We are Amy and Gail Shingler, sisters-in-law and friends!

We are passionate about living authentic and intentional lives!

We are enthusiastic about healthy eating!

We created a space to share our favorite recipes & the life philosophies from which they stem!

Our desire is to inspire,

may you be edified by what you read here!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

An Inspiring Book

I have read this book recently and it has made me really think.  Bob Goff has a way of making you laugh one minute and then profoundly reflect on your own life the next.  It is one of those books I lean over and nudge my hubby and tell him, "You gotta read this..."  It is a book that screams "love in action, not just words!"  He is a lawyer who has a sense of humor that is contagious and a depth of insight.  His book has inspired some new thoughts and renewed some dusty ones for myself and my family.  My library had it, but the cool part is if you purchase it, all the proceeds go to Restore International.  This is Bob Goff's amazing organization that is actively pursuing justice for the underdogs in Uganda and India, and really around the world.   This is a great read!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Buckwheat Crunchies

I would smile at you but I think I might have a buckwheat groat between my teeth.  Why?  you ask.  Because I made THE MOST DIVINE BUCKWHEAT CRUNCHIES EVER!  Then I whipped up a quick batch of homemade awesomeness (yes, its a word, I have a 6 year old), otherwise known as granola goodness.  I think I have downed about a cup of this raw mixture before it was ever put into the oven.  Here is the recipe for the crunchies (one of these days I will share the granola goodness recipe with you, but a lady must keep a few things mysterious...)

Dry ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of raw buckwheat groats
1/4 cup date sugar (or coconut sugar)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt (optional)

Wet ingredients:
2 TBSP applesauce
1/4 cup coconut nectar syrup (or brown rice syrup)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 TBSP Peanut butter (or almond, cashew, etc.)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Mix wet ingredients on a large bowl.  Mix wet ingredients in smaller bowl.  Add wet ingredients to the dry ones, combine.  Spread them out on a cookie sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes.  Flip the granola as best as you can (there must be an art to this that I haven't quite figured out).  Bake another 15 minutes.  Make sure not to burn your crunchies, among other things...it is never good to burn.  When you pull them out, place them out to harden up and cool completely.  Then enjoy.  Just make sure you don't have a buckwheat groat between your teeth when you go run your errands.  Smiles!  By the way, I obviously love these to snack on, I top my salads with them and when I do have yogurt these are usually on top.  Also, it will make your house smell all full of baking goodness only without the sugar crashes.



Monday, April 1, 2013

date truffles


















let's talk about dates!  "ewwwww, let's not!" is what i would have said a year ago!  i didn't even USE the first bag of dates i bought, i couldn't imagine i would like them!  but, as has been the case with all these "new" foods i savor every bite of date now!  traditionally dates have been used as the optimal food to eat after a fast, breaking a fast with dates helps to avoid overeating...when the body absorbs the nutritional value of the dates, the feeling of hunger gets pacified!  COOL!  here is a long list of their health benefits!  ;)

  • dates are termed the crown of sweets and it has been said one a day will maintain healthy eyes for a lifetime!  (i have NOT confirmed this!)
  • dates contain calcium (just like in milk, and milk is NOT good or necessary for you!)  and iron (which carries oxygen to various parts of the body and is essential in the production of blood) dates are an excellent choice of sweets for women, especially!
  • potassium (builds a healthy nervous system, heart, muscle and kidneys) 
  • copper (needed for healing wounds, it also plays a role in the formation of blood cells)
  • manganese (required for the production of the skeletal system and the production of the sex hormones, woot! woot!)
  • magnesium (helps the body utilize carbs, fats and proteins)
  • sulphur (i hope you'll look this one up, it is too involved to detail here!)
  • phosphorus (strong, healthy bones and teeth, helps take in your vitamin B's and helps the body use them properly for things like energy, mental capacity and emotional stability!  YAY for emotional stability in a stressful, chaotic world!  and YAY for DATES!)
  • dates help with constipation, weight gain, intestinal disorders, intoxication, sexual weakness, diarrhea, a healthy heart and abdominal cancer
i found the following recipe online when i couldn't rid myself of the intense, burning desire for CHOCOLATE!  problem was, i had cleaned out my cupboards and refrigerator of all things non-essential for my body's optimal health!  i was sad and scared and getting irritable...until...

"DATE TRUFFLES"

  • 8 dates
  • 2 tablespoons coconut 
  • 3 tablespoons VEGAN chocolate chips (trust me, you can't tell the difference!)
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla powder (i found this easily at every health food store but you can also use 1 tsp of liquid vanilla)
  • pinch of salt, i use pink himalayan sea salt

you need a food processor for this recipe, it can be a cheap one you get at target or walmart or kmart!
put all the ingredients in the processor and turn it on, it takes about 2 minutes or more for these ingredients to incorporate and form a soft ball, much like the texture of a warm candy tootsie roll!  BE PATIENT!  just when you think it's not going to mix properly, it does and your food processor starts to hip hop it's way around the countertop, watch it so it doesn't bounce off!  pull off pieces and roll into balls, roll in coconut or cocoa or crushed vegan chocolate chips or toasted almonds...cool in fridge for about 20 minutes so they are firm!  make a lot, they go fast!  one recipe makes about 8-10 balls

thai lettuce wraps



these lettuce wraps are comparable to those you would order in a restaurant!  

this is the "meat" of the lettuce wrap
1  1/2 cups walnuts 
(chop in a food processor or put in a baggie and mash 'em a bit with an ice cream scoop or the like!)
2 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, grated 
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro (optional)
1/2 cup minced scallions, green part only
you can also add cubed tofu 

this is the sauce, blend in blender or by hand
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup nama shoyu OR soy sauce
1/2 tsp fresh garlic (best to use a garlic press or grater)
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 Tbs sesame oil 
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (this amount is a mild spice, add more if you like HEAT!)

mix well the carrot/celery/red pepper mixture with the sauce
scoop into romaine leaves or bib lettuce leaves or simply eat as a side dish

garnish with sesame seeds, mung bean sprouts, and/or grated carrot
i tied mine with a scallion for the photo, but usually make them without that "pretty" addition