The Golden Yolk

Eggs! As you know by my posts and by the background of my website eggs are my favorite food. I like to eat them pretty much every way possible and I find a way to add them to just about any recipe to increase the protein and vitamins. Well, last week at the health food store a nice cashier and bagger helped me with my weekly grocery order. I commented to them how much I loved eggs and they let me know that the bagger lives on a chicken farm. I was trilled and asked if I could buy the farm fresh eggs. He said yes and gave me his mom's contact information. Well everyone.... I am pleased to announce that I now have 2 dozen gorgeous farm fresh eggs. She even threw in a duck egg. I have never tried a duck egg so of course it was the first one I tasted. 

Grocery store white egg is on the left and the duck egg is on the right. 

I gently cracked the egg. It was much tougher to crack than the grocery store eggs. Then I ever so carefully slid the egg into my already hot skillet.

The duck egg cooked very quickly and very evenly. I cooked it sunny side up. It was by far the best, most flavorful, most creamy egg I have ever eaten. Oh boy, now I'm going to be spoiled. 

I didn't add anything to it..... Not a thing. It's like nature's golden treat.

I have found out a few things about duck eggs while researching their nutritional value. A big one is that typically if a person is allergic to chicken eggs he/she can have duck eggs! That opens some big doors for those people suffering from such an allergy. 

Another big reason to go for the quack quack is that duck eggs have nearly twice the nutritional value of a chicken egg and can be kept and stored longer due to the egg's thicker shell. Also duck eggs contain more Omega 3 fatty acids. Those are the good fats that help with many important body functions from brain health to healthy skin. Duck eggs are also alkaline which is good for cancer patients in killing rapidly growing cancer cells. There are some skeptics out there who are worried that duck egg yolks do contain a full day's amount of cholesterol.  But medical doctors and scientists now seem to agree that healthy individuals need certain amounts of fats to maintain a well oiled machine (their body). Cholesterol helps the body remember how to use fat as energy.... Sounds like a win win to me! I know that with my body as soon as I increased fat and increased protein I immediately began seeing results and muscles (but don't forget to weight train and do your push ups!). 

Thank you Alison and Jason and thank you to the hard working mama duck who gave me that egg! Willow-Rock Farm looks beautiful by the pictures on Facebook ("like" them on Facebook!) and I look forward to bringing my kids there to gather more eggs and meet the goats!

Eggs are a bikini's best friend! Happy summertime and happy bikinis!!!!

Flaxcakes

Ah flaxseeds.... My tiny little friends. Buy them finely or coarsely ground and add them to just about anything from salads to muffins to cereal to eggs or yogurt. I absolutely love their nutty flavor, their high fiber and protein content and their high omega 3 power! I have given you my recipe for oatmeal pancakes and this recipe resembles that one. But lately I have been trying a dairy, gluten and wheat free diet for health reasons. And I must admit that I don't miss the oats (oats are grown next to wheat so those who are allergic to gluten cannot have oats either) in these flaxcakes. Try this quick, easy recipe for a morning power protein punch or for a mid day energy boost. I serve mine with a strawberry, mango smile. Happy bikinis!

Recipe for flaxcakes:

1/2 c flaxseeds

2 T chia seeds

1 T cinnamon 

1 t vanilla extract

3 egg whites

1/4 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Mix all ingredients well. Spoon onto lightly greased pan as you would regular pancakes. Cook about 2-3 min per side over medium heat. Flip and cook another 2 minutes or until done all the way through. Serve with fresh fruit and enjoy!

Service with a smile! 

BBL Bars!

Enjoy my yummy, easy bars! Wrap them individually, store them in the freezer and eat them for pre workout energy or a post workout protein kick! 

Here is a link to my video:

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=7t5g5k395oA&feature=em-upload_owner&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7t5g5k395oA%26feature%3Dem-upload_owner

And here is my recipe:

1 Cup cashews

1/2 t sea salt

3/4 C dates or prunes

1 t pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Purée cashews in blender or food processor until 

they resemble graham cracker crumbs. Add sea salt

Then add prunes (or dates) and vanilla extract.

Get the mixture out of the blender and press down 

Hard.bar in freezer for at least half an hour. 

Then cut into individual bars and wrap in aluminum  foil. Enjoy bikini style!!! 

Gluten Free Vegan Treats By Request

I am a self proclaimed texture queen. I actually like when foods are seemingly (to others) very strange in texture. For example...For a yummy, super quick energy boost I mix raw oats, cinnamon and almond milk until it forms a paste. Most would find that weird but i love the taste and texture. Recently I was asked to make and create gluten free, vegan cookies that contain chia seeds and I immediately knew that the cookies I create will not be for the faint at heart. To me and my palate they are fabulous! So good in fact that I ended up eating most of them as soon as they got out of the oven. Yummy, super healthy and full of super proteins and power foods! The sweetness comes 100% from the cinnamon. 

Gluten free vegan chia super treats:

1/2 Cup flaxseed

3 T cinnamon

2 T chia seeds

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 of a very ripe banana (mashed)

3 T natural peanut butter (I microwaved mine to make it easier to mix) 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients well. Shape dough into small balls 1/2 Tablespoon in size. Using your hand flatten the ball to resemble a cookie and lay gently on a baking sheet. Bake 8-10 min or until set in the center. Enjoy warm or cold! These little jewels can be taken anywhere and eaten anytime for good, clean energy! Enjoy bikini style and let me know what you think! 

Traveling with 3 loves

I am a lucky woman in all aspects of the word. I grew up loved and supported with caring parents and loving sisters. Some of my very favorite childhood memories are of traveling together to visit family in Kentucky. Now its my turn to bring my children to the beautiful state of Kentucky in the spring time. I want my children to know their wonderful grandparents, their sweet Aunts, and their adorable cousins. So my dear, sweet children and I are venturing across the nation to surprise an unsuspecting sister and her brand new son. I cannot wait to hold my precious nephew. It is times like these in a family when the true meaning of life is felt. Being together, loving a new life, wondering what is in store for the newest set of baby blue eyes. Welcome to the world baby Henry! We love you always!

BBL Banana Ice Cream

Oh boy, watch out! I have been really trying to figure out video editing and am having a lot of fun with it. Today I filmed my super easy banana ice cream recipe. It truly is super simple! Here is the link to the video:

Click here to see my banana ice cream video!!!!!

Here is the recipe:

BBL Banana Ice Cream
Ingredients:
2 Frozen bananas
Directions:
Peel and freeze bananas in a ziplock bag over night or until bananas are frozen solid. Take bananas out of baggy and place in blender or food processor. Blend until smooth like ice cream consistency. Scoop the ice cream out and divide into 2 dishes. Share! You will probably want to eat it all but share.... That's nicer. That's it! Your done! There are some optional add ins that I talk about on my video.

Optional add ins:
Cinnamon
Coarsely ground flax seeds (gives a light crunch... Yummy!)
Finely ground flax seeds
Chia seeds (they add fiber, protein and those ever important omega fats!)
Almond butter (ahhhh, so smooth and creamy and grown up tasting!)

After your ice cream is done just add in these extras to add even more of a health kick to your healthy treat. Enjoy bikini style!

The Way of the West

Dust devils, rodeos, cowboy hats and a more relaxed, slower way of life.... Ahhhh traveling to Arizona. I was picked up from the airport by my uber sweet Uncle with whom I have not had the opportunity to talk with in quite some time. We met my kind, sweet and hard working Aunt after our drive from Phoenix to Tucson.

I immediately felt a sense of calm, relaxation. Little did I know what was in store for me during my out West vacation. Guess what?! I tried lamb's tongue! Wow! I am always up for trying something new and thanks to a new, super sweet, talented artist, friend, Julie, I will try something new or do something new each and every month. I think that's a great idea!

So let me tell you more about this restaurant and the lamb's tongue! We walked into this contemporary green and blue chaired restaurant and I immediately noticed the huge river rock wall. I mean a big wall with huge stacked up rocks. It was really interesting. We sat at the bar so we could get half priced wine, beer and tacos. I ordered a clean, crisp Pino Grigio and my table mates all ordered assorted beers and wines. When the menu came and I really saw lamb's tongue tacos as an entree I knew exactly what I would order. I was the only one in our group to be so adventurous (Julie's birthday was a few days prior and she had lamb's tongue to celebrate her big day.).

The lamb's tongue reminded me of gyro meat. So to me it tasted like regular lamb. But really to have another mammals tongue in my mouth was something to think about. It was tender, flavorful and perfectly seasoned. It was served with a cabbage mix, salsa and a cilantro sauce all on top of a home made flour tortilla. I thoroughly enjoyed each bite.

The moral of this story? Try new things. I convinced my Aunt and Uncle to take a walk on the wild side and try quinoa, hummus and flax seed (all at separate occasions) while I was with them. I hope I introduced them to some new foods and experiences. Their kindness, compassion, advice, time and most importantly their
love was truly appreciate. I also want to thank my new friends Julie and Mike for their time and love. I know I have met new life long friends and I now know even more about myself and my super kind family. Thank you for your time my wonderful family!