Sunday, November 18, 2012

What are you grateful for?


With Thanksgiving right around the corner, Food for Life is wrapping up the last class of 2012 with a little holiday delight! Thanks to everyone who joined us for the last cooking immersion of the year. I hope you will enjoy these recipes into the golden age of 2013 and continue to motivate and inspire others in your local community to eat great food and live in health and harmony! A hui hou! (Until we meet again)..


Aloha! 

Ayla

RECIPES:

Timmy's Coconut Splendid Smoothie


The water and meat of 1 Young Thai Coconut

1 cup frozen blueberries
2 Frozen bananas 
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
1 Handful of Ice
Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.








BBQ Temeph Stir Fry 

1 Package Tempeh
1 cup Broccoli Florets
1 cup Shiitake or Cremini Mushrooms
1 Red Onion Sliced

Slice temeph into 1 inch strips and heat and cover in skillet on medium high heat for three to four minutes on each side. Add onions and 3-4 Tablespoons of water or vegetable broth and sauté until onions become transparent. Add mushrooms and cook for another 2 minutes and then add broccoli and cook covered for 2-3 more minutes. Vegetables should be cooked but not soggy and then toss with BBQ sauce. 





Homemade BBQ Sauce

½ cup vegetable juice

3 soaked dates

½ cup roasted bell peppers (buy in a jar)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 cloves garlic

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon spicy mustard (Von's southwestern style sweet and spicy is good)
Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.







Cheesy Sauce 

1/4 cup raw almonds or raw cashews

(cashews are softer, so may work better in some blenders.)

2 cups water

½ - 1 tsp salt

1/4 cup nutritional yeast (flakes)

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

3 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot  (see note at right)                            

1 tsp - 1 Tbsp  lemon juice to taste.  (More makes it a sharper cheese flavor, less is mild cheese flavor) (Optional - for color)  1/3 cup red bell pepper, approximately or 1 small jar pimentos 
Option:  blend 1 tsp canned jalapeños for a great nacho-style cheese.



·       Blend all ingredients until smooth.

·       Pour into a saucepan and bring to a boil while stirring constantly.

·       It will thicken to nacho cheese consistency.

·       Serve hot.



Simple Brown Gravy



Makes 1 1/2 cups

1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons raw cashews
1 tablespoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 teaspoons potato flour



Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until completely smooth. Transfer to a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.


Cauliflower Millet Mash



Makes 8 servings
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup vegetable broth or water
2 cups dry millet, quinoa, couscous, or grain of your choice
4 cups chopped cauliflower (about 2 heads)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
water for cooking 2 cups of selected grain

Sauté onion, using broth or water, 2 tablespoons at a time as needed to prevent sticking, for 3 minutes. Add grain and toast for 5 minutes. Add cauliflower, salt, and water. Cover pot and cook until grain has absorbed all the water. When the grains are done, mash the mixture together with a potato masher. Add a little additional water if necessary in order to get a smooth consistency.




Spicy Green Salad with Fruit



Makes about 6 1-cup servings
6 cups mixed spicy greens
1 ripe pear, cored and chopped
1 tangerine, seeded and sectioned
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons apple juice concentrate
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 tablespoons pine nuts
Wash greens and pat dry. Tear any large leaves into bite-size pieces. Mix with pear and tangerine in a bowl.
Combine vinegar, apple juice concentrate, and salt in a jar. Just before serving, shake dressing and pour over salad. Toss to mix. Divide among serving plates and sprinkle with black pepper and pine nuts.

Chocolate Mousse 



1 cup semi-sweet, nondairy chocolate chips
1/2 cup soymilk or other nondairy milk
1 package Mori-Nu brand silken tofu (firm or extra firm)
1/3 cup of brown rice syrup or other dry or liquid sweetener of your choice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sliced strawberries
Combine the chocolate and nondairy milk in a microwave-safe bowl or double boiler and melt, using gentle heat and stirring often. Remove from heat.
Crumble tofu in a blender or food processor. Add melted chocolate and nondairy milk, sweetener, and vanilla extract. Process until completely smooth, pausing the blender or food processor to scrape down the sides and under the blade as necessary.
Chill the mixture in serving bowls—or, if desired, in a low-fat graham cracker or cookie crust—for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with strawberries.
Variation: Add a chopped banana to the food processor when you process the tofu and chocolate together.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Insane for Purslane!


Portulaca Oleracea



Purslane, also known as Portulaca Oleracea, is a delicious dark leafy green vegetable grown by local farmer Ed Otsuji on Otsuji Farm in Hawaii Kai. Soft and succulent Purslane has more omega-3 fatty acids than some fish oils and adds a delicious flavor and texture to a salad or stir fry. Purslane is native to many parts of Europe, China, Japan and the West Indies and is widely distributed across the world actually as a nutrient dense superfood. There are different varieties of purslane with variation in leaf size and thickness. 

Purslane is widely grown in many Asian and European regions as staple leafy vegetable. Its leaves appear thick and have a tangy, salty taste.  In addition to succulent stems and leaves, its yellow flower buds are also edible.

In ancient Greece, purslane was regarded as an important medicinal herb for treatment of fever, female disorders, stomach aches, hemorrhoids, and for the healing of wounds by Hippocrates, the renowned father of medicine. Purslane herb was later considered as a "cold" herb around the 17th century and was an important ingredient in a prescribed fresh salad comprising basil, rocket, cress, and garlic to combat "the common cold."

Health benefits of Purslane

  • This wonderful green leafy vegetable is very low in calories (just 16 kcal/100g) and fats; but is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Fresh leaves contain surprisingly more Omega-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid) than any other leafy vegetable plant. 100 grams of fresh purslane leaves provides about 350 mg of α-linolenic acid. Research studies shows that consumption of foods rich in ω-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and help prevent development of ADHD, autism, and other developmental differences in children.
  • It is an excellent source of Vitamin A, (1320 IU/100 g, provides 44% of RDA) one of the highest among green leafy vegetables. Vitamin A is a known powerful natural antioxidant and is essential for vision. This vitamin is also required to maintain healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  • Purslane is also a rich source of vitamin C, and some B-complex vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and carotenoids, as well as dietary minerals, such as iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and manganese.
  • Also present in purslane are two types of betalain alkaloid pigments, the reddish beta-cyanins and the yellow beta-xanthins. Both of these pigment types are potent anti-oxidants and have been found to have anti-mutagenic properties in laboratory studies. 


    Chickpea Salad with Purslane and Arugula


1 cup drained cooked or canned chick peas
1 teaspoon capers
2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice, or as needed Salt
1 1/2 cups arugula leaves, torn into pieces
1 1/2 to 2 cups purslane with tender stems, cut into 1-inch lengths, or 3/4 cup purslane leaves
1. In a bowl, combine chick peas, capers, garlic and scallion. Add olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to taste.
2. Add arugula and purslane, and mix well. Season with additional olive oil, lemon juice, or salt if desired.

Be sure to pick up some purslane from Otsuji's produce stand tomorrow evening in Kailua at the farmer's market behind Long's on Kailua Road from 5:00 - 7:30 pm. 
http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/1207/kailua/kailua-thursday-night-farmers-market

Friday, November 2, 2012

Happy Healthy and Whole~Nourish your Mind Body and Soul


Encinitas Retreat 2012

We are busy in the kitchen preparing for our fall retreat in Encinitas. Our menu is looking scrumptious and were excited to explore cooking, meditation, yoga and gardening with our participants. 

The weather is perfect today, 75 degrees and sunny. I came all the way from Hawaii for the opportunity to collaborate with Veg-Appeal partners Tracy Childs and Ami Chaitala on a 2 day retreat where we will explore all aspects of healthy living. 

Tracy Childs has been teaching the Food for Life classes for the last seven years all around San Diego County. Her passion for cooking and health is an inspiration and motivation for the local community here. Ami Chaitala, originally from India, is a health educator and amazing cook, with style, soul and grace. 

I am thrilled to share the weekend with these talented ladies and combine our creativity in the kitchen. In addition to cooking demonstrations we will be leading the group in light exercise, yoga and meditation. 

Yoga and meditation are two wonderful tools that everyone can use throughout their lives to connect with their innermost authentic selves. The word 'yoga' means to join, to connect, to become one. We often view the mind and body as two separate entities. This is where a yoga practice can bring the mind and body into harmony. 

Exploring meditation points us to our natural state. The natural state is always available, always present and not separate from any aspect of life.  This approach to meditation is from a place of awareness, rather than from the mind. 

We all are on a search of making our life more complete, more balanced, more whole. We do this in various ways whether its through a better job, the perfect partner, travel, a nicer home, or even a spiritual practice. Through our human conditioning we tend to forget that our true nature is already whole and complete; the fullness of our selves is perfect in this present moment. 


Health implies a state of wholeness; illness shows up in ways we believe we are not whole. As we become aware of that, and turn our energy toward the discovery of our true role and purpose on this planet, illness will naturally dissolve and we will recognize our authentic self, already whole and complete.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

October Cooking Immersion

     




Thanks to all of you who participated in the Food for Life October Immersion in San Diego. Food has such a powerful effect on the quality of life we live. It is our life force, our connection to nature and the foundation of medicine. Below are the recipes from our classes that were not in the Cancer Survivor's Guide book. If you did not purchase the book you can view all of the Food for Life recipes at www.cancerproject.org. Please these recipes at home! If you make modifications be sure to share so other people can gain inspiration and ideas from you! Our next Food for Life program in San Diego is November 11 and November 18. You can register by visiting http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4229027134 

The Immersion program on November 11 and 18 will be Food For Life's last series of the 2012! After this program Ayla will be returning to Hawaii teach classes, retreats and workshops. Stay tuned to WWW.FFLSANDIEGO.ORG to see up coming events for 2013 in San Diego and visit WWW.FOODFORLIFEHAWAII.ORG to see all events in the Hawaiian Islands. 





Live in good health and harmony cherish the land and give thanks for food daily! 


Love and many blessings, 

Ayla 

                           


ALMOND MILK 





1 cup raw almonds (soaked 4-8 hours and drained, or use boiling water if almonds are unsoaked) 

3 cups water (use boiling water if using unsoaked almonds) 
2 dates (optional) 
1 tsp vanilla (optional) 

 










Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for about 3 minutes at high speed. Strain through muslin, cheesecloth, or use a nut bag (available on-line). The remaining pulp can be used in vegetable/nut loaves or burgers (w/o using dates and vanilla) or cookies. Chill and shake well before serving. Delicious! 


                       



ALMOND PULP COOKIES






For Cookies: Pulse in food processor: Almond pulp, one banana, 5 pitted dates, ¼ cup flaked coconut, ½ cup soaked dried fruit (raisins/cranberries), 2 T agave nectar. Use a melonballer to shape – dehydrate 10 hours or bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until done. 














AYLA AND TRACY'S GOODIE GREEN KALE SMOOTHIE


1 cucumber chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
1 bunch of grapes (can be frozen) 
1 ripe pear or sweet apple, cored and chopped 
1 cup soy, almond or rice milk, or water 
2 cups kale (discard most of stem and chop if making in a regular blender) 
1/2 inch fresh ginger 
1 tablespoon chia seeds, optional 
Ice cubes, optional 

Blend for 1 minute, or until desired smoothness is achieved. 

                 







HIGH PROTEIN OAT WAFFLES

                           












Makes 10 4" waffles If you didn’t make these crisp, ultra-nutritious waffles yourself, you’d never guess beans were among the ingredients. Soaking the beans takes just minutes before you retire for the night, and in the morning, you can make the batter quickly in the blender. (Note: To cook waffles without added fat, you will need a good-quality non-stick waffle iron.) These waffles take a little longer to bake than ordinary waffles (about 8 minutes), so you may want to make them ahead of time. They can be reheated quickly in a toaster. Topped with chili or creamed vegetables, they make a great lunch or supper. For gluten-free waffles, substitute brown rice flakes or quinoa flakes for the oats. 


1/2 cup dry cannellini, white kidney, or great Northern beans 

2 1/4 cups water 
1 3/4 cups old-fashioned oats 
2 tablespoons sugar, or 1 tablespoon agave nectar 
3/4 tablespoon whole flaxseeds 
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, or 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon orange, almond, or coconut extract 
1 teaspoon salt 

The night before: Place beans in a large bowl and cover generously with water. Refrigerate overnight or for up to a week. In the morning: Drain beans, discarding the soaking water. Place in a blender with 2 1/4 cups fresh water and oats, sugar or agave nectar, flaxseeds, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Blend until smooth, light, and foamy. Set aside and preheat a non-stick waffle iron. Pour a generous 1/3 cup of batter onto the hot waffle iron for each 4" waffle. Close the iron and cook for a minimum of 8 minutes. If the iron is hard to open, let the waffle cook for another minute or two. Repeat with the remaining batter, blending briefly before pouring each waffle. If the batter thickens while standing, add enough water to return it to its original consistency. The waffles should be golden brown and crisp. Serve immediately or cool completely on a rack and freeze in an airtight container. Serve with your favorite toppings.



GARBANZO BEAN BURGERS



















Makes 6 4-inch patties
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 small carrot, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 celery stalk, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained, or 1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander or cardamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup potato flour
vegetable oil spray

Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet until they begin to pop and become fragrant. Grind in a food processor or blender then transfer to a mixing bowl.
Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic.

Chop beans in a food processor, using an on/off pulsing action, or by hand using a potato masher. Leave some chunks. Add to vegetable mixture, along with quinoa or brown rice, soy sauce, curry powder, cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt. Mix thoroughly.

Stir in enough potato flour to form a stiff dough. Knead 30 seconds, then form into patties.
Lightly spray a non-stick skillet with vegetable oil spray. Cook patties over medium heat until first side is lightly browned, then flip and cook second side until lightly browned, about 2 minutes on each side.