Hoff Hit: Natural Remedy for Bug Bites

Bugs getting a little too frisky?

Mix a little baking soda and water in the palm of your hand - enough to form a paste and apply to bug bites to take care of that nasty sting.

This concoction will also work for a sunburn.

Hoff's Spinach Hummus

Hoff's Spinach Hummus
Yields: 3 3/4 cups
dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free, soy-free


Ingredients:

• 2 cans Garbonzo Beans (rinsed & drained)
• 2 cups Spinach (loosely packed)
• 2-3 cloves of Garlic
• 2 tbsp Whole Flax Seeds
• 1/3 cup Liquid (Water + Juice of 1 Lime)
• 1 tsp Cumin
• Sea Salt

 Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in blender (order not important)
2. Use tamper (Vitamix) to push ingredients into blades
3. Blend until smooth (not too long)
4. Enjoy!

My2Cents: This makes a mean green hummus!  Your goal is to have 1/3 of a cup of liquid as this will determine the thickness of the hummus.  However, since some Limes are more generous than others, I start by squeezing a Lime into a 1/3 cup and then top that off with water - works perfectly!

Doc: Take Control of Your Health

Take Control of Your Health: Live with Doctor Pam Popper,Ph.D., ND. is not actually a documentary.  Instead it is a recording of a lecture, given by Pam Popper, Ph.D., ND and founder of The Wellness Forum in Columbus, Ohio.

If you can get past the odd camera angle, audience heads chowing down on food  and bad audio - you will learn a few things, like why olive oil is bad for you.

However, these learning's are sandwich between a sales pitch for you to become a member of The Wellness Forum.

I'm not necessarily saying this is a bad video, however it is not worth the $20 price tag.  If anything it should be free since it's basically a promotional video.

However, if you're interested in learning more about how a vegan diet can reverse or prevent degenerative diseases or learning more about The Wellness Forum, which actually is a worthwhile educational source, by all means do.

Hoff's Lentzo

Hoff's Lentzo
Serves: 2 hefty portions
meat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, oil-free


Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Onion (chopped)
• 2 cloves Garlic (chopped)
• 2 1/2 cups Veggie Broth
• 1/2 cup Lentils
• 1/2 cup Orzo
• 1 bunch Bok Choy (chopped)
• 1 can diced Potatoes (rinsed & drained)
• Bragg Liquid Amino or Soy Sauce - season to taste
• Sea Salt - season to taste
• Cumin - season to taste

Directions:

1. Sautée Onions until soft
2. Add Garlic & sautée briefly
3. Add Broth and bring to boil
4. Add Lentils, Orzo, Bok Choy and Potatoes
5. Cook for 20 minutes
6. Stir occasionally to check liquid level, add broth as needed
7. Season with Braggs, Sea Salt & Cumin
8. Dig in!

Hoff Hit: Got Dandruff?

Pesky white flakes got you down?

Going to bed with wet hair?

There's a potential connection...

Sleeping with wet hair could create your very own petri dish for dandruff fungus.  That's right, dandruff is a fungus and fungus loves moisture.

So ladies, before laying your locks down for the night, make sure they're dry - your scalp will thank you.

Roasted Soybeans, mmm...

Not all good things at the grocery store reside on the outskirts.

While snooping through the Asian section recently, I came upon a unique snacky snack - Feng Shui's Lightly Salted Dry Roasted Soybeans.

Why so good?

Well, they taste good, but beyond that - no oil, no artificial colors, cholesterol free, MSG free, gluten free and contains a mere 3 ingredients: green soybeans, maltodextrin (naturally derived thickener) & sea salt!

These green jewels are a little high in fat, so treat as a snack and not an essential part of your diet.  Roasted soybeans pack a nice little fiber & protein punch!

Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 cup

Calories: 130
Total Fat: 4g
Saturated Fat: 0g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 230mg
Total Carbs: 9g
Fiber: 7g
Sugar: 1g
Protein: 13g

Roasted soybeans are the perfect snack when you're craving a crunchy, salty treat.  They also travel very well.

Snack Happy!
The Hoff

What Are Kelp Granules?

What is it?

Kelp is seaweed that grows in the shallow waters of the ocean.  Kelp granules are essentially dried seaweed.  It's used as a low sodium salt alternative.

Is it healthy?

Kelp is an excellent source of iodine, which helps to helps to stimulate the thyroid gland and control metabolism.  It's also very rich in nutrients derived from the sea.  "Kelp granules are an especially rich source of potassium, iron, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, and dietary fiber. Kelp also contains a natural substance, glutamic acid, that enhances flavor and tenderizes. Phytochemicals in kelp have been shown to absorb and eliminate radioactive elements and heavy metal contaminants from our bodies"

Kelp granules are an excellent way to get all the nutritional benefits of sea veggies in a rather palatable manner.  Sea vegetables offer the broadest ranges of minerals of any food, containing virtually all the minerals found in the ocean.


Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 tsp

Calorie: 2
Total Fat: 0g
Sodium: 25mg
Potassium: 25mg
Carbs: 0g
Protein: 0g


What to do with it...

Use as you would regular salt, to season things such as: soup, stew, chili, veggies, scrambled tofu, popcorn, etc.

I like to add to cooking water to infuse the water with a helping of iodine and nutrients.

It's best not to bake with Kelp.

Can't shake the idea of eating seaweed?  Well if you've ever had sushi, you've already eaten it.  Nori that green paper thin sheet helping to hold your sushi together is in fact, dried seaweed.  Try breaking a sheet into pieces and add to Hoff's Udon Noodle Soup!


Where to find it...

Look for a product that contains only Organic Raw Kelp.

Most likely, you can find Kelp Granules at a health food store or Asian market.  I get my stash of Maine Coast Sea Seasonings Organic Kelp Granules from Vitacost.  I like Maine Coast Kelp because it is a raw food, certified organic and sustainably harvested in the nutrient dense waters of Maine.  I also like that is comes in a convenient 1.5 oz. shaker container at a very good price.  You can also find this product on Amazon.

You can find Nori Sushi roll sheets in the Asian section of any major grocery store.


Keep It Healthy!
The Hoff


Source: http://www.seaveg.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=81