Author: Kerrie Bross

Try Our Low Carb Grain-Free Keto Pizza

Kerrie Bross Healthy Eating, Keto-Friendly, Perfect Supplements, Protein Powder, Recipes , , , ,

Keto_pizza_recipe

So, yesterday, my husband came home with all the stuff to make pizza at home for dinner. He had the already-made individual pizza crusts, sauce and all the fixings (I was a little appalled that he bought all the pre-made stuff, but that’s a whole other story). As I’m on a very low carb diet, I was a little jealous that I wouldn’t be partaking of the family pizza party. Then, I got to thinking about what I could put pizza fixings on that would be low carb and simulate a pizza crust. I had a jicama in the veggie drawer and decided to give it a try. Much to my delight, it was totally yummy and worked great!

Jicama goes by many names, Mexican potato or Mexican turnip to name just a few. It is a root vegetable that is pretty low carb. A one cup serving of raw jicama has about 6 net grams of carbs. And, I don’t think I used a full cup of the vegetable for my recipe. I also made my own pizza sauce because the store bought one had sugar in it (what? why?) and soybean oil. Also, I like to add Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen to the sauce to bump up the protein in my pizza. Here are my recipes for Keto Pizza and Keto/Paleo Pizza sauce.

Jicama frying before being made into grain-free Keto Pizza.Paleo/Keto Pizza Sauce

Ingredients:

1 6 oz can organic tomato paste
3/4 cup organic tomato sauce
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp each oregano, basil, onion powder and garlic powder
3 scoops Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen

Keto-friendly, grain-free jicama pizza ready for the oven.Directions:

Combine first three ingredients and the spices in a small sauce pan. Simmer for 20 minutes so flavors get released and mix well. Remove from heat and add Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen. Stir well until completely dissolved. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Keto Jicama Pizza

The two slices of pizza, without anything besides cheese and my Paleo Pizza Sauce, have  about 9 net carbs, 17 g of protein, and 8 g of fat, depending on the brands used. Nine slices of uncured pepperoni adds 1 g of carbohydrates, 6 g of protein Yummy low carb Keto pizza on the plate, ready to eat.and 10 g of fat. Eight large olives, sliced, adds 0 carbs and protein, but 3 g fat.

Ingredients:

2 slices of jicama, about 1/4 inch thick (I cut mine from the middle so they’d be bigger)
1 Tbs grass-fed butter
2-3 tablespoons Paleo Pizza Sauce
Mozzarella cheese
Pizza toppings of your choice

I tried the low carb Keto Pizza and really enjoyed it.Directions:
1. Melt butter on medium heat in a frying pan.
2. Add the slices of jimaca. Cook on medium heat for five minutes on each side.
3. Preheat oven to 400°.
4. Place jicama crusts on cookie sheet and add sauce, cheese and toppings.
5. Cook for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted to desired doneness.
6. Enjoy!

 

My Favorite 21 Day Detox Diet Recipes

Kerrie Bross Detox, Healthy Eating, Paleo Diet, Recipes , ,

Let These Recipes Help You Heal During Your 21 Day Detox!

by Kerrie Bross

I just finished up the 21 Day Detox Diet Plan for the third time. The 21 Day Detox Diet Plan was developed by Dr. Erica LePore, a naturopathic doctor with over 15 years of experience helping patients heal through detoxification and food testing. Even though I eat a pretty clean diet, I do the detox once a year just to clean out any toxins that have built up and to help get me back on the heathy track. For an in depth report on the results after my first detox, check out this blog.

Another 21 Day Detox Diet Success Story

While I do it just to get a good cleanse, many people do the 21 Day Detox Plan to help figure out why they feel unwell. A good friend of mine is in this category. Melissa was feeling off for a long time. Her feet hurt when she got up in the morning. She often felt very tired, had low energy and was often down. She had gas and bloating, joint stiffness and a general feeling of malaise. I mentioned the detox to her last year when I did it, and she said she wanted to do it to see if food was triggering her symptoms. It took her until this year to finally get prepared and just do it. She was amazed by how much better she felt after just a couple of days.

Melissa’s Results During the 21 Day Detox Plan

In just the first week on the 21 Day Detox Plan, Melissa noticed an improvement in mood and energy, and she said she had bouts of unexplained happiness or giddiness. This was such a nice change after feeling down a lot for no reason. She also noticed she felt wide awake when she woke up in the morning – no dragging tiredness – and her feet no longer hurt when she got up. She noticed significantly less joint pain and the stomach issues were gone.

What Melissa Learned from Doing the 21 Day Detox Diet

Doing the 21 Day Detox helped Melissa realize a few very important things. She believes she was probably dehydrated most of the time. She also realized she was addicted to sugar and flour and that it was contributing to overeating. Now she stops eating when she’s full as opposed to feeding the sugar and flour addictions. She has made a breakfast smoothie part of her regular routine and loves starting the day with a glass of water. She says it is a nice way to gently wake up her system instead of filling it with egg and cheese on a bagel on the way to work. Many of the healthy habits she picked up during her Detox Diet have remained part of her daily routine and she feels so much better.

The 21 Day Detox Diet Plan is not easy – that is why it took Melissa so long to finally get prepared and do it. But, when done properly, it can help you figure out if certain foods are causing or contributing to your health issues. It is a very powerful tool when used properly. So, I wanted to help anyone who is attempting the diet with a list of my favorite recipes from this latest round of detoxing.

21 Day Detox Diet Breakfast Recipes

Breakfast Smoothie

This is my go to breakfast all the time, and now it’s Melissa’s, too. Although beef is not allowed on the diet, Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen from grass-fed cows is allowed, ( I checked with Dr. Lepore). To make this more filling and last with you longer, add 1 Tbs Perfect Coconut Oil.

Ingredients:
2 Tbs full fat organic coconut milk (Native Forest is my favorite)
Filtered water
1 Scoop Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen
1 Scoop Perfect Acai Powder
2 Scoops Baobab Fruit Powder, (if doing the diet, you already have this)
1/2 Tbs Catie’s Gluten Free Greens
6 – 8 oz organic frozen fruit – my favorites are raspberries and pineapple-mango

Directions:
1) In a blender, add coconut milk then filtered water to the one cup line.
2) Add Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen, Baobab Powder, Perfect Acaiband Catie’s Greens to blender. Blend for a few few seconds to mix it all together.
3) Add organic fruit and blend on high until all the frozen fruit is broken down and well mixed in.
4) Pour in a glass and enjoy

A picture of Paleo Rice-Less Krispie Treats – good for a detox diet.Rice-less Krispie Treats

This recipe comes from Paleohacks. You will need a food processor to chop up the nuts. This is a good dessert or snack, as well as a good breakfast!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups raw almonds
1 cup raw macadamia nuts
1/2 cup creamy almond or cashew butter
1/4 to 1/3 cup honey, depending on how sweet you like it
salt to taste

Directions:
1) Place nuts in a food processor or high speed mixer. Pulse several times on high until the nuts are a crumbly mixture.
2) In a large mixing bowl, add nut mixture, honey, almond butter and salt. Stir to combine.
3) Line a loaf pan or small glass pyrex dish with parchment paper. Firmly press the mixture into the dish, all the way into the corners.
4) Refrigerate for at least two hours to set. Cut into 10 or 12 pieces. Store in the refrigerator so it stays firm.

21 Day Detox Lunch or Sides Recipes

I tried this Beet and Quinoa Salad and it was fantastic. I ditched the dijon mustard and used 1/4 tsp ground mustard to eliminate any sugar or toxins from processed mustard. Make sure you buy organic edamame because soy is a GMO crop. Week two you cannot eat soy, so substitute garbanzo or black beans instead of the edamame. One batch was enough for a few lunches. I sometimes added leftover chicken to make it a little more filling.

This Three Bean Salad is so invigorating with the fresh parsley. The dressing calls for 1/4 cup granulated sugar. I used 2 Tbs honey instead. Use more or less according to your tastes.

Last nights leftovers always make good lunches. Read on for the snack and dinner recipes I loved this time around.

21 Day Detox Snack Recipes

Picture of a box of Simple Mills Sun-Dried Tomato and Basil Crackers and a Bag of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, Red Rice & Quinoa Tortilla Chips.I could not get through the 21 Day Detox Diet without having snacks and homemade goodies on hand.  I also found a couple of great store-bought snacks this time around that are really flavorful, healthy and only have ingredients that are allowed. See the picture.

I have a sweet tooth, so I needed lots of pre-made sweet snacks. One day we were going to the movies and I needed a sweet snack to munch on that was small and candy like. I found a maple glazed nut recipe that I altered a bit. The following recipe is so good, I’ve made it a few more times since my diet ended!

A picture of Paleo Maple-glazed Nuts in a white dish.Paleo Maple Glazed Nuts

Ingredients:
5 cups of organic nuts – I used macadamias, pecans, walnuts, almonds and brazil nuts
4 Tbs organic maple syrup
1 tsp alcohol free vanilla extract
1/2 to 3/4 tsp salt – to taste

Directions:
1) Add maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix to combine.
2) Add nuts and stir so all are well covered in the maple mixture.
3) Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out the nuts with a slotted spoon and let the excess liquid drip off for a few seconds. Place in a single layer on the cookie sheet.
4) Cook at 250° in a preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove and let cool for a few minutes if you can. Store in an airtight container.

Picture of a dish of Coconut Chia-Seed Pudding with big blackberries on top.Other Sugar-Free Snacks

I also ate the Rice-less Krispie Treats for sweet snacks along with Dr. Lepore’s Vanilla Coconut Chia Seed Pudding. Fruit is always a healthy snack. I ate a lot of apples, tangerines and pears. I couldn’t eat icecream, but I have a Yonanas machine that turns frozen fruit into sorbet. My family ate bags of frozen berries this way. My kids like it sweetened with a little honey. For salty snacks, and for an appetizer, I ate a lot of fresh guacamole with the Red Rice chips.

Guacamole

Ingredients:
2 medium avocados
1/4 cup diced organic tomatoes
1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt, to taste
1/2 Tbs organic dried onion
1/2 Tbs organic lime juice or fresh squeezed lime juice

Directions:
1) Cut avocados the long way and use a spoon to scoop out the green goodness. Mash to desired consistency.
2) Add 1 Tbs filtered water and the dried onion to a glass dish and zap in the microwave for 30 seconds. Fresh onion can be used, but my kids don’t really like fresh onion and this is fast.
3) Add onion, salt, and lime juice to the avocado mixture. Mix well and adjust salt if needed. Add tomatoes and serve immediately. If you are not eating right away or if there is any left over, this is a trick to keep it from going brownish on top. Put it in as small a container as possible so there is only a little open to air. Slowly add water so it sits on top, completely covering the guacamole with about 1/4 inch of water. When it comes time to eat it, pour off the water and stir.

21 Day Detox Dinner Recipes

Picture of Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup recommended by Dr. Erica LePore for those on the 21 Day Detox Diet Plan.This stuffed turkey tenderloin recipe is fantastic right out of the oven or as leftovers. It is completely compliant and no changes were needed. I also really enjoy the Sweet Potato Coconut Curry Soup from the 21 Day Detox Plan website. A few nights we did roasted chickens or rotisserie turkey for dinner and for leftovers. Then, I made bone broth and really good chicken soup. Here’s the link to my bone broth and chicken soup recipe. It says chicken noodle soup, but it tells you how to make it chicken and rice soup. It was the soup days that I ate Guacamole and Red Rice chips to make the meal a little more filling.

Another thing I made a few times was Fresh Basil Pesto. This recipe puts it on chicken breasts, which totally works for the 21 Day Detox Plan. I usually made just the pesto and ate it on baked spaghetti squash with some diced chicken thrown in for protein. YUM!!!! Trader Joe’s makes brown rice and quinoa pasta that you can eat on this diet, too.

How to Find Recipes for the 21 Day Detox Diet Plan

There are lots of recipes out there that work for the 21 Day Detox Diet Plan. Search for Paleo versions of your favorite recipes and those will usually work with little or no tweaking. The best way to be successful on this diet is to have food on hand that you can eat, including snacks. Make sure to make some emergency turkey meatballs to freeze for a quick meal in case you are in a hurry. The recipe I made was not great, so I didn’t share it, but having them was good for rushed meals when I wasn’t well prepared. Check spaghetti sauce jars, many have sugar in them.

Last thing, these recipes are tasty, healthy recipes good for any time, not just when your detoxing. Enjoy!

 

Thanksgiving, Paleo-Style

Kerrie Bross Recipes , , , ,

Try tasty Paleo versions of some Thanksgiving favorites.

I love Thanksgiving. It seems that frequently when we get together with family, there are presents involved. Whether it’s birthdays or other holidays during the year, very often my parents or my in-laws are giving the kids a present for some reason or another. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful to have such great people in our lives, but Thanksgiving is a time when there are no presents and the focus is reflecting on what we have and how lucky we really are.

I also love the food on Thanksgiving. But, many of my favorites have been traditionally made with canned soup, canned beans, sugar, and bread, which are no longer part of my diet. A little scouring of the internet and some kitchen creativity was needed to find tasty alternatives to some of my favorite recipes.

Paleo Stuffing

Paleo_stuffing

Ingredients:

  • 1 loaf low-carb coconut flour bread (recipe below)
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley
  • 2 Tbsp grass-fed butter or coconut oil
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • 3 celery sticks, diced
  • 1 large apple, peeled and diced
  • 2 tsp dried thyme leaves
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • ½ tsp dried ground sage
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp Himalayan rock salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 cup homemade chicken broth, or broth of your choice

Instructions:

  1. Roughly chop bread into bite-sized pieces. Place the pieces on a large baking sheet and place in preheated 300° oven. Cook on low temperature until dried out, about 50 minutes. The bread should be a bit more moist than croutons, but not soft. This step will help the bread retain its shape in the stuffing, so don’t skip it! Alternatively, you can dehydrate in your dehydrator, 130F for 24 hours.
  2. Place the bread chunks in a large bowl, toss with fresh parsley and set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a casserole dish with oil of your choice, I used Perfect Coconut Oil.
  4. Heat butter, or oil of your choice, in a large pan on medium-high heat.
  5. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add celery, thyme, rosemary, sage, pepper, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add apple and cook a couple more minutes until just tender.
  6. Remove from heat and add vegetable mixture to bread and toss to combine being sure not to over mix.
  7. Pour the broth over top of the bread. Again, be sure not to over mix just toss, then add to the prepared casserole dish.
  8. Cover and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and let sit with the cover on for 5 minutes. If you like a moister stuffing, add more broth to taste.

Low Carb Coconut Flour Bread

Ingredients:

  • 4 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 ⅔ cup full-fat coconut milk, room temperature
  • ¼ cup Perfect Bovine Gelatin
  • ¼ cup melted Perfect Coconut
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, room temperature
  • 2 tsp coconut sugar
  • 1 cup coconut flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp gluten-free baking soda
  • ¾ tsp Himalayan rock salt

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.
  2. Lightly oil a 9×13 loaf pan with coconut oil. Set aside.
  3. Add egg whites to a mixing bowl. Whisk on medium-speed for 2 minutes, until frothy.
  4. In a separate bowl, add egg yolks, coconut milk and gelatin and beat on high, until smooth.
  5. Combine the above two and add melted coconut oil, vinegar, and coconut sugar. Mix until just combined.
  6. In a separate bowl, mix coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix until well combined.
  7. Transfer batter to a prepared bread pan. Smooth out with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for 45-50 minutes in preheated oven, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Low-Carb Bread & Paleo Stuffing recipes inspired by healthfulpursuit.com.

Paleo Cranberry Sauce

Paleo_cranberry_sauce

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 cup pomegranate juice
  • 4 Tbsp coconut sugar (start with 2 and add more depending on how sweet you like it)
  • 2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp Perfect Bovine Gelatine
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions:

  1. Blend cranberries and juice in blender or food processor until very smooth.
  2. Place in a pot and bring to a boil.
  3. Add coconut sugar and stir. Adjust sugar amount to desired sweetness.
  4. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
  5. Add the gelatin to 1/2 cup water and let it sit 1 minute. Add to cranberry mixture and stir until completely dissolved. Check for sweetness and add more sugar if desired. Remove from heat.
  6. If putting in molds, coat the inside with melted Perfect Coconut Oil (cranberry sauce comes out of the mold easier). Pour into molds or dishes and place in refrigerator until well chilled. If having trouble removing from molds, then place mold in hot water for a couple minutes to loosen it up.

Inspired by mommypotomus.com.

Paleo Green Bean Casserole

Paleo_green_bean_casserole

This recipe was a huge hit with everyone, even people who don’t usually like Green Bean Casserole! It is a combination of recipes from wellnessmama.com and fedandfit.com.

Ingredients:

  • Prepared onion topping (recipe below)
  • 1 lb fresh green beans
  • 8 oz roughly chopped mushrooms
  • 5 large strips of bacon, roughly chopped
  • 2 shallots, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves minced garlic, not too big
  • 1/2 cup almond meal
  • 1.5 cups cream or coconut milk or almond milk
  • 3 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp pepper
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp tapioca flour

Instructions:

  1. Put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. Cut green beans in half and boil for 5 minutes. Strain and set aside.
  2. Add chopped bacon to a hot buttered or oiled saute pan and cook till just crispy.
  3. Add shallots and saute till slightly clear.
  4. Add the garlic, saute a couple more minutes.
  5. Add the mushrooms and stir frequently until they have cooked down.
  6. Remove mixture to a bowl and set aside.
  7. Using the same pan, add 1 Tbsp EVOO and 1 cup of the cream, coconut milk or almond milk and stir with a metal whisk. Add 1/4 cup of the almond meal and whisk until smooth. Add the rest of the cream and almond meal, whisking over a medium simmer.
  8. Add the salt and pepper
  9. Whisk in tapioca flour and stir until the thickness of heavy cream.
  10. Reduce heat, add the mushroom mixture back in and stir.
  11. Add the green beans and stir.
  12. Pour the mixture in a medium size casserole dish.
  13. Top with prepared onions and cover.
  14. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
  15. Enjoy!

Onion Topping

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 medium onions, sliced very thinly
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 Tb heavy cream or coconut milk
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/2 cup Perfect Coconut Oil for frying

Instructions:

  1. Heat oil in a frying pan.
  2. Beat eggs and cream or coconut milk.
  3. Add onions and make sure they are thoroughly coated.
  4. Put 1/2 the almond flour on a plate
  5. Use tongs to grab a bunch of the onions from the eggs. Let it drain a bit so it’s not dripping and drop onto the almond flour plate. Toss until evenly coated.
  6. Move to frying pan and fry until crispy, stirring frequently. Move to paper towel lined bowl or plate and set aside. Repeat until all onions are cooked.

By Kerrie Bross

Paleo Holiday Recipes

Kerrie Bross Healthy Eating, Recipes , , , , , ,

Paleo_recipes

So, if you’re like me, then most people you know still have a modern diet and holiday parties are filled with lots of enticing foods that are loaded with flour, sugar and processed oils. I feel a little better when I bring something that is both tasty and healthy. I know I can eat that one dish, at least, without any guilt. The chocolate cream pie is now a new favorite and I’ll be making a few over the next couple weeks. Need an easy healthy cookie recipe for your party? The chocolate macaroon cookies below are no-bake and delish! There are links at the end to other recipes we’ve done that would be good for holiday parties, as well. And, if you’re not much of the make-from-scratch kind of person, then a big veggie tray is an easy, healthy addition to any party. My family’s favorites for the veggie tray are snap peas, sliced red peppers, grape tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and cauliflower. I’ve included below an easy ranch dressing made from avocado mayonnaise, so it’s Paleo-friendly. Enjoy your holidays and all the parties!

Easy Paleo/Primal Ranch Dressing

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup avocado mayonnaise (Try Primal Kitchen MAYO)
  • 1/2 tsp dried chives
  • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp dried dill weed
  • Optional Primal Ingredient: 1/2 cup organic plain yogurt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Caramel_Chocolate_coconut_cookie_recipe

Salted Caramel Chocolate Macaroon Cookies

Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, & Vegan. Inspired by GI365.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups coconut sugar
  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk, (from the can)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 2 1/2 cups finely shredded coconut
  • 1 cup big flake coconut
  • 2/3 cup dark chocolate chunks or chocolate chips (I used 80% dark chocolate)
  • 1/2 cup almond or cashew butter (optional)
  • 1/2 cup whole raw almonds (optional)

Instructions:

In a large saucepan, combine the coconut sugar, coconut oil, and coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, and boil for 2-3 minutes until the caramel thickens, stirring constantly to keep the caramel from sticking.

Remove the caramel from the heat and add the vanilla, sea salt, and coconut. Stir to combine. If you’re using the almond or cashew butter, mix it in thoroughly.

Finally, add the almonds and chocolate chunks and combine, stirring as little as possible to keep the chunks intact. No worries, though – it’s still very good even if the chocolate melts.

Portion the cookie on a parchment lined baking sheet and let cool. This version of no-bakes takes a full 3-4 hours to fully set up, but you don’t have to wait that long because they’re really good warm and gooey.

Note: To keep this recipe 100% dairy free and vegan, be sure to use a chocolate that is dairy free.

paleo_chocolate_silk_pie_recipe

Paleo Chocolate Silk Pie

I had to find a great chocolate cream pie recipe because it’s my step-father’s favorite. This silky, decadent Paleo chocolate cream pie fits the bill! The pie is dairy-free as long as you use coconut oil instead of butter. This one’s for you Kenny!

Inspired by lafujimama.com.

For the chocolate almond crust:

  • 1 2/3 cup blanched almond flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup coconut palm sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 Tbs coconut oil or butter

For the chocolate silk pie filling:

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup raw honey
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 6 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 1 1/4 cups unsweetened coconut milk, almond milk or pastured milk

For the coconut whipped cream:

  • 1 (13 oz) can coconut milk
  • 1 Tbs raw honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

1) Make the chocolate almond crust first.

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Combine the almond flour, cocoa powder, and coconut sugar in a medium bowl. Add the egg and coconut oil to the bowl and beat with a mixer until a crumbly dough-like mixture forms. This may seem a little dry or hard to mix, but that’s normal. Just get everything well combined.

Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then let the pie crust cool completely before filling. Refrigerate to speed the cooling process if necessary.

2) Make the chocolate silk filling.

Place the eggs, honey, and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted; do not overheat the chocolate!

With the blender running on low speed, pour the hot chocolate milk in over the other ingredients. Blend until the mixture is smooth and completely incorporated.

Pour the mixture into the cooled crust and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.

3) Make the coconut whipped cream.

Refrigerate the coconut milk at least 24 hours before making the whipped cream. The makes the thick cream separate from the liquid and firm up. Chill a glass or metal bowl in the freezer 20 minutes before making the whipped cream.

Remove the lid from the can of coconut milk. The coconut cream will be very thick on the top. Gently scoop this part out and put it in the chilled bowl. Save the watery liquid for another recipe.

Using a mixer, whip the coconut cream until it is light and fluffy and peaks form, then mix in the honey and vanilla extract. Scoop on top of the pie and use a spatula to spread, or use a pastry bag to decorate the top of the pie with the whipped cream.

Holiday Special: Take 10% OFF Perfect Coconut Oil, detox supplements, probiotics, and eco-friendly stocking stuffers/non-toxic personal care with coupon code: HealthyHolidays

More Holiday Party Recipes

Check out these delicious, healthy recipes, perfect for your upcoming gatherings!

By Kerrie Bross

Beyond Bulletproof: This coffee or tea is a low carb, filling snack or meal.

Kerrie Bross Antioxidant, Healthy Eating, Paleo Diet, Perfect Supplements, Protein Powder , , ,

Beyond_bulletproof_coffee

By now, we’ve all heard about bulletproof coffee. It is also know as fat coffee, rocket fuel or buttered coffee, or even yak tea. Essentially, you add a couple tablespoons of good, cultured grass-fed butter (or other high quality oil or fat) to pump up your morning cup o’ joe. Adding processed sugar or pasteurized cream is frowned upon. People who have tried buttered coffee swear it tastes good, and gives them more energy and a better ability to focus. Dr. Oz even recommended buttered coffee for improved energy and to fight burnout. For a basic recipe click here.

Lately, I’ve been trying to drastically cut carbs, and have started drinking a few different varieties of fat coffee or yak tea in lieu of lunch. I find it really works to stave off hunger and keeps me energized for the rest of my work day. I add a scoop of Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen for protein, and a couple different kinds of healthy fat plus a good fiber source to keep me full. Adding ground chia seeds adds great fiber. Cacao powder and turmeric add nice flavors and tons of healthy antioxidants and other health benefits. Below are my favorite beyond bulletproof recipes. The basic recipe is coffee or tea, protein powder, a fiber source, and two servings of healthy fats.

Chocolate Sunbutter Fat CoffeePeanut_butter_coffee_recipe

This recipe uses collagen for the protein and sunflower seed butter, coconut milk cream, and coconut oil for the healthy fats. I really like adding unrefined, organic, virgin coconut oil because it’s loaded with medium chain triglycerides. MCT’s are used as energy rather than getting stored as fat and are important for brain health.

Ingredients
8 – 12 oz organic fair trade coffee or tea
2 Tbs unsweetened coconut milk or unpasteurized heavy cream
1 scoop Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen
2 Tbs unsweetened cacao powder
2 Tbs unsweetened sunflower butter (or nut butter of your choice)
1 Tbs organic ground chia seeds
10 drops stevia (or non-sugar sweetener of your choice)
5 ice cubes (optional for anyone who likes frozen coffee drinks)

Directions
Place coffee in a blender, then add coconut milk and nut butter. Blend on high a few seconds until well mixed. Add all other ingredients and blend on high until well mixed. Pour into a mug or glass and enjoy.

Mint Chocolate Mocha Mealmint_chocolate_butered_coffee_recipe

This recipe has a refreshing minty lift for those days you are dragging. Always add coconut milk or other cool ingredients to coffee first to cool it down a smidge before adding other ingredients. Some supplements lose nutritional benefits if heated too much.

Ingredients
8 – 12 oz organic fair trade coffee or tea
2 Tbs organic coconut milk or unpasteurized heavy cream
1 scoop Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen
2 Tbs organic fair trade cacao powder
1 Tbs Perfect Coconut Oil
1 Tbs organic ground chia seeds
10 drops stevia or unprocessed sweetener of your choice
2 – 4 drops peppermint essential oil
5 ice cubes (optional if you like frozen coffee drinks)

Directions
Add coffee and coconut milk to a blender. Combine a couple seconds. Add all other ingredients and blend on high until well combined. Pour and enjoy!

Turmeric Fat Yak Teabutter_tea_recipe

This recipe adds flavorful turmeric for a fantastic nutritional boost to your buttered beverage.

Ingredients
8 – 12 oz green tea or organic fair trade coffee
1 Tbs grass fed butter
1 Tbs Perfect Coconut Oil
1 scoop Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen
1 tsp Gaia Turmeric Boost
1 Tbs organic ground chia seeds
10 drops stevia or non-sugar sweetener of your choice

Directions
Blend green tea, butter and coconut oil for a few seconds. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until well combined. The butter in this will make it nice and frothy. Enjoy!

Beyond Bulletproof: Easy Coffee & Tea Meals or Snacks

So, to recap, to turn your buttered coffee or tea into a meal, you need to add a few ingredients to your brew.

  1. A good source of protein which helps power you through the next bunch of hours. I like Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen best because it is virtually flavorless and adds 10 grams of protein in every 11 gram scoop.
  2. Add two servings of healthy fat. My favorites are 1 Tbs Perfect Coconut Oil, 1 Tbs grass-fed butter, 2 Tbs nut or sunflower butter and 1/4 cup coconut milk or unpasteurized heavy cream.
  3. Adding a good source of whole food, fiber – not grains – helps us feel full longer and is beneficial for digestion, the heart, balancing blood sugar levels and more.

Don’t have a blender handy? Shake it up instead.

You can make many beyond bulletproof coffee recipes in a shaker, leave out nut butters, and melt the oils in your hot beverage, then shake up all the ingredients. Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen comes in handy single serve packets for easy travel to work or anywhere. Or, you can combine all but the coffee in your shaker before you go to work. Add the hot beverage and enjoy!

Do you have any great beyond bulletproof Coffee suggestions? Let us know your favorites!

 

How to Choose the Best Probiotic for You

Kerrie Bross Dr. Mercola, Probiotics , ,

Best_probiotic

The benefits of probiotics have been known for thousands of years. The use of fermented foods for intestinal and digestive problems was written about in ancient Rome, the Middle East and Asia. People knew to use probiotics for health before they ever knew probiotics were the beneficial part of the fermented foods.

Today, information on probiotics is all over the internet. Some of it is conflicting information, so, how do you know which probiotic to choose? Below, we’ll discuss the different kinds of probiotics and what ingredients to avoid to help you choose the best probiotic supplement for you.

Probiotic Basics: The Tried & True

probiotic_foodsThere are many microorganisms that have the distinction of being probiotic. Many of these are native to our digestive tract, while others do a wonderful job once they get there. The first probiotics that were identified were the lactobacillus strains back in the late 1800s. These are found naturally in the human gut and fermented d foods like yogurt and sauerkraut. The Lactobacillus strains that are most prominent are L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. Casei, and L. johnsonii. Lactobacillus strains have been used to aid GI problems since their discovery. They are tried and true, but some studies show that they don’t often live through to the lower intestines, getting killed off by stomach acid and bile salts. For better longevity, make sure your Lactobacillus probiotics are combined with bifidobacteria and prebiotics.

Bifidobacteria strains are also naturally found in the human gut and were identified very early on in probiotic research. They are necessary for a healthy gut. As with Lactobacillus strains, the Bifodobacterium don’t have a great survival rate in the stomach Mercola_Complete_Probioticsand small intestines, so make sure to take a probiotic supplement with strains from both that also contains prebiotics for better survival in the upper GI. We like Mercola Complete Probiotics because it fits all these criteria, and is free of all potentially harmful fillers I’ll discus shortly. It contains 9 strains of Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium probiotics, along with prebiotics, and was formulated to be resistant to bile salt and acid breakdown.

Probiotic Basics: The Powerful Newcomers

In recent years, a new form of probiotic supplements has emerged that addresses the problem of survival in the stomach and small intestines. Within the last ten years, soil based probiotics have taken the market by storm. Soil-based organisms, or SBOs, are actually spores and are sometimes called spore-forming bacteria or spore-forming probiotics. Though they are not native to our gut, they develop a symbiotic relationship once there and have been shown to be very beneficial.

While soil-based probiotics have not been popular for long, humans have been eating SBO’s as long as there have been humans. Ancient humans used to ingest lots of SBOs in their diets naturally from eating fruit, vegetables, roots and whatever they gathered. Preindustrialized people ate freshly farmed food and worked and played in the dirt. The rise in processed food production, modern urbanization and the rampant use of pesticides have left our diets virtually devoid of these hearty, beneficial bacteria – so much so that a soil-based probiotic supplement is a very good idea.

The characteristic that put soil-based probiotics in the limelight over the past years is their ability to survive better into and through the intestines without any special treatment or coatings. Also, they are very shelf stable in heat and cold, which makes them easy to store and safe for travel.

Prescript_Assist_soil-based_probioticsAt Nourishing World, we sell a few very good soil-based probiotics. The one I take daily and the only probiotic I have ever tried that keeps me regular is Prescript-Assist. It contains 29 strains of microflora and prebiotics to ensure viability throughout the entire digestive tract.  Prescript Assist has been shown to:

 

 

  • Ease abdominal discomfort, nausea, and indigestion
  • Regulate bowel patterns
  • Keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy
  • Decrease bloating and flatulence
  • Restore healthy microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract
  • Promote overall health

Latero-Flora_soil-based_probioticsBecause what works best for one person may not for another, we sell a couple other soil-based and spore-forming probiotics. Global Healing Center’s Latero Flora is a single strain of microflora shown to naturally inhibit a number of pathogens including candida. Research shows that Latero-Flora has significant effectiveness in easing gastrointestinal symptoms as well as food sensitivities, while enhancing digestive efficiency.

just_Thrive_spore_forming_probioticsThe newest probiotic to grace our shelves is just Thrive Probiotic & Antioxidant. This brand is different because it markets itself as a spore-forming probiotic instead of soil-based. What’s more, it was formulated to stay in the gut for the entire 21 day life cycle. This means the microflora has time to colonize in the gut, where it can revitalize digestive bacteria, restore immune balance and aid in the creation of powerful disease-fighting antioxidants for a healthy body and mind.

What to Avoid in Probiotic Supplements

Because there are so many choices of good supplements on the market, it is hard to narrow down choices. Here is a list of ingredients to avoid when purchasing any supplement, including probiotics. I recommend avoiding these because they are questionable at best, and some have been shown to cause serious health problems.

Flow Agents – Look for magnesium stearate, steric acid, vegetable stearate and other stearates. Another flow agent to avoid is Magnesium Silicate. These are added simply to speed up the processing of supplements – without regard for the harm they may cause. There is a ton of controversy all over the web about their safety and their potential harm to humans.

Artificial Colors – I don’t think I need to discuss the many potential side effects of artificial colors. We try to avoid them in food, so try to avoid them in supplements, as well.

Titamium Dioxide – This is a metal used in supplements and cosmetics as a pigment. It has been linked to problems with immune function. Avoid any supplement with this ingredient.

Fundamentals of Taking Probiotics

People often ask what is the best time of day to take probiotics and is it best to take them with food or without. Taking probiotics at any time, with or without food is going to benefit you, but for maximum benefit, take it within 30 minutes of eating something with at least a little bit of healthy fat.

relaxing_yogaThe best time of day to take probiotics for maximum benefit seems to be individual. Ideally, you should take them when you will be able to relax and be stress free for a few hours. For many, this is around bedtime. But, some people may be early risers who get up and have a nice relaxing morning. These people may get the maximum benefit taking their probiotic supplement during their morning routine. I take mine in the morning because that is when it fits in my schedule. I notice the benefits when I do this, so I know it’s working. I rarely remember to take supplements at night, so even though that may be the best time of day for me to take them, if I forget to take them they do me no good. As I stated earlier, taking them at any time of day can be beneficial. With a little experimentation and some willingness to pay attention to your body, you can find out what the best time of day is for you. Or take them when it’s convenient – you will still benefit.

There are a couple things most experts agree on when supplementing with probiotics.

  1. Probiotics should be taken during and after a round of antibiotics. Antibiotics do not discriminate between good and bad microflora and kill off everything, leaving the body devoid of beneficial bacteria along with the infection. One article I read for this post said it can take over a year for our bodies to completely rebuild the healthy bacteria colonies after a single round of antibiotic treatment. With supplementation, this time frame can be greatly reduced.
  2. Don’t take probiotics within two hours of taking antibiotics (or supplements with strong antibiotic properties). Lets face it, if you’re taking antibiotics, your probiotics are not going to work optimally. Every time you take an antibiotic pill or the pink goo you will kill some microflora. To give the probiotics a fighting chance to get into your system for a bit, you want to make sure you have a two hour window on both sides. If you are taking antibiotics morning and night, then take probiotics two hours after the antibiotics so it has many hours to work before you take the antibiotics again.

Most people I know don’t eat fermented foods daily. I don’t eat fermented foods daily, so I take a good probiotic supplement (Prescript Assist) to help maintain a healthy digestive tract and improve my immune system. If you’re like me, and don’t eat fermented foods daily, then supplementing with a good probiotic is a good idea for you, too.

 

According to This Walkabout Emu Oil User, Magic is Real!

Kerrie Bross emu oil, Westin A. Price Foundation , ,

Walkabout_Emu_Oil_Sale

We recently received a rave review for Walkabout Emu Oil and wanted to share it with our readers.

Walkabout Emu Oil Testimonial – “Magic is Real!”

This testimonial is courtesy of one of our customers, John Giustra.

“My daughter, Jennifer Kozek, gave me 4 bottles of your Emu oil. I’ve used two bottles so far. I’m 73 with severe pain in my hips and arm, and most debilitating for me in the neck. After 10 days, I noticed a remarkable improvement in all areas. I’d been using traction for my neck, not needed now – well only used it once since the 10 day period. I have enough to get me through 2 months taking 6 pills a day. I believe I can then go to 4 pills a day. We will see. You can use any part of this or all of this in any ad you publish free of charge. My daughter was very impressed by you and I trust her. A US believer, magic is real! lol”

What is Emu Oil?

Emu oil is the nutrient dense fat reserved by emu before they go into torpor (it’s like hibernation) and before they sit on their eggs for three months prior to hatching. It is a life sustaining fat, considered a sacred food, that has been used by Aborigines for over 40,000 years!

Why is Walkabout Emu Oil Better?

Walkabout Emu Oil comes direct from Australia where the animals are free to roam and live a normal life, eating what emu in the wild eat. The farmers who work with Walkabout care for herds of genetically-unique emu, chosen because their oil is especially high in vitamin K2. There are many commercial uses for emu products including meat and leather, and for many farmers, the oil is a by-product. At Walkabout, the birds are bred for their high vitamin K oil.

Another reason we love Walkabout Emu oil is because of the minimal processing of the oil – it is never heat or chemically treated or pasteurized. Their motto is “Nothing is added to our oils and nothing is taken out. Our emu oil is assembled and balanced by nature.” This makes it extremely bioavailable, nutrient dense, and very good for us.

Health Benefits of Walkabout Emu Oil

Emu oil is recommended by the Weston A. Price Foundation because it’s a sacred food with a dense nutritional profile. Here are some of the many nutrients you’ll find in Emu Oil:

  • Omega-3
  • Omega-6
  • Omega-9
  • Vitamin K2
  • Vitamin D3
  • Vitamin E
  • CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)

Try Walkabout Emu Oil for yourself and see how it benefits you! It comes in liquid, capsules and topical forms for your convenience.