Pecans, Carrots, and Herbs

Hello everyone! Lots of kitchen activities going on today :) I've been so busy in the kitchen I haven't even gotten my workout in yet which is usually done for me by 10 am.

First off I had some of what was left over of yesterday's Grape Fig Shake. Delicious and the perfect fuel for my morning errands. I stopped at the natural food store for some basics but the didn't have buttermilk so I had to make an extra trip to Hannaford. My final stop was The Home Depot for potting materials for the herbs I bought at the coop yesterday. By the time I was done finding what I needed my fingers were stinging because I had to browse their outdoor garden area! Brrrrrrr. I got home and tried Manna bread for the first time. I went for the Carrot Raisin variety, and schmeared a bit of almond butter on it. I love when I find something new that I love and is simple! I also bought the Cinnamon Date and Rye varieties which I will try soon.

Next up was breaking in my vitamix some more. I tried one of Sarma's nut milk recipes...Cinnamon Maple Pecan Milk. Talk about decadant! This milk could easily be enjoyed as a dessert drink, while at the same time not being so rich that you couldn't have a sweet glass in the middle of the day. I only had a tiny taste because my vitamix warmed it up a bit, and I am waiting to have a big glass until its nice and chilled. I am officially in love with my vitamix. The milk was perfectly smooth. The only problem now is I want to make recipe after recipe and my family can only eat so much!

Cinnamon Maple Pecan Milk:

from Raw Food Real World

1 cup raw pecans, soaked at least 2 hours

3 1/2 cups filtered water

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoon coconut oil (I did not add this)

1 tablespoon lecithin

2 packets stevia

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

pinch of sea salt

In a high speed blender blend nuts an water about 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and blend. 

A word on a couple of the ingredients. The first is lecithin. You will find lecithin in many commercial products in which thickness in desired (read: ice cream, margarine). Do not be scared by this though. Lecithin is actually a healthy emulsifier. It contains choline which is a component of brain cells and is used to manufacture neurotransmitters. Normally produced by humans, plants, and animals, the supplement we buy is derived from soybeans. Be sure to buy lecithin from non-GMO soybeans! Second is stevia. By now you may have heard of stevia on television commercials. Stevia is an herb from the chrysanthemum family and is about 300 times sweeter then sugar. Stevia is considered non-caloric and is a great replacement for the artificial sweeteners that I steer clear from.

The next recipe was Carrot Muffins (I told you I was busy!). This is another recipe from my Good to the Grain cookbook. I haven't tasted them yet, as I am going to workout in a bit, but they sure looked good when they came out of the oven...and I did sample a bit of batter which was scrumptious. However, I have to admit something. When I went to pull out the ingredients I realized I had no unsalted butter! Not wanting to go back out when I had just been to two food stores, I committed a baking faux pas and went ahead with the salted butter, omitting the rest of the salt in the recipe. I think they will still taste good though :)

Kim recommends alternating muffin cups for even baking and to allow to tops to puff up nicely.

Lift the muffins out of their pans when done baking to allow them to cool and prevent the bottoms from getting soggy. This recipe actually made eight muffins but I didn't want to take a picture of the lonely pan with only 2 muffins in it...I didn't think it looked so nice.

Carrot Muffins:

from Good to the Grain: Baking with Whole Grain Flours

Streusel topping:

1/4  cup plus 2 tablespoons spelt flour

2 tablespoons oat bran

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt (which I didn't add)

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

Combine all ingredients except butter. Pinch in butter until mixture is coarse crumbs.

Dry Mix:

1 cup spelt flour

3/4 all purpose flour

1/4 cup oat bran

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon allspice

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cups grated carrot (I used 3 small/medium carrots)

In a medium bowl sift all ingredients except carrots together, adding any ingredients that remain in sifter to the bowl. Mix in carrots.

Wet Mix:

2 ounces unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

Whisk together ingredients. Add wet mix to dry mix and stir to combine.

Scoop batter into greased muffin tins. The batter should be slightly mounded over rims. Sprinkle streusel topping over batter and lightly press in. Bake for 32 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Twist muffins out and place on sides in tins. Enjoy!

And finally...herb potting :) My family uses herbs all the time in our cooking. It often results in wasted herbs because we don't have time to use all the herbs in the package before they wilt. I decided it was time to grow our own indoor herbs. I found organically grown cilantro, parsley, and basil plants at the co-op yesterday, and while I was waiting for the muffins to come out of the oven, I got to work. Not only are they functional (assuming they stay alive and flourish) they also look lovely on our kitchen windowsill. I am still going to keep my eyes open for chives as that is another of our favorite herbs (I love a chive and goat cheese omelet). 

The work field all set up

Organic soil :)

Any tips on how to keep these herbs alive and healthy? 

Today is going to be me third day of Insanity in a row. I would really love to go out for a run but it is 16 degrees and windy. I'm not up for the cold, although I had better get used to it because I am planning on training for a marathon this time next year. 

Have a great day!

It Has Arrived!

I had a very productive morning and early afternoon and was even more excited when I pulled into the driveway and my Vitamix had been delivered! I flipped through one of Sarma's cookbooks and decided to make the Grape and Fig Cleansing Shake, which looked and sounded delicious. Using dried figs, I thought this would be the perfect first test for my Vitamix. If everything people say is really true then pulvarizing those figs should be a walk in the park. And it was! I am super pleased with my first Vitamix session.

This shake is really great for you. Grapes are rich in Vitamin A, C, B6 and folate. Grapes are also high in flavonoids, important antioxidants that combat free radicals (and aging). Figs are rich in calcium and, like, grapes, flavonoids. This shake packs just as much of a flavor punch as it does nutrition. Yum!

This really looks a lot like the Cherry PB shake from last post but its a different one!

Grape and Fig Cleansing Shake:

from Raw Food Real World

makes 2 very big servings or 4 normal size

4 cups grapes

1 cup dried figs

1 cup water

2 cups ice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of salt

Blend grapes in high speed blender until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and blend until pureed. Enjoy!

Last night for dinner we had veggie lasagna and my Aunt Nancy's Strawberry Spinach Salad. Her strawberry salad is a real crowd pleaser. Even non-salad eaters seem to like this salad. I am thinking of making the dressing with agave syrup next time rather then sugar, because other then the refined sugar in this recipe it is really a very healthy salad. 

Aunt Nancy's Strawberry Salad:

1 pound spinach lettuce

bean sprouts to taste (we do a 4:1 of spinach:spouts)

1/2 red onion, sliced
1 pint strawberries, sliced

Dressing

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup sugar

1 T poppy seeds

2 T sesame seeds

1/2 teaspoon dried onions

1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon paprika

Blizzards and Wipeouts

Hello! Hope you are all having a great week...J (the boyfriend) and I had a great time visiting his Aunt and Uncle. We had sushi from Wegman's one night for dinner. Boy do I hope Wegman's comes our way soon! No standard grocery store compares to it.

Yesterday a friend from college came to visit and she suggested we go snowboarding. I am a skier but have never been on a snowboard and may have slightly underestimated the difficulty of it. I am not sure why, but for whatever reason when I try to stand up on the board, I have so much trouble! I just cannot figure out why. Sometimes I'll pop right up and other times it takes me 5 or more tries to boost myself up! But it was a ton of fun and a great workout. This morning when I pushed up on my arms to get out of bed I certainly felt it. And although I thought I did fairly well for my first time, my booty is telling me otherwise by the soreness with every step. I sure hope this doesn't hinder with my Insanity workout today. We are getting hit with another storm today (which I love!) but that means I am stuck at home and won't be able to get out for a run or go to the gym. So Insanity it is whether my arms and booty are sore or not!

Last night for a late night snack I made myself the scrumptious shake that Gena from choosing raw posted awhile ago. You can find the recipe here. This would also be a great post workout snack because cherries are a natural anti-inflammatory. I somehow didn't make enough of the shake to fill the glass, which I fill every time I make this shake so I'm not sure what went differently this time. My picture doesn't look as beautiful as Gena's, but it sure tasted great! Next time I make this shake I believe I will be making it in my Vitamix, which is scheduled for delivery today...YAY! I just hope the snow doesn't delay it. Although, today was also my day to make a trip to the organic co-op for ingredients, and now that the snow is preventing that, I don't have too much to put in my Vitamix.

Hopefully my next post will be juicing and Vitamix experiments! Have a great day everyone :)

Busy Busy!

Whoops! I forgot to post this yesterday!....

Hello there everyone. These past few days have been very busy and I haven't had any time to post. They have been a fun couple of days though (with the exception to last night)! Sadly I did not take any pictures because of the company (i'm still getting used to always being equipped with a camera for when yummy food opportunities present themselves!)

On Thursday my family's good friends from Russia came :). Because everyone had either work or school, I hung out with them during the day. We took a drive up to Saratoga, and visited my favorite sandwich and speciality shop, Putnam Market. If you are ever in the area Putnam is a perfect lunch spot in the village. The little boy in the family and I hit it off, and he decided to tell me the story of the three little bears (in russian!).

For dinner, we went to Longfellow's Inn and Restaurant, also in Saratoga. Longfellow's is a wonderful place for a gathering with close friends. We sat by the fireplace and it was warm and toasty (my favorite because I HATE when restaurants are so cold I feel like I need to wear my coat). I ordered the Maple Bourbon Salmon. Delicious! And my salmon came with my choice of starch...which if there is ever sweet potato fries offered on the menu you can be certain that is what I will order. A delicious meal with wonderful company. It was a great night full of laughter with the people we love.

Yesterday was also a busy and exciting day. I finally took the plunge and made two very exciting purchases. Purchases any raw foody would love to have and even items that a regular chef and cook would like. A Vitamix Super 5200 and a Breville Juicer. The Vitamix brand carries the most powerful high-speed blenders on the market. Their strong 2 horse-power motors are made in Sweden, but the rest of the parts are made right here in the US. The Super 5200 comes with both a wet blade container and a dry blade container so you can make everything from smoothies to soups to your own flours from whole grains! I cannot wait for it to come in, and once it does I will be sure to show you everything it can do. After a lot of research on juicers I narrowed down on this one, and I am hoping I made a great choice. The Breville Ikon Multi-Speed Juice Fountain has a good reputation. Because of the multiple speeds, you can set the speed so as to get optimum juice whether it be leafy greens and fleshy fruits or starchy carrots.

This brings me to my goal for year 2011. I am going to try to drink green juices at least 4 days a week. Preferably in the morning to jump start my day. I have only ever had the Naked Green Drink so it will be a new adventure but I think it will be a good one. If I seem to be enjoying all the benefits that green juices bring I may even try my own mini-cleanse at some point during the year!

Last night we had a wonderful snow storm, and it is a beautiful winter wonderland here. However, last night we were driving to a basketball game during the storm in stop and go traffic and someone slammed into us from behind! And the worst?! The guy took off! Can you believe people? Thankfully everyone's okay but it was quite the commotion. The snow is still beautiful though, and my mom and I took a walk this morning to appreciate it before it melts.

...and as promised, my new yoga dvd! I have done it two times so far, and am thinking I will do it again today. It is an hour long, a perfect length in my opinion for a complete yoga session. It is difficult and you with definitely work your body, but Bob Harper does a good job at showing you modifications if you are a beginning yogi (which I certainly am). I got my copy of the Inside Out Method: Yoga for the Warrior at borders, who had it on sale for only $11.99. The dvd also comes with a yoga abs routine, which I have not tried but am sure will be good also.

Tomorrow I am taking a trip to visit my boyfriend's family. I made guacamole this morning, and will make some buffalo chicken dip later for Sunday football.

 My family already ate the half left home for us and it was delicious! I don't use a specific recipe for my guac, I just taste as I go but here was today's combo:

6 ripe avocados

2 limes, juiced (mine were pretty juicy)

1/2 Medium-Large White Onion, diced (I don't like my onion flavor to be prominent so I dice almost to the point of mincing)

1 large handful of cilantro, minced

1 large garlic glove, minced

2/3 large tomato (big boy variety size), diced

1 long hot pepper (I can't remember the variety I tried)

Salt and pepper to taste

I find it easiest to mix everything in a gallon sized ziplock. I first mash the avocado flesh, until almost all the chunks are gone (I like mine a bit chunky but feel free to mash to you heart's content!). Add everything else but the tomato. Mix everything up, and add tomato. Mix, but be sure to to smash the tomato up too much, you wants pieces not mush! Add salt and pepper to taste, and a little cumin and cayenne pepper if you like more heat (I usually don't add these but they are still great).

What are you all doing for the weekend? Fun get-together or some great relaxation time?

Blistering Socca (and cherries)

Hello! I hope all of your New Years are off to great starts. On to the recipes...

I first discovered Socca on Pure2Raw. I did a little googling and discovered that it is a French recipe, and although I am sure Pure2Raw is right on the money with their abundant recipes, I immediately clicked on my bookmark for David Lebovitz's Blog. His is a blog I have been following for many years now, ever since I discovered his mouth-watering ice cream cookbook a few summers ago. David is a pastry chef and dessert connoisseur who moved to Paris after living in California for many years. He is great at blogging about food specialties throughout France, and he did not let me down with his post about Socca. Socca is something like a savory crepe made with chickpea flour. It originates from Nice, where it cooked in a wood-fire oven. It is cooked until it begins to blister, drizzled with olive oil, and eaten right away while still warm. This is a quick and rewarding recipe (although takes a bit of planning because the batter must be mixed 2 hours in advance). I love that the ingredient list is short, simple, and good for you (no all-purpose flour or refined sugar). Can't wait to make this again!

Our favorite olive oil 

Nice and golden :)

Drizzled with olive oil

For Christmas I got a cherry pitter and today I finally got a chance to use it! A couple days ago I bought two bags of organic cherries from the grocery store. While I was waiting to obligatory 2 hours for my socca batter to thicken and set, I got to work pitting the cherries. What fun! Pitting cherries has always been a bit of a pain for me in the past, possibly deterring me from some of the cherry dehydrating I would normally do. But with this new handy gadget, pitting cherries is quick and easy!

I now have two trays of cherries dehydrating away. Cherries are one of my favorite dried fruits, and I can't guarantee they won't get eaten before they make it into any recipes. But if they make it, my next food adventure is homemade granola which I think they would taste delicious in (I also made banana chips last week for granola). 

If you do this at home do in a big bowl because it creates quite a splatter!

The cherry weapon

Today's workout was a 3 mile run and my new yoga dvd which I will tell you about in my next post.

Enjoy your night :)

Hatchets and Coconuts

On New Years day I had a new experience. For the first time, I cracked open a fresh coconut. It was exciting(haha who knew it could be so fun!). My first attempt was sawing it with a serrated knife which I don't think even make a mark in the coconut. My next attempt involving me karate chopping the coconut with a chef's knife. I think the knife felt more threatened then the coconut. My final attempt involved a hatchet. I went outside, placed the coconut on the driveway, and swung the hatchet. The coconut cracked on the first hit and something about cracking a coconut open with a hatchet felt very primitive and resourceful. I walked back in the house feeling very satisfied. The only disappointment of the experience was that I couldn't get the water before it spilled onto the ground...I will have to figure out method for this next time. 

So, all of this coconut karate chopping was for a raw food recipe that is out of this world. A few of the raw food recipes that I now love only tasted good to me at first. But this recipe for raw congo bars is really fantastic. These indulgent bars boost good for you, providing omega-3 fatty acids from the nuts and antioxidants from the cocoa powder. You will also notice coconut oil on the list of ingredients. There is a standing debate on whether coconut oil is beneficial or harmful, considering that it contains saturated fats. One side argues that because it is a plant-based saturated fat, it is not metabolized the same way as animal derived fats. The pro side also argues for the numerous benefits that can be gained from coconut oil: boosted immune function, shiny hair and glowing skin, and even weight loss. The other side argues that saturated fats are not good fats and therefore should be avoided. The US Food and Drug Administration supports this side. I do not avoid coconut oil nor do I drink it by the tablespoon for the health benefits it is said to provide. That said...check out these bars!

Congo Bars (Adapted from Living Raw Food)

Fudge Base:

4 cups walnuts

4 cups pecans

3 cups chocolate sauce (recipe follows)

1 cup black raisins

1 cup dried shredded coconut

1/2 cup maple syrup powder

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

In two batches, grind walnuts and pecans in food processor until oils start to release. Transfer to mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Transfer to sheet pan and spread into even layer. Refrigerate until set. 

Chocolate Sauce (for Fudge Base):

1 1/2 cup raw cocoa powder

1 3/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (I used agave)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch of sea salt

3 tablespoons coconut oil, liquified

Combine all ingredients in blender, except coconut oil. Add coconut oil and mix until liquified.

Vanilla Coconut Topping:

2 cups young coconut meat

1/4 cup agave nectar

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup coconut oil

4 cups dried shredded coconut

In high speed blender blend the coconut meat, agave nectar, vanilla and salt until smooth and shiny (I used a food processor which left it slightly chunky). Add coconut oil. Transfer to bowl and mix in shredded coconut. Spread over fudge base, and chill at least 30 minutes. 

Top Ten Food and Fitness of 2010

Happy New Years all! I hope you all had fun nights to ring in the new year :)

I would like to share my top 10 food and fitness finds of 2010. The past year brought with it a lot of new food and fitness adventures and discoveries...

10. Boxing    I have done these classes both at Gold's Gym and New York Sports Club. High energy classes that are a ton of fun!

9. French Meadow Bakery Bagels    I love the Spelt and Hemp varieties. Two of my favorite ways to eat the spelt bagel are with maple pumpkin butter or peanut butter, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkling of cinnamon. The hemp variety tastes delicious with a schmear of peanut butter or hummus.


8. Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Ice Cream    My first try with coconut milk ice cream...it inspired me to make my own :)


7. Soba Noodles     These became a favorite in the last month of my college semester. Super quick and easy to make. Delicious and hearty...yummy with tomato sauce but my personal favorite is with a scoop of pesto!


6. Mint S'more Brownies (from Eat Live Run blog)    Some of the best brownies my family has tasted and although a multiple layer brownie may sound intimidating they could not be easier.


5. Parigot    A really terrific French Bistro I first discovered with my Belgian suitemate. It is located in Soho on 155 Grand St (between Lafayette St & Centre St). Delicious food (approved by my French judging roomy) and great price. I had a Croque Madam the first time and the Parigot Omelet on the second visit with my mom and boyfriend. The Omelet came with a salad that had a terrific vinaigrette and french fries :)


4. Chelsea Market    Located in Chelsea (hence the name) this is a great place for any foody. There is a great fish market that is stocked with every sea creature imaginable and serves great sushi The market also has shops with dozens of varieties of salts and oils (you must try to black truffle salt...they recommend it on popcorn!). I have had a nutella and strawberry crepe from the crepe bar. The Market is also home to one of my favorite spots...One Lucky Duck Takeaway Bar (check out my oatmeal raisin cookie post for more info)!


3. Insanity Workout    Check out my Insanity Post :)


2. Raw Food    This has definitely been one of the best discoveries of 2010. Raw food has introduced my to a whole new way of eating and dozens of foods that I had never eaten or cooked with before! My two favorite inspirations are Ani Phyo and Sarma Melngailis.

And the winner is...

1. Hot Yoga    The most fantastic fitness classes I have ever experienced. The Hot Yoga classes I attended were hot power vinyasa and very intense. I left the classes dripping with sweat...not an inch of my clothing was dry. Despite high physical exertion, I was calm throughout the entire class, and left feeling relaxed and more calm then any workout as ever left me before. 


I will work on taking photos of all of these things so I can brighten up this post :)

What are some of your favorite things of 2010? Any new classes you tried? New recipes that have become regulars?