BBQ Tofu

Make this real quick BBQ Tofu and enjoy it in a sandwich.

Tofu - 1 packet , cut into 1/4 inch slices
BBQ Sauce - 2 tablespoons
Soy Sauce - 1/2 tablespoon
Olive Oil

In a skillet, heat the oil, add the BBQ sauce and Soy Sauce, allowing it to thicken a little. Layer the slices of tofu on the skillet and cover it with a lid. Turn the heat to medium and let it cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove the lid and flip the tofu slices. Replace the lid and cover it for another 7 minutes. When the sauce completely thickens and sticks to the tofu, turn off the heat.

Remove tofu from the pan and enjoy it in a sandwich on a bun spread with yummy Nayonnaise (Dairy Free Soy Mayonnaise)

Beets

In my CSA share this week, I got beautiful ruby red beets with fresh beet leaves.

In addition to writing my experience with beets, I have some recipes I would like to share.

Beets are very high in sugar which makes them extremely alkaline. My experience of beet juice is extremely powerful. Drinking beet juice cleansed my body of not only physical impurities, but also deep emotional stuff. If you are looking to do a cleanse with juicing, you can consider juicing with beets but it is important to sense into how your body is reacting to it. If it gets too much, slow it down.

I like a root vegetable medley of carrots, potatoes and beets, baked with olive oil.

1. Grease a 9 inch tray with olive oil and layer 1 cup slices of a carrot, a potato and a beet. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Check if the veggies are cooked by using a tooth pick or a fork. If the veggies need to be cooked further, then add about 1/8 cup water and cover them with a foil and bake for another 5-7 minutes. Once cooked, you can sprinkle some garlic powder, Herbamare, lemon juice and garam masala (optional) and relish the veggies.

2. I love steamed beets with goat cheese. A salad of mixed greens with steamed beets and goat cheese tastes delicious.

3. You can also add the chopped beet greens into yellow split pea soup.
- 1/2 cup yellow split peas dry
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup chopped beet greens or mustard greens
- 1 green pepper hot
- 2-3 cloves of garlic chopped
- salt to taste

Add all the ingredients in a pot, cover it with a lid and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check if the split peas are cooked. If they are, then turn off the stove and let it sit covered with a lid. Once the soup is ready to be served, optionally add butter or Earth Balance before serving.

Coconut Cilantro Chutney

To make yummy chutney that you can have as a dip or a spread, add all the following ingredients into a blender and blend it into a smooth paste.

1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 bunch cilantro
1/4 inch ginger piece
3 small hot peppers
1/4 cup water
1 tsp agave
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
5-6 cashews (optional)

It even tastes good on bread :)

Organic Kale sauteed with Avocado Oil

1 bunch of Kale
2 fresh carrots chopped
1/8 cup fresh basil leaves chopped (optional)
5 cloves chopped garlic
1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 tablespoon agave syrup

Heat avocado oil, add the chopped garlic and saute until brown. Add carrots, kale, basil and 1/4 cup water and steam the veggies by covering the pot. After about 5 mins, add soy sauce and agave syrup. Mix the veggies, cover the pot for another 5 minutes and turn the stove off and let the veggies steam.

Enjoy!

Organic Food Bar

If you need a healthy filling snack made with real ingredients then you gotta have the Organic Food Bar. I have tried so many different kinds of bars and all I tasted was chemicals. Some tasted like candles while some others...I don't think I can describe the taste, did it even have a taste? I only ate them because at some point in my life I was hooked on a high protein diet and wanted to get my daily feed of protein so I ate protein bars as meal replacements.

I was suggested initially by a friend to try these Organic Food Bars. They are filling, nutritious, taste great and they have a considerable amount of protein derived from vegetarian source. What I love the most about these bars are that they are natural and the ingredients are real. It is sweetened by a natural sweetener called Agave syrup, which is very low in Glycemic Index.

The bars are high in calorie, one bar is about 310 calories. I usually have half a bar and save the rest. Since the bar has real ingredients, it is quite filling.

I love the Belgium Chocolate Chip flavor the best, but they have many flavors. The only flavor I don't like is the one called Protein. It has extra protein made up of brown rice protein. I don't like brown rice protein and this flavor has a distinct taste of powdery brown rice protein. All the other flavors are great.

http://www.organicfoodbar.com/

So next time you are craving for something sweet, try an Organic Belgium Chocolate Chip Food Bar made with almond butter, sprouts, agave syrup and pieces of chocolate chips that makes this bar so delicious.

Spelt

 
What is Spelt?

Spelt is a grain that comes from the wheat family but is used as a safe substitute to wheat by those who have wheat allergies and wheat intolerance.

Does Spelt have Gluten?

Spelt does have spelt gluten. It is different than wheat gluten but yes, it has gluten and thus spelt is not appropriate for gluten-free diets.

Spelt Products

Spelt can be used for pretty much anything to bake with. I use spelt flour to make muffins, cookies etc. It tastes very much like wheat. The good thing about spelt is it does not get very doughy, like some of the white breads made from wheat flour.

I started eating spelt because of wheat intolerance but I have now started to like the taste of spelt and love many of the spelt prepared products. One of which is the yummy Sesame Spelt Sticks; they are crunchy and delicious and make a healthy snack. I warn you to eat responsibly in small quantities as they are quite addictive.


http://shilohfarms.com/productDetails.php?navid=271&itemNumber=244346

I m also very fond of spelt breads made by Berlin Natural Bakery. Their White Spelt Bread tastes like any other white bread with the benefit of the healthy Spelt grain that feels so good in the stomach.

http://store.berlinnaturalbakery.com/store.html


Spelt Pizza

If you live in or around Manhattan or you ever come by, you have got to try this pizza place called Cafe Viva, that makes natural pizza crusts from different doughs and my favorite one is the one made with spelt. The crust is crispy, wholesome and out of this world. Now, it is not a crust you would compare to your regular Italian pizza but it has a taste of its own.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-viva-natural-pizza-new-york

Mother Earth feeds us with several different kinds of grains, fruits and vegetables, all we need to do is explore our options. Eat Healthy, Eat Natural and Listen to your Body.

Spring Salad with Pears and Walnuts

1/2 head of green lettuce - chopped roughly
2 cups of mixed greens
4-5 Walnuts
1/2 pear cut into small pieces
Cherry Tomatoes - 5 cut into halves
Cucumber 1/4 cup cut into small pieces

Optional - Steamed Asparagus chopped into small pieces with 1/4 tablespoon olive oil and salt

Dressing - 1 tablespoon white wine of your choice, 1/4 tablespoon lime juice and 1 teaspoon Herbamare

Mix the greens, pear, walnuts, tomatoes and cucumber in a big bowl. Add the optional Asparagus. Mix the ingredients for the dressing, pour it over the salad and mix it thoroughly.

Enjoy the nutty taste of walnuts along with the sweet taste of pears mildly distracted by sour sweet taste of the cherry tomatoes. The dressing enhances the fresh green leaves of lettuce, making it juicier
than ever.

What is Herbamare?

Herbamare is a flavorful table salt prepared with fresh organically grown herbs. It contains a perfect balance of herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, kelp, garlic along with sea salt, giving the salt a mild flavor and yet not taking it away from its natural taste. I call it the salt with a boost. I enjoy Herbamare on steamed veggies, use it on fresh avocado or make a simple dressing of lime juice, Herbamare and olive oil. Next time something calls for a salt, try the flavorful seasoned salt, Herbamare.