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.