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Family Ski Trips

How to Get Your Skiing Kids and All their Gear from the Car to the Chairlift

  • January 24, 2020January 24, 2020

They say it’s all about the journey. But, in skiing with kids, it’s all about making it to the chairlift to start the day with your sanity, kids and gear fully intact. Am I right? I mean, I fully believe they are learning something along the way…rising up in the face of adversity from the “longest walk eveerrr and this stuff is soooo heavy and I’m hooooottt” but seriously, it’s no way to start the day! Stick with me and I will share with you our favorite set up across ages for getting to the chairlift.

Read more “How to Get Your Skiing Kids and All their Gear from the Car to the Chairlift” →
Family Ski Trips

How to Raise Skiers and Why It’s Important For Your Family

  • January 14, 2020January 16, 2020

Our Snow Happy kiddos are now 6 and 9 (well, 6 1/2, to be precise, according to my daughter). They have been on skis since they could walk, tromping around the living room and yard in little plastic skis and then moving on to ski boots and skis around two. Now, when we see the little ones out there, stumbling around in cumbersome boots or riding along in a backpack, cheeks flushed we feel all the feels. There is so much nostalgia there for us in those early days. They were hard, but filled with joy and oh so worth it.

Read more “How to Raise Skiers and Why It’s Important For Your Family” →
Beautycounter

How to Clean Out and Clean Up your Make Up Bag

  • January 14, 2020January 14, 2020

Have you cleaned out and cleaned up your make-up bag yet this year? No? Now is the time!! Spend some time looking up the ingredients of what you’re currently using and don’t forget to check those expiration dates! I just realized my mascara is over 6 months old and optometrists recommend you replace it every 3 months for eye health! No wonder my eyes have been bugging me…who knows what’s lurking in that tube. 

Read more “How to Clean Out and Clean Up your Make Up Bag” →
Clean Living

Creamy Greens and Sausage Soup with Gnocchi

  • January 13, 2020January 13, 2020

Well, who knew??? It’s National Gluten Free Day today!! Anything can be a thing. In honor of this day, developing a path to cleaner living and healthier eating, I wanted to share this delicious, decadent and hearty soup recipe with you all. This non-dairy, gluten and grain free soup is loaded with greens and will disappear before you know if so double up for leftovers! It is a family favorite here in the Snow Happy house and will leave you feeling all warm and cozy. 

Let’s take a quick minutes to talk ingredients:

I always buy organic greens (lettuce, kale, spinach, you name it) because heavy pesticides are used when growing this type of produce. Typically, farmers use a lot of pesticides to grow anything not super disease resistant or produce that bugs love. I highly recommend checking out the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists as a great place to start when evaluating what’s most important to buy organic.

Gnocchi is a really fun way to involve the kids in cooking if you have the time. But, when you don’t, and you need grain and gluten-free pastas, I highly recommend Cappello’s. The gnocchi is an amazing stand-in for the real deal and their almond flour based pasta is fresh and takes like homemade egg noodles. Need I say more?

When buying coconut milk, be sure to read the label (well, really, read the label on anything that didn’t come directly from a tree, bush or the dirt) to make sure the ingredients include coconut cream and coconut water. Many brands add fillers and gums for consistency and to keep it from separating, but I prefer it as nature intended!! Separation? No problem. Stir well if you need a small amount and if you don’t just dump the whole thing in!!

And finally, beware the ingredient list on any store bought stock. Look out for words like “natural” and “flavoring” and sugar. I know, don’t even get me started on why there is sugar in the stock. The organic stocks are typically okay, but give that box a read nonetheless. I try to keep homemade on hand, but you know, sometimes you just need things to be easy!


Just a note on gluten-free eating…it’s not for everyone for sure. We definitely practice eating in moderation around here and love a crusty loaf of sourdough and pasta, but we are working on gut-healing and for now, avoiding gluten is part of our plan. You can most certainly modify this recipe with ingredients that suits your family’s dietary needs and tastes (sub high-quality organic milk for coconut milk and/or pasta for the gnocci or almond noodles). I love soups because they are flexible and forgiving!!
Hope you enjoy!!! 

Print Recipe

Creamy Sausage and Greens Soup with Gnocchi

Simple to prepare hearty delicious gluten, grain and dairy free soup
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Course: Soup
Keyword: Gluten-free, grain-free, dairy free
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp extra olive oil or ghee
  • 1 small diced onion
  • 1 lb italian turkey sausage Ground turkey works well, too. Just add a couple teaspoons of italian seasoning to taste.
  • 4 cloves minced garlic
  • 4 cups chicken broth or stock
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning blend
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 bunches kale, chard or spinach chopped or torn Any greens will work. Frozen is great, too! If using fresh kale or chard, remove from stem before chopping
  • 2 cups coconut milk (1 can)
  • 2 tsp dijon mustard Or 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 12-15 oz gnocci or pasta

Instructions

  • Heat oil or ghee in a large stockpot and saute onion until translucent. Then add sausage and cook until browned.
  • Once meat is browned, add garlic and saute a few minutes (you will start to smell it). Add stock, remaining seasonings and bring to boil. Once boiling, reduce to simmer.
  • Add greens and stir in coconut milk, mustard and vinegar. Bring back to a simmer.
  • In the last few minutes of cooking, add gnocchi or pasta. Simmer until cooked through (the fresh pastas will only take a minute or so; dried longer). If planning leftovers, some prefer prepare gnocchi or pasta separately and add to each bowl so it doesn't break down too much when storing).
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste!
Finding Joy

Why Having a Growth Mindset Should be a Part of Your Skiing Practice

  • January 10, 2020January 10, 2020

Skiing is hard. It does not come naturally to humans…especially learning as an adult, or trying to improve as an adult. There is nothing intuitive about it. It requires practice and the learning curve is (ahem) steep. So why do it? Whether it’s skiing or some other physical challenge, why do something you don’t have to do when it’s so darn hard?

Read more “Why Having a Growth Mindset Should be a Part of Your Skiing Practice” →
Family Ski Trips

Snow Happy Just Skied Beaver Creek Resort and it’s Great Place for Families!

  • December 31, 2019January 6, 2020

A couple weeks before Christmas, our Snow Happy family was lucky enough to take a mid-week getaway to Beaver Creek Resort. Not only did we get to experience the beautiful resort and amazing skiing, but Mother Nature dumped the goods on us for two straight days!! Needless to say (because what place don’t we love skiing) we had a fabulous time in both the town of Avon and at the resort.

Read more “Snow Happy Just Skied Beaver Creek Resort and it’s Great Place for Families!” →
Beautycounter

Self Care Can be as Simple as Skin Care: Start a Skin Care Regimen in 2020!

  • December 30, 2019December 30, 2019

It’s been a while since I’ve been on a formal skin care routine. Since I cleared up my acne, I never really got back to taking care of my skin – soap and water and a moisturizer. But, now, nearing a new decade, years of sun-damage becoming apparent and my skin just feeling “congested” (no acne, but dull and clogged pores), I knew it was time to face it head on. I tried all kinds of “natural” and “organic” products without results. (Not to mention, with the lack of regulation in the cosmetics industry, those words have little meaning). 

Read more “Self Care Can be as Simple as Skin Care: Start a Skin Care Regimen in 2020!” →
Finding Joy

Snow Happy it’s Winter: Winter Solstice Facts And How to Enjoy Winter

  • December 21, 2019December 21, 2019

Today is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere…well, not officially, yet. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, it starts at 11:19PM EST tonight, December 21st 2019. It is the day of the year with the fewest hours of daylight and boy did I notice that last night and this morning! And while it makes the days feel oh so short and I want to crawl into bed by 7pm (and I probably should one of these days), I love how cozy the darkness makes it feel this time of year.

Read more “Snow Happy it’s Winter: Winter Solstice Facts And How to Enjoy Winter” →
Beautycounter

Beautycounter Big Clean Sale: My Top 5 Faves

  • December 21, 2019December 21, 2019

I don’t know about you, my friend, but kiddos got out of school today for break and really feels like we’re getting into the holidays now! We are all ready for a break from the routine! And, to kick off the weekend, I’m really excited to let you all know about a Beautycounter sale…cleaner safer beauty favorites for less? Yes, please!!! This article includes affiliate/commission links. But, here at Snow Happy, you can trust 1) we will only review and promote products we have tried, and 2) we will always be honest with you.

Read more “Beautycounter Big Clean Sale: My Top 5 Faves” →
Favorite Things

Snow Happy: 2019 Get Creative Kids Gift Guide

  • December 14, 2019December 15, 2019

Wow! What a short couple weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas!! If you are still looking for the perfect gift for the kids in your life let us help you!! We put together a few of our favorite things in a last minute gift guide for kids! Here at Snow Happy, we love gifts that get kids outside to use those incredibly creative brains and let their imaginations run wild. It only makes sense that a Snow Happy Gift Guide for Kids would include things to get them outside! This article includes affiliate/commission links. But, here at Snow Happy, you can trust 1) we will only review and promote products we have tried, and 2) we will always be honest with you.

Read more “Snow Happy: 2019 Get Creative Kids Gift Guide” →

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Welcome to Snow Happy! I am Mercedes Barrs, Founder of Snow Happy. I am a writer, mama, wife, skier, tennis player, avid reader, beach bum, health fanatic, love cooking, tequila and a good home improvement project. I'm grateful to call the Colorado mountain home and priviledged to enjoy them with my husband, son, daughter and dog. Read More

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