Recipe: Steel Cut Oats with Kiwi + Banana

It's amazing what adding a new fruit to your breakfast will do. Kiwi is such a burst of flavor that it's the perfect sweetness needed for my steel cut oats. I love the color and combination with banana.
Next time you're at the grocery store. Pick up a fruit that you don't buy very often and add it to your next breakfast.

steel cut oats with kiwi and banana for one

1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup steel cut oats
couple dashes of real salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Bring to a boil then turn to medium-low and put a lid on for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Meanwhile prepare the bowl:
1/2 tablespoon flaxseed meal
1/2 tablespoon chia seeds

peel and chop one kiwi
peel and cut one banana

Stir the steel cut oats with the flaxseed and chia seeds and top with kiwi, banana, and drizzle with honey.

Try: Muesli for breakfast

mues·li
noun /ˈm(y)o͞ozlē/
1. A mixture of cereals (esp. rolled oats), dried fruit, and nuts, typically eaten with milk at breakfast

Try: Strawberry Oat Bars

Strawberry Oat Bars from Martha Stewart's Whole Living.
I just felt like it yesterday, and it was a satisfying treat (dessert?).

Recipe: Nova Crisp

My mom brought some rhubarb in from the garden and my eyes lit up. Crisp! I love crisp. (you should see my crisp folder in google reader) With that I rubbed my hands together and wiped the drool off my chin. I knew I wanted to use the rhubarb and I knew I wanted to use Nova Granola for the top. The delicious result was the following:

Recipe: Nova Granola Crisp

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Prepare 4 cups of chopped rhubarb
3 cups of frozen raspberries

Add a pinch of salt
3 Tbs. cane sugar
2 Tbs. strawberry or currant jelly or jam
1 Tbs. coconut flour

Stir to combine, then pour into a pie dish.

Combine the following in a food processor, then sprinkle over the top of the fruit:
2 cups of Nova Granola
2 Tbs. of butter or butter substitute

Bake for 20 minutes or so.

Let me know what you think!

Flower Face + Links

image:kaapo kamu

More links! These have me thinking this week:

I could look at these pictures on repeat. Aren't they so fresh? Take me there.

I love this shopping list.

Are you watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution?

Please eat organic strawberries.

spring thing+ links

redcruiser garden print via Black Eiffel


I wanted to share a couple links/articles that have been circulating through my family's email exchanges this week. All very worthwhile and thought provoking. I hope you'll read and inform yourself.

Agave Nectar: Worse Than We Thought (thanks Lindsey)

Are Hot Dogs Better For You Than Roasted Chicken? (thanks Egan)

Organic Fruits and Vegetables-Are They Worth The Extra Money?

This 65 degree weather in Salt Lake City is making me swirl with excitement. I'm alive again. And I think this blog is too!

Have a beautiful weekend!

ms. citrus

Citrus Granola was a success! I'm going to try more today! I'm thinking of giving Meyer lemons a run this time. I'll let you know how it turns out.

You know that zester you see there in the picture? I got it for Christmas (thanks Lindsey) and it is incredible! I've heard how great it is before but I was always thinking blah, blah whatever till I decided I deserve a good zester. And you know? You do too.

What is your favorite citrus fruit? I can never decide.

p.s. last night I had a crepe with lemon squeezed over powdered sugar. HOW have I not lived yet?

Winter Winds

Went to Kelly's natural health support group meeting on Thursday. Top notch information. Really excited me. I love green smoothies but don't make them a ton, especially now that it's winter and I'd rather have warm things.
Inspired, I put some spinach, almond milk, bananas, and blueberries that I already had in my fridge and freezer to use. It was a tasty Saturday lunch. I'm looking forward to getting more creative and packing in as much nutrients and whole, natural food goodness as I can in a blender.
Supernova granola would make a great green smoothie topper. With a little crunch and texture it'd be the perfect addition.
side note: Kelly split her night with Theresa who is an essential oils expert. I am spinning with excitement about essential oils. It's incredible stuff that I knew nothing about.

+++
All week long

Recipe: Apple-Filled Squash

Apple-Filled Squash

1 acorn squash-cut in 4ths, seeds removed
1 Golden Delicious apple-peeled, cored, and sliced
butter (I used spray butter)
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
Dash of ground cloves
Sprinkle of lemon juice

Heat oven to 350 F. Place quarters, skin side up, in a dish and cover; bake 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine apple, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Turn cut sides of acorn up; spray with butter and top with apple mixture. Cover and bake 30 minutes longer or until apples are tender.

When your acorn squash is ready to eat, top with some Nova Granola. It added a nice flavorful crunch to the softened dish. I used my molasses+raisin+nutmeg granola.

Apples

Apples are an amazing fruit. Although it is one of the most common in the produce aisle I find myself overwhelmed at which brand to pick from. Pink Lady, McIntosh, Gala, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Fuji, Jonagold, Braeburn on and on.

One thing I've tried to do is, when possible, buy organic apples. Apples are on the list of 12 foods most contaminated with pesticides. I seem to think that a quick rinse won't wash those pesticides away. Don't let that steer you away from eating these wonderful fruits. They are 2nd place in antioxidant power!!! 1st place being cranberries. Which really means apples are very helpful at keeping you healthy and fighting off disease.

Apples are easy to take on-the-go and have many more great qualities:
+Sodium free
+Fat free
+Cholesterol free
+Packed with soluble fiber-meaning it can lower bad cholesterol and steady blood sugar levels
+Budget-friendly

Lucky for us it's fall and that means they are in season! Go forth and consume!