Busy Moms Helper

Family fun, food, recipes, crafts, and free printables

Homemade Avocado-Based Mayo You’ll Fall in Love With

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Can we all agree that mayo is great? It’s perfect as a spread, in many different recipes, and as a tasty addition to a sandwich. Mayo is also dirt cheap right now and thanks to its versatility, it’s the favorite food of millions. There’s one problem with it, though – the mayo sold in stores is just about the unhealthiest thing you can eat.

Store-bought mayo is very processed and therefore not really healthy. The good news is that you can prepare your own mayo with a twist at home without the unnecessary calories and processed compounds.

Homemade Avocado-Based Mayo You’ll Fall in Love With

What Health Problems Can Store-Bought May Cause?

Studies have found that most mayo brands contain vinegar, egg yolks, whole eggs, soybean oil, and a lot of sugar. Most of these ingredients, especially soybean oil, have been branded GMO and we all know how much damage GMO can do to your health.

A teaspoon of this type of mayo has 90 calories. Add 2 to your sandwich and you have nearly 200 extra calories. That’s a lot. Store-bought mayonnaise has been associated with weight gain and obesity, not to mention heart disease and similar problems. It’s just bad.

So why buy it when you can make your own healthy dose of mayo at home? It tastes just like the real thing, but this time, its based on avocado. Yes, it may sound yuck, but trust us – it’s the mayo you need.

Ingredients

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 cup avocado or olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Salt and a bit of pepper

Preparation

What’s important for this recipe is that the ingredients should be kept at room temp before you mix them. Use a processor to beat the egg yolks, then add the water and a bit of salt and pepper. Pour the oil slowly in then add the lemon juice in when the mixture is nice and thick.

That’s it – your homemade mayo is now prepared. Make sure not to make big batches of it due to risk of salmonella. Keep it in your fridge and eat it in a few days if possible. This one doesn’t have that many calories and won’t make you gain weight. As a matter of fact, avocados are the perfect opposite of store-bought mayo.

The Best Dairy-Free Coconut Ice Cream You’ll Ever Try

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You love ice-cream, we love ice-cream, everyone loves ice-cream. That’s a fact. The most popular dessert comes in many shapes and sizes including standard ones like chocolate and some rare variants such as coconut ice-cream. Doesn’t sound too appealing? Wait until you try our recipe.

Dairy-free desserts aren’t something many people are willing to try, but that’s just because they haven’t found the right recipe. These things are great if you know how to prepare them. Such a coconut ice-cream is a perfect dessert thanks to the rich saturated fat content. It’s great for vegans as well, so why not try it?

The Best Dairy-Free Coconut Ice Cream You’ll Ever Try

Dairy-Free Coconut Ice-Cream

Ingredients

  • 3 cans coconut milk
  • ¾ cup coconut sugar (maple syrup and honey are good alternatives)
  • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin

Preparation

Mix a can of coconut milk and sugar in a large saucepan, then cook the mix on medium heat for 10 minutes while stirring. It should reduce by half. Let the mix cool down completely. In the meantime, scoop the coconut out of the remaining cans of coconut milk and put it in a bowl. Use a mixer to whip it for several minutes – you’ll want a fluffy and light texture. Let the whipped coconut milk in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.

In another bowl, mix the gelatin with 2 tablespoons of the condensed coconut milk. Let the gelatin melt on steam after, then mix this with the condensed milk from before and the whipped cream from the fridge.

Transfer the mixture into an ice-cream container and leave it in the freeze for 6 hours. You can add some vanilla, matcha powder or coconut extract to sweeten things up. Bon appetite!

Healthiest Snacks You Can Eat

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Everyone knows that the three main meals are highly important in our diet, but what about snacks? You should have 3 hearty meals starting with your breakfast. We’re not just talking about calories – these meals should be nutritious and cover your daily vitamins/minerals needs. However, a proper diet isn’t focused on main courses only – it involves a lot of snacks.

Are There Healthy Snacks?

When we talk about snacks, we’re not talking about chips or flips. You should stay as far away from this junk food as possible. There are, however, many healthy snacks you can nibble on all day long to keep your energy levels up. Snacks will also fight off hunger until the next meal so you won’t be tempted to reach for chips.

Of course, just like the three meals, snacks should be nutritious and healthy. And, although many believe there are no such snacks, we’ll provide a few below you can have every day.

Vegetables

Broccoli, baby carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, peas, carrot sticks, and peppers are just some snacks you can eat as much as you want. They can be easily prepared and can be consumed fresh or baked. Just try salty baked carrot sticks and you’ll see how great they are.

Popcorn

Craving something to nibble on? Popcorn is the ideal snack. Low in calories and fat, popcorn is almost an ideal snack, especially for those trying to lose weight. Always keep a bag of popcorn in your kitchen. Whenever you crave a salty snack, make some and enjoy. Remember – microwave popcorn is nothing like the real thing.

Dry Fruit

You can find dry (dehydrated) fruit almost anywhere today. Cranberries, apricots, apples, raisins, pineapples, and papaya are all on offer with no added sugar and great taste. Eat as much of these as you want or get a dehydrator and make your own at home.

Trail Mix

Trail mixes have grown very popular these days and can be easily prepared. Simply mix some sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, and some dry fruits and put them in a sealed bag. They taste great, will keep your energy up, and won’t make you gain weight.

A Simple to Make Lavender Lemonade That Can Lower Your Stress Levels

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Stress is everywhere around us these days. We’re under stress at work, we’re under stress at home – it seems like there’s no escaping it. Called the silent killer, stress can lead to a variety of health problems. From digestion disorders to serious health troubles, it’s vital to stay away from stress as much as you can. That, however, is easier said than done.

In order to relieve stress, some people smoke, others drink, while many turn to meds. Those are obviously the wrong solutions – they never get to the root of the problem. The good news is that there is a natural remedy that can reduce stress – essential oils.

How Do Essential Oils Help Against Stress?

Many studies have shown that essential oils have a positive effect on numerous health problems. The list includes stress as well. Lavender oil has been known for its antibacterial effects, but according to a recent study, it can also relieve stress better than any drugs. Lavender-based aromatherapy has shown it can do wonders for many people and can also help with anxiety.

Here are some of the positive benefits of this amazing oil:

  • May reduce pain
  • Showed promising results against anxiety and depression
  • Improves mood
  • Can help relieve inflammation
  • Relieves high blood pressure

Lavender also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antifungal properties which make it a godsend against numerous health problems.

Here’s how to prepare a powerful remedy that can lower your stress levels and refresh your system:

Ingredients

  • 12 cups water
  • 1 drop lavender oil
    6 lemons
  • 1 cup honey
  • Lavender sprigs (as garnish)

Preparation

Peel the lemons and juice them, then add them to the water with lavender. Adjust the taste of the drink to your preferences and enjoy.

Florida Key Lime Light Pound Cake You Simply Must Try

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If you ever go to Florida, you can’t go back without a piece of key lime pie. It’s a popular treat among locals and needless to say, it’s tastes great. There’s even a key lime pie festival held in the state each year – that’s how big the dessert is in sunny Florida.

There are many fillings and toppings and different ways to prepare the treat. Some say it should be cooked, others say it should be fresh. There’s even a light key lime pound cake you can try if you’re health conscious and trying to lose weight.

Florida Key Lime Light Pound Cake You Simply Must Try

Light Key Lime Pound Cake

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup key lime juice
  • ¼ cup coconut flour
  • 3 ½ cups almond flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ cup butter
  • ¾ cup stevia
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 teaspoons key lime zest
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ a teaspoon of salt

Preparation

Mix the baking powder with salt and both flours. Whip the butter with stevia, then beat the eggs nicely. Half of the almond flour mixture goes in next. Mix the lime juice and zest with the almond milk, then add in the remaining almond flour mix.

Grease a 9×5 pan and pour the mixture on it. Leave it like that for 45 minutes. Bake it afterwards at 325F for 60 minutes covered with foil. Once the edges are golden brown and the top is firm, your cake is ready. Let it cool down completely.

Next comes the blaze. Here’s how to prepare it:

Ingredients

  • 2-3 teaspoons key lime juice
  • 3 tablespoons Stevia

Preparation

Just whisk both ingredients and drizzle the mix onto the cake. Remember – the cake must be fully cooled before the glaze comes on.

You’ll Love This Roaster Brussels Sprouts Dish

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Do you know what Brussels sprouts are? No, it’s not a Belgian dessert. A cruciferous veggie that looks like a tiny cabbage, Brussels sprouts are full of essential nutrients and extremely low on calories.

They contain fiber, carbs, protein, vitamins A, C, and K, folate, manganese, etc. The list goes on and on. In fact, Brussels sprouts are among the healthiest cruciferous veggies you can eat and they’re quite cheap as well.

The taste might not be for everyone, but if you know how to prepare them right, you’ll definitely make them a part of your diet. Well, we have a recipe for caramelized Brussels sprouts you should try. It’s the most delicious recipe with this veggie and one you’ll fall in love with.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 4-6 tablespoons olive oil (extra-virgin)
  • Salt and pepper

Preparation

Preheat the oven at 400 degrees, then trim the Brussels sprouts at the bottom and cut them in half. Place them in the pan cut side down, then season them and add the garlic in as well. Cook until they brown, then roast on high heat while shaking the pan.

It’ll take 10-20 minutes before they’re done. In the end, serve them with sprinkled balsamic vinegar on top and enjoy!

A Glass of Warm Water with Lemon in the Morning Can Do Great Things

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If you ask anyone if they drink their water hot or cold, the answer would undoubtedly be cold. Cold water is refreshing especially in the summer and tastes so much better than a glass of hot water. However, according to many experts, warm water has much better benefits for our health.

Why Drink Warm Water?

According to recent studies, cold water has a number of negative effects on our health. It can solidify and thicken the mucus in our lungs and can also impair our digestion. This is why more and more people are joining the warm water team, something people in China and India have been doing for a long time.

Drinking warm water in the morning with a bit of lemon is a custom in Asian countries. It can enhance your digestion and literally jumpstart your immune system, helping you come out a winner in the fight against various diseases and conditions. As much as warm water is beneficial, a slice of lemon or fresh lemon juice in it boosts its properties even further, making the drink truly extraordinary.

Here are a few benefits of drinking warm water with lemon every morning:

Boosts Digestion

A glass of warm water with lemon in the morning will improve your digestion and improve the blood circulation in your stomach. The lemon will detoxify and optimize your liver essentially boosting your digestion even further.

Hydrates Your Body

The human body absorbs warm water easier and it’s even better when you infuse the drink with lemon. It will hydrate your body better than anything else. Proper hydration is very important and can prevent a variety of problems.

Promotes Weight Loss

Drinking plenty of water is vital if you want to lose weight. Lemons are a great weight loss-booster as well and will accelerate your metabolism on the double. When combined, a glass of warm water with lemon juice can do wondrous things for your health.

As you can see, a glass of warm water with lemon in the morning can have amazing benefits for your health. Start drinking it today and you will start seeing the effects pretty soon.

Amazing Uses of Coconut Oil

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You’ve read and most likely heard the news – coconut oil is a true miracle worker for our health and appearance. The oil has amazing benefits and has been used since the dawn of time to create pitch-perfect natural remedies. From improving the appearance of our skin to boosting our immunity, the oil can do wonders for our health.

Let’s see what makes coconut oil so powerful.

Coconut Oil Health Benefits

The oil is composed of highly important compounds.

  • Caprylic acid
  • Capric acid
  • Lauric acid

Rare substances that can only be found in this oil, the combination of these three acids is the reason why coconut oil works like a charm. Even better, it’s highly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Rubbing it on your skin can help treat numerous conditions while consuming coconut oil will oil-up your system and help fight diseases.

Here are some of the amazing benefits this wondrous oil offers:

Health Uses

Relieves Pain

Coconut oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Consuming it regularly can lower inflammation and drastically reduce any type of pain.

Great for Your Thyroid

Did you know that the oil is great for your thyroid gland? Thanks to the presence of healthy fats, it can boost the function of your thyroid and keep it running at an optimal level.

Improves Bone Health

Consume the oil every day and it’ll boost your bone and joint health like nothing else.

Beauty Benefits

Eliminates Dandruff

Apply some of the oil on the roots of your hair to get rid of dandruff once and for all.

Great Against Dermatitis

Rub coconut oil on your skin to treat atopic dermatitis and treat your dry and itchy skin.

Natural Lip Balm

Do your lips crack in the winter? Just rub a bit of coconut oil – it works much better than any lip balm.

Cooking

Better Than Any Cooking Oil

Use coconut oil for cooking to improve the taste of any dish and give it a healthier touch.

Great Homemade Mayo

Use coconut oil as the base for homemade mayo. It’s lighter, tastes even better, and most importantly, it won’t raise your cholesterol levels.

Add It to Smoothies

Want to give your smoothies an edge? Just add some coconut oil – it will improve their taste and their benefits as well.

The Absolute Best Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

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It’s safe to say that everyone loves chicken noodle soup. It’s tasty, great when you’re down with the flu, and highly nutritious. Homemade chicken noodle soup is full of vitamins and minerals that can jumpstart your whole body and give any disease a run for its money. The same, however, cannot be said about store-bought chicken soup – it’s best to stay away from it.

Even if you are a beginner, the soup is extremely easy to prepare. The only problem is that there are too many recipes and each one claims it’s the ‘ultimate’. Well, worry no more. We have the absolute best chicken noodle soup recipe that ‘hides’ a few secret ingredients that make it all the better.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 10 cups chicken broth
  • 3 cups egg noodles
  • 1 garlic clove (minced)
  • 4 celery ribs
  • 1 onion (chopped)
  • A bit of fresh thyme
  • A bit of fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Season the chicken thighs with pepper and salt, then cook it in a pot with canola oil for about 3-4 minutes per side. Save a few tablespoons from the drippings if you want for future soups.

Next, chop the onions if you haven’t already and cook for around 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir well, then add the broth and bring everything to a boil. This is the base for the soup. Add any other veggies you have (or like to add) and the cooked chicken, then simmer on low heat for 20-30 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the pot after about half an hour, add noodles, and cook for 20 more minutes. Shred the meat and throw the bones away, then add parsley and thyme to it. Put it back in the top, add the bay leaves, check the seasoning and that’s it. Save some of the veggie scraps for a delicious pot of chicken noodle soup next time. Bon appetite!

Source: www.healthyfoodhouse.com

Enjoy a Three-Veggie Soup That Will Heal Your Gut

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Do you love soups as much as we do? If you do, you’re in for a treat. We have a simple gut-healing soup with the Holy Trio of vegetables for you that will boost your health like nothing else.

Many experts claim that our health begins in the gut. If you have a healthy gut, you can expect great overall health as well. Our digestive system is much more important than we think. It doesn’t just digest foods – it controls various other bodily functions. We rarely treat the gut as we should, forgetting all about the importance of veggies. Luckily, this soup will fix that and keep your gut in optimal shape. With it, it will also improve your overall health.

The soup won’t take much of your time to prepare – it’s easy even if you’re not a kitchen maestro. Just follow the instructions below and your gut will thank you.

Homemade Garlic-Asparagus-Broccoli Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons tarragon
  • ½ cup broccoli florets
  • ½ cup onion (chopped)
  • ½ lb. asparagus (chopped)
  • 6 cups bone broth
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • ¼ cup coconut cream
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation

Start by sautéing the onions for a few minutes, then sear the asparagus and broccoli. They should be done when golden. Add the garlic and deglaze everything with the broth. Let the mix boil, turn the heat on low and simmer the soup until the vegetables are soft and tender. Add the spices after around 20 minutes, then puree the soup to perfection.

Before serving, whip up the lemon juice and coconut cream, then serve with the soup. Bon appetite!

Simple Curly Zucchini Fries with Baked Parmesan You Will Fall in Love With

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Everyone loves French fries. They taste sooooo good and are among the easiest meals you can prepare. The crunchy and salty flavor goes excellent with burgers, but you can also eat them on their own. There’s only one problem with fries – the deep-fried version isn’t actually very healthy.

Sure, you can have them once in a while, but eating fries often isn’t great for your health. The good news is that there is a healthier version of fries based on zucchinis.

When compared to potatoes, zucchinis are much healthier. They’re loaded on vitamins and minerals and are pretty low in calories as well. Fried zucchinis are just as crunchy as fried potatoes, but when you compare both, zucchinis are a superfood.

As it turns out, you can use this superfood to create a healthy version of fries that taste just as good but don’t have the calories.

Zucchini Nutritional Profile

Zucchinis are full of essential vitamins and minerals. An average zucchini (medium-sized) has only 31 calories. It contains a low amount of carbs and its nutritional profile contains fat, fiber, protein, vitamins B and C, folate, riboflavin, potassium, and so on. Zucchinis are the perfect weight loss food and they’re also a great base for fries.

Check out how to make them:

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. spiralized zucchinis
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • Avocado oil cooking spray
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing
  • ¼ cup marinara sauce
  • ¾ oz. grated Parmesan
  • Salt, pepper, and oregano to taste

Instructions

Before you start preparing the zucchini curly fries, line two baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat the oven at 425 F. Coat them with the avocado cooking spray.

Once you’ve chopped the zucchini noodles into 5-6 inch pieces, dredge them in cornstarch first, beaten egg (with oregano and pepper) whites second, and panko crumbs in the end. Bake the fries for just over 10 minutes, then season with salt. Mix the marinara sauce with the ranch dressing and serve them with the fries. Bon appetite!

Meet the Pineberry – a Strawberry with a Hint of Pineapple

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We all love strawberries. The red fruit simply tastes delicious – it’s sweet and fresh and goes great in many dessert recipes. There’s another fruit we all love as well. Pineapples have a unique taste that’s sweet and also a bit of sour that would complement strawberries. What if there’s a fruit that combines both in a unique package. An actual fruit, not a smoothie or a drink. Well, that kind of fruit exists and is known as a pineberry.

Pineberries are practically white strawberries that taste like pineapple. Highly nutritious and full of folic acid, they’re great for moms-to-be as the acid can prevent a variety of birth defects. Additionally, the unique fruit dazzles with high levels of vitamins A and C that can help against a long list of health problems.

Where Did They Come From?

The hybrid fruit has a long history. It originated back in the 1750s in South America as a cross-hybrid between red and white strawberries. Called a natural albino fruit, these strawberries are quite rare. They found their way to the US market a decade ago, but ever since then, they’ve found a large base of fans.

Very easy to grow, white strawberries have a shelf life of only a few days. They should be consumed right after you buy them if you want the best taste. The good news is that you can easily grow them at home. You need a soil with a pH value of 5.5-6.5, 8-10 hours of sunlight per day and watering before the soil runs dry. Weed the plant regularly and you’ll have a fresh batch of these unique strawberries once a year.

You can enjoy them on their own or try this recipe that will bring out their sweet and sour mix of taste.

Pineberry Salad with Spinach and Goat Cheese

Ingredients

  • 16 pineberries
  • 12 walnuts
  • 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves
  • 4 oz. soft goat cheese

Dressing

  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons walnut oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Wash the pineberries and spinach and put them in a bowl. Cut the goat cheese in pieces and top the ingredients, then add the dressing on top. Bon apetit!