. She has an Instagram account called School of Lunch. If you’re on Insta I’m sure to share what I’m learning so follow along!

PSS - grab some kefir this weekend if you do grocery shopping!