Detox Shake (use to detox or just to drink as a supplimental meal)

Ok, so with the holidays nearing, lets face it, our dieting goes right out the window. My dear friend Jamie inspired me to come up with this insanely healthy shake when she left me a bottle of organic celery juice. When I asked her what she did with it, she said she did a two week detox in the spring and had an extra she couldn't take with her. It will cost about 35 dollars to get started and a trip to the health food store. NOT GNC or other stores like that, go to a whole foods store.

Ask your health food clerk for a green powder that has Chlorella and Spirulina in it. If you have a hard time eating things that are unfamiliar, a brand called "Green Rich" created a Natural Blueberry flavored powder called Enriching Greens, superfood concentrate. I just tried it and I have to admit I love it over my usual Barleans Green mixture and it was on sale for 21 dollars compared to the usual 32 that I pay, so it was a win win!

Anyway, get any kinds of frozen or fresh berries if in season (go organic if possible too) Today I used:

Celery Juice (thanks Jamie lol)
Blueberries
Black berries
Black Cherries
1/2 banana
1/4 tbs organic Cayenne Pepper (only if you are brave and don't mind the heat)

The truth is, you get to play around with any combo and can even mix vegetables with berries or just go one way or the other.

Starter shake:
Measure out 8 oz water
4 oz celery juice
1/4 cup of each berry
1/2 banana
2 scoops or tsps of your greens powder
Only add cayenne pepper if you can handle the spicy character of it, or if you have guests, let them experiment with it. This stuff packs some heat, so be careful!

Blend and serve in a fancy bar glass and share with friends. Instead of wine nights, start detox smoothie nights, garnish and serve, everyone will be impressed!

This is a great way to detox the body, get fiber, minerals and all sorts of vitamins and believe it or not, the spice from the hot pepper actually goes really well with the sweetness of the berries. Most people never try to mix hot peppers with something desert like. And if you are feeling bored, check out why you need Chlorella and Spirulina! They are basically THEE Super food of life! Then look up why Cayenne pepper is so good for us and hopefully it will inspire some of your own research, detoxing and living healthy.

Stuffed Squash Casserol

Grocery list:
1 butternut squash
1/2 medium onion, red or yellow
1 apple
1/4 c. craisisn or raisins
barley
brown rice
wild rice
Stuffing
cream cheese
mushrooms
butter
cheese (your choice, I like smoked Gouda)
salt and pepper

Half, clean a butternut squash. Yes you can roast the seeds.
Peel and core one apple, dice and place in the cupped out parts of squash evenly
Add a hand full of craisins or raisins
Put two TBS butter on each half, salt and pepper it to taste. I prefer lots of pepper.
Fill baking dish 1/4 with water, cover with foil and bake on 350 until squash is soft (about 40 minutes)
Remove foil last 15 minutes, when done, drain water and let cool so you can handle it.

While baking, get a pot with a lid,
put 1&1/2 cup water in
1/4 cup brown and wild rice mix
1/4 cup barley
cook on low heat, right before water has cooked out completely shut off burner and let water soak into the rice combo with lid on

In frying pan:
place 3 tbs butter and melt on low to medium heat
chop 1/2 onion
chop one container fresh mushrooms (any kind of mushroom should work)
Chop 2 cups baby leaf spinach, try to use fresh. If using frozen, make sure it is thawed and drained completely

Start with the onions, cook them down for about 2 minutes, salt them to make them sweat, place mushrooms on top and cook down, then stir and cover for about 8 minutes.

Once it looks like they have been cooked down and a slight broth has been created, add the chopped spinach, dont stir it in, just cover and let it wilt, you can add more salt to taste.

Cook this on low heat for five minutes. Turn burner off and let it sit until squash and rice is all done.

Once everything is done, dump rice in large mixing bowl, add 4 tbs cream cheese, stir until it is melted and smooth
add sauted mushrooms, onions and spinach. Stir
Either used left over home made stuffing or prepare boxed stuffing, when cooked, dump into mixture and then scoop out the squash into the bowl.

Mix well, place in clean casserole dish, sprinkle with cheese ( a smoked cheese is best but any will work)

cover and bake on 350 for about 10 minutes

this dish tastes better every day it sits, so don't worry if you have a lot left over and its a sure hit with even those who hate squash! Its a little bolder dish that takes an open mind to try but I have yet to find anyone who didn't like it.