Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe – by Guest Greenie Nisrine Merzouki

This is Nisrine last recipe with us – I want to take this time to thank her for contributing her five fantastic articles to Sweet Greens’ Guest Greenies segment.
These cookies are so chewy and delicious it’s hard to tell they’re gluten-free. Plus, they are organic to boot!

Ingredients
– 2 cups organic brown rice flour
– ¼ cup organic corn starch
– 1 teaspoon organic baking soda
– 1 teaspoon organic salt
– 7 ounces organic unsalted butter, softened
– 1 ½ cups organic brown sugar
– 2 large organic eggs
– 1 teaspoon organic vanilla
– 12 ounces organic semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375º. Line a cookie sheet with Eco-friendly parchment paper. Combine the brown rice flour, corn starch, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

2. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla, and pour over the flour mixture. Combine well using your hands and mix in the chocolate chips. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until the dough is firm.

3. Shape the dough into small balls and place them on the cookie sheet, about two inches apart. Bake them until golden, 11 to 12 minutes.
 
Yield 20 cookies.
Enjoy.

How To Get Your Kids Into The Kitchen

Want to encourage your kids to to embrace making healthy meal choices? Start by encouraging them to view healthy cooking as a fun activity. There is an old adage that if children help to make it, they will eat it. By introducing children to the fun that the family kitchen holds, you’re helping them make the farm to plate connection, while getting their hands dirty. Cooking together as a family creates a bond and memories that will last a lifetime. It’s also a great way to infuse math, science, history and art into your everyday conversations. Remember, cooking is fun and it doesn’t matter how messy you get, the idea is to create a love for healthy eating that will span a lifetime. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn seven ways to get your kids into the kitchen.

Yoga 101: Which Is Best For Me?

YOGA! July challenge

I feel that one of the best ways to slow down, relax, release stress and reflect is by practicing Yoga. Yoga is also fantastic for increasing flexibility, coordination, focus, strength and body awareness. Not to mention – it is fun! I also love that Yoga can be practiced solo, with a partner and even with your children. Here are 7 of my favorite types of Yoga – maybe you can find your favorite too.

1. Hatha Yoga: 
Hatha is slow-paced and perfect for beginning who want to learn all of the basic Yoga poses. *If you are a beginner for trying Yoga with a child for the first time, start here.

2. Vinyasa Yoga:
Vinyasa is a breath-synchronized Yoga, it tends to be more intense and includes a series of poses called Sun-Salutations, in which the movements are matched to the breath. *If you want to step it up a notch, this one is for you.

3. Kundalini Yoga: 
Kundalini is the exploration of the effects of the breath on the postures. It uses fast movements, rather than poses, that are held over a long period of time. *If you want to focus on your breath and the movements, this is where you will want to begin.

4. Ashtanga Yoga:

Ashtanga is another fast-paced style that includes a set of 26 poses that are always performed in the same order. It is very physically demanding because you are constantly moving for one post to another. *If you are looking for a cardio-like Yoga, this one is for you.

5. Power Yoga: 
Power Yoga is based on the flowing style of Ashtanga, but usually without the strictly kept poses series. *If you want a cardio-like Yoga without the strict routine, start here. 

6. Birkram Yoga: 
Birkram is a set of 26 poses that is practiced in a 95-115º room which allows for loosening of the muscles and causes profuse sweating. *If you are looking for an intense, cleansing Yoga that can help with weight-loss, this is where you will want to begin.

7. Laughter Yoga: 
Laughter Yoga combines yogic breathing with unconditional laughter. Laughter is stimulated by a childlike playfulness with a group. *If you are looking for something different and fun or want to try a class with your child, this would be a great one to try.

What type of Yoga do you practice?

Recipe: Organic Oatmeal And Chocolate Chip Cookies

Doesn’t today feel like an oatmeal and chocolate chip cookie kind of day? This is my organic oatmeal and chocolate chip recipe that my boys absolutely adore. Bake a batch for your family tonight!

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cups organic butter
  • 1/2 cup organic sugar
  • 1 cup packed organic brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon organic vanilla
  • 1/2 cup organic milk
  • 1 cup organic flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic salt
  • 1 teaspoon organic cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon organic nutmeg
  • 1 cup organic chocolate chips
  • 3 cups organic rolled oats
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat together the sugar, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Next, add the milk and mix until combined. Now, add the flour, baking soda, salt and spices, and stir until well mixed. Then, add the rolled oats and chocolate chips. The batter will be very thick. Drop in 2 inch balls onto cookie sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe – By Guest Greenie Nisrine Merzouki

I enjoy sipping hot mint tea while reading a book, especially when the weather is cold and blistery. There is something warming and soothing about mint that makes this tea seriously addictive.

Ingredients

  • 3 teaspoons organic sugar
  • 1 teabag organic green tea
  • 3 sprigs of fresh organic mint
  • 1 cup boiling water

Directions
Put the organic sugar, organic green tea bag, and organic mint in the serving cup. Add the boiling water and let steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir and compost the tea bag.