Thursday, February 28, 2013

Out of weather

Happy Thursday! Hope your have a better one then I am. I've been feeling a little ill all week. Is it crazy or is it just my luck, I get better now my little one starting to have a runny nose. Still not sure if it's her allergies acting up or because the change of weather. Loving the warm weather here right now! What ever it may be I'm going to be adding some needed vitamin C for our berry drink, to help my toddler.

Here is a recap of my, going on to two, miss in action week. Last week Big brother had a school basketball game. Thought it would be good to support him and since we haven't in months now. It was fun and O had a great time with her cousin. We also got to see the Chinese New Year parade.


Then of course, trying to make every trip count, we visited a new park. I don't remember the name of the park but the view is beautiful.


 As always stay happy, laugh till you cry, love unconditionally, and keep learning. Have a blessed week!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Berry Smoothies with my Ninja Blender

I enjoy eating ice cream but lately I've been trying to make more health desserts. With my Ninja Master Prep blender, it's always immediate and fast. This ninja blender is defiantly part of my favorite tools to use in the kitchen. Especially for those meatloaf dinners, sauce dips, ice cream or frozen fruit drinks. ("on top of that no one suspects any veggie in their food.") What's your favorite go to kitchen tool?

The ninja blender has been in my kitchen for over two years now and I have to say the blades are still very sharp as the first day I received it. So be very careful because the ninja blades are sharp! You get 2 blenders, a large and small size blender. Which is an awesome deal for less then $35.00 at Walgreen. Plus you get free shipping on all your sales, which is why I decided on buying my blender from Walgreen. 

There are so many varieties of homemade ice creams you can make with this ninja blender. You can make different fruits and flavoring for your ice cream. If your little one is feeling a little sick make a fruit pop that can sooth that soar throat. I've experimented with what ever was on hand I could make a mini ice cream book. I Scream for ice cream!! Here are a few recipes that you can make for those sweet tooth days. Don't forget to always use organic ingredients. 

Strawberry smoothie (organic for a healthier alternative)
1 cup apple juice
2 ripe bananas
1 tbsp flaxseed oil or ground flaxseeds
1 small punnet of strawberries, destalked

Dairy-free ice cream
2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup cashew nuts, finely ground
1 tbsp maple syrup
1tsp soy lethicin granules
1 cup calcium fortified soy milk

Guava smoothie more guava recipe
1 banana, peeled
1/2 cup fresh apple juice
1 guava, peeled
1/2 cup (organic) yogurt


Berry Smoothie with the Ninja blender

Berry smoothie drink with a lemon slice

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Wenseday Show and Tell Heart Day

Well tomorrow is Valentine's Day or as my O would say, Happy I love you day. I'm not really big on V-day, meaning I don't take it to seriously. Why wait for a date to tell someone how much you care for them. It should be something you do everyday but I do admit it is nice seeing all the little festive decorations in the stores and the fun little cards that kids get from school. Especially all the pink and red heart shape candies.

Since it's Wenseday Show and Tell, I thought it would be great to use our new years party hat that O and I made. You know to play up the "Happy I love you day!" Plus it's in hot pink and what's more valentine like, then HOT pink. Besides, I love the color HOT pink. These hats were made with tissue paper and computer paper! How simple and should I say, cute!


Now if you are looking to make it more special why not try a simple breakfast with, our favorite fruit, STRAWBERRIES. When I was pregnant I would eat strawberries by the case. Some say that is why O has a birth mark shaped like a strawberry. I guess it is better then having a cinnamon roll shape birth mark, but I didn't eat to much of those. Hehehe! Which makes me wonder about all the other strange things that other pregnant women maybe craving for like pickles with peanut butter. Did you or someone you know go through that kind of creative faze?


What says I love you than a healthy meal with heart shape strawberry. My O loved them and kept asking for more, of course.  

happy i HEART you day!
As always live love and learn

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Tuesday Roots with Taro

Taro is a root vegetable grown in southeast Asia, Africa, and Oceanic regions. This root can be grown on dry or wet land. It is commonly named for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae. The Araceae are of a monocotyledonous flowering plants .

It is most used for it’s root but the leaves are also full of nutrition as well. Now back home, meaning Samoa, taro is eaten as a starch. Exactly like potatoes or rice is eaten with meats. It is harvested at it’s mature state but, if it is wet and not properly prepared, then watch out because it will have a itchy sensation in your mouth. Speaking from experience, I was literally trying to scratch it off my tongue. Yes, yes it sounds funny, but after a while it goes away. Shhhhh don't tell anyone but to avoid it from happening again I either wait to see if someone else gets a reaction before I dive in. Or two, only eat taro prepare by a train professional, meaning family.  




In some cultures it is mashed and eaten in a thick paste like form or cooked together in curries. I haven’t tried the curry method yet, but would like to try it. When I was growing up the taro root was usually eaten on very special events, like weddings, graduations, fare well feasts, and etc.

It is very favored by Polynesians, meaning if it was on the table it was the first thing that you would run out of. The traditional preparation of this root is either the umu, an outside oven, or boiled in water. My favorite way to eat this is in warm coconut milk. Yummy! :)

Now the leaves of the taro is typically rapped with coconut milk then baked. The leaves are known to be a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C. These vitamins are good for dry skin, frequent infections, impaired growth, mouth ulcers, night blindness, poor hair condition, allergies, and bleeding gums.  The taro is said to have three times more dietary fibers then a potatoes. It’s probably why the elders would feed infants with it, they knew the benefits and quality of the taro.

The taro is nutritious for it source of calcium, good for building healthy bones. Which maybe the reason for Polynesians having heavy bones. Now I was first told this by a friend in high school, after her visit with the doctor. She said that her weight seemed more than she expected. At first I was very reluctant to believe her, but as time went on and researching it for myself. I can see now the possibility of that taking effect if your eating taro at a young age.

Taro also contains vitamin E, vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, manganese, and copper. These are all essential nutrients needed for a growing child’s health, not to mention beneficial for adults too.What do they do for the body? Vitamin E and manganese is an antioxidant which helps to protect skin, circulation, brain, and hormones against pollutions, which is great for infections. I wonder, if anyone has tried it in a beauty recipe. I look into it... Love do it yourself beauty regiments.

Just like calcium, magnesium helps the bone but more so the growth and development of bones. Then you have copper which is needed in tiny amounts to transport red blood cells around the body.

Lastly vitamin C with you may know as anti-allergenic, antibacterial, anti-carcinogenic, antihistamine, antioxidant, and antiviral. Which is great for improving the healing process of wounds needed for essential fatty acids for your metabolism.

As just like anything in life moderation is the most wise route to take. So be sure to cook it well before eating. I hope that helped you or inspired you expand your nutritional palette. Feel free to tell me the best way you’ve had taro. Or it you’ve never had it what method sounds more appealing to you.

Until next time have a great one…  Live, Love, and keep Learning.


Friday, February 8, 2013

Family, Food, and Fun # 6

I'm glad you stopped by. Today I thought I would share a quick and fun recipe that your family will enjoy. Mini meatloaf-ball with mash potatoes and carrots. What's great about this is that you can make them the night before and then cook it the next day or when your ready.

Now ours are made with ground turkey instead of you standard ground beef. Since O doesn't like sauces or gravy on her food we left it out. That doesn't mean you couldn't make your own for your mini meatloaf-ball.

I haven't try any kind of gravy so I wouldn't be able to tell you how it would come out. But I'm sure if you put it on at the end or in your oven when cooking it should come out okay.

Well, with a flat tire and mini meatloaf-balls our Friday has just begun. Below is a quick picture of O reading. God is in control and so I'll leave the stress for another day. Live, love, and keep learning!