Recipe: My husband doesn't like Fudge but loves this Fudge...FUDGE!

This is a really yummy dark chocolate fudge. It is healthy. Yup. The only thing it has is fat. But it is low fat. So....people....I have to remind myself- IT IS STILL FOOD!, don't eat too much!....tehe!

The My husband doesn't like fudge but thinks this rocks......Fudge recipe (until I have a better name! help!)

1/2 cup unsalted Organic butter (or coconut oil...you can taste a little coconut in this recipe, if you are ok with that.)
2/3 cup Xylitol
1 8oz carton of Organic(ideal of course) Neufchatal Cheese (cream cheese would also work but has more fat)
1/2 cup unsweetened raw cocoa powder (if you are new at this and don't yet know where to get raw cocoa powder, then use regular processed cocoa powder)
1 scoop Vanilla Whey Protein (I use MSM whey, I like it the best)
1 cup (or more) Walnut pieces
1/4 cup grain sweetened Chocolate chips

1.Melt the butter in a large Saucepan, then remove from heat.
2.Stir in Xylitol with a wooden spoon, let stand about a half hour to cool to room temp.
3. Add the Neufchatel Cheese and beat with an electric hand mixer (start on low to prevent spatter) until the mixture is free of lumps.
4. Add the Cocoa powder and beat until well mixed.
5. Fold in the Walnut pieces and chocolate chips
6. Line a loaf pan with wax paper long enough to go up the sides so you can pull out the whole block easily when its done.
7. Smooth mixture into loaf pan and refridgerate for hours until semi-firm.
8. Cut into squares and store in freezer. That keeps them firmer.
9. Don't eat them all today! LOL

My yummy lunch

I try to do as little carbs as possible. It's not so easy when we eat out so I try my best to eat this way when we're home. When the warm white rolls at a restaurant are staring you in the face it's VERY tempting. So for the most part we don't eat out, it's much cheaper, much healthier and it makes the times we do super special and fun for us! You should see the kids excitement when we say we're going out! I have a feeling our overindulging of Restaurants in our today times is also not such a good thing besides just because of the food.
I use the 80/20 rule in our home. 80% we eat 'clean'..unprocessed, organic food and 20% is left for eating out and birthday parties (which seem to be ALL the time since my kids are school age now, LOL)
I have heard friends say things like 'I only live once, why care?' and 'It's FDA approved and recommended, its gotta be fine for us'.
Well, I don't agree. Maybe at one point I'll know how to organize my thousands of thoughts to share 'why' through this blog. :-)

My recipes and dishes have to be simple otherwise I won't cook. That's just me. If you are looking for some wonderful creative, thousand ingredient recipes, you won't find them here either... Believe it or not Healthy and Quick can be used in the same sentence, PROMISE! We don't use boxed foods..Everything I share will be simple...very very simple and AFFORDABLE! :-)

Here is a delicious dish I made up in less than 7 minutes today!

Two handfuls of frozen organic greenbeans in a pan with Extra virgin olive oil and a half cup or so of water...(COSTCO has AWESOME FROZEN ORGANIC green beans..great price!) Let the green beans steam until they are soft and cooked..you'll want to use a wooden spoon or something and toss them a little. Add either powdered garlic or cloved garlic (I've done both) and Salt (USE SEA SALT! IMO the best salt is Himalayan Salt (Sprouts carries it). Add chopped From the Vine Tomatoes (Costco has them, they are Pesticide free and taste so yummy!)
Add a couple slices (I just rip it into little pieces with my hands) Chicken or Turkey deli meat(NITRATE free, Trader Joes and Sprouts)
Add Mozzarella Cheese (Costco has a huge bag of hormone free mozzarella cheese)
to your liking, put the lid on until it melts...
There ya have it...
It's so yummy and SO healthy. And just about 2-3 servings of Vegi's.
PS: If you aren't to the STEP yet where you are ready to change your vegis to Organic, or your Salt to Sea Salt...then BE where YOU are. And that is PERFECT. SMALL STEPS.
ENJOY!
Have a peaceful day!

Healthy SODA

I try and keep my family away from Sugar. Insulin Resistance (IMO) is a huge problem in our society today and most people have symptoms from it and don't know it stems from this problem. Headaches, obesity, ADD, developing diabites, anxiety, depression and so many more conditions are (IMO) symptoms of Insulin Resistance.

My kids get very little sugar. I don't want to deprive them so I am constantly and persistantly on the search for alternatives to where they feel they are not 'left out'. Our soda consumed world doesn't help with this challenge...BUT I have found a great alternative and its really AMAZING! ASK MY KIDS!

Stevia is a South American herb that has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. The leaves of this small, green Stevia rebaudiana plant have a delicious and refreshing taste that can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. (check out Stevia.com)

They have made FLAVORS!!!! Way cool! We started with just the regular not flavored Stevia years ago.

I have bought GRAPE and VANILLA CREME. They have about 10 flavors.

I buy sparkling water (I love Pellegrino) at Costco....add a few drops of Stevia and there you go...GRAPE SODA and CREME SODA...and it ROCKS!

NO sugar....and my kids ask for SODA now....and I'm happy to give it to them!

Protein shakes

My favorite protein shakes....
Many of you know the massive amount of shakes and protein powders there are out in the market...what to choose???
My biggest thing is finding the purest formula's possible.
Here is my favorite, purest protein shake that I have passed on and have had great feedback!

1 scoop MRM Whey Protein powder (you can find it at Sprouts) Vanilla is my preferred choice.
5-6 Organic Frozen Strawberries (or any fruit)(cheapest and best ones I've found yet from Trader Joes)
1 scoop Flax seed (Costco has a wonderful Flaxseed, its the most powdered form I've found without loosing its nutritional value)
8oz Coconut milk (unsweetened) (you can find it at Sprouts,it's in the cold section, in a carton and the brand is "SO".)

Put it all in the blender and there you have it.
This is SOOOOO yummy. It my breakfast and afternoon snack.

Think 'pure' when you shop...it will help you in your choices for the best foods. :-) I hope you like it!