Orzo Explosion and Naan-chos!

Tonight, I decided it was time for a change up.  I've been rotating the same ingredients and making the same meals night after night.  My husband was less than thrilled lol.  So, after changing up the grocery list and converting it to more healthy options and more organic options, I came up with a couple good recipes myself!

Orzo and bean explosion!

Ingredients:
1 cup organic Orzo
1/2 Green Pepper
1/2 Onion
Cut up, and cooked, chicken breast (best if you the same seasoning on the chicken while being cooked :))
1 can 365 brand organic black beans drained
1/3 cup chopped spinach
EVOO
Rosemary, Thyme, Sea Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Parsley to taste

How To:
1. In a sauce pan, fill 1/3 to half full water, boil 1 cup Orzo about 9 minutes.  It is a similar to both rice and pasta so check for tenderness but not mushy-ness.  (BTW, there is about 6g protein for only 1/3 cup! Not bad!)
2.  In a skillet, cook cubed chicken breast, green peppers, onions, black beans, spinach and seasonings on EVOO until onions and green peppers are a little soft but not brown, and chicken and beans are very warm.
3.  Drain Orzo when it is finished cooking, add a little seasoning, and combine the two groupings into one bowl.

You can eat this just in a bowl as I like to, or you can put it in a wrap like my husband!  Other suggestions would be to add tomatoes or other veggies you think would be good!

Secondly...

Chicky Naan-chos!!

Ingredients:

Whole Wheat Tandoori Naan, cut into triangles

EVOO

1/2 cooked, cut, seasoned chicken breast

Organic Italian mix cheese, Mozz, Parmesan, etc to taste

1/4 cut chopped spinach

Rosemary, Thyme, pepper, garlic to taste

How to:  

1.  Cut Naan into triangles, and brush a light layer of EVOO on top.  I use EVOO cooking spray in the pan to prevent sticking but just plain EVOO would probably work.

2.  Bake triangles for about 3 minutes and pull out to put toppings on it.  

3.  Place a couple pieces of cubed chicken , then a little spinach, and then a little cheese on top.  Then add seasonings.

4.  Bake for about 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

Side note:  Naan is a traditional Indian flatbread.  It can be used for Pizzas, as a crouton alternative after being toasted for salads or soups, or wraps.  It has 5g of fiber, and 7g protein in each one.  It also has 115g potassium in each one.  It also has 26g of whole grain in each.  It is a little high in sodium, 420mg, but in moderation is an excellent substitution for conventional bread.  I recommend Whole Food's 365 brand.  It is a great price and the quality is excellent!  

If you are wanting to try these, let me know how it goes!  I'm always up for questions and suggestions!  

A Tout A L'heure!!

I'm slightly goofy...

So... I decided I would like to try and soften my hair up.  Its been unmanageable and sticky and gooky and tangley with all the experimenting.  So... I thought a deep conditioning coconut oil treatment would help.  I must say, after 24 hours and 6 washes (with 4 different shampoos), my hair is rather soft (!!!!).  I apparently used way too much, go figure, and ended up with a greasy lookin head!  I knew that I had to have an actual shampoo and conditioner.  So, while grocery shopping at my favorite place ever, Whole Foods, I picked up Kiss my Faceshampoo and conditioner!  I was up and scrubbing away around 6:15 this morning!  My hair hasn't smelled this fresh or felt so soft in two weeks!  AMAZING!  Now I know not to listen to all the websites saying that it is ok to drench your hair in coconut oil and that you will only need to wash once or twice to have great supermodel soft shiny hair.  Trust me, if you want that, use a TINY bit and you'll be fine.  One of my fellow bloggers suggested only using a tiny bit on the ends.  I will def keep that in mind for next time.  LOL

We also bought, while at WF, Shea butter everyday body wash.  I used it for the first time this morning as well and its really nice!  Its not that squeaky kind of clean, its a soft clean.  And I got unscented, but it still smells clean!  And feels great! 

We are getting two of the girls today for the weekend and I'm super excited!  They are so precious!  I'll post again later! 

If you have any questions or advice or info of any kind, please leave me a message!!! 

A tout a l'heure!!

My Hair Experiment

Ok, for those of you who don't know,  I have found enough research (some of which has been done and reported on by other fellow bloggers) that suggest the products for you hair that we consider normal...aren't so great.  I'd like to make them less normal in my life and my family's.  Certain chemicals such as SLS and parabens wreak havic on your skin and hair.  For example, SLS is a known acne causant, but it is most definitely listed on the ingredients of my most beloved face scrub.  WHY?!  Any of you who know me, know that I have the worst skin and nothing seems to work on it!  Well, now I have a clue why!  All the shampoos and conditioners that I have used all have these toxins in them.

So, what I am trying currently, and struggling with in all honesty, is a combination of things.
     1.  Baking soda to cleanse and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) as a rinse.
     2.  Dr. Bronners Baby Mild Castile Soap w/ or w/out ACV
                 Side note- Dr Bronners is actually very good all over body wash...FYI
Right now, my hair is detoxing and stripping the bad nasty chemicals and buildup off making it nasty feeling.  It doesn't look dirty, but feels grimy and kinda stiff.  I have long hair so brushing it when it is like this is causing some tender headedness.  But today it is less grimy and easier to work with than the previous week of trying the switch.  I am planning on keeping at it for another week or so and if need be, try a shampoo/conditioner from Whole Foods.  I've been researching the 365 brand lately.  They had good reviews on the products before their last "improvement" on the products and now there is a constant complaint of a "chemical" smell to them.  That doesn't reassure me haha.  I am going to skip that brand I think!  I guess I'll keep ya posted!
Feel free to ask questions, I'm new to this, so I may have totally confused you!!

A Tout A L'heure!

Well Hello!

Welcome to my first post!  I'm so excited to have this blog and share my life's lessons, struggles, and learnings!  A lot of my posts will be health related, but I may include funny stories about my husband and/or kids.  Sometimes things are just too funny not to share!

A little about me...
     I am 25, live in Central Indiana.  I recently (end of July) got married to my wonderful husband Mike.  I have 5 step kids, 4 of which are girls.  I'm always looking for fun and creative things to do with them and keep them busy and healthy.
     I am trying to currently learn and try as much as I can about natural living.  I'm experimenting with SLS free products, coconut oil, green items that aren't as harmful on our bodies or environment.  Finding healthy alternatives that fit my family's needs is very important and I strive to make our lives the best they can be!
     Lastly, but most importantly, I love Jesus!  I lean so much on Him and would be nothing without Him.  I fall short and show my humanoid side quite often, but the Lord knows my heart and the work He has done and is doing in it.  I am blessed and owe EVERYTHING to Him!

I will pick up later with some info on something I've learned recently, later!

A tout a l'heure!