Wonderful Blogger Reveiw of "Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious"

Big thanks to Anthony & Kerry of our very own local Long Beach, NY blog, Sea by the City!

Kerry wrote quite the fantastic review of my cookbook, "Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious"

"...Another market day, I bought a ton of zucchini, and my husband and I were pretty sick of eating it sautéed/grilled/baked. I used her recipe for Zucchini Carrot Loaf. It was a hit! We served it to some friends that evening for dessert, and it was totally gone..."

(click here to read the full review).

 

It's wonderful to be paired with talk of our amazing farmer's market here in Kennedy Plaza in Long Beach.  Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting our amazing farmers and fisherman feel pretty darn lucky that they visit us twice a week with their sea & farm fresh goods.

One of my favorite parts of Kerry's review is....she does not live in a strict gluten-free household, just a health conscience one!  Continuing to show that eating gluten-free meals can be for everyone, not just those with a diagnosed case of Celiac Disease. Its all about high quality, nutrient packed, delicious foods that make us feel great!

Thanks again to fellow Long Beachers, Anthony & Kerry, for their continued support & positive influence on our local community! Keep up the great work guys!

Last Smoothies of Summer: Anti-Inflammatory & Immunity Smoothie

Happy Labor Day!  

With the 'last day' of summer upon us, the season of smoothies will be gone with the cooler temperatures fast arriving.

As with anything else I make in my kitchen, I want to make sure to pack my meals with as many vitamins and nutrients as possible.  Also when planning my meals for the day, I really think about what my body needs to function at its best for that time.  Not only do I factor in what is going on with my body, but thinking about the time of year & weather is almost equally as important.
 
I truly use my food as medicine every single day.  It allows me to feel my best and helps prevent things like viruses, colds, allergies & flu simply with my daily meals.

Each ingredient I choose to go into my smoothie is carefully selected for specific health purposes.

*It is very important to use only Organically grown, Non-GMO (genetically modified organism) ingredients. Non-organic versions do not even contain a 10th of the nutrients as the pure organic ones

Almond Milk - high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, iron, potassium, magnesium & more

Good for brain & nervous system health, skin & bones, naturally lactose & gluten free

*You can make your own Almond milk at home*

Coconut Milk  - antimicrobial effects in digestive system, high in healthy saturated fats

Benefits gastrointestinal & cardiovascular systems

 Mango - high content of prebiotic fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants & more 

Aids in digestion & immune funtion

Wild Blueberry - highest antioxidant per serving fruit

Aids in immune function

Raw Walnuts - rich in omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins, zinc, calcium & more

Benefits brain & nervous system, as well as boost immune function

Raw Honey - contains trace minerals, as well as polyphenols that can act as antioxidants

*get honey as local to your home as you can, this will boost its allergy fighting properties

Allergy fighter & immune booster

Hemp Protein Powder - contains essential amino acids, balanced ratio of omega 3 & 6, GLA, and more

Benefits brain, skin, nervous, immune & digestive systems.

Elderberry Syrup - antioxidant rich, vitamins A, C & E, amino acids & more

*simple & most effective if you make your own with your own local raw organic honey, click for recipe from the Holistic Mama

Anti-Inflammatory properties & boosts immune function

Raw Garlic - antimicrobial properties, C & B vitamins, minerals & more

Nature's most powerful anti-biotic & immune booster

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - Lauric acid, antioxidant rich, poly-phenols, vitamin E & K, minerals & more

Has antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, & immune boosting abilities.

Benefits skin, hair, brain, nervous, digestive systems. 

Anti-Inflammatory & Immunity Smoothie

1 Cup Organic Coconut Milk (from a carton, unsweetened)

1 Cup Organic Almond Milk (unsweetened)

1 Cup Frozen Organic Mango

1/4 Cup Frozen Organic Blueberries

3 TB Raw Organic Walnut pieces

1 tsp Local Raw Organic Honey

1 tsp Organic Hemp Protein Powder

1 TB Homemade Elderberry Syrup, Optional (for extra immune boosting or allergy fighting)

1 Clove Raw Organic Garlic, peeled, Opitonal (for extra immune boosting)

1 TB Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Place all ingredients in a 1 quart mason jar and use immersion blender to mix.  Can also use traditional blender.

*Tip: Put Coconut Oil in very last, the oil will harden quickly when made cold, so be sure to blend immediately after adding.

Blend until smooth, and enjoy!

Can store in mason jar in fridge for 12 - 18 hours.

This is one of a select few new recipes in my upcoming 2nd Edition cookbook, "Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious"  Pre-order your very special copy today, simply click here.

**DISCLAIMER: This information is not to be taken as medical advice from a doctor.  It is for your own informational purposes only.  Please consult a doctor when treating your own health issues.

Special 2nd Edition GF Cookbook & Sneek Peek Biscuit Recipe

A very special 2nd Edition of my cookbook, "Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious" 

will be coming out this fall, and is currently available for Pre-Order on my website.

Included in this 2nd edition are some minor updates from the Limited 1st edition, plus a handful of brand NEW recipes.  I will be posting the new recipes here for all of you with 1st editions to enjoy as well.  Or course also for those of you who want to try out some of my recipes before purchasing your very own copy. 

As the temperatures are starting to drop at night, I can almost feel the cool Autumn air approaching.  With that cool air comes roasting vegetables, warming soups, and of course more baking in my kitchen.  What better thing to go with soup, other than garlic bread, than a fluffy, flaky biscuit.

Now being gluten-free, I long since given up on the idea of a fluffy biscuit, and settled for more dense versions of biscuits or nothing at all.  But, as with any other food craving I get, I just have to try to make it!  I have to admit, I was almost shocked at how good these came out.  They are the biscuits I had been dreaming about all these years.  And now I also have a great dough base for other things like, crust for a quiche, blankets for 'pigs in a blanket', and more things to dream up.
Dream up your own way to use this versatile dough, and share what you come up with!

Classic Biscuits : Gluten - Free, of course!

3/4 Cup Brown Rice Flour                  2 Organic Eggs
1/4 Cup Arrowroot Powder                 1/3 Cup Coconut Oil Ghee, melted
1/2 Cup Tapioca Flour                         1/2 Cup Almond Milk, unsweetened 
2 tsp Baking Powder                           1/2 Cup Grated Raw Cheese, Optional   
1 tsp Xanathan Gum
1/2 tsp Real Salt
1 TB Granulated Sugar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all the DRY ingredients on the LEFT. 

Mix in all remaining ‘wet’ ingredients until batter is just mixed. 

Drop dough onto parchment lined baking sheet as 2” round biscuits.

Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until biscuits start to lightly brown.

Let cool, serve & enjoy alone or dip into a hot soup!

Love filled Food from our Past

 I have a lot on my plate this week,
or really I should say that
I'm dreaming up lots of delicious things to put on my plate this week.

When planning what to make for our family gatherings this Sunday, we wanted to bring back some old dishes from our wise and talented relatives.  We have a lot of Italian in our families, so naturally we chose to make some old Italian dishes.

So, we will be making versions of Manicotti as well as Baked Breaded Pasta with Anchovies as our, making old dishes new, and gluten-free of course!

A habit I will never break, is making old dishes new and safe for those of us who can not tolerate a molecule of gluten.  For me, it is always exciting to do this, especially with old family recipes.  It makes me feel that much more connected to my ancestors, and thus that much more connected with my food.  And we all know deep down, that food feeds much more than our bellies, it also has a direct line to our hearts.  Which is why it is so important to fill our foods with love to ensure a filled heart.

Dishes on the menu this week before Sunday Family FunDay....
Shrimp Cakes & Fish Tacos
*Crock Pot Coconut Curried Lamb
*Cinnamon Bread
Chocolate Macaroons
Roasted Chicken, *Millet Stuffing & *Mushroom Gravy
Almond Biscotti
*Carrot Cupcakes
Sweet & Savory Crepes
*Cinnamon French Toast
Egg in a Hole in a Bread....recipe below

*All recipes marked can be found in my cookbook, "Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious"

A breakfast I have been bringing back into my morning is, of course, an old Italian breakfast my mother used to make for us, Egg in a Hole in a Bread.  Such a simple, but satisfying breakfast.

Egg in a Hole in a Bread

2 Slices Udi's Multigrain Bread
1 Organic Egg
Organic Coconut Oil Ghee or Organic Ghee, to taste
Sea Salt with Sea Vegetable Seasoning, to taste
 
In a skillet heat about 1/2 TB Coconut Oil Ghee until hot, but not smoking. 


Prep 1 slice of bread by cutting a hole out of the middle, about 3 inches in diameter.  Can use the rim of a glass, or I use the lid of a clean jam jar.  Once you have a circle cut out of 1 slice of bread, feel free to toast the circle and the full slice of bread, and spread ghee on to your liking.


When pan is hot, place your holed bread in the center, crack your egg into the hole in your bread, and let cook for about 2 minutes, or until the egg whites have solidified enough to flip the bread over.  Flip egg in a hole in a bread, and cook 1 minute longer for a runny yolk to dip your extra toast in.


Serve your egg in a hole in a bread, with a sprinkle of sea salt with sea vegetables, and enjoy!

Mindful Living

Mindful Living, is a pretty close friend to Barefoot Living. They both say it right there in the name, living with mindful intentions, for ourselves and our planet. The Dali Lama often speaks about mindfulness and an open heart. And how one can not heal or grow without these things.

As we take our steps through life, how can we be sure to live our lives with an open heart and open mind? So many wonderful ways! In our everyday lives how often to we rush around, not really paying attention to our actions, just going through the motions? I see this oh so often, and also can get caught up in it myself. Now of course we can achieve a great deal of mindfulness with daily meditation, but it is just as important to be mindful when doing everyday things like eating, driving, cooking, shopping, and walking.

Making everyday chores and activities a mindful meditation is a wonderful way to learn & grow. You will be surprised how much more you get out of doing the dishes, walking, or eating a sandwich. The easiest way to implement mindful living is to simply take a nice deep breath before any activity, and focus yourself on that task, and only that task, and put all other things aside in your mind. This practice can be tough for some at first, but just like most things in life, they key is practice, and you will be living mindfully in no time!

Food is a great way to begin your mindful practice. Try to eat 1 meal a day in silence, this can be done anywhere, with anyone, or alone. Turn off your cell phone, tv, computer, any electronic device that you might have near during meal time. If you are cooking yourself, your practice can start when you take out your ingredients. Take a nice deep breath and begin by giving thanks. Thanks to the farmer (or yourself if you are a backyard gardener like me) for your fresh produce, thanks to the earth for providing the magic for the bounty of foods she provides, thanks to yourself for taking the time to prepare a tasty, healthful meal for your body and soul, and any other direction of thanks that feels right for you. As you move on to cutting, chopping, sauteing, or baking, keep that gratefulness with you, in your mind and heart...and continue to hold onto that as you prepare your meal. Your mind and hearts are powerful tools, and with them you add the unseen ingredients into your food while you cook. And if it is a meal you have not had the joy of preparing yourself, you can still inject love into the dish, with a nice deep breath and your open mind & heart of good intentions.

After you have filled your meal with love and good intentions, its onto filling your body with its nutritious bounty. With all things, focus yourself with a good deep breath from the diaphragm, and set your intentions. When I begin this practice, more often than not it sounds like a gratitude prayer. I sit with my dish and ask that my body assimilates all of the nutrients that are provided on my plate, give thanks again that I am able to sit and eat this delicious meal, and begin the sensory experience that is eating. Paying close attention to all of your senses will help you stay in the moment with your food, and if you feel your mind wandering off, bring it back with your senses. How does the food feel in your mouth? Is is soft, crunchy? Is it sweet, sour or salty? How does it make you feel? Does it bring up any emotions? Sensations? Close your eyes if it is difficult for you to focus on only the food. After implementing this practice in your daily life, you will find it easier to be in the moment when you are doing all sorts of different things. It is amazing what we can learn about ourselves, our environment, and others around us, simply by opening up and living with mindfulness.

Happy cooking, eating & mindful living to you all!

Cookbooks now at Bob's Natural Foods

"Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious" is now available at Bob's Natural Foods in Long Beach, NY. Stop in today to pick up your copy, they are going fast!
While you are there be sure to pick up plenty of fresh, gluten-free ingredients to get cooking right away. You will be able to find things like GF flours, rice crackers, a variety of frozen GF breads, select fresh organic produce, as well as a full juice/smoothie bar & cafe with GF choices. Bob's is the place to go for wonderful products and wonderful people!

NEW Cookbook on sale Now!!

Enjoy this very special Limited First Edition of, "Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious" Order online here now!