White Balsamic Pear Dressing

In ancient Greece, pears were used to treat nausea.

Today, pears can be useful in treating inflammation and lowering high blood pressure.

Pears are a good source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C.

White Balsamic-Pear Dressing

1/2 Pear -- seeds removed -- skin left on

1/2 cup white balsamic dressing

1/3 cup Hemp oil or Flax oil (or any oil that can go into the fridge without hardening)

1/4 cup organic apple juice

2 Tbs apple cider vinegar

1 tsp sole or a dash himalayan or celtic salt to taste

Blend together and enjoy on to of your favorite bed of greens! I like to add a dash of cayenne for some extra warmth.

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible. 

~Cherie-Carter Scotts

Have a beautiful day!

Love,

Michelle

Spirulina Lime Ice Cream

Its so good for you!

Spirulina is an amazing superfood and a complete protein containing, that's between 55% and 70% protein! Wow! It is rich in all essential amino acids like gamma-liolenic acid (GLA) which is known to help treat inflammation and auto-immune diseases, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid that partially converts to DHA and EPA, linoleic acid (LA) is an unsaturated omega 6 fatty acid. The word "linoleic" comes from the Greek word linon (flax). Oleic means "of, relating to, or derived from oil or olive." Stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is involved in lowering inflammation and may help mental conditions and help depression and more importantly suicidal behavior, helps chemotherapy patients and reduces risk of developing certain types of cancer. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) helps with brian function and depression as well as inhibiting certain cancers, it has also been found to help brain function, learning, and memory in adults. Arachidonic acid (AA) helps muscle growth, brain function and is often used as a body building supplement.

They are called essential amino acids because these acids cannot be produced in our body and must be acquired through diet. These acids are needed for good health because the body requires them for various biological processes.

Its so good for you!

Spirulina Lime Ice Cream

Thai coconut (meat and water)

Irish Moss (soaked overnight)

Honey (local)

Lime

Spirulina

Dash of Vanilla

Freeze for a couple of hours and voila! Delicious ice cream! 

Top with raspberries, huckleberries or even some cacao nibs! Woot Woot!

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love you!

Michelle

Gout

Here is a list of foods that may trigger gout:

Animal Flesh and Organs (gross): beef, pork, bacon, lamb, fish, shellfish, liver, brain, chicken, turkey, eel, venison, ect.
Animal Fluids: cow milk, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, ice cream, meat extracts, goat milk, ect.
Asparagus
Cauliflower
Legumes: kidney beans, navy and lima beans, lentils, peas.
Mushrooms
Oatmeal
Spinach
Tomato
Whole Grain Bread or Breads
Whole Grain Wheat Germ and Bran
Yeast

If you have gout, try eliminating these products from your diet and see how you feel!

Just Sprout It!

Sprouts are so wonderful, and available any time of the year, right from your own kitchen!

Sprouts are baby plants in their prime! 

They have a greater concentration of proteins (yay!), higher amounts of vitamins and minerals, enzymes, RNA, DNA, bio-flavinoids, T-cells, and many other benefits, the height of the plants nutrition is all in the sprout stage! Baby plants are also easier to digest! 

When you sprout at home, there is no use for chemicals or nasty fertilizers and it doesn't take up that much space, not to mention zero food miles.

Just fresh deliciousness right here, right now!

Beans are marvelous regulators of insulin.

Insulin is a hormone that lowers the level of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood. It's made by the beta cells of the pancreas and released into the blood when the glucose level goes up, such as after eating. Insulin helps glucose enter the body's cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for future use.

Beans and lentils, make very gradual changes in blood sugar and do not draw on the body's natural insulin to keep blood sugar under control.

In fact, they provide more receptors for insulin to land, controlling the loss of insulin back into the bloodstream.

 Beans contain at least two powerful cancer blocking substances, lignans and protease inhibitors. Lignans fight breast cancer and colon cancer after being turned into hormone-like substances by bacteria in the colon. Protease inhibitors prevent normal cells from going cancerous. Sprouting dramatically increases this awesome enzyme activity.

Personally, I have a SproutMaster, and its so easy to use!

My mix of sprouts contains beans, lentils, peas, and some other yummy stuff.

1. First, soak overnight (about 10-12 hours)

(Sometimes I add a little food grade hydrogen peroxide to soaking sprouts for 15 minutes to kill any bacteria that might be present).

2. Rinse soaked seeds, peas, lentils or grains like quinoa or millet. 

3. Place in sprouter and rinse 2-3 times a day, depending on how warm the environment is.

4. Drain sprouter thoroughly after each rinsing.

5. Taste your sprouts as they grow to determine when they are the tastiest!

When seeds are at their desired taste, place in the refrigerator for longer life.

Do Not Place Sprouts In Direct Sunlight!

Top on salads, or lightly steam with rice. Yum!

My lentil/pea mix took 1 1/2 days to sprout (after soaking).

They are sweet and oh, so good and filling!

Sprout On!

xoxo

Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Community Yoga and Dinner at Walking Lightly Ranch

Stuffed Mushrooms

It's been way too long since my last post!

I have been so busy with this and that, school, running kids around, practicing staying peaceful in the midst of chaos!

Here is a quick recipe that is super filling.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Crimini or botton mushrooms, cleaned with caps removed

olives sundried tomatoes

delicious olives

walnuts or pine nuts (soaked)

dired herbs from your garden, thyme, oregano.....yumm!

wheat-free tamari

Balsamic Vinegar

Dash of olive oil (optional)

Soak cleaned mushrooms with stems removed in tamari/balsamic/olive oil for 1 hour.

Chop sundried tomatoes, olives, and walnuts finely chopped, herbs, and mix together If you would like add the tamari/vinegar/olive oil soak mix to the tomatoes, olive and walnuts.

Stuff mushrooms with mixture and place in dehydrator for 4 hours to get the cooked feeling.

Enjoy!

Berry bliss will be holding a juice fast from Monday, November 15th, Though Sunday, November 21st.

When we fast, we practice faith in the body's wisdom. We receive an opportunity to release our compulsions and attachments to controlling and a door is opened for us to examine all the ways in which the illusion of control and the existence of one who is controlling play into our lives.

Please call Michelle for more details; 249-4370

Hope you can join us!

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers. 

~M. Scott Peck

I hope you all are having a truly lovely fall.

Love,

Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Huckleberry Bliss!

Last weekend we went camping on the South Fork River, it was beautiful! Morgan, Alex and I were able to go huckleberry picking!

Huckleberries are relatives of the blueberry and the cranberry they are high in antioxidants, vitamin C, manganese, iron and a good source of vitamin A.  They are a good source of vitamin B and helps speed up metabolism and potassium keeps skin, nerves and muscles happy and healthy by regulating water balances and eliminating wastes.

Huckleberries are medicinal for the blood and liver, they help manage serious illnesses such as heart disease, eczema, lowering cholesterol, muscular degeneration and diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels, they also have bacteria fighting capabilities that are particularly useful in countering urinary-tract infections. 

Wow. 

There have been many clinical studies done to show that the huckleberry promotes eye health, especially against diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. However, back during World War I, the pilots in the Royal Air Force in Great Britain swore that eating huckleberry jam or drinking huckleberry cordials prior to flying night missions over Germany significantly improved their visual acuity in the darkness.

These sweet berries are a cooling food and perfect for summer! 

Huckleberry Cheesecake:

Crust:

1 1/2 cup pecans or almonds

1/2 cup shredded coconut, dried

7 dates (soaked)

Process crust ingredients in a food processor and press into bottom of a springform pan. If it feels too wet, place in dehydrator while you are preparing your filling to remove excess moisture.

If you were blessed with an abundance of huckleberries, place some fresh ones on the crust so you may have bursts of fresh huckleberries in your pie!

Filling:

3 cups cashews (soaked)

1 1/4 cup almond milk

1-1 1/2 cup huckleberries

1 cup huckleberry honey

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 Tablespoons vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup coconut oil (melted at low temperature in dehydrator)

2 Tablespoons lecithin

Blend first seven ingredients in vitamix or blender until smooth. Add coconut oil and lecithin last. Pour mixture on top of pie crust. If you desire, you may choose to reserve two cups of the huckleberry mixture and add two tablespoons of chocolate and two tablespoons on vanilla, mix in blender and pour on top of huckleberry mixture in pan. Swirl it and twirl it to make it beautiful! Place in freezer for two hours or overnight before serving or in the fridge for 6 hours or overnight so that it may set. Serve and enjoy!

Tip: If your mixture is too thick add some date soak water. If your mixture is too thin add some coconut oil or more cashews.

I hope you are enjoying  your summer and spending as much time as you can outdoors with your families!

All of life is a journey; which paths we take, what we look back on, and what we look forward to is up to us. We determine our destination, what kind of road we will take to get there, and how happy we are when we get there. ~From A Little Book of Happiness

Love,

Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com