The Well Code

Roasted Squash & Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate Seeds, Candied Pecans & Herbed Goat Cheese

A wonderfully fresh & seasonal salad
November 29, 2016
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Food

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Today’s salad—besides being beautiful to look at—is a fresh and flavorful side that belongs on your table all season long.  Sweet, roasted delicata squash pairs perfectly with wintry, fresh pomegranate seeds and bitter arugula. 

But before I proceed, are you thinking, ‘what is delicata squash?’?!  Well, we recently fell in love with this wonderful vegetable after Kat’s visit to a local farm with Fresh Harvest found at our local Whole Foods.  It’s a winter squash, a lot like butternut or acorn squash but more flavorful and sweeter…almost like a sweet potato. It grows to have a cylinder shape, with green stripes you can easily spot in the grocery store.  Its rind is delicate, and it’s actually where most of the flavor is; roasting delicata squash with the skin-on will intensify its warm, sweet, irresistible flavor.

Now, if you can’t find delicata squash in your local grocery store, sub it out for acorn squash…it’s just as good with the rest of this stellar salad’s lineup.  Think rainbow quinoa, pomegranate seeds, arugula, candied walnuts and herb goat cheese (I make my own with herbs from my garden; it’s super easy to mix the herbs into good quality goat cheese but you can also easily grab an herb goat cheese at the grocery store in the gourmet aisle).  I think you’ll find that this salad is just the thing that belongs on your table all winter long; the mixture of textures and flavors is divine.  I’m huge on hitting sweet-savory-salty-crunchy-soft-tangy all in one bite, and this salad does just that. 

To make, I simply roast the squash in my toaster oven with a drizzle of olive oil. I roast until the squash is golden brown (about 15 minutes) and actually cut it in half afterwards. After that, I add the cooked rainbow quinoa, pomegranate seeds, arugula and herb goat cheese to the mix.  To dress the salad, I usually like to use a spicy honey, some sort of a berry vinaigrette or even a mustard vinaigrette if I’m leaning a little more on the savory-spicy side.  This salad can make even a non-salad eater as happy as can be this holiday season! Truly, MKR 

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Roasted Delicata Squash & Rainbow Quinoa Salad with Pomegranate Seeds, Arugula, Candied Walnuts & Herb Goat Cheese
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Ingredients
  1. 2-3 delicata squash (or acorn squash)
  2. 1 cup rainbow quinoa
  3. 2 cups pomegranate seeds
  4. 3-4 oz. herb goat cheese
  5. 2 10 oz. bags arugula
  6. 12 oz. candied walnuts
  7. olive oil for roasting the squash
  8. Vinaigrette dressing of choice
Instructions
  1. Cook your rainbow quinoa per directions on box.
  2. Roast the squash in a toaster oven with olive oil drizzled on it. After it starts to brown (about 15 minutes) take it out, and cut in half, gutting the inside. You don't want to eat the seeds in the salad.
  3. Slice squash in half circle strips, then add to the bed of arugula, cooked rainbow quinoa, pomegranate seeds, candied walnuts and herb goat cheese.
  4. Dress with desired dressing (I love a good raspberry vinaigrette, spiced honey or even a mustard vinaigrette) and serve!
Welcome by Waiting on Martha https://waitingonmartha.com/

 

Photography, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

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DIY Peppermint & Citrus Sugar Body & Lip Scrub

Coconut Oil, Sugar, Real Citrus & Our Favorite Essential Oils Combine to Create an easy DIY scrub
November 28, 2016
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Beauty & Tutorials

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DIY Citrus & Sugar Peppermint Body Scrub, The Well Code #keepyourwellfull

This DIY all natural lip scrub and body scrub have my name written all over them.  Well, Kat’s too because she’s obsessed with any and all kinds of scrubs these days.  But seriously, this may be our favorite DIY since our flavored salts way back in the day.  

These scrubs prove to be excellent exfoliators and moisturizers (thanks to the Coconut Oil), with ingredients you can feel good about.  They’re great for yourself of course (at-home spa night, anyone?!), but they also make a thoughtful and affordable gift idea this holiday season.  

What you’ll need: organic evaporated sugar crystals (don’t worry, you can find them in your grocery store and on Amazon), Christmas Spirit (my favorite essential oil by far…it smells like all the Christmastime feels with its sweet, spicy blend of orange, cinnamon, and spruce essential oils), peppermint essential oil, orange zest and coconut oil.  Easy as that!  If you’re pulling together your ingredients and find yourself sans Christmas Spirit or peppermint essential oil, first be sure to enter our GIVEAWAY this week, but then go ahead and snag your Premium Starter Kit to get covered on that front.  And if you’re totally new to essential oils, make sure to read why we’ve become obsessed with oils HERE.

Anyway, back to the DIY at hand.  The actual process of making the DIY all natural lip scrub and body scrub is simple.  For the lip scrub, I simply combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl with my hand (it’s easiest to get your desired consistency that way).  I store it in an small airtight jar like this one.  And if I’m gifting it, I just tie with a bow and voila…the perfect little “happy”!

As for the DIY body scrub, I mix coconut oil and sugar in a stand mixer until I have a paste. After transferring it to a bowl, I mix in the orange zest and essential oils.  Lastly, I add a few drops of cranberry juice for the coloring…though I do it super slowly to get the palest of pinks (it can get red fast!).  Like with the DIY all natural lip scrub, I store the body scrub in an airtight glass container or apothecary jar in my fridge.  It’s a super easy (under 10 minutes), thoughtful, homemade treat this time of year that I’ll definitely be gifting!  Truly, MKR

P.S. Enter our essential oils giveaway HERE.  And check out my picks below for great apothecary and cosmetic jars. xo 

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DIY Peppermint & Citrus Body & Lip Scrub
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Total Time
10 min
Total Time
10 min
For the Lip Scrub
  1. 2 tablespoons of organic evaporated cane juice crystals
  2. 1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
  3. 2 drops peppermint oil
  4. 1 drop Young Living Christmas Spirit*
  5. Zest of 1/2 orange
For the Body Scrub
  1. 14 oz organic coconut oil
  2. 3/4 cup standard sugar (I used fine crystals because I don't like my body scrub to be super rough, but it's your preference)
  3. zest of 2 oranges
  4. 10 drops peppermint oil
  5. About 15 drops of Young Living Christmas Spirit*
  6. A couple drops cranberry juice (amount based on what shade of pink you want)**
For the Lip Scrub
  1. Blend all ingredients to your desired consistency (I use my fingers to really get a feel for the consistency!).
  2. Store in an airtight container or jar in the fridge.
  3. Tie up with a bow, and gift away!
For the Body Scrub
  1. In a stand mixer, mix coconut oil and sugar until you have a paste.
  2. Transfer to a bowl and mix in the zest and the oil.
  3. Mix it all together, and then add a few drops of coloring (slowly...you don't want it to be red!).
  4. Store airtight in a glass container or apothecary jar in your fridge.
  5. Tie up with a bow and it's ready for gifting!
Notes
  1. *If you don't have Young Living Christmas Spirit, or can't get it (it's super popular!), sub this ingredient out for orange essential oil and a warming spice oil like cinnamon, clove or nutmeg.
  2. **You can also use beet juice or pomegranate juice for a natural pink coloring to your body scrub.
Welcome by Waiting on Martha https://waitingonmartha.com/

 

Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha

Get started with your essential oils HERE. 

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Welcome to The Well Code & Essential Oils Giveaway

Join Us On Our New Wellness Journey with @TheWellCode
November 26, 2016
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Everyday

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Everyday Essential Oils, The Well Code

Have you noticed how the term “wellness” is pretty popular these days?  Every single thing we see and read seems to be about wellness.  Not health, but wellness.  And over the past year this trend has caused us to ask ourselves what “wellness” honestly looked like for us.  You may have noticed the results here on the blog…we’ve delved wellness topics like Ayurveda, all-natural beauty, seasonal eating, superfoods, smudge sticks and even healing crystals.  As a result, that research unearthed a surprisingly true passion for “wellness” and led us to a bigger question…how do we keep our wells full?

Here’s what we came up with.  Our well is full by focusing on what we put both on and in our bodies. It’s full through the mental and physical goals we strive towards, the relationships we cultivate, the careers we work for, and the daily routines we keep.

Sounds good right?  The problem was we knew a lot of you, like us, desired to live a cleaner, calmer, more “all natural solutioned” everyday life.  And you, like us wanted an authentic, yet attainable approach to holistic remedies without getting to “woo-woo.”  And you, like us, wanted a mind, body and soul approach to wellness, not an approach focused on a number on the scale. And, I guarantee you, like us couldn’t find this place.  That is until now.  Welcome to the beginning of our latest venture, The Well Code.

On The Well Code, you’ll find the focus is yes, essential oils.  But, this my friends is just the beginning.  You see our wellness journey really started with oils, so it’s only fitting that that’s where we begin.  It’s also fitting since oils are a huge part of both Kat and I’s daily routine, (don’t even get Kat started on Peppermint Oil).  But as I said, this is just the beginning.  We have plans to launch a complete wellness site early next year, but what that will look like is still taking shape.  So for now, we’ll be sharing everything The Well Code right here on the Blog and TWC’s social channels.

So what will we be sharing?  Don’t worry what you’ve come to love and expect on WOM will not change, I promise this will not become a wellness only site.  In fact, most of you won’t even notice a difference, just a little bit more content with a bit more focus in the wellness category.  Content like DIY’s, essential oil food and beauty recipes, essential oil remedies, cleaning and overall well-being. We’ll also be sharing relevant articles, tips and resources for the lifestyle we want to create.  A life where all of our wells are full.

And with that we are thrilled to welcome you all to The Well Code.  I hope you’ll check out TWC’s main page as well as our FAQ’s page.  The FAQ’s are especially helpful to any of you that are new to oils or are just beginning to dip your toe in the oils water.  And make sure to sign up for our email newsletter and  follow along on Instagram for our latest projects. 

Lastly, to celebrate the exciting launch of The Well Code, we’re giving away* one Essential Oils Premium Starter Kit ($300 value, pictured and discussed in greater length HERE). In the spirit of Small Business Saturday we’re also offering free shipping* (up to $20) to all new members with the purchase of any premium starter kit, this includes the Thieves all natural cleaning kit.  The Thieves Kit is great for anyone who may not be into oils, but loves using all natural, chemical free cleaning products!  

I guess all that’s left is to say is thank you for always supporting WOM and welcome to The Well Code.  We’re so thrilled to have you on this journey with us!  Truly, MKR & Kat 

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photography, Kathryn McCrary for Waiting on Martha

*Please note you must not currently be a member of Young Living to be eligible to for the giveaway or free shipping.  Please note shipping costs will be refunded back to you after purchase.

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