Make Your Own Popsicles

I got this recipe in my email. I haven't tried it yet but I am going to. I'm always looking for a way to make healthy things at home. We make a lot of smoothies in this household and I decided that I was going to buy popsicle trays and this summer just freeze our smoothies so that way we have a nice cooling treat! Anyways, I'm going to post some of our smoothie recipes later but here is the popsicle recipe.


Strawberry-Yogurt Swirl Pops Recipe

INGREDIENTS
1 lb strawberries, hulled
1⁄3 cup plus 1⁄4 cup sugar, preferably superfine
2 tsp lemon juice
2 cups vanilla yogurt

You’ll also need:
2 large plastic squeeze bottles,
10 pop molds (1⁄2-cup capacity)

PREPARATION
1. Place strawberries, 1⁄3 cup sugar and lemon juice in blender; purée 3 minutes. Pour into a large plastic squeeze bottle and screw on bottle top.

2. In a medium bowl, stir remaining 1⁄4 cup sugar into yogurt until sugar is dissolved. Pour into the second squeeze bottle and screw on bottle top.

3. Fill each pop mold with strawberry and yogurt mixtures, alternately squeezing or spooning the mixtures into each mold to create a swirled pattern. Place tops on molds; insert wooden sticks. Freeze at least 6 hours until solidly frozen.

4. Remove molds from freezer. Soften slightly at room temperature, about 5 minutes (or dip molds in warm water a few seconds). Remove pops from molds. Serve immediately, or wrap pops separately in plastic wrap, then store in freezer bag or container.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I started out making this recipe by the "book" so to speak but now I do my own thing with it. So I will give you the original recipe and my version!

Original Version:
Serves 4

4 Corn Tortillas, halved, then cut crosswise in narrow strips
2 Cans Chicken Broth
1 Medium Zucchini, cut in 3/4 inch thick half-rounds
1/2 tsp each minced garlic and ground cumin
1 Cup Corn
1 Can Red Kidney Beans, Rinsed
1 1/2 Cups large shreds of cooked chicken
1 large tomato, cut in 1 inch chunks
1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1. Coat bottom of pot with olive oil, heat over medium heat. Add tortilla strips and cook 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly toasted. Remove to a paper towel or plate.

2. Add broth, zucchini, garlic and cumin to pot; bring to a boil. Reduce head, cover and simmer 3 minutes, or until zucchini is crisp-tender.

3. Stir in tortilla strips, corn and beans; continue to simmer 2 minutes or until tortillas soften. Stir in remaining ingredients; heat through.


My Version of this Yummy Soup:

2 Boxes of Imagine Organic Chicken Broth (Low Sodium)
4-5 Zucchini's chopped into small pieces
2 Cans Organic Black Beans
2 Cans Organic Pinto Beans
1 Can Red Kidney Beans
1 Bag Frozen Organic Corn
1-2 Tomatoes, diced into chunks any size you want
1 Can Sliced Olives
Minced Garlic
Ground Cumin
Black Pepper
Sea Salt
Cilantro
Sour Cream

1. Pour chicken broth into pot. Add minced garlic, ground cumin, black pepper, sea salt, cilantro, frozen corn and zucchini. Bring to broil. Reduce heat and let simmer until zucchini is crisp-tender roughly 3 minutes.

2. Stir in rinsed and drained beans. Let simmer roughly 2 minutes so beans are warm.

3. Pour into individual bowls and garnish with tomato chunks, sliced olives and sour cream.

**You could also add Squash, carrots, potatoes or anything else that sounds good.
**This dish is a little mexican like and has a little bit of zing to it. It's not too spicy for kids though.
**We seem to like my version better than the original one. The corn strips are good but are a little more work and seem to get soggy in the fridge.
**I always make a giant batch of this so there is lots of leftovers. So if you do not want that much leftover you might want to put less ingredients in from the above list. We usually eat it pretty fast so I am not sure how long it'll last in the fridge. I haven't tried freezing it.

Do One Nice Thing

I came across this website in my Reader's Digest Magazine. It's a pretty amazing website. I've always wanted to do some sort of donation or give to people that are in need of help. But I haven't really taken the time or found something that was so simple.

Here's the article that I read that drew me into looking at the ladies website and now doing "One Nice Thing".

Debbie Tenzer got tired of hearing friends bemoan the state of the world. "Instead of worrying about big problems I couldn't solve, I decided to look for the small ones I could solve," says Tenzer, 55. Now, every Monday on her website, doonenicething.com, she recommends a good deed and profiles people who do them.

She's onto something: Not only has her "kindness movement" attracted followers in 90 countries since 2005, but recent studies show that giving to others releases the hormone oxytocin, a natural joy booster and stress buster.


There are some very simple (cheap) ways to give on her website. Some as simple as just writing a letter to an injured soldier.

I also found this one tonight that I plan on mailing to:

Mail a packet of flower seeds to BARN, a transitional home for homeless women and their children in Virginia. BARN teaches skills to the mothers so they can get back on their feet.

Your little packet of seeds will give the families a fun project to do. Growing flowers together will give them a lift, and instill a sense of pride in their home.

Mail to:
Barn
Sister Glenna Smith, OSB
9541 Linton Hall Rd
Bristow, VA 20136

How hard is that? Plus, you could get the seeds at the dollar store and send more than one packet of seeds to them.

Check out the website - www.doonenicething.com - click on "Ideas" on the right and she gives you new ideas every Monday. You don't have to have money to do some of these and you don't have spend all day doing them.

First Post

So, I decided to create a blog so I can share all the health articles, tips, and recipes that I come across. As many of you know Chad and I have tried to change our eating habits to eating mostly organic. Obviously you can't always eat healthy or organic food. But we do the best we can.

I have come across tons of healthy recipes and great health info that I wanted to share with our family and friends. So I will post as a I come across things. I also have other great sites that I want to post for you all to check out.

Check back here often for new posts!