Superfood Salad Dressing (Creamy Spirulina)

I was at the Lucidity Festival in Santa Ynez this past weekend and ran across a vendor that was serving up smoothies and selling healthy products (I bought a yummy Charge Boss Clusters and golden berries).  I wasn't much in the mood for sweet so I opted for something called the "Miso Sip"  it was a tall glass of warm miso with spirulina and ginger in it.  Perfection!

They had recipe cards out side of their vending station so I picked up this recipe.  

Recipe from Imlake'esh Organics

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil

4 tsp spirulina

2 inch piece of fresh ginger

1 inch piece of fresh turmeric

1/2 avocado

1 tsp sea salt

pinch of cayenne pepper

Directions

Add all ingredients into a blender.

Blend on HIGH for 1 minute

Massage into kale or your choice of salad greens

Toss in your favorite toppings

Mexico Meets Lebanon - High Fiber Citrusy Salad (Vegan / Vegetarian / Gluten Free / Low Carb)

Down the street is an amazing lebanese restaurant called Skaf's.  They have amazing Middle Eastern food, but it is quite more refined than many of the other local places that I have been to.

Now that I am eating less meat  (in fact you can find me on instagram at meeatlessmeat ) I would like to try and recreate some of my favorite international foods without the meat.

This one is a no brainer since it's a salad and doesn't have meat to start with.  I didn't have some of the ingredients in my house.

I will provide the recipe for both my Mexican influenced version and the Lebanese version

Ingredients for Mexican Version

4 cups of cabbage; shredded

1/4 cup of avocado oil

2 Tablespoon Pressed Garlic

1/8 cup lime juice (2 limes)

1/4 cup of packed cilantro; chopped

1 teaspoon of salt

Instructions

Shred cabbage (usually I use the light green kind and shred it much thinner than this)

Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl

Toss with cabbage and let marinate for at least a 1/2 hour in the refrigerator

For the Lebanese Version

substitute the limes for lemons

The avocado oil for olive oil

the cilantro for mint leaves

Ruby Pink Fizz (Fresh Juice )

Sometimes I feel odd posting juicing recipes because they are so simple, but I forget my combos at times and never can quite get it right again.  This is a very refreshing mid afternoon, summer drink.  The Apple compliments the tartness of the Strawberries

Ingredients

1 cup of strawberries; cleaned with stems cut off

1 piece of ginger (about 1/2 inch long)

1 whole apple (I used Opal)

Instructions

Push all ingredients through a juicer

Stir Well

Pour into pretty glasses and top with soda water

Enjoy

Ayurvedic, Raw Activated Pepitas with Spirulina (Raw / Vegan / Vegetarian)

  I have been using my dehydrator a ton lately.  Everything from nuts and seeds to fruits and veggies and even some pretty incredible raw health bars.

This is a pretty great combo of spicy and very healthy ingredients.  I tried to recreate an Ayurvedic blend I had tasted early this month and think I came pretty close.

Ingredients

2 cups of activated raw Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds)

2 teaspoons of cold pressed sesame oil

2 teaspoons of garlic powder 

2 teaspoons of Berbere

2 teaspoons of turmeric

1 teaspoon of Spirulina

1 teaspoon of sea salt

Instructions

First off you will need to activate your seeds.  You do this by soaking the raw Pepita in water overnight.  This causes them to begin to sprout and become a powerhouse of nutrients.

Dry them well.  I use a salad spinner for everything, including these :)

Combine all of the spices in a small bowl

Place seeds in a medium bowl and drizzle with oil.  You don't really need a lot it's just co help the spices adhere.

add spices and toss to coat.

You will want to use the mesh screens with your dehydrator so the seeds don't fall down the cracks

Dehydrate for about 24 hours.

South West Inspired Avocado, Corn and Black Bean Salad (Vegan / Vegetarian / Organic)

I can never say no to a ripe Avocado.  In fact in my quest to discover my "Spirit Fruit" it hit me!  It's the avocado, more like a veggie in mellowness, but a fruit nonetheless.

Expect many more avocado recipes as we enter summer in California

Ingredients

1/3 cup of orange bell pepper, chopped

1/3 cup of fresh corn, cut off cob and roasted or grilled

1/3 cup of olives; sliced

1/3 cup of black beans (rinsed if canned)

2 Tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro

1/2  teaspoon of ground cumin

1 Tablespoon of Olive or Avocado Oil

Juice of 1 lime

1 teaspoon of minced Jalapeño

1 large or 2 small avocados, peeled and cubed

Instructions

If using fresh corn, cut it off of the cob and pan cook it over heat with no oil, until it starts to blacken.  You can also do this on the BBQ grill

set aside and let cool

Chop bell peppers  and slice your black olives

Combine Olive Oil with lime juice and cumin.  Whisk together

In a medium bowl place all ingredients except Avocado.

Toss ingredients with liquid dressing (i.e. oil, cumin and lime)

Add Avocado and gently toss to coat.

Enjoy!  

Fresh Organic Raspberry Vinaigrette (Raw / Vegan / Vegetarian)

This is a very tangy yet sweet dressing.  It can be used in so many ways, as a salad dressing, a fruit dip or a marinade.  I used it to make a beet salad that was delicious.  I will link to that recipe too.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh, organic raspberries

1 Tablespoon Agave 

1 Tablespoon Raw Honey

1/4 cup Almond Oil

6 Tablespoon of Chia Seeds

1/2 teaspoon of Pink Himalayan Salt

1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 cup Kombucha

Instructions

Place all ingredients EXCEPT CHIA SEEDS in a blender and blend until smooth.

Add Chia Seeds and let sit for at least 30 minutes to let them absorb the liquid.

Enjoy

Turmeric and Activated Almond Butter (Vegan / Raw / Vegetarian / Holistic)

I cannot sing the praises of Turmeric enough.  It is truly the wonder spice for overall  health.  There have been so many studies done regarding the healing and preventative benefits of Turmeric, that there is no doubt that this is an important item to add to your natural arsenal.

But, there are a couple of things that are important to understand regarding the most efficient intake of turmeric

First off, it must be taken with oil.  If it is taken as a powder or root without the presence of some form of oil it is not bioavailable to the body, meaning your body cannot absorb the beneficial properties of the root.

Second, if you consume turmeric with pepper, it is 1,000 times more effective.  The pipeline in black pepper (which is what makes it spicy) increases the absorption of the turmeric by heating up the digestive system

Ingredients

1/2 cup of coconut oil, heated to a liquid state

3 1/2 Tablespoons of Turmeric Powder

1/2 - 1 teaspoon of cayenne or black pepper

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

1/2 cup of activated or raw almonds

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a small food processor, this is where the magic bullet really comes in handy.  Blend the ingredients until the consistency you prefer.  You can make it a chunky butter or a smooth, depending on your preference.

Serve on an apple or slice of melba toast.  Whatever you like the most

Juicing and Some of My Favorite Combos...

This particular post is going to be constantly updated.  I have been trying different combinations of fruits and vegetables with my juicer in the mornings.  Some are great….some are just ok…and some really suck.  Here are a few of the combinations that I have enjoyed.  I will continue to post the ones I like, along with photos, as I make more

This is the juicer that I am using.  I have had it for almost 2 years now and love it.  It's quite the work horse and I have never had one item that it wasn't able to handle.  It is fast, efficient and easy to clean.  

The Morning Cleanser

Ingredients

1 - 1 inch piece of ginger root

2 cups of Fresh Spinach

1/2 Cucumber, peeled

3 Medium Carrots

1 Medium Beet 

1 Medium Apple

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Cucumber Refresher

1 Tomato

1 cucumber

2 stalks of Celery

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Watermelon Spritzer

1 orange peeled

1 cup of grapes

2 cups of watermelon chunks

handful of Mint Leaves

Splash of Club Soda

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Cinnamon Delight

1 Pink Grapefruit; peeled

1 large Red Apple

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

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Garden Salad

3 Broccoli Florets

1 clove garlic

3 carrots

1 tomato

2 stalks celery

1/2 Green Pepper

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Chia Seed Indian Kheer (Vegan / Vegetarian )

Chia Seeds are an ancient grain that called Salvia Hispanica which grows in the deserts of Mexico.  They were used by the Aztecs and Mayans as energy and endurance boosters.  In fact, the word "Chia" means strength.  They are considered a concentrated food meaning that these tiny seeds pack a serious punch when it comes to healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates (the healthy kind) protein, fiber, antioxidants and calcium.

This is a version of the Indian dessert Kheer without the processed white rice that is normally used.

Ingredients

1 Cup of Silk Vanilla Coconut Milk (carton)

1/4 cup unsweetened canned coconut milk

2 Tablespoons of Agave Syrup

1 tsp of ground cardamom

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon 

4 Tablespoons of Chia Seeds

unsweetened Coconut Shavings

Sliced Almonds

Directions

Mix all ingredients (except coconut shavings and sliced almonds) in a container with a lid.

Seal tight and shake.

Store in refrigerator for at least 5 hours.

Serve cold with Coconut Shavings and Sliced Almonds as garnish

Artichoke and Spinach Soup (Low Carb/Vegetarian)

I created this soup because I love the spinach artichoke dip that people tend to make for parties.  It is really rich so it should probably be served as a starter for meals.

Serves 4

Ingredients

16 ounces of Vegetable Broth

 14oz cans of artichoke bottoms; chopped

16oz package of pre washed spinach

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Butter

1 small onion; chopped

3 cloves of garlic; minced

1/2  cup of Half and Half

1 cup shredded provolone cheese

3 ounces of Welsh Cheddar Cheese (or Dubliners)

Directions

*Saute Onion and Garlic in oil and butter for 3 minutes.

Add Spinach and continue to sauté until spinach is wilted (about 5 minutes)

Add Veggie Broth and cook until just boiling

Remove from heat and blend with submersion blender (a tool I can't live without)

Add cheese, half and half and blend until mixed and smooth

Return to heat just until heated through

garnish with a little parmesan cheese or bread crumbs if not worried about carb count

Enjoy