pumpkin seeds

pumpkin picking with my lil guy is so much fun- and the best part is scooping out its guts and plopping them on a cookie sheet with different spices and some salt!! this snack is just about the best fall snack i could ask for. some that i have made in the past have been..

- sugar & cinnamon
- cumin & salt
- sea salt
- chili powder
- curry

add them to salads or snack on them whole!! so yummy!!!

my dads famous chili

this. is. comfort food. my dad used to make a huge pot of chili on really cold days and we would spoon it atop of sticky white rice. this is one of my favorite childhood meals.. put it on top of a baked potato, rice, corn chips for dipping.. you name it, you do it!! ENJOY!!

just a couple easy ingredients. you will need:

- 1 onion diced
- 2 cans of kidney beans
- 2.5lbs of ground beef (of course you can substitute ground turkey, chicken, buffalo or even soy protein)
- 1/2 of a bottle of heinz 50.5oz ketchup
- 2 cups of water
- chili powder
- hot sauce & red pepper flakes (to taste)
- olive oil

start by browning the onions in olive oil, then add the meat and make sure it is broken apart in tiny little pieces. once all the meat is browned and combined with the onions start seasoning the meat with the chili powder and make sure it is a hefty amount, keep stirring.- again it is all to taste. then add the ketchup and 2 cups of water and keep stirring.. it will get thicker.. keep it up at a slight simmer and after 45minutes add the kidney beans!! once it is at the consistency you like, its time to serve- over rice, a baked potato- whatever you would like!!
(i have to admit, the second day is always the best!!!)

sharon's sorbet

i cannot say enough great things about this dutch cocoa sorbet!! VEGAN, DAIRY FREE, GLUTEN FREE??!? it is just amazing & really wonderful in smoothies as well as with sprinkles in a cone! check them out online to find out where you can find it at a market near you- sharon's sorbet !!

antioxidant salad

a fresh start to the new year always calls for a delicious & healthy salad!
i love making this salad & brought it to christmas this year and it was a huge hit..

to make this simple and healthy salad, you will need:

- 2 cara cara oranges cut into chunks
- 1 avocado, sliced
- rubies from 1 pomegranate 
- half of 1 head of broccoli 
- hearty handful of sliced almonds 
- 1 shallot minced
- olive oil & balsamic vinegar
- s&p 

or you can always make a simple dressing:
-1tsp dijon mustard
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- s&p
- 1 clove of a shallot minced

KEEP POSTED!!!!

I AM SORRY, EVERYONE!! i lost my password and couldnt figure it out for months and it all wasnt working with me.. but STAY TUNED.. i promise some delicious new recipes as well as some amazing ideas!!!

I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO COOKING MORE AND SHARING TONS!!

xxoo LAURA

products & toiletries

i usually post about food and recipes that we use - but after watching dr.oz last week & since i have been experiencing more GI issues, i have been looking closer at everything that i use daily. that means toiletries, as well. lotions, soaps, face washes, detergents, make up, etc. i am finding a couple really important things.. names of things that you wouldnt have any idea contained RBWO (rye, barley, wheat & oats) - that infact DO contain RBWO.

when you read this in an ingredient list, this is what it really means:
-TRITICUM VULGARE (wheat bran)
-SECALE CEREALE (rye seed extract)
-HORDEUM VULGARE (barley)
-AVENA SATIVA (oat bran)
-COLLOIDAL OATMEAL (when not marked gluten free)
-WHEAT STARCH (in mascara)
-WHEATGERM OIL (in many lotions, moisturizers, lipsticks, anti-ageing products)
-TOCOPHEROL(may indicate wheatgerm oil)
-HYDROLYZED WHEAT STARCH (shampoo, conditioner, sprays, gels & dyes)
-WHEAT BRAN 
-HYDROLYZED WHEAT PROTEIN (HWP)
-PVP CROSSPOLYMER
-WHEAT AMINO ACIDS
-AMINO PEPTIDE COMPLEX (barley)
-PHYTOPHINGOSINE EXTRACT (barley)
-BETA GLUCAN (oat)
-ADHESIVE ON ENVELOPES (do not lick)
-MALTODEXTRIN
-HYDROLYZED MALT EXTRACT
-HYDROLYZED OAT FLOUR
-HYDROLYZED VEGETABLE PROTEIN 
-KERNEL OILS/ FLOURS
-TRITICUM VULGARE GERM OIL
-TRITICUM VULGARE GLUTEN
-TRITICUM VULVARE STARCH
-WHEAT AMINO ACIDS
-WHEAT GERM GLYCERIDES
-WHEAT GERMANIDOPROPALKONIUM CHLORIDE
-YEAST EXTRACT
-WHEATGERMANIDOPROPYL ETHYLDIMONIUM ETHOSULFATE


....(i plan on modifying this list whenever i find something new!!)


these are very helpful hints on how find gluten free products all the time. everyday i am learning more and more about this allergy that i have. i just hit the year mark from when i went gluten free & aside from feeling a bit better- i still have a lot to learn. 


Gluten/wheat-free cosmetics
100% Organics – GF/WF/DF
Afterglow Cosmetics – GF/WF/DF/NF
Balaton Spa – GF/WF/DF/NF
Balm Balm – GF/WF/DF
CocoonU Organic range – GF/WF/DF/NF
Essential Care – GF/WF/DF/NF
HerbFarmacy – GF/WF/DF
MuLondon.com – GF/WF/DF/NF
NATorigin – GF/WF/DF
Pai Skincare – GF/WF/DF
Premae Skincare – GF/WF/DF/NF
Queen Cosmetics – GF/WF/DF/NF
Raw Skin Food – GF/WF/DF/NF
Ruby Red Cosmetics – GF/WF/DF
Scoop Sensitive Man – GF/WF/DF
Skin Blossom – GF/WF/DF 
SoPhyto – GF/WF/DF
Witch Skincare – GF/WF/DF/NF


source: Skins Matter

seasoned sea scallops

- old bay seasoning
- garlic salt
- olive oil
- 4 to 5 scallops per person, medium sized


combine and make a thin layer of spices on a plate, heat oil in shallow pan.
dip the scallops on the flat side into the spices and then place in pan. 
on high heat, turning every few minutes, cook until nice and tender.