Blending Comfort with Something Healthy!

School has started back up again today for me, I'm feeling excited (and a bit overwhelmed) by my schedule. It's always a bit scary to go from a long holiday vacation back into the fray. So I  was craving a little comfort food today....but still seeking a healthy and energizing option. I decided to make a yummy blender treat using:

1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
a little maple syrup

I tossed in my All-One rice based vitamin powder and a few ice cubes too. It was creamy, smooth, sweet, and absolutely delicious! You don't need a fancy blender to make this either -just a regular one will do. Treat yourself to a healthy, sweet snack once in a while. I hope everyone is having a great start the new year! 

Easy PEAsy Chana Masala

I love chana masala. It's an Indian dish made with chickpeas and it's super easy to make.
You'll need:
-Chickpeas (1 can or about 1/2 bag if you soak them) -1 1/2 Lemons -1 large Tomato -1 large Onion -3 Cloves Garlic -Orange/yellow curry -Turmeric -Red Pepper Flakes -Salt -Ginger -Oil (I use olive)
Chop the onion up and sautee it in the oil in a large pan. Add in the chopped garlic. Let that cook down about 5 minutes and then add in the chickpeas. Cut the lemons, juice them, and only add the juice. Let that cook a bit (about 5 minutes). Add in the spices. Be generous with the turmeric and curry. Add A bit of salt, ginger and red pepper. Add in chopped tomato. Let it cook about 5 more minutes. Taste everything. Add more of any spice if you wish. You can put this over quinoa, rice, or just have it on its own.
That's it! The entire dish can prepared in under 20 minutes. I like to add some humus on the side. YUM!

South Durham Farmer's Market!

Finally! A South Durham Farmer's Market...Yay! This is very exciting. Check it out here  http://www.southdurhamfarmersmarket.org/ 

• Hours:

  Open Saturdays year-round
  from 8:00a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

  Rain or Shine

• Location

  Greenwood Commons Shopping Center
  5410 Nc Highway 55
  Durham, NC 27713

Give Up The Processed Grains...For Breakfast

The hardest thing for me to adopt a more natural and wholefoods diet has been breakfast. I was craving processed waffles, cereals, bread and other processed grain products. Of course on these foods I love to put Earth Balance and even agave (both which are processed). I have been gradually making the change to mostly fruit in the morning. I know I feel a lot better when I have a fruit filled breakfast vs one that is heavy on the processed carbs, oils, and sugar.

I like to create a plate of nuts and fruit and just have my fill. It's so easy to overeat processed grains anyway. I know that I feel much better throughout the day and have more energy when I have this type of breakfast. 

How to Hide Raw Kale in a Fruit Smoothie

I made the most amazing smoothie today with my Vitamix. And it even had a bunch of Kale in it! You can basically add kale leaves (minus the real thick stems) to any fruit smoothie and it's like it's not even there! I love kale, I really do - but this makes it completely impossible to talk myself out of not adding it. I used a whole banana but I am going to try using only 1/2 a banana next time. I added in blackberries, raspberries, banana, unsweetened coconut milk, ice and 2 large leaves of kale. Best smoothie I have had in a while!

Kale is considered a super-food because it packs so many important vitamins and minerals. It's full of fiber and even has cancer fighting properties. So no more excuses! Just toss some kale into a yummy fruit smoothie and drink it down.

Quick Vegan Broccoli Slaw

This is a very simple and quick meal you can make for yourself when you are in a time crunch and you need...well..something crunchy!

1 bag of pre-washed ready-to-eat organic broccoli slaw

1 organic apple

apple cider vinegar

no-egg mayonnaise ( I like Trader Joes Brand)
Agave

Walnuts

Flax Seeds

Salt 

Small amount of Mustard (optional)

 In a large bowl add the broccoli slaw. Chop 1/2 apple into bite sized pieces and add it. You can add the entire apple if you like a lot of apple. Add in 1/4 cup walnuts and about 2 tablespoons of flax seeds. Add in about a tablespoon of vinegar. Add a 1/2 tablespoon of agave (you can always add more later). And about 1/4 cup of vegan mayo. Dash of salt. If you like mustard you can add a very small amount. 

Stir it all up. Give it a few minutes for the vinegar to go to work on those veggies and soften them a bit. 

Eat! 

feel amazing

(not optional) :)

TED Talk on Raw Food

 Matthew Kenney - "Are You Feeding Your Body or Feeding Dis-ease?"


Ex-French Chef opens a Raw Restaurant in Oklahoma 

http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxOKC-Matthew-Kenney-Are-You#.TsXKO418H7A.facebook