New Year....New Life

January 16, 2016

I am doing my spring cleaning a little early this year. The cleaning I am working on is my diet.  I have been in this process for a few months now. 

I have been gradually coming out of a black hole that I got sucked into many years ago. 

There is a lot of chaos inside a black hole.  It's a place of nightmares.  

Now I am on the other side heading towards life

...after you get out you go through a process of looking back and figuring out what happened. Then you stay paralyzed for a time because you now understand what was really going on. Your reality is shattered and.... your still breathing.... and your not sure if it is your last breath because your life has literally been sucked right out of you during this insidious process by someone you loved.

This is my picture of severe trauma. Your picture may have a different story line or Lord willing you have not experienced trauma like this.  

For me, my health deteriorated over the course of years

 and then afterwards I lacked the ability to care for myself properly and I really didn't care anymore.  I did not  care for myself by doing the things that I knew would lead to good health and sustain it.  I was stuck.

Now,  I find myself in a place where I am moving forward on my path . A path that leads to life....spiritually, mentally and physically. 

First....Seeking the Omnipotent God who made us and who cares. 

Looking to scripture which builds up the mind and gives light in the dark places.  

Ultimately He gives life and health to the body,  but he gives us a free will to choose.   I believe that much of our physical health lies in the choices we make....

  Such as what we eat and drink, how and if we exercise, getting sunshine, who we surround ourselves with (positive or negative), etc.

Of course there are genetics, birth defects, particular illnesses and accidents that contribute to our health, but for most of us, I believe for the it lies with our choices.

  I am choosing to make positive choices as I move forward in my healing. Choices that will keep me close to God and  choices that move my body towards wellness.

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

When I started this blog my intention was to track what I was eating, so that I would have a record to examine when my symptoms would flare up.  I avoided those things that caused harm to my body.  This was very successful and my health improved as I discovered what those offenders were.  I began tagging all of my recipes so that I could refer back to them.  I added other helpful info on here that helped me along my journey.  I posted about the Community Supported Agriculture group that I was a part of for several years.  Then I shared about helping a farmer get a CSA started in my community and hosted it at my home.  I shared recipes using the veggies we received in our baskets hoping to get you excited about supporting your local farmers.

Then I checked out..... and I have been on a journey of sorts...

 leading me to a journey of discovery

Today, I am going to begin a new journey on this blog.  A journey back to wellness.  This is mostly for me, but if it helps or encourages one person, then that is my hope. Therefore I am leaving this blog public.   I will be re-posting some of my recipes and hopefully I will be adding some new ones.   

I am also endeavoring to resume consistency with my physical exercise.  Because of the state of my health over the last few years and recurring injuries I have not been able to stay consistent.  So, here's to consistency and no injuries! Praying for God's favor.

I have placed my rebounder in the living room, so it is ready for action.  I like to keep it on the floor and in my path so that I have to walk on it, to get over it.  When I make a pass I do a some jumping to give my lymphatic system a good shakedown.

A couple days ago I did a workout that left me quite sore, so today I did some extra stretching along with Yoga and Pilates.  Oh, how I love yoga.  I don't know why I am so amazed at how wonderful I feel afterward.  Maybe someday I will get back to teaching, but for now I am the student.

Today I did my prep work for this week. 

Here is a list of things I made today.

Cleaned and cut fresh veggies: diakon radish, cucumber, carrots, peppers

French Lentil and Black Rice Casserole

A large amount of quinoa, I divided it in half.  Half of it I left plain to create meals this week, for the other half I sauteed mushrooms, carrots, red bell pepper, kale, broccoli, garlic and onion in little olive oil then added it to the other half of the quinoa...added salt, pepper, Hungarian paprika, a dash of cayenne pepper and a splash of lemon juice.

Beet Salad 

(recipe on sidebar)

Pea Salad with celery, red onion, Balsamic Vinegar, EVOO and Walnuts

Brown Rice

Boiled Eggs

Tonight's dinner was Scrambled Tofu and Roasted Potatoes. 

I made the scrambled tofu with spinach and red pepper and lots of spices and roasted cubed red and sweet potatoes, seasoned with garlic, paprika, salt, pepper and cayenne.  There are some leftovers from this meal that I may add to my lentil rice Budda bowls this week. :)

Breakfast tomorrow will be a Low Glycemic Chocolate Chip Mint Avocado Smoothie 

 Lunch.. I plan to have my Favorite Blended Soup (recipes below) with 

  some crackers that I  made with almond pulp leftover from making almond milk.  

If I feel like I need the extra protein I will have a boiled egg with my soup.

To make the Almond pulp crackers I blended a zucchini, red bell pepper, carrots, salt, pepper and a little water until smooth.  Then I mixed it together with diced sweet red onion, ground sesame seeds and sunflower seeds.  I spread it on dehydrator sheets and scored it like crackers and dried it until I was able to peel it off the teflex sheet and turn it over and then dried it until crispy.  

 I do not measure when making crackers...sorry.  I follow my intuition from many years of watching my grandma cook and bake without measuring or using a cookbook.

Dinner will be French Lentils and black rice casserole (recipe link on sidebar labeled Lentil rice casserole) over fresh baby kale, chard and spinach and topped with avocado.  Maybe a salad or some roasted baby Brussels sprouts. 

Snacks for tomorrow, if needed are: 

diakon radish, carrots, cucumber, baby heirloom tomatoes, kalamata olives (veggies tray is already made), choice of raw nuts: Brazil, walnut or almonds. 

If I feel the need for something sweet, I may have a date and stuff it with a pecan or walnut.  God's candy...that's what I call it.  It's the best candy bar ever!

May you be blessed with good health and a happy heart!

Chocolate Chip Mint Avocado Smoothie

low glycemic

In blender:

2 c. homemade almond milk

2-3 c. raw  spinach

1-2 T. raw cacao powder

3-4 drops of peppermint essential oil

2-3 brazil nuts or some walnuts or 1/2 scoop of Vega Protein powder

blend and then add:

1/2 frozen avocado cut into chunks

blend again and then add:

1 c. frozen blueberries

2 T. raw cacao nibs

stevia to taste

blend to a creamy consistency and enjoy!!!

My favorite Blended Salad/Soup

spinach 

or  

super greens blend 

(kale, chard, spinach)

cilantro

mango

cucumber

tomato

celery 

Serrano pepper

lime juice

topped with dulse flakes

Optional: top with diced avocado

add just enough water to make a soup consistency to your liking

I like mine with a bit of texture, so I leave it with small pieces to chew on but with a soup like consistency

vary the ingredient amounts according to your taste and use what you have on hand

blend and enjoy!

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!

My Date with the Blender

Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours in my kitchen with my Vita-Mix.   A friend had sent me an e-mail question about constipation and sluggish bowels...

I do have some experience in this area with my own GI tract issues, so I was happy to share how I deal with this situation.  I then became inspired to do a little cleanse of my own.  

The pictures below are the recipes I use to get things moving.  I find it helpful to consume mainly raw foods in blended forms to move things along and juice to allow my digestive tract to rest in between meals and for their healing properties.

RED LEMONADE

1/2 cucumber 

mixed baby greens

collards

1 small beet~unpeeled & quartered

celery

ginger

romaine

water to blend

strain & add

100% organic lemon juice

liquid stevia to taste

This is my finished product and it was refreshing & delicious!

BLENDED SALAD

2 vine ripe tomatoes quartered

baby greens

romaine

lots of celery

cilantro

mango

jalapeno

lemon or lime juice

I like to blend mine into a chunky consistency so that it has some texture with something to chew on. I also find that this helps with bulking things up to get them moving.

ARUGULA SMOOTHIE

1 c. of water

1 c. mixed berries

1/2 c. mango

2 c. of arugula~this has a very unique taste so do not use this much unless you like it

hemp seeds

ginger

blend & serve

These are the ingredients for the smoothie I made for my children.

almond milk

spinach

banana

mango

blueberries

hemp seeds

blend & serve

I really love fresh raw almond milk!   We drink a lot of it at our house.

I used one cup of soaked almonds and 6 c. of water and blended

I strain mine through a nut milk bag for a smooth & creamy milk.

If you prefer at more creamy milk, just decrease the amount of water to nuts.

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.

Best Blended Salad, Cashew Cheese, Raw Chips & Strawberry Julius

I love Mango season!   I get to make my favorite blended salad.

The peppers and snap peas are to place on the table for snacking!...along with the cucumber.  What's on your table?

Remember to have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies at hands reach for your family...and they will eat them.

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.

This is just off of my front deck.  It is the only place that we have enough sun to grow anything..but we do not get much sun, so I cannot grow much, but I keep trying.  This year I am doing some greens...kale, chinese cabbage, romaine, arugula in the raised bed and some herbs in pots... I am snipping off cilantro for my salad.

My lunch!!! Boy was it yummy!!.mmmmmmmm

Cashew Cheese, Blended Salad, Raw Nacho Chips

Cashew Cheese

in the Vita-Mix

1 c. soaked and drained raw cashew

1-3 cloves of garlic

1-2 T. dried onions

lemon juice to blend

Himalyan Salt to taste

blend until smooth

I made this Cheese the other day and had not tasted it...Wowzer...it is so good...

I did not measure anything...you know what I mean??? I love the versatility of raw food un-cooking...!

This is a view out of my front door...lots of trees

Strawberry Julius

2- 2 1/2 c. water

big handful of CSA strawberries

lemon juice

Squirt of liquid Stevia

small handful of ice

Blend in high powered blender or Vita-Mix

Enjoy!

you can change this up by adding whatever fresh or frozen fruit you enjoy...