so good!

just in from a challenging yoga class with plenty of standing splits and lots of heat but nicely finished with viparita karani as savasana.  in need of a sweet refreshing treat..i whipped up what i have to say is a pretty exquisite smoothie:

papaya
raspberries
banana
mango
sesame seeds
flax seeds
brown rice protein
maca

equalling delicious nutritiousness.

people ask me all the time to give them a recipe for smoothies and i consider that a bit oxymoronical. i have tried unsuccessfully to follow smoothie recipes i have found on the net,  generally they are too watery for me or worse yet; soupy--not enough substance. preferences are quite relative. "what's good for the goose ain't always good for the gander". we all like different textures; what's tolerable for one may not be for another. so trial and error is key. can't beat experiential knowledge with a stick. one hint: going light on the flax makes for a smoother glide from your chalice to your gastric regions. bottoms up!

quick fix

today's smoothie:

1/2 c mung bean sprouts
 
1/4 aloe vera frond de-thorned

2 frozen bananas

1 c frozen raspberries

1/2 lemon with rind
 
2 1/2 c water

blended very well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Heat

it's a bit nippy here this morning and i am struggling to get out of the bed. Choosing So, instead of making a big breakfast as I am prone to do on the weekends when time is much more on my side, i plan to stick with my fruit 'til noon regimen. As I lie here browsing the net, looking at foodie and fashion blogs I spotted a few recipes that have me intrigued, much more appealing is the fact that all the ingredients required are on hand. Yaay! I can stay in a bit longer and enjoy the quiet of this lazy morning with my cat, Creea, equally lazy, sprawled out next to me. But the recipe below is inviting enough to get me into the kitchen and begin my day..naturally detoxing:

Mango-Coconut Water Smoothie

2 cups ripe mango chunks (from 1 to 2 mangoes)
2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cups unsweetened coconut water
Pinch of cayenne powder

Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth.

Serves 2. Per serving: 159 calories; 1 g saturated fat; 0 g unsaturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 39 g carbs; 256 mg sodium; 3 g protein; 6 g fiber.

Compliments of Whole Living

...something to note about the cayenne added here is the heat it will bring to the body. medicinally, it is a stimulant and will aid in revving up the circulatory system thereby speeding up the delivery of fresh blood, nutrients and oxygen to the heart and organism. the capillaries open and revitalized blood rushes in freeing the organism of poor circulation, so it is normative to notice a surge of warmth when using this spice. be mindful that is also anti-parasitic and will restore beneficial bacteria to the colon. all very welcome today as the sun takes its sweet time and the winds continue to blow....

Farm Tables

I just love this table. It's downright dreamy. I have an absolute affinity for tables like these right now. I would love to cook, entertain and dream up new recipes in this kitchen. I could roll out a homemade pie crust on that surface, knead bread and churn out samosas on that broad and sturdy surface...and if flour fell over the sides...well, it wouldn't be that noticeable with the white washed wooden planks underfoot. See more of this home here.

Fruit 'Till Noon

Once upon a time during or just before I began my 2 1/2 year stint as a raw foodist, an associate, who was a more seasoned raw food eater, mentioned eating only fruit until noon. "Why?" was of course my immediate response, I am the queen of "why's?". He later told me he heard of this recommendation in a book called "Fit for Life" written by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond in the eighties. Since then, at a library book sale or a jaunt to the thrift I've acquired said book. There it sits with countless other cook and un-cook (aka raw) books on my shelf. I've leafed through it a bit especially while it was new to me, but I can't say I ever got to the "Fruit Till Noon" chapter, if there is one. Perhaps I will look for it this evening and learn the benefits extolled for such virtue.
I believe the why that was elicited from that conversation with Brian was that your body was resetting after a fast and it was easier to digest those items than others. I thought it sounded good and may have even tried it for awhile, not really sure. I also recall him saying it was a good way to get started with a raw diet if you were considering it, as I was back then...and oddly I am finding myself in the same place again, craving raw foods and more of them. I have been pulling out my raw food cook books and even ordered one recently doing some research on juicing, juicers, hot yoga and assorted other cleansing techniques. It's feeling like it's about that time...perhaps the groundhog was right. Spring cleaning is afoot.  

 But as of now, now that I have properly distributed the credit for my current venture, I am having fruit and vegetable smoothies until noon rather than my grain laden, nuts and dried fruit speckled cereals. Sometimes farm-fresh eggs make an appearance for breakfast as does locally sourced organic greek yogurt. But not usually. Most breakfasts are eaten on the go, in my car to be exact. So the smoothie works for me in more ways than one. Convenience, although it doesn't trump, it certainly figures into the equation highly. I thought it would be fun to document the combinations I create here...kinda bummed I missed several days but here's what I had today anyway:

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 1/3 c  frozen mango chunks
1 frozen banana
1 heaping handful of fresh celery
2 2 inch slices of fresh aloe leaf with the skin
Water added until the consistency was slurpable...

The colors always surprise. Today's elixir was deep purple. Sans the haze, seriously, my outlook has been extremely alert and focused. For instance, I am back to this long forsaken blog due to being inundated with wellness coaching duties, making appearances at health fairs throughout the city and attending classes at Georgia State in between all of that. Squeezing some time in during my lunch break to document the deliciousness, which feels very necessary; certainly says something for my productivity levels today. I feel terrific and an added candid tidbit is that my digestion is oh so smooth. Not that I normally experience any issues, on the contrary, but I noticed how quickly after slurping I was obliged to clear. I like to see the fiber doing it's job. Well, not literally but you get my drift.

I've missed blogging and letting you know what I am up to. I've got more to tell...but alas duty calls!

Share your favorite smoothies with me in the comment section and stay connected to see what I make next. Ciao!

The Business of Food

Whoa! It has been a long time since I have posted..like really long. I must admit wellness coaching has kept me extremely busy.  I just completed a coaching session with one of my clients who shared that he had just watched a film that was recommended by one of his co-workers.  I gushed about how fabulous I thought it was that he had seen the film as it is one of my favorites and thought perhaps I had shared it with him...but in fact I was incorrect.  He gushed even more, when I asked what his take-away's were, telling me how he only wanted "to shop Trader Joe's and Whole Foods from now on" and how he was really concerned about the lack of governance over our food supply mentioning genetic modification and abnormally rapid rates of chicken growth as his foremost beefs (ha, had to throw that in there).  He said in closing he felt everyone should see the film and I second his emotion and want to share this with you as the holidays near and opportunities for sitting and entertaining arise.  This is a perfect conversation starter and highly enlightening.  Check it out and let me know your  take-away's.

P.S.
I 'd also like to know of any movies you recommend that are equally as edutaining..perhaps of the same ilk..or not.

butterflies and pies

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.  ~ Maya Angelou I saw this quote this morning and found myself nodding in agreement. Contemplating the many changes I have been through to arrive at this very moment; admittedly I have to say, I am pretty happy and ubergrateful to be right where I am. This week has been full of what could have been awfully brutal moments of self-disclosure and up close and personal self-inquiry. Maturity is a gift I would not trade for anything-nor laughter... (many things come to mind to challenge that statement that seem to be fractionally important as aging makes certain of their impermanence) but I digress...still I choose this moment. This slice of eternity is fraught with a clarity that every year brings into crystalline focus. And laughter continues to be a wonderful stand-in for a plethora of emotions. I've noticed I laugh a lot lately. Hoping you will be reminded of this quote when you see butterflies in the coming days and perhaps as you brave the pollen-a-plenty outdoors this weekend. I am headed to the Dogwood Festival this weekend and seeing a film this evening. Blessed be the little wet rain drops going before us, clearing the air and offering some relief. And thank the good folks who created neti pots, they totally get my vote!  Check the rad links I happened upon this week too:  Something sublime occurs when artists collaborate.  I have been on the hunt for giraffe inspired photos for my boudoir, this one is pretty perfect! But I chose this one.  I am completing Women Food and God this weekend, next is Jonathan Safran Foer's book. I hear reading it was pivotal for Natalie Portman, a vegan and in tune with her body, began incorporating dairy again during her pregnancy. Ashe'..listening to your body trumps all. As I recall, Patty Cake was never quite as entertaining as this version. When you need to put your foot down.  Lemon cream dream; raw desserts always inspire me. Not sure about the cocoa butter though? Toot a loo!