Spring Lunch Outdoors

It's always a good time catching up over lunch with a friend. Since the weather has been warm and sunny here in the Pacific NW I decided to break out my outdoor dinnerware and take the delicious fun outdoors.

On the menu, Asian inspired cuisine:
- Hand-chopped slaw (cabbage, red cabbage, carrots)
- Grilled chicken in a marinade of soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, etc.
- Brown rice
- Peanut sauce

Good food. Good company. Good times.

Nature's Got You Covered

As I sat on my deck this morning sipping on a freshly blended smoothie chocked full of goods, this thought came to mind...Nature's got you covered.

Think about it: All the food that is good for us is of the earth.  Fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, roots, herbs, on and on. There are no fruits or vegetables that are bad for you. Roots and herbs are used to heal and soothe. And mostly all things of the earth have multipurpose uses.  You can eat the flesh of a coconut, drink the milk from the coconut, extract the oil for cooking or use the oil for your skin and hair. How cool is that?  Nature's bounty is simply amazing.

So do your body a favor...When you're ready to reach for a so-called energy drink: 5 Hour Energy, Red Bull, Monster, etc. Remember, Nature's Got You Covered -- Opt for a homemade blended smoothie or juice and don't forget to add chia seeds or wheat germ to give you an extra-nutritional boost.

Blueberry Banana Kale Smoothie: 

Blueberries (Antioxidants), kale (Vitamins A, K), bananas (Potassium), 

chia seeds (more Omega 3 fatty acids than Salmon!)
 non-fat plain yogurt or non-dairy milk. 

Naturally sweet. Full of energy. Liquid Goodness!

Doggone Good: Home-cooked dog food

Our beloved Hugo became a part of our family six years ago. At the time, I had a co-worker who owned several working dogs, Retrievers, I believe. I mention this because the idea of making dog food from scratch at home using healthy, fresh food was introduced to me long ago by her. She would prepare large batches of fresh chicken, brown rice, and veggies. Although I wasn't living an OUTSIDE of the Box lifestyle quite yet the thought of home-cooked dog food intrigued me. I discussed the idea with the vet, but since our guy was just a pup the vet was not in favor of me feeding Hugo a fresh food diet.

Hugo is a purebred, Salt & Pepper Mini Schnauzer. Over the last couple of years his fur around his paws has started to turn brown. After some research I surmised that the brown discoloration is from the dye in the kibble I was feeding him. I used to buy him a decent brand kibble from the pet food store. But, bottom line it was still commercially processed. And, you know how I feel about commercially processed food. Since I've completely transformed myself, my diet and I no longer eat boxed, processed food.  Preparing fresh home-cooked dog food for Hugo is a natural progression.

Last week, I started preparing a fresh food diet for him too. Bye-bye bagged kibble.  This is a work in progress. So I'll be experimenting with what works best. Just as there are many diets for humans there are also tons of theories on what diet is best for dogs. No doubt there is a science behind it all, some say no to grains, some say yes.  I have to find what's best for him.

Here's what currently is in his bowl:

- Boiled whole chicken with no salt or other additives
- Brown rice or oats with no salt or other additives
- Raw vegetables (carrots, green beans, lettuce) I like serving the veggies raw because he gets the crunch -- similar to kibble

I'm also considereing adding fish oil, kelp, or a pet-food supplement to ensure he's getting the vitamins and minerals he needs. I'll check in with the vet to see what he thinks, but this time there is no talking me out of feeding him a fresh food diet. Hugo is officially OUTSIDE of the bag!

 More about home-cooked meals for pets:

Does it Pay to Make Your Own Pet Food?
Homemade Dog Food
Home-Cooked Dog Food Diets

A Cinco de Mayo, must: Guacamole

No surprise here: I make ALL of my dips, spreads, sauces, and dressings from scratch -- OUTSIDE of the Box. They are simple to make and the taste is sooooooo worth the small effort.

To celebrate, Cinco de Mayo...Here's a simple, delicious Guacamole recipe that will please any crowd -- from my cookbook -- Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box.
 
 
Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box with Chrisetta Mosley

60 simple, delicious, healthy recipes

Reconnect with your food and take control of your health in your very own kitchen using this collection of simple recipes focusing on whole, natural foods.

GUACAMOLE

PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 5 MINUTES
SERVES 6

Ingredients 


3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
1 lime, juiced 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more if you like it spicy)
1/4 medium red onion, diced
1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
1 big handful fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
Baked Tortilla Chips, (page 47) for serving, optional

Directions

Halve and pit the avocados, then scoop out the flesh with a spoon into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados with a fork, leaving them still a bit chunky. Add the remaining ingredients and gently fold everything together.

Lay a piece of plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Week 6: Learn to Shop, Cook, Eat: Outside of the Box with Chrisetta Mosley

The final session nourishing the desert...Tuesday, April 30th.

We spent six weeks together learning how to shop and create healthy, simple delicious meals -- OUTSIDE of the Box!

For the final session I whipped up: Smokey Black Bean Dip with fresh Baked Tortilla Chips and Kale Chips (not shown) -- they gobbled them up too fast. ;) And, Nikki an eager class participant followed my Cashew Energy Bars recipe and brought a few in for us to enjoy! Now, that's OUTSIDE of the Box.

A blog post wrapping up the entire program forthcoming...But for now here's photos from week 6.