Thursday, October 31, 2013

A Few Favorites from Real Food Friday

I Love REAL Food!!!  It's amazing how simple, natural REAL food can taste so delicious.

In case you missed it...Real Food Friday #11 has been extended for 2 weeks due to Halloween.  I won't be doing any trick or treating but some of you might so we thought we'd take a break.

You know what that means?  More time to share your awesome REAL food posts!  I thought I'd share some of my favorites so far.
*And yes, I have had to remove several "junk" food recipes*




*Real* Food Meatballs from Scratch Mommy







Gluten Free PA Dutch Style Scrapple from Adventures with Jude



Make Your Own Pumpkin Puree from Robyn's View






What do you think of these Features?  If you've got a favorite Fall-Inspired REAL FOOD recipe please feel free to share at Real Food Friday #11 Extended!



Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Chickpea Salad 3-Ways

I absolutely LOVE chickpeas!  Making them from scratch is simple and easy so I usually avoid using canned chickpeas.  Did you know that Chickpeas are Garbanzo Beans?

Start by Cooking your Dry Garbanzo Beans.  This is a healthier, more cost-effective option than canned beans.


Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

This is probably the most simple recipe!

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chickpeas
2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
sea salt (optional)

Preheat over to 400 degrees.
Place chickpeas in a large bowl.  Add oil and spices.  Toss (mix) to coat. Place spiced chickpeas on a large pan or casserole dish.  Bake for approx 25 minutes.

Once these delicious little nuggets cool down I usually top my spinach salad with a handful.


Tangy Chickpea Toss


In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup chopped tomato, 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas, 1/4 cup chopped red onion, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 tsp olive oil, 1/8 tsp garlic powder, 1/8 tsp salt, and black pepper to taste.  Allow everything to marinate in the fridge for approx 3 hours.

This is great as a salad topping or over brown rice.


Veggie Chickpea Salad

Ingredients:

1 cup Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
1 bag Broccoli Slaw
1 zucchini, sliced or chopped
1/2 white or yellow onion, sliced or chopped
1 tablespoon coconut oil

Directions:
I use a large wok for this recipe.  
Turn the stove to high and add the coconut oil.  Place the broccoli slaw, zucchini and onion in the pan and stir coat with coconut oil.  
After approx 5 minutes turn the heat down to medium and add spicy chickpeas.
Cook on medium for approx 5 minutes.  Serve hot.
This is great as a meal or over brown rice.

Brand NEW Goodies @ Mary's Heirloom Seeds

In case you missed it...We've been very busy adding new goodies
@ Mary's Heirloom Seeds just in time for the Holiday "rush."

First, We added 5 NEW Heirloom Seed Varieties!









Over the weekend we added All new Seed combo packs which include all-natural, non-GMO Soil Ammendments.
Mary's Salsa Pack
Mary's Pepper Pack















Today we announce the LATEST going on @ Mary's Heirloom Seeds!!!  Sign up for our e-newsletter and you'll get all of the helpful gardening tips, DIY info and the latest specials.


Sign up for our E-Newsletter


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Real Food Friday #11 An Extended Party

Hello and Welcome to another REAL Food Friday!  
Sunrise on Hollywood Beach!!!
With Halloween right around the corner and Thanksgiving right behind it we have decided to extend the party this week.

Real Food Friday will be Open through November 4th!!
That's an extra week!
Follow on Bloglovin

We're your hosts
Joyce @ It's Your Life and 
me...Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen 

Meet your co-hosts
Lydia @ Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen 
Deborah @  Kneaded Creations
Marla @ Organic 4 Greenlivings

If you're interested in co-hosting let us know! You can email me at mari_backtonature@yahoo.com

My Features this week are:

Crockpot Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato/Carrot Soup from Your World Healthy and Natural
Crockpot Pumpkin Butter from Recipe, Food and Cooking

No-Peel Crockpot Apple Sauce from Sew Creative

I just realized that all of my features are crockpot!  I LOVE my slow cooker so I'll definitely make these recipes!

In case you missed "What is Real Food" here's a recap...
I know "Real" food may not seem like as much fun as the sugary, chemically, DIY recipes out there on the internet.  This is why REAL Food Friday is so unique.  This is the place to share your unprocessed, gmo-free, locally grown and/or fair trade posts.
We are trying to make a difference 1 recipe at a time!
Here's a great reference from Food Myths:
Do you ever think about how far the food you eat travels?  Who grew it?  Who picked it? How much in processing it's been through before you took a bite?

Mary’s Kitchen

Real Food is:
-Supports fair farmworker wages
-GMO Free
-Little to no processing/processed ingredients
-Supports local markets/vendors and isn't transported long distances to get to my plate
-Honors fair trade principles when I buy from othr regions
-Meat and dairy should be humanely raised and on real food themselves-Not genetically engineered feed, drugs, hormones and antibiotics.

Link up your Real Food posts!  Processed and "junk food" posts will be deleted.
The party runs from Thursday at 7pm EST through Monday at Noon. ***This Party runs for 2 weeks***
Please follow your hosts and consider adding the Real Food Friday button.





Christmas Gifts for the Garden Lover!!!

Who doesn't like Salsa?  There are so many variations of Salsa, mild to hot, mango to jalapeno and even green tomato salsa.  Creating a Salsa Garden is easy!  Mary's Heirloom Seeds has made things even easier with Mary's Salsa Pack Seed Combo!

My first suggestion, Coconut Pellets!  They make seed-starting "oh so easy."  Before you just go crazy and start planting all of the seeds it's important to decide which varieties you would like to include and how long each will take to mature.
Onions:
Not everyone likes onions in their salsa.  I do!  I prefer a red onion.  The Red Burgundy onion matures in approximately 100 days.  If you decide to grow this onion it should be planted first.  If you choose a bunching onion or a "green onion" you can wait on planting.  Bunching onion varieties take about 40 days to mature.

Tomatoes:
I prefer to use a smaller tomato for salsa like the Ace 55 or Roma.  Both varieties take approx 75-80 days to mature so they should be started one month after the onion (if you chose the red).  A larger option is a BeefsteakFor fancy salsa, try Emerald Green or Amana's Orange tomatoes.

Peppers:
For a mild salsa you can use Anaheim instead.  For a hot (or hotter) salsa I use Jalapenos.  For the crazy, burn your mouth for a week salsa, use Serrano Peppers or Habanero!  These pepper varieties also take 70-80 days to mature and should be planted at the same time as the tomatoes.

Cilantro planting should be staggered throughout the year.  By planting multiple cilantro plants it will allow you to harvest as you need it instead of all at once.  Plant Cilantro at least 30 days before the rest of the Salsa Garden plants mature.  I recommend succession planting Cilantro for a plentiful harvest.
I love growing Cilantro
Recap-
Onions: 100 or 40 days
Tomatoes: 75-80 days
Peppers: 70-80 days
Cilantro: 30 days

Fresh Salsa

Ingredients
5 large tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tomatillo, diced (optional)
salt to taste
1 jalapeno pepper, minced

Directions
In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, tomatillo, and salt to taste. Mix well. Add 1/2 of the jalapeno pepper, and taste. If you desire your salsa with more of a kick, add the remaining 1/2 jalapeno. If you are satisfied with the salsa's heat, do not add the remaining jalapeno pepper. Cover the salsa, and chill until ready to serve. 

Mary's Salsa Pack is available @ Mary's Heirloom Seeds for only $18.
(Gift Wrap included if you ask)

Make wonderful homemade salsa fresh from the garden!
 One packet of each.  Includes:
   -Ace 55 Tomato
   -Jalapeno Pepper
   -Anaheim Pepper
   -Red Burgundy Onion
   -Cilantro


A great addition to Mary's Salsa Pack is the natural and Organic Soil Amendments.
I use Supreme Growers on my own veggies and I love it!  The difference in plant growth, flowering and crops has been fantastic.
4 varieties of Soil Amendments

Happy Planting! 

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Real Food Friday #10

Hello and Welcome to another REAL Food Friday!  
My favorite salad picture!  Love you Mom!

Before we get started I have 1 simple request...
I know "Real" food may not seem like as much fun as the sugary, chemically, DIY recipes out there on the internet.  This is why REAL Food Friday is so unique.  This is the place to share your unprocessed, gmo-free, locally grown and/or fair trade posts.
We are trying to make a difference 1 recipe at a time!
Follow on Bloglovin

We're your co-hosts
Joyce @ It's Your Life
Lydia @ Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen 
Deborah @  Kneaded Creations
And me...Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen

Please welcome Marla @ Organic 4 Greenlivings
 

My Features this week are:

JUST IN TIME for the pumpkins...


Pumpkin Pie Muffins from On the Home Front


Make Your Own Kombucha from A Life Unprocessed

In case you missed "What is Real Food" here's a recap...

Here's a great reference from Food Myths:
Do you ever think about how far the food you eat travels?  Who grew it?  Who picked it? How much in processing it's been through before you took a bite?

Mary’s Kitchen

Real Food is:
-Supports fair farmworker wages
-GMO Free
-Little to no processing/processed ingredients
-Supports local markets/vendors and isn't transported long distances to get to my plate
-Honors fair trade principles when I buy from othr regions
-Meat and dairy should be humanely raised and on real food themselves-Not genetically engineered feed, drugs, hormones and antibiotics.

Link up your Real Food posts!  Processed and "junk food" posts will be deleted.
The party runs from Thursday at 7pm EST through Monday at Noon.  If you're interested in co-hosting let us know! 
Please follow your hosts and consider adding the Real Food Friday button.





Wednesday, October 16, 2013

LAST Chance for the Celebration GIVEAWAY!


The Celebration Giveaway ends TONIGHT!
 
There is still time to enter to win 1 of 5 prizes!  
**Includes HEIRLOOM, Non-GMO Seeds**






Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Detox Shot

Random right?  I'm feeling a bit "blah" today so I  did a little online research and came up with a nice daily detox shot.  I have "tweaked" a few recipes to make it more "me."

Mary's Detox Shot
The shredded stuff on the plate is fresh tumeric and ginger
Combine 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/8 tsp shredded ginger and a pinch each of fresh shredded turmeric and cayenne pepper. 
Serve cold.

When I say "shredded," I have used a cheese grater or zester for fine shavings.  Use the cayenne powder sparingly.  A pinch is 1/4 teaspoon or less.
**I used 1/4 teaspoon homemade Cayenne Tincture** 

UPDATE:
After a very busy weekend in my booth at the Yellow Green Farmer's Market I had completely lost my voice and I was tired!
I took my first shot Tuesday and my second Shot Wednesday.  By Wednesday at lunch my voice was back 100% and I felt MUCH better.

Natural home remedies are my favorite!  This is one of the many reasons I am hosting a Workshop on Thursday, October 29th. 
 Grow Your Own and DIY Herbal Remedies

Monday, October 14, 2013

World Food Day 2013 March Against Monsanto

It was a BUSY weekend all over the world!  There were marches EVERYWHERE and not just Against Monsanto!!!  I'm in South Florida an there was a march in Miami and a HUGE event in Hollywood.

The Million Vet March took Place Sunday but you can read more about that at Back to the Basics.

I took a few pictures at the market (from my booth) and I'll share a few from around the world.

Both parking lots were FULL so people had to park along the street and several blocks away!
THERE IS STILL TIME TO GET ACTIVE!!!!!  October has been declared GMO Awareness month.  We still support Breast cancer Awareness but you will NOT see a bunch of sugar-laden, cancer-causing pink dyed candies and desserts here.  It is my goal to share healthy information with everyone I meet or contact.  This is why we MARCH and PROTEST and EDUCATE!

Salt Lake City



 Still not sure about GMOs?
The short answer is:
GMOs “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.  -from Non-GMO Project

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOW is the time to take action and be aware of what your are eating and what you are feeding your family!  This is one of the reasons we brought you Real Food Fridays! GMOs are what inspired me to start Mary's Heirloom Seeds.  Why?  ALL of the seed varieties I sell are Non-GMO, Open-Pollinated, HEIRLOOM SEEDS!!!!

From Broccoli to Tomatoes...From Basil to Sage...Mary's Heirloom Seeds has got you covered.  Say NO to GMOs!!!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Real Food Friday #9 with Features

Hello and Welcome to another REAL Food Friday!  Each week our little linky is growing.  I LOVE all of the fresh, REAL Food posts shared each week.   

Don't miss the 600 Celebration with a GIVEAWAY @ Back to the Basics!
Follow on Bloglovin

We're your co-hosts
Joyce @ It's Your Life
Lydia @ Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen 
Deborah @  Kneaded Creations
And me...Mary @ Back to the Basics and Mary's Kitchen

We have a new co-host joining us this week!
Please welcome Marla @ Organic 4 Greenlivings
 

My Features this week are:

Organic Raw Kefir from Organic 4 Greenlivings

Are you Addicted to Junk Food from Gluten Free A-Z


In case you missed "What is Real Food" here's a recap...

Here's a great reference from Food Myths:
Do you ever think about how far the food you eat travels?  Who grew it?  Who picked it? How much in processing it's been through before you took a bite?

Mary’s Kitchen

Real Food is:
-Supports fair farmworker wages
-GMO Free
-Little to no processing/processed ingredients
-Supports local markets/vendors and isn't transported long distances to get to my plate
-Honors fair trade principles when I buy from othr regions
-Meat and dairy should be humanely raised and on real food themselves-Not genetically engineered feed, drugs, hormones and antibiotics.

Link up your Real Food posts!  Processed and "junk food" posts will be deleted.
The party runs from Thursday at 7pm EST through Monday at Noon.  If you're interested in co-hosting let us know! 
Please follow your hosts and  consider adding the Real Food Friday button.





World Food Day 2013 @ The Yellow Green Farmer's Market

Saturday, October 12th is World Food Day in Hollywood, FL!!!  There are events happening all over the World during the month of October.  Are you participating?  WE ARE!!!

Our Local event will take place at The Yellow Green Farmer's Market in Hollywood, FL from 1pm-4pm on Oct 12th.  This is a HUGE GMO-Free Event!
Me@ the market!  Mary's Heirloom Seeds booth #110

The Yellow Green Farmer's Market is open 8am-4pm Saturdays and Sundays @ 1940 North 30th Road Hollywood, FL 33021 United States

 
 
From World Food Day USA:
The theme for World Food Day 2013 is “Sustainable Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition”. Let's think about what each part of that means in our lives.

Food security: There are an estimated 870 million hungry people on the planet. To feed this many people, we need to increase production of basic staple foods by 60 percent.

Nutrition: 2 billion worldwide lack micronutrients vital for good health. Producing more food is important. But it is not enough. Each person requires more than basic staple foods. Each one of us needs a balanced and nutritious diet. Agriculture must become more nutrition-sensitive, with a stronger focus on fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-dense foods.

Food Systems: A food system is made up of all the processes that ensure our food arrives from “farm to fork”: how we grow, process, package, transport, store, market, purchase and eat our food. Since every aspect of our food systems has an effect on the final availability and accessibility of diverse, nutritious foods, we must constantly strive towards a healthier global food system.

Sustainability: By definition, sustainable food systems produce nutritious diets for all people today and protect the capacity of future generations to feed themselves. Yet, today almost 60 percent of the world’s ecosystems are degraded or used unsustainably, in large part because of environmentally harmful effects of our food systems.  We can do better.  By using resources more efficiently at every stage along the food chain, we can increase the amount of healthy food available worldwide.  Getting the most food from every drop of water, plot of land, and speck of fertilizer saves resources for the future. And we can all play a part in our own homes by reducing food waste.

That’s our perspective on this year's theme. What's yours? We’re proud to share PERSPECTIVES essays from leading experts in the fields of food security, nutrition, food systems, and sustainability. Please read them and tell us what you think our food system should and could look like. Be it in the comments section under each essay or on social media, let your voice be heard!