10 Easy Steps Toward Real Food Eating

For just over a year now I have been committed to cleaning up my family's diet which includes removing processed foods and preservatives. In it's place I have added organic fruits and vegetables, organic whole wheat bread, and every meal is made from scratch. The change has not always been easy, not from a taste or recipe point of view but rather from a personal learning curve perspective. I've done quite a bit of homework and scoured every inch of my resources to come up with the best tasting yet easy ways to makeover our daily diet.

So many of my friends now seek me as a resource when they are ready to change their own diets. Because of this I have compiled a list of 10 easy steps to take when first making the change to real food eating. These are all baby steps that will lead you well on your way to cleaner and healthier eating. You won't ever regret making this change!

1. Avoid the dirty dozen, instead purchase organic versions of these fruits and vegetables

2. Replace the 3 most used vegetables and fruits in your diet with organic

3. Stop buying processed snacks and crackers. Instead make your own healthier versions

4. Say bye-bye to white flour and hello to organic whole wheat flour

5. Stop buying store bread. Instead purchase a bread machine and make your own nutrient rich organic whole wheat bread.

6. No more breakfast cereal! Boxed breakfast cereals are void of nutrition yet packed with preservatives, sugars, and fillers. Replace this convenience food with organic oatmeal. In just a few more minutes you can have a nutrition packed hot breakfast on the table for your family.

7. Replace your spices with organic versions.

8. Make your own mixes and cut out a ton of preservatives. Chili mix, taco seasoning, ranch dressing and so much more can be made at home with clean organic spices for a fraction of the store bought options.

9. Say adios to non-stick cookware. This step doesn't have to be all at once. Gradually replace your non-stick cookware with stainless steel or cast iron.

10. Replace cooking oils with healthier versions. Olive oil and coconut oil are the two I use most in my kitchen.

Azure Standard is the primary way I feed my family real organic foods without breaking our food budget. Check to see if there is a drop location near you!

Our Daily Yeast Bread Recipe

I have been baking all of the bread for my family for a while now. It is so refreshing to not be dependent on store bought bread to help feed my family. Not only do I know what is in our bread but I can easily alter each loaf depending on the needs for that week. I have been adding a variety of fruits during the Christmas season for a special treat. I have also been able to keep many of the sugary treats out of my house this Holiday season because I baked bread for my friends and neighbors instead of cookies and candy.

Here is my fool proof everyday bread recipe:

2tsp yeast
.5 cup honey
1.5 cup warm water

Mix above ingredients and let stand until bubbly

3.5 cups whole wheat flour (sometimes I do all whole wheat and other times I substitute with 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour)
1 cup rolled oats
1.5 tsp sea salt
1.5T butter cut in 3 chunks
.5 cup vital wheat gluten
.25 cup ground flax meal

Mix dry ingredients.

If you will be using a bread machine add the wet and dry ingredients according to your machine's instructions. Typically the wet ingredients are added first and the dry ingredients are added next.

If you are making by hand, mix the above ingredients in a stand mixer until you get a nice dough ball. Cover and let rise 1.5 -2 hours. Pound dough on floured surface. Form into a loaf shape. Added to your favorite loaf pan and let rise again until the dough has doubled in size. Bake at 375 until the crust is golden.

Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

Did you know that January is National Bread Machine month? No? Me either. But to celebrate this wonderful month I thought it fitting to post a bread machine recipe that has been faithfully successful for quite a few months.

As with any bread making, measurements are key. Do not rush through making your bread, it will just end up flat and dense. The extra few minutes it takes to measure accurately will result is a beautiful and fluffy loaf of bread.

Everyday Whole Wheat Bread

2tsp yeast (not rapid rising)
1/2 cup honey
1.5 cup warm water

1.5T butter cut in chunks
1.5tsp sea salt
1 cup oats
2 cup whole wheat flour
1.5 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1.2 cup vital wheat gluten
1.5 cup flax meal

Mix the first 3 ingredients in a bowl and let sit until bubbly.

Mix the rest of the ingredients in a separate bowl.

Ad bubbly yeast mixture to your bread machine first (unless your machine directions specify otherwise). Gently pour dry ingredients on top of liquid. Bread machine settings: 2lb loaf, light crust, white bread cycle. Start, wait, then enjoy!

Yes I know this is whole wheat bread and bread machines have a whole wheat bake setting. I have tried that setting on my machine before and the loaf not only took longer to bake but the loaf was not as soft or fluffy as we like.

Enjoy National Bread Machine Baking month!!