Real Food: Organic Raw Cacao Chocolate Pudding

Chocolate pudding...It's delicious, it's my hubbies favorite sweet and if you make it from a box. You are pretty much eating chemicals.

Sugar, Cornstarch, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Food Starch Modified, Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Natural & Artificial Flavor, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And Cottonseed Oil, Calcium Carrageenan (Texturizer), Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1

Sugar, cornstarch, cottonseed oil and soybean oil is pretty much guaranteed to be GMO. Chemical colorants that are actually listed on FDA website to cause hyperactivity in children.

Carrageenan has no nutritional value and linked to inflammatory illnesses and ups the chances of developing diabetes.

Homemade real food chocolate pudding?
Cacao powder
Tapioca starch
Raw cane sugar
Egg Yolks
Milk
Cream
a little organic semi-sweet chocolate
a pat of butter
DONE

Ingredients you can pronounce. With healthy fats and protein. Oh and by the way...
Done in 10 minutes time. You can totally eat it right away (it's delicious) Or you can wait 45 minutes to let it harden a little.

I even made it 2 ways, regular refrigerated chocolate pudding (which is for the hubs) and pudding pops for me and the kiddos =)

For 8 servings...you need:
2 tablespoons raw Cacao Powder*
2 tablespoons Tapioca Starch*
5 tablespoons raw pure cane sugar*
2 egg yolks*
2 cups whole milk*
4 tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips*
.5 tablespoons butter*

* organic ingredients

Whisk together all dry ingredients. in a medium sauce pan. Slowly pour in milk and yolks.

After all ingredients are fully incorporated, add in cream and bring to a slow rolling boil. About 8 minutes with continuous whisking.

Once pudding has thickened add in chocolate and butter and whisk to combine.

Pour into 8 ramekins or pudding molds.. Let set 45 minutes and up until over night and enjoy =)

PS:
If you are tracking calories this recipe is uploaded under "House of J: Real Food Chocolate Pudding" on Myfitnesspal.com

117 calories, 13.5g carbohydrates, 6.4g fat, 3.4g proteins,9.6g sugar, 38g sodium

xo-J

Real Food: Tropical Greens Breakfast Smoothie

I am not really a breakfast person. I LOVE breakfast food, but I am just not good at eating in the morning.

I rather drink 3 cups of coffee...

One thing that's easier for me is making smoothies. I posted the yummy chocolate one here.  Now its time for a yummy tropical fruit version. Except this one has GREENS instead of protein! Feel free to switch them out or use both! Breakfast is SO important to a healthy, active lifestyle, but for me it is one of the hardest meals to eat. Mornings with a 14 month old and a 3 year old are HECTIC and taking care of mama just takes a backseat sometimes! 

Smoothies are so easy, and PORTABLE! 

I have a love for Amazing Grass Goji Greens because they are so fruity and tangy I don't even taste the "greens" part!

In a blender goes 8oz preferred juice. I LOVE the orange, peach mango combination*. Very "tropical" =)

1 Kiwi Fruit*

5 Large Strawberries*

I sachet Greens*

1 cup of ice.

Blend on high for 1 minute and enjoy =)

* organic 

Real Food: Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I promise that House Of J will not turn into a diet food only recipe blog. There are plenty of those. But what I will promise is to keep it at least on the "spectrum" of healthy eating.

My families choice to eat organic is based on lots of research and some health factors that play a part in our specific journey.

For me... Finding alternatives to food I love that pack more punch when it comes to vegetables, nutritional benefit and dietary benefit is absolutely essential.

Low and behold... The cauliflower pizza craze.

When I decided I'd like to try it, I had heard it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. So I called in reinforcement! A friend and I decided to tackle cauliflower pizza head on and we are so glad we did because it was out of this world amazing!!

You need:

1 head of cauliflower "riced" (grated in a food processor until very fine)
lots of spices and flavorings like oregano basil and yummy garlic
1.5 cups shredded asiago cheese
olive oil
1 egg
tomato sauce of your choice ( homemade is always better )
mozzarella & pecorino romano cheese

Take your grated cauliflower and boil it on medium heat for 3 minutes. Use a strainer to to catch it and then wrap in a dishtowel or cheese cloth. We used a few paper towels in a strainer and it worked great :)

Squeeze ALL liquid from the cauliflower and return it to the food processor with your egg, asiago, garlic, basil and oregano.

line a baking sheet with parchment and shape "dough" into a Sicilian pie( rectangle ). Brush a little EVOO on top and bake at 450 for 20-30 minutes

Add your toppings and return to the oven for another 8-10 minutes or until all your cheese has melted.

Be sure to put more seasoning on top as well! You can never have enough basil, garlic and oregano!

Cut into 8 slices and share with your friends :)

xo-J

Real Food: Organic whole wheat chicken enchiladas with raw milk queso & green chiles

Mexican food is my weakness. It's also probably the most GM(genetically modified) restaurant food there is.

Lots of canola oils, corn meals, etc etc etc. But making your own at home is never as satisfying as grabbing a burrito at your favorite spot with a big frothy margarita along side it.

Until now...

This recipe is the real deal. It incorporates slow cooked chicken, delicious queso and organic whole wheat tortillas. Serve it with some organic chips and guac and you are good to go. Even hubby was impressed!

There are a few steps so it is definitely a plan in advance meal. The first step, is the longest. You need organic boneless skinless chicken breast and organic chicken broth. I'd like to say I am brand loyal but with organic food being so costly I buy what is on sale.

You can even use frozen chicken breasts, for this recipe I made 3 breasts and had enough for leftovers.

In your crockpot or slow cooker goes 1 box of organic chicken broth and your chicken breasts, cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken shreds with a fork.

Put shredded chicken back into crock pot for 30 minutes to let those shreds soak up all of that yummy chicken flavor.

I buy the 365 store baked whole wheat organic tortillas, as I haven't yet mastered the art of tortilla making.

As for your queso, you need:

2 tablespoons butter(organic)
half of a green pepper (minced)
1.5 tablespoons organic flour
2.5 oz raw milk sharp cheddar (cut into tiny bits)
1 cup cream on top, not ultra pasteurized whole milk (or raw if you can get it)
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon season salt.

In a pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter and your green pepper and saute until peppers are soft.
Add in your other tablespoon butter and flour and whisk until smooth and pastey (a rue)
Add in milk and cheese and simmer on low until all ingredients have incorporated.

Add in spices and simmer on lowest setting.

Meanwhile, grab your tortillas and start piling on the chicken and to each one add in about 1 tablespoon of your queso. Fold  like a burrito and place in a pyrex or oven safe dish.

I made 5 enchiladas with chicken to spare. Once you've completed building your enchiladas, pour remaining queso over top and then your green chile sauce.  I found a really great local to Colorado brand with NO chemicals!! Or you can make your own =)

For those of you that use MYFITNESSPAL.com to track your calories, I've added the Raw Milk Queso to the HOUSE OF J food list =)

Chocolate Berry Protein Shake

Dieting...ugh even the word DIET stinks. I've been on the very slow process of "lifestyle change" for a good 7 years now.

I'm getting a little personal because I think reading a REAL story is more motivating.

Before my little munchkins I was a gym-going, kickboxing class loving powerhouse, but I still ate crappy food. With the excuse of course that I just burned 800 calories at the gym. This worked for awhile, I got down to my smallest weight, probably a year before I met my hubby. Which for me was a comfortable size 14.

After two kiddos, a galbladder surgery and other "bumps in the road" I've moved back up to a size 18.

My family and I have been on a natural and organic path for a long time. With the except of eating out or delivery pizza, our cabinets remain pretty healthy. My kiddos are on a much stricter organic food lifestyle than myself and hubby but it was time that I lived up to my own rules for them, for myself...

Now, am I ever going to get Mr. J to not have some tacos or pizza? NO am I ever going to give up tacos or pizza? probably not.. But we can make 99.9% of our eating choices healthy with the occasional splurge not throwing me off track.

I don't eat salad, Its gross to me, the texture, the wetness I'm not a rabbit. Sorry. So the salad "dieting" thing just doesn't work for me. But REAL food that I can enjoy cooking and enjoy eating does work. If I don't know what an ingredient is, I don't buy it or eat it. I also really try to  avoid GM ingredients. Almost impossible if you go to a restaurant but easy enough to accomplish if you do some research, know the foods and ingredients to avoid and make most meals yourself.

I wanted to share just a super simple, filling smoothie recipe that has really come in handy for me. Its 100% natural really helps me avoid "snacking" between meals.

Protein shakes are a tricky subject. Pre-made mixes are usually packed with sugar and chemicals.Its hard not to get caught up in THINKING you are drinking something healthy when indeed you are not. A friend recently told me about Jillian Michael's protein blend and I was SHOCKED at the ingredients..

I highlighted the ones that were the most shocking:
Nutrition Information. Proprietary Protein Blend 19G, %Daily Value Not Established: Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate). Bcaa Blend (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine). Ingredients: Proprietary Protein Blend ((Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate), Bcaa Blend (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine)), Buttermilk Powder, Inulin, Oat Fiber, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Fructose, Xanthan Gum, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Stevia Extract (Stevia Rebaudiana) (Leaf). Contains Milk And Soy Ingredients. Contains Small Amounts Of Soy Lecithin To Improve Mixability. Typical Amino Acid Profile (Milligrams Per 27 G Scoop****): Essential Amino Acids: Histidine 309 Mg, Isoleucine 952 Mg, Leucine 1,744 Mg, Lysine, 1,262 Mg, Methionine 302 Mg, Phenylalanine 463 Mg, Threonine 1,086 Mg, Tryptophan***** 232 Mg, Valine 915 Mg. Nonessential Amino Acids: Alanine 624 Mg, Arginine 418 Mg, Aspartic Acid 1,586 Mg, Cysteine 294 Mg, Glutamic Acid 2,005 Mg, Glycine 263 Mg, Proline 812 Mg, Serine 806 Mg, Tyrosine 423 Mg. ***Daily Value Not Established For Sugars. ****Approximate Values. *****L-Tryptophan Is Naturally Occurring, Not Added.

so this "health" food is #1 being sweetened TWICE, and #2 they aren't telling you the value of the sugar added? I know there are mixed thoughts on Stevia, but it is a danger to your health..For more info on Stevia, check this 100Days Of Real Food

I also wanted to add that, soy lechitin isn't the worst ingredient but if it's not organic its pretty much guaranteed to be derived from GM-soy. 

OK.. enough of my babbling.. I hope you guys share this journey with me and enjoy my take on a filling, yummy protein smoothie :)

You need:
1 scoop RAW protein powder.(chocolate is my favorite) PLEASE splurge and get this one 
1/2 cup almond milk (Silk is non GM and if you buy the sweetened vanilla version its sweetened with cane juice, not refined sugar)
1 Tablespoon ground organic flax
1 cup frozen organic berries. I've used strawberries, cherries, raspberries all yummy :)
1/4 cup organic yogurt
ICE

I used up my fresh cherries in this recipe & strawberries so it actually came to 1 and 1/4 cup of fruit. I also want to add that brewer's yeast is actually included in the RAW protein blend, but if you choose a different organic protein blend that does not contain it, its a great benefit, JAM packed with B vitamins.

You can use a smoothie shaker, like this one ( mine was free when I bought the protein ) I used the NINJA Euro Pro. I really like it so far but only time will really tell, it does crush ice and frozen fruit with ease, and even minced the cherry skins fine enough where they just blended right into the smoothie.

If you use a shaker cup, i suggest just cutting up and mashing fresh fruit instead of using the frozen berries :)

I decided to label my recipes on Myfitnesspal.com as "House Of J" and then the title of the recipe. If you are looking to track your calories/carbs/sugars its a good tool to use and I've enjoyed it in the past as well as recently. The only thing I noticed is that my brand of strawberries (wild harvest organic) was REALLY high in carbs, almost double of some other brands.. So be mindful of the frozen fruit you select. I also use Full Fat dairy products because of their health benefits and also because low fat dairy usually contains sugar that is NOT on the label.

Enjoy :)