Harvest Granola

Here is a quick recipe for a great granola. Put it over milk or yogurt or just eat it as a snack. It's packed with protein and antioxidants.

Ingredients:

3 cups of rolled oats

1 cup of shredded coconuts

1 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup unsweetened wheat germ

1/4 cup honey

Tablespoon agave nectar

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 dried chopped mangoes

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine everything except for the dried fruit in a big mixing bowl. Spread mixture over cooking sheet and place in oven for 45 minutes. Let cool and mix in dried fruit. Put it air tight plastic container and refrigerate. Enjoy.

Wheatberry and Roasted Veggie Pockets

Ingredients:

1 package whole wheat pita pockets

1 1/2 cups of cooked farro (wheatberry)

1 1/2 lbs of assorted root veggies chopped

1 vidalia onion diced

1 cup mixture of dried cranberries and raisins

5 basil leaves finely chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425. Roast vegetables on a baking sheet brushed with oil for 20 minutes or until tender. Cut pitas in half. Toss farro, veggies and the remaining ingredients in a bowl until everything is coated nicely with lemon, oil and vinegar mixture. Stuff pitas with farro salad and enjoy. This is great served warm or cold :)

Great reads for a clean lifestyle

Here is a list of recommended books that will educate you on a clean lifestyle, how most food gets to your plate and some awesome recipes:

www.animalvegetablemiracle.com

www.michaelpollan.com/books/

www.squeakygourmet.com

Benefits of Agave Nectar

Agave Nectar is a natural sweetener that is derived from the Agave plant. Agave is best known for making tequila. Agave syrup is a great substitute for sugar in food and drinks because it is a low glycemic sweetener. Here is how it adds up to other sweeteners on the glycemic index:

Organic Agave Nectar: 27
Fructose: 32
Lactose: 65
Honey: 83
High fructose corn syrup: 89
Sucrose: 92
Glucose: 137
Maltodextrin: 150
Maltose: 150

Use 1/3 cup of Agave Nectar for every cup of sugar in a recipe. Since Agave is a liquid, you may reduce liquids in a recipe by one-third. I use Agave in just about everything that would normally call for sugar. I use it to sweeten my tea and put it in my baked goods. This is a great change from refined sugars and artificial sweeteners and it also will not spike your blood sugar levels!

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Throw a clean BBQ!

What is better then a bbq in the summer? Good friends, good food and drink and warm weather :) Instead of your typical burger, dogs, mayonnaise doused potato salad and bud lite, I have whipped up some great clean alternatives for your next back yard bash!

Summer Herb Ice Tea:

10 cups of water

1 tablespoon minced mint leaf

1 tablespoon clove

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

1 large basil leaf

2 tablespoons chamomile

1 tablespoon black tea

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Take off heat and let steep for one hour. Strain liquid into a pitcher and dispose of herbs. Served chilled.

Papaya Apricot Salsa:

1 large diced tomato

1 Papaya peeled and diced

1 small white onion diced

2 apricots peeled and diced

1 small jalapeno diced

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoons fresh parsley

Combine everything in a bowl and stir until everything is mixed well. Serve will blue corn tortilla chips.

Hawaiian Kebabs:

2lbs boneless chicken thighs cubed or 1 package of extra firm tofu cubed

2 red onions cut into wedges

1 red onion cut into wedges

1 mango peeled and cut into wedges

1/2 fresh pineapple cut into chunks

2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 minced garlic cloves

1 tablespoon agave nectar

2 tablespoons O.J

a pinch of salt and pepper

Alternate chicken or tofu, peppers, mango, onion and pineapple on a skewer. This should make about four kebabs. Combine ginger, olive oil, garlic, agave, O.J and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place skewers in a long container with lid and add marinade. Shake container every 20 minutes or so for an hour. Place skewers on grill and enjoy!

South Western Summer Farro Salad

This is a great dish for lunch or as a side dish with dinner :)

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked farro (let cool)

1 diced cucumber

1/2 small onion diced

1 minced clove of garlic

1 avocado diced

1/2 cup drained and rinsed black beans

1/2 cup fresh corn off the cob

1/2 small diced tomato

4 tablespoons of olive oil

Juice from one lemon

1/4 cup of cilantro or parsley

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix until everything is coated well in oil and lemon. Place in fridge for at least two hours before serving.