Homemade Guacamole Recipe

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Food For Thought: Purpose of Life

Happy Monday, friends! What a beautiful weekend it was outside- I mean, who expects 75° weather in the middle of January? Hey, I’ll take it! I did take full advantage of the sunshine and headed to north Georgia for some hiking (and Vitamin D!). As I sat on top of the mountain and overlooked the vastness of the state below me, two thoughts came to mind:

  • I am one piece to this massive and historic puzzle, and my role was created intentionally to serve a specific purpose to the world.Every Monday at our office, each staff member comes with a word and quote that drive the direction of her or his week. I chose the word purpose with this quote: “Purpose is the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s needs.” (Frederick Buechner).

    My purpose is to love and serve people well, and I am beyond grateful I get to do that in my job every day. My purpose is to make a change in my corner of the world, knowing that others are making similar impacts in their corners, as well. If we all work in our spheres, we would see goodness everywhere we turn.

  • Peace comes with stillness. Atop the mountain, there was silence. It was pretty uncanny actually. As I let my eyes wander over the below cities, hills, and trees, it seemed like life had stopped momentarily. But we all know it was zooming quickly under us, as has become the norm in most of our lives.Are we running so fast we are actually missing life? My yoga instructor Angela always says, “Before there is movement there is stillness,” and this quiet space is pivotal for a full life. My heart calmed sitting on top of those rocks; God knows all things about this world, so we can be still and find comfort in knowing that all will be all right.

Comfort Foods For You!

Speaking of comfort, let’s talk guacamole. This food certainly brings my heart comfort and joy 🙂 Make this super simple and delicious recipe for a healthy dish (be warned: you may not want to share). Enjoy!

 

Print Recipe
 The Best Homemade Guac + Sweet Potato Chips
Gluten-free | Keto | Paleo| Vegan | Avoiding the corn chips? Use homemade sweet potato chips as the perfect scooper into your homemade, fresh guac! You'll never want to go back 🙂
Course Just Veggin', Nibbles (Snacks)
Servings
Hungry Person or 2 People Willing to Share
Ingredients
Course Just Veggin', Nibbles (Snacks)
Servings
Hungry Person or 2 People Willing to Share
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven for 375°.
  2. Slice sweet potatoes horizontally into ~2 cm slices (they will be thin circles). Coat each side with coconut oil, and lay on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle any of the suggested spices at the top over the "chips". Bake for ~30-35 min (flip them halfway after ~15 min).
  3. While the potatoes are baking, saute chopped onion in butter/coconut oil until caramelized (i.e. a bit golden brown). Set aside.
  4. Cut avocado in half, and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Add lime juice, garlic, salt, and pepper, and using a fork, mix all ingredients together until smooth.
  5. Spoon the guac into a bowl, and enjoy with your sweet potato chips!
Recipe Notes

A Guacamole is an avocado-based dip with seasonings -- originated from Mexico. This dish is a great addition to your balanced diet since it is high in "good fats," the monounsaturated fat which was mentioned in my heart-healthy article that it blood cholesterol levels. Thus, a good source of food to avoid cardiovascular diseases. this recipe is also high in fiber and vitamins, beta-carotene, folate and potassium.

What brings you joy and into a posture of stillness? Comment below to help give ideas to others!

 

Winter Squash Soup

Winter Squash Soup – New Year Food Recipe

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With the start of this 2017 year, I have been reflecting on this ever-popular idea of New Year’s Resolutions. We tend to speed so fast at the year’s starting line on January 1st toward better health, financial stability, or renewed relationships (all of which are incredible things). Our momentum is 100%-all-in to create change. We can for sure do this. Then, a couple of months into the race, we often times lose a bit of speed, and some of us even stop racing. We let go of the resolution— the commitment to ourselves— to do something differently.

What makes us lose steam? Often, it is one or both of two things: challenge and value (or lack thereof). Change is hard— I get it. We are creatures of habit, as the adage goes. Here’s the thing, though. If something is not working well, not lifting us up or helping lift up others, change is necessary.

Are you living a daily lifestyle that creates the best version of you? If yes, keep going, friend! If not, it is time to start reflecting on where change will be a positive thing in your life.

If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.

Value is required to make our priorities. We focus our attention, money, and time on the individuals and things that ultimately bring value to our lives. I classify people, obligations, material things, etc. by their levels of AV (a.k.a Added Value). Is this relationship an AV one, or does it cause more pain? Does this activity I have been doing for the past year have AV, or do I feel uneasy about going each week? AV is a method of deciphering priorities. This idea of AV is not just for you and me personally, but we can use it to measure how much value we add to the world.

So when it comes to resolutions, think about the AV things you want in your life. Write them down, and next to them, scribble down the steps it will take to get there. One foot in front of the other, my friends. And eventually, this effort will lead to habit, which morphs into a lifestyle. You are changing your life one decision at a time.

 

Cheers to Your New Year, New Goal!

To help you on your journey, fill your soul (and tummy!) with comfort and warmth. This Squash Soup is just the ticket to a successful goal-setting evening!

 

Print Recipe
 Winter Squash Soup
Dairy-free | Gluten-free | Vegan | Paleo | Pescetarian | Crockpot recipes are the best! All you do is add everything to a pot, go about your day, and when you come back, you will have a full meal for days!
Winter Squash Soup
Course Just Veggin'
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Cook Time 4-8 Hours, depending on crockpot time
Servings
Big Crockpot Full!
Ingredients
Course Just Veggin'
Prep Time 15 Minutes
Cook Time 4-8 Hours, depending on crockpot time
Servings
Big Crockpot Full!
Ingredients
Winter Squash Soup
Instructions
  1. Peel the skin off the butternut and acorn squashes.
  2. Chop the carrots, sweet potato, and onion.
  3. Toss all ingredients together (except pumpkin seeds) in a crockpot. Simmer on high for 4-5 hours or low 6-8 hours.
  4. When you are ready to enjoy, put as much soup as you want to eat in a blender, and puree. Top with pumpkin seeds, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

*If you want a thicker, chunkier chili, use 1 cup of broth. With a thinner soup, use 2 cups of broth.

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vegetable salad recipes

Soulful Salad

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Print Recipe
 Soulful Salad
As summer ends and fall begins, the produce at the farmer's markets is rapidly changing. Use all of the goodness in one big salad for tons of nutrients, flavors, and textures!
vegetable salad recipes
Course Raw & Uncooked
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Cook Time 30 Minutes
Servings
People
Ingredients
Course Raw & Uncooked
Prep Time 10 Minutes
Cook Time 30 Minutes
Servings
People
Ingredients
vegetable salad recipes
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cube sweet potatoes and beets into 1-inch pieces (give or take).
  2. Coat the beets and sweet potatoes with coconut oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until soft. Let cool, or enjoy warm.
  3. Meanwhile, dice your tomatoes and peppers. Chop lettuce and arugula
  4. Mix all veggies and lima beans in a bowl. Toss with EVOO, ACV, salt, and pepper.
  5. Enjoy this refreshing dish!