Almond Milk

Almond Milk

Next on our 'to make' list was Almond Milk. We blended Almonds, (soaked overnight), with water, at a ratio

of roughly 1 cup almonds to 3 cups water. We squeezed the pulp in a mesh bag (a lot of people use the Nut Milk Bag, but a simple cheesecloth or paint strainer will do as good a job for a fraction of the price!) You can then save

the precious pulp to make all sorts Great recipes. You can use it

in pretty much any recipe that calls for almonds, such as cookies or

breads. Some recipes even call specifically for almond pulp.

Another option is:

1 1/2 cups soaked almonds

3 pitted dates, soaked or 1 tablespoon agave nectar

2 1/2 cups water

Place the almonds, dates and water in a blender and process until smooth. We squeezed the pulp in a mesh bag . Discard the pulp left in strainer. Transfer the milk to a sealed and store in the refrigerator. Almond milk will keep for five days. It will separate , so shake well before using.

The five golden rules of food combining

Food combining

The five golden rules of food combining

1. Never drink with meals. Drink half an hour before a meal, and leave it as long as possible after a meal, at least two hours ideally, before drinking again. Why? Because you want the digestive juices to work perfectly, and they can’t do a proper job if you dilute them. If you have been drinking your two liters of water every day since reading part one, you should now be rehydrated, or getting there, and will be in the habit of drinking throughout the day, and not waiting until you feel thirsty. Thirst is a sign that you are already dehydrated, and you’ve left it too long. However if you do feel thirsty, on occasion, that should be your priority, whatever the period since you ate.

2. Eat concentrated protein at separate meals from concentrated starch. Why? Because a potato needs different digestive enzymes from a plate of nuts, and if you mix them up neither item will be thoroughly digested. When you consume concentrated proteins, combine with a big salad and do the same when you consume concentrated carbs. Just don’t mix the two together. This habit is easy to get into and you will feel so much lighter and more alert after eating.

3. Eat fruit separately, and certainly never as dessert. You can get away with a simple fresh fruit starter if you leave 20 or 30 minutes before eating the main course. Why? Because fruit digests much more quickly than fats, proteins and starches, and if you mix them none of it will be thoroughly utilized.

4. Eat the sweet fruits (e.g. bananas, dates, figs, ripe mangoes) separately from the acid fruits, e.g. most of the berries, and all of the citrus fruits. The ones in the middle, the sub acid fruits (apples, pears, peaches and the like) can be mixed with either the sweet fruits or the acid ones.

5. Eat melons on their own. They digest more quickly than anything else.

Eggplant Carpaccio - Appetizers

I love eggplant her is a grate recipe:

Eggplant Carpaccio

1 large eggplant

2 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive

2 clove garlic

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tsp. Himalayan salt

1 cup chopped basil

1-Prepare eggplant by slicing 1/2 inch off the top and bottom. Slice eggplant, place in a medium-size bowl

2- In blender, combine olive oil, garlic, and salt and puree into garlic oil. Pour mixer over top of eggplant and toss until well coated.

3- Place eggplant on dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 110° for 2 hrs until soft and juicy. drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Finish with chopped basil and enjoy!

Apple - Walnut Bars Trail Mix Bar

We love hiking, too! Whenever we have the chance to spend our days in nature, we go hiking.

Is great for exercise and also to expend time as a family.

Hiking is a popular, inexpensive way to get out and take a break from daily life. The health benefits of hiking are both mental and physical. The health benefits of hiking are numerous and undisputed. Of course, the only way to benefit from them is to head out and start trekking along.

This is a great recipe for a Trail mix bar

Apple - Walnut Bars

5-6 medium apples

2 cups raw walnuts

1 cup raisins or currants

1/2 cup raw agave nectar

1 table spoon ground

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1- Core apples, using a hand grater or food processor, until you have 3 full cups.

2- Grind the walnuts to a medium coarse meal in a food processor or nut and seed grinder.

3- Put the apples, walnuts, raisins,agave,cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl and stir well to blend. The mixture will be wet.

4-With your hands, form bars about 2 inches wide by 3 inches long by 1 inch tick. place the bars on the screens, allowing at least 1 inch between pieces. dehydrate at 105° for 20 to 24 hrs.

Zucchini Flax Wrap

This is a very versatile wrap that can be used for up to 30 days after preparation. Be sure to store it in the refrigerator, is very good for burritos.

Zucchini Flax Wrap

2 Large Zucchini

1 1/2 cups ground golden flaxseed

2 Tbsp. dried Italian seasoning

2 cups water

1 clove garlic

Blend all ingredients well in a blender until thick and creamy.

Flaxseed will cause the mixture to thicken, so be sure to transfer to covered dehydrator trays as quickly as possible. dehydrate at 110º for 4-6 hors.

Buckwheat Breakfast

Buckwheat Breakfast

This is a great Breakfast

2 c. buckwheat groats - 8 soaked pitted dates

1 c. each apple or pear juice and sprouted buckwheat
1 apple, coarsely diced
2 T. shredded coconut
In a large bowl, cover buckwheat groats and dates with water and soak overnight at room temperature. Drain buckwheat and dates, reserving 1 cup of liquid. Blend reserved liquid, buckwheat, and dates together with apple juice and apple. Top with coconut, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add other dried fruits, nuts and seeds to taste. Serves 2.

Top 10 Reasons to Banish Soda - by Shilo Urban

Soda is the unofficial drink of America. While in most other countries they enjoy a tiny bottle of the sweet stuff as an afternoon treat, here in the States we consume bucket-size Big Gulps on a daily basis, sell cans of the sticky syrup out of machines at elementary schools and treat free refills at dinner like a God-given right.

Soda is liquid candy. Actually, soda is a frothy mix of carbonated water, caramel coloring, phosphoric acid, natural flavorings, high fructose corn syrup and caffeine.

That is a pretty potent combination, and one we all know and love. However what you might not know is what those ingredients do to the human body. It’s not pretty, which is why doctors and nutritionists across the board agree that there is almost nothing redeeming health-wise about soda pop.

Drinking soda is just a bad habit, and one that you can break. Need a reason to put down that can? Here are ten.

1. Soda increases the risk of obesity. New studies have proven what has long been thought: people who drink a can or more of soda per day are almost a third more likely to be overweight. A can of soda contains 120 to 190 completely empty calories, and by promoting weight gain, soda also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, an ailment that has tripled in our country over the last 30 years.


2. Soda is highly acidic and may cause osteoporosis. The pH level of soda water is roughly the same as vinegar; it is the most highly acidic beverage you can buy. Pour pop on metal and it will rust. Acid oxidizes things, and once inside your body, the high level of phosphorus actually leaches calcium from your bones, contributing towards osteoporosis. Broken bones are more common in children who drink a lot of soda versus those that do not.


3. Soda makes you burp and fart. Unless you are a 7^th grade boy, you probably want to avoid introducing extra flatulence in your life.


4. Soda is a sugar bomb that throws your body system off balance. One can of soda is packed with twelve teaspoons of sugar, more than the recommended amount for an entire day. Consuming this much sugar at once prompts your pancreas to produce a ton of insulin, which weakens the immune system and leaves you susceptible to disease.


5. Soda rots your teeth. The phosphoric acid that causes metal to rust also dissolves tooth enamel, especially when combined with sugar. Once you lose tooth enamel, there is no going back- just a lifetime of brown smiles.


6. Diet soda is still soda. Many people think diet soda is a healthy alternative to regular soda due to its lack of sugar, however this is not true. Artificial sweeteners interfere with your natural ability to regulate caloric intake; your body only recognizes ‘sweet’ and will crave more. In the body aspartame breaks down into methanol, a type of alcohol that the ancient Egyptians used for embalming, and saccharin is a petroleum derivative known to cause bladder cancer in rates. Thirsty?


7. Soda is the drink of sheep. Americans overwhelmingly drink soda for one reason: because it’s there. Soda is everywhere: vending machines at the office, restaurant tables, grocery store checkout lanes, preschool parties, bluegrass music shows – where there are people, there is soda. Soda is always convenient to grab when you are thirsty, and drinking it is a habit requiring little thought process, only herd-like behavior. If everyone was consuming a beverage known to cause massive health problems, weight gain and belching, would you drink it too? Don’t jump off the proverbial cliff- you are smarter than that.


8. Sodas with caffeine are addictive. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and can cause insomnia, stress and of course- the jitters. This addictive substance is also a diuretic, which can cause dehydration and frequent urination, putting your kidneys into overdrive (which can cause kidney stones) and prompting your liver to turn any extra sugar into belly fat.


9. Soda companies market unhealthy drinks to children. Soda marketers spend almost $500 million per year to reach children and adolescents- more than any other category. Do you really want to support an industry like that? Didn’t think so.


10. Soda replaces healthier beverage options. Guzzling soda all day instead of drinking organic milk, green tea or fruit juice not only dumps plenty of junk into your body, it also denies you the nutrients you would have received from the healthier beverages. Soda has no nutritional value whatsoever.

TIPS ON KICKING THE CAN:

Although giving up soda completely is a worthy goal, going cold turkey can be a bit daunting. You don’t have to give up soda completely to make a drastic change in your health.

• “Rethink” soda as a special treat, instead of a thirst-quencher or mealtime beverage. Enjoy soda on rare occasions, like with popcorn for a night at the movies. Drink it slowly and savor every sip. Change the way your mind perceives soda, and your body will reap the benefits
• Ditch diet soda. Don’t kid yourself- it is really bad for you. Instead, drink all the green tea and fresh water you want, and throw in a slice of citrus if you need a flavor kick.
• Just don’t buy it. This one smart move will keep the liquid candy out of your house and out of your body.
• Clean the toilet. Soda works fantastically to clean the toilet bowl, so try it out for a first-person look at its corrosive qualities. Still not convinced? Soda will take the rust off your car’s bumper as well.

Sources:

Public Health Advocacy

UCLA