What You Really Need to Detox

Detox [v.  dee - toks]  - to undergo treatment to rid the body of poisonous substances, remove excess junk and clutter, to de-crapify 

I HATE surprises.  One of Brian's favorite ways to irritate me is to tell me he has a surprise which cannot be known until some future time.  And (to NO surprise), this conversation always ends with him telling me at least partial details of the surprise because I aggressively nag it out of him.  So for those of you undergoing the Gluten Challenge, I wanted to let you in on one little secret.

When you remove the @#$#%^* from your diet, you may remove (or increase your awareness of) the @#$#%^* in your life.

Brian and I will be undergoing a 21 day cleanse starting tomorrow.  I'd by lying if I said I wasn't anxious about giving up my Pinot Noir.  Specifically, what will Brian and I drink after we collapse in our chairs from getting both girls tucked in bed...or when our rental home kitchen ceiling starts dripping (read: raining) for 45 minutes.  And then, there's the (insert crunchy salty snack here).  When stress gets high and life gets fast, some people do yoga or meditate, I crunch.  The benefits of detoxing are far-reaching and we're just proposing baby steps.

We are committed to 21 days of self-care, decluttering, and removal of all the junk.  We're opening that closet door, you know, the one with stuff piled high to the ceiling just so the door could be shut.  Stay tuned for the detox journey.  Let us know what junk comes up in yours.  At the end of the month, let's have a big yard sale!

The Gluten Challenge

Like neon legwarmers, "Gluten Free" products have become more prevalent and more and more of us are opting to decrease our intake or cut it out altogether.  Many of you who order our gluten free version of meals tell us that it's a preference versus a health necessity, for reasons of weight loss, less gastric distress, improvements in digestion, or more energy.  This week, eight of our nine menu items are naturally gluten free.  

Here is our Gluten Challenge for you:  Try going entirely Gluten Free this week.  Note how you feel and see if any of these benefits might seek you out.  Seriously...you will hardly notice a difference between the organic whole wheat and the organic brown rice pastas.

Here are some quick, easy, delicious Gluten Free breakfast and snack ideas:

Breakfast:

Cereal alternatives:  gluten free oats, quinoa flakes, rice krispy cereal, or Barbara's Puffins cereal (kid-friendly)

Cooked hot breakfast ideas:  scrambled tofu with veggies and hash browns, chocolate chip breakfast bars, or Lightlife smokey tempeh strips on Food for Life brown rice toast with some Daiya cheddar melted on top

Snacks:

Popcorn:  step away from the microwave...if you don't want to or know how to pop your own, try Trader Joe'sbrand of air-popped popcorn 

Nuts:  make your own trail mix blend (walnuts, cashews, raisins, dark chocolate chips, or whatever may be in your cabinet)

Bars:  we like Raw Revolution, Glutino, or Envirokidz

Juices/Smoothies:  if you don't have your own juicer or high powered blender, visit the Woodside Earth barto be blown away by the variety, quality, and convenience

How To Order: A Website Primer

As parents who purchased the "100,000 Baby Names" book on the way to the hospital to birth our first-born, we know the pressure and responsiblity that goes into a name.  Our Isabelle, of French origin meaning "God's promise," displays the beauty and everlasting love of her namesake, just as our Adrienne (which must be Latin for "One who raises hell") lives up to hers.

So, what do you call yourself?  A carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, flexitarian?  Click here to read more about lables and why we choose to identify with them on our blog.  We'd love to hear your comments on our postings here!

A quick roadmap of our website:

1.  Upcoming menus ~ always located on the left-hand side-bar on each page (beyond the homepage).  Click on a menu item to see a description or click on the "Menu for the Week Of" to see the menu in its entirety.

2.  Current menu (i.e., what you're eating now) ~ this new location will be under the "How to Eat" tab in the upper right-hand corner.  Here you will find the menu, menu ideas, suggested pairings, and other musings from the weekly dishes.

3.  Login (upper right hand corner) ~ if you have ever ordered from us online, you will find an area to login (your email address) with a password (your last name in lowercase letters).  This IS NOT the same login and password from our old website.

4.  Sign Up (upper right hand corner) ~ New Customers, create a new account here for the first and last time!

5.  913-475-8004 (upper right hand corner) ~ PLEASE call us with any questions on navigating our new site, ordering, or other general feedback.

Wraps Are the New Black

Sandwiches are so 80's (ever since low-carb diets gave bread a bad name).  Wraps are the new black.

Less mess, more security, healthier, slimmer, sleeker, and it just fits right in the palm of your hand.  For 12 years of Catholic school, my lunches consisted of a sandwich, chips, and some sort of Scooby snack - a zinger, ho-ho, twinkie, ding-dong, or suzy-q.  I've moved beyond my brown bag lunch, but just like Linus to his blankie, I miss my sandwiches.  

Here are a few of our favorites and some Wrap Ideas:

1.  Lettuce Wraps:  Take a butter lettuce leaf and scoop out some of our delicious Oriental Cashew Vegetable Stirfry.  Top with your favorite blend of soy sauce/hot sauce for a fork-free dinner.

2.  Tortilla Wraps:  We often put our Conveniently Natural dishes into an Ezekial Sprouted Grain tortilla (and perhaps top with some Daiya cheese and bake to get that cheesy goodness).  Try slicing the Rich Lentil Loaf with Tomato Basil Sauce and putting into a tortilla with some lettuce, tomato, and onion.

3.  Greek Pita:  Ditch those Hot Pockets and scoop the Masala Dahl with Carmelized Onions and Carrots into a pita pocket (with a dollop of hummus).

4.  Raw Zucchini Wraps:  Our raw food chef is preparing one of our favorites ~ slices of zucchini wrapped around veggies and a sunflower seed sauce.  Easy, convenient, and very filling!  

Repurposed Chili

     7 Ways to Eat Chili (Your Kids Will Love These)

1. In a bowl.  Grab some cornbread (or better yet, swing by the kitchen and pick up a loaf of New Traditionalist organic, vegan bread).
2. Fiesta Enchiladas!  In a baking pan, arrange corn tortillas (even tearing to ensure that the entire bottom is covered with tortillas).  Then, layer with chili, tortillas, butternut squash (already roasted for 30 minutes at 400 degrees), tortillas, tomato sauce, and finally cheese. 
3. Chili 5 Way.  Spaghetti noodles and chili (we’ve already added the onions, carrots, and celery) topped off with some Daiya Cheddar Cheese.
4. Game Night Nachos.  Line a baking pan with Scoops Tortilla Chips, and fill each Scoop with spoonful of chili and cheese.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  Then top with Tofutti Sour Cream and avocado slices.
5. Chili Cheesedogs.  Good old-fashioned veggie dogs on a bun loaded with chili and cheese.  We like Applegate Farms.
6. Chili Baked Potatoes.  Load up a baked potato with steamed broccoli and other favorite greens topped with chili and chives.
7. The Ultimate Queso Dip.  Toss a cup or two into your favorite queso or check out our website for one of our favorites (see it under Sample Menu).  

Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad

Did you wake up today panicked in your own forgetfulness about that dish you volunteered to bring to the Fourth of July party?  Here's a quick, easy recipe for a Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad - it's super-duper nutrient dense, raw (read: fast), and delicious!  I know what you're thinking...raw kale and brussels sprouts?  Seriously?  Yes, TRUST ME, I would not steer you wrong.  Remember, I like junk food recipes as much as the next American.

Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad

Ingredients:
1 bunch of kale, chopped into bite sized pieces or put in food processor
4-5 cups Brussels Sprouts, chopped finely or put in food processor
1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds (or any other nut you have on hand)
Optional: Shredded cheese (parmesan, pecorino, feta, goat recommended)
Dressing:
Juice from one lemon (or 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup of organic extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp of minced shallot or onion
1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
1/4 tsp real salt

Make dressing by mixing all ingredients, then set aside.

Optional: toast almonds in pan lightly coated with oil or in oven for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees.  (If you're short on time, just toss them in.)

After tearing the kale leaves off the steam, massage the kale for about 30 seconds.  Seriously.  It will break down the tough walls, making it softer.  (Don't you wonder who figured out things like massaging kale and sweating eggplant?)  It's a holiday...give it some love.  For the Brussels sprouts, just be sure to chop off the stem and then pulse in food processor a few times.


Mix together the kale, Brussels sprouts, and nuts.  Then, toss with dressing and serve!

How to Stop the Chaos!

Is life kicking your rear end right now?  Personally, I feel like I’m standing in front of that Showbiz game called Whac-a-mole (yes, I know Showbiz got bought out by Chucky Cheese, but I’m old school).  And in 2011, I was totally kicking butt hammering at those little moles popping up with my soft oversized mallet.  Now, I feel like I’ve got one leg up on the machine with a foot and knee covering two holes, an elbow on another, and my spare hand has a cleaver and some duct tape. 

When I sit down to write our newsletters, I close my eyes and ask myself what you - our beloved and busy customers and subscribers – need or want to read.  A health tip, a recipe, a story (with bits of self-deprecating humor)...  Today, I had a hard time finding that quiet moment.  The noise was so loud.  So, I’m wondering if it’s loud at your house too…

I actually like moving fast and enjoy a bit of chaos and quick problem-solving.  So, I resist activities like yoga and meditation, because you can’t multi-task while doing those things.  Loud noises, on the other hand, will put me in bed with my head under the covers.  So, here’s my tip:  Stop Resisting.  If you pictured me (or you) in front of that silly Whac-a-mole game, don’t I (you) look ridiculous?  I’m tired, I have a leg cramp, and no one is asking me to contort my body in this way to stop those freaking moles from popping up.  I truly believe in the power of just letting things go, let it flow through you or around you (or wherever it was supposed to go).  But again, I resist this because I like to be active and ‘doing.’ 

So, I picture myself holding a large vessel – a box, trashbag, wheelbarrow, dumpster, Santa’s toy bag, whatever, and allow all those moles to pop up - the to-do lists to get long, the appointments to fill up, the ‘shoulds’ to creep in, and the noise to get really, really loud.  All that stuff and the exhaustion, chaos, guilt, frustration, and anxiety that goes with it.  When it’s all out there, I put it in this bag (and in this scenario, I’m so strong I can carry it despite its heaviness and awkward shape) and toss it in a rapid-flowing river.  (For my eco-friends out there, I promise this is not going to a landfill or polluting our oceans.) 

Then, I dust off my hands off, watch it get carried farther and farther away from me, and finally sit down.  And after all that ‘work,’ now I’m hungry…