All Posts for June 2009

Bring on a Summer Breakfast – June 2009

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

Summer time is a perfect time to enjoy fresh fruits in season. Since many fruits are heavily sprayed, with peaches supposedly receiving the heaviest pesticides, I urge you to purchase organic fruits, especially those with thin skins and/or that cannot be peeled. The three recipes below are all made with organic fruit.

Ginger Peachy Smoothie

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(This photo does not show the delicate pink color of the smoothie. You’ll just have to try it yourself!)

Utensils: Cutting board & knife, blender
Prep. Time: About 5 minutes
Cooking Time: None!
Category: Vegan (if you use non-dairy beverages)

Ingredients:
3/4 c. liquid (orange juice, apple juice, etc. or non-dairy beverage)
(If you use thick yogurt, you may have to use 1/2 c. yogurt with 1/4 c. water or juice to dilute)
one ripe, organic peach, washed and sliced with the pit removed
*1/2 tsp. fresh ginger
One scoop protein powder (optional)

Directions
Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and buzz until smooth.
Feel free to add other fruits, such as fresh berries, especially raspberries and strawberries. you will have to use 1/2 peach or add more liquid if you still use a whole peach.

Notes about fresh ginger from www.theepicentre.com/Spices/ginger.html
Ginger is native to India and China. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word stringa-vera, which means “with a body like a horn”, as in antlers. Ginger has been important in Chinese medicine for many centuries, and is mentioned in the writings of Confucius. It is also named in the Koran, the sacred book of the Moslems, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650 A.D. It was one of the earliest spice known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper. A common article of medieval and Renaissance trade, it was one of the spices used against the plague.

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*Hint about peeling ginger from Chef Keith at MANNA, where I volunteer.
Use an ordinary teaspoon to peel away the skin of the ginger. Just drag the curved sides or point of the spoon over the root and the skin should come off easily. You can then chop and blend the ginger with a little oil and store in a jar in the ‘frig. Chef Keith says it willlast a long time and you will be able to know when it is no longer usable.


Breakfast Parfait

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Utensils: Cutting board & knife.
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: None!
Category: Dairy & Gluten Free

Ingredients
1/4 cup each of fresh, ripe, organic blueberries, strawberries (sliced), & raspberries or blackberries
3/4 cup (Greek) yogurt (Greek yogurt is thicker.)
Unsweetened coconut, lightly toasted (optional)
1 T. flaxseed, ground
maple syrup to taste, if needed

Directions
1. Wash, drain and slice the strawberries. Add to other berries ina bowl.
2. Using parfait or wine glasses, place a small amount of yogurt at the bottom of the glass, sprinkle on some coconut (if using) and ground flaxseed, add some fruit and repeat until all the yogurt and fruit are gone.

Notes: This parfait can be served as a dessert, as well. And if you are vegan, you can use a nopn-dairy sour cream.
Also, feel free to use ground nuts, other fruits in season, and granola if you like.

Each of these two recipes was for a single serving. IF you are making it for company or family, just double, triple or quadruple the recipe as needed.

Chilled Rice Salad with Sprouted Lentils

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

This recipe is the companion to my article on sprouts in Health Flashes/Special Reports

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Utensils: Pot for rice, cutting board & knife, serving bowl
Prep. Time: 15 minutes when using chilled rice, already cooked
Cooking time: 30 minutes to make the rice the day before
Category: Vegan

Ingredients
1-2 cups cooked brown rice (Short grain is nuttier than long grain, so I like short-grain.)
1/4-1/2 cups minced vegetables in seasons, ex. spring onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, etc.
1/2 cup sprouted lentils (See quick instructions below.*) & if available, baby greens cut down
Oil & lemon juice or dressing of your own
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions
1. Cook rice the day before or earlier in the day, bringing 2 cups of water to a boil and adding rinsed rice, stirring once when it boils again. Cover and simmer ’til all water is absorbed, about 25 minutes. (Short grain rice takes less time than long-grain.) Spread rice onto a pan and refrigerate ’til cold; then put in bowl and cover.
(Note: If you want your lentils to be soft instead of chewy, add the sprouted lentils to the rice when it is done cooking and the heat will soften them. Then you can chill the lentils and the rice together.)
2. Remove chilled rice and sprouted lentils from ‘frig. Add minced veggies, oil and lemon juice, salt & pepper, and toss gently. Serve chilled.

Note:The amount of veggies, rice, and sprouts is at your discretion. I like a lot of veggies, so I may use as much as one cup of minced veggies. I also love sprouted lentils, so I usually use about one cup. Make the proportions to your liking.

* Sprouting Lentils
1. Buy organic lentils in a health food store. (Supermarket lentils in plastic bags don’t always sprout well.) Soak at least one cup overnight in cool water, making sure you use more than enough water to cover the lentils, since they swell and absorb the water.
2. Next day, drain and place in a colander over a bowl and allow to sprout, rinsing once or twice each day. (You can also grow them in a jar with a net, but in warmer weather, I like to use a colander so that the sprouts don’t get mushy.)
3. Depending on the time of year, little tails should emerge from the lentils in about 1 1/2 days. Grow the tails only as long as the diameter of the lentil or they will get too “hairy.”
4. Once they are long enough, place in a covered jar in the ‘frig. To eat, steam lightly for about 2 minutes or add to cooked grains to soften. Sprouted lentils are much more nutritious than their unsprouted counterparts.

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