Mexican Hot Chocolate

One reason we love the holidays is the nostalgia, which harks back to those years we were little kids. Snow pants and sledding, fireplaces and family. Unfortunately, we’re adults now and have to beg our bosses for days off between Christmas and New Year's. As a make-good on growing older, we’ve got an iconic childhood treat—a mug of hot-chocolate—and made it adults-only with the help of George Clooney and his small-batch, ultra-premium Casamigos Tequila. Use premium, organic dark chocolate and reap the benefits of antioxidants and a little fiber, plus the compound capsaicin in cayenne acts as a pain reliever, which will be helpful after you wipe out snowboarding. This cocktail version is care of Pamela Wiznitzer , president of the New York chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild. Ellouise’s Note: Of course, I would never use tequila since I don’t drink but I like the idea of the pain relievers in cayenne because I’m in constant pain! Mexican Hot Chocolate INGREDIENTS High quality dark chocolate hot cocoa 1½ ounces Casamigos Reposado tequila ¼ ounces agave nectar © Romulo A Yanes 1 pinch cayenne powder 1 pinch salt 1 homemade marshmallow (optional) DIRECTIONS Prepare hot chocolate according to package directions. In a mug, stir together 4½ ounces hot chocolate, tequila, agave, cayenne and salt and top with marshmallow, if using. 193 calories per serving. Pro-tip: If you’re feeling a little pyro, take a kitchen torch—like the one you’d use for crème brûlée—to the top of the marshmallow after you’ve placed it in the mug.

Apple Juice Oatmeal

I have oatmeal nearly every day in one form or another. This is a simple version that requires no sugar to taste sweet! 1/2 cup apple juice (no sugar added) 1 cup oatmeal 1/4 cup raw hemp hearts Sugar free syrup, if desired Soak oatmeal and hemp hearts in apple juice overnight. Add more apple juice if needed. Cook very slowly until the oatmeal is very smooth, stirring occasionally. Add a bit of syrup of desired.

Acorn Squash, Roasted Carrots, Grilled Onions

Root vegetables on a cold day with a good book! Acorn squash Sweet Potatoes Onions Wash veggies with Fruit and Vegetable Rinse. Cut acorn squash in half (lengthwise or crosswise) and scoop out the seeds. Place upside down in about 1" of water in a baking pan. Bake at 400 for about 45 minutes (check by putting a fork into it. When it's soft, it's done. Cut sweet potatoes about 2" long and into slices. Place in a different roasting pan with a little olive oil, salt and rosemary leaves. Bake at 400 for about 30 minutes or, if you like them caramelized, you can bake longer. Chop onions and place into a skillet with a little olive oil. Fry the onions until the are caramelized.

Non-gluten Buckwheat Pancakes with Blueberries

Buckwheat isn't really wheat and so my gluten sensitive friends can eat it without reacting. Yea! Blueberries feed the brain, so this is an excellent breakfast. Bob's Red Mill buckwheat pancake mix Frozen blueberries Sugar free pancake syrup Mix up the buckwheat pancake mix as directed (I like it a little thinner than the recipe so I put a bit more liquid in) Heat a griddle fairly hot (like you would for crepes) Add a little olive oil Pour in the pancake mix (I like large ones) and let cook for a minute or so Add blueberries on top flip the pancake when there are bubbles all over the top Put Earth Balance on the pancake and some sugar free syrup.

Yummy Sort of Raw Lunch!

My favorite snack is quacamole and cauliflower (I don't like chips). To make that snack into a lunch, just add a few more veggies and some hummus. Cauliflower Baby Carrots Celery Hummus Guacamole Wash veggies with Fruit and Vegetable rinse. Cut cauliflower into medium florets. Cut celery into small pieces. Dip veggies into hummus and/or guacamole. My Chipotle hummus recipe works really well for this. It's on a previous post.

Kitchen Sink Blender Drink

For lunch, I love a blender drink. This one is quick, healthy, filling, and tasty! 2 cups cranberry juice (sugar free) 1 cup frozen blueberries 1/4 cup raw hemp hearts 1/4 cup cranberries 1 handful raw spinach 1 slice raw pineapple 2-3 bananas Put ingredients into VitaMix in order listed and blend until well blended. Drink and be healthy!

Cranberry Oatmeal with Blueberries and Hemp Hearts (can be a raw breakfast)

When I was a child, I ate Wheat Hearts every morning because I had to make my own breakfast and that's all I knew how to make. I piled on tons of sugar and butter to make it palatable. This is WAY healthier and much tastier and there's no sugar! Cranberries are very good for the bladder, hemp has a lot of protein and other nutrients, and oatmeal is a heart healthy choice. 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal 1/2 cup sugar free cranberry juice (add more as needed) 1/4 cup raw hemp hearts 1 cup frozen organic blueberries 1/4 cup cranberries (optional) 1/4 cup raw walnuts (optional) 2 bananas, sliced Sugar free syrup

Put the oatmeal in a pan with the cranberry juice and the raw hemp hearts. Soak overnight. If you are going to eat it raw, put the rest of the ingredients into a blender and blend them up. It's delicious that way! To cook, turn on low heat and cook slowly until the oatmeal is very smooth. Add the blueberries, cranberries, raw walnuts and banana slices. Stir and let sit for about 5 minutes. Add a bit of sugar free syrup for decoration.

Latte with Heart!

I made up this recipe this morning & it is very yummy! 3 cups distilled water 2 packages of instant coffee (regular or decaf) 1/4 cup hemp hearts 1 teaspoon pure Vanilla 2or 3 frozen bananas Put distiller water, coffee, hemp, & vanilla into blender & blend until smooth. Add

Pink Applesauce

One of my friends gave me some yellow delicious apples, another gave me some Asian pears and I had some cranberry juice on hand. Put them all together and voila! A yummy hot applesauce! Yellow delicious apples (however many you have) Asian pears (however many you want) Cranberry juice - small amount First, wash the fruit with Fruit and Vegetable Rinse. Cut up the apples into small chunks. You can leave in the seeds if you have a VitaMix, it will be extra fiber for your body and you can't taste it. Fill up the Vita Mix about 3/4 of the way with the apple chunks. Fill the rest of the way with cut up Asian pears. Put in about 1/2 cup cranberry juice (I use the unsweetened kind). Blend until well blended. It can be eaten raw or heated in a crockpot. Sprinkle cinnamon on it. if you like. It can be reheated or frozen and reheated.

Anti-inflammation Drink

I have been drinking this drink for about a week and it really helps inflammation! If you like chai tea, you will like it! U got this recipe from my physical therapist, Zachariah. Thanks, Zachariah! 18-20 oz Silk Almond/Coconut milk 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground turmeric pinch black pepper 20 oz shaker bottle Put the milk into the shaker bottle. Add the ginger, turmeric and black pepper. Shake well. Enjoy!

Raw Refreshing Green Juice with Yellow or Red Bell Peppers and Parsley

This is another of Megan Huylo's juice recipes from Foxnews.com on 8-21-14. As with the other of her juices, she uses a juicer. I prefer to get the fiber that is taken out when foods are "juiced" so I use a VitaMix. “This one I make for a lot of my clients who are looking for a cleanse or who want to start juicing just to get healthier, promote clearer skin, but they don’t want to drink something that is really loaded with pungent leafy greens,” Huylo said. Refreshing Green Juice with Yellow Bell Peppers and Parsley Ingredients: 1 zucchini 1 yellow bell pepper, quartered, stem and core removed 2 green apples, quartered 1 bunch parsley 2 cups spinach, tightly packed Juice of 2 lemons One juice a day is good, but to really feel different, drink at least three to feel the full effects, Huylo said.

Raw Green Market Juice with Fennel and Plum

This is another raw juice recipe from Megan Huylo. Her website is listed on the previous post. This drink will give you a glow. Fennel is high in vitamin C and has a high water content— if we can get as much water and hydration into us as possible… that leads to more supple, glowing skin. Plums have antioxidants, red bell peppers are high in vitamins C and E, which help promote healthy, supple skin. The red-veined sorrel is a healthy leafy green. “It’s going to protect our cells from any damage from free radicals that’s going to damage skin cell membrane,” Huylo said. Greenmarket Juice with Fennel and Plum Ingredients: 1 fennel bulb, quarters, fronds reserved 3 plums, halved and pit removed 1 small red bell pepper, quartered, stem and core removed 1 bunch red-veined sorrel Juice of 2 lemons If you’re new to juicing, try Megan’s Refreshing Green Juice with Yellow Bell Peppers and Parsley. Zucchini is mostly water, which will keep your skin hydrated. Green apple has polyphenols, which regulate skin growth. Yellow bell pepper is high in vitamin C— your skin’s best friend. Spinach contains selenium, which protects against un damage and age spots. As for the spinach, Huylo said it’s a mild flavor packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Raw Sweet and Sunny Juice

I found this recipe on Fox news. It sounds delicious. It's by plant based Megan Huylo. Her “Sweet and Sunny Morning Juice” incorporates pineapple, ginger and lemon. Pineapple is packed with vitamin C, which promotes the growth of collagen and helps the elasticity of your skin. “There’s also ginger in this juice, which is a really powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant,” Huylo said. “Ginger is also really great for digestion.” Sweet and Sunny Morning Juice Ingredients: 1 pineapple, skinned and cut lengthwise into quarters 1” piece of ginger Juice of 3 lemons Click for more from Huylo’s site, DowntownEpicure.com.

Raw Vegan Creamy Italian Salad Dressing

This recipe is also from Swayze Foster. I've been looking for salad dressing recipes so I was glad she posted it. Raw Vegan ½ cup cashews ¼ cup red wine vinegar 2 cloves of garlic ½ teaspoon of paprika ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 medjool date ¾ cup of distilled water 2 teaspoons each: dried oregano, dried basil, dried chives and dried parsley ½ of one green bell pepper – diced ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper Take cashews, red wine vinegar, garlic, paprika, cayenne, date and water. Put it into blender and blend until well blended. Add seasonings and diced bell pepper and stir it with a spoon. Put into fridge and let the flavors blend in the coolness. For Salad: One head of iceberg lettuce (Ellouise: “personally, I don’t care for the taste of iceberg so I would use spinach)” 2 cups of cherry tomatoes, cut in half ½ cup sliced radishes 1 cup of grated carrots 1 cup of shredded radicchio Pour the dressing over the top (she uses about 8 tablespoons) Salad with 8 tablespoons of dressing: 280 calories, 9 grams of fat.

Raw Vegan Orange Wild Berry Smoothie

This recipe is from Swazy Foster of "Fit on Raw" and it's very yummy! 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 3 frozen bananas (be sure to peel before putting into the freezer 2 cups of wild blueberries or huckleberries Put into blender in order listed and blend for 1 minute. If it is too thick, add some more orange juice.

Natural Immune Boosting Drink

I have not tried this yet and don't know where it came from but it sounds like a good idea! 2 quarts water 8-10 Lemons 9-12 cloves of garlic 1 tsp powdered ginger or one thum-sized piece of fresh ginger 1/4 to 1/2 cup honey (or you can use stevia) 1/2 of a peeled onion 1/2-1 tsp cayenne pepper Pour about one third of water into a blender Add the juice of the lemons (eight is enough if the lemons are large, use more if the lemons are small) Add garlic (a medium garlic bulb breaks into section similar to an orange, called cloves). Peel the skins of the cloves before adding to blender. You can more for extra strength. Peel and chop your onion and add to blender. You can use brown, red, white onions it doesn't matter. Blend very well and then add remaining water. Make the Natural Immune Boosting Drink first at the start of the day and have the sick person drink a glass every 3 to 4 hours until symptoms are gone. Begin using drink a the first sign of cold or flu. It is great for any upper respiratory problems or infection in general. you usually to take this for 3 to 4 days. Soaking in a hot tub of water for 30 minutes before retiring also boosts the effectiveness of the natural antibiotic drink. When you get really warm, put a cold rag on the head and face to keep the brain cool. For a child, you might consider cutting back or even eliminating the cayenne. You should also use less garlic. If the sick person has objections to take cayenne or ginger, they can be omitted. An equivalent circulation booster would be to take a brisk 15 minute walk after each glass of drink.

10 Most Filling Foods - Potatoes

This article, as are the others in this series, was found in the Ladies Home Journal April 2014. The article is by Sally Kuzemchak, R.D. Once every dieter's sworn enemy, spuds are actually a secret weight-loss weapon. WHen researchers from the University of Sydney, in Australia, ranked 38 different foods-from apples to ice cream-based on their satiety, the humble boiled russet potato came out on top. That may be because potatoes are rich in fiber and resistant starch. How to add them to your menu: The potatoes in the study were pelled, but you'll get even more filling fiber by leaving hte skin intact. Just be warned. All bets are off when you start frying them. French fries were rated less than half as filling as regular potatoes.

10 Most Filling Foods - Walnuts

This article, as the others in this series, was found in the Ladies Home Journal April 2014. The article is by Sally Kuzemchak, R.D. You'll curb your appetite for lunch if you add walnuts to your breakfast according to research published in the hournal Obesity. People who ate an AM meal that included about 1.7 ounces of walnuyts (that's roughly 21 walnut halves) reported being less hungry at lunchtime than those who didn't have walnuts. Walnuts are so filling, in fact, that even though they're high in calories, people who add them to their diet don't end up gaining weight, according to research published in the British Journal of Nutrition. How to add them to your menu: Because they're high cal, measuring or counting out your portion is key. Walnuts make a great snack and you can even blend them into a smoothi--they add a thickness and richness that gives the typical smoothie a lot more staying power.

10 Most Filling Foods - Peas

This article, as the others in this series, was found in the Ladies Home Journal April 2014. The article is by Sally Kuzemchak, R.D. They may be small, but they're mighty when it comes to nixing hunger pangs. That's because peas are loaded with protein--about 8 grams per serving. (Split peas contain about twice as much!) A study conducted at the Nestle Research Center found that pea protein decreases your appetite even better than protein from eggs. How to add them to your menu: Researchers discovered that pea protein had the biggest impact on hunger when eaten 30 minutes before a meal,not with the meal. "That's enough time to activate the hormones that tell your brain you re getting full," explains Dave Grotto, RD, author of the Best Things You Can Eat. Eat a green salad sprinkled with peas or sip a small cup of split pea soup a half before dinner to get the effect.

10 Most Filling Foods - Mushrooms

This article, as the others in this series, was found in the Ladies Home Journal April 2014. The article is by Sally Kuzemchak, R.D. A study published in the journal Appetite showed that people who ate ground white button mushrooms instead of meat at lunch (in dishes such as lasagna and sloppy joes) consumed 420 calories less than those those who ate the same lunch made with meat--and they reported that their meal was just as tasty. The key: Ground mushrooms take up the same volume as the ground meat but are much lower in "energy density" --that's the amount of calories a food has per weight. Mushrooms have only 21 calories per cup compared to more than 250 for lean ground beef. How to add them to your menu: Mushrooms can easily pinch-hit for ground beef. Finely chop them and use in recipes for lasagna, chili and burritos.