I have been making kombucha for a couple of years now, and I love that I always have some on hand whenever I want a refreshing drink and a good boost of probiotics. If you know me, you probably know I am a big proponent of probiotics, especially from fermented foods like kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, etc. Good bacteria is essential to our health. Did you know that 70-80% of our immune system is located in our gut? That’s pretty huge! Even more of a reason to be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies. Probiotics, or good bacteria, kill off bad bacteria that are hanging out in our intestine, which leads to a more balanced gut, and in turn a stronger immune system. Probiotics have also been shown to decrease inflammation in the body (think arthritis, asthma, Chrohn’s disease). What’s really interesting to me is how a woman’s gut health during pregnancy and birth can influence the health of her child. All the more reason to drink up this fizzy drink! Continue reading
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Chipotle Sweet Potato Breakfast Skillet
I love Saturday mornings–the sun seeping through the blinds, gently waking me from my slumber, with my warm, furry dog curled up at my feet, and my love sleeping at my side. This is by far my favorite way to start the morning, slowly and gently. My husband awakes, and we talk about what we will do to fill our day and what we might make to fill our bellies. I then stumble into the kitchen, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and put the kettle on for a warm cup of tea. On this particular Saturday I wanted to make something simple, yet special to nourish our bodies. I decided on a skillet featuring this beautifully bright purple sweet potato I picked up from the market. I’m really loving my new vegetable spiralizer, which is what I used to turn the sweet potato into a sort of hash. I tossed the hash with some chipotle peppers, added eggs, avocado, and some greens and called it a meal! Continue reading
Stuffed Winter Squash with Millet, Mushrooms, Roasted Cranberries, & Sage
I love winter squash! Not only are they loaded with fiber and vitamins A, C, & B6, but they store well (up to 6 months in a cool environment!) and are easy to prepare. Thin-skinned winter squash like sweet dumpling, acorn, or delicata are the easiest because their rind is edible and therefore doesn’t need to be peeled, which is a bonus, especially when cooking simple weeknight meals! Continue reading