Easy Recipe: Dark Chocolate Covered Ginger and Cashews

You May Also Dip The Ginger In The Chocolate

This is so easy to make and so satisfying.  I have been on a Dark Chocolate and Ginger kick as of late.  Here is a super easy way to get a quick healthy candy fix.

-4oz of 60% or more Cacao.  I used Ghirardelli...But there are plenty of amazing brands out there that I have used in the past.
-Cashews or any other nuts you may like such as almonds.  Make sure they are sliced or chopped.
-Organic Crystallize Ginger: I bought some from a local shop here on Nantucket, The Green.
-Cinnamon:  Just a few dashes

In a double boiler melt chocolate.  Add a few dashes of cinnamon.  While the chocolate is melting, chop the ginger and nuts.  Mix the chocolate thoroughly until the chocolate is smooth.  Mix in chopped nuts and ginger.  Make sure nuts and ginger is fully covered.  Pour mixture onto parchment paper or foil.  Spread out evenly.  Store in fridge for at least two hours to cool.  Once cooled, break up the pieces and store them in a separate container of your choice.  You may also dip the ginger in the chocolate like I did in the photo above.

Cinnamon Pecan Oatmeal

This is a jammed packed, healthy meal.  You may eat it in the morning or save it for a snack (if you put it into a snack portion).  Not only does this have multiple health benefits packed with omegas, fiber, protein, vitamins and healing qualities but it’s a great way to start your day and keep you fuller longer. 

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup Steal Cut Oats
-Hemp or Almond Milk
-1/4 cup Pecans
-Cinnamon
-2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds

Benefits:

Steal cut oats - Gluten free.  They provide fiber and protein as well as many vitamins. They stabilize blood sugar since it takes the body longer to break it down, especially compared to rolled oats.  Steal cut oats may also help to lower cholesterol. 

Hemp Milk- Contains Omegas, all 10 essential Amino Acids, Protein, Vitamins A, E, B, D, Iron, Zinc...and much much more.   

Almond Milk - Low caloric content, easy to digest, Amino Acids, Vitamins A, E, B, D and Iron and much much more.

Pecans -  Pecans protect your brain.  Look at this nut, you may notice it has a resemblance to a brain. Studies have shown that eating a handful of pecans daily will help fight diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Cancer and Heart Disease.  Pecans also contain anti-oxidants, which aid in heart health and disease prevention.

Cinnamon- Cinnamon has so many health benefits you would be surprised.  Some of these benefits include: Aiding in arthritis pain when combined with honey, inhibits bacterial growth, is a natural food preservative, helps to regulate blood sugar, contains manganese, fiber and iron

Chia Seeds - I did a whole blog post of Chia Seeds.  These little seeds are my best friends.  See here.

Directions:

Do you have a rice cooker?  If no, get one, this gadget makes like easy.  Pour the cut oats into the rice cooker or pan and cover with hemp or almond milk.  If in the rice cooker just click the button to cook.  If in the pan cook on high until it boils, then lower to medium.  Remember to keep stirring so that you don’t have a sticky mess.  Once the oats are cooked remove and place in bowl.  Add chia seeds...Chop the pecans and add to oats.  Add cinnamon to taste.  (I like a tablespoon or two.)  Mix contents in the bowl and enjoy.  What you don’t finish, save for later as a snack. 

December is the M.E Month

I tamed this gorilla...I'm that good.

We have now entered the last month of 2011...Then it’s the last year in the Mayan Calender. 

For the month of December, I feel it is only fitting to dub it the ME Month.  M is for More and E is for Exploring.  December 2011 is now officially the month of More Exploring.  Explore life, have an open mind, help others and above all help yourself.  Have more in your life.  More new experiences.  More love.  Move time to yourself.  More time with the ones you care about the most.  More adventures big or small.  More silliness.  More laughter.  I think you get the point.  This month, more is more and you should have your fill!

Ways to get the most out of the M.E Month.

-Small town adventures: Get your friends together and do a scavenger hunt.

-Donate your time to your local community: Nothing feels better than helping someone else

-Wake up and decide to laugh all day

-Plan something just for you: Maybe it’s just an hour in a salt bath or maybe it’s a full weekend of doing nothing and talking to no one. 

-Learn something new: Take a cooking class...My personal favorite was learning to make truffles!

-Listen to your heart in all matters, it always knows best.

-Don’t listen to people, do what feels right

-Do something that scares you

-Plan a trip around something you love: Can’t get enough of food. Plan a food road trip!

-Write your life “To Do” list: Start doing something on that list this month

-Explore the local library: I love spending time in the library.  The smell of books, reading in a corner and then checking out a new book, it's an adventure for the mind.

-Take a chance in love: Don’t hold back if you really and truly love someone, tell them.

-Take a fitness challenge: I have heard doing Bikram Yoga for 30 days will change your life and your body.  I’ve done it before and loved it...Try to find a studio that isn’t smelly...It can be hard to focus on holding a position when you smell something funky in the room.

-Say Yes To Everything: Have you seen the movie Yes Man?  He changed his life with one simple word, Yes.  It’s a funny movie and I love the meaning behind it.

Your world is about to open up and change for the better.  Take a risk.  Be ready for it by knowing that there are great rewards in pushing your limits and seeing how far your spirit will take you.  Enjoy ME Month!

A Little Egg Info & How To Do A Dropped Egg

Eggs are amazing!  Not only do they provide a great source of protein but vitamins and omega-3s as well.  Eggs will help you to achieve a well-balanced diet, help your skin, hair and nails look their best.  Best way to eat an egg is hard-boiled or poached.  Some say scrambled, but in my opinion you still have to add butter or spray to the eggs and as well as the eggs are still prepared in a fry pan.  Almost like fried eggs in my opinion, not quite as unhealthy but still.  Personally, my favorite way to make eggs is fried with the yolk runny.  I love dipping my bread!  Health wise, this isn't the best choice, since it is fried and this raises the calorie count.  So, I have made the conversion to a dropped egg also known as a poached egg.  Bonus: There is also an easier clean up compared to fried eggs.


Calories in a dropped egg (Poached Egg) - 54 Calories
Calories in a fried egg - 92 calories

You'll save 38 calories per egg just by switching to poached eggs.  That's 532 calories per week, if you consume two eggs every day of the week.

How To Do A Dropped Egg (Poached Egg)

What you will need:
A small pot
Water
A mug
Eggs
White Vinegar
Wooden Spoon or Stirring Spoon
Slotted Spoon
Paper Towels


Boil water in a small pot.  While water is reaching boiling point, crack egg(s) in a mug.  Once the water is boiling add white vinegar and stir water clockwise or counter clockwise.  While the water is whirling pour eggs from the mug into the pot.  The vinegar and the stirring action allows the eggs to mold together.  Once the eggs are cooked at the point of desire, take the slotted spoon and drain the eggs.  Place eggs on paper towels or napkins to drain the excess liquid, then move to a plate and enjoy!

Wildest Dreams - Amazing Love Diet

www.sugarandshinyobjects.com

When I was younger I used to swing on my swing set, look up to the sky and think of the wonderful life I was going to have once I grew breasts and got my very own driver’s license.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would come true.  My first book is out and I’m so excited about the wonderful things people have been saying.  I feel truly blessed and supported...(Kinda like my breasts when they visit Victoria's Secret.)

I am having a contest where you may win a free copy of Amazing Love Diet.  The first way to win is go to Amazing Love Diet’s Fan Page Here.  “Like” the page and you will be entered to win a free book.  The people that “Like” the page between now and the 150th person will be entered to win the book.  The second way to win is to share the post that is on Amazing Love Diet’s wall, “Share the Love” .  Once you have shared, write in the comments below the post, “Share the Love”, this is your entry.  There will be one winner chosen at random from each category.  In total, two ‘fans’ that will win a copy of Amazing Love Diet.  The contest will end when the page reaches 150 fans.  Best of luck and as always Much Love!


Here is the link to Amazing Love Diet's Fan Page!

Bananas Foster French Toast with Gluten/Yeast Free Bread

So, today the following occurred: First, I had plenty of gluten free bread.  Secondly, I remembered a fantastic breakfast I had while on my recent trip to New York City.  And lastly, I know how to make French Toast and Bananas Foster!  So Sunday morning breakfast I would combine dessert and breakfast...voilà Bananas Foster French Toast!

French Toast
1 Large Egg
1/4 cup vanilla almond milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon (I like cinnamon you will not need this much but I love the stuff!)

Sauce
2 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of rum extract
Chopped Pecans
2 bananas chopped



French Toast
Whisk egg, milk and cinnamon in small bowl. Cover and soak the bread in the mixture.  Heat skillet with a pad of butter and cook the bread on each side for three minutes.  Remove from burner.

Sauce
In a medium sized skillet combine butter, cinnamon, sugar and syrup.  Bring to a boil and add in extract and pecans.  After about 30 seconds add bananas.  Add sauce to french toast and enjoy!  You may add whipped cream or ice cream to make this a indulgent dessert.

Gluten Free/Yeast Free Bread

I find it very hard to make quality, yummy gluten free food.  It's never quite the same as your typical gluten yeasty rich pasta and breads.  I do however prefer to eat gluten free as often as possible.  My body and mind is at it's best when doing so.  Here is the Gluten and Yeast Free Bread that I just made.  It would be vegan but I had to add eggs...sorry.  Still, it turned out well and I paired it with my home-made chicken soup.  Please remember this is not your typical fluffy bread.  I have yet to perfect how to make fluffy gluten/yeast free bread.  This bread is packed with anti-oxidants, all the omegas (3, 6, 9), protein and fiber...Oh My! 

Gluten Free/Yeast Free Bread

1 cup of tapioca flour
1/2 cup of flaxsed meal
1 1/2 cups of brown rice flour
1 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1 1/2 tablespoon of agave nectar
1 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
2 cups of vanilla or regular almond milk
3 tablespoons of chia seeds covered with water and gelled
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon of salt

Place chia seeds in a bowl, cover them with water and mix.  Pre-Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix dry ingredients.  Check chia seeds to see if they have gelled.  You may need to add more water. Should become a thick gel.  Add wet ingredients to dry and mix on low.  Once all ingredients combinded, mix on high for three minutes.  Grease bread pan and sprinkle with flour.  Pour contents into bread pan and cover with foil.  Cook for 25 minutes and then uncover and cook for around 30 minutes.  Take loaf out of pan and place on cooling rack for 10-20 minutes.  Enjoy!  ***Because of the Flaxseed this bread will have a nutty consistency and texture.

On a side note: "Amazing Love Diet" is currently ranked #101,796 out of over 750,000 books in the Kindle Store. This may not see like a big deal to you but to this little lady, I peed my pants from excitement!!!!  Thank you to everyone for their support.