tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397244313807163442024-03-07T23:03:54.469-08:00RAW Food for Truthraw food diet raw food recipes vegan recipes health wellness blog natural healing green eco-friendly livingDitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-3549434715624147532017-01-01T17:55:00.001-08:002017-01-01T18:13:06.375-08:00Ready for a Cleanse? The Simplest Detox...with Activated Charcoal <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<i>"New Year, New You"</i> - right? Or so they say! :)<br />
<br />
How many times have you seen a New Year Resolutions list with "detox", "cleanse", "healthier eating", "diet", "healthier lifestyle", etc. on it? Pretty much every year, right? And they probably appear on our own lists every year as well. WHY? Because we all know that we could do better no matter what kind of diet we are following and what kind of lifestyle we are living.<br />
<br />
I'm there with you! <br />
<br />
1 - I haven't been sleeping much...due to way too much work. <br />
2 - I haven't been doing yoga...due to way too much work.<br />
<br />
I need to make some serious (while keeping it fun ;) ) changes in those departments! *sigh*<br />
<br />
Most of us are bombarded with stress, pollution from every direction...contaminants in food, water and the air we breathe, and most likely lacking sleep or at least quality sleep, as well as enough movement (exercise)...which adds to the problem by not letting us rejuvenate as best as we could.<br />
<br />
So what do we do? The best we can...which involves daily / periodic / seasonal cleansing in my world.<br />
<br />
Of course, cleansing and detoxification can mean completely different things to two different people....and they SHOULD! But the simplest things are available to everyone and are doable for everyone....regardless of what types of kitchen equipment you have available or how much time you have on your hands to commit to this.<br />
<br />
One of the simplest things that takes seconds from your day is adding Activated Charcoal Powder to your juice and you're done!<br />
<br />
What does activated charcoal do for you? Well, it can do many things...in fact, the list is so long that there is no way I could cover it here.<br />
<br />
But to give you an idea and share a few:<br />
<br />
Activated Charcoal is neither absorbed nor metabolized by the body. It simply helps to Eliminate the Body of:<br />
-Toxins<br />
-Heavy Metals<br />
-Pesticides<br />
-Parasites<br />
-Plaque and stains on teeth (it whitens teeth)<br />
-Nicotine / Alcohol<br />
-Chlorine etc. in water (hence, used as a water filter)<br />
-(Lowers) Cholesterol<br />
-(prevent or eliminate)Hangover --- a great thing right now, after the holidays, if you have some on hand!<br />
-Flu Symptoms<br />
-Bloating/Flatulence/Colic<br />
-Stomach / Bowel Problems<br />
-Bali Belly (traveler's upset stomach)<br />
-Liver / Kidney Problems<br />
-Heart Burn<br />
-Nausea / Vomiting<br />
-Insect Bites & Stings<br />
-Candida / Thrush / UTI<br />
-Mouth Ulcers/Cold Sores<br />
-Cuts / Infections<br />
-Eye Infections<br />
-Skin Irritations<br />
-Acne<br />
-Cysts / Ulcers / Abscess<br />
-Arthritis<br />
-Neutralizes Odors (put some charcoal powder in a sachet and place wherever odors need to be eliminated - shoes, fridge, etc.)<br />
-Impurities in Water (it's a water purification substance)<br />
-Bad Breath<br />
....and the list goes on.<br />
<br />
So let's start with how to take advantage of it?! Today I'll share my favorite charcoal drinks and I'll share other uses and tips in follow-up posts....fair enough?<br />
<br />
The quickest way to take some charcoal is by mixing a teaspoon of the powder with a glass of water and drink it up. That's it. But not everyone likes such a "drink".<br />
I only use Food Grade Activated Charcoal by Schizandu Organics (which you can find at least two places online...on the <a href="https://schizandu.myshopify.com/">Schizandu website</a> and on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Activated-Charcoal-Detoxification-Whitening-Digestive/dp/B01BOFPW34/ref=sr_1_11_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1483318821&sr=8-11&keywords=activated+charcoal+powder">Amazon</a>)<br />
<br />
This charcoal is 100% pure, additive-free, food grade, and tasteless and odorless and it's a very fine dust-like powder....specially-milled to blend well. On top of that, you get a HUGE jar - enough to last you numerous 2-week detoxes, and you get an eBook with it too with all kinds of cool info about how you can use this jar of almost diamond dust :)<br />
<br />
Here's what I do with it to make it a delicious black lemonade experience:
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Black Detox Lemonade</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(serves 1)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 large glass of pure water</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 lemon (use the juice of it only)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp food grade activated charcoal powder</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp maple syrup / honey / coconut sugar / your choice of sweetener</div>
<br />
Drink this whenever you feel like cleansing is a good idea. Some take it every day. That is fine too. But be sure to take it about 1-2 hours away from medications and birth-control pills, etc. Some say charcoal could even carry those out of the system, given it's such an excellent detoxify and used in hospitals to save lives when someone has overdosed or poisoned themselves.<br />
<br />
Of course, you can add a teaspoon of the charcoal powder to any juice as well. Even better, make your own. I love this combination:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Activated Charcoal Detox Juice</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(serves 1-2)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of 5-8 celery stalks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of 1-2 apples</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of 1-2 lemons</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of a thumb-walnut size ginger root (depends on how spicy you like it)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1-2 tsp food grade activated charcoal powder</div>
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And here's a detox shot....it comes to your rescue if you ever have a stomach bug / upset stomach / hangover:<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Activated Charcoal Cleanse Gut Shot</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(serves 1)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of ½ apple</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of piece of ginger root</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Juice of piece of turmeric root</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp food grade activated charcoal powder</div>
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These are my favorites but you can certainly come up with other favorite recipes and I'm sure you will! :)<br />
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Pretty easy, right?<br />
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You can thank me later! Happy cleansing and Happy New Year.....new chances for a new YOU! :)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><span style="background-color: #bd081c; background-position: 3px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 14px 14px; border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border: none; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span>Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-43938243925921938562016-07-24T21:21:00.001-07:002016-07-24T21:24:55.944-07:00Chocolate Mint Ice Cream DREAM the Raw Vegan Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
While the recent heatwave didn't result in raised temperatures in Los Angeles (it only ;) got to 107<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">˚</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; line-height: 18.48px;">F</span> here) as much as it did in other areas of the States, it was plenty enough for an excuse for eating pounds of watermelon and frozen treats for a few days in a row!<br />
<br />
Most RAW foods are already cooling as they are but when it's this hot, cold (temperature-wise) foods just feel good, period. And when they're the yummiest desserts without sugar and cream and gum and coloring and what not... all the stuff that can leave someone suffering afterwards, there's no reason not to indulge :)<br />
<br />
Chocolate-mint ice cream, anyone? Personally, I love both cacao and fresh mint, and I've never been a big fan of chocolate-mint anything. It's very rare that I like the combination in any form but it has happened. Mint is cooling though, besides being so delicious and full of aroma when picked fresh from the garden so it had to be part of the fun and ended up being an ingredient in the originally planned cacao-berry-superfood "ice dream", as I call them.<br />
<br />
So what went into it? Well....lots, but just pick and choose your own ingredients if you don't want to duplicate this exact creation. This version however is loaded with antioxidants-rich goodies:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Chocolate Mint Ice Cream</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Ingredients (serves1-2 people):</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 cup of frozen blueberries</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 banana that has been sliced and frozen (much easier to blend slices)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
6 heaping tsp cacao powder</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 tsp coconut butter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 tsp maca powder</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 tsp Spirulina</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sliver of fresh ginger</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 tsp bee pollen (not vegan)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sprig of fresh mint</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4-6 ice cubes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2-1 cup cold water (add slowly while checking consistency)</div>
<br />
Blend it all into a divine, soft serve, "ice dream" meal. Garnish with fresh mint leaves. Serve and enjoy....while sitting in the garden, bird-watching - that's a must! ;)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;" />
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<br />Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-51836129053108246122016-05-20T22:01:00.001-07:002016-05-21T08:18:12.655-07:00"Black Magic"....Straight from the Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<i>Shilajit</i>..... "what!?" is the reaction I get form many people when I mention the name of this "thing" I love so much :)<br />
<br />
This wonderful substance that is neither a supplement nor really a food (although, I'd call it that) is a mineral pitch (a tar-like substance, a resin) that literally oozes out of layers of rocks of the Earth in the Himalayas and other high mountains in the world.<br />
<br />
<b>So...what IS IT???</b><br />
Shilajit is an ancient adaptogenic "herb" (it's classified as such, most of the time) that has been part of the Ayurvedic system for thousands of years and is also referred to as "destroyer of weakness" by some. It is taken by many people, including myself, who are familiar with its wonderful health-supporting benefits, kind of like a supplement once or twice a day.<br />
<br />
<b>Why take it? </b><br />
The food supply we rely on for "nourishing" our bodies is simply NOT sufficient and can NOT provide all the minerals and other nutrients we need to function at our peak. Minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, enzymes, amino acids, etc are all lacking in today's sad-looking produce and not to mention other foods in grocery stores. And, while we can go to the farmers markets for fresher and more nutrient-dense foods or even grow our own, there is simply more need for nutrients for counterbalancing the toxic load we are exposed to in our daily lives. Most people reach for supplements and/or drugs in desperation and hoping to fix imbalances and or "treat" dis-eases in their bodies. Unfortunately, introducing these synthetic substances can, of course, further the existing problem(s). <br />
This magical resin is a great way to provide our bodies with the nutrients its lacking.<br />
<br />
<b>What are its health benefits?</b><br />
Shilajit is well known for its fulvic and fumic acid content. It is very high in 80+ trace minerals, provides a full spectrum of amino acids, many enzymes, phytonutrients and all of these together can make an incredible difference in someone's health when taken on a regular basis.<br />
The complex nutritional profile translates to its powers for helping<br />
- increase the body's adaptibility<br />
- neutralize toxins and heavy metals<br />
- assist the absorption of nutrients in foods you take in along with it<br />
- get rid of "bad estrogens" and pesticides<br />
- regulate hormones<br />
- increase energy and sex drive<br />
- tonify the kidneys (it's a Jing herb)<br />
<br />
Seeing this list, I think you get an idea...it is amazing to have around AND take, no matter how strange it is ;)<br />
<br />
I treasure it and it's one of my favorite foods.<br />
<br />
The resin...<br />
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<br />
...is quite hard and can't even be "scooped" at colder temperatures. I took a picture of the open jar on a cool day and it was impossible to get any amount of it out.<br />
However, it melts naturally on warmer days or when heated. You may heat it gently if it's not a hot summer day and you need to melt it on the stove in a double boiler. Do this by placing it in a bowl of water with its level lower then the lid / opening and pacing that bowl in a pot that you will heat GENTLY on the stove.<br />
<br />
Once it's melted, it's very easy to "serve". You need to start with very little (pea size amount is suggested) and you can build up from there. You can't really overdose.<br />
<br />
I've been consuming Shilajit for many years and I love it so much that most days I take 1-2 teaspoons of the powder (an extract) and this was my first time trying a resin, which can be just sucked on like candy but will probably not appeal to most people.....that is my hones and best guess.<br />
<br />
Taste-wise, it might be something to get used to. I loved it from day one but when you first open any high quality Shilajit it will probably "shock" you because of the smell and then the taste when trying it. It has a very strong, kind of "smokey - as described by many - and, in my opinion, coffee-like flavor.<br />
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<b style="font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">Pureblack (P</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>ürblack) </b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">The </span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">P</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">ürblack resin is nicely packaged. It comes in a very nice glass jar, similar to an expensive, high-end cosmetic. It also comes with a tiny foldout info sheet and a serial number is engraved into the jar to be able to keep track of the batch it comes from. Pürblack guarantees quality and purity, which is the most important issue when it comes to selecting Shilajit. I have not tested its purity myself but I'm planning on doing so and to compare it with other sources, just beacuse I'm curious and I think it's fun :) I do not know how one would know if the Shilajit taken in is really pure or even real vs. being a counterfeit but I think I would "feel" the difference.</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Either way, I have not taken </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">P</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">ürblack for long enough to comment on this but I will certainly keep taking it and update you on whether I feel the difference or not (compared to the effects of the other Shilajit I've been taking for years).</span></div>
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>How to take it..</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">I'm happy to take Shilajit straight, with a spoon. But most people will not like that idea, I'm certain of that, especially the first time.<br />I blend some into tonics most day where I combine it with other herbs and make a wonderful warming concoction of it that is the most nourishing and balancing meal in itself. I must say, I'm looking forward to my tonics every single day and blending Shilajit into them is my favorite way of taking this stuff. I just love this stuff! <br /><br />Make sure the resin is melted and dip a toothpick or a small wooden utensil or whatever you may prefer and take a tiny dab of it. Take it straight if you're like me or add it to a glass of water or nutritious drink and let it dissolve off of the toothpick/spoon. Once all the Shilajit is off the spoon, stir your drink and it's ready to consume.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>When NOT to take it?....caution</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">Some people say do not take it while pregnant. Of course, nobody wants to take responsibility for your health and, ultimately, YOU are in charge. As they say, "when in doubt, always consult your health practitioner"....of course, in my opinion, that's you! Most doctors and practitioners will not even have the slightest clue what shilajit IS if you ask them. I will tell you this much, it's the most amazing substance to take WHILE trying to get pregnant and planning for a baby and, personally, I would take this (and it's one of my top choices) while pregnant as well....if I ever have the experience. My intuition is that that's when women would need it most! (Anyway, listen to whomever you trust, whether that is your doctor or your own body. I choose my body : ) as you already know if you've bee reading my blog.)<br /><br />The other thing to mention is that you might experience detoxification symptoms. The more toxic our bodies are, the worse we feel when detoxing. If you feel "horrible", cut back a bit and go slower or assist our detoxification by drinking more water, taking in substances that help remove the toxicity and assist their leaving the body once they're out of the cells.<br /><br />If you're on medication, be aware that Shilajit can neutralize toxins and prescription drugs will most likely be recognized as such so they might be carried out with it and therefore, their effects will be lessened / prevented. Also be aware that Shilajit assists the absorption of nutrients so if you're taking something else, a natural supplement, for example, you may feel the effects of that/them even more.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">All in all, I highly recommend Shilajit for everyone. I know I will never stop taking it.<br /><br />I will finish my jar of </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">P</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">ürblack and add an update here to share about its effectiveness. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br />Give it a try and let me know how you feel!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">DISCLAIMER: P</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">ürblack sent me this jar free of cost so that I can try it and share about it with you.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"><br />My conclusion: I LOVE IT :)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> </span></span><br /><span style="color: #545454; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">You can learn more about </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">P</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;">ürblack Shilajit and get your jar here:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 18.2px;"> <a href="https://purblack.com/">https://purblack.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 18.48px;">Dita</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-76999735722428040132016-04-18T18:07:00.001-07:002016-04-18T18:13:08.384-07:00Beautifying Lemonade<br />
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<br />
Oops, it's been a few days that I promised someone that I'd post this recipe..<br />
He was begging for it and made me promise....when he saw me sipping it ever so enthusiastically the other "hot" day.<br />
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As I haven't posted anything in so long, due to a rather painful separation from the person I loved and spent my life with, a relocation to Los Angeles, a brutal car accident (which I still don't know how I survived), and my new business that kept me busy afterwards pretty much 24/7, this is a BIG deal to be back here! Yay! Hi AGAIN! :)<br />
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If you also happen to live in L.A. then you know it's been back in the high 80s to 90-ish degrees in the past 2-3 days and so refreshing drinks feel even <i>more</i> refreshing now AND we might as well "cheat" a bit and make them even more nutritious and healing than their commonly-known, traditional versions, right? Of course!..because if you're reading my blog, chances are, you're also into amazing foods for their health benefits, healing and beautifying qualities and the possibilities of its longevity-promoting effects.<br />
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Well, here's how I've been making "lemonade" lately....and, let me just say, it's been eye-catching. Yes, I DO take it with me often when I leave my little paradise behind and people ask me what I'm drinking. Most think it's a green juice...but nope. I blend ingredients for this one!<br />
Great for your skin and gut health and a great detoxifier....so get in the garden and the kitchen and make this:<br />
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<b>Beautifying Lemonade</b></div>
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<i><i>Ingredients to be blended:</i></i></div>
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</i><br />
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2-3 cups of the best quality water you can get</div>
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juice of 2 lemons</div>
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handful of fresh mint </div>
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slice of fresh aloe gel (I used about a 3/4 inch thick slice)</div>
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favorite sweetener (I use raw honey* or maple syrup** usually) </div>
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a really thin slice of ginger</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pinch or two of (ground) cayenne </div>
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*not vegan, ** not RAW<br />
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Blend all of the ingredients in a high powered blender that breaks down the mint leaves and the lemon seeds (which are best to keep in there). Grab a couple of straws and pour two servings of this wonderful treat if you have someone to share it with. If not, you will not have a problem finishing it all by yourself, I promise!<br />
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Enjoy! :)<br />
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And I'll be back soon.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: "georgia" , "utopia" , "palatino linotype" , "palatino" , serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span><br />
<br />
Dita<br />
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P.S: I'll be reviewing a TON of yummy and super healthy products in the next few weeks and some of them will involve giveaways too so stay tuned! You never know....you might get lucky and end up with a bunch of goodies delivered to your door! You can't beat that!Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-49974954775064608002015-06-28T16:00:00.000-07:002015-06-28T16:09:37.075-07:00Oatmeal...A New Way <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This might take me forever to type but, who knows, maybe someone else is healing a broken bone. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
I’m healing a broken finger….so, I will make this short, because I haven’t mastered typing with one hand and it is quite challenging.</span><br />
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One of many important nutrients most people don’t get enough of is silica. And silica happens to be crucial for strong bones. If you believed it was calcium <i>and that you get that from milk</i>, sorry, that’s simply not the truth. By the way, if you know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer's or even better, would like to prevent it ;) silica-rich foods should be on their menu!....and you might wanna share this with someone with anemia as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Where do you get silica from?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
More common ways (especially when following a raw, vegan lifestyle) are simply consuming sunflower seeds, cucumbers, green leafy vegetables, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But there are some foods and herbs that are incredibly rich in silica, such as Horsetail, Oatstraw…and OATS!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been making horsetail infusions as well (and WILL tell you all about it) but after years of not consuming any grains, the other day I opted for oats in the “raw” form…..if we can say that, I kind of doubt it….let’s call it “raw-ish”, ha!….oatmeal. As far as preparing it, I did NOT cook it though. THAT much I CAN say : )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And, I might as well mention, that this makes an absolutely delicious and satisfying meal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So here we go. Here’s what I did:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Raw” Whole Oat Groat Meal (Oatmeal)</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup “raw” oat groats* </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1-2 pinches vanilla (ground bean)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">hot water / almond milk for blending</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">optional: pinch of salt</span></div>
<div style="min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Toppings I used: maple syrup, cacao nibs, cinnamon, goji berries</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">More topping ides: fresh berries, sliced bananas, walnuts, coconut sugar, whatever you love with oatmeal</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
*make sure it’s not the toasted variety…..they’re commonly sold in bulk in health food stores</span><br />
<div style="min-height: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To prepare:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1) rinse the oats and soak them in pure water overnight (or for just a few hours if that’s all you have)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2) strain and rinse the soaked oats and blend them in a high-speed blender with all of the ingredients above (except the toppings)….blend in sweetener too if you desire a sweeter meal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3) serve in a warmed up / hot (but safe to touch) bowl and add your favorite toppings</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy this heart-warming meal for breakfast on a cool morning or as an afternoon meal, like I did, following a salad…..Always eat your greens in first! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be honest, I don’t think I would have ventured for this if it wasn’t for a broken bone. So, thank you, finger! : )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As yummy as it is, from now on this will be a go-to “dish” on cooler days, for sure. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Happy Summer days!….and if you live on the Southern hemisphere, I hope you still have plenty of sunshine! : )</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Will be in touch soon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: red; line-height: 33px;">♥</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Dita</span><br />
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Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-67062720046151835652015-01-06T21:16:00.001-08:002015-01-07T07:51:56.887-08:00One Minute Green Soup That I Wish I Had on Tap! <br />
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I had the last few Persian cucumbers of the season sitting in the fridge. The crispy little things sure will be missed till they show up at the market again because I can't get enough of this soup I use them for ALL THE TIME. So, that's what I made with them, yet again : )<br />
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I eat it at home or I take it with me in a mason jar...great travel food you can sip while long-distance-driving too....just make sure you have a straw! You get the picture...it's just perfect, easy, nourishing food, that's so tasty that it never gets boring (not to me, anyway).<br />
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And, yes, I do vary it a little bit, but most of the time I stick with this exact recipe:<br />
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<b>Creamy Cucumber Soup </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(makes ~ enough to fill a quart size mason jar)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 Persian cucumbers</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
generous handful of cilantro (leaves and stems, entire length)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
small jalapeño (or other hot pepper)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2-3 tbsp hemp seeds</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 fat clove of garlic</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
generous splash of olive oil</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pinch or oregano leaves</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
optional: cayenne for extra heat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
½ tsp salt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 cup (+) water</div>
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Blend it up and go! That's it! So quick, so yummy, so green, so nourishing, satisfying and hydrating. What else would you need?<br />
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Variations:<br />
<br />
Summer time: use fresh basil instead of cilantro.<br />
Calcium boost: use tahini instead of hemp seeds and dill instead of cilantro for another, very yummy, flavor combination and high amounts of calcium and copper.<br />
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No matter which of these alternatives you go with, it's a bone-nourishing soup and rather cleansing so it's a great "to-go" food when doing a detox (which is what I am doing with a group of other health-enthusiasts :) yay!). So go and make some! Your bones <i>and</i> skin will thank you...and once you taste it, you might even thank me for the recipe! :)<br />
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Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_LIDuv_F5oSvlm78HcWNE7HxgAtcINju4vdcDWdIRU4FG446cWU2qTTA4o4aaD63-SZdpBO3t3n6jqBGdArke5ogQa9evjvA2WkSw9ULNopi35zUm3Hy5rP19A3ddQ7Ap30KcJcagg/s1600/IMG_0511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_LIDuv_F5oSvlm78HcWNE7HxgAtcINju4vdcDWdIRU4FG446cWU2qTTA4o4aaD63-SZdpBO3t3n6jqBGdArke5ogQa9evjvA2WkSw9ULNopi35zUm3Hy5rP19A3ddQ7Ap30KcJcagg/s1600/IMG_0511.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a><br />
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<br />Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-12597398337517447822014-12-06T21:01:00.000-08:002015-05-03T13:42:31.339-07:00Spreadable Heaven: Chocolate Hazelnut Butter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you have even just a <i>bit</i> of interest in raw foods then, almost certainly, you're into nut butters too. They sure are "in"...and I doubt it's a temporary thing. It definitely isn't in my home, ha!<br />
More and more companies are coming out with different flavored, even sprouted versions and the selection at health food stores is ever growing... However, if you'd rather make your own little jar of heaven instead of making extra trips to the store, then here's how you CAN. No, you don't need a stone grinder. Yes, it would be nice, but let's be <i>somewhat</i> realistic, most of us don't have one of those machines sitting on the counter top. A food processor though...well, chances are you have one of those, and if you do, you're all set! You're just minutes away from indulging in your own creation of yumminess :)<br />
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By the way, home made nut butters make great Christmas presents too so you might as well stock up on a variety of nuts and other ingredients too.....to boost the flavor and nutrition density..<br />
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DIY nut butter, here we go..<br />
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<b>Chocolate Hazelnut Butter</b></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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<i>(Makes about 7 ounces)</i></div>
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1 ½ cup hazelnuts</div>
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½ cup cashews</div>
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¼ cup (or more, to taste) coconut sugar</div>
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¼ cup cacao powder</div>
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ground vanilla</div>
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optional: coconut oil*</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvhqnjoXar2NYjGwLBHv7xfCcA-PHcIcjrbOvQ9bkRbc5xpnYk3RMLY-RZtRFlAmPZpX0NfcP4q5DO4mQf734oJ_e3XW0x4X3PuwX5KnpzemOr_AuKMMWeQWAGbPW63Ij8HhWFbxruQ/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvhqnjoXar2NYjGwLBHv7xfCcA-PHcIcjrbOvQ9bkRbc5xpnYk3RMLY-RZtRFlAmPZpX0NfcP4q5DO4mQf734oJ_e3XW0x4X3PuwX5KnpzemOr_AuKMMWeQWAGbPW63Ij8HhWFbxruQ/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG" height="400" width="297" /></a>Directions:</div>
1. Place all of the nuts in the food processor and process them until you see butter forming. You will get a crumbly mixture first, which will slowly transition into a creamier paste, and eventually oily butter.<br />
*Depending on how oily or dry the nuts you're using are, you might need to help out with a bit of coconut oil, so add some if you think it's necessary. I didn't need any this time at all.<br />
While processing the nuts, make sure you pause your machine every now and then and scrape the sides and the bottom to help the formation of butter and even mixing.<br />
2. Add the coconut sugar, cacao powder and vanilla and process it more to get a homogenous mixture.<br />
3. Enjoy it immediately or store the butter in a glass jar. Refrigerate it to keep it for a longer period and lessen the chance of the oils separating out.<br />
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You're welcome! : )<br />
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<b>Hazelnut Nutrition</b><br />
Filberts are exceptionally high in manganese and are a great source of minerals in general...a great food for your bones and for supplementing mineral-deficient diets. They're also a very good source of B vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine) and, like most nuts, they're high in vitamin E...overall, a wonderful snack for healthy skin, your nerves, and to support fertility. As if you needed to justify eating some : )<br />
Just enjoy...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Dita </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Featured in </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Funky Raw</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, UK's raw food magazine</span></div>
Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-68726768191283460192014-10-29T20:04:00.000-07:002015-05-03T13:43:32.772-07:00To-Be-Devoured Persimmon Pie For The Holidays<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span>ne of my dear clients who quickly became a wonderful friend too invited me to a Diwali dinner and when I asked her to please tell me what to bring, she said: "a yummy, raw dessert".<br />
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Shouldn't be a hard task for someone who eats stuff like that every day, right? Um, not quite! My palate is so different...not like the average person's, to say the least. So every time I get asked to make something for a party or some kind of get together where there will be a variety of non-raw-foodie people present, I get nervous. It's not as simple as writing recipes for a blog and pointing out what is optional what is not and what ranges of the amounts of ingredients you may add to this or that...no, you make it once and that's it. You take what you've made and the guests will either like it or they won't. End of the story. Whew. And it's not that I really care about whether people like my food or not..they can always have something else...but in THIS case...well, this was a different story! Diwali is a beautiful and very important holiday and I felt truly honored to be invited and treated as part of the family and I wanted to make something that they would like. So, it was quite nerve-wracking process! : )<br />
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Whenever I'm preparing something for a new crowd I taste test my mixtures and once I find the perfect (to my palate) balance I add more sugar or salt or spices, depending on what kind of dish it is. In this case, obviously, since it's a dessert, I added some sugar. That is optional though if you've been on raw foods for a while and enjoy things closer to their original state.<br />
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So, what did I make? Well, the title already has given it away...<br />
I'm not a pie person. Mainly because I don't have a family to feed (yet) so what will I do with a pie? Eat it all? Probably! That's what would happen but (1) I don't want to do that to myself and (2) I'm just not motivated enough to make a pie for me only.<br />
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And so, I had to come up with a recipe from scratch because I'd never made persimmon pie before...and I must have done pretty well since it was devoured within minutes, with not a crumb of it left! Ha! Never seen a crowd like a raw dessert so much! And, that's why I'm sharing the recipe with all of you...<br />
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<b>Raw Persimmon Pie</b><br />
Ingredients:<br />
<i>(Makes One 9-inch (23 cm) Pie)</i><br />
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<u>For The Crust</u><br />
1 ½ cups cashews (use a bit less if you're like me and prefer a thinner crust)*<br />
½ cup dry shredded coconut<br />
8 dried cherries**<br />
4-5 Medjool dates**<br />
1 vanilla bean (only the scrapings of it)<br />
pinch of salt<br />
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3 T coconut oil<br />
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* any kind of (or the mixture of) buttery nuts may be used: macadamia, walnuts, pecans work well<br />
**any dried fruit you like may be used (I like adding some for tartness, like cherries) but you may use only sweet ones and add a squeeze of lemon or even some lemon zest for a nice twist<br />
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<u>For The Filling</u><br />
9 ripe (soft and dark orange!!) Hachiya persimmons<br />
1 T coconut oil<br />
3 T coconut sugar (optional, taste test the filling for sweetness)<br />
½ tsp psyllium husk powder<br />
½ tsp (or a bit less) allspice<br />
½ tsp cinnamon<br />
¼ tsp ginger powder<br />
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Preparations:<br />
1. Grind all crust ingredients, except for the coconut oil, in the food processor to make a homogenous mixture<br />
2. In a glass bowl, work the coconut oil into your crumbly mixture by hand. Make sure the oil is well distributed and there are no chunks of it anywhere in the dough.<br />
3. Press the dough into a pie shell (you may even use a shallow bowl instead) and pinch the edges. Place it in the fridge for 15 minutes to let the crust become firm.<br />
4. To make the filling, the easiest thing to do is to squeeze the soft insides of persimmons into the a blender by cracking the skin open while holding the fruit above the carafe and let the soft part drop in there. Don't use any of the skin or the stems and leaves, of course, only the soft part of the fruits.<br />
5. Add the rest of the ingredients except for maybe all the sugar and blend them into a smooth pudding-like consistency.<br />
6. Taste test your filling mixture and add sugar (or anything else) as desired to adjust the flavor to your and you guests' liking.<br />
7. Pour the filling into the pie crust you have chilled and either spread it with a spatula or make a pattern on top or decorate it later with berries, dried fruits, edible flowers, nuts, coconut flakes, or anything you have on hand and you think would go well and / or look pretty.<br />
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I had no berries at home and that's what I would have put on...so, I just made a swirl, which people also commented on and really liked :) simple things can really work well.<br />
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8. Place the pie in the fridge to cool and set for at least an hour before serving. You want to make sure it becomes firm enough so that the slices don't collapse and look like sauce upon cutting the pie.<br />
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<b>Persimmon Nutrition</b><br />
Besides the fact that persimmons are so delicious, you may want to take advantage of their ease of use now that they're in season because they're very nutritious too! Read all about their health benefits and another recipe made with them <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/10/whats-new-persimmons.html">here</a>.<br />
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Happy first week of the Holiday Season!...<br />
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More to come soon... : )<br />
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P.S: What does the Holiday Season come with for many of us? Parties, dinners, abundance of food, temptation to overeat and, yes, actual overeating and being less active...which, more often than not, leads to weight gain.<br />
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How would you like to do yourself a favor and help "reset" your body and mind before you're invited to those parties, social events and huge dinners?<br />
You're in luck! Very soon you'll have a chance to sign up and join a group of like-minded people for a Pre-Holiday Body & Mind Reset - Detox Program!..<br />
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Stay tuned for the details on that!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span><br />
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Dita<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Featured in </span><i style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Funky Raw</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, UK's raw food magazine</span></div>
Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-11422275849607542752014-09-28T18:38:00.000-07:002014-09-28T18:38:02.634-07:00Fig Bread Gets Photobombed!!<br />
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Don't you <i>hate</i> when that happens?!?!<br />
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That's definitely NOT the case around here. I love living in a place where it <i>does</i> happen : )<br />
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I was trying to focus in on the food, which I'm about to share the recipe for with you in a moment…when she just elegantly walked into the picture. Needless to say, I was distracted for a few minutes and decided to watch the deer (there were three of them) around who are most welcome in the yard. But I did get back to work, eventually, so here's a recipe, with some unique photos this time…<br />
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I've been making fig bread for the past few weeks and can't get enough, it seems. What started out as an experiment last year, during fig season, continued and developed into a regular production around here….because it's simply delicious. So, I've decided to share this with you while figs are still available AND fresh pumpkin seeds are out too…a nice combination.<br />
<br />
Besides the flavor…<br />
This snack food is incredibly rich in minerals (almonds, figs, and pumpkin seeds are all loaded with nutrients good for your bones, heart, skin, and even libido!) and very satisfying and easy to take with you. I have been taking them along for trips I went on lately and even when I'm just out and about…they're nice to carry in your bag so you have something nourishing to reach for wherever you are.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Raw Foodie's "Manna" - Fig Bread</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Ingredients for 2 trays worth - 72 pieces, the way I cut them)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
2 cups almonds</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
½ cup chia seeds</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
8-10 mission figs*</div>
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~1 tbsp cinnamon (fine powder)</div>
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pinch of your favorite salt</div>
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optional: cayenne pepper to taste, few extra figs for topping</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
pumpkin seeds for topping </div>
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Directions:<br />
0. If you have time, soak the almonds for up to 8 hours (or overnight)<br />
1. In a food processor, grind the almonds fine and then add 8-10 figs and process further.<br />
2. Grind the chia seeds (if you have a spice grinder or designated coffee grinder, otherwise just use them whole) and add them to the mixture, along with the cinnamon, salt, and cayenne (if you're using any)<br />
3. Spread your batter onto two reflex sheets (about half of your batter on one and half on another) to prepare for dehydration.<br />
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Now, this step is optional:<br />
<br />
(4.) Process a few more figs into a jam-like consistency (doesn't take much) and spread a thin layer on top of the batter. This will make them look even prettier and provide a nice gooey surface to hold the pumpkin seeds on top.<br />
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With "fig jam" layer</div>
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Without "fig jam"</div>
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5. Score, according to desired shape and size (I usually make square ones, 6 x 6 = 36 per tray).<br />
6. Sprinkle / carefully place pumpkin seeds on top of the squares nicely, pressing them into the batter gently.<br />
7. Place the trays in the dehydrator and dehydrate them for 1-1.5 hours at <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">~130 °F (54 °C).</span><br />
8. Carefully flip them onto other trays with screens only, peel the teflex sheets off from the bottom, and put them back in the dehydrator for several hours (depending on how soft or firm you'd like them to be) longer at <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">115 °F (46 °C).</span><br />
9. Devour some of what's left (after coming around and tasting them while "baking") and let the rest cool before putting them in containers for storage. Most of the time I don't even put them away though. If you're not using the dehydrator for something else for a while, you can just leave them in there on the trays to store and get some out to eat / take with you every day (as long as they last).<br />
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Enjoy your raw manna! : )<br />
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Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-59392912954653841512014-07-10T19:51:00.001-07:002015-03-01T12:47:14.413-08:00Need A Drink?<br />
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Maybe it's just one of those days?!<br />
How about one that will not only give you temporary pleasure only to make you feel <i>"blah"</i> later but also might just...<br />
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- make you feel refreshed<br />
- ease your aches and pains<br />
- help digest your dinner<br />
- help balance your blood sugar levels<br />
- relieve nausea<br />
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Well, I've got one for you that could do all that and much more because of the incredible medicinal qualities of the ingredients...Oh, and let's not forget to mention that it's also delicious! <br />
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Ready for a refreshing summer drink?<br />
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More good news: you can make this in minutes and store a pitcherful in the fridge to have within reach on hot summer days when the numbers are around 100<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">˚</span>F (~38<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">˚C)</span> on the thermometer!<br />
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You might wanna make a double-batch to have enough around to share with others!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Better-Than-Ginger-Ale</b></div>
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<i>Ingredients:</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ 0.75 L Sparkling spring water (or your favorite water)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 lemon </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ 2 in piece (or more, for a strong flavor) fresh ginger root</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ 1 in piece (or more, for a strong flavor) fresh turmeric root</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
optional: Sweetener of your choice (honey/maple syrup/agave syrup/coconut palm sugar)</div>
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<br />
To prepare:<br />
1. Juice the lemon, the ginger, and the turmeric and strain the liquid if you wish. It may be a little foamy and if you don't strain it you can just get the foam off the top to end up with a "cleaner" drink.<br />
2. Add your freshly juiced ingredients and the sweetener of your choice to the spring water. Chill if you prefer it cold.<br />
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Serve chilled, with or without any ice or at room temperature. It's delicious any way.<br />
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Note: being flexible is an important aspect of a healthy, balanced life. Try to experiment with recipes and rely on what you have available. Don't worry about having to substitute some of the ingredients.<br />
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For example:<br />
1. Don't have any lemons but you desire the sour taste? Maybe you have raw apple cider vinegar at home!? If so, use a splash of that to make your drink a bit tangy <i>AND </i>you'll have added health benefits from the malic acid and the enzymes in the vinegar, which is also great for helping with balancing your blood sugar levels and it has wonderful cleansing qualities.<br />
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2. Don't want to add / or don't have any sweetener? Juice some fruit, a couple of oranges or apples or something else you have around, to add to your drink for a sweeter taste to help offset the bitterness of the turmeric.<br />
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Cheers! : )<br />
<br />
xo<br />
<br />
Dita<br />
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<br />Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-82682403071526018262014-06-18T20:21:00.002-07:002014-06-18T20:28:21.193-07:00Avocados Are the Winners Again But There's One Fruit You Should Not Eat!...The Dirty Dozen & The Clean Fifteen, 2014<br />
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Yes, avocados, consistently, have the least amount of pesticide residue on them but beware of conventional apples! To find out the status of the rest of he fruits and vegetables, take a look at this years list: T<i>he Dirty Dozen and The Clean Fifteen, 2014</i><br />
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Organic produce can still be more expensive, even though some stores actually have certain items labeled with the same, or even lower prices than their conventional varieties. This is wonderful news and it's due to the higher and higher demand for organic foods, which allows for the cost to come down. Better yet, if you visit your local <a href="http://glowfromwithin.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/farmers-market">farmers market</a>, chances are, you'll be able to pick up all of your favorites for a lot less and, most likely, they will be organic, or at least pesticide-free! Still, for those days when you can't find organic varieties or they are just too expensive for your budget, here's how to make a decision as to when to spend the extra dollar and when it's less of a worry to go with the conventional version because the have less pesticides on them.<br />
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….the lists are out and the fruits and vegetable on them are very similar to those on the lists from previous years so, if you've been shopping with them in mind, you will not need to get used to a lot of different items.<br />
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<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd8MPT-UGJkjwoCYruXBgS7ZYoQ8QG0Hj7FGfa3SPKLVzJl4_hwrE4-ITP-GeSoYqi9if2vltwQuZbjvJaJy3MPw-R_TaMJDgOVyQTsPzh1ui9I5OF9xildsIgGM_Y11U_BN5gbSxVA/s1600/mono+blueberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLd8MPT-UGJkjwoCYruXBgS7ZYoQ8QG0Hj7FGfa3SPKLVzJl4_hwrE4-ITP-GeSoYqi9if2vltwQuZbjvJaJy3MPw-R_TaMJDgOVyQTsPzh1ui9I5OF9xildsIgGM_Y11U_BN5gbSxVA/s1600/mono+blueberries.jpg" height="388" width="400" /></a><span style="color: red;"><br />The Dirty Dozen*, Plus...</span></h4>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">1. Apples</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">2. </span><span style="color: red;">Strawberries </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">3. </span><span style="color: red;">Grapes </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">4. </span><span style="color: red;">Celery </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">5. </span><span style="color: red;">Peaches</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">6. </span><span style="color: red;">Spinach </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">7. </span><span style="color: red;">Sweet Bell Peppers</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">8. </span><span style="color: red;">Nectarines (imported)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">9. </span><span style="color: red;">Cucumbers </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">10. Cherry Tomatoes</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">11. Snap Peas (imported) </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: red;">12. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Potatoes </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">13. Hot Peppers </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">14. Blueberries (domestic)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">15. Lettuce </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">16. Kale & Collard Greens</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8tQhwQod903GkJ0nBx9u9INq0Fn-EEyEXpNYqLJ4gYIKdBuWkPjzwqFVxT9Esk0zZixLWo1TYW66YQFRD_LasW_BemgOyIvdBZMaYmVEdZSKLjLlyAMXhZKPe_jZB9fgxWh3o2GmLQ/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8tQhwQod903GkJ0nBx9u9INq0Fn-EEyEXpNYqLJ4gYIKdBuWkPjzwqFVxT9Esk0zZixLWo1TYW66YQFRD_LasW_BemgOyIvdBZMaYmVEdZSKLjLlyAMXhZKPe_jZB9fgxWh3o2GmLQ/s1600/IMG_4654.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d;">...and The Clean 15</span></h4>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 1. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Avocados </span><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 2. Sweet Corn**</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 3. Pineapples</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 4. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Cabbage </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 5. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Sweet Peas (frozen)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 6. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Onions</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 7. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Asparagus </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 8. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Mangoes </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> 9. Papayas </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">10. Kiwi</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">11. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Eggplant </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">12. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Grapefruit </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">13. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">Cantaloupe </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">14. Cauliflower </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">15. Sweet Potatoes </span></div>
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*NOTE: Forty-eight produce items were examined by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) for pesticide residue. The "Dirty Dozen" is simply the top 12 of that list, meaning, highest in pesticide residue and the "Clean Fifteen" are those starting at the bottom of the list, with the least amount of chemicals left on them.</div>
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**If you live in the U.S. almost all corn (~ 85 %) you will find is Genetically Modified (GMO). Unless it's certified organic, you won't know whether what you're buying has or hasn't had its DNA "tempered with". Therefore, even though they're on the "clean" list, I don't recommend conventional corn....due to a lack of regulations. </div>
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There are a lot of people working really hard on changing this and make it into a law to label GMO produce. Please take your time and do some research and consider signing petitions for the sake of your and the planet's health. There are a number of them to sign at:<br />
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<a href="http://www.cornucopia.org/2012/08/this-might-be-our-only-chance-for-gmo-labeling-we-can-win-this-one/" style="color: #38761d; text-decoration: none;">http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/take-action#</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Produce list reference: <a href="http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/" style="color: #38761d; text-decoration: none;">http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/</a></span></div>
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Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-64317863346923209982014-06-05T21:50:00.001-07:002014-06-06T08:36:52.544-07:00Come To My Free Class, Get a Chance to Win a Whole Foods Gift Card, and Enter a raffle to Win Superfoods!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span style="font-size: large;">ll that in one evening?? Yes! Mark your calendar for June 12th! I'll be teaching a class at Whole Foods at 7pm on Thursday evening.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7;"><b>Topic:</b> Cleansing, to welcome in the summer</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #674ea7;"><u>Come and learn how to prepare delicious cleansing dishes, such as:</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Cucumber Cleanse - A refreshing soup to welcome the summer</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Hemp Tabouleh</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">Berrylicious Summer Salad</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Space is limited! </span>RSVP by commenting below<span style="font-weight: normal;"> and you will have a chance to </span>win a Whole Foods gift card and be entered in the raffle to win cacao, goji berries, etc by Navitas Naturals<span style="font-weight: normal;">.*</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-weight: normal;">Is there anything you'd like to learn about (within the subject of cleansing and raw foods) during this class? Share in your comment below!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-weight: normal;">See You There! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-weight: normal;">Don't forget to bring your kids, your questions, and your appetite!</span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Also, share this free event with your friends around the Bay Area. You never know who will benefit from learning how to make clean, nutritious dishes that are so simple to prepare!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 33px; text-align: start;">♥</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-small;">*You must be present to win. </span></span></div>
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Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-27293781874882991572014-06-03T21:40:00.000-07:002014-06-03T21:47:06.139-07:00Grow Your Own Medicine In The Kitchen!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know what's hot?! Whatever people are talking about, of course. And guess what, a few people asked me about sprouting and some, specifically about fenugreek sprouts, and the "how to" of sprouting….sooo, that's what today's subject is!</div>
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Now, you might ask, what's so hot about sprouts?<br />
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<b>Did you know?…</b><br />
- when you sprout a seed you increase its nutritional value up to 20 times!<br />
- sprouted seeds provide high amounts of very easily digestible proteins<br />
- by sprouting your own seeds, you are able to harvest the freshest foods right in your kitchen, no excuses : ) all year-round!<br />
- almost any seed can be sprouted<br />
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<b>What kind of seeds should you sprout?</b><br />
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- alfalfa<br />
- clover<br />
- radish<br />
- fenugreek<br />
- mung beans, etc<br />
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The above list has examples of seeds that are very easily sprouted simply using a jar. Some seeds, especially grains and sunflower seeds are better to be sprouted or grown into micro greens using trays of soil, which requires more commitment on your part. For now, let's just stick with introducing how to get started with sprouting in jars right in your kitchen.<br />
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<b>What you'll need for sprouting in jars:</b><br />
- any kind of pint size jars you might have (or mason jars)<br />
- cheese cloth and rubber bands OR screen lids that fit mason jars (available in health food stores)<br />
- space that is relatively dark (not exposed to direct sunlight)<br />
- a dripping rack or tray that can hold your jar(s) at a 45 degree angle for days<br />
- and, of course, the kind of seeds you'd like to sprout, and pure water<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: I took the photo outside just because it's prettier than a picture of a sprouting jar in the kitchen sink where I keep mine. You do NOT want to grow your sprouts outside. </span></b><br />
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<b>What to do:</b><br />
- soak a couple of tablespoons of seeds overnight in a cup of water<br />
- rinse and drain the seeds and place them in your sprouting jar with the lid on or with a piece of cheese cloth held on tightly by a rubber band<br />
- place the jar in your dripping rack / tray at a 45 degree angle<br />
- rinse your jar's content at least twice a day (morning and evening are easiest for most people)<br />
- repeat this process for 3-7 days, depending on how mature (long) you'd like your sprouts to be<br />
- harvest your sprouts and add them to salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, or just mix a bowl of them with your favorite nut butter and maybe a little water or vinegar for a quick snack<br />
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You may also try this recipe for a healthy, energizing snack, with fenugreek sprouts:<br />
<a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/08/too-simple-to-believecelery-boats.html">http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/08/too-simple-to-believecelery-boats.html</a><br />
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…Which brings me to the subject of fenugreek seeds! <b>WHY fenugreek seeds? </b><br />
These precious seeds have a myriad of health benefits and they are sometimes referred to as the "herb for every ailment". No wonder, since fenugreek seeds have cancer-fighting qualities, are used as a digestive aid, sometimes even as a laxative, and they're full of fiber as well as vitamins and minerals and are high in protein too! The unique-shaped seeds with their distinct aroma are an amazing food for supporting breast health and are traditionally used for increasing breast milk production in nursing mothers…and it does not stop there!<br />
Did you know that fenugreek seeds are an incredible blood sugar regulator too? Being such a common disease nowadays, unfortunately, chances are, you know someone with diabetes and you never know who you will help out with this information: You can make a fenugreek seed tea to help lower your blood sugar. Simply crush the seeds and make a concoction by simmering them for a couple of hours. Drain and sip the tea. The leaves can also be used to make tea but I've never tried that so you can share with me what your experience with that is, if you have!<br />
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See you soon!!<br />
I have something exciting to announce this week so stay tuned! : )Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-15564675494387970382014-05-20T21:06:00.000-07:002014-05-20T21:06:10.326-07:00Childhood Favorite Reinvented….Pasta Time!<br />
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Yay, it's zucchini season! And what can you use this summer squash for? Well, it would be probably easier to make a list of what you <i>couldn't </i>do with it…because it's such a versatile vegetable. You can use it in soups, salads, dressings, crackers, breads, dips, and…..what else?…PASTA! Yes, you can make pasta dishes even if you eat raw. In the past I've shared with you my <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/09/rawsagna-made-easy.html">Lasagna</a>, <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2011/10/better-than-pad-thai.html">Thai Pad</a>, <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/08/from-basil-to-hempesto.html">Pesto pasta</a> recipes and here's something else that's very special <i>to me.</i><br />
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This one is a childhood favorite that I wasn't planning on giving up when I switched to raw foods….a simple recipe for some soul food that might sound a bit unusual to many. As a child, I watched fresh, home-made pasta being prepared. I was always lurking around the kitchen and thought it was exciting to witness flour, eggs, and water turn into dough and then the thinnest, finest, strips of pasta that was to be covered with poppy seeds and sugar or other favorite toppings. Today's version is the kind I eat lately. The pasta preparation has nothing to do with the traditional method I just described, and the refined sugar is replaced with healthier alternatives. The key ingredient though, poppy seeds, which is one of my very favorite foods in the world, is the same, of course :)<br />
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<b>Raw Poppy Seed<i>ish</i> Pasta</b></div>
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<i>(Ingredients for 2 servings)</i></div>
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2-3 medium size zucchini squashes</div>
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3/4 cup ground poppy seeds</div>
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coconut sugar/honey/maple syrup/agave syrup/preferred sweetener* to taste</div>
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*A combination of dry (crystals or powder) and liquid sweeteners works the best<br />
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Here's what you do:<br />
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1. Cut the ends of the zucchinis off and and peel them.<br />
2. Using a machine (if you have one) or a knife, make pasta out of them <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2011/10/better-than-pad-thai.html">as described here</a>.<br />
3. Toss the pasta with a generous amount of poppy seeds and a combination of dry and liquid sweeteners.</div>
4. Share with someone you love and devour!<br />
Ahh…heavenly.<br />
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Thank the Universe for providing such amazing foods! : )<br />
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<b>Notes on nutrition:</b> poppy seeds are <i>extremely</i> rich in minerals. <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2011/12/poppy-seed-bars.html">Look at the amounts of manganese calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, iron, etc. in them</a>! Good for your bones, brain, skin, and hair…these tiny seeds are not only delicious but a nutritional powerhouse!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_a6xeiFl9as_lPJvv8j0B_4f6t-fivoUFcawtZJMuS3l5v8NNi1sHYkveqhjBgc-lEmNrEXqOzaDbgdKO6z-uzhdxiQhXUKo-DJmqGJYMzBlCHDjYFCybX-cL_Ec3epr1osUROfeNGg/s1600/IMG_4463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_a6xeiFl9as_lPJvv8j0B_4f6t-fivoUFcawtZJMuS3l5v8NNi1sHYkveqhjBgc-lEmNrEXqOzaDbgdKO6z-uzhdxiQhXUKo-DJmqGJYMzBlCHDjYFCybX-cL_Ec3epr1osUROfeNGg/s1600/IMG_4463.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-56848496332033973092014-04-30T17:57:00.000-07:002014-04-30T18:01:23.342-07:00Avocado-Seaweed Salad…"Arame Style"<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oTDmotOa25dH6mQuaqfDbsJzyRUHqjPBA0rLT-CSrk7IbXg6vVy0MbirNoGFeiEyfuifVrLm_07Ja_HTo15KGR2pHWTDF6LsNsucWQMMW9uI_StVNfQuodlTpbARRIXGCtoyNBXiZg/s1600/IMG_5393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oTDmotOa25dH6mQuaqfDbsJzyRUHqjPBA0rLT-CSrk7IbXg6vVy0MbirNoGFeiEyfuifVrLm_07Ja_HTo15KGR2pHWTDF6LsNsucWQMMW9uI_StVNfQuodlTpbARRIXGCtoyNBXiZg/s1600/IMG_5393.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Who eats enough minerals?…..I mean, I don't even know if that's possible. Anyway I'm always on the lookout for more. Truth be told, while I love miso soup (<a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2011/06/miso-soup-got-spiced-up.html">here's a recipe, if you'd like to make some</a>) and nori rolls, and eat dulse regularly, I don't really eat any of the other seaweeds much. Even so, every now and then, I have my moments when I'm inspired to reach for a different kind and here's the result of one of those moments documented…</div>
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With fresh spring onions and crisp Persian cucumbers added….mmmm…what's there not to like!?</div>
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<b>Arame Salad</b></div>
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<i>Ingredients:</i></div>
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avocado<br />
cucumber<br />
red radishes</div>
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arame<br />
green onions / spring onions<br />
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<u>For the dressing</u></div>
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rice vinegar / umeboshi plum vinegar</div>
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sesame oil / tahini<br />
water</div>
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black sesame seeds<br />
chili flakes<br />
salt, if desired</div>
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<b>Why Eat Arame?</b></div>
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Seaweeds, in general, are a nutritional powerhouse. They are very rich in minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc), are the greatest sources of iodine, have incredible healing properties, and are alkalizing foods. They have cancer-fighting properties, especially when it comes to "estrogen-induced" cancers, such as breast cancer, for example…..And, as if that wasn't impressive enough, they're anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, full of antioxidants, and are a wonderful food group to make friends with if you want beautiful skin!</div>
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Arame is rich in vanadium, a trace mineral that is important for supporting the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates and regulate blood sugar levels. Other great sources of vanadium in the raw foods kingdom are dulse, cinnamon, and cacao.</div>
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Preparation</div>
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1. Soak the arame in water for at least 10 minutes and up to half an hour (Save the soaking water for soups or to give it to your plants! It's very rich in nutrients, especially minerals.)</div>
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2. Make the dressing by mixing equal amounts of oil / tahini and vinegar and adding some water if necessary to "thin it" to achieve the desired strength. Add salt and chili flakes if you prefer and mix in some sesame seeds. Put it aside.</div>
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3. Slice the onions thinly and put them aside to "breathe".</div>
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3. In the meantime, slice / chop up the rest of your vegetables and place them in a bowl.</div>
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4. Cut the avocado in halves, remove the pit and score them lengthwise and crosswise so that you end up with little cubes, then, using a large spoon, scoop out the fruit and add it to the veggies.</div>
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5. Drain the arame and toss everything in a bowl with the dressing. Serve on plates and sprinkle with more sesame seeds.</div>
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Remineralized.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 33px;">♥</span></div>
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Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-70604155293168842632014-04-16T20:32:00.000-07:002014-04-19T08:11:33.506-07:00Tropical Bites Beat Donuts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqBgWCJYSeqzZQvKBuW-PmOBDN2__-_TJS1965mvhZaQlrFw2wBbRyDFp2PpdQOvfM6W5Zx-aEDt6P-gujEn3UCEPVTNcXjPwyMVYme-VUId6X-89dUv8b8L6nPuLQKjQ1Bf7Yi2R2Q/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqBgWCJYSeqzZQvKBuW-PmOBDN2__-_TJS1965mvhZaQlrFw2wBbRyDFp2PpdQOvfM6W5Zx-aEDt6P-gujEn3UCEPVTNcXjPwyMVYme-VUId6X-89dUv8b8L6nPuLQKjQ1Bf7Yi2R2Q/s1600/Image.jpg" height="640" width="552" /></a></div>
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What do you do when they ask you to bring donuts to a meeting? Bring donuts, right? Nope. At least, I didn't : )<br />
I've made these instead. They're relatively quick, easy, have only a few ingredients, and everyone will love them…Not to mention the added benefit of nutrients in them.<br />
These fiber-rich balls are high in minerals and you might even get some bromelain out of them. Bromelain, which is an enzyme found in pineapple, may help digest proteins and even have anti-inflammatory characteristics. Oh, and the nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, the kind that's good for you ;) and cashews happen to score 100 in the amino acid department, meaning that they're a very good source of and close to being a complete protein! It's almost too much to get from a sweet snack, isn't it!?!<br />
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So, if you have a get-together to go to tomorrow, might as well pull out the following from your pantry and get to work or rather, dance in the kitchen while creating these tropical, magical bites! <br />
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Why did I choose to use pineapple? That's what I happened to have on hand and it was the main ingredient I wanted to work around. Use may whatever dried fruit you have for an alternative, maybe not tropical, but other fruity snacks. Dried cherries make a wonderful dessert too.<br />
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<b>Tropical Bites</b></div>
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<i>Ingredients:</i></div>
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1/2 cup almonds</div>
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1/2 cup cashews</div>
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pinch of ground vanilla</div>
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pinch of salt</div>
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10 medjool dates</div>
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1 cup dried pineapple </div>
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3 tbsp coconut flakes</div>
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shredded coconut, or other preferred ingredient, for rolling</div>
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Preparation:<br />
1. Grind the nuts in a food processor until they're coarsely chopped<br />
2. Chop the pineapple chunks and the dates into small bits if they're large pieces and/or on the dry side and add to the nut "meal" along with the rest of the ingredients<br />
3. Process the ingredients until there are no large chunks of anything remaining but don't overdo it<br />
4. Using your palms, roll spoonfuls of the dough into balls and then roll them into shredded coconut or something else you prefer.<br />
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Share and enjoy!<br />
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They would keep at room temperature but I predict there will be none left to store! : )Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-76484460045148990682014-03-13T22:47:00.000-07:002014-03-14T18:09:15.449-07:00The No-Nut, No-Machine !!! Chocolate Mousse Pie<br />
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Yep, you can just whip it up by hand and make no mess at all….fast track to chocolate heaven! :)<br />
I just wish my grandma was here. This kind of pie would be a perfect way to celebrate her 86th birthday today! I love you so much, grandma! <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span><br />
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Avocados are one of the creamiest fruits and they:<br />
- are a complete protein!<br />
- are a great source of calories with healthy monounsaturated fats, which are easily burnt for energy<br />
- have anti-inflammatory qualities<br />
- are a rich source of B vitamins, including folate (B9), and vitamin C<br />
- are an amazing source of pantothenic acid and minerals such as potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus<br />
- are a good source of fiber<br />
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……All of which translates into their being a wonderful food for your skin, bones, heart-health, and supporting a healthy pregnancy.<br />
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With cacao being the second main ingredient, giving you loads of antioxidants and minerals, you can't go wrong with something so delicious, so good-for-you, and so quick and easy to prep...<br />
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<b>Avocado Chocolate Mousse Pie</b></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
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<i>(Makes 1 mini pie)</i></div>
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<u>Crust</u></div>
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2 Tbsp coconut butter</div>
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2 Tbsp coconut flour*</div>
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2 Tbsp shredded coconut</div>
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maple syrup (as needed)</div>
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<u>Filling</u></div>
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1 avocado</div>
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3 Tbs + 2 tsp cacao powder</div>
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2 Tbsp maple syrup</div>
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1 Tbsp coconut oil</div>
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vanilla</div>
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tiny pinch of salt (optional)</div>
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dash of cayenne pepper (optional)</div>
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Optional garnish: sliced fruit, dried fruit, chopped nuts, coconut flakes<br />
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*Feel free to use almond flour instead of coconut flour, if you'd like, or make a more common, nut & date (or any dried fruit) base, like the one <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/02/strawberry-cashew-cream-pie.html">here, for a cashew creme pie.</a></div>
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To Prepare:<br />
1. Place the coconut oil in a dish that you can place in hot water and let it sit till it's melted (unless it's warm where you are and it is already in liquid form)<br />
2. Mix the crust ingredients in a small bowl simply using a fork and press it into a tiny pie shell or a shallow bowl<br />
3. Scoop out the avocado, mesh it with a fork and whip it into a smooth consistency as much as you can<br />
4. Mix in the maple syrup and the coconut oil (make sure it's not hot) and little by little, add the rest of the ingredients while stirring it until you get a homogenous filling.<br />
5. Taste test and add more sweetener, etc. to your liking<br />
6. Pour the filling into your crust, decorate if you like, and place the pie in the refrigerator for an hour or so before serving.<br />
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Note: this also goes for a chocolate pudding recipe so if you have extra filling you're in luck. Gooble it up right away or chill it for a treat later.<br />
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Sweet <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">D.</span>Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-4119999241569652062014-03-12T20:17:00.000-07:002014-03-12T20:17:19.665-07:00An Event-Full Raw February 2014<br />
Whew, what a month! February was about exciting events, birthday, emotional ups and downs, and a raw anniversary!<br />
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More than anything else, this post is about some amazing foods I was fortunate to try. As a aside-note, however, yes, I am an Aquarius, born in February, so it was my birthday <i>and</i> my 3rd anniversary of having lived the raw lifestyle!!! Yay! : )<br />
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I went down to L.A., Thousand Oaks and Costa Mesa in Orange County, to be specific, to attend and educate at two of my favorite events of the year: the Raw Living Expo, and the Longevity Conference. Yay, it was such an amazing two weekends back-to-back. Can't wait for next year's…<br />
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While I worked a lot at both, I did have some time to explore, listen to some wisdom being shared by speakers and enjoy a couple of special dinners.<br />
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At the Expo, I was invited to the VIP Gala Dinner prepared by the hotel staff trained by a chef from the Bay Area....and I managed to take some photos of the several courses we were all served...<br />
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On the menu was:<br />
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Sesame Flatbread, Garlic Herb Boursin, Hickory Honey Fig coulis:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p3dTaM0Ckr5T2mwp7cYWLs2Y3UN9Ksp8gXRaytoNrALYYYZGLzZY2CH9iBumZFxDKCFIMGjC7a3j1GBD9mW64DMZxNYi8mUEyZv7OOaZjkXXKQvGyWPrtlq-8sPtmyNtvhU-WuZRIA/s1600/image-9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p3dTaM0Ckr5T2mwp7cYWLs2Y3UN9Ksp8gXRaytoNrALYYYZGLzZY2CH9iBumZFxDKCFIMGjC7a3j1GBD9mW64DMZxNYi8mUEyZv7OOaZjkXXKQvGyWPrtlq-8sPtmyNtvhU-WuZRIA/s1600/image-9.jpeg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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Black Sesame and Hemp Crusted Teriyaki Mushroom Fillet with Cauliflower Mash:<br />
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Cacao Crusted Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Maca Rose Cream Caramel and Mulberries:<br />
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I must admit, even though I've never been into raw cheeses, of all the items, the Garlic Herb Boursin was my favorite!<br />
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And this was just the beginning…I also had a wonderful evening with a few friends at <a href="http://www.aulac.com/">Au Lac</a>. I had heard so much about this restaurant for years and I couldn't wait to try their food! The amazing dishes are created by Chef Ito, who came by our table to greet us in person!…What a sweet guy! We shared many dishes and, I must say, it was an memorable experience! Everything was incredible!….A welcoming atmosphere, wonderful people, nice servers, and very yummy food : )<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWOFrNJqoI01Upm2-Fuc_7n94zp9QKcsbQVn-B4ZU33UE__aqcjpFQb7i07MYKwr2DJwAspfBbuf_0GUc_TLIi4Uq6bKGwlL7z_zQOb5CwP_zG6eTdn9uGNkgudQjjiBk3VDkYrMqVg/s1600/Image+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaWOFrNJqoI01Upm2-Fuc_7n94zp9QKcsbQVn-B4ZU33UE__aqcjpFQb7i07MYKwr2DJwAspfBbuf_0GUc_TLIi4Uq6bKGwlL7z_zQOb5CwP_zG6eTdn9uGNkgudQjjiBk3VDkYrMqVg/s1600/Image+7.jpg" height="326" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm tempted to start with the dessert but I'll just show you what we had in order…<br />
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Song Salad….absolutely divine. I wouldn't eat at Au Lac without ordering it. How often do you get a chance to have a salad made of watercress? It is so delicious:<br />
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Kelp Noodle Chow Mein…as if it was cooked Chinese food….without the frying though! ; ) Incredibly soft "pasta". No crunchy kelp noodles that you might have had at other restaurants:<br />
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Curried rice….served over avocado. My goodness, it is so delicious. I highly recommend it:<br />
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BBQ Pizza….with macadamia nut cheese:<br />
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Cali Roll….of course, it is clean and delicious. It's so easy to make though that I would never order this in a restaurant. <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2012/06/california-rawlls.html">Here's how to make your own rolls, which I call "California Rawlls" (Rolls)</a>. </div>
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And now, the desserts! If you feel full and there is just no way you could have any dessert after dinner, it might be a good idea to order some to go. They're just too special to pass on. </div>
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Donut Holes….a MUST try! Warm, with the center melted…they're so incredible:</div>
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Chocolate to feed your soul (too). I don't think they were any special, but I make my own chocolate so, you know, what can be better than home-made?? They're still yummy, and the smeared-on decoration, colored with spirulina, etc (I'm guessing) is such a "PET" (pretty, edible thing) on the side.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">…and, since there was a birthday-girl among us, we had to celebrate with a plate of cake! Again, order some if you can. They are all well worth it:</span><br />
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So, you get the idea…. It is a place to go visit!!! The good news is: I've heard that Chef Ito is opening up a second restaurant in Hollywood in about three months! Yay, two of them to go to. Never too much of such yummilicious food created by such a kind man! : )<br />
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Alright, enough for now, I just thought I'd check in ; ) while I'm working on a surprise for all of you out there….<br />
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Have a rawsome day/night/time….till next time.<br />
Lots of love,<br />
D.Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-33465268638749607802014-01-24T17:10:00.001-08:002014-01-24T17:10:49.988-08:00The "Pretty Complexion Citrus Blend"<br />
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As simple as it is, I must share with you the most recent thing I'm hooked on! It is just so delicious and refreshing. I know most, if not all, followers of the 80/10/10 diet would approve too! : )<br />
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This "Vitamin C Citrus Blend Evolution" started when I realized that it was too early to try to eat tangerines a few weeks (!!!) after oral surgery. Yep, I knew that it was not just hurting to try to chew but I was not chewing properly and a lot of the fruit was swallowed in large chunks, especially the pith. Obviously <i>NOT</i> ideal!<br />
So, what's a health-conscious girl to do? I wanted to keep eating citrus but to get all the benefits too and that includes all the bioflavanoids (aka vitamin P), and calcium that's included in the white parts not only the vitamin-C-rich, juicy part. Bioflavanoids work together with vitamin C so they're best taken at the same time.<br />
Have you ever had capillaries (tiny little red lines near the surface of your skin) showing? One way to maintain the healthy structure of those blood capillaries and support their thin walls is by consuming lots of citrus! While bioflavanoids or vitamin C are present in a myriad of foods, citrus has them both. What a great way to take in nutrients that support circulation and brighten your complexion!<br />
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….And this is such a simple method to ensure the assimilation of these nutrients. I really started with just blending up peeled citrus, which was amazingly yummy by itself, but then I started adding a thing or two because, you know, I always try to get the most out of everything….use whatever I can as a delivery system for other nutrients. Why not?! So, I'll give you the variations I've been really enjoying. If you can find tangerines (I love Satsumas, but others will work), use them, and if not, try to combine different types of oranges or even pomelos.<br />
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<b>Pretty Complexion Citrus Blend </b></div>
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<i>(Makes 1 pint, fills a mason jar)</i></div>
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<u>Basic Version</u></div>
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6-7 tangerines + 1-2 orange OR 4-5 oranges</div>
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<u>Enhanced Delivery*</u></div>
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6-7 tangerines + 1-2 orange OR 4-5 oranges</div>
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pinch or two ground cayenne pepper</div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Anti-inflammatory Boost</u></div>
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6-7 tangerines + 1-2 orange OR 4-5 oranges</div>
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pinch or two ground cayenne pepper</div>
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small slice of ginger</div>
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<u>Spiced Up </u></div>
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6-7 tangerines + 1-2 orange OR 4-5 oranges</div>
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pinch or two ground cayenne pepper</div>
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small slice of ginger</div>
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couple of dashes of ground cinnamon</div>
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<u>Superfood Brightness</u></div>
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6-7 tangerines + 1-2 orange OR 4-5 oranges</div>
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pinch or two ground cayenne pepper</div>
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small slice of ginger</div>
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couple of dashes of ground cinnamon</div>
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small handful of goji berries</div>
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*you can read about the <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/2013/02/quick-home-remedies-to-your-rescue.html">health benefits of cayenne pepper here</a><br />
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Peel the tangerines by hand and leave all the white stringy parts attached. Peel the oranges using a knife and leave as much of the white part attached as you can, simply removing a thin layer with all the zest.<br />
Leave all the seeds in as well. The point is to keep the fruits as close to whole as possible. Eating whole foods is what's always best. The pith (the white parts in citrus) contains the bioflavanoids and is the part of the fruit that is high in calcium. This helps balance any acidity and having all the fiber in there slows the absorption of sugar. You will end up with a pulpy blend for sure if you use tangerines and practically a mush if you use a lot of/only oranges with all the pith.<br />
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Blend all ingredients you chose to use and drink slowly or take it with you in a mason jar or bottle.<br />
It travels well so it's great to take along with you to nourish your body while on the go but if you're using mainly oranges you might want to take a spoon with you. These concoctions can become very thick over time and the longer they sit, the more of the juice is absorbed by the pith so they will get even thicker. Taking a long-stemmed spoon along with you wherever your raw lifestyle takes you is a very good idea anyway and it might just come handy!<br />
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…And just watch, your skin <i>will</i> thank you for this!<br />
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Have a bright and juicy day!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-68453490295629575452014-01-18T21:12:00.000-08:002014-01-18T21:44:24.811-08:00Up Close And Personal: One Year Without The "f-word" !!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are almost three weeks into the new year. By this time, most people have made new year's resolutions, tried to adhere to them and have given up/fallen off the wagon. It's hard to "force" a change in lifestyle or diet, or whatever area it may be. I always try to bring upon change when it feels right instead of scheduling it by looking at the calendar or tying it to an event. At the same time, many people are more inspired to make improvements in the beginning of the year and there is definitely a way to succeed.</div>
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Reasonable New Year's Resolutions is what it takes, if you ask me.<br />
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If the top of your list is say, "only eat dandelion greens" or "make a million dollars" in 2014, you might succeed, but I think your chances are much lower than when you aim at making a smaller step in improving your diet or eliminating one negative thing from your lifestyle, for example.<br />
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<b>Coming out...</b><br />
Growing up, and as a young adult, I never said any "bad words" and I couldn't stand hearing them but one day I got a job somewhere where everybody cursed and it didn't take long for me to pick up on it and make it into a habit. And you know how things can stick with you, and so it did, much to my dismay :( for a long time.<br />
I really couldn't stand hearing myself anymore so, among many things, quitting the f-word, was one of the items on my list for 2013 (and forever after) and I've made it!!! I must say it feels amazing!<br />
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I have come to realize that we touch others in so many ways, one of which is the way we communicate with them. On top of that, while communication takes many forms, our voice and the words we choose to use to express ourselves are quite important. This is especially true when we are on the phone, for example, when we are not face to face with the other person. But either way, what kind of energy is propagated by certain words and how does it "touch" the receiver?... <br />
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What does it have to do with raw foods and why I decided to share (you might ask)?<br />
When one opens up to this type of lifestyle and lets in all the goodness, magical things happen. I admit I was in disbelief three years ago when I started but everything I discovered through my initial research has proven to be true.<br />
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I'm no saint or an angel but I'd like to think that I've always been a good person and I do see and feel the difference since living this kind of lifestyle. My outlook on life in general has changed significantly. I'm even more in tune with nature than ever. I'm attracted to completely different personalities and some people's energy field I pick up on immediately and decide to "run". Also, certain things that I might have not noticed before I now appreciate, while others simply don't resonate with me anymore.<br />
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Still, old habits can be hard to break (it was hard during the first three weeks) so, if you are inspired, just don't be too hard on yourself and keep trying. As with any change, be conscious of your journey, take it slowly, thank yourself for trying every day, and don't give up, no matter how often you fall back. If you are determined, sooner or later you <i>will</i> see results.<br />
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A side note: by no means do I suggest that people who don't curse are, in any way, better than those who do! In fact, many recall that it's their past environment that influenced them and while they're not in that environment anymore and are not around the same people, that habit stuck with them. Whether they're conscious of it or not... Yes, it's a hard one to quit. It slips out so easily, especially when one is hurt, frustrated or angry.<br />
I am absolutely aware of this. <i>That</i> is why I feel that it is an accomplishment. And I repeat, it feels AMAZING!<br />
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If you decide to make this year your first (in a long time) cursing-free year, I wish you the best!<br />
I'm on to a new challenge now! ; )<br />
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Happy 2014!Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-67831284613129020052013-12-30T14:04:00.001-08:002013-12-31T12:21:57.050-08:00Are You Throwing Medicine In The Trash?<br />
Citrus is in season!..at least it <i>is</i> in California. If you are lucky to live in an area where you can get organic lemons from a trusted source, you are probably as happy as I am :)<br />
But do you toss the seeds and the peel? You may be squeezing lemon juice on salads or add some to your drinks but does the peel end up in the trash? I used to throw away the non-juicy parts…not for quite a while though!..<br />
I've always loved lemon zest. My mom used to add some to some sweet dishes and desserts so it's nothing new to me. In certain parts of Africa and other parts of the world it's also commonly used as a condiment, usually in a fermented form. The zest is used every now and then by people in western cultures but, in general, the peel is not nearly as utilized as it could be. I, personally, used to throw them away because I just never trust the ones from the store. Lately, however, I have been getting a lot of Meyer lemons from a friend and I couldn't be more grateful! I've always left the seeds in for juicing and dressings (blended ones) and now the peels are saved too! More often than not, the peel gets used in something soon after I used the juice of the lemon, and if not, I save it for later so I will have some handy when I have no lemon to peel. Why bother?<br />
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<b>The Hidden Treasures of Lemon (and other citrus*) Peels</b><br />
Being rich in vitamin C and calcium is a good start, but did you know that lemon peels have a myriad of other health benefits? By adding lemon zest to your dishes or consuming whole lemons instead of just their juice, you'll get to take advantage of their<br />
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- cancer fighting properties<br />
- ability to dissolve bad estrogen (a lot of which we have accumulated over time in our bodies)<br />
- anti-fungal qualities<br />
- mood enhancing / uplifting, anti-depressant properties<br />
- high fiber content (to support digestion and regular elimination)<br />
- maintaining of youthful skin / anti-wrinkle qualities (hence the frequent usage in cosmetics)<br />
- boosting of the metabolism (which supports weight loss)<br />
- strengthening the bones (due to their high mineral and vitamin C content)<br />
- blood pressure regulator quality (potassium content)<br />
- cleansing effect (lemon juice and the peel are both known to assist in the cleansing of the liver)<br />
- ability to reduce oxidative stress (elimination of free radicals, and thereby, prevention of diseases)<br />
- amazing flavor (lemon peel is an amazing flavor balancer if not used in large quantities)<br />
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*Be aware, that lemon and lime peels are edible raw, but others, like the peel of orange, grapefruit, etc, have to be fermented / candied / cooked or prepared some other way before consumption. <br />
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Quite a list, right? If these benefits appeal to you, I recommend that you…<br />
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Get organic lemons from a trusted source.<br />
Wash them and either juice them whole, or peel them first (you will save some of the pith that is so rich in bioflavonoids) or carefully cut the zest part of the peel off with a sharp knife. This way, if you're not using the whole lemon then you can save the peel or zest for later to be used in other dishes.<br />
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What do I do? At first, I thought I would save the zest only. But why break them down more than necessary? Before I ever grated any I realized the ideal way would be to just save the entire peel and if I don't use them soon freeze them that way. So I cut 1-2 inch pieces and put them into jars (any container will do) and I always have some within reach.<br />
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<b>How to eat them?</b><br />
Besides the obvious (eating some peel whenever using lemons) you can:<br />
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- add a piece of peel to a smoothie (avoid using too large of a piece because it can throw off the flavor, for example, make your smoothie more bitter than you'd like)<br />
- add zest to salads by sprinkling some on top or mixing some into your salad dressing<br />
- add zest to desserts by mixing some into your cookie dough or adding some to a batter or cake mix, or sprinkle some on top of any sweet dish<br />
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<b>What Else To Use Citrus Peel For?</b><br />
Since I love the aroma, I also put a lot of peels on top of the heat vents, in the colder months when the heater is going, and keep replacing them. They provide a small amount of humidity as well as a wonderful smell that fills up the space. Obviously, they're a much better "air-freshener" than the chemical-based, artificial diffusers you can plug into an outlet.<br />
They're also a great disinfectant so you can use them to clean your cutting board or sink by just rubbing them on the surface to be cleaned.<br />
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Warning: Watch out for rabbits (or other pets??) because my little guys "steal" them and run off with them! They love peels, however fresh or dried out they are, they grab them off the vents and run, like dogs with a bone. So funny! :) So if you notice that yours are missing you might know where to look for them, or who is to blame….haha. <b>Also, make sure to use entire halves (like after squeezing a lemon) or longer / larger pieces to avoid having them fall through the slots and end up in your heat pipes!</b><br />
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Alright, hopefully, just in time before you start preparing a lot of New Year's party drinks and end up with tons of peels that you would toss…now you know what to do with them! : )<br />
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Have a Wonderful New Year, Everyone! <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span>Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-209497098703066042013-12-22T13:19:00.000-08:002013-12-22T13:19:41.857-08:00Raw Travelings: Kansas City's Cafe Gratitude in the Spotlight"It's 8<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">˚F (-13˚C)</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span>outside right now" said the woman on the other end of the phone… Ouch. I was pretty much ready to cancel my flight! ;)<br />
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It was my first time, since living the raw lifestyle, to go on an adventure to some place so cold that I didn't even remember what that felt like. No matter how often I used to freeze my butt off waiting for the bus as a child on my way to school, I somehow forgot how that feels. Living in California for the past 3+ years has definitely left its mark on my "comfort zone", ha!<br />
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Ok, so I was <i>that</i> brave. I got on a plane, not knowing what to expect at all once we land there. NO. Not exactly. Guess what! The universe is always there for you, right? So, while you might think (and righteously) a raw girl could never survive those conditions, I did my best to prepare for the 4, weather-wise-challenging days I was about to go through...<br />
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The first thing I do (and have been doing for many years) when I travel is get online and take a virtual tour of the vicinity of my destination. When you care about what you put into your body you want to know ahead of time where to get the good stuff. Being aware of what is accessible and how much of an effort it will take to get it can save so much stress. You know what to pack, you know how to plan your route from the airport to the place you are staying at and you know where you will be able to go for daily replenishment of your tiny ice box in that hotel room, or where to get fresh produce to prepare in the kitchenette (if you can book one) that will be your temporary home for your stay. <br />
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But how on Earth is it possible that my favorite restaurant (in my neighborhood) is also in Kansas City (and nowhere else!)? I mean, what <i>are</i> the chances of that???? Tons, you may say…knowing how the Universe operates... Yes, there <i>is</i> a Cafe Gratitude in KC and you better believe that I was a daily guest! In fact, I was there twice a day! With Whole Foods being far away, what else would I have done?<br />
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And it doesn't stop there! I had a friend with me who had never eaten dishes that are made of, well, plants, and yet, he was not only willing to try it once but came with me to the restaurant every single time! The first day I thought he would just drop me off (we shared a car) but no, he came in with me <i>and </i>ate <i>and</i> kept doing that every day.<br />
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As far as my expectations….let's just say they were quite high, but this sister restaurant delivered!<br />
Great ambiance, knowledgable staff, fresh <i>and</i> delicious dishes that came so fast….yep, I was impressed right away, on the first visit…And so I tried a lot of things over the rest of our stay and so did my friend.<br />
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…here is the line-up:<br />
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I had to start with the "I Am Dazzling" caesar salad, the one I've had many times in California and always love<br />
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…….Ouch, ok, I'm trying to get passed the poor quality of these iPhone shots and move on…….<br />
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Dazzling was ever so rich and creamy. It's romaine lettuce and chunks of avocado plus capers, tossed in a generous amount of dressing, and topped with ground up brazil nuts (in place of pasteurized cheese)….so yummy.<br />
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I'm notorious for sticking with dishes I like and ordering the same old stuff whenever I'm in Berkeley, but this time I had to browse the menu and "try to" find something other than my usual favorite since they had different creations at this restaurant. And let me just say, I'm so glad I did, because everything was very tasty! So, next, I tried a new-to-me dish that was incredibly delicious. "I Am Happy is an apple-curry wrap filled with seed pate and veggies and it comes with a side of mixed greens salad<br />
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but I substituted "Kim Chee" (truly that pink, btw), which was spicy, just the way I like it. I could have eaten a large bowl of it!<br />
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The first thing my friend tried was the "I Am Super Plentiful", a bowl of chili (off the cooked section of the menu) and he said it was delicious and filling.<br />
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But we didn't stop there, or at least, I didn't. You will understand why, once you see the dessert plate they brought out…<br />
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Starting from the top left corner, the selection on our first day there was tiramisu, key lime pie, "Bliss", which is a chocolate-hazelnut cream pie, coconut cream pie, macaroons, truffles, and a chocolate-dipped superfood bar. If you don't know yet, they're famous for their dessert but even if they were not, how could you pass? I went with the tiramisu and took it "home" with me to devour it in the hotel room…ahhh so delicious…<br />
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And it continues, since we were regular guests there during our 4-day visit… My friend tried the "I Am Extraordinary" sandwich, a CLT with spicy cashew aioli, toasted chipotle-maple coconut, romaine, tomato and guacamole<br />
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And I chose the buckwheat flatbread, " I Am Creative". It was basically a large cracker topped with hemp seed pesto, tomatoes, basil, nut parmesan and cashew ricotta cheese…fabulous, I will definitely go for it during my next visit!<br />
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Pesto up close…it's obvious I liked this one… :)<br />
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Mint chocolate chip shake was the dessert of the night. "I Am Cool" was so delicious, I had to order it again our last morning for our ride to the airport…of course, I ended up having to "inhale" it too fast before going through the TSA "stuff"<br />
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And, since my friend decided to get his first piece of raw vegan dessert, I got to try Cafe Gratitude's key lime pie for the first time ever….yummy!<br />
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My friend tried the bruschetta, "I Am Present", one day and loved the crunchiness of the toasted baguette and especially appreciated the cashew mozzarella, all drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette<br />
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and I tried a new-to-me salad, "I Am Gorgeous", which was incredible! I highly recommend this delicious pile of mixed greens, carrots, dukes, apples, herbs and mission figs, tossed in a sesame-ginger dressing. I really was wishing it was a never-ending buffet instead of "just" one plate! So good...<br />
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The last slice of pie I tried was a chocolate-mint cream pie. It was so rich and creamy, dense, like "Bliss" that I'm so used to. It was our last night and how could I have turned down this green and brown marbled wedge sprinkled with cacao nibs?…<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZnsWZAMe0GFYVCqUfXlmPKE8ymbFk5lZX70Zow30cKoYj05pjecbvSbkTPNW-H80B69932_wiwEZGFLufowNj3HkNTwBkfQ1QvMzhX1uJMGPRUqU7-F1N1cWRKsnwpO0sieMWMjx5g/s1600/photo-32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZnsWZAMe0GFYVCqUfXlmPKE8ymbFk5lZX70Zow30cKoYj05pjecbvSbkTPNW-H80B69932_wiwEZGFLufowNj3HkNTwBkfQ1QvMzhX1uJMGPRUqU7-F1N1cWRKsnwpO0sieMWMjx5g/s640/photo-32.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I didn't. I took a piece with me to eat in the car while we were on our way to a steak house where I watched a couple of friends have a different kind of dinner ;)<br />
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So, yes, it was a lot of eating over a short period of time…too much of the gourmet for me all at once but I couldn't be happier about having this restaurant there! It saved me!<br />
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Thanks, Cafe Gratitude, for being there! I'm so grateful!… See you soon! :)<br />
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What are <i>YOU</i> grateful for?<br />
<br />Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-60632048595333200412013-12-07T10:36:00.001-08:002014-01-28T07:37:56.904-08:00One Savory, One Sweet..<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>hank the Universe for laptops and Wi-Fi! I'm sitting at the airport in Las Vegas, waiting for mechanics to replace a part on the airplane I'm supposed to take home….and I've decided to use this time to share an experience…<br />
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Yay for high-resolution phone cameras...I even got some usable photos! :)<br />
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While on a business trip, I stayed with my best friend who was more than enthusiastic about learning to prepare some raw foods. We had lots of fun making 2 - 4 dishes a day (!) and one of the days she had guests over so we even got to introduce others to the magic of this way of eating.</div>
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Truth be told, I had no idea whether they would even want to touch raw foods but I wasn't worried about it because my friend was planning on cooking a big pot of veggie soup as well… Except, she didn't end up to...<br />
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So, what was initially planned to be a "tea party", later changed to being a girls' night in with dinner, ended up being a raw finger food sampling experience...<br />
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Oops, new update, they've just announced that this plane can NOT be repaired, so I got plenty of time to give you this recipe, or at least, finish it sooner than later : )<br />
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So what did we make? As you know, I believe in keeping things simple. I don't think there is a better way to inspire people than showing them how easy it is to prepare delicious, healthy dishes. We made some savory bites and some dessert to top them off.<br />
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<b>Savory Walnut </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Pâté</b></span></span><b> Bell Pepper Boats</b><br />
Ingredients:<br />
2 - 3 bell peppers (I like using red and orange but it would look really nice to have all colors, yellow and green as well)<br />
2 cups walnuts (you may soak them if you have time)<br />
1 small shallot (or half a medium size purple onion)<br />
6 - 8 leaves of fresh sage<br />
juice of 1 large lemon<br />
1/2 tsp (or to taste) salt<br />
few sprigs of parsley for garnish<br />
optional: 1 clove of garlic and some parsley added to your ingredients<br />
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To prepare:<br />
1. Place walnuts into the food processor and grind them until they're fine but not so much that they start becoming a nut butter.<br />
2. Chop the shallot, the sage leaves, and the garlic and parsley (if using some in the <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">p<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">âté</span></span>) really fine, into tiny pieces<br />
3. Add the chopped ingredients and salt to the lemon juice, stir, and add the mixture to the walnuts.<br />
4. Mix your ingredients well and add more lemon juice / olive oil to your <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">âté</span> if it's on the dry side. Ideally, you'd like it to have a spreadable texture. Set it aside.<br />
5. Cut up the bell peppers into quarters (try cutting along the veins, where the "dimples" are, that way you'll end up with "boats" that will hold the <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">âté</span> nicely. Then cut the quarters in halves again.<br />
6. Fill each pepper boat with a couple of spoonfuls of the <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">âté</span>, arranged them alternating the colors you have on a plate or tray and garnish each with a leaf of parsley or other herb of your choice.<br />
Serve immediately.<br />
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Note: This recipe can be made into a dip as well and served as part of a c<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">rudité</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13px;">.</span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </b>Add more lemon juice and/or oil of your choice to make it into a softer, more liquidy, consistency and serve it with a variety of chopped up veggies.<br />
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For dessert, I intended to make macaroons, because they're so easy but our guests were already there and starved when I haven't even finished the <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">âté</span> so by the time I got to start on the sweets I decided to quickly roll them into balls and we served them right away as well.<br />
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<b>Snowballs</b><br />
Ingredients:<br />
2 cups dry shredded coconut (plus some extra to roll the balls in)<br />
1/2 cup almond meal (or ground almonds)<br />
1/2 cup honey/agave syrup/sweetener of your choice<br />
1/4 cup coconut butter/oil (I used about half of each for a total of 1/4 cup)<br />
1/2 - 1 tsp ground vanilla<br />
tiny pinch of salt<br />
optional: few tbsp of cacao powder to add to half the mixture if you wish<br />
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To prepare:<br />
1. Grind the shredded coconut in a food processor so that it's finer<br />
2. Combine the dry ingredients: the coconut, the almond meal, and the vanilla, in a mixing bowl<br />
3. To melt the coconut butter/oil and honey (if necessary), place your jars in hot water. As an alternative, you can measure them in the unmelted form and place them all in a small bowl that is sitting inside another bowl with hot water in it. Stir your wet ingredients and the salt until melted and homogenous and add this mixture to the dry ingredients.<br />
4. Combine everything till your mixture holds together and you are able to form balls by rolling a spoonful of it at a time between your palms. Roll each ball in the shredded coconut and place them on a serving platter. About half way through, add a few spoonfuls of cacao powder to the mixture (if you want two colors and flavors) and finish up making balls the same way.<br />
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It's probably not much of a surprise that all of the pepper boats and snowballs were gone in no time so they've been tested…you can make these for someone who might have not had a chance to try raw foods yet. They're quick, easy an delicious. What else would you need?<br />
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I just wish we had taken photos of all of us! We even had the honor of having a beautiful baby entertain us but no pictures…hmmm…oh well, next time.<br />
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<b>Some Nutrition Facts </b><br />
The two main ingredients, walnuts and coconut, in the above menu, are both "brain foods". They both contain very healthy fats. Walnuts are high in Omega-6, and even more importantly, Omega-3 fatty acids. Coconut is high in saturated fat (yes, it's good for you!), is a good "hormone precursor", especially when it comes to the production of testosterone and progesterone, and coconut oil supports the thyroid and weight-loss.<br />
Bell peppers are high in vitamin C and antioxidants. If you are using red ones you are getting more antioxidants, overall, more health benefits but it's good to eat a "rainbow diet" and include as many colors as possible, if not in every dish, throughout the day. Herbs (used in the <span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">p</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">âté</span>) are loaded with minerals and vitamins and sage is particularly known for improving memory and helping those with Alzheimer's disease (Did I mention coconut oil does the same? If you know someone who needs help in this department, I definitely encourage you to look into this and maybe give it a try, say, start with a spoonful of coconut oil mixed into a breakfast dish, whatever that may be for you, or the person to be helped.) and it has high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities. How many foods / dishes are there that do all this? : )<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span>Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-12970002854763495842013-11-28T11:09:00.004-08:002013-11-28T12:27:40.222-08:00Survival Tips For The Holidays<br />
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Here we are…It's the season for…<br />
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overeating<br />
eating foods that are "not your food"<br />
over-consuming food unnoticed, while socializing<br />
drinking alcohol when you don't normally or drinking more than you do usually<br />
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…any of these sound familiar?<br />
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Thanksgiving is here and, with that, we are entering the holiday season that can throw us off balance quicker than you can blink…ok, maybe not, but within a couple of hours you can surely reach a state of "I'm not feeling so well".<br />
It is challenging for most of us, not only the ones who are practicing a different lifestyle and are followers of a diet that many have not even heard of. For some, it's the season for falling off the wagon and completely abandoning their healthy eating habits while it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. For others, it may be an extremely stressful time, working till the night before the guests are coming over or getting on the plane to visit family on the other side of the country, trying to do all the shopping, decorating the home, preparing more meals in a few hours than one would do over a week sometimes, while the kids and pets still need your attention, not to mention our <i>self </i>that we tend to forget about while focusing on how to please everyone else…..Whew, that might have been the longest sentence ever typed! :)<br />
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In some cases, it is harder if you are following a "other than mainstream" lifestyle and in some cases that's what makes it easier. I've been on both sides and in my case, it's easier if I'm sticking with mine. SO what can you do??? Here are some tips that might help, especially if you are the only one who is living "in the raw".<br />
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<b>Tip #1 - Do not panic!</b><br />
I remember how stressful it was for my mom to try to get everything done in time. She was working full-time, did all the shopping (without a car), cooked all the meals, started baking 3 weeks ahead of time to fill up the cookie jars with holiday treats, cleaned, etc. The list goes on.<br />
I couldn't relate because I was a child. I was sad to see her stressed and it also kind of ruined the holidays for me. But the one thing that was on her side is that she did make an effort to take care of herself. If you feel like it's all on you; you are the one who has to do everything, take care of yourself first. Whether it means meditating or doing some yoga before the crazy preparations marathon, or taking a relaxing bath, or just taking time off, period, so your life doesn't become madness all of a sudden. DO it. And if you can get help, even better. My mom always distributed chores (which I didn't necessarily like but, looking back, I'm glad I could help her during these extra challenging times) and, lucky for her, I always asked how I can help her in the kitchen. I loved the kitchen already as a little girl and it was so much fun for me to hang around :)<br />
So TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF first. That is the ONLY way you can take care of others.<br />
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<b>Tip #2 - Plan ahead</b><br />
Make a to-do-list at least in your head and try to do whatever you can ahead of time. The fewer chores you have left on the busiest day when you are rushing, the less stressed you will be.<br />
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<b>Tip #3 - Cater to yourself first</b><br />
As in most cases, it is difficult when you are the only person in your household who is an advocate of raw foods or maybe even living a 100% raw lifestyle. If you are alone it's easy to attend to your needs but during the holidays you might be going somewhere where nobody has even heard of your "diet". And if you are the only raw member of a family then you might be preparing cooked, traditional foods for others as well...<br />
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<b>If you are the host of a party or get-together…</b><br />
Ok, so everyone is coming to your house. You must have invited people you care for and love to be around. And they must be coming over to spend the holidays with <i>you</i> because they feel the same way.<br />
If you are alone, how about asking them for help? Or maybe even make this a potluck so everyone can contribute and you're not the one trying to make it all happen by yourself. If you're not alone, you've got help, right? Everyone, your significant other and / or children are probably ready to help, and if not, distribute chores (like my mom did :) )! This is not the time to play superhero and then feel the effects later and regret having pushed yourself too hard.<br />
You are home, in your own kitchen, with all your tools. Yay, you're half-way there to sticking with your ways. If nobody else really cares for raw food (yet) then figure out at least one meal, one snack, and one dessert that you will make for yourself. Make your favorite ones if you know you might be tempted to indulge and reach for the rest of what is served. At least fill up on "your food" first and see how you feel about having to eat a serving of that other stuff you never would on a regular day. If you know you will be busy preparing food for your guests all day then try to make your own ahead of time.<br />
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<b>If you are invited to someone else's home (within driving distance)…</b><br />
PLAN AHEAD; have I mentioned that before? This is especially important if it's hard for you to stick with your good habits and you find yourself wanting to eat what the rest of the people around you are having. Maybe it is really hard to not take a piece of that freshly-baked pecan pie or bread pudding...<br />
Chances are, you knew ahead of time you were not going to spend the holidays at home but if it's last minute, you can always grab whatever you have in your pantry. You can go simple and fill a bag with fruits, crackers, leftover dip and some cucumber and celery, don't forget that jar of nut butter that's half-full, and whatever else you can find. Ok, you're set. (BTW: You're probably better off if you never go to some place where the host is not understanding your lifestyle and you find yourself worrying about offending him/her by bringing your own food.) But even more ideal, prepare your favorites. Make an effort and prepare at least a meal that you absolutely love, a snack that is your favorite to reach for, and a dessert that you can't ever wait to devour. That is the bare minimum to get you through if you feel challenged at events where you are surrounded with aromas that bring back memories and foods that you think you can't resist. If you have enough of your favorite dishes with you, you have a much greater chance at sticking with them. Ideally, you may prepare more than what you will bring with you just for yourself. If you have the time and the means, make a <a href="http://rawfoodfortruth.blogspot.com/search/label/sweets">dessert</a> that you know everyone will love. This will give you a chance to share and introduce people to a way of eating that they might not be familiar with but will much appreciate once they do learn about. And wait till you have one after the other coming up to you asking you for the recipe! Happens all the time :)<br />
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Here's the marble "cheesecake" I've made just now...<br />
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<b>If you're flying somewhere to be with family and loved ones…</b><br />
Well, you know what that means. You are limited as far as what you can get on the plane and might be limited as far as what you can buy in the area where you are going.<br />
Obviously, everything you take with you will be x-rayed but most raw foodies will rather eat x-rayed raw superfoods, etc, than not being able to eat what they want. Pack whatever you may need while traveling, such as easy-to-eat fruits (oranges and bananas travel very well and they have their own "packaging") and veggies, maybe your favorite powders, chocolate, crackers, snack bars, nuts and seeds. Take plenty with you because you never know when your flight is delayed, etc, you might end up spending a much longer time at airports than your itinerary says you will.<br />
If you are preparing some food where you are going, then it's best to bring at least the hard-to-find ingredients with you because you never know what's available. The first thing I do before I travel is spend a good chunk of time Google searching for health food stores and / or raw or organic restaurants. Look up ahead of time whether there is a health food store in the vicinity where you know you'll be able to stock up on produce and raw snacks for your stay out of town. As long as you have tons of snacks around you'll be less likely to reach for those food items that you will regret having eaten later. <br />
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<b>Tip#4 - Don't beat yourself up!</b><br />
Ok, you "failed" at it…at least, that's how you feel.<br />
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<b>Most important step for success:</b> Love yourself even if you "failed" at sticking with it. It's the holidays. This is when we eat more than we should and sometimes things we wish we hadn't. Don't beat yourself up over it! If that's what happened, oh well. You'll be back on your juice or smoothie or plate of fruit or whatever it is that puts you right back on track the next morning. Note to myself too: Worrying about what you have done and / or you shouldn't have done is probably causing more damage than an entire dish of green bean casserole topped with a whole pumpkin pie in your stomach.</div>
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It is NOT A BIG DEAL. Maybe even thank yourself for not being so strict. Your flexibility might have allowed you to have more fun and spend a more memorable time with your loved ones.</div>
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Happy Holiday Season, Everyone! <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥</span></div>
Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1039724431380716344.post-12223028519133005902013-10-25T18:43:00.000-07:002015-03-01T13:14:11.139-08:00Thai-Inspired Creamy Bowl of Deliciousness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A soup, that is. One that you will never forget! Promise. </div>
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I had my wisdom teeth removed (ouch) and I'm still recovering. Needless to say, I'm on blended foods and since it's day 10, I'm really tired of eating the same stuff over and over. So, today, I said "This is it, I'm making something different!" Savory and buttery is what I wanted....And I could have had a gallon of this... It's simply orgasmic!</div>
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<b><br />
Thai-Inspired Creamy Veggie Soup</b></div>
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Ingredients:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(Makes about a quart to serve 1, maybe 2)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1 small red bell pepper</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 stalk of celery</div>
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1 slender (stalk) lemongrass</div>
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1/4 of small red onion (or use 1-2 green onions)</div>
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1/2 carrot (or a tiny one)</div>
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3 cloves of garlic</div>
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ginger to taste (I only used a piece the size of a raisin)</div>
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1 tiny hot pepper/jalapeno</div>
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2 heaping tbsp coconut butter</div>
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pinch of ground cayenne pepper</div>
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1/2 - 1 tsp (to taste) salt </div>
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cilantro (no more than what you can tear off a bunch with three fingers)</div>
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~ 3 cups water</div>
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Optional: pinch of turmeric, honey (not vegan) or other sweetener, soy or shoyu sauce</div>
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To Prepare:<br />
1. Warm the water on the stove top carefully, to desired temperature. (You definitely don't want to bring it to a boil if you chose to stick with eating raw)<br />
2. In the meantime, chop all vegetables into chunks and place them in a blender with the lemongrass (pealed back and the core chopped fine; a bit of a tough task) and the spices you are using along with the coconut butter.<br />
3. Add the water and whirl it all up, adding the cilantro only for the last few seconds of blending.<br />
4. Taste test. Some people like it saltier, some prefer it sweeter.<br />
5. Garnish and serve immediately.<br />
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It's savory, warming, and incredibly flavorful and satisfying. Enjoy! : )<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">♥♥♥</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Dita</span><br />
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Ditahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07810052129636821072noreply@blogger.com0