Main Dish: Fajitas

I get a sense of satisfaction when cooking entire meals from scratch. Not only is it healthier than buying the pre-made or overly processed versions at the store, it also provides an opportunity for Tim and I to do something together.  Tonight we decided on fajitas (black bean for me/chicken for Tim) complete with colorful sautéed veggies, pico de gallo, and homemade whole wheat tortillas.

Fajita Ingredients:

Garlic, finely chopped

Onions, sliced

Bell peppers, sliced

Zucchini (quarterd and sliced) 

Squash(quartered and cut)

Fresh squeezed lime juice

Pepper

In a large pan,  sautée garlic and onion in a small amount of olive oil. Add the remaining ingredients and cook until soft. 

* Tim grilled sliced chicken breast seasoned with spices and added it to his veggies.

Pico De Gallo:

Mix chopped tomatoes, onion, fresh squeezed lime juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper

Whole wheat Tortillas (makes 6)

This was our first time using this recipe(found on "100 days of real food") Fun to make but neither of us liked the finished product all that much.  

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup oil (I used olive)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup warm water

With a dough hook, Mix flour, oil, and salt until crumbly (about 2-3 minutes) with the mixer still on, slowly add water and mix until a soft dough forms (about 5 min). 

Using your hands, roll dough into a log and divide into 6 equal parts. Roll each part into a ball, press, and lay on a cookie sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let the dough rest for al least 15 min.

Sprinkle a little flour on the countertop or cutting board. Roll each tortilla with a rolling pin until they are 8-10 in. In diameter.(don't use too much additional flour or the tortilla will burn.) 

Cook tortillas in a pan on med/high heat 30-45 seconds per side. 

There you go...With a bit of planning, this is a healthy, easy, and delicious dinner to make! 

No Poo: It's probably not what you think, people!

Did you know that daily shampooing didn't become the norm until the 1970's? Early last week I finally made the decision to ditch my conventional shampoo and conditioner. It is something I have been contemplating for a few months but didn't have the courage to actually do. Honestly, when I first found out that there are people that never wash their hair my first thought was "Eww!", followed closely by a curious, "How does that work?".

Conventional shampoos contain chemicals that actually strip all of the natural oils from your hair. This causes your scalp to produce more oil to compensate for the damage caused by shampooing, leading to greasy looking hair and the need to wash it more often. The solution to overcoming this vicious cycle (and to have healthier hair!) is to stop washing it. Bottom line, I decided to lose the shampoo and make my own "No Poo" (I know, the name is unfortunate) using diluted baking soda and apple cider vinegar mixes.

The most common ratios I have found are:
(Cleanser)      1 Tbsp.. Baking soda /1 cup of water
(Conditioner) 1 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar/ 1 cup of water

Step 1-Dissolve the baking soda in water in a cup or spray bottle(I use a spray bottle).
In the shower: apply the baking soda mixture to your hair, focusing on the roots. Work it in to your scalp and through your hair using your fingers. It will not lather like shampoo, it doesn't have to lather to clean! Once you feel that your hair is smooth/slippery, rinse.

Step 2- Mix apple cider vinegar and water in a cup or spray bottle (I use a spray bottle).
In the shower: after you have thoroughly rinsed out the baking soda solution, spray the apple cider vinegar solution to your hair focusing on the ends. Leave this solution on your hair to condition it while you complete your shower routine,then rinse. Although you will smell vinegar when applying the mixture, your hair WILL NOT smell like vinegar once rinsed and dried! If the smell really bothers you, add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture.

That's it! Blow or air dry and syle as you normally would.

*With the No Poo method you should only wash 1-3 times a week (you can rinse with water in between washes) It also helps to use a boar bristle brush to distribute the natural oils throughout your hair. There will be a transition period while your scalp adjusts the amount of oil it produces.  Stick it out, it's a small price to pay for the many benefits of going No Poo!

In the week that I have gone without conventional shampoo my hair feels softer/thicker and looks shiner. I also use a tiny bit of coconut oil on the ends of my hair after it has dried for added conditioning.
    

Third day after a NoPoo washing (the worst part are my roots...time for a touch up)

I am thrilled with the results I have experienced with this method! 

Why Crunchy?

I love questions. Asking them, answering them, and the process it takes to come to an educated answer. Questions lead to learning and as an education major, I not only learn, but enjoy facilitating learning as well. 

Speaking of questions, it recently hit me that I never question the safety of the common products I purchase. If these everyday items are sold in all the places I shop, they must be safe, right? WRONG! Oh, so wrong. 

With every bit of information gleaned through internet resources, books, friends, and acquaintances,  I realized there is a whole other world out there! The natural, crunchy lifestyle of choosing environmentally friendly and healthy alternatives over processed and chemical infused products and "food".

This blog is going to document my transition to running a crunchy household! I'm positive there will be a lot of trial and error during this journey, and I invite you to learn alongside me. 

Ready, set, let's GO!

One small change each day, will make a BIG difference

-Heather