I don't know about you but I LOVE Mexican food. 

However there's a couple things wrong with it, the first being its made with a pineapple yoghurt , (I'm allergic to dairy) and the second being its $9 I just can't justify spending that much on a smoothie I could make myself. 

So I watched them make it one day and took note of the ingredients and after a little trial and error and replacing the yoghurt with a ripe banana I do believe I've made it even better. Actually I know I made it better, and the best part is I can make a weeks work of smoothies for just a few dollars more than just one smoothie from the juice shop!

The Ingredients:

Two handfuls of organic kale

One very ripe banana (the riper the better for sweetness)

And there you have it. A delicious, sweet and oh so healthy smoothie, perfect as the weather starts warming up!

Theo absolutely LOVES this smoothie, it's getting to the point where I'm going to have to start making him his own if I want to have some too HAHA

So if you have kiddos, whip one of these up and let them try it out!

Enjoy!!

As most of you know by now, I've been on a bit of a journey to becoming healthy!

I'm currently down 74 pounds which is great but more than anything I'm learning how to nourish my body with good, whole foods.

I came up with this recipe about 3 weeks ago and its now a household obsession!

The great thing about this meal is that it's very versatile. It can be made Gluten, Grain, and Dairy free (Which is how I eat it) but can also be made with all that yumminess for those in the family not on a restricted diet!

So without further ado....

Ingredients:

Pre made Ravioli

2 Vine ripened tomatoes

1 bunch of green onions

1/4 cup of sauvignon blanc

1 tablespoon of Extra virgin olive oil

1 package of Chicken or Turkey meatballs

1 package of broccoli 

2 tablespoons of alfredo (optional)

This is the kind of ravioli we use but any brand will work just fine

Start by boiling the water and cooking the ravioli according to the directions on the package

 

Wash your tomatoes and onions, then dice them

Heat your skillet on medium high

Add the olive oil, diced tomatoes, onions and wine and the alfredo (if you're not going for the dairy free option)

Guys, it will smell amazing!!!

Once simmering, add the precooked meatballs and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes, or until meatballs  reach 165 degrees

These are the meatballs I use but any brand will work

While everything is sautéing steam your broccoli

Once everything has cooked Serve the meatballs and tomato sauce over the Ravioli or Broccoli

And Viola you have a healthy, satisfying meal than can be made for the whole Family!

Since we've started eating healthier it's amazing the amount of time I spend in the kitchen, but it's so worth it to have healthy home cooked meals and knowing exactly what I'm feeding my family!

I've been on the hunt for Gluten and Dairy free recipes since finding out I have allergies to both. 

But Thank the LORD for Pinterest I found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and had all the ingredients to make them so Theo and I decided to give it a go and see if they were any good and OH. MY. GAWWD (said in the voice of Janice from Friends)

These are amazing!!! I added just a bit of cinnamon to give them a "fall" taste and instead of almond extract used vanilla extract. 

Best of all there's no egg so we could safely eat the dough and you can bet your bottom we did!!

Even if you don't have any allergies, seriously give these a try! They're super soft and chewy!!

Here's the link to the original recipe

And of course some pictures of the fun!

I say all that because I want to remember when God has been faithful to my prayers, big and small and what I'm about to say next is something I want to remember forever and I wanted to share just how good God really is. 

But this tree was something really special to me. Not because I love Christmas, although I do, and not because it was Theo's very first Christmas tree, but because this tree reminded me of just how much God loves me, and not just for the reason of Christmas itself. 

In the beginning of December Tim and I were going over our budget for the week and I realized there wasn't enough money to get the tree that week. ( we're on a mission to get out of debt so money has been tight) It was a petty thing but I wanted Theo's first Christmas to be amazing, not just because it was his first Christmas but also because we never got to have a first Christmas with Noah and I wanted Theo's to be amazing! So to not have a tree all December just made me sad and disappointed. Like I said it was petty and not a big deal, and maybe a little bit bratty but that's just how I felt. 

In all of this I never thought to pray for a tree, it never crossed my mind. It was just a petty little desire and we'd just get one later when we had the money. 

But a couple days later Tim called me from work and said someone was giving away a tree and asked me if I wanted it. "Uh, Yes!" He said, "babe, this is a big tree." I like big trees! 

Someone was going to give it to the fisheries for Christmas decoration but they were doing construction and didn't have room for a tree, so Tim said we'll take it if they were giving it away, the guy said, " Yeah, you just have to come pick it up" 

That night Tim drove out into the middle of no where to get this tree and bring it home and the moment I saw it I knew it was from God. It was his gift to me. It was his way of telling me he knows my heart. Because you see this tree was not just big, this tree was MASSIVE. Seriously, when Tim put it up, with the help from our brother in law, I literally said, "Ok God, now you're just showing off" This tree was over 9 foot tall and 6 foot wide! It was beautiful! 

After cutting a good chunk off the bottom the tree was still so tall that the top of it bent at our ceiling, and we have really tall ceilings! Tim asked me if I wanted him to cut off some more so I could put a star on the top but I said no. Because even at the top this tree showed me how much God loves me, how much he knows my heart, that He doesn't do things in small measure, he blows through the ceiling with his blessings, and that he cares even about the petty little desires of my heart, because he loves me!

In the end Theo's first Christmas was amazing, but years from now I don't think I'll remember the gifts or the decorations or Theo's reactions to it all. I'll remember the tree and how faithful my God is and that His love for me is so big it can't be contained. 

However with our demanding little Theodore getting more independent everyday we needed stuffed peppers to get even easier and faster, and so Unstuffed Peppers were created.

Now normally when we have unstuffed peppers we serve it over organic brown rice, however currently in the Hill household we're omitting all grains, gluten, unnatural sugars, and most dairy. (Just for 30 days)

So we're having this as a chili of sorts. Either way, over rice or not it's a delicious easy and filling meal!

(Sorry I only have a cell phone picture! I'll take a better one the next time I make this) 

This recipe serves 4 with the rice and 2 without rice.

To start you'll need to gather the ingredients:

1 package of ground chicken breast

2 Green peppers

1 zucchini 

Half a red onion

1 can of diced tomatoes seasoned with basil and oregano ( our favorite is the organic Publix version)

white wine

Olive oil

Garlic powder 

Tony Chachere seasoning (only if you like a little spice)

Begin by heating up a large skillet on medium-high, preferably one with a lid but if you don't have a lid that's ok.

Splash about a tablespoon of olive oil into the skillet and let it warm up.

While the skillet is warming, dice the onion into small pieces.

Once the skillet is hot add the ground chicken breast and white wine ( just a splash or two... Or three) 

With a spatula break up the ground chicken breast then evenly sprinkle the garlic powder and Tony Chachere, then mix in the diced onion.

While the meat is cooking chop up the two green peppers and the zucchini into bite sized pieces. 

Once the meat is thoroughly cooked add the can of diced tomatoes and mix until the meat is thoroughly coated then add the green peppers and zucchini and also mix until thoroughly coated, if it seems a bit dry add about half a cup of water. 

When everything is all mixed together lower the heat to medium , cover and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until the green peppers and zucchini have darkened and are soft. 

If you don't have a lid that's ok, just add small amounts of water when you stir so it stays moist. 

And that's it! A delicious, healthy, easy meal! 

Let me know if you try it and how you like it! You can also add more vegetables if you'd like!

Enjoy!