The Invigorator: Homemade Natural Energy Booster Drink

Insert a burpee-double-back-flip right here. You’re about to be invigorated.

Both 5 Hour Energy and Monster Energy Drinks have been getting some really bad publicity. I’ve never taken either and don’t intend to, yet I’ve always been curious about what natural, non-caffeinated food sources offer an excellent energy boost.

After a bit of research, I took my daily ritual of “fresh lemon juice in warm water” up 15 notches by adding one extra ingredient:

“The Invigorator” Drink

1/2 cup lukewarm waterfresh squeezed juice from 1/4 lemon3 dashes of cayenne (red) pepper

Oooo-weeee! This is a seriously invigorating drink. Yes, it is hot. You may feel like a mini thermonuclear explosion went off inside your body, but the heat wanes pretty fast while the invigorating body slam of energizification remains. You can increase the powerfulness of The Invigorator by taking a daily dose of B12, or by simply eating healthy foods that contain B Vitamins.

B12: It’s found in meat, fish and dairy products. Just please don’t get your fish from the Pacific (the Japan Fukushima situation affecting the Pacific ocean is not improving — it’s getting worse). A deficiency in B12 can result in weakness and fatigue, so keep your food choices in check! Sidenote: My hubs (after working himself almost to the point of death and running on 1-2 hours of sleep for about a month) used B12 as a tool to recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

“Vitamin B12 is also used to enhance mood, increase energy, improve memory, stimulate the immune system, promote healthy sleep, and slow the aging process.” (via About.com) Say whaaat? It slows the aging process? You know you want some of that.

Cayenne Pepper: Not only does it slap you with a natural rush of energy & alertness, and aid in weight loss through its metabolic effects, cayenne pepper’s other health benefits are pretty dang impressive.

Warm Lemon Water: Yup, lemon water also aids in weight loss and pimp slaps you with energy, but would you also care to detox? Wanna boost your immune system? Or how about reduced blemishes on your skin? Yes, you need to be drinking the warm lemon water (on an empty stomach). Here’s more lemon water benefits to knock your socks off.

Now drink up, my friends! Because ain’t nobody got time to be feelin’ all sluggish ‘n stuff.

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My homemade French Baguettes! Don’t they look delish?

I’ve always been intimidated by breadmaking. It’s long been a skill I’ve wanted to gain as an up-and-coming Homesteader. But could I really do it?

Heck yasss! Yaasss I CAN! Look at my french baguettes. Are you proud of me?

“But Josie, you claim you avoid most carbs to stay fit. Why the hell are you gnawing on large bread loaves?”

Thank you for asking.

Carbs are a treat, not a daily event. They go into the same category as the occasional cakes and pies and other delectable foodstuffs I love to stuff into my jawbone. I typically eat carbs only once per week, so figured, why not make the bread myself, using basic ingredients that contain no artificial crap, no preservatives and no other weird surprises. Makes sense, right?

HOMEMADE FRENCH BREAD

3 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon yeast1/2 tablespoon salt1/2 tablespoon sugar1.5 cups water1.5 teaspoons melted butter

Yields three loaves, approximately 11-inch by 4-inch in size. Double the recipe if you have more hungry mouths to feed.

DIRECTIONS

Combine all dry ingredients into large bowl and mix by hand.Add water.Knead dough by hand into ball — only long enough to form the ball.Do not add extra flour at this point. Let dough sit for 10 minutes to absorb the moisture.Knead dough by hand for 8 minutes.Put dough ball into very large bowl and let sit for 3-4 hours. The dough will double in size. You know the dough is done when you poke your finger in the dough and the hole remains. If the hole closes back up, the dough isn’t ready to bake yet.Lightly spray baking pan with oil.Lay dough on pan and cut into 3 equal sections.Flatten dough to form its shape, then fold dough over itself longways and pinch the side shut.Use a knife to cut the decorative slices into the top of dough. Slice a little less than half-way through.Baste top of dough loaf with about 1/2 teaspoon melted butter.Bake in hot, 450-degree oven approximately 15 minutes.

I kid you not when I tell you this is the best bread I’ve ever had. It was warm and moist with the just the perfect amount of chewy. I broke the bread open with my bare hands and smathered on the melted buttery goodness, of course.

I dare you to do something you never thought you could do. I bet you’d be good at it. Now get to it!

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Sugar Free Homemade Instant Lemonade

Your personal resume’ of awesomeness just got more impressive. Not only are you ladies smart & sassy, and all you men out there witty and studly, but you lovely people can now whip up sweet, refreshing lemonade with zero refined sugars…all in an instant.

Some people swear by a concoction of lemon slices and/or lemon juice in warm water upon waking at the butt crack of dawn. They say it aids in weight loss & more: 10 Reasons Why You Should Drink Warm Lemon Water in the Morning. There there’s the lemon-controversial Master Cleanse Detox perspective. While both are intriguing in their own ways, the refreshing 3-ingredient glass of goodness that I speak of is neither of those things.

This is solely about enjoying a fresh glass of sweet lemonade without refined sugars. I made it for the family. They didn’t know the difference between my homemade instant version and the overpriced Amish lemonade filled with refined sugars that I was buying from the farmer’s market.

INGREDIENTS

8-10 ounces of waterapproximately 2 fresh lemons or store bought 100% lemon juice2 packets Stevia

DIRECTIONS

Pour cold water into your favorite fancy glass.Add fresh squeezed lemon juice to glass, or give a generous squeeze of store bought 100% lemon juice.Add 1-2 packets of Stevia to the glass.Slurp to taste. Add more Stevia or lemon juice if desired.Now drink some more to enjoy instantaneous sweet lemonade splendor.

Homemade Instant Lemonade is not only tasty, it makes it so much easier to fit in adequate water throughout the day. You’re less likely to retain water if you stay hydrated. Lemons also have a boatload of health benefits, so start slurping!

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My Homemade Knockoff of the KFC Cheesy Bacon Bowl

Is it just me, or is the TV is trying to stuff the new KFC Cheesy Bacon Bowl commercial down our throats? I was in the kitchen cooking when I heard that dang commercial playing for the 1,567th time.

That’s when I realized I had all the ingredients on hand to make my own homemade knockoff of the Bacon Cheesy Bowl. I didn’t overthink it. I just grabbed stuff to throw the meal together really fast.

This is what I used:

I’ve never had a real KFC Cheesy Bacon Bowl (and absolutely never will) but I considered my homemade version something I could sink my tooth into since I’m the one controlling the ingredients and portions.

My KFC Cheesy Bacon Bowl Knockoff

Mashed potatoes and cheesiness is a great combo. When you throw in corn, gravy and quality fake chicken, it gets better. But it’s that damn bacon that really put this homemade knockoff over the edge.

As you can see from the pic, I barely used any bacon, but hot dang if that little bit of bacon didn’t make this meal a winner. The bowl I used was baby-ish in size, so this dish, with its small portions of potato-carbs and gravy-cheesiness, didn’t have the power to screw up my day of good health.

I had fun making this knockoff. Let’s maybe see what else I can do. Whacha think?

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