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  • Stuffed Delicata Squash

    Stuffed Delicata Squash

    We love Delicata Squash because it’s SO easy to prepare. No peeling- just slice in half and scoop out the seeds. It cooks fast and tastes similar to sweet corn- so even people who aren’t squash fans will enjoy it!

    We choose to stuff it with savory mushrooms, Italian chicken sausage and top it with parmesan cheese.

    Stuffed Delicata Squash

    • 4 large delicata squash, ends cut off, sliced vertically and deseeded
    • 1 package of Bilinski’s Organic Mild Italian Chicken Sausage
    • ½ small onion, diced
    • 3/4 cup of  chopped Crimini Mushrooms
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 4 stalks of celery, minced
    • 6 tbsp. of Organic Valley shredded Parmesan Cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • your favorite fresh herbs to taste

     

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush the cut sides of the squash with oil and sprinkle with salt. Place face down on a large baking sheet. Bake until tender and browned on the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes.

    Meanwhile, in a large saute pan cook sausage on medium heat, breaking up the meat into small pieces as it cooks until the sausage is cooked through and is browned.

    We used a food processor to chop the sausage and mushrooms to get a uniform texture.

    Add the onion and celery; cook until celery is soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan, more salt and pepper if needed and cook, stirring 5 minutes, then cook covered for 2 minutes, or until the mushrooms are soft and cooked through.

    Divide (1/2 cup) between the squash, top with parmesan cheese and bake 10 minutes.

  • Honeynut Squash Hash

    Honeynut Squash Hash

    We love Butternut squash, but if you haven’t tried it’s smaller cousin, Honeynut, you’re missing out. This smaller, sweeter variety is adorable.

    Just like last last week’s recipe, this one starts with roasted squash, but we added spicy mustard greens wilted with chopped onions and garlic. We topped it with a poached egg- perfect for anytime of day and full of nutrition!

    Honeynut Squash Hash

     

    2 Honeynut Squashes, cubed and roasted

    1 bunch of Mustard Greens

    1/2 Onion, minced

    2 cloves garlic, minced

    seasoning salt to taste

    4 eggs

     

    • Cook onion until transparent in oil, adding garlic just before finishing.
    • Remove stems from greens and tear or chop leaves. Add into onion/garlic mix until wilted
    • Season to taste
    • Poach eggs, and top hash
    • Garnish with fresh herbs, salt & pepper
  • Butternut Squash Flatbread

    Butternut Squash Flatbread

    Dinnertime is never easy, especially after a long day at work. You have to eat SOMETHING, and you’d love for it to taste good AND be good for you. That can be a tall order.

    We’ve got a suggestion that uses a seasonal favorite: Butternut Squash. Butternut Squash is full of antioxidants and vitamins. It also plays nice with many different flavor profiles and it easy to roast up and keep on hand for recipes.

    Here’s a recipe that uses some of our favorite ingredients from around the store, including Milton’s Local Uncured Bacon Sausage, Cadia Pizza Dough and Whole in the Wall Pesto.

    Keeping roasted squash on hand makes easy work of recipes- throw it in salads, toss with pasta, serve it alone as a side.
     

    Butternut Squash Flatbread

     

    1 Butternut Squash, peeled, roasted, and diced

    1 bag Cadia Pizza Dough

    1 package of Milton’s Local Uncured Bacon Sausage

    1 container of Whole in the Wall Pesto

    1 package of shredded Mozzarella

    Olive Oil

    Salt & Pepper

    Preheat Oven to 450º

    • Pull pizza dough out fridge, remove from bag and let it warm to room temperature
    • Dice sausage and fry in pan with small amount of oil. Cook until caramelized and slightly crisp.
    • Either cut dough in half or use whole- roll out as thin as possible
    • Bake at 450º until soft but stiff enough to handle
    • Top flatbread with pesto, cheese, sausage, squash cubes and more cheese! Bake until bubbly!

     

  • Introducing: Fall Glory Smoothie

    Introducing: Fall Glory Smoothie

    We thought about Pumpkin Spice. We thought about Apple Pie. But what if we blended all the flavors of fall together into one nutrient-rich smoothie?

    That’s our Fall Glory Smoothie. Apple Cider, Maple Pumpkin Butter, Organic Pumpkin Puree, Rolled Oats, Vanilla Plant Protein and Coconut Milk combine in this comforting October smoothie.

    Welcome Fall!

  • Local Spotlight: Her Fitness New Jersey

    Local Spotlight: Her Fitness New Jersey

    Starting fresh with fitness and a healthy diet is a huge challenge. We ALL want to get there, of course, but how do you stay motivated? How do you avoid injury? Most important: How do you really get results?

    Carolyn found herself looking at 40 with a few extra pounds that crept up on her. Stress led to fatigue which led to the bad habits that so many of us get into, and she was struggling to feel like she could get it under control.

    Working with Marie Ande and her group fitness sessions allowed her to see results for the first time in almost a decade.

    Her Fitness is Personal training in a group setting for women who are committed to becoming or staying healthy, fit and strong.

    In addition to Her Fitness, Carolyn stuck to clean eating. Cutting back on sugar, starch, and dairy- she had to find ways to make sure her meals were thought out ahead of time.

    One thing Marie suggested was a good protein shake in the morning. We LOVE Plant Fusion Lean Protein- its super filling, and mixes easily with almond milk in a shaker bottle (and it tastes awesome!):

    Carolyn’s go-to lunch was the Mushroom Turkey Burger over greens from the cafe:

    Taking good care of your gut is important when you’re trying to drop weight. Getting the most out of your food ensures your body won’t push you into cravings. Probiotics are instrumental:

  • Our Go-To Supplements for Staying WELL

    Leaves are just starting to change, the air is getting crisp, and off in the distance you can hear the seasonal sound of…someone coughing. Here we go again.

    Heading back to school means lots of kids in small places, high stress levels with homework,  and very active lives with extracurricular activities.  Start now by  boosting the immune system and get a head start on a healthy school year and all it’s sneezing, coughing and general ickiness.

    Vitamin C – of course, and with added bioflavonoids is helpful (like eating the whole orange – the fruit with the white pith).  C helps to keep your cells clean and boost the immune system.  Whatever your body doesnt need will be eliminated so don’t be timid about ramping up the dosage.
    While we know that vitamin D is important for bone health and healthy growth in children, it has also shown to be an important vitamin to the immune system.  Start taking your vitamin D now, and continue through April (the month when the sun is closest to the earth).
     
    Elderberry syrup, a great source of vitamin C, proanthocyanadin flavonoids and is known to have antiviral proteins!  Kids love the taste, so this is a no-brainer!
     
    Astragalus strengthens our immune reservoir and is helpful for allergic rhinitis – the fall ragweed is in full bloom now!  This is a great herb for teachers heading back to the classroom to ward off colds and respiratory illnesses.
     
    Our shelves are stocked and ready with flavorful Zand herbal lozenges – made with zinc  and an herbal blend rich in vitamin C.  A great little nutritive support to boost the immune system and soothe the throat.  The orange flavor is popular with kids!
    A Wellness Formula is great way to boost our immune system heading in to winter – we have quite a few on the shelves, filled with vitamins, herbs, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories!  Bluebonnet, Source Naturals and Basil Bandwagon all have superior wellness formulas!
    A large part of our immune system lies in the gut, so keeping our gut microbiome healthy is important.  Pick up a probiotic with at least 7 strains of probiotic cultures! Boost that beneficial bacteria and crowd out the unhealthy ones!
    And of course, don’t forget to stock the freezer with organic chicken bone broth to prepare a quick chicken soup – a proven remedy for quicker healing time with colds!

     

  • Try our Fruit Moon Smoothie!

    Try our Fruit Moon Smoothie!

    Vines and trees are heavy with fruit, and the light is changing. Fall is creeping up, but summer isn’t over yet. It always leaves us with the gift of rich, ripe fruit. It’s inspired us to celebrate the beauty of the harvest.

    Our smoothie this month features a seasonal favorite: Cantaloupe. We were inspired to create something sweet and hydrating and at its peak flavor right now. Cantaloupe is full of potassium, vitamin C, beta carotene, and more.

    We paired it with Peach, another seasonal favorite and added Mango for a smooth texture and sweetness. Almond milk adds protein, and a pinch of cardamom ties all the flavors together. Next we round it out with Zach & Zoe Lavender Honey to elevate all the flavors.

    We didn’t stop at flavor: we added nutrient dense collagen. Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate is 90% protein, is fantastic for gut health and helps build strong hair, skin and nails.

     

  • Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm

    Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm

     

    The smell of simmering beeswax wafted through the door as Summer, Kam, Zach and Zoe welcomed us to their home last week. As we walked through their home and met the whole family, it became apparent that bees are more than a passion for this family, they are a lifestyle.

    Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm, located in Hunterdon County, NJ, is a family-owned business that specializes in honey production and superfood blending. The family first started keeping bees to produce raw honey for their own use.

    When the family began their honey production, they quickly realized how passionate they were about the bees. They also realized how much honey they were able to produce. With a surplus on-hand, they decided to sell some. That is when Summer’s passion for wellness kicked in. Her love for Matcha, led to her first blend.

    In fact, we loved it so much that we featured it in our Matcha Honey Smoothie a few months back.

    While honey itself is gorgeous and tasty, they realized that they could combine it with other superfoods to further enhance the nutritional effects. That move was the spark that started their brand.

    Today, there is a whole family of tasty and nutritious offerings from Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm, including: Ginger, Beet Root, Lavender, Rice Protein and Vanilla, and more. With their passion for honey bees and wellness, there are sure to be many more offering from Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm.

    If you haven’t had a chance to try them yet, stop by either of our locations and pick up a bottle…maybe two. 

    We are featuring their Lavender Honey in our September Smoothie, the Fruit Moon Smoothie! Try it while its available!

  • Your Embarrassing Questions Part 3: Smells & Skin Woes

    Continuing our popular series with a subject EVERY human can relate to: Smells and Skin Woes. These bodies can be stinky and itchy and uncomfortable at times, but there are simple things that can bring relief!

     

     

  • Our Back to School Top 5’s

    Our Back to School Top 5’s

    Five Easy Lunches Ideas

    As a busy parent, school lunches can be one of the most frustrating things to manage for your kids.  

    • They don’t like school lunches.
    • A quick pitstop at a deli or fast food place on the way to school to grab lunch to go isn’t the healthiest option.
    • Packing lunches from home is overwhelming and time-consuming.

    Feels familiar, right? We’ve got some QUICK, EASY, and HEALTHY solutions for you. Basil to the rescue!

    When packing a lunch, consider it should have 4 elements:

    1. Protein, to keep them full
    2. Fruit or veggie, to keep them nourished
    3. A healthy carbohydrate, to keep them energized
    4. Something sweet, to keep them interested

    This alone can help you set food out and get an idea of what to pack.

    Here’s 5 of our favorite lunch ideas with links to easy recipes that you’ll want to use over and over!

    Hummus Platter:

    No recipe needed: Find your favorite hummus, add crunchy chips, and some veggies to dip and this one is good to go! Slip in a better-for-you treat to satisfy a sweet tooth at the end of their meal.

     

    Pizza Mini Quiches:

    These are made ahead of time and kept in the fridge. There are tons of recipes online- a quick google search will help you out! These will fill up bellies, satisfy cravings for pizza, and can be made with non-dairy cheese. The toppings are totally up to you. We kept it simple here with pepperoni.

    Spring Rolls:

    These are crunchy AND chewy at the same time. And, let’s face it, they look cool. Once you master HOW to make them, you’ll see how easy and flexible they are! Try shredded carrots, sprouts, finely sliced bell peppers…anything your kiddo will try! Roll them up into a spring roll and ta-da! Add a sauce for dipping, if you like!

    Quesadillas:

    Sure a nice, hot quesadilla is ideal, but they taste pretty good cold, as well. They are great for picky eaters and provide a nice savory balance to sweeter flavors. Add a crunchy veggie, some fruit and salsa for dipping.

    Leftover Makeover:

    Make a little extra at dinner and pack up the rest- hot OR cold for lunches the next day. It will stretch your food budget and make easy work of meal packing in the morning. Here’s some ideas we dig:

    7 Ways to Turn Leftovers into Lunch 

    Leftovers for Lunch

    Rework Leftovers for Easy School Lunches

     

    Five after School Snacks that will help kids Stay Focused

     

    #1: Organic Popcorn

    Crunch, crunch, crunch: engaging the senses keeps kids in focus. Working to chew food can keep a kids awake and alert. Easy-to-eat popcorn is a great option for this. It’s tasty, salty, and most people can’t resist it once they smell it and its placed in front of them. We LOVE Farmer Steve’s Popcorn, its not only ORGANIC, it’s super-duper local and makes a terrific snack.

    #2: Pumpkin Seeds

    Pumpkin seeds are nutrient rich and full of brain-loving Omega 3s and zinc. They also provide that crunch, as well as a boost of protein that will hold them over until dinner.

    #3 Go Raw Bar

    Chewy is similar to crunchy in that it pulls in the senses. Chewy can mean sticky or sugary, but not with these. Go Raw Chewy Apricot sprouted bars are JUST fruit with sprouted flaxseeds. Sprouted means MORE nutrition and easier digestion of the flaxseeds. You kids will love the chewy texture and the fruity flavor.

    #4 MadeGood Granola Minis

    These adorable little goodies are made in a dedicated facility free from the 8 common allergens: peanut, tree nuts, wheat, dairy, egg, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish, making them a safe bet for all kids. They are totally additive free and get a nutrition boost from sneaking in veggies (in powder form!). Organic, non-gmo…and did we mention these are SUPER tasty?

    #5 Fruit

    Fruit is sweet and cool and squishy. It’s also full of vitamins and water and fiber and is something kids will always reach for. Especially if you make it fun. Try skewers, or cut fruit into chunks that can be dipped into yogurt. Check out our produce specials and stock up on the seasonal favorites every week.

     

    Five Supplements that will Keep Kids Well this Year

     

    #1 Megafood Kids Daily Immune

    Add a dose of this to a glass of juice or smoothie. Megafood gets all their nutrients from food sources in their unique extraction process. This blend of citrus, Elderberries and Echinacea (and more) is as clean as you can get and delivers the most bang for your buck in keeping colds and flu away.

    #2 Wileys Finest Alaskan Fish Oil:

    Long chain Omega 3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and might even strengthen the immune system. Omega 3’s are SO important and difficult to get into our diets. This fish oil will also help with focus and it TASTES AWESOME!

    #3: Sambu Guard for Kids

    Elderberry syrup isn’t just for hippies anymore- it’s for everyone because it WORKS. It’s easy to take because it tastes good, and people are seeing results. We like this formula because its only sweetened with fruit juice and it combines elderberry with elderflower, echinacea and licorice extract.

    #4: Herbs for Kids: Nettles & Eyebright

    Allergies can wreck a students day. Coughing, sneezing, watering eyes… it’s uncomfortable. The side effects of prescriptions can be even worse than the symptoms you are trying to control. Nettles serve as a sort of natural anti-histamine. Eyebright is anti-inflammatory, especially to the mucous membranes. This herbal formula can be taken in a cup of tea or mixed in with a little honey.

    #5: Renew Life Ultimate Flora Kids Probiotic

    Gut health is SUPER important to immune health. We need good bacteria to go to battle for us from the inside out. Keeping kids on a solid probiotic is one way to make sure you have this part covered.