Sunday, December 13, 2020
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Tasty Vegan Caribbean Puddings
The Basics and Benefits of Delicious Vegetarian Sandwiches
Unveiling the Benefits of a Vegan Diet, or Eat Your Vegan Oatmeal Cookies!
Vegetable Medley
KnowHow of Vegetable Dip Recipes
Low-Lactose Mac and Cheese
Stay Away From Vegan Junk Food - Choose Easy Healthy Vegan Recipes Instead!
Vegan Milk Alternatives
Simple Almond Milk Recipe
Simple Vegan Pancakes Recipe
Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas - Healthy and Easy-To-Prepare Vegan Breakfast Foods and Recipes
Easy Vegan Lunch Ideas - Healthy and Easy-To-Prepare Vegan Lunch Foods and Recipes
Easy Vegan Snack Idea's - Healthy and Easy-To-Prepare Vegan Snack Foods and Recipes
Easy and Quick Vegan Recipes Ideas - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners For The Busy Vegan
Easy Vegan Banana Bread Recipe
Your Vegan Breakfast - Easy Ideas and Recipes To Kick-Start Your Morning!
Vegan Lunch Recipes - Ideas and Recipes For A Delicious Vegan Lunch!
Six Facts About Sweet Potatoes That Makes Them Sweeter
Vegetarian/Vegan Food for Your Wedding in Tuscany
Reasons Why Some People Opt For Veganism Like Eating Vegan Breakfast
Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Veganism, Methane and the End of the World As We Now Know It
Roasting Vegetables Made Easy
Soy or No Soy - What Is Healthy for Me?
Mango + Date Dip
Hey Honey, Be Careful What You Eat
2014 Food Revolution Summit: Credentialed Experts and Passionate Celebrities Call for Food Changes
Healthy Indian Food Recipes That Help Gain Weight Naturally
Find Your Feel Good About Food (or Anything Else)
Food Journals and Free Calorie Counters - Do They Really Help With Weight Management?
A Healthy Food Guide For The Vegetarian Diet
Thai Noodle and Vegetable Stir-Fry
What to Cook Your Vegetarian Guest
Artichoke and Fennel Au Gratin
Vegan Gluten-Free Tapioca Pudding
What Is Quinoa and What Should You Do With It?
Saturday, December 5, 2020
Eat Your Books
If you are like me, cabinets filled with cookbooks are a lovely sight, however pulling the books down and looking through them for simply the right recipe can from time to time be a chore. At least it was a chore until my outstanding buddy Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes gave me a club to Eat Your Books.
Eat Your Books has listed recipes from over 3,000 cookbooks and the data of over 800 of the most popular meals magazines, and via developing your personal bookshelf from those titles you may search on-line thru every recipe you own by way of ingredient, ethnicity or kind of dish, and provide you with a listing of ideas so you know proper in which to move. It's precious to me, and frequently reminds me of books I'd by no means even assume to examine while browsing the old school manner ? I most effective desire it could help me with the loads of newspaper clippings and photocopied recipes I actually have scattered in a ways too many folders and binders! There's no such element as too many cookbooks, but if you have loads I hope that you may check Eat Your Books out.
Friday, December 4, 2020
Sweet Corn Risotto with Tomato and Basil
Trips to the neighborhood market in August are an journey for the senses! Tables, boxes and baskets packed with an abundance of sparkling new nearby greens and culmination provide arrays of brilliant shades and captivating shapes for the eyes, ripe scents for the nostril, and textures and weights for the sense of touch. Of route, these kind of are an invite to the cook dinner to carry the colourful flavors of fresh neighborhood produce to the mouth!
The predicament I face on the marketplace in the summer season is hardly one in every of shortage however of over-abundance. There is a lot to pick out from that I cannot deliver a number of the entirety domestic (at the least now not suddenly), so these trips are definitely as much an workout in behind schedule gratification as in anticipation. But one factor I can hardly ever resist is the nearby peaches and cream corn ? Sweet, aromatic and colorful, it's an notable eating corn and a easy however scrumptious deal with just on its personal with most effective a little butter and salt.
Like all excellent foods, local sweet corn is pleasant paired with best a handful of other simple however elegant flavors. This time I prepared a simple risotto simmered in a inventory made from the cobs of the corn, with the sparkling and gently cooked kernels jumbled in on the stop together with some clean tomato and basil from my garden and some precise nice Parmesan cheese. A few jalape?Os from the garden introduced a nice little kick.
This heat creamy risotto has a remarkable aroma and cute contrasts in coloration and texture ? Similar to a experience to the market, it is an impossible to resist invitation to thrill the mouth. A ideal summer time risotto!
If you do not have sparkling corn at the cob, frozen corn can be utilized in its place ? Simply substitute four half cups of vegetable stock for the corn inventory.
Other risotto thoughts from my kitchen:
Spicy Azuki Bean Risotto
Lemon Risotto with Leeks and Mushrooms
Green Bean and Borlotti Bean Risotto
Baked Mushroom Risotto
On the top of the reading stack: Vegan For the Holidays: Celebration Feasts for Thanksgiving through New Year's Day 
Audio Accompaniment: Marko F?Rstenberg - Clubberia Podcast 28.Five.2010
Quinoa Stuffed Tomatoes
For the past few years I have cultivated greens and herbs in my outside. This 12 months, with cautious attention to watering because we've had a dry summer time here in Ontario, I ended up with a treasure trove of clean produce.
Fresh herbs are optimal in most dishes, and it's far one of these pleasure to exit some steps and choose simply what you need rather of purchasing a large bunch of herbs from the market, most of that you understand will possibly go to waste. Why is it often so tough to discover portions that are doable? I detest losing meals. Really, for maximum dishes do we in reality require a bushel of dill, cilantro or parsley? As it does not maintain for all that long in the fridge, into the bin it lamentably goes once in a while. I certainly do not have the distance to dry it out, nor do I actually have room to develop herbs indoors at some stage in the iciness as my houseplants have taken over the place, and I stay with a cat except.
Another pride is an abundance of clean hot peppers. Spicy meals are so frequently on the menu in my home, and chilies are a must. The ones from the lawn are so clean, juicy and superior in flavor, and I do not have to pass hunting round for the sorts that % simply the right amount of warmth or force to the closest Indian marketplace to get those lovely little inexperienced chilies.
This brings me to my subsequent favourite part of this summer's harvest: clean tomatoes, and masses of them! In the beyond, I have not had tons success with developing tomatoes, but after taking some advice from my Dad's girlfriend I planted a range called Early Girl tomatoes. These brilliant crimson meaty tomatoes start early and grow properly in the course of the season. It is now the start of September and there are nevertheless lovable tomatoes growing at the vine. I've given a few to buddies, made them into a whole lot of dishes, eaten them sliced up with a chunk of fresh cracked black pepper, and roasted them within the oven. This time, I desired to lead them to shine and crammed them with a mixture of quinoa, cornmeal for a bit of crunch, warm lawn peppers and spice for a chunk of a kick, black olives, and a generous supporting of clean herbs.
These make for a tremendous appetizer, or flip them right into a mild meal served with a heat goat cheese salad on toasted bread with pesto. A colorful and delicious tribute to the waning days of out of doors summer dining.
Tip: If you keep your tomatoes in the refrigerator, take them out an hour or two before making ready your dish as this may make it less complicated to dispose of the seeds and pulp.
More filled goodness from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Quinoa
Stuffed Mushrooms with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Olives
Samosa-Style Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers with Goat's Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes
On the top of the reading stack: Mediterranean Harvest: Vegetarian Recipes from the World's Healthiest Cuisine 
Audio Accompaniment: Marko Furstenberg - Espenhain
Sublime Saffron Rice with Cardamom
The simplicity and elegance of basmati rice is honestly understated as evidenced by means of this adorable rice dish on the way to without a doubt be a staple in my kitchen now. Simmered with cardamom and cloves and pro with sensitive saffron threads, this fragrant and scrumptious rice pairs perfectly with warm legume curries, adding a mellow touch to the meal but shining all by means of itself. This dish speaks to the palate and was served with black-eyed peas with potatoes and tamarind and a lovely and refreshing avocado salad. Nothing else desires to be stated.
Other delightful rice dishes you are positive to experience from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Baked Italian Brown Rice Balls (Arancini)
Chickpea and Brown Rice Patties
Tamarind and Coconut Pulao Rice
Mushroom Pulao Rice
Audio Accompaniment: Solar System
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Chipotle Black Bean, Millet and Quinoa Burritos
Fresh selfmade burritos are a treat any time of 12 months due to the fact you can stuff them with any and all of the components and flavors which you want ? Beans, grains, greens, spices, herbs and sauces, your creativeness and properly flavor are the most effective limits. These burritos are mainly loaded with substance from black beans, quinoa, millet, mushrooms, avocados and olives, making them a entire meal by way of themselves. And they are additionally loaded with flavor from solar-dried tomatoes, clean chilies, lime juice, spices and chipotle peppers. If you want the smoky spiciness of chipotles, you may love those loaded and flavorful burritos, especially dressed with a cooling and tangy chipotle sour cream sauce.
Urad Dal with Spices
Complicated dishes can grace any table, but such fashionable and simple but flavorful dal dishes which include this urad dal dish with spices are a really perfect solution when you are pressed for time however need to make certain your family is well-nourished. Pleasing to the attention and palate, serve with a rice dish or Indian flatbread and any vegetable facet dish for a whole meal.
This recipe makes use of cut up urad dal with out skins. These versatile mild flavored beans, while cooked in curries soak up the flavors of the spices and greens. They have to be rinsed well and are regularly fried with out soaking or cooking ahead in aggregate with aromatic seeds and spices for tempering vegetable curries. The opportunities are as countless because the imagination of the cook.
If oil is used rather than butter or ghee, this dish is vegan pleasant.
Other Urad Dal dishes from Lisa's vegetarian kitchen you're certain to experience:
Urad Dal with Tomatoes
Urad Dal with Toor Dal and Spinach and Parsley
Wild Mushroom and Paneer Pilaf with Urad Dal
Urad Dal with Fresh Fenugreek
On the top of the reading stack: Betty Crocker's Indian Home Cooking 
Audio Accompaniment: Paul Kalkbrenner
Spicy Tamarind and Channa Risotto Kitcheree
As a diner I love the creamy and toothsome texture of risottos. And as a prepare dinner, I love the countless creativity that may be implemented to the making of them. A risotto is essentially a clean canvas on which to color your favorite flavors, Italian-themed or in any other case, making this a super vehicle for fusion-style cooking ? There are even dessert risottos obtainable.
I've had some super successes with risottos earlier than, but this is my first Indian-style model.
I used a number of the conventional tastes of Indian cooking on this risotto, cooking the rice in a warm tamarind vegetable inventory and seasoning it with a fave aggregate of spices and fried seeds, which include the usage of nigella and fennel seeds to offer the risotto a lovable onion-and-anise fragrance. A sector a part of channa dal or break up yellow peas lends an earthiness that balances the various warmness and perfume of the seeds and spices as well as the beauty of the rice, and makes this risotto essentially an unconventional type of "khichari" or kitcheree ? The conventional Indian rice and dal one-pot comfort food.
The dal or cut up peas also provide a protein element to the dish, making this risotto kitchari an attractive choice for a complete light and simple dinner if served with a side salad or veggies. It's also a vegan-pleasant meal in case you use oil instead of ghee to fry the spices.
Nigella seeds, additionally called kalonji or black onion seeds, are effortlessly discovered in any Indian grocer, as are channa dal, tamarind paste or dried tamarind pulp.
Other risotto or rice dishes you could experience:
Simple Chana Dal, Dill and Tomato Khichri
Pilau Rice with Nuts and Seeds
Spicy Azuki Bean Risotto
On the top of the reading stack: The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes Carnivores Will Devour 
Audio Accompaniment: Off The Sky - Nonlinear Surface Tensions / Mileece's Reduction (Studies Of Lifeform In Transit)
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Baked Blue Grape Pancakes
This recipe has been sitting in my draft folder for a yr since the final time blue grapes had been in season right here. By the time I eventually were given round to typing up the recipe and placing my pix their glory had exceeded. Now, though, it's far the time of yr again when the ones the ones of us going into the autumn harvest season in Ontario and the northeastern United States are capable of select and purchase baskets of these splendidly candy and tangy little beauties. If you revel in Concord grapes, you'll love these deep blue "Coronation" grapes. Perfect for snacking on, they're additionally best for baking with because they're seedless.
Once once more, I turned them into a pancake. Last 12 months I made a few blue grape pancakes with a blue grape sauce. They had been so scrumptious, I desired to try a baked pancake version to exhibit this valuable fruit. One benefit of baked pancakes is which you do not have to stand in front of the skillet, flipping them in batches and preserving the completed ones warmed at the same time as you go through the batter. They're additionally ridiculously clean to make. But what you'll sincerely admire is the gentle, creamy and slightly chewy texture of the baked pancake ? With a slightly crisp exterior, it's like eating a baked custard with the sweet juice of the blue grapes strolling at some point of.
If you can not find Coronation grapes, Concords can be used if they are to be had for your area ? Squeeze the end of each grape contrary the stem to split the skins from the pulp, and discard the skins. If using different desk grapes, add an extra tablespoon or of sugar or honey to the sauce.
More baked pancakes that you'll revel in from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Baked Strawberry Pancakes
Baked Blueberry & Peach Pancakes
Baked Coconut Mango Pancakes
Apfelpfannkuchen (Baked German Apple Pancake)
Chickpea junkie- Teriyaki Chickpea fry
I think I was very close to finding out in person, after I discovered versatility of the super bean – chickpea. At this stage, I’m more than sure, that I have exploited their potential to the max. For some reason they’re always handy and go well with everything really, so for the last few months I was serving various special dishes, most of which had chickpea in it. From various hummuses, stews, bakes, to cakes and salads. And don’t worry I will share all the recipes with you eventually, because it’s all good.
Beans were very rarely used back at home, so everything I know about them, came to me after “the turn”. Beans are super protein source, so for those of you who are wondering “where do I get my proteins from”, this is defo one to watch.
I will touch the protein myth in another post for sure but for now, let’s focus on the little fellas.
Many ppl would avoid beans, because they have experienced discomfort after consuming them, and I admit, it was my concern for some time as well. I mean, u don’t want to go around bloated and full of lethal gas waiting to be released at most unexpected moment.
No need to panic guys. U can actually de-gass your beans to make them more digestible, and your body eventually will get used to processing them and that uncomfortable feeling will no longer be an issue.
The trick is the whole prepping and cooking. Most beans need soaking for several hours before we can cook them. Soaking helps to get rid of those indigestible complex sugars (oligosaccharides) from the outer coating of the beans, which causes bloating and gas. At same time it helps to clean them from all the chemical residue, and shortens the cooking time. For best results, leave them covered in water overnight to ensure proper hydration. Make sure you will discard the dirty water after soaking and rinse those babies nice and clean.
But very often it will happen, you will simply forget, or you will have an emergency dish to prepare, and no 12 hours to spare. No need to panic. There is one trick that can save the day. Of course you can always use canned beans, but let’s try to stay as much unprocessed as we can.
Rinse your beans and place them in a pot, cover with 2 inches of water and bring to boil. Turn the heat down and let them soak for an hour in this hot water. Rinse and clean after an hour, cover with fresh water, and boil until soft. One Italian mama gave me a tip, to make those beans nice and soft, for both soaking and cooking, add 1 tsp of baking powder to the pot. And you’re done
With this in mind I’m sharing with you my favourite combo of flavours –
Teriyaki Chickpea fry.
It’s super easy to make and you can play with it and add your favourite stuff. I like it simple, meaning not overdo on other favourite stuff, but focus more on the chickpea itself
And it goes like this:
Chickpea fry
2 cups cooked chickpeas ( or 1 can )
1 large carrot, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic (can be optional if you’re not a fan)
Salt, pepper to taste
Coconut oil for frying
Teriyaki sauce
1 cup water
1/4 cup organic soy sauce or liquid aminos
4 Tbsp coconut sugar
1 Tbsp rice or apple cider vinegar
1 inch piece of fresh ginger, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Glazing
2 Tbsp corn, tapioca or potato starch
1/4 cup of water
Let’s start with preparing your teriyaki sauce. Place all ingredients except the glazing into small pot and bring to simmer. In a small dish create glazing liquid.
Stir in the glazing into the hot sauce mixture, and keep stirring it on low heat until you achieve nice consistency of thick sauce. If you don’t want chunky pieces of ginger and garlic, you can blend those first ingredients before heating them up, it’s up to you.
Set the sauce aside to cool down.
Now you can start on that fry thingy. Heat the oil on the wok or non stick pan, fry garlic, then onion and carrots until tender ( approx 5 min). Now you can add your cooked chockpeas, fry for few minutes and finish with adding that teriyaki sauce. Let it stew for few minutes, until the chickpeas will be completely soked in that delicious sauce. And that’s about it guys. It’s super tasty and comforting dish. You can have it with either rice or bread, it goes well with everything.
Note: you can always go for the store bought teriyaki sauce, but it’s so easy and simple to create your own, and you avoid all of the processed crap on the way.
Enjoy the fun and deliciousness, and don’t forget to add some love to it.
Gratitude and Crunchy Granola recipe
I don’t even know why I’m doing what I’m doing to be honest with you, but it feels right. I’ve never been that passionate about cooking and spending so much time in the kitchen. Passionate about food, yes of course, but more about the consuming part of it, rather then making it. But here I am, on a tropical island, running a restaurant. I mean if you would tell me that’s what I’ll be doing 2 years ago, I would defo laugh out loud. On top of that I’m sharing this experience with my man and friends who are always there if u need help. Seriously, I must be the luckiest one
With that in mind, I feel like I need to give back in order to keep the energy exchange flow going, so time for another recipe. This one is on a special requests from a customer, who is trying to recreate our granola back at home, and wasn’t successful so far. It’s super quick and easy to make, u just need to stock up with a bunch of products, that you can store and use it for other recipes and have them always handy.
And it goes like this:
Crunchy breakfast granola
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup rye flakes
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup chopped almods
1/2 cup chopped cashews
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup goji berries
1/4 cup dates
1 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut sugar or any liquid sweetener of your choice
2 tsp cinamon
1 Tbsp Vanilla extract
Preheat your oven to 180 Celsius and prepare baking tray with parchment paper.
Toss together all seeds, nuts and flakes. In a separate bowl whisk together oil and sugar, cinamon and vanilla and add it to the seed and flake mix. Give it a good shake until all dry ingredients are coated in the sweet stuff. Now spread it evenly on the baking tray, and bake for about 30 minutes. Every 10 minutes move the mixture around the tray with spatula, this way you will ensure all babies are nicely toasted
They are ready when turning ice golden brow colour. Take it out and cool it down for few minutes, then add dried fruits and mix together. Tadaaaa. Super crunchy granola for your breakfast, or as healthy snack. Of course feel free to add whatever nuts, seeds or dried fruits you feel like. The beauty of it is that you can always create new blend of flavours here.
Enjoy the fun of making it, and don’t forget to add some love to it.
Love
Is It Right For You? The Nitty Gritty of Quitting Coffee
It may be your 1st time or your 278th time trying to quit coffee. You may even still be one the fence about the whole thing. Understanding the “nitty gritty” details of potential challenges and allies can help you quit for good, if that’s what you’re aiming for.
You need to know why you continue drinking it (what purpose does it serve) before you can truly decide if you’re ready and able to live without it. Why?
If you just quit coffee cold turkey, you may find that there are gaping holes (needs) that are left unfulfilled. When you find others things that can play the roles that coffee once did, it can be that much easier to let it go for good.
Why is coffee so appealing? What purpose does it serve in your life?
#1 – It gets you going when you’re dragging, groggy or tired.
#2 – It can carry you through stressful situations.
#3– It suppresses the appetite – Some people use the “coffee for breakfast” diet to try and lose weight. Not only is this not a healthy way to lose weight, but it stresses the body out and can actually cause negative health effects as well. Busy folks use it not as a diet program, but as a substitute (a poor one, might I add) for taking time to eat a decent breakfast.
#4 – It’s a stimulant that many work places provide to keep you productive through the end of the day (the crash when you get home is on your time, not the company’s).
#5 – It provides warmth and comfort – Nothing like a warm beverage on a cold day to make your insides melt.
#6 – It satisfies the body’s desire for bitter tastes, which we’ve largely cut out of the diet.
#7 – It’s something you do with friends – Many people’s lives have become so busy that meeting for coffee has become one of the easiest ways to connect with others. Cafes and coffee shops are convenient meeting spots for friends or professional connections to gather and talk.
#8 – It can connect you with your community – Visiting your favorite local coffee shops, chatting with the baristas, and feeling like you’re not a hermit (especially if you’re a free-lancer or student) can be an important element of your day.
#9 – It has many proven health benefits – New studies have shown that coffee (in moderation) can have a positive effect on Type 2 diabetes, certain forms of cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
As you read this list, you may be thinking to yourself, “These don’t sound so bad.” In some respects, you’re right. These are all needs that we have, and coffee (up until now) has been the quick fix. The question remains: is coffee solving or suppressing the real issue at hand?
People choose to quit coffee for many reasons: saving money, health conditions, frazzled nervous system, adrenal fatigue, headaches, sugar addiction, etc. Many people experience withdrawal symptoms when weaning themselves off of coffee and caffeine. There are things you can do to make this process less traumatic and more rewarding.
These insights can help you fill the perceived holes and unsatisfied needs that are often created when you give coffee the boot. Not only can they make it that much easier for you to embrace a coffee-free life, but you’re likely to become healthier and happier in the process.
(Crowd roars with applause)
Get good sleep
Allowing your body to fully rejuvenate will mean less need for “energy crutches” like caffeine and other stimulants.
De-stress your life
People often use coffee to get them through the day, to blast through stressors (temporary solution) instead of taking the time to dissolve the stress at the core. Move your body, write, work out, dance, meditate, shower, or do whatever works for you to channel that energy.
Eat a good breakfast
Sorry, but coffee doesn’t count as breakfast. It may suppress the appetite for a bit, but often leaves you ravenously hungry come lunch time. Start the day out right by eating a healthy breakfast that works for your body. It can change the way life unfolds.
Stay hydrated
Every cell in your body needs water to function properly. When you are fully hydrated, you can perform at your peak without the need for stimulants, caffeine or sugar.
Plan ahead for the 3:00pm energy dip
We’ve all experienced hitting the “3 o’clock wall,” feeling like a crash test dummy – lifeless, crumpled, and not good for much. You can avoid this by eating a solid yet light lunch. Heavy meals = “food comas”. Make sure you’re consuming meals full of nutrient dense foods and sources of long-lasting energy—protein, complex carbs, beans, legumes, etc.
Bring snacks
Instead of reaching for coffee when you need energy, grab a handful of nuts, piece of fruit and cut-up raw vegetables. They can give you a much-needed energy boost while improving your health (double win!).
Switch to decaf
I know a lot of coffee drinkers have some pretty strong opinions about decaf coffee. If you do go off coffee (for personal or medical reasons), decaf coffee can still provide a similar taste without the massive levels of caffeine. Choosing organic water-processed coffee is ideal, as it minimizes the pesticides and synthetics used in growing and processing the beans.
Get your bitter taste elsewhere
According to Ayurveda, bitter is one of the 6 tastes call Rasas. There are numerous health benefits of bitter tasting things, including cleansing and detoxifying the body, and reducing fat. To help you transition from dark roasted coffee to herbal, non-caffeinated teas, try roasted dandelion root tea (no caffeine!). It tastes similar to coffee and is beneficial for the liver. Other bitter tastes can be found in dark leafy greens, broccoli, celery, beets, and sprouts.
Give your adrenals a break
Caffeine can be very taxing for your adrenals if you are already suffering from adrenal fatigue. If you lead a high-stress lifestyle, chances are you may fall into that category. Allow the adrenal glands to rest and recover by reducing your caffeine in take. After all, they are responsible for your “fight or flight” response, and that’s one reaction you want to be razor sharp!
Be active
There are countless benefits to movement and exercise – we’ve all heard the drill. When it comes down to it, our bodies were meant to move in dynamic ways. Regular movement—yoga, dance parties, walking, swimming, climbing trees, or bouncing on a trampoline with your favorite little person—is one of the best ways to fuel your energy battery. After a good boogey, a long hike, or an intense workout at the gym, every cell in your body feels alive and buzzing. That is as good as any dose of caffeine and all the side effects are positive ones.
Quitting coffee can be quite a journey. You may be able to simply choose to stop drinking it without any problems, or you may go through withdrawal—headaches, energy rollercoasters, and other less pleasant symptoms. The key is to keep coming back to why you’re cutting back or eliminating it in the first place.
You may have many intentions for quitting coffee. You may have a desire to feel more clean and vibrant in your body. You may wish to be less dependent on substances to show up for life. You might simply want to save your money or give your body a break.
Get real with yourself about what role or purpose coffee serves in your life. Find ways that appeal to you of getting those needs met through other methods. Give yourself a taste of what it’s like to live a coffee-free life.
The Gluten Dilemma: Good or Gastric Disaster?
The answer is both.
In order to explore this dilemma, you’ll need to know what gluten is, where it can be found, and how to tell if it’s working for you or against you. Ready to dive in?
Defining Gluten
Everyone talks about gluten, but what is it? According to the Oxford English Dictionary,
Gluten (noun) – a substance [a mixture of two proteins] present in cereal grains, especially wheat, that is responsible for the elastic texture of dough.
Origin: via French from Latin, literally ‘glue’
Gluten is the glue that binds everything together. It dough its elasticity, helps it rise and keep its shape, and gives it a chewy texture. We’ve all made dough ball with slices of Wonderbread. That’s gluten at work.
Where You Can Find It
There’s an easy way to remember what grains have gluten in them. They are the BROWS grains, (think eye brows).
Barley
Rye
Oats*
Wheat
Spelt
*Oats do not naturally contain gluten in them, but are often processed in facilities that also process gluten grains. This is very important for those who are allergic to gluten or have Celiac disease (an allergy is different than an intolerance).
Any product that is made with these grains will also contain gluten. This includes common dietary staples such as pasta, bread, and cookies. Gluten can also be found hiding in unlikely places such as energy bars, soups, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes. If you’re eliminating gluten from your diet, make sure to ask at restaurants if there’s gluten in their dishes, and be familiar with the sneaky sources the wait staff might not think of.
People have been eating wheat for thousands of years, so why is it all of a sudden becoming an issue? The wheat we eat now is a very different type of wheat that our ancestors ate. According to Dr. Frank Lipman, “American strains of wheat have a much higher gluten content (which is needed to make light, fluffy Wonder Bread and giant bagels) than those traditionally found in Europe.”
Could this be the reason gluten intolerance and celiac disease are on the rise, or is there something else going on? New studies have also shown that Celiac disease may have popped up as a side effect of recent genetic adaptations in humans. That brings it to another level all together.
The combination of increased gluten content in modern wheat, genetic adaptations, and an overuse of gluten grains in processed foods means major gluten overload for the body. Why is that important?
How to Tell if Gluten is Working For or Against You
When it comes to “the gluten dilemma,” there is a spectrum of disease, ranging from mild gluten sensitivity (most common) to full-blown celiac disease (less frequent).
Some suggest that Celiac disease occurs in almost 1% of all Americans. When it comes to gluten sensitivity—or where some form of immune reaction occurs to gluten—the numbers may be as high as 1 in 3 Americans. Could this be why so many people who go off gluten no longer feel an overall sense of unwellness?
Unfortunately, if you get a blood test for celiac, gluten sensitivity doesn’t show up on it. It may not show up on a test, but it can still affect you with physical, mental and emotional symptoms.
Although the majority of the damage occurs in the digestive tract, especially the small intestines, the symptoms manifest in many different ways throughout the entire body.
Here are some signs that you may be suffering from gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease:
Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, acid reflux and constipation
Fatigue, brain fog or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten
Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis or scleroderma
Migraine headaches
Reproductive health issues such as abnormal menstrual cycles and infertility
Swelling and inflammation
Skin problems such as acne and rosacea
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Like many health trends, there are those who will simply give it a go just to say they’ve tried it. For many people, including myself, going off gluten may actually be the key to healing unresolved health issues and living a better life.
When I stopped eating gluten, so many of my seemly random and unconnected health issues slowly starting resolving. Within a few months of going off gluten completely, I no longer had cystic acne (a 10 year battle), red cheeks, digestive issues (too many to name), or hypoglycemia. I was stunned, overjoyed, and totally bummed out at the same time.
Why would I be upset about resolving so many health issues?
It meant that I could no longer continue to eat unconsciously. I now understood what was causing my symptoms, and could no longer pretend otherwise. I had to and wanted to take responsibility for my health, yet felt completely overwhelmed. This was before the flood of gluten-free products on the market.
To cut gluten from your life is no small feat. It’s in everything. Some of your all-time favorite foods probably contain it. You will need to approach food in a completely new way.
This is a blessing and a challenge.
A blessing in that you get to re-evaluate what’s gong into your body and become more aware of how your food affects you. A challenge in that going out to restaurants, over to friend’s houses for dinner, or grabbing a meal on the road can become complicated.
Luckily, food producers are quick on the uptake and are coming out with gluten-free products that taste good and have a pleasant texture. If you’ve ever had a loaf (aka brick) of rice bread, you know what I mean. You can now enjoy fluffy buckwheat and chia bread, corn and quinoa pasta, rice crackers and almond meal cookies.
Before you go on a gluten-free shopping spree resembling the “Shop Till You Drop” TV show from the 1990s—cart overflowing with items frantically snatched from every possible shelf—gluten-free doesn’t automatically equal healthy.
Lots of gluten-free processed foods contain high amounts of sugar, preservative, and other unhealthy ingredients. In your excitement to explore the world of “gluten or no gluten,” don’t forget to read the labels and incorporate plenty of whole, non-gluten grains in your diet.
If you decide to explore how gluten makes you feel, know that there are plenty of resources out there to help you along the way. Ultimately, the goal is to find the foods that make you feel healthy, strong, vibrant and alive.
Don’t take my word for it. Use your body as a walking laboratory experiment and see for yourself if gluten is in fact a good or gastric disaster.
Trying To Do Too Much? Adrenal Fatigue May Be Waiting…
It’s okay. You can take off your invisible superhero cape (I won’t think any less of you, promise!). The world won’t collapse if you slow down, give yourself a break, and do what you need to do to avoid the train wreck ahead. If you keep going at this speed, that’s exactly where you’re headed.
That train wreck has a name—adrenal fatigue.
Your adrenal glands may seem insignificant, but these little triangular organs have the power to influence your life in big ways.
The adrenal glands are endocrine glands responsible for secreting important hormones directly into the blood stream. They sit on top of the kidney, and are mainly responsible for regulating your body’s stress response by making hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.
Studies have shown that these hormones are only meant to be in the body for short periods of time. When there is an excess of these two hormones for an extended period of time, it can be toxic for the body, and lead to adrenal fatigue as well as other diseases.
In short, adrenal fatigue is no one’s best friend.
Without knowing it, I suffered from adrenal fatigue for many years. I was always pushing myself, piling too much on my plate, and had a very strong “superwoman complex”—I can, therefore have to do everything myself. Remind you of anyone you know?
I had no idea why I got tired so quickly, why I couldn’t handle alcohol or sugar, why my blood-sugar levels were always out of whack, and why the dark circles under my eyes never went away. Only once I stepped back to take a look at my approach to life did it start to make sense that I had gone down a path to an undesirable destination—adrenal fatigue.
I want you to be familiar with some of the “red flags” and warnings, know how to identify the most common symptoms, and have a few ideas of where to begin remedying the problem.
Awareness is the first step.
Here are some warning signs that you could be on the path to adrenal fatigue:
You’re always “on.”
You’re “plugged in” to multiple devices at all times. You’re always reachable by text, phone, Facebook, and email. You are there for your kids, your family, your job, your partner, your neighbor, and your 500+ friends on Facebook, even if it means putting your own needs aside. Taking some much needed “You Time”…HA! Fat chance.
Your schedule is always full.
It’s an unusual day when you aren’t running from home to work to appointments to social gathering and back again. Sure, you may be having the time of your life, but there’s no room in your schedule for spontaneity, for down time, or for much-needed self-care—things like joyous movement, time for being creative, or investing in yourself with a course or workshop.
You have a “just push through it” attitude.
There’s a healthy way to push through obstacles and challenges but if that is the constant reality of your life, it may be time to reevaluate. It’s true, sometimes you need to just get through it—like when you’re courageously forging a new career path, pursuing your dreams, starting a new business, or going to graduate school. But if your life just seems to be filled with things that need to be pushed through with sheer willpower, maybe you are actually going against the flow and making everything harder than it needs to be.
You view sleep as a luxury.
Sleep isn’t something you reward yourself with for doing everything on your to-do list. It’s something sacred, something necessary, and something essential for a sustainable and fulfilling life. When you sleep, your systems detoxify, your cells repair themselves, your immune system rejuvenates, and your organs get a chance to come back into balance. This isn’t a luxury, but a bare minimum for maintaining overall health.
You depend on stimulants to get you through the day.
Coffee or black tea in the morning to get you going, energy drink to get you through lunch, soda to ward off the 3:00pm slump, and dessert to help you let go of the day. These stimulants are just a stand-in for the natural energy you don’t have. Imagine what your life could be like if you had an abundance of energy and didn’t need to weaken your adrenals in order to show up for your day.
When the adrenals are tired, over-worked, or exhausted, it may show up in the body in a number of different ways.
Common symptoms of exhausted adrenal glands:
Dark circles under the eyes
Lack of libido
Low stamina for stress
Easily irritated
Lower back pain, especially on the sides of the body
Dry, unhealthy skin
A craving for salt
Low blood sugar
Cravings for sweets and carbs, intolerance to alcohol
Excessive mood responses after eating carbs (e.g. pasta, breads and sugar)
Tired but wired feeling
Poor sleep
Dizziness
Muscle twitches
Heart palpitations
Sensitivity to light, or difficulty seeing at night
Excessive sweating or perspiration from little activity
Chronic infections (bacterial, viral, fungal, yeast)
Low blood pressure
Light-headedness on standing up
Premature aging
Cystic breasts
Tendency to startle easily
Negative response to thyroid hormone
If you think you might be experiencing adrenal fatigue, or possibly on the brink of it, it’s best that you address the problem pronto. Your adrenals need you, and you need them.
5 Things You Can Do To Help
1. Sleep
Your body repairs itself and gets ready for the busy day ahead while you are in dreamland. Cut that time short and you stop your body from fully recharging. Getting enough sleep means going to bed before 11:00pm (10:00pm is ideal, if you can do it). If you make this a priority and stick with it, your adrenals will get their beauty rest.
2. Ditch the sugar and processed foods.
Foods loaded with sugar and simple carbohydrates put stress on your adrenals. Your adrenal glands are responsible for regulating your blood sugar, and when you ingest a massive does of sugary junk, you adrenals have to work hard to deal with the influx.
3. Eat healthy
Include a diversity of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, and whole grains. Choosing organic and local whenever possible is ideal, as it reduces the toxins in the food you eat and the impact on the environment. There are many ways to eat healthy when you’re busy. It isn’t as hard as you’d think.
4. Quit coffee
Caffeine of any kind causes your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline, a jolt that kicks your butt into gear in the morning and keeps you going in the afternoon when you’re falling asleep at your desk. If you require your adrenals to give you this “hit” multiple times a day, every day, they’re going to get tired. If you want to reduce or get off coffee for good, there are superfoods and teas that can help.
5. Drink water
Make sure you’re drinking plenty of fresh, filtered water every day. The amount will vary depending on your body weight and activity level—the more active you are, the more sweat and toxins you release, and the more water you need. Hydration is key to healthy and happy adrenals.
If you’re not there yet but see some warning signs, trust me, you’ll thank yourself for taking some preventative measures. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at alani@radianthealthlink.com if you need some support. That’s what I’m here for. In making necessary shifts in your diet and lifestyle, not only will you be nourishing your adrenals and supporting them in coming back into balance, but you’ll be living a healthier life as well.
Win-win.
“I Can Stop Anytime, I Just Don’t Want To”…Says Your Sugar Addiction
A moment of honesty…Who doesn’t like to enjoy a dessert with friends, a piece of cake at a birthday party, or an ice cream on a hot day. I sure do. But could these sweet indulgences be distracting you from what lies beneath the sugar coating, and damaging your body in the process?
You bet.
Here’s what you need to know about what sugar does for you and what you can do to reduce your cravings.
Sugar can ruin your health.
Let’s break it down and take an honest look at how your sugar intake affects that beautiful body of yours. Experts have found that…
Sugar can suppress the immune system.
Sugar interferes with the absorption of calcium and magnesium, two essential vitamins.
Sugar contributes to diabetes.
Sugar contributes to obesity.
Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.
Sugar can cause depression.
Sugar can cause a fast increase in adrenaline levels in children (ADHD anyone?)
Sugar can cause arthritis.
Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.
Sugar can increase cholesterol.
Sugar can lead to uncontrolled growth of Candida in the body (yeast infections)
So if sugar has all these negative effects on the one precious body we’re given, why do we keep going back to it?
Sugar activates the “feel good” response, and makes you craves more.
Stress relief. Comfort. Relaxation. The temporary “ahhhhhh” feeling.
When we eat things that contain a lot of sugar, our body releases a large amount of dopamine—the same “feel good” chemical that’s released with cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines—into the “reward center” of the brain. Consuming large amounts of sugar actually reduces the number of dopamine receptors. Here’s the problem.
Every time you eat sugar-containing foods, the dopamine effects are lessened, and we have to eat more in order to get the same feeling. Hello addiction!
Sugar is a popular reward.
“If I ____ (insert task or goal), I’ll give myself a treat.”
How often do you reward or treat yourself with a beet salad, your favorite yoga class, or anything that’s actually healthy for you? We tend to reward ourselves with things that we consider to be “bad” or naughty, and tell ourselves “I work hard and deserve it.” But what are you actually rewarding yourself with, honestly?
An increased risk in chronic disease? Wild fluctuations in energy and mood? Hmmm, doesn’t sound like a reward to me.
We already know that sugar acts directly on the reward center of the brain, making it an easy go-to reward. How can we break this pattern?
Find healthy food substitutes or shift your reward systems away from food-related things all together.
It can completely change your relationship to what it means to treat yourselves. Rewarding becomes a true act of self-love, of nourishing your body, and of giving yourself something that will actually enrich your life and fulfill you on a more holistic level.
Sugar cravings can be a message about a deeper soul craving or unfulfilled desire.
Pay attention to your patterns. Do you crave sugar at a certain time of day, when you’re feeling lonely, when you’re stressed or when you’re tired.
I’ve discovered that when I crave sugar, I’m actually craving protein or love/connection. It’s most often the later of the two. Can you relate?
Whenever I have a craving, I ask myself “What is it that I’m actually craving? What desire lies beneath this craving that is not being fulfilled? What can I do to get that deeper need met.”
I always thank my body for communicating with me, and give myself a pat on the back for accurately translating the messages of my cravings.
Your sugar cravings may be related to something else entirely. Everyone is different. I encourage you to explore those connections, to ask yourself questions, and to approach your cravings as you would a secret message written in code—with excitement and curiosity.
Ways to deal with your sugar addiction:
Drink more water.
Cravings for sweet-tasting things are sometimes a sign of dehydration. Next time you find yourself reaching for something sweet, drink a glass of water, wait a few minutes, and see if the desire is still there. Soda and juice don’t count as water, as most of them have tons of added sugar.
Eat sweet vegetables and fruits.
They provide the sweet taste you’re after without all the negative side effects (bonus!). They’re naturally sweet, delicious, and good for you too. Adding them into your diet, especially earlier in the day (get that sweet quota taken care of), can decrease your sugar cravings significantly. Try eating more of these: carrots, onions, corn, winter squash, beets, apples, pears, bananas, berries, and stone fruits.
Get more R & R.
Sugar and simple carbohydrates are the quickest form of energy for the body, especially when your body and mind are tired. When you’re chronically stressed, suffering from lack of sleep, have exhausted adrenal glands and no “Me Time,” the body often craves the fastest form of energy to keep you going: sugar. Getting more rest and relaxation can help break your dependence on sugar by giving your body what it’s actually craving.
Move your body.
You don’t have to go crazy. You can start out with simple things like walking, yoga, or biking to the park, and gradually increase the duration and types of physical activities you do. Being physically active helps your body balance blood sugar levels, increases your mood, boosts your energy, and releases stress. Remember: if you don’t enjoy it, you won’t do it!
Use natural sweeteners.
Processed foods often contain high amounts of artificial sweeteners and added sugar, which both contribute to inflammation in the body. Try using natural or gentler sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, stevia or dried fruit.
Decrease or eliminate caffeine.
Caffeine not only causes dehydration, but it usually results in big ups and downs in energy. This will cause your sugar cravings to be more frequent and powerful as your body seeks balance. If you can’t start the day without a “Cup of Joe” or a latte, there are some highly effective ways to go off coffee. The effects on your life will astound you.
Look at how much animal food/salty food you eat.
From the perspective of the yin/yang principles (energetics of food art link) of eating (such as in Macrobiotics and Traditional Chinese Medicine), having too much of one energy can lead to cravings for the other.
Thus, if you eat too much animal food/salty food (yang and contracting), you will crave sweet foods (yin and expansive) to come back into balance. Everyone’s body is unique in its need for certain foods, so use your intuition and your understanding of your own bio-individuality to find your own balance.
Cook with sweetening spices.
There are quite a few spices that naturally sweeten dishes and bring out the sweet flavor in your cooking. Experiment around with spices such as cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom to see how they affect your cravings.
Find the sweetness in life!
Sugar cravings aren’t always about sugar itself. More often than not, they are about something deeper than food—a “primary food” (relationships, career, movement, spirituality) that is not being met. Cravings normally have a psychological and emotional component to them as well.
By identifying the mental and emotional causes behind your cravings, you can make meaningful changes to your lifestyle and relationships in order to get those deeper needs met. Sometimes it’s as simple as having a conversation with a friend, mentor or coach, establishing a joyous health routine, or paying attention to the sweetness of life around you.
When your life tastes sweet and your deepest desires are fulfilled, you know that no amount of sugar will ever come close to that level of satisfaction.
Dumpster Diving
Where food is concerned, I am more interested in the ethics of production and how it can benefit my health – in that order.
This story is not about what to eat; there are no recipes attached and no dietetic advice here.
This is about dumpster-diving—obtaining food from the bin.
Beginning with the bins
Roughly a year ago I began dumpster-diving regularly. Needing to sustain my housemates and me, I wanted to gather as much stray food from bins of various supermarkets, bakeries, catering companies and restaurants. I had a little car that was cheap to run and by spending between two and six hours per week driving to various bins and rifling through the trash of corporate food suppliers, I was able to feed the household of four hungry young men, usually with better or more food than we otherwise could have afforded. The bin always provided quality food and only on occasion was it a laborious process.
Becoming “Freegan”
At first the goal was to be completely “freegan,” to only consume food found in bins, not buying any food at all. Despite occasional small purchases, I soon discovered that this wasn’t difficult. We lived in abundance, regularly eating steak, salmon, brie, fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs and bread – lots of bread.
I would also go to a certain chain of convenience store to find “dirty treats” like meat pies, salami sticks and Krispy Kreme donuts. I knew the stores were contractually obliged to discard excess donuts and pies daily and so took advantage of this.
I considered myself ‘basically freegan’, but if a situation presented itself where I was socially obliged to eat food that wasn’t from a bin, such as at a friend’s place or a restaurant, I was otherwise vegetarian for ethical reasons. I had very little concern for my own health and made my choices regarding food consumption mostly on the basis of environmental sustainability, animal welfare and taste.
The goal was to subvert as much waste as possible, to take as much as I could out of the bins, rather than putting so much in.
This exercise educated me on the level of wasted food in my local area and I found it shocking and deplorable, especially considering the people going hungry in other parts of the world.
Wasted Energy
After a while I stopped bothering to check the bins at the convenience store. I realized I could feed my entire household without having to subject ourselves to what I found in those bins. Pies and donuts didn’t make us feel good and I began to question the benefit of eating them.
That was when the word ‘waste’ changed for me. It seemed more of a waste to put that ‘food’ in my body than to leave it out.
Now I have become more prudent with how and where I dumpster-dive.
I get most of my food from the bins of gourmet supermarkets and usually only take what will be beneficial to consume.
I no longer have a car which has forced me to be more selective about what I am willing to carry home.
I usually find fruit and vegetables, bread, sometimes cheese and if I’m lucky some rice or couscous, and generally buy nuts, legumes and olive oil, as well as other odd luxuries.
I think it would be better for the environment to buy nothing at all and live from the scraps of a wasteful society, but eating processed cakes and low-grade meat is not beneficial. It feels like those ‘foods’ do more harm than good to my body and brain.
Finding Balance
Now I try to balance low impact living with sensible consumerism. To buy something is to support the production of it. I could quite easily live without buying any food at all but I choose to buy certain products.
The goal now is to dumpster-dive as much good food as possible and, when I can’t find nutrients in the bin, to buy foods that are ethically sourced and healthy.
I still believe eating ethically should be the most important stipulation of sourcing your food, but I have also learned that some things aren’t worth putting in my body.
This fantastic food story was contributed by Eat.co community member, Nat Kassel. To follow more of his daring dumpster diving tales, visit his blog at www.natkassel.wordpress.com
Inspired by this story? Do you now dare to dive into bins seeking the discards of perfectly healthy and nutritional foods or other valued items? Let us know your conquests and experiences in the comments below. Remember, one man’s trash in another man’s treasure!
Sweet Carrot Hummus Dip
I was sitting at his kitchen table trying hopelessly to finish the last chapter of a book for homework before class while he was busy cooking and talking about how good carrots are for the eyes . He would accurately cut them, fry them in a pan with butter and add some honey at the end. I would watch him patiently, thinking why we can’t just through some deep frozen pizza into the oven instead of trying to bring these tasteless vegetables alive (sorry, I was a teenager). But when I tried his caramelized carrots I suddenly felt the bliss of a good surprise.
Holy shit, that was some good stuff. He was the first person to inspire me to experiment with food, with good food (thank’s man!). Anyway, back to Hummus. I prepared a wonderful sweet carrot Hummus for his visit. A little healthy snack that shows my appreciation (and how good of a cook I am). He came, he ate and he loved it. When I told him about my inspiration we were right back down memory lane for a whole afternoon. Thank’s food!
Recipe: Sweet Carrot Hummus Dip
2 medium sized carrots
sugar or honey of your choice
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 cups of chickpeas (soaked overnight and cooked or can)
1-2 tablespoons of tahini
2 garlic cloves
1-2 tablespoons Juice of fresh lemon or lime
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
Cut carrots in any form (not too small not too big). In a pan let them fry in coconut oil for a few minutes until they get this golden color. That’s when you add some sugar or drizzle some honey to it. Wait another minute and stir carefully so it doesn’t burn. Your carrots should have a golden brownish crust on them. Now bring them to dance in your blender together with chickpeas and tahini and then slowly add the other ingredients. Don’t put everything at once, better taste yourself through the flavors to find a good balance. Once finished garnish with carrot sticks and have it with some yummy pita bread.
One Mean Stove
Zoning out within the kitchen, camera close by, while my pot of soaking legumes caught my eye. Click.
This is my contribution to Black and White Wednesday, week #49. This popular weekly culinary picture occasion turned into started out by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook and is still going robust. As Susan talked about when she announced the occasion, black and white photographs truly do not get enough recognize. Well, when you see the array of innovative pix presented every week, you'll see that while shade pics are lovely and usually desired, especially with regards to culinary imagery, monochromatic snap shots may be simply as sensual, striking and creative, if now not extra so, depending at the photographer at the back of the lens. As Susan notes, "Black and white can dramatically impact your photographs and educate your eye to view highlights, shadows, and midtones in an entire new mild.."
Homemade Thai Red Curry Paste
The same standards that practice to creating your own spice blends at home similarly follow to homemade pastes, chutneys and sauces. Jarred and/or canned varieties to be had at your neighborhood marketplace lack the freshness and flare that you could without difficulty attain by means of making your own staples at home. Certainly every other advantage is you have got total manipulate over the amount and excellent of the components used. The system is less complicated than you may initially assume ? Specifically if your kitchen is stocked with a spice grinder or food processor ? And if saved in tightly sealed jars, spice blends will stay fresh for months on quit, even as maximum pastes, chutneys and sauces will keep well in the fridge for some weeks or longer.
As I am exploring Thai cooking in extra depth these days, it appears crucial that I have some sparkling curry pastes available as they are an vital addition to such a lot of Thai dishes. Many of the economic ready-made Thai curry pastes which you discover on grocery keep shelves contain fish sauce making them incorrect for vegetarians and vegans, so there may be a further incentive to make your own. In addition to Thai inexperienced curry paste, this crimson curry paste is now a frequent occupant on the second floor of my refrigerator. Used sparingly, your soups, sauces and curries will benefit from the lingering sensation of hot chilies, clean galangal or ginger, and lemongrass. Those with passionate palates may also workout much less restraint for a greater febrile experience.
More pastes you are are positive to experience from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Homemade Massaman Curry Paste
Homemade Thai Green Curry Paste
Red Chili and Vinegar Paste
Spicy Sun-Dried Tomato Paste
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Indian-Style Spicy Cheese Scones
One of my specialties and favourite creations to tug from a steaming warm oven are simply quick breads including biscuits, scones, muffins and loaves. The aroma tantalizes the senses and stimulates the appetite. I constantly discover the transition from summer to fall alternatively tough to conform to and turning on the oven warms the feet. The most effective drawback is having the endurance to revel in one until it's far cool sufficient to consume. Generally talking, I decide on savory to candy. I am additionally a spice enthusiast so it regarded herbal for me to provide you with a highly spiced savory biscuit, or scone in case you decide upon.
Now, I don't want to begin a discussion at the confusion and controversy over what constitutes a scone as opposed to a biscuit, nor get into what a cracker, cookie or shortbread manner. A few years back Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe tried to make experience of this rather complex culinary depend. Really, it seems to depend upon the location of the sector you are living in or what you were brought as much as apprehend by using learning the word connected to object positioned in front of you. To make matters even greater perplexing, right here in North America the terms biscuit and scones are often used interchangeably, as are cracker and biscuit, and occasionally they're candy and now and again no longer.
But sufficient about that. Scone or biscuit, what without a doubt matters right here is this highly spiced baked pleasure that has simply enough heat to thrill highly spiced-minded palates but diffused enough for even the more timid among us. The cheese enables cool the masala blend and compliments the moist and flaky layered texture of the biscuit. Of route, if you are like me you'll be inclined to increase the amount of spice. The opportunities are countless ? A simple scone dough is a blank canvas to be explored and decorated.
Some tips: Much like cakes, over-mixing consequences in difficult biscuits or scones. You want quality flaky biscuits as a way to upward push. On the other hand, don't be terrified of the dough either. Biscuits which can be underworked may also flip out crumblier than you want and that would be ? Crummy! A combination of mild kneading and folding over the dough some times until clean is the important thing to a biscuit as a way to be wet, flaky, and rise to perfection. For softer biscuits, place the shaped dough closer collectively at the baking sheet. For crisper biscuits, place the rounds about an inch aside.
Of course, exercise makes perfect and certainly friends and family might not thoughts coming round to assess your check batches.
More highly spiced treats you could experience from Lisa's Kitchen:
Cayenne Peanut Butter Cookies
Spicy Parmesan Crackers
Jalapeno Cheddar Scones
On the top of the reading stack: Mortality 
Audio Accompaniment: Robert Fripp
Thai Mushroom Soup with Coconut
I'm wild approximately mushrooms of any variety, dried or fresh, and that they seem on my dinner desk at least once every week in a few form or different. I adore them so much that I often cut up greater than I want for my dish due to the fact I cannot assist myself from nibbling on them for the duration of meal prep. The meaty texture of mushrooms provide limitless possibilities for cooks. They shine on their own pan fried with spices and seasonings, and are a vital a part of many soups and stews, salads, tapas, egg dishes, pasta and pizza, sauces and endless other dishes that grace our dining table.
There is a fall sit back inside the air that stimulates the yearning for a steaming bowl of nourishing soup. Of route, a mushroom soup got here to thoughts. Yet another excuse to consist of mushrooms at the menu, as if I clearly wished one. Tender chunks of mushrooms are combined with the delicate yet extraordinary taste of coconut milk. This elegant Thai soup is light, earthy however colourful at the same time due to the complimentary addition of Thai inexperienced curry paste, salty tamari, a touch of sweetness from the jaggery and the zing of clean lemon juice. This highly-priced layering of flavors is to be savored, one superb spoonful at a time.
Any aggregate of mushrooms will work quality for this recipe, so use what is without difficulty to be had. You may also use canned coconut milk, however here my favorite method of soaking dried coconut and draining it makes for an in particular attractive and aromatic broth that stimulates the palate. Use your own selfmade green curry paste if feasible as pre-prepared commercial sorts discovered at your neighborhood grocer faded in evaluation.
Other Thai dishes you are sure to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Thai Coconut Mango Salad
Simple Green Curry and Corn Soup
Massaman Curry with Paneer Cheese
Hot and Sour Thai Mushroom Soup with Nam Prik Pow
On the top of the reading stack: Betty Crocker Indian Home Cooking 
Audio Accompaniment: light breeze outside my window
Eggplant Quinoa Bites with Pesto
Only lately have I found out the limitless possibilities of cooking with eggplant. I have simplest cooked with it on a few activities until currently, however now it is often on my grocery list as I explore this underrated and sadly unnoticed vegetable. Many people in my circle of friends suppose that eggplant is flavorless, bland and soggy, yet so many of the recipe books I personal contain severa recipes for eggplant and the local marketplace continually has an amazing supply handy all 12 months spherical. I wager that eggplant isn't always as unpopular as I at the beginning notion.
It all depends on how you put together this vegetable, though technically it's miles a fruit. True, it does not really have tons taste, however from a culinary factor of view it is a instead perfect vegetable to cook with as it absorbs seasonings and flavors properly. Eggplant would not preserve for long, so it's far satisfactory to buy it a day or so earlier than the use of it. Lightly salting the eggplant and letting it sit down for an hour or so before patting the slices dry allows dispose of a number of the moisture and bitterness. If you're including it to soups or stews, add close to the end of the cooking time. You don't want to peel the eggplant due to the fact the pores and skin is edible, but maximum chefs do until they need to bake it whole within the oven, or filled. In either case, the skin will no longer in all likelihood be consumed.
Bake it, steam it, fry it, roast or broil it, and you will come up with numerous serving thoughts. Eggplant is typically covered in stews, soups and casseroles, curries, salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes amongst different favorites appearing on the dinner desk. Often overlooked is that eggplant in reality does shine on its very own because the center piece of a tapas platter or as a standalone appetizer to stimulate the palate earlier than the primary path. To illustrate this declare, I came up with those little eggplant bites. I defy eggplant skeptics to forestall at best one.
The quinoa right here is mixed with a as a substitute unconventional pesto as part of the topping, but I discovered it labored perfectly, including a further layer of taste to the tapas.
In addition to serving as an appetizer, you can need to include them as part of a mild lunch or dinner, served with a gently dressed lentil or leafy green salad. A phrase of warning in case you are serving them as an appetizer previous to a complete path essential: these little nibblers are addictive, so resist the temptation to devour too many, or serve them well earlier earlier than the rest of your culinary efforts grace the dinner desk.
Other small bites from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you are positive to enjoy:
Stuffed Mushrooms with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Olives
Olive Cheese Balls
Goat Cheese Olive Balls
Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers with Goat's Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes
On the top of the reading stack: Simply More Indian: More Sweet and Spicy Recipes from India, Pakistan and East Africa
Audio Accompaniment: Robert Rich