Cleansing Recipes

Detox Juice

yields one gallon

1.

 make dandelion root tea:

2 c. filtered water

6 t. Starwest Dandelion Root (see link below)

thumb of fresh ginger or you may used dried pieces of ginger

bring water to near boil but not boiliing

add dandelion root

steep for 5-10 mins

strain this mixture and  allow to cool

( I re-use the dandelion root by adding more water and warming it up and allowing it to steep for at least 30 mins or more and then strain it and store for the next batch)

2. 

in your gallon jug add:

1/3 c. Just Cranberry Juice (no sugar..I use Knudsen)

1/3- 1/2 c. organic lemon juice ( I use Volcano Lemon Juice available at Costco)

add Dandelion Tea and water to fill jug....I also add a couple droppers of  alcohol free NuNaturals Stevia

My daughter and I are drinking this freely throughout the day.

This juice is super cleaning for your skin, kidneys, liver, digestive system and it's anti-inflammatory and alkalizing . It may help with weight loss, it's a diuretic, helps to balance blood sugar, is rich in micronutrients,  helps with the digestion and emulsification of fats. 

We have seen major improvements in my daughter and my skin, our digestion and elimination of excess water weight.

See the links below for more benefits of add this juice to your day.  (be sure to check for contraindications before using)

Check out this except from the book by Peter A. Gail, Ph.D, titled" The Dandelion Celebration-The Guide to Unexpected Cuisine"

Benefits of Ginger

Benefits of Cranberries

Benefits of Lemons   

My Daughter and I love to periodically cleanse and reset our system.  It is so easy to get off track and begin adding too many convenience foods (even if they seem to be healthy or you got them at the health food section of the store), or too many cooked foods

 into our life and before you know it, you are experiencing old symptoms.....digestive or skin issues,  weight gain, excess fluid build up...etc.....you fill in the blank.

Green  and Carrot Juice Prep

Green Juice

celery

parsley

cilantro

mixed greens

cucumbers

ginger

lemon 

pear

Carrot Juice

carrots

pear

parsley

The red juice is a green, onion, garlic, carrot & beet juice.  My daughter called it hamburger juice, because the flavor reminded her of the smell and taste of hamburger.  :)

She eats a vegan diet...but you never forget.

My favorite Blended Salad/Soup

spinach

cilantro

mango

cucumber

tomato

celery 

Serrano pepper

lime juice

topped with dulse flakes

I also had a few pieces of onion bread with my soup!

This is the most delicious bread I have ever made.  I call it onion ring bread.

SWEET ONION BREAD

recipe from Raw on $10 a Day

I doubled my recipe and used sweet red onions instead of yellow/white

makes two trays of bread

Mix together in large bowl until seeds gel~

2c. ground golden flax seeds

2 c. water

2 t. salt

Add:

5 carrots chopped up in Vita Mix or shredded

4 large red onions sliced in Food processor or other sweet onions

3 T. EV olive oil or grapeseed oil

mix together with hands until thoroughly amalgamated

dry on one side, flip and dry until desired texture and cut up with kitchen scissors

my bread is moist but firm and delicious...and sometimes I will make it extra crispy!

Chinese Kale Salad

baby kale

cucumbers

grape tomatoes

radishes

Chinese five spice

lime juice

 massage lime juice, kale and Chinese Five Spice then add other ingredients

My daughter and I were sorting through a bulk of raw almonds and she happened upon this heart shaped one.  <3

One way I get more greens into my diet is by eating blended soups and salads.  They are also great to get and keep things moving through your digestive tract.  

Greens are the most micro nutrient rich food on the planet.  Make sure you are eating them everyday to fill a portion of your micro nutrient load.  Also, make sure you are eating lots of vegetables and fruits in sufficient quantity and variety each day.

My favorite blended Salad/Soup

Best Blended Salad

1 Ataulfo mango

(my favorite, but you could also use another variety)

3 small vine ripe tomatoes

mixed salad greens

2 swiss chard leaves

small handful of cilantro

1 1/2 c. celery

3/4 of a large cucumber

jalapeno peppers to taste

lemon juice

Blend to desired consistency

This made a full Vita-Mix container or about 2 quarts

and I topped mine with granulated dulse flakes

Blended soups and salads are easy to digest, filling and delicious.  You can make them any consistency you like...smooth for a soup or chunky so you have something to chew.  Leave out the fruit for a savory soup or salad...use whatever greens or salad fixin's you have on hand, change up your spices/seasonings, add avocado for a creamy soup or salad.or chop it into the bowl..be creative....if I think it might be too bitter I add jalapeno and it usually cuts right through it.

For the dressings I usually add the ingredients right into the blender...for instance...tahini, lemon juice and Bragg's Liquid Aminos is good....or for Italian...garlic, oregano, basil, dash of Olive oil or leave out the oil and use an avocado for the fat.  Sometimes I'll look at salad dressing labels of things I used to eat and create one of my own from their ingredients list that I modify.

Raw Corn Chips

Raw Corn Salad/Salsa

6 ears of corn~cleaned and shaved off the cob (you can also use organic frozen corn)

1/2 of a red onion corsely chopped

1/4-1/3 c. jalapeno's diced

splash of lemon juice

cilantro to taste

Mix and let marinate to allow the flavors to mingle

you could also add a dash of salt

other optional ingredients~diced red sweet peppers, diced celery or any other veggie you have on hand

you could leave out the jalapeno's and add the other veggies plus a bit of olive oil so that it is more like a  salad  rather than hot salsa

You might want to make a corn soup or chowder...

place it in the Vita-Mix and add water, salt, garlic, jalapeno, avocado, a little lime juice and blend

Be creatvive and Enjoy!

When I was ready to make my chips 

I placed the leftover corn salad in my Vita-Mix and added water and about 1/2 c. of ground Golden flaxseed, next I spread them onto a teflex sheet and scored them into chips shapes  

Dehydrate for until they are able to peel from the teflex sheet

 Peel and flip over onto mesh screen and dry until crisp.

*If you use salt be sure to sprinkle it lightly on the wet mixture so that it will stick...for a healthier salt free version sprinkle with a salt-free herb blend or cayenne. 

Super Berry Chocolate Smoothie

1 c. water

3 cups of baby spinach

1/2 frozen banana

1-2 c frozen mixed berries

1 T. raw cacao

1 squirt Sweet Leaf English Toffee Stevia

Blend and top with raw cacao nibs

Cherry Soft Serve

In Vita-Mix place:

1 frozen banana

1 c. frozen dark sweet cherries

vanilla

almond milk to blend

blend until smooth & creamy but be careful not to over blend

you can also use a food processor

    Superfood Salad

  romaine

celery

bell peppers

cherry tomatoes

banana peppers

avocado

dulse

lime

Don't forget to smile!

Priorities...and My Favorite Blended Salad

Greetings and Happy New Year to my blog readers.   I have been on a leave of absence for a few months while taking care of my family, managing a large group buy and all the Holiday celebrations.

I hope return to blogging on a regular basis again.

*****************************************************************************

Since we are at the beginning of a New Year it is a great time to evaluate our priorities and make adjustments where needed..  

It is a good idea to do this from time to time to make sure we are keeping the most important things at the top of our list.   

We must be intentional about this or we can allow things to creep into our life that suck up our time and energy.  Then we neglect or half  heartily attend to the most important relationships or things we need to be about.  When we get our priorities out of whack... stress begins to creep into our life.  Stress can be the first warning sign that we need to reevaluate.

My list goes something like this... my spiritual life...first, then my family,  eating health promoting foods, work, exercise, rest & sleep and laughter & fun sprinkled into everyday.

What does your priority list look like?

******************************************************************************

At our house there are a couple of us doing a detox cleanse of smoothies, juices, blended soups and salads....with some fresh fruits and veggies for some chewing action.  Tomorrow may be a day for all liquids....we will see as we listen to our own bodies.
This is my favorite Blended Salad or Soup Recipe~

Best Blended Salad

1 Ataulfo mango

(my favorite, but you could also use another variety)

3 small vine ripe tomatoes

mixed salad greens

2 swiss chard leaves

small handful of cilantro

1 1/2 c. celery

3/4 of a large cucumber

jalapeno peppers to taste

lemon juice

Blend to desired consistency

This made a full Vita-Mix container or about 2 quarts

and I topped mine with granulated dulse flakes

Blended soups and salads are easy to digest, filling and delicious.  You can make them any consistency you like...smooth for a soup or chunky so you have something to chew.  Leave out the fruit for a savory soup or salad...use whatever greens or salad fixin's you have on hand, change up your spices/seasonings, add avocado for a creamy soup or salad.or chop it into the bowl..be creative....if I think it might be too bitter I add jalapeno and it usually cuts right through it.

For the dressings I usually add the ingredients right into the blender...for instance...tahini, lemon juice and Bragg's Liquid Aminos is good....or for Italian...garlic, oregano, basil, dash of Olive oil or leave out the oil and use an avocado for the fat.  Sometimes I'll look at salad dressing labels of things I used to eat and create one of my own from their ingredients list that I modify.

Lunch on the Go!

Lunch on the Go

In Vita Mix:

1/2 c. water

1 large orange heirloom tomato

1/2 bunch of celery

1 red bell pepper

1 red jalapeno

1 mango

big handful of romaine lettuce

lemon juice

cilantro

Blend until desired consistenecy.  I like mine with a little chew left in it.  I sprinkled granulated dulse on the top and grabbed a bag of crispy dulse to go!

I am on my way to the beach, so I am also taking a container of watermelon for later.

Raw Apple Crisp and Blended Soup

Raw Apple Crisp ~

modified recipe of Rhonda Malkmus

6 organic Red Apples

(thank you Marsha for the gift of apples)

1/4 c. freshly squeezed orange juice

2T. raw unfiltered honey (or agave)

3/4 c. pecans

3/4 c. walnuts

3/4 c. organic raisins

3/4 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg ( I used allspice)

1/4 t. ginger

pinch of sea salt

Peel and dice apples, place in an 8" square baking dish

combine orange juice and honey and drizzle over apples

toss until apples are well coated and set aside

In a food processor with "S" blade combine pecans, walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt

Pulse just until nuts and raisins are chopped but not pureed

spoon the nut/raisin mixture over apples and serve or refrigerate until serving time

sliced apples drizzled with oj/honey

bowl of nuts, raisins and spices

nuts/raisins/spices in food processor

process until crumbly

top apples with mixture

This is delicious!!

Blended Soup

1 c. of filtered water

2 T. lemon juice

1 T. Bragg's Liquid Aminos

handful of collard greens

handful of mustard greens

3 big handfuls of mixed baby greens

4 celery stalks chopped

1 small red bell pepper

 2 small vine ripened tomatoes

1 small avocado

1 med. red beet

1 red jalapeno

1 large radish

Blend to desired consistency.  I like mine a bit on the chuncky side...very tiny chunks.  I like to be able to chew it a bit, unlike pureed soups.

**when making a blended soup or salad...use whatever veggies you have on hand and be creative according to your likes.  If you don't have the Bragg's, you can use low sodium soy sauce....Balsamic vinegar/rice vinegar...no vinegar...garlic...whatever you like.  I like to add a hot pepper, because I like spicy and it curbs the bitterness of strong greens.

I topped mine with some crumbly Cheezy Kale Chips

Today's post is dedicated to my sister-in-law Wanda.  Hoping you get well soon!

CSA Share and the Giant Bok Choi

1 extremely large Bok Choi
1 bag of collard greens
1 bag of salad mix
1 bag of tomatoes
1 bag of sweet potatoes
1 bag of sweet bell peppers
1 big bunch of broccoli
several red jalapeno's
cilantro
dill
lemon balm
oregano

I special ordered 10# of red beets
I think I got some other green thing...just can't recall what it is...if I find it later, I'll add it to this post.

Raw milk Gouda Cheese for my non-vegans in the family

 Fruits/Veggie~Wholesale

tomatoes
celery
carrots
kiwi
oranges
granny smith apples
pineapple
mung bean sprouts

My generous friends with the organic garden picked some red apples for our family and brought over two huge bags.  I thought I might make some apple sauce, but the kids are enjoying eating them raw...

Pictured above is the giant bok choi...We got one a couple of weeks ago, but it was not quite this big.  It is a type of cabbage with a very distinct spicy flavor.  I made a raw salad with a mustard type of dressing...not sure what I'm gonna do with this one. 

Today I made a blended salad/soup~
romaine
1 red bell pepper
1 stalk of celery
3 leaves of Napa Cabbage
1/3 c. of beet salad
red jalapeno with seeds
squirt of Bragg's Liquid Amino's
lemon juice
huge spoon of raw almond butter
blended until smooth...I'll be taking this on our outing tomorrow

Here is a blended salad I made yesterday~
salad greens (mix) lots
4 beet leaves including stems
2 celery stalks
4 roma tomatoes
large red bell pepper
cilantro
1 red jalapeno with seeds
Bragg's Liquid Amino's
lemon juice
large spoon of raw almond butter

I blended this one until it was slightly chunky...I wanted a bit more texture.

Fruit Salad

stawberries

oranges

kiwi

sprinkled with unsweetened dried coconut

we will top this with raw walnuts tomorrow for B-fast

Kaboom! Always Be Prepared!~My husband is down to 198lbs.!!!

For my friends with IBS/colitis/crohns or gastro-intestinal issues. You know that it is a slow fade when you give yourself away. You feel great for a long time and the pain that you have previously experienced fades a bit from your memory. Then you think, I will just have a bit of the evil, because a bit does not fully pull the trigger and cause an explosion of pain...but...then bit by bit you get the gun cocked and you eat that one final evil bit and....Kaboom....it fires on you.
I have had a lifestyle shift here recently...I began working outside the home after 20 yrs. absence. I love it..but...I have not been fully prepared when I leave my home. After hard physical labor for 5-7 hrs I get hungry and my green juice has not been enough, so I have stopped at Panera's for a salad with whole grain baguette...probably on three different occasions. Then there are those greasy jalapeno Kettle chips my son's loves..I cannot have these things in my house...they don't like me.
The gun fired yesterday....I felt it coming...ouch!!! I say to myself...I eat a good clean and raw diet 96-98% of the time, this shouldn't be happening...well. This is who I am.
I said all of that, to say this. Be like a Boy Scout...always be prepared!!!
Unless you have been successful for many years, don't bring things into your home that will tempt you. Also, when you are leaving the house, take your food with you or plan ahead ~where you will go and what you will eat if you must go out to eat. This way you can set your mind and be determined to succeed. Then just do it! Do not vear from your plans. This has been a clear reminder to me that I do best on the highest raw diet possible. So from now on I will be preparing my blended salad's the night before I have to work and take them with me...and my son will have to eat jalapeno Kale chips...I just have to find time to make them...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Today's tummie tamer's~
16 oz My Green Beauty Juice~made with celery, cucumber, lemon and cayenne pepper

3 c. smoothie~raw almond milk, 2 scoops of Amazing Superfood~chocolate, chia seeds, hemp seeds

3 c. Blended Soup~1 c. celery, 3 roma tomatoes, 1 c. cucumber, cilantro, 2 sprigs of dandelion, 1 heaping T. tahini, splash each of Braggs liquid Aminos and lime juice~blend until smooth...add more water to thinness desired..sometimes top mine with chopped tomatoes/cukes..but today I drank mine on the run

3 c. smoothie~raw almond milk, 2 scoops of Amazing Superfood~chocolate, 1t. each of maca, lucuma, mesquite, 1T. raw cacao nibs, chia seeds, hemp seeds, a handful of frozen dark sweet cherries, 1/2 frozen banana, ice

romaine lettuce and tomato roll ups

1.25 hrs. of roller skating with my daughter! I love to roller skate!
I'll do my bootcamp workout after I get off of here.
Remember to get your move on!!

My husband is succeeding! He is down to 198!!! He has had a bit of emotional eating here and there.... it was nothing that got out of control.
He has had a lack of work which has created a bit of stress for him...But God has shown himself faithful and worthy of our TRUST again and my husband will be joining the normal people with a weekday job and daytime hours!! Praise the Lord!!! We have not had this kind of schedule for the past 8 years of our 10 1/2 yr. marriage. Life is always changing. More lifestyle adjustments ahead....I am looking forward to them.
Back to my hubby~His diet is basically unchanged. High Raw and Vegan. I am trying to get more veggies into his diet, but he prefers the fruit. He is continuing to slim down, but the workouts are still difficult for him to work into his schedule. The great thing about his new job is that he will be unloading items off of a truck and loading and organizing them after delivery...so he will be getting physical exercise. So even if he is pooped when he gets home he will have already got some kind of workout in.

This week he will be drinking Dandelion Smoothies~
water, banana, strawberries and dandelion...he likes them!
and he packed 5 or 6 of them in his lunch today along with 2 cantloupes and
celery.... that will be his days eats. He is hoping to knock off about 8 more pounds before the first of April.
I'll keep you posted!