As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that the only true way to stay healthy is simple.  Eat healthy and exercise.   Avoid as much processed food as possile and find ways to eat food that is fresh and straight from the source with as little processing as possible.  I’ve even eaten at a nice Mediterrean restuarant where we washed our hands with flower water. It is such a pleasant feel and fragrance.

Thanks to some friends here in town I pick up a gallon of raw milk once a week (no hormones for my kiddos) on Monday from a good friend of mine that does Crossfit with me.  Another girlfriend buys cocunut oil by the gallon and we split the costs.  I also buy organic cereals for my children. Way to much sugar in that typical processed stuff from the supermarkets. I also HATE canned vegetables.  Once you try fresh porcini mushrooms, you can never go back to the canned stuff.

Healthy children are made, they don't happen by accident.

I’ve also discovered that when I bake I am now using pure extracts instead of the imitation stuff.  Baking has always been a favorite passion of mine and pure vanilla along with organic sugar allows me to  spoil my kids from time to time without feeling guilty. Now I can spend hours in the kitchen sharing my love of baking with my daughter as we make brownies and cakes for the rest of the family.

What do you do when buying groceries at the store or making a grocery list?  Have you thought about the negative effects of some items that the FDA has ruled ok in the USA but other countries have banned?  Make sure you take care of your children by feeding them healthy.  You are forming their habits and taste buds while young so they can continue a long and healthy life!!

The other day when I was shopping I noticed a ridiculous amount of hot sauces on sale at my local grocery store. And it got me thinking, how many different hot sauces do you really need? There are hundreds, no probably THOUSANDS, of different hot sauces on the market. It just seems a bit much to me.

Personally, I keep 2 types of hot sauce in my house. My go-to hot sauce is Tabasco. I prefer it on soups, gumbos, beans, greens, eggs, pretty much anything that needs a little kick. My second choice is a generic brand similar to Krystal hot sauce. I use it for one thing, and one thing only….hot wings. I know it sounds crazy, but that generic sauce, with equal parts butter and a dash of garlic powder cooked up in a pot, makes the BEST wing sauce. I get countless compliments on my wings. So I just stick with my little generic friend.

And that’s it. Nothing crazy, like “Hotter ‘n Hell”, “Sudden Death”, “Crazy Mother Puckers”, or my son’s favorite “Satan’s Crotch”. Not really the type that’s going to look for the next hottest thing on the scoville scale. I guess I’m just a simple girl, and I don’t feel like spending my hard earned money on an outrageous bottle of a funny hot sauce that will probably just sit in my pantry for years.

Hot Sauce, Mouth on Fire

*Here’s a great recipe to make to top with some good, ol’ tobasco*

Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients:
1 pound dry pinto beans
2 Tbs olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound of sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 bay leaves
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 Tbs chicken bouillon
6 cups of water

Directions:
1. Rinse beans, and then soak in a large pot of water overnight.
2. In a dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Cook onion, bell pepper, garlic, and celery in olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Rinse beans, then add them to the cooked vegetables along with the sausage. Season with bay leaves and Cajun seasoning.
Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the rice according to the package instructions. Serve beans over steamed white rice and sprinkle with
hot sauce!