Cucumber Radish Delight [recipe]

I have been so in love with simple meals lately, and this salad has quickly become a favorite. Based on the Medical Medium recipe.

Cucumber Radish Delight (raw, fat-free, vegan, paleo, medicalmedium, plant-based)
(printable recipe here) 

2 cucumbers, sliced (and peeled if they have wax)
5-6 radishes, sliced thinly
several sprigs fresh dill, chopped
1/8-1/4 red onion, diced
juice of 1 lemon
maple syrup to taste
S+P to taste

Toss to combine. I'm sure this would be even better if left to marinate for about 30 minutes, but I can never manage to wait. 

Veggie Samosa Recipe [Vegan, Low Fat, Nut-Free, Medical Medium]

I've been eating fat-free lately to help my liver fully heal. My son has also been eating much lower fat, and I've been trying to find recipes that will be low fat and tasty for him, since he isn't just going to eat bunches of salads or other veggies every day like I will. I stumbled on this recipe today at My Heart Beets while searching for tortilla or other flat bread recipes, and it looked so amazing I HAD to give it a go. Only of course I also wanted to make it as low fat as possible, so I changed it up a bit to suit our needs. And I call this a success, because everyone loved it, including my son, who is the most picky of us all. I call this a "weekend recipe" because it's a little involved, but oh man, is it worth it in the end! And the filing - there is so much left over that it can be made into a whole other batch the next day OR you can just eat it plain, because it is DELICIOUS as is. SO the filling, it's not so much a weekend recipe, it can be done any day of the week. Without further ado, I give you the recipe! Enjoy! If you make this, let me know how it turned out!

Veggie Samosas
(printable recipe here)

Samosa Crust (naan recipe):
½ cup chickpea flour
½ cup tapioca flour
1 cup water
¼ teaspoon salt

Samosa Filling:
1 lg organic sweet potato (we used Japanese)
2 lg potatoes (we used russet)
1 cup peas
1 teaspoon cumin
1 medium white or yellow onion
1-inch ginger, minced
½ teaspoon paprika with a pinch of cayenne
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ cup cilantro leaves, minced

Instructions

To make Samosas:

In a bowl, combine samosa crust ingredients to form a batter.

Pour a third of the batter onto a frying pan with a wee bit of coconut oil and cook until the bottom firms slightly, then remove and place on a baking sheet.

Cut the naan/pancake in half and spoon the filling mixture in the middle of each piece.

Fold one side of bread over the filling and then fold the other flap over – making a cone or triangular shape. Pinch the bottom closed.

Place baking sheet in oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until crispy outside.

To make Filling

Boil potatoes and set aside when done.

In a saute pan on medium heat, add onions and a pinch of salt – stir-fry until onions turn translucent. Add cumin.

Then add ginger, spices and stir-fry for a minute or so before adding the mashed potatoes – combine well.

Fold in peas and cilantro then set the mixture aside until you’re ready for it.

These are SO. CRAZY. GOOD. And ALMOST fat-free!

the garden, the bees, cinnamon bun muffins and chemtrails

Summer  = blog neglect, no? I give you some random updates:

~ The garden is growing. I'm learning more abut plant nutrition and the great importance of feeding the soil so it will feed you. Nutrients are crucial! Kiernen has been graciously donating his pee to feed our tomato plants, and they have NEVER been so happy!

~ The bees...we haven't seen them in a couple of weeks. The landowner went out of town for two weeks, during which the gate was locked and we were unable to visit. Then it's just been intermittently rainy and cloudy, and I don't want to do anything to the hives to make them upset - like opening them in cooler weather, letting out nest scent or heat. I keep waiting for the sun to be out when we need it to be. My plan is to treat with formic acid (or nothing), and I'm not sure. Smaller bees, as we will have having a Warre hive, tend to resist mites. Perhaps I ought to do a mite check before doing a formic acid treatment?

~ I've made these cupcakes twice in the past week. (I use butter instead of grapeseed oil and honey instead of agave, and usually less of it).

The first time I had leftover icing, so what's a girl to do but bake another batch, right? These are so good I cannot even bring myself to share these with friends - I want to eat them all myself. It is all I can do to share them with my awesome husband. Kiernen and I would both easily sit down and each eat half of this batch in a sitting. Possibly all, although realistically, that's way too much sweet for either of our bodies.

The flour to make these is crazy expensive, but you won't even care - they're that good. If you're grain-free, MAKE these. Or don't, depending on your level of self control. And trust me on this one: do them WITH the frosting. Almost painfully delicious. I thought chocolate was my downfall. Apparently I was wrong: it's cinnamon. Goddess bless Elana for her freaking amazing recipes.

~ I wish summer would just decide to be here already. Its sunny, then it rains, then it's sunny, then it rains, sometimes both at the same time. We just want the sun! Dear "military": Stop flying planes over us and dumping chemicals (Titanium,Aluminum, Barium, Magnesium, Calcium)! Just leave the clear skies alone already! WTF! (Want to know what I'm talking about? Here is an introduction to chemtrails. Want to make yourself crazy? Google 'chemtrails' and watch some of the videos. But not too many. I believe it's good to be informed, and not to dwell. Keep finding ways to feel good, most importantly.)

my delicious life in recipes

This morning for breakfast I had a DELICIOUS green smoothie:

Breakfast of Champions Smoothie
Printable Recipe
(makes enough for three)(not my photo - thank you, Internet)

large bunch kale
2 cups strawberries
3 bananas
2 cups water
large slice of lemon with peel
1 Tbs honey
2 Tbs bee pollen

Later for dipping fruit, I made some

Chocolate Frosting
Printable Recipe

1/3 cup semi-soft pitted Medjool dates
1/4 cup honey
1 ripe avocado
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla

Blend in food processor until creamy.

For dinner tonight, we're having Raw Pad Thai, since we're having a raw potluck in our common house tonight.

First I marinated some mushrooms:

Marinated Mushrooms

Printable recipe

10 oz mushrooms, diced

juice of 2 lemons or limes

3 Tbs coconut aminos

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp paprika

dash cayenne

6 Tbs maple syrup

Pour over mushrooms and marinate 2 hours - 2 days. I marinated for the day until dinner time.

Then I made:

Raw "Peanut" Sauce (From The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose)

1 cup raw and creamy almond butter
2 tablespoons fresh ginger (I used one)
1/2 cup water (to thin)
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
3 tablespoons coconut aminos
4 teaspoons sesame oil (optional)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 jalapeño pepper (I omitted this, as we don't like spicy)

Blend all ingredients at high speed until smooth.

I then grated 2 carrots, spiralized 2 zucchinis, finely chopped 1/4 cup cilantro, and diced one red bell pepper

I will toss the sauce over this mix and add the marinated mushrooms on top to serve.

What a delicious, delicious life!

birthday party happiness

The birthday party was a success. It went off fantastically, and everyone both had a good time AND enjoyed the food. My son had a great day, he got lots of amazing gifts, and almost all of his friends got to be there - he was delighted.

We decorated the common house dining room with Tibetan prayer flags, and just as we'd put up the ones we had, a neighbour came in and offered hers as well, so we had a great amount of them. It was lovely! We did blow up some balloons, because the kids just have so much fun with them - our one eco-blunder.

I had two crafts, and most of the kids did both - making their own party hats AND making decorated jars to hold whatever they liked. I loved seeing all of the different interpretations of how to decorate those jars - such creativity!

The wonderful thing about having parties in our cohousing's common house is having the playroom right next door to the dining room - whenever we'd be between activities, the kids would naturally go into the playroom and have a great time. When we were ready for the next thing, we'd simply call them in, and everyone would come running happily - singing 'Happy Birthday'! Opening presents!

Everyone LOVED the mini cupcakes AND the watermelon cake! I got a bazillion compliments and suggestions of opening a business. I got one request to do the food for our little friend's birthday, because his Mama says, "I do practical, you do presentation. I need someone who does presentation to do his cake." I am honoured by it all.

The nice thing, too, about serving only fruit and nothing with refined sugar or wheat is that even though all the kids are fueled up by healthy food, there are no crazy sugar rushes, and everyone gets along. It is amazing seeing the difference. AMAZING. The kids were all playing together nicely and no fights erupted. Contrast with the next night when another child (who shares the same birthday as my son) had his (regular) cake in the common house. The kids were wired and immediately after eating it, a four kid fight erupted that caused all the parents to run out to break it up. I am SO glad that I've taken refined sugars out of my sweet boy's diet - I really AM seeing a difference.

What a wonderful day - I can truly say that Sunday was for Kiernen (and us) a day TRULY lived to its very fullest. Bliss.

double chocolate brownie cupcakes

Tomorrow is my son's birthday party. Er, scratch that - TODAY. I really ought to be asleep.

I managed to get him to agree to the watermelon cake (with Spiderman on top!) but he also wanted chocolate cake, so I came up with an alternative that will hopefully satisfy him - raw chocolate mini cupcakes with creamy chocolate frosting.

I went through all of my little recipe cards and finally managed to find a combination that works for me - I used a modified version of Kristen Suzanne's raw chocolate brownies and a slightly modified recipe for frosting I found on Raw Freedom Community (I cannot find it or I'd not only link to it, I'd copy and paste)...

Printable Recipe Here

For the Cake/Brownies:

1/3 c cashew flour (after cashews have soaked and dehydrated)
2/3 c cocoa powder
3 Tbs coconut oil
2 1/4 c pecans, soaked and dehydrated
dash salt
1 tsp vanilla
6-7 medjool dates, pitted and soft
3 Tbs honey

Process all in food processor. Press into 8x8 pan for brownies or into mini cupcake molds. Top with favourite frosting with fruit or raw whipped cream garnish.

For the Frosting:

1/3 c dates, pitted
1/4 - 1/3 c honey
1 avocado
1/3 c cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla

Process in food processor until smooth. Use to frost brownies or mini cupcakes. There might be some left over, but I'm pretty sure there won't be for long - this stuff to me tastes like "real" frosting - only without all the icky overly sugared flavour.

Enjoy!

* The photo above isn't mine, but it is what the cupcakes ended up looking like, so is why I am using it (mine would be minus the chocolate shavings).

his birthday is coming!

Once a month is about my speed during the summer, eh?

My son's 4th birthday is coming up. And because we've gone and switched his diet around, I cannot do the grand and crazy cake I made last year, which was an entire gluten-free train.

I CAN make some SCD type cakes, which would be baked, but I was also thinking of something like this:



Directions can be found here.

Or this:



Original here.

Or some combination of both. He wanted me to incorporate Gordon the Train into his cake - he wanted Gordon to BE the cake, actually. But if I make the cake like the first one, I believe I can actually have a little track going around the cake upon which a TOY Gordon could ride, and that might do it for him. I could also have little giraffes and other small animals upon the cake, as well.

Since we are celebrating his birthday on August 9th (he turns 4 on the 10th), I am thinking about this constantly - going over and over things in my head and trying to figure out what the best options are.

For snacks, I was thinking of little nut ice cream parfaits with chocolate mousse ice cream and cashew whipped cream. Cut veggies, of course, with some raw dips to go with them maybe.

Any suggestions are welcome, too! He loves giraffes, so I am trying to incorporate giraffes and trains somehow...

Summertime Recipes

In the summer, what does one usually find an abundance of? Spinach and Strawberries! Here's one more way to use them togather in a most delicious way!

Strawberry Spinach Salad
Printable Recipe

Dressing:
2 Tbs sesame seeds
1 Tbs poppy seeds
1/4c honey
1 sm zucchini
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4 tsp paprika
1 Tbs minced onion

Put all in high speed blander and blend. 

Salad:
sliced strawberries
slivered or sliced almonds
spinach

Toss dressing over salad and refrigerate, or just eat like we did :-)
And to drink, a delicious smoothie dessert!

Cinnamon Mango Delight

Printable Recipe 1-2 c water
1 mango
2 bananas
greens to taste (I use 1/2 bunch)
1 tsp cinnamon

Blend in Vita-Mix. Divine!