Creamy Cucumber Salad

Ahh the lovely cucumber...good for dipping and on greens salads! If you want to eat it plain then this is one of our household favorites! 

I rarely make the time to do this but one trick I heard was to cut the cuc's beforehand, add salt and let sit so most of the water drains out. This makes for a thicker and longer lasting creamy salad. 

Creamy Cucumber Salad (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens, New Cook Book)

2 medium cucumbers (peeled or not both are wonderful)
¼ sweet onion finely chopped (I like to sauté a little first)
½ cup greek yogurt
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
6 drops liquid stevia (lemon flavor is great!)
Salt and pepper to taste




Mix onions, yogurt, vinegar and stevia well.  Add sliced cucumbers and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. 

My New Health Obsession!

What is it you ask? Chia!! Can you say Ch-Ch-Chia? You know what I'm talking about (admit it the commercial got stuck in your head or better yet you owned one!).  No, no not the Chia Pet of old but the new health craze that seems to be all over the place. 

Now I will worn you that this might fall under the category of TMI (too much information) but my personal experience had been awesome! What do I mean by that? Since I have been eating chia seeds on a daily basis my digestion has been fantastic. Yep the best #2s ever...there is the TMI for you =)

My New Evening Ritual:

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (Greek Gods is the best!!)
1 teaspoon of raw chia seeds
3-4 drops of liquid orange stevia (my favorite kind of liquid stevia http://www.sweetleaf.com)

A icy glass of Vemma Bod-e Rest (www.energizeandenrich.com)

I wake up feeling fantastic!! Now, I do have a restless 3 year old and a 7 month old that likes to wake me up in the night, so don't confuse "feeling fantastic" with well rested....ha, ha!!

To Your Gut, 
Bretta

Kale Breakfast Bowl

Kale Breakfast Bowl

Bunch or two of Kale
Olive Oil
Nutritional Yeast
Scrambled Eggs
Black Beans  
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Bacon ~ any flavor will do;  turkey, tofu... go hog wild.....sorry
Salsa
Greek Yogurt

Obnoxious right?? Not having any quantities!?!
This is more of a "to taste" recipe and it will depend on the size and tastes of your family.

Method

Cook bacon on griddle or cover and bake in oven, 

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Fill with Kale, not layered too thickly but bunched.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Bake the Kale at 385 (such an overlooked cooking temperature) for about 5-7 minutes, until crispy but not brown. You'll have to experiment with your oven to get your personal cooking time down.
When you take out of the oven sprinkle with nutritional yeast and salt to taste.

While the kale is cooking scramble eggs with milk. You can add the cheese to the eggs now and make cheesy scrambled eggs or you can save for later. 

And at the same time heat beans in a small pot.

Then throw it all in a bowl and serve or let everyone assemble their own like a taco bar sort of thing.