https://pacifichealthfoods.com/welcome daily 1.0 2024-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466807527758-LIMYG5XTFU2B8WQIY4SH/palm-background-02.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466807565062-DS94Y3J0IQ51OJB3SBLJ/palm-background-01.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1510939224993-SDDA3R7ULJZ9TKRSXWIO/Health-Foods.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1510939256231-JMFBZ4RMBP1ZN2XJRZK1/Pacific-Health-Foods-Catering.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466709482877-5F6022SQSUSLZGU9VKXG/image-asset.jpeg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466709506835-9IAPDS4IL866LXVVS3RB/image-asset.jpeg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466709526986-JB52IA7O7RZYNEG0LLBB/image-asset.jpeg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466709552476-OGM6JRU7EERLYNLWOQBP/image-asset.jpeg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1466709573211-XURTHJHFITLHXB0IYFZI/image-asset.jpeg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1510939467670-NL6N9R2T3K7FQBRG7SY3/grocery-store-carp.jpg Welcome https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1462914874428-Q1M4BJBJRCAKRHZJPU8J/image-asset.png Welcome https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog daily 0.75 2021-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1462913286776-OJSYZ7JLIOOINO5MDZJ1/Feinblatt_20160417_0094_WEB+ONLY.jpg Pure Healthy Fit https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/6/17/maple-peach-blackberry-crisp monthly 0.5 2021-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1624034333071-YIS70FIJROVL0U5LUYRR/IMG_1481+copy.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Peach Blackberry Crisp - Make it stand out I saw peaches and plums at the farmers’ market and had to jump on it. I love eating summer foods.. from sweet tomatoes to crisp herbs to luscious peaches, I want it ALL. I couldn’t resist. I’ve used peaches in arugula salads with grilled steak, topped my yogurt granola bowls with them and now am baking with them as much as possible. My go-to is a berry crisp but adding peaches and these extra juicy plums added such great texture and flavor, try it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1624034445985-UXX639Z91I352EO7BEKF/IMG_1488.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Peach Blackberry Crisp - Make it stand out This process is super simple. Start with the fruit tossed together with brown sugar and vanilla. In the past, I’ve added some acidity like a pixie orange or Meyer lemon but I wanted to keep this one extra sweet and rich so I used vanilla only. Then add a touch of cornstarch to make the thick and juicy sauce. I’ve used flour in the past which works, but I like the texture of the cornstarch better. When the peaches bake down and the blackberries are roasted it creates the most incredible almost caramel-like sauce! The crisp topping for me is KEY. I like it chewy but still crispy, not soggy. You’ll use flour, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar and the secret is some brown butter. Sprinkle the crumble over the fruit, bake and then about an hour later you’ll have the most perfect crisp. It’s like a crisp brown sugar cookie and I can’t get enough of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1624034472913-9W27CNZJAGIHQSF4VM7D/IMG_1491.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Peach Blackberry Crisp - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1624034488769-4A0G4MQU93L5K44378AA/IMG_1502.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Peach Blackberry Crisp - Make it stand out INGREDIENTS - 4-5 peaches, sliced - 3 cups fresh blackberries - 1/2 cup brown sugar - 1 tablespoon + 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract TOPPING - 1 cup all purpose organic flour - 1/2 cup old fashioned oats - 1/2 brown sugar - 1 teaspoon cinnamon - 12 tablespoons cold salted grass-fed butter - 4 tablespoons maple syrup INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 2. Mix together peaches, blackberries, brown sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla. Spread the fruit out into a 10-12 inch baking dish or cast iron skillet 3. For the topping, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Then add 8 tablespoons of cold butter into the dry ingredients and mix with your hands (or use fork). Sprinkle over the fruit. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. 4. While it’s baking, add 4 tablespoons of butter to a small pot and set over medium heat. Let the butter to brown lightly until it smells toasted, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Remove the crisp from the oven and drizzle the maple butter over the crisp then bake for another 30 minutes uncovered. 5. Slightly cool then serve with vanilla ice cream! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/5/28/elevated-chicken-salad monthly 0.5 2021-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622246823940-5CY2FCFMM8TCAPC0C6QF/IMG_1081.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Elevated Chicken Salad - Make it stand out Alright, build your base with the basics PLUS a few extras that are key. In my opinion, you can’t have a chicken salad without the crisp celery, a red onion, some sort of mayonnaise and Dijon. Here’s how we spiced things up… add a dried fruit! I used dried cherries because of the texture, sweetness to tartness ratio, and the size. They are usually softer than dried cranberries which I enjoy. I also want to urge you to add an herb in this salad. I used cilantro because I had a bunch in my fridge and the flavors worked really well but you could also use tarragon or dill or even parsley. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622247301880-KZHPWLWNULSISDG1UYZI/IMG_1070.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Elevated Chicken Salad - Make it stand out I used this avocado oil vegenaise because I actually prefer the consistency and flavor over regular but you can use whatever kind of mayonnaise you prefer! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622247316877-K5WTY6OS3DNQMYB4LGUO/IMG_1078.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Elevated Chicken Salad - Make it stand out Cien Chiles “The Mustard” is a newer product that we carry at the shop and I can truly say I couldn’t be more excited. I love a good pickled mustard seed and this one is on-point. You get that pop of flavor, with the subtle heat, it makes your mouth happy. Plus it’s full of probiotics and sustainably sourced. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622247344299-VWFRUNMRCV370SN525SG/IMG_1085.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Elevated Chicken Salad - Make it stand out I always buy raw nuts and toast them if/when I need to. I used a raw walnut and toasted them in a dry pan for a few minutes until golden brown. I love walnuts with a chicken salad but you could also use an cashews (which would be great!) or almonds. Or a seed! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622247364640-M9Y18OBBV58ORTDM1XLN/IMG_1089.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Elevated Chicken Salad - Make it stand out Everything about this salad is just perfection. Obviously you could use a canned chicken or tuna with this recipe but the marinated, grilled chicken is smoky and juicy and is just better. The crunch of the toasted walnuts, tartness of the dried cherries and the pop from the pickled mustard seeds. Yum. I marinated the Mary’s Organic Chicken thighs with a homemade romesco sauce which I had made a few days ago but you could also use a store bought one. I love sauces. Whenever I have the time I like to make something to have for the week. Romesco sauce is one of my favorites: - roasted red peppers - whole almonds - sun-dried tomatoes - raw garlic - smoked paprika - cayenne pepper - extra-virgin olive oil This sauce is delicious on fish or chicken (even steak) or grilled vegetables. I also just love to have it on hand when I have a loaf of crusty sourdough. Once I marinated the chicken, I threw it on the grill and chopped it. I added it to the mixture of celery, nuts, cherries, mayo, mustard, herbs etc. when it was slightly warm because the flavors come together and it’s much better that way! Then I let cool fully and stuck it in the fridge to enjoy throughout the week! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622247382068-XKO3303M7I9C1SBV2B3Y/IMG_1097.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Elevated Chicken Salad - Make it stand out I served this over little gem lettuce for dinner but you could easily place a hefty scoop between two pieces of bread and call it good! INGREDIENTS - 1 package of Mary’s Organic Chicken Thighs - 1 cup toasted walnuts - 1/2 cup dried cherries - 2 tbsp dijon mustard - 1/4 cup mayo - 3 tbsps pickled mustard seeds - 3 stalks celery - 1/4 cups red onion - 1/4 cup cilantro https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/5/27/carne-asada-tacos-with-cilantro-kale-slaw-and-pickled-cauliflower monthly 0.5 2021-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622245876353-33XOY1V8VQ9ZN2TCNXY6/IMG_0952.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Kale Slaw and Pickled Cauliflower - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622176596184-8PS36ZN0ACUPJJFX65HY/IMG_0953.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Kale Slaw and Pickled Cauliflower - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622176632455-MAO5R4KULQTFDP06X7U2/IMG_0965.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Kale Slaw and Pickled Cauliflower - Make it stand out This Pacific Pickle Works cauliflower is my favorite! This concoction blends punchy California chiles and umami-rich aromatics with a classic vinegar pucker. It’s crunchy and flavorful, and pairs perfectly with these carne asada tacos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622176669670-OWAI6745CYY6WW0F89HO/IMG_0968.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Kale Slaw and Pickled Cauliflower - Make it stand out It’s all about the marinade! Here’s the deal… Orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, fresh garlic, dried oregano, chili powder, salt, cumin, pepper, & cayenne. Because there’s so much citrus, 1-4 hours is ideal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622176951988-MWS578RX0F1LF0B7JUNE/IMG_0973.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Kale Slaw and Pickled Cauliflower - Make it stand out Love whipping up a slaw with whatever we have in the fridge. I usually always have kale so for this one I used shaved kale, shaved Brussels sprouts (you could also just do cabbage), and pickled red onion - which I quickly pickled in red wine vinegar and organic sugar. I usually would use a lime plus olive oil to massage the greens but I used a pixie tangerine because they’re in season (a very short season that is!) and it turned out well! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1622176978845-1KKXF8ZO5YASQCL9YVRW/IMG_0982+copy.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Carne Asada Tacos with Cilantro Kale Slaw and Pickled Cauliflower - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/4/11/spring-lemony-farro-salad monthly 0.5 2021-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1618427771448-QN62TGE2KKNMUTHBA3X9/IMG_0735.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Farro Salad with Spring Vegetables & Pecorino There’s something about farro I love… it’s chewy, nutty and cooks quickly. This salad is great on it’s own or could be served as a side with local fish, roast chicken or even with a soft boiled egg for breakfast. Farro is packed full of fiber, protein and vitamins like magnesium, zinc and even vitamin B. Zinc is essential for a healthy immune system and healing, so being freshly postpartum myself, I’m incorporating this grain into my diet often which keeps me filling full and satisfied! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1618427791230-MHWX9ZL1X00D6MDURTBH/IMG_0737.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Farro Salad with Spring Vegetables & Pecorino You can use whatever veggies you like! If you prefer raw veggies, feel free. I like to quickly blanch mine for easier digestion. You still want to have that fresh crunch, so I just quickly blanch in boiling water for a minute or two. I used asparagus, sugar snap peas, wild arugula and shiitake mushrooms here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1618427820551-E3OP80Q2VW4R7BVKUKVF/IMG_0740.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Farro Salad with Spring Vegetables & Pecorino I love a good salad that can hold up in the fridge. This salad gets better the next day as the blanched veggies marinade in the lemon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1618427875331-2VYPFEFVUGF0SB3YW6W5/IMG_0742.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Farro Salad with Spring Vegetables & Pecorino What’s better than a seared, flavorful, umami mushroom?! These are shiitakes but feel free to use whatever mushroom you love. We have some gorgeous mushrooms available at our farmers markets right now. I use high heat to heat some oil and butter for a good sear. DON’T MOVE THEM AROUND! This is key. Let them get crispy for about a minute, then coat toss until fully coated in the fat. Continue to sear for another few minutes then turn down the heat and cook on low for a few minutes. I add a splash of red wine and/or a dash of vinegar. Let that cook down and almost caramelize. Season with salt and pepper and add to your salad! The warm mushrooms make it feel like more of a meal, and add great texture and flavor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1618427981400-VKX0TRBQYCTFYO047T5S/IMG_0751.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Farro Salad with Spring Vegetables & Pecorino Spring is in full swing here in Carpinteria and we couldn’t be happier! This is an easy weeknight meal or lunch that celebrates the best parts of spring! INGREDIENTS For the Farro: 1 cup sugar snap peas 1 bunch asparagus 2 cups shiitake mushrooms 1/2 cup shaved pecorino 1 handfuls arugula and/or pea tendrils 1/4 cup toasted pistachios add whatever fresh herbs you like! For the dressing: 1 lemon juiced 2 teaspoons champagne vinegar 1 tablespoon dijon mustard 1/3 cup olive oil 1/2 teaspoon of chili flakes 2 gloves crushed garlic salt and pepper to taste https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/2/25/tropical-matcha-smoothie monthly 0.5 2021-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1616781176477-MGCIA7PCQOSGLY2XDK7A/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Tropical Matcha Mango Smoothie What I love about smoothies is that you can use whatever you have in your fridge and swap out the fruit, nut milks, veggies, protein powders/superfood boosts and nut butters! I love using frozen mango because it acts as a thickener on its own, so you don’t necessarily need the banana, yogurt or nuts in this recipe for a thick, creamy smoothie. The mango is sweet and refreshing and is packed full of vitamin C. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1616781194204-XQP7C920541ZW9NPH7UE/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Tropical Matcha Mango Smoothie I love a good iced matcha latte in the spring especially. It’s nutty and full of antioxidants with some caffeine that doesn’t give me the “rush” that coffee does… it’s more of a sustained energy for a longer period of time. Matcha is made from grinding the whole green tea leaf and remember, a little goes a long way! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1616781223621-H0G7E02VBBSQ68MWOQC7/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Tropical Matcha Mango Smoothie Why not add some greens in to your morning routine?! The sweetness from the mango masks the taste of the spinach so I add in two hefty handfuls. There are so many benefits to spinach. Being one week postpartum, I’m trying to incorporate as much iron as possible into my diet as my body heals. Spinach is a fantastic source of iron along with many vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C, K1, calcium and folic acid. It’s an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable that can boost eye health, help regulate blood pressure, and can aid in blood clotting. We love adding spinach to smoothies, gently sautéing with other vegetables for easy dinners and incorporating into fresh salads. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1616781243934-4IQGTBBYWHTG45UPS9Z8/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Tropical Matcha Mango Smoothie This smoothie was quick to whip up and gives you the nutrients to feel sustained for a few hours in the morning or indulge in an afternoon pick-me-up snack! INGREDIENTS - 2 cups frozen mango - 2 teaspoons matcha - 2 cups almond milk (or nut milk of your choice) - 1 handful of ice - 2 scoops collagen - 2 heaping handfuls of fresh spinach - 1 teaspoon chia seeds Blend all ingredients together and feel free to add a frozen banana or half an avocado to make it even creamier! Recipe by Alyssa Potter https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/2/13/healing-coconut-chia-seed-pudding monthly 0.5 2021-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1613511955487-V4E4QCIUCQVHQAIP61RG/IMG_0344.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Healing Coconut Chia Seed Pudding https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/2/13/nourishing-bone-broth monthly 0.5 2021-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1615157796620-9JOIFMANTD0LXJNTN9EN/How-to-Make-Chicken-Bone-Broth-1-pot-3-ingredients-step-by-step-methods-chicken-bonebroth-glutenfree-recipe-minimalistbaker-20.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Nourishing Bone Broth https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/2/16/kale-pasta monthly 0.5 2021-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614225720310-XX0IQ6ZU3I09GC15S0EJ/IMG_0404.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto First, de-stem the kale. The stems are bitter so it’s best to discard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614225834616-IOYNGJTA7YKKRRJGO1RX/IMG_0407.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto Then, toast the nuts of your choice - I chose walnuts here! You also want to sauté the garlic in a generous amount of olive oil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614226349876-FA62QLSW63E00JUTX12B/IMG_0408.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto Blanch those kale leaves in boiling water for 4-5 minutes or just until tender. Don’t over do it! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614226374855-VWZ3PF177WNMG33NNVS1/IMG_0412.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto Throw it all in the blender.. the blanched kale, roasted garlic, fresh basil leaves, shredded parmesan and the toasted nuts. I added about 1/2 a cup of the water I blanched the kale in to get the blender going. Then drizzle in the olive oil to create the right consistency. Squeeze 1/4 of a lemon into the mix for some acidity to balance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614226397179-H5B7WD1IXOLIPYMRERS3/IMG_0417.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto I personally love a good pesto with plenty of salty cheese but you could also easily make this sauce vegan by substituting nutritional yeast for the cheese to give it that nutty flavor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614226418267-Z6TXDU0CATSJWPHAC2YR/IMG_0421.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto Be sure to let the blender run on a powerful setting, you want the kale to completely break down into a smooth, bright, airy green puree. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1614226437792-50346UX1ZRA7996BDBEP/IMG_0428.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Walnut Pesto I made the noodles, strained them but reserved 1 cup of the pasta water for the sauce. I quickly put the hot pasta back into the cast iron skillet and tossed with olive oil and incorporated an egg yolk in and stirred. I wanted it to be borderline carbonara style… my favorite… then I added the kale pesto with a splash of the pasta water and incorporated it together until smooth. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan, pepper and chili flakes! Serve warm! INGREDIENTS - 1 bunch of kale - 4 cloves of garlic (smashed) - 1-2 cups fresh basil - 1 cup walnuts - 1/2 cup olive oil plus more for serving - 3/4 cups grated parmesan - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice - pasta of your choice! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/1/25/cleansing-celery-lemon-juice monthly 0.5 2021-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611617797402-WS4UMPWZ4M67681XH60K/CD685F9A-AD73-4B23-9CAE-B6F07A7A2E8B.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Cleansing Celery + Lemon Juice What’s so great about celery and what are the benefits?! Well, celery contains two super beneficial antioxidants apigenin and luteolin. Research shows that they both reduce inflammation and may help treat a range of inflammatory diseases. 1. Celery Juice heals and activates the gut By restoring hydrochloric acid, it helps us digest things faster and more efficiently. Celery juice helps raise stomach acid, which is necessary to break down food… especially protein. Many of you are on a high protein diet lately so this can be beneficial to you to incorporate! Celery juice has the ability to replenish depleted levels of gastric mucus that is needed in the stomach lining to heal and prevent ulcers and acid reflux. 2. Celery Juice is a natural anti-inflammatory It contains polyacetylene which reduces chronic join pain, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Not only does it sooth the body, but it’s also known to sooth the nerves, with calming and relaxing properties. 3. Celery Juice aids the liver Studies show that celery helps reduce fat build up in the liver. The nutrients in celery protect the liver, and actually help the liver produce enzymes that help flush fat and toxins out. What?! 4. Celery Juice is alkalizing Celery is one of the most alkaline foods you can eat! An alkaline diet prevents chronic disease. 5. Celery Juice is highly nutritious Celery is loaded with essential minerals and vitamins like folate, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin K and vitamin C. A delicious cocktail for the skin is what that combo is! The luteolin in celery protects skin from the inside and prevents UV-induced damage. Some people swear by celery’s skin healing properties, saying that it has helped clear up skin conditions like psoriasis and acne. Personally, after drinking celery juice consistently I feel like my stomach digests things more efficiently and quicker, I feel less bloated and my skin feels more hydrated. I have less salt and sugar cravings (which is saying a lot for me) and I just simply feel nourished. I get an almost instant energy boost and my joints feel less stiff. It may not seem like the tastiest juice, but try it and see how you feel! Listen to your body! This juice is extremely simple to make. I used one bunch of celery and one Meyer lemon. Simply put through your juicer and strain! Make sure to drink right away, or refrigerate for up to two days to be safe - and make sure your container seals completely. Cheers! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/1/25/organic-meyer-lemon-curd monthly 0.5 2021-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611615577030-PEPECUT0Z3V8LB0UWT27/IMG_0155.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Meyer Lemon Curd What is lemon curd? It’s a rich dessert topping or spread that is buttery and sweet with a super intensely tart lemon flavor. My grandma loves everything lemon, this always reminds me of her! You can keep it in the fridge and top your scones or muffins with it, even swirl a tad in your greek yogurt in the morning or use as a filling for a cake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611612551694-RH96MJQJIVN1CY2W4S6X/1-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Meyer Lemon Curd You really only need 5 ingredients! - Organic Egg Yolks - Fresh Lemons - Organic Turbinado Sugar - Salt - Organic Butter * I added a dash of bourbon vanilla for a little extra depth but you can skip https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611615919048-KF27O1EO63MDJ3C20F4D/lemon-curd-in-jar.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Meyer Lemon Curd How to make the Lemon Curd: Make sure you’re using all of these ingredients listed above - each serves a critical purpose for not only the flavor but the thickening as well. The egg yolks thicken the curd (just like they do in a pudding or creme brûlée). Make sure you’re using real lemons because you’ll need the zest as well for that extra punch. The sugar and salt create balance and the butter makes it super creamy which you definitely don’t want to miss out on. You’ll need to use a double boiler. If you don’t have one, don’t worry… you can easily make one! Make it by placing a heatproof glass bowl on top of a larger pot. Make sure the bottom of the top bowl does not touch the simmering water beneath. Don’t try to cook over direct heat, it will burn! One more tip, if you don’t want it to have that metallic aftertaste make sure you stir it with a silicone whisk or even a wooden spoon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611617250514-W4R9BP20XKP49RGLZDG1/homemade-lemon-curd-recipe-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Meyer Lemon Curd INGREDIENTS - 4 large egg yolks - 2/3 cups sugar - 1 tablespoon lemon zest (about 1 lemon) - 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice - 1/8 teaspoon salt - 6 tablespoons unsalted grass-fed butter (softened to room temperature) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Fill the bottom of your pot (double boiler), with 1/2 inches of water. Place on high heat and let it come to a boil. Then reduce to low heat and keep it at a simmer. 2. Place the egg yolks, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt into the top pot of your double boiler. Using a silicone whisk or wooden spoon, whisk until it’s completely blended then continue to whisk or stir as the curd cooks. Make sure you keep it moving so the yolks don’t curdle. You want to keep whisking until the mixture becomes thick, at least 10 minutes. If it’s not thickening, turn up the heat and continue to whisk. 3. Remove pan from the heat and stir in the butter, it will melt from the heat of the curd. Pour the mixture into a glass jar and put a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the curd so it’s touching. This prevents a skin from forming on the top. The curd will continue to thicken as it cools. Once it’s cooled, the plastic wrap can be taken off. 4. Refrigerate for up to about 10 - 12 days. Enjoy! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2021/1/21/berry-whole-wheat-scones-w-meyer-lemon-curd monthly 0.5 2021-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611295984833-RWNNCLGKOU86DTK8IJEB/IMG_0162.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611296011073-T2VT5UG5JQ71I873Q5PS/IMG_0158.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones I used Meyer lemons from my tree out front which was a treat! We’ve been patiently waiting for them to ripen for months, they are my personal favorite type of lemon (a cross between a mandarin and a lemon). They’re a little sweeter and have an almost floral taste. It’s fragrant and bright and is delicious in this recipe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611296240074-PGQ88BFEDC5PQTP9KP53/IMG_0160.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones This is the yogurt I chose to use in this recipe and I’m so glad I did! We carry it at the shop and I love it because of both the taste and consistency. It’s not easy to find a good quality yogurt! There’s no chemicals, preservatives, antibiotics or thickeners used so you can feel totally confident in feeding this to your entire family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611296050239-KTPFZU7FLVA70MPBABE9/IMG_0169.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones You could easily just do a blueberry lemon scone which would be delicious, but I have a thing for raspberries - especially in scones. Maybe it’s the texture or pop of tartness or a combination of the two but I added some in for fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611296312760-OL3UJ3C2XM7FZQA022I6/IMG_0170.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones My mixture came out to be a tad wet so I added a touch of additional flour to the cutting board before I shaped and sliced the dough. In the past, I’ve been intimated to make scones but these really come together quickly and easily! I threw a few in the oven to eat right away and froze the rest, to satisfy my next craving in a pinch! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611296554646-1316Y47DA604JAWTPEVG/IMG_0175.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones My two year old absolutely loves being in the kitchen with us… “Mom, I help too?” This was a fun activity to let her “help” with. She helped mix the dry ingredients and added the berries herself. I mean, a Saturday morning is for staying in your jammies and baking with mom right?! That bedhead though… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1611296393556-46A29GPMDAO0OYMH5QNH/IMG_0188.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Berry Meyer Lemon Whole Wheat Scones They only take 15 minutes to bake, make them for breakfast this weekend and freeze the rest for later! INGREDIENTS 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 3 tablespoons turbinado (raw cane) sugar, plus more for sprinkling on top 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 tablespoons grass-fed organic butter, cubed zest of 1 lemon 1 cup blueberries 1/2 cup raspberries 1/2 cup yogurt 1/2 cup milk of choice (I used whole milk) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees 2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl and mix 3. Slice butter and drop it into dry ingredients (cut butter into small cubes) 4. Add berries and lemon zest and gently stir 5. Gently mix in milk and yogurt and kneed with your hands gently 6. Form dough into a circle that’s about an inch deep all around and slice into 6-8 pieces 7. Separate slices and place on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper 8. Sprinkle the tops of the scones with raw sugar 9. Bake for 15 minutes or until light brown 10. Serve with fresh lemon curd, more butter, or homemade jam! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/12/19/winter-citrus-salad monthly 0.5 2020-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608434055111-OW9DT09NUDTITNWVC1UZ/IMG_8192.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Winter Citrus Salad Here’s the finished salad! I love this combination because the radicchio, kale and brussels are crunchy and slightly bitter but the citrus, fresh mint, toasted nuts and the burst of flavor that the pomegranate add just work really well together! I love playing around with different flavor combinations, next time I’d do more citrus and possibly a few more toasted walnuts but it is a salad that leaves you wanting more. We all ate heaping plate fulls! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608434080550-31K96LAN9YBZK12MB06C/1-2.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Winter Citrus Salad Winter citrus is prime especially here in Southern California. My sister lives on a ranch with avocado trees and oranges so we take full advantage of the citrus this time of year. I added in a grapefruit for the acidity and I love the sweet tanginess it adds. I love to segment citrus for salads because the chewy membrane is gone and all you have left is the juicy, sweet orange. It’s almost the texture of sashimi.. I know that sounds odd but it melts in your mouth and is so great in a salad. If you haven’t done it, it’s easy! You just need a sharp knife. First cut the peel off of the citrus (start by slicing off the bottom you have a flat surface). Remove all of the white pith so it’s just the orange showing, no white. Hold the orange gently in your hand and with a sharp knife, carefully cut between a segment and the membrane. Don’t cut all the way through - just to the center. Give it a little twist and peel the segment away from the other connective membrane. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608434106695-GK8S0UYQ8QGA116JWWWN/1-3.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Winter Citrus Salad I don’t know about you, but I always need a toasted nut or seed on my salads. I like the crunch and by toasting the nuts the flavor really comes to life! I like to slowly toast walnuts, pecans, pistachios or almonds on the stove but you can also toss them in the oven. I dry roast them, and don’t use any oil. It’s all about the simple dressings for me lately. This salad is so packed full of flavor all I used was olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper. If you wanted to elevate it a bit you could add some dijon to the mix and/or a white wine vinegar and a tiny bit of honey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608434162679-SH3G177JO22OBGHP9R91/1-1.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Winter Citrus Salad INGREDIENTS: 1/2 - 1 bulb of raddichio (depending on the size) 1 bunch shaved kale 2 cups shaved brussels sprouts 2 oranges (segmented) 1 grapefruit 1 bunch fresh mint 1 cup walnuts, toasted 1 pomegranate Juice from 1 lemon 1/3 cup olive oil 1/4 cup shaved salty hard cheese (like goat gouda or parmesan) salt and pepper to taste You can prep the greens and raddichio ahead of time, they’ll hold up in the fridge! An hour or two before serving, massage the greens with olive oil and lemon juice. Then segment the citrus, toast the nuts, tear the mint, remove the pomegranate arils and toss together! It’s that simple! Toss the shaved cheese on top of each salad before serving. I can’t wait to see what you create in your own kitchen! If you make any unique additions, let us know! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/12/19/holiday-cheese-platter monthly 0.5 2020-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608433708889-MD1OSTX4COM85S4XG3AJ/1-4.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Holiday Cheese Platter I don’t know about you, but I love being welcomed in the door by a gorgeous cheese platter on the counter. It’s a way to gather around the kitchen table or island and catch up while the meal is being prepared. Plus, there’s always something for everyone! I try to use a variety of cheeses (see suggestions below) so everyone is happy. There’s always some sort of creamy brie style cheese, a goat, a more firm gouda and then I like getting creative by throwing something truffle in there or something with heat or even something sweet. The best thing is that they can be thrown together quickly and it’s a great last minute appetizer that your guests will love! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608433731338-TZLNPUMC62981AW0H3OI/IMG_8025.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Holiday Cheese Platter Here are a few cheeses we love and have at the shop currently! Dorothy’s Comeback Cow: A soft ripened cheese, similar to a brie that is a crowd pleaser. So creamy but still holds up well on a board. It’s rich and creamy and is shaped like a flower for a unique design. Beehive: The Hatch Chile (a favorite), Smoked Apple Walnut and Bourbon Infused. These cheeses are mild but add character to any cheese plate! Point Reyes Bleu: Even if you’re not a huge bleu cheese fan, you must try this! It is ultra creamy with a peppery finish. Great for topping salads, melting on burgers or eating with strawberries, stone fruit or even castelvetrano olives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608433805672-6XQN6VXUNDYI9RJ3IT8C/1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Holiday Cheese Platter Beemster Gouda- Might be my personal favorite cheese… ever. It’s nutty, buttery and rich and has some crystallization which makes it feel extra special. It is a little sweet with notes of brown-butter, toasted walnuts and pairs well with juicy fruit and a hoppy beer or full-bodied white wine. Point Reyes Toma Trufle- Give me all of the truffle! I personally love truffle everything but not everyone does. This is great because it’s mild but still rich and buttery that leaves you coming back for more. Semi hard, earthy and a true delight. Cypress Grove- Soft ripened cheeses are our go-to’s! This goat cheese is mildly tangy, but still mushroomy and creamy. They have some unique flavor combinations like the citrus and lavender to wild fennel pollen. An unexpected delight in every bite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1608433895624-6TDHRMPO07WVEZVHHK6M/1-5.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Holiday Cheese Platter Assembly can be whatever you make it but here are a few of my tips: Cheeses: Keep it simple! Stick to using 3-5 of your favorite cheeses. It can be tempting to go overboard but simplicity is best in my opinion. Try using cheeses that will be loved by a variety of palates. Like a creamy brie, sharp cheddar or gouda, and some sort of goat cheese. You can find these options to be affordable as well! If you’re serving a larger crowd, I suggest buying multiple wedges/blocks of the same cheeses so you can fill in the board with the same cheeses without it being overwhelming to your guests. Then the board is full and colorful! Meats: I love a good quality charcuterie. Again, keep it simple by using a peppered salami that you know your family will enjoy and it will also hold up on a cheese board a bit better than prosciutto. Spreads: Fig jam is usually always a must on my boards but a new favorite is tart cherry spread! I love a pop of color and something jammy to spread on my crackers to pair with the cheese Fruits: Choose whatever is in season! Citrus in the winter, stone fruit in the summer and berries during the spring.. throw it on for color and a burst of juicy flavor. I also love dried fruit… dried cherries or dried pears have to be my favorites. Olives and nuts: I’m a huge olive fan. Especially castelvetrano olives, they are mild and buttery and pair so well with so many cheeses. I highly suggest investing in them even though they’re a bit pricier. For nuts, do whatever you like. I personally love Marcona almonds or roasted pistachios. If you don’t use olives, add something pickled to add some acidity! Finally, fill in the cheese plate with some crackers or thinly sliced bread. Serve at room temperature, a lot of people assume cheese should be served cold but the flavor is really best at room temp. Hopefully you’ll include a cheese and charcuterie board for your New Year’s celebration, cheers! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/11/19/pomegranate-cranberry-mousse-tart monthly 0.5 2020-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606539506376-2MHL89XMOQ3UOZI0C8LT/1-1.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Pomegranate Cranberry Mousse Tart I definitely don’t consider myself a baker, it’s less forgiving than cooking savory things where you can adjust easily. It may seem like this recipe has many steps but once you do it once you’ll realize it’s really not hard and SO worth it. Make the compote thick and jammy, don’t overfold the mousse, and really make sure that the gelatin mixture is liquid without any lumps or granules. I love a graham cracker crust but you could also do a gingersnap crust or even biscoff cookie crust. I think we all deserve a sweet treat after this crazy year of 2020. Make this pie for an intimate family holiday dessert to switch things up or just for fun! It was perfect after a big thanksgiving meal - It was light and tangy but still satisfied my sweet craving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606539534408-G9ASVBGIP7Y2MZE2WKXG/1-2.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Pomegranate Cranberry Mousse Tart https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606539689432-NUURDXSBKE74RDYGQ0H0/1-4.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Pomegranate Cranberry Mousse Tart https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606539632897-SZOKX0M1ISF40OY7H1IV/1-3.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Pomegranate Cranberry Mousse Tart https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606539710171-XNJC32WR0W38M2UNMF8L/1-5.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Pomegranate Cranberry Mousse Tart https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606539728193-2ORQ3G6QR9H114NTD21I/1-6.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Pomegranate Cranberry Mousse Tart Makes a 9” Pie/Tart INGREDIENTS Graham Cracker Crust 1 1/2 cups finely ground graham crackers 1/3 cup organic cane sugar or coconut sugar 6 tablespoons unsalted grass-fed butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon Cranberry-Pomegranate Mousse 2 wide strips orange zest 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon pinch of salt 10 ounces fresh cranberries 1 cup organic cane sugar or coconut sugar 1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice 2 cups heavy cream, chilled 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin powder or pectin 2 tablespoons powdered sugar STEPS 1. Make the crust! Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Mix the graham crackers, sugar, melted butter and cinnamon in the food processor until combined. Press the mixture into a 9” pie plate or spring form pan. Bake for 7-10 minutes until golden and crsp and remove and let cool for at least 1 hour. 2. Make the cranberry compote: In a saucepan, combine the orange zest, cinnamon, salt, cranberries, 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of pomegranate juice. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook, stirring often until the cranberries have burst and the mixture is a very thick jam-like consistency (approximately 15 minutes). Remove from the heat. Place a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl and scrape the thick jammy compote into the sieve. Push the mixture through with a rubber spatula forcing the mixture through the mesh. Toss the solids remaining. Whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream into the compote until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until chilled. Soften the gelatin/pectin: In a small saucepan, add 3 tablespoons cold water then sprinkle the gelatin over the top but do not stir. Set aside and allow it to soften for 10 minutes. While you’re waiting, add 1 cup of cold heavy cream into your mixer and whisk on medium to medium high until you have firm peaks. Refrigerate until needed. Remove the cooled cranberry mixture from the fridge and give it a few good whisks so it’s smooth. Place the gelatin saucepan over low heat and gently warm. Swirl the pan until the gelatin is melted and liquid without any granules. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk the liquid gelatin into the cranberry mixture. Assemble the mousse: Add the chilled whipped cream from the fridge and scrape about half of it into the cranberry mixture folding it in gently to combine - you want it to remain soft and airy, Fold in the remaining whipped cream until you have a light uniform mixture, don’t over-mix. Pour the cranberry mousse into your pie dish into the graham cracker crust and refrigerate for at least 4 hours until chilled and set. After the first 90 minutes you’ll want to cover with plastic wrap so it doesn’t develop a skin. Serve with homemade whipped vanilla cream! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/11/19/shaved-brussels-sprout-salad-with-toasted-pecans-amp-pecorino monthly 0.5 2020-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1606158333566-NLIOCLPC654ZECY0FTVA/1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Toasted Pecans & Pecorino I tend to overthink salads sometimes. I want to add so many things and they’re usually delicious but take up an afternoon to chop everything and create a dressing. This recipe calls for minimal ingredients and is so quick plus the flavor just gets better the longer it sits. I found that I was eating it slowly as I was throwing in laundry, doing dishes and chasing a toddler and as the lemon juice and olive oil combined with the toasted nuts and salty cheese, it truly just got more flavorful. The reason it’d be great for Thanksgiving is because you could easily prep it the day before or earlier in the day (with the dressing) and serve it a few hours later. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/10/15/lentil-salad-w-chili-oil-amp-purple-haze monthly 0.5 2020-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602815254609-EANMZO3NCG7D0N6GYUHW/unnamed.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Lentil Salad w/ Chili Oil & Purple Haze 1. First things first, let’s get the kale off the stems. I like finely shredded kale in this salad so you when you scoop it up with your fork you get a bite of everything together; the hearty kale, crunch almond mixture, creamy tangy cheese, and the buttery olives. Remove the leaves off of the stems and discard the stems. I like to stack them on top of each other and thinly slice. Transfer to a bowl and season lightly with salt and massage with a few teaspoons of olive oil and massage until kale is softer and darker - at least 1 minute of managing people! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602815305747-M9FF1859OSYTCJGSBU7L/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Lentil Salad w/ Chili Oil & Purple Haze 2. We’re going to make the spiced oil! First, bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat (for the lentils). If you want to add extra flavor you can cook in vegetable or chicken stock. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602815423903-0VYTRM2MTQNEM3T4JFXL/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Lentil Salad w/ Chili Oil & Purple Haze 4. Add 1 1/2 cups black beluga or French green lentils to your now boiling water or stock and reduce to medium, and simmer uncovered until the lentils are tender but still al dente - 20 minutes approximately. You don’t want them to get mushy! Jump back over to your skillet with the spiced oil, almond mixture. You’ll want to cook until the garlic turns slightly brown and the lemon peel starts to curl which will take approximately 3-5 minutes. Add the almonds and cook until the almonds are brown about 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and add 1 tablespoon cumin seeds and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. The residual heat from the oil will open the spices and bring out their flavors. 5. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Save the oil which will be the base of your dressing. Spread almond mixture on a baking sheet and season with salt and let cool. They’ll get crunchier as they sit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602815341065-HX0WLE9CU1L9Z5DPJLCI/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Lentil Salad w/ Chili Oil & Purple Haze 3. While you’re waiting, you can prep the oil. Coarsley chop 1/2 cup raw almonds and set them aside. Trim the 4 scallions and separate the white and green parts (you’ll save the green parts for later so don’t toss!) Smash and peel the garlic cloves and roughly chop. Use a vegetable peeler and remove the lemon peel in strips and save the rest of the lemon for later on. Add the garlic, scallion, lemon peel to your skillet and pour 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil over top. Stir all elements so they’re coated in the oil and heat over medium and continue to toss/stir occasionally. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602815458912-V3FBZ1LEF1UHYSQYFSZ1/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Lentil Salad w/ Chili Oil & Purple Haze 6. Now crumble the cheese into your bowl of kale. Smash 1 cup of the castelvetrano olives with the back of your knife to remove the pits. Tear olives into large pieces and add to the bowl. Now slice the scallion greens and add them to the bowl. Squeeze the juice of the lemon and half teaspoon of salt into the mixture and gently combine. I left some cheese on the side to crumble over top while serving. 7. Drain the lentils well and let them cool then add to your salad bowl and drizzle the infused oil over top along with the nuts and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy for the next few days. Trust me, it only gets better over time! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/10/9/kale-salad-w-rosemary-scented-almonds-pomegranates-amp-a-warm-caramelized-shallot-apple-cider-vinaigrette monthly 0.5 2020-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602280338013-QB1BMUE5RHQ14F5VOFLF/0-5.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad w/ Rosemary Scented Almonds, Pomegranates & a Warm Caramelized Shallot Apple Cider Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602280367027-7GOB2C48K1DELE4SA3KD/0.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad w/ Rosemary Scented Almonds, Pomegranates & a Warm Caramelized Shallot Apple Cider Vinaigrette First things first, you want to get the shallots caramelizing for your vinaigrette. The sweetness the shallots release when caramelized are delicious and pair so well with the earthy dark kale, the tartness of the pomegranates and the saltiness of the pecorino. Slice and throw in a skillet with some olive oil or avocado oil. Cook on high heat for about 3-5 minutes then turn the heat down and stir occasionally. About 15 minutes into cooking, add a dash of salt and about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and let that caramelize with the shallot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602280385519-KTSD28PKYI8U7DE6H5UR/0-1.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad w/ Rosemary Scented Almonds, Pomegranates & a Warm Caramelized Shallot Apple Cider Vinaigrette Now prep your kale! Cut it any way you like but for this salad especially I like to chop it really finely. I like to scoop it all up on my fork and make sure I get a bite of everything. So chop or shred the kale finely and make sure to remove the rib down the center. Massage it with a drizzle of olive oil and squeeze of half a lemon (use a Meyer lemon if you can get your hands on one)! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602280401440-2G3K5LT3INFAHLW667WM/0-2.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad w/ Rosemary Scented Almonds, Pomegranates & a Warm Caramelized Shallot Apple Cider Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602280415285-4VLHKR5X4DD64DOESE33/0-3.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad w/ Rosemary Scented Almonds, Pomegranates & a Warm Caramelized Shallot Apple Cider Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1602280434130-5JFI6WTYT4E46SXJ2FN6/0-4.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad w/ Rosemary Scented Almonds, Pomegranates & a Warm Caramelized Shallot Apple Cider Vinaigrette Now for our last ingredient! I had blanched raw almonds and wanted to kick It up a notch so I toasted them on the stove until they had some color - flipping constantly. Then I added a dash of olive oil, a few sprigs of rosemary and some fresh garlic. Sauté this mixture together for at least 10 minutes on low tossing to combine the flavors. The rosemary and garlic toasted with the almonds are SO delicious. I always enjoy a crunch in my salad and this does it! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/9/11/passionfruit-blueberry-cheesecake monthly 0.5 2020-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884566563-P3R9EODQ72GDE227HBDP/unnamed-12.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Passionfruit Blueberry Cheesecake Have you heard about the Basque Burnt Cheesecake that’s super trendy right now? This is our take on that. It’s beyond delicious, now I see why it’s so popular! A little history, it originated from French Basque Country and it’s traditionally a crustless cheesecake made with a whole lot of cream cheese and eggs. The real difference is that it’s baked at a higher temperature than a more traditional cheesecake. This helps it to get a deep dark brown “burnt” exterior. While still maintaining a super creamy, almost custard-like interior. So don’t worry if yours is cracked when it comes out of the oven, I like it that way! Gives it a rustic feeling. The more imperfect looking the better. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884588128-HPTKN1BGL95S1MC5754V/unnamed-8.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Passionfruit Blueberry Cheesecake First, thaw out your frozen puff pastry so you can roll it out a bit. Press against the side of your spring form pan (I used a 9”). Don’t forget to grease it first and line with parchment on the bottom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884669441-FVWFW8KZQ6BN25B7L9VO/unnamed-10.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Passionfruit Blueberry Cheesecake Sprinkle the top of the cake with 2 tablespoons of sugar! It will caramelize and create that almost “burnt” look and it’s so delicious. Transfer to the oven and bake for 55 minutes, until deeply golden brown on top and still very jiggly in the center. Let it cool 5 minutes, then unfold. Let it cool completely. Slice into wedges and serve at room temp. Stick the leftovers in the fridge and enjoy for a few days. Don’t forget to drizzle with PLENTY of passionfruit before serving. Bon Apetit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884612170-N56J0Q4HPFTH224JJ9FO/unnamed-9.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Passionfruit Blueberry Cheesecake Mix your ingredients starting with the cream cheese and sugar, while scraping your bowl to incorporate it all. You want it to be very smooth and creamy so mix on medium for about 2 minutes. Then add the eggs, 1 at a time until they’re fluffy and incorporated. Add cream, vanilla, and salt and beat until combined for about 30 seconds. Next, sift in the flour and beat again to combine gently. Pour the batter into the pastry-lined pan and gently sprinkle the blueberries over the batter. Some will sink and that’s just fine. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884693562-0LTLGD1E09DKY3A5Z79M/unnamed-11.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Passionfruit Blueberry Cheesecake https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/9/11/pesto-polenta-with-roasted-mushrooms-crispy-chickpeas-kale-amp-charred-tomatoes monthly 0.5 2020-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884951426-9NFWWAT0JG0C7P4C415H/unnamed-18.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Pesto Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Crispy Chickpeas, Kale & Charred Tomatoes Once we enter September, even if the weather is still warm I start craving warm comforting meals! This is the perfect transition-into-fall meal because you’re still using those sweet herbs from your garden and the end of summer tomatoes for an extra burst of flavor and acidity. I love this recipe because it’s so easy and the oven does most of the work! The textures come together so beautifully between the buttery polenta as the base, the meaty mushrooms and crispy chickpeas. The pesto brings it all together and if you’re feeling fancy, throw on a big chunk of good quality burrata. It makes the dish I promise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599884976442-TDF74X71GIWTMILR0FB2/unnamed-13.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Pesto Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Crispy Chickpeas, Kale & Charred Tomatoes Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees. The key for this recipe is to start slow then crank up the heat. First rinse and drain your organic chickpeas (I used canned, but you could also make your own). If you have wild mushrooms or a variety, definitely use them! Quarter or half them and throw them on the pan. Toss in olive oil and salt and add a few cherry tomatoes if you have them with at least 6 sprigs of thyme and 6 cloves of crushed garlic. Roast for about 25 minutes on low heat then turn up the oven to 475 for the last 5-10 minutes to crisp up the chickpeas and char the mushrooms giving them that desired texture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599885007712-UNT7KKNG1NMQFI8SQM2P/unnamed-14.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Pesto Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Crispy Chickpeas, Kale & Charred Tomatoes While your veggies are roasting in the oven, it’s time to make the polenta! One thing about polenta… don’t skip the butter. It makes the dish! So be generous and use grass-fed if possible. Why? It’s a good source of vitamin A and the antioxidant beta carotene. It also has a higher proportion of healthy, unsaturated fats than regular butter. It also provides vitamin K2 which is a form of vitamin K that plays an important role in your bone and heart health! Drizzle with a little olive oil and sea salt as well, so the sweet flavor of the corn polenta really shines. I have to admit, I used instant polenta in this recipe because it’s what I had on hand and it’s super quick to make (just whisk into boiling water and stir for a few minutes and it’s done). But you could easily use regular polenta, just plan for a few extra minutes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599885030625-0IQV7OXCVFY34CTGM30O/unnamed-15.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Pesto Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Crispy Chickpeas, Kale & Charred Tomatoes Oh I love me a good pesto. If it’s fresh, its bursting with flavor, nuttiness and saltiness from the cheese. It brings out the flavors of late summer into this dish which I loved… I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to summer yet even though I love fall. I used basil as the base of this pesto which is classic, but you could also use other herbs if you have something else on hand. I love basil because it’s so delicious with tomatoes and burrata, I’m always putting a spin on the classic caprese. Basil has many benefits for your skin, is great for digestion and is also an anti-inflammatory. Swirl in a generous amount right before your polenta is done cooking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599885068487-Z2I2FV9OP0P6CZ4AS8D9/unnamed-16.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Pesto Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Crispy Chickpeas, Kale & Charred Tomatoes You’ll know when your tray of mushrooms and chickpeas is finished, your kitchen will be bursting with the scent of thyme and garlic.. the chickpeas with be crunchy and the mushrooms will have great color. I added a dash of balsamic to the mushrooms before I began cooking… I love the acid and sweetness it gives to the mushrooms when they’re roasted. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1599885092597-NTSQAMSYCBQWXEEZJ6M0/unnamed-17.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Pesto Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Crispy Chickpeas, Kale & Charred Tomatoes I don’t know about you, but I need a green veggie in my meals even if it’s a bowl of polenta! I used kale from the shop, I just chopped it finely and tossed it in to the hot polenta so it wilted a bit. Divide the polenta between the bowls, spoon your mushroom mix over top… drizzle with additional pesto, some fresh thyme and break the burrata over the polenta to finish! Add chili flakes if you want a little heat! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/8/20/marinated-shrimp-amp-seared-mushroom-summer-tacos monthly 0.5 2020-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981501154-USN7LFLD575UX7MM8ERR/0-20.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981527164-A6H544JPY1EDQWBPZQZG/0-15.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos Alright, first things first. If you can get Santa Barbara spot prawns do it. So juicy, mild in flavor, perfect plump texture and they basically melt in your mouth. If you can’t get local spot prawns I recommend wild Argentinian red shrimp that comes frozen but is deveined and peeled which makes things easy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981634062-8QHUIX2NZUJ40A4XY1O9/0-19.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos I just love mushrooms… they’re kind of my thing and my two year old loves them right now so I’m going to take advantage of that! I also love having a vegetarian or vegan option while entertaining. Mushrooms have such a ‘meaty’ flavor and texture if you cook them properly. I love a good sear on my mushrooms so I cook them on high heat (after heating the oil, grapeseed or avocado) then season with salt and umami seasoning and garlic salt and toss. Turn down the heat a bit and cook until browned then add a dash of red wine and let it cook down. I throw in some grass fed butter to finish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981701685-19RY9JM113T6ECWJYCA8/0-13.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos Quick pickle some red onions or shallot with 2 teaspoons of raw coconut sugar and red wine vinegar. Let them soak for at least an hour, up to 3 or 4. They’re still crisp but have that nice acidic/sweet pickle flavor. Super easy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981545216-5TNKP8GITTVDXSM0ADGL/0-16.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos I know, I know. Teriyaki with tacos?! Sounds strange but trust me on this one. The sweetness from the teriyaki (love Primal Kitchen brand - no soy), pairs so well with the juicy shrimp, acidic slaw and creamy avocado. If you’re feelin’ spicy, add a few sliced jalapeños on top for an extra kick. Only marinate for an hour or two! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981654736-1NWF869SKBCKCJPZ9SRS/0-14.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos Cilantro avocado crema is a simple sauce I blended up in my blender but you could also use a food processor. 1 cup sour cream half an avocado juice of 1 lime 3 garlic cloves large handful of cilantro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597981721626-4YM14ITY4QW2Y3RPL124/0-12.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos I mean, what are tacos without guacamole?! We are so lucky to have an abundance of this delicious fatty flavorful fruit. It grows in our backyard so we fully take advantage! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1597982543454-0743OVGRQIJ4VTTKZIEP/0-17.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Marinated Shrimp & Seared Mushroom Summer Tacos This slaw can be used for a variety of dishes! I love adding kale to my cabbage slaw for a different texture and additional nutrition. Red cabbage has been a staple in our diet lately because of the glorious amount of vitamin C it provides. It aids in immune support so we’re trying to get it in whenever we can! Kale of course is a superfood and packed full of vitamin K, A, calcium, potassium and many more. I shredded half a bunch of black kale with about 3 cups of shredded cabbage. I massaged with olive oil and squeezed the juice of 2 limes in. I coarsely chopped a bunch of cilantro, a few baby bell peppers and added the marinated onions. Finish off with a pinch of salt and pepper and it’s finished! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/8/6/quinoa-salad-w-pistachios-amp-dried-cherries monthly 0.5 2020-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1596745771748-7BMXYI25H6CHXBUOF0D1/0.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Salad w/ Pistachios & Dried Cherries I chose to cook my quinoa in vegetable broth to keep it vegetarian, but you could also cook it in chicken stock or beef broth… whatever you prefer. I cooked 1 cup of dry quinoa in 1 cup of broth plus 1/3 cup white wine. I like the way it flavors the quinoa when it cooks through. I prefer tart dried cherries (unsweetened). And I used a tai-colored quinoa but you could use any kind you’d like! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1596745793698-R2O89LWGDQBT6WWSI0KP/0-2.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Salad w/ Pistachios & Dried Cherries I had some beautiful curly kale in my farm box this week so I decided to finely shave it, toss it in some olive oil and added it to the salad. I love adding greens to my meals whenever possible! Kale is actually an excellent source of vitamin C but even more so, is packed with the almighty vitamin K! I like the texture it adds to this salad, but make sure you massage or toss it in some quality olive oil for easier digestion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1596745808196-L21MVDCNUCCHVTTFMEEN/0-1.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Salad w/ Pistachios & Dried Cherries This salad comes together so beautifully with all of the different textures! What I love about this salad is that you can toss it in the dressing and the quinoa absorbs it perfectly, it will last in the fridge for a few days without getting soggy. It almost is better the next day. Here is the recipe below! Ingredients: Quinoa (1 cup dry quinoa to 1 cup vegetable broth + 1/3 wine) 2 sliced scallions 1 cup dried cherries 1 cup shelled pistachios 2 cups shaved kale Dressing: Juice of 1 lemon 1 tsp dijon 1 tsp balsamic 1 tsp honey whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil Recipe by Alyssa Potter https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/7/21/zucchini-chocolate-coconut-bread monthly 0.5 2020-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1595361175216-9T1VJBDH8N4KJIVGCUFG/0-15.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Zucchini Chocolate Coconut Bread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1595361188561-6JGGFBN47BKA8GR6CJ7X/0-16.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Zucchini Chocolate Coconut Bread The best thing about this recipe is that I guarantee that most of you have ALL of these ingredients already! It’s a one bowl recipe that’s quick and OH so satisfying… the chocolatey cinnamon infused bread reminds me of fall and comfort but perfect for a cool summer morning. My house smelled AMAZING! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1595361202682-P009TWAARAV3QUF7ZL1X/0-17.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Zucchini Chocolate Coconut Bread So first things first, it’s important that you remove the moisture from the zucchini. After grading it, I spread it out on a towel and lightly salted it to remove the access water. I patted it try with a paper towel then used a dish towel to remove any extra moisture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1595361237876-P7H84WTJG9208VXY5ICX/0-18.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Zucchini Chocolate Coconut Bread In your mixing bowl, mix together the wet ingredients first. The eggs, vanilla, coconut oil, honey and maple syrup. Then stir in the zucchini, now add in your flour, baking soda, cinnamon and a dash of salt. Then don’t forget the chocolate chips or chocolate chunks!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1595361250105-B7GSALTQDCMGSNYDGR1W/0-19.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Zucchini Chocolate Coconut Bread Now… wait for this glorious bread to bake! Set your oven to 350 degrees, grease your pan and bake fro 50-60 minutes. I let mine sit in the pan when I pulled it out for about 10 minutes before flipping It over onto my cutting board. You can let it cool before slicing or if you’re like me… dive right in while it’s warm! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1595361261466-R8MDIKE35PF74FPHWZ11/0-20.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Zucchini Chocolate Coconut Bread It’s moist, gooey with dark chocolate chunks, and has the perfect amount of sweetness. Oh, and if you’d like to make it gluten free, just substitute the flour for Cup4Cup gluten free flour. I served mine with a slab of grass fed butter and you can even drizzle with honey if you’d like. I hope you enjoy! Ingredients: 2 medium zucchini 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup (I split in half) 2 large eggs 1/3 cup coconut oil 2 tsp vanilla paste or extract 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chocolate chips https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/7/10/watermelon-mint-salad-w-seared-halloumi monthly 0.5 2020-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1594499458644-DHRVQVBBAHIMWUXBW1I0/0-12.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Watermelon Mint Salad w/ Seared Halloumi We will be eating this salad all summer long! It’s hydrating, crisp, refreshing and you have those chewy salty cheese “croutons”. It’s great for entertaining because you can assemble the salad a few hours prior, then sear or grill the halloumi and you’re all set! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1594499506266-FSSACBWTAA01AG7VL3YM/0-11.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Watermelon Mint Salad w/ Seared Halloumi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1594499521750-A0OPS26BWU8IF1VOE64E/0-6.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Watermelon Mint Salad w/ Seared Halloumi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1594499485142-9UI336ZTLJ1NNN8SBAG6/0-5.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Watermelon Mint Salad w/ Seared Halloumi Here are our ingredients! We have a handful of fresh mint, a few tablespoons of chopped chives, about 2 cups of arugula, approximately 3 tablespoons of quality olive oil, 1 shallot, 1 block of halloumi cheese, 1 cucumber, 1 lime and of course, watermelon! Instead of making a dressing, I squeezed some fresh squeezed lime juice over the top and drizzled some olive oil, salt and pepper. The ingredients are all so flavorful you don’t need anything else! You could pickle the shallot for a little extra kick… I think the vinegar would pair well with the watermelon actually! What I love about this recipe is that it comes together so easily and you can prep it ahead of time in the morning then assemble right before serving. In the morning I diced my watermelon and set that aside in a sealed container in the fridge. Then I added all other ingredients except for the lime and olive oil into a separate container. You could combine all ingredients about 3 hours in advance but I personally wouldn’t do any longer. The last step is to sear or grill the halloumi right before serving. I like it to be slightly warm on top of the cold crisp salad. Halloumi is a sheep’s milk cheese that has a very high melting point so you can throw it on the grill or sear it without it melting, fun right?! You get this crispy outer layer and almost chewy inside after grilling it… it’s amazing. It’s almost like a cheese crouton but it’s gluten free. The saltiness from this cheese pairs so well with the fresh herbs (mint especially) and the sweet watermelon. You could also use a feta or even goat cheese but I love the fact that you can get that crispy outer layer by searing on the stove or grilling. it’s fairly mild, don’t be intimidated if you haven’t tried it! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/6/6/coconut-vanilla-strawberry-swirl-ice-cream monthly 0.5 2020-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504459385-JAGNFQ16QAUWJYR4JQL9/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream There’s no secret to this recipe and it’s so easy! We use a full fat coconut milk. I’ve experimented with other alternative milks in the past and (in my opinion), almond, oat or soy just don’t cut it for ice cream. The fattiness from the coconut milk makes it creamy and super yummy. So instead of egg, we used just a tiny bit of corn starch to thicken it up! Because the strawberries are so sweet, I only used a little bit of natural raw cane sugar. And the final ingredient is vanilla bean paste! I always add vanilla paste or extract but I personally like the taste of the vanilla bean paste better. All of these ingredients are from our shop - easy peasy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504493175-PEU2Z99BZOR79JVJ8NDW/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream Local fresh strawberries are the perfect pairing with the creamy vanilla coconut base. Have you ever had strawberry ice cream with chunks of strawberry that almost get freezer burnt and icy? I wanted to avoid that so instead of just adding chopped strawberries into my base I decided to make a sauce. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504528483-NNN4KWLFF27YXW8K6Z1V/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream To make the base, heat the coconut milk on low/medium heat just until warm (don’t let it come to a boil). Add in the corn starch or arrowroot starch with the sugar and a pinch of salt and cook it on the stovetop stirring until it thickens - almost like a pudding but not quite as thick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504628949-OHS4ABUAIA7H27S794X5/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream Now for the strawberry sauce! Quarter the strawberries and cook them on the stove on low for a few minutes until they release the juices. I added a squeeze of lemon and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Cook down and stir for about 10 minutes and let cool. Add ingredients to the blender and puree while your base is thickening on the stove. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504662085-8DDDQHU3QGYRGC9F4RDT/0-2.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream I have the Cuisinart ice cream maker which I love. It’s easy to use and clean and is fairly quiet. Make sure you place the insert of the ice cream maker in the freezer the night before so its frozen solid. Just pour in your base once it’s cool and start her up! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504697982-Z3ZH5ZPTN5D8J34INLWQ/0-3.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream I slowly added in the strawberry puree into the coconut mixture… if you want it swirled in you could wait until the very end and do it manually as well. I can’t wait to hear what you all think of this vegan ice cream base! It’s the ideal summer entertaining dessert, enjoy! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1591504722370-GT40IV2IZHCYOXBIS8EH/0-4.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Coconut Vanilla Strawberry Swirl Vegan Ice Cream Ingredients 2 cans of full-fat coconut milk 1/2 cup raw sugar or agave 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/6/24/greek-salad monthly 0.5 2020-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1593063653914-C47A448W7WG19CEQWTTO/0-7.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Ultimate Avocado Greek Salad Baby arugula is a great base for this salad. The delicate, crisp, peppery leaves pair so perfectly with the briny olives, creamy avocado and goats milk feta. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1593063668796-FO2EKFN5CEL1ZEQLLIGX/0-8.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Ultimate Avocado Greek Salad Ok here’s what you need… all of these ingredients can be found at our shop! Feel free to add any other fresh veggies that you love. These are just the basics that I love. Baby Arugula Cucumber - tossed in “This is Nuts Dip - Green Onion” Cucumber Cherry Tomato Shaved Red Onion Drake Family Farms Goats Milk Feta Marinated Artichoke Hearts Kalamata Olives Local Carpinteria Avocado Garlic Gold Thyme (dried or fresh if you have it) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1593063684735-U40BKMGJLP5K33MRQSGD/0-9.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Ultimate Avocado Greek Salad Super easy to assemble, just place all ingredients together on top of the arugula and gently toss! I tossed the cucumber in the “This is Nuts Green Onion Dip” and it added this bright flavor for the entire salad. Instead of a dressing, I used Garlic Gold which is just roasted garlic and olive oil. I drizzled that over the entire salad with a squeeze of Meyer lemon and called it good! With the marinated artichokes, salty olives and creamy avocado you really don’t need a heavy dressing in my opinion. This salad is gluten free and vegetarian and can be made vegan if you don’t add the cheese. For a heartier meal, we added organic sausage and grilled zucchini. What would you add?! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/5/27/nutrient-dense-raw-cold-oatmeal monthly 0.5 2020-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1590633784086-DSSKXQPXXFYHK049I078/0-1.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Superfood Raw Cold Overnight Oatmeal I love this recipe because again, it’s simple and you can truly add whatever “extras” you have in your pantry. Start with the dry stuff. Here we have oats, hemp hearts, chia seeds, flax seeds, cinnamon, collagen and Catie’s Greens. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1590633816830-P3E4QQPAR8MDYY0PTLFW/0-3.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Superfood Raw Cold Overnight Oatmeal Then mix in the wet ingredients! We use MCT oil and oat milk here but you can use whatever kind of milk you prefer. A homemade cashew or almond milk would make it super creamy. Add a dash of vanilla too! Breakfast (in my opinion) is the most important meal of the day. I don’t know about you, but I need a boost of energy to get me up and moving! I either make a smoothie packed full of nutrients and healthy fats OR my go-to which is this overnight oatmeal recipe. MCT stands for medium-chain triglyceride which are very easily digested and there are many health benefits linked to the way our bodies process these fats. It’s the most commonly extracted oil from coconut oil. Your body can use MCT oil as an instant source of energy which makes it unnecessary to store fat for this purpose. It also can help in optimizing the growth of good bacteria in your gut, which is very beneficial. Chia seeds are another staple item in our diets because they deliver a massive amount of nutrients! They are loaded with antioxidants, fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. They basically are tasteless and can be added to this recipe easily! They also absorb liquids and aid in the texture of this dish. I could go on and on about chia seeds… they are high in several nutrients that are very important for bone health including calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and protein. Flax are another seed that is packed with nutrients including omega-3 fats, protein, fiber, reduces inflammation, can aid in balancing hormonal imbalances and helping make skin and hair healthy. Now to collagen.. it’s one of the major building blocks of bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen is also found in many other body parts including your eyes, teeth and blood vessels. As you age, your body produces less and lower-quality collagen so I’ve started to add it to my diet of the last few years. Especially during and after pregnancy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1590633829891-2EHC682ZFRP96C2EJ75Z/0-4.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Superfood Raw Cold Overnight Oatmeal This beautiful bowl was so delicious on a warm Spring morning and I felt so content after eating it. I added banana, local mulberries, strawberries, bee pollen and a perfect bar. What would have been delicious on top was granola butter or a nut butter drizzled over top. There’s just something nostalgic for me about a fresh berry and nut butter. Reminds me of being a kid and eating pb&j’s! Ingredients 2 cups oats 1/4 cup chia seeds 3 tablespoons flax seeds 1 tablespoon collagen 1 tablespoon Caties Greens pinch of salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon maple syrup 3 tablespoons MCT oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup coconut milk (full fat) 1-2 cups oat milk (add as needed before serving to refund consistency) https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/5/6/mothers-day-brunch monthly 0.5 2020-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1588824007737-NZSPHYVI05PJF8GM5DBG/unnamed-8.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Mother's Day Brunch Spring is here and the weather has been absolutely beautiful! We have been eating outside almost every day/evening. Platters are a huge hit around our house with a busy toddler.. you can make a plate, snack, go for a bike ride then come back for more. Ok… this brunch is pretty carb heavy but sometimes mama just needs some comfort food in the midst of all of the CRAZY. We did a “ build your own biscuit bar” with lots of yummy toppings, both savory and sweet! We used fresh berries from the shop, we are fully stocked right now so come see us! Passion fruit home made whipped cream… can I just say how delicious this is?! I can’t stop eating it. The combination of the tart gooey seeds paired with a vanilla scented creamy whip, need I say more?! I also used homemade blackberry jam from one of my best friends in Northern California. For the savory biscuit we used shaved ham, local avocados, butter-y eggs and an herb infused mayo which was quite delicious. You could make your own mayo for this or just add fresh herbs to veganaise or regular mayonnaise. I addd basil, cilantro and parsley, chopped it very finely and mixed together! It’s amazing what a few herbs will do to boost flavor. I laughed as my pregnant sister added pickles to the platter but it was actually the perfect pairing with the rich buttery biscuits! I always sprinkle whatever nuts I have on hand on the platters I make. For this one, we used raw pecans! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1588824120086-8ZKVVQ90AJ7434C054UJ/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Mother's Day Brunch Ok mama… let’s talk relaxation. This Sunday lets give mom a much needed break. Pour her a mimosa with any of our sparkling wines! We chose a sparkling called Breaking Bread 2019 Pet Nat by Kokomo Wines. It’s easy drinking, and fruit forward with notes of bing cherry and passion fruit but still has that minerality that I love. Call me crazy, but I love the Vibes mind + body CBD drinks. The Burning Mandarin is a combination of sweet and tart organic tangerine and carrot juice infused with 25MG of Hemp CBD to improve mind and body well-being, I added a splash to our sparkling wine for an oh-so-delicious tonic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1588825069357-4RX6FRFP66SDWYS54POV/unnamed-10.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Mother's Day Brunch Immaculate organic flaky biscuits and the bomb. I usually have these in my fridge, because well, they’re good and easy. Just pop them in the oven. It only takes about 17 minutes and they are golden brown and pair well with so many meals! These were easy to pull out of the oven and serve with this pretty platter. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1588824748942-9044D4WDKUL33KCFKXZ3/unnamed-11.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Mother's Day Brunch We have organic eggs at the shop coming from local farmers! Now is more important than ever to support small businesses in our town and state! Our team at Pacific Health Foods are doing their absolute best to make this happen. I’m so proud of them all! Everything from eggs, to avocados to beer and wine… we’ve got you covered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1588824954766-B0VT30YJ0P8YJ4KPV7IW/unnamed-7.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Mother's Day Brunch We have some new pastries from SunOven Bakery that we now carry at the shop. Can I just tell you how amazing these gluten free/vegan cinnamon rolls are?! I was skeptical at first because, well, I love me some gluten. My entire family (we are quarantined with my sister and brother-in-law) and they all ate them up - even my husband! They have an amazing consistency and texture and are still gooey and sweet and a tad salty. All of the things. I made a little frosting that turned out more like a glaze that I drizzled over the top which added the perfect amount of sweetness. I highly recommend! They also have doughnuts that are gluten free and vegan and they are so so tasty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1588824316741-07XRUOJ7DOTK5I7H5C7A/unnamed-9.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Mother's Day Brunch Wah lah! It was tasty and simple and we grazed on these platters for over an hour. Our shop is a one-stop-shop for all of the goodies you’ll need to make Mother’s Day extra special this year. On Saturday the 9th, we’ll have Lionello Orchids out front of our building selling their local orchids. Pick up fresh flowers, some pastries, fresh fruit and maybe a facial skin mask for mama! We appreciate you all for supporting our shop, especially during this time! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/4/14/natural-egg-dying monthly 0.5 2020-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891870514-ABGS5W57DEBYY4EKTO6X/unnamed-27.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Natural Egg-Dying https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891885977-NZ7N7ZHO8HJQPX8L6DFF/unnamed-25.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Natural Egg-Dying The dye is in powder form and all you have to do is add water! The colors were made from cabbage, radish, and annatto extract. Super easy, doesn’t stain, and you have a kid safe project! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891970753-QE5WEEYOGSRFI62MADIN/unnamed-26.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Natural Egg-Dying We hard boiled our eggs (out of pure convenience) and spread out a huge piece of butcher paper on the picnic table in the backyard. The kids dipped the eggs, and we used crayons to draw designs on a few eggs and then painted over with paintbrushes. We had fun and the colors were vibrant and festive. Happy Spring! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/4/12/easter-veggie-frittata monthly 0.5 2020-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891699905-AOO8LLH17HGOFGWWIFB1/unnamed-30.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Easter Veggie Frittata This was our simple, comforting Easter brunch. Perfect for a drizz-ly central California spring day. I did a croissant French toast with blueberries, cream cheese swirls and homemade vanilla bean whipped cream. The kids loved dipping their berries in the fresh cream! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891763303-3XO79MSVL38LZUMGUA10/unnamed-28.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Easter Veggie Frittata All of the veggies pictured here held up perfectly overnight. I prepped it all then stuck it in the fridge in an airtight container and just added the egg the next morning. Veggies I used: - Asparagus - Broccolini - Sugar Snap Peas - Garlic - Sautéed Balsamic Mushrooms - Caramelized Sweet Onion - Cherry Tomatoes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891743321-PFZDO107EZQPX8KFDGG5/unnamed-29.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Easter Veggie Frittata Place your veggies in a skillet (I used Le Cruset) and spread evenly. I had some smoked gouda in the fridge so I cubed it and threw that into the veggies. I scrambled eggs with a touch of heavy cream and seasoned with salt, pepper and red chili flakes. Just pour the seasoned egg mixture over the veggies, cook for just a few minutes on medium/low heat on the stove top and then place in the oven at 400 degrees for about 8-10 minutes and you’re done! I garnished with some chives for the extra color and flavor. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/4/13/peanut-butter-energy monthly 0.5 2020-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891398734-7LWM7N27N7PLL6XNC1YZ/unnamed-24.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Peanut Butter Energy Bites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891442349-SMEPY6XAJX2QRA082DP5/unnamed-21.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Peanut Butter Energy Bites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891416479-IS3YVVUDXO862HD8X0SZ/unnamed-19.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Peanut Butter Energy Bites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891489969-LAM7AICHOHR63Y3LZG9J/unnamed-22.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Peanut Butter Energy Bites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1586891521965-J8P8VK2MI0GUZH9O7BL7/unnamed-23.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Peanut Butter Energy Bites All you have to do is combine all ingredients in a bowl and find the consistency you like. This may take a batch or two until you find the “stickiness” you’re looking for. The coconut oil and nut butter make it a little runny at first but popping them in the freezer helps bring them together. I put them in the freezer then shaped them into balls and kept them in the fridge. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/3/15/crudits-amp-cheese-boards monthly 0.5 2020-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584302444141-DX816AJDFTAFGZEVYHBI/unnamed-8.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Crudités & Cheese Boards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584302462160-DACAQ0MHZS7KQL9WOJRN/unnamed-7.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Crudités & Cheese Boards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584302478236-N3K039ICQ6ATFI3CEJ3U/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Crudités & Cheese Boards https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584302494370-3Q71URP5K9X1J371P5CJ/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Crudités & Cheese Boards https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/3/15/rainbow-muffins monthly 0.5 2020-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584297702066-F77VWCFYCBILHMZNS10O/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Rainbow Muffins https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584300336387-PTWDAS8EID3U7FZP6RLD/unnamed.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Rainbow Muffins The great thing about this recipe is that you’ll most likely have most if not all of these ingredients on hand! I used really ripe bananas for this recipe (like you would with banana bread) so they’d be sweet. We mixed all of the wet ingredients together which was ripe bananas, organic local eggs, vanilla extract, unsweetened apple sauce and coconut oil together in a mixing bowl. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584303157030-K3006B0EX2NXJ0NPWJVT/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Rainbow Muffins Here is where the “rainbow” comes to play. I love sneaking in veggies into savory soups and sauces but also muffins that can be eaten to start our day. We added shredded zucchini and shredded carrot from the shop and dehydrated beet powder (also from Pacific Health Foods). I wanted some additional fiber and protein so I chose to include sprouted chia - but you could also use regular chia seeds or flax seeds instead. Hemp hearts are a great source of protein, healthy fats and also keep our immune systems strong, which is always a plus. Not pictured in the photo above, but I added some rolled oats for extra soluble fiber and antioxidants. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584300360812-XPWT2O8NBUL6MFE7CKZE/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Rainbow Muffins Miix all ingredients together with a spatula (no mixer was required) until all ingredients are combined and smooth. Grease your muffin tin - we used avocado oil but you could also use grass fed butter, ghee or coconut oil. My toddler helped with this next step by sticking blueberries into the mixture. It was a fun way for her to participate that wasn’t too messy! She loves blueberries so she’d place a few into the batter, then shove a few into her mouth! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1584300379252-VT1EMRXIETADE3QB9VP8/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Rainbow Muffins Officially toddler approved! She won’t stop eating them, and I’m just fine with that! She’s getting fiber, plenty of nutrients from the veggies and blueberries and lots of healthy fats. I love that we were able to get plenty of zucchini, carrots and beets into this recipe without really noticing. It’s like a banana bread meets carrot cake with that hint of cinnamon. The adults like them too! I love that they don’t have any sugar so are completely guilt free. It was a fun activity to do with my toddler on a rainy Saturday and was really simple. Please share how you make this recipe your own! I’d love to hear, happy March! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/2/24/chocolate-mousse-tart-vegan-gluten-free monthly 0.5 2020-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582605756608-NXH3D56U6EBULJXSE3TH/unnamed.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) All of these ingredients were sourced from Pacific Health Foods (except the dates which were purchased at our local farmers market). There’s only a few ingredients needed for this recipe and they are all clean without sacrificing any richness or flavor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606163807-MQTFTFVIA4YSOLB4BZSO/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) Let’s start with the crust! There’s quite a bit of blending in this recipe… you could use a food processor or a high powered blender (I used my kitchen aid which I love). It tastes just like a brownie, so good. Throw the following into the blender: - walnuts - dates - cacao powder - coconut flakes - flaky sea salt Blend/pulse until it’s fairly fine but not super fine. I liked a little texture in the mix. Cover an 8 inch or 12 inch spring form pan (depending on how thick you want the cake) with parchment and press the crust firmly around the base. Stick in the fridge until you’re ready to fill it with the mousse. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606193443-GH8RT8ERR8DLUJZ3AFG1/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606225782-NAUA3J1TTGU47EJCE8D7/image-asset.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) Now for the mousse! You’ll soak the cashews ahead of time. I did this only a few hours before but you could soak them overnight if you think of it. To speed up the process, you can bring water to a boil and toss the raw cashews in and boil for 2 minutes and let them soak for at least 30 minutes. Blend the following ingredients: - soaked cashews - coconut milk *Get a can of full fat coconut milk and do not shake. Open with a can opener and scrape out the thick creamy top but do not use the milk. This should be approximately 1 cup. - unsweetened cacao - finely ground coffee or esspresso - vanilla extract or paste - real maple syrup - dark chocolate - cinnamon - creamy peanut butter This consistency should resemble mousse so blend for at least 4-5 minutes until all of the chunks are completely pureed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606272696-6P05M0CI15H9DKKHPRBL/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606297950-RK8FEP4PJCV76VOGJANR/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) Once you’ve poured the mousse mixture onto the crust layer, chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606318454-7C8O8A8UOPN8GTTACQ19/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) Melt the dark chocolate chips with creamy peanut butter, I used the fresh ground peanut butter from the shop which is my favorite. I would add a teaspoon of coconut oil to this mixture to make it more playable and easier to work with. Melt it slowly on the stove, double boiler or microwave until melted and pour over the top of the chilled mousse and return to the fridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1582606340186-11FPT787N3UHUL2VLPKW/image-asset.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Chocolate Mousse Tart (Vegan + Gluten Free) I can’t wait to share this with family and friends! It satisfies that sweet tooth of mine without the guilt. I love that it’s naturally gluten free, vegan and uses no refined sugars. Keep it stored in the fridge - I almost think it tastes better the second day when everything is set but you can also serve and eat the same day. I hope you enjoy! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/1/14/thoughtfully-sourced-sourdough-pizza monthly 0.5 2020-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579062704048-1AO8POEYUNRR4JU7W1FG/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Thoughtfully Sourced Sourdough Pizza Finally a pizza we can feel good about! Chloe’s Sourdough Story is a brand we just recently started carrying at the shop and we love it. They celebrate the traditional art of baking. Compromised of just flour, water, salt and wild cultures that go to work during natural fermentation. We benefit from the deliciously sour and nutritious crust. It’s also been known to be easier to digest as well. These pizzas have a thin crispy crust, use farm fresh ingredients, grass-fed cheeses, is organic, and there’s no sugar added, soy or canola oil! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579062990876-3R0CYCNSYF2CT7GMXA25/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Thoughtfully Sourced Sourdough Pizza All of these ingredients can be found at the shop! The reason we brought in Bilinki’s chicken sausage in is because it’s made from simple, whole ingredients, from responsibly raised chickens. It’s non-go, antibiotic and free range, AND are certified by the ASPCA where they are proud to support the wider movement to improve the lives of chicken. Plus the product tastes amazing and our kids love it. The pure ingredients allow us to feel good about what we’re putting in our bodies! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579062499931-PUXLZTK0R5Q41MRQQL34/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Thoughtfully Sourced Sourdough Pizza Here’s what we added to the sunflower pesto pizza: Roasted Garlic Butternut Squash Dill Pollen and Garlic Marinated Goat Cheese Fresh Basil Micro Greens Pomegranate https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579063075945-4TFBAJYMMD3F2M6W2B6Y/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Thoughtfully Sourced Sourdough Pizza I don’t mind prepping our local, fresh veggies but sometimes when your’e in a rush and life gets in the way it’s nice to grab a bag of frozen goodness to add to your meal. Especially when it’s organic! We have plenty of options at the shop in the freezer section, this butternut squash is great because it’s cut in small cubes and can easily be thrown in the oven to roast. I just added some olive oil, salt, pepper and crushed garlic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579063118668-P5SK9D8SWJ8G8FVZREN6/unnamed.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Thoughtfully Sourced Sourdough Pizza This is how the pizza comes and is quite delicious on it’s own! Just sayin’, it’s easy to elevate the dish by adding some roasted farmers market veggies, fresh herbs, artisan cheeses or even aged meats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579063102168-30TK342YHXZQRJ0QMHHR/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Thoughtfully Sourced Sourdough Pizza Ingredients we added to the roma tomato sauce pizza: Burrata (or Fresh Mozzarella) Baby Bell Peppers Bilinski’s Spinach and Spring Greens Chicken Sausage Dinosaur Kale https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2020/1/23/sunshine-bowl monthly 0.5 2020-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579817976402-TNSXCZJX9T04REFVDGX2/unnamed-9.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Sunshine Bowl I love this time of year in Central California because it’s been bright and sunny but you have those cool, crisp mornings and evenings. We were all about warming comfort food for the last (at least) two months and now I’m craving lighter, brighter foods! Our blender is constantly in use and I’m always playing around with new smoothie recipes. Turmeric is the magic ingredient in this bright yellow smoothie bowl. It’s not only delicious and creamy but also super kid friendly! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579818020738-BFHW9H0T8V756VOY1MDT/unnamed-8.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Sunshine Bowl Let’s talk goji berries… are they really one of the most nutritious berries on earth? They naturally contain very high levels of antioxidants and many vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, fiber, iron, vitamin A, and zinc. We stock up on goji berries in the winter months because of the immune support it provides. These powerful berries provide energy, a better ability to focus, a better nights sleep and even an overall sense of calmness. Who wouldn’t want to sprinkle these berries on their morning smoothie? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579818004757-LOUDOYOL24WS1QIU667A/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Sunshine Bowl Turmeric is the magic ingredient here, not only for it’s beautiful color but for the many healing health benefits! Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory, it’s known to improve liver function because of it’s many antioxidant abilities, aids in digestion and the list goes on. Turmeric doesn’t only need to be used in stews, soups and curries, it can be used in powder form in smoothies as well! Cheers to this superfood! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1579818036670-S4DWRLXSNF27G0MPR86P/unnamed-7.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Sunshine Bowl I really haven’t experimented much with bee pollen until now, and couldn’t be more in love. Bee pollen is a ball of pollen made by young bees when they land on a flower. it’s a mixture of pollen, saliva, and nectar or honey. They carry these balls back to their hive on their legs and store them in the hive’s honeycomb. The pollen actually ferments into “bee bread” which feeds a bee colony. These little nuggets are loaded with flavonoids and vitamins which can relieve inflammation, work as an antioxidant, boost liver health, strengthen your immune system, reduce stress, speed the healing process and more. Why not sprinkle some of this gold dust onto your smoothies and bowls for a little extra boost?! We used Blue Ridge Honey Bee Pollen which is based here locally in Ventura, Ca and have been beekeeping since the 70’s. It’s always raw, pure, filtered and 100% California honey. Sign me up. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/12/19/cleansing-cold-pressed-juice monthly 0.5 2019-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1576820559587-10SU6VOUZYDRV841DQU6/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Cleansing Cold-Pressed Juice https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1576820602051-VX7G2PEZA4BT4Z6MIIF4/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Cleansing Cold-Pressed Juice https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1576820625429-G6J1HXLRR8RSO50MT2Z0/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Cleansing Cold-Pressed Juice https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/12/19/healing-benefits-of-turmeric monthly 0.5 2019-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1576820394046-WJ3R5HTB8FWABHQADNUC/unnamed.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Healing Benefits of Turmeric https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1576820422131-AR411G51PYTH3VQJ9KII/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Healing Benefits of Turmeric https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/11/22/wild-mushroom-sourdough-stuffing-with-fennel-caramelized-leeks-and-farmers-market-herbs monthly 0.5 2019-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574483965885-EUUMCM2BD3V33LFPDRNC/unnamed.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Mushroom Sourdough Stuffing with Fennel, Caramelized Leeks and Farmers Market Herbs I used our amazing Rosemary Garlic Loaf that our pastry Chef, Alex Loretto bakes! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574483988178-6QJI1SSFQFMOR3NHT4UG/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Mushroom Sourdough Stuffing with Fennel, Caramelized Leeks and Farmers Market Herbs Cut the bread in 1 inch cubes and lay out on a sheet pan, I put it in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes to slightly dry out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574484007976-GD2I1K0JX8BMQVM0PGK7/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Mushroom Sourdough Stuffing with Fennel, Caramelized Leeks and Farmers Market Herbs I love mushrooms… especially during the holidays and especially in stuffing! I used shiitake, cremini, king trumpet, and oyster mushrooms. I sautéed them in batches, you want to make sure that you get that golden sear on at least one side. Don’t crowd the pan! I like to use avocado oil or grapeseed oil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574484148110-UJ0TGQIFC3VZNNY66OGA/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Mushroom Sourdough Stuffing with Fennel, Caramelized Leeks and Farmers Market Herbs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574484163132-OY7OCC6F71YKJB8A6BKA/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Mushroom Sourdough Stuffing with Fennel, Caramelized Leeks and Farmers Market Herbs I caramelized the leeks and fennel here in the cast iron that I had sautéed the mushrooms in. I deglazed the pan with dry white wine and it created a delicious, flavorful herby broth that I then poured over the bread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574484181911-4POVQDQCHYEL7I2CZQQD/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Mushroom Sourdough Stuffing with Fennel, Caramelized Leeks and Farmers Market Herbs Mix the savory goodness together and bake! Top with fresh herbs of your choice and serve warm. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/11/18/fall-roasted-butternut-squash-heirloom-tomato-lasagna-gluten-free-vegan monthly 0.5 2019-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574121673429-L4BF6K8UBOOK0TPZ5MJK/unnamed-1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) This recipe is geared for those who can’t tolerate grains or dairy and don’t want to miss out on a healthy spin on the classic fall comfort food… lasagna. We love incorporating this roasted butternut lasagna into our Thanksgiving meal because even those who don’t have a sensitivity will devour it, I promise! It’s also the perfect meal to make ahead the day before and re-heats nicely so you aren’t cramming it all in the day of. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574121914749-FE8ZK8LSLBCF6ZVZTGCV/unnamed-2.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) What are your favorite cheese alternatives? I chose The Original Almond (Garlic Herb Style) cheese alternative because it shreds, melts and tastes very similar to your dairy filled cheese! The garlic herb was exactly what I wanted for my lasagna. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574121978393-NZMW5EQBIADKSDDSBSLA/unnamed-3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) Look how beautifully it shreds! Perfect for layering my lasagna. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574121756037-FQD1FSE7X9Z6ARWBBJY5/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) We have organic butternut squash at the shop, I roasted mine for about 25 minutes at 400 degrees with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Super simple. When it was done roasting and cooled slightly, I scooped it out with a spoon and combined it with 3 minced garlic gloves, a dash of nutmeg (the secret ingredient!), nutritional yeast for that extra “cheese” flavor, onion salt, veggie pepper and oregano (or you could use sage). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574122549980-SL2KRVS76ULD2MS3BFFK/unnamed-10.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574122575020-49164VTS9GJXCBD08TEF/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) Capello’s grain free and gluten free lasagna sheets are the absolute best. I truly can’t tell the difference, they are the perfect texture… they hold well, are playable, and still have the chewy-ness you want from a lasagna noodle. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574122616937-9IXH5UORBEDOR9DGXC0H/unnamed-8.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) To assemble, I smeared a few spoonfuls of Lucini’s rustic tomato basil sauce (love this because there’s no added sugar) on the base of my 8x8 roasting dish then layered the noodles, dollops of Kite Hill Almond Milk Ricotta, spoonfuls of my butternut squash mixture, the shredded almond cheese, fresh basil and shaved local kale and then repeated! This recipe is very forgiving and you can add in any farmers market veggies of your choice and any fresh herbs you have depending on the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1574122758783-PFS2L49S1HUQCP3XGYE3/unnamed-9.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Heirloom Tomato Lasagna (Gluten Free / Vegan) This is the (almost) finished product! I baked it for about 40 minutes in a 400 degree oven uncovered. The cheese melted and bubbled and it was absolutely delicious! Even the one-year-old babies chowed it! Normally with a butternut squash, I would do a white sauce but I enjoyed the acidity of the tomato in this dish. I thought it balanced the creaminess and sweetness of the butternut. You could go either way! Cheers, I can’t wait to hear how yours turn out! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/10/24/shaved-brussels-sprout-salad-with-pomegranate-sprouted-seeds-and-apple-cider-shallot-vinaigrette monthly 0.5 2019-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1571974870340-76EI1YS5IRPLJJ3LHDL9/unnamed-7.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate, Shaved Pecorino, Sprouted Seeds and Apple Cider Shallot Vinaigrette As we enter into November, I think of all foods FALL! But if you live in Central / Southern California you probably are like me and don’t want to touch the oven, it’s been so warm! This salad is perfect to make ahead of time for a Thanksgiving side dish as it holds well and packs a powerful punch of nutrients and minerals. It would be delicious the day after Thanksgiving with some leftover turkey as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1571976772538-J1WKBORTGCMJIPNMK0L1/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate, Shaved Pecorino, Sprouted Seeds and Apple Cider Shallot Vinaigrette I shaved the brussels sprouts and kale, I like the texture! It’s a great base for these fall ingredients, you have the tart pomegranate, creamy pecorino, thyme sprouted pumpkin and sunflower seeds and a garlicky, lemon, apple cider vinaigrette that ties it all together. If the weather was a bit cooler I’d roast butternut squash and throw it in for some texture and color! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1571976516203-L0Y2NO21IA4I9HJHIJYS/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate, Shaved Pecorino, Sprouted Seeds and Apple Cider Shallot Vinaigrette Lemons and kale just go together in my opinion. The tangy-ness of the local lemons pair perfectly with the hearty kale and brussels. I make this dressing at least a few hours ahead of time so the flavors marinate and blend together. You could definitely do it the day before! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1571976908946-5UJ9V4BOAVQ5UNH92QG2/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate, Shaved Pecorino, Sprouted Seeds and Apple Cider Shallot Vinaigrette Balance. For me, balance is key during the holidays! I love indulging in rich, flavorful foods… don’t get me wrong. But I still crave nutrient rich salads to break things up a bit. Brussels sprouts are high in fiber, decrease inflammation and can improve blood sugar control. Pomegranate is an anti-inflammatory, aids in digestion, is packed full of vitamin C and antioxidants. The sprouted seeds add a punch of vitamins and minerals including vitamin D…. you get my point. This salad is full of delicious superfoods. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/9/20/homemade-no-strain-cashew-milk monthly 0.5 2019-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1569009270833-QT7P3LTHA99JEYG9Y7B0/unnamed-6.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Homemade (no-strain) Cashew Milk Grab the cashews from our bulk section! This is one of my favorite nuts because cashews are a powerhouse of nutrition! They contain iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and the good kind of fats :) oh, and protein! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1569009523631-K7G8CUI97Z2N6EKUGXTD/unnamed.png Pure Healthy Fit - Homemade (no-strain) Cashew Milk https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1569009348381-4WYLJAN03IZX5FOMZV1O/unnamed-5.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Homemade (no-strain) Cashew Milk For best results, soak overnight. Or at least 4 hours (minimum). When you soak nuts, it helps release some beneficial enzymes and is easier to digest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1569009554334-5LOA7PQ77GJFL8M6MJHB/unnamed-4.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Homemade (no-strain) Cashew Milk I like mine extra thick to use as coffee creamer or to pour over fresh berries for dessert! I also love to add a splash to my oatmeal in the morning. You could even use it as an ice cream base. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/8/9/wild-alaskan-cod-over-a-tomato-summer-corn-herb-salad-topped-with-local-peach-avocado-salsa monthly 0.5 2019-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565634187955-0L2WWPT1P9CPLUOCHYUG/IMG_9380.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa When summertime rolls around in this beach town, I want to eat salads every night! If I need some protein I’ll go to our local Santa Barbara Fish Market OR in this case, just stop by Pacific Health Foods for a quick, easy dinner. This Wild Alaskan Cod was very tasty. This recipe calls for lots of veggies which tastes like summer in a bowl and can be easily adjusted to the season. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565634553408-9HGXSW5CDWXV106H9G43/IMG_9265.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa All the produce used in this recipe is from our local farmers market and the shop! We have an abundance of sweet tomatoes, I can’t get enough. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565647145491-AT8XML0GTQNFVMS45TGC/IMG_9290.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa I thawed the fish in the fridge over night and rinsed and patted dry before seasoning. I used a simple rub of veggie pepper (see photo to the right), Himalayan sea salt, a squeeze of lemon juice, smoked paprika and drizzled some avocado oil on top. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565635099603-H45S37RF54L27LP8ZSZ6/seasoning.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565647250707-QTQGJAL1CO0T45NT06C3/IMG_9278.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565647427640-82H0M57X9P7Z34SBGBAA/IMG_0725.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565634364401-FT8DE01AT4PWUNYEA5Z4/cod.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa You can find this in our freezer section! The premium fish is frozen immediately after harvest at the very peak of freshness. It’s then expressed to their climate controlled facility where it is skillfully portioned and packed with care with a strong emphasis on quality. Orca Bay started in the 1980’s, their vision was to bring a better value direct to their customers by providing a higher quality, all natural frozen seafood than what was being sold in the market three decades ago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565634808860-59LYLG6FYG00B9KH3BKH/IMG_9271.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa This simple salad paired perfectly with the flaky fish and could be adjusted depending on the season! The peppery punch from the arugula, sweetness of the corn and tomato and the fresh crunch of the cucumber were oh so delicious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565647320127-YLZG7AN421O7VO0SE15R/IMG_9286.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Wild Alaskan Cod over a Tomato, Summer Corn, Herb Salad topped with Local Peach Avocado Salsa Creamy avocado + tart peach + spicy jalapeño = summer goodness https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/8/15/summer-grazing-boards monthly 0.5 2019-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565890493962-Z2D4QU03G387UA7LJ5CO/thumbnail_IMG_9464.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Grazing Boards How lucky are we to live in an area with such plentiful produce?! I love this time of year with the crunchy cucumbers, sweet carrots, ripe stone fruit, berries and all of the herbs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565890536380-2VETGWDRJQFBSEKYMCSU/thumbnail_IMG_9466.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Grazing Boards Let’s talk cheese… the cheese I picked up from Pacific Health Foods was the Organic Pastures Raw Cheddar which is one of my personal favorites. It’s a staple at our house! Our local Carpinteria farmers market now has a Stepladder Creamery booth, yes! The fresh goat cheese is tangy and delicious, and pairs well with the summer berries. Whole Foods is where I purchased the rest of the cheeses. There was a goat log with fig and walnuts which was a nice sweet addition. We also did a grass fed cheddar, a French brie, a Dutch robusto, mimolette isigny and Cypress Grove Humboldt fog. I like to use a variety of soft and hard cheeses for these grazing boards. It’s all about textures. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565890669825-HZ6T1A8029VCD016JJ48/thumbnail_IMG_9536.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Grazing Boards We love something pickled on our boards! I chose to do a spicy pickled cauliflower, castelvetrano olives (which are my personal all time favorite), and an assortment of local olives as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565890640295-FCNB7W348HK966XXYYFO/thumbnail_F4D8133B-C662-4513-9EE5-FB956EDA0073.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Grazing Boards There may not be anything better than charcuterie in my opinion. Especially if it’s quality, made with no antibiotics, small batch and humanely raised. I chose some Bresaola, Salame and Prosciutto. I also always try to use some sort of nut, marcona almonds are my go-to and feel like a treat! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565890607702-AMD5203FYTIN2SMCAFM7/thumbnail_IMG_9467.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Grazing Boards Figs. Peaches. Strawberries. Blackberries. Need I say more?! I love summer. Oh, and honeycomb. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1565903918496-XLHAWND4C8R5AZEG50PZ/thumbnail_IMG_9604.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Grazing Boards These edible flowers are from Mary at Sweet Mountain Top, which is a beautiful farm tucked in the mountains of Carpinteria. She’s a passionate lady farmer who grows herbs and flowers which she shares at our local farmers markets (Santa Barbara and Ojai markets). I rolled the goat cheese logs with these herbaceous, brightly colored petals! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/7/22/organics-vanilla-blueberry-cake-vanilla-frosting monthly 0.5 2019-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1563853335122-RYRY0V5OFUTJ3TPLH7LX/IMG_6168.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Vanilla Blueberry Cake + Vanilla Frosting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1563853433401-RKV1VXMWILMT6KDCHZD9/IMG_6226.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Vanilla Blueberry Cake + Vanilla Frosting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1563853385838-EEVJIA1PR8V99MMI7GST/IMG_6230.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Vanilla Blueberry Cake + Vanilla Frosting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1563853466889-NCDAM7MVTVKY4T26T7MJ/IMG_6237.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Vanilla Blueberry Cake + Vanilla Frosting https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1563920080935-QF8NLVCP5PFIQ17J9MBJ/IMG_6357.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Vanilla Blueberry Cake + Vanilla Frosting Saying he “liked” it would be an understatement! Once he had a few bites we pulled it in the kitchen and devoured the rest! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1563920007587-6WBQ6Y2NO72N5A69FP5M/IMG_6352.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Organic Vanilla Blueberry Cake + Vanilla Frosting https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/6/25/lundberg-rice-cakes-5-ways monthly 0.5 2019-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561496238114-88FZ8ALQD6RPI59O6JJA/IMG_6062.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561496177922-1NNKL3ASQDR18ICWHNKW/IMG_6088.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561496653546-RBJI1LR7G0GZ38R6MH70/IMG_6064.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways We are lucky enough to live in a beach town with an abundant supply of delicious avocados! At the shop, we buy ours from the Van Wingerden family. I personally like to add something fermented to balance the creaminess of the avocado. This time I used Beat Kraut Raw Sauerkraut. It’s a probiotic and 100% organic! I added a touch of Himalayan pink sea salt and a drizzle of quality olive oil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561496716520-1JD0S3OAIJW81TH5T176/IMG_6070.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways This Kite Hill Everything Almond Milk Cream Cheese is my new obsession… it’s full of flavor with poppy seeds, garlic, sesame seeds, onion and almond milk. It’s dairy-free, soy-free, non-gmo, gluten-free and there’s no artificial preservatives. I want to schmear it on anything and everything! I picked up a farmers market cucumber at the shop and some fresh arugula. Before diving in I sprinkled some sprouted seeds on top for a boost of flavor, delish! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561499144982-AGZRX440BJLPYIOCM1IQ/IMG_6074.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways Roasted Garlic Baba Hummus is usually always in my fridge. I loaded up this rice cake with a few spoonfuls and topped it with local carrots from the shop that I quickly pickled. I made my pickling liquid out of apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, black peppercorns and mustard seeds and poured it over the carrots. We have nasturtiums flowering in the yard so I garnished for a pop of color. I love adding them to salads and even desserts! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561499455053-0GXM7FI3MGNYC8WCOV5H/IMG_6071.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways If you have’t tried Gopal’s Sprouted Nut Butters you MUST! I used the Sprouted Almond Butter on this rice cake and it was delectable. It’s a little more pricy than other nut butters at the shop but it’s well worth it. They soak and germinate their organic raw almonds then dry them at very low temperatures. This keeps it super enzyme-rich, nutrient-dense and easily digestible. I added some sliced bananas, raw walnuts and a drizzle of local honey… just because. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1561499496689-6J1OOQSQ5V0WGYSPX7WC/IMG_6066.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Lundberg Rice Cakes 5 Ways Last, but not least we have the Coyo Dairy Free Yogurt with local stone fruit, strawberries and a dash of cinnamon. Simple but so light and refreshing and can be used for a breakfast treat! The Coyo Coconut yogurt is probably my favorite dairy free yogurt. It’s dairy free, gluten free, paleo, vegan and there’s no sugar added! It has that tart taste like yogurt but it’s light and airy and coconut-y and delicious. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/5/30/kale-salad-with-marys-organic-chicken-and-sprouted-seed-salad-toppers monthly 0.5 2019-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1559276312070-TISVWMQL726E3SKOZKBB/IMG_5287.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad with Mary's Organic Chicken and Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers GoRaw has an amazing new product called Organic Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers which are bursting with flavor, have 2 grams of protein per serving and are perfect for topping salads and bowls! Here’s a simple but hearty weeknight meal using products we carry at the shop! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1559276592551-5NH647W0HZAYF44GU1CS/IMG_5272.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad with Mary's Organic Chicken and Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers First, marinate Mary’s Organic chicken using fresh herbs, raw garlic, quality olive oil and citrus. Using an immersion blender, I combined half a bunch of cilantro, 2 scallions, 3 cloves of minced garlic, 1/4 jalapeño, 1/2 cup of orange juice and the zest from 1 orange, 1 lime and 1 lemon plus salt and pepper to taste. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1559277024024-A9K98HV3NC0RQFUKP1W6/IMG_5278.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad with Mary's Organic Chicken and Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers In the meantime, shave some kale and massage with olive oil and a quick squeeze of citrus of your choice. Chop all veggies you’d like to add while the chicken cooks. I used carrot, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, local avocado, red leaf lettuce, scallion and the sprouted seed mix! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1559277702178-915CKDMHAKS2DBIXZCGK/IMG_5280.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad with Mary's Organic Chicken and Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1559276937405-B2VPJAS9I6CLJO6W8G3K/IMG_5275.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad with Mary's Organic Chicken and Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers Marinate chicken in the fridge for minimum of 2 hours up to 24 hours, then throw on the grill or bake! I put it on my Traeger grill at 400 degrees for approximately 20 -30 minutes depending on the size of the breast. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1559277613674-JIEAGLVUC9MUVT0JMPJS/IMG_5282.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Kale Salad with Mary's Organic Chicken and Sprouted Seed Salad Toppers Pull the chicken off the grill and slice and place on top of the salad, or serve along side. This dish is easy for making ahead of time for entertaining! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/5/22/maple-berry-chia-seed-crisp-gluten-free-vegan monthly 0.5 2019-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1558546249864-72LWS1NDP9OY0BH9AM3S/IMG_4632.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Berry Chia Seed Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan) This simple, gluten free/vegan dessert is great for entertaining any time of the year and is adaptable to an array of seasonal berries or fruit of your choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1558676387246-IR3JTYTAL8WF7H6IXICA/IMG_4630.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Berry Chia Seed Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan) The chia seeds soak up juices from the berries and add texture, fiber and antioxidants! The crunchy almond flour and oat topping adds a maple scented crunch and is best served warm with a scoop of your favorite dairy-free ice cream. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1558546391766-7ZONY55NTTXT3JWAR9Q5/IMG_4671.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Berry Chia Seed Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan) Strawberries are abundant here in Central California so I went down to our local farmers market and picked up a few baskets! I also had blackberries and blueberries at home that I incorporated. Growing up in the Pacific North West, our little island was overflowing with blackberries. When we were young, my mom would send us out to pick the juicy berries and we’d come home with overflowing buckets full and make cobblers together. These memories and flavors are so nostalgic for me so I love finding ways to re-create those family recipes with a healthy twist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1558546036484-Y662DIIRYVH3F7KEGU8D/IMG_4615.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Maple Berry Chia Seed Crisp (Gluten Free, Vegan) All of the ingredients used in this recipe can be found at Pacific Health Foods! To keep this treat gluten free, I used almond flour (Bob’s Red Mill has a great one that we carry at the shop) and gluten free oats. I added organic chia seeds to bind together the fruit filling and sweetened with Field Day Maple Syrup. https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/4/30/quinoa-enchilada-casserole monthly 0.5 2019-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1556679719936-IX3RPZLPP84CDLWJ08OO/IMG_3848.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole Need an easy, healthy weeknight meal?! We love using Alanna’s Santa Barbara Soups pre-packaged mixes for dinner. This week I experimented with the Quinoa Enchilada Casserole and it was delicious! They are healthy, non-perishable, easy to prepare meals that you can eat completely on their own or add your own twist! They are vegan, gluten free, dairy free and soy free (unless you choose to add cheese and sour cream like I did). We love supporting our local friends, farmers and vendors! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1556679466187-O2UMDMLG6FMNAUS29Q4U/IMG_3841.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole First, I sautéed shiitake and cremini mushrooms in a little coconut oil, salt and splash of balsamic at the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1556680170731-2FYD9WJK34OR7QIQ0M67/IMG_3859.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole Then I prepped the fresh veggies and garnishes. I chose cilantro, jalapeño, radish, baby bell pepper, scallion, sour cream, avocado, a lime wedge and mango salsa. You could also grill chicken, steak or shrimp to add protein! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1556679905448-X1TGLXCJR6DAULTRK7KH/IMG_3862.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole Then I added the contents of the package (quinoa, sweet potato, beans, corn, and seasoning) to 3 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and bring to a boil. Once boiling, simmer for approximately 15-20 minutes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1556680042552-3T8XGQBZP6ZIE8LD2AAI/IMG_3868.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole I uncovered and stirred, then added some shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese and topped with shaved jalapeños. I baked it in the oven with 1/4 cup of water for about 15 minutes until the cheese was bubbly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1556680330381-ZAW40QRPNL2EMCK2O92I/IMG_3872.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Quinoa Enchilada Casserole Serve the casserole with toppings of your choice! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2019/4/1/black-pearl-rice-salad-with-spring-veggies-amp-herb-yogurt monthly 0.5 2019-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1554415506854-12XQSWUF3RZU9TH38PV2/AfterlightImage.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Black Pearl Rice Salad with Spring Veggies, Herb Yogurt & Pixie Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1554270061328-2RN3O6GETFEQSX4NAVMR/IMG_1875.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Black Pearl Rice Salad with Spring Veggies, Herb Yogurt & Pixie Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1554269842545-KIKEXP55AY30AJPVEU63/IMG_1866.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Black Pearl Rice Salad with Spring Veggies, Herb Yogurt & Pixie Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1554270390512-ABKJKL0X2MHKKV6CUGOG/IMG_2104.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Black Pearl Rice Salad with Spring Veggies, Herb Yogurt & Pixie Vinaigrette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1554270636941-554OQ3DE12SJQFYZYL4V/IMG_2109.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Black Pearl Rice Salad with Spring Veggies, Herb Yogurt & Pixie Vinaigrette https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2018/1/31/chicken-ranch-purple-potato-salad monthly 0.5 2018-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1517437911354-SC9B9B85WYJVZBGDGJLQ/image1-6.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Chicken & Ranch Purple Potato Salad Potato salads are my absolute favorite throw together lunch! We try to always have leftover meat of some kind on hand which makes it that much easier to throw last minute meals together. The potatoes and scallions are sourced from the Farm Cart here in town. They offer a lot of great produce that we do not have the additional space for. Check them out if you have not already! Ingredients 1 lb chopped & boiled (until fork tender) purple potatoes 2 cups shredded chicken 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions 1/4 cup Tessameas ranch dressing 1/2 tsp sweet paprika (I tend to add more depending on my mood) 1/2 tsp sea salt Instructions Add all ingredients together in a bowl and enjoy! Yes, its that easy! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2018/1/31/paleo-sea-salt-brownies monthly 0.5 2018-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1517432711900-Y49JR0E541M0X3HCQJVB/image2-2.JPG Pure Healthy Fit - Paleo Sea Salt Brownies This recipe was adapted from our dear friend Laurel over at http://blog.sweetlaurel.com , not only is she the sweetest person you will ever meet... she is an amazing paleo baker! Ingredients 1 cup maple syrup 2 large eggs 1 lb freshly ground almond butter 1/4 cup coconut sugar 2 tablespoons date butter 2 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup raw cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt 2 pinches flaky sea salt for topping Instructions Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with coconut spray, set aside. In order shown, place all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend until cocoa is fully incorporated. Pour/scrape batter out of blender and into prepared dish, sprinkle with desired flaky sea salt. Bake for 35 minutes. Once baked, pull out of oven to completely cool before removing from pan to cut.         https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2017/12/6/grain-free-cut-out-cookies monthly 0.5 2017-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1512592746777-GX37KFRKR17GB5NW6PG2/grain+free+cut+outs Pure Healthy Fit - Grain Free Cut-out Cookies This recipe comes from our dear friend Laurel over at http://blog.sweetlaurel.com , not only is she the sweetest person you will ever meet... she is an amazing paleo baker! The only thing I changed is using ghee or butter instead of the coconut oil, as well as half vanilla extract and half vanilla bean paste. Ingredients 2 1/2 cups Bob's almond flour 1/4 cup pasture butter (melted) 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tbsp Sweet Laurel grain free vanilla extract 1/2 tbsp vanilla bean paste Instructions Put all ingredients into the food processor, pulse until the dough forms 1 large ball. Line a cutting board with one piece of parchment, put dough on parchment and press down to form a thick disk. Place a second piece of parchment on top of the dough and roll out dough to desired thickness. I prefer 1/4 " for nice thick cookies. Put the rolled out dough on the cutting board in the fridge to cool for an hour. Preheating oven 30 minutes in to 350. Take dough out of fridge and cut into desired shapes and carefully transfer to a parchment lined sheet pan. Bake for 6-10 minutes (turning halfway) or until they begin to turn golden brown. Allow cookies to cool on sheet pan. Decorate with your favorite icing! Notes When I formed a ball from the dough scraps after cutting, I made sure to work quickly so the dough didn't get too warm. I also put the rolled dough back into the fridge to cool while the first batch of cookies baked. I have found that these cookies store best in the freezer if you're making them ahead of time.       https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2017/12/6/black-rice-risotto monthly 0.5 2017-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1512589319554-53MD8PK8F7YN5NAAAYNT/black+rice+risotto Pure Healthy Fit - Black Rice Risotto INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups Lundberg black pearl rice 2 tbsp ghee, pasture butter or avocado oil 1/3 cup shallots/diced - sourced from The Farm Cart 3 cloves garlic/diced 1/2 cup white wine 6 1/2 cups chicken stock or veggie stock 1 tsp paprika 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper OPTIONAL 1 cup finely shredded Organic Pastures cheddar INSTRUCTIONS 1. Bring broth to a steady simmer in a medium sauce pan. 2. Melt ghee in a large saute pan over medium low heat, add diced shallots and cook until they begin to become translucent. 3. Add diced garlic and black rice to the pan, stirring/toasted the rice for 3 minutes. 4. Pour the white wine into the pan slowly, stir ever minute or so until the wine has reduced. 5. Sprinkle the paprika, salt and pepper evenly over the rice, stir to mix in. 6. Add simmering broth a ladle at a time, stirring the rice every couple minutes until the broth reduces. Repeat this process until all broth has been added and the rice is al dente. Takes anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour depending on how your stove cooks. Optional 7. Turn off heat, sprinkle cheese over rise and stir to mix in. Notes - If you choose not to add the cheese you may need more salt added - My stove cooks really hot/fast so I actually had the heat on low. You're looking for enough heat to create a mild sizzle when the liquid is added but not too much that you see it sticking or burning on the bottom of the pan. - I love using cast iron enamel cookware for risotto     https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2017/6/29/must-have-summer-product monthly 0.5 2017-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1499361080254-OIG6VR6AZML3959ZEST1/image-asset.jpeg Pure Healthy Fit - Summer Must Have! https://pacifichealthfoods.com/blog/2016/7/5/h3xpcwznhi91kb219tg2omnmclu78s monthly 0.5 2017-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1499361695782-ZE749383JT9Y9CT0WR8P/cookie_pie_3.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Grain Free Pizookie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5703f2841bbee08696cb25f5/1499361712664-FU52B6SEI5040W0VWGO7/cookie_pie_1.jpg Pure Healthy Fit - Grain Free Pizookie 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