SUPERFOOD GRANOLA

My daughter and I always make edible gifts at Christmas for my nursing staff and our family and friends. It's made with love and it seems handmade gifts are always appreciated. It's a fun tradition and we love being in the kitchen together. Today we created superfood granola with a dark chocolate chip bonus!! Delicious and nutritious.:)
Eat superfoods every day!!! Your worth it.

3 c dry oats
1/2 c chopped raw nuts
1/4 c chia seeds
1/4 chemp seeds
1/4 csunflower seeds
1/4 cpumkin seeds
1 c coconut flakes
1/2 dried unsweetened fruit like goji berries
1/2 tsp sea salt

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.
Mix liquid in a small pan on the stove to melt just enough to be able to mix it evenly.
1/2 cocnut oil
3 -4 TBS raw honey 
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 caoca

Slowly mix in wet ingredients with the dry goods. Fold and spread the liquid love all around.
Melt a dab of coconut oil on the sheet tray and bake at 300 degrees for approximately 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle dark chocolate chips of love on top and mix as it will begin to melt just enough. Cool and package it in fun & festive glass jars or cute bags with ribbon and gift tags.
You can always personalize your recipe with what you have available, what's in season, what's local or even better,  your favorite flavors. ENJOY!!! Merry Christmas and cheers to a fantastic 2017. BRING>IT>ON!!

" The leaves seen through my window pane remind that it's time to move life again." That's a fantastic fall Widespread Panic original tune, Driving Song. Not only are the Boys on tour again but I get to see them in Milwaukee in a few short weeks. I couldn't be more excited to connect with my Panic family and shake what my mama gave me! Music feeds the soul and gives you a temporary break from reality. It inspires, rejoices, enhances and motivates you in ways that  very few things can. "The ultimate source of our happiness is our mental attitude." Dali Lama. Therefore, we must do things that improve our spirits and fill our tanks. Live music is my jam!!!

As I begin the journey of home ownership and moving again, I look forward to the break that music and friends will provide. We work hard and play hard in these parts and it's quite fulfilling. Packing up the house and cleaning out the clutter during the cool harvest moon has energized my need for simplicity and things that matter most to me. My daughter, friends, family, pets, cooking, pilates, paddling, my wellness business, looking forward to the next show and having a place to call home. Home is where the heart is and you really have to persevere to make it happen these days.

​We are so excited to be acquiring this little gem of a home with fruit trees, a great yard, hot tub, sauna and yoga/pilates studio. I knew when I first stepped into this house years ago that I wanted it to be mine. Dreams do come true...Stay positive, keep spreading the love and it will eventually find you. 
"A chilly breeze has blown my thoughts as to what's to come.
A warm cup of coffee, some vitamin see.
A bowl for the cat, a bowl for the dog, a bowl for me. 
Is there someone, somewhere, someway out there that I've not found." WSP...

Find your internal compass for health and happiness,

The Wellness Navigator

I hope this post finds you happy and  healthy as the cold and flu season seems to have taken hold across the nation. It is that time of year where the days are dark and summertime still seems light years away.  No matter how healthy you are you have probably found yourself, your children/family and your co-workers with a cold, flu or even just the winter doldrums. 

During these times I turn to the kitchen.  I believe home made food is medicine and it is comforting, wholesome, nutrient packed, immune boosting and can be loaded with love as it feeds your body and nourishes the soul. This time of year I enjoy using the crockpot and I love making a bonebroth as well as a delicious meal from a whole organic chicken. The lemon in this dish makes it pop and gets me looking forward to the fresh, lively foods of spring and summer. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.:) 
 
​As always, I try to include as many superfoods as possible whenever I cook and this recipe really packs a whole lot of goodness in a single bowl. Hopefully you will  share the soup with those you love and even have some leftovers to eat throughout the week. Extra broth or chicken can always be frozen for another occasion if not used in salads, wraps or nourish bowls. Cooking once and eating two or three times is the only way to go.
Hang tight as spring truly is just around the corner...

Cheers to health & happiness!
the wellness navigator

I find it quite relevant that my first blog comes on the first day of fall...for many reasons. I love the rituals  that come with living in a four season environment. Although, If you are familiar with Montana we really only have 2 seasons: 9 months of winter & 3 months of company. As you can imagine fall is a welcome event as most people think it is winter and we all post photos of the snow & frost to enforce this theory. Most people leave although some lucky folks have figured this out.

So fall comes with a sigh and a deep breath as the hectic summer and crazy  schedules turn back to organized  chaos.  Solace is found as a new routine starts to fall into place. You see your friends that live down the road for the first time in months. You take the recycling. You have to buy your ski pass. You might even start to think about all the projects you need to do or the books you want to read when it all quiets down on some windy, cold autumn day.

The days may be getting shorter but there seems to be a little extra breathing room to take a bit more time for yourself.  Let's get real: Fall In Montana rocks! It's beautiful and this is when Montanans get to enjoy their summer. Paddleboarding, pilates, fishing,hiking, camping, gardening and hopefully some cooking too. I'm not going to promise it won't freeze but there are many stellar days to be had if you watch the weather. ( A true Montana past time.)

 It's harvest time and it is a glorious time of year for folks who garden and enjoy local seasonal food. There is something so rewarding in freezing, canning and saving the fruits of your labor (or others.) Knowing there are going be greenhouse tomatoes for sauces, salsas and soups, veggies to bake, jams and jellies for toast and fruit for smoothies and pancakes is a satisfying feeling. (All tucked away in one of our many freezers.) Maybe it goes back to our hunter gather roots or maybe it is just the fact that we live in an area with a really short growing season and you feel like you need to stockpile and savor the really yummy stuff.

Regardless, the harvest moon is a welcomed sight shining bright over the snow capped mountains, the river is crystal clear, the air is fresh and clean, the leaves are changing and life seems to take on an autumn, cozy feel. Listen to your body, give it what it needs and desires during this rejuvenating time of year ...no matter where you live. You deserve it.

Health & happiness
the wellness navigator