purely elizabeth

Coconut Palm Sugar

2012-01-23T15:25:00.000-05:00

Why we are loving coconut palm sugar right now!

Drawn from the sap or nectar of the palm tree flower, it measures low on the glycemic index (35-Gl), lower than agave (42), honey (55), and cane sugar (68).

According to the Mayo Clinic, low glycemic index foods, "...may help control appetite and delay hunger cues, which can help with weight management. Balanced blood sugar also can help reduce the risk of insulin resistance".

Coconut palm sugar is also nutrient rich - high in many vitamins and minerals such as Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and C.

This nutrient high, cane sugar alternative fuels the body with energy!

Not only is it nutritious, it's also ecologically sustainable! The Food and Agriculture Organization has even named this the world's most sustainable sweetener. According to Big Tree Farms, "tropical coconut palms are an ecologically beneficial tree crop that grow in diverse, wildlife supportive agro-ecosystems, restore damaged soils and require very little water. They are also far more productive than sugar cane, producing on average 50-75% more sugar per acre."

Plus, coconut palm sugar has a very similar consistency to brown sugar, thus can easily be substituted for granulated sugar as a healthy alternative in recipes :)

Purely Elizabeth Winter eBook

2012-01-05T14:00:00.000-05:00

Download our Winter eBook

for seasonal recipes and winter health tips from

purely elizabeth and our holistic nutrition

counselor and foodie friends!

Sweet Potato Red Lentil Coconut Curry Soup

2011-12-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

We'rereleasing a Winter eBook next week, full of seasonal recipes and winter tips,written by purely elizabeth and our holistic nutrition counselor and foodie friends.

You will be able to download the free eBook from our website, so keep your eyes peeled!

Here'sa sneak peek!

SweetPotato Red Lentil

CoconutCurry Soup

Ingredients

3 sweetpotatoes, peeled and diced into small pieces

2 tbsp oliveoil

1 onion, diced

1 tbsp fresh grated ginger

1 garlicclove, minced

4 cups ofvegetable stock

1 can of lightcoconut milk

1 tbsp redcurry paste

1 cup redlentils

salt to taste

Directions

1. Preheat ovento 425. Toss sweet potatoes with 1 tbsp of olive oil and roast for 25 minutes.

2. Meanwhile,in a medium pot, sauté the ginger, onion, and garlic in oil until

softened.

3. Add all theother ingredients, simmer, covered, for 25 minutes or so. Add

roasted sweetpotatoes and continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes.

4. Use animmersion blender (or food processor) to blend into smooth or desired consistency.

Recent Press!

2011-12-20T12:46:00.000-05:00

Oprah Magazine: November Issue

Martha Stewart: 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

New York Magazine: Last Minute Gifts


Well + Good NYC: Holiday Gift Sets


Good Day Colorado: Editor's Picks Baking Mixes

Kiwi Magazine: Green Gifts

Spa Magazine: Healthy Holiday Dessert Recipes

Pilates Style: Holiday Gifts

Food Network's: Healthy Eats

Day 10: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-13T11:58:00.001-05:00

Today, as wewrap up Purely & Friends’ Holiday Giveaway,

we want tothank everyone for participating. We loved reading all of your responses andhearing from our fans!

Mostimportantly, we want to thank our friends who helped us make this happen! Wereally appreciate your support and

look forwardto more collaborations in the future : )

Check ourFacebook for your last chance to win.

Happy HolidaysEveryone!

PurelyElizabeth, Clean Plates, NibMor, Sprout, Fruit Bliss, Little Duck Organics,Mama Jess, Rhythm Superfoods, Simple Squares, Cocomama and WholeEating

Cocomama

Cocomama is a line ofinnovative gluten free foods, made with ancient grains that are packed withnutrition and mouth-watering, high quality ingredients. Cocomama has 6different flavors of Quinoa Cereals that are made with whole grains, a lightcoconut milk, whole fruits and natural unrefined sugars. The Quinoa Cereals areprecooked in small batches, so they’re ready to eat and come in flavors suchas, Banana Cinnamon, Orange Cranberry, Honey Almond and Wild Blueberry.Cocomama’s packaging is ideal for breakfast on the run, all you do is tear openthe pouch, heat and stir!

www.cocomamafoods.com

Day 9: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-12T14:51:00.000-05:00

Only 2 daysleft??

This giveaway has FLOWN by!

Enter in our 2nd to last contest on Facebook for a chance to win a gift basketfrom Little Duck Organics and Purely Elizabeth. It will make a perfect gift for a loved one.. or yourself : )

Little Duck Organics

Little DuckOrganics is an organic baby food company that specializes in all-natural snacksfor infants and toddlers. Little Duck Tiny Fruits are packages of freeze driedapples and bananas, strawberries and mangoes and apples and blueberries, withno added sugars, artificial flavors or preservatives. These adorable 100% fruitpackages are meant to set kids on a healthy eating track, but are delicious foran adult snack too!

www.littleduckorganics.com

Day 8: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-12T09:43:00.001-05:00

We’re gettingdown to the LAST DAYS of our contest!

We have 3 more gift baskets to give awaywith products from 3 awesome companies, so keep checking our Facebook forcontest details!

Rhythm Superfoods

RhythmSuperfoods creates tasty health food snacks, made from the highest qualityorganic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and spices. Products include kale andsweet potato chips, both of which are raw, vegan and gluten-free. Rhythm KaleChips are the result of garden fresh kale, mixed with a blend of vegetables,nuts, juices, herbs and spices air crisped at a low temperature to createlight, flavor-packed chips, that come in flavors such as Zesty Nacho, KoolRanch, Bombay Curry and my personal favorite- Mango Habenero! Rhythm SweetPotato Chips are a nutritious, fat-free spin off of regular potato chips, madein classic flavors- Sea Salt and Hickory BBQ.

www.rhythmsuperfoods.com

Day 7: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Fridayeveryone! Why not start your weekend off on a good note by winning some freetreats from Purely Elizabeth and Simple Squares?

Go to ourFacebook to win!

Simple Squares

Simple Squaresare savory-sweet, gluten free, nut and honey snack bars, made from six simpleingredients: nuts, honey, coconut, vanilla, sea salt and herbs. Simple Squaresare free of wheat, gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugars, so you can enjoy themguilt free! They come in 3 different flavors: Coconut, Rosemary and Sage. Fansenjoy their Simple Squares broiled and topped with a scoop of vanilla bean icecream or crumbled on top of a fresh fruit and yogurt parfait.

www.simplesquares.com

Day 6: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

Would you like to win some delicious chocolate from our friends at NibMor?

Go to ourFacebook page, get creative
and give us some ideas for new granola flavors. Winner will be chosen at random for a gift basket from
Purely Elizabeth and NibMor!

NibMor

Nib-Losophy.The term coined by NibMor to describe its philosophy on food and life. NibMor’sNib-Losophy is that food should be simple, healthy and delicious, made fromreal ingredients found in nature. NibMor makes organic, vegan chocolate withoutrefined sugar, dairy, gluten or GMO’s. NibMor’s Organic Dark Chocolate Barscome in Extreme, Almond, Crispy and Original. NibMor also makes OrganicDrinking Chocolates that come in flavors such as Original, Mint, 6 Spice andMaple.

www.nibmor.com

Day 5: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

WholeEatingCookbook launches TODAY on Amazon.com and we’re offering the winner of today’sHoliday Giveaway contest a free edition!

Check out ourFacebook page to learn how you can win!!!

WholeEating Cookbook

WholeEatingCookbook is a collection of vegetarian friendly, gluten-free, low glycemicrecipes for a healthy, whole lifestyle. The cookbook includes additionalnutrition tips, handouts and videos. The book is in an ebook format, so can beread on your computer, smart phone, iPad, Kindle and most other electronicdevices. This healthy cooking guide will be available December 7th on Amazon.com, along with free bonus yoga and wellness videos that can bedownloaded from WholeEatingCookbook.com on December 7th ONLY!

www.wholeeatingcookbook.com

Day 4: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-05T12:38:00.001-05:00

Thankseveryone for your continued participation! We LOVE reading all of yourresponses!

Today’s winnerwill receive a gift basket full of Mama Jess Pasta Sauces and Purely Elizabethproducts. YUM! Go to our Facebook page NOW, all you have to do is leave a comment.

Mama Jess

Mama JessOrganic Pasta Sauces are geared towards parents in need of a simple solutionfor getting in their children’s daily fill of vitamins and nutrients. Each jar,packed with fresh, organic ingredients could easily be mistaken for beinghome-cooked. Mama Jess Pasta Sauces are vegan and gluten-free, with nopreservatives, high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or sugars added.Mama Jess Garden Good Pasta Sauce is made from a blend of five organicvegetables- tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, and red bell peppers!

http://mamajess.com/

Day 3: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-05T09:08:00.001-05:00

Hope everyonehad a great weekend!

Our contests continue this week with 5 more awesome giveaways! You can find today's contest on our Facebook page for a chance to win a holiday goodie basket from Purely Elizabeth and Fruit Bliss.

Fruit Bliss

Fruit Blisscreates unique snack foods that are all natural, pure and Bliss-fully tasty.Fruit Bliss snacks are preservative free, low in fat and sodium and high infiber and calcium. Fruit Bliss offers Soft & Moist Dried Fruits, such asDried Apricots, Dried Figs and Dried Plums, along with Fruit and Nut Bars inheavenly flavors, such as Pumpkin Pie Bar, Plum Good Bar, Figgy Delight Bar andApricot Dream Bar.

http://fruitbliss.com/

Day 2: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Day 2 of 10 days of Holiday Giveaways!

Our contest today is winter-themed! Find details on our Facebook page, for a chance to win a holiday gift basket from Purely Elizabeth and Sprout!

Sprout

Sprout is aBrooklyn-based company that hand makes small batches of all natural skincareproducts from a short, simple list of high quality ingredients. These skincareproducts are safe, effective and affordable. Sprout sources its ingredientsfrom organic, local and fair trade sources whenever possible. Some of thesedecadent ingredients are good enough to eat, such as Sprout’s Body Scrub, madewith organic demerara sugar, organic shredded coconut and moisturizing organiccoconut oil. YUM! Sprout’s products include a cleanser, toner, body cream,exfoliant, makeup remover, lip balm and body scrub.

http://sproutskincare.com/

Day 1: Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-01T12:09:00.001-05:00

Today is Day 1 of Purely &Friends’ Holiday Giveaway!

Our first friend is Clean Plates. Checkour Facebook page for contest details and for a chance to win a giftbasket filled with Purely Elizabeth products and a Manhattan and Brooklynedition of Clean Plates!

Clean Plates

Clean Platesis a comprehensive restaurant guide to healthy, sustainable restaurants in Manhattan,Queens, Harlem, and Brooklyn. Clean Plates has an easy-to-use website thatallows you to search for restaurants throughout NYC by neighborhood, cuisine,price, user rating or by some funky features such as, brunch places or vegan datespots. Clean Plates also allows you to search by what’s on the menu, such asvegetarian, gluten-free, organic meat, raw, vegan, etc. In addition to itsnifty website, Clean Plates has a Manhattan 2012 Guide and a Brooklyn 2012Guide. Clean Plates has restaurants to satisfy any dietary preference and isnutritionist and food critic approved.

http://www.cleanplates.com/

Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway

2011-12-01T11:23:00.001-05:00

Purely & Friends'

Holiday Giveaway

In light of the holiday season

Purely Elizabeth has teamed up

with 9 of our friends/favorite brands for

10 days of EXCITING GIVEAWAYS!

These friends are a part of innovative small businesses that Purely Elizabeth has met along its journey. All of these companies create unique, healthy alternatives with a shared mission to provide people with natural, high quality products.

It has truly been inspiring meeting all of these young companies and we want to support them, as well as introduce our fans to some amazing products! We hope that all of these small companies will make a big difference!

Details:

The Purely & Friends' Holiday Giveaway Contest will consist of a different contest on our Facebook wall each of the 10 days. Winners will receive a gift basket filled with an assortment of goodies from Purely Elizabeth and our friends. The contest will run from December 1st through December 14th (weekdays only).

Check our Facebook page each day for contest details!!!

Happy Holidays!

Purely Elizabeth & Friends-

NibMor

Sprout

Fruit Bliss

Clean Plates

Little Ducks

Mama Jess

Cocomama

Rhythm Superfoods

Simple Squares

Purely Giving Project

2011-11-01T13:59:00.000-04:00

Giving back is an integralpart of our ongoing quest to live purely and this month we want to show howgrateful we are by giving back to those in need. So, in the spirit ofThanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season, we will be donating 10% of onlinesales throughout November to a non-profit chosen by you, our fans.

As members of 1% for theplanet, our goal is to support non-profit organizations that strive to help thehealth of our planet and future generations. That is why we have chosen thefollowing three non-profits: Feeding America, Slow Food USA and Charity:wateras candidates for this month’s donations. All three organizations are doingamazing work in helping alleviate serious food and water related issues thatare compromising the health of people in America and all over the world. Pleaseread up on these organizations and take our poll to vote for the non-profitthat you feel should be the recipient of 10% of this month’s sales.

Poll is open throughNovember 29^th. Click here to cast your vote for our Purely GivingProject.

Feeding America

Feeding America is adomestic hunger-relief charity that partners with a network of 202 food banksacross the country to feed over 37 million Americans each year. Feeding Americaaids local and national food assistance programs that provide nutritious foods,safe locations for children to have meals, disaster relief and opportunitiesfor adults to achieve food security. Feeding America also works with Congressand public officials to improve food assistance programs and increase awarenessof America’s hunger problems.

Learn more at: http://feedingamerica.org/

Slow Food USA:

Slow Food USA is a nationalnon-profit that aims to transform our food system, so that people have accessto clean, nutritious food. There are 225 chapters and 24,000 members across thecountry that head volunteer-led local projects, national advocacy campaigns,trainings and education. Slow Food USA supports farmers and artisans andencourages the consumption of local, seasonal, sustainably grown foods.Additionally, the organization advocates for eco-friendly food and farmingpolicies that benefit both the farmers and the food recipients.

Learn more at: http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

Charity: Water

Charity: water is anon-profit that strives to supply people in developing nations with clean, safedrinking water. A total of 4,282 water projects around the world have beenfunded, each utilizing different water technologies to provide villages,schools, clinics and sanitation facilities with clean water sources. Charity:water allocates 100% of donations directly towards water project costs such aspump heads, cement and pipes.

Learn more at: http://www.charitywater.org/

Poll is open throughNovember 29^th. Click here to cast your vote for our Purely GivingProject.

Apple Crisp Recipe

2011-10-17T13:51:00.000-04:00

It was the perfect fall weekend for apple picking in Vermont. What better way to celebrate the season then with apple crisp (or three for that matter).

Apple Crisp Recipe

(vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free)

Ingredients:

3 lbs apple, peeled, cut into 1" cubes

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup coconut sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tbsp arrowroot powder

Topping:

2 cups of purely elizabeth ancient grain granola (original or cranberry pecan)

3 tbsp of vegan butter

1/3 cup of millet flour (or other gluten free flour)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a food processor, pulse the flour, butter and granola until butter. Transfer the topping to a bowl.
In a large bowl, toss the apples with the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and arrowroot, then spread in the baking dish. Sprinkle on the topping and bake for 1 hour, or until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbling.
Let cool for 20 minutes, then serve with coconut based ice cream. My new favorite, Steve's Sugar Cookie Dough (gluten free and vegan).

Enjoy!
Elizabeth

Natural Products Expo East 5 Favorite Finds...

2011-09-28T17:38:00.001-04:00

We had a blast sharing purely elizabeth at Expo East last week. It was a great show and we met some other wonderful small companies. While I didn't have time to browse every booth, here are my top 5 favorite foods that I can't wait to buy. Enjoy!

1. Rhythm Superfoods- Mango Habanero Kale Chips. These chips take kale to a whole new level. The mango habanero blew my mind and can't wait to incorporate this healthy snack into my repertoire.

2. Nibmor -Drinking Chocolate Sweetened with Coconut Sugar. I'm not a big fan of chocolate. Actually I've never liked it my whole life. Some think its fortunate, others feel badly for me! What I did find out however, is that I absolutely loved Nibmor's drinking chocolate. I can't wait to drink this warming 6 Spice flavor during cold winter nights ahead.

3. Harmless Harvest - Raw Coconut Water. There's coconut water and then there's Harmless Harvest's Coconut Water. This raw coconut water tastes fresh, like the coconut was just cracked on the beach. What an amazing taste! I'm ready to convert my non- coconut drinking friends.

4. Kelapo- Coconut Oil Baking Sticks. We are big fans of coconut oil at purely elizabeth. Afterall, we use it in our ancient grain granolas. I love the innovation of this product and hope it gets more people using this medicinal oil. Look for it in a store near you soon.

5. Mama Jess - Enchilada Sauce. A healthy enchilada sauce is hard to come by and Mama Jess produced the answer after searching for a solution for herself. Her nutrient rich enchilada sauce is delicious and provides lots of health benefits without all the icky ingredients.

3 Must Read Online Magazines

2011-09-14T07:08:00.000-04:00

Check out these great reads with brand new inspirational fall issues:

1. Easy Eats - a newly launched gluten-free food and lifestyle magazine. @easyeatsmag

2. Sweet Paul - A beautifully constructed online magazine focusing on lifestyle and food. @sweetpaul

3. Loony- An online magazine that focuses on lifestyle and home. @loonymag

Purely Elizabeth In The News

2011-09-07T08:47:00.000-04:00

Some exciting placements for purely elizabeth this past week!

Sept/Oct 2011 Issue

Ancient Grains

DailyCandy Brunch Themed Party Ideas

Pure and Simple

Granola Photo Contest

2011-08-25T09:18:00.000-04:00

Summer is the time to find both relaxation and adventure! Last weekend I enjoyed eating Purely Elizabeth granola relaxing in front of a campfire. How do you enjoy eating your Purely Elizabeth granola? Where have you been eating it?

Whether it be while relaxing out on your patio or while you're out climbing a mountain, we want to know! Upload your photos enjoying our granola and 1 lucky winner will be selected to receive a purely elizabeth gift box- including our organic t's, granolas and other fun purely merchandise!

Rules:

1. Upload your picture to our facebook page. If you aren't on facebook you can email it to us at love@purelyelizabeth.com and we will post it for you.

2. The picture that gets the most LIKES will win! So get your friends and colleagues to LIKE your pic.

3. The photo with the most likes will be picked on Wednesday August 31st. Happy eating!

Omega 3's- The Good Fat

2011-08-24T14:20:00.000-04:00

At purely elizabeth, we are big fans of omega 3's. Afterall, we add them in all of our products for an extra boost of nutrition. So what are omega 3's and why are they so crucial to our health?

Omega 3 fatty acids are an essential fat that help with the function of our cells, brain, immune system and overall health. They are absolutely critical for optimal bodily function. The problem is that most Americans do not get enough of the beneficial omega 3's in their diet. A major factor in having "enough" omega 3 is really trying to strike a balance between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. An ideal ratio would be 1:1, but most American diet's current contain a 1:4 ratio or higher. Omega 6 acids do the exact opposite of Omega 3’s; they promote blood clotting, constriction and inflammation.

Sources of Omega 3 fatty acids are: cold water fish, grass- fed animal foods, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed oil, olive oil and other nuts and seeds

Sources of Omega 6 fatty acids are: polyunsaturated vegetable oil (such as canola, soy and safflower oil) and meats raised on grains devoid of omega-3.

Here are 7 ways that omega 3's help the body and your overall health:

1. Fight inflammation in the body
2. Regulate hormones
3. Lower rates of depression
4. Improve behavior in kids
5. Help treat chronic illness
6. Increase your metabolism
7. Improve blood sugar control

My recommendation:

Begin to reduce sources of omega 6 and add in sources of omega 3 to your diet each day. While it is possible to get in enough omega 3's daily from the foods listed above, research on omega 3s is so compelling that I suggest to take a supplement each day.

Look for a supplement with equal levels of EPA and DHA (these are the most usable forms of Omega 3s). Also be sure that the supplement has been tested for purity and is guaranteed to be free of mercury and other heavy metals. I use a brand called Nordic Naturals, which can be found at Whole Foods.

For more information visit: www.drhyman.com

A few summer salads...

2011-08-23T10:18:00.001-04:00

Quinoa salad with fresh corn, avocado, tomatoes and lime

1 1/2 cup cooked quinoa

half avocado, diced

1 cup grape tomates, halved

1 ear of cooked corn, kernels off cob

1 lime

1/2 tsp cumin

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Spinach salad with Jersey peaches, pecans and raspberry maple dressing

4 cups spinach

1/2 jersey peach, diced

1/2 cup pecans

1/4 cup raspberries

2 tbsp maple syrup

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions: In a bowl add spinach, diced peaches and pecans. Set aside. In a small bowl, add raspberries and crush with a fork. Add in maple syrup, olive oil and lemon. Whisk to combine. Toss dressing with salad and serve.

Chopped cucumber, tomato, olive and chickpea salad

1 cucumber, diced

1 cup of grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup chickpeas

1/2 cup olives, chopped

1/2 cup marinated artichokes, chopped

1 ear of cooked corn, kernels cut from cob

1/2 avocado, diced

1/4 cup basil, chiffonade

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp fresh lemon

salt and pepper to taste

Kale Avocado Salad with Artichokes and Olives

What I am Loving Right Now...

2011-08-09T07:57:00.000-04:00

Mama Jess's Bean Good Pasta Sauce

I met Mama Jess at Expo West in March and instantly feel in love with her product. I love her packaging design and the concept. Adding bean puree to tomato sauce is brilliant for both children and vegetarians looking to get in more protein. Her sauces are gluten free, vegan, organic and delicious.

Find it online at abesmarket.com

Purely Strawberry Tart Recipe

2011-08-01T09:45:00.000-04:00

Ingredients:

3 cups sliced strawberries

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 cup purely elizabeth ancient grain granola cereal orignal

1/2 cup pitted dates

1/2 cup dried figs

3 tbsp coconut oil

Directions:

Slice strawberries and put into large bowl. Add maple syrup and combine. Set aside.

In a food processor, add granola, dates, figs and coconut oil until well combined and crumbly. Pour into dish and pat down with hands. Place in refrigerator to set and allow the coconut oil to harden for about 45 minutes.

Add strawberries to cover crust. Slice into squares and serve with coconut ice cream on top!

10 Favorite Food Blogs Right Now...

2011-07-19T14:30:00.000-04:00

101 cookbooks: http://www.101cookbooks.com/
The Roost: http://www.roostblog.com/
Healthful Pursuit: http://www.healthfulpursuit.com/
Green Kitchen Stories: http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/
Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen: http://www.nourishingmeals.com/
My New Roots: http://mynewroots.blogspot.com/
The Alkaline Sisters: http://www.alkalinesisters.com/
Cannelle et Vanille: http://cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/
Sprouted Kitchen: http://sproutedkitchen.com/
Foodgawker: http://foodgawker.com/

5 product picks from Fancy Food Show 2011

2011-07-17T10:25:00.000-04:00

Last week we headed down to Washington D.C. to attend the Fancy Food Show, North America's largest specialty food trade show. We did not exhibit, but rather walked the show, had several exciting meetings and enjoyed being in D.C. for the first time since my middle school field trip to the White House. I'm a big product junkie ( I guess that is one of the reasons I started purely elizabeth!), so there is nothing better then walking aisle after aisle looking at the newest specialty food products on the market. Here are a few favorite picks from the show:

1. Happy Morning from Happy Baby. Happy Baby is known ofcourse for their baby food, but they just introduced on-the-go smoothie pouches for moms. The blends are made with organic superfruits and the supergrain Salba. They are great for a snack or pre/post workout.

2. Kobayashi Noodle. I've tested various gluten free pastas and this fresh brown rice pasta was absolutely delicious. It has a wonderful texture and cooks in just three minutes.

3. Maison Le Grand Pestos. I adore their packaging and their products. The artisan fresh pestos were delicious with many gluten free, vegan and raw flavors. These spreads are definitely a convenient condiment to have the fridge to spice up any dinner.

4. Savannah Bee Company. I've spotted this honey company at last years show and they continue to be one of my favorite honey varieties. They produce interesting flavors like grill honey, cheese honey and tea honey and present them in beautiful packaging. My favorite is the raw honeycomb square paired with apple slices.

5. Brooklyn Salsa Company. I first discovered Brooklyn Salsa at a local Whole Foods demo and fell in love. So many salsas on the market are lacking in fresh ingredients and seem too mass produced for my likely. Enter Brooklyn Salsa Company, who produces salsa blends made from local farms with mostly organic ingredients. But this isn't your typical salsa. They incorporate good-for-you ingredients like coconut milk and organic heirloom tomatoes.

Gluten Free Athletes

2011-07-07T08:04:00.000-04:00

Team Garmin Cervelo. Photo Fotoreporter Sirott

Novak Djokavic's recent win at Wimbledon has everyone buzzing about the benefits of a gluten free diet for athletes. Team Garmin Cervelo has also been riding the gluten free wave this year and will continue during the current Tour de France. Before starting purely elizabeth, I worked as a holistic nutrition counselor guiding many endurance athletes on diet and lifestyle choices. Time and again, I saw the benefits of going gluten free on performance. Gluten has an inflammatory affect on the body, the last thing an athlete wants to affect them. My clients saw they had more energy, were able to breath better and recover faster. But this is not a blanket statement for going gluten free, and these athletes didn't do it alone.

Unlike many who switch to a gluten free diet and simply substitute bread for gluten free bread made of rice flour, potato starch, etc, these athletes incorporated more fruits, veggies, and gluten free whole grains loaded with nutrients. They even took out, or greatly reduced meat (another inflammatory food). A simple diet that frankly is beneficial for anyone.

Here are a few of my favorite gluten free whole grain options for athletes or non-athletes alike:

brown rice pasta by lunderberg (more fiber then others)

quinoa

amaranth

millet

teff

buckwheat

ofcourse our ancient grain granola cereal

What's your favorite gluten free grain?

What I Am Loving Right Now...

2011-07-05T13:28:00.000-04:00

Zucchini is everywhere at the farmers market right now. My favorite way to devour this veggie is eating it raw. Loving this julienne peeler to make fresh zucchini pasta.

Image via Williams-Sonoma

A simple, quick, gluten free meal...

or paired with pesto or tomato sauce.

Avocado Zucchini Salad

1 bunch fresh arugula

1/2 avocado, diced

1/2 zucchini, peeled with julienne peeler

lemon

fresh extra virgin olive oil

balsamic glaze

GMO's and Allergies

2011-06-28T09:19:00.000-04:00

A recent study came out indicating allergies in children are now more prominent then ever, with 1 in 12 children affected by food allergies. The main allergy is peanut, followed by milk and shellfish. So why the increase in food allergies? Is it that people are more aware or is there in fact a change in our food supply? It seems that genetically modified foods may be to blame.

How do you feel about GM foods? Do you avoid them? We are excited to let you know that purely elizabeth is enrolled with the Non-GMO Project and are in the process of becoming verified for all our products.

Inspirations for Summer...

2011-06-24T09:02:00.002-04:00

Summer is officially here. With so much work ahead for purely elizabeth in the coming months, I'm making sure to devote time to this blissful season. Here are a few inspirations for how I want my summer to unfold...

Spend some days relaxing at the beach...

Watch fireflies in the distance...

Get caught in summer rain...

Listen to birds chirping.

Have dinners outside...

image via west elm

Shop at the farmers market often...

Eat grilled corn on the cob...

Make fresh berry cobblers...

Enjoy juicy jersey tomatoes.

Try new recipes...

Work on new product development for purely elizabeth.

Ride bikes through the country...

...And the beach

Get up early for a triathlon...

Swim often...

Soak my tired legs in the tub...

(love this image)

Relax by the lake.

Finish reading The Dirty Life (ugh I started this MONTHS ago)...

Watch the sunset on the beach...

How do you want your summer to look?

The Benefits of Berries

2011-06-22T07:28:00.000-04:00

Berries are high in antioxidants (like vitamins C, B, A, and E!), which neutralize free radicals keeping you looking young and healthy all summer long.

The high vitamin content in berries will help boost your immune system, so you won't get bogged down with a summer cold when you should be out enjoying the weather!

Eating raw berries in the summer will help cool you down. Whether you juice your berries, freeze them as Popsicles, or enjoy them fresh, they serve as a great cool-down treats.

Berries are extremely high in fiber. Eating even a handful of berries can prevent constipation and improve digestive health.

All types of berries contain flavonoids which have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer

They have a very low glycemic-index, just like the coconut palm sugar we use in our granolas!

Blueberries: Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all fruits. Consuming blueberries daily will keep you looking and feeling young! They contain high levels of selenium, zinc, and iron, which promote immunity and keep you in good health. This is why Purely Elizabeth blueberry muffins call for fresh blueberries. Muffins that keep you young and healthy? I'll take some! Get your blueberry muffins here!

Raspberries: These sweet berries benefit your liver and kidneys and are great for detoxing. They rid your blood of toxins, help regulate menstrual cycles, and help treat anemia. Eaten fresh or frozen, they are great in smoothies, atop yogurt, or mixed with granola (Purely Elizabeth, of course!).

Blackberries: Blackberries are high in vitamins C and E, which protect against cancer and chronic disease. They are a good source of soluble fiber and alleviate diarrhea and intestinal issues. These juicy berries are also high in folate, which has been shown to help prevent both cancer and Alzheimer's disease. So stock up on your blackberries and you'll be in good shape.

Strawberries: These larger berries are great for enhancing your memory function and like the others in the berry family, help prevent cancer. Eating a serving of strawberries daily can also help lower blood pressure. Strawberries are delicious chopped, in a smoothie, or eaten whole as a juicy snack!

Pass The Olive Oil

2011-06-20T06:45:00.000-04:00

A recent article in the Huffington Post revealed that a new study came out linking the consumption of olive oil with lower stroke risk. Those who consumed olive oil for five years had a 41 percent lower rise of stroke than people who never included olive oil in their foods. You don't have to sell me on using olive oil in salads, sauces and baked goods. We love using this healthy fat as well as coconut oil in our purely elizabeth cookie, pancake and muffin mixes.

Here are four of my favorite olive oils I'm using right now...

Medlock Ames Organic Olive Oil

Stonehouse California Estate Blend Olive Oil

Preston Dry Creek Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Whole Foods 365 Olive Oil

What's your favorite olive oil?

always,

Elizabeth

Purely Elizabeth In The News...

2011-06-19T16:34:00.000-04:00

Some exciting placements for purely elizabeth this past week!

Natural Solutions Magazine - June/July 2011 Issue

Crave NYC Book- On stands now

Dailycandy "50 Small Businesses that Could"

California Adventure

2011-06-17T08:12:00.002-04:00

After several months of non-stop working on purely elizabeth, it was time for a few days of R&R. The best way to recharge...take a few days and get out of your daily routine. For me, that could simply mean staying nearby and getting out in nature for the weekend or in this case leaving NYC for a California adventure. The focus of our trip (aside from my boyfriends Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, I know crazy!) was to visit the most delicious organic eateries and vineyards and just relax. This was not a hard task. San Francisco, Napa and Big Sur are loaded with fresh, local, organic restaurants with plenty of vegan and gluten free options. In fact, it seems to be the norm there. Here are a few of our trip highlights that I would highly recommend visiting...

San Francisco:

Chez Panisse Cafe - Started in 1971 by Alice Walters, the pioneer of the local foods movement. A must stop for any organic foodie. Unfortunately, we actually didn't love our meal here, but I'm hoping it was just an off night.

The Planet Cafe- Located minutes from the farmers market, this was a great spot to meet friends for lunch. Plenty of vegetarian and non vegetarian options.
Il Fornaio - We went here for a pre-race dinner, plenty of gluten free pasta options to carb up on before the big race.
Ferry Building Farmers Market- I could not believe the size of the market. The farmers market on Saturday is about three times the size of the Union Square Greenmarket in NYC and loaded with a variety of vendors. They even had a booth from La Cocina, a local Food Entrepreneur kitchen. How cool is that?

...From San Francisco we departed for Napa via highway 1. If you have never driven the coast of California, this is an absolute must.

Stopping on Highway 1 for Oysters at Marshall Store

A few of our favorite farm to table, organic restaurants in Napa area:

Brix- Loved the garden in the back of the restaurant providing fresh produce.

Farmstead: Located in St. Helena, this American farmhouse offers a seasonal menu with ingredients sourced from their Long Meadow Ranch, including all-natural grass-fed beef, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, and honey. They had the best kale salad EVER. Well maybe not as good as Sun In Bloom in Brooklyn, but a close second.

C Casa at Oxbow Market Napa - Several gluten free options at this fresh, sustainable Taqueria.

Ubuntu Napa - Housed in a 19th century building with a yoga studio, this vegetarian restaurant serves creative dishes from their organic and biodynamic garden.

Favorite Organic Vineyards in Napa Valley and Beyond:

Cade Vineyards- The first organically farmed, LEED gold certified vineyard in Napa. This was the most beautiful vineyard we visited, not to mention they had fabulous wines.

Robert Sinskey- Offering organic and biodynamic wines. The vineyard has a wonderful farm to table tour.

Hall Vineyards - Hall Vineyards is certified organic by CCOF and LEED certified. They have a beautiful garden/sitting area in the back.

...One of the best ways to see the vineyards is by bike. We rented a tandem bike fromWine Country Bikes, definitely one of the best in the area.

Quivira- Located in Headlsburg along our bike route, this vineyard and winery is organic and biodynamic. We loved all the chickens, cows, and fresh produce welcoming us to the tasting room. Local restaurants source their veggies from the garden.

Preston Dry Creek- Located down a dirt road in Headlsburg, Preston offers organic wine, olive oil and fresh produce. The wine is great, but the olive oil is out of this world.

Medlock Ames - I read about this vineyard in a recent Food and Wine article and knew it was a must visit when it was described as "Nirvana in Sonoma". The wines and the restored modern tasting room did not disappoint.

...After a few too many meals and wine tastings, we headed down highway 1, to arrive in breathtaking Big Sur.

9 mile hike at Andrew Molera State Park

Glen Oaks Cabin on Big Sur River with our own campfire

Best/Last meal of the trip at Sierra Mar, Post Ranch Inn. Located on the edge of the world, serving local, organic eats. This was a feast not to be forgotten.

always,

elizabeth

New Blog

2011-06-17T08:06:00.000-04:00

We've migrated the old tumblr blog here. Thanks for reading!