Organic Dill Pickles
Fruit Trifle
This is not your ordinary trifle with custard, sponge, jam, and a splash of alcohol. Call me crazy, but that’s exactly what’s kept me from eating it for years. Many of you out there downright refuse to do the same and hey, that’s absolutely cool in the gang. So I don’t seem like a gastronomic alien, custard just isn’t my thing (o.k. it’s official, I AM and alien). This recipe’s for my alien brothers and sisters out there who have a sweet tooth, crave creamy yummy-ness like the next person, but don’t want the extra baggage of carbs and fat. Zingy organic raspberry puree teams up with soft, vanilla-scented cashew cream, mouthwatering fresh fruit, and you’ve got yourself breakfast or dessert. Sorry, but ya can’t say that about an ordinary trifle. Well you can, but you might need to spend a little time on the treadmill. Fruit Trifle 4 cups your choice of fresh fruit: blueberries, blackberries, peaches, or nectarines 1 cup fresh raspberries Raspberry Puree 3 cups fresh Raspberries 3 soft medjool dates Vegan Cream 4 cups raw cashews (soaked in filtered water for an hour. save the soak water. juice of half lemon 1 tsp vanilla seeds from [...]
Read MoreTropical Fruit Salad with Macadamia Nut Cream
Oh man, this fruit salad is sooo good! One of the bones I have to pick with fruit salad for breakfast is that it’s so light that I get hungry an hour or so after eating it. Of course I could add waffles or pancakes to my fresh fruit, but apart from oatmeal, I walk away feeling too full and bloated (oh the horror). How can one eat lightly, yet stay full enough so you’re not having to snack every hour? This of course is why you have come to my site, to find out the answers to the world’s most pressing issues. Breathe a sigh of relief because I’ve got ’lil trick up my sleeve for ya (hoots, hollers, and whoo hoos abound). Instead of throwing on some chopped nuts, why not try a smooth nutty cream made with coconut water, sweetened with fruit juice and agave syrup? I’m telling ya, it’s going to knock your socks off (there were a few moans and groans of ecstasy over here today after shooting the salad for the blog). Another bonus, the kids are going to love it too. Oh, and it’s takes about 5-10 minutes to make. High five. Tropical [...]
Read MoreTofu Rancheros
My polished version of Tofu Rancheros is for your viewing pleasure, but by all means give yourself a love hug of a portion when enjoying this meal at home. Every single ingredient will make your soul sing, so come on, live a little! Mexican food is synonymous with comfort, and the key to it’s popularity. There’s absolutely no pomp and circumstance when it comes to eating chips and salsa, tacos, burritos, or enchiladas. Speaking of enchiladas, have a listen to Keb Mo’s fab ” The Whole Enchilada.” What a heartwarming track! I tell you what, there’s nothing more beautiful than the simplicity of a man strumming a guitar with a voice that oozes the atmosphere of a 1940′s rusty Ford pick up. Back to the rustic simplicity of food! So your Ranchero Sauce is simmerin‘, the Tofu Scramble is scramblin‘, you whack the black beans, olive oil and pinch of salt in a pan, giving it all a good mash. All you have to do next is toast the tortillas on the stove by flipping them back and forth until they get those wonderful charcoal marks (the scent from toasting them is amazing too) seen above. Try this recipe for breakfast [...]
Read MoreBombastic Oatmeal
With so many breakfast options these days, we tend forget about the satisfying simplicity of oatmeal. In case you’re wondering, I’m not talking about quick oats, but the old fashioned kind, with vital nutrients that kick start your day, and sustain you until lunch. Also, if you’re looking to cut the fat out of you’re diet, this satisfying vegan recipe (dairy free) is a winner. Life is moving so fast these days that meal time, once a sacred part of the day, has now become a rush. I say let’s put an end to the time tyranny and give ourselves a few minutes for good old nutrition….and digestion. Take the time to smell the roses, and enjoy a healthy breakfast with fresh and delicious ingredients. In the next few weeks, I’m going to back to the basics, debunking the myth that you have to spend hundreds of dollars on health food gadgetry to glow from within. The foundation of a healthy diet should be organic fruits and vegetables, followed by organic bread, rice, pasta, and milk (our family uses organic soy, almond, and cow’s milk). If you’re worried about the expense of organic products, compare it to the price of [...]
Read MoreEnglish Breakfast, Veggie Style
Happy New Year everyone! I aimed to get this recipe out to you all yesterday, but after cooking and shooting the photo, I was swept into New Year’s Eve party preparations: Veggie and Turkey pot pies for dinner, and the usual snacky bits for the party. Needless to say, I was rushed off my feet. Our New Years Eve has become an unofficial slumber party. The parents get to hang out, while the kids dance and play together, then off to bed, adults quietly hopeful for an extra hour of sleep. We woke up at different times today, feeling refreshed rather than wobbly, and enjoyed a gloriously warm and sunny morning. My English Breakfast is remarkably easy to make as most of the hard work is already been done for you. Apart from the scrambled tofu (or eggs if you prefer) and sauteed kale, everything else needs just a bit of warming. If you’ve managed to give yourself a hangover (no judgement here. All good in tha ‘hood), this meal requires very little effort and the payback is huge, both nutritionally and taste wise. Of course you can drive to a diner, but there’s something gratifying about cooking with organic ingredients. You’re [...]
Read MoreGlorious Gluten Free Pancakes
Happy Mother’s Day Ladies! I am off to celebrate with the boys, so here’s a ‘lil ditty I that’s inspired by our trip to the annual Venice Beach Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast. We now live and love in Laurel Canyon, but I will forever be a Venice Girl. Here are a few photos from breakfast at the firehouse. Fireman Jake to the rescue The roof is on fiya! Oliver and Jake diggin’ in. Fun at the Firehouse Glorious Gluten Free Pancakes Dry ingredients 1 cup brown rice flour ( I use Red Mill brand for all of the flours, baking powder, and baking soda) 3 tbl tapioca flour 2 tbl potato flour 1/2 tsp xantham gum 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp sea salt Wet ingredients 2 medium free range eggs 1 1/2 cups filtered water 3 tbl buttermilk (optional) 3 tbl canola oil 1 tabl agave nectar Optional extras for pancake batter thinly sliced banana fresh blueberries sliced strawberries for a garnish 1. Combine all of the dry ingredients together in the order shown. Next, stir in the wet ingredients in the same order. When all of the ingredients are combined, give the mix a [...]
Read MoreRise and Shine Cereal
Apart from my son waking me up in the mornings by jumping up and down on the bed around 7:00 am, it takes some effort to slip out of my “Love Pink” pjs and face the day. I love sleep. No, I lurve sleep. My husband and I enjoy sleeping so much, that we take turns getting up first in the mornings, just to give each other “a little lie in.” Shoot, that’s love right there folks. If I have put off any future baby making plans for a few years, I sincerely apologize. It is with this deep knowledge self that I created some yummy, exciting options to lure me out of the boudoir. A tasty breakfast of champions, yes. Sportsman’s faces on boxes of sugar-laden cereals, no. Feeling is believing if I do say so. As well as being delicious, Rise and Shine cereal is pure energy: Sprouted buckwheat is gluten free, full of b vitamins, phosphorus, magnesium, rich in protein, and amino acids. It may seem a bit fiddly, but soaking makes nuts more digestible and increases the absorption of vitamins to the body. Plonk them in a bowl with some filtered water before bed and it’s ready [...]
Read MoreVeggie Scramble
How I wish I could find this scramble on every Diner menu. Veggie Tofu Scramble is the alternative “All Day Breakfast.” It’s light, and surprisingly filling. Turmeric gives the dish it’s golden color, and has a warming, peppery flavor. The tofu and veggies paired with the crunch of seeded multigrain toast is addictive. Toss any thoughts of guilt out the window though: Every bit of this meal is good for you. High in protein, but low in saturated fats, scrambled tofu is perfect for making the switch to a low fat diet. Veggie Scramble 1 block extra firm tofu, drained 2 tablespoons sesame or vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric 1/4 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced thumb size piece of ginger, peeled and chopped 3 broccoli florets, sliced in half half stalk of celery, chopped 1 medium sized carrot, sliced into thin diagonals 1 zucchini, cut into half moon shapes 2 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water for 5 minutes (save the soaking water) shoyu soy sauce to season 1. Using a large frying pan, saute the onions, garlic, and ginger on medium heat until soft. Stir in the turmeric and heat for 2 minutes to wake up [...]
Read MoreHappy Trails Mix
You can feel the excitement of Summer the air: Happier faces walking along the beach, extra bounce to the exchange of a smiley “Good Morning” while hiking in the mountains, uniformed bands of cyclists giving more way to their brothers and sisters as they buzz along the bike path, and swimming in the ocean is an energizing bath of joy that you share with all of your neighbors. It’s also that time of year when we pack a few things in our rucksack to save time, money, and enjoy healthier options. As you relax and sun yourself on the beach, the last thing you want to do is race over the blazing hot sand for an unappealing and expensive slice of greasy pizza. I recycle my old plastic containers and jars to use for salads, dressings, and sandwiches. If I pick up some tortilla chips from the market, I know I’m not breaking the bank. After all, we are living in a recession, and every penny counts. I also bring my own stainless steel bottles of filtered water. Probably a good thing after reading in the New York Times yesterday that markets are now starting to ban some types of [...]
Read MoreEnergizing Brazilian Breakfast Smoothie with Acai
I am sitting here with an elephant-sized to do list. One slight problem: My two and a half year old son Jake does not seem to understand why paying bills, writing, taking and editing photos, cleaning the house, and making his breakfast takes precedence over reading a skyscraper high pile of books he just built. Should I read two books, then turn on Thomas The Tank Engine or Curious George and get on with the list? He is one smart cookie, and two books just won’t do. Another point, I start to cringe with guilt as I watch him staring into boob tube for more than 15 minute intervals. So the plan today while my freelancing husband is working, is to go back and fourth between entertaining Jake and chipping away at the daily business. Then a major push when he takes has his nap. Motherhood never looked more glamourous, non? On days like these, I need a quick, easy, and nutritious breakfast. Something that gives me the rocket fuel to get through the first few hours of the day. Brazilian Breakfast is like having toast, cereal, and oatmeal all in one. Where’s the caffeine you ask? Once you get over the [...]
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