Mom's Granola

I love finding old recipes stuffed into books!  It's almost better than finding money in a pair of pants you haven't worn for months.
Here is a lovely granola recipe my mother gave me years ago.  She always makes the best darn granola!
Of course I tweaked the recipe a bit - because I never can just follow a recipe...

Mom's Granola Recipe (slightly adjusted)

5 cups old fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free)
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1 cup raisins
1/4 cup coconut oil
1-2 teaspoons Celtic sea salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of cinnamon (or to taste)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Combine oats, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cinnamon in large bowl and set aside.  Melt the coconut oil on low heat.  Add the vanilla extract and salt to the melted coconut oil and stir.  Pour the oil/vanilla/salt combination over the oats and seed mixture and mix thoroughly until all of the seeds and oats are well-coated.  Pour into a cast iron pan or baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes checking and stirring every 7-10 minutes.  After 20 minutes, stir again and then add the shredded coconut to the granola by sprinkling a thin layer evenly over the top (this allows the coconut to toast).  Bake for an additional 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven, add the raisins (or dried fruit of your choice) and cool.

Avoid Colds this Season with these Immune Boosting Foods!

It is almost fall which means now is the time to start thinking about IMMUNE SUPPORT!

In order to avoid those nasty colds and viruses that seem to wreak havoc on our communities this time of year, we want to be thinking about foods and lifestyle behaviors that support a healthy immune system.

Why do we get sick in the fall?  Autumn is the time of year when we come into contact with more people and more germs (back to school, anyone?) and our stress levels amp up with our increased involvement in projects and preparation for the holidays. That's why it is so important to shift our attention and love to our immune system.

Foods that Support a Healthy Immune System

Supporting the immune system, means supporting the digestive system.  To boost immunity, support digestive health by:

1.) Taking a probiotic supplement every day

2.) Eating PRObiotic foods that contain beneficial bacteria that support the health of our intestinal flora and healthy intestinal flora is crucial for a healthy immune system. Eat more cultured foods and drinks like: 

• sauerkraut
• kimchi
• coconut water kefir
• miso
• yogurt

3.) Incorporating PREbiotic foods into your daily diet. What are prebiotic foods? Foods that contain a plant fiber that feeds and nourishes the beneficial intestinal flora.
Prebiotic foods are:

• raw and cooked onions
• raw leeks 
• raw garlic
• raw asparagus
• raw chicory root
• bananas - unless you have a history of candida
• jerusalem artichokes 
• dandelion greens

4.) Including foods that are known for their immune boosting properties:

• mushrooms 
• green leafy veggies
• berries - blueberries, raspberries, and gogi berries are my 3 favorite!
• chaga mushroom tea
• onions and garlic
• green tea
• turmeric (curry baby, curry!)

In addition to adding these immune boosting foods, try to avoid sugar (a major immune suppressor) and processed foods as much as possible!

Love to all your immune systems!

Supporting the Liver with Vegetable Juice

Feeling in need of some liver support! Juice time, baby!

I ate a heavy dinner late last night (right before bed), and guess what happened? I woke up at 2:30 in the morning - hot and anxious. No surprise here!

This is what happens when the liver is stressed. This happens to me when I have a few too many glasses of wine as well. Can you relate?

It is a sign that the liver is having a hard time processing something that has been taken in to the body - food, drink, environmental toxins...

According to Chinese Medicine, each organ or organ meridian is active during a specific two hour period of each 24 hour cycle. The liver meridian is most active between 1AM and 3AM. If this meridian is excessively active (working hard to digest a heavy late night meal or too many glasses of wine) it will manifest as symptoms during this period of time - hence waking up at 2:30, sweating and anxious.

It is also a good reminder to eat no more than 3 hours before hitting the hay. Snooze time is when our body detoxifies and repairs tissues. If we eat shortly before bedtime, our body has to contend with digesting a meal as opposed to detoxifying and regenerating.

Liver Loving Juice

So, in this morning's juice I will be sure to include lots of liver supporting veggies - my favorite being THE BEET!

• BEETS support phase 2 liver detoxification - super important for processing the toxins that we take in from our food, drink, and the environment - if this pathway is working well you will produce sufficient bile - helps the processing of cholesterol and fats! Plus they are so pretty and in season!
• Cabbage is great for stomach issues - like ulcers - and is great for soothing the digestive system. 
• Spinach, parsley, and Swiss chard are rich sources of chlorophyll, minerals and antioxidants
• Lime is alkalizing, high in Vitamin C, aids in digestion by stimulating digestive juices, bile and acids (and makes everything yummy)
• Celery is anti-inflammatory and high in antioxidants

I love my body because it talks to me and tells me what it needs! Warm water with lemon between meals for the rest of the day. Let's see if I sleep better tonight. XO

Smoothie Revolution!

If you've been reading my blog posts or following me on Facebook you may have noticed that I am a little obsessed with smoothies, green smoothies to be specific.

Why is that?

Because they are so darn good for you - not to mention a fast, easy, and delicious way to get supercharged with nutrition for the day!

Smoothies are:

• Chock full of vitamins
• Easy to digest, which means optimal assimilation of the NUTRIENTS YOU NEED
• Great for stabilizing blood sugar (each smoothie should include a healthy fat, and fat is KEY for blood sugar stabilization)
• A fabulous way to consume a variety of different fruits or vegetables at one time
• Terrific for cleansing the body of toxicity
• An easy way to add more fiber to your diet for optimal bowel function

When you add a handful of greens to your smoothie, you can add and extra dose of nutrition in every serving!

Here are some of my favorite greens to add to smoothies:

• Kale
• Swiss chard
• Mint
• Parsley
• Celery
• Romaine Lettuce
• Spinach
• Dandelion Greens

Want to jump on the green smoothie bandwagon and get your smoothie on?  

RECIPE: Try this Green Thunder Smoothie with a Dash of Sunshine!

2 organic kiwi fruit, peeled & chopped

1 large organic mango, peeled and chopped

2 cups raw, organic spinach

1 cup coconut water

1 cup hemp or almond milk

Ice (optional)

Blend all ingredients together and enjoy!


To encourage you to make smoothies a part of your daily routine so that you, too, can experience a boost in energy levels, better bowel flow, and decreased inflammation, I am gifting you my FREE 7-day Smoothie Challenge e-book!

This FREE 7-Day Smoothie Guide includes:

• Nutrition benefits of making smoothies a part of your daily routine
• The down-low on blending and choosing a blender
• A basic breakdown of smoothie-making so that you can create your own
• The best part - 17 delicious smoothie recipes!

Click here to access your FREE 7-Day Smoothie Challenge e-book!!!

Start blending and start having fun!

Big Hugs,

Teal Stamm