8.29.2011

Home Sweet Home!



There is nothing better than walking in the door after a weekend away! I miss the quiet, the smell, and my refrigerator!!
We went on a weekend cruise which ended up going to Nassau. We were pleasantly surprised by the boat and we had a fantastic time! I have never been a huge fan of cruising , however, I am now a changed woman.
Bring it on!!
This is the easiest way to have quality time with the people you travel with and create great memories.
(of what you can remember!)
Good Times Were Had By All!!
Thank you Robyn & Bill!

Another great thing about coming home is seeing the Big Man!
He had a great weekend with his auntie and uncle....and Amico!

As well as taking care of our man they took care of my sprouts.....which flourished amazingly!


I think of myself as a pretty simple person....if "simple" is possible in this world!
I love my family, my food, and putting those two things together as much as possible. I also know I am a truly blessed person who gets to enjoy this all the time!

I have created a Favorite Finds section on my blog which contains links where you can find all of the cool gadgets that I use in my kitchen & some of the books that I love.

Enjoy. Smile. Breathe. Create!

xoxo

8.25.2011

Happy Birthday Buddy Miles Davis!!


Happy Birthday Big Man!!

Today marks year 2 for Miles!

His uncle Daryl and auntie Chandler brought him a present.....cute little moose!

Molly loved it!

Birthdays are always fun and I hope this little guy has a great day!
Love you big man!

Last night I made a completely raw meal for my aunt and uncle. I made my raw pasta....yes, again....it's so good and easy I couldn't go wrong.


They LOVED it and I think were pretty surprised at how good it was. Greg even said, "for a meat eater this is amazing". I like to hear that!

My sprouts are growing fast! My alfalfa are in the fridge and were so packed into the jar I had to pry them out.....still yummy though.


The pea sprouts are flourishing and grew about 1/2 an inch over night.

The sunflowers on the other hand had some mold so I had to throw them out.
Next time I know to have a fan on them for air circulation and to let them sprout before I plant.

Live & learn.

This weekend we are planning to go on a cruise to the Bahamas with Josh's mom and family.
Are we still going with this storm out there?
They say it's the largest in decades and is heading to the northern east coast.
Lots of rain here....the perfect time to stay home, do some reading, and make some food!!

cheers! xoxo




8.24.2011

It's Alive!!!






My little seeds are sprouting!! This jar is full of Alfalfa sprouts that will be ready in a couple of days! Next time I need a larger jar or less seeds......it's packed!








      These are the Pea sprouts starting to find their way into the soil......and below are the Sunflower seeds.

       Too cool!

8.23.2011

Spiritual Seeking



Just like my seeds that I am nurturing into sprouts.....we need to tend to our spirituality.

I listen to Oprah radio almost everyday hoping to catch her Soul Series. This is one of two shows on her radio station that I love. The other is Dr Oz.....a great amount of information having to do with nutrition and overall well being. 

Recently I was listening to a broadcast....about spirituality.

They were discussing the concept or practice of being present in every step. About seeing, experiencing, noticing Ordinary Magic.

I love that phrase, Ordinary Magic.

Can we delight in every moment, not only finding the positive, but also just letting every thing BE?
Whether it's good bad or indifferent......it will just BE.

I've had moments in my life, quite often, where I become acutely aware of how amazing this existence is. It's the simple things in life. How plants find their way and bloom through concrete. How we exist in one big ball of recycling water and plant matter. How life is created through energy. WOW!

Zen Gurus always speak of this simplicity in meditation. How doing the dishes or laundry becomes meditative if you are completely focused on the task at hand. That can apply to anything. 

Can we clear our minds of the chatter to let peace and quiet in?

It's hard when you live in the real world to quiet the chatter. There is always something that we need to do or say or not say. The energetic hamster running on it's perpetually spinnng wheel!

At the end of every yoga class I teach I encourage students during savasana, the final relaxation, to let go of the judgement of thoughts. To allow the thoughts to roll by like clouds. See them, acknowledge them, and let them go. Not easy at all but a great way to cleanse our thoughts. Our minds will never be "empty" or clear, but we can think in a certain way that helps us to relax and still be aware.

"Practice and all is coming."- Pattabhi Jois

There are so many great masters with theories on spirituality. A big part of my book collection has that theme. Buddhist thought, yogic principles, meditation, these all are life long journeys for everyone. Whether you start when you are 2 yrs old on an ashram or at 25 in a city......it's all a path of never ending learning.

Thank goodness for that!

Here is one of my favorite books.... I use it often in my classes.

Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga ,  by Rolf Gates





Maybe take a moment to sit and breathe......close your eyes......and listen.


All is coming.

xoxo




8.22.2011

Monday....monday

Another beautiful week has started off with a bang!
I went to an ND this morning...Naturopathic Doctor....who I feel will change my life in a great way for years to come.
I initially went to see a doctor about low energy and being a cranky bitch.
no bueno.

She gave me some chinese herbs, b12 injections, vit d supplements and told me to eat meat 4 times a week.

WHAT?!!!

I immediately started searching for another opinion....and one that was supported by a holistic background and accolades.

I found him.

Today's visit was enlightening and hard to hear at the same time.

He asked what my goals were.......I told him to have healthy children.
My overall goal is to be healthy, vibrant, and disease free.

Since I have started taking supplements and juicing I feel like a new person! But the most important thing is how my body will react to pregnancy and the aftermath of giving birth. I need to have enough of these vital nutrients stored so that my body can heal and get ready for the next round....if there is one.

Moral of the story.....I have to add some meat into my raw/vegan diet.
wha....wha

So....Dr Ervolino told me about this farm in Missouri that has all sorts of REAL grass fed- free range.....as carefully as possible "processed" animals.

I can't think of a nice word for slaughter and that is where this whole problem began!

I only need a little so we'll see how that goes.
We plan.....G-d laughs.
He's laughing pretty hard at me!

The end all be all is that I create the most loving and balanced environment for my future child....in the womb and out.

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Last night Josh and I had a couple of friends over for dinner. I love playing hostess! 
I decided to make my raw pasta, and this time I added the macadamia/ sundried tomato "cheese".
YUM.
 I have had this recipe up here before but this time was different.
I soaked the tomatoes before i put them with the already soaked nuts and added parsley. It became a milkier cheese with more flavor.

When in doubt.....soak it!

I also made some veggie burgers. Josh said it was his favorite so far. I love hearing that!

I'll put that recipe up later when I have the measurements in front of me.

I went to GOT SPROUTS? on Saturday.....so cool.
I learned how long to soak and how to plant. Their greenhouse was so.....green!!

These are my sunflower, pea, alfalfa, quinoa, & groats soaking.

After about 10 hrs I rinsed them all and planted the sunflower and pea seeds in soil. 
The others get rinsed in their containers and sprout there.
Hopefully when I go home tonight I will see little tails shooting out of all of the seeds.

My own little farm....high in the sky!

It would be pretty phenomenal to have living and edible plants all over the kitchen.
Clean air and yummy treats.
Chlorophyll and protein.

A side of steak with my sprouts!!

OY VEY!

8.18.2011

Sprout experimentation 101

It seems that between my love affair with my kitchen & the inspiration from The Sweet Cupcaker, AKA Chandler, I have been blogging my ass off!! It is fun and exciting and has become my virtual diary. You never know in life what is around the next corner......all I know is that I can't complain!

Last weeks soaking of the sunflower seeds actually turned into something very cool....sprouts!

I soaked black organic sunflower seeds last weekend for a recipe, not realizing they needed to have the shell off, and wanted to do something with them. I threw some of them in a jar and let them sit in this nifty little contraption that my friend Marta gave to me years ago. I rinsed them twice a day until yesterday  and this was the result!

I then rinsed them and picked the shells off of each sprout.....yes.....each one! Ultimately I would place each sprout in soil and let them grow into a longer shoot. Since I haven't gotten to that level of sprouting yet I decided I would feed the little buds to Miles!! He loves sprouts!

I do have an appointment this Saturday at GOT SPROUTS, in WPB, to have a lesson in sprouting. I am SO excited! Besides being totally economical, I will never have to worry about running out of yummy healthy greens!

For the 2nd time I made my favorite Pasta dish. A little different this time b/c I was missing a few ingredients that I used the last time. I left out the red bell pepper, which are hard to find organic, and the oregano. It still was so great!! I took pics this time.



Tomorrow marks the amazing 32 year marriage of my parents. What an inspiration they are in so many ways. I feel so blessed to have them as an example of what commitment and honor looks like. The best way to learn is by the examples of others. They are the poster children for soul mates and really making a marriage work no matter what.

Thank you mom and dad for being a true light in all of our lives.





8.17.2011

What the @#$%^ has happened to Yoga?

I really do try my hardest to see the positive in everyone and every situation. The one thing that just boils my blood is someone who lets their ego rage out of control.
Yoga.....to me....is a practice that brings us back to center. Literally meaning to Yoke/ Unite it allows us to strengthen ourselves, mind,body,spirit, so that we can walk through the chaos of life and not let it ruffle our feathers. It allows us to take a step back so that we can  let go of being reactive and cultivate a sense of balance.

If you have ever had the pleasure of being in Dharma Mittras presence....you feel right away his strength and calmness.....especially in his voice. 

This is what I picture when I think of the Yoga Greats.

Of course, with everything, there are a million sides to every story. Everyone has the choice and the right to live how they choose and I respect and honor that. 

How does this picture make you feel?


Look at the faces of the onlooking students!!

Enough said...........

Choose your teachers wisely as you would anything else. We are all exchanging energy and learn from every situation. Just as we want to surround ourselves by caring & loving people we want our practice to be rewarding and balanced.

I am only saying this because I get this question all the time about Bikram......do I do it?
My answer is always that I have tried and I chose a different style.

Choose for yourself in an educated way. We can lose weight in many ways.....it doesn't have to come from a narcissistic place.

oops.....did I say that!

I am going into my 5th year of teaching.....amazing.....and it ceases to amaze me how without a doubt I learn probably more from my students than they learn from me. It is such an exchange of trust and is energetically revitalizing! I am so honored and thankful for my time in the studio and one day I hope to be able to offer a space (PLUME!)  for people to learn as I have.

For anyone who hasn't tried yoga yet, I encourage you to check it out. There are many different styles and teachers that all have their own ways of transmitting their journey and experiences. We come onto the mat with the anticipation of getting off a more grounded, clear thinking, strong, compassionate person. 
That is a pretty good mat!!

No matter where we go we can always find our way back to center!

And tonight......Raw Walnut Pate!!

I have made this in the past with sauteed mushrooms......not this time!
Let's see which one wins the taste contest.

Until then.........

light and balance

xoxo

8.16.2011

GORG!!

There is this great site called Open Sky....a shopping reminder service of sorts.....just what I need!! They have some pretty great items that their own curators offer when you "follow" them. This is the most recent find I was alerted of......they are truly a phenomenal offering from Mother Nature.


 Anyone who knows me knows about my little book obsession. I have a lot of them and I LOVE adding to my collection. Knowledge is power!! These would be the perfect addition to my cluttered book shelves. I do believe in making every aspect of our lives beautiful.....whatever that is for you. It's nice to be surrounded by pieces that evoke a certain happiness when you look at them. We are creating our own little Eden's!!

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Juicing has become a pretty regular activity lately. I probably juice about 4 mornings out of the week. Super yummy & healthy! My parents were kind enough to hand over their juicer about a year ago. This week my little juicer has been making a strange noise like the motor winds down. I am the farthest thing from a mechanic or understanding the inner-workings of any appliance I use.

Is it time or a new one?!!?

Of course I have had my eye on a new juicer for years but never wanted to spend the money. Now that this really has become a way of life for me I can almost justify it. It's hard to know what is worth buying and what is not necessary......someone help me!! We'll see how much longer my juicer can go & then I'll worry about it.



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There are so many exciting things happening. Tyler turned 1!! There are new babies and journeys and plans.

I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I'm not in a constant dream state.....some would say I am!!

8.15.2011

The light at the end of the tunnel....

I have long wished for the day when my hometown begins to offer vegan and raw foods.
First, Darbster opened in Lake Worth. So exciting to see a place that is conscious and serving great food survive for so long. Then the Raw Kitchen opened on Clematis St. Unfortunately they closed about a month ago....if you are going to charge $18 for a salad it better be damn good! And finally Christopher's Kitchen in PGA.....my favorite!! They have phenomenal raw cuisine and you will pay largely for it.....so worth it!!

I have my favorite dishes in each spot and I am a creature of habit.
 Why fix it if it ain't broke!

Darbster has kick ass Palm Cakes.
Christopher's Kitchens Caesar Salad w/a side of Tuna....yum!

There are a few places that I love that are hiding their vegan/raw capabilities!

Nick & Johnnie's has a Quinoa & Kale salad....dressing is super tasty!

Thai Jo's Papaya salad.....wow!

Cabana's Cabana salad w/ coconut rice.....they chop it for me and replace the cheese with avo.
(they are the best)

If you are in the mood for a burger Relish has a great Mushroom Burger.....ask for a whole wheat bun....they like to hide them!!

Palm Beach Grill....ARTICHOKE! somehow they have mastered the art of steaming those amazing vegetables.....side of wild rice.

Those are my favs and I'm on the lookout for more....

any recommendations??????

We have a promising future here in Palm Beach County.....there are surely enough of us to warrant some more options.

Maybe one day PLUME will have all of these yummy treats under one roof.....one can dream!

My newest recipe....FUNA....or tuna!

A great addition to any salad or wrap it up in a romaine leaf or some nori.


Ingredients:
(organic)

1.5 cups soaked almonds (24 hrs)
1.5 cups sunflower seeds, hulled (4-6) hrs
1/2 lemon juiced
fresh dill to taste
1/2 cup chopped celery
salt to taste
1 tbsp kelp powder

-process almonds & seeds 
-mix all other ingredients into big bowl
-fold nut/seed mixture into bowl

- taste and season more if necessary

easy.....yummy....NUTricious

ENJOY!


8.13.2011

Finally!!

This week was a big one for me! I finally received positive feedback from my father about a meal I made. Imagine that!!

Marisa came home Thursday from an amazing trip in New Zealand. I know how hard it is to eat healthy and feel good when you are traveling so I wanted to welcome her home with a yummy and power packed meal.
I have truly found a staple dish that I know I will come back to often.

I started with a Mediterranean Kale Salad.

Super simple and packed full of essential vitamins and minerals from the dark leaf of the kale plant.


Ingredients
(organic)
large bunch Dino Kale
1 lemon
evoo
celtic or himalayan salt
( just say no to table salt)
1 red  bell pepper
about 6 olives
pine nuts

First de-stem the kale.
(the stems tend to be tough raw)

lay each leaf on top of each other, roll up, and slice into strips
throw in big bowl

add about 2 tbsp evoo
1/2 lemon juiced
few pinches salt

the salt & lemon will start to break down the tough kale leaf

you want enough liquid so all of the leaves are covered but not soupy

massage the kale to soften....with your hands!!!

dice up pepper
(red onion if you'd like)

slice olives

add to salad 

garnish with pine nuts

let it sit for at least 30 mins

This recipe is to taste so if you like more lemon add some.....more veggies add them! You can do anything with a kale salad.....just make sure it is tender enough to enjoy!
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The finale of the evening and really the easiest thing ever was the Zucchini Pasta & Marinara.

My newest toy is called a Spiralizer.....get one now!!
easy to use and easy to clean

World Cuisine 48297-99 Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer



Amazon for $35

It made this dish amazingly simple & beautiful.



Ingredients
(organic)

2 zucchinis
2 tomatoes
small jar sundried tomatoes in evoo or dry
(soak dry toms for a few hrs and save soak water)
2 red bell peppers
1 clove garlic
fresh basil
salt
evoo
cayenne pepper
oregano
black pepper

here we go........................

spiralize zucchinis or you can always use a peeler and do more of a fettuccine style noodle
put aside in large bowl

sauce

in blender throw........

2 toms roughly chopped
2 red peppers roughly chopped
sundried tomatoes drained
clove garlic
handful of fresh basil
few pinches salt
about 1 tbsp of evoo or soak water from toms
cayenne....how spicy do you like it!?
pinch oregano
pinch black pepper

blend until you have desired consistency

I added a few sundried tomatoes at the end and lightly blended for a chunky texture

right before you serve it put sauce on top of noodles.....it tends to get watery so drain if you need to

I assure you, you will LOVE this recipe!

If my father was impressed then it is sure to be a crowd pleaser!!

Bon A petite!!



Merde to Reborn Highway for their show tonight!

peace & light
xoxo









8.10.2011

Rockstar!!



Reborn Highway

It is now time for me to dote on my husband!!

Anyone who knows him knows that he is a passionate musician and has an amazing amount of talent.
The story of how he learned to play and what he has accomplished is inspiring.
There has been many re-incarnations of the band that now is called........
Reborn Highway.

They have a show this weekend in Wellington & I'm stoked for everyone to experience their newest lead man.

The show is at an amphitheater which means we will be picnicking which means I get to prepare food!!!
I'm pretty excited about it! I know.....dork!


Can't wait to see what the Sweet Cupcaker will create!



I also want to take a minute to send love and light to Mitch's father, Dan.
He is on his way to the other side and I wish him a peaceful journey.
He will be remembered as an intelligent, talented, thoughtful, and forward thinking man.
( He had a 1st generation hybrid car!)

Shanti Om

8.08.2011

Naked Party!!

Good friends, Good food, and great clothes!!!

Sunday was the first time I hosted a Naked Party! I had attended one years ago @ The Soma Center & haven't been able to attend another one since. It was a lot of fun to have friends over that I usually don't get to see outside of the yoga studio. What happens is this:

Everyone brings anything.....I mean anything....they no longer want. 
We share with each other.
We donate whatever is left to charity.

Pretty cool!

It is a productive & meaningful way to connect with friends.....and get rid of all that shit!!

The best part was the food....of course. I attempted to create my first raw cookies.....rawkies! I thought they were great....my mom.....not so much! To each her own!!!

This weekend I also made my first batch of almond milk.....super easy and amazingly yummy! Now I am searching for the perfect recipe to use the almond pulp in. I love the no waste part of raw food.

Daryl & Chandler have zoomed up to VA for the week so I am manning the fort! I can't even take sunrise pics anymore b/c I am half way to work by then! I love waking up early.......if only I could get to bed early.

Stay tuned for more kitchen creations & journeys!

Shanti Ommmmmmmm


8.05.2011

sunrise......oh yeah!!

one of the few benefits of rising before the sun! completely worth it!!

this is truely the perfect way to start the day....soothing purple hue and the sight of water.....AWEsome

8.02.2011

energy field of a sprout.....too cool!




SUPER ENERGETIC SPROUTS

Sprouting Life


The many benefits of these little wonders!!!

Alfalfa sprouts contain significant dietary sources of phytoestrogens—known to have preventive elements for cancer, heart diseases, menopausal symptoms, and osteoporosis.
Sunflower sprouts are rich in lecithin and vitamin D. Sunflower sprouts have the power to break fatty acids and lead to easy digestion.
Broccoli sprouts are known to have anti-cancer properties. Peppery flavor makes good taste for salad.
Clover sprouts are known as an anti-cancer herb. It have significant source of isoflavones.
Onion sprouts contain about 20% protein, and a very good source of vitamin A, C, and D.
Lentil sprouts contain 26% protein, and you can eat it raw without cooking.
Radish sprouts have four times more vitamin A and 29 times more vitamin C than milk. Can you believe that it has 10 times more calcium than potatoes and more vitamin C than pineapple? Radish sprout is the most popular variety among Japanese families.
Mung bean sprouts are good source of protein, fiber, vitamin C and A, and with low calories.
Soybean sprouts are a favorite of Japanese and are high in protein, fiber, vitamin C, and folate.
Sprouts, especially green leafy sprouts are great to eat for everyday living. With less expense, you can get vitamin A, B, C, fiber, protein, and enzymes that can aid digestion. In addition, sprouting destroys the seed's natural preservative enzymes that inhibit digestion.


I know I'm a dork about food but it's so exciting for me to eat something that is so amazingly restorative & energetic. Today is the day that my Excalibur Dehydrator is arriving.....super stoked about it! I can't wait to make this recipe that I learned at  workshop with Linda Frees for
 Blueberry Cookies.

I'll let you know how it turns out!!

Also....check out the soon to be released post @ The Sweet Cupcakers blog. We had a lovely day making super yummy treats......I made Vegan Lemon Zest Cupcakes. They were decent considering that it was only the 2nd time I've attempted to bake in the last 5 years!