Vegan MoFo #9: Cheezy Kale Salad

   Well my friends, you are super lucky today because I am posting twice!  That's right, two posts in one day and this one is a recipe post.
  I'm really doing this for my mom at her request.  She loves this kale salad that I make, and asks for it anytime that I buy kale.  So, here's the recipe... I hope you guys love it as much as she does.  Oh, and if you've ever read Kim Snyder's Beauty Detox Solution you'll notice that this salad is similar to one that she makes.  It's the bomb.

"Cheezy" Kale Salad
Serves 2-4
Ingredients
1 head kale
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tomato, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1 avocado, sliced
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 - 2 tbsp hemp seeds
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Directions:
Wash the kale thoroughly and tear it away from the stems.  Add it to a salad bowl along with the lemon juice and sea salt.  (You can save the stems and juice them later.) Using your hands, massage the kale while simultaneously tearing it into bite size pieces.  Continue massaging until the kale is soft and slightly wilted (about a minute or two). Add the rest of the ingredients (except for the hemp seeds) and continue to mix until everything is incorporated.  Garnish with the hemp seeds, serve and enjoy!
The best part about this salad?  You can save the leftovers for the next day without worrying about wilted lettuce!

Stay tuned tomorrow for an amazing cheese sauce recipe.  You won't believe how amazing it is until you see it and try it for yourself!

And last but not least, I leave you with a video that my brother sent me a few days ago.  It's actually a haunting preview of a game called Chipotle Scarecrow.  I really hope this game (or even just the preview) reaches millions of people.  Check it out:

 
By the way, I may have cried while watching this video... and it may be because I watched it at 6am OR it could be Fiona Apple's rendition of "Pure Imagination" OR it could just be that I am Miss Sensitive... either way... you have been warned.

Love,
Ves xx

Vegan MoFo #7 Sunshine in a Glass

Hi Friends!

I have a super awesome quickie recipe for you today.  Over the weekend my mom made this amazing papaya juice for us and I absolutely have to share it with you.  I'm not a huge fan of papaya's on their own but I loved it in this juice.

Papaya, grapefruit, carrot.

   Papaya's are actually really good for you (as practically all fruits and veg are) and contain a lot of healing properties.  As everyone probably knows, it's high in vitamin C and B vitamins which is great for the immune system.  But, papaya is also said to help protect against free radicals and possibly prevent cancer because it is a rich source of antioxidants.  Which, by the way, also helps with skin issues, too, such as acne and premature aging.  Woohoo!

Here's the recipe:

Good Morning Sunshine
Serves 2
Ingredients:
1/2 papaya, peeled
2 grapefruit, peeled
4-6 medium to large carrots (peeled if not organic)

Directions:
Add all of the ingredients to your juicer in the order listed above.  Pour in a glass and drink immediately.

Til next time...

Love,
Ves xx

Mint Chocolatey Shake

I love chocolate.  I love mint.

Put them together and I am in heaven.  This shake actually reminds me of something that I would have ordered at an ice cream store back when I was still eating dairy products.  The beauty of this shake is that it doesn't have any ice cream in it at all(vegan or otherwise).  It's 100% healthy but, it tastes so decadent you feel like you're indulging.  My kind of shake!

I made this shake around St. Patrick's day when my email was flooded with variations on the "Shamrock Shake".  I've never had a Shamrock Shake from McD's but it sounds like something I totally would have ordered.  So I decided to make my own healthier version for breakfast.  Let's just say it was love at first sip... or slurp actually since I ended up eating it with a spoon!  Since then, I've had one of these at least once a week.  I love it so much!

Before I share the recipe, let me just say that this does not necessarily have to be a healthy shake.  You could definitely swap out the almond milk for some yummy coconut milk ice cream.  And I will definitely do that in the summer time as a treat.  But, for now, I like having it as an occasional breakfast choice that happens to be healthy but tastes like I'm being naughty! 

Mint Chocolatey Shake
Serves 1

Ingredients:
*2/3 of a cup of Almond Milk (I used unsweetened Vanilla) 
1/4 cup raw oat groats, soaked overnight (steel cut and quick cooking oats would work as well)
1-2 cups Spinach
1 frozen banana, cut into chuncks
1 tbs cacao nibs (plus a little extra for garnish)
1-2 drops peppermint extract
*you can adjust the amount of liquid you add to reach your desired thickness

Directions:

Begin by adding the oats, spinach and almond milk to the blender and process until smooth.  Next add your frozen banana chunks and, while the blender is still on, drop in the peppermint extract and cacao nibs.  Process for a few more seconds and then serve.  Enjoy with a straw or a spoon!

The spinach gives this shake it's green color and also an added health boost.  If you're not a fan of adding spinach to your smoothie then you could add a bit of Spirulina powder to get the green color.  I don't recommend adding green food coloring to this because I think it's weird and takes away from the goodness of this shake.  But that's just me.   If you're down with that, then by all means, add away!

I like adding oats to my shakes and smoothies once in a while to make them a bit creamier.  Plus, there's the added benefit of a little extra fiber and protein.

If you don't have cacao nibs then you could definitely sub in some cacao powder  Although, the color won't be the same, it will still taste great.  You could even try adding in some dairy-free chocolate chips instead of the cacao powder.  By the way, I talk about some of the health benefits of raw cacao in this post.

Last, but certainly not least (and totally unrelated to the recipe), I wanted to share with you guys that you can catch the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead for free on YouTube right now.  And since you're all about as health crazy as I am I know you're heading over there right now to watch, aren't you?  I knew it.  And for those of you still here, check out the trailer (which I've posted for you guys before):

What are you waiting for?

Go. Watch. Now.

Love,
Ves xx

WIAW #26: The Dinner Edition

Hi Friends!

I can't believe that we're already 6 days into March and that next week is March Break.  Where does the time go?  I know where my time hasn't been lately... *ahem*... here.  But, I can explain.  I've been working really hard to launch my new website and it's sort of taken top priority.  Don't worry, you'll be the first to know when it's up and running.  On top of that and regular work, I've been having Revenge marathons with my sister (what is it with me and TV show marathons?).  Like I'm not busy enough!  Ha.  But, I'm definitely not too busy too eat.  Check it out...

This weeks WIAW is all about my dinners.  I've divided them into two cattegories and then at the end I show you what my plate actually looks like when the cameras are off.  Don't judge me, I secretly love eating everything in one bowl!

The Quickie Dinners:

These nights I had dinner ready in record time or just heated up some leftovers.  Regardless, they were all really delicious.
Clockwise from the top:  Veggie Burger with homemade hummus on a bed of steamed and fresh greens; leftover lasagna and steamed greens while working; leftover frozen pizza, steamed greens and avocados; veggie platter with dip (not pictured); arugula salad with tomatoes and avocados.

The Dinners that took a little bit more time...

When I have a little bit more time I like to put some effort into what I'm cooking. 
Clockwise from the top:  Black Bean Chili;  Pasta with sauteed greens and tomatoes (my sis actually made that one); homemade pizza with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and daiya mozarella; quinoa and vegetable medley with arugula and avocado.

And sometimes when I show you a picutre of this:

I actually ate it like this:

No Joke.

So there you have it: my quick and not so quick dinners.  Hop on over to Peas and Crayons and check out more scrumptious food pics from other bloggers.
Til next time...
Eat your veggies!

Love,
Ves xx

WIAW #24 - It's Been a While!

   Hi Friends!

   It feels like forever since I've done a WIAW post.  Not surprising since I've neglected my blog for pretty much the entire month of January.  In my defense, January was a busy month around here.  New Year, Christmas, my baby niece's Christening, my parents were in town from Nova Scotia and I may or may not have had a few Vampire Diaries marathons thrown in the mix.  I think the neglect was a tiny bit justified, don't you?  No?  Okay, sorry.

  Here's my eats for the day:

{Breakfast} lemon water; oatmeal with bananas, flax and nut butter; COFFEE; {Lunch} salad with spinach, avocado, roasted red peppers, nutritional yeast and salsa; {Snack} green smoothie with spirulina, bananas, spinach, blueberries and hemp protein powder; {Dinner} a giant bowl of my Root Veggie Soup from last night plus another salad (not pictured); {Drinks} lots and lots of water; coffee; and more water; {Music} I've had Tegan and Sara's new album Heartthrob playing on my iPod all day.  I love it!  Sample it here.

   I've been trying to eat really well lately because I feel like I have indulged in so much scrumptious food during the holidays.   It's time to get back to simple, clean eating again and it definitely feels really good.


How have you been eating lately?  Click the link above and ogle the yummy WIAW food pics over at Peas and Crayons.   And thanks to Jenn for hosting this link up party.

Happy Hump Day!

Love,
Ves xx

A Slow Cooker Kinda Day

   Hi Friends!

   Yesterday I woke up to the best text ever from my coworker:

best.message.ever.

   I love my job, but I love unexpected days off even more!  That's one of the perks of being a teacher, you still get to feel like a kid when schools close due to the weather.  We didn't get a whole bunch of snow but we did get some freezing rain which resulted in bus cancellations and some school closures.  I'm so glad that mine was one of them.  I was not looking forward to my drive in to work if I had to deal with slippery roads.

   I spent a good chunk of my morning trying to go back to sleep, giving up, and then cuddling with my Patchie girl while having a FaceTime session with my Godson.

Patchie's idea of cuddling: staring me down until I get out of bed and feed her.

   Whenever I have a "free" day off I always face the dilemma of what to do.  Do I treat it like an extra day where I get to do whatever I want or do I use this day to catch up on everything I didn't do during the weekend?

   Because truth be told I did nothing this weekend except for maybe this:

Girl Time!

   My sister was watching her friend's daughter this weekend so I went over to her apartment and we had some good old fashioned girly fun.  We watched movies (Parent Trap: the Original), ate junk food (chips and salsa), and did our hair and nails.  Actually, I did our hair, and the little one's nails.  She returned the favor by playing with my hair, too.  Did I mention that I've secretly adopted her as my little sister?  She is too cute.

   Anyway, I decided that I would do a bit of both: a tiny bit of chores, followed by whatever else I felt like doing including: not getting out of my pajamas, reading magazines, taking a bath, and watching a movie (Elizabethtown <-- I'm probably the only person who loves that movie.).  I also felt like cooking.  It was a soup kind of day so that's what I made.  But, I wanted my whole apartment to smell like soup so I turned on the slow cooker and threw all the veggies in there.  Mission accomplished:  my whole apartment smelled amazing.  I love using my slow cooker but I think I'm one of those people that should only use it when I'll be out for the day.  I must have checked on it a thousand times before it was done.  Don't worry, I didn't remove the lid.  <--- I had to add that because it's something that I would probably do and I know my mom would ask me after reading this.  Ha.  You know the saying "good things come to those who wait?"  I don't think I got the memo.  When I was little I used to sit in front of the oven waiting for cookies to finish baking.  That is, until my mom would tell me to get up off the floor.  But that's another therapy session story.
Read on for my recipe:

Root Vegetable Soup - Slow Cooker Style
Makes 6 servings

It's party time!

Ingredients:
1 tbsp oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup carrots, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 1/2 cups celery, chopped
2 cups parsnips, peeled and chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 tsp herbamare (or sea salt)
1/4 tsp each: dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary
cracked black pepper to taste
2 cups kale, chopped
1 large tomato, chopped

Directions:
Place the oil, carrots, onion, and celery in a 4-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high to soften slightly while you prep the remaining ingredients.
Add the rest of the ingredients, (except for the kale and tomatoes) and stir.  Cover and cook on high for 4 hours until the veggies are tender.  Carefully stir in the kale and tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes.  Turn off slow cooker and serve.  Enjoy!

*By the way, next time I would cook this soup on low for longer but like I said above, I'm not really good at waiting!

Til next time...

Love,
Ves xx

A Little Inspiration + A Twisted Recipe

   Hi Friends!

   Confession:  January has been my worst.blogging.month.EVER.  Now that that's out of the way let's get on to the good stuff.

   All month long I've been seeing this UnderArmour commercial on TV that totally "speaks" to me.  Has that ever happened to you?  You see something on TV or read something and it makes a huge impact on you or inspires you to make changes.  Well, that's exactly what happened to me.

   Before I go any further, here's the commercial:

   Tell me that didn't just inspire you to get up and move?  Yeah, me too.  I've been really slacking lately in the fitness department and this clip gives me so much motivation.  Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of working out "hard".  I like cardio, especially when I'm listening to good loud music like this, but when it comes to strength training, ugh... so not a fan.  BUT, I love kickboxing classes and any kind of exercise that makes me feel strong without making me feel like I'm going to gain a bunch of bulky muscle.  Ha!  If you knew me you would know that this would take years of weightlifting to achieve but, in my twisted mind if I lift anything over 15lbs I will immediately end up looking like Popeye the Sailor Man.  No joke. 

   At least he eats his spinach, right?  Speaking of healthy eating, I have a really yummy recipe to share with you.  I indulged quite a bit during the Holiday's so it feels really good to eat healthy whole foods on a regular basis again.  This recipe is dedicated to all of you pasta lovers out there.  Give this a try the next time you get a craving for the starchy stuff.

Twisted Pesto Pasta with a Rustic Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

For the Pasta

1 Spaghetti Squash

For the Spinach Pesto Puree

4 cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon pine nuts

2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp nutritional yeast

pinch sea salt

lemon juice/water, optional

For the Tomato Sauce

1 tablespoon extra-virgin coconut oil

1-2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes

1/2 tsp sea salt

cracked black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Prepare the squash by washing the outer skin, cutting it in half lengthwise and removing the pulp and seeds.  Place it in an oven safe dish, cut side down, and add about an inch of water to the bottom of the dish.  Bake for about 30 - 45 minutes or until tender.  Set aside and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the tomato sauce. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan on med heat until hot, then lightly cook the garlic. Add the tomatoes, salt and pepper, and cook for about 10 minutes until tomatoes wilt a bit.
While the tomato sauce is cooking, prepare the spinach pesto puree.  Add all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender (starting with the oil) and process until smooth.  If you're having a hard time processing the ingredients you can add a bit of lemon juice or water (starting with 1 tablespoon at a time) to the blender/food processor. 
Using a fork, scrape the flesh of the squash to produce spaghetti-like strands and add them to a bowl.  Toss the spaghetti squash with the spinach pesto and top with tomato sauce.
Serve immediately.  Enjoy!

Happy Monday everyone! 

Love,

Ves xx

Apple Buttah Jeans...

Ha!  Sorry.  Anytime I say Apple Butter out loud or in my head, I immediately start singing,"Apple bottom jeans... boots with the furrrr..."!  Anyone else?  No.  Just me?  Okay.... Well, I bet you're singing it now!  Ha.
As promised, I want to share my super simple and super yummy method for making Apple Butter.  I'm sure if you Google it you will get tons of different ideas (man I love Google) but this is my no-fuss way.  In the future, I would like to try making it using a Slow Cooker.  I don't have one right now, but the idea of "setting it and forgetting it" is very appealing to me.  

Without further ado, here is the recipe:

Start out by making applesauce (click here for the full recipe)

Add your chopped apples to a pot with a bit of water.
You can leave the peel on because that's where all the nutrients are... 

plus we'll make sure to smooth it out later!

After about 20 minutes or so mash up your apples.

Add the mashed apples to your blender.  You may want to do this in a couple of batches depending on the kind of blender you have.  Process until it's smooth - about a couple minutes.

At this point you will have super smooth applesauce.  Add this back to your pot, turn the heat down to med-low or low and let it simmer for about an hour or so.  Make sure to stir it constantly so it doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pot.

The apple butter is done when it's reached your desired thickness.

I don't know about you, but I always add too much water to my apples when I'm making applesauce.  I don't see this as a bad thing, though.  This liquid is super delicious - it's a mixture of water, cinnamon and the juice from the apples.  I save this and use it the next day as the liquid in my smoothie or to cook up some oats.  I love it!

In this batch of Apple Butter I used:
5lbs of apples (a mixture of Fuji and Gala)
3/4 cup of water
1-2 tsps of cinnamon
 (This made about 2 cups of Apple Butter)

I don't use sugar in my apple sauce or my apple butter and I think it tastes WAY better than store bought.  I actually never really ate the store bought varieties of either but ever since I've tried the homemade versions I find myself making them at least twice a month.  I love using applesauce in my baked goods or adding it to my smoothies but, once in a while I just like to eat it straight from the jar!  Ha.

Let me know if you guys make this!

Happy Monday!

Love,
Ves xx

Apple Cinnamon Oat Bran!

   Hi Friends!

Here is a quickie recipe that I have been enjoying for breakfast for the past couple of weeks.  I'm really loving my oat bran in the morning after my green juice and my favorite way to have it is with apples.

Here's my super simple recipe:

Apple Cinnamon Oat Bran
Serves 1
Ingredients:

1 cup water
1/3 cup oat bran
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 apple, chopped
1 tbsp raisins
pinch sea salt
Optional Ingredients:
1 tbsp ground flax seeds
1 tbsp ground chia seeds

Directions:
In a small sauce pan bring 1 cup of water to a boil.
Whisk in the oat bran, turn the heat down and simmer for a minute.
Add cinnamon, apples, and raisins.  Stir and cook for a minute more.
Add the flax and chia seeds, if using, and remove from heat.
Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Love,
Ves xx

Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

   Hi Friends!

   Well it's back to the grind after a fabulous weekend of warm weather, Fall cleaning, lots of laughs and a Breaking Amish marathon.  My sister somehow coerced me into that last one but we manged to turn it into a mini party so I didn't mind.  The show is definitely entertaining, but not something I would have chosen to watch on my own.

   Anyway, I promised that I would share with you some of the health benefits of including Apple Cider Vinegar into your daily diet.  Read on for the different ways to use it and why you'd want to.  I'll also post a few links at the bottom for further reading, including one that also lists some risks in taking ACV.  I'm not a doctor so I don't want to recommend that you add anything to your diet unless you are well informed.  I am constantly reading and researching different health claims and then immediately trying them on myself, so you can definitely learn from my mistakes!  Ha.

 What kind of ACV should I buy?

You'll want to look for a good quality raw organic version with "the mother".  This is a cloudy film at the bottom of the bottle which occurs naturally as strand-like enzymes of connected protein molecules.  Just shake before using.  I use Bragg's Organic Raw ACV.

What are some of the Internal Benefits?

• It aids in weight loss by breaking down fats so that your body can use them rather than store them.
• Can help regulate blood pressure and reduce bad cholesterol.
• ACV is rich in enzymes and potassium
• Promotes digestion and PH balance
• Helps reduce sinus infections and sore throats.
• Improves bowel irregularity and can be a natural cure for constipation.

*Start with 1-2 teaspoons of ACV diluted in about 8-10oz of filtered water and work your way up to 1-2 tablespoons.  This can be taken first thing in the morning, afternoon and evening.  For weight loss it is best to drink a glass before each meal.

What are some of the External Benefits?

• ACV can help to clear up skin.  Use it as a toner after washing your face before bed and in the morning.  Dilute one part ACV with two parts water and apply with a cotton ball or pad.
• May ease a sunburn - fill a bath with warm water and a cup of ACV and soak for ten minutes.
• It adds healthy body and shine to your hair.  Use it as a rinse after you shampoo.  Dilute 1tbs of ACV with a cup of water and add it to an empty shampoo bottle.
• Soothes tight and aching joints and sore muscles from exercise - rub a little ACV on the sore spots.

If you are interested in learning more, here are a few other sites to check out:

Benefits and Risks of ACV - Web MD
ACV Health Benefits - Home Remedies Web
Raw ACV and Ab Definition - Tosca Reno

**Don't use the ACV without diluting it first.  I did this both on my skin, and in drink form.  Apparently it's not very good and can have adverse effects if you don't dilute it first.  This is why you should research more before you dive in!  When I used to drink it on a regular basis I always added it to a glass of water, this time around I thought it would work better with a straight "shot".  Whoops.  Oh well, no harm done!  Ha.

Have a wonderful Monday!
Love,
Ves xx

Movie Week Round-Up - Vegan MoFo # 15

   Hi Friends!

   Well, it's the last day of my Movie Week and I thought I would do a recap.  But, not just any recap!  As I've only recommended 4 movies this week, I figured that you probably don't need a reminder.  So, here's a round-up of all the documentaries that I've recommended on my blog.

1.  Food Matters

2.  Hungry For Change

3.  Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days

4.  Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

5.  The World According to Monsanto
I haven't actually recommended or seen this one but I really want to.  Here's a clip for you guys to check out and decide for yourselves if you want to watch it:

   I think you can watch this movie straight from YouTube so I may just do that this weekend if I have some time.

   If you have nothing exciting planned this weekend then why not curl up and watch one of these documentaries - or any of the ones from this week?  Which ever one you choose, it won't disappoint.  I promise.
TGIF everyone!

Love,
Ves xx

It's Crazy Sexy and it's Vegan MoFo # 14!

Hello All!

   I hope you enjoyed yesterday's documentary suggestion.  I've seen Forks Over Knives a couple of times and it doesn't get old.  The film follows Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn through their separate journeys of research, studies and life-changing discoveries.  Dr. Campbell is best known for his work on the China Study which is the most comprehensive large study of nutrition ever conducted, spanning over 20 years.  And Dr. Esselstyn is a top surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic.  Through their studies each of them came to the same startling conclusion: degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, could almost always be prevented—and in many cases reversed—by adopting a whole-foods, plant-based diet.  WOW.  Doesn't that make you want to eat your veggies?
   Well if that's not enough, I have two great suggestions for you today.

   The first one follows Kris Carr, who is diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer, while she looks for alternative and holistic treatments.  This movie is funny, moving, uplifting and reminds us to really start living.

Crazy Sexy Cancer is more than a thought provoking film, it’s an attitude! It’s about rising to the challenge of life and turning lemons into champagne. -kriscarr.com

   Here's a little clip from Crazy Sexy Cancer:

 

   The second movie is a classic.  Maybe not a classic like Gone With the Wind but it's up there!  Ha.  Okay, I'm joking, but I really do love this film and I think everyone should watch it - more than once!
Super Size Me follows filmmaker Morgan Spurlock on a 30 day journey in which he only eats McDonald's food.  It documents the toll this takes on his health, not only in terms of weight gain but also what this food does to his cholesterol, his liver and his physical and psychological well being. 

   Check out a clip from the movie:

Grab some Kale chips and enjoy the show!

Love,

Ves xx

Homemade Almond Milk - Vegan MoFo #2

   Hello my happy little MoFo'ers!  Is that even a real thing?  Ha.  It is now.  Okay, so I've been reading some of the blogs that are participating in Vegan Mofo and I have to say, there are some creative people out there!  Some of the themes people come up with are incredible.  I know this is my first year and I wasn't even sure if I was going to have a theme, but I kind of wish I thought of something way more fun.  Oh well, I'll just have to entertain you with my wit!  Ha.
   Okay, if you've never heard of Vegan Mofo, and if I haven't done a good enough job explaining it in past posts (did I even attempt to explain?), you can check out their "About" page to see exactly what I'm participating in.

   My goal for this year's Vegan Mofo is 1. To actually stick to my theme (using the same ingredient 4 - 5 different ways each week) 2. Post at least 5x/week.  I'm nervous about that last one because my parents are in town (YAY) for the next two weeks and I know I'll want to be spending the time with them when I should be MoFo'ing.  Ha!  Sorry, I'm having way too much fun adding verb tenses to 'MoFo'.  This could get annoying really quick - but I'm loving it!  3.  Find and comment on new vegan blogs each day.  <---- I'm excited about that one because I love discovering new blogs especially vegan ones - and if they're local, even better.

   Moving on to what this post is actually about... Homemade Almond Milk!  I love almond milk.  When I first became vegan, I must have bought four different kinds of non-dairy milk (in one week) before I finally tried almond milk.  As soon as I tried it that was it for me.  I haven't bought another kind of 'milk' since (with the exception of coconut milk which I love to use when I'm baking).  When I learned that you can make almond milk I was psyched!  How cool is that?  These days, I make my own almond milk whenever I can and only buy it when I need it in a pinch or I'm being lazy.  Even so, you can be lazy and still make almond milk.  It's that easy.

Read on for the recipe...

Almond Milk
Ingredients:
1 cup almonds, soaked overnight

3 cups filtered water

Optional Add-ins:
stevia or dates to sweeten

pure vanilla extract (optional)

1 tsp. cinnamon

 Soak your almonds overnight or at the very least an hour.  Drain and rinse.

 Throw them in your blender with some water, plus whatever kind of flavoring you'd like...

 Whiz everything together until it's smooth(ish).  This will take a minute or two.

 Once it's processed, strain your milk using a nut milk bag, cheese cloth, or a (clean) stocking.  You could even use a sieve if you don't have any of those things but just know that the milk will not be smooth.  You won't notice it if you are just adding it to your smoothies but you will notice it when you drink it on it's own.

Chill, shake well, pour in a glass and enjoy!

   Usually when I make almond milk, I only add almonds and water.  But sometimes I like to give it some flavor so I'll mix it up and add different things.  These days my favorite thing to add to it is cinnamon.  I love the flavor that it gives and it's perfect for when I'm using the almond pulp in baking.  Stay tuned later this week for a raw cookie recipe using leftover almond pulp!

Have an amazing day!

Love,

Ves xx

Maybe All I Need is a Spoon Full of Sugar... or is it Honey?

   Hello all!
   I am writing this post while currently home sick from work (it finally got the best of me) on one of the most gorgeous Fall days I have seen in a while.  The sun is shining, there's a warm breeze, and I have all of my windows open letting that lovely air whisk away any germs that may be lingering in my apartment.

   Remember how I mentioned in my last post that I've been dealing with some annoying health issues?  Well, here's the lowdown of what's been going on with me and how I've been trying to heal myself naturally while also desperately seeking some help/advice from my Family Doc.  Oh, in case you are wondering, the latter was very ineffective.

  About a month ago I went to the doctors because my ear was clogged up.  I figured it was just build up and needed to be drained which, I tried doing myself without any success (Damn!  I was really counting on my mad skills for this one!).  Unfortunately, at this time, the only doctor available was the on-call doctor, or shall I say the most evil person on the planet.  What should have been a gentle experience was excruciatingly painful and left me feeling completely wiped and very shaky.  What a jerk.  Oops, sorry (but not really).  Anyway, after he "cleaned" out the ear he found an infection by my eardrum.  My initial reaction was bullsh*t!  I figured he probably irritated my ear beyond repair and he's calling it an infection.  I have never had an ear infection before - not even when I was a child.  He writes me a prescription for ear drops and sends me on my way.  I curse him up and down in my head and then leave the building.

   Even though I am feeling thoroughly violated by my experience, I am so thrilled that I can finally hear again!  I hate going to the doctor's so I have been dealing with a clogged ear and loss of hearing in my left ear for two weeks.  I use the drops as soon as I get home and guess what?  They immediately clog up my ear!  No joke.  I cannot hear out of my left ear and it feels like something is swishing around in there.  Stupid doctor!

   I make an appointment to see my doctor, and because I am so good at making people feel sorry for me, (ha) I get in right away.  I retell my story to her and because them doctor's need to stick together, I get no real sympathy from her.  Plus, I think she really wants to scold me for not coming to see her instead.  She doesn't though, and I think it's because she figures I've suffered enough.  Anyway, it turns out that he's prescribed the wrong thing for my ear.  His drops would be more suitable for someone with swimmers ear.  What a knob.  She prescribes me an antibiotic which I fill and take willingly because I just want to be able to hear again.  After a few days my ear seems to unclog and I have my hearing back.  But I still have popping and swishing going on in there and I have no idea if that's normal.

   Meanwhile, I've developed this insane straight-from-the-chest cough and it hurts!  It's almost like a smokers cough without the smoking.  Back to the doctors I go to have it checked out.  My doctor is not impressed with how it sounds and prescribes me a second round of antibiotics.  Yikes!  She also checks my ear and says she doesn't like the looks of it and is hopeful that this round of antibiotics will help it (I should have run screaming at this point).  She sends me on my way but says that I have to come back if the pills don't help.  Guess what?  Five days later I'm back at the doctors!  This time I'm sent for x-rays and given a prescription for two different kinds of puffers.  Because I am desperate, I take the puffers for a few days but notice that I am just getting worse so I stop taking them.  I have a follow up appointment with her the following Friday so I step up my own "home remedies", which I'll talk about later.  When I see her she says that I sound much better then the first time but that she can still hear some congestion in my lungs.  She's not sure what it is and figures that it must be some sort of super virus and a 100 day cough.  She's happy that my x-rays were clear and that I don't have pneumonia.  She also mentioned that she really didn't think that the puffers were going to help me but that she wanted to try, just in case.  By the way, I'm fuming a little bit at this point.

   After we're done discussing the cough, we move on to my poor ear.  She takes a look and says she is really not happy with how it looks and is thinking of referring me to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor.  Yes please!  I didn't even let her finish her sentence.  Then she sits down and says that she stills sees an infection and would like to try me on one more antibiotic.  Are you kidding me!? Then she taps her foot and wonders aloud which one should she prescribe.  No joke.  I was so disappointed with her but at the same time I couldn't fault her because that's all she knows.  In case you are wondering, I never did fill that last prescription.  I had poisoned my body enough already.

   By the way, if you're still with me at this point YOU ARE AMAZING.  I apologize for taking so long to get to the point.  I feel like I've been through a lot with two health issues that should have been cured with the snap of a finger.  It's so frustrating to not know what the problem is and what's causing it but, it's even more frustrating to see how easy it is for the doctor to just write a prescription.  Each time I went to the doctors she was with me for less than 15 minutes.  How much could she get out of that?  And what if I didn't have a health plan and had to pay out of pocket?  How much would all of those prescriptions cost me?  Was it really necessary to prescribe three different antibiotics and two puffers?  Oh, and let's not forget the ear drops.  At the end of the day, I'm still coughing and my ear is no better.  Score 1 for the pharmaceutical companies and 0 for me so far.

   Anyway, here are some of the things that I have been doing to help strengthen my immune system while also trying to rid my body of whatever germs are hanging around in there.

Raw Organic Honey - I eat a spoonful first thing in the morning and then add it to a cup of hot water and lemon.

Hot water with lemon (and a pinch of cayenne pepper)

Oil of Oregano - it's kinda gross but I swish with it a couple of times a day.  I noticed a difference as soon as I started to use it.

Zinc and Vitamin C lozenges - I tried to eat these like candy but they taste kind of gross as well, so I only take them when I remember. 


Raw Garlic - I am adding this to everything... but only after work!  Ha.

Soup - It's so warming and comforting.  I've been making raw green soups as well as hot thick soups.

Whole foods - especially raw veggies and lots of greens

Green Juice - I've been stepping up the green juices to rid my body of whatever toxins are lingering from all of the drugs I took!

Thanks for reading and if you have any remedies that you'd like to share I'd be happy to hear them!
Have a happy and HEALTHY day!

Love,
Ves xx

Should I Be Blushing?

   Hi Friends!

   First of all, let me start by apologizing for the silence around here.  I've been in a bit of a funk lately and not really feeling like doing much.  Anytime I think about my blog and start writing something, my mind goes blank.  I've started so many posts and have finished none of them.  This is bad news, especially when I have made a promise to myself to participate in the Vegan MOFO next month... which means blogging daily... about food... with recipes... and possibly a theme!  Sheesh.  Talk about pressure!  However, in my defense, I've been dealing with a few health issues (nothing serious) and it's definitely taken a toll on my attitude.  I'll talk more about that in another post though, because right now I really want to share with you what I did this weekend. 

   As you can tell by the title of this post, I'm wondering if I should feel awkward about doing so?  The thing is, I really don't feel the least bit odd about sharing this.  It seems so normal to me and I'm super psyched to have done it, and to do it again (soon!).  Not psyched like I'm going to see my favorite band in concert, but psyched in the sense that I'm taking my health up a notch.  Want to know what it is?  Well, keep reading then!  Ha.

   This weekend I had my colon cleansed (aka: a colonic) at a Colon Hydrotherapy clinic.  Ever heard of this?  Are you curious?  I definitely was!  This has been on my list of things to try for a while now and I'm so glad that I finally had the opportunity.  There are so may benefits to this that I highly recommend you guys give it a try.  I'll outline some benefits below and why you should seriously consider it.

Looks similar to the one that I used... minus the ocean in the background!

 Source

    First of all, why should we even consider cleansing our colon?  Well, let's just say that the diet of us North American's is pretty much full of crap (no pun intended).  Our diets are full of refined and processed foods, as well as high amounts of caffeine, alcohol, salt, sugar and fats.  Unless you eat super clean, and have done so all your life, chew your food really well, AND live in a bubble (i.e., not the city), your colon could use some cleansing.

The Benefits...

Improves circulation, flushes the toxins and cleanses the kidneys as well as the colon.

In addition to aiding in...

Weight Loss
Constipation Relief
Increased Energy
Detoxification
Enhanced Immunity
Improved digestion function
Glowing skin and clear eyes

You can get more information about Colon Hydrotherapy here and also check out the clinic that I went to.

   So... How was my experience, you wonder?  It was amazing!  Well, about as amazing as a colonic can get.  Ha.  But to be honest, it was better than I expected.  I was definitely nervous going in and a little unsure of what to expect.  The colon therapist made me feel very comfortable, relaxed and at ease right from the start.  This was a bonus because I didn't realize that he would have to be in the room with me at times to see what's coming out of me.  Yikes!  And, oh crap.  Literally!  I was always aware of my bashful bladder (I have a hard time peeing in public restrooms - by the way, I don't consider that Too Much Information, especially since I've been talking about colon cleansing!) but I had no idea that I had a bashful colon as well.  Turns out I do!  Ha.  But in the end, I was able to experience all of the benefits, despite my terrible shyness.

   How did I feel?  Afterwards, I felt great.  I wasn't tired or uncomfortable or in any kind of pain.  In fact, after I left the clinic, I went shopping.  I didn't really eat though - no breakfast, just water, and I didn't really feel like lunch.  I ended up having a smoothie later in the afternoon.  It felt good to put something in my body, but it also felt strange.  I felt that way later in the evening, too, when I tried to eat my dinner - a salad and a steamed sweet potato.  In fact, it's been a couple of days since my cleanse and I still feel weird eating.  I don't know if that's just me personally or if others feel the same way?  I should let you know though, that when I go and get my teeth cleaned I wait as long as possible before I eat.  I think it's a "me" thing.

   One more thing about this cleanse.  Even though this is a type of detox, I didn't feel the usual symptoms that I would during any other kind of detox process.  Typically I get headaches (usually only on the first day), I might feel a bit light headed, irritable and most definitely EMOTIONAL.  We all have different side effects when we detox and for me, I am always extra sensitive.  When I quit smoking (yes, I used to smoke) I would randomly burst into tears.  This usually happened when I was out walking my dog and I would wonder if anyone could tell that I was crying.  The neighbors probably thought I was a nut job.  After I switched to a vegan diet I went through a similar phase of feeling super emotional for no reason.  The same is true when I would cleanse through juicing.  So anyway, after my colonic I was expecting to feel a bit emotional, but it never happened.  I found this to be odd but I didn't actually notice until the end of the day.  I was thinking about a lot of different things, feeling a bit let down and, as I mentioned above, dealing with some annoying health issues.  So, if ever there was a time to be emotional, this would be it.  But, nope.  Nothing.  Nada.  Totally fine.  And, I was able to see the bright side to all the little things that have been nagging me.  YAY for the clarity that I got from the colon cleanse! Who knew?

I hope you guys consider having a colonic.  You'll be glad you did - I promise!

Happy Monday!

Love,
Ves xx

WIAW # 13 OR My Lucky Number!

   Hello party people!
   It's the middle of the week and you know what that means.  You guessed it - another installment of What I Ate Wednesday!  I've grown to love these WIAW posts because I get to post pictures of food but also, because I get to ogle food pics from other blogs.  Let's face it, who doesn't like to look at yummy food? 

So let's get on with it, shall we?

First thing - As always, I start my morning off with some room temp water, a squirt of lemon, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Next - a cup of coffee.  I love my coffee.  It holds a special place in my heart and I hope that I never have to stop drinking it. 

Breakfast - It's been a little bit chilly in the mornings so I felt like something a bit more warming then my usual breakfast.  I whipped up some oat bran with cinnamon, raw cacao powder and bananas.  

Late morning snackage - carrot sticks and dijon mustard.  This never gets old - I love dipping my veggies in mustard.  And because I do it so often, I've even inspired some of the kids at work to start doing it, too!  Hey, it's better than ranch dip so who am I to deny them?

Lunch - Always a salad and no, in case you are wondering, I never get sick of them!  This one has spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and a sprinkling of nori.  The dressing is simple: Lemon, nutritional yeast and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Dinner - Garden Burger with tomato and avocado on a bed of kale salad.

Early evening snackage - this is probably my second or third peach of the season.  I haven't come across too many organic peaches so when I saw these at my health store I snatched up a couple.  This peach was super soft (in a good way) and super sweet.  Definitely worth the wait!

Sweet tooth snackage - I made these peanut butter cookies over the weekend because I was having some visitors.  I put the rest in the freezer for the occasional sweet tooth and pulled a couple out to have with my tea.  It totally hit the spot.

   And since this month we are talking about our goals and falling into good habits, I figure that I should share that I am vowing to be more punctual.  This mostly pertains to work (and I really hope that my 'higher ups' do not read my blog... fingers crossed) because even though I rush in the morning to make sure that I get myself ready and get everything done in time - I never seem to get out of the house any earlier!  In fact, I find that whenever I have time to spare, I usually give myself another task because I feel like it's "free time".  And thus, I end up being late or arriving with seconds to spare.  Ugh!  Well, from now on, not only will I be on time, but I will arrive to work EARLY (I hope).  I can do this!  Wish me luck!  Actually, I might not need it as this is my 13th WIAW post and like I said in the title, thirteen is my lucky number.  I think that's all the luck I'll need.  But you can still cheer me on if you'd like! ;)

Have a great Wednesday and remember, it's only two more days until the weekend (yes, I'm counting down)!

Love,

Ves xx