Are all almonds the same?

Did you know most of the almonds grown in America are pasteurized? They can be either steam pasteurized, boiled, roasted, or treated with propylene oxide. The problem with pasteurization is that it kills most of the enzymes and vitamins in almonds making them difficult to digest.

Also, the problem with propylene oxide (PPO) is that it is a carcinogenic chemical according to the EPA. The use of this chemical has been banned in the EU, Canada, and Mexico because it has been linked to liver disease and other immune system dysfunctions.

how do you know which almonds to buy?

Purchasing raw organic almonds or almonds directly from a farmer is one way to avoid pasteurization. Another way is to purchase almonds grown outside of the United States. Read the packaging when you purchase almonds. You can also find raw almonds online. One brand I like is Food to Live Almonds which come from Italy.

Furthermore, when purchasing almond butter, the same rules apply. Be careful to read the label for additives and for raw organic almonds. The simplest and most delicious solution is to make it yourself.

You will need a food processor or blender. It takes a good 10 minutes so be patient!

The post Homemade Raw Almond Butter first appeared on Erin Sands.

Ditch the bottled barbecue sauce which is loaded with sugar and sodium and throw together your own homemade barbecue sauce! The taste is so much better than a bottle and it can be ready in just 20 minutes! Make a big batch and store it in your freezer to have sauce ready all summer long. Try it in my Slow Cooker BBQ Baked Beans!

The post Homemade Barbecue Sauce first appeared on Erin Sands.

Homemade bone broth is so easy to make and a staple in the kitchen, you should be making it all of the time. Store-bought stocks aren’t really bone broth. They are loaded with sodium and rely on meat “flavors” rather than real bones. They also usually contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is a neurotoxin.

Save money

Bone broth is also a money saver as it is much cheaper to buy a whole chicken, cut it up yourself, and then use the bones and giblets to make your stock. Here is a video to show you how easy it is to cut up a chicken. Jacques Pepin can do it in under three minutes. With a little practice and a sharp knife, you can do it under five.

health benefits

Homemade bone broth has also been found to have many health benefits. In a study by The University of Nebraska, chicken broth was found to prevent infection and to have anti-inflammatory properties. Stock has also been found to boost the immune system and may be beneficial in healing asthma, allergies, and arthritis.

The longer you cook it, the more nutrients you will pull out of the bones. Make up a big batch and then freeze it in mason jars. Short on space? You can concentrate the stock by boiling it down, then reconstitute it with water when you are ready to use it.

The post Benefits of Bone Broth first appeared on Erin Sands.

Making your own almond milk is simple and delicious.  It is also a way to avoid all of the harmful ingredients in the store bought versions.

The post Homemade Almond Milk first appeared on Erin Sands.

Homemade mayonnaise has always alluded me because it just seemed too complicated.  I believed that until my 12-year old son easily whipped up a batch in minutes for his science experiment on emulsion. It was so simple! You may think it is more convenient to purchase mayonnaise, but what is really in that mayo jar from the store?

The problem with store-bought mayo is mainly the oil and the eggs.  But, wait, those are the main ingredients! Most conventional mayonnaise brands are made with soybean oil.  This oil is almost always genetically modified and highly processed.

The other main ingredient in mayo is eggs, which is usually from unhealthy chickens being fed GMO- food.  Pastured eggs are the best choice as they add healthy fat as well as Vitamin A, choline, and lecithin.

Although the organic versions of mayo may be a little better than the main brands, they still contain high amounts of sugar and salt. Making homemade mayonnaise is not only healthy for you, but it is also delicious too!  Once you taste the freshness of this homemade condiment, you will have a very hard time going back to the processed version in a jar.

The post Homemade Mayonnaise with Avocado Oil first appeared on Erin Sands.

Why did Americans stop eating fermented foods?

Even our food companies have replaced traditional fermented foods like ketchup, sauerkraut, salsa, and pickles with unhealthy vinegar and sugar based alternatives.  Our cheeses were aged and our breads were fermented and raised with a traditional sourdough, rather than commercial yeast. It’s no wonder so many of us have digestive problems.

Did you know that we can aid our digestion by adding these delicious fermented foods into our diet? When we digest our food properly, we can absorb all of the nutrients in them that our bodies need. On top of that, the nutrients in fermented foods are much easier for our bodies to digest. They also contain probiotics which help to maintain gut health.

MAKING YOUR OWN IS EASY

I used to be afraid to try fermenting my own food because I thought I would poison myself, but it is much easier than you think.  One of the easiest fermented foods to make is sauerkraut.  I love this versatile food, and I use it so many ways or sometimes just eat it right out of the jar. All you need is a head of cabbage and salt to turn fresh cabbage into a food loaded with Vitamin B, C, and K as well as loads of probiotics!

Try these too!

Some other fermented foods to try adding to your diet are kombucha which is a fermented black tea and another of my favorite probiotics that costs pennies to make at home. Some other great choices are tempeh, miso, kefir, kimchi, pickled vegetables, and grass-fed yogurt.

The post Fermented Foods You Should be Eating first appeared on Erin Sands.