Creamy Coconut Milk Chickpeas with Spinach

It's been a while since I have posted a recipe but I've been inspired lately to create new dishes. I have switched from a 90% raw food diet to about 65-75%. Unfortunately this is partly due to my budget, but also my curiosity to experiment with more cooked foods. I cannot wait to grow my own food and get back to more raw food eating and organic fresh foods. I am still preparing healthy meals, some organic and some non organic - again, due to budget. I refer to the dirty dozen list so I can avoid buying toxic non-organic foods. I am going to be preparing more vegetarian meals that focus on different nutrients and vitamins that we need in or order to stay healthy. For this recipe, my focus is Iron and Vitamin C. Vitamin C increases iron absorption, so it should be taken into consideration when preparing iron rich foods. Spinach, Chick Peas and other Leafy Green vegetables are a good source of iron. Tomatoes along with Citrus and Leafy Green vegetables are a good source of Vitamin C. There are other foods that contain both iron and Vitamin C, however I am focusing on the foods I just mentioned because they are the main ingredients of my recipe. Chickpeas also contain protein, fiber and other nutrients. Turmeric heals wounds, balances blood sugar, encourages normal lipid levels, supports the stomach lining and more! Check out my delicious recipe below for good health...

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The Rhythm of Biodynamic Farming

Biodynamic farming is a healthy and natural approach to farming that does not use pesticides. It focuses on the basic principles of nature - which is organic and self sufficient - to produce nutritious high quality foods. The "founder" of biodynamic farming was Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), a highly trained scientist and respected philosopher of his time. He was the first to expose the dangers of synthetic fertilizers, which were just appearing in his time. His perspective of farming was seeing it as "a single, self-sustaining organism that thrives through biodiversity, the integration of crops and livestock and the creation of a closed-loop system of fertility."

Rudolf was able to recognize the importance of the healthy interplay of cosmic and earthly influences. The cycle of the Earth is carried out in relation to the cosmos, in a kind of in-breathing and out-breathing. It has a daily exhalation in the morning and the daily inhalation in the evening. Biodynamic farmers spray preparation 500 (cow horn manure), which promotes reproduction and growth, root movement, soil stimulation and micro bacterial life. It also helps germinate seeds and regulates lime and nitrogen content in the late afternoon or evening during the "in breath", while some preparations and agricultural tasks are performed in the morning to compliment the "out breath".

Biodynamic agriculture, is needed at a time when it is well known that pesticides are harmful to our soil and food (ultimately our health). Farmers would be wise to put it into practice because of it's healthy self sustaining methods, which uses the earth's energy and focuses on the basic principles of nature. We are aware of the moon, the sun and the rotation of the earth playing a part in high tides. But earth rythyms as well as cosmic solar & lunar/moon rhythms are rhythms that sustain all life on Earth. Some feel we should value biodynamic farming's self sustaining methods as science and I agree.

There is a small percentage of farmers who currently use biodynamic farming methods. John Chester, a filmmaker-turned-farmer in Moorpark, is one of them. He focuses on biodynamic, or biomimicry, in which every aspect of the farm works in sync, feeding off of one another and using nature as a guide on what to do, and what not to do. His farm is surrounded by sheep, cattle, pigs, roosters, dogs, birds, and horses. He uses the animals to keep their lawns manicured and get an endless supply of manure. You can't get more simple and self sufficient than that. Learn more. Check out the links below and share with others!

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

Image above taken from http://www.earthhaven.ca/

https://www.biodynamics.com/what-is-biodynamics
https://www.organicconsumers.org/categories/biodynamics
http://lexiconofsustainability.com/biodynamics/
http://www.quantumagriculture.com/node/257
http://www.windows2universe.org/sun/effect_on_earth.html
http://www.biodynamics.in/Rhythm.htm
http://www.agroliving.com/2014/04/29/biodynamic-cycles-the-in-and-out-breath-of-the-planet-earth/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/eshachhabra/2016/02/24/why-one-farm-startup-is-filming-their-biodynamic-story-for-oprahs-own/#5c339a327ddc
https://biomimicry.org/what-is-biomimicry/#.VvLZuWQrJFQ Pin It

Avocado and Cabbage Soup

Turmeric is one of the best spices to have for multiple health benefits. It is commonly used in India as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions such as flatulence, jaundice, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. It's anti-oxidant properties has been shown to inhibit growth of colon 'cancer' cells and the phytonutrients helps prevent prostate 'cancer'. Its properties aids in digestion and can ease the pain of osteoarthritis. The antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties strengthens your immune system - perfect for the winter season (colds and flu season). Aside from all the health benefits it provides, Turmeric can be used in a variety of dishes such as curry and it tastes great! I decided to make a soup out of some ingredients I had lying around that I wanted to use up before heading out for my grocery shopping. I put together an avocado, some cabbage (1 cup shredded) that I fried with garlic in coconut oil. I then created a broth by adding 1 1/2 cups of water to fried cabbage. I blended it all together with a small piece of cucumber I had left, seasoned it and topped it off with some healthy turmeric powder! Very tasty and wholesome soup - give it a try!

information sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=78
http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-turmeric
http://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-turmeric/

http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/1821027/4b2736dd64/TEST/TEST/

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Sesame Seed Treats - Raw Food Dessert

Sesame seeds provide nutrients that include copper, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium, fiber and magnesium! Magnesium supports vascular and respiratory health. It lowers blood pressure and prevents migraines. Calcium and zinc are good for bone health which prevents osteoporosis. There are many health benefits to eating sesame seeds and it makes great raw food desserts! I only used organic pre-soaked sesame seeds and organic dried dates for this recipe and it tastes great! More benefits from eating sesame seeds include healthy skin, cardiovascular health, DNA damage from radiation, healthy digestion and they also help reduce pain and swelling. Try this simple recipe out and gain health benefits!

Information sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=84
http://naturalsociety.com/12-health-benefits-of-sesame-seeds-sesame-oil/

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Fruits Rich in Calcium

Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin (one of the hormones made by the thyroid gland) have key roles in regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones.

Calcium is the only mineral in the body that has a group of glands entirely responsible for controlling it within our blood, and the parathyroid glands do this continuously. A hormone called calcitonin is secreted by the thyroid gland and works in conjunction with parathyroid hormone, or PTH. Parathyroid Hormone takes from the bones to top up the level in the blood stream. When the level is adequate, it stops making the hormone, but when there is calcium deficiency, it will start to take from your bones. Calcitonin works to reduce the amount of calcium your body takes from its own bones.
For healing bones or good bone health in general, it is important to include foods high in calcium (fruits being the most powerful) and I do not recommend milk or dairy. 10 fruits rich in calcium include oranges, dried figs, rhubarb and dates. Read more.
Sources:
http://www.well-women.com/parathyroid.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/504174-thyroid-calcium-deficiency/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parathyroid_gland

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Coconut Cream Of Broccoli

Happy World Vegetarian Day! According to wikipedia, a day established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 to bring awareness to the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. Awesome. For this day, I made some Coconut Cream of Broccoli to celebrate my vegetarian lifestyle.
Broccoli is great for the kidneys and provides anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxification benefits and is ideal for vitamin D deficiency. When vitamin D is needed to offset deficiency, vitamin K and vitamin A help keep our vitamin D metabolism in balance. Broccoli has an unusually strong combination of both vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and vitamin K, so broccoli is an ideal food to include in one's diet. Soups are great for colder seasons so why not incorporate some steamed broccoli into a coconut cream broth, along with some spinach and carrots....mmmmmm yummy. Recipe coming soon.

Source:
http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/5-health-benefits-of-broccoli/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=9 Pin It

Simple Avocado Soup

The wide range of nutrients found in avocados have been associated with cardiovascular benefits which consists of avocado fats. These fats contain large amounts of the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, as well as the unusual phytosterols, including beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. For summer time I like to make cold soups like Gazpacho and Avocado and Cucumber. I decided to try an Avocado Soup with a broth base instead of a cucumber and it's very tasty and simple to make. This soup is served at room temperature or slightly warm but not hot enough to kill the enzymes from the avocados or other raw ingredients. Check out my simple recipe below.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=5

Above: photos from today's weather (clear skies followed by rain, with a little hail in the morning...)

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Rooibos Tea and Date Ice Cream - Revisited

Dates contain nutrients such as fiber and potassium and are rich in vitamins A1, B1, B2, B3 and B5! Rooibos tea is caffeine-free and rich with minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, copper, fluoride, manganese, zinc and magnesium and antioxidants! For healthy dairy free ice cream, try out my recipe that includes Rooibos tea and dates. This recipe does not require an ice cream maker to create. Enjoy!

Click here for recipe.

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Cucumber Noodles With Cabbage And Pesto

Bell Peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C, containing twice the amount than what is found in an average orange. They contain antioxidants such as Vitamin E which protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. Bell peppers make a refreshing addition to your meals. I decided to make a light pesto sauce using yellow bell peppers and added them to some fresh cucumber noodles. I also threw in some cabbage to help bulk it up! Cabbage is great for the kidneys which will aid in your overall health. Try out my simple recipe below. Enjoy!
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=50&tname=foodspice
http://www.yourkidneys.com/kidney-education/Diet-and-nutrition/15-super-foods-for-kidney-health/2924

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Leafy Greens With Avocado

Broccoli is great for the kidneys and provides anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and detoxification benefits. It contains calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and more! It is rich in vitamin C and repairs skin damage. Since our skin is known as the third kidney, having skin issues such as dark circles under our eyes and pimples, is a clear sign that we are having problems filtering our kidneys and it would be wise to detox and eat fruits and vegetables that can benefit them. Such foods include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, bell peppers, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. Enjoy!
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=9
http://www.yourkidneys.com/kidney-education/Diet-and-nutrition/15-super-foods-for-kidney-health/2924
http://healthimpactnews.com/2013/5-health-benefits-of-broccoli/
http://www.kidneyservicechina.com/diet/1469.html

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Green Tea Latté With Sprouted Almond Milk

I love lattés! Once I found out about the dangers of cow's milk, I switched to homemade almond milk or coconut milk for my drinks. Processed almond milk that is sold in stores is not healthy due to the fact that they do not sprout their almonds before processing. All nuts must be pre-soaked in order to activate the nutrients and release the enzymes. Nuts that have not been pre-soaked contain enzyme inhibitors that are toxic to our bodies! Check out my simple recipe for a Green Tea Latté With Sprouted Almond Milk below! Enjoy good health!

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Cucumber Noodles with Pesto

Cucumbers are fruit vegetables that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. They are 95 percent water so they help hydrate the body, as well as aid in digestion and in getting rid of toxins! They also contain Vitamins B, C and K. If you love zucchini noodles as an alternative to pasta, you should give cucumber noodles a try. They go great with pesto and tomato sauces. Top them off with some lemon, mushrooms and avocados and it makes for a wholesome meal. Be sure to include the skin because it contains a high source of vitamin C. Learn more about the health benefits of cucumbers in the links below. Enjoy!
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=42
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/cucumber.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/036769_cucumbers_health_benefits_rehydration.html

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Zucchini Spaghetti With Veggie "Meatballs" (rice)

I've been slowly implementing more cooked foods into my diet to test things out. I definitely feel the difference in digestion time. Raw is best! But if you want to keep cooked foods in your diet, there are still healthy ways to do it. When cooking rice, use organic brown rice that has been pre-soaked for at least 8 hours (overnight). When frying foods, always use coconut oil and cook at lower heat temperature. Although coconut oil can stand high temperatures, it's a matter of not cooking every bit of nutrition out of the food. Also, when making tomato sauces, keep it raw because tomatoes become acidic when cooked and will have no nutritional value for you. I came up with another simple recipe for veggie 'meatballs' using rice as the main component. I topped it off with Homemade tomato sauce. I'll be posting the recipe soon... Click Here for an older recipe of veggie meatballs made with eggplant and lentils.

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Bean Soup (Sopa De Frijoles) with Faux Sour Cream

Sunflower seeds are high in Vitamin E - a potent antioxidant. It offers protection against damage to the fats that line the outside of every cell by traveling throughout the body neutralizing free radicals. Why bother with dairy when there are plenty of healthy alternatives, such as faux sour cream made with organic pre-soaked sunflower seeds! It's a simple recipe that goes great with Bean Soup and Avocados, Bean Salads, Yam Gnocchi and more! Nuts, seeds and coconuts are amazing alternatives for those of us who grew up on dairy not knowing about the harmful effects. Some of our favorite foods are hard to give up and now we don't have to. I'll be posting more recipes with faux dairy ingredients so stay tuned.
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=57

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Mushroom, Cabbage and Red Lentils - Meal of the day

Our bodies have a 'clock' in which each organ is most active, having high and low energy levels. From 7-9 am, our body focuses on the stomach. It is important to have our biggest meal of the day by this time. I would recommend fruits (such as freshly squeezed orange juice) when you first wake up and then make sure that by 9am (no later than 11am if necessary), you've had your big meal of the day. It's not very often that I have cooked meals, especially with legumes, but I decided to give it a try after some time. The main ingredient for this meal is raw green cabbage (effective for cleaning the kidneys - purple is best). I prepared this delicious and simple meal using only 1/4 cup or so of red lentils (per person). Lentils are good for your heart due to the amount of fiber, folate and magnesium it supplies. Check out the recipe and give it a try for your big meal of the day!
http://www.foreverconscious.com/traditional-chinese-organ-body-clock
http://guardianlv.com/2013/07/times-of-day-influences-digestion-heart-health-and-more/
http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-folate-vitamin-B9.php
http://www.byronbaydetoxretreats.com.au/natural-rhythm-meridianorgan-clock/

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'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated'

Quote by Mahatma Gandhi
"Animals have always played an important role in agriculture. Not only do they provide us with food and fiber, but they also help to recycle nutrients and add to soil fertility. Over recent decades, however, the farming of animals has become increasingly separated from its natural existence on the land." Read More...
More on helping farm animals: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/
 

Image taken from http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/

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Kale For Christmas

Kale chips are a great snack for the Christmas holidays! Kale alkalizes the body and contains many health benefits, including antioxidant nutrients. It is high in vitamin K and contains anti-inflammatory benefits. Research shows the omega-3s in kale are an important part of these benefits, by providing over 350 milligrams of the most basic omega-3 fatty acids (100 calorie intake). I use a dehydrator to make this snack so they are served raw with enzymes. Eating raw (living) food assists in digestion, and helps the body to focus on rebuilding new and healthy cells through the use of the metabolic enzymes. Kale is also great for detoxifying the body. Enjoy!

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Homemade CornChips With 'Sour Cream' (Sunflower seeds)

Over the summer, we bought some organic corn and made dehydrated corn chips with homemade 'sour cream'. We don't have dairy in our diet so we love to discover alternatives to our favorite dairy foods, such as sour cream. The recipe uses sunflower seeds as the key ingredient for the cream. We only eat certified organic food - both our sunflower seeds and corn were organic. We also made sure to pre-soak the seeds! Buying organic corn is a healthier option because Certified Organic farmers are not allowed to plant GMO seed. You can find out more information at the Non GMO Project website. Check out the simple recipe below - enjoy!

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Creamy Pumpkin Pie (50% raw and dairy-free)

Winter squashes are vegetables proven to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, as well as anti-diabetic and insulin-regulating properties. They can be prepared cooked, raw, sweet or savory. There are a variety of winter squashes to choose from, such as sweet dumplings and pumpkins. In celebration of Autumn, we decided to make a homemade organic pumpkin pie! Although we like to eat raw, we decided to bake our pumpkin in order to get a smoother texture, but our crust and some of our pie filling is raw! Growing and eating organic fruits and vegetables is important for good health. You can learn to grow your very own organic winter squashes by clicking here.

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Picking Apples In September

Back in September, we drove up to Avalon Orchards for some organic apple picking! We love the opportunity to pick our own organic fruits. Freshly picked (raw and ripe) fruits contain energy that can heal the human body. Organic apples have proven to decrease oxidation of cell membrane fats. This is important in our cardiovascular system since oxidation of fat in the membranes of cells, is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular problems. Avalon Orchards is a Certified Organic Apple orchard located in Innisfil, Ontario. Avalon Orchards apples and apple cider is available at Trinity Bellwoods Farmer's market on Tuesdays.

Below: photos from the orchard- enjoy!

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