Simply Cream of Chicken

Sometimes you just don't know what your missing until you try it. If you buy canned cream of chicken, please STOP! Besides being filled with really bad(really bad) things, it just doesn't compare to homemade cream of chicken.

 Where have you been all my life?! I know I used to stock those cans in my pantry because our fav farm meal, Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, calls for it. As I journeyed into saving money , eating clean and balanced and cooking from stratch I realized that not only does it take 5 minutes to make, but it tastes INCREDIBLE. I'll never go back. So give it a try! I promise it won't disappoint. Enjoy!!

PS I am sending out my chicken pot pie recipe ONLY to my newsletter subscriber!! So if you haven't subscribed yet, leave a comment with your email and I'll add you! 

1 3/4  cup chicken stock

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup flour or arrowroot

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp of thyme OR 1/4 tsp celery seed(optional)

Heat chicken stock in a sauce pan. Mix the milk and flour together in a small bowl. Stir until there are no lumps. Slowly whisk in the milk/flour mixture into the warm chicken stock and stir until consistent(no lumps) Add seasonings and cook over medium heat until thick. You can add more milk if it gets to thick or add more flour/milk mixture of you want it thicker! 

I told you! Easy! And simply, delicious!  

Simply, Jen 

Simply Hot Cocoa

November brisk breezes, tree is up and Christmas music fills the home. It's the perfect treat for your little ones. I like to keep things simple. Throw these ingredients in the blender, pour into a mason jar and top with marshmallow. I have a great recipe for those, but today, I just used some I had left over in the pantry. Enjoy. 

24 oz raw milk or whole milk

3 tbsp cocoa 

2 tbsp maple syrup 

1/2 tsp vanilla 

Pinch of sea salt

Blend on high(our vitamix heats it up-or you can heat up after)

Serve in mason jar with marshmallow. Curl up in a blanket and enjoy the season! 

Simply Perfect Pumpkin Bars

Choices. Small choices can make the biggest impact. So this week is Thanksgiving and I plan on making some delicious foods. Eating right and balanced DOESN'T equal bland and boring. Ask my kids..they NEVER complain! 

Take for instance this yummy chocolate chip(no soy) pumpkin bar. Instead of loading it with refined sugar that holds NO nutritional value, I sub either local honey and cut the measurement in HALF!  And use spelt or whole wheat flour. I took two not so healthy ingredients and exchanged them for two that will work FOR me and not against me. Yes, of course fresh juice or a raw apple are the BEST choice...but if we stick to making BETTER choices this holiday, then we are ahead of the game! 

Simply Pumpkin Bars

2 cups spelt or whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tap baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 cup raw honey or muscovado sugar

3/4 cup organic salted butter

2 eggs 

1 can of pumpkin

1 cup of chocolate chips

Preheat to 325 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, I use my Kitchen Aide, mix the butter, sugar, pumpkin and one egg at a time. Slowly add dry ingredients to the pumpkin mix and combine. Hand mix in the chocolate chips if you want a TASTY treat! 

Greese a 9x13 pan and put batter into 

pan. Bake for 40 minutes. Check with toothpick. It will come out clean when done. Do NOT overlook. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes! Serve warm. 

Simply Pumpkin Spiced Latte{or vanilla}

I love fall. I love pumpkins and golden orange and red leaves and crisp breezes and woodstoves with a red kettle of water always warming for good tea and better coffee. 

I love this recipe because it is easy to make, doesn't have yucky ingredients and can be guilt free! Balance is everything and if you are only using a little pure maple syrup then no need to worry! 

Add a tbsp of pumpkin spice{or 1/4 tsp on pure vanilla in your brew} to your coffee grounds when brewing! 

Heat your milk on the stove and use a hand lender to froth it all up! 

Mix your coffee with a pinch of sea salt and a tsp of pure maple syrup! 

Add steamed milk and use a spoon to scoop foam on the top! Drizzle with maple syrup(optional but oh so FUN) and sprinkle with cinnamon! Enjoy with your favorite book and warm blanket! 

Move over Starbucks-pumpkin spiced latte on the farm wins...we have a better view too! 

PS- I <3 Starbucks 

Simply Poppyseed Dressing

By far this is my go to homemade salad dressing! It is simply devine on any salad! Cobb, autumn salads, or just a simple cucumber and tomato salad. Super easy to make. I double and triple this recipe and store in a quart mason jar. A fun one for your kids too! Have them add all the ingredients, put on the kid and let them shake it up!! For the best flavor, I let chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes! You're welcome in advance! 

Simply Nut Butter Popcorn

It's a family favorite. Made at LEAST once a week for the kids and every time it is like I just pulled out ice cream! Score! I love this recipe because of all of the health benefits the ingredients have. Every ingredient has a purpose and I love how when combined it not only gives you a mouth full of YUMMY, but nutrients for my kiddos...and me ;) 

Super simple 

6 cups popped popcorn 

1/4 organic coconut oil

1/4 nut butter

1/4-1/2 tsp of sea salt(or to taste) 

1/2 tsp vanilla 

2-3 tbsp local raw honey 

Mix ingredients on a low heat until smooth. Drizzle over and enjoy this farm family favorite!! 

PS I have a video over on my health/fitness Facebook page! I explain all the benefits of the ingredients and I had my 2 year along for the shoot! So. Much. Cuteness!! Here are some still shots of the video. Be sure to head over there and LIKE my page :) 

Facebook.com/jengamblefitness 

Simply Homemade Orange Julius

It may be fall y'all, but here on the ranch it is a blazing 98 degrees!!! Good gracious! This afternoon, I was desperate to cool down and I knew the battle of the "after school snack" was knocking quickly at the door. After picking up the kids down the lane, I needed to make a quick run into our cute little country town for ice and water as we are still waiting test results back on our spring water. I contemplated a quick drive through smoothie for the kids..but you know they are LOADED with sugar. Every once in a while is fun, but with Dad away...I decided to skip the sugar high! I grabbed a couple ingredients at the store for half the price of 5 smoothies and headed back to the ranch. 

This is always a winner with my kids! Plus it is packed with vitamin C, protein and omegas. You can even added some chia or flax seeds for an extra nutrient kick! When we have fresh farm eggs, I'll throw a raw one in too...oh now things are getting real! My Orange Julius is low in sugar AND they beat both  the price and decliousness of the Mall version. Win! Win! Win! 

Gamble's Orange Julius 

3 cups ice

4 peeled large oranges

2-3tbsp of raw local honey or pure maple syrup 

1tsp pure vanilla 

1 pinch of sea salt 

3-4 cups of organic milk

Blend, throw in a mason jar with a straw and ENJOY! 

Simply an Opportunity

✨Life by Design is designed by YOU.✨

How MUCH can change in a year! I'm 36 today and let me tell you I've done and accomplished and caught MORE dreams in the past 10 months-than my entire LIFE! 

10 months ago I took a crazy, out of the ordinary leap of {FAITH}. 10 months ago, I was desperate for things to change, depressed and dying inside...barely breathing. You see, I know what it feels like to have anxiety when checking out of the grocery store. Wondering how we would pay our bills. Buying sale racks and secondhand and only enough to get by, not to {THRIVE} My husband has always worked out of town because what he does, well he can not do it here. 80% of the year-he was GONE!  He sacrificed ALOT to get where he is today. And the jobs he took locally as he worked hard to establish himself,  he was underpaid and overworked. He is the hardest working man I know and made sure we were taken care of...even though he was just as exhausted as I was.   I stayed home with the kids, homeschooled,  ran our farm, helped with our ministry and was barely surviving...but I did it because I am a {FIGHTER}. 

---------------------------------------------

A {KNOCK} on a door came, an {OPPORTUNITY} to change my circumstances and help give {FREEDOM} to our family. For us to passionately pursue our dreams, keep my husband home more to focus on catching our {DREAM} and allow me to stay at home with the kids, not sacrificing the most beautiful calling of my life-being a wife and Mama to our 5 children. So I {JUMPED}. Nothing else was working and I was desperate enough to try anything. I gave it all I had. I worked {HARD} because nothing in life is free and I learned if I wanted to change my circumstances, I had to stop whining about them and DO something. Even if it was hard. Even when I wanted to quit. Even when I got raised eyebrows. Even when the only person who praised me was my husband. Even when I failed...I KEPT GOING! 

---------------------------------------------

In just 2 months I was able to buy my {DREAM CAR} A safe family SUV for my family to enjoy. Sure beats that farm truck we all squeezed into for 6 months. We sold our family car to be debt free. Sacrifice. In 4 months, I was able to quadruple my income and was earning trips, gifts, recognition and building a Team of IGNITERS that all had the same drive, determination,  motivation and  passion as me. Building {FAMILY} and {COMMUNITY} as we help hundreds of people discovery all they were created to be! Championing and encouraging others. Not to mention get in the best shape of my life. 10 months later still increasing income and the BEST part...our family was able to {CATCH OUR DREAM} because my husband could stay home and focus on our ranch. And my husband working out of town has RADICALLY shifted and he now stays HOME 80% of the year🙌🏻😭🙌🏻 We worked as a {TEAM} and went for it. I want to HELP others catch their dreams!! I want to show others there is MORE than enough and that catching dreams isn't just a far off wish. I want to see others empowered and know they have EVERYTHING in them to change their circumstances! 

---------------------------------------------------

So today, I am still a wife of a hero🇺🇸Mama to 5 amazing kiddos👦🏻👧🏻👦🏻👦🏻👶🏻 but I have {LIFE} seeping from me. I have {JOY} I am {HELPING} people. I am a {LEADER} More than I could have ever imagined. I know what it feels like to have life not working out, struggling to put food on the table, questioning WHERE is God and WHAT are we going to do. I get it. We ALL have a story. But I'm here to offer YOU something I was offered...a {CHANCE} to write your OWN story to FIND your story. To create life by {DESIGN} to experience {FREEDOM and PURPOSE}. An opportunity for you to CATCH your DREAMS. 

✨If you are passionate, motivated and driven and love helping people.

✨If you have always heard a gentle but strong whisper in your ear that there is MORE for you.

✨If you are ready to stop wishing but ready start CATCHING your dreams...

I'd love to share more.

 Email me today. Don't wait. Don't second guess yourself. Today is the day your have the chance to change your life! ✨jengamblefitness@gmail.com✨

Simply Courage

You might not be able to {SEE} what is in front of you. It might {FEEL} scary. But these are the {MOMENTS} when your dreams have to be bigger than your fears. It is what holds back 95% of people from catching their dreams. You WILL fail. You WILL feel terrified. But once you start believing in yourself and take that first step of {COURAGE} before you know it you will be running and NOTHING can hold you back! Take that step! I PROMISE-it is worth it❤️

Simply Family Clean Eating

One thing I LOVE about what I do is {EMPOWERING} people to know that can do anything they put there mind to! But you don't have to do it alone! I'm here to help! 

This month our team is focusing on how to eat {CLEAN} as a {FAMILY}!!! We will give you a meal plan, a grocery list, tips on how to make it fun, we even throw in daily exercises for you! 

My passion is for you to walk this in confidence and have community support. So {JOIN US} for 5 days starting OCTOBER 12th for a {FREE CLEAN EATING WITH YOIR FAMILY} group!

✉️Send me an email to be added jengamblefitness@gmail.com

Space IS limited so let me know ASAP to secure your place! I'm so excited about the freedom and fun ideas I get to share with you!

***Can not be working with another coach or be a coach***

Simply hard...

Sometimes when the reality of pioneering a ranch hits me straight in the face like a steel shovel, and my heart aches for normal, and wifi, and a landline phone, and a bathroom bigger than half a normal closet, and not having to load 7 people up on a four wheeler to go the top of the mountain for a normal shower just to find out you are out of propane and you have to take a cold shower with kids SCREAMING, and your refrigerator the size of a dorm refrigerator that was just filled for the 3 days you can fill it with-stops working, and the never ending ranch dirt, and county's making everything nearly impossible, and......need I go on. 

I sit in the parking lot of my little country town, with my new escalade filled with 5 gas cans I need to fill up with gas and take back to the ranch and I steal their wifi and check in with my challengers and eat a Twix and CRY.

Why?!? Cause {DREAM CATCHING} is freaking hard work and most days I just want to quit and complain and quit again for NORMAL. I want to curl up in a fetal position and protest "NO MORE" to my husband...and then it hits hard. That steal shovel again, right across my face. 

Failure is inevitable, quiting is my choice.  

I begin to grab back core of me, that deep down strength. The one that has gotten me through the past 10 years of fighting and failure and forging towards our dreams. 

One day-when I am sitting in my little farm house and we are training missionaries from around the world...I KNOW it will be worth it. So I fix my eyes on the GOAL-not my circumstances-cause man it is easy to plant yourself as the victim. 

Brush it off, Jen! You've got work to do.

Simply Homemade Chocolate Milk

Because what is a good country breakfast or late night treat without chocolate milk? 

Hershey's was my go-to...for years...and then I learned about labels. Ugh! Corn syrup trying to invade our life at every can or bottle or box. No Bueno! So I did what I do best! Got creative and created a simply delicious, better than store bough recipe. Here you go...don't be afraid to try it-be afraid not too ❤️

3 cups raw milk

3 tbsp organic cacao powder

Pure maple syrup to taste. Start with 2 tbsp and go from there.

1/2 tsp pure vanilla or almond extract

A pinch of hymalaian sea salt

Blend until frothy and enjoy! 

Simply Greek Country Pancakes

Whoever came up with cake for breakfast is a hero in my book. Pancakes are a staple here on the ranch. We even set aside one day a week to celebrate their goodness. 

When I was first married, I would make tradition pancakes, loaded with sugar and over the counter oils and of course white flour...ugh! But here is the thing with your health journey...baby steps and education are the two most vital things you need to have. Over time, you will be surprised the leaps and bounds you've made over the years! Back to the cake.

I love this recipe for several reasons;

1) It uses whole, healthy, vitamin and mineral loaded ingredients.

2) Greek Yogurt is packed with probiotics.

3) They are soft and fluffy and melt in on your mouth good.

4) Greek Yogurt is the bomb.com

Try it out, you won't be sorry! And this recipe is always Gamble kid tested and approved. They actual prefer this recipe over tranditional pancakes. SCORE! 

3 cups whole wheat flour or spelt 

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp hymalaian sea salt

1 tsp vanilla or almond extract(I always go with the almond)

2 tbsp raw coconut oil

2 tbsp raw honey

3 farm fresh eggs

1 1/2 cup whole or raw milk

1 cup water(add for your perfect consistency!) 

Add all wet ingredients in vitamix or mix until smooth. Add dry ingredients. Sometimes I have to add a little more water or flour to get that perfect consistency. If you like fluffier pancakes, have a thicker batter where a runnier batter will yield a thinner cake. This morning the kids asked for thin-cakes. They are both incredible! 

Slap them on a griddle and serve hot with grassfed butter, pure maple syrup and I always add fresh sliced fruit. I also make some homemade chocolate milk to pair perfectly ;) Recipe can be found in archives. 

Enjoy you "cake" for breakfast. 

Simply Chasing Rainbows

✨Several months ago it was just finishing up raining. I was having a "I want to quit" moment. Nothing made sense. Doors were being slammed in our face. Things seemed so close, yet they had for years. I was done.✨

Cam called me out to see a rainbow. I didn't care that it was one of the most beautiful rainbows I had ever seen, I wanted to curl up into a ball, be a victim and quit. But I went out because, well he made me 😒 It was beautiful and grand and bright! Cam told me to chase it. Hahaha! Why?!? His answer still wrecks me.

✨"Because Jen, if you chase a rainbow long enough, hard enough and passionate enough-you might just catch it"✨

Something inside me stirred. So I did! I jumped on our old Dodge and drove down that old country road. I just HAD to catch that rainbow. I knew it was right there. But I didn't. When I got to the perfect place to take the perfect picture-it had faded😭 upon returning home, Cam asked if I caught it. NOPE(life story!) again he said;

✨Jen, well keep chasing them and one day you will!✨ It was enough to get me through that tough day and through many more tough days. I'll never forget those words he said. 

So this morning as we walked outside and saw the double rainbow, perfectly arched touching our land, both sides. My breathe was taken away. We did it...

🌈We caught a rainbow🌈

Life by Design

✨Life by Design is designed by YOU.✨

8 months ago I took a crazy, out of the ordinary leap of {FAITH}. 8 months ago, I was desperate for things to change, depressed and dying inside...barely breathing. You see,I know what it feels like to have anxiety when checking out of the grocery store. Wondering how we would pay our bills. Buying sale racks and secondhand and only enough to get by, not to {THRIVE} My husband has always worked out of town because what he does, well he can not do it here. He sacrificed ALOT to get where he is today. And the jobs he took locally as he worked hard to establish himself,  he was underpaid and overworked. He is the hardest working man I know and made sure we were taken care of...even though he was just as exhausted as I was.   I stayed home with the kids, homeschooled,  ran our farm, helped with our ministry and was barely surviving...but I did it because I am a {FIGHTER}. 

---------------------------------------------

A {KNOCK} on a door came, an {OPPORTUNITY} to change my circumstances and help give {FREEDOM} to our family. For us to passionately pursue our dreams, keep my husband home more to focus on catching our {DREAM} and allow me to stay at home with the kids, not sacrificing the most beautiful calling of my life-being a wife and Mama to our 5 children. So I {JUMPED}. Nothing else was working and I was desperate enough to try anything. I gave it all I had. I worked {HARD} because nothing in life is free and I learned if I wanted to change my circumstances, I had to stop whining about them and DO something. Even if it was hard. Even when I wanted to quit. Even when I got raised eyebrows. Even when the only person who praised me was my husband. Even when I failed...I KEPT GOING! 

---------------------------------------------

In just 2 months I was able to buy my {DREAM CAR} A safe family SUV for my family to enjoy. Sure beats that farm truck we all squeezed into for 6 months. We sold our family car to be debt free. Sacrifice. In 4 months, I was able to quadruple my income and was earning trips, gifts, recognition and building a Team of IGNITERS that all had the same drive, determination,  motivation and  passion as me. Building {FAMILY} and {COMMUNITY} as we help hundreds of people discovery all they were created to be! Championing and encouraging others. Not to mention get in the best shape of my life. 8 months later still increasing income and the BEST part...our family was able to {CATCH OUR DREAM} because my husband could stay home and focus on our ranch. We worked as a {TEAM} and went for it. 

---------------------------------------------------

So today, I am still a wife of a hero🇺🇸Mama to 5 amazing kiddos👦🏻👧🏻👦🏻👦🏻👶🏻 but I have {LIFE} seeping from me. I have {JOY} I am {HELPING} people. I am a {LEADER} More than I could have ever imagined. I know what it feels like to have life not working out, struggling to put food on the table, questioning WHERE is God and WHAT are we going to do. I get it. We ALL have a story. But I'm here to offer YOU something I was offered...a {CHANCE} to write your OWN story to FIND your story. To create life by {DESIGN} to experience {FREEDOM and PURPOSE}. An opportunity for you to CATCH your DREAMS. 

✨If you are passionate, motivated and driven and love helping people.

✨If you have always heard a gentle but strong whisper in your ear that there is MORE for you.

✨If you are ready to stop wishing but ready start CATCHING your dreams...

I'd love to share more.

 Email me today. Don't wait. Don't second guess yourself. Today is the day your have the chance to change your life! ✨jengamblefitness@gmail.com✨

Simply Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

There is something that makes my tummy smile everytime I walk into a kitchen. Homemade spaghetti sauce simmer on the stovetop! 

Here is a favorite Gamble recipe. You add any variations you like. Easy and enough to make 2 meals! 

1lb grass finished ground beef

1/2 yellow onion 

2 clove crushed fresh garlic

4 cans organic tomato sauce

2 cans organic diced tomatoes

1/2 can organic tomatoe paste

1 cup water

Sea salt and peppercorn to taste

1 tsp Anise seed or 1/2 tsp Fennel

1tbsp basil 

1tbsp oregano 

Brown meat and onions. Drain fat(grass finished shouldnt have a lot) Add all other ingredients and stir! Simmer on stove at least an hour. I do it all day for best flavor. 

Serve over homemade noddles, zoodles or enjoy with a fresh slice of sourdough. 

Enjoy!!

simply, Jen

Homemade Chili Dogs

A family favorite and just plain FUN. There are so many healthy options out their now a days for hot dogs. I always get organic 100% beef dogs . Check labels and ingredients. Non-nitrate is the best. I also use organic honey wheat buns or Killer Daves buns. When we finish building our home, I plan to make mine from scratch. 

Here is a simple recipe for black bean chili. You can use jarred organic black beans or soak your black beans overnight(best and healthiest option) and cook according to directions. 

3 cups cooked black beans

1/2 yellow onion

1 seeded and diced jalapeño 

1 tbsp Cumin

1 crush fresh garlic clove 

Sea salt and peppercorn to taste

Simmer on stove for at least an hour for great flavor. I cook mine for at least a couple. You can also put in the crockpot at lunch and have them ready by dinner! 

Serve over a hotdog and bun and add your favorite fixings. I like onion, rawsauerkraut, mustard and ketchup(no sugar) ENJOY! 

           From the farm to your table.

 

Simply a Farm Girl

I'm a farm girl. Been one since I was a little girl growing up riding and training horses. The country is my home. When I dream, I don't day dream about a big fancy house...I dream about a 100 year old white farm house. A wrap around porch with no railings, each side having old fashion wooden rocking chairs and one side with a porch swing. Massive windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling that let light in to dance across original hard wood floors. A grey tin roof and rock accents that we have gathered from our land. Clean, simple, and repurposed class.
Chickens with fresh farm eggs everyday, horses that graze among the apple trees and though we have cattle that roam the hills, we keep one close. Her eyes are soft and she gifts us with fresh raw milk everyday. I will call her Clara....

Simply Peanut Butter Cup Shakeo

I used to be an emotional sugar eater. Yes, even when I was eating whole and clean and good 99% of the time. Life happened and I reached for them...Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Those deliciously peanut buttery filled covered in smooth milk chocolate tummies. And they were amazing...until the crash followed them. Ugh! 

So after I started to drink Shakeology, 99% of those cravings, emotional eating episodes dissapeared! Don't get me wrong, every once in a while I love some good chocolate, but I don't eat it to fill a void.

I added a tbsp of creamy peanut butter to my chocolate vegan Shakeology with raw milk, some ice and a pinch of Himalayan Sea Salt, all into my Vitamix and blended until cream!! 

Oh WOWZERS! Just took my favorite daily dose of nutrition, favorite and no think meal into the BEST part of my day! Peanut Butter Cup Shakeo! 

8-10oz raw milk, almond milk

1 scoop of Chocolate Vegan Shakeology

1 tbsp organic peanut butter

Pitch of Himalayan seas salt

BLEND and enjoy!! 

Simply our Story

Everyday I get messages,comments, questions about WHY our family of 7 is living in a RV. What is this DREAM}? I think I assumed everyone knew. I'm inviting you to listen, to hear the heartbeat and catch the vision.

In 2006, Cameron was working as a contractor training Special Forces. Our little family of 4(yes we ONLY had 2 littles;1 and 3 years old) We were in tiny, tiny church in Alabama. It was little, but they sent out a lot of missionaries. It was then, we realized that there was NO training that was sufficient for security and safety as people traveled to the ends of the earth brining hope. THAT had to change. 

A {DREAM} was born. A little seed, an acorn.

It started with the company's CEO that Cameron worked for saying there was no training for missionaries or other humanitarian organizations because there was NO money in it😳 That FUELED the dream. 

But God didn't open the doors we wanted Him to open. It didn't make sense. We had such a passion and it was so needed. 

He had other plans.

For almost 10 years we continued to {DREAM} and passionately pursue what we KNEW we were called to do. God continued to close doors we thought should be open, but always OPENED doors that we walked through without realizing the equipping that was happening. He was CULTIVATING our hearts, EXPANDING our territory, and GROWING that acorn of a {DREAM}. Cameron went on to train the CIA, Army Rangers, Marine Special Ops, and was asked to create a program and be the lead instructor for the Navy SEALS. 

Equipping. Expansion. Expanding.

We made the commitment 10 years ago to never charge a missionary for training. And He has taken care of us. Hard. Sacrifice. Loss. Hurt. Confused. Rejected. Pain. But...HOPE! Hope that He who CALLED us is faithful. So we pressed on in just about every adversity you could think. Our {DREAM} was expanded and four years ago we were given the {VISION} of a ranch. Peace. Rest. Training. Hope. Courage to the ends of the Earth. 

It was never a "GO" for us until this last December. When our landlords of our little farm said they were selling, it was confirmation. It was time to take the BIGGEST step of faith we had ever taken...and trust me, we took some pretty big steps before that. A PEACE that transcended all understanding encompassed us as we moved our family of 7 into Big George as we set out to CATCH our DREAM. 

You see when you have something that is so much bigger than you, when it was placed in your heart by God, fear doesn't have room to stay. And though these last 7 months have been long and hard and uncertain and CRAZY, we know we are right where we are suppose to be. 

It started 10 years ago with 2 missionaries sitting on our coach in our little living room. Receiving the first ever Project TAKEN training(though we didn't have our name it) It was the acorn. Now almost 10 years have passed and we have trained well over 4,000 missionaries/humanitarian workers/non profits/organizations who rescue girls from human trafficking in over half of the countries around the world. Cameron has helped with in country resolutions and has message that imparts courage, hope and freedom....

✨When your WHY is stronger than ANY excuse you can come up with, you FIGHT. It is non-negotiable. You cultivate what you are given. You water it. You let it grow organically. And when the timing is right...there before you stands a MIGHTY OAK and you walk into the land that is inherently yours.

 

Never, never give up. ✨

www.projecttaken.com

https://vimeo.com/115205201

Simply Homemade Coffee Creamer

What is in your coffee? 

I LOVE a good cup of coffee in the morning! But, even more, I love a good creamer. SAD day for me the day I found what is in those yummy creamers. Sugar, hydrogenated soybean oil(YUCK), "natural flavors"(what does that even mean?) and the list goes on. You probably would be sad to know... If you can't pronounce it or you don't know what it is...it is the first sign you shouldn't put it in your body! Google it! Even the organic, "natural" creamers...Yuck! Thankfully, I like to find solutions for my problems! For the past several years I have been making my OWN creamer and I promise it tastes 100x better than those store bought creamers. You can get super creative too! 

Recipe for a simple coffee creamer in comments! 

2 cups raw cream(or you can use organic heavy cream-raw is the best! Yummy!)

1/2 tap pure Vanilla(check those ingredients)

A pinch of Celtic sea salt

2-3 tsp organic grade B maple syrup 

Mix and store in a mason jar in the fridge. You're welcome and ENJOY ❤️

Arugula Pesto

An easy and delicious variation of my homemade pesto! I sub out fresh basil with arugula.

3-4 cups arugula

1/4 cup raw almonds

1/4 fresh graded Parmesan 

2 garlic cloves 

1/4 cup(depending on your liking) olive oil

Sea salt and pepper corn to taste

Put everything except the olive oil into a food processor until smooth. Add olive oil a little at a time! 

It is heaven! I use over zoodles, pasta, mixed in steamed veggies and on our homemade pizza! Enjoy 💕 

Simply Blueberry Lemonade

A couple times a month we love to give our kids a "Kid's Choice" meal. We eat healthy, whole, balanced and homemade pretty much 90% of the time, so this is fun...and interesting ;) 

Last Sunday, it was loaded hotdogs! Say whaaaa?!? I am thankful that there are finally healthy options for hotdogs because, honestly, I love a good loaded hotdog(especially at a Giant's game or in NYC) We loaded our organic, all beef, non nitrate dogs, while wheat buns, with condiments that were all organic and no sugar added along with some delicious homemade guacamole and sauerkraut. HELLO! Paired with organic blue chips and wait for it....

Blueberry Lemonade! Here is the much requested recipe! Tip: Stock up on fresh blueberry season(June-Julyish) and freeze for the year!! 

Blueberry Lemonade

3/4 cup fresh squeezed lemons

1/2 raw local honey(or more depending        how sweet you like your lemonade) 

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup HOT water

3 cup cold water

Ice

In a blender(I love my Vitamix) blend together the lemon juice, blueberries, honey and hot water until blended well and consistent. Pour into a gallon mason jar, add the 3 cups of water and ice! Mix! 

Serve with lemon wedges and frozen blueberries in a mason jars  <3

 

Simply Homemade Ranch

Great victory in the Gamble kitchen the day I was finally able to come up with a homemade ranch dressing, and let me tell you...it is G.O.O.D! I am very particular about ranch. The taste. The texture. The consistency. The aftertaste. I have stuck with Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch packets for years, quite happy with our little faithful dressing. But a much hesitated glance at the ingredients in my little friend a couple years ago...let's just say I started researching fast!  

I remember when I first started experimenting, much to my surprise and delight, I found several that sounded yummy...I took the plunge! I took the ingredients I liked from 2 separate recipes, threw them in a quart mason jar and shook it until it was all mixed. 

Now for the test. I opened the jar and to my delight, the smell of that delicious ranch met my nostrils. The taste? PERFECT or a least better than what I thought!  I was so excited I ran out to my husband's office and made him taste the wonderful dressing I had just created! Victory! I was in shock! After all of those months of not wanting to sacrifice my favorite dressing, I had just used fresh, health promoting, non processed ingredients(with the exception if I didn't make the first two from scratch!) I simply made ranch...YES! 

Here is what I did:

In a quart mason jar, I threw in:

1 cup buttermilk(I used organic buttermilk, but plan to start making my own from our raw milk)
1 cup plain organic sour cream OR greek yogurt
1/3 cup mayo
2 cloves fresh minced garlic
1/4 tsp 100%  celtic sea salt
2 tbsp fresh chives
2 chopped green onions
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
dash of paprika(optional)
dash of cayenne pepper(optional)
grounded peppercorn to taste

Shake until combined and then enjoy...on salads, dips, pizza, everything!!!

Simply Grilled Peaches

A favorite summer treat of the Gambles. It is simple, full of flavor and doesn't ruin all that hard work you have been putting in. 

Summer Peaches-halved and pitted

Grass finished butter OR coconut oil

Raw honey

Cinnamon 

Sea salt

Put a little butter or coconut oil in the center of the peach. Drizzle a little raw honey on top and sprinkle with cinnamon and sea salt. 

Grill for about 5-10 minutes!

Hello raw peach pie without the guilt!

Simply Salsa

Truly this is a simple, but delicious recipe I came up with. My family is a "dipper" family. We love to dip chips, veggies, fruit, homemade pizza, the list can go on and on and on. I could never find a salsa that set just right with my taste buds. Too sweet, too spicy, to salty, not enough cilantro, no cilantro...On top of all that, we had started dramatically changing how we ate and buying "pre-made" salsa (like most pre-made anything), I found myself struggling to pronounce half of the ingredients (no bueno). Easy solution... Enjoy! And be sure to come back tomorrow for my yummy guac recipe 💕

Jen's Simply Salsa

 5-6 Organic Roma Tomatos(cut in half and seeded)

1 Hefty hand of Organic Cilantro(about 1 cup)***

1/2 Organic Sweet Yellow Onion 

1/2 Squeezed Organic Lime(or lemon will work)

 Organic Jalapeno (seed and to taste... depending on love/hate for spicy...omit for very mild) I use 1/4 Jalapeno

 Pinch of 100% Sea Salt or Celtic Salt to taste (both of these salts have great health promoting minerals)

Pulse all ingredients in food processor(or blender if you don't have one)...Do NOT blend constantly unless you want a smooth consistency. We like ours all CHUNKY!

Serve with your favorite Organic Flax Veggie Chips, homemade organic corn chips, or serve with a homemade Mexican Fiesta!!

 Recipe will make a 3/4 worth of a quart jar

 ***You can easily grow this herb at home in a planter...it will save you bundles of money, if you like this great, versatile herb... PLUS it helps remove toxins from your body and has amazing digestive tract benefits!!

FYI-Did you know Cilantro also known as the popular spice Coriander???