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Shrimp Scampi

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Butter

2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Olive Oil

3 garlic cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Clearly Organic Dried Basil

1/2 teaspoon Clearly Organic Dried Parsley

1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

For the sauce:

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 lemon, juiced

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon Clearly Organic Ground Pepper

2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Butter

2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Olive Oil

Melt 2 Tablespoons butter and 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add fresh garlic, dried basil and parsley. Cook for about two minutes then add shrimp. Stir to distribute butter and seasoning. Cook shrimp until pink, stirring occasionally. Remove shrimp from skillet and place in a bowl. 

For the scampi sauce add white wine, and juiced lemon to the skillet. Heat over medium-high heat until the contents come to a boil. Add 2 Tablespoons butter, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook ingredients together over medium heat for 5 minutes. Then add shrimp and seasoning to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook for one minute together stirring continuously. 

Let contents cool then serve warm over a bed of pasta, rice or mixed greens.

It’s Grilling Season

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Firing up the grill helps many people relax and reconnect with the outdoors. Grilling can help produce a simple yet flavorful meal. It doesn’t require any high-tech gadgets, but a few tips and tricks can help make your outdoor experience even more delicious. Grilling season is usually synonymous with a good old-fashioned hamburger.

Here are three tips for making a juicy burger on the grill:

  1. Use quality ingredients such as Clearly Organic Black Peppercorn, kosher salt, fresh roasted garlic, herbs, and caramelized onions.
  2. A little topping goes a long way. Adding bacon, avocado or fresh tomatoes on top of your hamburger patty adds a lot of zip.
  3. Quality burgers need a quality bun. Choose a fresh bakery made bun.

Here are four simple grilling tips. Whether you’re using a charcoal grill or a gas grill, these principles can still apply:

  1. Allow time for your grill to preheat. Let the grill get hot enough for you to be able to hold your hand over it for two seconds, but need to pull away after that.
  2. Allow time to sear. Searing helps lock in the meats’ juices. Flipping your meat or veggies too often can result in a dry product.
  3. Save marinade to brush on while the meat is cooking. If you marinate chicken, fish or pork, save some of the valuable juice to brush on while the protein cooks.
  4. A fun food to grill is sliced lemon. They can add a delightfully sweet and smoky flavor to fish, pork, chicken and grilled vegetables.

Milk Options

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

When it comes to milk we don’t just have to choose between 2%, skim or whole milk anymore. Options abound we can go with soy, coconut, cashew, rice, almond or traditional cows milk. This might leave you wondering what kind of milk is best for you and your family? The answer will likely be different for everyone based on your taste preferences, allergies and food sensitivities.

Cows milk alternatives became popular due to the growing number of people desiring a dairy-free milk choice. Almond milk, soy, coconut and rice milk (plus several others) are dairy free. They are also great if you’re vegetarian, vegan or lactose intolerant. However, some cows milk alternatives are lower in protein and higher in sugar, so like any food you purchase that has a label take a look and see what the product is offering. Some of the main things to consider when looking at a milk label are calories, protein and sugar content. Weigh your options and find what works best for you.

Chicken Enchiladas

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Chicken Enchiladas

2 Tablespoons Clearly Organic Olive Oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Clearly Organic Ground Pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 -28 oz. can Clearly Organic crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons Clearly Organic Cumin Powder
2 teaspoons Clearly Organic Chili Powder
1 can Clearly Organic Corn, drained
2 small cans diced green chiles
1 1/2 pounds cooked chicken, shredded
About 16 corn tortillas
2 cups enchilada sauce, canned
1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
1/4 cup cilantro leaves

In a large sauté pan add oil and turn heat to medium high. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Place minced garlic in sauté pan and continuing cooking for 2 minutes. Add canned tomatoes, corn and green chilies. Season mixture with salt, pepper, cumin and chili powder. Bring contents to a boil and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium and let stew for 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Stir in cooked shredded chicken to tomato mix.
Coat the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish with Clearly Organic cooking spray. Spoon in about 1/4 cup chicken and tomato mix into each corn tortilla. Fold tortilla over filling and place in baking dish with the seam side down. Repeat until pan is full. Top with enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake for 20 minutes in a 350 degree preheated oven. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro before serving. Also goes well served with sour cream and Clearly Organic Salsa.

The Importance Of Sleep

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

One commonly overlooked health tip is the importance of getting a good nights sleep. Recent studies show that more Americans are struggling with chronic sleep loss than ever before. A consistent battle with lack of sleep can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, a weakened immune system and weight gain. Sleep deprivation can cause irritability, moodiness and impatience. Appetite fluctuations are also common when you lose sleep. Studies show people are more likely to reach for high carbohydrate and sugary foods when they’re over tired.

A few benefits of seven or more hours of sleep can be improved memory retention, elevated mood and motivation, disease prevention and increased cardiovascular health. The importance of sleep for our overall well-being can often be overlooked. It’s never too late to start prioritizing more consistent rest and a good nights sleep.

Can Pasta be Part of a Healthy Meal Plan?

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

In recent years carbohydrates have been considered friend and foe. During the fat-free phenomenon in the ninety’s, bread and pasta were commonly promoted healthy choices for any meal. Then fad diets swung the opposite direction recommending more protein and low carbohydrates. Now many people are left to wonder if carbohydrates can be part of a healthy meal plan?

The short answer is, YES! Carbohydrates, like pasta, when enjoyed in the right portion size are part of a well-balanced meal plan. When it comes to pasta there are a few important factors to consider when implementing this wholesome food into a meal. Consider topping a serving of pasta with equal parts vegetables and protein. For example, 1/2 cup cooked whole wheat pasta pairs well with 1 cup of marinara meat sauce. Then serve that hot dish with a 2 cup serving of a green salad for a delightful well-balanced meal. Also, be mindful of pasta sauces that have high caloric concentrations. Here are three great recipes showing healthy ways to enjoy pasta.

Creamy Leeks And Noodles

Healthy Alfredo Sauce

Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce

See the Clearly Organic blog for more healthy recipes.

Homemade Dark Chocolate

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

1/2 cup Clearly Organic Coconut Oil
1/2 cup 100% cacao powder
1/4 cup Clearly Organic Raw Honey
1 teaspoon Clearly Organic Pure Vanilla Extract

Slowly melt coconut oil in a small sauce pan over medium low heat. Stir in cacao powder, honey and vanilla. Stir continuously over medium low heat for 2 minutes or until all ingredients are well blended. Pour mixture into candy molds or a parchment lined bread pan to make a chocolate bar. Refrigerate at least one hour or until chocolate becomes solid.

Variations: Add chopped nuts, dried fruit, Clearly Organic Almond Butter, orange zest, Clearly Organic Cinnamon or Clearly Organic Cayenne Pepper to taste. Add variation just before pouring into chocolate mold.

Broccoli and Mushroom Stir Fry

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

Broccoli And Mushroom Stir-Fry

3 cups fresh broccoli florets

1 yellow onion, sliced

1 Tablespoon Clearly Organic Olive Oil

1 (8oz) package white button mushrooms, sliced

2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1/4 cup peanut sauce (see Clearly Organic blog for recipe)

1 cup Clearly Organic Basmati Rice

 

Cook 1 cup rice according to package directions. While rice is cooking sauté broccoli and onions in 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 2 Tablespoons teriyaki sauce over medium high heat. Cook for 5 minutes then add sliced mushroom and continue cooking until vegetables have reached desired doneness. Serve sautéed vegetables over a bed of rice then drizzle warm peanut sauce on top.

5 Ways To Stick With Your Health Goals

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

After the holiday season of eating, drinking and merriment many fitness centers see a rise in gym membership and attendance. However, regardless of this enthusiasm statistics show that gym attendance is typically back to its regular numbers by mid-February. No matter what your New Years health and wellness goals involve here are a few simple tips to stick with your good intentions.

  1. Write down your goal. Putting pen to paper helps many people make a more specific, measurable and achievable goal.
  2. Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask how to use a new machine, a piece of lifting equipment or the proper technique for a particular exercise.
  3. Make a schedule. To accomplish any goal you have to manage your time wisely. Pick a time of day that is sustainable for focusing on your goals.
  4. Diversify your wellness routine. Goals are about results and there are multiple ways to get results. Experiment with new exercises and foods to achieve your goal
  5. Find accountability. To stay on track schedule a time with a personal trainer of fitness coach. Find a workout buddy or use a digital fitness tracker to give you honest feedback.

A bonus tip that’s always well received is Reward Yourself. No one has to be told twice to cut themselves a little slack. Treat yourself to a little relaxation on your day off from working out or plan a fun event to look forward to celebrating your accomplishments.

Natural Protein Smoothies

Written by novagiant on . Posted in Wellness.

A Clearly Organic customer Kathleen W. wrote in and asked about making an everyday smoothie with extra protein. This is a great question that has multiple answers. There are lots of fun ways to implement a smoothie routine with a wide variety of natural organic foods. Adding protein-based foods to a smoothie helps slow down the digestion process of your meal making you feel full longer. It also helps add thickness and flavor to a fruit or vegetable smoothie.

Here are six natural foods that add protein to a smoothie:
• Flax Seeds
• Nut butters
• Oats
• Chia Seeds
• Plain Yogurt
• Quinoa

Each of these protein-based foods can also be found in an organic variety if desired.