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Asian Fusion Ingredients

Bone Broth Essentials

This post is about adding delicious Bone Broth Essentials throughout the week.  Variety is the spice of life, right?  Not only do I like variety, but it needs to taste good, make me feel good, AND be healthy and beneficial for my body and skin.  SO….this week I’m going to add some additional Vitamin C and antioxidant-rich side dishes to enhance my collagen absorption!

Decadent Bone Broth Essentials!  Life doesn’t have to be boring!

Since the world is in a tumultuous place right now, I’m in the mood for some comfort food!  Time for a heart-healthy, skin nourishing fatty food…guacamole comes to mind right off!  Fortunately, for me, the skin loves it!  And who doesn’t love some Guac?  It’s actually great to eat 1/2 of an avocado every day.  Add a little bit of sliced chicken strips to dip and it’s a delicious, protein filling addition to my bone broth lunch.  A side of sliced Vitamin C rich Kiwi as a dessert and VOILA!, Sarah’s a VERY happy camper!

The video below will show my meal prep for lunch.  On a rainy day weekend, it makes for a very satisfying and guilt-free lunch recipe.

 

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Asian Fusion Bone Broth

Basic Bone Broth with Coconut Milk and Lime
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Asian Fusion
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 1
Calories 180kcal
Cost 5

Ingredients

  • 1 C Basic Bone Broth from freezer
  • 1/4 squeeze lime
  • 1 small green onion
  • 1/4 C full fat organic Coconut Milk
  • 1 pinch lemon grass
  • 3 shakes curry
  • 2 shakes ginger
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp minced fresh cilantro

Instructions

  • Heat basic bone broth
  • Add 1/4 C full fat coconut milk
  • Add lime, ginger, curry, lemon grass, and salt/pepper
  • Garnish with cilantro and serve!

There are a lot of health benefits to eating a half an avocado everyday.  It has 63% oleic acid which reaches your glands and secretes sebum that hydrates the skin and helps the muscles and joints stay agile.  Plus,  it has Vitamin C and E which fights UVA damage and DNA-altering UVB rays.

Avocados are my heros! They fight to rejuvenate my skin AND keep my joints moving!  Add a little lime…a little chopped tomato…a little chopped onion/cilantro and it becomes a Delicious ESSENTIAL menu item!!!

Let’s talk a little bit about COCONUT MILK and it’s abundance in antioxidants!

Adding that full fat (Lauric acid) coconut milk in the bone broth is a delicious way to neutralize dangerous free radicals in the body. Lauric acid is a healthy fat and can moisturize the skin from within!  The results of moisturizing from within??  Diminished fine lines, more elastin (less sagging skin), strong shiny hair and glowing skin! So, don’t hesitate to add 1/4 cup of Coconut milk to that bone broth during lunch time!  It’s deliciously rich AND Healthy!

More Healthy and Delicious food menu items coming by next weekend!

Stay safe and WASH THOSE HANDS!

Bone Broth and It's Collagen Boosters

Bone Broth and It’s Collagen Boosters

So, now that I have my bone broth made and sitting in the freezer in 1 cup containers, what’s the next step?  Do I just put it in a cup and drink it hot and leave it at that?  BORING!  This is when I start getting into the nitty-gritty.  There seems to be some unique combination of things that produce better than average results. It’s that combination that’s the REAL SECRET to getting that bone broth to give up it’s collagen and give it to me! Bone Broth and It’s Collagen Boosters has been my diligent search this week and I’ve found some VERY enlightening info on the subject!

There are several GREAT collagen boosters and I’m going to focus on just a couple of them today.

The first one I’ll focus on is VITAMIN C.  It appears that consuming higher doses of Vitamin C helps the collagen in bone broth to become more “bio-available”. So, that means it gets absorbed and used by the body at a much faster rate than normal, which benefits the skin!

Where to get the best Vitamin C ???

Fruits and vegetables, of course!  Which ones are high in Vitamin C?  Well, RED BELL PEPPERS have 3x’s the amount of vitamin C than oranges, and they are also rich in lycopene (which prevents sun damage).  Plus, they taste GREAT grilled! 😋

Kale is another vegetable that is high in Vitamin C, which the skin LOVES!  In addition to vitamin C it contains a significant amount of Copper.  Copper is a mineral that boosts the synthesis of melanin, which is a pigment that protects your skin from the sun, and like Vitamin C, it helps you make collagen.  If cooked right, Kale CAN taste Delicious!

The video below will show you how I am going to incorporate these two Collagen Boosters, RED BELL PEPPERS and KALE, into my daily Bone Broth Routine for this week!

I like to make up a couple of batches at a time and have them ready to pop in the microwave and VOILA! Lunch is ready!

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Delicious Oven Baked Red Bell Peppers

Delicious Oven Baked Red Bell Peppers! - Chocked full of Skin Nurishing Vitamin C. A great collagen booster!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Simple AND delicious!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 70kcal
Cost $3.00

Ingredients

  • 2 med Red Bell Peppers sliced into strips, organic
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil raw, organic
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced, organic
  • 1 tbsp onion minced, organic
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Coat a small cookie sheet with coconut oil.
  • Cut Red Bell Peppers into strips. Arrange peppers on cookie sheet.
  • Melt the 2 tbsp. of coconut oil in the microwave for 15 seconds.
  • Mix the melted coconut oil, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.
  • Coat peppers with coconut oil mixture evenly.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until tender.

Notes

Serve as a side dish with the bone broth!

What are you having for lunch?  😃  Give Bone Broth a try and let me know what seasonings you’re using to “spice it up”!  Your skin will LOVE you for it!

Stay tuned for additional bone broth side dish options. Coming next weekend ! 😃

 

Bone Broth for Healthy Skin

Bone Broth – for Healthy Skin

Eating lots of vegetables is a great start for Healthy Skin.  But since I want to Subtract 9 years I’m going to need a catalyst for those veggies!  Bone broth for healthy skin seems to be the “magical” ticket!  My elixir for renewing my waning collagen and elastin.  How so?

Bone broth has nutrients such as collagen, gelatin, amino acids, and trace minerals that are great for maintaining healthy skin!

Bone Broth has an amazing ability to be easily absorbed and used by the body.  Not only is it great for the skin, but it also helps build cartilage in the joints.

In fact, there are studies that showed, “At the end of only four weeks, those using collagen showed a statistically significant improvement in comparison to those using a placebo with regard to skin moisture and skin evaporation, plus noticeable decreases in signs of accelerated aging, all with little to no side effects.”

I will now be doing my own Four Week Study!  😎

A cup of simmering, collagen and gelatin rich broth sprinkled with chopped green onions and a little shredded kale will go GREAT in my soup thermos EVERY DAY!  It smells SOOOOOO good!

Since I want the REAL thing, I’m going to make my own!  It’s easy!

In the video below, I’m using grass fed beef bones. Since I want the biggest bang for my buck….only the healthiest and ultra nutrient-dense beef bones for me!  I can’t be 100% sure what already bottled “bone broth” contains or even if they have added anything to “enhance” their broth, so, I feel much better when I add all the ingredients myself.  I LOVE choosing my own organic veggies either from my garden or my local Organic Food market because I’ll know WHAT I’m getting in my recipe!

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Basic Bone Broth

Basic bone broth to add to recipes or drink as a hot beverage.
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 day 12 hours
Total Time 1 day 20 hours 30 minutes
Servings 14
Calories 69.2kcal

Ingredients

  • 5.5 lbs. Beef marrow bones Grass Fed
  • 1 lb. Beef chunks, Stew meat is fine Grass Fed. (for extra flavor)
  • 1 oz. Apple Cider Vinegar Braggs, with the mother
  • Water Enough to cover bones and veggies
  • 4 Carrots
  • 5 or 6 stalks Celery
  • 1 med Onion
  • 4 - 6 cloves Garlic
  • Himalayan Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 Bay leaf optional
  • 2 sprigs Thyme optional

Instructions

  • Bring to boil. 
  • Let simmer 24 to 36 hours. 
  • Refrigerate over night. Fat rises and hardens on top. 
  • Skim off fat and store in the fridge for up to one week. 
  • Put in freezer containers and store in freezer until needed.

At a later date I might try making chicken or fish bone broth.  As long as the chicken is free range AND organic and the fish are “wild” caught, those yummy, easily absorbed nutrients are extremely beneficial.

I plan on having a cup of this Bone Broth once a day.  It’s really delicious!

Next post I’ll share what I’ll enhance the bone broth with and how I’ll add it to my daily menu!   Coming this Saturday! 😃

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feelings and Food – For Women Over 50

Feelings and Food

Are your eating habits mainly for health… to feel physically better?  A popular saying is, “You look as good as you feel”, or “You feel as good as you look”!  For me, if I am physically vibrant, I will look physically vibrant.  I want to share that vibrance with others.  Coping with one’s emotional eating habits can be a challenge.  That’s why Feelings and Food – for women over 50 – is such an important topic.

If YOUR Feelings with Food is getting you side tracked…Your journey can be less challenging and more rewarding when shared with others.

Others who have similar desires and want to come along to inspire and be inspired is what this blog is all about!  We all need encouragement in life and as a woman over 50, I want to hang on to as much of my youthful vibrance as possible.  To be independent well into my 90’s!  That means learning to curb my emotional eating habits now.  Choosing healthy AND DELICIOUS foods on a daily basis.  But how?

Here’s my go to list when I’m Feeling anxious and I go on auto pilot to grab a sugary/carbie treat:

  1.  I think for 15 to 30 seconds about what I’m REALLY feeling.  Take a few deep breaths.  Remind myself of the journey I’m on and the outcome I’m looking to accomplish. Make a conscious effort to think of something positive.
  2. Reach for an ice tea drink that I have with me for just such a moment.  Busy hands and a busy mouth with something healthy AND refreshing can be an easy trick to stay on track!
  3. Take a jaunt around the block.  5 to 10 minutes.
  4. Take five minutes to look at a favorite Inspirational photo or read a blog that inspires you! 😃

So, feel free to come along with me.  We can encourage and motivate each other!  Our negative Feelings with food does NOT have to be an insurmountable obstacle!

As women over 50 don’t we all want to extend our youthful body, inside and out, as long as possible?  As I go along this Subtract the Years journey feel free to offer your suggestions.  Maybe you’ve been practicing something that’s been especially beneficial that you’d like to share….Would LOVE to hear from you!

Next post on Wednesday! 😃

Apple CIder Vinegar - For Health and Beauty

Apple Cider Vinegar – For Health and Beauty!

There’s a LOT of hype regarding Apple Cider Vinegar for Health and Beauty.  Is taking a swig of Apple Cider Vinegar in the morning worth it?  In all honesty….I REALLY had to think hard about it.  It’s WORLDS apart from drinking my Starbucks hot chocolate every morning,  but after doing extensive research on the subject, if I’m going to Subtract those Years, I think it’s going to have to be added to my morning routine.

My Morning Apple Cider Vinegar Routine…A little Goes a LONG way!  It’s DEF an Eye Opener!  (No judging my Pj’s!)

What does the research actually show about drinking Bragg’s ACV?

A benefit that caught my eye was that it assists in the processing of vitamins and minerals in your food. How?  The acid in vinegar helps with the absorption of nutrients as well as B6, folate, calcium and iron. All those phytonutrients in my vegetables…I want to utilize them to their full capacity.  Maxing out my new vegetable rich menu is my goal!

Here’s a list of Potential Benefits:

(taken from Cosmopolitan)

1. It reduces bloating.

2. It increases the benefits of the vitamins and minerals in your food

3. It cancels out some of the carbs you eat.

4. It softens your energy crash after eating lots of sugar or carbs.

5. It keeps you full longer.

6. It can help your muscles produce energy more efficiently before a major push.

7. It could lower your blood pressure.

8. It balances your body’s pH levels, which could mean better bone health.  (Gotta love this one too)!

I can’t help feeling that taking a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar first thing in the morning, (before breakfast) will really help maximize the benefits of my healthy eating routine throughout the day.  So…

I’m feeling extra confident that I’m doing all that I can to keep moving toward my goal.

It’s been ONE week since I’ve started and I’m already feeling energized!

Saturday’s post is next! 😃