Comfort Food Fix With Heirloom Beans (With Smoked Sea Salt)

I don't know about you guys, but I grew up in the country, and beans, - especially pinto beans - were a staple.  All this girl needed was pinto beans, mashed potatoes, sliced tomatoes, and a green onion from the garden and DONE!  STILL, beans like these heirloom beans, and pinto beans are one of my favorite foods.  They just bring those sweet, family time, fresh from the garden, home town feels.  

MY FAVORITE BRAND

Hurst's brand with the smoked sea salt is one of my favorite brands to buy in the store.  I find these at my local Publix.  The smoked sea salt is such a nice touch!  I cook my beans in organic vegetable broth, (a little drizzle of a nice olive oil wouldn't hurt either), and just add the salt to taste when they are done cooking.  Whatever salt is left over, just enjoy on something else.  Nothing else is needed!

WHY I EAT THEM?

Beans are an excellent source of vegetable protein, dietary fiber, and complex carbohydrates. The heirloom beans up the ante a bit when it comes to nutritional makeup and flavor! They are a little harder to find, and once you do, you might pay a little bit more. I enjoy adding them into the mix every now and then. Let me know if you try them!

Detox Drink - Boost Your Metabolism And Immunity

This is a beautiful detox drink and liver flush to start your day!  It contains the benefits of the almighty lemon, along with the apple cider vinegar powerhouse.  Apple cider vinegar is full of vitamins, minerals and enzymes in their raw form.  All of that goodness accelerates your metabolism.  It is one of the best ways to cleanse the body and kill bacteria.  I cured my outdoor kitty's conjunctivitis with apple cider vinegar just last week.  That's another post :-).  Apple Cider Vinegar aids in digestion and cleaning of the intestines, killing off bacteria all the while it travels through your system.  A detox drink like this one can give your body a boost of  immunity while you’re including many wholesome nutrients and minerals in your routine.  Potassium is the main power punch in ACV, toxic poisons are placed in isolation, so that they can be flushed out of the body. Also, apple cider vinegar is an organic antibiotic that backs up your immune system to combat any foreign germs, bacteria and help ward off viruses that you may encounter.  And we all know that happens!  Raw honey adds extra antioxidants and helps to improve your immune system.  Not to mention how great raw - LOCAL to you - honey is for seasonal allergies.  Cinnamon helps balance your blood sugar, and fights cravings.  The lemon juice helps rehydrate you, rejuvenates your skin, and aids in healing.  The cayenne is great for blood flow, eases migraines, anti-fungal, helps relieve joint and nerve pain, and also boosts metabolism!  I like to mix all of the ingredients in a small mason jar so I can shake it really well to blend the ingredients.  If you don't want to hop up every morning and make it, then make a large batch and store in the refrigerator. 

Apple Cider Vinegar Detox & Liver Flush
2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (w/the mother)

2 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice 

1 tbsp Organic Raw Honey

Dusting or up to 1 tsp Ceylon Cinnamon (stubborn to mix, work your way up to 1 tsp)

Dusting of Cayenne (optional)
8 oz purified water

Not Your Average Salad (COLOR Makes Them FUN...And Healthier)

LIVING foods!  Nature's essential nutrition.  Whole, raw, organic foods are the givers of energy, life, the healers, and protectors from disease.  I try to have at least one BIG bowl of LIFE daily.  I like to have a nice green leafy base. I keep options like kale, spinach, arugula, (I dig that peppery kick), spring mix, and I love green and red leaf lettuce, to mix in with the kale or spinach.  Then add lot's of COLOR!  Make it EASY for yourself to throw a beauty like this together.  Pre-chop your veggies and place them in individual containers.  That way you can customize your salad daily.  A little of this, a little more of that, or totally skip something one day, you get the idea.  Keep it FUN! I love shopping for veggies, seeing what catches my eye, what looks super fresh and yummy, something I haven't had in a while, you know the deal - a little produce adventure!  Finally, toss on a handful of nuts or seeds with some sprouts and you are good to go. Maybe even a little dried fruit like cranberries or raisins. Keep goodies on hand so it's easy and fun for you to make something healthy you WANT to eat.  Finish it off with your favorite healthy dressing, and you are ready to pump some LIFE into your LIFE.