Last night I got out of the house, by myself, for some "Me-Time."

I have always envied women and mothers who see Me-Time as smart, not selfish. They grasp the concept of "putting your own oxygen mask on first"—taking time to renew and regenerate—before doing-for and helping others.

So, it was a big step for me to kiss the boys goodbye and head out the door to practice some self-care—to take some Me-Time.

I drove across town to hear Dr. Michelle Segar speak on the topic of smart self-care. Dr. Segar is the Associate Director of the University of Michigan’s Sport, Health, and Activity Research and Policy Center for Women and Girls and a researcher at the Institute for Research on Women and Gender. She has branded herself "The Exercise Motivation and Behavior Architect"™ and has made it her mission to help America build behaviors to last a lifetime.

Overcoming the Vicious Cycle of Feeling Like a Failure

Dr. Segar talked a lot about exercise, and in particular, what motivates (or doesn't) women to exercise. For a while now I have struggled with HOW to exercise at this stage in life. I am 42, and my body is telling me that my hard core days are over, that it's time to settle into a mode of exercise that I really enjoy and enjoy enough to do for the rest of my life. For me, days of joining a gym, then quitting, then joining, then quitting are over. It has been a vicious cycle that has left me with nothing but feelings of failure and guilt. And THAT is not smart self-care. I would like to share some of the tidbits of encouragement I received from Dr. Segar last night. I hope they encourage you, too.

1. How do you think you are supposed to exercise? The media suggests that we should work out in a gym, with machines, sweat profusely, do hard-to-do exercises, and have rock-hard abs! Well, folks, if you don't like doing it, you're not going to stick with it. It's okay to rethink how YOU like and want to exercise.

2. Exercise throughout the day. Give yourself permission to accumulate exercise throughout the day. Park at the far end of the parking lot, play outside with your kids, take a walk in a field of daisies!, walk over to talk to a colleague instead of sending an email. Myth: Anything other than exercising in 30+ minute blocks of time is a waste. Truth: Every bit of movement adds up. GIFT yourself opportunities to move.

3. Ask yourself WHY you should exercise. Women who say they exercise "to lose weight" or "for health benefits" are less likely to remain motivated than those who exercise to "manage stress" or "for quality of life and mental health." Could the secret to developing a life-long exercise habit simply be in rethinking the "why"? Dr. Segar suggests using exercise to celebrate yourself, improve your mood, get more energy, reduce your stress, be a better parent, enjoy your work more, take better care of yourself, and live according to your core values. And here’s the kicker: when you move and experience these things, you create a domino effect on the rest of your day and life.

4. Myth: If you don't do it hard core, it's not worth it. There's been a little voice inside my head trying to convince me that I need to go down and join that Cross-Fit gym, throw some tires around and squat an insane amount of weight—to go hard core, to workout until I am completely exhausted, and "feeling the pain." All the other moms I know are!! Thankfully, according to Dr. Segar, research is showing that vigorous levels of exercise in middle-aged (yep, that's me!) and older women can actually lower a woman's mood rather than elevate it. Men on the other hand may benefit from more intense exercise. The key? Movement!

5. Walk. If walking is the only thing you find enjoyable, stick to walking. If swimming is your thing, swim! Just add movement to your day. There is a growing body of research showing that all physical movement counts, even lower level activities like gardening and walking. Dr. Segar says; "It is important that we give ourselves permission to move in ways that both feel good and work for us—this is a key ingredient to staying motivated. And we can enjoy life more when we live it on our terms not those prescribed by others."

6. Work on one behavior at at time. When we come to the place that we've convinced our self that changes need to be made (weight lost, stress managed, cholesterol reduced), we can become over zealous and attack it with vengeance. Unfortunately, the zeal and motivation can quickly fade. We've put so much on our plate and, in time, become overwhelmed. Work on your diet for six months, then start exercise or vice versa. Just don't bite off more than you can chew.

A Positive Outlook

I walked away from the evening with Dr. Segar with a positive outlook on exercise—and life. I feel like she gave me permission to exercise how I want, when I want, and at an intensity that my body will benefit from but still enjoy! And with an outlook like that, I feel regular exercise is a do-able. I can walk, I can throw in a few lunges and maybe a little jogging—but that awful pressure to perform is gone. The notion that the end result of exercise should be that air-brushed, perfectly toned model on the cover of SHAPE magazine is GONE! I am not hard core, I don't have to be hard core, and admitting and coming to terms with that feels so good!

For more from Dr. Michelle Segar, check out her website and these encouraging blog posts:

Debunking the Myths of ExerciseEverybody Everday

Amy of Simply Sugar & Gluten Free is having a baby—and any day now!

To celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Boy Green, a group of us have come together to surprise Amy and Joe (that'd be Amy's husband) with a virtual baby shower.

As many of you know, Amy is always cooking up something scrumptious on her blog and hopefully today she can take a break, kick up her heels, and relish in some well-deserved love and special attention.

Having met Amy personally, I can tell you that she is as kind, caring and dynamic in person as is her blog persona. She has embraced this thing of motherhood with the same passion evident in every other facet of her life. It is a beautiful thing to see.

When debating about what to bring to this shower, I couldn't decide between savory or sweet. Finally, I decided savory. I remember my own shower and how ravenous I was for protein! I also took Amy's diet into consideration—no gluten, no refined sugar. And since eggs are usually off limits in our house, I was tickled that I could use them in a dish I would be taking to a party.

These gluten-free, dairy-free Crepe Quiches were born a little over a year ago and were inspired by Alton Brown. In his quiche episode he tosses crepes into muffin tins, fills them with a mixture of egg, veggies and meat, and voila—elegant mini quiches. Because they contain eggs, I have been hesitant to post this one—so if you're egg-free, apologies in advance for this temptation.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Mini Crepe Quiches

Gluten-Free | Casein-Free | Citrus-Free | Easily Corn-Free | Dairy-Free | Fish-Free | Nightshade-Free | Peanut-Free | Potato-Free | Rice-Free | Shellfish-Free | Soy-Free | Tree Nut-Free | Wheat-Free | Sesame-Free | Sweetener-Free | Yeast-free | GFCF | Vegetarian

Makes: Approximately 18 individual quiches

Ingredients:

FOR THE CREPES
6 large EGGS, room temp
1 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened NON-DAIRY MILK, room temp
3 tablespoons OIL (I use Spectrum palm shortening, melted but not hot)
1-1/3 cups QUINOA FLAKES
1/3 cup TAPIOCA STARCH
1/2 teaspoon SEA SALT

FOR THE FILLING
8 EGGS
1-1/4 cups unsweetened NON-DAIRY MILK
1 teaspoon SALT
1/2 teaspoon PEPPER
2 tablespoons all-purpose GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR
1 cup cooked MEAT, chopped and/or cubed
1-1/2 cups VEGETABLES of choice, chopped and/or cubed
Daiya Shreds or grated cheese, if tolerated (optional)

Directions:

1. Add ingredients to blender in above order. Blend to combine. Let mixture rest 3-5 minutes to allow quinoa flakes to soften. Blend at medium speed until super smooth. Gently tap bottom of blender on counter to release bubbles that form.
2. Heat non-stick crepe pan (Note: see this crepes post for cooking tips) over medium-low to medium heat. Wipe pan with a well-oiled paper towel. Pour scant 1/4 cup batter into pan and swirl to coat bottom of pan to form a 5-6" crepe, continuing to swirl as batter sets.
3. When top of crepe is almost dry to the touch, flip and cook for another 5 seconds. Transfer crepe to plate. Repeat until all batter is used up. Should make 18 to 20 5-6" crepes.
4. Line 18 muffin tins (oiled if not non-stick) with crepes. Set aside.
5. Preheat oven to 325˚F.
6. In medium bowl, toss meat and vegetables with flour. Divide this mixture evenly among crepe cups. Set aside.
7. In medium bowl, whisk eggs. Add milk, salt, and pepper and whisk until thoroughly combined. Spoon 3 tablespoons of egg mixture over meat and vegetable-filled crepe cups. Top with Daiya or cheese, if desired.
8. Bake 30-35 minutes or until egg mixture is set and cooked through.

Notes: 

• Meat and vegetable suggestions: Ham, crisp bacon bits, cooked sauasage, chopped fresh spinach, diced tomatoes, chopped broccoli, sliced mushrooms, sundried tomatoes.
• Make these vegetarian by replacing the measure of meat with additional veggies.

And the Shower Goes On ...

Don’t miss any of the celebration! Be sure to check out all of the other delicious dishes and well wishes for Amy and Joe and Baby Green. And thank you to our lovely hostesses, Maggie and Hallie, for pulling this together.

Maggie from www.sheletthemeatcake.com
Hallie from www.dailybitesblog.com
Alta from www.tastyeatsathome.com
Kelly from www.thespunkycoconut.com
Carol from www.simplygluten-free.com
Cara from www.carascravings.com
Silvana from www.silvanaskitchen.com
Ricki from www.dietdessertndogs.com
Alisa from www.alisacooks.com
Jen from www.gfreelife.com
Kim from www.cookitallergyfree.com
Cybele from www.cybelepascal.com
Miz Helen from www.mizhelenscountrycottage.blogspot.com

So one day I actually had some spare time to spend organizing my pantry. I went a step beyond purging and re-stocking and made some labels to slap onto my jarred bulk goods. I thought they were pretty nifty and cute enough to share. In this downloadable zipped file is everything you need to create your own:

• MS Word Template
• PDF Instructions
• Baby Bowser Font & Terms of Use (courtesy of Kevin & Amanda)

Happy organizing!

If you like this freebie and want to share it on your site, here is a badge you can grab and link to this post.

Last Friday my neighbor and one of my dearest friends, Hannah, hosted a Vision Board Party. It was one of the best evenings out I've had in a long, long time. Close to midnight we said our farewells. I stepped out into the dark, a cold wind against my face and I felt energized! More than that, I felt inspired and renewed. Who would have thought a stack of magazines, a couple of glue sticks, a bottle of red, and the company of some amazing women would have left me feeling that way?

Visualizing the Life You Want

A vision board is a simple visualization tool that activates the universal law of attraction to begin manifesting your dreams into reality. It is simply a visual representation or collage of the things that you want to have, be, or do in your life. 

So how do you make a vision board and what goes on it? I hadn't a clue—and I don't even know if I went about it the right way. But you know what? My board came out perfect. It just did. That said, I did do some Googling on the topic and came across some life coaches on You-Tube talking about visualizing the life you want and then, as if it were reality, capturing the emotions you would feel in pictures and words. Some use a Vision Board to simply capture their goals for the year. My board emerged as a mixture of both.

Throw a Party

To throw a Vision Board Party, you'll gather some friends, do some cutting and pasting, enjoy some tasty treats and some great company. Here's how we went about it:

1. Set a date for your Vision Board Party and send out the invites.
 
2. A week before the party: You and your friends can give some thought to different facets of life and picture in mind what you WANT them to be. Then, try to put your finger on the EMOTIONS you would feel living that life. Here are the facets of life I focused on:

• Spiritual
• Health
• Marriage
• Motherhood
• Friendships
• Professional

3. Start gathering magazines and type and print sayings you want to paste on your board.

4. For the party, set out: Poster board, scissors and glue sticks. Hannah made an appetizers and wine party out of it. 

5. Start clipping ... let your mind flow. If you are attracted to an image, there likely is a reason why. Cut it out. 

6. Once you've got everthing cut out, begin arranging your words and pictures. I found that I instinctively knew where to place each piece. And it all came together beautifully. I think these vision boards are a great lesson in letting go and trusting your heart/gut. It can lead and guide you to some beautiful things.

7. Hang your board somewhere in your home that you spend a lot of time. Look at it everyday to keep fresh in your mind the life that you want ... it may just may unfold to be just that!

Here is My Vision Board

And here are some of the things that went through my mind as I created it (clockwise):

• Life is like a flower. There are many facets of life just as there are many petals that make up a flower. One is no less important than the other. These past years I have focused 99% on my children and have come to realize that my God, my marriage, my health, my professional growth, and my friendships are equally important. So, for me, this year is about balance.

• I am giving gray a go. This year I am going to let that natural gray begin to shine through. At 42 I have decided to go gray "graysfully."

• Motherhood. I love motherhood. But when things get out of balance, I am not always the happiest, most patient mother. Again, balance, balance, balance.

• A safe haven. I want my home to be a refuge—a peaceful place for family and friends. To me, THAT is worthy of the "Good Houskeeping seal of approval." :)

• Exercise and meditation. This is a big one for me this year.

• Priorities. To balance we need to prioritize. Some things CAN wait and they WILL wait. 

• Let Go. Let God. For the past three years, this one has been a biggie. I have repeated this phrase to myself countless times. I tend to want to control every facet of life. Impossible. So this year I want to really take this to heart. Let go. Let God.

Here's to a great year!
xoLexie

Cherry Lime Chia Fresca; easy to make, fun to drink.

Welcome to the Final Week of New Year, New You!

It is the fourth and final week of New Year, New You!—a January blog event created to inspire you to make and sustain healthy changes in 2012. A big thank you to Hallie of Daily Bites for pulling this event together. I have learned so much!

Today's theme is "Stay Hydrated." For bucketfuls of great tips and recipes that tie into this theme, be sure to head on over to the following blogs. Hallie has a great item she is giving away—so check it out.

EVENT HOST:
*** Hallie of Daily Bites ***
Author of the cookbook
The Pure Kitchen

*** Shirley of gluten-free easily ***

*** Brittany of Real Sustenance ***
Co-author of the soon-to-release
The Essential Gluten Free Baking Guide

Why is Hydration So Important?

Water is an often over-looked nutrient. When we consider that water is utilized in 98% of all processes that occur within the body, we realize that depriving the body of this essential and major constituent of life can have grave consequences. Water is imperative to the production of energy, the regulation of body temperature, and to the ridding the body of waste.

Signs of Dehydration.

So, how can we tell if we're adequately hydrated? Let's consider the signs of dehydration. You could be moderately dehydrated if you have a dry, sticky mouth, are fatigued, are thirsty (no brainer), have dry skin, headaches, constipation, body aches or experience lightheadedness. You could be extremely dehydrated if you are irritable, confused, don't sweat, have little to no urination, if you have low blood pressure, a rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing or no tears.

Unfortunately, thirst isn't always a reliable gauge of the body's need for water, especially in children and older adults, so one of the better indicators of hydration is the color of your urine; clear or light-colored urine means you're well hydrated. Unless attributed to certain supplements you are taking, strong smelling, dark yellow or amber colored urine is almost always a telltale sign of dehydration.

Lexie's Favorite Hydration Tips

Proper hydration requires a little discipline and personally, discipline is something I don't have a lot of, LOL. Here are tips that have helped me:

• Estimate Your Daily Requirement. Calculate the ounces of water you should drink in a day with this simple equation: Divide your body weight by 2. The resulting number represents the number of ounces of water you should aim to drink in a day. So, if you weigh 160 pounds, your goal is 80 ounces of water per day. That said, hydration is a balance. Body weight, activity level, age, health and other factors influence the quantity of water the body requires. Find what works for you—that which maintains body and fluid balance. It's important to note that there is such a thing as drinking too much water? You can read about that here.
• Use a Dedicated Water Bottle. Pick up an attractive water bottle, note the ounces it holds and calculate how many of those bottles you need to drink in a day (see tip above). This is my favorite water bottle. The ounces are marked on the side, and it is glass—versus plastic or stainless—with a protective silicon sleeve. I take it with me wherever I go.
• Schedule Water Breaks. Aim to consume half of your daily requirement of water in the morning (some right after you awake) and half in the afternoon. Make up a schedule that works for you.
• Water Before Coffee. Drink a glass of water before enjoying your morning cup of coffee. For every cup of coffee you drink, drink an additional glass of water.
• Jazz It Up. Your best bet is to stick with pure water. However if that gets boring, infuse water with fruit (lemons, limes, cucumbers, berries), spike it with a little of your favorite juice, or try one of the beverage recipes at the end of this post. Just don't sweeten with artificial sweeteners, please! Stevia is a much healthier, natural, zero-calorie alternative.

Recently I have been adding an extra boost to my beverages in the form of chia seeds. For more about chia, read this post. Down Mexico way, chia fresca is a pretty common beverage—a spoonful of chia seeds stirred into a mixture of water, lime juice, and sweetener. When chia seeds come into contact with liquid, they soak up 10-12 times their own weight in water! So you always want to consume them with plenty of liquid. When soaked, they become gelatinous and promote hydration and endurance. My husband got me hooked on chia after reading Christopher McDougall's book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. In his book, McDougall tells of a tribe of endurance runners—the Tarahumara of Northern Mexico—sustaining themselves with chia while running 100-mile ultra marathons. 

With hydration and endurance in mind, today I have a spin-off of chia fresca to share with you. When you were a kid, did you ever sneak off to the fridge to slurp down a half-set bowlful of cherry Jell-O. I did and that's what came to mind the first time I drank a bottle of Cherry Lime Mamma Chia. My sister introduced me to Mamma Chia, and Mamma Mia, Mamma Chia is good—strange good! And much like me, my sister felt compelled to make her own Mamma Chia at home. This recipe is hers. My son calls it booger juice. I call it bug juice. Whatever you want to call it, it's oddly addicting. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Cherry Limeade Chia Fresca

Gluten-Free | Casein-Free | Corn-Free | Dairy-Free | Egg-Free | Fish-Free | Nightshade-Free | Peanut-Free | Potato-Free | Rice-Free | Shellfish-Free | Soy-Free | Tree Nut-Free | Wheat-Free | Grain-Free | Sesame-Free | Yeast-free | GFCF | Vegetarian | Easily Vegan

Ingredients:

1/2 cup no sugar added tart CHERRY JUICE (like R.W. Knudsen)
1 cup WATER
3 tablespoons white CHIA SEED
2 tablespoon liquefied HONEY
2 tablespoons fresh LIME JUICE

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a Mason jar and refrigerate overnight.

Notes:

• Honey may be substituted with your sweetener of choice. I use a bit of honey and a bit of zero-calorie liquid stevia concentrate. Sometimes I just use stevia.
• Though R.W. Knudsen Just Tart Cherry has no added sugar, it still packs 24g of sugar per 8 fluid ounces. Feel free to experiment with watering this recipe down. For each additional 1/2 cup of water, I've been adding an additional tablespoon of chia seed and a couple more drops of liquid stevia. 
• This beverage is not intended to be a sole source of hydration. Look at it as a fun drink to add to your day. 2-3 tablespoons of chia a day make a nutritious addition to most diets. More than that probably wouldn't hurt you. But as with any food, practice moderation. And, chia has that lovely ability of keeping you "regular" ... too much and well, we won't go there. :)

Other Hydrating Beverages

Apricot Spritzer here at Lexie's Kitchen
Sugar-Free "Apple Cider" here at Lexie's Kitchen
Elaine Gottschall's Electrolyte Drink here at Lexie's Kitchen
Ginger Lime Mocktail over at Elana's Pantry

Candied Walnuts made with coconut sugar, water, and a pinch of salt.

Welcome to Week Three of New Year, New You!

It's the third week of New Year, New You!—a January blog event created to inspire you to make and sustain healthy changes in 2012. Today we have a “sweet” line-up of bloggers sharing recipes and tips on how to “Swap Your Sweeteners.” I can’t wait to read them all! These ladies are among the most talented recipe developers in the blogosphere using alternative sweeteners. Their blogs are ones I visit weekly and turn to regularly for recipes. While you are visiting Hallie’s site, be sure to enter to win a gift pack of natural sweeteners from Wholesome Sweeteners.

EVENT HOST:
*** Hallie of Daily Bites ***
Author of the cookbook
The Pure Kitchen

*** Maggie of She Let Them Eat Cake ***

*** Iris of The Daily Dietribe ***
Co-author of the soon-to-release
The Essential Gluten Free Baking Guide

*** Ricki of Diet Dessert and Dogs ***
Author of the cookbook
Sweet Freedom and series of anti-candida e-cookbooks 

Amy of Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free
Author (and soon to be mommy!) of the cookbook
Simply Sugar and Gluten-Free

Those of you who frequent this blog know my preference when it comes to sweeteners—natural, minimally processed, and used sparingly. Refined or not, sugar is sugar. Period. No matter what kind or color you use, in excess it will wreak havoc on your body (but that’s a whole ‘nother post). That said, I allow myself and my taste buds an occasional sweet. Two or three times a month I will bake up a batch of low-sugar brownies or cookies. We aren’t deprived, we do not over-indulge.

Further on in this post I will share my favorite natural sweeteners. But first, a great friend of mine, Dr. Wayne Tompkins who practices near Branson, Missouri, is here to shed some light on sugar's effect on the body. His intention is not to steer you away from consuming sugar completely, but to make you aware of how it's processed by the body and encourage you to take a good look at your daily intake.

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Sugar, Sugar, Sugar, Blood Sugar

By Dr. Wayne Tommpkins, DC | Tompkins Wellness Center | Branson, MO

We've all heard in recent years that Type 2 diabetes is a modern epidemic. It used to be called “adult onset diabetes,” but this is no longer the case since more and more children are being diagnosed with it.

Why?

First, let’s dumb down some human physiology for a moment and look at what happens.

The pancreas produces insulin and kicks it out into the bloodstream. Insulin is the key that unlocks the door of each cell to let blood sugar in. Under normal circumstances, you eat an apple, which in turn gets broken down into carbohydrate and smaller molecules of fructose. This is converted to glucose and gets sent out into the bloodstream along with insulin from the pancreas. Insulin unlocks the cell door, glucose rushes in, the cell churns through its functions keeping your body alive at a certain rate (your basal metabolic rate or BMR). In this situation, all is well and good. However, when the body is bombarded with refined carbohydrates and sugars found in soft drinks, candy bars, boxed cereals, pastries, breads, and pastas, blood sugar spikes and insulin gets kicked out of the pancreas. The cells are overloaded with sugar so they change the locks on their doors leaving us with a condition knows as insulin resistance. Basically the cells are saying, “Talk to the hand!” This causes blood sugar to spike higher and higher leading to the condition known as diabetes. And, it’s largely a problem of our food supply.

Take a guess as to the amount of sugar the average American consumed 100 years ago. The answer is: between 10-15 pounds. Today we are at a deplorable 115-125 pounds per average American. Wow! No wonder we’re in trouble.

What can you do? First of all, know your blood sugar level. Fortunately we did a urinalysis on a young lady yesterday during her initial exam. The test revealed urine glucose levels that were off the charts (fasting glucose of 321). I advised her to see a medical doctor right away. That doctor told her that had she not caught this glucose problem when she did that he would have met her in the ICU in about a week.

Once tested, if you find your blood sugar levels falling outside of the normal range. Seek the care of a physician immediately. I also urge you to consider alternative means of managing high and/or low blood sugar by consulting a holistic healthcare provider. In our office, that includes diet, acupuncture and supplementation—all aimed at lowering insulin resistance and virtually eliminating the need for medication except in severe cases. Some will completely get off medication, others will still need some assistance, but to a much lesser degree.

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For those new to Holistic Healthcare, here are some of Dr. Tompkins’ patients sharing how going to a doctor like Dr. Tompkins has made all the difference. If you are looking for someone who can dig deep into your health concern to determine its cause, and do everything they can to address and eliminate the root of it (not just cover it with medications), find a doctor in your area like Dr. Tompkins or consult with him over the phone. Call 417.336.2620 or visit Tompkins Wellness Center for more information.

The Sweeteners I Use—In Moderation

Okay, so now we know why we should consume sugar—not matter the form—in moderation. Here are some of the natural, minimally processed sweeteners I stock in my pantry. Now, when I say I wouldn’t even think about stocking a five-pound bag of refined white cane sugar, don't take me as being elitist (I grew up on a sugar plantation for goodness sake—it was our livelihood), but rather I have opened my mind and palette to a whole new set of sweeteners. Sweeteners that are rich, complex and in their own way, ever so slightly “healthier” than refined cane or beet sugar.

These are my go-to sweeteners, starting with my favorites.

• Stevia – Zero-calorie, no guilt, combine it with any of these others to reduce sugar in baked goods
• Raw Honey – Anti-bacterial (when eaten raw), rich and sweet
• Coconut Sugar – Lower glycemic ... the only "crystalline" sugar I use—a good sub for brown sugar
• Medjool Dates – Dates, date paste and date syrup (boil dates and blend with water) are divine!
• Maple Syrup – Sometimes you just need that rich, maple flavor
• Coconut Nectar – Lower glycemic ... a caramel-like syrup that I drizzle on homemade frappucinos
• Jerusalem Artichoke Syrup – Lower glycemic and loaded with inulin, this goes in our smoothies

There are numerous articles out there talking about these naturals sweeteners so I won’t reinvent the wheel here, but will point you to this post over at Renegade Health. The one sweetener I will comment on is stevia. It falls at the top of my list for good reason. It is zero-calorie and is completely natural (as long as you buy it pure, sans flowing agents like maltodextin, or in my favorite—liquid concentrate). I have come to realize that many people don’t give stevia a fair chance. They will try it and be turned off by its somewhat sharp aftertaste. If this has happened to you, you just may have used to much or a bad tasting brand. NuNaturals Singing Dog Vanilla Liquid Concentrate is the bomb! Two drop in my tea is all that’s required. And when baking, I always suggest combining stevia with another sweetener (say honey or coconut sugar) to achieve a nice balance.

So, I want to show you just what you can do with one of these sweeteners—coconut sugar. I love coconut sugar because it is one of the few alternative, natural sweeteners that comes in crystalline form. Here is a recipe for Coconut Sugar Candied Walnuts. I love these on a salad of greens and strawberries or atop a chewy (low-sugar, of course) brownie.

Coconut Sugar Candied Walnuts

Makes: 1 cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons COCONUT SUGAR
6 tablespoons WATER
Pinch of SEA SALT
1 cup raw WALNUTS

Directions:

1. In a small skillet, combine coconut sugar, water and salt. Bring to boil and reduce to simmer.
2. Once sugar has dissolved, add walnuts.
3. Stirring constantly, cook until all liquid evaporates, nuts become sticky, and "cobwebs" begin to form as you stir.
4. Remove from heat and spread out on a plate to cool and harden.

Notes:

1. Coconut sugar has a low burn point, so be careful to cook at a low simmer over medium to medium-low heat.
2. Serve over ice cream, brownies, or salad—if they last that long. I end up snacking on them.

Today I would like to spotlight a great new blog—The Balanced Platter.

The Balanced Platter is the brainchild of the lovely Amy of Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free and Maggie of She Let Them Eat Cake. One day while chatting on Skype, Maggie and Amy decided that the world needed a place to go for reliable, comprehensive, accurate, and easy-to-access information about balanced, healthy living. So, they gathered up some of the brightest and most passionate bloggers they knew and The Balanced Platter was born.

I am honored to join forces with fellow bloggers to launch Amy and Maggie's new site. We've been asked to share our best healthy eating and living tips. So today I am talking "snacks."

I’m not a big snacker, but am quickly learning that growing boys are! And I am quickly learning that being prepared is key. My eyes are always peeled for snacks that:

#1 Will fuel and nourish their little bodies
#2 That can be made ahead and served up quick
#3 And that they’ll actually eat!

Here are some recipes I have discovered and make pretty regularly. I keep them pinned to my Appetizers & Snacks board on Pinterest—if you are on Pinterest, you can follow that board here. For those not on Pinterest, here are links to a few of the recipes—all dairy-free, egg-free and gluten-free. And if you want to know what Pinterest is all about, here's a primer.

Snacks We Make Pretty Regularly

No-Bake Snackin’ Orbs over at Diet Dessert and Dogs
Snackin’ Tray over at Cook IT Allergy Free (this is a new idea for is and I love it!)
Power Bars over at Elana’s Pantry
Tortilla Pizza over at The Spunky Coconut
Monster Cookies over at The Spunky Coconut
Almond Pulp Crackers here at Lexie’s Kitchen
Sticky Toffee Power Balls here at Lexie’s Kitchen
Nut or Seed Butter on Apples here at Lexie’s Kitchen
Raw Nacho “Cheese” Dip here at Lexie’s Kitchen
Olena Hummus here at Lexie’s Kitchen
Saturday Pancakes  (leftover) toasted & topped w/ Sunbutter here at Lexie’s Kitchen

One of my husband’s favorite snacks are these Sesame Bars. If you love sesame, you'll love this treat. It reminds me of the sesame seed "candy" we got growing up in Hawaii. Sesame seeds are an excellent source of manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus and zinc, and a very good source of vitamin B1 (thiamin) and dietary fiber. The nutrients found in sesame seeds may offer cardiovascular benefits, reduce inflammation in those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, support respiratory health, and offer protection against colon cancer, osteoporosis and other conditions.

Measurements below are for a small batch. Just double to make a large batch. For the "glam" effect I used a Wilton brownie cutter to make these rounded-corner bars (purchased at Michaels). Totally not necessary. You can just cut them into bars.

Gluten-Free Sesame Snack Bars

Gluten-Free | Casein-Free | Citrus-Free | Corn-Free | Dairy-Free | Egg-Free | Fish-Free | Nightshade-Free | Peanut-Free | Potato-Free | Rice-Free | Shellfish-Free | Soy-Free | Wheat-Free | Grain-Free | Yeast-free | GFCF | Vegetarian | Easily Vegan

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsweetened dried COCONUT
1/2 cup raw CASHEW NUTS
1/3 cup ALMOND BUTTER
1/3 cup HONEY
1/4 cup COCONUT SUGAR
1/2 teaspoon gluten-free VANILLA
1/4 teaspoon CELTIC SEA SALT
1-1/2 cups raw SESAME SEEDS
3 tablespoons CHIA SEEDS (optional)

Directions:

1. In food processor, pulse coconut and cashews into rough meal.
2. In a medium saucepan, gently heat, just to soften and combine; almond butter, honey, coconut sugar, vanilla, and salt.
3. In large bowl combine cashew mixture, almond butter mixture, sesame seeds, and chia seeds.
4. Press firmly (I use a flat-bottomed glass) into a parchment-lined 8x8" pan. Bake at 300˚F for 20 minutes. Cool and transfer to refrigerator. Once chilled, slice into small bars with a sharp knife. Store in refrigerator in an air-tight container.

Notes:

Vegan: Substitute honey with agave nectar or brown rice syrup.

This is my Pinterest page. My hobby is cooking, so I've got boards chock-full of food images that link to my favorite online recipes. Your thing may be knitting or gardening ... whatever your interest(s) you can make pin boards of the things YOU love.

Has Pinterest piqued your interest? Wondering what the hype is all about? Or are you already addicted? And why is this food blogger talking about Pinterest and not posting about food?

Simple.

Pinterest has become the best way for me to visually organize recipes (and more) that I discover online and don't want to lose.  I've got bulletin boards for my favorite meals, appetizers, gluten-free brownies—and my latest, "My Fascination with Dessert Shots." But wait, it doesn't stop there. I've created boards that capture DIY projects I want to try, kitchen designs I swoon over, and sayings that motivate me. You have to

Welcome to Week Two of New Year, New You!

It's the second week of New Year, New You!—a January blog event created to inspire you to make and sustain healthy changes in 2012. Today's theme is "Snack Smart" and with two young boys in the house, I am quickly learning that having healthy, power-packed snacks on hand is essential—and it's only going to get more challenging the older they get! So, needless to say I am looking forward to the sage advice of the stellar line-up of bloggers posting on the topic today. Be sure to click on over to their blogs to see what's being served for snack time!

Welcome to the first week of New Year, New You!—a blog event created to inspire us all to make and sustain healthy changes in 2012. I have the honor of co-hosting this event with the lovely Hallie of Daily Bites.

So, here's what's happening.