Archive for the ‘Organic’ Category

24 May

All Natural Homemade Toothpaste

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Baby, Crunchy, Make It Yourself, DIY, Organic, Health. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Are you tired of the crap (fluoride) and chemicals in your toothpaste and want to make your own?  In my ongoing attempt to make things myself, I’ve been searching for a good recipe for cleaning our teeth.   I tried a recipe over a year ago but kept getting canker sores, so I ditched it.  Upon my hunt, I came across this recipe from my amazing holistic Facebook group’s leader, Leigh Anne DuChene.

I’ve made two batches so far, and the latest one omitted the clove oil and added Emma’s probiotic.  I’m still working on getting baby girl to like this second batch…I think I scared her with the first batch (clove oil).

It’s super easy to make and takes no time at all.  Gather all these ingredients and go grab you a small glass bowl from Wally world and get to mixing!

All Natural Homemade Toothpaste

From Nourishing Origins

All natural homemade fluroide free toothpaste

  • 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil (more if needed for better consistency)
  • 1 Tablespoon of bentonite clay (less or more depending on your preferred consistency)
  • 10 drops of clove oil
  • 10 drops of tea tree oil (adults only)
  • 10 drops of peppermint or wintergreen (optional) OR 10 drops of cinnamon (optional)
  • small glass bowl to store it in
  • small spoon

Other Options:

  • up to 1 Tablespoon of baking soda-for more of a whitening paste for a short time (adults only)
  • a bit of sea salt for a more abrasive cleaner (adults only)
  • up to 1 Tablespoon of probiotic powder
  • a dropper full of colloidal silver

1. Mix all ingredients together in glass bowl and stir to melt the coconut oil.  Make it pastier instead of solid if it does solidify on you.

2. Add optional ingredients if desired.  I added the probiotic and colloidal silver this time which made it runnier.

3. Spoon small amount on toothbrush and use daily.

Going back, I would just use plain ole water for the first two years of little one’s life, then switch over to this recipe once they turn two.  Play around with it and see what your kid likes.  I have been using this recipe for several months and love it!  I finally got a small plastic container for travelling since I wanted to be able to use this on the go.

Try it out and let me know what you think.  Have you ever made your own toothpaste or even thought about what’s in the one you use right now?

**Don’t forget about the March Against Monsanto tomorrow!

1 May

How I Shop For Groceries

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Crunchy, Food, Grocery Stores, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

In my ongoing attempt to help my family eat better and ward off an early period for dear Emma, I have drastically changed the way we eat, which entails shopping smarter.  I’ve had several friends ask how and where I buy my groceries, so I figured it warranted a detailed post for any others that might be interested.

No to Monsanto

You’re probably saying, ‘Duh, you go to the supermarket and get what you need.’  Au contraire.  I hardly ever go to an actual grocery store, unless I need a few toiletries that I can’t get at Natural Grocers.  This seems like a no-brainer, but when you try to eat better, you have to do your research.

Here’s how I shop:

  • Farmer’s Markets/CSAs

  • Food Co-ops

  • Natural Food Stores

Farmer’s Markets/CSAs

Remember this post about Farmer’s Markets and CSAs?  Well, that’s where I get the majority of my produce along with my meats.  And now that market season is in full swing, I try to go every weekend to stock up on what I need for the week.  My favorite place to go is called, Earthwise Gardens, in Denton, TX.  It’s a store started by Ryan Crocker who grows and sources exclusively Texas-grown organic fruits and vegetables. I am very lucky to have access to a place that has local produce, eggs, and meats, all in a one-stop shop.

Earthwise Gardens in Denton produce

What I get from there is pastured-raised eggs, fresh veggies, fruit, and meat from Local Yocal.  I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but when I went by their tent at the Denton Farmer’s Market last Saturday, they recognized me and said we’ll see you in the store soon.  Should I leave a note?  Ha.

For the past few weeks it’s been somewhat of a routine: Emma and I go by the chiropractor to both get adjusted, head to Earthwise Gardens to pick up eggs (and give back our empty egg cartons), then swing by Natural Grocers for anything else we might have missed.  I actually like the routine and think Emma does, too.  It couldn’t be that when I buy a carton of fresh strawberries (from Earthwise) we sit in the parking lot and eat the whole thing, could it?

eating strawberries from Earthwise Gardens in Denton

I will also go down to the Dallas Farmer’s Market to pick up grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork from Northstar Ranch.  Apparently I like to drive as far as possible to get what I need.

Food Co-ops/CSAs

I used to be a member a few years ago of a CSA, but that was before I went Paleo, so I wasted a lot of good produce not knowing what or how to cook a lot of it.  CSAs are a great way to support local and organic in your community.  Plus, they’re an easy way to get all your produce for the week without having to go to the store.

csa

Another idea is a food co-op.  This is kind of the same as a CSA, but they have different items besides food.  Through my holistic group on facebook, I have taken part in a coconut oil co-op along with a colloidal silver co-op.  This is basically where several people go in on an order to bring the cost down.  You could buy it yourself from certain sites or stores, but this saves you some money especially if you use it often.  The lady who organizes it has an ongoing co-op every month for both, so it’s a matter of picking it up when it comes in.

I’m lucky in that my chiropractor is part of the group, so I can just pick my goods up from her when we get adjusted. Check around online to find a local CSA or co-op in your area…I guarantee they are out there.

Natural Food Stores (Natural Grocers/The Cupboard/Etc.)

One of my favorite natural food stores was featured in this post.  You may recall that I professed my undying love for the new Natural Grocers in Denton, TX.  I can’t begin to tell you how much I love that store.  All the produce is organic and they only sell naturally raised meats.  I even buy recycled paper towels and toilet paper (don’t judge) from there, and recently bought some compostable straws that I can toss in my compost bin.  It makes me feel like I’m doing a little bit of good-trying to buy recycled, non-bleached items for our home when I can.  I know not everyone will switch to this, but I want to teach Emma to try and buy reusable items that get tossed so easily.

Natural Grocers in Denton Texas

*Yesterday I just discovered The Cupboard in Denton, which is just like Natural Grocers, so I was super excited to find yet another local store to help support.

The Cupboard in Denton

So, that’s pretty much how I shop: Farmer’s Markets/local produce markets, Food Co-ops, and Natural Food Stores.  I’m not trying to endorse these places, I just happen to have access to them and love what they stand for.  I will try my darndest to get the best foods I possibly can, even if that means spending a little more.

No excuses people…find local sources close to you here!

Eat Local

What about you?  How do you shop?  Have you discovered the beauty of Farmer’s Markets or ventured out to pick your own foods with the family?  Do some searching and support local-I promise you won’t be sorry and the farmers will love you.

Note: Photos from here, here, and here.

9 Apr

I Left My Heart In Austin (Day 3): Olivia

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Celiac Disease, Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Organic, Paleo, Restaurants, Travel. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Dude!  I feel like this recap is taking forever, so let’s get on with it shall we?  There are so many more posts that need to be written, that it’s time to let Austin go…but not without this stop first.  See day 1 and day 2 if you have no idea what I’m talking about.

Olivia

We woke up Sunday morning, after a good night’s rest, and quickly packed our bags to leave our AirBnb house for good.  Knowing I’m at slow at getting ready for everything in the morning, I made sure to get as much done the night before.  We happened to come across Olivia after our first trip to Lick on Friday.  I drove across the street to see if they were open, but no dice. Casey heard about this place from her awesome contact, so we agreed to make it a Sunday morning brunch.  Can I just say we were both ecstatic when we were checking out the parking lot and came across this:

chickens outside Olivia

I’m pretty sure those eggs and veggies were meant for my future breakfast, and we both couldn’t wait to return when they were actually open.

When we arrived on Sunday, we were 30 minutes ahead of our reservation (that never happens with me) but they had no problem seating us.  We kindly notified our waiter about our gluten allergy, he said he was familiar with it, and that they could substitute items if need be.  Once again, we dove right into the menu and did our best to narrow down our choices.

After much drooling debate, Casey went with the Catalan lamb hash and I went with the South Austin Omelette.  They were both divine and totally had us licking our plates!

Catalan lamb hash

omlette from Olivia in Austin

Wait, but we can’t forget the starters.  I ordered Chicken Liver Mousse, a first for me, and they subbed grilled apples for the toast, while Casey ordered a pound side of bacon.  I totally joked that she couldn’t eat that whole thing…um she totally did AND polished off her entire entrée!  I think I’ve met match in the eating world as well.  Can you tell we’re meant to be crunchy friends?

chicken liver pate from Olivia

bacon

That pretty much wrapped up our morning, though I think Casey might have asked if we could stop by Lick for the 3rd time, but I can’t be sure.  She had the brilliant idea to stop at Whole Foods to grab lunch before we went to my parents to pick up Emma.  As Celiacs, you can never be too prepared for your next meal, especially when trying to stay away from crap eat Paleo.

If you couldn’t tell, I am in love with Austin and was a little depressed to come home to Dallas.  Not that I don’t think my city is awesome, but since going crunchy, I want more that just sub-par food choices and resources.  I want a city that embraces this lifestyle, where it’s just that, a lifestyle, not a fad.  So, until I can get my butt to Austin, I’ll just have to settle with weekend getaways.  If you live in Austin, give me a shout-I’d love to meet up at a Farmer’s Market and explore more of your beautiful city.

pit stop outside of Austin

What about you?  Have you ever been to any of these places or have I inspired you to go?  If you live in Austin, do you realize all this is around you or is it your norm?  Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly.

22 Mar

I Left My Heart In Austin (Day 1): Bufalo Bob’s, Salty Sow, & Magnolia Cafe

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Organic, Paleo, Restaurants. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

First, let me apologize for being MIA last week, we were in Missouri for a funeral, so I didn’t have the time to do any posting.

Second, if you caught any of the pictures I posted on my Facebook page, you can remotely guess what an AMAZING time I had in Austin.  You will probably get tired of hearing me rave about Austin, so just deal with it.  When you go crunchy, it’s a blessing to have a crunchy Mecca close to you!

We did so much that weekend, that I decided I’ll break up our trip by days, that way you can see where we went and more importantly what we ate.  I was overwhelmed at how many places had garden beds out front and supported local farmers.  My hope is that there is a shift in restaurants reaching out to surrounding farms, so we know exactly where our food comes from and what’s in it.  I know it’s a pipe dream but it will keep my hope alive.

Austin sunset

So, without further ado, here’s what day one of our crunchy trip to Austin looked like:

Bufalo Bob’s Chalupa Wagon (Food Truck)

As soon as we got in town, we dropped our bags off at the Airbnb that Casey had chosen for us (a first for both), and headed for the door.  It was a drizzly day, well weekend for that matter, but we were determined to NOT let that slow us down!  When your world revolves around gluten-free, grain-free food, you will brave the elements no matter what.

Buffalo Bob's Food Truck

The first place we stuffed our face at was Bufalo Bob’s Chalupa Wagon (that’s not a typo) on 1st Street.  It was tough to find in the rain, but man I’m glad we did!  Bob and I talked for about 20 minutes about pesticides, GMOs, and the state of our food system, meanwhile Casey was trying to stay dry while drooling over all the food.  He was very particular about no cross-contamination with our gluten-free food, which made us very appreciative.

The menu consists of vegetarian offerings, along with natural chicken, and natural bison chalupas.  After mulling over the menu for some time, Casey and I both decided on the Cordoba chalupa, which has hummus, flax seeds, bison, spinach, tomato, and parmesan cheese.  They were delicious and loaded with shredded spinach, which made this mama happy!  Who would have thought to substitute shredded spinach for lettuce…genius?

Bison chalupa from Buffalo Bob's Chalupa Wagon

After bidding them goodbye, with the promise to return, we hurried to my car and scarfed down our provisions in the rain.  Those chalupas definitely hit the spot and were a great way to start the trip.

Bob and his wife

Salty Sow

Our next stop was to the Salty Sow for dinner.  Their tagline is Swine + Wine + Beer.  It was a really cool atmosphere and Casey was super excited to try their French fries fried in duck lard.  I admit I was excited, too, because I’d never heard of duck lard, and couldn’t wait to actually have some fries.  Sadly, it turned out they were not gluten-free.  Boo.

marrow bones from Salty Sow in Austin

Once the waiter came around and finally brought our menu back marked up with gluten-free safe items, we got down to decision-making.  We started off with the Roasted Bone Marrow (Casey’s first time) and Truffled Deviled Eggs.  For the entrée, we split the Duck Breast with roasted turnips and added a side of mashed potatoes.  Oh my word…I’m not sure if I was that hungry, but everything was divine!  I just about licked the bowl of potatoes and nearly fainted at how tasty the turnips were.  I think we both branched out that night and were pleasantly surprised.

duck breast from Salty Sow

Magnolia Cafe

Magnolia Cafe was our late night trip after a failed attempt to get our groove on on 6th street.  We were both shocked that with it being South by Southwest (SXSW) at how dead the party scene was.  I guess we hit the college kids being gone on spring break, and apparently since it was the techie part of the festival, no one wanted to shake their booty.  Sad times for sure.

Magnolia Cafe in Austin

So, after bar hopping to probably 10 different places, we finally gave up.  I convinced her to try Magnolias (in the hopes of getting the famous Mag mud, which is loaded queso) since it was one of those local dives that you just have to experience while visiting.  After her talking me out of the queso, due to my NO DAIRY eating, we both ordered omelettes.  I noticed that you could add some ground beef or bison to your omelette, so I had the waitress add some bison.  Um, little did I know that that meant adding an ENTIRE BISON BURGER INSIDE MY OMELETTE!  Holy cannoli!  I couldn’t believe that they shoved that whole thing in there…or the fact that I cleaned my plate.  The burger was too juicy and delicious and I was not about to let it go to waste.  It’s hard to tell in this pic, but it’s in there!

bison stuffed omelette from Magnolia

After gorging ourselves on breakfast food, we wrapped up our late night meal and headed back to our house.  I knew that was only a small taste of the amount of food we were about to consume the next day, and was excited to make an entire trip about food, knowing the weather would keep us mostly inside.

Next up is day 2 of our Austin adventure, so get ready for some more good eats from some delicious restaurants and local fare.  We covered a lot of ground and food that day, so be prepared to feast your eyes and taste buds.

Note: Photo from here.

7 Mar

eMeals: Meal Planning Made Simple

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , .

I’m headed to my favorite city today, with my crunchy friend Casey, so I’ll be back next week to post on our crazy adventures!

emeals

In the mean time, remember this post where I talk about being a Dave Ramsey fan?  Well for years I’ve heard him talk about these eMeals and finally tuned in.  The commercial definitely caught my attention as they added meal plans over the years, like Gluten-free.  Well now they have added a Paleo meal plan, and that has totally sparked my interest!  I had a lot of success when I did my cookbook challenges (here, here, here, and here), but don’t think it was very cost effective.  Since I try to shop local, organic, and grass-fed/pasture-raised, it tends to get pricey.  I’m not complaining though.

These eMeal plans give you a specific ingredient list to shop for at various grocery stores, along with the recipes, for either 3, 6, or 12 months.  The crazy thing is the cost.

First you pick you meal plan:

  • Classic
  • Clean Eating
  • Gluten Free
  • Low Carb
  • Low Fat
  • Natural and Organic
  • Paleo
  • Portion Control
  • Simple Gourmet
  • Vegetarian

Then you pick your subscription:

  • 3 months: $21 ($7 per month)
  • 6 months: $35 ($6 per month)
  • 12 months: $58 ($5 per month)

You can also add Weekday Lunches for $4/month and Healthy Breakfast for $3/month, if you need additional help.

Here’s a sample from the Whole Foods Market Meal Plan:

emeals-whole-foods-sample

I don’t about you, but this sounds like a ‘no excuse to eat right’ kind of plan!  I personally was thinking of doing the Paleo plan for three months to see how it goes.  I figure I spend enough as it is on food, so why not have someone tell me exactly what to shop for?  I think I’ll give it a shot and let you know how it turns out.  Anything has got to help me stick to my budget…especially in the grocery department.

So, are you curious?  Does this sound something for you and your family could benefit from?  Maybe this will give you an idea of what to cook so you’re not tempted to run out for something crappy quick.  Even if you don’t do it forever, it could at least get you started on meal planning-I know I need to get better at it.

Note: Photos from here and here.

Note: I wasn’t paid or perked for this.

31 Jan

Blogiversary I: Get Ready For This!

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Books, Crunchy, Food, Gardening, Organic. Tagged: , , , , , , , .

Can you believe it’s been a whole year since I started this bad boy?  Yeah, me neither.  I have to say it’s been a wild ride with lots of learning along the way.  I’m happy that this blog is going where it’s going, but I definitely have plans to make it better.

Aww yeah, let’s get your Thursday started right!  For those that know me, my life is either a movie quote or a song, so this is only appropriate.  Random fact: ‘Get Ready for This’ was one of my color guard routines in high school.  Yep, I was a band nerd allstar.

In order to Get Ready for 2013, I’d like to share with you a few of my Crunchy Goals:

#1) Get A Water Filtration System

Berkey water system

I know there are tons out there, and I have heard so much about Berkeys, so I’m determined to find out more about these puppies.  I have always disliked the taste of our hard water and would lurve to get rid of the chemicals (fluoride) in our home, so I can give my family the best water possible.

#2) Learn To Can

home canning guide

This might sound silly to some, but I am dying to know how to can food.  I know my Italian grandmother canned the tar out of some tomatoes growing up, and I would love to know how she dunnit.  I think it would be neat to have my own (homegrown if possible) foods, that have been canned in glass jars, so as not to worry about BPAs in metal cans, right at my fingertips.

#3) Get A Dehydrator

excalibur dehydrator

At the forefront in the Paleo/Raw world seems to be the beloved dehydrator.  I have definitely heard of them but have never used one.  There are tons out there and I have heard great things about Excalibur, though they are pricey.  Who wouldn’t love to have their own homemade grass-fed beef jerky while knowing exactly what’s in it?  I know this snack queen would!

#4) Have A Garden

raised garden beds

If you recall in this post, I did a small garden in pots last year and was somewhat successful.  Josh promised he would build me a raised garden bed this year to A) make it official and B) get the pots off our tiny patio.  Hooray!  I think it’s a win-win for all parties involved, if you ask me.  There’s a local plant nursery that will come out and draw up plans for you, for the low price of $65.  This fee will go back into items you purchase at their store (which I already planned to do), should you decide do so.  Done and done.  My hope is to get them out here next month, so we can start saving our pennies to make my garden grow a reality.

#5) Read More

Nourishing Traditions

When I say read more, I mean crunchy literature.  As I mentioned here, I’m a reading fanatic, but have slacked off lately.  I want to be able to educate myself as well as my readers more, so that involves finding the balance between blogging into the wee hours of the night, and getting lost in some book that tells me sugar causes cancer.  Yippee.

BONUS: #6) Dance!

dance like no one's watching

I may have mentioned before that I love to dance, but have not done much this past year.  Why?  I have no idea.  I am definitely no stranger to the rain shaking my tail feathers, so this is bizarre to me.  I grew up watching my parents dance around the house, my sis and I were in competition dance, and my family closes wedding receptions down cutting a rug.  So, why have I stopped?  Honestly, I’m not sure, but I do want to pick it back up for my sake along with Emma’s.  I do have big aspirations to be a dance mom (not like on TV), though I think Emma wants to do karate, so I need to expose her now.  Even if she has no interest that’s fine, I’d like to take an adult ballet class for me, as a time to get away and reconnect with my first love.

Jess dancing

Nice, huh?

Well, that’s all I have to say about that…for now.

Thanks for stopping by and encouraging me on this blogventure.  I have met so many wonderful people in person and via the world wide web, that it encourages me to keep this train chugging along.  If I can reach just one person, or educate them on something crunchy they had never heard about, then my mission is complete!

Feel free to give suggestions/tips/happy comments about my goals.  I’d love to hear from you on if you own or have tried any of these items on my list.  Crunch on!

Note: Photos from here, here, here, here, here, and here.

29 Jan

How To Grow A Scoby

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Kombucha, Make It Yourself, Organic. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you’ve seen me post several pictures of my wild and crazy Kombucha bottling experiences.  I started on this wild ride in October and have been going strong ever since.

What in the world am I talking about?  Have you ever heard of this crazy fermented tea drink, called Kombucha (kom-boocha)?  No?  Well let me enlighten you.

“Kombucha is an effervescent fermentation of sweetened tea that is used as a functional food.” -Wikipedia

This stuff is amazing and can get costly if it turns into a habit.  I had heard about it a couple years ago when a big controversy broke out, and one kid got in trouble for bringing it in his lunch.  There was a big fuss about it containing a small amount of alcohol; so many manufacturers pulled it from the shelves.  Several companies even reformatted their recipe and even label some for ‘over 21.’

GTs Synergy Raw Organic Kombucha

I don’t know all about that, but I do know that I love it, and I give it to my 2-year-old every day. The kid practically asks for ‘booch just about every time I open the fridge.  Like I mentioned in this post, it cured Emma’s week-long bout of diarrhea, along with some coconut water, so this mama’s a fan.  It’s loaded with probiotics, fiber, omega-3s, and antioxidants!  What’s not to love?

When I came across Food Renegade’s post on How to Grow A Kombucha Scoby, I was intrigued.  You could grow your own Scoby (Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast), ‘mushroom’ or ‘mother’ as it’s also called, with only four ingredients.  I started mine at the end of October and it grew within a week (thanks to the Texas heat)…I had no idea it could be that easy.  Basically, once you have a Scoby, you can keep reusing it to brew continuous batches of Kombucha (it’s the gift that keeps on giving).

What you will need:

  • a bottle of GTs Raw, Organic Original Kombucha (pictured above), brought to room temperature
  • a glass jar (a 32 oz. Mason jar will work)
  • 1 kitchen towel & rubber band
  • 1 cup of sweetened tea (made with filtered water or tap water that you boiled) & 1 Tbsp sugar

I found my Kombucha at Sprout’s, and I know Whole Foods, Market Street, Natural Grocers, and other natural health food stores will carry it.

*Make sure you keep all hands and utensils clean as this is a live, raw food.

What to do:

1. Brew one cup of black tea (I use Bigelow) and add 1 Tbsp of Organic Sugar.

2. Once the tea has cooled, mix tea and the bottle of Raw, Organic Kombucha into a glass jar.

3. Cover with a towel and secure with a rubber band, so it can breathe and keep bugs out.

4. Let it sit until the Scoby is about ¼” thick.  That’s it!

It should look like this after a week or several weeks, depending on the temperature of your house.  If it starts to get mold on it, throw it out and start over.

how to grow your own scoby

Also, if yours isn’t turning out like you hoped, you can buy a culture online from places like Kombucha Kamp, which is the #1 source for all things Kombucha!  For Q&As on if your Scoby is growing or not growing, check out Food Renegade’s post to diagnose any problems.

Go out there and get your Scoby on!

25 Jan

Natural Grocers In Denton, Texas

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Dairy-Free, Food, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Grocery Stores, Kombucha, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Sorry I’ve been M.I.A. this week, my hubby and I got some stomach bug, so I’ve been wiped out.

I did want to let you know about the grand opening of Natural Grocers in Denton, TX.  If you have never been nor heard of them, check out their site to find the one closest to you.  I love this place and will drive the extra miles, past Sprout’s & Whole Foods, to get the best bang for my buck.

Natural Grocers in Denton Texas

Natural Grocers only sells certified organic produce, naturally raised meats, and in my opinion, have the best prices when it comes to their packaged goods.

organic produce from Natural Grocers

I’ve been hooked from the moment their first store opened up and it’s not hard to see why.  Here’s a note from their Director of Marketing:

“We have been around since 1955 and are cornerstoned in Customer Service as well as Nutritional Education. We strive to offer a very large inventory of all natural and organic groceries, dairy items, bulk items, prepacked items, frozen, all natural raised and fed meats and poultry, all natural and GF supplements and a large body care section for the shoppers that are looking for all natural and environmental products at the some of the lowest industry prices.”

I love this store for so many reasons: 1) it’s small so it feels like a neighborhood market, 2) everyone is super friendly there, and 3) they are anti-GMO!  Yeah buddy!

non-gmo at Natural Grocers

My crunchy friend, Casey, went with Emma and me and we were like kids in candy stores!  We went up and down every aisle, checked and rechecked the fresh, beautiful produce, and were finally able to select our purchases.  I got two Against the Grain pizzas for dinner that night, along with fresh toppings, and Casey ended up with a case of Kombucha for $1.65/bottle!  That is a freakin’ steal…that stuff is normally $3.49 a pop, so she totally loaded up.  We were both loving the Grand Opening specials, that’s for sure.

case of GTs Kombucha from Natural Grocers

Also, this new store has a gathering area and shiny, lime green Demo kitchen.  I can definitely foresee some gluten-free/paleo cooking demos coming, and can’t wait to be #1 in line!  Their first event was entitled ‘Bacon Brigade’ and was slated for last night, but sadly I had to miss.  You know I love me some bacon and was bummed I missed the sampling.  Oh well, there’s always next time.

Demo kitchen in Natural Grocers

There you have it, my quick recap of a health food store (that’s finally close to me) that I’m in lurve with!

Have you ever been to a Vitamin Cottage or Natural Grocers, or is this our first time hearing about them?  Check them out when you get a chance or request one in your area, you won’t be disappointed!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend, and feels better if you’ve been sick like me.

1 Jan

A Crunchy Christmas

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in Crunchy, Gifts, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Green, Holidays, Organic, Paleo. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Did you have a good holiday?  I hope so.  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and/or Festive Kwanzaa!  Our family was in Austin for the week, at my parent’s house, so I took some time off from blogging to enjoy a little R&R.

I hope Santa/Père Noel/Noel Baba/Topo Gigio or whomever you believe in, brought you lots of goodies.  I’m still on the fence on how or if we’ll do Santa in the future (remember Halloween?), but to actually survive the celebration was a success.  Yay nurse!

2013

I bet a few of you are recovering from ringing in the New Year (can you believe we made it?), so I wanted to share a few crunchy gifts that we received over the holiday.  I’ve been rethinking the quality of gifts I give to my daughter, so I like the spin on the au-natural construction of these two.

The first are ’Lincoln logs’ made out of bamboo, called Bamboo Builders, by Schylling.  My sis got some for her son from Whole Earth Provision Co. a while back, and I knew I wanted them for Emma, too.

bamboo builder logs

I love that it’s made from bamboo, the ultimate sustainable material.  It’s naturally organic because it’s grown without pesticides or chemicals, is 100% biodegradable and is naturally regenerative.  You can’t beat biodegradable and regenerative in my book!  Thanks to my engineer hubby, we were able to recreate the log cabin on the container, and still had a few pieces left over.  Phew!

Emma loved the logs, but was espeically excited about this little baby:

wooden dollhouse from young house love

Her very first dollhouse!  This beauty was made by my dad (Emma’s Granpy) and inspired by Young House Love.  It’s a bit different than Clara’s, but Emma is in love…and so is her cousin, Dillon!  I love the idea of  a handmade gift (out of wood) versus store-bought (out of plastic).  My mom (Emma’s Nonna) lovingly picked out the ’wallpaper’ and accessories that went in each room, and I think it all looks adorable.  It could definitely use some wall art, mirrors, or a lil somethin’ somethin’ to dress up those bare walls, though.  Any ideas?

Next on my crunchy list was this gift for my hubby.  Safety Razor, shave set, and razor blades.

I was sniffing around on Wellness Mama‘s site, and she was talking about making your own shave soap, so I delved further into this safety razor world.  My interest was piqued hearing her talk about going back to the ‘old fashioned way’ of shaving, and saving money on disposable razors in the long run.  He has yet to try it, but claims he’s wanted one for some time.  I will say it sounds more like an experience (can take from 10-45 minutes) than your typical shave (5-10 minutes), so we’ll see how it goes.  This may be a weekend ‘experience’ for him, since he has thick hair and needs to be quick in the morning.  I will keep you posted…

WHAT ABOUT THE FOOD?

paleo stuffing from Unrefinded gluten free bakery in Dallas

Just in case you were curious about the food, it was mostly Paleo, save a non-Paleo stuffing and stupid gluten-free cakes and cookies!  I went ahead and indulged myself, since I’m starting a sugar detox TODAY, with my friend Casey, and was SO over trying to be good.  The pictured stuffing was from Unrefined Bakery and was a huge hit!  We even had leftovers for breakfast a few days later to go along with our farm fresh eggs.  I found these beauties from a sign on the side of the road.

farm fresh pastured eggs

As for the turkey, we pulled out the one we got last year from Natural Grocers from the freezer and brought it with us.  They sell Mary’s Free-Range Turkeys out of Sanger, CA, and it was delish!  It makes me feel good to know I am eating a preservative, hormone, and antibiotic-free turkey with my entire family.  If you know me, I saved the bones and made some fresh stock, which turned into turkey soup loaded with a bunch of veggies.

All in all, the week in Austin was a success!  It’s always nice to go to someone else’s home and have people help wash dishes, watch your child, and let you put your feet up cook the way you want.  I can’t wait to tell you about a local place I found for Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar, located in Dripping Springs, TX!

Until then, let me know how you celebrated the holidays.  Did you have a big family gathering?  Did you eat Paleo or gluten-free?  Are you ready to write off sugar like I am, and would like to join me on my SUGAR DETOX 2013?  Let’s Do This!

Note: Photo from here.

19 Dec

Gardening: How To Ripen Green Tomatoes

Posted by Crunchy Hot Mama in DIY, Gardening, Organic. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

It’s not rocket science, but I was on the hunt to ripen my green tomatoes (besides the thought of frying or grilling them).

While searching, I came across this site showing you ’How to Ripen Green Tomatoes.’  Maybe you were like me and finally got tomatoes after all your had work and persistence…in the fall.  The guy at the nursery said it was a possibility, and happily it happened.  Sadly, they were holding tight and wanting to turn red, but the sun just wasn’t enough.  Be strong little root!  The freezes were coming and I was not about to let them go to the composter, especially after going out daily to fight for their lives against those cursed cucumber beetles.  In case you didn’t catch my post on growing your own garden, I name all my plants/herb/veggies so there was no chance of leaving Tommy to die.

how to ripen your green tomatoes

First, you are supposed to cut them from the vine, not pull them with the help of a 2-year old, then carefully wrap them in tissue paper or newspaper and put them in a old shoebox.  Next, find a cool spot on the counter and wait.  And wait.  And wait.  Then voilà, you have a red tomato!

how to ripen your green tomatoes

We did have two that turned instantly, which was exciting.  Lucky for me I was able to snap a picture before Emma gobbled the whole thing up in 2 seconds flat!  I’m still waiting on the others, but it feels good to know they won’t totally go to waste…fingers crossed.

growing your own tomatoes

I’ve also been doing some research on how to save my own seeds.  I bought an Heirloom plant, which means they are original tomato seeds, not contaminated by Monsanto, so I want to keep them around for a long while.  I figure while waiting for them turn, it will buy me some time to find the best option.

Now you tell me.  Were you successful in having a garden this year?  Is your New Year’s resolution to grow your own in the spring?  Mine is and I can’t wait to get this ball rolling!  Don’t worry, I’ll take you on this journey with me, through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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