by | Health & Wellness
I try to avoid breads, flours, etc. as much as I can. So when I saw this recipe for Cauliflower Crusted Pizza I absolutely had to try it. The word pizza had me salivating from the get go.
FYI – I found this recipe on Pinterest, one of my new favorite things.
Before you say “gross” you have to try it at least once.
Say you will.. Come on.. say it..
i'm a messy cook in case you hadn't noticed
ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
- 1 cup shredded mozarella cheese
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. crushed garlic
- olive oil (optional) – I used actual Garlic olive oil from Devo Olive Oil. You’ll love it.
directions:
To “Rice” the Cauliflower:
- Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don’t have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes. There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.
- One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
the cauliflower crust after you bake 15 minutes
To Make the Pizza Crust:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9″ round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.
- Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven. To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).
I didn’t use as much cheese as the recipe called for and I would love to find a way to use something else to mix the crust together besides cheese. Any ideas, I’d love to hear them.
*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.
by | Health & Wellness
Yesterday I wrote about six of the greatest cleansing foods. Kale made the list. It is truly one of my new favorites. It’s great for cleansing the inestinal tract and it’s full of fiber.
So…
Say goodbye to the days of Pringles and Cheetos. I introduce Kale chips to you.
Ingredients:
- 2 bundles of kale
- Devo Garlic Olive Oil (Shameless plug I know)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Tear kale leaves off. I prefer to leave them in larger pieces, because once baked, they shrivel, but the preference is yours.
- Wash thourohly.
- Let dry.
- Cover a flat cookie sheet with aluminum foil and drizzle olive oil over the pan.
- Lay out on the pan. ( I go with one cookie sheet per bundle). Sprinkle garlic olive oil over kale.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until crispy. Remove and enjoy.
FYI…
They are very similair to Pringles.
“Once you pop. You can’t stop.”
I forgot to get a photo of the finished product, but here’s what it should like when it’s baked and crispy.
photo credit: eraine (creative commons)
Good news for you! Want to get some of the olive oil I mentioned above? The first 30 people to purchase the Devo Garlic Olive Oil will receive 20% off their order. Use coupon code: KALE. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Click here to place your order.
Have you tried my new favorite recipe yet? How did you like it? Comment below…
by | Health & Wellness
If you’ve never done a body cleanse, I highly recommend it. There are so many benefits to it. Cleansing is a form of detoxing your body. I recently did an extreme cleanse called The Standard Process. It lasted 21 days and I have no regrets about doing it. I’m planning to tell you the details of that later.
Though a regular cleanse is beneficial, you can use foods to help the process as well. There are many foods that will cleanse the bodies organs, such as the liver, kidneys, intestines, and skin.
Here are six of the top cleansing foods. I’m sure a few of these are already on your list of favorites.
Avocados – Some people just assume these are fattening and should be avoided. Not true. Avocados contain good fats that actually help to lower your cholesterol. These make great intestinal cleansers.
Kale – This has become my new favorite. I think I could eat it everyday. This dark, green leafy vegetable is high in fiber, which cleanses the intestinal tract. My recipe on baked kale soon to come.
Lemons – Known to detoxify the liver, as it contains glutathione, which is made by vitamin C. Add a lemon to water to start the cleansing process.
Blueberries – This lovely fruit helps to lower inflammation and lessen pain. Not only that, they help to prevent infections, such as urinary tract, by blocking bacteria.
Flaxseeds or Flaxseed Oil – A necessity for any cleansing process. Full of Omega-3s and more. I actually use it almost every day in my steel-cut oats. There’s no taste, and it adds great fiber.
Garlic – Get rid of parasites and viruses in both the intestines and blood. You may need to carry a breath mint around from now on, but it’s worth it.
For more information on other cleansing foods, check out this article.
What other types of health related facts would you like to learn about? I would love to know. Comment below…
by | Health & Wellness
I’m finally running again, after a long break due to health issues. Thanking God for second chances, health, and energy to hit my feet to the pavement, or treadmill again. Thanking Plexus, too.
Running is good for you on so many levels. Whether just to get out in the sunshine, or to pump some blood to your heart.
I run in the mornings. I know if I don’t then it will never happen. It may be different for you, but I recommend hitting the gym before the rest of you day starts. That way there are no excuses why you can’t make it later.
I mentioned, running, but notice I talk about jogging as well. You don’t have to run a marathon, just get your feet moving.
Here are six reasons to take that morning jog:
1. Cardiovascular Toning: There are more pro’s to jogging than simply burning fat. It does wonders for your heart. If you turn it into a habit at least 3x/week, your risk of heart disease is lowered significantly, and it increases your longevity.
2. Breathing: Jogging is the perfect activity to get your lungs in tip-top shape. It’s a breathing-intense activity made for everyone, athlete or not.
3. It’s Cost-Efficient: Though I do a lot of running on the treadmill at the gym, just because I like it better, you don’t have to have a membership to start jogging. Load up the iPod and head outside. It’s free.
4. Fresh Air: On the days I want a change of pace or scenery, I enjoy jogging outside. The air is fresh, and if it’s cooler, it actually helps to alleviate pain. I hear the air does wonders on your skin, too.
5. Great Body: I’m not trying to be the next great bodybuilder, but perhaps you are. Regardless, jogging helps you tone and get fit. For all my single friends, you never know who you’ll meet on a morning jog. Get out of the way – he’s mine!
6. Easily Accomplished: When you’re first getting started, running may seem impossible. But just like with anything, when you keep doing it, it gets easier. You just have to have the right mindset. I load up the iPod and always stick a towel over the screen. I know it takes about 9-10 songs to hit my goal. Instead of staring at the screen wondering when I’ll hit 3 miles, I just get in the groove of the music until I’m done. It goes by much faster than you think.
Following these six steps will get you on the right path to a healthier you in no time. Don’t give up. Keep going. Just take the next right step, even when your legs tell you not to.
The rewards will be worth it?
Can you think of other advantages to jogging? Comment below…
by | Health & Wellness, Life Application
A year ago next month I completed one the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. That thing was the Table Rock Freedom Center, which is a 12-month discipleship program for women with life-controlling issues.
For 12 months I lived in the same house with between 4 and 10 women, depending on who stayed and who didn’t. We shared a closet, a bathroom, the dinner table, and pretty much everything else. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner together at the same time everyday. We went to church together. We rode in the same cars together. The only time we weren’t together was during the eight hours of sleep every night. But guess what? We slept in the same room together!
Perhaps you’re thinking, that doesn’t sound that hard. Maybe you’re right. Picture this for a second: If you’re married, imagine never leaving your husband’s side 24/7 for one complete year. Could you do it? If you’re not married, imagine never leaving your nagging mother’s side 24/7 for one complete year.
Still not convinced?
Every day we faced the haunting issues of our past. We cried. We grieved. We screamed. We fought. We learned to forgive. We learned to stop hating those who had hurt us. We learned to acceptance forgiveness from others. We learned to forgive ourselves. We learned to love. We learned to receive love. We learned who we are in Christ. We cried. We grieved. We screamed. We fought.
But at the end of the day we sat in our room and prayed together. Nothing brings unity in a house full of women faster than prayer.
I could write a book about the things that changed my life during the course of that year. Oh wait! I am writing a book about that. Seriously though, it maybe have been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was worth it. God changed me behind the walls of The Table Rock Freedom Center. And now I want to give back.
TRFC has an opportunity to win $50,000 from Giving of Life and they need your help. They need votes. They need ALOT of votes.
This amazing Christ-focused, non-denominational program operates strictly on the donations of others. The cost of providing for one student each month is $1500. Imagine what $50,000 would do.
Please take the time to go here and vote, then pass it onto your friends.
Interested in blogging about this organization, interviewing the students and more? Send me an email at info[at]sundijo[dot]com.
Thank you for your votes!
by | Health & Wellness, Life Application
Photo Credit: tanakawho (Creative Commons)
I am on day three of a 21-day cleanse, provided by Standard Process. Yes, for the next 18 days my life will revolve around shakes, fruits, and vegetables.
I am actually very excited about the health benefits of doing this cleanse, even though it won’t be the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Perhaps I will share a blog post after all is said and done, with the incredible results I have experienced and hope to continue.
The Standard Process cleanse involves staying away from processed foods, tap water, caffeine, and more. Organic fruits and vegetables and preferred, but not required. Since I am avoiding many foods that are harmful to my body, I thought I would share with you some of the worst foods you can come in contact with.
Here is a list of the 5 of the worst foods:
1. Diet Soda – This contains the secret ingredient Aspartame, also known as AminoSweet. Many people think because it doesn’t contain sugar it’s not bad for you. That is far from true. Aspartame is an extremely harmful ingredient and has been linked to many diseases, including multiple sclerosis and cancer. No more diet coke!
2. Donuts – I used to make home made donuts. Yummy! I would fry biscuits in grease and then cover them with chocolate icing. The average donut contains about 300 calories. That could be why I weighed 330 lbs.
3.Hot Dogs – Watch this video. Need I say more? I couldn’t get the video to embed, but it’s worth the watch. Simply click the link.
How It Is Made Hot Dogs
4. Pizza – All piza may not be bad, but the frozen ones should certainly be avoided. The dough is made from bleached white flour.
5. Ice Cream – Everyone loves ice cream, I know. The artificial colors, fats, and other toxins make this soul soothing food dangerous to your health? It’s not the end of the world though. Consider frozen yogurt. I’m addicted to TCBY!
Here is a rule of thumb I have learned. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, you probably shouldn’t eat it.
What are some other foods you think should be on this list?
