Ways with Watermelon.

Paleo Watermelon Cake

Ingredients:- 1 large seedless watermelon - 2 cans full fat coconut milk (left in fridge for 6 hours or more) - 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract - 1 Tbsp. raw honey - 1 cup sliced raw almonds or shredded coconut - Seasonal fresh fruit (for topping) Equipment:- Cutting board - Kitchen knife - Measuring spoons - Measuring cups - 2 medium mixing bowls - Hand Mixer - Paper Towels - Can opener - Medium sized skillet - Stirring spoon Directions: TO MAKE THE COCONUT WHIPPED CREAM 1. Make sure to place the can of coconut milk in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours (or overnight). This will cause the cream to separate from the milk. The cream will be at the top of the can. 2. Open the can of coconut milk and scrape out the cream into a medium sized bowl. Hint: I always open the can from the bottom and pour the milk out into a separate container before scraping out the cream. You can use the saved milk for smoothies and other recipes. 3. Add the vanilla and raw honey to the mixture. Whip the cream with a hand mixer on medium speed and work your way up to high speed until the cream is fluffy, about 5 minutes (it will not be as fluffy as dairy whipped cream). Place the bowl of whipped cream in the fridge until ready to use. TO MAKE THE TOASTED ALMONDS OR COCONUT: 1. Place a medium sized skillet over medium-high heat and allow the pan to get hot. 2. Add the sliced almonds or shredded coconut and toss in the pan until they are toasted and turn a light brown color. Remove from pan and set aside to cool. TO ASSEMBLE 1. Remove the top and bottom from the watermelon and remove the rind from the middle section. You should be left with a cake-shaped piece of watermelon. Cut the watermelon "cake" into the number of wedges/slices you want. I recommend 6-8 slices depending on the size of the watermelon. (See below for a visual on how to cut the watermelon!). NOTE: You can leave the watermelon intact if you plan on traveling with it or do not want to cut it. Slicing a cake ahead of time just makes it much easier to dip the edges into the icing and then into anything else you want to adhere to the icing, such as the almonds or toasted coconut. 2. Pat the outside of the watermelon dry with paper towels (this is important because it will help the coconut whipped cream adhere better). 3. Dip the outside edge of each slice into the coconut whipped cream and then into the toasted almonds or coconut, and reassemble the wedges into the cake shape on a serving platter. Top with more whipped coconut cream and your favorite fresh fruit (I used blackberries, strawberries and kiwi). Serve or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

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14 Foods to Keep You Hydrated

Although drinking water is the absolute best way to remain hydrated, you can hydrate your body by eating certain foods too. While some of these foods are offered only seasonally, you should be able to find a wide variety amongst the list during any time of the year.

1.  Consume cucumbers for the highest water content. Cucumbers contain approximately 96.7% water and are readily available all year round. Eat this veggie as a fresh side dish with meals.

2.  Hydrate your body with an iceberg lettuce salad. Iceberg is 95.6% water but othrewise fairly low in nutritional value. Partner iceberg lettuce with higher nutrient packed lettuces such as spinach or kale for the “perfect” lunch.

3.  Get both water and nutrition with a stick of celery. Celery has 95.4% water but also vitamins A, C and K. Did you know that one stick of celery has only six calories? – Anyone can have their celery and enjoy it too.

4.  Tantalize your taste buds with radishes. Radishes have a 95.3% water content and can spice up any dish or salad thanks to their half sweet, half spicy flavor.

5.  Enjoy a hydrating snack like a tomato any time of year. Instead of reaching for a potato chip, try a grape tomatoes. Partner tomatoes with cheese and basil, perhaps a cracker and you have the perfect afternoon delight. Tomatoes have 94.5% water so they are a great hydrator.

6.  Load up on antioxidants and water with a green bell pepper. Although red and yellow peppers contain water and are high in nutrients, green bell peppers have the most at 93.9% water content.

7.  Fight chronic illness like cancer with cauliflower. In addition to having a 92.1% water content, cauliflower has phyto-nutrients, considered to lower cholesterol and fight cancer.

8.  Stave off hunger with lycopene infused watermelon. Watermelon is known to be heavy on the water content (91.5%) but is also packed with lycopene, which helps you feel full for a longer amount of time and also is considered to be a cancer-fighting antioxidant.

9.  Increase your fiber by eating water happy spinach. Spinach is 91.4% water but also is known to have some of the most important antioxidants available. Each one cup raw and you’ve covered 15% of your daily vitamin E intake.  It is also a great source for iron.

10.  Protect your heart by eating star fruit. In addition to having a 91.4% water content, star fruit contains epicatechin, also found in red wine, chocolate and green tea.

11.  Eat your berries to hydrate. Strawberries have 91% water and blueberries and raspberries contain 85% water. Create a fruit salad and you have a great snack.

12.  Load up on vitamins with broccoli. Broccoli has fiber, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C, as well as sulforaphane which is known to boost the body’s protective enzymes and fight cancer.

13.  Eat grapefruit to give your diet that extra nudge, while flushing your system with water. Grapefruit has a 90.5% water content but is also known to lower bad (LDL) cholesterol by 15.5% and triglycerides by 27%. Grapefruit also stabilizes blood sugar, which curbs cravings.

14.  Choose baby carrots for snacking instead of salty chips. Baby carrots are loaded with water (90.4%), plus are great for dipping into dressing or hummus.

15.  Pass over the cake and cookies for dessert and go for some cantaloupe. Cantaloupe has 90.2% water and at only 50 calories and eating cantaloupe can give you up to 100% of your daily vitamin A intake.

Tips:

• Because star fruit has high levels of oxalic acid, people with kidney problems should avoid it.
• Drink 8 or more glasses of water each day (more if you are in a heated area or are working out to replenish fluids).
• Freeze fresh fruit for an easy, on-the-go snack.
• http://healthpositiveinfo.com/

Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

This is one of the best desserts you will ever taste!  You would never guess it is gluten free – the crust made from Betty Crocker gluten free yellow cake mixtogether with butter and pecans will blow you away!  This recipe is truly amazing and your family and/or guests will love it.  If gluten is not a problem for you, then this recipe can be made with gluten – simply sub regular yellow cake mix for the gluten free cake mix.

• 
• 1 box Betty Crocker Gluten Free yellow cake mix
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 1 Tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 2 eggs

Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, stir together cake mix and pecans. With pastry blender or fork, cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Reserve 1 cup mixture for topping. In bottom of ungreased 13×9-inch pan, press remaining mixture. Bake 10 minutes.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add remaining ingredients; beat until well blended. Pour over warm crust. Sprinkle with reserved topping.

Bake about 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

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14 Simple Ways to Add Happiness to Your Day

Every day has its ups and downs, but sometimes you might find more downs than ups! Rather than waiting around for things to change, you can make an active effort to add a little happiness to your day.

Sometimes you may need to make a big effort, but most of the time all you have to do is something subtle and simple to completely change how your day turns out.

Here are some easy ways to add happiness to your day:

1. Watch a movie. Curl up with a big bucket of popcorn and your favorite movie. Leave all your worries behind you as you engage in an activity that you’re sure to love.

2. Watch your kids or loved ones. Instead of focusing on yourself, take some time to place your attention on the people you love. Simply observe them and think about how much you appreciate the fact that they’re in your life.

3. Call your best friend. A phone call with a close friend is a great way to pass some time in a way that is comfortable and familiar to you. You can think about old times or enjoy planning something fun for the future.

4. Go out for ice cream. While it’s not a good idea to indulge all the time, it’s definitely okay once in a while. Grab your favorite treat whether it’s ice cream, a smoothie, or even Starbucks.

5. Enjoy nature. Take in nature by watching the world around you. You can do this by going on a nature hike or even just observing the beauty of the stars at night.

6. Take a hot bath. This is a great way to bring happiness to your day, especially if you’ve found the day stressful. Light some scented candles to include the benefits of aromatherapy to the relaxing warmth of the bath.

7. Play a sport. Gather your friends and have a friendly competition. Sports are a fun way to get some exercise and relieve stress.

8. Take a nap. An afternoon nap may be just what you’re looking for. Even 15 minutes of shut-eye can help you feel more energized and happy.

9. Snuggle with your partner. Take the time to appreciate your partner and snuggle up for some couple-time. It’s a great way to reconnect, especially if you’ve been really busy.

10. Be lazy. Sometimes you might not feel as happy as you’d like because you expect too much from yourself. Take some time to simply be lazy, with no responsibilities, and give yourself time to recoup.

11. Listen to your favorite song. Your favorite song is bound to brighten up your day. Bring out your iPod or music player and start cranking up the tunes.

12. Make casual conversation. Strike up some lively conversations with strangers. If you’re friendly and happy towards them, they’ll likely be the same to you.

13. Be thankful. Reflect on all the things that you’re grateful for in your life and write them down. You might be surprised at how long your list is! Sometimes changing your focus to what’s going right in your life is all you need to turn that frown upside down.

14. Enjoy time with your pets. Pets are part of the family too. Snuggle up with your pet for some quality time together.

Always remember that the list is endless when it comes to ways to brighten your day. Be creative and try new activities that you might like. Most importantly, seek a way to enjoy each moment, and your life will be filled with new happiness.

http://healthpositiveinfo.com/

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