Sauces

Chipotle Salsa

I’ll admit it, we have a crush on salsa over here. I have been making homemade salsa ever since the kids were young and we have always loved to put it on everything. We are a little obsessed! Which is why I have several recipes. This is another salsa I came up with that is so easy and versatile. This recipe is pretty flexible so its possible you’ll have all the makings in your pantry at any given time. I started making this salsa a few winters ago when I was craving tomatoes and realized that if you use a good quality canned tomato the salsa is still very delicious. Be CAREFUL what brand of tomatoes you buy because some of the canned variety taste like the actual can they come in. Also, if you want less heat you can use just one or two of the chipotles. Salsa is a great way to keep fresh flavors and veggies in your diet during the winter. Our bodies desperately need veggies and if you’ve made the change to eat more of them, you will keep craving them. I truly enjoy making homemade salsa, for me, it is another way in which I choose to put more good into my body and nurture my health. I hope you can be inspired by how easy this is and begin to make your own salsas at home!   Ingredients: 1 28 ounce can of San Marzano whole tomatoes in their juices. 1 can chipotles in adobo […]

Guacamole

I am a little bit obsessed with avocados! They are actually one of my favorite healthy fats to put in my diet. I even wrote a little blog post about healthy fats you can read about here. Avocados are packed with fiber, vitamin E and potassium. The fat helps you feel fuller longer and their creaminess tastes almost decadent. These are just a couple reasons why I eat them almost every week. One way I eat avocados is in guacamole. I like to make a salad and top it with my Carnitas or Shredded beef, this guacamole and my homemade salsa. Yum! I love making these types of toppings that are not only crowd pleasers but packed with nutrition. When guests come over they can enjoy what we make and I can keep eating the way I like to without sacrificing flavor! This recipe beats out jarred cheese dip any day of the week! Ingredients: 4 avocados 1 large tomato or 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, chopped 3 green onions finely chopped 1 handful of cilantro leaves, chopped 1 jalapeno (or any other pepper you would like) (optional) 1 tsp. sea salt ½ tsp. Of cumin ¼ tsp. Crushed dried chili de arbol (optional) Juice of 1 ½ limes Directions: 1. Using a potato masher, mash avocados in a medium bowl. 2. Add chopped tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, jalapeno, salt, cumin, and dried chilis. Mix together and taste to make sure the seasoning is to your tasting.   3. Squeeze […]

David’s Garlic Aioli

This aioli recipe is a great condiment choice because it is not only full of flavor but it is much better for you than store-bought mayonnaise. It is made with olive oil which is such a good source of healthy fat and really important for hormone balance as well. You can use aioli for so many things: a dressing for slaw, a little drizzle on a taco or to spice up a burger.  There are so many possibilities! Make sure to use high-quality organic extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil. I want my Olive Oil as fresh as possible so I purchase mine from a local store, Olive Oil Taproom because it is bottled for me upon purchase. Our friend, David, makes aioli and kindly shared this recipe with me! He is an artist in the kitchen and everything he makes has so much flavor! This mortar and pestle method requires patience but is so worth it! Enjoy!!   Ingredients: 4-6 garlic cloves, pinch of salt, pinch of smoked paprika, ½ tsp fresh lemon juice,  1 ½ C Spanish extra virgin olive oil   Directions: 1. Place garlic in a mortar with a pinch of salt and pinch of smoked paprika. Using the pestle, smash the garlic cloves to makes a smooth paste. (I alternately grind circularly as well as pound it with the pestle). 2. Add lemon juice to the garlic. 3. Then, drop by drop, add the olive oil as you continue to crush the “garlicky” paste. Keep turning the pestle […]

Lemon and Parsley Vinaigrette

  This dressing is a part of my Turmeric Bowl recipe but it is so versatile that it deserves its own post. Now that we are in the thick of spring its the perfect opportunity to use all your herbs! I have an abundance in my garden so this dressing is being made just about every week here. Its perfect for a salad with some protein and raw veggies.       Ingredients: 1 bunch of fresh parsley 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 tsp. Lemon zest 1 lemon, juiced 1 TBS. raw honey or to taste ⅓ cup olive oil ¼ tsp. Sea salt Freshly ground black pepper   Directions:  1. In a food processor, add parsley, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper. 2. While the food processor is running, add olive oil in a steady stream. 3. Once the parsley is all processed your dressing is done.  Taste to see if you need more honey or salt and pepper. 4. Store in a ball jar in the fridge for about a week, drizzle on any salad!!             © The Sown Life LLC, 2019    

Chili, Lime and Cilantro dressing

  This dressing is featured in my Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Bowl recipe but it deserves its own post because it is so delicious and versatile. Whenever I have leftover cilantro, which is the main ingredient here, I pulse it up in my blender and make another batch of this dressing. It really is good on just about anything.  Both this dressing and my lemon parsley vinaigrette are perfect for using up extra herbs!    Ingredients:  Zest of 3 limes Juice of 2 limes 1 TBS. brown rice vinegar 2 TBS. raw honey 1 ½ TBS. Bragg’s Amino Acids 3 TBS. avocado oil 1 jalapeno, seeded 1 handful cilantro Salt & pepper to taste   Directions:   1. Add all dressing ingredients into a small blender or food processor.   2. Pulse until desired consistency.  (I like my dressing pureed pretty well but you can leave it chunky if you like.) 3. Store in a ball jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.           © The Sown Life LLC, 2019

Kale and Toasted Pistachio Pesto

  Pesto is so delicious and I love making it so I challenged myself to try a vegan version and I have to say, I think it is the best I have made so far.  I removed all dairy by using nutritional yeast in place of the parmesan and also increased the nutritional value by adding Kale. I also added some toasted pistachios instead of pine nuts and wow!!!  What a difference it made. This pesto is so creamy and full of flavor that you are not missing a thing. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. You can use pesto for so many things, I enjoyed it mixed with some brown rice pasta and a few tomatoes for an energizing meal!     Ingredients:  4 C chopped kale 1 C fresh basil 2 garlic cloves ½ C roasted and salted pistachios ½ C nutritional yeast Juice of 1 ½ lemons Zest of 1 lemon ½ C of olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Brown rice pasta cooked according to box *check the box and make certain it is gluten-free if you are gluten intolerant.     Directions:  1. In a food processor, add kale, basil, garlic, pistachios, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, zest, and salt and pepper.     2. While processor is on the low speed, add in olive oil in a slow and steady stream until pesto comes together.  If you want a looser consistency you can add some additional olive oil or water […]