Smoothie Sunday!

Yesterday, David and I went to Arden's Garden, a smoothie and juice bar here in Atlanta.
The special smoothie for the day was called a "Spinach Slam", a blend of fresh pineapple juice, frozen mangoes and about 5 or 6 cups of spinach! We saw the first 4 people in line decide to get it after a taste test, and so we ordered the same (I addend hemp protein to mine :).

It. was. awesome! And it reminded me of when I began to incorporate greens into my smoothies. So today, for Smoothie Sunday! I will be giving a Green Smoothie tutorial of sorts.

Don't be scared now; it's not as bad as it sounds.

1. As I said, the first green veg I decided to branch out with in my smoothies was spinach. Spinach has a great flavor that complements fruits well. And it pretty much goes with all fruits. So if you are a green smoothie newbie, I would start by adding a 1/2 cup of baby spinach to your smoothies when you make them. This would add some much needed vitamin A, calcium, iron, and a little protein to your smoothie treat.

I use Organic Girl (found at Publix and Whole Foods), but any organic baby spinach would do. And Costco has it sometimes for as little as $3-ish dollars a pound!
2. If you have already begun to experiment with some greens in your smoothie, then you are ready for the following yummy delicious recipies.

Here are recipes I have used as inspiration for my home-made green smoothies at home.

- Kale Creamcicle from Elena's Pantry - I use this as a formula for when I want something citrus and green. I usually use 1/2 grapefruit and a clementine in place of the orange because I can't find good oranges that are wallet friendly in the store a lot. I also add hemp seeds (instead of egg white protein) and 1-2 Tbsp of raw cashews for extra creaminess.

- Kristen’s Raw blog also has many fun recipes for experimenting with greens in smoothies, like this one with coconut water and Romaine lettuce.

- The Best of Raw Food also has this list of their top 5 green smoothies. At the bottom of this page is a basic percentage guide for making your own recipes at home.

Tips:

1. Blended smoothies work best in a high powered blender or food processor. I made my smoothies before I bought my Vitamix in my food processor all the time with frozen fruit. The thing to remember is that food processors don’t do well with ice. If a recipe you want to try calls for ice, then just replace it by freezing more of your fruit for the recipe instead of adding ice.
2. Start small if adding “green” scares you. You tastes may change over time. Leafy greens are usually a descent source of calcium. If you don’t eat dairy, like me- this is a great way to add calcium to your diet.
3. If you buy root vegetables from the store, like beets or turnips, try some of their greens in a smoothie- especially if you were planning on throwing them away. What have you got to loose? I found is a great way to use the whole food (from the store or our garden) when I didn’t feel like steaming or cooking greens. Beet greens are a nice complement to citrus and pineapple.
4. Juicing is another way to add greens to your smoothie. Wheat grass, though expensive, is now becoming more available in store freezer sections.
   
5. If you decide to add a store bought juice to your smoothies, I would encourage you to make sure it has no sugar added, and is not concentrated. Most likely, these juices will be pasteurized (and therefore, some of their vitamins might have been destroyed). If you can, try to find juices that are "flashed-pasteurized" (like Naked brand) or not at all.

Happy Green Smoothie Trying,
Eryn

Coconut and Banana Cream Pie Truffles

Last night I was craving something creamy and pie-like. I have begun to see the usefulness of bananas and coconut products to replace my desire for the "creamy". I used to be a custard lovin', ice cream eating gal. I have now gone completely dairy free, but I refuse to give up eating yummy treats- so I came up with this recipe!

These truffles are super quick, cheap, and EASY! And you can fancy them up if you are making them for guests. Just dip them in a chocolate glaze, ganache, or coating chocolate ( which wouldn't be dairy-free, of course, but just because I can't eat it doesn't mean you can't :). I rolled mine in carob powder, but some cocoa powder mixed with coconut sugar or other sweetener would also work.

And, yes, this truffle recipe is all raw. I have two more weeks of raw eating...so you all are getting mostly the recipes I am making at home right now. I promise this blog won't turn into a Raw Food blog. BUT, raw food never hurt anybody. When you heat food you decompose some of the vitamins in your food (source: my husband, the Chemist). And I want all the vitamins I can get!

Coconut and Banana Cream Pie Truffles: makes 12 truffles

Ingredients

- ¾ cup unsulfured, unsweetened shredded coconut, or flakes (I use Bob’s or whatever I find cheapest at Whole Foods)

- 2 T coconut oil (virgin and unrefined works best), melted or softened

- ½ banana

- 1 rounded Tbsp of cashew meal (you can make meal from cashews by blending them in a food processor or coffee grinder)

- Coconut Nectar to taste (this raw sweetener is great if you want them more sweet…my tolerance for “sweet” is pretty low), or you could use your sweetener of choice

- Carob or Cocoa powder for dusting (optional)

- Lined tray, plate, or pan to go in freezer

Method

- Mix the coconut, coconut oil, banana, and cashew meal in a bowl until mushy and well combined, I just used a bowl and the back of a spoon, but you can place in a f

- Then scoop onto lined tray into 12 tsp sized balls

- Place in freezer for 10-15 minutes until hardened

- Roll in carob or cocoa powder if desired, or if you decide to dip them in some kind of chocolate (coating, glaze)- make sure the chocolate is cooled and you have frozen them for at least 30 minutes before-hand

These would be great to make 3 or 4 batches of to keep in the freezer for snacks, or treats for kids.

Happy treat making,
Eryn

Sweet Potato Crisps- Two Ways

Well, since I haven't posted anything cooked here yet, well, besides this bread post. I decided this middle-of-the-road food blog needed some cooked veggies to round out the raw posts and smoothies :) So I have posted my two favorite ways to cook sweet potatoes. Technically these are cooked a little past "roasted", and too thick to be "chips" - thus the title Sweet Potato "Crisps". If you just want to roast them, that's fine- sometimes I over-crisp the cinnamon ones on purpose because I like the burnt caramel flavor the sugar from the sweet potatoes makes :)

Here are two ways to cook this fabulous root vegetable: one a spicy barbeque flavor, and another one more sweet, yet savory. Feel free to pump up the spices in these recipes. I don't think I make them the same way twice, but I made sure to get the recipe pretty middle-of-the-road as far as spicy goes. So if you like it hot, add more chipotle seasoning for the BBQ sweet potatoes. And if you love cinnamon pump it up in the others!

Cinnamon Sweet Potato Crisps: serves 2-3

Ingredients and Materials

- 2 medium to large sweet potatoes (about 1 lb.)

- 2 T grapeseed oil

- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

- ½ scant tsp ground cumin

- 1/8 tsp Celtic sea salt, fine ground (or about two pinches)

- Medium sized bowl

- 9” x 13”-ish pan lined with parchment paper or foil

Method

- Preheat oven to 400°

- Wash and cut the sweet potatoes into approximately 1” squares that are ¼“ thick (what really matters is that they are all about the same size and thickness)

- Mix the oil, cinnamon, cumin, and salt in a medium bowl.

- Place sweet potatoes in bowl and stir until all are evenly coated.

- Pour onto lined pan and make sure they are evenly spaced. I try to get all of them to be touching the pan like so…

- Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes, or until browned slightly, and edges are crispy. Also, it helps to stir them around half-way through.

BBQ Chipotle Sweet Potato Crisps: serves 2-3

Ingredients and Materials

- 2 medium to large sweet potatoes (about 1 lb.)

- 2 T grapeseed oil

- 1 tsp smoked paprika*

- 1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt, fine ground

- ¼ tsp ground pepper

- ½ tsp Chipotle rub (I use Urban Accents brand) or ¼ tsp. plain chipotle powder and you may need to increase the salt since rubs usually have salt in them

- Medium sized bowl

- 9” x 13”-ish pan lined with parchment paper or foil

Method

- Preheat oven to 400°

- Wash and cut the sweet potatoes into approximately 1” squares that are ¼“ thick (what really matters is that they are all about the same size and thickness)

- Mix the oil and all the spices, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.

- Place sweet potatoes in bowl and stir until all are evenly coated.

- Pour onto lined pan and make sure they are evenly spaced. I try to get all of them to be touching the pan like so…

- Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes, or until browned slightly, and edges are crispy. Also, it helps to stir them around half-way through.

* Please note: If you make this recipe with regular paprika it will not have the barbecue-like flavory goodness! (I have tried, once when several stores were out at once- I won’t make them with regular again!) Smoked paprika can be found at most grocery stores on the spice isle.

This recipe is a part of Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays at SS & GF

Smoothie Sunday!

This may be a stretch for Smoothie Sunday... but today's "smoothie" is actually a latte.

I love beets. It took me a while to get used to them when I first started eating these root vegetables, but now I think I could find myself quite at home on Dwight's beet farm :) They go quite well with cacao and carob. Thus, the following Beet Lattes were born. This recipe works best in a Vitamix or Blendtec, but you can experiment with your own in the food processor.

These recipes are what we have; however, we aren't using sweeteners right now. Which brings me to a whole new genre of food category. There's "sugar-free" which means free of refined sugars, but not necessarily artificial sweeteners and usually natural sweeteners like agave, honey, coconut sugar, etc. I feel as if right now not only are we eating "sugar-free" but beyond that..... perhaps "sweetener-free" is the best way to describe it. I digress...

Feel free to play around with the sweeteners that are found in nature- Stevia, Maple Syrup (grade B), Date Sugar, Agave, or Raw Honey...or Coconut Nectar , which can now be found at Whole Foods. Or, if you are in a particularly healthy mood, try it the way we are having it these days- sweetened only with bananas :)

Beets are loaded with antioxidants and a lot of natural fiber, and when combined with the health benefits of cacao they make a healthy little drink.

Beet Lattes: makes 2 servings

Ingredients

- 1 small beet

- 1 banana

- 2-3 Tbsp carob powder or cocoa powder, depending on your “chocolaty” preference (these both come in raw or the regular kind you find for baking- raw carob powder is harder to come by, though)

- 1 cup coconut milk (not light)

- 1 cup water

- Sweetener to taste, I recommend this coconut nectar, and it’s raw too!

Method

- Blend all ingredients on high in Vitamix or other high powered blender until heavy steam comes out the vent (about 5 minutes)

- If using a food processor, try blending the beet, banana, cocoa/ carob powder, and a little liquid together and then heating them mixed with the rest of the liquid in a pot over the stove.

You may also want to try these cold beet smoothies:

- Cherry Detox Beet Smoothie from the Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen

- Whole Beet Smoothie with fruit from the Year of Green Smoothies

I Spy....Vegetables and Legume Recipes: Ingredients 201

photo via P90x website

In setting out to inform the masses (you all :) about what new things to try/ buy from the store, it occurred to me that I can't just tell you about the ingredients without tempting you to try them in a recipe. So today, I will be featuring different sites' recipes for Veggies and Legumes in the second installment of my "Ingredients" series (Ingredients 101, here).

Let's talk vegetables! Our mom's always said to eat them, but they never quite rivaled the promised dessert you would get to eat if you simply ate more veggies. I'm glad to have grown out of that phase; wanting the "treat" over the health. I must say that over the last couple of years, I have fallen in love with vegetables of all kinds, from raw to baked, to sauteed. And from time to time, I'll come up with a "treat" recipe for them. Here are some vegetables by category, and don't forget to check out the recipes for each one that are out there in the blogosphere.

Cruciferous (Brassicas, etc)

• Cabbage (Napa, Chinese, Savoy, Red, White) - try this coleslaw
  
• Kale (Laciniato/ Dinosaur, Curly leafed) - "Chips" made from this
  
• Collard Greens
• Brussels Sprouts - Gratin made with these, I will be trying this with GF crumbs and Daiya cheese and coconut milk :)
  
• Kohlrabi - Raw "Fries" made from this- I have tried this recipe before, not too bad
  
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower - I happened to stumble upon this raw recipe for Mexican "Rice" with this - made it tonight and it was great, my husband (a non-raw eater) asked for seconds
  
• Bok Choy - great sauteed!
  
• Radishes (Red, Daikon)
• Arugula
• Watercress
• Turnips, and their greens
• Rutabaga - I make this into mashed potatoes, topping with Turkey Bacon and Chives
  

Other “Leafies”

• Endive
• Lettuce (Iceberg, Romaine, Butter, etc)
• Spinach - GF Pastry Puffs with this
  
• Swiss Chard -GF Black Bean Chilli w/ Butternut Squash and this
  
• Sprouts (Pea, Broccoli, etc)
• Mache
• great with this dressing from this post
  

Bulbs and Stems (Root Veg)

• Asparagus
• Celery
• Fennel
• Garlic
• Onion
• Shallots
• Leeks

Other “Root” Vegetables

• Carrot
• Beet
• Yams
• Jícama- I have made this recipe many times, and it's always best the second day
  
• Sweet Potatoes (Purple, White, and Red) - be looking for a recipe for these coming soon :)
  
• Parsnip
• Potatoes (White, Russet, Yukon, Fingerling, Gold, etc)
• Ginger - Sweet Potato Soup with this done up in your slow cooker!, or try this in a tea here
  
• Water Chestnuts
• Taro root
• Galangal root - Great in Tom Kha Gai - this is the best recipe I have found out there, and I have made if for friends and family with rave reviews!
  
• Artichokes
  

“Fruits” That are called Vegetables

• Zucchini - Fritters or Latkes made from this
  
• Squash (Spaghetti, Butternut, Summer, Acorn, etc)- Black Bean Chili with this and Swiss Chard
  
• Tomato, tomatillos
• Eggplant - Curry with this and tomatoes
  
• Corn
• Sweet Peppers/ Bell Peppers
• Avocados
  
• Cucumber
• Pumpkin

Legumes (Podded Vegetables)

• Black-eyed Peas
• Chickpeas
• Fava Beans
• Green Beans
• Lentils (Red, Green, etc) – Curried Sweet Potato Pie with these
• Lima Beans
• Mung Beans – these, sprouted, are great in Pad Thai and these burgers
• Okra
• Peas
• Peanuts – If you’re not allergic, check these recipes out
• Soybeans
• Pinto Beans
• Black Beans - Chili with these, Butternut Squash, and Swiss Chard
• Red/ Kidney Beans – Yummy 3 bean salad with these, chickpeas, and black beans
• White/ Navy Beans – see this recipe for how to make cake with this

Most Vegetables I buy can be found at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or Costco (although I have only found carrots and spinach that are organic). Also, try your local Asian or International market for some goods like Galangal root or bean sprouts for Thai and other Asian dishes.

Look around and check out those recipes, and don't be afraid to try something you never have or you thought you didn't like... your taste-buds may have changed since you were six :).

Happy Hunting,
Eryn

Dairy-free Cheese w/ Rosemary Garlic Olive Oil

A few months ago, I found out I was allergic to dairy (casein). I felt like I was eating the best dairy - mostly goat's or pasture fed cow's milk, and only raw cheeses-- but, alas, that makes no difference when you are allergic! Since giving up dairy completely, I have had fewer headaches and my morning sore throats are a thing of the past. But the cravings for ice cream, frozen yogurt, and cheese still haunt me from time to time. My craving for cheese was the driving force behind this recipe.

Boursin, a soft french cheese that comes in different herb flavors, was one of my favorite treats to have before going dairy-free. So I set out to make a dairy-free cheese that can rival it...and it got my husbands seal of approval (and he grew up on Boursin so I took that as a great success of a recipe!).

Feel free to play around with this recipe. The basic components of a raw nut cheese are nuts and lemon juice. Next time I make this, I will try adding the herbs and garlic (powder maybe) directly to the nuts and lemon juice in the blender. Also, my husband suggested finely chopped olives might be nice in the cheese as well.

Raw, Dairy-Free Cheese

Ingredients and Materials

For the cheese:

- 1 cup raw nuts (I used blanched almonds and soaked them the night before, but this is not completely necessary- just makes a slightly creamier cheese. I found raw blanched almonds @ Trader Joes, for more info on where to find nuts check out this post)

- 3 lemons, juiced (or about 3 oz of lemon juice)

- ½ tsp Celtic sea salt, fine ground

- 2 bowls, one big, one smaller and heavy

- 1 colander

- Cheese cloth

For the Herbed Oil added once the cheese is finished:

- 1/3 cup olive oil

- 1 clove garlic, mashed

- 1 Tbsp rosemary- must be fresh (you can also play around with other herbs you like too!)

- salt and pepper to taste

Method

- Blend the herbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil together and let sit, covered (I like to keep some of this on hand to go with lots of things, like fresh bread from this post)

- Blend the first three ingredients for the cheese on high (can be done in a food processor or high powered blender). If you need to add water (1-2 Tbsp) at this point to make the cheese a finer texture, that’s OK. The excess water will be strained out in the next few steps.

- The mixture should be kind of thick. Set up your bowl and colander like so, with the cheese cloth then over the colander.

- Then form the cheese, squeezing tightly, and wrapping it in the cheese cloth.

- Let it sit this way, with a heavy bowl placed on top so that the cheese is pressed. I let mine sit over night out on the table (not in fridge). This is how it develops its tangy-ness. You can be done here and use your cheese as a spreadable one (like cream-cheese consistency), or, if you prefer, you can go on to the next step if you want to make a firmer cheese (like feta consistency). Just mix with the herbed olive oil to your liking.

- When the cheese is done pressing, preheat the oven to 175°. Then shape the cheese on a parchment lined sheet pan (I’m not using unbleached parchment paper in the pic below, but I should be!) to about 5-6” circle.

- Put the cheese in the oven and cut the oven off comptletely. (This is what I do because I don't have a dehydrator, but if you have one feel free to use it too!) Let it firm up around the edges and top, about 35-45 minutes in the closed oven. Then plate and enjoy with some of these yummy organic, raw, gluten-free Italian crackers! They are a bit on the pricey side, but a nice treat every now and then and go great with this cheese.

(I know, I took a lot of pictures of my cheese plate, it was just so pretty :)

This post is a part of Slightly Indulgent Tuesday @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free (check out more healthy recipes every Tuesday @ Amy's SS&GF )

You may also want to try these Cracker recipes if you want to make your own to go with the cheese:
Grain-free crackers @ Elena's Pantry
Pumpkin seed crackers @ Life as a Plate

Smoothie Sunday!

Today's smoothie is a recipe I came up with in honor of our favorite restaurant here in Atlanta. R. Thomas is a great catch-all restaurant depending on your needs...they have raw and vegan dishes, breakfast served all day, and if it's meat you want- they make sure to buy from local farms that treat their animals humanely (free-range and grass-fed).

David likes to call this smoothie Coconut Surprise, so that's what I'm calling it.

Coconut Surprise: makes 2 large servings

Ingredients

- 1 young coconut, water and pulp scooped out

- 1/3-1/2 pineapple, cubed

- 1 cup frozen strawberries

- ½ banana (I freeze my ripe ones to use in these smoothies, but not necessary)

- 1-2 dates (optional, we don’t usually put these in but it does make your smoothie sweeter if that’s what you are looking for ;)

Method

- Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor, and enjoy! You can even put some back into the coconut for a fancy treat.

Tips

- Make sure to use frozen strawberries

- Use a spoon to scoop out the coconut flesh

- For videos on how to open a coconut, go to www.youtube.com, there are many different ways

Happy Smoothie Sunday,

Eryn

I Spy.... Valentines Day Recipies

Remember playing that game in the car with your friends or siblings? There's always one kid who picked some sign you passed twelve miles back and no one ever gets it! Well, from time to time, since I want this to be a blog about raising awareness for healthier eating, I will pick a theme and search around for some good recipes out there. And, no, it will not be a guessing game of what "I spy" :)

Check out the links below for some tasty wonderful ideas for a little bit healthier Valentines Day!

For Romantic Dinner @ Home:

• Maple Balsamic Salmon with Pear and Pecans @ Life As A Plate – I love this very simple to make, yet will surely impress main course
• Boeuf Bourguignon @ Freezer Gourmet – This is a bit more time consuming but a wonderful traditional French recipe (healthier and cheaper than a French restaurant)… what says “Valentines Day” like fancy French food?
• Moose Meatloaf and other Fancy Entrees @ Universal Eater – Heather Pace, former raw only eater shares her new recipes for yummy non-raw dishes

For Yummy Desserts:

• Chocolate Lava Cakes @ The Spunky Coconut - I cannot wait to try these when I can eat eggs and chocolate again!
• Purple Velvet Torte @ Elena’s Pantry – I have made this many times and it’s a yummy fiber-filled treat
• Chocolate Pots de Crème- This is made with coconut sugar so that it’s lower Glycemic
• Raw Chocolate Pie (“A Little Slice of Heaven”) @ The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen – I cannot wait to try this either…and raw makes it even better!

To Make with the Kiddos:

• Gluten Free Valentines day Cake Pops @ Elena’s Pantry- These are a gluten-free version from Bakerella’s yummy cake pops
• Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Balls @ Daily Bites – These pretty little gems are quick and fun!
• Gluten-free and Grain-free Best ever Brownies @ Cook it Allergy Free

Enjoy and Happy Valentines ♥,

Eryn

Ingredients 101...and Lemon Garlic Dressing

After talking to my MIL and a dear friend who were asking about ingredients, I thought up this post. This is part of a series I will be doing on specialty ingredients, what to get when you want to eat more "raw", forgotten fruits and vegetables, different types of sweeteners, etc. Also, if you make it down to the bottom there is my new whole food Salad Dressing recipe.

Today: Fruits, Nuts and Seeds

Nuts & Seeds 101
If you are trying to incorporate more raw into your daily routine, nuts will be your friend :) There are many uses for these babies from making a pie crust to raw whipped cream. Most general grocery stores don't carry huge selections of raw nuts. I usually get mine from a whole food market. If your town does not have one of these you may also try your local Asian or International market (they usually have raw nuts in bulk). Also, Trader Joe's has a good selection of raw nuts. Raw seeds may be even harder for those in rural areas. So try these sites if you live in a remote area:
Local Harvest (support Americas farmers!)
iHerb (shipping is only $4 for orders over $40, so you can keep a running list until you get to $40! iHerb is a great place to get some of the ingredients you will see on this site like Chia and Hemp seeds!)

Side note: a peanut is not a nut! I just found this out a couple weeks ago. It's a legume (more in the bean and pea family)! I'm sure many of you may have known that, but I was surprised...who knew? obviously not me :)

Above you can see almonds, cashews, sprouted sunflower seeds, pistachios, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds (all raw of course :)

Different Types of Nuts and Seeds: below are some nuts and their uses... explore (try going somewhere that has these in bulk so you can try just a few to see how you like them! I believe Whole Foods has a policy of letting customers try any item before they buy it)

- Cashews: can be used (when pre-soaked) for cream base desserts, replacements for sour cream and cream cheese

- Brazil nuts, a lesser known nut, but I just found them raw at Trader Joes! This nut has a meaty sort of taste to it.

- Almonds (actually a seed!... I knew that one :) : whoa baby… you can make cheese (be looking out for an almond feta recipe in the future!), milk, flour, bread, raw almond butter…these things are very versatile

- Pecans: these mixed with dates make yummy raw pie crusts

- Walnuts: this is one of my favorites for just snacking on plain… I love the flavor of a walnut

- Macadamias: also good for creamed items and desserts

- Pine Nuts: pesto… need I say more?

- Pistachios: these actually go really well as a raw topping for Italian dishes, I also use them to make raw ice creams

- Sunflower seeds and Pumpkin seeds: I usually throw these on top of a salad, however I have recently found a use for raw sunflower seeds in Thai influenced dishes… stay tuned!

- Chia seeds and Hemp seeds: These are great for thickening smoothies and shakes and also as a baking additive to hold gluten free recipes together. Some Native Americans used to snack on Chia seeds while hunting for days because the seeds are very nutritious and expand when wet!

- And let’s not forget about snacking. Replacing certain go-to snacks that may not be so good for us is a great way to incorporate nuts and seeds into our diets!

Fruits 101
Our doctor has made the comment to us before, "Americans forget about so many fruits". I hope after I mention some of these "forgotten fruits" you will vary your fruits some and go out and grab something different! Again, if you don't have a store near you that has something you want to try; visit www.iherb.com or www.localharvest.org for more options.

My smattering of fruit in the house right now: bananas, grapefruit, avocados, clementines, manzanilla olives, young coconuts, plums, pineapple, dates, mango, apples, pears, and some lemons

- Berries: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, lingonberries, boysenberries, black and red currants, grapes, acai berry, and gogi berries

- Melons: watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew/ muskmelon, canary melon

- Exotic fruits: pineapples, mangoes, avocadoes, bananas, papayas, passion fruits, durian (can be found at most Asian markets), YOUNG COCONUTS! (I can't get enough of these... and essential if you are going raw! During WWII, soldiers used unopened coconuts for emergency transfusions because it mixes easily with blood and has similar balance of electrolytes to what our bodies need! These also can be found at just about any international market or whole food market)

- Citrus: oranges, lemons, limes, clementines, tangelos, mandarins, grapefruits, pomelos (these are making a rise in the US… I think I saw some at Kroger once )

- Olives: yes, olives are fruits, whether black, green, manzanilla, kalamata... still a fruit :)

- Last, but not least: apples, pears, plums, nectarines, apricots, dates, figs, peaches, kiwis, nectarines, pomegranates

Whole Food* Lemon Garlic Dressing: (makes about 2 cups)

My husband, David, just found out he’s highly allergic to mustard. This is good to know since I (and his momma) have made Dijon Vinaigrette for him weekly up until finding out! Now, I am looking for a good replacement. This has become my new favorite dressing. Right now I am eating a strict diet and can’t have vinegar so I found the lemon to be just the ticket! I’m a big fan of it; David, however, is missing the mustard… but he did say “it’s a fair alternative”.

Ingredients & Materials:

- 3 Large Lemons, peeled and seeded (no need for seeding if using a Vitamix or Blendtec)

- 4 medium cloves of garlic, peeled

- ½ tsp. smoked paprika

- Salt and pepper to taste (I use 2 tsp sea salt and a couple dashes of pepper)

- 1 cup olive oil

Method:

- In a food processor or blender puree the lemons, garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper, on high for about 1 minute until fully pureed (if using a low powered blender only, mince or grate the garlic first and take one lemon out and only use it’s juice)

- Then cut the blender down and slowly drizzle in the olive oil , or if you are using a food processor- pulse in the olive oil until fully emulsified (creamy looking)

- Enjoy, and add to your salad: some Mache, baby greens like Swiss Chard, or some Arugala (don't know what these are... stay tuned for Ingredients 201 :)

* This is why I use the term "whole food". When you use a whole fruit or vegetable (and not just the juice) you are getting the fiber from that veggie/ fruit as well as the sugars. This helps your body absorb the sugars at a slower rate.