Spiced Ginger Peach Hibiscus Tea

I am so excited to share my newest recipe with you!  Ginger Peach Hibiscus Tea

I have always enjoyed commercial preparations of Hibiscus Tea but since I have been forbidden to consume caffeine I have been inspired to create my own caffeine free tea blends.

Recent studies show that hibiscus tea can lower blood pressure as effectively as some standard hypertension drugs can. Hibiscus is widely consumed around the world as a ruby-colored, lemony tasting beverage (it’s the main ingredient in Red Zinger tea). Hibiscus is a small tree with bright red flowers that are rich in flavonoids, minerals, and other nutrients. The flowers have a fruity taste that makes hibiscus popular as both hot and cold tea.  Hibiscus is safe and, unlike most blood pressure drugs, rarely causes side effects. Plus, hibiscus plants can be grown in much of the United States.

Hibiscus has diuretic properties, it opens the arteries, and it appears to act as a natural angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which means it slows the release of hormones that constrict blood vessels. In addition, hibiscus boosts immune function and provides valuable antioxidants.

I add ginger for its medicinal properties as well. Ginger root is known for its medicinal properties and it is used in many traditional medicines. The healing benefits of ginger are mainly due to its volatile oils and the high oleoresin content. One of the main benefits of ginger tea is it helps in the digestion process.. Shogoals and Gingerols present in the ginger neutralize the stomach acids, tones the digestive tracts muscle and evoke the secretion of digestive juices. Gingerols found in ginger are responsible for blocking the body’s reflex to vomit and also for preventing nausea by decreasing oxidative products made in the digestive tract that cause nausea to occur. It is also very good for healthy heart. It lowers the blood cholesterol levels and also reduces clotting and thinning of blood as well as being good for blood circulation and it has a good effect on circulatory system and helps in controlling high blood pressure.

The peaches and spices were added for flavor and for the water soluble vitamins that they offer.

I hope that you enjoy this tea as much as I do! 

Recipe:

1 Cup dried Hibiscus Petal

1" Ginger Root Sliced

1 Cinnamon Stick

3 Allspice Berries

4 or 5 Whole Cloves

1 Tsp Nutmeg

1 Peach Sliced

1/2 Cup Sugar or Sweetener to taste.

Boil Petals, Ginger and Spices in 6 cups of water for 20 minutes until the liquid is a dark ruby red color. Add sweetener to taste off the heat(use a VERY light hand for a healthier beverage).  Allow to cool for 30 minutes. Add sliced peaches to the cooled mixture.

This recipe will make enough concentrate for 2-3 gallons of tea depending on how strong you like it.

Enjoy!

Infused Water

In my quest to develop a healthier lifestyle I have discovered the wonders of Infused Water. My physician has insisted that I drink a MINIMUM of 64 ounces of water daily and before now it has been difficult for me to get it all down. Additionally, I have been forbidden from drinking any caffeine which rules out my beloved tea. My other favorite ‘Flavor Packets’ added to water have been discouraged as well so what is a girl to do?

Enter Infused Water.

Infused Water is made by adding any combination of fruit, vegetables and herbs to fresh water. The Water will take on the taste of what you add and more importantly, the water soluble vitamins and minerals will infuse the water with their goodness. The other appeal to me is that the vegetables will mask the metallic taste of tap water (which is perfectly fine to use if your water source is safe).  The most popular flavors used in infusions are vegetables such as celery and cucumber, herbs such as mint, basil, lemongrass, parsley and sage, Fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, watermelon, and citrus fruits including lemon, lime, grapefruit, and orange.  I have even been known to add dried flowers such as hibiscus. For each batch I like to use 1/2 cup of vegetables, 1 cup of fruit and ½ citrus juiced with rind added and a few sprigs of fresh herbs. You can make a big pitcher each night and drink the entire gallon the following day.

Infused water is much less expensive than buying juice and you get most of the vitamins with none of the dreaded sugar. If you must have a bit of sweetness I suggest adding ¼ coconut juice which has historically been used as an excellent item to support liver function.  Additionally, infused water will keep your body hydrated, make you feel fuller and flush toxins from your body aiding in weight loss.

I invite you to join me in enjoying the benefits of enjoying Infused Water.

Update ~ Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

As my quest for smoothie recipes continue, I thought that I would share this yummy dessert tasting smoothie. This one costs less than $1 per serving and keeps me full until I enjoy a light lunch in the afternoon.

You'll need:

3/4 cups Quick Cooking Oat
1/2 cup of Vanilla Coconut Milk (I use shelf stable non dairy milk products in a effort to reduce my dairy consumption. You can use Rice Milk, Almond Milk, Soy Milk or Cow's Milk if you prefer)
1/2 Cup of water
2 cups of ice
1 cup frozen whole strawberries or 1/2 cup frozen sliced strawberries
Dash of cinnamon and dash of vanilla extract for flavor.

I later added for additional creaminess:

1 Frozen Banana (I slice them and put them in individual bags in the freezer, No more wasted bananas)

For good measure about a tablespoon of organic flax seed (they lower cholesterol, inhibit cancer growths, help to stabilize blood sugar and are an excellent source of fiber)

Blend it all up in your blender for about 90 seconds to allow the oats to fully absorb the liquids and Voila! You will have a yummy, healthy and filling treat perfect for sipping on the commute into work.

Yum! Live Well...

$1.50 Low Fat Starbucks Frappuccino

Homemade Almond Joy Frappuccino

I am not much of a breakfast person but I just LOVED enjoying my Venti Starbucks each morning on my drive in to work. In my quest to develop a healthier, more balanced lifestyle all around I decided to forgo the caloric and financial expense of my daily latte. I replaced my Cinnamon Dolce Latte (yum!) for Strawberry Oatmeal Smoothies which are certainly tasty but lacked the "Kick" that I sometimes need to fuel my busy life. Imagine my delight when I discovered the Via Iced Coffee packets sold at Starbucks locations for $5.99 for a packet of 6. I immediately knew that I could tweak my smoothie recipe to both satisfy my "espresso fix" yet get in the fiber and nutrients that my body needs. This is the recipe that I came up with and I am happy to say that it tastes as good as anything that I could buy at a Coffee House. Yay Me!

3/4 cup Quick Cooking Oats
3/4 cups water
1 cup of ice
1/2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk
2 Tbsp Coffee House Skinny Caramel Macchiato Coffee Creamer
1 Starbucks Via Iced Coffee Packet

Place items in the blender in order listed and mix on high speed for 1 /2 minutes until smooth and creamy. The oats should completely absorb into the smoothie so that you don't taste them.


This is what mine looked like: 

The best part is this: For about a buck fifty I can enjoy a healthier version of one of my coffee house favorites and save nearly $5 per day. That is a savings of almost $1200 per year!

I would love to know what you think of this idea. Feel free to adjust the amounts to suit your personal taste. I want to try coconut milk and cocoa powder for a "Mounds Bar" inspired drink next. The possibilities are endless...Until next time. Live Well!

Romance on a Dime ~ Romantic ideas for little to no money

Part Deaux

For the next several days I will share some inexpensive ways to celebrating Valentine’s Day. It  does not have to cost you an arm and leg fellas. If you use just a little effort and creativity you can knock her socks off for very little money. Here are few ideas for you:

1)      Create an indoor picnic with available props (The Dollar Stores have cute themed items such as placemats, balloons, heart shaped plates etc..) Spread a tablecloth or a sheet on the living room floor in front of a lit fireplace if you have one or dim the lights light a few candles and prepare a spread of finger foods, cut up fresh fruit and cheeses, and other delightful treats with wine, or sparkling juice in flutes. Unwrap a few chocolates and feed them to her.

2)      If you are technically inclined, make a slideshow of photographs of the 2 of you set to her favorite love song or songs. This one costs no money and will mean the world to her.

3)      Burn a CD of her favorite love songs or make a special playlist for her (and your) iPod. Make sure that all of the songs celebrate love and express your love for her.

4)      Create an “At Home Spa” night for her. Run a bubble bath, fill it with fragrant oils, light candles around, sprinkle a few rose petals leading to the bath for a special touch. Afterwards, treat her to a manicure, pedicure and massage. Make sure that you give her a few uninterrupted minutes to enjoy some time alone while she soaks. Don’t forget to heat up towels in the dryer before you dry her off J

5)      Make homemade chocolate-covered strawberries: Melt a package of chocolate chips and a TBSP of vegetable oil in a bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir the chips and microwave for 15 second intervals until the chocolate is just melted. Quickly dip the strawberries in the chocolate and place them on waxed paper or on a plate sprayed with Pam cooking spray. Or you could place the chocolate in a small ziplock bag and snip off the corner and drizzle the chocolate over the strawberries. Refrigerate for several hours until chocolate is firm.

Stay tuned, I have a few more ideas for you… Smooches.

For Men Only ~ Tips for the perfect Valentine's Day

Gentlemen,

Now that we have “The Big Game” behind us, it is time that we draw your attention to St. Valentine’s Day.  Instead of waiting until 6:00 pm on February 14^th, take a few minutes to brainstorm ideas for ways to charm and delight your woman. To get you started,  I will provide a simple check-list to get the ideas flowing. I know that to guys,  Valentine’s Day can be sappy or begrudged, OR  it can be a wonderful opportunity for you to express your love and gratitude to and attraction for your Queen, it’s all a matter of perspective.  

This Week:

Make arrangements for a babysitter and have a backup plan. ~ If you are going out have someone keep the kids at home because it is a school night. If you are having an at home date make arrangements for the kids to sleep over with a trusted family member. Make all of the arrangements,  but make sure that your wife is comfortable with whoever you choose. 

Make Lunch or Dinner Reservations ~ This year Valentine’s Day falls on a work night, so an early dinner is a nice gesture that respects your wife’s busy schedule. Splurge on someplace nice like Fleming's Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris, or the place that she told you that her girlfriend got engaged at J.  Most restaurants will have a special (overpriced) menu, but this is NOT the time to complain about money. It is one meal that will make her feel good and she is well worth it. Alternatively, you can decide on a sexy but easy menu to prepare at home like Steamed Lobster with Drawn Butter, Baked Potato and Salad. Pick up a nice bottle of wine and buy a nice chocolate dessert from your local bakery.  Set a nice table with candles and red placemats. Target Stores have nice tableware at affordable prices and many of the stores also have meat departments with high quality meats and seafood. 

Flowers ~  Surprise her with an office deliver, you can order from Teleflora or FTD, or you can pick up flowers at the grocery store and deliver them in person. She won’t mind.  Roses are nice, but by now you should know her favorite flowers and if not take a picture of her wedding bouquet to the florist. I’m sure that she carried her favorites on that special day. If you go with roses, request a simple bouquet with no fillers); Don’t forget the vase!  

Get the Gift ~  Whether it’s jewelry (yes: we like jewelry), an unexpected trip or that bag she won’t shut up about, put time aside one night after work and get it this week. Don’t get me wrong. An expensive gift is not necessary, just make sure that you put some thought into what she might like. Here’s a secret. She doesn’t want lingerie on Valentine’s Day. It is fine for an everyday present, actually, it is a GREAT unexpected gift, but for this special day, try to find something that is more suited to her taste. 

Don’t Forget the Card ~ All of the good cards will be gone by next Monday. Stop by Walgreens, CVS or the mall to grab one ASAP. No matter what she says, she loves those sappy velvet monstrosities. Let Hallmark say what you may have trouble expressing.  If you’re one for cheek & nostalgia, create one of those old “Do You Like Me? Yes or No” notes and tape it to her mirror to discover when she wakes up on Tuesday. 

Monday, February 13:

Double-Check the Babysitter — Just make sure she’s not sick; it’s flu season.

Tuesday, February 14:

Breakfast in Bed ~  if you want to go full camp, surprise her with breakfast in bed. No matter if it’s just a cup of coffee, and bowl of oatmeal with a brown sugar smiley face or a full-fledged, home-cooked meal, it’s the thought that counts.  My hubby “surprises” me with Fresh Fruit, Croissants from La Madeline and a Starbucks Coffee in bed. Every year. For 18 years. I’m always shocked J

Chocolates — Stop by your local chocolatier, bakery, or drugstore to pick up a truly delightful mix of chocolates. Good drugstore brands are Ferrero Rocher, Ghiradelli, and Lindt.

Time ~ Ultimately, all your Sweetie wants from you is your undivided attention on this day. She wants to know that she is worthy of your love and attention. Anything that you give a woman is multiplied. If you make the investment in a worthy woman, the payoff for you will be immeasurable. 

Hit me up and let me know how it works for you. 

Smooches…

You have to KNOW who you are, in order to BE who you are.

Who are you? 

Without defining yourself by the roles that you operate in, who are you inside? Are you living the life that you dream for yourself?

If so, kudos to you! If not, I’d like to share that it is never too late to be all that you are called to be.

Your authentic self is calling to you to align yourself with your purpose. When we are out of alignment we find ourselves with a nagging sense of discontent. You may come to a sudden realization that your life is not working for you. Some part of your life doesn’t quite fit any more. We may eat to try to fill the void. Some may drink or gamble or even pray in hopes of distracting themselves from the idea that we are off course. The wake up call is an opportunity. No guilt. No regrets about how long it took you to see the light. No pressure to do it quick time. It is an opportunity that arrives when you’re ready, a call to live more authentically.

The good is this; we can never get so off course that we cannot find our way back to ourselves. The Universe is set up in such a way that there is always a path that leads us back to the essence of who we are.

Living the good life is not about having things to impress others. It is not about seeing and being seen. Living the good life is a reward for serving your purpose on the earth. When you operate in Authenticity, your gifts make room for you.

This is an awesome time to reclaim your authentic life, once and for all. Choose from this moment, to no longer measure your life according to expectations set by other people. Boldly and gladly be a minority of one, because no one does YOU better than you.