VEGAN - LOW CARB CHOCOLATE SAUCE

 

Yes...you read it right! This chocolate sauce is low-carb, vegan, and you can make it ORGANIC!  I NEVER thought I could find a sweet chocolate sauce that was all 3! It only takes a few minutes to make and is a fantastic frosting for cupcakes, sauce for ice cream,dip for fruits...you get the idea!

You can change up this sauce in ANY way you want! It is a very basic recipe but can be jazzed up with spicy peppers, mint, nuts, booze, etc!

Now....since I wanted to make my sauce low carb, I used stevia instead of sugar. 1 tablespoon of this sweet chocolate has only 3 grams of carbs! If you are not familiar with stevia, it is an organic sweetener that is notably better for those controlling their sugar intake. Yes, you can use other sugar substitutes like splenda in this recipe but I prefer to avoid chemicals whenever I can. Feel free to use your favorite sugar substitute or regular sugar for that matter.

I would also like to add that this totally can be considered HEALTHY chocolate! If you use the vegan recipe and use coconut oil, you are adding so many health benefits! Coconut oil is known to lower cholesterol,  boost metabolism, fight disease.... it is a never ending list of health benefits. Don't worry if you don't like the taste of coconut. It really doesn't impart too much coconut flavor....my hubby HATES coconut but LOVES when I use it to cook, bake, and make this chocolate sauce!

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup sugar (if you are making this LOW CARB by using organic stevia, start with less as it takes less stevia to sweeten)
• 1 pinch salt
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (if you are not vegan, use butter)
• 1/4 cup organic cocoa powder

Directions:

1) Put sugar, salt and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil then remove it from the heat
2) Stir in the butter and mix until incorporated (you may want to use a whisk)
3) Add remaining ingredients. Stir until glossy.
4) Pour into glass container.

SHOUT OUT TO MY FAVORITE SUGAR! BONE CHAR FREE

You can TOTALLY make this in the microwave. It's actually much quicker for some "on the fly" chocolate.  Just follow the same steps but be extremely careful not to burn yourself.

If you enjoyed this easy Vegan recipe...stay tuned! We focus on healthy cooking that is easy, inexpensive, and that tastes good. After all, if it isn't good....the family isn't going to eat it. It is my challenge to prove that eating healthy does not mean boiled veggies for every meal! I actually aim to prove that healthy food tastes better!



Let me know if you make this sauce and how you used it!

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HEALTHY GREEK YOGURT RANCH DIP RECIPE

 

When we started our organic food journey, I thought it was going to be pretty simple...avoid junk foods, processed foods,  high fructose corn syrup, etc....but that was only the tip of the iceberg! I knew that there would be more salads and veggies involved but never realized how processed and chemical ridden the dressings and dips that I was putting on them were!

Take for example the lengthy ingredient list for Kraft Ranch Dressing.... can you pronounce or identify all of the ingredients? And I am totally not knocking Kraft - they don't profess to be organic and many other ranch dressings have the same ingredient list. I just wonder why you would even bother with the salad and veggies!

KRAFT SALAD DRESSING - SALAD DRESSING - RANCH CLASSIC

Ingredients: WATER, SOYBEAN OIL, VINEGAR, SUGAR, SALT, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF EGG YOLKS, WHEY (FROM MILK), MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, GARLIC JUICE, BUTTERMILK, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, XANTHAN GUM, PHOSPHORIC ACID, POLYSORBATE 60, SPICE, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, TARTARIC ACID, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SORBIC ACID AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FLAVOR). CONTAINS: EGG, MILK.
Size: 16 FL OZ

I mean c'mon, I am no "conspiracy theorist" but my body is real...why would I load it with ingredients that are modified and labeled as artificial? Don't even look at the "fat free" ranch! That is packed with sugar and chemicals. The sugar is technically "fat free" but is turned into fat in your body :(

So I went on a quest to find an amazing ranch dressing! Here is what I came up with!  It has only a few ingredients and is so versatile.....You can make  this dip/dressing SUPER healthy by making it with greek yogurt or you can make it non dairy with some Tofutti and soy milk! The choice is yours but no matter which way you make it...you will love the results!

Lets do a quick comparison of regular ranch vs. my recipe with GREEK YOGURT!

• You can have a whole container (6 ounces) of Greek Yogurt for the same caloric count of 2 Tbsp of regular ranch dressing. 
• Consuming 6 oucnes of greek yogurt dip gives you 17grams of PROTEIN vs. 0 in ranch
• 6 ounces of greek yogurt also gives you 18 percent of your daily allowance of calcium vs 0 with ranch dressing

Ingredients:

• 1 16 ounce tub of plain greek dressing (you can use plain sour cream) 
• 1 Tablespoon of Dill
• 1 Tablespoon of Chives or Green Onions
• 1 Clove of Crushed Garlic (you can use garlic powder if you like)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• A teaspoon of lemon to brighten the flavors
• Add your choice of milk to thin it out  for a dressing

How is that for an ingredient list? Looks WAY better than the bottled dressing label and tastes so much better too!

Directions:
Toss all of the ingredients in a bowl and stir! That's it!

You can use this one recipe to create so many different dips and dressing!
 Toss in a diced jalapeno for a spicy kick, tomatoes and peppers for a southwest punch of flavor, or creamy avocado for a rich and creamy treat!

Even if you are not eating "clean" or "organic" it is still an awesome dip to serve to friends and family at get togethers and it is certainly a better option than the ones in a bottle!

It is now safe to resume dipping your broccoli and dressing your salads! Enjoy

READY TO TACKLE MORE HEALTHY LIVING?! 

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ORGANIC - VEGAN DIY ORANGE BODY SCUB

 

By now, I am pretty certain you know that I am obsessed with body scrubs. Body scrubs were something that I had actually never used before I started making my own...I guess I never got the point. Now, however, I am hooked.

This scrub has quickly become a favorite for both myself and my daughter. The scent takes me back to summer when, as a child.  The ice cream truck would roll past and my treat of choice was always an orange creamsicle. It smells good enough to eat and luckily..THIS SCRUB IS SAFE ENOUGH TO EAT-although I don't advise it!

This scrub can be made in a matter of minutes and makes a perfect gift for yourself or someone else. I make mine with all organic ingredients BUT you can certainly use conventional for your scrub! The sugar will gently scrub away dead skin while the coconut oil nourishes and leaves your skin the softest it has ever been! It is a high quality product so you will use such a small amount to do your entire body.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Organic Sugar
• 8-10 drops of Orange Essential Oil (Or squeezed orange juice)
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Zest of An Orange
• 1/4 cup Organic Coconut Oil

That is seriously it! There really is no trick to it! Toss it all in a bowl and mix it up! The orange zest is just for color and can easily be omitted based upon what you have handy! Don't worry, the coconut oil may solidify BUT will melt in your hands with your body warmth after you take a small spoonful.

I am a pretty - go with the flow type of gal so don't be hung up on the ingredients! No coconut oil, sub olive oil! No essential oil? Squeeze in an orange! This is just a template for your creation!

If you love this one, check out my DIY Organic Brown Sugar Body Scrub Recipe!

Enjoy

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DIY ORGANIC BROWN SUGAR BODY SCRUB

 I started my family's cleaner journey some time ago. I started with food, moved to cleaning supplies and finally... it was time for the personal care items. One thing I learned along the way was that it can get EXPENSIVE! This girl had to find a way to DIY so many things to be able to make it all happen and happen on budget.   I can go into detail in other posts as to why I was "organic" before it was cool,  but for today, Let's just chat about one of my FAVORITE DIY recipes! Homemade Organic Brown Sugar Scrub.

This scrub is amazing for the skin and even better for the lips! The simple truth is that your lips are just like the rest of your body... they need attention! Your lips become dry and chapped because they don't produce oil like the rest of your body does. They become damaged and regenerate new cells and sometimes the dead cells are simply there and chilling out. Using chapsticks and moisturizers will give you a smoother appearance BUT they won't make the flakes go away! So, what do you do to the rest of your body when you want to expose the newest, freshest, and healthiest skin - EXFOLIATE!

Getting rid of these pesky flakes on a budget can be easier than you think! It was so eye opening to start looking into the labels on some of my favorite scrub products. On so many labels I would find artificial colors & flavors - I mean.. how hard is it to use real vanilla in your product? I HAD TO DO BETTER! 

There are so many variations of this recipe and you really can make a basic lip scrub by blending any sugar and coconut oil. The coconut oil will leave your lips soft, nourished, moisturized and healthy while the sugar helps pull away those dead cells to reveal beautiful-glowing lips!

This really can't be easier.

To make a LIP SCRUB

simply blend the following-
1 tsp. Organic Brown Sugar (or whatever you have on hand)
1 tsp. Organic Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is solid at room temperature so you may want to warm it slightly to get a great blend. One you mix it together, add a little to your lips and gently rub it across your lips - back and forth - very gently. Next step, LICK IT OFF! This stuff is safe, edible, and tastes AMAZING! Okay...if you really way to, you can wash it off but why not go for it?


The coconut oil will leave your lips moisturized and will leave a film on your lips....that will leave your lips so healthy!

Add variations like a hint of organic vanilla, mint essential oils, coffee grounds, whatever your favorite flavor is... use it!


To make this an invigorating BODY SCRUB

• 1 cup of sugar (I use organic but any will do. Using a mix of brown and turbinado will give you great exfoliation) 
• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
  

The BEST PART is that you can toss in those morning coffee grounds for a caffeinated scrub which is said to focus on cellulite

BONUS - this makes a super cute gift and can be used anywhere on your body as a nourishing exfoliating scrub.  Toss it in a sweet glass jar and you have a beautifully crafted gift for anyone.

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Healthy and Fun Bento Box Ideas

 

Who else is trying to pack a healthier lunch for themselves or the family?  Being 1,000 percent honest... lunch on the run is my WEAKNESS!  I find myself grabbing things on the go and that often leads to extra calories, overly processed foods and - I will admit - a side of potato chips! 

I saw all of these people making beautiful bento box meals and realized that maybe that was the trick for me! I need to have something cute, organized and packed with healthy options.. Okay, let's be real, the real issue was that I needed to be organized! 

So what goes in a bento box you may ask... 

Well, here are 20 fantastic ideas!

1. Almond Butter Packet/ baby carrots 

2. Fresh Veggies like broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers or green beams with healthy homemade ranch

3. Salad

4. Lunchmeat wrap or pinwheels if watching carbs 

5. Fresh Fruit

6. Pretzels or Whole Grain Crackers

7. Hummus 

8. Hard Boiled Eggs

9. Olives 

10. Yogurt Cups 

11. Whole Grain Pasta Salad

12. Whole Grain Quesadilla

13. String Cheese or Cheese Chunks

14. Lean meats like grilled chicken, turkey breast or salmon

15. overnight oats

16. applesauce 

17. REPURPOSED HEALTHY LEFTOVERS

18. Black beans & veggie wrap

19. chicken salad made with greek yogurt instead of mayo

20. Quinoa Salad

Now that you have some great ideas for what to go in them.. check out some of these amazing boxes available on Amazon! 

This pack of 7 for under $20!

This adorable set for under $15

This one is a little bit more BUT has a cute insulated bag!

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