Seasoned Salt

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  I wanted to post a recipe that has been a part of my kitchen for awhile now, it is actually a copy-cat recipe of another popular Seasoned Salt.  It is "Tastefully" and "Simple" to make.  Yes- it is a mock Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt recipe!  Everyone loves a good copy to  something great.  This is just that.  I actually like this one better than the one I used to buy at $8.99 a bottle.  For Phase 2 and 3 of this HCG diet we need to be careful of many spices too.  Many have added sugar, MSG and cheap starchy fillers.  Especially spice blends and mixed spices with salt. 
*If you are salt sensitive, leave out the salt for your own version of a great all-purpose mock up of Mrs. Dash.  Hint hint, you may need a seasoned salt for future recipes!

Best Ever Homemade Seasoned Salt
10 TB Medium to Coarse Ground Sea Salt (Celtic Sea Salt is the best!)
4 TB Parsley flakes
5 tsp Hungarian Sweet paprika
1 tsp dried Thyme
1 tsp dried Marjoram
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Curry Powder
1 ts. dry Mustard
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Celery Seed
1 tsp dried Oregano
1/4 tsp Dill (weed or seed is fine)Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined or put all ingredients into a blender/ food processor & blend until all combined.  Place seasoned salt in a jar, Parmesan cheese shaker or Tupperware type container and use often!

Tea Tuesday

It is Tuesday and I am drinking yet another cup of tea.  I have become very much 'into' my tea drinking during Phase 2.  There are so many variations and flavors.  I wanted to share this with you during the fall time.  Not so much a recipe but some of my favorite combinations.  I have a couple cups a day and definitely savor the good flavors of each one. 

Hot Apple Cider
1 bag of Orange Yerba Mate
1 bag of Celestial Seasoning Apple Cinnamon Spice

Sweeten with 5-10 drops Vanilla Creme flavored or plain stevia.
Optional- Add in your daily allowance of 1 TB of milk.

Chocolate Raspberry
1 bag Chocolate Yerba Mate
1 bag Raspberry Hibiscus herb

Sweeten with 5-10 drops Chocolate flavored or plain stevia.
Optional- Add in your daily allowance of 1 TB of milk.

Island Tea
1 bag Stash Coconut Peach tea
1 bag Strawberry herb tea

Sweeten with plain stevia and squirt of lemon.

French Cherry
1 bag Bigelow French Vanilla tea
1 bag Celestial Seasonings Very Cherry Berry tea

Sweeten with Vanilla Creme or plain stevia.
Optional- Add in your daily allowance of 1 TB of milk.

Directions for all:  Boil your water in a tea kettle. Pour over the 2 tea bags and steep for 5-8 minutes. 


That is it for today.  Just a few ideas to help you enjoy some of my favorites today!

Grilled Ginger Chicken Kabobs

This is such a fun recipe, fun to make, eat and share.  Your whole family will enjoy these Grilled Ginger Chicken Kabobs.  Thank you to Jackie B. for another great contribution!  She even gave us a few step-by-step photos to help you; great job!  My serving suggestions would be to add grape tomatoes, asparagus or onion to the kabobs as your veggie when your grilling. Brush kabobs again while grilling to give the veggies some great flavor too.  Or serve atop the Asian 'Slaw from here.  Enjoy your healthy meals today!

Grilled Ginger Chicken Kabobs

1 tsp fresh ground ginger
1/2 tsp stevia

2 TB Bragg's Amino Acids
1/4 C water
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
Juice of 1 medium to large lemon, or 2 small ones

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1.5 inch pieces
Cherry Tomatoes or Onions as you'd like (optional)

Combine first 6 ingredients in a glass baking dish.  Add chicken and turn to coat. 

Cover and marinate for at least 2 hours in refrigerator.  Prepare grill. Remove chicken from marinade and alternate chicken and vegetables on skewers.  Grill over medium heat, turning frequently until done (about 10-15 min). 

Optional: Take leftover marinade and boil for 10 minutes.  Use this as a sauce and baste the skewers with it.

Note: Use this fantastic marinade as a salad dressing.

PS- Don't have a grill?  Broil in yor oven or stir fry in marinade on stove. 

Phase 3:  Add 1/4 C peanut or coconut oil to this marinade.

Detox Bath

Getting clean from the inside out!  The Detox Bath is for all phases of life.  This recipe is simple and can be used anytime during and after Phase 2.  The purpose for the Detox Bath is to help aide and speed up the detoxing process already going on in our bodies.  Fat cells hold toxins so as they are released, the toxins are released with it.  Which is a great thing but can take a toll on our energy and overall strength.  Being released are chemicals, metals, food additives and even Rx drugs.  Detox your skin and organs, neutralize Ph balance, restore hormone balance with this easy, low cost recipe.  Using this after Phase 2 will help those toxins from building back up in your body. 

The Detox Bath
1 cup Epsom Salt
1 cup aluminum-free Baking Soda
1 Bathtub

That's it!  Run your bath water as hot as you like.  Pour the salt and soda into the tub and swish to dissolve.  Soak for 20-40 minutes.  Bring a glass of iced lemon water with and a book or magazine.  After at least 20 minutes, rinse and towel off.  Drink a full glass of water when your finished.  Repeat weekly.

Warning! You will be exhausted after your bath, so do this right before bed.  You will sleep very well and wake up feeling wide eyed, energized, refreshed.

Note:  Don't have a bathtub?  Do a foot soak!  Place 1/2 cup of each Epsom Salt and aluminum-free Baking Soda into a large bowl, fill with hot water and soak for 20-30 minutes while watching t.v. or reading.  Rinse feet when done and towel dry.

PS-  Using a natural bristle Body Detox Brush does wonders too.  They are cheap and make your skin feel smooth like using a salt scrub.  Start at your feet and work upwards, brushing the legs, then hips, on to the stomach, chest and face.  Brush more gently where the skin is thinnest and always brush towards the heart.  Using a Body Detox Brush helps in smoothing away dead skin, improve circulation in blood and lymph system, remove skin blemishes like black heads, encourages cell rejuvenation and helps release cellulite!  Why not do this a few times a week!