Nourishing Zen

Nourishing YOU. Adventures to Healthy, Happy, and a Fulfilling Life! Food is our medicine.

by Leave a comment


Smoked goodness. Brisket. #Traeger. Smoked! 4.5hrs. Tender. Juicy. Amazing!!

by Leave a comment


Flowers sent by Tom. It’s so funny how some people hate to see others happy – friends, family or acquaintances. I am so thankful to have an absolutely amazing person and partner for life!!

by Leave a comment


My work buddy has made a bed out of the paper recycling box!


Always updating myself on the latest and greatest Diabetes health news.

Diabetes Superfoods: American Diabetes Association®

by Leave a comment


Power up – Fruit & Veggie smoothie

1 Diced carrot

1 Apple – core and cut

1/2 lemon

1/2 cup Spinach

1 1in piece of ginger

1 teaspoon honey

Blend!

by Leave a comment


Refreshing Baby Kale Salad

Ingredients:

1 Chicken breast (shredded)

Fresh strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, pineapple slices

1/4 Cup – Cooked Quinoa

2 Tablespoons – Feta cheese

3-4 Tablespoons – Avocado Oil

2 Tablespoons – Balsamic Vinegar

Salt & Pepper to taste

1.  Sprinkle the avocado oil over baby kale and mix gently.  This allows the baby kale to soak up the oil, which makes it less bitter to taste.

2.  Cut your strawberries and mandarin orange slices into bite-sized pieces.

3.  Add balsamic vinegar to baby kale.  Mix.

4.  Add Quinoa and a dash of salt.  Mix.

5.  Add strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and mandarin orange slices.

6.  Place shredded chicken on top.

7.  Sprinkle Feta cheese over your salad and add pepper to taste!

8.  Enjoy!

by Leave a comment


Whenever you don’t eat as many veggies as the doctor ordered, try this stuff!  I will mix one scoop with carrot juice in the morning or into a smoothie.  No, it doesn’t taste like an ice cream sundae, but it truly energizes you and helps your digestive track!

This gallery contains 2 photos

by Leave a comment


In case you don’t get to eat as many veggies as you’d like… I found this to be a great supplement.  No, it doesn’t taste like a tropical fruit juice, but it does the job and it’s not that bad.  I mix one scoop of this with carrot juice (or whichever kind you prefer).  I’ve also mixed this in with morning smoothies as well! 

Great product.  Helps with your energy level, and digestive system. 

This gallery contains 2 photos


Like us on Facebook!

Everyone’s Gotta Eat

by Leave a comment


Our good friends that helped us take the next step in documenting our food hobby!

This gallery contains 2 photos

by Leave a comment


#Traeger BBQ smoked turkey meatballs.

Lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon Green onions
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Worchestire sauce
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons Siracha
2.5 tablespoons minced garlic (amount dependent on liking)
2-3 tablespoons of Cajun spice seasoning
1 whole egg

Sauce:
1/2 can (8oz) tomato paste
1/4 finely chopped onion
3-4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Fresh thyme (4+ sprigs)
Fresh oregano (2-4 tablespoons chopped)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup water
3-4 tablespoons white wine
Salt & pepper to taste
(we added leftover brats in the sauce to give it some extra flavor)
We have also added bacon, mushrooms, spinach, kale, carrots, olives etc to the sauce as well – be creative!)

Directions:

Preheat smoker 160-180 degrees. (Leave open to start for first 10 minutes then cover)
Mix all ingredients for meatballs – wet and dry together.
Spray cookie sheet with olive oil or nonstick spray.
Size meatballs according to liking – regularly about a golfball size by hand.
Place on cookie sheet.
Smoke for 30-40 minutes.
Remove.
Increase BBQ temperature to 325 degrees.
Start sauce.
Put meatballs back in BBQ for another 25 minutes.

Sauce:
In a medium saucepan on medium heat add…
Add olive oil.
Add onions and garlic
Until onions sweat, add white wine.
Reduce.
Add herbs.
wait a few minutes.
Add tomato paste and water.
Salt and pepper to taste.

Place meatballs on plate. Add sauce top.


by Leave a comment

About Us


So… we created this blog because we are true foodies to the core.  We love food – buying, preparing, and making epic food creations.  We are by no means, professional chefs.  However, it is safe to say that one of the many reasons why we have connected, and enjoy life with each other, is food!  We love to create dishes that are not only healthy, but absolutely resistible. 

A little on the personal side, we have health restrictions.  I, Erica, am diabetic and lactose intolerant.  I have attended many nutrition, carbohydrate counting, and diabetic-specific classes.  I chose to use many healthy ingredients to use towards the dishes I love.  I don’t believe in starvation, prohibiting or preventing the consumption of foods you truly love.  There is always a way, and of course, in moderation.  Tom, has Ulcerative Colitis.  Not something the average 30-something-year-old has but it is something he has had to dealt with for the past two years.  He has had to customize his diet based on his needs, and what his body can literally digest and not digest.  The combination of our health ‘issues’ have really geared us towards a more lifestyle overall.  This has been nothing but a blessing in disguise. 

For Tom’s birthday, I bought a Traeger Barbeque and Smoker.  I know he’s been wanting this since we came across it at Costco a couple months ago.  Being that our home-cooked meals are not just your average meals, we knew this would be a winner in our household.  With the suggestion of our dear friends Amelia and Eric, we decided to blog about our food adventures. 

On an incredible sidenote, we do have three dogs.  An 85-pound boxer, and two miniature Australian Shepherds.  They are our children for the time being and we can most certainly say they love (the smell of) our cooking as much as we do! 

Many posts to follow… specifically from our Traeger smoking and BBQ-ing adventures. Welcome to our home. 🙂