This week we are talking about cattle ranching with Sara Shivers of Salt Creek Meats. She has a beautiful Black Angus ranch out in the flint hills of Kansas. Sara talks about the challenges of modern cattle farming and the rewards that come with it.

Learn more about Salt Creek Meats by visiting their website at  https://www.saltcreekmeats.com/ 

Kyle Claypool and Michael Stuckey believe that a distillery has the power to connect a community together.  That's one of the reasons they started Lifted Spirits in Kansas City.  In the second part of their interview with Renee, the guys talk about some of the creative ways they've raised capital and kept their business growing.   You can learn more about them at https://liftedspiritskc.com/.

Kyle Claypool and Michael Stuckey believe that a distillery has the power to connect a community together.  That's one of the reasons they started Lifted Spirits in Kansas City.  Along with their wheat whiskey, gin, vodka, and absinthe verte, they continue to experiment with small batch spirits.  Their beverages can be sampled in their tasting room or at liquor stores around Kansas City.  You can learn more about them at https://liftedspiritskc.com/.

Renee makes a trip to Sunnyvale, California to visit LinkedIn headquarters.  LinkedIn chefs Cyrus Irudistan and Vincent Attali talk about what it's like to cook for the employees of a social media company and how they got this point in their careers.

Dr. Mark Boyle of Body Basics in Kansas City returns to the podcast to to talk more about the connection between digestion and health.

You can learn more about him and his business at https://bodybasics.vpweb.com/default.html.

Dr. Mark Boyle of Body Basics in Kansas City joins Renee to talk about the connection between digestion and health. 

You can learn more about him and his business at https://bodybasics.vpweb.com/default.html.

It's that time of year again when supermarket aisles are lined with cheap gifts, greeting cards and flowers. This week we look at the beginnings of Valentines Day and some of the foods that are supposed to be the best for getting in the mood for love.

This weeks recipe: Hand Rolled Chocolate Truffles

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate

1 1/2 tablespoons butter

Melt them down in the microwave

Heat 1/4 cup of heavy cream and 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar

Pour the cream mixture over the melted chocolate and mix well

After it's all combine pour in 2 tablespoons of chocolate liquor

Pour into a pan with wax paper lining the bottom and put it into the refrigerator. Let the mixture set up.

Scoop out the mixture with a melon baller and roll it into a ball with your hands.  Roll the ball into cocoa powder.

It's difficult to close the door on something you spent so much time and energy cultivating, but we only have one life, so use your time wisely.  

This week's recipe: The Best Basic Smoothie

2 cups of spinach

1 mango

1/2 cup of coconut milk

1 acocado

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Taking the nightshades out of your diet is said to help with inflammation.  Yes, i am living proof of this.  If you have an illness the best thing one can do is stop eating items your body has to fight.  Do your body a favor and allow it to be amazing by eating the most nourishing foods as opposed to pelting it with foods and chemicals that heighten the sphincter factor.

This Week's Recipe: Beet Marinara (Tomato Free Sauce)

4 each  carrots peeled and diced

1 each  beet peeled and diced

1 each  celery stalk sliced

1 each  bay leaf

1 T   red miso paste

3 C   water for boiling

2 each   cloves garlic crushed

1 T   olive oil

1 T   fresh herbs chopped

basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme use your favorite

1 T   arrowroot dissolved in 2 Tbs. water

Technique:

Boil carrots, beet, celery and bay leaf, covered until tender about 30 minutes

Remove carrots, beet and celery, reserving liquid

Puree the veggies, add left over liquid as needed

Add the red miso paste and puree again

Heat pan with olive oil

Sauté garlic for 2 minutes over medium low heat

Add pureed veggies

Let simmer for 15 minutes

Add arrowroot stir until thickens slightly

Turn off heat

Finish with herbs

Serve over rice or pasta with chicken.  

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It is said, that if you work less hours and take better care of yourself, the work you put in is at a higher quality.  I’ll agree to that with a few caveats.

This week's recipe: Chai Tea

• 2-inch piece fresh ginger, cut into thin rounds

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns

• 10 whole cloves

• 6 cardamom pods

Crush everything together then pour into a pot with 

• 6 cups cold water simmer for 10 minutes

add

• 6 bags of black tea (preferably Darjeeling) steep for 5 minutes

add 

• 2 cups coconut milk

• 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

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