Many times it's the simple touches that make a meal magical. I recently attended a dinner where seasoned salt was passed around the table and loved by all. I decided to experiment with the idea of a seasoned salt recipe using only nourishing ingredients and I have to tell you - I'm in love with this stuff! Did you know that throughout history salt has been regarded as a panacea? Many ancient alchemists referred to salt … [Read more...] about Nourishing Seasoned Salt Recipe
Is Local, Raw Honey Really Better?
Raw honey is better than white sugar - and processed honey is not. Honey has been credited for everything from curing hay fever to healing infected lacerations and has been used since ancient times as a medicine and sacred food. But before you go squeezing your honey bear and honey packets into your morning tea, we need to clarify that your honey must be RAW in order to have maximum super powers. All the good in raw … [Read more...] about Is Local, Raw Honey Really Better?
Easy Peasy Pomegranate Soda
There are many ways to make a soda. So many choices for starter cultures and even more ingredient options. Some are for the more advanced fermenter and yield a layered complex taste, while others can be mixed in 2 minutes flat. I'm dead serious. Next time someone asks you to a party (tot-to-adult), offer to bring naturally fermented, Some are for the more advanced fermenter and yield a layered complex taste, while others can … [Read more...] about Easy Peasy Pomegranate Soda
Amazing Homemade Almond Butter
[Almond Butter made with nuts that are soaked and dried before making into butter optimizes the nutrition of the almonds while neutralizing phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors present in the nuts. Not to mention that almond butter made this way tastes far better than the roasted or raw kinds. - Holistic Squid] I am traveling to Yosemite this week to teach a nourishing baby formula class and to then kick off an epic … [Read more...] about Amazing Homemade Almond Butter
Cool Cucumber Dill Soup
One of my oldest and dearest friends, Jennifer, is visiting LA. We grew up together in Texas where I'm convinced the summers are hotter than July in H. E. Double Hockey Sticks. That's Texas slang, y'all. Jennifer and I would swim at every opportunity and tried our best to convince our parents that was the same as bathing. We walked around with zip lock bags of ice balanced on our heads and refused to eat anything warm. My … [Read more...] about Cool Cucumber Dill Soup
Make Your Own Chicken Bone Broth – From Basic To Adventurous
Bone broth. The name alone sounds medieval, something that modern folks simply don't eat. But more and more, people are turning to stock made with the bones of chicken, beef, fish, etc, for both superior culinary flavors and old-fashioned healing properties. Admittedly, if you're new to the world of bone broth, the image above may put you off - but please read on. I will first present you with a recipe for easy, basic chicken … [Read more...] about Make Your Own Chicken Bone Broth – From Basic To Adventurous
Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe
[Holistic Squid note: I love EVERYTHING that Monica makes, but I especially love when she makes magic with ingredients. In this recipe, Monica uses cauliflower as the thickener for the curry, eliminating the need for processed cornstarch or other nastiness. Savory, nutritious, and won't leave you feeling like you ate a box of bricks - Thanks, Real Food Devotee!] I used to refer to colds as seasonal. I always perceived the … [Read more...] about Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe
Grain Free Meals on a Budget: The Melt
Lots of folks these days eat grain free, gluten free, GAPS, paleo, primal, etc. Right now, I am a choose-my-own-adventure eater. I eat all kinds of real food but aim for grain free meals (especially avoiding wheat that hasn't been traditionally prepared) because I personally consume less food and generally feel better when I don't eat grains. Some grain-based dishes (sandwiches, pasta, stir-fries, etc) are mostly all about … [Read more...] about Grain Free Meals on a Budget: The Melt
My Daughter’s Home Birth Story – A Tale of Fear & Joy
For my beautiful sweet girl, FAB - Your birth story. You were determined to join us. When your daddy and I first decided it was time to start 'trying' for our second child (and a sibling for Will) I figured it would take a few months. To be completely honest, I was not quite ready to get the pregnancy/birth/baby train started so quickly this time. Convinced I was going to have two boys, I had traumatizing visions of sitting … [Read more...] about My Daughter’s Home Birth Story – A Tale of Fear & Joy
Easy Meatballs – Nutrient Dense Food on the Go
People often ask me, "How do you always have nutrient dense food ready to dine on at home AND on the go? Where do you find the time?" I haven't found secret pockets of time, although I'm still searching. I do however, stock my refrigerator and freezer with nutrient dense fast food. Life can be chaotic. That will likely never change so I make versatile foods like these nutrient dense, easy meatballs. I grew up ducking and … [Read more...] about Easy Meatballs – Nutrient Dense Food on the Go
How To Make Goat Cheese In The Raw
I've been fascinated with the idea of making my own cheese for years. While I make yogurt and yogurt cream cheese regularly, have tried my hand at kefir, and have even bought some rennet (which sadly expired in the fridge untouched), for some reason cheese seemed like a daunting dairy frontier. Then last month I attended the Real Food Symposium here in Los Angeles, and after seeing a demonstration from the good folks at … [Read more...] about How To Make Goat Cheese In The Raw
Interview With a Lover of Backyard Chickens
When I first met my friend Sophie, I quickly realized she wasn't your typical chick. She knew things - about bees, about chickens, about all things pastoral really. Dubbed forevermore in my heart as Farm Girl, I love to spend an afternoon hanging with Sophie as she tends to her numerous chickens and kids, hearing the latest gossip from the coop and egging her on to get some milking goats and build a duck pond. Today we chat … [Read more...] about Interview With a Lover of Backyard Chickens