Nourishing Recipes and Wellness Guides for your Mind, Body and Soul
I thought I’d do something a little different today and share with you some of my favorite fashion blogs. It’s no secret nowadays that some fashion bloggers wield just as much influence as magazine editors in shaping trends and sharing the latest news and images from the runways. But what’s more fun about these bloggers is that they are much more down to earth and inspire on a personal level, making us feel as though pulling off the perfect ensemble is as easy as making our mamma’s apple pie.
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Sometimes, we’re just in the mood for a rustic, warm and satisfying dessert. As the summer nights come to an end and the evenings give way to the cool air of Fall, it takes a little something special to warm our insides. This cardamom-scented galette sublimely satisfies our senses as we prepare for the chilly weather ahead. We enjoyed it last night, topped with some vanilla ice cream, sitting on the deck watching the sailboats and the sunset.
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Building on our discussion of vegetarian sources of protein, I thought it might be time for a little creative and delicious inspiration. This dish is super easy to put together and is so satisfying that you really don’t need much else along side it (except maybe some warm pita bread and hummus…yum). The creaminess of the avocado, the heartiness of the chickpeas and the warmth of the cumin and cilantro come together so effortlessly, gracefully marrying the quinoa. This dish is so delicious, and nutritious, that V and I both have an overflowing bowl of it for dinner at least once a week.
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Ahhh protein… Protein is probably the most poorly understood category of food there is.
There is a misconception in our society that only meat and animal products (including dairy), contain protein, and that if we do not eat them, we are at risk of protein deficiency.
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I have been waiting for local corn to come into season to take advantage of this recipe again and to share it with you. This dish is explosive in flavor, captivating in color, and tantalizing in textures. It takes beautifully to being passed on a platter or served individually plated as an impressive entree. And as ambitious as the venture in creating it may be, it’s worth the energy on sheer presentation value alone. Time after time this unconventional combination of ingredients comes together as a symphony of southwestern flavors leaving even the best quesadilla recipes behind in the desert dust.
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No longer is the food of Southeast Asia simply the product of mom and pop, family-run small establishments. General Tso long ago lost the battle to Morimoto and Benihana has given way to Nobu. The culinary weight and influence of Southeast Asia has never been more apparent in the United States. Gourmands and foodies everywhere revel in the distinct flavor-profiles of the Far East, either celebrating their original and traditional form or now more commonly, fusing them with more Western-types of cuisine. And while we may describe these once exotic flavors as a unique combination of sweet, salty, sour and sometimes bitter, the reality is there is only one term that most accurately describes what our taste buds are truly sensing, and that is umami. The so-called, fifth taste.
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Cold pressed juicing has become all the rage these days. From Blueprint to Evolution Fresh, cold pressed juices are found on shelves in yoga studios and Whole Foods Markets across the country. We have been told that the best way to induce and maintain health in our bodies is to consume this “liquid gold.” Persuaded by all the hype I also have believed this for quite some time, and while I still do not believe there is anything wrong per say or detrimental to consuming these juices, after many months researching health and nutrition, I am now not so convinced that this really is the best way…
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Admittedly, I have been holding off on posting this recipe for some time now, first wanting to legitimize my site and display my culinary chops before subjecting myself to the inevitable onslaught of snickers and comments that this post is likely to inspire. So, yes, the cliche of a granola recipe from a Seattle-based food blog is not lost on me.
And while since moving to Seattle, I have started recycling, composting, eating only local, organic, non-GMO produce, fallen in love with kale, become vegan, reduced my glycemic index by switching to agave, discarded toxin-riddled commercial peanut butter in favor of raw sunflower butter, purchased an almond milk bag, and gained “awareness” of my carbon footprint (while wearing high heeled designer shoes, does that still count?), I can still safely say that this granola recipe will transcend regional biases. It is just that good! One bite and you will be looking for that Patagonia fleece and the tie dye t-shirt you wore back in the 80s.
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Over the past year I have been very busy exploring the virtues of a whole foods plant based diet. I have read so many books on the subject that you might find it boring for me to list all of them here. But what I feel is most important is to give you a little chance to do the same for yourself. In changing my diet my body has gradually transformed into one I no longer recognize. Growing up, although always vegetarian, the main staples of my diet were always dairy and wheat and almost all the vegetables I ate were “cooked to death.” Changing to a raw based (Don’t worry, we still eat plenty of cooked food) whole foods diet has dramatically changed my body, my skin, my nails, my hair and my lean muscle tone. Not to meantion, I feel healthier, lighter, and happier than I ever did eating the old way. I’m not entirely sure what the long term effects are of eating this way but based on how I feel, and how I seem to stay healthy even when those around me are sick, I can assume it will only be wonderful. I am now so strongly convinced that what is going on inside of our bodies is a direct reflection of what we put inside and therefore what we see on the outside that I have whole heartedly adopted this beautiful lifestyle… I only hope that through your own curiosity and research you can do the same…
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“The most fantasy-fulfilling stretch of the fabled Riviera lies not in France, but just across the border in Italy between Genoa and Pisa… the Cinque Terre, which means “five lands”, is a series of villages clinging to a remote stretch of the Riviera coastline. Each town is a variation on the same theme: a pastel jumble of homes crouching in a gully like crusty sea creatures in a tide pool, undisturbed by traffic or modern development.” – Rick Steves
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