A Fun & Tasty Way to Get Your Fish Oil

It's been a really busy and exciting week! I've enjoyed trying out Barlean's products and sharing them with all of you. It's been fun to come up with new and unique ways to use products that seem to only have a single utility, like making pudding from chai seeds, using an oil supplement to make a salad dressing, and using Barlean's Organic Greens to make fruit leather.

The product that I really felt was unique, besides Barlean's Olive Leaf Extract, was their Omega Swirl to go. They sent me the Key Lime flavored Omega Swirl To-Go Ultra-Potency Fish Oil. Fish oil supplements have been shown to help with depression, psychosis, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, and other thinking disorders. It's brain food. As we get older, our bodies begin to become more brittle and dry. Fish oil helps to moisturize joints and even the eyes. Studies have shown that fish oil lowers triglyercides 20-50%, which means it can be beneficial in preventing heart attacks. Finally, studies have also shown the supplementing with fish oil with B12 can help reduce menstrual cramps.

Many people have a hard time taking fish oil supplements because of the fishy taste, but the Omega Swirl To-Go tasted like desert. While it has a rich and creamy texture, the Omega Swirl To-Go is both dairy and gluten-free. I gave my daughter a little bit to try and she loved it. I'm definitely going to buy the Omega Swirl To-Go for kids. Research has shown that fish oil helps kids concentrate and can be extremely beneficial in helping dyslexia, A.D.D, A.D.H.D. They do so by increasing Acetycholine, Dopamine and Serotonin levels in the brain. Acetycholine is responsible for memory. According to Dr. Barry Sears: "dopamine spurs you to action, enhancing your brain’s ability to concentrate on the task at hand and allowing you to organize yourself more efficiently. Serotonin is your morality or “feel good” hormone. It gives you a sense of well-being and allows you to handle stress more easily." I'm excited to see if there is going to be a noticeable change with our daughter as we supplement with fish oil.

Don't forget to enter my contest to have a chance to try Omega Swirl To-Go for free!!

Making Fruit Leather with Barlean's Organic Greens

When I was embarking on my 21-day cleanse, I knew that the program would involve drinking some sort of a shake. In the weeks leading up to the cleanse and during the cleanse, I drank protein shakes daily for breakfast and within an hour, I had severe gas and cramping. I kept drinking it, thinking that my body just needed to get used to it. It's amazing because, our bodies know what's best for them, if only we are willing to just listen. I think that the way the protein is processed, regardless of whey or vegan doesn't agree with my sensitive stomach.

Even though, shakes don't seem to agree with me, sometimes I like my meals in a glass. But all of my experimentation has instilled in me a grain of very healthy skepticism.

When I got Barlean's Organic Greens to try, I was nervous about how it was going to make me feel. Luckily, Barlean's Organic Greens isn't a protein powder, it's a supplement made with superfoods, probiotics, antioxidants, greens, and their high quality flax seeds. Sweetened with stevia and fruit extracts, it adds a nice tart kick to water or juice. Barlean's Organic Greens is high in Vitamin C and it's high content of gluten free and dairy free probiotics and greens helps cleanse and detoxify the digestive system. Finally, it contains two Chinese herbs: astragulus and schizandra, both of which are adaptogenic herbs that help your body manage stress and prevent illness.

I added the powder to a smoothie that I made for my daughter and then used the left over smoothie to make a fruit leather. We think that our daughter maybe a little vitamin K defincient, so we've been looking to get more greens into her diet. Unfortunately for us, she runs the other way whenever she sees anything green on her plate. She drank her Berry Smoothie with Barlean's Organic Greens gladly and couldn't get enough of the fruit leather. I drank a juice with a scoop of Barlean's Organic Greens and I had zero pain and my stomach felt great.

Berry Smoothie with Barlean's Organic Greens
Ingredients
2 cups of Frozen Organic Berries
2 cups of Coconut Water/Water/Alternative Milk
2 scoops of Barlean's Organic Greens

Process:
1. Add all ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth
2. Enjoy!

Barlean's Greens Very Berry Fruit Leather
Ingredients
2 cups of Berry Smoothie with Barlean's Organics Greens

Process:
1. Spread smoothie on a Silpat Mat at thin as you can get it without any holes

2. Dehydrate at 115 overnight (total of 8-10 hours)

3. Enjoy!

The Supplement You Should Be Taking But Probably Don't Even Know Exists

I knew nothing about Olive Leaf Extract until Barlean's sent me a bottle to try. I am definitely familiar with a variety of super foods like acai berry, maca root, and green tea but this was a new one. I love learning about new herbs and remedies so I started researching the benefits of this product.

What appealed to me about the Olive Leaf Extract is that it's been shown to boost the immune system's ability to fight off bugs and increase energy.  The active ingredient in Olive Leaf Extract is called elenolic acid, which has been found to have a powerful anti-bacterial effect. A study in the 1960's  showed that elenolic acid it stopped the growth of every virus that it was tested against.It's also a very strong anti-fungal. Which means that's its good for someone who is susceptible to toenail fungus, urinary and yeast infection. When Olive Leaf Extract was tested for possible side effects, the only side effect found was a reaction to the significant fungal die-off that happens. What I like about it most is its benefit for arthritic conditions. In fact, a study in 2010 showed that olive leaf extract is effective in reducing chronic pain.

Finally, Olive Leaf Extract is an amazing anti-oxidant, which helps protect again cancer by controlling free radicals in the body. Olive Leaf Extract has more antioxidants than vitamin C, green tea, acai berry and many other well known anti-oxidants. Recently many antioxidant juices have entered the market, like Noni juice, Mangosteen Juice, and Goji berry juice, but Olive Leaf Extract has 500% more antioxidant capacity than the best antioxidant juice on the market.

I am currently battling a cold, which turned into a respiratory infection and is slowing transforming into a sinus or ear infection. I feel pretty bad, but there is no rest for the wicked! So, I tried the liquid form, but it also comes in capsules (both are included in the prize pack). I have to say that it tastes like Dimetapp a little bit, but it's not unpleasant. The liquid tastes very sweet and has a dark gold color. If the taste is not appealing to you, the capsules are perfect. I'm hoping that I will be feeling the benefits in the upcoming weeks. I'll definitely report my findings.

In summary, here are the top 6 benefits of Olive Leaf Extract
1. Boosts Immune System
2. Increases Energy
3. Powerful Anti-Bacterial Effect
4. Strong Anti-Fungal
5. Reduces Pain
6. Helps Prevent Cancer by Controlling Free Radicals

If you want to try it, you can buy it at The Gourmet Boutique.

Don't forget to enter my Barlean's Giveaway! Click Here for Rules.

Barlean's Week: Veal Chorizo with Broccoli Rabe & Nutty Spaghetti Squash

It's day two of Barlean's Week at A Crafty Gourmet! I ate my pudding from yesterday for breakfast and it kept be full until lunch. It was really good! Don't forget that I'm having a big giveaway of all the Barlean's products I am showcasing. Please click here to enter the giveaway.

Today for dinner, I made a spaghetti squash side dish using Barlean's Flax Oil, which is the #1 selling flax oil and one of the top 10 selling best natural products. Their oil is incredibly yummy! It has a delicious nutty taste, which I really like in squash dishes.

Flax oil also have a many health benefits. Since it is rich in Omega-3's, it helps clean the circulatory system of cholesterol and fat deposits. Paul Pritchford writes in Healing with Whole Foods: "it helps to reduce clotting, lowers lipid levels in the blood, and helps prevent damage to the heart muscle in a heart attack."  Additionally flax seeds help with sluggish digestion and clear out mucus in the digestive system. Personally, I like it for it's proven benefits for arthritis: it lubricates the joints and lessens stiffness and joint pain. I have been pain free for a few weeks now, and I've been consuming copicious amounts of Omega-3's from a variety of sources. I know it works.

As part of the giveaway, don't forget to comment about the recipe below for your chance to win the Barlean's prize pack.


Veal Chorizo with Broccoli Rabe & Nutty Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients
1 cup Strauss Pasture Raised Veal Chorizo
2 cups Frozen Broccoli Rabe
1/2 Medium Sized Spaghetti Squash
1 tsp Sunny Paris Spice
1 tsp Hickory Smoked Salt
2 tbsp Barlean's Flax Oil
dash pepper






Process:
1. Precook squash the night before. Cut in half, lengthwise, cook for 30 mins at 350 degrees

2. Heat pan and add veal and cook for 6-8 mins

3. Add Broccoli Rabe and mix

4. Cook until Broccoli Rabe is hot (about another 6-8 mins)

5. Scrape squash to remove strands and place spaghetti strands into a bowl

6. Add Barlean's Flax Oil, spices, and salt and mix well

7. Place spaghetti squash on plate and place veal with broccoli rabe on top

8. Enjoy!

Celebrating Barlean's Week With An Amazing Giveaway plus Recipe for Coconut Carob Mousse!

This is a really exciting week here at A Crafty Gourmet. First I get to announce the winner of my Unbleached Paper Products Giveaway. The lucky winner is Monica! I will contact you to get your address and will ship you the prize package.

Next, this week is officially Barlean's Week! The whole week, I will be showcasing Barlean's and their wonderful lines of products, including flax oil, fish oil, chia seeds, greens powder, and their unique olive leaf extract. I'm also giving away a prize package filled with everything that I'm showcasing! Scroll to the bottom for official rules!

I have been a fan of Barlean's since I was in high school when I used the oil to make my own dressings with the flax oil, which I will share later this week. And since then, their line of products has significantly expanded and just recently, they've launched their organic chia seeds.

The chia seed is an ancient aztec superfood. It's a seed that is very high in protein and fiber, as well as heart healthy omega 3's. It's also packed with essential minerals such as phosphorous, manganese, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.

Chia seeds have many health benefits:

1. Help you feel full: Because chia seeds absorb 10 times their weight in water, they form into a gel that helps provide the bulk in a meal and in your belly

2. Helps hydrate: The bulky gel helps provide hydration. If you're and athlete, you can mix the gel with coconut water to make your own recovery gel that will help with electrolyte balance and thirst

3. Help control blood sugar: Some studies have shown that chia seeds slow the absorption of simple sugars, and so help keep blood sugars stable.

Besides baking with them, one of my favorite ways to enjoy chia seeds is in a pudding or mousse. To highlight, how amazing these little seeds are, I've created a Coconut Carob Mousse.

Coconut Carob Mousse
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Coconut Milk (I use Native Forest because they guarantee that their cans are BPA free)
2 tbsp raw carob powder
2 tbsp maple syrup or agave or raw honey. You can also use 5-8 drops of Stevia if you prefer
2 tsp of vanilla powder or 1 tbsp of vanilla extract
1/3 cup Barlean's Organic Chia Seeds
2 tsp of Coconut Cream for Topping
5 raspberries for Topping

Process:
1. Pour milk into a bowl and mix to get rid of any clumps of coconut cream

2. Add carob powder and mix until all clumps of carob are gone. You can use the back of your spoon and push the clumps again the wall of the bowl

3. Add sweetener and vanilla and mix well

4. Add chia seeds and mix well, removing seeds from the walls of the bowl

5. Let stand in refrigerator for 10 minutes

6. Empty into a cup or bowl and finish with coconut cream and raspberries

7. Enjoy!

To be entered into the contest you must do the following things:

1. Like me on Facebook

2. Leave a one comment here for every product in the prize package (6) and let me know what interests you about it. Every comment is an additional chance to win

For more chances to win:
1. Go to Barlean's Facebook page and Like them

2. Follow me on Twitter

3. Follow Barlean's on Twitter

4. Follow me on Pinterest

5. Share with your friends and let me know via a comment (you can do this daily)

Again, you must a comment for each entry.

Contest will run from October 1st until October 15th. I will announce a winner on October 16th. Good Luck!

Weekend Snack Attack! Real Food for Your Weekend Out & About

Why is eating good food on the weekends so hard for me?? During the work week, I pack breakfast, lunch and snacks to store in the fridge at the office, but during the weekend I have a much harder time planning ahead. The result is a hungry me, standing in line for food at birthday parties, willing to ignore my food allergies and sensitivities. I think one difficulty I seem to have is figuring how to make real food portable and capable of surviving a full day in my bag. I'm getting better at planning but there is still much more that can and will be done. This weekend, I did make some headway and came up with a couple items that I was able to carry around with me: roasted Brussels sprouts and kale & shallot mini quiches.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients:
4 cups Brussels Sprouts
2 tsp Bavarian Spice
1 tsp Celtic Salt
2 tbsp Olive Oil

Process
1. Preheat oven to 425 

2. Wash Brussels Sprouts and slice in half length wise

3. Place into glass baking dish and pour oil evenly throughout the dish

4. Sprinkle salt and spices and mix well with a wooden spoon

5. Bake in oven for 35-40 minutes

6. Enjoy!

Kale & Shallot Mini Quiches (makes ten)
Ingredients:
4 stems of red kale
1 tbsp ghee
1 large shallot
8 eggs
1/2 tsp salt for kale
1/2 tsp salt for eggs
1/4 cup water
1/2 smoked paprika
1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar
Dash of pepper from a grinder


Process:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Heat ghee in pan

3. Chop shallots finely and put in pan to brown

4. While shallots are browning, chop kale very finely

5. Add kale into pan, add vinegar, salt, and paprika

6. Saute for 8 minutes and set aside to cool

7. In a bowl, break 8 eggs and salt salt and pepper

8. Whisk eggs for a few minutes and add water and whisk for a minute

9. Add in sauteed kale and mix well

10. Line a muffin tin with muffin cups, pour in mixture

11. Bake for 22-25 minutes

 

12. Enjoy!

How to Make the Best Kale Chips Ever!

It's been a really busy week and on top everything I'm doing, I'm also fighting a cold. Often times when I get sick, I get a nasty respiratory infection. I'm hoping that now that I'm dairy free, that it's going to be more mild, but at the same time, I'm not holding my breath. I've been going to see my acupuncturist, Vincent Kan, and drinking lots of tea and herbs so I'm hoping that will help.

Yesterday, we had a really fun off site event at work where we did a Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt, and my team won! I got a gift card, which I used to buy a new cocktail dress to wear to a fancy birthday party coming up this weekend. I'm hoping that this cold gives me enough reprieve so that I can enjoy myself and that it doesn't bite in the butt after for not resting. Am I asking too much??

In the meantime, I wanted to make sure that I had plenty of nutritious snacks while I'm battling this cold. I've finally perfected my Kale Chip recipe and wanted to share it with you.

Smokey & Spicy Kale Chips
Ingredients
1 bunch curly kale
1/2 tbsp Hickory Smoked Salt
1/2 tbsp Turmeric
1 tsp Ginger
1 tbsp Coconut Oil

Process:
1. In a bowl, mix oil and spices and using your hands mix well until oil is melted

2. Rip kale leaves or stems and tear into smaller pieces no more than 1.5 inches

3. Wash kale leaves and put them into a bowl

4. Using your hands, gather oil mixture and massage into kale

5. Continue doing this until all mixture is used

6. Lay Kale onto Silpat mat

7. Dehydrate in oven at 145 degrees for 2 hours

8. If chips are still not crispy then raise temperature to 200 to 15-20 minutes

9. If you don't have a dehydrator, you can use your oven and set it to the lowest possible temperature (180-200) and prop oven door with a kitchen towel so that there is at least a 3-inch gap. Bake for 1.5-2 hours. Adjust time accordingly to ensure chips are crispy. All ovens are different so get to know yours

10. Enjoy!