Artisan Love

 

Burlap Pillow - photo from this cute blog. 

My Artisan Inspriation this week led me to purchase our very own return address stamp! Picture above.

I am in LOVE and cannot wait for it to arrive - I have to run out now and get every color ink pad in the rainbow and start getting my pen ready for card marathons!

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Not your Average Cup-o-Joe: Coffee Enemas

Find all you want to know about the benefits of coffee enemas and more here.

I speak from experience when I say, roto-rootering your colon gives you way more of a java perk than the average vanilla latte! And makes you feel lighter!  If you have the desire to boldly cleanse your liver and blood stream of toxins - this cup of joe is brewed just for you!

Any comments are welcome from those who have brazenly attempted this cleanse before, or from those who are curious - questions are welcome :)

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I Got it Right...or so I thought...

Do you ever have those days, or days that turn into the nights, where you just canNOT seem to do anything right? Or is it just me? Ok, well, allow me to explain why the past two nights, my sweet husband has taken it upon himself to be the chef for our eveing meals.

Let me lay out the procedural history first, as any lawyer would when briefing the Court or Client:

It all started Monday morning; I had a doctor appointment in the AM which didn't go that well - and what I mean but that is, it is never a good sign when your mother actually gets up and leaves the room mid-visit, and then, the doctor actually leaves the room promising to return, but then never does.  True story.

Then I drove 50+ miles to work, 40+ miles to Trader Joe's after work to pick up items that are way too expensive to get at Mother's (side note: don't you just love how you have to go to at least THREE grocery stores to get all the damn food for two people to eat healthy for a week?)

After TJ's I sped home, exhausted.  I lugges the bags up the stairs, unpacked all the groceries and put them in the fridge, and then began cooking right away.  When I had last left B, it was after the doctor appointment where he said he would be home for dinner around 8:30pm.  So I had about an hour.  I was excited to get going on a tasty meal that he could come home to.  I decided on flavorful quinoa and a raw veggie mix.  I also thought I'd heat up the breast of chicken leftover in the ziplock baggie in the fridge from, oh I don't know, about a week ago for B.

I boiled 2 cups organic chicken broth on the stove, poured a cup of quinoa in it, along with some chopped onions, minced garlic cloves, and let it cook.  To my utter glee, when I lifted the pan lid, I saw beautiful fluffy quinoa flakes, light and steamy.  I was so excited because this was the first time I had ever successfully cooked quinoa (despite numerous previous attempts which shall remain a mystery).  I ground some Himalayan salt into the pan and fluffed.

As for the raw veggie mix, I chopped cucombers, mushrooms, and added 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. fresh salsa,  ground pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.

The chicken, I must admit, was a bit of an afterthought, hence the plastic looking overlay of over-broiled and then cooled cheese shown in Exhibit A to the right.

See, 8:30 came and went, and before I knew it, I had eaten the quinoa and veggies, nearly fallen asleep 3 times on the couch, and around 9:45 B walked in.  I told him his dinner was warming in the oven - and had been for an hour.  He said it smelled good.  I was grateful for that compliment.  THen he sat down, ate one, maybe two bites, and started packing up his plate in a leftover container. 

I put my hand on my hip and said, "Um - exauuuuuuse me? What are you doing? You don't like it?"
Response: Is this the chicken from a week ago?
"Yea."
Is it still good?
"I don't knowww! Why arent you eating the dinner I slaved over for you?! I am so tired! Why do I even bother trying to cook if you aren't even going to eat it!
I'm not hungry! I had a few beers.  I love it though babe and I'll have it for lunch tomorrow (sans chicken which was now face down in the trash)
"I'm glad you had a nice barley and hops nutritional and well -balanced meal!"  I proceeded to slump off to the bathroom for a bath to calm my fuming nerves. 

It only took 2 days later for me to get the truth.  The next day, when I got home from work I discovered the container of quinoa still in the fridge.  I looked at B and asked him point blank - what did you have for lunch today, and then darted between him, container, him, container, until he finally confessed "Ok I didn't like it!"

And therein lies the story for why B has been cooking the past two nights.  And can I just say, what a fantastic cook that little gipper is? I will post his fantastic RAW and gluten free Vegan meals tomorrow.


And on another note, I have been recently hearing and reading a lot about the benefits of Himalayan salt.  Also, the girl at the supplement counter at Mother's Market tonight was going on and on about how important the acidity and alkalinity in our bodies is and how it can affect inflammation .  I stood there trying to determine what cold water fish variety I wanted (Cod Liver, Krill, Salmon, etc) and half listened to her probing me for answers about whether I had ever tested my pH. 

However, in my ever persistent and cyclical jounrey to achieve balance and wellness in an anti-inlammatory body, I listened to her advice and pointers regarding supplements and vowed to go home and research. Turns out, my pink Himalayan salt I just started using can have an affect on acidity and alkalinity! AH - my mind hurts at all this supplemental crap!

Watch this video if you want to learn more about acid/alkaline balance in the body, and this guy has plenty more on YouTube if you fancy him.

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Raw Beauty

What's all the hype about, eh? I found myself reading "The kind diet" as I was in Barnes and Noble the other night, and also researching and learning about the people who have tried Raw diets, the people who rave about them, and understanding the break down of the different Raw - food lingo! See below....

"I DO EAT healthily – mostly RAW and VEGAN food with no dairy," says Fox.

Other known Actors who follow variations of Raw food diets:

• Woody Harrelson;
• Lisa Bonet;
• Robin Williams;
• Alicia Silverstone;
• Charlie Trotter;
• Uma Thurman;
• Nathalie Porman.

Singers:

• Sting;
• Beyonce;
• David Bowie.

Other:

• Donna Karan (Designer);
• Charlie Trotter (Chicaco Based Celebrity Chef;
• Jack Lalanne (The famous 90 fitness trainer and juicer) ;
• Carol Alt (Elite Top Model);
• Steve Jobs (Apple CEO

De-coding "RAW SPEAK":
 Beegan:                   My personal favorite: Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, legumes, and honey!

	Raw foodism	Food from all food groups, heated to temps below 120 degrees
	Raw veganism	Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains and legumes
	Raw vegetarianism	Fruits, vegetables, sprouts, seeds, grains, legumes, dairy, eggs, honey
	Fruitarianism	Fruits, nuts, seeds, and sometimes sprouted grains and legumes

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Dessert in the Desert

Here are some eye candy shots of the dessert buffet at the retreat I attended this weekend in Rancho Mirage.  Below the desserts is the desert resort, in all its peaceful glory and splendor!

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Go Bananas for Cacao Pudding! (Raw + Vegan)

 I couldn't resist making the decadently rich Cacao RAW + VEGAN Pudding again, this time, using actual Raw Cacao Powder instead of Unsweetened Natural Cocoa powder.  Trader Joe's only has Cocoa powder, Mother's sells Raw Cacao powder....but get ready to unleash your wallet for a few ounces of the good stuff - this "superfood" as they call it, in the same family as Goji berries, is not cheap! But man is it tasty and rich, and fantastic in this pudding!

This time, I added a 1/2 tsp. of Organic Bourbon Vanilla Extract (maybe not Raw?) and no water. The avocados I used (organic) were very ripe and the texture just whipped up perfectly!

I added a bit of natural "cool whip" substitute and sliced banana, topped with sprinkled cinnamon! B loved it! This is definitely a favorite around here....I'm gonna get burned out on it though soon if I keep downing it like I have been.  It's maybe time for me to try a new Raw, Vegan Delicious Dessert Recipe!

See Recipe from Original Post here.

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Going Raw- Au Natural or Au Pain in the Ass?

So I bought this book on Amazon last week.  I have been attempting to "go Raw," which entails much more effort than I could have ever have imagined in my worst nightmares.

I read through the entire guide/"how to" this weekend, and with each flip of the shiny picture filled pages, I grew more and more weary and painfully aware of my stark inadequacies in the kitchen.

Bryan and I had planned a trip to Mother's Market this weekend since the Grand Opening near our place just occurred.  Before heading out, he said he wanted to help me make a grocery list.  Wise plan, I thought.  So, I sat Going Raw down in front of him as he was perched on the edge of the couch, sporting full on chargers jersey attire, watching the game.  

I continued to buzz around the house, randomly glimpsing over at the book and my husband,  to see if he was actually reading the book, or at least looking at the pictures, hoping he would find something, anything in there he could get excited about.  At each commercial, I saw him act interested for a second here and there.  And then, at the next break, I heard him say, "You've gotta be kidding me!" You gotta prepare to prepare to prepare this food!"  I laugh, but inside I know he's right.  

Dehydrating fruits, soaking nuts, straining milk through cheese clothes, it all seems a bit much for me. And fact of the matter is, before we got married, both B and I ate out most of the time: Grabbing coffee on the go, out to eat for lunch, and take out most nights.  

Getting married and attempting to master domestication has been a challenge in and of itself.  But now, adding a complete new "non-cooking" element to the mix is almost too much pressure for my little blissfully wedded heart to take on! 

I am taking it day by day, and not putting too much pressure on the whole Raw thing though.

Most days end up like today, work, head to the grocery store for fresh fruits and veggies and items I forgot or have been requested by the Hubs, drive home, unload groceries, start cooking dinner, wash dishes, and by the time I get to eating the dinner, I'm almost too tired to care.

I think the key is "preparing" on the weekends, setting side some time to get things going for the week.  And what I would REALLY love is to meet Miss Judita for a one-on-one Raw Session!

That would really make my freaking day.

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Lady Luck Pays Me a Visit...

I am not quite sure how to take this sign of "luck."

Either this is a clear omen that the next few kitchen creations are going to be laced with luck...or, I seriously need to consider calling an exterminator. 

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Raw Vegan Chocolate Pudding!

 

I am a woman of her word.  I posted yesterday about how excited I was that Mother's Market & Kitchen is opening near our neighborhood.  Mother's has this amazing Raw Chocolate Pudding from their deli that I was blessed to experience because my sweet friend "K" brought it over the other night along with other raw veggies and food:

 

                                                                                                                                                                
The bottom line: this pudding is the richest, creamiest chocolate pudding you've ever tasted!  And you would never guess the ingredients!

Ingredients:

1. 4 avocados
2. 1 1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
3. 1 c. Raw Organic Agave Nectar
4. Pinch sea salt
5. Water (not that much, about a tbsp or 2 - depending on what consistency you desire)

Most recipes say online to blend together ingredients in a blender.  About halfway through that catastrophe, I beg to differ.  B looked at me, covered in cocoa powder and said, why don't you just use the beaters? That's why I married this man!

So I transferred all the half blended ingredients from the blender to a bowl, and used the beaters on high speed until everthing was perfectly blended.  Then I folded in some Carob chips to add texture.

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Dear Santa, I've been a good girl....

All I want for Christmas is a VitaMix.

VitaMix

Ninja

    

Don't get me wrong, juicing is fun and all, but between my outdated and overworked blender and the juicer, they have their limits.  It seems the possibilities are endless with the Vita - magic machine - but the price tag is holding me back.  I have heard the Ninja is a very suitable alternative.

For all you Vita-groopies out there - what do you think? Is it worth the purchase?

For anyone who has tried the Ninja...your reviews and/or comments are much appreciated!

Happy Pulverizing!

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Mother's Market - coming to town!

I am so excited to have a new Mother's Market opening in 5 days near me! YAY!
On that note, Mother's has the BEST RAW Chocolate Pudding from their deli.
The ingredients include:
Avocados, RAW cacao powder, RAW agave nectar, sea salt, and water.  I e-mailed their customer service for the exact recipe and once I receive it (fingers crossed) I will make it and post pictures!
Can't wait!!

xoxo
K

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Home Decor + Shadow Boxes & Jewelry

Shadow boxes are how I have managed to keep some of my costume jewelry somewhat organized and accessible.  It also makes beautiful wall decor! 

We are re-doing our master bedroom - it is a work-in-progress....after selling our entire bedroom set on Craigslist, we are going to need to purchase piece by piece until the room is complete!  I can't wait for our king bed! The hardest part about designing a room is the myriad of options.  When it is a blank canvas the possibilities are endless and I find myself stuck in anti-committal land!

Right now I am just pooling together ideas.  These amazing wood mirrors I snatched up at, of all places, Big Lots! The chair, Marshalls.  I still have a LONG way to go. 

PS Bryan thinks it's ugly.  I don't care.  He will see.  In due time, in due time.

Inspiration for our new room:

Natural and reclaimed wood

Burlap Pillows.

European Influence

I got to throw a chandelier in there somewhere!

We are thinking a black distressed wood four poster bed....and a spa-retreat like feeling.  Think pottery barn (traditional) meets vintage chic (in Paris) while on vacation in Figi. Ha!

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Ding Dong Cupcakes

My mom made these "ding-dong" cupcakes for my Hubby's Birthday - they were filled with cream cheese and, from what I hear, delicious! I just had to post them because they were so adorable!

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Secret Family Recipe! Baked Ziti

Every year for my husband's birthday, he requests the infamous BAKED ZITI that my MIL makes that is incredible!

This year, due to my dietary restrictions, my sweet and accommodating MIL invited myself and my brother in law's girlfriend (Celiac- also gluten free) to make our own modified version of her famous ziti - gluten free style!

We boiled gluten free noodles half way (5 minutes or so) Note: I usually prefer to use quinoa pasta - but the rice pasta tastes slightly better and is less hard.

Drain the noodles, and stir in a cup of Ricotta cheese.  Then pour in the secret marinara sauce, stir, top with cheese and bake for 15 minutes!

Secret Sauce (Meat Lover Version)
Now, the marinara sauce - for meat eaters, you get Italian sausage from an Italian Market, and what my MIL does is saute crushed tomatoes in olive oil for a few minutes.  Then she adds a can of tomato sauce, and Italian herbs and spices (oregano, garlic, basil).

In a separate pan, bring a bit of water to boil, then sets the sausages in the water until the pink is gone.  Then browns the sausages, and pay attention here, this is the secret tip for not too greasy meat sauce, drain and rinse the sausages before adding them to the marinara sauce! This rids the sausage of the excess fat and grease that accumulates from cooking the sausage.

The marinara sauce marinates with the meat and then she removes the sausages and places them in their own casserole dish.

The sauce she uses to mix in with the noodles and ricotta, which is then baked in the oven for 15 minutes.

Now, for a vegan alternative, use soy flavored mozzarella cheese, and obviously, do not cook the meet in the sauce.  Also, for fellow gluten free folk, you do not want to cook the sausage in the meat either because there can be additives and fillers in some sausages, depending on where you get them, but you want to check the ingredients on those before assuming they are gluten free!

Manji!

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Refreshing Cocktails!

A majority of mornings, B and I juice a combination of fruits and veggies.  What I am realizing is that there are some fruits that juice better than others, and certain combinations of veggies and fruits pair well together, others do not.  With that said, juicing is relatively fool-proof, and you can't really go wrong with any variety of fresh produce.  But not all fruits are created equal, and each has its own benefits.  Red Cabbage is one of the most healing vegetables, for example, that you would not normally eat - but when juiced in combination with other greens and fruits, you get all the benefits in one gulp! YUM!

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