Green Juice - YUM!

Ok, I know it sounds weird, but I love green juice.  Its fresh and sweet, and gives me lots of nutrients.  I just feel GOOD when I have green juice handy.  When I make it, I make a pitcher of it.  Sometimes I just drink a glass a day, sometimes a quart.  A nice big lidded jar works well because sometimes you want to shake before drinking.  It lasts for about 5 days in the refrigerator.  Its also really good in smoothies with a banana, some honey, and ice.  Maybe a few frozen strawberries for added flavor.

Here's what you do:

Get a good juicer.  Don't buy a cheap one.  It will break.
Wash fruit and veggies, and cut into pieces that will fit into machine.
Push it through!  It's amazing how fast it works.
Depending on how much you are doing, you may need to clean out the internal mesh filter half way through.

Use more watery veg (cucumber, celery) than other veggies.

The more fruit you have, the sweeter it will be.

RECIPE:

Yeah ... anything green. Direct quote from Miss Katy.  Try the asian vegetable aisle - there is some cool stuff.

Some suggestions (put GREEN in front of everything on this list):

Apples
Pears
Grapes
Pineapple (ok, its not green, but close enough)

Cucumber
Celery
Romaine lettuce
Parsley (really good for you)
Kale
Escarole
Spinach
Sprouts - any kind (also really good for you)
Zucchini
Collard or Mustard greens

Herbs like basil, cilantro, or mint - but they can be overpowering


The difference between juicing and blending:  Juicing takes out the fiber.  Feel free to throw all of this in a really good blender (like a VitaMix), but it was a little bit too thick for me to drink.

DISCLAIMER: Katy Lurtz of Royal Oak, MI taught me everything I know about juicing

Hint of Spring

Yesterday was 66 degrees.  I felt better than I have in months.  Everyone was outside.  Going for walks, visiting in front of houses, drinking coffee on outside tables.

It's amazing what a little warmth and a little sunshine can do for the spirit ... Im ready for spring!

And the winner is ....

KALE!! 

Cucumbers coming in a close second (you can see it coming up)

These little buggers are growing so fast!  It's exciting to see these growing!

I'll post more pictures soon ...


Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Seed Starting 2012

I couldn't help it.  With the cold weather and gray skies.  I started dreaming about flowers and fresh herbs.  I started throwing things in the composter again (yes, I am aware that it is only going to freeze for now).

And I set up my seed station in the basement, and started a row of seeds.  I didn't have seeds for everything because not even the stores have everything in yet.  I know it's early, but I needed something.  I needed to grow something.  I needed to see new life.  The moment when those first little seedlings sprout.  It's so exciting!

(and yes, that is a glass of wine you see in the bottom left corner)

Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Addicted to juicing

Yep.  I said it.  Im addicted to juicing.  Green juice rocks.  And today's pitcher includes carrot apple ginger juice.  Sooooo yummy.

Just a note - I encourage comments.  Hello?  Is anyone out there?

Veggie Week is OVER!

Veggie (2) Week is over.  What have a learned?  I've learned that chicken broth is in a lot of things.  But that brought up an interesting question.  How far should it be taken?  Is it fair to go to someone's house and they serve you stuffing, not realizing that the seasonings include a trace amount of chicken flavoring?

I have learned that there is not many options at restaurants for vegetarian options, but that a lot of dishes can probably made without the meat.  Italian and middle eastern are two culinary styles that lend well to vegetarianism.

I have also learned that although I was able to go 2 weeks without meat without much difficulty, it was only because I had a plethora of food on hand.  What's not to like about spinach artichoke ravioli with fresh sauteed tomatoes and basil?  Or fettucini primavera alfredo?  So basically, if I have meat on hand, that's what Im going to eat.  If I have veggies and pasta on hand, that's what I'm going to eat.

I will tell you that I really craved sushi.  I don't think I see the necessity in not eating fish as long as we are responsible about it.  Wild caught salmon, organic and free-range.  I have a pet psychic (it's ok if you don't believe me - but she's awesome) - I once had a few fish because she said Ash needed something to look after while I was gone to work all day.  I asked her what the fish were saying.  She said fish don't talk.  Their brains are not big enough to have thoughts.  They only have enough instincts to eat and live.  So I don't feel bad eating fish at all.

I don't eat much red meat, but when I do it is organic and from companies that have proven humane treatment.  I also buy organic and free-range chicken.  Those chickens live good lives, and I honor them.  And to this day Im not sure if we ate my pet chicken, Mary Ann (RIP) ... she may have been too skinny to have any meat.

Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Veg Week - Day 9 - & juicing

I had the flu.  The pukey flu.  The lay on the couch, not enough energy to read, need a nap after walking to the bathroom, kind of flu.  Im all better now, but my appetite hasn't come back.  I mean, I have not been hungry in 4 days.  My Mom knows this is unheard of.  I always eat.  Therefore, I have only eaten a bite or two in the last 2 days (first 2 days - forget it).

So Im still counting these 4 days in veggie week, even though technically, I haven't really eaten anything.


I also launched my business, Simply Breathe Concierge.  I've had a lot of responses, and a lot of people who want to help me out.  It's amazing!  I'm really excited to get started.  www.simplybreathemi.com

We had our bowling fundraiser.  It was a huge success, and it took soooo much energy out of me.  I felt like shit when I got there because I had to actually shower, get dressed, and drive somewhere.  I rested, and I had a glass of Katy's green juice (see below), and felt GREAT!  I was sent out to sell prize tickets and 50/50 tickets.  I used my natural-born salesman gene.  I kicked ass.  Then I had to rest again.  I was lucky enough to sleep a bunch last night, then I realized that I needed more of that juice!

On to juicing ... I realized I had an old second-hand juicer in the basement, and I asked Katy how to make green juice.  Celery, cucumber, spinach, parsley, lemon.  And she has no fructose in her diet right now, but I can add a green apple.  I also had a yellow pepper going soft, so I added a 1/4 of that.  I went off to the grocery store, and made my first official jar of green juice!  Im hoping it will really give me that extra kick of health and energy.  Its really not that bad if you don't drink it thinking its going to taste like a pop.


I need to keep a lot more veggies on hand!





I'll keep you updated through these last few days of veggie week.  I actually have a lot of food left from my original shopping, so although I am allowed to have meat on Saturday, I have a lot of non-meat meals left, so if I do have meat its probably going to be very little.

Im thinking of making fish cakes.

Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Veg Week - Day 4

So far so good!  I have several meals planned, and food available.  I don't have any prepared meat in the house, so I have found myself realizing that I am FORGETTING that I haven't eaten meat.  As long as there is good food - I haven't noticed.

I did go to a restaurant for the first time and tried to see it from that angle.  Luckily I wasn't super hungry so I wasn't looking at entrees.  There weren't really a lot of non-meat options.  But because I was just getting a snack, I found several options.  I was deciding between nachos - it had meat on it, but also black beans, so taking the meat off wouldn't be that big of a deal.  Or cheese quesadillas, or french onion soup.  I settled on the soup, and it more than filled me up.

I also just bought a VitaMix (thanks mom) - its like the granddaddy, top dog, head honcho, queen bee, big boss of blenders.  You can throw everything in there - skins, seeds - and it will pulverize.  So when it comes in I can use up all of those extra veggies that are going bad because I was a little bit overzealous at the grocery store.

mmm nachos.

Veg Week - Day 1

It's official - Veggie week has started.  So far so good.  Kashi cereal for breakfast.  Pasta primavera alfredo for lunch.  Guacamole for my midnight snack.  Lots of water.  This really isn't so tough.

2 weeks of only veggies.  But I can have sugar, and dairy, and cheese, and all of the other things hard-core cleanse people aren't allowed to have.  My friend Katy is having ONLY JUICE for a week!  That's just crazy.

Sorry, Sony, I reserve the right to eat meat for Sea's birthday dinner.  It's just not fair to make me miserable. : )

I. Heart. Guacamole.

So I was buying this packet of powder that was a guacamole mix - just add 2 avocados.  Um ok.  Isn't that what guacamole consists of anyway?  But it was reallllyyyy good.  But recently I read the ingredients - and I can't pronounce all of them.  So now I am making my own, and it is just as good!

2 avocados - scooped out (use a spoon), chopped, throw in a bowl, use a fork to mash so its still chunky.
1/2 lime, juiced - squeeze in
1/4 onion, chopped - optional.  I hate raw onion so I don't use it
1 small clove of garlic, chopped - or just use a small grater and grate it in
fresh cilantro, chopped small - use as much as you like to taste
fresh ground pepper
salt, fresh ground is best, and lots of it!  : )
1 roma tomato (or regular tomato but squeeze to get rid of most seeds), chopped - mix in


Use this yummy concoction with tortilla chips, veggie sticks, instead of mayo on a sandwich, on a baked potato (I had it today - yum!), spread on pita and add chopped veggies for a fresh pizza, mix with egg yolks in deviled eggs.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Here is a great recipe - you won't even know that you're missing meat.  Chop up several tomatoes - it doesn't really matter what kind.  Big beefsteak, Roma, throw in some heirloom - get crazy!  I happened to have 4 medium sized plain old tomatoes getting rotten on my countertop, and they needed to be used up.

So chop them up, and throw them in a big skillet over med-high heat with a good helping of olive oil (or EVOO if you want - but really, EVOO doesn't hold the same great flavor once it is cooked).  If you want, you can add a chopped small onion before the tomatoes - let it cook down, them add the toms.  Grab 2 cloves of garlic, chop them or just use a small grater to grate them into the pan.  Add a bunch of pepper - fresh ground is best, but whatever you have on hand.  Let all of the cook for maybe 5 minutes until the tomatoes look a little cooked.

THEN pour in a bunch of white wine.  Not the cooking wine - that's crap.  Use real wine, and drink the rest of the bottle with this meal.  It will be really soupy - you'll use probably a cup or so.  Then let it cook off until you get them resemblance of a thin sauce.  Add some salt (taste as you go so you don't add too much), and then the kicker - add some fresh chopped basil.  That's the best, but if you don't have fresh, add frozen basil or pesto.  Don't use dried.  Its just not as good.

Make some angel hair or fettuchini and mix.  Add some parmesan cheese on top.  MMMMMM
Make a green salad, and toast some french bread (or whatever) - rub the toast with a raw garlic glove, and then butter it.

That, my friends, is a good meal.  Sony, you CAN make this meal.

Vegetarian Week

My little sister Sony asked for Christmas that we would all be vegetarians for a week or two.  I think I was the only one who said I would do it.  I really don't think it will be that hard - I don't eat much red meat, and while chicken is a pretty solid staple in my diet, I eat a lot of veggies and pasta too.  So I said I would for a week, and I am going to start on Friday (or maybe Thursday but I have a steak dinner planned for Wednesday - what if there are leftovers??).  I looked at my calendar to see what I have coming up, and Sea's birthday is next week.  I will commit to TWO WHOLE WEEKS if I can make his birthday dinner the exception.  I'm pretty sure Granny will be buying dinner, and Im pretty sure Im going to want a nice filet mignon.  SOOOO That's my plan.

Tonight - step 1 complete - Grocery shopping
Tomorrow & Wednesday - Food Prep
Thursday or Friday - VEGGIE 2 WEEKS BEGINS

duh duh duhhhhh .... updates to continue.

Cottage Weekend

This year at the cottage was bittersweet ... it may be my last.  But it was what I needed.  I needed to get away from the city.  Away from the lights.  Away from the cars.  I loved waking up at 7:30am, hearing barely the birds, going for a kayak ride, taking a sauna, running into the river, and getting out of the shower just in time for fresh coffee.

It's not about the party.  It's about that feeling.  That feeling you can only get with the smell of bonfire, with the grass and leaves under your feet, smiles on family members, and no cell phones.  It was never the party.


Thank you to Katy for making raw cookies and running in the sand with me on the long journey north.
Thank you Sam & Izaak for having more of my family members there.  I love you guys.
Thank you Jude & Gray for providing so much entertainment.
Thank you Sea for being my big brother.

So I hope I made the best of my time there, to let my soul connect, and my mind quiet enough to hear the fish swim.  I feel at peace and I hope you do too.  ~Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Composter

It finally arrived!  After putting together one composter with a broken piece, only to find out the whole bottom was missing.  Dammit.

But thank you, CNS Stores, for sending out a replacement composter so quickly!

 I got it all put together!

They say 2/3 brown (leaves, twigs, paper) to 1/3 green (grass clippings, food waste)

And it's BEAUTIFUL!









Some hints to remember if you decide you want to compost (less waste in landfills and makes super soil!):

1. Gather all grass clippings and green yard waste but be sure to mix with the "brown" materials like leaves and shredded paper to add carbon. You will need both, but if you only add grass clippings your pile will compact and start to stink.
2. Do not compost meats or pet droppings. Stick with food scraps and yard waste only.
3. Avoid all pesticides and/or herbicide treated material.
4. If you add weeds to your pile make sure your pile is good and hot. It should be steaming hot, not just warm otherwise it may not kill the seeds.
5. Turn your pile as often as you can. Each time you turn it will speed up the process.
6. Keep your compost damp but not wet. As you add material to your pile make sure that each layer is moist as it is added. During the summer your pile will dry out and the composting process will slow down.

Save the Bees!

I've asked for a Bee house for my birthday.  If you didn't know, we're losing the bees!  SERIOUSLY!  In some areas the bee population has declined up to 85% and nobody knows why ... ooohhhhh spoooookkyy ... So plant flowers to attract bees!  I am noticing a lot of my plants have bees going to them, and I am SO EXCITED!  Here is a picture of a nice fat juicy bee sucking on my rhododendrum.  GO BEES!

FYI:  33% of the food we eat depends on pollination from bees 




For more info:
Colony Collapse Disorder
Discovery News: Bees Decline
Huffington Post
   (this one is for Sony because she loves HP!)
National Geographic