Simply Sea Salt Brownie

Well, it might not be on the 21 Day Fix "approved" list...but it sure is amazing. And you are cooking from stratch, using whole, fresh ingredients. So while I don't suggest eating these everyday...balance is key to life. Enjoy life. Savor it! 

These brownies are a family favorite. 

Boxed brownies used to be a craving for me...especially hot out of the oven with vanilla ice cream! But after reading over the ingredients, I was curious if I could recreate them and still keep all the yumminess.

I love chocolate. Kind of a chocolate snob. It became my mission.  I was so surprised how EASY it was to make brownies from stratch. After several tweaks, I came up with this. Sea salt changes EVERYTHING!  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1/2 cup salted butter

1 cup sugar OR 1/2 cup honey

2 farm fresh eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 cup cocoa 

1/2 cup unbleached flour

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Then add one egg at a time. Vanilla. Mix all dry ingredients in a seperate bowl and add to the creamed butter batter. Mix well. 

Grease 8x8 pan and add batter.

Cook for 18-20 minutes. Do NOT overcook.

Chocolate frosting 

3 tbsp softened butter

3 tbsp cocoa 

1 tbsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup powder sugar

Mix all together until smooth and frost brownies while they are still warm!

Enjoy! Let me know how much you love them!!

Simply, Homemade Hazelnut Latte

I love coffee. I have one cup a day. And that cup must have these things to be perfect.

1. Froth

2. Good ingredients 

3. Drank in SILENCE 

I'm a much nicer person after sitting on my deck, soaking up the beauty of our ranch and no words. Ha. #truth

So every good cup of coffee starts with homemade ingredients. I used to drink store bought creamer, Starbucks everyday and while it tasted good at the time. My body NEVER thanked me later. You know that saying "pay later"...yeah, sugar crash and bloating. Boo!

So, I've learned to come up with yummy coffee that I can make at home, only take a couple minutes AND taste WAY better. And because I am using whole ingredient, no sugar crash or bloating or guilt. WIN!

I love hazelnut. But I hate immatation flavoring. I was at World Market and found these amazing whole hazelnuts and snagged them up. I use my hand shredder. You can use ground hazelnut, I just always try to use food in its purest and wholest(I think I just made that word up) state! I'm so over the moon that it turned out...BETTER than I had hoped. 

Give this hazelnut latte a try. I promise it won't disappoint! 

 1 1/2 cup home brewed coffee

1/2 cup whole or raw milk

Hazelnut (whole or ground)

Vanilla(homemade or pure)optional

1/2 tsp Pure Maple syrup 

Tiny pinch of sea salt(tiny!!!)

While I am waiting on my pourover, I heat the milk until hot. I then take my hand emersion blender and blend the milk until frothy! Gently stir in a pinch of hazelnut, pinch of sea salt, vanilla and maple syrup. Give it a good blend again. Pour over coffee and scoop the remaining foam on top!! Boom! 

I always garnish with a sprinkle of hazelnut. Because I am a girl. I am a Mom and I need to lavish myself. Ya, know. Plus it looks so pretty! 

Give it a try and let me know your favorite homemade coffee drinks in the comments!! 

simply, Jen

Simply Apple Nachos

Apple Nachos? Yes, HECK YA!!

 

I love food and it has to have flavor and fill me up. No bland, boring, left starving said NO one leaving one of my meals. Yesterday, I experimented with a snack idea.

I started a new fitness program and needed to make sure my nutrition matches all my hard work. Did you know the nutrition is 80% of your results!? Yep, so your spending hours in the gym and not eating the RIGHT foods in the CORRECT portions...you're kind of wasting your time. Enter sad face.

So back to the nachos. Yum. I still needed to eat a serving of fruit and some healthy fats. And it was that afternoon lull and kinda had a sweet tooth. I just knew I could be creative...so this is what I came up with. Melt in your mouth goodness.

Try it. Great afternoon snack for the kiddos and even a dessert! Trust me, you won't be disappointed! 

1 slices apple

Drizzled with 1 tbsp natural peanut butter

Sprinkled with cinnamon 

1 tbsp raisins(no sugar added)

1tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes

OH. MY. YUM!

Simply Garlic Hummus

I used to buy store bought hummus. A lot. But then I found out I could make it with a couple ingrdients I always had in the farm pantry  for way less money and I was over the moon...but for the real test. Would it taste amazing? Good isn't okay for my kitchen. I love food. I love flavor and I won't compromise great for good. Well, I am happy to report this is BETTER than amazing. Super simple. Nutritious. And my kids love it for an afternoon snack! Packed with protein and antioxidants, give it a try! 

1 1/2 cup garbanzo beans

2-3 whole garlic cloves

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1/4 tsp cumin

Olive oil to consistency you like(I ise about 1/4 cup) 

Blend or mix until smooth! Hello yum! 

Simply Garlic Hummus

I used to buy store bought hummus. A lot. But then I found out I could make it with a couple ingrdients I always had in the farm pantry  for way less money and I was over the moon...but for the real test. Would it taste amazing? Good isn't okay for my kitchen. I love food. I love flavor and I won't compromise great for good. Well, I am happy to report this is BETTER than amazing. Super simple. Nutritious. And my kids love it for an afternoon snack! Packed with protein and antioxidants, give it a try! 

1 1/2 cup garbanzo beans

2-3 whole garlic cloves

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1/4 tsp cumin

Olive oil to consistency you like(I ise about 1/4 cup) 

Blend or mix until smooth! Hello yum! 

Simply more Nutritious Popcorn...

We love popcorn. Like its on our menu at least 2-3x a week. I make it with pastured butter and Celtic sea salt, drizzled with my nut butter(recipe on the blog) and sometimes I sprinkle with nutritional yeast! It's amazing.

A couple of years ago, I came across an article about the benefits of multi-colored popcorn. I had never even seen this stuff other than on that beautiful Indian corn during thanksgiving. After finding this out, I've never gone back to traditional popcorn...plus it looks super amazing in a mason jar! It's simple really;

It has more antioxidants!!! I was so surprised to hear that a good, organic picots is loaded with nutrients and actually protein too! It's a natural whole grain(gf) and has great fiber!! All good popcorn has these benefit but the multicolored has more. 

And also, stay away from microwave popcorn which doesn't do anything good for you! Same with movie theater popcorn. Get a good air popper and make it like the good ol' days. Your kids will love it...and so will you!! 

 

Simply Raspberry Zinger Smoothie

Need a morning pick me up? This is a new farm favorite! I can't wait to pick out wild raspberries this summer and use them! Hello!

2 pink grapefruit-juiced

1 1/2 c frozen raspberries

1/2 Greek yogurt

1-2 tbsp local honey

1 tbsp whole flax seed

Blend until smooth and serve with some homemade spelt buscuits or muffins!