Wildflower: I haven't made the raw apple pie in eons. I'm going to get on it this weekend because I plan on starting the cleanse next Monday. I'm glad I popped in here to take a look around.
Cheers & love,
~Res
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
I have some YUMMY recipes -
Thai noodles
coconut meat sliced into "noodles"
bell pepper
carrots
bean sprouts
and any other veggies you have on hand!
peanut sauce:
1/2 cup cashew butter or almond butter
Soy sauce - nama shoyu 1tbsp
ginger to taste
2 cloves garlic
1tbsp maple syrup
two tbsp olive oil
and BLEND
add water if mixture too thick
This recipe is SO tasty!
I made chocolate pudding that was so delicious -
Avocado
Raw Carob powder
Mix and make you tummy happy!
Frozen bananas blended in the blender tast just like ice cream
I like to add nut butters and carob powder and even coconut
The 6 Healthiest Staple Foods in Italian Cuisine
by www.SixWise.com
Italian cuisine is far more complex than the pizza, pasta and lasagna for which it's famous in America. In fact, depending on the region -- Rome, Tuscany, Sicily, etc. -- you may find polenta or risotto instead of pasta, lamb instead of seafood or flatbread vs. thicker-crust pizza.
Also, in stark contrast to America, in Italy meals are a lengthy process, meant to be savored (though more fast-food restaurants are creeping in to the bigger cities). A typical Italian meal would start with antipasto and be followed by a pasta course (or polenta, risotto or soup), then a meat, seafood or vegetable dish. Next may come a salad, a fruit and cheese course, and a sweet dessert.
Trying some healthy Italian favorites in your own kitchen does not have to be complicated, though. Check out these six Italian staple foods below -- some of the healthiest foods on their menus -- then try your hand at the tasty recipes below.
1. Tomatoes Â*
Whether in sauce or soups, sun-dried or fresh, tomatoes are a mainstay of Italian cooking. This was not always the case, though. Since tomatoes are a part of the nightshade family, people once thought they were poisonous and kept them strictly for decoration purposes in their gardens. It wasn't until the 16th century that tomatoes became a food source in Europe and Italy.
Health Benefits: Aside from being rich in vitamins C, A and K, tomatoes contain lycopene, a carotenoid with potent antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties. Lycopene protects cells from oxygen damage, fights colorectal, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers, and reduces your risk of heart disease.
Studies have found that the synergy between phytonutrients and lycopene in tomatoes, rather than an isolated nutrient, is what's responsible for their benefits.
Cooked tomatoes are a more concentrated source of lycopene than raw ones, and lycopene is better absorbed when they're cooked with a little oil, making Italian sauces an ideal source.
2. Oregano
This herb is used in Italian sauces, soups, pizzas and vegetables, either fresh or dried, for its warm, intense and aromatic flavor.
Health Benefits: Two compounds in oregano, thymol and carvacrol, have potent antibacterial properties. The herb is also a potent antioxidant, rich in phytonutrients. On a per gram basis, fresh oregano has:
42 times more antioxidant activity than apples
30 times more than potatoes
12 times more than oranges
4 times more than blueberries
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Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
Garlic is used in many Italian dishes (but, as a relief to those non-garlic fans out there, not all). You may find it sliced on pizza, cooked in sauces, rubbed onto bread, or served as marinated whole cloves with olives.
Health Benefits: Garlic, a member of the onion family, has many potent health-promoting properties. Many of these benefits (and its characteristic smell) stem from its sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin. Garlic has been found to:
Lower blood pressure
Lower LDL (bad) cholesterol
Prevent atherosclerosis
Reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
Be antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory
Act as a potent antibiotic
Fight cancer
Protect against the side effects of diabetes
Help prevent weight gain
Provide antioxidant protection
4. Olives and Olive Oil
Olives are one of the oldest foods known, and it's thought that they've been used for food for some 7,000 years. Whole olives are used in many cooked Italian dishes, salads and antipasto, and olive oil is a part of just about every meal. Italian olive oils have been compared to fine wines in the number of different varieties and flavors they represent.
Confused about olive oil grades? Extra virgin is the unrefined oil from the first pressing, and usually indicates a higher quality oil than virgin olive oil.
Health Benefits: Olives contain healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that have been found to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.
Olives and olive oil also contain antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids and vitamin E. This combination has been found to help fight colon cancer and heart disease, as well as reduce inflammation.
5. Artichokes
Artichokes are much more common in Italian cuisine than they are in America, and with good reason. Artichokes can be stuffed, steamed, served with sauce or with pasta, and eaten with salads, all with a unique flavor.
The artichoke is actually the unopened flower from a thistle-like plant. Typically, only the fleshy, tender portion at the bottom of each leaf is eaten, along with the heart of the artichoke, which is considered a delicacy (you can buy canned artichoke hearts as well).
The variety of artichoke common to Italian foods is the globe artichoke or the baby artichoke. (The Jerusalem artichoke is actually not an artichoke.)
Health Benefits: Artichokes are an excellent source of magnesium, folic acid, fiber and vitamin C.
6. Basil
Basil is an important part of pesto, a favorite Italian sauce of basil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil and garlic, usually served with pasta, but basil is also used as a flavor-enhancing herb in many other Italian dishes.
Health Benefits: Basil contains flavonoids that protect cells from radiation and oxidative damage. It also contains potent volatile oils that are anti-bacterial and effective at warding off unwanted bacteria, as well as contain anti-inflammatory properties. Basil is also a good source of iron, calcium and vitamin A.
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Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
3 Cups Loosely Packed Fresh Basil
3 Tablespoons Pine Nuts, Lightly Toasted in the Oven
2 Cloves of Garlic
3/4 Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt to Taste
Place basil, nuts, garlic and salt in the food processor, and process 1 minute.
Slowly start pouring in the olive oil until you reach the desired consistency.
Add the cheese, and mix well.
Makes about 1 1/2 cups of pesto.
Source: Deborah Mele, Italian Food Forever
Artichokes in Tomato Sauce
8 Medium Artichokes
1 Medium Onion
Salt & Pepper
2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 (28 oz) Can Chopped Tomatoes
1/2 Cup Fresh Parsley, Chopped
Clean the artichokes by removing the tough outer leaves and stem, ensuring a flat bottom to enable them to sit upright in a pot.
Cut off about 1/3 from the top, and remove the prickly choke from inside.
Place the cleaned artichoke immediately in a bowl of water with a little lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
Cut the artichokes into wedges and leave in the lemon water until ready to use.
Season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 45 minutes or until the artichokes are fork tender.
If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little water as needed. Serve warm or at room temperature with the fresh parsley sprinkled on top.
Pretty sure I drooled...
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
Wasn't quite sure where to put this, so it's going here for now. Â*This is kind of hilarious to me. Â*I *hate* *loathe* *detest* & Â**despise* Shopping, but read what they say about the health benefits :
Shopping as a Form of Therapy? According to Some Research, You Bet!
by www.SixWise.com
There seem to be two camps when it comes to shopping -- those who go into withdrawal if they don't do it regularly, and those who will stop at nothing to avoid it. Those in the former group will be thrilled to learn what they probably already feel: shopping can be good for you.
Women shop longer when they're with another woman than when they're with children, men or by themselves.
At the heart of the matter is that finding the pantsuit that makes you feel professional or the shoes that make you feel sexy causes mood-enhancing chemicals to be released in your brain.
That's right. The same chemicals that are released when we exercise, eat a piece of chocolate (mmm, chocolate ), or fall in love are also released when we shop. The two chemicals at play are serotonin, which is closely related to mood (low levels are linked to depression) and dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates desire and gives us an intense feeling of pleasure.
A Shopper's High
Dopamine, in particular, appears to play a role in why people can become addicted to shopping. It seems that, to those who enjoy it, shopping induces a "high" feeling. The better that this feeling is, the more we want to experience it again.
"You're getting a release of a chemical in the brain which is associated with learning, with making new memories, and with learning behaviors and how to repeat them," said David Sulzer, an associate professor at Columbia University Medical Center.
Shopping for Self-Worth
Perhaps you've saved for months, and finally have enough to purchase a coveted high-definition television. Or, you find those perfect figure-flattering jeans, or invest in some scented candles to soothe your nerves at the end of the day.
Get Your Own Shopper's High Right Now
Looking for that certain something to help you be safe, live longer and prosper? Sixwise.com has everything you need, from aromatherapy bath salts for you, to radon test kits for your home. (oh geez, sorry about this one :)
Enjoy a relaxing shopping experience by perusing the good-for-you, wellness-promoting categories that appeal to you.
First Aid/Pain Care
Safe Skin Care
Women's Health
Bath/Shower
Home Cleaning Products
Educational Toys
Pest Control
CD's/DVD's
Home Safety
Mats/Rugs
Upon leaving the store with your purchase, you feel good -- you're successful, attractive, worthy of some pampering.
"Shopping is an easy way to assert self-worth, one of the simplest ways," says Judith Mueller, executive director of The Women's Center in Vienna, Virginia.
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Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
Particularly among women, shopping presents a unique opportunity to share opinions, boost each other's self-esteem and talk -- all of which can be as beneficial as any form of therapy or stress relief.
In fact, when women shop with another female companion, a study found they shop longer than when they're with children, alone or with a man.
"When two women shop together, they talk, advise, suggest and consult to their heart's content, hence the long time in the store," said Paco Underhill, who ran the study and also authored "Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping."
"Shopping has always been a form of therapy, and I think this has both positive and negative implications," he says. "Women get an enormous amount of pleasure from the act of looking, and it's an escape."
When Shopping Goes Wrong
Shopping can, indeed, boost your self-worth and self-esteem, help you nurture your inner desires for a more comfortable home or a creative outlet -- even help you develop deeper relationships with your shopping buddies. But there are also ways in which shopping can be taken too far, and end up harming rather than helping you.
According to the American Psychological Association, an estimated 15 million Americans are compulsive shoppers, meaning they can't control how much they shop. Some 90 percent of compulsive shoppers are women.
Not knowing when to say when while shopping can quickly bring on a whole new set of problems in your life, including debt, feelings of guilt, anxiety over how to pay bills, a sense of losing control and more. How do you know if shopping has become a problem for you?
Shopping has become your only way of rewarding yourself.
You have an underlying depression or loneliness, and you're spending more and more to make yourself feel better.
Shopping (at stores or online) is interfering with your work or relationships.
You can't resist going shopping, even when you should be doing something else.
You have to spend more and more to enjoy the shopping experience.
Your spending has gotten out of control, your credit card debts are high and you don't know how to get out of debt.
Healthy Shopping Tips
Want to be sure that shopping remains a pleasant pastime in your life, and not a source of bankruptcy or financial stress? Use these tips to stay in the clear.
Shop only with cash so you can't overspend.
Try window shopping -- if you can't resist, leave your wallet at home or only carry a small amount of cash.
Stay away from impulse purchases, especially high-priced ones or those that can't be returned.
If you find that you spend more than you should when you're with a particular person, avoid shopping with that person.
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
No Bake Carrot Cake (From some London people so spelling and references are going to be a bit Brit. )
*References to "Chet" means Chet Day. www.chetday.com. Well worth a visit.
Its wonderful moist rich tasting cake and no baking either.
1/2 cup of soft pitted dates
1/2 cup of drained chopped frozen or frsh pineapple
3/4 cup of dried apples
1 cup of carrot pulp
1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of allspice
Puree the dates and pineapple. Grind the apples till fine and mix all ingredients together.
Shape into two layer 'cakes' about 6 inches
round.
Assemble the layers one on the other with frosting between and on top.
Chet's cream frosting is easy but takes 12 hours and the family wouldn't wait till tomorrow. You put equal parts of soaked and rinsed cashews, and water and blend until creamy.
Then put into a mesh bag over night to produce a cream cheese, which can be flavoured with a couple of dates to 1/2 cup of cheese and 1/2 teaspoon of almond
extract, and he suggests sweetening with rice bran syrup, whatever that is. It must be specifically American and I guess honey would have to substitute over here.
Well worth the effort and the tops for a treat meal.
Cheers!
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
4 stalks celery, sliced
1 green onion, minced
Minced parsley
2 large tomatoes
1/2 cup grated nuts (walnut or pecan)
Cut the tomatoes in small pieces and mix with the celery
and green onion and parsley.
Add a mixture of orange and lemon juice as dressing. Use lettuce leaves as a bed for this salad and sprinkle with grated nuts.
---
GAZPACHO SALAD
1/2 cup cooked brown rice OR soak rice for 48 hours
2 seeded/diced tomatoes
1 seeded/diced cucumber
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tbs red-wine vinegar
1 tbs minced garlic
Romaine or Red leaf lettuce
In blender combine 1 cup tomatoes, 1/2 cucumber, 2 tbs
onion, minced garlic and 1 tsp vinegar. In bowl combine
rice and 2 tsp vinegar. Toss well. Add remaining veggies.
Toss until combined. Refrigerate up to 4 hours. Serve on
top of lettuce leaves.
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
1 cup any sprouts you have on hand (alfalfa, lentil,
sunflower, or other)
1 cucumber, diced
2-3 scallions, chopped
3 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs tahini
1 clove garlic
Pinch cayenne
Put the salad ingredients in a serving bowl. In a small
bowl mix the lemon juice, tahini, and garlic minced with
the salt. Add pinch of cayenne. Whisk together well.
Pour dressing over salad and toss to blend flavors
---
WALDORF SALAD
Apples, cubed
Walnuts, chopped
Raisins or grapes
Avocado
Mix with fruit juice to moisten. Top with grated coconut
if desired.
---
CARROT-SPROUT SALAD
1 cup sprouts, whatever kind you have handy
2 cups grated carrots
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
3 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs olive oil
pinch cayenne
Put salad ingredients in serving bowl. Blend dressing
ingredients in small bowl. Whisk to blend. Toss dressing
and salad and let sit 20 minutes before serving. Serves
four.
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
Re: LemonHead Recipe Box
Healthy things grow, Growing things change, Real growth is measureable.
), or fall in love are also released when we shop. The two chemicals at play are serotonin, which is closely related to mood (low levels are linked to depression) and dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates desire and gives us an intense feeling of pleasure.
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