Down Home Healthy

11/05/2025

It was a cold night in Tucson (with snowfall on Mt Lemmon!), so steamy pasta seemed like the perfect fit.

Trader Joe’s had a new Bolognese sauce, which is ever over their big noodles with extra ground beef browned out with half an onion, and some diced carrots and celery.

Kev and Brody gave the new sauce a 10/10! Wedge salad on the side and a glass of sparkling lime spring water in an ice cold glass. Perfection!

29/04/2025

This smoothie was so delicious, they drank it before I could take a pic! Inspired by my teen daughter’s fave Dutch Bros drink, Ray Of Sunshine☀️ The grapefruit provides 80 mg Vit C, 180 mg Vit A, and a whopping 300 mg potassium to feed your immune system and keep you hydrated on a hot day.

1 peeled grapefruit
1 cup frozen peaches
1 cup frozen blackberries
1/4 honey, sugar, or sweetener of choice
1 1/2 cups peach juice
**add a drop of the citrus oil of your choice if you want to boost the antioxidant content.

Mix in high powered blender, adding more juice if necessary.

31/03/2025

I’ve had SO MUCH PRESSURE to launch a good only tik tok that I finally caved.

Please give it a follow. Good and health tips only, brand new. All the videos and my humor and snark😂😘

0 Followers, 0 Following, 1 Likes - Watch awesome short videos created by jenniecooks

17/03/2025

Trader Joe’s has a new pasta sauce, and my family rated it 10/10!💋

Check out Jennie’s video.

16/03/2025

Breakfast is where it all starts for the day, make it great.

A few times a week I toast a half piece of Trader Joe’s tandoori naan, slather with hummus, and top with whatever is around. Today it’s balsamic and garlic left over from our Italian dinner last horn, and tiny heirloom tomatoes. I paired it with raw broccoli and a shot of kefir.

Whats your favorite breakfast?

28/02/2025

Blondies are one of my fave deserts! Try these in mini pans, cut the time by 5 minutes if you do.

Recipe here:

https://sugarspunrun.com/blondies-recipe/

170 likes, 4 comments. “Brown sugar blondes. All recipes on my FB page Down Home Healthy.”

14/02/2025

One of my favorite things about Tucson is the local businesses. We have an incredible variety of family owned restaurants, cottage bakers, antiques dealers, breweries, natural locally sourced personal care products, home decor and furniture manufacturers, jewellers, clothing and textile makers, and so much more. With the 4th Ave street fairs, shops galore, and heritage farmers markets that go year round, there’s always something hand made with love to buy.

My favorite of all is a young local potter who has a booth every Sat and Sun at St Phillips market. The first time I saw his ceramics, I wanted one so bad and was too poor to buy (thank you divorce!), but finally received a piece for my birthday. Bit by bit this year I’ve been able to collect a little more, and I’m so in love with each piece, plus it’s really meaningful to know the hands that make our dishes.

Yesterday I got to spend the day with my daughter in his studio learning the process, and it was simply amazing. We both have new respect for the amount of time and labor that goes into each piece, and the decade plus of experience James had to have before he could create our favorite things.

Recently, I had a French film crew here doing a documentary of my life, and I sent the producer home with one of James’ tiny bud vases. She texted me a pic of it on her desk with Paris in the background, and it made me smile to know that a bit or Arizona art is now spending its days in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

Shop local. Find all the great Tucson artisans and makers and bakers and shop keepers you can. And maybe learn to throw clay. It makes life a little more magical.

We were invited to spend the afternoon in the studio or the potter who makes some of our favorite things. Thanks so much https://www.instagr...

31/01/2025

17/01/2025

This Potato Celery Leek soup is packed full of nutrients and super simple to make. Freeze half for a later dinner.

40 likes, 3 comments. “Potato leek celery soup is sooo satisfying”

25/11/2024

I spent part of my childhood in Oregon and have been addicted to cobbler ever since. It’s the perfect desert with its berry tangy and buttery top.

The big debate in our family is: ice cream or half and half? Personally, I do BOTH! I know, I know. I’ll eat a salad for lunch to repent.

This is my favorite recipe. I made a small gluten free pan for my little celiac daughter with some Bob’s Red GF flour. Enjoy!

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/berry-cobbler/

23/11/2024

Ramen is so satisfying, especially on a cold weekend.

I use whatever packaged Ramen I happen to have in hand, add a squeeze of lemon juice with the broth, a dash of Trader Joe’s chili lime seasoning, garlic, and a few drop of hot sauce.

Top with whatever meat you have on hand: a few slices of rotisserie chicken, beef, or pork. Add a soft boiled egg, sliced green onion and cilantro, spinach, bok choy, and your fave soy sauce or Japanese BBQ of choice.

My teens ♥️♥️♥️when I do a Ramen bar and game night.

22/11/2024

Pumpkin Smootie

Ingredients
1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
½ cup canned pumpkin
½ cup vanilla yogurt
2 frozen bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie seasoning
1 cup ice

Instructions
Combine all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
If desired, add some whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Tip: For a vegan recipe, replace the milk and yogurt with one can of coconut milk.

Pumpkin not only tastes good but is extremely nutritious, with fiber, antioxidants, and dietary copper.