Even if you aren’t a “breakfast person”, these healthy breakfast cookies will be your new favorite morning meal! I am trying so hard to eat better and breakfast is just not my thing. Since I love cookies so much I whipped these up and get a little goodness mid morning. The breakfast cookie is something I could get used to!
Don’t want to wait days or weeks to enjoy homemade pickles? Easy Refrigerator Pickles are a quick version ready to eat in just a matter of hours! Made with a mixture of vinegar, garlic, turmeric, and other traditional pickling spices, Easy Refrigerator Pickles are packed with fabulous flavor. — And whipping up a batch takes hardly any effort at all.
If you’re like me you will soon have a bunch of garden-fresh cucumbers coming in that you’re looking for tasty ways to enjoy? Then give this super easy Refrigerator Pickles recipe a try!
A batch of tasty Refrigerator Pickles is super easy to make — truly requiring hardly any effort at all. Simply thinly slice a bunch of cucumbers, and layer the slices in a large glass bowl with thinly sliced onions. Then heat a simple vinegar-based brine and pour the hot brine over the cucumbers and onions. That’s it!
Let the brined pickles cool to room temperature, then chill them in the refrigerator for 4 hours. — After this brief brining time, you’re ready to dig in and enjoy their deliciousness.
This Refrigerator Pickles recipe has two components: 1. the pickles themselves, and 2. the vinegar-based brine. To whip up a batch you’ll need:
For the pickles:
Pickling cucumbers – Picklingcucumbers are the ones that are shorter and stouter than regular cucumbers. They have thinner skins, a crunchy texture, and smaller seeds, all of which are characteristics that make them perfect for pickles. — Think Kirby, Boston Pickling, and most homegrown cucumbers, just to name a few. If you don’t have your own homegrown, pickling cucumbers can be found in most grocery stores.
Onions – Bring flavor, and get pickled right along with the cucs! Any type of onion can be used, however we usually use sweet Vidalia or mild white onions.
For the brine:
White vinegar – Forms the base of the pickling brine. We recommend sticking with white vinegar rather than using other vinegar varieties, as white vinegar provides a more straightforward “cleaner” flavor base for the other pickling ingredients in the brine.
Fresh garlic – A key ingredient in creating a true pickle flavor. Thinly slice fresh garlic cloves (rather than leaving them whole) to fully release their flavor in this quick-pickle method.
Sugar – A bit of granulated sugar tones down and “smooths out” the vinegar flavor in the brine.
Salt – Enhances the flavor of the finished pickles. In a true canning process, salt also serves as a preservative for the pickles. Since Refrigerator Pickles are stored in the refrigerator for only up to 4 weeks, instead of in jars for a significantly longer period of time, salt serves soley a flavor role in this recipe.
Mustard seeds – A traditional pickling spice, mustard seeds bring that signature sharp, zingy flavor to the pickle brine.
Dill – You can use fresh dill (my preference) or dried dill. The more the better in my opinion!
Celery seeds – A spice made from the seeds of wild celery plants, celery seeds are also a traditional pickling spice. They add a strong, distinct flavor to pickles that is difficult to replicate with any other ingredient.
Turmeric – Brings a distinctive earthy flavor and the yellow color to these Refrigerator Pickles. Ground turmeric is a spice made from the roots of the turmeric plant, and is generally bright yellow in color but you can also use turmeric essential oil! What a punch of flavor!
Black pepper – Enhances the pickles’ flavor, bringing its signature peppery flavor to the mix.
Crushed red pepper – Crushed red pepper flakes bring the heat to the brine and finished pickles. The full 1/4 teaspoon called for in this refrigerator pickles recipe makes finished pickles that are quite spicy. If you don’t want spicy pickles, use just a pinch. If you don’t want any “heat” at all in your refrigerator pickles, omit the crushed red pepper altogether.
How to Make Easy Refrigerator Pickles:
It takes hardly any effort at all to whip up a big bowl of Easy Refrigerator Pickles. And what’s even better than that, is you’ll be enjoying their deliciousness in just a few hours after they’re made.
To get a batch going, start by thinly slicing about 6 cups of cucumbers and about 2 cups of onions. Layer the cucumber and onion slices together in wide mouth mason jars.
Next, heat up the pickling brine. — Combine some white vinegar, sliced garlic cloves, sugar, salt, mustard seeds, celery seeds, ground turmeric, black pepper, and crushed red pepper (if you like some heat in your pickles!) in a small saucepan, stirring them together until they’re well mixed. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and cook everything together for 1 minute.
Immediately pour the hot vinegar mixture over the cucumber/onion mixture in the bowl — do not stir the cucumber and onion layers, just leave them be. If the hot vinegar mixture doesn’t completely cover and submerge all of the cucumbers and onions when you pour it over them, don’t worry. — As the cucumbers and onions sit and soften in the vinegar mixture, they will all eventually be submerged.
Let all of this cool to room temperature. Then place lids on jars and chill the pickles for at least 4 hours before serving.
When ready to enjoy, give the pickles a little stir to mix the cucumber and onion layers together. At this point, the Refrigerator Pickles can be enjoyed immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 8 weeks.
I am not a fan of drinking my meals so smoothies are my least favorite thing but I get the nutritional benefit and the ease of it. Smoothies are a delicious, convenient way to get in your fruits and vegetables for the day.
This smoothie bowl recipe includes antioxidant-rich raspberries, as well as Lime essential oil which is often used as an internal cleanser. Whether you want to start off your day with a nutritious breakfast, or blend up an afternoon snack, this raspberry smoothie bowl is a delicious addition to any day of the week. I LOVE active stacks protein and this keeps me full for hours.
In a blender, combine frozen fruit, coconut milk, chia seeds, and Lime oil.
Puree until mixture is smooth. Tip: For desired consistency, add more frozen fruit if too thin, or more water or coconut milk if too thick.
Pour mixture into bowl and top with shredded coconut, shaved dark chocolate, and any other desired toppings.
Yum! And you get the benefits without having to drink it! I have a gorgeous ebook that gives you tons of ideas on how to use essential oils in every area of your home!
Especially from fall through Christmas! All those cozy smells filling my space. Agree?
As much as I love the warmth and coziness, had no idea that I was disrupting my own hormones and my family’s! (Yep! Hormones aren’t just a woman thing!)
I have a friend whose son was suffering from asthma. Lots it discomfort and costly doctor appointments. But wouldn’t ya know when she ditched the synthetic fragrances in candles, air fresheners, car fresheners, laundry soaps and personal care items… his asthma pretty much disappeared!
Maya Angelou says, “ When you know better, you do better.”
Diffusing essential oils can’t not only make your house smell amazing but it will bring great benefits to everyone in the home! Think immune and respiratory support!
My favorite fall smells? Clove, cassia, ginger, wild orange, or Siberian Fir.
Oh boy! This was a huge one for me! I suffered from major adrenal fatigue for many years and still am on supplements to support this! With my busy schedule, chronic pain and a ton of responsibilities it’s no wonder my adrenals get weak.
I’ve learned a lot since I got healthy and literally woke up and decided to live my best life. Between eating well, exercise, mindfulness, activities that bring me joy, the right supplements and oils and getting enough sleep I have found what works best for me.
If your adrenals may be in need of support if you have general fatigue, body aches, head tension, low blood pressure, and just generally feeling run down and overtaxed. Feeling tired even after a good nights sleep!
The Adrenal Glands produce hormones that support our metabolism, regulate blood pressure, and respond to stress. Our adrenal medulla produces a hormone called adrenaline and cortisol (our fight or flight response). This is a much-needed hormone for extremely stressful situations.
This can lead to:
? Feeling tired all-day ? Staying awake all night ? Craving junk food ? Poor sleep quality
What can we do to support our overtaxed Adrenal Glands?
? Eat fatty fish high in magnesium ? Eat avocados, dark leafy greens, and legumes (all of which are high in magnesium) ? (This may be painful for some) Lower your caffeine intake ? Take an Epsom Salt bath (with Essential Oils) ? Meditate and relax (use your oils to support this!)
What oils do you use to support your body when you are stressed? My faves are trees like Douglas fir, Siberian fir, Frankincense and all the florals. Rose is one of my most used oils for stress and keeping me calm.
By the way, adrenal fatigue doesn’t just go away with a few good nights sleep… it often takes quite a bit of time and healing for your adrenals to bounce back. Be patient and stay consistent!
With over fourteen years experience, Stacie Wyatt is a E-500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, Life Wellness Coach, Senior YogaFit Instructor, Mind/Body Personal trainer, Stress Reduction and Meditation Instructor, Pilates Instructor, and Barre Instructor. Stacie is also certified in Integrative Movement Therapy™and is also a believer in the power and application of essential oils for health and wellness and proudly shares doTERRA essential oils.
This month, I’m diving into a topic that affects us all, and one I’m particularly acquainted with!
Hormones!! ??????? I had a complete hysterectomy at age 30 and learned in an instant just how important hormones are. Not having ovaries has been a huge challenge. I finally found some things that work!
The journey hasn’t always been easy… and that’s why I’m excited to share a whole months worth of education, tips, practices and products that will help you in your own journey with YOUR hormones!!
Did you know that humans possess 50 hormones? 50!
From adrenal health and blood sugar to fertility and thyroid function, hormones are the root of, well, everything!
•Hormones control or regulate many biological processes and are often produced in very low amounts within the body. •Hormones regulate our blood sugar. Thanks, Insulin! •Growth and energy production (Growth Hormone and Thyroid Hormone) Differentiation, growth, and reproduction hormones (Testosterone and Estrogen)
The Endocrine System is made up of all the hormones in the body. This system supports brain and nervous system development, reproduction, metabolism, and blood sugar.
I plan to break down what hormones do for our bodies (male and female) through our life cycle, how to keep them balanced and supported, and living a non-toxic lifestyle to keep the hormone disruptors at bay.
Stay tuned and follow me for a deeper understanding of how hormones influence so much of our life!
One of my most treasured aspects of Yoga is how we go about with showing up for ourselves and others. True Yoga is often overlooked in our very physical posture based lens of Yoga. In the Western world it seems that Yoga is mostly asana and very little true Yoga.
What is true yoga?
True Yoga consists of the principles and attitudes known as the Sutras. The Sutras are a collection of text that guides us to live. Ahimsa (non-violence), the first and foremost of the five yamas(restraints) described in the Yoga Sutra, entreats us to live in such a way that we cause no harm in thought, speech, or action to any living being, including ourselves.
This is the essence of Pantajali’s non-harming Sutra known as Ahimsa.
Pausing to consider kindness (ahimsa) influences the choices you make and how you truly show up for yourself and for others. Ahimsa (pronounced “ah-heem-sah”) literally means “non-harming” or “non-violence” in Sanskrit. In it most basic level, it’s refraining from causing harm.
As we practice ahimsa in today’s modern life, there is more to this idea of non-harming than simply refraining from acts of physical violence.
We understand now that pain can be more than just physical – it can also be emotional and mental. The deepest pain we feel is often very emotional. It most often sprouts from our relationships with other human beings. It can be grief that we experience when we lose someone. Grief can also from a part of our life that meant so much to our identity. The loss of a relationship or a painful life change can bring about deep and soul-shattering pain.
When we practice ahimsa, we are thinking about how our actions could hurt others. Doing so invites us to take into consideration the potential physical, emotional, and relational consequences of our actions.
We pause to consider kindness.
Are you frustrated with the non-kind world that exists where division and opinions flood our everyday lives? The world feels sad at the lack of humanity and desperate need to be heard in what seems to be a constant “what about ME” mentality. There is exhaustion with the lack of kindness for fellow human beings.
Realizing that all we can do is change our own thoughts and actions, I am opting for kindness despite my own struggling emotions. Ahimsa is offered for the exhausted world. Together we must learn to pause, listen, see, feel and to give.
Kindness truly matters and it is the truest form of Yoga.
A cold and blustery morning is perfect for baked oatmeal. Snow is swirling all around this Sunday morning like I am inside a snow globe. It is so pretty and it makes me want to bake something. I am not a huge breakfast girl but the idea of something warm and cinnamony sounded so good. An added bonus– this has no flour, no eggs and is simple to put together.
This is SO easy and so delicious.
Ingredients:
2 ripe bananas
2 cups rolled oats
1 scoop vital proteins collagen (optional)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 1/2 cups oat milk (or whatever milk you like)
dash of cinnamon
handful of blueberries
Instructions:
In a shallow baking dish (I used 8 x 11), mash the bananas. Add the oats, collagen and chia seeds. Pour the milk over. Add the cinnamon and blueberries. Bake in a 350 degree over for 30 minutes. Drizzle with honey if desired!
For an easy afternoon treat or dessert you could easily swap out blueberries for chocolate chips!
The capacity to link information and emotions is why essential oils are such a powerful partner in creating and maintaining emotional health. I love the brain and when I became a Certified Brain Injury Specialist, I learned so much science that validated what I was seeing with my yoga students who have brain injuries. These individuals cannot always easily express themselves. I saw quickly how their affect and attitude would change dramatically after smelling oils.
Curious as to why? Let’s get a little nerdy because you may be wondering how the Limbic System actually works. Well, let’s dive in!
As a person inhales an essential oil, the molecules of the oil go into the back of each nostril to the epithelium patch where the molecules attach to receptors on the cilia hairs. These convert to nerves that send the odor information to the olfactory bulb in the brain. This bulb communicates directly with the amygdala, hippocampus, and other brain structures.
Still with me? Good! Getting to the good stuff – promise!
The amygdala is the center for emotions in the limbic system and it links our sense of smell to our ability to learn emotionally.
This is EXACTLY why smells will trigger memories more than seeing an image, tasting food, or even listening to music!
Some of the most popular oils to start to anchor your emotional brain are citrus oils, as they provoke happy, uplifting, and supportive emotions in most people.
What is your favorite citrus oil to grab and inhale?
Want to learn the basics of essential oils? Download this free eBook! You’re welcome!
