The Healing Kitchen

Non-dairy milks

2012-02-28T14:36:00.000-05:00

I am working on an instructional post about how to make your own almond milk. As I was writing, I was reflecting on how it came to be that I now make my own milks at home. I thought it might be useful information to share, so decided to write this post first for some background information. The information in this post is relevant to any commercially packaged food product- not just non-dairy

Homemade Vegetable Bouillon

2012-02-18T13:12:00.002-05:00

My first batch of Homemade Bouillon Vegetable broth is one of those ingredients that has stumped me for a while. I never realized how many recipes call for vegetable (or chicken) broth. I searched for about a year, but no matter which brand I looked at, there was always something in the ingredients that I was sensitive to. But I also noticed something else. Even if I didn't have food

Pomegranate Lentil Soup

2012-02-13T12:16:00.001-05:00

Brrrrr! Cold outside = make soup! Here is a recipe I originally found on theKitchn. It is warm, tasty, full of iron, protein, & fiber. I used spinach instead of chard, only because that's what I had on hand. I didn't put the pretty pomegranate arils on top, either, because I didn't have any. But I think that punch of red would be very pretty on top of the soup. Especially in the heart shaped bowl

Wheat and Soy Free Soy Sauce

2012-02-06T18:01:00.001-05:00

Many of you with food allergies have no doubt discovered by now that soy sauce contains not just soy, but also wheat. Tamari can be a good wheat-free substitute, but it still contains soy, which is another top-8 allergen, and a common sensitivity for those who are gluten sensitive. Image source(I admit, I chose this photo because of the Disney bottle:) What about Nama Shoyu? Nama Shoyu is an

Organizing recipes

2012-02-05T14:07:00.004-05:00

This is my Sunday afternoon project: Organizing recipes. Although they were organized at one point, lately new recipes have been taking over, and I couldn't find anything I was looking for. I also have quite a few recipes with edits all over them, like this: Ah, see, now you can see the "test recipe" process here in the Healing Kitchen, haha. I wish I would have taken photos of the other recipes

Raw Vegan Valentine Cookies

2012-02-02T09:36:00.005-05:00

This recipe was inspired by a great recipe on Veggie Wedgie- check it out here. I love Veggie Wedgie! This recipe is also linked to Wellness Weekends and Allergy Friendly Friday, be sure to check each of those pages for more gluten free, allergy-friendly recipes. If you are gluten free and vegan, and you do not know of Cybele Pascal, get thee to her page now. If you are gluten free and sugar

Help Yourself in Key West

2012-01-30T18:23:00.001-05:00

Today's post is about an awesome vegan/raw/healthy cafe in Key West. Ever since I saw this video from Kevin and Annmarie Gianni about the Help Yourself cafe, I've wanted to go there. That opportunity finally arrived. Earlier this month, my good friend Rebecca and I headed to Key West for a short day trip to ring in the New Year. We were in Key West for less than 24 hours, but Help Yourself was

Bailey Likes Kale Chips

2012-01-26T10:32:00.000-05:00

I couldn't resist posting this photo of Bailey, he's just so darn cute!I can't believe he eats kale chips.

Gluten Free Vegan Mini Pot Pie Casseroles

2012-01-20T13:59:00.007-05:00

Hello everyone! I know, long time no post. I have so many things I want to post about... but today I want to share with you my first ever attempt at making a vegetable pot pie. Ever. I've never made pot pie before... not gluten free, vegan, or any other way (unless frozen dinners count?) This recipe was a series of experiments. The whole reason I made a pot pie was because I wanted to try a

Gluten Free Vegan Orange Vanilla Cupcakes

2012-01-03T15:19:00.006-05:00

Happy New Year! I had the brilliant idea that I was going to try to make champagne cupcakes for New Year's, but never got around to buying champagne : ) So, I opted for orange-vanilla cupcakes instead. Yum! These cupcakes are adapted from the recipe found here. I made a few changes, and experimented with a new ingredient, acorn starch. I think they turned out a little denser than the original

Book Review: Your Brain on Food

2011-12-28T11:52:00.001-05:00

Your Brain on Food: How Chemicals Control Your Thoughts and Feelings by Gary Wenk My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is an excellent primer on neurobiology, but it actually has very little to do with food. It describes the role of various neurotransmitters, and explains the effects of increasing or blocking these neurotransmitters with legal and non-legal pharmaceuticals. The only mention of

Gluten Free Vegan Christmas Cookies (one raw)

2011-12-24T08:00:00.001-05:00

All gluten free and vegan: Chocolate sandwich cookies, sugar cookies, raw vegan gingerbread men, and cinnamon-sugar balls Merry Christmas everyone!

Veg News

2011-12-21T09:55:00.001-05:00

Woohoo! Remember way back when I entered my very first online recipe contest (Key Lime Pie) and actually won??? The prize was a one-year subscription to Veg News. The fist issue arrived yesterday! I'm really looking forward to reading it and getting new ideas. I've never read this magazine before, so this will be a nice treat. Thank you Lisa and Nicole! Be sure to check out Vegan Culinary

Trader Joe's is coming!

2011-12-20T09:24:00.004-05:00

Sad news: Our local Border's Books & Music went out of business earlier this year Good news: Trader Joe's is moving in to that spot! I've been watching the progress since I first spotted the "Coming Soon: Trader Joe's" sign in front of the building. Now look:I peeked in the window; there are still a bunch of boxes and equipment inside of what is otherwise a big empty building- but it's moving

Gluten Free Vegan Apple Cider Donuts

2011-12-18T11:00:00.004-05:00

Baking these donuts will make your kitchen smell like the holidays, full of cinnamon and nutmeg. And they taste delicious... I ate three... I was testing, of course, just testing the recipe... um, yeah, that's it :) Gluten Free Vegan Apple Cider Donuts Makes 5-6 regular size donuts Equipment: Donut pan Preparation: Soak chia overnight (see below) Ingredients 1 cup gluten free flour mix 1/4

Mark Hyman on Why Everybody Should Avoid Gluten (almost)

2011-12-17T11:08:00.002-05:00

Today's Huffington Post features an article by Mark Hyman, MD. You might recognize Dr. Hyman from his "UltraMind Solution" program on PBS, or his books on the topics of wellness & prevention. In today's Huffington Post article, Dr. Hyman suggests that many more Americans are sensitive to gluten than we realize. He explains that gluten sensitivity is not limited to those with Celiac Disease, but

Heirloom Tomatoes to the Rescue

2011-12-14T09:58:00.028-05:00

What perfect timing- I saw this video yesterday after posting about ECHO and their mission. This video is not about the ECHO organization, but is related to the type of work they do, and illustrates the role of agriculture in health in poor rural areas: Image source Heirloom Tomatoes to the RescueGuatemalan families look to their ancestors to solve modern malnutritionhttp://www.takepart.com/

ECHO Farm Global Conference

2011-12-13T10:06:00.003-05:00

Last week, I had the pleasure of volunteering at ECHO, a non-profit organization whose vision is Honoring God through Sustainable Hunger Solutions. ECHO's mission is to equip people with resources and skills to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor. ECHO is an amazing organization, and an amazing resource. The research facility is located in North Fort Myers, Florida. There they have a

Ocean Beach Farmers' Market

2011-12-11T13:08:00.000-05:00

Persimmons were everywhere! I am VERY behind on blog posts.... I haven't yet had a chance to share with all of you about my California trip at the end of October. I simply have to tell you how much I LOVE California. Do you want to know why? Because I can eat just about ANYWHERE without a ton of pre-planning and bringing my own food along everywhere I go. I wonder if the people who live in

Raw Vegan Cranberry Apple Cheesecake

2011-12-02T09:24:00.002-05:00

Our Thanksgiving dessert was delicious: I started with a recipe I found online. That recipe didn't turn out the way I'd hoped, but I was able to rescue it by making some adjustments. I made too many changes in the middle of creating this cheesecake to feel comfortable posting a recipe yet, since I would only be guessing what I added and in what amounts. I can tell you the basics:Crust: Almonds

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving: Recipes and Photos

2011-11-25T12:00:00.005-05:00

Gluten-free? Grain-free? Dairy-free? And trying to navigate holidays???? Don't worry, you can absolutely do it. The menu below is completely free from corn, soy, dairy, eggs, pumpkin/squash family, gluten, grains, refined sugar, processed foods, additives or preservatives. Hopefully it may give you some ideas in planning your holidays. My neighbor and I decided to experiment and see whether we

Raw Vegan Thanksgiving

2011-11-20T11:38:00.001-05:00

Joan and I are planning a Raw Vegan Thanksgiving- I am so excited! Image source No, it doesn't mean that THIS will be all we can eat : ) Pretty cute, though. Here is our menu- everything on the menu is a brand new endeavor for each of us, so there is no telling how anything will turn out. I must say, though, that I have rarely been disappointed in any raw vegan recipe- even when the ingredients

Brendan Brazier, Vegan Athlete

2011-11-19T10:29:00.003-05:00

This week I had the pleasure of seeing Brendan Brazier speak about his experience as a tri-athlete and vegan. I am re-inspired and motivated! Brazier is not only a (professional) tri-athlete, he is an Ironman triathlete. For those of you who may not be familiar, an Ironman triathalon is a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a marathon (26.2 miles). Yes, all in one day.

Evolution Fast Food

2011-11-07T10:55:00.001-05:00

I wanted to share some of the neat things we saw in San Diego. One of the cool places we visited was Evolution Fast Food. Evolution is a 100% vegan restaurant, with a lot of raw options. They have a wonderful variety of healthy selections. Salads, wraps, smoothies, burgers, fries, shakes, and desserts. 100% healthy, no artificial crap:It's a cute place with a cheerful vibe, friendly staff, and

Dia de los Muertos

2011-11-02T09:35:00.002-04:00

Photo source Today is el dia de los muertos. Dia de los Muertos translates literally to "Day of the Dead". Here in the US, it is a misperception that the Day of the Dead has to do with zombies, or that it is supposed to be spooky or scary. El dia de los muertos is a festive traditional Mexican holiday in which families remember loved ones who have died before them. Rather than being a somber

Boo! Gluten Free Halloween Crackers

2011-10-31T07:33:00.001-04:00

I've decided crackers are even more fun to make than cookies :) I used black quinoa in these crackers, hoping the crackers would be dark or black for a spooky Halloween look. That didn't happen, but you can see the black flecks in there:Lesson learned: if you decide to make crackers that spell something (Happy Birthday? Merry Christmas? Happy New Year? Congratulations?) I recommend large cookie

Eat Real Food

2011-10-29T20:46:00.000-04:00

I love this poster.

Allergy-friendly Candy Apples

2011-10-27T20:01:00.004-04:00

This recipe is linked to Wellness Weekends and Allergy-Friendly Fridays. Be sure to visit those pages for more yummy Halloween treats! Hi everyone! I meant to post this recipe last week. I was traveling, and I thought I'd done well in planning ahead to write this post on the road. I made the apples early, took photos, loaded all of the photos onto my laptop, and edited photos while on the plane.

Bailey Gets a Box

2011-10-15T10:33:00.003-04:00

Bailey got a care package this week! He knew it was for him. Seriously, he really knew. He usually ignores packages. But with THIS package... his nose was glued to the box. Funny, when I opened the box, that's exactly where the treats were!Is there something in there for me??? It IS for me! Treats!I want that.Oh yeah. Yum yum yum.But mom, I know there are more of those treats up there...

Gluten Free Vegan Halloween Krispy Treats

2011-10-12T17:07:00.008-04:00

The inspiration for this recipe was a bag of puffed millet that I wasn't quite sure what to do with. If you are not familiar with millet, you will be happy to know that it is a low-calorie, gluten free grain with nearly 10% protein. Millet is high in magnesium; magnesium is beneficial to cardiovascular health, and can help prevent muscle cramps and migraines. Millet is also high in B-vitamins,

Macadamia Source & Prices

2011-10-08T16:37:00.002-04:00

A few days ago, in the post about macadamia nuts, I mentioned that the macadamias you get in the store are often shipped across continents- which means you are not getting the freshest product, not to mention the economic and ecologic cost of transportation & fuel. And- look! A perfect example- I saw this in a local health food store today:

Cashew Butter

2011-10-07T08:30:00.023-04:00

The other day, I was tired of cooking, and just wanted something that was already made. So I purchased this cashew butter at Whole Foods: I thought I had bought it before. Even so, I always try to double check the ingredients, because things change. But when I got home, I noticed this: Sigh. I am very sensitive to sunflower, and safflower seems to have a similar effect. So, the $7.99 jar of

Ginseng Soda

2011-10-06T12:06:00.001-04:00

Guess what? I know it's hard to believe (haha), but I have another cookbook that I'm VERY excited about : ) I want to figure out how to make my own energy drinks. Currently, I drink way too many of these... Which is not terribly healthy, and not to mention, expensive. I would like to learn to make my own, to save money, and adjust the ingredients. Sure, eventually, I'd like to not drink any

Macadamia Nuts, Part Two

2011-10-05T08:12:00.005-04:00

Yesterday I shared some photos from our visit to the macadamia grove. Today, I'll pick up where those left off. Yesterday's photos included the nuts, in their green husks, on the tree. Here is a photo of the husk cut away to reveal the nut in the shell: When the macadamia nut is mature, the husks split open, and the nut falls to the ground.Here are two different varieties of macadamias, in their

Macadamia Nuts

2011-10-04T14:40:00.008-04:00

I have wanted to write about our local macadamia grove for months- and I'm finally getting around to it. Actually, the timing will work out well, because I can show you the spring photos and now harvest photos. First, a little background about macadamia nuts. They are high in oleic acid (the same "good fat" found in olive oil). Oleic acid is an omega-9 fatty acid, and has been shown to reduce

Gluten Free Vegan Carrot Cake Pancakes

2011-09-25T11:32:00.001-04:00

This recipe is linked to Wellness Weekends and Allergy Friendly Friday- be sure to check those sites to find more healthy & allergy-friendly recipes! Gluten Free Vegan Carrot Cake PancakesMakes approximately 12 small pancakes Ingredients 1 cup gluten free flour mix1/2 tsp guar gum1 tsp allergy-safe baking powder1 tsp cinnamon1/4 tsp allspice1/4 tsp nutmeg1/4 tsp sea salt1/4 tsp vanilla powder3 T

Plums and Prunes

2011-09-23T13:07:00.001-04:00

The other day, while chatting with my good friend Ed (an organic grower), the topic turned to plums and prunes. Ed said, "a plum is not a prune" Me: Wait- what? Ed: A plum is not -necessarily- a prune. Me: But aren't prunes just dried plums? Ed: It can be. But a prune is a specific variety of plum. Who knew? I thought a prune was the dried version of a plum, just like a raisin is the dried

Cookbooks

2011-09-21T12:38:00.001-04:00

When I was in Orlando this weekend, Mrs. J brought me some cookbooks: They both have really good recipes, and the fruit one has gorgeous pictures. That reminded me of some other cookbook snapshots that were still on my cell phone. Like this one: For some reason, the placement of these books just cracked me up. You couldn't get further apart on the dietary spectrum. Ha! This one caught my eye,

Apples, apples and more apples

2011-09-19T12:59:00.000-04:00

Well, today I wound up making four different cinnamon-apple treats. That was not at all what I had planned. I was hungry. I needed breakfast. I thought cinnamon sounded good. Cinnamon waffles, perhaps? Then I remembered I had a great recipe for an apple strudel that wasn't too difficult. And- I have a bag of fresh, organic McIntosh apples in the fridge. Perfect! Well, for whatever reason, I

Good Morning!

2011-09-18T11:00:00.102-04:00

Photo sourceSo, our usual Saturday morning routine is: get up, turn on NPR, feed Bailey, make breakfast, go to the Farmers’ Market for the week’s groceries, socialize at the Farmer's Market, wag wag, woof <--- Bailey come home, take pictures, and tell you what we'll be cooking with this week :) But today, we are visiting family in Orlando- near DISNEY- and I am writing to you from here: Like

Whole Foods Orlando

2011-09-16T19:53:00.007-04:00

Greetings!Do you remember that old Saturn car commercial where the Saturn driver visits every Saturn dealer across the country, even though there is nothing wrong with his car (turns out he’s there for the donuts)?I think I’m like that, only with Whole Foods.I love Whole Foods.

Mini Pie Winners Announced

2011-09-15T21:45:00.004-04:00

I have some exciting news to share! Vegan Culinary Crusade has announced the winners of their Raw Mini Pie Challenge - and guess what??? The Healing Kitchen Key Lime Pie was the winner! WOW! I was SO surprised -and thrilled- to get the great news! Click on over to their page to read about all of the delicious entries & finalists.

Gluten Free Savory Caraway Quinoa Crackers

2011-09-12T08:00:00.010-04:00

These savory crackers get a protein boost from the nutty-flavored quinoa. Gluten free, vegan, egg and dairy free, corn free, sugar free, nut free, soy free. Gluten Free Caraway Quinoa Crackers Makes 2 baking sheets of crackers (actual number of crackers depends on how you cut them) Ingredients 1 1/2 cup of your favorite gluten free flour mix 1 tsp guar gum 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp sea salt 3/

Garden Update

2011-09-11T12:00:00.000-04:00

It's been raining a lot- look how green everything is! Bailey has been pouting in the rain: Here's the latest garden pic (taken in the rain, from my balcony): I finally moved the bean sprouts and the spinach to bigger containers. This is the spinach outgrowing its previous container: The spinach has these pretty little tendrils, and flowers: The beans were definitely outgrowing their container:

Egg Free Mayonnaise Recipe

2011-09-09T08:00:00.005-04:00

I didn't get great photos of the mayonnaise, but boy, it sure tastes good! It is easy to make, and much less expensive than store-bought vegan mayonnaise. Egg Free Mayonnaise (vegan)Makes 3/4 cup mayonnaise Ingredients 1/2 cup soaked cashews* 1/2 cup filtered water 1 Tbsp lemon juice 3/4 Tbsp agave nectar 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 - 2/3 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive

Green Bean Cole Slaw

2011-09-08T08:00:00.059-04:00

I found this recipe through FoodGawker. It was so pretty, I had to click on it. Go to the link below to see the original recipe/photo. I learned a few things. First of all, a runner bean is similar to a green bean. I believe it's a British term, and from the number of recipes that suggest you "shred" runner beans, I think they must be larger than US green beans. Second... you can "shred" green

How to Easily Cut a Watermelon

2011-09-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

Good grief, why did I never think of this? This is brilliant. Just like cutting a pineapple! Click here for the picture tutorial--> How to Easily Cut a Watermelon So, I think I am going to try dehydrating watermelon. I've read about it more than once (including in the comments in the post referenced above) so now I want to try it. Seems to me if you dehydrated watermelon, you'd be left with...

Look what just arrived!

2011-09-06T10:17:00.000-04:00

The books are here!

Florida End-of-Summer Farmers' Market Salad

2011-09-04T14:30:00.001-04:00

Sprouts from yesterday's Farmer's Market: Mmmm... pardon me while I type with my mouth full... yum... yum... I think I will call this... the Florida End-of-Summer Farmers' Market Salad... because this is about all you can get at the Farmers' Market in Florida right now :) I think our season is almost the opposite of many others'. Everyone else gets excited for the Farmers' Market to open in the

I am so excited!

2011-09-02T10:03:00.003-04:00

I just ordered two new (un)cookbooks from Amazon. That in itself is pretty exciting. But do you know what is even MORE exciting? I placed that order using Amazon credit I've earned from YOU guys! Woohoo! THANK YOU! Shameless plug: whenever anyone clicks on one of the Amazon links on my page (over there, on the right) ----> then I earn a commission for "referring" people to Amazon. It doesn't

Gluten Free, Yeast Free Pizza Crust

2011-09-01T15:28:00.008-04:00

Necessity is the mother of invention -Unknown Ah, pizza. I must admit, I never really cared for pizza even before I was gluten/soy/dairy/everything free. Some of my friends tease that I have a tomato phobia- which may be true. I cannot stand tomato sauce. Nope. Not at all. Not spaghetti, lasagna, pizza, or ketchup. And definitely not raw tomatoes ((shudder)). Pesto sauce, alfredo sauce, or just

Raw Vegan Sour Cream and Onion Dip

2011-08-30T12:00:00.002-04:00

Raw Vegan Sour Cream and Onion Dip Dairy free, whole food, and vegan- and none of that fake powdery stuff you buy in a packet (blech!) Ingredients 3/4 cup soaked raw cashews 2-3 Tablespoons chopped onion 2 Tablespoons fresh chopped chives 1 Tablespoon lemon juice 1 clove garlic 1/4 tsp sea salt Optional: a tiny squirt of agave Method Add all ingredients to VitaMix or food processor and blend

Raspberry-Chia Smoothie

2011-08-29T08:00:00.010-04:00

Raspberry-Chia SmoothieI really just threw everything in the VitaMix and didn't measure. Soooo... all measures are approximate. Adjust to your taste. Ingredients1 cup apple juice (white grape juice would also work here)1/2 cup frozen raspberries1 tsp ch-ch-ch-chia seeds (sorry, I can't help but sing "ch-ch-ch-chia":) Now you will, too ; )I also added some brown rice protein powder, but that's

Farmers' Market Saturday

2011-08-27T17:26:00.004-04:00

Quick post... didn't get much at the Farmers' Market today. Here's the haul: Romaine, red onion, and star fruit. Yup, that's it! I also got peaches, but those were for Priscilla. Frankly, ever since we got that case of organic peaches and I made peach everything, I don't want to see peaches again for a while : ) I am not quite sure what I'm going to make to eat this week. But in the fridge I

Eco-Friendly Friday

2011-08-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

In addition to healing recipes, I'd love to share about healing environments. I'm considering creating a series called "Eco Friendly Fridays" What do you think? I have all kinds of exciting ideas to share about creating a non-toxic, healing home environment. Over the past few years, I've tried tons of DIY "green" (non-toxic) recipes for cleaning products, pest control, and even skin care and

Black Forest (Mini) Pie

2011-08-25T16:45:00.006-04:00

Guess what? Today we have another mini-pie : ) I needed to: 1) use up some fresh cherries which are in season and abundant and nearly falling out of my refrigerator and I was out of ideas for using them 2) find a good use for the leftover vanilla creme from the Key Lime Pie. Those are good reasons for more pie, right??? Since last week was so much fun, I'm also going to submit this recipe to

New Recipes

2011-08-22T18:04:00.001-04:00

I have been a recipe experimenting nut these days. In the past week, I have come up with recipes for two different types of raw vegan pies, a recipe for raw vegan chocolate chip cookies, a recipe for gluten free chocolate donuts (and mini donuts), and today... pizza! Oh. My. Goodness. Pizza. Pizza that rivals Pizza Fusion, but won't make me (too) sick. Yeah! Gluten free, yeast free, corn free,

Key Lime (Mini!) Pies

2011-08-18T12:00:00.020-04:00

I created this recipe for an online recipe contest. I am so nervous and excited... this is my first contest! Click for more on Vegan Culinary Crusade's Raw Recipe Challenge, and to see the other beautiful entries. Wow. Since I'm in Florida, I decided to make... what else? Key Lime Pie! It's the state pie, you know : ) Can you believe that Key Limes and macadamias are both local? As in- people

Macadamia Nut Pancakes

2011-08-17T12:08:00.008-04:00

This morning I had macadamia waffles. Well, OK, not exactly... I was eating raw macadamias from the bag as I was making a raw vegan pie crust. Then I made waffles... so actually, I had macadamias then waffles... But it reminded me of a recipe I created a few months ago, when I was going a little crazy with both macadamias and coconut. I tried several versions at the time, including one with

Watermelon Fresca

2011-08-15T12:26:00.002-04:00

Watermelon Fresca Ingredients4 cups cubed, seeded watermelon 1/2 cup filtered water 2 tablespoons agave nectar 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice 2 cups seltzer water (optional) MethodBlend watermelon, water, agave, and lime juice. Strain through cheesecloth or strainer. Chill juice in refrigerator. When ready to serve, combine with seltzer water for a fizzy drink. For no fizz, use filtered

Sunday Funnies

2011-08-14T10:44:00.004-04:00

I stumbled across this cartoon this morning, and thought I'd share (click for larger image):Original article here For more information on what is really in your food and the truth behind food labels, here are some links to a few great books and a DVD:

Marinated Portabella Mushrooms with Lemongrass Pesto and Cashew Polenta

2011-08-10T13:34:00.004-04:00

Adapted from this recipe at Raw EpicureanAs you saw in the last garden update, the lemongrass in our herb garden is going crazy right now. It is huge, lush, and beautiful. I was so excited to have an abundance of lemongrass- which, by the way, is about $5 for 3 stalks at Whole Foods when they happen to have it. Then I realized... I don't actually know what to do with lemongrass. I've eaten it. I

Raw Vegan Dinner Party

2011-08-09T10:59:00.000-04:00

Another delicious dinner to share. This is not a fancy photo, but will post more photos and recipes in a later post. For now, I just wanted to share the big picture- because it was delicious, and I'm excited about it: This was an all raw vegan meal! It was really fun to make so many Mexican-themed dishes. The menu included: Chili rellenos Empanadas Mexican "rice" Salsa verde Mole sauce Star

Farmers' Market Day

2011-08-06T16:20:00.010-04:00

As you know, Saturday means a trip to the Farmers' Market for Joan, Bailey and Tasha. Sadly, we did not encounter any crazy fruits this week - so no jackfruit and/or durian to report about. But we did find an adorable little girl selling Quail eggs. How cute is this sign? Here is her label, and the tiny eggs. It might be difficult to tell from the photo, but the eggs are about the size of the

Yummy dinner

2011-08-04T11:28:00.000-04:00

Last night's Raw Vegan Thai meal was fabulous. All due to the company, of course, but the food was yummy too. Dinner guests included my neighbor Joan, my brother Vince, and myself. And Bailey. Of course, Bailey didn't get to eat Thai. Photo from the last time I made Pad Thai Never a dull moment, right before dinner, we had the added challenge of a water main break on the island, and a boil water

So, I was experimenting...

2011-08-04T09:02:00.000-04:00

Remember my post about the pink eyed peas? Well, I wondered what might happen if I planted some. They grew! And grew...and grew... and grew...and grew... They grow bigger every day! Time for a bigger pot already. Maybe we'll wind up with beans? Cool!

Raw Vegan Pad Thai

2011-08-03T12:00:00.004-04:00

My brother is visiting, and guess what is on the menu for tonight? Raw vegan pad thai. I can't wait. It is a recipe from the Cafe Gratitude cookbook, and it is fantastic. Here is a photo from the last time I made this dish: I hope it turns out as beautiful and delicious as it did last time. I really want to make something special for my brother. I'll report back after the meal!

How to read produce sticker codes

2011-08-02T08:30:00.013-04:00

Did you know that those little stickers on your fruit actually mean something? Surprise, they are not just for grocery inventory- they contain important information about the produce, such as where and how it was grown. I probably should have turned this sticker right-side-up for the photo. Oops :) When shopping, one quick glance at the sticker tells you whether the produce is organic,

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Pancakes with Peanut Butter Syrup

2011-08-01T16:15:00.005-04:00

Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Pancakes with Peanut Butter Syrup Makes about 20 small pancakes Ingredients 1 cup brown rice flour 1/4 cup tapioca flour 2 Tablespoons organic cane sugar 1 Tablespoon corn free baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cup rice milk 1/4 cup organic peanut butter Optional: sliced banana Optional: allergy-friendly chocolate chips Method Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Garden update

2011-07-31T08:42:00.030-04:00

Check out the size of the lemongrass and basil! Wow! To compare, click here: lemongrass and basil for what they looked like when we planted them. Joan's tomatoes:We were so excited to finally find culantro... but guess what? Something ate it :( You can barely see the little nub of what's left:And (warning: not for the squeamish) we have a garden visitor. He left us a present. How nice of him. (

Oven Baked Yucca Fries

2011-07-30T15:01:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've attempted to make anything with yucca. Today I made yucca fries- they were close... but not quite perfect.... I think after one more try I'll be able to post a recipe.

Gluten Free Pluot Coffee Cake

2011-07-28T06:37:00.001-04:00

This recipe is heavily adapted from the Plum Coffee Cake Muffin recipe in The Allergen Free Baker's Handbook: Among other changes, I adapted the recipe by using a different gluten free flour mix that does not use potato starch. I always substitute guar gum for xanthan gum since xanthan is derived from corn. I used fresh pluots in place of plums. In my new effort to reduce sugar, I omitted the

Pink eyed peas

2011-07-23T08:00:00.010-04:00

What do you get if you cross: Pink with Black Eyed Peas Pink Eyed Peas! Hahahahahaha. OK, I couldn't help it. On to the real post. About actual pink-eyed peas. I was fortunate enough to be in the neighborhood of Beasley Farms a few weeks ago. Beasley Farm is not certified organic, but they practice "sustainable farming methods" and most important to me- they do not use pesticides. I try to

My visit to the healing kitchen

2011-07-22T12:20:00.001-04:00

by Jeannette M. I love this place! I believe in eating healthy and without food additives. I am a Weight Watcher (WW) leader, but can’t always express my views on natural foods directly as I represent WW when I speak professionally. The food in the Healing Kitchen is filled with love. Every ingredient is meticulously selected from local and online resources, and much thought has also gone

Gluten-free Black Currant Muffins

2011-07-20T13:37:00.004-04:00

OK, I must admit, I am struggling with the "no sugar" effort... suddenly I'm craving something sweet all of the time. Which only reinforces that I need to lay off the sugar for a while. I decided to experiment with a sugar-free muffin this morning- using whatever I have in my refrigerator, which isn't much these days. Summer time is slim picking at the Farmers' Market. But I have carrots... a

Sugar free?

2011-07-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

I've realized that sugar has been creeping into my life more and more these days. I don't think there is anything wrong with a little sugar here and there, but, like anything, there needs to be balance. I have overstepped that balance. Since learning about and negotiating a very restricted diet, my attitude has been if I can eat it (without symptoms) than I will eat it. With all of my other

Gluten free, Dairy free Chocolate chip cookies

2011-07-15T19:01:00.000-04:00

These chocolate chip cookies are gluten, soy, dairy and corn free. "Corn free?" you say, "But I don't put corn in my chocolate chip cookies!" Guess what? Do you know where corn might be hiding in your chocolate chip cookies? Baking powder, vanilla extract, and the chocolate chips. Yup! It's true! Also, xanthan gum, a common ingredient in gluten-free baking, is derived from corn. It can sneak up

Savory Kalamata Olive Bread

2011-07-14T19:01:00.000-04:00

The idea for this recipe was inspired by this article in the New York Times. Savory Kalamata Olive Bread Gluten, corn, soy, nightshade, dairy and yeast free Ingredients 1 3/4 cups gluten free flour mix 2 teaspoons corn free baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 large garlic clove, minced 3 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon vegetable bouillon* dissolved in 1/3 cup seltzer water (you could use

Raw Vegan Peach Pie

2011-07-07T13:48:00.001-04:00

Raw Vegan Peach Pie Ingredients Filling1 cup raw cashews3-4 fresh peaches, pits removed (about 3 cups of roughly chopped peaches)1/4 cup agave nectar1 tsp vanilla powder, or about 1/3 of a vanilla beanDash cinnamonDash himalayan salt1/4-1/2 cup filtered water, as needed Crust1 1/4 cups raw pecans1/4-1/3 cup raw pine nutsApproximately 10 dates, pittedPinch himalayan or sea saltOptional: pinch

How to make your own gluten free onion rings

2011-07-05T10:40:00.002-04:00

I know how it feels. The doctor says... no gluten. No gluten??? You mean I have to give up everything I've ever known and every food I've ever loved? That's how the diagnosis feels at first. But, take heart. I'm convinced there is not a traditional food you can't make gluten free. One of my favorite foods used to be onion rings. I didn't eat them often, but it was a treat to get them once or

Edible Landscaping class

2011-07-04T13:04:00.008-04:00

I just love our local Farmers' Market. This month, they are offering FREE classes every Saturday. This week's topic was Edible Landscaping. It had quite a turnout, even in the rain (we eventually had to move inside): Are you familiar with edible landscaping? The concept reminds me of WWII victory gardens. Victory gardens were not only found in people's yards, but in public spaces. Here is a

Happy Fourth of July!

2011-07-04T11:31:00.000-04:00

From Bailey and the beach

Healthy Homemade Gourmet Mustard

2011-06-29T12:01:00.003-04:00

Adapted from this recipe. I think this mustard recipe is infinitely adaptable. The first time I made this recipe, I couldn’t find black mustard seeds, so I used only yellow mustard seeds. I also made a half batch, as I wasn't sure how it might turn out, or how long it would keep. Yellow mustard seedsHere is my first attempt: Homemade Gourmet Mustard, v.1 Ingredients 3 Tbsp. yellow mustard seeds

Gluten Free Raspberry White Chocolate Scones

2011-06-28T08:36:00.047-04:00

The first time I made butter bean cookies, I thought they had a texture similar to a scone. So I experimented, and came up with this recipe. Gluten Free Raspberry White Chocolate Scones Ingredients 2 cups gluten free flour mix 1 1/2 tsp corn-free baking powder 1/4 tsp organic cinnamon 1/2 tsp vanilla powder Dash himalayan salt 1/2 cup canned white beans, liquid reserved (I used cannellini beans

Garden Update

2011-06-26T09:00:00.001-04:00

Great news- the garden is looking better this week! Check out the basil! And we have something new- lemongrass:And peppers: Our chives are happy. I trimmed back the dill- not sure whether it will come back? I thought I killed it last year, and it came back this year, so maybe the dill has more life in it. The parsley is still withering- but everything else looks good!

Blueberry Macadamia Crispy Rice Treats

2011-06-25T07:16:00.001-04:00

Blueberry Macadamia Crispy Rice Treats (gluten free, corn free, vegan) Ingredients 3 cups gluten free puffed rice cereal 3/4 cup gluten free brown rice syrup 1/4 cup macadamia nuts, chopped 1/3 cup dried blueberries Dash himalayan salt Method Warm the brown rice syrup over low heat until thin and liquidy. Add puffed rice cereal and himalayan salt. Stir until well coated. Add macadamia nuts and

Sprouted Spicy Lentil Burgers

2011-06-24T18:31:00.009-04:00

These burgers are amazing. They are a tad spicy, so adjust to taste. Sprouted lentil burgers (raw, vegan) Ingredients 1 1/2 cup sprouted lentils 1 cup raw pecans 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 teaspoons sea salt (or himalayan salt) Juice of one lime (approximately 2 Tbsp) Lime zest there is a pepper shown in this pic,

Gluten free cherry vanilla pecan waffles

2011-06-21T11:57:00.005-04:00

Rainier cherries were on sale this week at Whole Foods. Gluten free cherry vanilla pecan waffles (vegan) Makes 10-12 waffles Ingredients 2 cups gluten free flour mix 1 tsp guar gum 1 tsp corn-free baking powder 4 Tbsp organic cane sugar 3/4 tsp himalayan salt 3/4 tsp vanilla powder 1 Tbsp chia seeds 1/4 cup pecans 4 Tbsp grapeseed oil 1 cup seltzer water 3/4 cup white grape juice Method In a

Gluten free blueberry millet muffins

2011-06-20T10:13:00.002-04:00

Blueberries and millet are both incredibly good for you. These muffins are not too sweet, and the whole millet adds a nice crunch to the texture. Gluten free vegan blueberry millet muffins Makes approximately 12 muffins Ingredients 3/4 cup millet flour 3/4 cup gluten free flour mix (I used this one) 1 1/2 tsp guar gum 1 tsp corn-free baking powder 1/4 tsp sea salt 2/3 cup millet seeds 1/4 cup

Sprouted lentil and apple salad

2011-06-17T10:53:00.000-04:00

I made this salad a few weeks ago. It was another recipe from this awesome raw food (un)cookbook: The book has since gone back to the library, so I do not have the exact recipe to share with you. BUT- from what I remember- it was a mixture of: sprouted lentils, chopped apple, raisins, cinnamon, dash of himalayan salt (or sea salt), and agave. Just play around with those ingredients and adjust to

How to use a tortilla press

2011-06-16T12:41:00.009-04:00

Yesterday's post was how to make Gluten-free flour tortillas. Today I'll show you how to use a tortilla press. I find the tortilla press much faster and more convenient than a rolling pin, but it doesn't get the tortillas quite as thin as I like, so sometimes I roll them out just a little more after I press them. A tortilla press also works for other kinds of flatbreads. (Hint: more flatbread

Gluten free flour tortillas

2011-06-15T12:42:00.024-04:00

If you are like me, the art of making flour tortillas will take some practice. But don't give up, after a few tries you will get the hang of it, and having this staple on hand is very helpful. Gluten free flour tortillas Ingredients 2 c. gluten free flour mix 1 1/2 tsp. guar gum 1 tsp. pure cane sugar 1 tsp. fine ground sea salt 1 tsp. corn free baking powder 2 Tbsp extra light olive oil 1/2- 1

Garden update

2011-06-12T15:57:00.000-04:00

Well, friends, I must say the garden is in sad shape. But we're learning what grows well in hot Florida summers, and what doesn't. The dill went to seed soon after we put it in: I used what was left of the dill to make a yummy raw tzatziki (cucumber-dill) sauce, so we still got a couple meals out of it. But this is what our poor sad little dill looks like today: The dill was no surprise. But

Allergy friendly asparagus soup

2011-06-04T09:00:00.024-04:00

This is a super-easy and delicious soup perfect for summer. Gluten free, dairy free, soy free, corn free... raw and vegan. Minimal ingredients, easy clean up! Dairy-Free Creamy Asparagus Soup Ingredients (adjust to taste) 5-6 stalks fresh, raw asparagus 1/4 cup soaked cashews 1/8 tsp sea salt Dash ground black pepper Lemon or lime juice (I used key lime) Filtered water Instructions Break off

Pesto Animal Crackers

2011-06-03T11:26:00.041-04:00

I am ridiculously excited about the farm animal cookie cutters I received as a birthday gift. Take a look: Why did I want farm animal cookie cutters, you ask? Why, to make gluten free, allergy-friendly animal crackers, of course! Crackers are quickly becoming one of my favorite things to make. They are quick, easy, nearly impossible to mess up, and taste amazing. I don't think I've made two

Gluten free flour mix (corn free, nightshade free)

2011-06-02T17:40:00.001-04:00

I previously posted a gluten free flour recipe that has been working for me. I'm still happy with that recipe, but I am very pleased to report that I've now tried it using arrowroot starch in place of the bean starch (I ran out of bean starch). Not only does it work well, but I tolerate it! That's a biggie. I am so happy to know I have another ingredient option for gluten-free baking. I can't

Blueberries!

2011-06-02T08:00:00.003-04:00

Blueberries are in season, and I've been going a little blueberry crazy... Blueberry-guarana smoothie Gluten free vegan blueberry-chia waffles Raw vegan blueberry tart Raw vegan blueberry tart More info on health benefits of: blueberries, chia, guaranaYum!

Local Farmers' Market

2011-06-01T08:23:00.010-04:00

Good morning all! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. After the cake pop madness of last week, I thought you might be getting a toothache just looking at all of those sweets :) So I thought I'd post about something GREEN! Here are some photos from our local beach Farmers' Market (btw, is it Farmer's Market, or Farmers' Market?) I'm going with the second one, since it is more than

Key Lime White Chocolate Cake Pops

2011-05-27T10:04:00.002-04:00

Here is the second raw vegan cake pop recipe! Key Lime White Chocolate Raw Vegan Cake PopsMakes approximately 8 cake pops Ingredients 1 cup raw macadamia nuts 1/8 tsp himalayan salt Key lime juice to taste. I don't think I measured, but probably about 1 key lime/1 Tbsp juice. 1/2 vanilla bean, scraped (keep the empty bean for future recipe: vanilla sugar) 3-4 pitted dates- I didn't use these, but

Raw Vegan White Chocolate

2011-05-26T09:26:00.007-04:00

I'll kindly spare you all of the versions of white chocolate cake pop coating that didn't work :) Multiple attempts. I do think adding 1Tbsp coconut oil to the coating would have worked wonders for making a smooth coating that solidified well. However, I am currently avoiding coconut, and wanted to create a coconut-free coating for this recipe. After several trials and failures, I finally went