Healthy Mexican Beans and "Rice"

Lately, I've been thinking about politics ALL the time....I mean who can't?? It's always coming at us from all angles and for whatever reason it has yet to be good news.

But...I've been wondering why as Americans we are in this predicament as a country. Now before you think I'm going to list everything that has gone wrong, I definitely am not. I know there's plenty of things to trace our problems back to and that many of these things would have happened no matter what. One thing I feel though is that we've had a few generations of complacent people who decided to leave the business of running the country up to the government instead of where it should be: in the hands of the people. No matter what side someone is for they should never sit back and just let the government happen to them. Know why you support something and be involved because this is the country your leaving to the generations to come!

Now back to the food....how does politics tie in? It ties in, don't worry. If you've read any of my other blogs posts, you know I'm a huge advocate of healthy food, exercise, and using as many natural substances as possible. I believe in being in charge of your health. Unfortunately, I feel like most of Americans, just like with politics, over the past couple of generations have become lazy with their food and health. They just sit back and let the food industry happen to them assuming that if its on the grocery shelves it can't be all that bad for them. The sad thing is that processed food and unnatural ingredients wreak as much havoc on our bodies as not paying attention to politics has wreaked on our nation. Eating unhealthy and processed foods can have such an effect on our bodies that it can affect our joints, our ability to exercise, lose weight, stress levels, can cause depression and mood swings, muscle damage, and intestinal problems. I don't know about ya'll, but people are living longer due to all the ways to sustain life now. So if I'm going to get old, I want to be as healthy as I can until I die.

Oh right, back to the recipe. So here's a simple, fast recipe to add to your healthy recipe lists!

What you Need:
1 cup Quinoa
1 can refried beans
Salsa

Garnishes (optional):
Cheese
Avocado
Lettuce
Tomatos

What to Do:  This recipe is sooooo simple and that's why I love it soooo much!
 1. Cook 1 cup quinoa according to package directions
 2. Mix in salsa to taste (I use PACE medium...it gives the best flavor)
 3. Mix in 1 can refried beans (I use Rosaritas vegetarian beans)
 4. Stir until it reaches a nice consistency. Taste and add more salsa if necessary.
 5. Garnish with whatever you like to eat with your beans and rice

Why I love this Recipe:
1. It seriously almost makes itself
2. It has great flavor, when sometimes (if you're willing to admit it) quinoa can be pretty bland; that's why it has to be mixed with stuff!
3. If you're super savvy, you can make your own refried beans or use whole pinto beans or black beans. I don't eat enough refried beans to make it worth making mine from scratch and if you find the right kind of brand it won't have all that processed junk.
4. This taste great with fajitas...try it!

Garnished with Cheese!

Put into Fajitas!

Homemade Honey Lemon Body Scrub

Hmm....after I put the title, I decided that I am no longer going to put homemade in my titles because if you read it on my blog most likely it's GOING to be homemade!  This recipe was requested on my facebook right before Christmas and I am soooo sorry for taking so long to post it but things have been hectic around here. I finally decided to just take a break, put on the Backyardigans for my little monkey and get to blogging this recipe for everyone.

This recipe makes the most delicious smelling and feeling body scrub you can imagine. Plus it's all natural and pretty simple/ cheap to make.



My recipe made 2 pint size mason jars and 1 of the short, squatty mason jars. These make great gifts or just to keep for yourself!

Step 1: Decide what oil you want to use! I've used coconut oil and grapeseed oil. The great thing about coconut oil is that it is solid at room temperature which means it won't separate and require mixing every time you use it. Other oils work just as well, but you must mix your scrub first before using it because it will separate.

Step 2: Decide what you want to put in it. I used coconut oil, table sugar, kosher salt, honey, and lemon oil.

Step 3: Whatever you use just be sure to use a 1 part oil to 2 parts sugar/ salt ratio.

For my 3 jars I used:

1 cup coconut oil
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 kosher salt
3-5 drops lemon oil or to the scent you want
1 tbsp of honey or until you reach the scent you want (no more than 3!)

Depending on what you want your scrub to do for your skin, you can add-in or take out what you want.

Baking soda: great for break-outs/ shrinking pores
Honey: antibacterial for breakouts/ helps heal stretch marks and scars
Coconut oil: helps heal stretch marks/ scars
Other oils: avocado, olive, grapeseed, etc help your body replenish it's natural oils that get stripped off your skin during showers. The hotter your shower is the more oil gets stripped from your skin causing your skin to produce an excess of oil resulting in breakouts.
Eucalyptus  oil: anti-bacterial/ anti-fungal; also great for break-outs

Only use enough kosher salt as your skin can tolerate. Because kosher (sea salt works also) salt is larger pieces it is more abrasive and can easily scratch or tear skin.
 
Just be careful when you're mixing different ingredients to check the smell before and after each addition!

Next, if you're a dork like me, add cute labels and twine and gift to others!

Use 1 scoop in your hand at a time per body area! Enjoy!