Avocados...The Perfect Game Day Snack!

Today ONLY: February 4th, Organic Avocados are on sale 5/$5 at Whole Foods

*Call your local store to make sure they are participating

Here are two great recipes for your delicious, healthful avocados!

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish

Guacamole
4-6 ripe avocados
1/2 red or yellow onion, minced
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice
coarse salt to taste
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped (optional)
*if you want, omit the onion, serrano chiles, and tomato and just add some fresh salsa (about 1/4 cup). Doing this makes this recipe SO easy!

Directions
1. Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl. (See How to Cut and Peel an Avocado.)
2. Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, lime or lemon, salt and pepper and mash some more. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness.
Keep the tomatoes separate until ready to serve.
Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.
3. Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidation from the air reaching it. Refrigerate until ready.
4. Just before serving, add the chopped tomato to the guacamole and mix.

Serve with tortilla chips

Black Bean Salsa

This recipe is free of milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, peanuts, fish and shellfish

Ingredients

2 cans of black beans drained and rinsed

*I like to use organic black beans or whole foods 365 black beans (they are only .89) and they do not have preservatives or added salt.

1 small bag of organic frozen corn, drained

1 lime OR lemon (for juice)

1 Haas avocado cut into pieces and soaked in fresh lime or lemon juice to preserve its color

*You might want to do this right before you serve this dip so the avocado is at its freshest

1 small onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 mango, diced OR pineapple, diced 

4 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp white wine vinegar

fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Cover. Let refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Stir before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips

Deal on Grass-Fed Beef at Whole Foods!

What a DEAL! On Friday, September 3rd you can get Grass-Fed Beef for $3.99 lb at Whole Foods. I will be relaxing at the beach on a much needed vacation, but I will see if I can find someone to help me stock up :)

While you are there, stock up on Simply Orange Juice for $2.50 for 59 fl oz....this is normally $3.50 or more....this is a SUPER deal! We LOVE this OJ (especially when it is on sale!)

Bolthouse Farms...Feel Good About What's In This Bottle

We make our own smoothies at least twice a day, but I have found a drink/smoothie that is ready to drink that is SUPER yummy if you do not have time to make one yourself.

Bolthouse Farms has varieties of fruit smoothie drinks that are delicious on their own or you can use them in your own homemade smoothie and add even more nutritious ingredients to it.

So far, my favorite is C-Boost Fruit Smoothie because I love mango, but I have to say that I like the Green Goodness. I think because it is green, I feel like it packs a nutritional punch; it includes veggies (broccoli and spinach). In the Green Goodness, one bottle contains 3 3/4 servings of fruits and veggies. The USDA recommends that we eat 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, so this helps towards the daily goal. I am always looking for a way to get in our servings, since I am learning how important fruits and vegetables are to the health of my family.

Bolthouse Farms is 100% Juice/Puree (the three smoothies that have the below information are Green Goodness, C-Boost and Berry Boost...these are the ones that I bought)

• Gluten Free
• No Preservatives
• No Artificial Flavors
• No Genetically Modified Ingredients (LOVE THIS!!!!!!)

On the back of the bottle, it tells you what is in the bottle, for example, in the C-Boost it has 3/4 mango, 29 acerola cherries and 2 3/4 apples. I am such a visual person; I think this is so cool!

HERE IS A DEAL: if you have a Kroger nearby, you can stock up on some! A 15.2 FL oz bottle is $3.29, but they are buy one, get one FREE. So it comes out to $1.65 per bottle (which is a great deal for this smoothie). I have been looking for the bottles with the expiration dates that are farther out and I am stocking up. WE LOVE THESE! I think I am addicted. Grab some and tell me what you think! This deal expires on 9/11 so you still have time :)

Deal on "Ice Cream" at Kroger

I ran into a deal the other day that is too good not to share.

Kroger has Purely Decadent and So Delicious varieties of ice cream on sale until 8/14. Normally, a quart of So Delicious is $6.09 and it is on sale for $2.99; a pint of Purely Decadent Coconut Milk ice cream is also $2.99. This is definitely a price to stock up on! This is the time that I get to try new flavors that I have been wanting to try.

You can also CLICK HERE to get a coupon to make this an even better deal!

Get some ice cream, make some smoothies/milkshakes and stay cool!

kateelayne is giving away their "Pull-Apart" cakes

At kateelayne, our goal is to bring a smile to the face of those affected by food allergies. In light of last week's devastating flood, that isn't so easy to do. It is especially not easy for those in our community who may be celebrating a birthday or special occasion. Over the next couple weeks, if you or someone you know has a food allergy and was affected by the flood, kateelayne would like to extend the offer of a free cake for that occasion.Please contact us at 615.942-8433 or carefreetreats@kateelayne.com

FOOD ALLERGY AWARNESS WEEK

May 9-15

Place an order with kateelayne and receive one dozen complimentary CINNADOODLES with your purchase in honor of those affected by food restrictions. Enjoy the Cinnadoodles yourself or pass them on to share a smile!

Groupon: $10 for $20 of food at TOSSED

I am excited about today's Groupon! You can buy $20 worth of food for only $10! What an inexpensive lunch for the next time you are in the Cool Springs area.

Tossed has delicious salads, crepes, wraps, sandwiches, soups and smoothies. They have a gluten free, dairy free tomato basil soup (that is really yummy!). I love the fresh selection at Tossed, and you can feel good about the healthy choices.

The owner has brought yummy salads and tomato basil soup for us to sample at our FACT meeting. I enjoy supporting restaurants who serve healthy food and make eating out easier for people who deal with food sensitivities and food allergies. They also own Garlic Jim's in Franklin, which serves Gluten Free pizza.

Click HERE to get your Groupon....Don't miss out!


Expires in 1 year. Limit 3 per person. Limit 1 per visit. Tax not included. No cash back. Not valid for online orders. Not valid with other offers. Redeemable starting on May 4.

Whole Fruit Sorbet on Sale

If you go to Publix to grab the Kashi Oatmeal deal, pick up some Whole Fruit Sorbet ; it is BOGO this week ($1.45 each). We love this stuff (our favorite is the lemon). It is really rich so you wouldn't sit down and have a bowl of it...a little goes a long way.

Ingredients in the lemon sorbet:

Micron Filtered Water, Corn Syrup Solids, Sugar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Pectin, and Natural Flavor.

On sale at Publix BOGO (1.45 each) until Tuesday, 4/27

Kashi Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

I like to make homemade oatmeal for the boys because I can add fresh apples, local honey, flaxseed meal (great way to add fiber and omega 3's), etc. When  we are traveling and need a quick breakfast, we sometimes ues Kashi Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (with more for you heart, nothing artificial).

*It is on sale this week at Publix for $2.50 until 4/27. Also, there is a coupon in the yellow advantage buy flyer (you can get this at the front of the store) for a free reusable bag when you buy two Kashi products.

Ingredients:
whole grain rolled oats, evaporated cane juice, dried apples (apples, apple juice concentrate), chicory root fiber, cinnamon, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, natural flavors, decaffeinated green tea extract, calcium carbonate, decaffeinated white tea extract, alpha tocopherol acetate (natural vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), activin grape seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), zinc oxide, ferrous fumarate (iron), beta carotene (source of vitamin A), folic acid, vitamin B12.

Home Depot: Buy One Get One Free Veggie & Herbs TODAY ONLY

If you are thinking about doing a garden or haven't bought plants yet, Home Depot has a great deal TODAY ONLY, 4/18 (I did this last year and filled my garden with veggie plants and herbs for inexpensive).

Bonnie 3"-5" Peat Pot Veggie & Herbs

• Vegetables: choose from tomatoes, peppers and more



• Herbs-choose basil, thyme, oregano and more



• Biodegradable pots plant right into the ground

Limit 10 per customer; (while supplies last). Bring someone with you (husband, etc.) and you can really make sure you will have enough plants for your garden.

If you want to start your plants from seed, for 7 days only-April 18th-24th they will have buy one get one free deal on all vegetable, herb and flower seed packets (while supplies last). Looks like organic is included.

I love having a small garden. The vegetables are fresh, vine-ripened and we know how they are grown. This saves us lots of money and forces us to think of ways to use these fresh vegetables and share with friends/neighbors.

This year in our garden, we are going to do:

• Roma tomatoes (salads, homemade pizza)


• grape tomatoes (salads)


• squash


• zucchini


• cucumbers (I'm thinking homemade pickles)


• jalapenos (salsa, sandwiches, fresh Mexican food)


• eggplant

Herbs

I love herbs! I have a little area in my garden that is dedicated to my herbs.

*If you choose herbs that come back every year...all you have to do is make a one time investment and it keeps giving back. If you buy herbs at the grocery store for a recipe, you would pay at least $1.50 for a one time use...think of it that way. If you have all of these fresh herbs at your disposal, you will think of ways to use them and flavor your food. Plus, it is always nice to share with friends.

• sage (comes back)-tastes great with chicken, sauces or homemade sausage


• oregano (comes back)-pasta sauce, homemade pizza, chicken


• thyme (comes back)-chicken, pasta salads, homemade dressings, etc.


• rosemary (comes back)-pasta sauce, stuffed in whole chickens, etc.


• mint (comes back): *make sure to plant in some type of pot or it will overtake your garden...it spreads like crazy)-we make minted salsa, add this to our iced tea in the summer


• chives-I keep these in a pot on my porch, bring them in the garage during the winter and put them back out in the spring and they keep coming back. Perfect for baked potatoes, etc.


• lavender (comes back: make sure to buy the kind that is a perennial)-I love the smell and they add color to my herb garden
  

Do not come back, but worth the investment

• Basil-great accompaniment to all of the tomatoes you will have. Tastes great in sauces, salads, on homemade pizza, etc.


• Dill-macaroni salads, chicken, fish, homemade dill pickles


• Cilantro-I love it, but it likes the cooler weather and goes not grow when your tomatoes are ready, that is so disappointing because it would be perfect to have for fresh salsa
  
  

Go to Home Depot and click on local ad or call to see if they are having this deal in your area

Happy Planting!

Possibly Great deal on So Delicious at Whole Foods?

*UPDATE: Yes...I went today and the Coconut Milk Yogurt is on sale for $1.50 each, use the $1 off coupon and you can get it for .50...what a deal!

If you are heading to Whole Foods today for tax free, go to turtlemountain (dairy free indulgence). Click on rewards at the top of the website. Then click on coupons. You will fill out a request for coupons and then a coupon will pop up to print. It is for $1 off on any Purely Decadent or So Delicious dairy free frozen dessert or refrigerated item. *Remember to hit back and you can print 2!

We LOVE LOVE LOVE their dairy free ice cream, but I think today I will be able to score some dairy free yogurt (normally the price kills me) for Brody for CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!!! Should probably be less than .50. Plus...TAX FREE!

*Don't forget to bring your reusable bags....Whole Foods gives you .10 off your bill for each one you bring. Every little bit helps and you are helping the environment.

Whole Foods Tax-Free Shopping Day TODAY!

If you need some items at Whole Foods, today would be a great day to go...Whole Foods will pay your sales tax! As we all know, (in TN) this adds up, so this is a fun way to save! Stores will also offer deep discounts on select items on Tax-free shopping day, in addition to Weekly Flyer Specials, giving customers even more ways to save. Happy Shopping!

Contact the Whole Foods near you to see if they are participating

Article from the Tennessean

Groupon Deal:9 Fruits

Hey Locals...Michele told me about a great deal offered from Groupon today 4/7 for 9 Fruits.

Check out this link to see how you can get Two Medium Smoothies from 9 Fruits for only $5 (you will see it on the right hand side of the screen)

If you purchase the deal (limit 2 per person), it expires on 7/08/10 but that gives you plenty of time to grab two smoothies next time you are in the Cool Springs area.