13 yr Anniversary of Blog/ Recommended Reading

 13 year Blog Anniversary!

We started writing this blog in February 2011.  We started on a journey for better health and to do our part to bring awareness to animal cruelty in the agriculture industry.  Friends were always asking us for the recipes of delicious food we shared with them.  Kristen suggested we start a blog to share those and other insights into being more conscious about living a more sustainable life.  Now here we are, with over 100,000 views on the blog, and I am so grateful that we are able to share those ideas we have learned.  Over the years I have had to go back to certain posts and update on the information that has changed.  My ideas on health are always improving and I like to suggest to those that read theses posts to continue to do the same.  After all, it has to work for you! We are all different in what we need to thrive.  

In the past couple of years the Blogspot.com has changed their platform with how it works.  July 2021 was the last post I was able to put in the sidebar😒😒. It was beyond my control.  Please feel free to explore any posts from now going back in time.  

Thank you for coming along with us!

Recommended Reading

Some good news

Pedaling Kindness this is what is all about, generosity.

Tony the Tiger says It's great!

This is a Whale of a Story  Humpbacks on the rebound.

Health

Milk DOESN'T do a body good!

The Top 10 videos of 2023 from NutritionFacts.org

18 Ways to Prevent Heart and Reverse Heart Disease

Why you should Eat Clean

This podcast from Darin Olien on Sprouts with Doug Evans will blow your mind.

Nut Health Benefits 

What are AGES? and how to avoid them.

Environment

A Ranch Rewilded transforming California's next State Park

Being an ISA Certified Arborist this really interested me.. NYC will plant thousands of trees

Panama Canal traffic cut because of drought.

What you eat can impact Climate Change

Crazy Shit

Aviation Company created jet fuel from human poop!

WTF! Why? Inside the Golden Globe Swag Bag

That's all I've got for now.

Be kind

Judd

2 Awesome Muffin Recipes

Everyone Loves Pizza

 I don't think I have ever heard of someone that doesn't love pizza.

That being said, going plant-based you choose to go dairy-free..."I can't quit the cheese!" Finding a plant-based cheese that actually melts reasonably well is hard to find.

Trader Joe's "Dairy free Mozzarella Style Shred" made with Cashews is the answer.

This simple Mini Pizza Muffins recipe comes from Weight Watchers but with a little twist.

1 lb pre-made pizza dough (Trader Joe's)

3/4 cup pizza sauce (Trader Joe's)

1 cup Dairy free Mozzarella Shreds (Trader Joe's)

Preheat oven 450'

Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and press into a silicone muffin pan, pressing down the middle. Slightly brush dough with olive oil/garlic powder.

Add 1 tb sauce, 1-1/2 tb "cheese"

Bake for approximately 15 minutes, then let cool and enjoy!

Just Bananas Muffins

This recipe comes from Forks Over Knives and Chef AJ

Oats, bananas and applesauce are the base ingredients.

These make an easy breakfast along with a bowl of berries etc.

No dairy, no sugar, no flour, no oil and no salt!

4 very ripe bananas

2 cups oats, ground into flour

1/2 cup unsweetened organic apple juice

1/2 cup unsweetened organic applesauce

2tb ground flax seeds

1tsp gr cinnamon

1/2tb vanilla extract

1/2tb apple cider vinegar

1/2tb baking powder

1/2tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350'

Grind oats into flour and add all other dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

Puree or mash bananas until smooth.

Add the apple juice, apple sauce, extract and cider vinegar to banana puree until combined.

Pour over dry ingredients until combined.

Optional- Add 1/2 cup frozen blueberries

Pour into silicone muffin pan until 3/4 full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes(28-30 minutes if added blueberries)

Enjoy!

Be Kind

Judd

Cashew Milk Coffee Cream

 Cashew Milk Coffee Creamer

Try this plant-based coffee creamer for a creamy alternative to store bought dairy creamer.

Homemade Cashew Milk Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw organic cashews (soaked overnight)
• 4 cups filtered water
• 2-3 Medjool dates (pitted)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Method:

1. Soak cashews for 7 to 12 hours. Filtered water is preferable.
2. Drain and rinse soaked nuts.
3. Blend all the ingredients in a blender or juicer for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the milk is smooth and creamy.
   
   
   
4. Enjoy!
5. Be kind!
6. 
   

Recommended Reading

Miso says "Wake up, it's reading time!" 

I haven't done a Recommended Reading post since May 0f 2022!

Life has been busy and my attention has been scattered.  Now back on the right track, let's get down to business.

Some good news...

Honesty prevails at a Swedish library when it was accidently left open.

Get your swing on at America's largest swing set. open now in Philadelphia.

The world can feel heavy...32 Reasons why everything will be okay

Coming 2024...one love, one message lives on..Bob Marley-One Love

Health

What to eat for a healthy gut...Gut Health Diet

Research has shown that a plant-based diet can help in controlling Parkinson 's Disease

Known as the 3 Sisters these 3 foods consumed in this Costa Rican Blue Zones help residents live to 100.

An Essential Oil Blend to open your sinuses.

The surprising link between hydration and aging.  and the Importance of hydration.

The new rapidly growing trend of Multigenerational Living

Matcha More powerful than regular green tea? YES, yes it is!

Recipes

Coconut Crusted Tofu served over your choice of grain, by The Narddog Cooks, this is not the Andy from "The Office", but his name is Andy Bernard! For relaxing and great vegan recipes check him out.

Change up your grain intake with a Inca Quinoa Salad.

Today we are having simple "Blackened Tofu Sandwiches"

Press and slice Tofu, melt vegan butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Coat the tofu with "blackened seasoning" cook until blackened on both sides. Serve on bread of your choice with tomatoes, spinach, avocado etc. Easy seasoning mix of: paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper.

Environment

How the Dutch went down the toilet looking for heat. Sewage waste is being seen as a reliable for millions of homes in the Netherlands.

The Worlds largest landfill is now a park in NYC.

If humans went extinct, what would Earth look like one year later?

6 Must-see Environmental Films and TV shows of 2023

Crazy Shit

If you had a choice to receive 1 million dollars in one month or a penny doubled every 30 days which would you choose? It Might Surprise You!

If it isn't the Otters who take over the world, A group of Orca's originating from one "Grandmother" are doing their best to get revenge.

This can only happen in Florida.

This isn't really crazy shit, but interesting. Are you a miracle?

That's all for now!

 

Be kind!

Judd

Re-purpose Your Coffee Grounds

Re-purpose Your Coffee Grounds 

We are a coffee loving family!  We mostly have used a single-serve coffee machine over the years.  On occasion we used a French Press or a pour over for something different. The issue is, for the best tasting coffee a French Press can't be beat.  We recently purchased  a Smeg Kettle and a French Press. While it takes a little longer to brew than a K-cup, the wait is worth it. The flavor of the brew is phenomenal and so much more rewarding.

But wait, what do we do with the coffee grounds? We can just throw away the used K-cup, but it ends up in the landfill.  Rather than just dumping the grounds into the trash where they also end up in the landfill or down your kitchen drain which can cause plumbing issues, there are better ways to dispose of them. 

  A couple of ways to re-purpose your grounds are:

*  Turn them into a healthy and earth conscious fertilizer.  This will improve the ability of the plants to retain nutrients and supply additional nitrogen for improved growth. You can also spread them on your lawn or throw them in your compost pile if you are lucky enough to have one.

* Homemade hair and face products. A coffee body scrub can exfoliate and stimulate dry skin.

*Deodorize your fridge. Place a bowl of dried coffee grounds to eliminate unwanted odors.

Thank you for reading!

Be kind.

Judd

Soy Curl Chick'n Salad Sandwich

 

Soy Curl Chick'n Salad Sandwich

This has to be the best vegan version of chicken salad that I have had. Some recipes use chickpeas like our Cowabunga sandwich. This one tops them all!

4oz Soy Curls

2 Organic celery stalks

2 tbs fresh or dried Dill

2-3 diced Dill pickles

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup vegan mayo

Black pepper

Salt

Rehydrate the curls in water for 10 minutes, then squeeze out excess water the best you can.

Pulse the Soy Curls in a food processer.

Mix all other ingredients in medium.

 

In medium skillet, sauté' soy curls in 2 tbs olive oil.

Adding 2 tbs. onion powder.

1 tsp. fresh or dried thyme.

1 tsp. celery salt.

1 tsp. Italian seasoning.

1/2 tbs. turmeric.

1 tbs. Nutritional yeast.

When browned add all ingredients into medium bowl.

Serve on whole grain bread or sub roll with sliced tomatoes or 

Avocado Mango Salsa

1 ripe mango

1 ripe Hass avocado

1/2 diced small onion

1/2 tsp. Coriander 

Mix all together to make a delicious salsa

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.

Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land.

There is no other land, there is no other life but this.

Henry David Thoreau

Be kind

Judd

It's About Thyme!

 

It's About Thyme!

Thyme is a herb whose small leaves grow on clusters of thin stems.  Grown primarily as an aromatic culinary herb it forms a mound 6-12" and 6' wide.  Obviously low growing, it prefers dry, sandy and even rocky soils. It prefers full sun, good drainage and is even drought and frost-proof.  This makes it a very easy herb anyone can grow, even inside year -round!  Just remember to keep it trimmed back. Use cuttings of 5-6" for cooking, leaving 5' of growth for good health of the plant. This aromatic woodsy tasting herb is great on many types of fish, in  soups and veggies. 

What you might not have known about thyme is its medicinal uses!

At a time when antibiotics and drugs of synthetic origin weren't being used, thyme was actively being used by traditional healers to treat a variety of ailments- from coughing to nervous disorders!  The many benefits of using thyme are:

*Immunity booster: packed with vitamins and antioxidants, helping to prevent colds, flus and other illness.

*Cough and sore throat remedy: the essential oils help alleviate the cough and sore throats caused by bronchitis, colds and flu.

*Reduces inflammation and speeds healing: thyme has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antiseptic properties which is why it has been long used for cuts, scrapes and bruises.

3-Ingredient Immunity Tea

This is excellent for a cough or sore throat also!

Take 3 sprigs of fresh thyme in 1 cup boiled water and let steep for 10 minutes.

Strain into a cup, squeezing a half of a lemon and stir in 1 tablespoon of manuka honey or raw local honey.

Sip and enjoy!

Thank you for reading.

Have a great day.

Judd