Archive for the ‘Wholesome Heart’ Category

Happy New Year Pancakes

December 31st, 2010

This is one breakfast that is sure to fill you up and make your tummy smile!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. It was so great to just have time to chill with family and not do anything. I seriously can’t remember when the last time was that I [...]

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This is one breakfast that is sure to fill you up and make your tummy smile!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. It was so great to just have time to chill with family and not do anything. I seriously can’t remember when the last time was that I personally had “chill” time. I have been glued to the computer editing photos like a crazy person for the last 2 months with a few weddings in between and other busy stuff going on….so I was sooo happy to be on vacation!!

I am super excited for the new year! I think 2011 is going to be a great year, both personally and also for Hanle Productions! I am thrilled with each client we booked for 2011 and excited to start meeting new potential Brides & Grooms! I also have major plans for this blog, as it has been sadly neglected by both Diana and I! Things have been insane! This year was sooo busy that I had such a hard time keeping up with blogging. I did not even get to publishing all of my wedding sneak peaks and had to move to “mini” sneak peaks instead! So0000000 because the blog has been sooo neglected I have lots of love is coming this way, we have got big plans for it!

Anywho—- onto the breakfast—what you have been waiting for! Right? Does this not look de-lish and totally bad for you? The yummy creamy drink looks like homemade Starbucks! Ha! The complete opposite in fact….next time Sunday morning rolls around and you want a more heart healthy breakfast that taste just amazing try this one….Cranberry Almond Pancakes and a Almond Date Shake! Oh yum! I just made this and it was soo good! I even made the whole wheat flour fresh—-haha well I did not grow it but I  freshly ground the wheat berries to make fresh flour. Now talk about wholesome! The best part is that it only took me 30 minutes to make this whole meal. (including the flour grinding—I can’t believe it!)

Cranberry Almond Pancakes

You will need:

  • 1 1/2 cups almond milk
  • 3/4 cups whole wheat flour (or 1/2 cup wheat berries to fresh grind)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup flax seed meal
  • 3/4 cup uncooked rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

Side note:

I made this whole meal in my new Vitamix- which is amazing! Seriously! I feel so spoiled and did not deserve it but Anthony got me a Vitamix for Christmas! It made making this recipe soo easy. Here is why: I was able to grind up with wheat berries to make fresh flour. This took virtually 1 minute, after which I added all my dry ingredients and chopped everything, added the almond milk last and it was ready to cook on the stove or pancake griddle (whatever you have). The whole thing took seriously 10 minutes! After which I made the Almond Date Shake- which took 4 min or less. The best part is not only is the blender amazing but it is super easy to clean. All you do is pour it half full with hot water add 2 drops dish soup and blend, wipe out the top and dry! Woo! So I am going to be posting a lot of new recipes on this blog using the Vitamix but I will always offer a 2nd version of the recipe if you don’t have one, which is understandable because the things are sooo expensive, but so far I think it is worth saving for. I highly recommend it. And speaking of Starbucks- places like Starbucks and other coffee shops and restaurants use Vitamix and Blendtec. These things are beastly commercial grade blenders that can take some heat. Imagine how many coffee smoothies Starbucks blends in just 1 day! I think it is one of the best investments we have ever made for our health and heart! With the Vitamix you could make everything from scratch. Not only is it good for you but also better for the environment when you cut down on unneeded waste. You can make anything from fresh grounded flour to peanut butter, almond butter, fruit and vegetable juice, dressings, ice cream, sorbet, pesto and other sauces or dips like fresh spaghetti sauce, salsa, smoothies galore, bread and you can even cook soups right in the Vitamix pitcher, it is pretty unreal!

Directions 1: (using Vitamix)

  1. Use 1/2 cup of wheat berries in place of whole wheat flour. Grind berries into flour using the Vitamix Dry Blade container for 1 minute on High.
  2. Add baking powder, soda, salt, flax seed meal, almonds and cranberries to fresh flour Select Variable 1, turn on machine and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to high, blend for 20 seconds, turn off and remove lid.
  3. Add oats and almond milk, and repeat above blending.
  4. Make sure to use a spatula while machine is not running to push down ingredients on the side.
  5. Let batter sit for 5-10 minutes while cast iron pan or griddle heats up in order to yield best texture and flavor.
  6. Cook pancakes and serve with butter and real maple syrup or maple syrup with out the high fructose corn syrup.

Directions 2:

  1. Add all dry ingredients together in a bowl. (using wheat flour) My favorite brand is King Arthur
  2. Chop Almonds and cranberries medium fine- or process in food processor, you want your pancakes to have a little crunch to them but not a lot, so go pretty fine on the almond especially. (this process might take some elbow grease)
  3. Add to dry mixture and add the almond milk, mix and let sit for 5-10 minutes while cast iron pan or griddle heats up in order to yield best texture and flavor.
  4. Cook pancakes and serve with butter and real maple syrup or maple syrup with out the high fructose corn syrup.

Almond Date Shake

Recipe by Diana Stobo from Get Naked Fast

I just got Get Naked Fast 2 weeks ago- and I love it! The book is all about stripping away the things that are weighing us down and eating completely raw/live food.

Makes 1 serving (so double or triple if needed)

You will need:

  • 2 tablespoons raw almond butter
  • 2 Medjool dates, pitted (cut half way inside and pull out pit)
  • 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • 1 frozen banana

Blend all ingredients in high-speed blender for 30-40 seconds until frothy and creamy – add ice for a more smoothie texture if so desire.

I used my Vitamix to blend this but my old blender, which I have had now for 5 years and have made smoothies almost every day in, has lasted me so long (it is still running). It is one of the best most affordable blenders for basic blending and I would highly recommend using.

Hope you enjoyed this super long post- hehe! Happy New Year!

hugs~

Brittany

P.S I decided I say “seriously” way too often while writing, New Years resolution #1. Don’t say “Seriously”

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Happy Monday!

September 20th, 2010

Happy Monday, Our blog has been looking a little sad recently—- we have been soo busy that we have had little time to post our long winded wedding sneak peaks, wedding inspiration, recipes and everything else. This blog is looking like it needs some livening up! I am hoping to change that and get back [...]

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Happy Monday,

Our blog has been looking a little sad recently—- we have been soo busy that we have had little time to post our long winded wedding sneak peaks, wedding inspiration, recipes and everything else. This blog is looking like it needs some livening up! I am hoping to change that and get back into the swing of things….sooo lots of blog posts coming and lots of web updates, soon! I promise. This week is going to be another busy week of deadlines and loads of photos to continue to edit…so bare with us!

On a side note—- I found this amazing post the other day and if you are a regular allergy sufferer like me you might find this helpful specially with the latest ragweed that has been floating around the last month or so! ugh! I think these natural remedies will help!

A few natural tips to help control the allergies:

This article was written by Ashley English who is the author of these awesome books, Homemade Living: Canning & Preserving and Homemade Living: Keeping Chickens. This article was written for one of my favorite blogs Design Sponge…

*image source

….I’d like to share with you what I learned. I found several things to do, sip, eat, and take for seasonal allergies that have helped beyond compare. As I write this, I’m in my forest-situated house, with the windows open, positively surrounded by allergens in every imaginable form, from goldenrod to ragweed, mullein to innumerable pollens (not to mention oodles of pet hair and dander from my 2 dogs and 5 cats). Owing to my allergy-combating efforts, however, I’ve got nary a sneeze, wheeze, sniffle, or itchy eye to attend to.

If you, too, suffer from the ravages of seasonal allergies, perhaps these simple, do-it-yourself tips might assist you, as they did me.

To Do:

-Neti Pot=If you’ve never experienced use of a neti pot before, you might think at first read that it sounds like a form of torture best avoided by anyone with a mind to think. I’d urge you to reconsider, however. A neti pot is a ceramic pot with a spout used for nasal irrigation. That’s right-you put the spout into one of your nostrils (stick with me!), tilt your head to the side, pour a blend of salt water (1/4 tsp. salt to 1 c. warm water) into that nostril, and watch it pour out the other side. This is best done over a sink, in the shower, or over a large basin or bowl. While this might, at first, feel a bit like getting water up your nose when swimming, it’s not as bad as it sounds. The warm water, if the neti pot is correctly positioned, will trickle easily out your other nostril. It’s really rather straightforward when you think about it-you’re having allergic reactions based on allergens that enter via your nostrils. When we keep our nostrils flushed and clear, pollen and other allergens don’t stand a chance.

To Sip:

-Nettles Tea=Nettles are natural antihistamines, making them nature’s version of Benadryl. Sipped regularly (I sip a large infusion most mornings), and especially in advance of allergy season (although it works well once the allergens are here, too), nettles can bring easy, affordable, lasting relief. If you don’t have the time or inclination to make nettle tea (which can be done with either fresh or dried herb; I use dried), or just don’t like the taste, capsules and tincture form are also available.

-Chamomile Tea= Long touted for its sedative properties, chamomile is also a known anti-inflammatory. If you’re having difficulty breathing or have chest tightness, sipping chamomile tea may bring relief. It can also be used in inhalation form, via essential oil (around 5-10 drops) placed into a bowl filled with warm water. Those with known ragweed allergies, however, should avoid chamomile, as the plants come from the same family.

-Ginger, Honey, & Cayenne Tea=Heat producing foods like ginger and cayenne can help in breaking up mucus congestion, as they clear mucus membranes. Whenever I feel the first hint of congestion or a pending allergy attack, I make a big pot of fresh ginger tea, to which I add loads of local honey (more about honeybee products ahead), a generous amount of fresh lemon, and a hearty pinch of cayenne. Does the trick, every time.

To Eat:

-Local Honey & Bee Pollen=As honey bees fly about during these final days of summer, they’re gathering up good quantities of pollen and the last available sources of nectar to store as food for the coming seasons ahead. The pollen, along with the honey they make inside the hive, contains a fair quantity of the exact same allergens causing reactions in seasonal allergy suffers. So why would taking honey or bee pollen bring relief then? That’s on account of a theory that ingesting these allergens in minute doses over time makes our bodies acclimated to their presence and less likely to cause an allergic response (in which chemicals called “histamines” are released to ward off what are deemed foreign interlopers, hence the use of substances deemed “antihistamines”, which deactivate the histamine response). Eating locally sourced honey and bee pollen is key, though, as what might trigger an allergic reaction in my area won’t necessarily be what does it for someone in, say, Oregon. Begin with small quantities, around 1/2-1 tsp. and gauge your body’s reaction. As the dose will be small, and the concentration of the allergen so minute, there shouldn’t be any negative reaction. That said, everyone is different, so go easy and increase as you see fit.

-Quercetin-containing foods: Quercetin is a substance found in a number of foods that is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help prevent the release of the aforementioned histamine. Onions, green/black tea, berries, cranberries, citrus, and apples are all great sources of querctin. It can also be purchased in supplement form.

-Omega 3-containing foods: Omega 3?s are one type of Essential Fatty Acid (EFA). These fats, in addition to a wide range of additional benefits, offer anti-inflammatory protection. Salmon, mackerel, and sardines, eaten in their whole form or as capsules, are rich in Omega 3?s. Vegetarians can take a veggie EFA blend, eat nuts and seeds (which also contain magnesium, another natural antihistamine), and add ground-up flaxseeds to their diets (flax seeds must be ground to access their beneficial properties, otherwise they pass through the body whole).

To Take:

-Homeopathic Remedies=I’m a huge proponent of the use of homeopathic remedies. In its most basic explanation, homeopathy uses small doses of specific substances to treat conditions that, in larger quantities, would produce symptoms similar to what patients are being treated for. It’s like taking honey, mentioned above, in small quantities to stave off histamine reactions in the long run. I’ve had remarkable success using homeopathic treatments in a wide range of applications, including seasonal allergies. Typically, I take bioAllers products in spring and autumn, but as they’re based in alcohol and I’m prego, I’ve instead been using King Bio products, which, in addition to being alcohol-free, are genius in that they are regionally formulated.

I would like to mention that I’m no health professional, simply a nutrition consultant with a penchant for “Homemade Living” and DIY solutions, working hard to find natural relief to life’s challenges by any and every means possible. Those with severe allergies should be under the care of a physician or other health professional (I know of many who have found relief for their allergies through acupuncture, sublingual allergy immunotherapy, and other healing modalities). If you’ve got a go-to remedy for putting the kibosh on all things inflammatory, I’d love to hear about it. Otherwise, may your sinuses be clear and your eyes remain ‘a shining! -ashley
Read more at Design*Sponge

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Wholesome Heart

August 4th, 2010

Hi everyone! So back at the beginning of the “new year” I had this grand idea of starting a blog all on just organic living, articles and tips…I was on a quest for healthy options and to learn more about where my food came from. Since then Anthony and I have completely transformed the way [...]

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Hi everyone!

So back at the beginning of the “new year” I had this grand idea of starting a blog all on just organic living, articles and tips…I was on a quest for healthy options and to learn more about where my food came from. Since then Anthony and I have completely transformed the way we shop and live. We are now completely organic (food and cleaning, not cloths- although have you ever thought about what we are wearing, the chemicals used to die the colors, or worse the plastic that is created into fabric—scary!) Ok back on topic, so organic you say. You might be thinking, Why? Well for many reasons which I will explain over time. But back to the blog for now….so I started this blog- well I have had very little time to maintain it since the wedding season started and have wanted to continue my passion for this subject only in a different outlet. I thought well why don’t I just post my findings, articles and tidbits on my “hanle” blog, if you have not noticed I already post loads of other content that have nothing to do with photos or weddings….so I think that this is a great idea. I want my blog to be a place for not just my clients and future clients to get to know me better but also for my blog to be a resource on all sorts of topics, organic living is just a new topic that I am adding. So stay tuned because I got uddles of information and stories! So without further ado I introduce you to Wholesome Heart.

P.S more “Miss Manners” posts coming soon—-I have not forgotten about my “manners” hehe ;-)

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