Category: Healthy Food

Healthy Food

Chickpea Bruschetta

mistibludream

Chickpea bruschetta

Rinse then cut tomatoes in halves and put in a large mixing bowl. Strain and rinse chickpeas and add to bowl. Mince garlic and shallot and add with cheese to the mixture. Add chopped basil, lemon pepper, and toss in red wine vinaigrette.

Serve with a baguette, chips, pita or choice of crackers. Also great over a bed of arugula.

Healthy Food, Sweet Tooth

Oh, Honey!

mistibludream

Check out these delicious and clean-eating recipes without refined sugar.

*This article was also published in April 2019 issue of The Beachside Resident


Banana Affair
Peel one side of the banana off and make a cut going down the middle, like a hot dog bun. Stuff the banana with almond butter (peanut or cashew butter works too) and dairy-free chocolate chips. Top with coconut flakes and pop it in the oven just long enough to warm up and melt the chocolate, while toasting the coconut flakes. Top with cinnamon and drizzle with local honey to finish this mouth-watering melted banana from heaven. I tried a banana similar from the @Eatqual vegan food truck and ever since have been making my own versions.


Boujee Bread
Any baguette or sprouted grainy bread of your choice will work.  Cut it down the middle and add a small about of Earth Balance (dairy-free) butter. Next, top with fresh raspberries (blueberries, peaches, or jam will also work) and top with brie. Warm it up in the oven until the brie melts. Top with local honey, cracked pepper and fresh basil or sage. This is the perfect sweet and savory treat that will also impress a house guest. 
 
Smoothie Bowl
Blend ice with frozen berries, almond milk and acai. Make sure the consistency is thick, but I always fill the bowl and put it in the freezer to thicken it up more. When ready, use whatever you have on hand in your kitchen: top with fresh fruit, chia seeds, granola, coconut flakes, nuts, seeds, cinnamon and of course local honey. This is great to eat in the morning to start your day off but I also enjoy it in the evening instead of ice cream. 
Healthy Food

Sweet Thai Chili Tacos

mistibludream

*Published in March 2019 issue of The Beachside Resident

What you will need:

  • Your choice of protein: chicken, shrimp, tofu or veggies
  • Corn tortillas
  • Sweet Thai chili sauce
  • Gluten-free soy sauce
  • Turmeric
  • Cashews
  • Fresh basil
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Honey (or maple if vegan)
  • Asian slaw mix
  • Sriracha
  • Ginger

Directions

Sauté your choice of protein. I chose a vegan chicken substitute. Add turmeric, onion and garlic powder, and gluten-free soy sauce in the pan, cooking on medium heat. In a separate pan, lightly toast your cashews. Put the toasted cashews aside and use the same pan to heat your tortillas. When your protein is cooked, deglaze the pan with Thai chili sauce.

Asian Slaw

You can use an asian slaw pre-mixed bag or make your own. I usually get the pre-made bags from the store and throw away the sauce. The sauces are loaded with corn syrup and I prefer my homemade spin. For my sauce, I mix a little ribbon of Sriracha, equal parts of honey or maple syrup, gluten-free soy sauce and a pinch of ginger. Mix everything together and set aside.

Putting it all together

First, place your warm tortillas on your plate or in a taco stand, and partially fill with your protein of choice. Top with asian slaw, toasted cashews and fresh basil.

Recommended sides

I love either jasmine rice, quinoa and kale, or fried rice, topped with black beans. I also enjoy serving mini vegetable spring rolls as a side. This dish is Mexican-Thai fusion so it is fun to get creative and blend two different cuisine styles into one delicious dish. Have fun and enjoy!

Health, Healthy Food

New Herbal Tea for the Sick AF

mistibludream

Astragalus reduces stress, boosts the immune system and relieves seasonal allergies. Lemon Balm fights free radicals, reduces stress and inflammation, loaded with antioxidants and has a naturally calming effect. It is also beneficial for cold sores, insomnia and indigestion. Lemon Balm lowers your stress levels, which is important while you are sick with a compromised immune system.

Elderberry promotes a healthy immune system and is beneficial for colds, flu, allergies, UTIs and digestive health. It May reduce cold duration or prevent a cold altogether. I selected Rosehip because it is loaded with vitamin C, important for preventing a weak immune system.

Echinacea reduces cold symptoms and boosts the immune system. It helps combat viruses, infection and speeds up recovery time. Hibiscus boosts liver health and fights bacteria. Also loaded with antioxidants, which help stop or limit damage by free radicals. Free radicals are toxic byproducts that damage living cells.

Chamomile helps with sleep and digestion. It has antioxidants and antiseptic properties, also reducing inflammation and allowing you to rest. Ginger contains zinc, which is important while we recover or prevent illness. It is beneficial for cold and flu prevention, including settling an upset stomach. It improves absorption of nutrients and reduces inflammation.

Lavender soothes chronic pain, inflammation, digestion and insomnia. It can also help with muscle spasms, mood balancing and healing.

Sick AF tea available in my etsy shop!

Follow Wildling Apothecary on Instagram and @mistibluday for updates and giveaways.

Healthy Food

Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Nachos

mistibludream

If you are like me and enjoy convenient food but still need something fresh and healthy, this recipe is for you. It only takes about ten minutes to throw together. This may be a nacho recipe, but you can also make a burrito and taco version. I absolutely hate finding a recipe that is two pages long with an hour of preparation and 27 ingredients, leaving me wondering why I didn’t just go out to eat.

What you will need:

  • 1 can of organic chickpeas
  • Vegan sour cream
  • Hot sauce
  • Garlic salt
  • Onion powder
  • Vegan butter or oil (coconut, avocado or olive oil)
  • Tortilla chips
  • Spinach
  • Onions (optional)
  • Avocado
  • Lemon pepper

Directions

Drain and rinse a can of organic chickpeas and put the in a pot on medium heat. Add Earth Balance vegan butter and Cholula hot sauce (or your choice or hot sauce) into the pot. I also add a little onion and garlic powder. While that warms up, put your favorite corn chips on your plate and chop up some fresh onions, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions or whatever fresh veggies you enjoy on your nachos. I love shredded spinach because it is a good source or iron and has so much more nutritional value than iceberg lettuce.

When the buffalo chickpeas are heated up, pour them over the corn chips and top them with your freshly chopped onions, avocado, Tofutti sour cream, spinach and salsa. I sprinkle a little lemon pepper on my avocado. If you don’t like too much spiciness or heat, you can use sriracha and honey instead.

End result

Now, you have a gourmet vegan meal that took you only ten minutes to make! This recipe is very versatile and can be created with whatever you have stocked in your kitchen. So, if you are out of chips but have tortillas or lots of spinach, make a taco or salad instead.

My method behind cooking and creating meals is not strict or by the book. I encourage you to relax and cook to the beat of your own drum, get creative and maybe even blast a little music.

Health, Healthy Food

Energy Sprinkles, Healing Sprinkles and My Health Story

mistibludream

Energy Sprinkles are the energizing sprinkle sister of Healing Sprinkles. Healing Sprinkles were created to help replenish essential minerals and vitamins, balance hormones, promote brain and heart health, reduce inflammation and stress. Energy Sprinkles became a reality after customers asked for a product that would help with energy. This blend is alkalizing, full of electrolytes, flushes toxins, boosts energy and improves overall mood.

Both blends are gluten-free, organ and vegan! Read more about Healing Sprinkles here.

My story:

These are blends that I have personally used over the past two years to heal my body. At the beginning of January of 2017, the 5th to be exact, I almost went into cardiac arrest. With a history of cardiac issues and years of medical negligence and misdiagnosis, my body was going into shock and continued to for months. Every day I worried that is was my last. I lost 30 or more pounds without trying, my skin tone was pale and colorless. I was complimented on my new figure but it was so frustrating because I was very scared. I learned about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and remembered that I was diagnosed with it as a teen. Because I never had a good cardiologist or medical team on my side, I never learned about it or how to manage it. It was my normal and less scary than my other heart issues like Supraventricular Tachycardia and Neurocardiogenic Syncope.

My heart rate would jump from 40bpm to 160bpm within seconds. I was going into circulatory shock because my heart was misfiring signals due to my other complex cardiac issues. Thankfully, I got a pacemaker six month later after several other opinions and searching for the right doctor. Dozens upon dozens of ERs dismissed me with anxiety. After finally getting an event monitor and a Tilt Table Test to prove my “anxiety” was something else, I was able to get the care I needed. I was so malnourished and my bloodwork was all over the place. I was always told to avoid salt because of my heart but the truth is that I needed to be on a high salt diet to expand my blood volume and raise my low blood pressure.

I also did more research, advocating and begged for more testing and finally found out why I have had a lifetime of heart issues (I have already had four cardiac ablations and open heart surgery), digestion issues, chronic migraines, multiple sensitivities, dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system), chronic pain, joint hypermobility and subluxations, and so on. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I wish more than anything I had the right doctors who were educated and that could have helped me manage my debilitating chronic illnesses much sooner.

It is my mission to help others, to educate and advocate. There are 12 million misdiagnoses per year. My misdiagnosis of anxiety almost killed me multiple times. I am lucky to be here to stand up for our future. I am currently in school to get my prerequisites and finish a degree to get myself into the medical field where I can make the most of my mission.

 

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Healthy Food

Dairy-free Shrimp Lemon Basil Linguini

mistibludream

What you will need:

Earth Balance Vegan Butter

Follow Your Heart Vegan “Parmesan”

Turmeric

Lemon Pepper

Linguini (Gluten-free or your preference)

Fresh Organic Basil

Onion Powder

Peeled and De-veined shrimp

Olive Oil

Lemon

Instructions:

Boil pasta as instructed. In a separate pan, sauté shrimp in vegan butter with turmeric, lemon pepper, onion powder and juice of one lemon. When the pasta is cooked, strain water and toss back into the warm pot to add a drizzle of olive oil and lemon pepper. Serve pasta onto a bowl or plate and top with Parmesan. Then, pour sautéed shrimp over pasta and Parmesan and top with fresh basil.

This dinner contains less cholesterol, though the pasta is a carb, you can always substitute with an alternative of your choice or even a fresh bed of spinach. If you are vegan, you can substitute with tofu or fresh veggies. If you are enjoying a glass of white wine with your dinner, splash a little in the pan while sautéing the shrimp for added flavor. There are always plenty of ways to customize each dish. Turmeric has a nice flavor but I love cooking with it for the added health benefits: anti-inflammation.

Enjoy and subscribe to my blog!

Healthy Food

Pineapple Fried Rice

mistibludream

Pineapple Fried Rice

Published in The Beachside Resident January 2019 Issue

Ingredients:

Fresh pineapple

Rice

Edamame

Chopped onion

Turmeric

Ginger

Gluten Free Soy Sauce

Coconut oil

Scallions

Garlic salt

Egg

Sriracha

Shredded carrots

Cashews

Shrimp (can substitute chicken or tofu)

Directions:

I always make enough to feed an army, so I will share the instructions for a large portion. There will be plenty for a dinner party and lunch the next day. Cut the measurements in half if you don’t want to make a large amount.

Boil two cups of rice in four cups of water. In a sauté pan, sauté chopped 1/3 of a white onion and one pound of shrimp with turmeric and garlic seasoning in coconut oil. Steam the edamame; I usually just get the microwavable bag. As I cook my ingredients, I pour them into a large bowl or casserole dish to mix at the end. When the shrimp and onions are cooked, pour in the large bowl and start sautéing the pineapple and carrots. After the pineapple and carrots are cooked or warmed up, toss them into the bowl and add more coconut oil to the pan to toast the cashews. The last step with the sauté pan is to fry the rice after it is done cooking. Toss in gluten-free soy sauce and two eggs and fry until the eggs are fully cooked. Mix everything in the large bowl, then top with green onions and sriracha.

I cook some of the ingredients separately because they won’t all fit in a pan (unless you cook a smaller amount). Everything cooks quickly, so why not break it up instead of having all of the burners going at once. You can also add broccoli, red peppers and other fresh veggies to this dish. I added quinoa in my last batch. You can serve this dish inside the pineapple for a fun presentation.

Body and Beauty, Health, Healthy Food

The Beachside Resident September 2018 Issue

mistibludream

I contributed to The Beachside Resident for their September 2018 issue. Check it out!

A Smoothie a Day

Improving health and quality of life can be achieved with a morning routine. We are creatures of habit and tend to take up to a month to break and form habits. Starting your morning out with a fresh smoothie can boost your energy and make you feel better. We often have plenty of options lying around the kitchen to make a beneficial smoothie blend from scratch. Skip the preservatives, dyes, artificial flavors and sweeteners and whip up your own healthy batch.I used a banana, handful of fresh spinach, a few slices of frozen peaches, ginger tea and a splash of pineapple juice for the base. I sprinkled in a generous amount of cinnamon, ashwagandha root and local honey. One slice of watermelon and a few ice cubes later, you have a blended brew of beneficial freshness. 
Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb root that has anti-cancer properties, reduces cortisol levels, helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves muscle mass and strength while also reducing inflammation. Local honey fights infection and helps with local allergies.
Watermelon has multiple beneficial plant compounds and is high in vitamin C and A. It is also lowers inflammation. Watermelon keeps you hydrated and can improve heart health. This melon is great post workout because it increases muscle recovery. It has also been know as a natural Viagra. Ginger, yet another anti-inflammatory, can treat indigestion, menstrual pain, muscle aches and nausea.
The beauty of a homemade smoothie is that you can substitute juice for tea, kombucha or even water if you are low on options. I always keep frozen fruit in my freezer. If I can’t eat my fruit in time before it goes bad, I freeze it for a smoothie later. I keep spinach on hand to help with my iron levels. If I don’t have fresh ginger or ginger tea then I go to my spice cabinet. Turmeric is also an anti inflammatory that could work well in a smoothie, though I prefer it it in my meals. Healing Sprinkles is my new spice blend that tastes amazing in smoothies and is loaded with many healing herbs and spices.
You can balance your body and correct deficiencies, imbalances, energy levels, mood and health ailments with what you eat and drink. As you can see, there are many benefits that plants have to offer and it will literally save you a headache not having to process unnatural ingredients.