Guest Post : Real Food Forager

This week I have a guest post for you from Jill of Food Forager.  Her blog is a unique take on food foraging in today's modern world, and I am excited to be able to share this post with you.

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I am a Real Food Forager. I admit it. Not the kind that that rummages around in the forest. Oh no. You wouldn't catch me getting my hands dirty or, heaven forbid, touch a worm. Yuck! No, I am a modern day, suburban real food forager.

Let me explain. You may think it impossible to forage in a suburban area, but what I mean is, I forage in the stores and markets that sell real food. First and foremost this means that I belong to a buyer's club that has a real farmer deliver real fresh pastured foods like eggs, meat, poultry and dairy products on a weekly basis.
 
What with all this foraging, I have found that the very best quality foods comes directly from the farmer and that is why I founded The Great South Bay Chapter of the Weston A Price Foundation.

Farm to consumer food is by far a win - win situation for all involved. It allows the farmer to directly sell to consumers and get a higher price for their goods. It allows the consumer to buy the highest quality and freshest possible products at reasonable prices. And equally as important, it cuts down on fossil fuel usage as well as pollution by eliminating shipping across the country.

Real Food Forager features recipes that are gluten- and grain-free, dairy-free, sucrose-, starch-, and soy-free and appropriate for the SCD/GAPS diets as well as ancestral diets like Paleo and Primal diets.
As a Clinical Nutritionist/Chiropractor with a  specialty in SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) and GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome), I found myself giving Weston Price Foundation, SCD or GAPS style advice again and again.  It became clear to me that I needed a way to get this dietary information to people in a usable, concise, outline without having to repeat myself again and again. I realized that if I used the format of a blog, it could reach a lot of people and also allow us to have a dialog. Importantly, I could refer people to this blog for the details they would need to be successful on these various diets.

My favorite recipes are:

1. Macaroons
2. Grain-Free Carrot Cake with Icing
   
3. Pecan Crusted Apple Crisp
4. Grilled Tri Tip Roast
   
5. Courgette Al Dente!

Welcome to this blog and find out more information about real food, the dangers in our commercial food supply and the implications to our health, what good nutrition really is, and how to follow these restricted diets and still eat like a king!

Natural Bug Repellents

As spring time sets in and I go on amazing adventures with my husband in the outdoors I know that soon I will be faced with complaints and a sad face.  We live in the south, and there are bugs.  Bugs love my husband.  We love the outdoors.  All this does not mix well at times.


With a baby on the way hardcore bug spray is out of the question so we decided to come up with some natural, safer alternatives to help us enjoy the outdoors during this long southern buggy season.

DIY Essential Oil Bug Spray

3 tbsp Filtered Water
3 tbsp Rubbing Alcohol 99%
7 Drops Citronella Oil
4 Drops Eucalyptus Oil
4 Drops Lavender Oil
2 Drops Lemongrass Oil

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, and don't forget to shake before each use!


5 Natural Options for Bug Repellents

1. Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent - Burt's Bees is a great source for natural products, and can be found online as well as in many retail locations.  It contains Rosemary, Lemongrass and 10 other essential oils to ward off bugs.
2. California Baby Citronella Bug Repellent Spray - This spray can be used for newborns and older children, and contains a combination of essential oils gathered from sustainable sources.  Another good feature of this product is that is also soothes existing bites!
3. All Terrain Kids Herbal Amor Natural Insect Repellent - This combination of essential oils boasts that it lasts up to 4 hours protecting you against pesky bugs.  It is made for outdoor enthusiasts, and reviews state that it works well, but has a strong smell.
4. Bug Away Disposable Table Cloth with All Natural Insect Repellent - I love this product for picnics.  It is a natural way to ward away bugs that no one even realizes you are using.  A great alternative to candles and sprays.  It is safe for food and includes only ingredients that are FDA approved for food handling.
5. Green Fire Massage Oil and Insect Repellant Candle - I love massage oil candles, and think this is a wonderful alternative to the chemical laden candles you find in stores.  It is scented with lemon, eucalyptus and lavender for a romantic evening on the porch.  This is a safe, environmentally friendly, clean burning candle.  See also my blog post about candles here.

What solutions do you use for scaring away pesky bugs in the summer months?  Comments are always welcome!




* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Top image copyright Brooke Photo Studio 2012, bottom Images courtesy of Amazon.

Blog : Sweets by Charity

This weeks guest blog post was written by Charity of Sweets by Charity.  Her blog blossoms with delicious food related articles.  I have a particular soft spot for local food making one of my favorite articles : 5 Star Food From a Filling Station where Charity interviews Chef Point Cafe, Franson Nwaeze.  Her post is below, and make sure to stop by the blog and tell her hello!

Food Blogger Friday

Sweets by Charity

Author : Charity

Many of my favorite memories growing up happened in the kitchen: the first time I made sourdough bread with my grandmother, making Christmas sugar cookies with my cousins, getting busted by my mother in grade school for using the oven to make cupcakes when she wasn’t at home. Years later, I’m the first one to make cupcakes for a birthday, I always come to meetings armed with baked goods, and I truly believe that a great dessert is the easiest way to put a smile on someone’s face. I have always dreamed of opening a bakery one day.  Writing this blog is my way of getting started early on that dream, and combines two of my favorite activities, writing and baking.  I am currently a Graduate Student at the University of Florida, pursuing a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication.  Since starting Grad school last August, I found that it’s a bit more stressful at times I thought it would be. Okay, it’s a lot more stressful than I thought it would be.   For me, baking is the perfect stress therapy and a great way to bring a little calm to the craziness that is my life. 

I have never claimed to be a baking expert, but I do love making simple and fun, but unique and beautiful sweets, and let’s face it... I’m a broke college kid, so I do it all on a budget. Although I’m obviously not a health food blogger,  I do love to show my readers how to satisfy their sweet tooth without sacrificing their diet... everyone should be able to have their cake and still fit into their skinny jeans.  I have so much fun sharing my tips and tricks with readers, and I love seeing how they take my recipes and make them their own!  Right now I’m just having fun with my blog, and sharing my baking adventures with my readers.  Who knows where it will lead in the future?

One thing you should know about me, is that I am 99% indecisive, 100% of the time.  Asking me to pick my favorite food would be like asking me to pick my favorite child... that is, if I had any children, but you get the idea.  Growing  up, I could answer that question with zero hesitation: “rocky road ice cream”.  I was eight, my life revolved around ice cream.  While rocky road still makes the top ten on my list of favorite foods, my palate has slightly matured, but not much.  When narrowing down my favorite food, I can at least get it down to a genre.  Being a native Texas girl, I love a good steak, and I adore great barbeque: ribs, pulled pork, potato salad, cole slaw, and ooooooh the peach cobbler.  Give me a good barbeque dinner, and all is well with the world.

5 Favorite Things: 

I’m new to the blogging world, but a few of the posts I’ve written so far stand out as my favorites.

1. Low Calorie Blackberry Lemon Tart 
Everything tastes better out of a martini glass... that’s the theme behind this delicious, low calorie blackberry lemon tart!

2. Mock Apple Pie Ever had a problem getting in your daily serving of vegetables?  Maybe you have some picky eaters in your household who turn their nose up at anything green? This secret ingredient apple pie is the perfect solution to your problem!

3. Peachberry Dump Cake
Okay so it’s definitely not healthy, but it’s my absolute favorite easy dessert fix.  This five ingredient Peachberry Dump Cake is to die for I love looking around the web at other food blogs to gather ideas and get inspired.

These two sites round out my 5 Favorite Things:

4. One of my favorite baking bloggers is Baker Bettie. She recently made the switch to all-natural baking and offers some great recipes and suggestions for baking and treating your body right. Plus, her photography looks good enough to eat! 

5. I love Hungry Girl!  If you haven’t already been following Hungry Girl (I used to live by the Hungry Girl 200 Under 200 recipe book),  she is the queen of low calorie substitutions for your favorite comfort foods.  Whether she’s using pumpkin in place of the high calorie oil and eggs in her baked goods, or using Fiber One cereal as a faux-fry coating, Lisa Lillien, AKA Hungry Girl, is where I turn to for low calorie baking inspiration. 

Starting my blog has been such a fun and wonderful experience; I’ve been trying new things, meeting new friends, and finding delicious ways to alleviate stress.  I hope that you’ll follow along with me as I continue on my blogging journey, sharing my baking adventures every step of the way.  If you have a recipe request, suggestion, or just want to chat, send me an email at sweetsbycharity@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter - @charityhitt , or on Flickr- sweetsbycharity,  and of course I hope you will check out my blog and follow me at http://sweetsbycharity.com.

Happy Baking!

~Sweet Charity~

* I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images Courtesy of Sweets by Charity.

Cleaning Produce

I buy organic when I can, but when organic is not available I buy produce that has been sprayed with pesticides before it reaches my dinner table so a thorough cleaning is necessary.  Here are some tips I have learned along the way to make sure my food is as clean as possible before reaching my stomach.

• For foods like lettuce with an outer shell, I simply discard the outside layer, and then do my cleaning to ensure extra cleanliness.


• Simple solutions of vinegar & water or hydrogen peroxide & water that you may already have around the house work just as well as commercial produce cleaners to get your fruits and vegetables clean.


• Don't forget to wash your hands before and after cleaning produce.


• Start with a freshly cleaned countertop or cutting board when preparing food.


• Always cut out and discard bruised or damaged areas where bacteria can grow.


• Use slightly warm water when washing your produce.  You can use a sprayer for more delicate items.


• Even if you plan to peel or cut the skin off an item make sure to wash it first so the knife or peeler does not transfer bacteria from the outside surface.


• Scrub firm items with a produce brush.


• If you have the cash there are high tech sanitizing machines out there like the Lotus that you can try -- I like to stick with the more budget friendly options in my household though!

* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Natural Skincare

Lately chemicals in skincare and make up have been in the news.  I live a hybrid lifestyle as far as the "green" products I buy, and the more mainstream ones that are also used on a daily basis.  Since I found out I was pregnant I have begun the switch to more natural options for make up and skincare for my health, and the health of my baby.  During this journey I have often found that the natural products are working better then their predecessors.

The simplest way to make the switch is to start shopping for your skincare and make up at a health food store or grocery store like Whole Foods.  I like this option because I am able to still try out testers, and read the ingredients and labels on the products that I buy.  There is also usually someone in store who can answer any questions that I may have.

If you are shopping on the internet I have found that Amazon has a great selection of natural skincare and makeup products, and enjoy reading the customer reviews before I make a purchase.  I often start with a website like EWG.org and search by the product I need to purchase.  They rate products on a scale of 1-10 as far as the safety of ingredients.  A score of 1-2 gets a green label, and I read descriptions and chose a product from that section of the list.  This website is also a great resource for finding out how safe products you already own are.

I believe in making small changes in my lifestyle, and this one has been a positive so far.  Maybe some of the products made with modern chemicals aren't really that bad for you, but with so many natural options out there it is easy, and affordable to make the switch just in case.



* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Blog : Whole Foods on a Budget

Today I have a guest post in the Food Blogger Friday series from Christy of Whole Foods on a Budget.  Her blog is a fantastic resource for those looking to eat healthy without breaking the bank, and I hope you enjoy her post and get a chance to try a few of her recipes.  If you are interested in having your blog featured on Food Blog Friday, you can find all the details here.

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Hello!  My name is Christy, and I blog at Whole Foods on a Budget.  I'm married to a wonderful man, and we have four children ages 7, 5, 1 and one more due soon.  We live on the East Coast in suburbia in a very expensive county...which is important to mention in light of my blog.  I grew up eating classic health food, thanks to my mom, who was all over cooking from scratch and eating whole foods.  About five years ago I took my basic health food approach a bit further after reading and studying nutrition and food.  My philosophy before was kind of "Just avoid the obvious bad foods," but my new philosophy became, "What foods can I buy that are the best quality nutritionally, and how can I prepare them to make them as healthy and nourishing as possible?"  I transitioned to buying primarily organic produce, organic whole grains and beans, and pastured/grass-fed/antibiotic and hormone free dairy and meats, plus unprocessed basics (like cold-pressed oils and unrefined salt) all while on a very modest monthly budget of $325 for two adults and 2 littles.  Soon friends were asking me how in the world we could afford to eat organic foods?!  After several years of sharing my strategies with many friends, acquaintances and friends of friends, I finally taught a small class about it...which led to me finally starting a blog about the topic. 

With my blog I want to dispel the myth that most people can't afford to eat healthfully.  Certain healthy, whole foods are actually some of the cheapest foods!  I also want to be a resource to anyone seeking to better their diet without raising their spending.  My blog is not there to convince you to eat like we do, but rather I hope to help readers--wherever they are at in their personal food journey--to find ways to eat more nutritious foods without spending more money.  It's very easy to overspend on food, but you don't have to!  I also want to inspire people to eat more whole foods by sharing simple, delicious recipes.  Healthy food should taste good!  On my blog you will find an assortment of delicious recipes, occasional information on nutrition, shopping strategies to help you spend less time and less money (like avoiding the grocery store...seriously!), cooking tips, helping your kids eat healthfully and stay healthy, simple gardening info, and occasionally some inexpensive recipes for or info on natural living (like how to make an easy, all natural sunblock). Through all I share, I try to keep things simple and encourage my readers to make food goals and work toward them one step at a time.  None of us can do everything, but we can each make one small change at a time that over time enhances our well-being and eventually gets us to where we want to be.

My favorite food is...almost everything?  My husband and I LOVE good food!  We both are gourmets at heart and enjoy cooking, eating, and trying new recipes and ethnic foods.  As far as a category of favorite food goes, I am part Italian and so I tend to head that direction for some good comfort food.  I guess I should also mention that that "almost everything" I like doesn't include junk food.  Having not been raised on it, I just honestly don't like it.  My husband has found that the longer he eats whole foods, the less appealing junk food has become. Many things he used to like he no longer cares for.  We also both feel far better physically eating the way we do.

Brooke asked me to share with you five of my current favorite recipes from my blog:

1. Dinner kabobs for kids: no cooking necessary, super easy, nutritious, kids love 'em!

2. Our family's favorite breakfast "cake":  both the original version and the sourdough version. We eat it almost weekly in our home. 

3. Vanilla extract: who knew it was this ridiculously easy to make? (It's almost laughable.)

4. Tuscan Bread Salad: the perfect summer salad--vibrant colors and intense flavors, yum!!!

5. I couldn't choose between these last two recipes--both favorites in our home--so I'm sharing both of them: Stuffed Escarole and Sweet & Savory Carrots with Bacon.  Two delicious ways to eat more veggies!

Besides my blog, you can find me on Twitter (@ChristyWFOAB), Facebook (Whole Foods on a Budget) and Pinterest (Christylma).  My sister and I are also currently writing a cookbook on whole foods full of tips on how to stock your pantry, how to cook your basic grains, and of course, plenty of delicious recipes!  We hope to have it released by the fall.

Thanks, Brooke, for letting me share a bit about myself and my blog!

* Images & text copyright 2012 Whole Foods on a Budget.

10 More Healthy Road Trip Snacks

In January I wrote about 10 Healthy Snacks for Road Trips.  Now that I am expecting my first child my ideas about healthy food I can eat on the run are expanded since it seems like I am always snacking on the go so I decided to bring you 10 More Healthy Road Trip Snacks.

1 - Leftover cold chicken from dinner the night before.  Snacks high in protein are good for energy, and if you are like me and season instead of sauce your meat than it makes for good finger food when chopped up in advance.

2 - Homemade protein bars.  I was told to get some of those carbohydrates out of my life so I like this recipe which is low carb, but there are many choices out there on the web.  These will fill you up until your next meal stop, and are much more cost effective then grabbing some from a gas station on the way.

3 - Coconut water.  This is my new favorite drink.  It hydrates like a sports drink in a natural way and tastes fantastic.  You can find it in the bottled water section of your grocery store.  I like mine a little bit watered down so I buy the big container and mix it with some water in a bottle to drink.  Make sure to bring a cooler with ice if this is on your list -- it tastes best cold.

4 - The super sandwich!  This is a trick that travels well and feeds many people all at once or just a few people for a long time.  Take a loaf of bread and make the entire loaf into sandwiches of your choice.  Then stack the sandwiched up and stuff them back in the original bag.  Take sandwiches off the top as needed without creating any additional waste.  This works best if all the sandwiches are the same type.

5 - Rice Cakes make a great portable snack, but they can get a little boring.  Spread some peanut butter between two plain rice cakes for flavor, nutrition, and to keep the mess down.

6 - Portable fruits and vegetables are quick and easy to grab if you make a pit stop at a grocery store.  Try grapes, berries, cherry tomatoes, and baby carrots to start.

7 - Dehydrated fruits and vegetables are one of my favorite road foods.  If you have a health food orientated grocery store nearby you may have many fresh selections.  If you are in a regular old grocery store look for these products in the candy isle or with the fruits and vegetables.  It is also quite easy to make your own if you have a food dehydrator.

8 - Yogurt is quick, easy, and very portable.  You can combine it with some of that fresh fruit mentioned earlier for an even better snack.

9 - Mini Hummus Sandwiches can be made by spreading hummus between two pits slices.  Cut these small to serve as a snack or leave large to serve as a lunchtime sandwich.  Hummus comes in a variety of flavors at the grocery store or make your own by simply blending chic peas, olive oil, garlic, and spices of your choice in a food processor.

10 - Healthy Mini Muffins can be made in advance for a sweeter, but still healthy treat.  Choose your recipe wisely to pack in the most nutrition.  Here's a good recipe idea to get you started.

Enjoy your journey!


* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Spring Cleaning Update

I think following up is important -- so I wanted to give you an update on my Spring Cleaning for this year.

Here's what I have gotten done so far ...

UPSTAIRS

Upstairs Bath - Deep clean everything.  Grab a new smaller scrub brush to get into some of the deep crevices in the bath tub.  Don't forget baseboards, and steam cleaning floor.  Also clean out drawers and under the sink throwing away anything outdated.  Wash cloth shower curtain & replace plastic curtain liner.

Linen Closet - Refold where needed, and wash white towels with bleach.  Revisit miscellaneous section at the top of the closet and see if there is anything that can be donated.

Husband's Closet - Make sure clothes are all on matching hangers - donate the random ones.  Arrange shirts by season, and search for fallen clothes in the corners.  He just donated recently so there probably won't be much in here to get rid of.

Baby's Room - Organize our stuff in the back of the large closet packaging up random things, and donating anything not needed.  Possibly find a better place for my boxed up wedding dress.  Bring any baby product boxes we are saving out to garage.  Wash remaining baby clothes, crib sheets & cloth diapers to prepare for baby.  Scrub baseboards.

Master Bedroom - Clean out closet and dresser.  Pack up winter clothes, and clothes that do not fit right now to make room for maternity clothes.  Clean out dresser.  There should be some clothing donations from this room.  Clean out bedside table.  Bring clothes in dry cleaner pile to the dry cleaner.  Clean baseboards.  Nourish wood furniture.

Loft & General - Vacuum all rooms upstairs including staircase & wash baseboards in loft.  Loft is still waiting on furniture so doesn't need additional cleaning. 

DOWNSTAIRS

Kitchen - Check cabinets that were cleaned and organized recently for anything out of place.  Deep clean refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher.  For the dishwasher I like to sprinkle with baking soda and run on a full cycle empty to get a good deep clean.  Wash baseboards, and wood floor.  Pantry should still be almost clean, but a touch up will be needed.  Get a shelf to organize spice cabinet.  Find a better location for champagne flutes.  Move out refrigerator and dishwasher to clean behind.  Wash top of refrigerator.  Wipe down surfaces.

Hall Closet & Entry Way - Wash wood floors and baseboards.  Clean out shoe basket.  Add a bin for purses on top shelf, and grocery bags on bottom to keep better organized.

Bath - Deep clean same as upstairs.

Dining Room - Baseboards & nourish dining table and chairs.

Living Room - Baseboards & nourish furniture.  Wash pillow covers, and dust everything thoroughly.  Wipe glass on frames.

OUTDOORS

Garage - All set thanks to my husband cleaning it out after he built us a fabulous bookshelf for the loft.

Back Porch - Wash with water to get rid of pollen.  Vacuum carpet & get rid of pots with dead flowers.  get husband to deep clean grill.  Think about a pretty plant or two in the landscaping.



So in a nutshell I still need to do baseboards throughout, put a bin in the linen closet for purses & Vacuum outdoors.  The baseboards are my nemesis since I am currently 34 weeks pregnant so I may have to enlist some help on that one.  The other stuff is easy.  Spring cleaning was a snap this year -- the list helped, and I just tackled it all one room at a time!


* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Healthy Picnicking

It is perfect picnic time of the year so grab some natural bug spray or make your own, and plan a sweet little afternoon with some delightful goodies.

A few weeks ago my husband and I stumbled on the perfect picnic location - it was an old civil war plantation on a river that was just far enough a walk from parking that no one else was wandering around.  We climbed up to the second floor porch, plopped down on some old wooden rocking chairs and enjoyed the picnic that he created.

When we went to the grocery store to grab some picnic treats, but were unable to find any bread fresh enough for our afternoon adventure so we ended up skipping it.

On the menu ...

Salami & Swiss Roll Ups for my husband which were simply slices of Swiss cheese and salami rolled up with a toothpick to hold them together.

Caprese Salad for me!  In a reusable container my husband stacked layers of fresh basil, roma tomatoes, and fresh mozarella cheese with a sprinkle of sea salt on top.

On the side fresh grapes already washed and plucked from the stems, and some bottles of coconut water to keep hydrated.

Our no-bread picnic was lovely, and will be on my to-do list for future romantic weekends.



* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Farm Share & Meal Planning

I am taking a Monday off from my weekly meal plan ... so what put a wrench in my new habit?

I signed up last week for a CSA farm share with a local farm that does drop offs close to my home.  They have a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and for an upfront fee I get a variety box of whatever is fresh for 12 weeks.  I enjoyed buying from this farm at my local farmers market, and love the convince of picking up a box each week and planning my meals around what is inside.

This is my first time doing a farm share even though it has been on my mind for several years now.  With my move to the Charleston, SC area I suddenly had many options to finally purchase a farm share.  I am not sure what to expect in the box that I will pick up on Tuesday so I am temporarily putting my meal planning on hold.

Just thinking about the box that will be waiting for me on Tuesday inspired my photographic mind, as well as wondering what new recipes I will discover.  So for this blog post I wanted to share a few resources that I bookmarked to re-visit when my box arrives.

15 Fresh Vegetable Side Dishes for Summer from Delish

Fruit & Vegetable Recipes from All Recipes

Farm Share Survival Guide from Babble

Recipes from Local Dish

So the plan is to go the grocery store and stock up on some meats for the freezer, and other basics.  Then I will see what it in my box tomorrow and go from there!

If you are interested in trying out a farm share check out Local Harvest -- that's where I found mine!


* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

$550 It's Raining Cash Giveaway

  Welcome to the $550 It's Raining Cash Giveaway hosted by Giveaway Promote.   We've joined a fantastic group of bloggers to give away $550 in cash via PayPal to one lucky person. Just complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway. One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries.   Bloggers, join us in an upcoming giveaway event! Sign up and we'll keep you posted about future group events, like this one, hosted by Giveaway Promote. If you'd also like to hear about all other events currently open for blogger sign-ups, subscribe to Giveaway Promote's weekly group giveaway events and hops newsletter.  

This giveaway is open worldwide. It will end at 11:59pm EST on April 29th, 2012.

Blog : Our Nourishing Journey

Welcome to Week #2 of Food Blogger Friday. Each week I will be featuring a new food blog in order to expand my reading list & discover new recipes. If you are interested in having your blog featured here's a link to the post with full details. 

Food Blogger Friday

Our Nourishing Journey

Author : Linnae

My name is Linnae and I am passionate about good food! I live in Minnesota with my husband, son, 2 dogs and 4 cats.  I started blogging in November 2011 because I wanted to spread the word about what good nutrition has done to cure my son's autism and my anxiety. You can read his amazing story here and mine here.

My blog Our Nourishing Journey is all about how food really can heal. I provide recipes, techniques, food info and really anything else that has helped us along the way. It is a work in progress and I have so many great ideas! I wish there were more time in the day to be able to achieve them all at once, but I realize I have to do one thing at a time. Right now, the blog is purely informative. I am hoping to have more time to blog soon, I want to focus on more recipes, specifically ethnic and cultured foods.

My favorite food  is probably bacon. No wait, it's butter... no wait... oven fried chicken skin ... oh but I love chocolate so much too! It's so hard to pick just one! Right now I can have all the bacon, butter, chicken skins I want but I have to avoid chocolate because we are on the GAPS diet. Someday I hope to enjoy chocolate again. (On a side note, Easter and my birthday are coming up so I will be enjoying a wee bit of chocolate- I figure you've got to live a little too! I have been on the GAPS diet for almost a year so I think it'll be ok! Wink!) It's probably a good thing all my favorite foods are fats (except the chocolate, of course) because that's so important on the GAPS diet.

On my blog you will find some great recipes for healing foods. For instance you can start your day off right with a Power Packed Smoothie, and if you are daring enough and really want to pack in the nutrition try the Breakfast of Champions. Or for a great afternoon snack you can treat yourself to some Homemade soda that is actually good for you and Crispy Kale Chips. And if you really want to boost your health, learn how to make some Fabulous Ferments! That's just a sampling of what's on my blog; there is so much more to come!!

The bottom line is that I want people to know that eating healthy can be easy, and eating to heal your body doesn't have to be hard. So, whether you have no physical ailments and just want better health or you have some health problems that you would like to try to heal, there are real food solutions. My blog is just in the beginning stages and I have tons of information that I want to share with you so check back often. Or better yet, sign up for my mailing list and watch me grow. I would love to hear from you on facebook, twitter and pinterest as well. 

* Images & text copyright 2012 Our Nourishing Journey.

Loving Life's Details

I often write about appreciating the little things in life, but it is a topic that I think bears repeating.  One thing that I really enjoy about the area where I live is the abundance of old trees.  In the midst of new developments, I am still able to find areas where ancient trees have stood the test of time.  Sometimes they are hidden in strange places throughout the city.  I consider these the lucky trees that were somehow chosen to remain standing while others fell.  Most of the time they are off in parks or countryside and beg for me to pull over and admire their detail.  Spring is the perfect time to admire natures beauty, and I often find myself wondering what each tree has bore witness to over its lifetime.  Mysterious, luxurious, and beautiful each tree inspires me to appreciate the little things in my life.


* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Walking in Charleston

I couldn't be happier with the wide variety of walking spots in and around Charleston, SC.  I moved here in September 2011, and soon found out I was expecting my first child.  This made walking the best exercise to keep my pregnant body in shape.  Now in my 8th month of exploring the area with my husband I am happy to report many a trail walked dozens of times and that we still frequently discover new spots to stroll in the afternoon or a crisp weekend morning.  Walking has been good for our health, but also provides me with the best conversations with my husband.  It is a free, healthy activity that keeps me emotionally close with my soul mate.  Happiness fills my world, and I am thankful for each step we take together.


* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Photography Lately

This blog was founded on the idea that as a professional photographer I have many images to share that are photographed about healthy lifestyle topics inspired by my day to day life.  I have written about recipes, food, weekend adventures, and fitness among other things.  This blog has not only brought traffic to my images as a product, but has also been an enjoyable creative outlet for me when I am not in the studio creating new images.

Life has changed lately, and I have strayed from my clockwork post a day format.  I am 32 weeks pregnant, still working full time hours, and have to admit that I am slowing down a little.  I am not only slowing down in regularity of blog posts, but I have also slowed down in the amount of stock imagery that I produce on a day to day basis.  Client work (product photography) has become the highest priority leaving little time for the stock photography that I love so much. 

My goal is to take several months off from client work so I can focus on my new baby before coming back to the business in the fall.  So priorities have shifted, and I am beginning to look into the future with the blog.  I hope to prepare articles in advance to give me some time off when the baby arrives, and have implemented a new feature called Food Blogger Friday where I will have a weekly guest blog post in order to take some of the work off my to-do list.

So bear with me during this time of transition, and I promise to keep the healthy lifestyle articles and photography coming as frequently as I can. 

Today's post features an image taken for stock of one of my favorite pregnancy cravings - blueberries.  Normally I would have taken many images of this sweet fruit, but in my state I only got two accomplished before I just have to give in and eat them up!


* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Week #11 Meal Plan

Welcome to Week #11 of my meal planning experiment!


I am exhausted this week as I write this blog post, and not feeling too adventurous so I think I will pick mostly from old favorites and have a week of comfort food.

Here's the plan for this week :

{old favorites}

Sausage Stuffed Shells & Homemade Sauce - frozen from past cooking days to make for an easy dinner.

Steak with Quick Mushroom "Risotto"

Roasted Chicken with Mixed Vegetables

Lemon Pepper Marinated Pork Chops on the Grill with Grilled Asparagus

Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms & Green Beans

{new recipes} 

Maple Mustard Pork Tenderloin with Baked Sweet Potatoes
Lemon Chicken Stir Fry

{baking project - if I have time!}
Low Carb Chewy Chocolate Fudge Protein Bars

View my other meal planning blog entries at this link.  They are all packed with good recipes so enjoy!



* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Blog : Natural Health & Prevention

I am starting a new feature this week that I like to think of as Food Blogger Friday.  Each week I will be featuring a new food blog in order to expand my reading list & discover new recipes.  If you are interested in having your blog featured here's a link to the post with full details.  This is a project that I have wanted to get rolling since the blog was born, and I am excited to finally share the first installment with you!

Food Blogger Friday

Natural Health & Prevention

Author : Jessica

My name is Jessica and I started my blog in 2011.  After being a nurse for 10 years and encountering some health issues that the "modern" medical field could do nothing to help, I turned to the holistic world of medicine where I found help and healing.  As a result, I decided to enroll in Vintage Remedies' Holistic Wellness Practitioner Program (which I have completed) and their Clinical Master Herbalist Program, which I am currently working through.  I am also enrolled in the East West School of Herbal and Aromatic Studies to become an Advance Aromatherapy Practitioner.  I started my blog to share all the wonderful things I am learning about natural health and to be a resource and practitioner for those who are looking for a gentle, natural way to heal their bodies.

My blog discusses many aspects of natural living, including diet, herbs, aromatherapy, homeopathy and more!  I have always enjoyed being in the kitchen and love it even more, now that I have converted to an organic whole foods diet.  In fact, my sister and I are currently writing a cookbook, which we hope to release this winter to help those who wish to make the transition from the SAD (Standard American Diet) to a Whole Foods Diet.  We love to encourage people to embrace a local, organic diet.  I also like to discuss herbal and aromatic remedies, showing others just how easily natural remedies can be incorporated into one's life.  I want to empower others to learn the beauty of natural remedies and take an active role in caring for and healing their bodies.

A favorite food...so hard to pick just one!  I think I will have to pick sourdough.   One of my favorite pastimes in making sourdough products for our family, grinding my own grain into fresh ready to use flour.  Every week we enjoy sourdough bread, sourdough cake, and/or sourdough pancakes.  I love working with new varieties of sourdough recipes creating all kinds of family favorite recipes.  I tend to use soft wheat (a lower gluten form of wheat), kamut, spelt, and oat groats when I make my sourdough products.  This will be a bit denser than using white flour, but they are delicious and surprisingly light and airy.  One of our favorite treats is a loaf of hot out of the oven sourdough bread dunked in fresh organic olive oil from a local farmer, and pink salt.  Just can't be beat!

I would enjoy sharing five links to recipes on my blog.  

*Coconut Curry Sweet Potato Soup with Greens

*Cultured Strawberry Applesauce

*Delicious Medicinal Chai

*Preparing a Proper Herbal Infusion

*Preparing a Proper Herbal Decoction

As you will see from reading my blog, I am passionate about teaching others how to care for their bodies using natural remedies and proper nutrition.  You can connect with me on my blog, facebook, and my pintrest page.  I love to see the growing number of bloggers who share a similar vision, one of whom is my sister. She has an excellent blog called Whole Foods on a Budget, which is a great resource for those looking to eat an organic, whole foods diet, but don't want to spend an arm and a leg in the process!  I am also a contributing writer for the Nourishedl Living Network, an amazing group of bloggers who discuss all aspects of healthy living.  We would love to have you stop by and take a look at our website and our facebook page. 

Spring Cleaning Progress

I recently wrote about my personal plan for spring cleaning in this post.  Well ... I am glad that it is still spring because my progress has been slow!  I am expecting my first child, and still working full time at Brooke Photo Studio so my time has been limited.

I decided to start upstairs and work my way down.  All of the big closet cleaning projects are up there so better to knock those out first!  I tackled the closet in the baby's room first which was quite the undertaking.  Somehow the baby ended up with the big walk in closet so we had some miscellaneous things in there that needed to get donated, moved, and re-organized.  Now we are down to just a few non-baby items in the closet including our suits & gowns, the boxed up wedding dress and a few other boxes.  This left lots of shelf space for the baby supplies that we have collected along the way and at the shower as well as plenty of room to store larger items we are not yet using like the swing and high chair.  I also washed all of the baby clothes and arranged them by size on hangers in the closet leaving the dresser for the smaller items like socks, burp cloths, swaddle blankets, etc.  The nursery looks fantastic, and could not be more organized if it tried.  I still have to scrub the baseboards, and wash the cloth diapers, but that room is just where we need it to be for a baby due June 1st.

Now I am in the closet in the master bedroom which is where I keep my clothing which is quite the task to tackle.  I am trying to organize and separate clothes into categories so I can easily switch things out after baby arrives.  Between maternity clothes, and regular clothes there is more going on than usual and I don't want to donate too much until I see where my body is after baby.  I am hoping to get off work about an hour early to continue this project so I can move on to the rest of the upstairs this weekend which in comparison should be a snap!

* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

Week 10 Meal Plan

Welcome to Week #10 of my meal planning experiment!

Last week involved a lot of things to do and celebrating so we didn't get to eat all of the planned meals - I didn't even make it to the grocery store until Friday!  My husband made some of his fabulous pasta sauce & turkey meatballs over the weekend so that gives us a good supply in the freezer as well as to enjoy during the week.

Here's the plan for this week :

{old favorites}

Mostly Veggie with some Chicken Fajitas (No recipe here - I just poach the chicken and steam the veggies)
Pasta & Turkey Meatballs Leftover from the Weekend Cooking Spree!

{new recipes} 

Chicken Cacciatore
Maple Mustard Pork Tenderloin
Lemon Chicken Stir Fry

Mini Greek Lamb Burgers with Roasted Potatoes

{baking project - if I have time!}
Black Bean Brownies as suggested by An Organic Wife - You may have noticed that I haven't baked since the beginning weeks of this experiment!  It is still on my to-do list and someday I will find the time.

View my other meal planning blog entries at this link.  They are all packed with good recipes so enjoy!



* Images & text copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio

5 Kitchen Gadgets I Love

Browsing through shops I am always amazed at the wide variety of kitchen gadgets.  You could quickly become convinced that you need a different gadget to chop or cook every food item that you bring in the kitchen!

I enjoy simplicity so I keep gadgets to a minimum, but in the kitchen I do have a few favorites.  What kitchen gadgets can you not live without?

5 Kitchen Gadgets I Love

* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Slideshow Images courtesy of Amazon.  Main post image copyright 2012 Brooke Photo Studio.