Welcome! This is a way for me to share about my experiences as they relate to myself, family, health, compassionate cooking, baking and yoga. Enjoy!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Zucchini Lasagna & Donut Holes


Sticking with the raw theme, today's recipe uses zucchini instead of pasta and tastes so fresh that I guarantee you go back for seconds!

Raw Zucchini Lasagna

Ingredients:
2-3 large organic zucchini, sliced long and thin (similar to lasagna)
1 1/2 organic red bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 c. sprouted quinoa or soaked wild rice (optional)

For Sauce:
4 large gourmet tomatoes, cored
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 Tbsp. flax oil or extra virgin olive oil
1-2 Tbsp. ground gluten free oats (optional, to absorb some of the juice from the tomatoes)

For Filling:
2 c. raw cashews, ground (set about 2 Tbsp. aside to sprinkle on top of lasagna)
1/2c. mushrooms, chopped
3 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
1/4 c. nutritional yeast
2 tsp. garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1 small onion, chopped

Directions:
1. In a high speed blender combine all ingredients for sauce, mix well, add ground oats if needed.  Set aside sauce.
2.  In blender or food processor combine all filling ingredients, pulse to combine, don't make it too mushy, you want it to be crumbly.  Set aside filling.
3.  In a casserole dish layer zucchini, spread half filling mixture over zucchini, layer red peppers, sprinkle half the quinoa or wild rice over peppers, pour half the sauce over peppers, repeat layers until all ingredients used, ending with a layer of zucchini with a little sauce spread over the top then sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. of cashew "parm".
4.  Cut into squares and serve.

This can be heated in the oven if you really need your lasagna warm.  For dessert, whip up a batch of raw donut holes!

Raw Donut Holes

Ingredients:
1 c. raw almonds
1 c. raw walnuts
3/4 c. gluten free oats
1/3 c. coconut oil (warmed in the dehydrator, on the lowest setting over the stove, or place the jar in a bowl of hot water so enough melts to measure out required amount)
1/3 c. pure maple syrup or raw agave or raw honey
1/3 c. coconut sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:

1.  In a food processor grind almonds, walnuts and oats until it’s nice and crumbly (don't process too long or you'll end up with a nut butter).  
2.  Add oil and syrup, pulse to combine well.  Mixture should be holding together easily.   
3.  Using a spoon, melon ball scooper, or hands form donut hole size balls, place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  
4.  On a shallow plate or bowl, combine coconut sugar and cinnamon, mix well.  
5.  Roll each ball in sugar mix, place back on cookie sheet, repeat until all of dough is used.    
6.  Place cookie sheet in fridge to allow holes to set and firm (at least 20 minutes).  

7.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.  

I promise, this will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Home Stretch




So my oldest and I are in the home stretch of our 21 day cleanse and we have never felt sooooo good!  I highly recommend purchasing Crazy Sexy Diet, by Kris Carr.  Not only does most of the book guide you through all the reasons to eat more raw, plant based foods, but towards the back she gives you a 21 day cleanse that includes daily advice to keep you motivated.  She also offers a few recipes at the end to get you started.  Of course, you can also purchase her Crazy Sexy Kitchen cookbook that she collaborated with Chef Chad Sarno to create which gives tons of amazing recipes.  Her website, http://kriscarr.com/products/crazy-sexy-diet/, is another superb resource for anyone curious about getting their butts, pun intended, back into shape.

We have been so happy with the change we see and feel in ourselves that it's motivated us to eat more raw foods.  I've had my dehydrator out so much that it now has a permanent home on the counter top.  Our bodies, skin, cells, tissues and organs are so in love with us and with all the daily fresh juicing, salads loaded with fresh veggies and raw dressings, steamed veggies, dehydrated burgers, fruits, breads and crackers, fresh smoothies and, of course, the raw desserts!

I'm not sure what we would be classified according to raw standards, 80/20 or 60/40, but we eat raw all day until dinner, then we have a steamed dish.  The flavors of the foods and drinks are amazing and so fresh that it actually has me craving more and more fresh food.  Eating raw can seem daunting to some and boring to others, but I promise, the recipes we have been creating are nothing short of fabulous!  Just as you would any foods, adding spices, healthy fats, garlic and onion to foods is encouraged.

We thought we ate pretty healthy before, but now, we see that you can up the ante even further and why not?  By eating a variety of fresh veggies, whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, oats), nuts, seeds and beans, you will be giving your body everything it needs, it's like having a pharmacy in your fridge instead of in your medicine cabinet.

Anytime you cleanse, know that your body is literally detoxifying.  It has to get rid of all those nasty heavy metals, environmental toxins, cleanse, heal and repair the blood, cells and tissues.  With all this change it's normal, especially at the beginning, to experience fatigue, break outs or headaches.  I know this seems unpleasant to many, but once you've flushed all the toxins out you are left with crazy energy, glowing skin, healthy organs, balanced blood sugar, less inflammation and less disease.  Bottom line, a few days of discomfort to fix the damage you created vs. a lifetime of in and out of the doctors office and pouring more chemicals down the hatch to camouflage the problem and thus create more toxins, it's a vicious cycle you really want to break.

Ultimately everyone needs to decide what works for them.  Going 100% raw isn't something we plan to do anytime soon.  We like the comfort of warm meals during cold winters and allowing ourselves a sweet treat every now and then will still be on our list.  The goal for us once we've finished the cleanse is to continue having fresh green juice every morning, huge fresh salads for lunch and veggies and whole grains for dinner.  We also plan to limit fried foods and refined sugars to once in a great while and to re-visit the cleanse quarterly.

With all these incredible raw recipes, I felt it would only be right to post raw recipes over the next few weeks, be sure to check back so you can test them out for yourself.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

In This Corner...


This time of year always seems to make us feel like we're in the middle of a boxing match, with us in one corner and the flu virus in the other.  The age old "wash your hands" is a great first line of defense, however, arming your body from the inside out will keep you in the fight even longer, with you coming out on top.

Good hygiene, plenty of sleep and eating the right foods will help to ensure that your immune system is running at top speed.  The foods I will be listing should be incorporated daily, not all at once, but you get what I'm saying.  Of course fruits, veggies, healthy fats and whole grains should be eaten daily, however, there are specific foods that will give your immune system an added boost.

KO foods to keep the flu virus down for the count...

Citrus Fruits
Organic Strawberries
Oranges
Kiwi
Pineapple
Grapefruit
Avocado
Organic Kale
Organic Spinach
Mushrooms
Garlic
Cayenne
Organic Bell Peppers
Ginger
Coconut Water
Green Tea
Sweet Potatoes
Broccoli
Nuts
Seeds
Probiotics (animal free items recommended)
Flax
Flax oil
Oats
Quinoa
Chia

There is enough on this list to keep you busy preparing all kinds of creations.  For some help you can always search back through past posts for recipes that include these foods.  Now start writing that grocery list and get shopping for a stronger immune system!




Saturday, January 5, 2013

Stock Your Shelves


With New Year's resolutions still ringing in our ears, now is the time to take stock of your shelves, and I don't mean the ones in your kitchen!  March right over to those BOOK shelves and inventory what you have, this includes your cookbooks too.

Having a book to read is important for your "me" time, however, choosing books that make you feel good should be a part of that.  If all you have are Syfy, romance novels or mysteries, go outside your comfort zone and purchase some reads that will help to create better health for you and your loved ones.

Here are some suggestions to get you started...
1.  Eat To Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
2.  Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way To Health edited by Gene Stone
3.  Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook by Del Sroufe
4.  Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr
5.  Crazy Sexy Kitchen by Kris Carr w/ Chef Chad Sarno
6.  The Mindful Child by Susan Kaiser Greenland
7.  Great Gluten Free Vegan Eats by Allyson Kramer
8.  The China Study by T. Colin Campbell
9.  Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin
10.  Skinny Bastard by Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin

Well these should definitely get you started and if you were looking to put a little more compassion into your kiddos book shelves you may want to try these...

1.  Steven The Vegan by Dan Bodenstein
2.  Maggie's Second Chance by Nancy Furstinger
3.  Harmony on the Farm by Sean Smith
4.  Vegan Is Love by Ruby Roth
5.  Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda by Lauren Alderfer
6.  Moody Cow Meditates by Kerry Lee MacLean
7.  Moody Cow Learns Compassion by Kerry Lee MacLean
8.  Incredible You! by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

The first set of books listed have a ton of amazing recipe ideas so I'm certain you will not be disappointed, how can you go wrong with something that gives you "me" time and makes you feel better!

Happy Reading!