Tag Archives: healthy

Gold Nugget Ghee: A Tasty Source of Health Benefits

Just what is ghee, you ask? It’s made from butter that has been gently heated to remove the milk solids. This makes it a pure fat just like coconut oil with a high smoke point at 482°F. You can use it just like butter, and for those sensitive to butter, ghee seems to not trigger the same intolerance.

Ghee is chock full of fat soluble Vitamins A, D, E, and K. And wouldn’t you know, ghee is pure healthy fat allowing for easy absorption of these health-promoting vitamins. But, like most things, not all ghee is created equally; where it’s sourced is an important part of what makes it healthy. Enter Gold Nugget Ghee, committed to providing people the highest quality ghee on the market.

gold nugget ghee, healthy fat, cooking, review, bulletproof coffee

Daniel Draskinis, the founder of Gold Nugget Ghee and an avid outdoor enthusiast, set out to find something that would provide him sustainable energy for his adventures. From rock climbing to yoga to ultra marathons, performing at his best was vital. Through research and experimentation, Daniel created Gold Nugget Ghee.

GOLD NUGGET GHEE is committed to bringing people the highest quality ghee available on the market. We source butter from small farms in Northern California, which provides a unique rainforest ecosystem that allows cows to happily graze on green grass ALL YEAR long. We are committed to providing nutrient-dense ghee that supports your health, our planet, and environment.

Daniel graciously provided a jar of Gold Nugget Ghee free of charge for me to review. I’ve used coconut oil for cooking plenty of times before, but when I found Gold Nugget, I had to try for myself.

The source of food is essential if we want to give our bodies the best nutrients available, and Gold Nugget is right on target. What about the taste? Glad you asked, we love it! Going Mom and I first tried it in our black coffee since we’ve heard wonderful things about putting butter or ghee in coffee, aka Bulletproof Coffee.

Gold Nugget Ghee and Coffee

A rich, buttery aroma filled the air as steam rose from our hot mugs of upgraded coffee, and our mouths were greeted with a rich, nutty flavor. I could pick up slight notes of caramel as the coffee cooled a bit and it left me craving more. We added about one teaspoon to start, but now we’ll do almost two teaspoons.

Next up was cooking with our Gold Nugget treasure. With a high smoke point, it held up to the high temps of cooking on the stove as well as mixed well with steamed veggies.

ghee, healthy cooking, coffee, vegetables

Avery and and Going Mom gave me their empty plates and buttery kisses in approval. So ghee is good in coffee (I call it coff-ghee because, dad jokes) and savory dishes, but what about something a little sweet? Keeping with healthy, whole foods, I made cinnamon roasted carrots with ghee to put it to the test.

Gold Nugget Ghee with Cinnamon Roasted Carrots

MMMMmmmmmm! Nuff said.

Much like coconut oil, ghee is beneficial both in and outside of your body. It is used to treat burns and rashes, and as a moisturizer for the skin and scalp. What I appreciate about is that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, which makes it the perfect food to take along when traveling.

Gold Nugget Ghee supports local businesses, holds up to the highest of mindful business practices, and put care into what they create. They also package their product in glass jars as opposed to plastic, so you can reuse the jar over and over again.

My family and I are nothing but pleased with Gold Nugget Ghee. We can feel the health benefits and taste them too! Every time my wife and I have our morning cup of joe, Gold Nugget finds its way into our mug and puts a happy, healthy smile on our face.

You can follow Gold Nugget Ghee on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up to date on specials and tasty ways to use their delicious food. Be sure to pick up a jar (or two or three) here.

Disclosure: Gold Nugget Ghee provided a jar of their ghee free of charge in exchange for my review. I was not compensated in any other way.

Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra Kids’ Mattress: More Than Just Comfort

When shopping for a mattress, the level of comfort is probably what most of us think of first. But, there’s more to consider in a mattress than just comfort. Take, for example, the Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted Kids’ Mattress.

Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted Mattress
Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted Mattress

I had the pleasure of receiving Naturepedic’s EOS Series mattress to review a few months ago, and have been enjoying a #SafeHealthySleep ever since. Going Mom and I loved the EOS so much that we felt a bit guilty we didn’t have such a high quality mattress for Avery.

We had an organic crib mattress, but it was time to transition from the crib which meant we needed a bigger and “bedder” mattress. Turns out, the kind folks at Naturepedic liked me enough to work allow me the opportunity to review one of their kids’ versions, the 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted Mattress.

naturepedic organic 2 in 1 toddler mattress, quilted

Excitement beamed from Avery’s face when we told her about her new big girl bed, and we matched her happy face from the comfort in knowing she’d be getting a superior organic cotton mattress. Their organic cotton is much healthier than the synthetic fabrics and foams commonly found in other mattresses. It’s also made without flame retardants and questionable chemicals like vinyl/PVC, phthalates, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and formaldehyde. It’s ultra clean, ultra pure, and free from allergens like wool and latex.

Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Kids' Mattress Trad Seam Detail 1 180dpi

With a host of certifications and awards like being certified by the OTCO to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and meeting the GREENGUARD Gold Certification standard, Naturepedic leaves nothing to worry about when bringing their products into your home. Even the packaging from delivery produces no off-gassing, vapors, or chemicals. An important aspect to consider when you have excited tots waiting to give it a warm welcome.

Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Kids' Mattress Instagram Pic

Just like she did upon the arrival of our EOS Series Organic Mattress. But now she was hugging her very own big girl mattress, which she made certain to let us know……a lot.

The 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra is a versatile mattress that is made to last many years as your child grows from a tiny tot to a big kid. It looks good too!

Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted Mattress

On the top, the mattress features an organic cotton waterproof fabric that’s easy to clean and so pure it even meets food contact standards. When your child is in potty training mode (or you’re just not that sure yet), the waterproof side is the perfect choice!

On the bottom side, you’ll find a luxuriously quilted organic cotton fabric that’s perfect for older, “mature” kids. This side is not waterproof, but offers a more comfortable sleeping surface that older kids and adults will appreciate.

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From the start, we used the quilted side since Avery was mostly potty trained. The comfort level was evident by the disappearance of my wife most nights of the week following the 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra.

She usually lays down to sing with Avery at bedtime, and would end up dozing off, usually before Avery. This happened on occasion in the past, but it the occurrence increased twofold. Lately, she’s started leaving the room earlier so as to not make it a habit. Thankfully, Avery feels right at home in the Naturepedic 2 in 1 and doesn’t mind sleeping solo. If anything, I’d say she’s rather proud and enjoys the extra room.

Avery smiling with Naturepedic Organic Full Size Mattress

And we’re proud of being able to provide a high quality mattress for our precious little girl. Naturepedic’s statement, Babies and toddlers spend 10-14 hours a day sleeping and playing on a crib mattress. As such, for the first few years of a child’s life, the mattress is the single most prominent object in the child’s environment. “ further supports how happy we are to have their mattresses in our home.

Your child’s, as well as your own, health and safety should be non-negotiable. Naturepedic knows this all too well and follows a list of priorities making them stand out from the rest:

Priority #1: No harmful chemicals.

Priority #2: No allergenic materials.

Priority #3: Natural, organic and renewable materials wherever possible.

Priority #4: Practical design (e.g. easy-to-clean waterproof cover).

Priority #5: Third party independent testing and verification.

Many of us consider of a mattress as just a place to sleep, but a kids’ mattress, as well as an adult’s, is used more than we think. It’s a perfect platform for dancing in your undies….

Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted Mattress

…..bracing for a tickle attack….

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…..doing butt-busters….

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……playing hide-and-seek….

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…and a place for that collection of stuffed animals we our kids have.

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Naturepedic offers a comfortable sleep and play environment for not just our sweetheart, but for us, her parents, who love playing and sleeping with her too. I haven’t had the privilege of spending half the night with Avery (yet), but she did wake up crying early one morning and I laid back down with her for a while. I could’ve easily fallen asleep and had to take back all the times I gave Going Mom grief for dozing off.

Avery still gets excited to sleep in her”Naturepedic bed.” every night, and as you can see from the pictures, it offers plenty of joy no matter the time of day.

Highlights

  • The 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra is highly versatile, combining waterproof and quilted sides for an ideal children’s mattress.
  • Excellent for sleep and play.
  • Great for training toddlers, bed wetters, and/or messy eaters.
  • Comfortable medium-firm support for growing kids……adults too!
  • Made without flame retardants and other questionable chemicals such as vinyl/PVC, phthalates, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and formaldehyde
  • Certified by OTCO to the Global Organic Textile Standard.
  • Free from potential allergens such as wool and latex.
  • 20 Year Limited Warranty.

Other than it being on the higher end of the price range, for good reason, I have nothing negative to say about the 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra. We’ve been completely happy with our Naturepedic mattresses and look forward to many years of safe, healthy sleep (and play) to come.

Keep up to date with all specials, news, and products from Naturepedic by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Google+.

Disclaimer: I received the Naturepedic 2 in 1 Organic Cotton Ultra/Quilted mattress free of charge in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. All opinions are strictly my own and I was not compensated any other way.

Strawberry biPro Protein Cake Recipe

Have you ever used protein powder as a substitute for regular flour in baked goods? I’ve been doing it for years with some bad, some good, and some fabulous results. Luckily, this strawberry protein cake using biPro’s Strawberry Protein Powder really….um, takes the cake!

protein cake, biPro whey protein, baking, healthy, cooking, bread, dessert

Writing the review of biPro’s Strawberry Whey Protein left me craving something full of strawberry goodness to snack on. Maybe share a little with the little one too. A smoothie is easy, but I wanted something I could eat and use as the perfect NuttZo delivery device.

nuttzo, healthy, protein cake, cooking, peanut butter, organic
I’m waiting for you….

Not sure why it always sits right at the window I look out of most often, but it sure does drive me NuttZ…..O!

Back to the protein cake. With no real recipe to follow, I mixed and measured tossed ingredients together and put it all into the oven. The end result was good, but now I had remake it and actually measure. Ugh. You will be happy to know that the second time around came out even better. Hey, measuring does serve a purpose!

BiPro Strawberry Protein Cake

Don’t take my word (or anyone’s word) for it, make it for yourself and taste the proof. Maybe smear a little NuttZo on too.

protein cake, biPro whey protein, baking, healthy, cooking, bread, dessert, nuttzo

Strawberry biPro Protein Cake

by RC Liley

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20 – 25 Minutes

Keywords: bake bread dessert protein powder cake

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese (can substitute Greek yogurt)
  • 2 eggs or 1/2 cup egg whites
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup biPro Strawberry Protein Powder
  • 1 tsp aluminum free baking powder
  • 15 drops liquid vanilla stevia or 1/16 tsp stevia powder
  • optional shredded coconut as desired

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F, and line an 8-inch square or round pan with parchment (or grease very well).

2. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and let sit at least 10 minutes. If batter is too thick, add unsweetened almond milk 1 tablespoon at a time to help mix it better.

3. Pour batter into the prepared pan, and smooth down evenly. Bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

4. Remove from oven and allow to cool at least 10 minutes before devouring each and every protein-packed bite.

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Once you make and devour the protein-packed cake, come back and let me know how you (and, if shared, your friends and family) loved it!

BiPro Strawberry Protein Cake_Half Slice

Make sure to enter my biPro Strawberry Whey Protein giveaway going on until July 18, 2016.