DIY: Refrigerator Sweet Pickled Beets

Hello everyone! At work, a few months ago, I tried sweet pickled beets for the first time and fell in love! Although I didn't want to pay the price at the store for pre-pickled beets when its MUCH cheaper to just make them yourself! Plus it feels more gratifying to eat them knowing you did all the work and the flavor tastes better since its specialized to what you like best.

Items Needed:
A pot to boil beets
A pot to make the brine
Cutting board & knife
1-2 Beets
1 Cup Vinegar
1/4 Cup sugar
1 Tbsp Cloves (ground)

Optional Items to add:
2-3 bay leaves
1-2 cloves of garlic
1/3 Cup of shallots
1 Tbsp cinnamon
Gloves (for when cutting the beet, beet juice will stain your hands)

NOTE: These measurements of ingredients are for 1-2 beets, if you are doing anymore than that please adjust the measurement accordingly

Directions:
1) Peel your beet and cut it (I cut mine into bite size bits, but you can go larger depending on the size of your jar)
2) Boil your beet until soft

3) Once beets are boiled toss them in your chosen jar until the brine is finished

4) Make the brine - combine vinegar, sugar, cloves, and other optional items that you think you would enjoy. Heat at a little lower than medium heat until the sugar is melted and the smell of vinegar is quite pungent. 

5) Pour brine over beets and seal jar

6) Let sit until cool enough to put in the refrigerator

7) Wait AT LEAST a week before enjoying your sweet pickled beets. Waiting longer does intensify the flavor. 

Note: If your using a canning jar, like the one shown above, the heat from the brine should cause the jar to seal once its been refrigerated.

Congratulations! With a little bit of a wait you can soon enjoy your sweet pickled beets! Theyre great to add to a salad or just to eat on their own! 

Hearty Harvest Soup

Hello everyone! With the leaves changing and the weather getting colder for fall I'm getting excited for squashes, tomatoes, and apple cider. A bit of a mixture of all, Hearty Harvest Soup is a simple vegetarian meal that is sure to please the stomach.

Ingredients/Items:

1 acorn squash (Or 1 butternut squash)

2 honey crisp apples

3 tomatoes

slow cooker

blender

1 can veggie or chicken stock

1/4 of a stick of non-salted butter 

microwave

This recipe serves 3-4

Directions:

1. Cut squash in half and gut out the inside goop, then microwave for six minutes in a bowl with 5 tbsp of water with the insides facing down

Tip: Keep the seeds to roast and eat as a snack

2. Peel the squash and apples, cut into approx 1 x 1 inch cubes, add to slow cooker. Remove stem from tomato (if any), cut into four slices and add to slow cooker. Add veggie or chicken stock and butter.

3. Slow cook for approx. 3 hours or until very mushy

4. Blend until creamy and serve

Tip: Goes great with grilled cheese sandwiches!

Simple ingredients for a flavor-fully delicious meal that you'll feel happy to eat

Homemade Creamy Potato Salad

Its June! Which means picnics on the beach, bonfires, and late night parties. What better way to be prepared then with delicious potato salad!

Homemade Creamy Potato Salad

Ingredients:

(This is enough for 4 people)

6 medium sized golden potatoes

2 tablespoons bacon bits

1 tablespoon oregano

6-7 tablespoons mayonnaise

1/4 cup of shredded cheese

A pot

Water

Potato masher or whisk

Directions:

1. Peel potatoes, cut up into 1" by 1" squares and let boil for an hour, strain

2. Once the potatoes are slightly cooled, but still warm, mash them until creamy

3. Once the potatoes are creamy, add mayo, oregano, bacon, and cheese

4. Mix until cheese is melted

Congratulations! Now you have delicious potato salad to enjoy with your friends this summer, or to just eat at work!

Strawberry Pineapple Water

March was a heavy month for toxins - Mardi Gras, Oscar Night parties, St. Patrick's Day, and daylights savings time have all thrown me out-of-whack. So for April here are a few wellness activities to do everyday to keep your body in proper order. Plus a delicious recipe for Strawberry Pineapple Water!

Strawberry Pineapple Water

Ingredients:

Two Strawberries

1/2 cup cubed or sliced Pineapple

2-3 sprigs of Rosemary

Water

Ice

A glass/cup

A fork

A knife

A cutting board

Directions:

1. In a glass add pineapple and rosemary (in the image above I have mashed pineapple, which I found was very annoying to drink - therefore I recommend keeping the pineapple in chunks. I found the same problem happened with diced rosemary therefore I would recommend using fresh rosemary sprigs as well)

2. On a cutting board slice the strawberries in half

3. Add strawberries, ice, and water. (Add ice on top of fruit, this will keep it at the bottom so it doesn't get in your way when drinking)

(Optional: To add a boost of detoxifying power try adding 1 tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar to the mix!)