MY ATTEMPT AT A GREEN LEAF WRAP

Hi Gorgeous Ones!

I hope that this week is well with you. Just had to share how I'm venturing out, trying more vegan & raw-vegan recipes. My last attempt was a recipe that I saw on ChoosingRaw.com whee Gena made Banana Breakfast Sushi.  It looked pretty simple and good so I decided to give try my hand at it.

I had all the ingredients on hand.

1 banana

1 large Swiss chard, collard, kale, or romaine lettuce leaf

1 tbsp almond butter

1 tsp agave nectar

Here's what you do next.

1) Cut the thickest part of the stem of your leaf wrapper out with a “V” shaped cut, like so:


2) Spread the tablespoon of almond butter into the crease of the leaf:

3) Drizzle it with about a teaspoon of agave—this is optional, but I liked it:

4) Cut your banana in half, and layer it so that it’s straight in the center of the leaf:

5) Fold up all of the edges bottom edges, and then and wrap it up neatly from right to left:

6) Slice into 3-5 pieces (depending on the length) and enjoy!


Everything went well, I think,  until I got to step no.5.

 Lol.

 
I think I need to work on my "rolling" technique. Haha!
 

 

Oh well.... Least it tasted good. =)
 
Please share any suggestions that you may have on successfully doing his.
Lol.

Post Title → MY ATTEMPT AT A GREEN LEAF WRAP

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS



My favorite things from The Sound of Music

Love that friggin' song!
Anyhoo. Had to share a couple of my favorite snacks of the moment. They are super simple, very delicious and great for your body!


Apples topped w/Cinnamon - my current fav!

Apples are good for:

• Bone Protection

• Asthma Help

• Alzheimer's Prevention

• Lower Cholesterol

• Lung Cancer Prevention

• Breast Cancer Prevention

• Colon Cancer Prevention

• Liver Cancer Prevention

• Diabetes Management

• Weight Loss

For more info on the health benefits of apples, read http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apples.html


Cinnamon is good for:
• Reducing blood sugar levels and treating Type 2 Diabetes.


• Lowering cholesterol.

• Aiding digestion.

• Treating diarrhea.

• Curing the common cold.

• Reducing arthritis pain.

• Boosting memory and cognitive function.

• Treating toothaches.

• Eliminating bad breath.

• Curing headaches and migraine pain.

A WORD OF CAUTION REGARDING CINNAMON - Some recent studies in Europe have shown that cinnamon derived from the Cassia plant contains a toxic compound known as Coumarin. This compound is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations. Since the powdered cinnamon that we purchase in our supermarkets is typically derived from the Cassia plant, it is important to avoid consuming high doses of it.


Since cinnamon has an anti-clotting effect on the blood, caution should also be exercised when it is used in combination with other blood-thinning products such as aspirin. Large quantities of cinnamon should also be avoided during pregnancy due to the possibility of adverse effects on the uterus.

Anyone that is currently taking medication for controlling blood sugar levels or blood thinners should consult their doctor before using cinnamon as a regular supplement.

For more info on Cinnamon's health benefits, read http://www.homeremediesweb.com/cinnamon_health_benefits.php

"Eh...what's up, doc?"....

Carrots!

Carrots are good for:

• Prevent heart diseases

• Prevent cancer

• Lower risk of macular degeneration

• Improves eyesight

• Reduce the risk of stroke

• Reduces the risk of diabetes

For more info on the health benefits of carrots, read http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-carrot.html


Happy Healthy Snacking!

Post Title → THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH ON HEMP

Okay, so I really only mentioned hemp earlier this week. Well, actually its in the product that I reviewed on Tuesday. So there.

Anyhoo, I want to share with you some info on the benefits of hemp. And no, I'm not talking about the kind you smoke. Lol.


So here goes:

Seeds of the plant cannabis sativa, hemp seed, contain all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary to maintain healthy human life. No other single plant source has the essential amino acids in such an easily digestible form, nor has the essential fatty acids in as perfect a ratio to meet human nutritional needs.


Industrial hemp has a long history, with a wide range of uses. Like flax and soybeans, hemp provides raw materials for both food and fiber. Today, hemp is grown in most industrialized nations of the world, excluding the U.S. (Find out why at VoteHemp.com).

Hemp is a profitable and potential "dual-income" crop for farmers, as both seeds and fiber can be processed into thousands of uses. Hemp is a highly valuable crop and the oilseed and fiber varieties can be used for the production of fabrics, rope, paper, food, health and beauty aids, printing inks, paint, and building materials. And today it's proving to have even greater value as a potential source of renewable energy, and as a raw material for biodiesel and ethanol. The building materials excel at carbon sequestration helping slow climate change.


Hemp's tiny, round seeds are about the same size as small sunflower seeds. They have a light and pleasant flavor and aroma that is similar to toasted pine nuts. The seeds are the edible portion of the hemp plant.

Hemp seeds contain all 10 Essential Amino Acids (EAA's) - the building blocks of protein. They're also rich in naturally-balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's). Additionally, hemp is high in magnesium, iron, potassium, fiber and phytonutrients, plus natural antioxidants like vitamin E. Our hemp foods are a healthy habit that can be part of your diet every day.


Hemp seeds are one of the plant kingdom's best sources of easily digestible, high-quality protein. Proteins are among the body's most essential nutrients, helping you build and repair tissue and build lean muscle mass. 65% of hemp seeds' protein is high-quality edestin, making them the highest vegan source of this simple protein that's required for proper immune system function. The other 35% is albumin protein. With live enzymes intact, hemp's digestible proteins are easily assimilated into the body. Hemp protein is also a great alternative if you're allergic to the proteins found in dairy and soy. Add hemp protein powder to a morning smoothie for a valuable whole-food energy boost.

Benefits of Hemp Seeds


Hemp seeds are nutrient-powerhouses containing:

• All 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential amino acids (EAAs) our bodies cannot produce.

• A high protein percentage of thesimple proteins that strengthen immunity and fend off toxins.2



Eating hemp seeds in any form could aid, if not heal, people suffering from immune deficiency diseases. This conclusion is supported by the fact that hemp seed has been used to treat nutritional deficiencies brought on by tuberculosis, a severe nutrition blocking disease that causes the body to waste away.3

• Nature's highest botanical source of essential fatty acid, with more essential fatty acid than flax or any other nut or seed oil. 4

• A perfect 3:1 ratio of Omega-6 Linoleic Acid and Omega-3 Linolenic Acid - for cardiovascular health and general strengthening of the immune system.

• A superior vegetarian source of protein considered easily digestible.

• A rich source of phytonutrients, the disease-protective element of plants with benefits protecting your immunity, bloodstream, tissues, cells, skin, organs and mitochondria.

• The richest known source of polyunsaturated essential fatty acids. 5

Hemp seed oil has been attributed to helping: increase energy, soften skin, relieve arthritis and normalize blood cholesterol.

How To Eat Hemp Seeds:

Incorporating hemp seeds in your diet is so easy. You can purchase whole hemp seeds, hulled hemp seeds, hemp seed protein powder, and hemp seed oil. Simply just eat them raw, add them to a salad, replace olive oil with hemp seed oil, etc. Or add 2 tbs of Hemp Seeds everyday to a healthy shake or smoothie.
Also, it’s best to keep hemp seeds refrigerated and air tight. If you purchase a bulk 5-pound bag, consider adding a pound to a container for daily use, and seal up the 5-pound bag and place it in the freezer. This will help protect the seed and the nourishing Omega-3s which are sensitive to heat and oxygen.

**Resources: partly from  Ratical.org

Post Title → A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH ON HEMP

A TREAT FOR YOUR "SWEET"

Hi Sweeties!

So to keep with the Valentine’s Day theme, I wanted to give you a couple of healthier suggestions for V-day treats to prepare for you and your sweetie. Whether your "sweet" is your hubby, wifey, life partner, partner, boo or yourself they (and you) are bound to love one of these healthy treats.

You know how strawberries with chocolate are common fair for this day (or any other romantic time)? Well, you can opt for a healthier version by using organic strawberries (and/or bananas) and raw chocolate sauce.

Making raw chocolate sauce is pretty easy. Use 1 T. of raw cacao to 2 T. of agave nectar. Put it in a blender and blend til smooth. It’s soooooo good. And the fact that it’s healthier for you than processed chocolate makes it even “gooder”. ;)



The pic above is not the pic that I wanted to post. My camera's acting funky (and I don't mean in a good way either) so what you see here is to give you an idea of the type of plates that you can present your dish on. I took pics of some heart-shaped plates that I purchased years ago. A small white one, that I purchased from Target. And a smaller deep-dish red one that you can put a sauce, mousse or cake in. Now that I think about it, it's actually a small ramekin. Uh, don’t quite remember where I got it from but if I take a guess at it my hunch would be Crate and Barrel. I’m sure you could find something like them in Walmart, Target or maybe even the dollar store. I posted the pic of them because they’re great for presentation. Just to give you some ideas.


Now onto the other recipe:
I found the other V-day recipe while on twitter thru a VegaTeam tweet. If they sounds familiar to you, it is probably because you've seen their products in Whole Foods, health food stores and/or in the natural section of some grocers. Sequel Naturals is the company who makes the wonderful Vega products. They also make MacaSure and ChlorEssence products. Anyhoo, you can click here to see this wonderful recipe and get another idea for your V-day celebratory tastings.

P.S. You don’t have to mention that they’re raw or living foods. Matter of fact, don’t even say it’s a healthy alternative. Just serve up with a smile and happy heart.

If you have any Valentine's Day inspired healthy recipes, please share. I'll be juice fasting that day, but I'm sure there are others who would love to get some recipe ideas.

Hearts,

Post Title → A TREAT FOR YOUR "SWEET"

DANDELION GREEN SMOOTHIES

Hi Gorgeous!

It is sooooo beautiful here. I hope that you are having lovely weather where you are. If not, happythoughts. =)

On last week, I decided I wanted to really expand on the types of greens that I was using for my green smoothies. Typically, I've stuck with spinach and kale. But after more reading & research on green smoothies, I see that rotating the greens in them is very important.

Why? Because almost all greens contain trace amounts of alkaloids. Tiny quantities of alkaloids cannot hurt you. It can actually strengthen the immune system, in tiny amounts. However, if you keep consuming kale, or spinach, or any other single green for many weeks without rotation, eventually the same type of alkaloids can accumulate in your body and cause unwanted symptoms of poisoning. Mixing them or putting your greens into rotation is the best way to consume them in your diet. And just so you know, this does not apply to fruit.

Having said all that, I decided to try some weed. Dandelion weed that is. Why dandelion? Well, because I had seen some green smoothie recipes with dandelion in them and was curious as to the taste and benefits. I had read in one of Victoria Boutenko's books that weeds are high in vitamins and minerals, especially because they haven't been cultivated by extensive farming methods. Only thing is they (weeds) are quite bitter in taste. It has been said that the more bitter a green is the better is for you. I figured that (bitterness) was easy to get around though. Just add a sweetener.

I'll share the two green smoothie recipes I made but let me tell you some of the benefits of the dandelion green.

Antiviral - The roots possess strong antiviral properties.
Blood Sugar - May help stabilize blood sugar levels.
Digestion - General The root acts as an appetite stimulant, helps promote digestion and gastrointestinal health, encourages the growth of healthy bacteria, and alleviates flatulence.
Gallbladder - Cleansing and healing to the gallbladder. Typically, the roots or juice from the leaves are used for this.
Heart - May help lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).
Kidneys - The leaves support kidney function and act as a diuretic.
Liver - The roots promote liver detoxification.
Menstruation/PMS - Alleviates the bloating associated with PMS.

Now before you go to pullin' weeds in your back yard (As a friend of mine thought I was doing. Lol.), I recommend that you get them from your local farmer's market (where I got mine from) or you may want to consider taking a class to help you identify plants.

Now onto my yummy smoothies:



1 bunch of dandelion
1 frozen banana
some frozen mango chunks
1 C distilled water
some agave nectar (to sweeten)

This was good, however it still had somewhat of a bitter after-taste to it hence the drinking of it in a wine glass. Hey, I had to do what I had to do to help me consider it more palatable. The next smoothie was awesome.



1 bunch of dandelion
2 granny smith apples (Their tartness really balances out the dandelions bitterness)
1 frozen banana
distilled water

This one was sooooooo delicious! It's my favorite now.

Well, that's all for now. I'll talk more on the benefits of wild edibles (weeds) on next week.

Happy healthy living,
CO

Post Title → DANDELION GREEN SMOOTHIES

JUICING {RELOADED}

Freshly juiced vegetables (also referred to as fresh green drinks containing ingredients such as cucumber, celery, spinach, lettuce, sprouts, kale, pak choi, broccoli, cabbage, parsley etc.) give your body an instant boost of nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals in a form that the body can easily assimilate, absorb and digest – in fact, studies have shown that the nutrients from juiced vegetables are within our bloodstream within 30 minutes of consumption!

At the most basic level, juicing allows us to add so many more vegetables to our daily diet, and to up the amount of raw food we consume giving the body energy and boosting the immune system and the body’s cleansing process.

A quick summary of why juicing is so beneficial:

- Green juices contain lots of chlorophyll which is incredibly effective in detoxifying our bodies. Chlorophyll can help make our bodies strong, detoxify the liver, can purify and help to rebuild our blood cells (as the molecular structure is very similar to haemoglobin which moves oxygen through our blood), remove mold, parasites and myco/exotoxins from the body and (as many, many studies show) can help prevent and remove cancer cells.

- According to macrobiotic.co.uk – one of the biggest health benefits of juicing can be summarised in one phrase: cellular cleansing. According to Steve Meyerowitz (the Sprout Man!) all changes to a persons health should start at a cellular level by oxygenating and cleansing the system of toxins and other damaging foreign invaders. This is known as creating and enhancing health and fitness from the inside out. The cellular environment is the environment where all of the cells in our body live, including the lymphatic system, digestive system, and cardiovascular system. This could be a whole article in itself, however, it is important to remember that fresh vegetable juices are massively beneficial to the body’s efforts to cleanse its cellular environment.

- Raw, fresh vegetable juices are extremely alkaline. We have several other articles on the importance of alkalising your body, however, very briefly – it is highly beneficial to ensure that your body does not become over-acidic and that an alkaline balance is maintained in the blood & tissues. Over acidification is the common theme and cause of almost all conditions of ill health!

- As mentioned, raw vegetable juices/ green drinks are an excellent source of vitamins & minerals, trace elements, enzymes and nutrients which supply essential elements required for the body’s healing processes and cell regeneration.

- Vegetable juices are rich in natural medicines, vegetal hormones & antibiotics. For instance, certain hormones needed by the pancreas to produce insulin are present in cucumber & onion juices and freshly juiced garlic, onions, radish & tomatoes contain many beneficial antibiotic substances.

- Easily absorbed organic minerals such as calcium, potassium & silicon are contained within fresh vegetable juice. These minerals assist the body in restoring the biochemical & mineral balance in the tissues & cells, which helps to prevent the premature aging of cells & disease.

**info from energiseforlife**


Just wanted to share a couple of the juices that I've made in my juicer. I really enjoy them.

The Acidity Buster by Sandra Cabot

1/2 grapefruit, peeled
1 lemon
2 stalks of celery, leaves removed
1 cucumber
1 red radish
2 inch slice of pineapple
1/2 inch ginger root


The Oxygenator by Natalia Rose

1 lb of carrots
1 medium beet
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger
1/4 tsp fresh Serrano chili

For my juices, I stick with organic foods. Also, the juicer that I have is the Breville Juice Fountain Plus. And yes, I enjoy this juicer! I hope to purchase a Greenstar juicer one day, so that I can juice leafy greens really well.

Juice recipes came from the following books:
"Raw Food Life Force Energy" by Natalia Rose
"The Juice Fasting Bible" by Sandra Cabot, MD

Cheers to vibrant health!
ChocolateOrchid

Post Title → JUICING {RELOADED}

HEAVENS TO MURGATROID!!! MY PEE IS PINK!!

Hi Beautifuls!

A couple of weeks ago, I tried a delicious and naturally sweet juice Here’s the recipe:

2 medium carrots, trimmed
4 oranges, peeled
3 medium beets, trimmed

It was wonderful! And I knew it was super healthy for my body. What I didn’t know or expect was that it would turn my pee pink...ish. You can only imagine my thoughts when I first saw this. Especially, since I’m normally a “clear”…... pee'er. Anyhoo, after I calmed down and dismissed any and all wild thoughts about UTI’s or internal bleeding, I knew it had to do something with the beets. So I hit up the internet and sure enough it was there in abundance.


Beets can turn your pee pink! This does not occur in everyone. I REPEAT: THIS DOES NOT OCCUR IN EVERYONE. It happens in about 1 to 8 people. This occurrence has been coined as “Beeturia” and can indicate an iron defiency. This is not surprising to me because I was told years ago that my iron level is low. As a matter of fact, when I was pregnant w/my daughter that was the first thing the doc recommended me to begin taking. You can read more about “Beeturia” here.

So you know what this means... I’ll be incorporating more green smoothies and juices in my diet and including bee pollen and b12. Definitely making a high raw/living foods intake my lifestyle.

Just so you know.
Smooches,
CO

Post Title → HEAVENS TO MURGATROID!!! MY PEE IS PINK!!

ICE CREAM.......OR IS IT?

Okay, I know that the weather is turning (or has turned depending on your location) cooler but sometimes I just want me some. Ice cream, that is. And seeing as I am so into eating as healthy as I possibly can, I found a recipe for something that will definitely satisfy your sweets craving.



Can you guess what this is....
It’s actually frozen bananas, creamed in a food processor (using the S blade). I got this recipe from ChoosingRaw blog (great raw foods blog). She (Gena from ChoosingRaw) calls this dish "Banana Soft Serve". I could not believe that something this simple could be so good. So of course, I had to put this recipe to the test.




Here’s the recipe :
3 frozen organic bananas
Cinnamon (optional)
Chocolate Sauce (optional)


I took 3 frozen bananas and popped them into the food processor. Pulsed them for about 5 minutes, during which I would stop it and scrap the bananas off the sides to make sure everything was creamed.


In the meantime for the chocolate sauce, I used 1 Tablespoon of raw cacao (raw chocolate) to 2 T of Agave nectar and blended until smooth. And just to make things a little funky, I shook a little bit of Cinnamon on top. Ummmmmm…. So delicious.

I was especially happy when my daughter tried it and loved it. So tryin, to get that girl to eat more raw so I took this as a victory and beginning for her. ( I do believe she’s opening up to it more.) She even requests this. Lol.
It really is a simple win-win recipe. If you try it, let me know what you think.


Ice Creamy Smooches,

CO

Post Title → ICE CREAM.......OR IS IT?