Posts

Happy Chicken = Happy You

Late summer is the time of year when gardens give abundantly here in Colorado. This morning I made a colorful open faced sandwich sourced from my neighborhood (mostly).

My breakfast began with a fresh egg from my neighbors’ chickens. Kristin & John have a beautiful backyard hen house with happy chickens. These girls have the life–green grass, garden leftovers, and a palatial dwelling equals good livin’!henhouse-1Each week we receive our multicolored oval beauties, and feel fortunate to have fresh eggs so close by. Local eggs are worth their weight in gold. Do you have neighbors that keep chickens? If you do, better get in on that action!  Farm-fresh eggs are full of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A (healthy skin), choline (especially important for pregnant women) and selenium (supports immune system health). For more information read what Diana Bauman writes on the blog Simple Bites.eggshenWhich came first, the chicken or the egg?

Adding the final touches to my fresh breakfast are tomatoes and Swiss chard from my front yard garden.  At long last my tomatoes have started to turn red, and with the rain this summer, my rainbow colored Swiss chard is still thriving. I picked some tomatoes and broke off a chard leaf — voilá my ingredients were ready.

Ingredients:
1 Egg, prepared to taste
1 Piece of toast
1 Leaf of Swiss chard
1 Small sliced tomato from the garden if possible
1-3 TBSP of ozuké Just Juniper Kraut
Salt & pepper to tasteswiss chardtomatoesDirections:
Toast bread. Meanwhile prepare the egg as desired (I prefer fried). Layer the sandwich to your liking, salt and pepper to taste. Top off with ozuké the best pickled things just juniper kraut & enjoy! Because our just juniper kraut is simple and mild, all the flavors of the bread, tomato, egg, and chard can be appreciated in each bite.

Happy chicken = Happy you!
cropped metal chicken

 

Tasty Cleanse, Nourished Body

Guest blog by our beloved Mignon Macias:

I love connecting with people and sharing sincere enthusiasm for current passions. It’s exciting and inspiring. The other day I re-connected with Nicole T. after having not seen her for at least 2 years. Immediately we shared our smartphone snapshots, and exchanged tidbits about our lives that a quick catch-me-up session in a grocery store aisle permits. Within minutes, we realized that there was a reason for our running into each other. As Nicole pointed out, ‘ all things happen for a reason’.

Nicole had just begun a cleanse, and I was there to share with her the benefits of delicious naturally fermented foods from zuke pickled things. Everyday, but especially during a cleanse, fermented foods will improve gut flora which can boost overall health and improve digestion. This age-old process makes nutrients more readily available for absorption and enhances food flavors.

photos by Sugarcurse

Delicious flavors and inventive food combinations are what inspire the creators of Zuke pickled things, Mara and Willow King.  Their citrus ginger blend is a tangy addition to any salad, or as a condiment for fish or shrimp tacos, grilled meats, and steamy risotto. The fresh, organic ingredients (green cabbage, ginger, lemon zest, lemon juice, & sea salt) combined with the high level of lactobacilli in each jar, makes for a mouth watering treat that is rewarding and satisfying. A cleanse becomes more like a celebration, rather than deprivation.

Recently, as a modern culture, we have been re-discovering this traditional process of preserving foods with lactic acid fermentation. Nourished Kitchen explains well the benefits of eating fermented foods, and also shares amazing whole food recipes.

For a simple, quick, nutrient dense dish try this salad as a light meal, or as a side dish.

GREENS W/ CITRUS GINGER PICKLED THINGS:
Swiss chard (thinly sliced)

Purple or lance shaped kale (thinly sliced)
Shredded golden beets
citrus ginger pickled things

Slivered almonds
Chopped pears
Olive oil
Apple cider vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste

 

In addition to its amazing flavor, citrus ginger pickled things is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals. Cabbage and lemons are rich in vitamin C, which help the body resist infectious agents. Lemon peel (zest) is high in potassium and calcium. Potassium plays a role in maintaining your heart function, and aiding in digestive capabilities.  Calcium is important for maintaining bones and teeth. It also plays a role in heart rhythm and muscle function. Sea salt is naturally rich in trace minerals, essential for many metabolic functions. And ginger improves the absorption and assimilation of essential nutrients in the body. It can also help with nausea, and aids in digestion.

It’s true, as Nicole said, all things DO happen for a reason. I thank you for your excitement and support. Here’s to a tasty cleanse and a nourished body!

Please send your favorite recipe ideas for our citrus ginger pickled things. We would like to share them.