Thursday, June 17, 2010

Wildtree and Kid-Friendly Favorites


Whoever said "summer time and the living's easy" didn't have four children. It gets NUTS around here when school is out. Everyone is home and sometimes they bring a couple of friends with them - they are all playing harder, staying up later, and having a bigger appetite. Maybe it's the swimming. But these are the days I am glad I have quick, easy and healthy in my pantry!

Preparing and storing in the fridge just a few Wildtree blends ahead of time will help you and your kids whip up quick, delicious meals or snacks in a moment's notice. Take a look at these time-savers below.


LIGHT AND QUICK SNACKS: Keep in the fridge 4oz. of cream cheese + ½ cup of powdered sugar + 2 tsp. of any cheesecake blend (flavor is best after a minimum of 2 hours.) Pull out for dip with graham cracker sticks, vanilla wafers, or with fruit. Or spread on rice cakes and top with any fruit.

PASTA: Convert your Ramen Noodle eater into an Alfredo lover. Have boiled pasta in fridge for a quick mix with the Alfredo Sauce. Also great for stirring in at a moment's notice: Basil Pesto Blend with a toss of grated parmesan, Kidz Cheese, Hearty Spaghetti, Italian Dressing (with a little celery, onion and grape tomatoes.) Also pasta is a quick meal with ANY of the grapeseed oils - TONS of flavor with just a quick shake and you can add meat or veggies as desired.

POPCORN: Microwave Popcorn takes on new life sprinkled with Kids Cheez (dry - not mixed!) Also awesome with the Jalapeno Pepper Blend.

VEGGIES: Store some Dill Blend with a little mayonaise and sour cream in the fridge for dipping carrot and celery sticks. Also makes a wonderful spread for any sandwich.

QUICK MEATS: Cheeseburger Bites with the Meatloaf Mix. Mix as directed, then take a small cube of cheese and role the meatloaf mix around the cheese cube (like a meatball) and cook. This will be a favorite with the kids.

Sloppy Joes pre-made and stored in the fridge is a great quick-grab sandwich and Wildtree's has no MALTODEXTRIN in it. PLUS it just tastes better than the grocer's brand. Or let them pile nacho chips on a plate, load it with the Sloppy Joe mix, a little greens from Salad in a Bag topped with salsa and sour cream and your kids have a self made taco salad! Or dollop it in a tortilla wrap, top with some cheese, nuke it for a minute, roll it up and eat!

EASY PIZZA: Everyone can make their own pizza - you don't even have to go to the trouble of using Wildtree's Quick Easy Pizza Dough or Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (although they really are no trouble at all to use....) Just grab a tortilla wrap or an english muffin or bagel, toast quickly for a crisp bottom, coat with pre-made Hearty Spaghetti Sauce you have stored in the fridge and add cheese and toppings galore as your heart desires.

HEALTHIER FAST FOOD: Have someone with a hankering for Bojangle's fries? Throw frozen ones in the oven and shake on Wildtree's Cajun Blend.

Make anything you could get from Taco Bell, better for you and faster than the drive over. Store some chicken or beef seasoned with Fajita Blend or Taco Seasoning, have chips and taco shells on hand and all the toppings - can even make salsa quickly with Fiesta Salsa AND your own guacamole in minutes with the Guacamole Blend! It truly is that easy! Yo queiro Wildtree!

PROTEIN HIT: Any nuts in the pantry taste better with a shake of Spicy Dry Rub or Cranberry Spice Blend. The Cranberry Spice Blend is also one of those that is wonderful mixed with cream cheese and stored for a quick graham or wafer dipping snack time.

CHICKEN SALAD IN A SNAP: The easiest chicken salad I have made in a while was simply a breast or two of cooked chicken (seasoned however you like) torn and mixed with a little mayonaise, pickle relish, chopped onion and Curry Garlic Blend. Incredible - and start to finish took minutes. Great with crackers or as a wrap if a sandwich is too much on these hot days.

Happy Cooking - Happy Summer!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Summer Menu Planner

No one likes to slave over a hot stove when it's 90 degrees outside, so here it is - the highly asked for easy summer cooking two week meal planner. These light meals will save you time in the kitchen, but won't skimp on taste. Mix it up with Wildtree's current Two Week Planner and you have a whole month of meals planned out for you. Now. What will you do with all that free time?!

Happy Cooking!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Side Benefits - Not Side Effects!!


Most of you already know what Wildtree products DO NOT contain - no MSG, no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial dyes or flavors, no preservatives or additives, no genetically modified organisms, no hydrogenated fats, no irradiated ingredients, no artificial sweeteners - (should I stop??)

But do you know about the many wonderful nutrients Wildtree products DO contain? Powerful antioxidants, herbs and spices with known anti-cancer properties, healthy sweeteners! Spices that are recognized as infection fighters, oils that contribute to a healthy heart and weak acids such as lemon and lime extract that help alkalize the system!

Did you know that every time you whip up a Wildtree dish that contains curry that you are not only serving something that tastes great but that it also has anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties? And just recently it was discovered that if a person eats curry once or twice a week, it may help prevent the onset of Alzehimers disease and dementia.

Take a look at some of the other health providing nutrients found in many Wildtree products:

Garlic is an antibacterial herb which has medicinal properties against microbes, bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. It is also healthy for the respiratory tract.

Cilantro is rich in Vitamin C and also has anti-bacterial properties.

Cinnamon is well-known for blood sugar control, it boosts brain function, prevents unwanted clumping of blood platelets and enhances digestion.

Rosemary contains nutrients which minimize free radical damage in the brain, fight bacteria and act as a decongestant.

Onion & Chives
ward off colds, coughs, asthma and breathing problems. They associated with reducing the risk of stomach cancer, helping to ward off strokes and reduce cholesterol and triglycerides.

Cayenne Pepper / Hot Chili Peppers / JalapeƱo Peppers improve circulation, stop bleeding from ulcers, are good for the heart, the kidneys, the lungs, pancreas, spleen and stomach. Ward off colds, sinus infections and sore throats.

Clove has antiseptic and anti-parasitic properties. Also aids in digestion.

Blueberries are packed with antioxidant phytonutrients that neutralize free radical damage to the collagen of the cells and tissues.

Ginger cleanses the colon, stimulates circulation, and is a strong antioxidant and enhances digestion.

Ground Mustard Seeds
improve digestion and aid in the metabolism of fat.

Thyme has strong antiseptic properties, lowers cholesterol, reduces fever and headache.

Dill enhances digestion, gives relief from insomnia, hiccups, diarrhea and respiratory disorders

Information provided by Donna Hetrick, Wildtree Team Leader/Certified Clinical Nutritionist

Make Mine with a Side of Easy


You know, I really enjoy cooking, it's the planning of WHAT to cook that I don't enjoy. And if I haven't thought dinner through early enough in the day, I get started, then realize I don't have sour cream, or I forgot to pull the chicken out of the freezer or lo and behold, no tomato sauce....

So, I have really enjoyed Wildtree's Two Week Menu Planner because it takes the dreaded "what's for dinner" aspect out of my day.

Many of you have asked for a full month's worth of meal planning instead of the two weeks Wildtree provides with the family bundle buy. I am putting together two weeks of light, spring/summer recipes and will post them very soon. Once completed, you will have four weeks of meals you can rotate as you please. How's that for easy, stress-free cooking?!

And for those of you who are not quite ready to make the $80 investment in herbs to use the planners verbatim, fear not. You can still plan and shop for your meals with them, just adjust the ingredients to accommodate your own oils and spices. I will keep you posted on any specials that come up with the bundle blends, and of course if you want to get them FREE, invite me over for dinner with your friends! :P