Savory roasted tomato sauce, in under 1 hour

Out here in the Northwest we’ve had a hot hot summer. Which has led to a bountiful tomato season. It’s not usually this easy to grow tomatoes out here in Portland, the summer light is intense but often short lived. This year’s summer started in March, it has been a major treat for us grey sky dwellers.

Friends are pawning pounds & pounds of tomatoes on me this week,  here is my way of using up some of those souvenirs of summer.

This is not your grandpa’s tomato sauce. Though I love the smell of simmering sauce all day long, the stirring and the dipping that all comes with making incredible homemade tomato sauce. I had a ton of tomatoes to use up and not a lot of time at home. So here is an easy breezy tomato sauce.

Savory roasted tomato sauce

This recipe makes a pint of sauce

I filled up a baking sheet with this many tomatoes

11 medium san marzano (or romas)

2 small green/underripe tomatoes

3 small heirlooms

5 cloves garlic, peeled

6 inch sprig of fresh rosemary

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the over to 400. Rinse all tomatoes and cut just in half. Place on a baking sheet along with the spring of rosemary and the cloves of garlic.

Set your timer for 45 minutes and pop that pan into the oven.  Go do your thing and when the timer is done, transfer these roasted goodies into a blender, along with the salt and extra virgin olive oil. (take the rosemary off the twig). Blend it all on medium for a minute, give it a taste to see if you’d like to add anything else to it and transfer to a jar. Let it cool before you put it in the fridge.

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Especially if you or someone you know has a new baby (or will be soon)!

How do you beat the heat?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electrolyte Lemonade

makes a quart

2 lemons, peeled

1 ” fresh ginger (roughly peeled)

1/2 cup fresh herbs, packed

I used a combination of basil, parsley, mint & borage flowers

1/4 t stevia

3 cups water

3 T extra virgin coconut oil

Add everything to a blender. Blend on high for a minute. Strain & enjoy

 

Treasure chest of the sea (weeds)

This nutritional treasure chest may be an ingredient that is a bit foreign to you. SEAWEEDS are nutrient dense plants that are consumed world wide. Coastal cultures on every continent have enjoyed these (formerly slimy) plants for ages as staples of their diets.

Seaweed is a treasure chest of minerals! Iodine, potassium, iron, calcium, phosphorus & magnesium are commonly found in many varieties of seaweeds. Then there are the trace minerals: selenium, nickel, zinc, copper, rubidium & molebdenum. These minerals are rarely found in land grown veggies anymore. Also, many varieties have a fair amount of amino acids (building blocks of protein), B vitamins, vitamins C& A and a plethora of anti-oxidants,

What does all of this mean?

Your cells love this stuff! Your digestive tract appreciates the help, your liver likes the boost, free roaming oxidized cells will be eaten up AND your bones & joints will absorb more of their favorite minerals. Seaweeds are versatile, calming & alkaline.

Add seaweed to soups, sauces, salads & beverages, or make kelp chips!

Nori is the easiest more palatable for most people, initially. Keep your eyes peeled for seaweed snacks, which are widely available and a great place to start enjoying the ocean’s treasure.

Nori

Kombu

Do you make your own beans? Next time you boil beans add 4-6″ of Kombu to the cooking water (it will disintegrate after about 2 hours) Kombu contains a glutamic acid that will tenderize the proteins of the beans, hence making them easier to digest, which subsequently means less gas. No more magical fruit!

Our community pantry is my main source 
Often co-ops will have a variety in their bulk food selections 
Mountain Rose Herbs
Asian food stores will always have a good, affordable varieties

So the next time you are in your kitchen wondering what you really want, think of seas vegetables!

Hijiki Salad 
(makes 2 servings)
1 c hijiki
1 ½ c water
2 t coconut oil
1 leek chopped and rinsed
1 medium cucumber, sliced
1 carrot, grated
dressing:
2 T vinegar of choice (apple cider or rice wine preferably)
1 T tamari
1t turmeric
S & P
Rinse hijiki in a colander then transfer seaweed into a sauce pan soak in 1c. water for 10 minutes. Bring water/seaweed to a boil and cook uncovered for 5 minutes. Add ½ c water, lower heat, cover & simmer for 20 minutes.
While seaweed is cooking, saute leek in coconut oil & salt/pepper for about 10 minutes on medium. Add grated carrot and cucumber to a bowl with dressing. Once seaweed & leek are finished combine with raw veggies and toss

Enjoy playing with seaweeds. Do you have much experience? Where will you start?

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Look out for this summer’s 2 week detox home course, Coolade. You’ll learn about inflammation and how to combat it with food, herbs and lifestyle adjustments.  Learn about inflammation now and you will be able to dial in powerful preventative habits. Once you know how to combat inflammation you are a super hero with anti-aging powers and disease fighting tactics! This summer’s course will be a bolt of well being!

Coolade, will be released on July 5th

Home courses work so well because you go at your own pace. Included in the course are 4 chapters, with accessible information on inflammation. How & why in this modern world.  Recipes to counter it’s wear and tear on your systems. In depth information on how to take care of your skin (your biggest organ and main tale teller of what is going on inside). Stress busting tactics you can use anywhere and home exercise routines that you’ll love to sweat to. Resources, links and support compliment it all so you can go as far as you want in understanding the subject.  You can take the steps to turn back the hands of time and fill your body full up with anti-oxidants, healthy oils and delicious summer  beverages.

Are you in?

Superfood soup

Sweet potatoes are so delicious. Since we started feeding our daughter solid foods last year, honestly, we haven’t had a white potato in our house. We have been straight sweet potatoin’ it.

As you know I love the steamer, you can make sweet potatoes in under 10 minutes. Since it has been so hot out here in Portland and the days are longer, my man insists on eating a bit later than I like. (I have a pretty strict rules about have my last meal 2 hours before I got to bed). But like I tell my clients, friends and myself 80% of the time eat like a boss and the other 20% eat BBQ with your husband an hour before you go to bed.

Those mornings after I eat late, I find I am not so hungry in the morning. But I know better than to skip breakfast. This super food soup is warming, full of nutrients, spices and protein, a great way to get the day going.

 

1 1/2 sweet potatoes, cubed & steamed (8 minutes)

1/2 cup raw cashews (soak them if you remember, if not, don’t fret)

2 T maca powder

2 T gogi berries

1 t cumin seeds, take them on a quick trip through your mortal & pestle

1 t cinnamon

1/2 t turmeric

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 ” fresh ginger root, minced

Steam up those sweet potatoes and transfer them into the blender hot, put everything else in, along with up to 2 pints of water (depending on how thick you want it) and blend on high for 2 minutes.

Pour in a mug or bowl and ENJOY the sustainable energy.

***

Want to learn more about super foods, cleansing and immune boosting? Stop by and check out Boost for some rocking immune building support.  OR Spring ahead, for the rest of May is 1/2 off, only $35 for a full on, whole foods cleanse.  Get it while you can!

 

Powerful Powders:MACA

This Powerful Powders series is a combination of holistic nutrition & lifestyle solutions. So you can learn about 4 superfood powders that have heavy potential to enrich your health. Super foods are a somewhat new classification of food. They  offer our bodies a whole slew of nutrients in concentrated forms.  Many superfoods are more fun to consume than supplements because of their vibrant colors, adventurous textures and their bold results!  

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4 powerful powders> Clockwise from the top: Spirulina, Maca, Stevia & Matcha

Part 2: Powerful Powders:MACA

 Powders are awesome because they are so easy to add to your diet, just a teaspoon (or so) at a time.  As mentioned in a former post on Spirulina, powders are often easiest to use by adding them right to smoothies. Not a smoothie drinker?  Pestos, soups, dressings, sauces, truffles and salads are all great places for super food powers as well!

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Maca root is aPeruvian tuber from the cruciferous family that packs a powerful punch.  A complimentary dose of calcium & magnesium, B-vitamins (including b-12!) and a nice amino acid profile is the strength behind this tuber’s force.  Its strong earthy flavor lets you know that a little bit goes a long way!  Maca can be classified as an adaptogen.  Adaptogens provide your body with the tools necessary to handle stress, in this oh-so modern & busy world.  Adaptogens are a whole other topic for another post, so here are some great books to check out if you would like to know more now.  Offering your body potent tools to handle stress subsequently leads to more energy, better moods and hormonal balance.

So you can live the life you want to live with fewer obstacles!

Maca can be integrated into your diet pretty easily. Please, though, read your labels. This is a powerful root!  Taking it at night may lead to a jolt of energy that can lead to a restless night.  Usually, the best results from maca root are yielded when you take a small serving during the day, pre or just post lunch, over a period of time. There is considerable evidence that promotes Maca as a libido enhancer in men and a powerful PMS relief for women.  Do your research, talk to your holistic practitioners and as always with superfoods find top quality sources.

Why the focus on powders, superfoods and adaptogens? I have seen it over & over again and I am sure you feel it too… this world is stressed out!  We humans are designed to deal with stress but there sure is a whole bunch of it these days. With politics, war, health care, finance and jobs all stalking the headlines, as well as modern technologies compelling us to stay constantly connected and so much information coming at us all day, stress is a fact of life.  Adding superfoods to your diet is one way you can take care of yourself.  Combine these amazing foods with some stress busting tactics and your body can use its systems more efficiently to decompress stress. Then savoring life becomes more of a priority.

***

Maca cashew truffles

2 cups raw cashews

1 cup dates

2 T maca powder

1 t cardamom

1 t salt

1 T vanilla extract

Pulse cashews in food processor until crumbly, but NOT butter. Add maca powder, cardamom, salt and vanilla, pulse until combined.  Keep processor top on and add one date at a time until they are all combined.  Scoop out choice size and roll into balls.  Store in the refrigerator up to a week (but they probably won’t last that long)

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Information for this post is not meant to diagnose or treat any condition and is sourced  from :

http://www.riceplex.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

Reading labels & my memory

 

Spirulina will kick off a 4-part series: Powerful Powders

Clockwise from the top…Spirulina, maca, stevia and matcha

Spirulina is often found as a deep-deep green, super fine supplement powder. Historically it was used as a sacred power food by the Aztecs in the 16th century and considered the perfect food for space travel by NASA. In these modern times noting the array of stress and decline in soil health we need to think about how we are getting a whole spectrum of nutrients.  Supplements are one way and super foods are another.

Spirulina is an ancient superior (fresh & salt) water algae that is found around the world. This blue-green algae is a protein powerhouse and considered one of the most protein rich plants on the planet! Why so much protein? Well, Spirulina are actually a single-celled organisms and it’s protein is predigested so it is really easy for us to absorb its amino acids.

What other qualities make Spirulina a super food? These little algae have gut regulating anti-microbial properties that balance gut flora. Spirulina suppresses the growth of pathogenic bacteria and yeasts in the intestines so that beneficial bacteria can thrive.  When good bacteria dominate the gut, we really get the best out of meals and subsequently are much more healthy.  Want to Boost your immune function?

Super green means super good for the blood & immune system. Spirulina is just loaded with chlorophyll which promotes red blood cell production. In addition to protein & chlorophyll this powerful powder has vitamin B complex and minerals, polysaccharides and anti-oxidants. What does all of this mean? Awesomeness for your body. All of these wonderful qualities of Spirulina give your body the tools it needs to stay balanced, rebuild it self and stay true to it’s most amazing quality, resilience!

Spirulina should be respected for its amazing nutrient profile and procured from high quality sources. The easiest way of enjoying it, is in powder form right in a smoothie.

Green smoothie

1 cup chopped greens of choice

(I usually use kale, spinach or collards)

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup water

1/2 pear

1 T Spirulina

1 T chia seed

1 t cinnamon

Blend on high for a minute. Add more water for desired consistency. ENJOY!

baby approved

There are all sorts of Spirulina products out there. Does anyone remember Death to Smoochy?   Edward Norton rocks that Spirulina tube, on everything.  There are super green powders like Pure Synergy and tablets that are super easy to take. These tablets were my predominate iron source while I was pregnant. There are plenty of sources and a little bit goes a long way!  If you over do it on Spirulina you may experience some detox symptom and if you have an autoimmune disorder please talk to your health care practitioner prior to incorporating Spirulina into your diet. It pays to go quality, especially if it is from the sea, so do your research, read your labels and you can always ask me!

Where did I get my information?  My head and streamlined from:

Natural News & Dr. Mercola

Almond milk & macaroons

 

Have you ever wondered how to make almond milk?

Below are simple instructions to create a luscious beverage for drinking, mixing and MORE.

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> Soak your almonds.  Take one cup raw almonds, place them in a jar or bowl and cover them with 3 cups water and 1 teaspoon of salt.  Soak them over night (or minimum 8 hours)

> Transfer almonds to a colander & rinse. I take the time to pop each almond out of their skin, it is super easy when they are wet,   but not mandatory.

> Put the almonds in a blender along with:

3 cups water

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 *below are optional*

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon stevia (I use powdered green leaf)

or choice sweetener like 2 dates, 1 Tablespoon raw honey, 1 T coconut palm sugar

Blend on high for a minute. Then strain using a nut milk bag or a clean stocking into a jar.  Often times you have to stir the milk in and scoop out the pulp.  I save the pulp for mixing into smoothies, oatmeal or sometimes make baked goods. Like these macaroons!

Macaroons

1 1/4 cups almond milk pulp, strained

1 cup dried, unsweetened shredded coconut

1/3 cup maple syrup

1 generous pinch salt

Scrapings of 1 vanilla bean, OR 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients together in a food processor until they form a dough. Add a little more maple syrup or some water if the mixture is too thick. Line a baking sheet with parchment, scoop the macaroons out by round tablespoons onto the sheet. Bake at 300/ 20 minutes.

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Look out for my upcoming series on The Power of Powders, your guide to maca, matcha and spirulina!

You will learn the why consume super foods, where to get them & how to make incredible elixirs to nourish you!

the works for my morning match/maca/almond milk latte

Have you signed up for Seed to Health’s newsletter yet?  It is a short and sweet source of inspiration & recipes once a month.

Collards & detox

These past 2 weeks have been full of clean meals. No sugar, wheat or dairy. I call it time to rebalance. Rebalance clean eating plan, is a whole foods detox menu I created for my self and for wonderful, willing clients who want to take a break from sugar and eat nourishing seasonal foods. It is a great way to recover, rebalance and refresh from holiday mayhem. Below is an improvisation on a Rebalance lunch option, Collard wraps. I created this new version of the recipe last week when a paleo friend came to visit for lunch. I love it even more than the original brown rice version.

Collard Wraps

(a whole head of cauliflower makes about 4 collard wraps)

1 large collard leaf & 1 nori sheet- per wrap

Filling can be ANYTHING.. I used a red bell pepper, cucumber and avocado, about 4 thinly sliced spears PER wrap and enough roasted cauliflower to cover the nori sheet (1/4-1/2 cup)

Preheat oven to 400. Coarsely chop cauliflower and spread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, a pinch of salt and toss. Pop in the oven for 20 minutes. When cauliflower is finished roasting you can 1)mash it with a potato masher 2) send it through the food processor. Either way, you want it to be mashed, larger pieces may break the nori when you roll it.

Prep your fresh veggies & thinly slice them.

Rinse your collard leaves, score the main vein to make it more maliable and cut out the base stem. ( I actually blanched this leaf for my husband-30 seconds in boiling water, followed by a ice bath)

Lay the collard leaf dark green side down. Place the nori sheet on top of it. Sprinkle a little bit of water on the nori and gently rub it so that it moistens up, this way it will not tear when you roll it, noti is delicate.

Next spread a layer of cauliflower over the nori. Then place veggie spears horizontally covering about 1/3-1/2 of the cauliflower mixture.

Next, you roll, just the nori, away from you. Then take your nori roll and gently bring it back to the base of the collard and wrap the collard around it and roll away from you. This creates a very durable, holdable wrap that will not fall apart. Secure with 1-2 toothpicks or wrap in saran wrap for later.

These are delicious and one is quite filling. We had these for dinner tonight with a side of sauteed leeks & kale. Simply delicious.

Interested in a doing a gentle-5 day detox? It has been a huge hit so far and round two is coming up on Monday January, 14th. This is by no means a time for deprivation, fasting or drinking all of your meals. Rebalance is a chance to eat seasonal foods that allow your body to heal itself, you get full support, meal plan, food preparation guide.. and a FREE health consultation following the detox.

Stop by and register or drop a line to seedtohealth@gmail.com

green beans & giveaways

This salad is amazing.  It is great hot & cold.  It is so easy to make with just 5 ingredients.

The whole trimming of the green beans take some time but I recommend using scissors and doing a couple at a time.

Green Bean Salad

1 lb fresh green beans, washed, trimmed & cut into bite sized pieces (this is just my preference)

2 leeks, washed, cut into half moons

1/2 cup (packed) fresh dill

1/2 cup toasted almonds, coarsely chopped

2 T high quality extra virgin olive oil

Fill a sauce pan with water and bring to a boil. (This is to blanch the beans). While waiting for water to boil prepare green beans.  Once the water is boiling, place green beans in the water for one minute, with a slotted spoon or similar tool, transfer beans to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, for a couple of minutes, then drain them in a colander.  Set aside while you prepare the rest.

In a medium sized skillet warm your choice oil/butter. I used 2 teaspoons of extra virgin coconut oil.  Add chopped leeks & a pinch of sea salt. Saute, uncovered for about 5 minutes, occasionally stirring.  Once the leeks have softened a bit, cover and let cook for about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice. While the leeks are cooking coarsely chop almonds and dill and add them to serving bowl~ If you have a toaster, lightly toast the almonds or quickly do it in a saute pan after the leeks are done.

Leeks should be super soft & buttery.  Add beans to serving bowl and toss with leeks, dill, almonds and olive oil.

( you could also steam the leeks for about the same amount of time and get a very similar outcome)

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On to the giveaway…

 I am offering up some of my best lifestyle tips & healthy resources PLUS recipes, exercises and photos for

Be Well, an inspiration campaign.  It starts on January 1, 2013.

This is a great way to start the year off with some seriously healthy influence…

7 days, 7 topics to make you smile, think & be inspired!

It is totally free!!! Sign up at here

Spread the news, the more the merrier!

Tea & chia pudding

This morning was  leisurely, though I was not in the best of moods, I turned my attitude around by creating something delicious in the kitchen and having some delicious & warming green tea I bought in San Francisco last year. I am so thankful for being self employed, it is hard work but it allows me extra time in the morning to make delicious breakfasts and the flexibility to spend tons of time with my daughter.

So what in the world is chia pudding?

It is a wonderful protein & fiber rich breakfast, snack and dessert option. I usually have it in the morning, I usually make it at night. It offers me a ton of energy and  long lasting satiation. I have shared and improvised on this recipe nearly a million times, with wonderful results.

Here is the original recipe…

Chia pudding

1 ½ c milk (your choice almond, rice, hemp, coconut or cow)

¼ cup chia seeds

1 Tablespoon raw honey, maple syrup, palm sugar or good old fashion cane sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla (extract) or if you have a bean around scrape that!

½ teaspoon cinnamon & pinch of sea salt

Whisk all ingredient together in a bowl or jar. Make sure all chia seeds are dispersed throughout the milk, they can bond together and form a really big island. Refrigerate for 1-8 hours until it thickens.  

You can top this with shredded coconut, goji berries, sunflower seeds, almonds, blueberries, the list can go on and on.

Here is an amazing version of chia pudding, that answers all the why-to eat chia seeds questions.

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This morning I made my own rice milk (aka horchata)

This take some planning ahead.

All part of the permaculture that is my kitchen.

Soak 1/2 cup (brown) rice over night in 2 cups of water

Rinse the rice in the morning

Blend it for one minute (on high) with 3 cups of water, a pinchof salt,

2 teaspoons of palm sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg.

We like ours strained but if you are making pudding, no need to strain it, the texture will lend its self to the chia pudding.

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“There are many of us who cannot but feel dismal about the future of various cultures. Often it is hard not to agree that we are becoming culinary nitwits, dependent upon fast foods and mass kitchens and megavitamins for our basically rotten nourishment”

-MFK Fisher