Kitchen Tip: Grow your own herbs

No matter what dish you are cooking up for your family, nothing can make it extra delish like fresh herbs. Whether you want to add a pinch of minced rosemary to your pasta sauce or some cilantro to your salsa, herbs add that fresh touch that really takes it up to the next level. Dried herbs work fine in a pinch, but the brightness of fresh herbs like cilantro, thyme or mint can really not be matched. 

Sometimes herbs from the grocery store can be really overpriced and not very fresh looking or flavorful. But when you grow your own, you will have them ready for you when you need a touch of fresh flavor. They are easy to grow in small pots on your own windowsill! 

Herbs absorb a lot of moisture through their leaves, so it is great to fill a misting bottle with filtered or rainwater and use that to mist the herbs daily. When you trim them off, leave a little bit at the bottom and it will re-sprout. By continuously harvesting, you actually stimulate the plant to grow more and your herb plant can keep feeding you and your family for a long time! Just pick your favorite herb and get started. Also, fresh potted herbs look super cute on your windowsill and you and your family will notice the difference in your food!

Breakfast with s Smile

One of the best things about getting pancakes at a diner is the whipped cream smiley face. There’s something about a steaming hot stack of smiling pancakes that just makes kids want to squeal with delight.  This month we’re reinventing the smiling pancake stack by cutting the flour in half and replacing it with oats and using baked in fruit instead of the whip. This smiley-faced reci-pea is guaranteed to warm the house and belly even if there is a blizzard outside!

 Ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup quick cooking oats

¼ tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp of salt

2 cups milk

1 Tbs maple syrup

1 Tbs lemon juice or vinegar

3 Tbs canola oil

½ tsp of salt

An assortment of sliced fruit for the pancake faces (bananas, strawberries, kiwi and blueberries make the best faces and taste great in the pancake batter.

Method:

Pour milk into a bowl. Add lemon juice or vinegar and set aside for 5-10 minutes.  (This is a simple and inexpensive way to make buttermilk).

Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir in all wet ingredients (including the buttermilk that was just made) taking care not to over mix.

Preheat a large skillet on medium heat. Lightly coat the pan with canola oil. Pour about ¼ cup batter into the pan for each pancake. Cook about 3 minutes, or until bubbles form on top and sides are a little dry. Place your fruit into the pancake to create a silly face. Flip, and cook another minute or until pancake is cooked all the way through.

Makes 6-8 pancakes

Food of the Month - Lemons

We all know that there's no miracle pill that you can take every day to ensure you maintain optimal health, but did you know that there's a miracle fruit that comes pretty close?  This week's Peas Perspective is focusing on the fragrant, tart and unbelievably healthy LEMON.

This miracle fruit not only makes water, iced tea and your other fizzy beverages taste better, lemons are packed with nutrients that will keep you and your family happy, healthy and glowing.

Starting each morning with warm water and lemon is not only a tasty morning beverage it's an alkalizing elixir that balances the PH levels in your body which can help with inflammation and indigestion. Yep, you heard that right, drinking this first thing in the morning can help stop indigestion even before it starts.  With that being said, if you feel like you're having trouble digesting after a large meal, drinking some lemon water can get things moving again and help stop belching and bloating.

Drinking lemon water throughout the day can boost your immune system, enhance your mood, clear up troubled skin and even freshen your breath. Stock your desk drawer at work with a few lemons and every time you fill up your water bottle, squeeze a bit of lemon into it. Also, if you find yourself in a 3pm slump or feeling stressed out, scratch the lemon peel with your finger nail and breath in deeply; the smell of lemons has been known to reduce anxiety and and increase energy.

When you're winding down after a long day and getting ready for bed (before you brush your teeth of course) have another glass of warm water with lemon.  Not only will this beverage help with relaxation it also completely hydrates you for your long night sleeps and alkalizes your body so you can feel like your healthiest self while you float off to dream land.

So remember, when life gives you lemons, say "Thank you!" and add a squeeze to your water!