Empowered Wellness

I work full time outside the home and I am always looking for quick and easy recipes, especially with my InstantPot! My friend at Cool Breeze Farm , where we buy our grass fed beef and pork, shared this recipe and I just had to try it, too! I had some with lunch and it is YUMmy! Enjoy!! I don't subscribe to any special "diets" but this is Paleo and Whole30 approved, if anyone needs to know. :) On our day "off" together I got my kids, 8 and 11, involved. They are not "helpless" in the kitchen although they are not eager beavers, either. After I gave them some simple directions they were willing to help out with the chopping! I made sure they had sharp knives and tasks that matched their abilities. (Eight-year-old chopped the celery.) We were finished so quickly doing it together! Ingredients 2 teaspoons avocado oil 1 lb grass fed ground beef or venison 1 small onion, chopped 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced 2 large celery stalks, sliced...

I've been using essential oils for several years now and have never made myself, at home, a truly "luxe" beauty serum. I've used frankincense + lavender before (these come in the popular starter kit), and I've added drops of frankincense to my existing moisturizer. I've also acquired a pre-made rose essential oils serum which is totally divine! If you have only ONE oil to choose from for a serum, use rose! I'm forty so of course beauty regimens take a greater priority these days. The easier the routine, the better! So, I did a little research in my essential oils reference guide and came up with this list of oils I have on hand that are very beneficial for helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and for brightening the skin. This is not an exhaustive list but gives you an excellent starting point. Also, don't worry if you don't have all of these on hand. Feel free to experiment on your own and make adjustments. Remember, if you want to keep it...

I made some delicious einkorn flour cookies for a holiday cookie exchange party that I had to share with you! Why Einkorn? Einkorn grain has grown alongside human civilization since ancient times. Untouched by hybridization, einkorn contains only 14 chromosomes—a huge difference from the 42 chromosomes contained in modern hybridized wheat. This superior ancient grain also contains less gluten than modern whole wheat and is more abundant in many vitamins and minerals. Many people with gluten sensitivities don't have the same symptoms when they switch to Einkorn flour products. Ingredients 1 cup Gary's True Grit Einkorn Flour by Young Living 1 tsp aluminum free baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon (organic) 1 stick of Kerrygold butter (softened) 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1.5 tsp vanilla extract (organic or homemade) 1 free-range egg (room temperature) 1/4-1/2 cup applesauce (organic) 5 drops Orange Vitality essent...

Elderberry syrup can help the immune system halt enzymes that spread viruses in our body's cells! It can even decrease the severity of symptoms. I use 1 tablespoon a few times a week for "maintenance" and daily, several times a day if I have a cold or flu. Our children use 1 teaspoon. I researched a few recipes and determined that you can't go too wrong; it's pretty hard to mess it up! ;) You can prepare it on the stove or in a pressure cooker. I used an InstantPot so feel free to modify your process as necessary. Ingredients 2/3 cup dried black elderberries (about 3 ounces) 3 1/2 cups of water 2 Tablespoons fresh or dried ginger root 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder 1/2 teaspoon cloves or clove powder Orange Vitality essential oil Thieves Vitality essential oil 1 cup raw honey (we get from our local bee farmer; leave out for children under age 1) Instructions Add elderberries, water, and all other ingredients except essential oils and honey...

Below is our favorite way to use up ripe bananas, farm-fresh milk, and farm-fresh eggs, too! It's a recipe I adapted from 100 Days of Real Food , and since adding in the einkorn wheat flour and vanilla protein powder, it's truly one of my favorite breakfasts we make! I feel full, satisfied, and not sluggish, all morning! Our family of four usually double the recipe and spend about 2-3 days eating the yummy pancakes for lunch or a snack. Or, you could freeze leftovers! Ingredients 2 cups flour (I use Gary's True Grit Einkorn Pancake & Waffle Mix™ ) 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 1-2 scoops Pure Protein Complete (Vanilla Spice)™ ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon honey 2 large eggs, lightly beaten (free-range, local eggs preferred) 4-6 drops Lemon Vitality™ essential oil 1 tablespoon chia or flax seeds 1 ¾ cups farm-fresh milk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted + butter or unrefined coconut oil for frying 2 ripe bana...