The Picnic Basket

Hey BooBoo, what's in the pic-a-nic basket? 

Ummm...uh....??? Out of ideas? That's ok, here is a list of goodies to choose from when you are in a hurry...

ROMANTIC PICNIC FOR 2: 

(These can all be vegan, gluten free, dairy free)

• Wine/grape juice and cheeses (these can be vegan) with a cracker or other gluten free toasted tid bit to spread cheese on.
• Roasted cherry tomatoes, can tuna/salmon and your favorite bread or tiny roll or hollowed out cucumber or avocado
• Wraps made from lettuce or other veggies filled with chicken salad or slaw
• Fruit and Nuts with a bubbly flavored water
• Beans & More Beans with a spritz of olive oil & red wine vinegar or flavored vinegars ( Good way to end a date if it lasts too long...tee hee)
• Melon or asparagus wrapped with prosciutto

3's COMPANY PICNIC:

(People you know well? if not bring more choices)

• salads are a hit- fresh peas, chick peas, peppers & onions
• cubed tomatoes, onions, cucumber and parsley, sea salt, lemon juice olive oil
• tabouli salad, quinoa salad
• 3-5 bean with a dash of lemon and olive oil
• mushrooms, fresh red peppers cubed, olive oil & vinegar
• cucumbers sliced with chives and sour cream (organic)
• water melon, grapes, strawberries
• applesauce with cinnamon & honey 
• orange slices
• chicken/turkey cubes, walnuts and mayo salad on fresh leaf lettuce

4 AND MORE PICNIC:

• A whole cold chicken, sliced grass fed beef, hard boiled eggs, turkey breast sliced, veggie/bean burgers already cooked
• rolls, wraps or lettuce leaves
• olives, pickles, raw veggies cut up
• kale chips in a mason jar
• dried fruits like figs or dates, banana chips
• several beverage choices- teas, sparkling waters, lemon or lime slices frozen in ice cubes, stored in a zip bag
• finger sandwiches (Nutbutter & honey) for little kids
• fresh fruit centered desserts
• apples diced with raisins, walnuts and a touch of mayo (waldorf)
• dressing assortment
• slaws, relishes, condiments

Always remember you will need zip bags to divide up the food to take home and put it back in the cooler right after you eat if it requires refrigeration. (Mayo, dairy, eggs, meats) Happy pic-nic-ing!! No fires in the forest saves the trees:)

Happy is Healthy!

Hummingbird Bread- Paleo Recipe

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

·         ½ cup tapioca flour/powder

·         ½ cup coconut flour

·         ½ cup coconut sugar

·         ½ teaspoon cinnamon

·         ½ teaspoon baking soda

·         pinch of salt

·         2 bananas, mashed

·         ½ cup pineapple, diced

·         ½ cup coconut oil, melted

·         3 eggs, whisked

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         ½ cup pecans, chopped

Instructions

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.    Add tapioca flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and mix.

3.    Then add the rest of the ingredients, folding in pecans at the end.

4.    Pour mixture into a bread pan (I lined mine with parchment paper for easy removal) and smooth at the top

5.    Bake for 40-45 minutes or until bread is completely cooked through (use the toothpick trick to check)

6.    Let cool slightly before serving.

You may not agree that everything in a PALEO Recipe is something that you should be eating. I would agree with you. However, consider what someone was eating BEFORE they switched to PALEO. This is probably reducing their symptoms and has them healthier than they were. Everyone is on their own path to wellness. That includes myself. You will get no harsh judgements here from me. Only unconditional love and understanding. We just need be kind to ourselves and to others. Our survival depends on it. We all do our best every day to stay healthy. Nameste my friend. 

Sweet Potatoe Brownies

One Potatoe
   Two Potatoe
      Sweet Potatoe...More!!

Ingredients:
1 avocado
1 C cooked sweet potato puree
½ C Applesauce
¼ C honey
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
4 eggs
1/4 C Coconut flour
2 tbsp arrowroot powder
½ C cacao powder
½ tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
¼ C honey
½ C almond butter
¼ C cacao powder
½ C coconut milk
pinch Sea Salt

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. In a bowl, combine avocado, sweet potato, applesauce, honey and vanilla.
3. When creamy, add in cacao powder
4. Add in eggs one at a time
5. In a separate bowl, combine coconut flour, arrowroot flour, salt and baking soda.
6. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until smooth.
7. Grease 8x8 pan with coconut oil and line it with parchment paper
8. Bake for 25-35 minutes
9. Let cool, then enjoy!