First CSA day of the Season!!

Yesterday was the first day of  the CSA which I facilitate and host at my home.  I love this time of year when  we receive super fresh (picked that morning!) vegetables.

I had a grand time setting up things yesterday and meeting and greeting all of our last year's members and newbies!

The contents of our boxes included: 

oregano

thyme

 chives

leaf lettuce 

spinach

 baby swiss chard,

green onions,

radishes 

white sweet potatoes

 and asparagus!

  Wow!!!  What a great start to the season!

No pictures this time as it was a super busy day for me and my family...I also had a couple contractors at my home during our pick up hours.

If you live in my area, it is not too late to join the CSA.  Contact me through Facebook at Eat Well Fitness  or you can go to Local Harvest.org to find a CSA near you.

Here is super easy and quick fix meal...super fresh and yummy!

Romaine Boats

large romaine leaves

filled with

diced avocado

shredded red cabbage

red onion

tomato

cilantro

lime

sprinkled with dulse flakes

                       Kale and Bean Salad

1 bunch of kale~cleaned and chopped

Place kale in the bottom of a large bowl

3 cans of variety beans~ ex. Black, garbanzo, kidney~ drain & rinse

1 small red onion diced fine

1 bell pepper your choice of color

2 stalks of celery diced

Place all of these ingredients in a different bowl.

Marinade

¼ c. honey or a mixture of agave & honey ( I used stevia)

½ c. lemon juice fresh or Volcano organic lemon juice

2 T. Extra Virgin Olive oil or flax or hemp oil 

Blend marinade ingredients together and pour over bean mixture.

Add pepper if you like or salt free herbs of choice.

Then pour the bean mixture over kale and let sit for a couple of hours to marinate.

This can be served as a main dish or a side.

Local farm fresh red and green baby kale...mmmmmmmmmmmm

I have been adding this to salads and smoothies.

Chocolate Chip Mint Avocado Smoothie

low glycemic

In blender:

2 c. homemade almond milk

2-3 c. spinach

2 T. raw cacao powder

3-4 drops of peppermint oil

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 creamy consistency and enjoy!!!

Eat real food the way God made it and be thankful

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

Fermented Goodies in Indiana & Gluten Free Delights!

After my diagnosis of Celiac Disease I have been working on treating intestinal permeability, among many other things.  One very helpful item for my protocol  is fermented foods.  Hidden Pond Farms is a small local business that makes raw fermented foods.

Two of my favorites are the Ginger Kombucha and KimChi.  You can order on line for home delivery by visiting their website.

Fermented foods feed the good bacteria in the gut & aid digestion.

  Fermented foods are highly beneficial for everyone because they give you natural probiotics, which are critical for immune health.

The Sweet Beet has a great article which tells of the benefits of ferments and links for making your own.

Hidden Pond Farm is located in Centerville, Indiana

Another items on my daily regimen is ginger.....so I decided to make ginger lemonade...

1 thumb of fresh ginger

2 c. of water

Blend in Vita Mix 

add lemon juice & liquid stevia to taste

ice 

Ginger is anti inflammatory, great for digestion, warming to the body and just plain taste good!

Whole Foods has a great article on the benefits of ginger, tells you how to store it and uses.

My teenage daughter is also gluten sensitive and carries the gene allele for Celiac, therefore we have been doing a lot more gluten free cooking & uncooking.  

On Friday we made a gluten free pizza using Bob's Red Mill Gluten free Pizza crust.

I created a new cheese sauce because of our varied food intolerance's &  sensitivities.

You may also make a raw crust for your pizza & use tomato slices instead of tomato sauce and any other toppings you prefer. Mariated mushrooms & Onions are good...just soak in Bragg's Liquid Amino's or Coconut Aminos for a soy free option.  I really enjoy using sweet onion 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

4 large red onions sliced in Food processor

3 T. EV olive oil

mix together with hands until throughly amalgamated

dry on one side, flip and dry until desired doneness and cut up with kitchen scissors

my bread is moist but firm and delicious

RawTidbit's Cheese Sauce

In Vita-Mix:

1 c. coconut milk

1-2 T. extra virgin coconut oil

1/3 c. of dried onion flakes

3/4 c. nutritional yeast

3 cloves of garlic

dash of Himalayan Salt

1 T. toasted sesame oil

3/4 c. raw cashews

dash of tumeric

1 dried chili pepper

Blend  until smooth and creamy. Use on pizza, raw or lightly steamed cauliflower/broccoli or on any other dish you like.  May also be used as a dip or spread on roll ups.

 

We used Jovial crushed tomato's for the sauce.  Their tomato products are gluten free, vegan and sugar free!!......and delicious.

Dessert

Blueberry Soft Serve

In Vita Mix

1/4 c. of almond milk, coconut milk or water

small handful of spinach

Blend until soupy

add:

1/2 frozen banana

1/2-3/4 c. frozen blueberries

Blend until you get a soft serve consistency

and top with cacao nibs.

Enjoy!!

Celebrating my daughter's sweet 16 Birthday!!!

Update.....

Greetings to my followers....
I have been lacking in posts this past year due to other activities that demanded my attention.
I have been blessed to be the host of a CSA that pick's up at my home during the 2012 year and will be hosting it again this year!
I have been part of a CSA going on nine years, this year and I highly recommend them.  It is a great way to support our local farmer's and have nutrient dense produce each week.

Also, my health issues have taken part of my lack of postings.   I have had some minor setbacks...such as a couple of injuries and a confirmation of Celiac disease.
The latter has been difficult, but I am working on a plan for healing.  I understand that it takes around three years for healing  & a point of remission to take place...if you follow a strict gluten free diet and address other underlying conditions.  I am now in the process of discovery of those other issues.

This situation has been a tad bit difficult as I am a vegan and most of the research I have done is recommending animal products to aid in the healing.  So, I am taking it one day at a time and waiting on the lab results.   

I will post more as I continue this journey in hopes of encouraging & helping others...

God Bless
`Kathy