Coconut Yogurt

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Ok, so I know many of you are waiting anxiously to see if my first attempt at making homemade Coconut Yogurt was a success...

Here's my verdict:  It wasn't a "fail" by any means, but I do think it could be improved upon.  I say this for two reasons...

1. It was too runny, so it's the consistency of drinkable Kefir.
2. When I read through the comments of the recipe I got it from (a guest blogger on Nom Nom Paleo's website), there were very mixed reviews on if this turned out for people.  It worked for some and failed for some.

So with that said, I liked it enough to want to share how I did it so you can try for yourself.  ...But this is my official disclaimer that I'm not guaranteeing this will work for YOU.  LOL ;)  The next time I try this I am going to use Trader Joe's Coconut Cream.  Many said by using that, it made it thicker.  By reading through reviews, I think this recipe really depends on the brand of coconut milk used AND the strength of their oven light...weaker lights many not bring the temp high enough (see below).

Ingredients:

• 1 can coconut milk (or coconut cream for a thicker result)
• 1 tablespoon inner-eco liquid probiotic (see pic, I found it a Sprouts)  I heard you can also use a probiotic capsule, but these can really vary, so I went with the exact liquid that was recommended in the recipe.  My guess is this may be why some people had a "fail".
• 1 clean glass jar with lid
• a free oven for 24 hours!

I happened to double the recipe only because I had a large jar.  This is the brand of coconut milk I used.  It was very smooth when I opened it, not separated.  I think this helps.

Directions:

1. Mix the ingredients together in the jar.  For thinner, Kefir-like yogurt, use the whole can of coconut milk.  For thicker yogurt use unsweetened Coconut Cream or refrigerate your coconut milk until it separates...and just scoop out the cream that rises.
2. Put the lid on the jar and place it in the oven with the light ON, and close the door for 24 hours.  Leave it undisturbed for 24 hours.  DO NOT TURN THE OVEN ON...just the LIGHT.  The light alone should get your oven to a temp of 105-110 degrees, perfect for the coconut yogurt to incubate.
3. Refrigerate when done.  It will last about one week in the fridge.

Mine was very good.  It was smooth and tangy like yogurt should be.  It had a nice coconut flavor.  I probably wouldn't eat it all alone though.  After Whole30, I think adding a little bit of raw honey to the mix would be good.  I think this would be wonderful added to some compliant granola and berries!  I smashed some blackberries and put them in the bottom of a fancy glass (like the original recipe did;)  I added some slivered almonds to the top, took my pretty pics, then stirred it all up!  It was quite good!  Do I think it would be better a little thicker?  Yes.  People also use this as a base in sauces or in place of sour cream...

Overall, I'm excited to experiment more with coconut yogurt.  I know there are a lot of different methods out there.  If you have any that I should try, let me know! If you would have told me a few years ago that I'd be incubating my own yogurt, I would have thought you were nuts.  LOL;)  I was reading the labels of all the coconut yogurt in the store a couple of days ago before deciding to try this...all had sugar in them, or carrageenan!

Give it a try!  Everyone love a science experiment, right?  :)  Enjoy!  I'd LOVE to hear how it turns out for you!  ...and I'll update this post when I try the thicker version to keep you posted;)

-For the original recipe:  find it here on nomnompaleo.com

Pan Fried Steak

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I loooove a good steak.  The trick to getting a "restaurant quality" steak that's juicy inside with a nice crust outside, is searing it.

In this pan fried steak recipe, you'll have that restaurant quality steak in under 10 minutes.  There are quite a few "pan fried" recipes out there....but this one is super simple.  Simple is good in my house;)

Ingredients:

• 2 NY strip steaks, about 1 inch thick (good quality grass-fed if possible)
• coarse salt (I use Diamond Crystal brand)
• black pepper
• 1 to 2 teaspoons ghee

Directions:

1. Bring the steaks to room temperature.
2. Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat.  Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper.  Seconds before adding a steak, drop 1/2 teaspoon of the ghee into the pan and immediately top with the steak.  Repeat with the remaining steaks.  Sear for 3 minutes without moving the steak (to form a crust).  Turn and cook for 2 minutes for rare or 3 to 4 for medium rare. Remove the steaks from the pan and let them rest on a board or platter for a few minutes before serving.

I set them on this rack, but moved them right away to a cutting board to rest, then sliced thin;)  Put a little extra dollop of ghee on top of the hot steak....ooohhhh.  (That's the sound my husband makes when something's really good.)My steaks were a little thinner than the recipe called for, probably 1/2 inch thick so they were a little overdone at 3 minutes each side, but still juicy and delicious.  I also made 4 steaks to have leftovers;)  I served them with steamed artichokes and homemade mayo for dipping!  Enjoy!

-This recipe is from the Martha Stewart website.

The Whole30 Book

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The Whole30 Book - The 30 Day Guide to TOTAL HEALTH and FOOD FREEDOM by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig is now available!!  I got my copy today in the mail because I pre-ordered it.  I immediately skimmed the whole thing and cannot wait to dive in and read it cover to cover.

This book is the complete guide to the Whole30.  It has everything you need to know to have success on this program.  It's also is beautifully laid out in an organized way...with gorgeous photographs.  I'm a sucker for gorgeous photographs.  :)

So what's inside?  It explains the program completely from A to Z.  It gives you a timeline of what you can expect during the 30 days.  It has FAQs.  It has shopping lists and a 7 day meal plan.  It addressing eating out and travel.  It talks about medical conditions, pregnancy and breast feeding.  It discusses kids.  It tells you about reintroduction of foods after the Whole30.  It tells you what you should have in your kitchen...the fundamentals.  It has RECIPES of all kinds, success stories....and much much more.  In other words, it's AWESOME.

I believe everyone should try the Whole30 Program at least once.  You will learn so much about yourself.  You will gain confidence for having the discipline to complete the program.  You will change your relationship with food.  Most quick-fix diets focus on weight loss.  The Whole30 takes the focus off the scale which I think is genius.  So many women's lives, and men's, are dictated by what that number on the scale says.  That has to stop because we are so much more than that number.  This program shows success in other ways, in #NonScaleVictories, that mean so much more.  With that said, people are losing serious weight on this program, and keeping it off.  I've taken 10 stubborn pounds off easily and my husband lost 25 pounds.  The most famous line about the Whole30?  "It's not hard."  This is so true.  You can do anything for 30 days.  All you need to do is decide, commit, and go.

I'm leading 61 people through the Whole30 right now.  56 of them through my local gym and the rest who have joined in on that same timeline.  I am so excited to have this book as a resource to help people through the Whole30 because I tell anyone and everyone about the program.

Are you ready for a Whole30?  I highly recommend you read this Whole30 Book and get started on this nutritional "reset".  It just might change your life in 30 days too...like it has for tens of thousands of others.

The Whole30 was featured on the Today Show this morning which was so exciting!  Melissa and Dallas Hartwig did such a wonderful job with this amazing opportunity to share the Whole30 with the world.  Matt Lauer made the comment "no fun" at the end of the segment which I think was unnecessary...but other than that is was great.  I LOVED that a main focus of the segment was about Tess, a woman who got off her diabetes medication after just two weeks of the Whole30.  THAT.  That is what the program is about...changing lives on that level. Bravo.  My husband is a Chiropractor and he has been recommending the Whole30 to his patients with amazing results...

One of his patients was on insulin and was losing his vision due to diabetes.  After the Whole30 he is completely off of insulin and he now has perfect vision.  He also lost a significant amount of weight.

Are you ready?  Just buy the book.  Right now.  Here...I'll make it easy for you.  The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom.  Then do the Whole30.  Trust me, you'll be happy you did;)

"Stella" was as excited as I was to get the mail....she got her BarkBox in the mail today too;)

I also highly recommend their first book, It Starts With Food.  Best book on nutrition I've ever read.  Explains the physiology, without being too "science-y" so it's easy to understand.  I think it's fascinating.

For a wealth of information I've put together for my groups, see my blog post on Whole30 Resources!

I'm going to go read now.... :)

My Top Five Beauty Tips

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My top five beauty tips are pretty simple.... I've always loved trying different beauty products but you don't have to spend an arm and a leg for the latest and greatest trend.  The thing is, as I'm getting older, it comes down to a few simple tricks and if you practice them consistently... you'll look younger, longer.  It's never too soon to start a healthy skin beauty regimen.  Here's mine...

1.  Never go to bed without washing your face.  Ever.  I have always washed my face before bed.  It's a good habit of mine since I was very young.  I just feel gross going to bed with makeup on.  It is so much healthier for your skin.  You don't have to spend a lot of money here.  It also preps for #2... My favorite splurge in this category:  Caudalie Foaming Face Wash.  My favorite drug store pick:  Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Oil Free Acne Wash (I don't have acne, but I love this stuff.)  As long as it works well to gently remove makeup and doesn't burn my eyes, that's all I need.  I do like to wash my eye makeup off this way, in one step...I don't use a separate remover.

2.  Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.  I say this three times, because it should be done in three steps.  Moisturizing goes for your entire body...but especially your face.  I moisturize morning and night and am very diligent about it.  In the morning I just splash water on my face.  I don't wash it again.  As you age, it's not good to wash too much... you're not a teenager anymore;)  I put eye cream on by dabbing it under and around my eyes with my ring fingers.  One of my favorites that I keep going back to is Fresh Black Tea Age Delay Eye Concentrate.  It's a splurge, but feels amazing.  The container lasts me a long time.  I don't have a favorite drug store brand in this category, but if I was going to get one, I'd choose Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Eye Cream.  I love their other products, so I bet it's as good.  Next is a face serum.  My go-to is Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Serum, which has a light, creamy consistency.  Another one I get once in a while is Truth Serum Collagen Booster by Ole Henriksen, which is a clear, gel-like serum that brightens the skin.  It smells like oranges.  This one's good if you've had a lot of sun exposure.  If it's morning, I proceed to #4.  If it's night time, I put on a heavier night cream next.  My absolute favorite night cream is Algenist Genius Anti-Aging Cream.  A little pricey but I absolutely love it.  Again, it's a huge container, so it will last me a long time, especially wearing it once daily.  Again, Boots No.7 is a great drug store choice.  Whatever you choose,  look at your ingredients and pick one without parabens.  As long as it has healthy ingredients....just moisturize (eye), moisturize (serum), moisturize (cream).

-Boots No.7 is a wonderful, inexpensive beauty line that can be found at Target and Ulta Stores.  It's usually in the $20 range but Ulta usually has great coupons!

3.  Exfoliate.  I only do this when I feel like I need it.  I remember the days in high school when I used to love that "Apricot Scrub" that would just scratch the heck out of my face!  Those days of damaging scrubbing are over.  I have a Clarisonic brush that I use every so often but have heard mixed reviews on whether it's good for your skin.  I must say... I have a new favorite product and it lands in this category.  It's Dr. Gross Alpha Beta Peel in Extra Strength.  It's a two step process that uses pre-soaked pads.  You apply the first step, wait 2 minutes, then apply the 2nd step.  That's it.  It leaves your skin so beautiful and glowing, stripping away all the dead skin cells.  Absolutely no redness or irritation, just beautiful skin.  I do this about once a week, or as needed.  It's safe enough to use daily if you want.  I'm so happy I found this;)  I'm adding one of these in my Giveaway going on right now!!  (See Giveaway on my main menu to see how you can enter...ends 4/18/15!)

4.  Wear protection.  I'm talking about sunscreen here.  I've tried a lot of sunscreens, BB's, etc and I'm picky in this category.  It has to be just the right consistency.  I've found one I love that is my go-to on a daily basis.  My favorite non-tinted day cream is Boots No.7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream SPF 15.  It's wonderful and I feel protected from sun exposure on a daily basis.

5.  Smile.  This is the best one...and so simple.  :)  When you put a smile on your face you're immediately ten times more beautiful.  Don't get botox, it's just weird.  My opinion.  Don't be afraid of a few smile lines here and there.  Take good care of your skin, be happy...and age gracefully.  

A couple of extra products that I keep around for 'every once in a while'... Josie Maran Face Oil for that once a year dry skin that needs extra help.  I also love Cindy Crawford's Meaningful Beauty Glowing Serum.  It really does make your skin beautiful...I can see why she calls it the model's secret;)

That's my beauty regimen.  I do that every. single. day.  I'd love to hear your favorite beauty tips!  Or... if you didn't have one before reading this, maybe this will inspire you to get one!  It's never too late to develop a healthy skin routine!

Here's to aging gracefully.

Love beauty products as much as I do?  I recommend Birchbox!  It's like getting a personalized gift box every month...

Warm Red Potato Salad

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This Warm Red Potato Salad just came to me at the very last minute....and ended up being really delicious!  I originally was making basic baked red potatoes in the oven...

I cut up red potatoes, skins on, and put them on a baking sheet coated with ghee. I seasoned them with a seasoning I have called Capitol Hill.  I use it on everything from eggs to salads.  I tossed the potatoes around to coat them with the ghee and seasoning before putting them in a 400 degree oven.

I just kept an eye on them and checked them every 15 mins or so, stirring once, until golden brown.

As the potatoes were cooking, I made some of my homemade mayo to have in the fridge because I was out.  We go through a lot in my house.  I tested one of the potatoes to see if it was done....but before I did, the mayo was just sitting there...so I dipped it!  Wow, YUM!  In that instant I had a dinner upgrade idea!!  Potato salad!!  :)

I brought out two hard boiled eggs (steamed;) that I had in my fridge.  See, food prep pays off!  I put the crispy warm potatoes in a bowl.  I added a couple spoonfuls of my fresh homemade mayo, a dash of dijon mustard, another sprinkle of Capitol Hill seasoning, salt, pepper, and the chopped eggs...

I mixed it all together and served immediately.  I served this with grilled Chicken Apple Sausage and greens.  It was such a yummy upgrade from plain ol' potatoes!  It was warm and crispy and creamy all at once.

I will definitely be making this again.  The crisp to the potatoes added a lot.  Most potato salads are boiled and chilled...this crisp and warmth added a new twist on the old standard.  :)

Next time, since this time it just "unfolded " this way.... I thought about adding chopped green onions and I don't know, BACON?  Now we're talking!  Enjoy!

Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks

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These Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks are so tender and delicious.  Easy too... here's what you'll need...

• 2 large Ahi Tuna Steaks
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp whole peppercorns
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp ghee
• Dipping sauce:  Coconut Aminos & Wasabi Powder (optional)

1.  Pat the tuna steaks dry.  Sprinkle with the salt and cayenne pepper on both sides.

2.  Heat the olive oil and ghee over medium high heat.  I used a thin cast iron pan.  Once hot, add the peppercorns and cook for about 5 minutes...until they start to soften and pop open.  I like to crush the peppercorns with the metal spatula.

3.  Add the tuna steaks and cook for 1 1/2 minutes per side for rare.

4.  Remove from pan and slice them 1/4 inch thin with a sharp knife.

These seared ahi tuna steaks will be crusted on the outside and rare on the inside...just like you'd be served in a restaurant... :)

For a wonderful Dipping Sauce that will make you feel like you're in a sushi restaurant.... mix a desired amount of wasabi powder into coconut aminos!

They have great flavor from the peppercorns and a little kick from the cayenne.  Very flavorful.  I hope you enjoy these Seared Ahi Tuna Steaks!  I served it alongside my steamed artichokes and homemade mayo!  Yum.

-Note:  when preparing this dish and cooking it rare, sushi grade tuna is recommended.  I found these Wild Ahi Tuna beauties at Costco.