Soaked Oatmeal With Gluten-Free Option

Soaked Oatmeal With Gluten-Free Option

Yields: 2 servings

Ingredients

Step One: Soaking Oats
• 1 cup organic oats make sure it is not quick oats
• 1 tbsp rolled rye flakes (For Gluten Free see note below)
• 1 tsp raw apple cider vinegar (or fresh-squeezed lemon juice)
• Pinch of Celtic sea salt
Step Two: Cooking
• 1 1/4 cup plain homemade almond milk (or raw whole milk)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon( Be sure not to add to much cinnamon as this can lower you sugar)
• 1/3 cup your favorite fruit, raisins, cherries, blueberries or a combo (Remember dried fruit is higher in sugar so I personally do not recommend it)
• Pure organic raw honey to taste (about 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoon or less if you are trying to control your sugar or you can omit this part and just use fruits to sweeten the oatmeal)

Instructions On Soaking Oats

Step One: Soaking Instructions
1. Place above ingredients into a glass mixing bowl or jar. Add enough warm filtered water to completely cover the mixture by 1-2 inches. Mix well to combine.
2. Cover the bowl or jar and place it in a warm area of your kitchen for about 12-24 hours.
Step Two: Cooking Instructions
3. Once soaking time is completed, drain oat mixture in a fine-mesh strainer and gently rinse.
4. Add drained oat mixture to a small saucepan. Add milk and bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Immediately turn down heat and add cinnamon. Stir frequently and continue to simmer another couple of minutes or so, until oatmeal is cooked to desired consistency. My daughter likes it when it is a bit mushy so I cook it for a little longer but not to much or it will become a paste.
5. Sweeten with raw organic honey to taste. Serve into individual serving bowls and top with a little bit of milk or organic yogurt.

Notes

For Gluten Free: If you’re gluten-free and are able to tolerate oats, I recommend using certified Gluten Free rolled oats and combining them with ground buckwheat groats (not rye) for your soak. Buckwheat is actually a fruit, not a grain, and is completely gluten-free. It's often sold as buckwheat "cereal" (because it's slightly ground).

Substitutions: If you do not have access to rolled rye flakes, you can always use rye, whole spelt 

Alternate Serving Option: Follow above recipe, except do not include fruit or cinnamon and just serve the cooked oatmeal into a bowl and top with a bit of plain whole milk yogurt and fresh seasonal berries.

Ground Buckwheat Groats

Organic Buckwheat Groats are the hulled seeds of the buckwheat plant. These soft white seeds have a mild flavor, but when toasted or roasted, they have a delightfully intense flavor. 

Quick Oats– These have been pre-steamed, rolled very thinly and cut into smaller pieces. They are not nearly as flavorful as other options. They are the thinnest.

Rolled oats are traditionally oat groats that have been de-husked, steamed and then rolled into flat flakes under heavy rollers before being stabilized by being lightly toasted. Also rolled oats that are sold as oatmeal usually, but not always, have had the tough bran removed. They have often, but not always, been lightly baked or pressure-cooked or "processed" in some fashion.

Steel-cut oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into pieces. Steel-cut oats come in different grades depending on the size of the pieces: pinhead (the largest), coarse, medium and fine. Steel-cut oats take longer to cook than instant or rolled oats due to their minimal processing, typically 15–30 minutes (less, if pre-soaked). 

Here’s an extract from Nourishing Traditions which explains the reason for soaking your oats

All grains contain phytic acid (an organic acid in which phosphorous is bound) in the outer layer or bran. Untreated phytic acid can combine with calcium, magnesium, copper, iron especially zinc in the intestinal track and block their absorption.

This is why a diet high in un-fermented whole grains may led to serious mineral deficiencies and bone loss. The modern misguided practice of consuming large amounts of unprocessed bran often improves colon transit time at first but may lead to irritable bowel syndrome and, in the long term, many other adverse effects. 

Soaking allows enzyme, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to break down and neutralize phytic acid. As little as seven hours of soaking in warm acidulated water will neutralize a large portion of phytic acid in grains. The simple practice of soaking cracked or rolled cereal grains overnight will vastly improve their nutritional benefits.

Resources:  WebMD.The Nourishing Home,Keeper Of The Home, Uncle Toby, The Kitchn

Homemade Strawberry Lemonade Blast

I wanted to share with you this recipe I came up with when I wasn't sure what to drink. I was so thirsty but not for water and of course I didn't want to head for the soda. So I decided to make a quick refreshing drink made with only four items.

What you'll need...

• 2 bottles of water
• 1 Lemon
• Five strawberries, fresh or frozen.
• Sugar (if you feel you need a bit)

First you start out pouring both bottles in your cup or mason jar. Don't fill it up too much just enough to add sugar later.

Now after we pour the water, you squeeze the lemon in. If the seeds fall in that's okay, just get a tight nit strainer and strain it out. After you have squeezed the lemon, in a blender or food processor  put the strawberries with a bit of the lemon water you made and process away.Until it's a bit smooth and chunky at the same time.

Then just mix into the glass and add a bit of sugar or stevia if needed.

Now Enjoy!! your homemade strawberry lemonade blast!! 

I made my family quite a few that we can save for during the week. 

Enjoy! :) 

Easy Watercress Salad

This is a a very easy watercress salad to make and it has great health benefits. If you have never eaten watercress it has a bit of a pepper taste and looks like a mini tree in your bowl.

All you will need for this recipe will be

Watercress
Radishes
Extra virgin olive oil
Pink Himalayan Salt

Take your watercress a small bushel should be enough for one person if you will be severing more this of course will change.  Give them a quick rinse and place in your bowl, at this time also rinse of your radishes and cut off the ends and cut them thinly be sure to be careful when cutting and add to your salad bowl.

Salt to taste and and a small amount of olive oil, remember this will change depending how many will be served but always follow the rule of thumb less is best and their you are all done and ready to enjoy your watercress salad.

Watercress 
Eating watercress daily has the ability to significantly reduce DNA damage to blood cells and further to resist DNA damage caused by free radicals, according to a two-year research project at the University of Ulster.

Watercress is very low in calories, but contains phytonutrients like isothiocyanates and antioxidants with a plethora of disease-preventive properties. Gluconasturtiin, a glucosinolate compound providing the peppery flavor, is one of them, contained in the leaves and stems and providing phenethyl isothiocyanates, shown to inhibit carcinogens.

Manganese is a cofactor for the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase, and calcium for strong bones and teeth come in high doses when you eat watercress.

Radishes
Radishes are part of the Brassicaceae family Radishes also have both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Some of the most important nutrients and minerals found in radishes include potassium, vitamin C, folate, fiber, manganese, copper, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B6, riboflavin and sodium.

Pink Himalayan Salt
A natural and ridiculously pure mineral substance it is gathered from the Himalayan Mountains has been used for thousands and thousands of years. Himalayan salt is made of the same components as table salt but since the crystal structure is larger than refined salt, and by volume- this salt therefore has LESS sodium per 1/4 t. serving- because the sea salt crystals or flakes take up less room on a teaspoon than highly refined tiny table salt grains.

Packs a hearty 80+ minerals and elements- Himalayan salts are mineral packed crystals which formed naturally within the earth made up of 85.62% sodium chloride and 14.38% other trace minerals including: sulphate, magnesium, calcium, potassium, bicarbonate, bromide, borate, strontium, and fluoride (in descending order of quantity).

Flavored Fruit Water

I did a post a while back on on grilling hot dogs and I was asked about the drink and here it is a very easy drink you can make anytime and much healthier for you, more affordable and you get a treat after you are done with your drink.

All you will need to make this flavored water is filtered water, 1/3 of an organic lemon and two organic strawberry. Make sure to wash them and cut them up place them in your glass or mason jar put in the fridge let it sit there until it gets cold and enjoy

There you go very easy and simple, you can do this also with other fruits of your choice just remember to not add more fruit than water.

And a side note shortly I will be moving the blog, I will post when 

Banana Porridge With Cream Yogurt

This banana porridge is so easy to make because you don't have to use oats, so you don't have to cook it quick and easy. This is a very simple breakfast or snack that you can make at anytime and it doesn't take much effort and it is really healthy for you.

You will need:

1. Yogurt Brown Cow plain cream top

2. Nature Nate's Raw Unfiltered Honey

3. Cinnamon

4. Banana

All you will need are these four (4) ingredients and you will have a really tasty treat and a healthy one. 

1.Pour some of the yogurt in a bowl or cup as much as you would like to eat.

2.Then add a tablespoon of the raw honey to taste

3.Half a teaspoon of cinnamon

4.Cut up one (1) the banana in small pieces

and mix well to combine all the ingredients and enjoy a healthy low calorie treat and a good source of energy.

The reason for the cream yogurt,because it makes more of a porridge feel, you can substitute it with regular yogurt or Greek just make sure to make it organic. You can also substitute the bananas with other fruits that you like, no dried fruit as they have a higher sugar content. Enjoy