My Dad

May 102013

If you are new to my blog or have been a follower for a while – I have some sad news to share so that you know why I’m out of commission for a bit.

This past Tuesday, May 7th, around 3:30 in the afternoon the world was flat – then in a millisecond, with two words, “he’s gone”, I realized the world is round.

The impossible became possible.

Dad in Islamorada

A man I had just seen Monday night, the picture of health, while we watched my daughter take swim lessons, was gone.

My Dad and Daughter at Little Talbot Island

I had been sitting in a meeting at work Tuesday afternoon when a friend told me there had been an emergency. It didn’t register. “Are you kidding?” I looked at my phone and saw four missed calls – one from my mom; in a broken voice she told me there had been an emergency and to come quickly. My hands were shaking as I pressed the elevator down button and I was already crying. What could it be? I thought maybe the boat fell on my dad, the ultimate fisherman and outdoors-man. I said to myself, shoot he’ll still find a way to fish, even if he doesn’t have his legs.

Dad

I walked outside and my husband was waiting for me outside which was very odd. He drove like a maniac to the ER. What could be wrong? As I walked in the room he was quietly lying there. My dad. But gone. Gone. I crumpled to the floor.

Earlier in the day he and my mom had met with a financial planner. At 67 he had finally made the decision to retire. Around lunchtime, he rode his bike up to the pool like he does every other day to lift weights and swim laps. He greeted the staff and began his laps, about 13 minutes in he made the turn at the pool side where the lifeguard was, stopped swimming and went under. That’s it. The lifeguard noticed immediately and reacted, they got him out in about 20 seconds but it was too late. Even as I write this it seems surreal.

Impossible. Impossible. Impossible. I still don’t believe it.

As we left the hospital we were in shock. We are still in shock. There is no WAY.

There is so much to be done it is overwhelming.

Now I think of all the things he will miss – my daughter’s graduation, holidays, travel, camping trips, daily life – and it makes me so, so sad. My daughter is 4 – will she remember Papa?

Dad

We were told he had coronary heart disease and had a heart attack. What?! I wrack my brain. Were there any signs? ANY symptoms? I think back. I continually ask myself what if he hadn’t been in that pool. What if I had pushed him even harder to stop eating meat?

There are so many reminders - his art work all over my house, his work boots in the garage – empty. Never to be worn again. We had to retrieve his belongings from the pool. His flip flops wrapped neatly in his towel.

Fish Caught in Time

My memories flash back – from both long in the past and even from a few days ago; his raised gardens in Massachusetts, where he grew beans, broccoli and raspberries, weekends at Cape Cod, all the camping trips we have taken, how he would tell me stories at bedtime and now my daughter those same stories, trekking out to the marsh to catch fiddler crabs with my daughter, swimming at blue springs state park, retiring his old flip flops in the desert in Arizona, cooking up dinner on the Big Green Egg and how proud he was on Monday to see his granddaughter swimming under water to grab the colorful rings.

Catching Fiddler Crabs at Skidway Island

All we can do now is live and put one foot in front of the other and celebrate the life he had.

Me and Dad

And celebrate the time we had with him.

Cooking up Marshmallows

And cherish each and every memory.

Wine Tasting

Daddy – you will be missed. I love you. We love you. And so many others love you.

Mom and Dad

Papa, Granddaughter and Daisy

How I Won the Battle with Depression and Got off Antidepressants – and a Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie with 3000 mg of Omega 3′s

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Apr 222013

I felt like a three ton weight was pressing on my shoulders and wanted to just lie in my darkened closet and not come out.

One of the hardest parts was that I looked normal.

Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie

It is not easy to share the details of my life in a public forum like this, in fact I’ve had this post written for a while and continued to put off posting it because I just wasn’t sure I wanted to put it out there, but I’m going to do so in the hopes that I might be able to help someone else.

My life was (and is) seemingly perfect. I have a supporting and loving family, husband and daughter, a wonderful home, a job, I have figured out my passion, I have all my limbs and hey, I live in Florida, how bad can things actually be?

I was suffering from major depression. What made it worse was that I should NOT be depressed, right? I should have felt only happiness and gratitude. And I DID, but I also had a cloud that hung over my head and no matter how much I tried to talk myself out of it, read positive books, think positive thoughts, it would still be there. It was so bad that I would cry almost every day on the way on the drive to work and many days on the way home. When I got to work I would blow my nose, put some cover-up around my eyes, slap on some powder and put my glasses on to cover it up. I was exhausted all the time, so much so that it felt like physical pain. I would tell my mom this almost daily. Mom I’m so tired it hurts.

I had an aging (and very noisy) Labrador, Madison, that would wake me at night and afterwards I wouldn’t fall back to sleep which made the exhaustion worse. One particular weekend stands out in my memory. Some friends, Matt and Stephanie, came in town and several couples were going out for dinner. My hubby was busy doing something that I can’t recall so I was going to go myself. I put on a beautiful new dress that had the colors of the ocean, blues and greens, and drove to my friend Justine’s house 45 minutes away from mine to see them. Everyone was chatting and gathering their things to head to dinner. I tried to put on my game face but I was so worn down that I was wrestling with myself. Just suck it up and go, you’ll be fine. And the next thought, I’m so tired it hurts. I just want to sit at home and wallow. The exhaustion won. I said I’m so sorry, I can’t do it. I have to go home. I’m exhausted. I envisioned everyone mentally rolling their eyes at me. Of course they weren’t, but I was so embarrassed. I’m still embarrassed about that day and sad that I missed seeing Matt and Steph. I was too young to be that tired. Anyone is too young to be that tired.

That memory always fades into another; my husband and I were staying in St Augustine to celebrate the “February Birthdays” with about five other couples, and I was so worried about even making it to dinner, never mind out afterwards for drinks and music. I was so tired that I wanted to forgo dinner at the Floridian and just stay in my hotel room at the Edgewater by myself. I drank two red energy drinks and one and a half of those little energy bottles and was still exhausted. I was so embarrassed that I would resort to drinking such chemicals when I have a food blog about eating a healthy, plant based diet.

Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie

I was on the highest dosage of Bupropion I could be on and I had tried many of the other antidepressants. Nothing seemed to work. My poor mom is a saint for listening to me through all the crying.

On a particularly dark day I said enough was enough and called my physician to see if she would increase my dosage again. I told her I just want to be a zombie. Get through the day. Go home. I don’t want to feel this weight any more. She said no. You are on the highest dosage. It can not be increased any more, Dawn. I cried about that.

My hair was falling out so I fired my hair dresser thinking that he had over-processed my hair.

Then one day I got an email from my mom’s neurology nurse practitioner, Megan. (My mom has Multiple Sclerosis.) Megan, asked me if I would do a talk on food, nutrition, recipes and my CSA (KyV Farm) for her MS group she runs and I told her of course, I would love to. She said my mom had been telling her about my food blog and she got very excited because she is vegetarian.

Things would come up and I didn’t get around to it, but we continued to talk and become friends. She became a regular follower of my blog and we would occasionally discuss recipes offline.

A while later I did a few posts about flax and chia seed. Once again she contacted me and said she saw I was eating chia seeds. I said yes, and told her how I was eating lots of organic chia and freshly ground flax daily. She asked if I had tried Mila, a raw seed blend. I said no and asked if it is organically grown and non GMO. She said yes to organic and no to GMO. She said I’d be happy to share some with you. I said as long as it’s one ingredient and is a whole, raw food, send it on over. I’d try it.

A few days later I got a large bag of seeds. Being the health nut that I am I cracked it open and began eating it. About three weeks into it I noticed better digestion, more energy and I was falling back to sleep after Madison woke me up at night. Hmm…well that was nice. The seeds I was eating before hadn’t had the same effects. I started getting low and asked her for more. About three months into eating it I noticed something about my depression. Not that I wasn’t getting upset, but that I wasn’t crying all the time. I seemed to be able to get over the hump easier.

Eager to get off any pharmaceuticals, I decided to cut out one day a week of taking them, after a week or two I cut out two days. And so on and so forth.

After a few months I was completely off pharmaceutical antidepressants, and for some reason I didn’t put two and two together. But I finally thought about it and the ONLY thing I had changed was this food.

I did some research. I found many studies about high amounts of Omega 3’s helping the symptoms of depression. The blend I was eating has 3000mg per serving, I know other brands do as well, but for some reason the organic kind I was eating before didn’t touch the depression.

The fact that I had no idea this was one of the “side effects” of eating this whole, raw food until after I was off the meds was what really moved me.

My hair started growing back in. I didn’t realize that many people experience hair loss on high dosages of antidepressants, so now that I was off them, my hair started growing back. Now, over a year later, I don’t even take one medication, my weight is lower and I have more energy. I can’t remember the last time I drank a disgusting red energy drink or took those little energy bottles. I have a cup or two of coffee in the morning because I enjoy it, and that’s all I need. I get up between 4:15 and 4:40 am and typically get to bed around 9 or 10 pm.

I’m so thankful that Megan sent me that purple bag of seeds that was so different than everything I had tried before that I think of her daily with gratitude.

The best part is that the three ton weight is gone. And I’m happy to say I finally did do that talk for the MS group and had a great time.

This is my story. I’m not embellishing or exaggerating. I still absolutely do get upset about things but am able to deal with them a bit better and find my moods much more even. I did join the business with Megan in order to share information about my story and the food that helped me so much and I’m so proud to represent it. I tell people about it like a good movie or good restaurant. If they want to try some, great and if not, that is fine too. I am NOT by any means saying that what I found will cure anything whatsoever, and I’m NOT giving any advice on how to get off antidepressants, all I know is my own experience and how it helped me. Everyone’s bodies are different and react differently to foods. Please also notice that I said it took THREE months. If I had been expecting the effects of this food I probably would have gotten impatient. Because I didn’t know this was a benefit of this food, it was like an added bonus. And what a bonus!

All I ask is that you treat yourself with love and consider the side effects of taking any sort of pharmaceutical BEFORE you start. Your doctor will most likely NOT try to treat any ailment through food and nutrition before going to pharmaceuticals. There are a very few like Megan and if you have found one, hold on to them like gold.

I have no idea what other ailments my body was suffering from those high dosages of antidepressants, not to mention the energy drinks but I am so thankful, every day, that I found this food.

If you have questions about my experience please contact me at chefdawn (at) hotmail.com.

“If you’re concerned about your health, you should probably avoid products that make health claims. Why? Because a health claim on a food product is a strong indication it’s not really food, and food is what you want to eat.”
― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

Sunny Mila (Chia) Dreamsicle Smoothie

Sunny Mila Dreamsicle Smoothie

Serves 1
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup vanilla almond milk
2 mandarin oranges, peeled and sectioned
1/2 frozen banana, chopped
1 scoop (2 Tbsp) Mila
**If using unsweet vanilla almond milk, you can add a bit of agave, honey or sweetener of choice

Directions

1. Blend everything together and enjoy!

“While it is true that many people simply can’t afford to pay more for food, either in money or time or both, many more of us can. After all, just in the last decade or two we’ve somehow found the time in the day to spend several hours on the internet and the money in the budget not only to pay for broadband service, but to cover a second phone bill and a new monthly bill for television, formerly free. For the majority of Americans, spending more for better food is less a matter of ability than priority. p.187”

― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

Nutrition Facts
1 Serving
Amount Per Serving

Calories 252.4
Total Fat 6.8 g
Saturated Fat 0.1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 184.5 mg
Potassium 460.0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 43.9 g
Dietary Fiber 11.2 g
Sugars 28.2 g
Protein 6.5 g

Vitamin A 10.8 %
Vitamin B-6 14.6 %
Vitamin C 7.7 %
Vitamin D 25.0 %
Vitamin E 50.7 %
Calcium 53.3 %
Copper 4.6 %
Folate 2.4 %
Iron 10.9 %
Magnesium 7.7 %
Manganese 20.9 %
Niacin 1.4 %
Pantothenic Acid 1.3 %
Phosphorus 14.0 %
Riboflavin 5.0 %
Selenium 0.8 %
Thiamin 1.5 %
Zinc 0.6 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies over Fresh Citrus Salsa and Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto PLUS Tips on How to Make Tofu Look Like Chicken!

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Apr 162013

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies
Open your mind……

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” ― Michael Pollan, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies over Fresh Citrus Salsa and Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto

“Many people know that animals around the world are treated badly, yet they turn their minds away.” - Ruby Roth, Vegan is Love

So I say…..open your mind to what is going on in factory farms.

“Were the walls of our meat industry to become transparent, literally or even figuratively, we would not long continue to raise, kill, and eat animals the way we do.”
― Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

“I would NEVER.” Some people say.
Never give up meat. Give up dairy. Eat tofu.

I do believe I heard that out of my husband’s mouth.

(But curiosity got the best of him.)

It looks like chicken.

“Hey! It’s pretty good!”

Score.

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies over Fresh Citrus Salsa and Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto

How did I manage to do this and WHY?

Let’s start with the why.

For the same reason I would pre-prep and pre-make dishes for my CSA….so folks would at least try it. Even ONE meat and dairy free meal helps your body, the environment and, of course, the animals that were not eaten.

“But that’s the challenge — to change the system more than it changes you.”
― Michael Pollan, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies over Fresh Citrus Salsa and Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto

The HOW.

Tips on how to make tofu look like chicken.

Step 1: Press well. Do this the day before you are going to eat it or at least a few hours in advance. I LOVE my tofu xpress, or you can simply wrap the tofu in thick paper towels and a kitchen towel, place it between two plates and weight down the top plate with a very heavy book and/or soup cans. If you are pressing it overnight, place in the fridge; if not, it is fine to leave on the counter.

Step 2: Cut around the entire tofu to remove any flat planes and edges – think chicken breast. Save all the little shreds to season and throw on a salad.

Step 3: Now cut the tofu into similarly sized but asymmetrical pieces.

Step 4: Run your knife along the flat planes making small downward cuts to shred the edges a bit and then throw the tofu in the marinade. See the below video and I promise to get a better one soon! Stay tuned…..

(All these steps will also help the marinade seep in a bit better.)

Ever wondered how to disguise tofu? This very humorous, last minute (and shaky) video shows you how.
Warning: The videographer was my 4 year old.

Now that all the nuts and bolts are out of the way, let’s get down to the food.

The weather is getting warmer and people are ready to start grilling! There is nothing like a nice crisp char on some veggies and a mouth-watering, marinated protein-of-choice (tempeh would be great too) - perfect with cool salsa and creamy avocado. This whole concoction, nestled in a bed of aromatic-nutty cilantro and sunflower seed pesto, is a perfect medley of flavor, texture and temperature.

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies over Fresh Citrus Salsa and Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies over Fresh Citrus Salsa and Cilantro Sun Flower Seed Pesto

___________________________________

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies

Serves 6
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
Tip: Press the tofu overnight and then marinate during the day.

Ingredients

1 block organic, extra firm tofu, pressed 1 hour to overnight
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp adobo seasoning
1 Tbsp + 2 tsp olive oil
2 fresh zucchini, sliced
1 onion, quartered and cut into chunks
5oz button mushrooms

Adobo Seasoning Recipe
Notes: You will definitely have left over.
This step can be skipped by purchasing pre-mixed adobo seasoning.
2 tsp each; garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, cumin, dried oregano
1 tsp chili powder
1 Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp salt

Directions

1. Mix 2 Tbsp adobo seasoning and 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large bowl; cut tofu into chunks (see tip on how to make tofu look like chicken) and add to bowl; toss to coat and set aside for at least an hour or the day.

2. Preheat grill to medium high; season the vegetables with remaining 2 tsp adobo seasoning and 2 tsp olive oil; toss to coat.

3. Thread veggies and tofu onto skewers in an alternating pattern; spray with organic, non-stick spray.

4. Grill until nice char marks appear and vegetables are soft but not mushy; 5-10 minutes on one side and 5 or so minutes on the next.

Full Nutrition Info

Fresh Citrus Salsa

Serves 6
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 tomatoes, chopped
1 navel orange, peeled and chopped
1/4 red onion, chopped
Juice 1 lime
1 avocado, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Dash coarse sea salt

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl.

Full Nutrition Info

Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto

Serves 6
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp chopped onion
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds
1/8 – 1/4 tsp coarse sea salt (depending on taste)
1/4 cup water

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in Magic Bullet or blender.

!Full Nutrition Info

Enjoy this grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies

Blissful Blueberry Bake and Six Disney Food Survival Tips

Articles and Reading, Breakfast, Dairy Free, Dessert, Egg Free, Native Sun Recipe, Six Ingredients or Less, Snack, Soy Free, Tips, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian No Responses »

Feb 212013

Six Disney Food Survival Tips

Blissful Blueberry Bake

Disney World.

Is it one of your life’s dreams to get there? Or are you not into the lines and crowds?

I would definitely put myself into the latter category. Camping is one of my favorite pastimes. Nature. Solitude. Calm. My life is crazy enough as it is, so going into an environment of man-made chaos is not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, I just returned from a three day Disney adventure because we had family that flew in from Massachusetts that my daughter had never met and she very much enjoyed meeting her cousins…and Mary Poppins.

One of the first and most obvious things to me, of course, was the food choices of many Disney-goers. At the “resort” we stayed at there was a cafeteria where my family and I ate. During one particular breakfast I noticed a sadly obese child that had skittles, some sort of cinnamon bun, a chocolate chip cookie, bacon and a chocolate chip pancake on his plate and was washing that down with his ($17) mug of Coke. The more I looked around, the more I realized it was the same with many of the parents and other children’s plates. Some of the “healthy” choices were Light and Fit yogurt, flavored milks and frosted flakes. If you know anything about the commercial dairy industry and GMO corn, you know this is not actually a healthy choice.

So what is a food conscious person to do? With a little planning you can both save money and stay healthy!

1) Spend a little time to plan ahead. Choose a few recipes to make beforehand, such as this five ingredient black bean burger. **(For those flying in see below.)
2) Find out if you can get a refrigerator in your room or if you will need to get ice each morning.
3) Bring a canvas bag for non-refrigeration items, a large cooler for anything that must stay cold and smaller lunch bag for the day trips.
4) Each morning separate breakfast items out and then pack enough food items for lunch and snacks in the smaller bag. (You will have a much easier time of this with a plant based diet since you won’t need to worry as much about refrigeration.) If you are not going back to the room for dinner, you will need to pack that too.
5) Bring paper plates, napkins and utensils. (If you are flying in you can get these on the park grounds, but taking them along allows you to forgo having to stand in line to obtain only a plate.)
6) Bring some reusable storage containers that you can portion your lunch into and rinse out each night.

Note: For lunch items such as a bean burger, there are a few restaurants that are happy to allow you to use their condiments such as salsa, lettuce, tomato and onion when you tell them you or your child has food allergies – especially if you do purchase something from them such as a side salad or small iced coffee (I packed my own coconut creamer).

**If you are flying in, prior to leaving home, purchase and pack a soft sided cooler. Upon arriving in Orlando find a grocery store such as Publix and stock up on some ice and essentials. You can still make these five ingredient black bean burgers - all you need is a can of beans, mustard, ketchup, some instant oats, salt and pepper and a microwave.

The outcome? With just this little bit of preparation: 1) I saved enough money to cover my daughter’s three day ticket into the park as a Florida resident and 2) we had some really delicious food compared to some of the generic items available. There would have been almost nothing either of us could eat between my plant based diet and my daughter’s food allergies. I found almost no meat/dairy free choices, unless we wanted to get a iceberg lettuce salad or a plastic packaged $7 bowl of melon.

Some of the items I packed included refillable water bottles with filters, fresh fruit, dried fruit, sun butter/peanut butter, whole grain bagel thins, rice cakes, home made bean burgers, an avocado, onion and tomato, carrots and hummus, salsa and organic corn chips, oatmeal, coconut milk creamer, rice milk for my daughter and a few splurge items such as a container of Blissful Blueberry Bake, gluten free fig newtons and GF pretzels.

Looking at the population of people that was in the parks was disheartening. There were so many people that were so overweight they actually had to have motorized wheelchairs to get around. It made me so sad and wishful that I could help them. But as with all things in life we can only Live and Let Live and lead by example. The more of us that band together in these situations and show people that eating and living healthy is possible the better. My hope is that even ONE person saw what we were doing and said you know what, I’m going to do that next time!

Blissful Blueberry Bake

This blueberry bake is a simple and satisfying warm dessert. For those folks where fresh blueberries are not available, frozen would work great too. Whatever you choose, be sure to get a variety that does not contain added sugars or salt -this way you can control the amount that is added to the recipe.

I encourage you to dress this base recipe up in different ways – some ginger or cinnamon would be lovely or the addition of some extra pecans or other nuts. Don’t like agave? Try subbing some 100% maple syrup. Any which way, you can’t go wrong with baked blueberries!

Blissful Blueberry Bake

Serves 4
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Items on sale now at Native Sun Natural Foods Market, Feb 7 through Mar 6, 2013

Ingredients

1 pint fresh blueberries**
¼ cup agave nectar, (Madhava)**
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup gluten free granola, (Natures Path)**
1 tsp coconut oil, melted (Nutiva) **

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F; mix blueberries, agave, lemon and salt in a small baking dish; mix granola and coconut oil in a small dish and then spoon over blueberries evenly; cover and bake 60 minutes, until warm and bubbly.

Nutrition Facts
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 213.6
Total Fat 4.5 g
Saturated Fat 1.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.8 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 166.4 mg
Potassium 94.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 42.9 g
Dietary Fiber 4.4 g
Sugars 29.8 g
Protein 2.7 g

Vitamin A 2.0 %
Vitamin B-6 1.9 %
Vitamin C 24.7 %
Vitamin E 5.0 %
Calcium 1.3 %
Copper 3.1 %
Folate 1.6 %
Iron 4.3 %
Magnesium 1.3 %
Manganese 14.2 %
Niacin 1.8 %
Pantothenic Acid 0.9 %
Phosphorus 1.1 %
Riboflavin 3.0 %
Selenium 0.8 %
Thiamin 3.3 %
Zinc 0.8 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Enjoy my Blissful Blueberry Bake and Six Disney Food Survival Tips!

Giveaway of flexibility and strength from Alyson Foreacre at Yoga Den Studio and Florida Coastal Cooking

Articles and Reading 14 Responses »

Jan 202013

And the winner of the giveaway is April K! Congratulations! Please go to Yoga Den Studio to pick up your prize.

Yoga. What are your thoughts? Love it? Not a fan? Never tried it?

I’ll confess I’m a yoga lover. My first memories of yoga were my dad doing head stands and plow pose while watching the news. I didn’t know it, but back then yoga was a bit “out there”. Moving from San Diego from the snowy northeast was a culture shock to say the least. Fast forward to my college days at FSU – I didn’t go to a studio but yoga classes were offered at the huge fitness center there, Leach center. On the polished wood floors we would practice our down dogs and twists but then for a few years after I graduated I lost my practice…..

Until meeting Alyson at Yoga Den. Alyson is the owner of my fabulous yoga studio and also one of my dear friends. Her background did not start out in yoga – she actually was in sales! She met her husband Chip and had her two boys and made a career change into fitness. She loved running and aerobics and when a friend asked her to join a power yoga class she agreed. The first class she tried was a power Vinyasa Flow yoga and she fell in love with the aerobic workout and the challenge. But, she tells me, she thought all yoga was like this, and not until deciding to become a teacher and furthering her practice did she fall in love with the benefits for the mind as well and learned that there are so many different variations that are unique and beneficial in their own way. Centering, breathing, slowing down and focusing in the face of a challenging pose are all part of her teaching style. Alyson has such a gift for articulating the mechanics of each pose in such a gentle way, bringing humor and “no judgment!”. I visit Alyson twice weekly and I absolutely hate it when I have to miss a class. The Sun Power class on Saturdays and Tuesdays is what I call my moving meditation. It gives me 90 minutes to focus on each pose instead of the daily grind and after finishing with the relaxation and meditation at the end, I am relaxed, happy and ready to spread peace and love and to give others what I would like to receive back.

I love that she has turned her passion into her career and is sharing this gift with so many people. I hope you will join me in celebrating this inspirational woman!

As a special gift to you, Yoga Den Studio is offering a giveaway of four free classes!

_________________________________

Enter for a chance to win FOUR free classes from Yoga Den Studio. A value of almost $50!
2929 Plummer Cove Road, Jacksonville, FL

[For those of you not in the area - stay tuned! I'm working on some more fabulous giveaways!]

How to enter:

Get 1 entry: Leave a comment here. Yoga. What are your thoughts? Love it? Not a fan? Never tried it?

Get a 2nd entry: Leave a separate comment that you liked Yoga Den Studio and shared the giveaway on facebook.

Get a 3rd entry: Leave a separate comment that you liked Florida Coastal Cooking on facebook.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

The winner will be picked at random at 10AM est Saturday, January 26th est.

The winner can pick their winning classes at Yoga Den, 2929 Plummer Cove Road, Jacksonville, FL 904-268-8330

_________________________________

Alyson Foreacre E-RYT, 500 Hour Certified, R.Y.S. Teacher Trainer

Alyson has drawn from her love of endurance sports to create a unique style of power yoga that will both challenge the serious athlete and gradually strengthen the novice. The Sun Power class is an eclectic blend of traditions coming from master teachers Alyson has studied with, such as Deva Parnell, (Kripalu), Shiva Rea, David and Sharon Gannon (Jivamukti), John Friend (Anusara), Baron Baptiste (Power Vinyasa), Gurmukh (Kundalini) and Sara Powers, (Yin yoga and meditation) Her accomplishments include Ashtanga, Discovery, Pre/Post-Natal certifications, as well as Pilates and CPR. Alyson received her 200 hour training at the Discovery yoga school, which is a Kripalu affiliate, and her 500 hour certification at the Asheville Yoga Center where she studied classic traditions and yoga therapy for special populations. She has also developed the Yoga Den™ 200 hour Teacher Training program, an internationally recognized Yoga Alliance school, which has currently certified over 200 teachers in the dual traditions of Sun Power and Mind~Body.

Barn Raising – Please Support KyV Farm!

Articles and Reading, Farming and Food Sustainability 2 Responses »

Jan 102013

To you, my dear friends,

For the past few years, my passion for volunteering has revolved around my CSA, KyV Farm. One of the main reasons I got involved was because of the food allergies my daughter has.

Crazy about our CSA at KyV

Under the age of one, we thankfully found out she has allergies to wheat, eggs, dairy, soy, peanuts, cod fish, red 40 and other dyes to name a few. Secondly I noted that many of the other children around her have food allergies that cause severe eczema and psoriasis to swelling and anaphylaxis where the throat can swell shut and possibly cause death. This did not happen when my generation was growing up, so why is it so prevalent now? When I spoke with the food researchers at a local natural food store they said the studies and statistics show that these food allergies increased in direct correlation with the genetic modification and processing of foods and we can combat this by buying whole, organic (and local!) foods.

Romanesco Cauliflower from KyV

The BEST way to do this is through an organic CSA/Farm Share. This is where you support a local farm by buying a “share” of the crop before the start of the growing season. The farmer can then use the funds to run the farm through the year and you get to enjoy the bounty, but also to share in some of the risk.

Beautiful Brussels from KyV

I have written recipes, organized events and created a drop-off at my company -through this process Vivian, Francisco and their family at KyV Farm have become like my family. Vivian was a salon owner in Puerto Rico before coming to the US and now even cuts my hair and my daughter’s hair (a one stop shop for veggies and a haircut!). Many times I’ve been welcomed into their home for food and laughs and they have been kind enough to promote my blog and business. There are so many reasons to get to know a local farmer in your area – not only for the nourishment of your body and for the health and well-being of your family, but for the sense of community. Together we can all make a difference by sharing information with others – one step at a time.

KyV farm is asking for support in an old fashioned Barn Raising and I’m asking – no matter how far away you are – for your help! Any donation to help this worthy cause will help this worthy cause of helping farmers, promoting health and, by not using pesticides and fertilizers, save the environment. Please see the details below for more information!

“Barn Raising” - Donate Now

In the 18th and 19th centuries, barns were an absolute necessity for the average farmer,
providing a place to house animals and store food, supplies and tools. But barns were also very
expensive structures to build that required more labor by more hands than a single farm family could
provide. And so the tradition of the community barn raising began. An entire community would get
together to help one of its member families build their barn. Only those with the most specialized skills
might be paid in some way, but generally everyone volunteered for the job. The point was to help one’s
fellow man, but everyone benefited in the end. Families traded for and bought goods from one another,
so it wasn’t good for any part of that system to break down. A sense of community was fostered as
whole villages gathered for up to several days of work, socializing and communal meals. Plus, those
same barns, though owned after the raising by the individual farmer, were often used for community
events such as dances and meetings.
Though traditional barn raising occurs now only in certain segments of society, modern versions
of the concept are still employed, most typically when a community raises money together for a big
project. Well, we would like to bring the traditional and the modern together within our KYV family.
Your farm needs a good old-fashioned barn, which is still a large and costly structure, but which is
essential for our growing community.
What we are planning is a 30-by-40-foot structure located right behind the current pickup shed
on Borrow Pit Road. There will be a large, enclosed, certified commercial kitchen at one end. The rest of
the barn will be an open area that will include the walk-in cooler and a small bathroom. The large open
part of the barn will allow us to have more space for pickups. If you haven’t noticed, we’ve gone from
using just the inside of the little shed to using the inside and the porch, and now that isn’t even big
enough. We also envision using the open area for cooking demonstrations and classes by local chefs,
tastings, workshops and more.
The certified kitchen will be used for workshops, canning and activities. But here’s the best part
for you: Our members will be able to access the certified kitchen too! This means that on pickup days,
you can bring your own containers and prep your share right then and there. You can wash, peel and
chop till your heart’s content, and then leave the scraps for compost or chicken feed. We’ve had many,
many members say that they wish they could do all of that before they took their veggies home, and we
think this will meet that need. Having access to the kitchen at the farm also means that you’ll be able to
can whatever items you can’t use right away. Think of all those pounds and pounds of beans and
potatoes you’ve harvested at potlucks past. Wouldn’t it have been nice to have a place to prepare and can
all of that without having to turn your own kitchen into a mini-factory? Some of our members have even
pointed out that they would love to prepare their own goodies for sale at markets and other venues, but
that some of those places require that food be prepared in a certified kitchen. With this barn, our foodcrafting
members can have that opportunity! We are planning for our certified kitchen to have a large
stove, a refrigerator and plenty of counter space.
Here’s where the KYV community comes in. Remember the part about barns still being costly
structures? We have gotten one quote so far of $10,000 just for the barn. Of course, we are going to get
other quotes and see where we might be able to reduce some of the cost. The cost of the certified kitchen
will depend on what kinds of deals we can find on restaurant equipment. Meanwhile, we will be doing a
kind of internal “Kickstarter” campaign to raise our barn. Through the “Donate Now” tab at
www.kyvfarm.com, members will be able to donate toward this project the same as you can donate right
now to the Feed-a-Family program.
Thank you, in advance, for your support in raising a barn that we think will benefit our entire
KYV community. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the progress of this project! And, please, if you
have any questions (or suggestions on fundraising for us), don’t hesitate to contact us.

KYV FARM
Organic Vegetables & Specialty Citrus
Community Supported Agriculture Wholesale Distribution
Francisco Arroyo & Vivian Bayona
1670 Borrow Pit Rd. Switzerland, FL 32259
Cell: (787) 232-7359 or (787) 232-2234
www.kyvfarm.com email: info@kyvfarm.com

What if…… and a Recipe For a Sweet and Salty Broccoli, Carrot and Tofu Stir Fry

Articles and Reading, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Main Meal, Quick and Easy, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegan, Vegetarian 2 Responses »

Jan 092013

A reflection on the importance of treating with food instead of medicine…….

CSA – Brussels, Broccoli, Carrots and Tomato

By now we have all figured out that the world didn’t end in December because we are all still here. But all that talk about the world ending got people talking. What if…..

Story in In-Style this month – Sandra Lee lived through the Super Storm

There WAS an emergency - a flu pandemic, a hurricane, terrorist attack, nuclear bomb….

Tofu Stir Fry

I’ll share a little known fact about me – I graduated with a sociology degree so I love the study of people and especially what would happen in an extreme disaster. I just finished a thought provoking book called One Second After by William R Forstchen. The setting is in North Carolina and the US is struck by an EMP, or electro magnetic pulse – this documented scenario can happen from a solar flare, but in this case, a nuclear device was detonated in the atmosphere high above the US – so there is no risk of radiation, but it fries all electronics and computers. In the book, the main character, John, is simply going about his day when he hears his daughter’s CD player stop playing music and the fan slowly stops turning. That is it. Next they realize the noise from the highway has stopped. All electronics with computer chips stop working. This sounds not too bad right?

Think about this. No one knows what happened because all communication is cut off. Everyone was waiting to find out what happened and what to do. If this happened – phones and radios don’t work so there is no communication, ATMs and banks are useless, cars stop working, pace makers stop, back-up generators and the computers at drug stores and super markets are dead and there is no way to truck the food, medicine and supplies that communities now rely on for daily deliveries. The people stranded on the highway, just driving through the area don’t know what is going on. Many of them need medications and food so they must walk into the nearest town – there are people that are so out of shape and unhealthy, they CAN’T walk for miles, some that make it to the pharmacy can’t get their meds because there is no access to the money on their check cards or their records.

For anyone on pharmaceuticals such as statins or other heart medication that could have been considerably helped through diet and exercise – in the book, they don’t make it. They can’t get access to the medications that they would normally simply buy when they needed it. People get cuts or ear infections – there are no antibiotics, so these minor injuries result in catastrophic infections. Any meds that needed to be refrigerated also degrade such as anyone with insulin dependence. How long could this loss of electronics affect us? Months or even years.

Also, consider this. In the past most humans had skills and trades. They were carpenters, farmers, seamstresses and blacksmiths….they had something they could barter with. Maybe some wool in exchange for food. Clothing in exchange for some tools.

How many of us in the US can grow our own food now? (Francisco and Vivian at my CSA, KYV Farm would have LOTS of new friends.) Sew? Cook? Do carpentry? Many people drive somewhere in our cars, sit all day on computers, drive home, go through the drive through, sit on the couch, watch TV, check facebook etc. What if we were at work when this happened? Do you have a crisis plan for your, your family and your children if communication is cut off?

Tofu Stir Fry

At home, is there anything in your pantry you could eat if you didn’t have access to the grocery store? I’m not talking a package of Doritos. I’m talking FOOD. Rice. Beans. Nut butters. Cans of veggies and fruit. Things that would keep in any disaster and would store without refrigeration. Meats and dairy will not keep (unless you count spam but that isn’t really food, ha!). How about a way to get fresh water? If the electronics stopped working, my well wouldn’t work. How would I get fresh water to drink, bathe and flush the commode?

Lots of Dry Beans

I’m not trying to worry or upset you but I am trying to get you to THINK of what you would do in different situations because when I started thinking about it – I realized I’d be in big trouble. I’m not saying I’m now a Doomsday Prepper but I do have a plan in case of disaster, a bit of extra rice and beans in the pantry, a water bottle used for hiking that filters water, and I called to get an extra bottle of my yellow Lab, Tally’s phenobarbital we use to treat her seizures. SIMPLE!

Organized Dry Goods – Grains and Beans Etc.Stored in Recycled Glass Containers

What else can you do? Take care of any ailments you can through FOOD instead of medicine. Start eating healthier and exercising. (I, of course, have to share info about my favorite super-food, Mila. Not only is it shelf stable, you could eat it in a disaster. This whole, raw food is what the Indians of the Copper Canyon ate on their long runs in the book born to run.) Especially those of you that are nurses and doctors. You have skills that are invaluable in daily life – in an emergency you would be even more valuable. You spend your days caring for others, please don’t forget to take care of yourselves!

I’m so thankful that we have found a way to treat my daughter’s horrendous food allergies of wheat, eggs, dairy, peanuts, cod, red 40 and more through a healthy, whole foods diet. I used to have to get $300 tubes of steroid creams more than MONTHLY. I’m also thankful that my family doesn’t need heart, cholesterol, blood pressure or anti-depressant medication – we have taken care of what we can by eating healthy and exercising, but my mom has Multiple Sclerosis and uses an injectable drug called Beta Seron. What would she do in an emergency? Definitely food for thought. Americans tend to take so much for granted, myself included, but I’m becoming more aware. Water. Food. Medicine. Washing machines. Toilet paper. Dry clothing. Toothpaste. Antibiotics. Vaccines. All these things are trucked in daily – especially in inner cities.

So many disasters already do happen and the populations in those areas would be so much better off with just a LITTLE preparedness; so I implore you to ask yourself….what if?

Just think – if you have some shelf stable tofu and some gardening skills you could make this. No gardening skills? Talk to an organic farmer and see how they do it. EASY, sweet, salty and nutty – my whole family loved this. I used sun butter because my daughter has lots of food allergies so she could enjoy it as well. As much as I didn’t feel like cooking when I got home, this was so simple to throw together in about ten minutes!

Tell me – have any preparations been made for an emergency or disaster? What would you do if you didn’t have access to any electronics?

Sweet and Salty Tofu Stir Fry

Sweet and Salty Broccoli, Carrot and Tofu Stir Fry

Serves 4
Printable Recipe
Vegan, Gluten Free, Oil Free

Ingredients

1 block tofu, pressed
1 head broccoli, chopped (from KyV Farm)
3 carrots, chopped (from KyV Farm)
2 Tbsp Sunflower seed butter (or any nut butter you choose)
2 Tbsp agave
1 Tbsp wheat free Tamari

Optional

Red pepper flakes

Directions

1. Heat 1 Tbsp water in a wok over medium high heat; cube tofu and add, browning on two sides, about three minutes, adding 1 tsp water as needed to prevent sticking; remove from heat and set aside.

2. Heat a second Tbsp water in wok add vegetables; stir constantly until tender crisp, again adding 1 tsp water as needed to prevent sticking; about 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Add tofu back to wok and reduce heat. Mix sunflower seed butter, agave and tamari in a small bowl; add to tofu mixture and toss to coat; serve with red pepper flakes if desired.

Nutrition Facts
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 233.2
Total Fat 11.7 g
Saturated Fat 1.6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.8 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.6 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 365.3 mg
Potassium 801.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 19.0 g

Dietary Fiber 7.3 g
Sugars 5.9 g
Protein 19.0 g
Vitamin A 157.2 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 18.1 %
Vitamin C 241.6 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 20.4 %
Calcium 21.1 %
Copper 21.4 %
Folate 36.8 %
Iron 21.6 %
Magnesium 37.7 %
Manganese 75.7 %
Niacin 12.9 %
Pantothenic Acid 10.3 %
Phosphorus 30.6 %
Riboflavin 15.4 %
Selenium 24.8 %
Thiamin 12.4 %
Zinc 15.9 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Theresa’s No Bake Energy Bites and Inspirational Women Series Continues with Andrea Peltier!

Articles and Reading, Dessert, Egg Free, Favorites, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Snack, Vegetarian 3 Responses »

Dec 192012

Happy Holidays! Before I get to the last of my rolled cookie recipes…..(this one posted because of MANY requests)….

….I want to show some love to an amazing lady I met through my Lifemax business – Andrea Peltier. This is my second post in my “inspirational women” series and in this world of negativity and chaos it is so nice to share a little something positive and uplifting about someone. Is there anyone in your life you can do the same for today? Just wait and see how great it makes you feel! Besides – who doesn’t love a good story?

Andrea is the mother of three – in fact, we met up at a convention last October in Orlando and she brought her four week old baby while her husband is deployed overseas. He will not be back until April and will then get to meet his beautiful baby, I was so impressed with her fitting her children into her life and showing them the importance of being self-confident and self-sufficient – these kids will definitely be a step ahead in life.

Andrea is on the right from a recent party.

Here she is getting out and about at a toastmasters event – where she won the event!

I caught up with Andrea again recently at a recent Christmas party, during which we had a white elephant gift exchange and (though my donation was a chia pet) I ended up with the most amazing gift – two handmade ornaments that said “health” and “wealth” with a card that noted how many times the ornaments we choose have meaning to us and are symbols of what we love and desire. SO true. I fell in love with these ornaments and shared one with my dear friend Jodi for being an amazing business partner and friend. (I’ll have to order us another set so we can each have both Jodi!)

Andrea – thank you for inspiring me to take the initiative to get up and out and live life – no excuses!

If you would like to order handmade ornaments from Andrea please contact her at PAndreaE5@gmail.com.

__________________________________________

Now – for these COOKIES!

I know I have now posted several variations of these round cookies so this variation is the last.

This recipe, that originated with my friend Theresa, has been passed around so many times to various business partners because it is SO amazing. Peanut butter, chocolate and coconut make this cookie more like a decadent girl scout Samoa than a healthy energy bite! Everyone that eats these cookies asks where they can find the recipe so I made them for a recent KyV Farm workshop.

I love that I was able to start a business with so many inspirational women AND a food that has 3000mg of plant based Omega3′s and can be used as egg replacer in raw cookies. This is a GREAT way to get lots of Omega 3s into kids without having to get them to swallow a huge pill or eat fish, and I love that they can help with making these.

For those of you that haven’t heard of this amazing food, Mila, and want to know more – click here.

Theresa’s No Bake Energy Bites

Serves about 24
Vegetarian, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup creamy peanut butter (or nut or seed butter of choice)
2/3 cup honey
2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup Mila
3/4 cups mini semi sweet chocolate chips
3 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients; refrigerate 30 minutes; roll into 24 1-inch balls and store in an air tight container.

Nutrition Facts
24 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 217.1
Total Fat 12.2 g
Saturated Fat 2.7 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.8 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 53.1 mg
Potassium 91.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate 24.9 g
Dietary Fiber 3.3 g
Sugars 15.3 g
Protein 4.7 g

Vitamin B-6 2.6 %
Vitamin E 5.3 %
Calcium 1.8 %
Folate 2.0 %
Iron 4.0 %
Magnesium 4.3 %
Manganese 4.6 %
Niacin 7.2 %
Phosphorus 5.8 %
Riboflavin 1.2 %
Selenium 1.2 %
Thiamin 2.3 %
Zinc 2.2 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Inspirational Women Series Kicks off with Christine Roberts and her New Book Inspirational Mind Food

Articles and Reading No Responses »

Dec 142012

Yesterday I got an unexpected email that brought so much joy to my heart.

It was from an amazing woman named Christine Roberts. She came into my life a while back through a company happy hour and is one of those people that has an inner light and positive energy that really shines through – you simply want to know more. When she looks you in the eye as you’re chatting, you gain the sense that she really wants to know you rather than just make small talk. We all need more uplifting people like Christine in our lives.

Christine Roberts, Author of Inspirational Mind Food

The best surprise was what was in that email. Her book release for her book called Inspirational Mind Food! I was dying to find out more so I asked her if she would be at the upcoming company holiday party and got the response that she is no longer with the company because she left to spend more time with her children and do her own thing – which would be writing this book and pursuing her dreams. Wow! I love stories of people that have found and followed their passion. I immediately bought her book on Amazon and hope you will take a look too. I cannot WAIT to receive it in the mail.

Because of Christine and the many motivating women that have come into my life - especially since starting my business last May – I have decided to do a series on Inspirational Women. I realize this is a food blog so there might be some recipes thrown in occasionally with these posts, and sometimes there may not - but either way I hope you enjoy!

http://christinemroberts.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SpeakerChristineMRoberts
BIO
Christine Roberts is a certified child advocate, a former corporate manager of a technology finance firm, a wife, writer and a mother of two children.

Success in Christine’s professional career has come through hard work, diligence and her self-mantra, “Go for it!” Despite facing financial and educational challenges, Christine graduated from Georgia State University’s EMBA program in May 2002 – while working full-time – and rose to the top ranks in every company she has served. She also prioritizes her family by compartmentalizing her work, volunteer, and home life so she can be dedicated in each role she fulfills.

Some of her current community activities include:
• Writer/Columnist: “Motivational Corner” published in My Forsyth magazine
• Mentor: Mentor Me North Georgia (formerly Big Brothers, Big Sisters)
• Volunteer – Browns Bridge Church (Northpoint Ministries)
• Compassion International – International child sponsor
• Certified Child Advocate – Advocacy Center – Atlanta, Georgia
Past services and honors include:
• 2012 “Mentor of the Year” recipient by Mentor Me North Georgia, Inc.
• 2012 “Light of Hope” recipient by CASA of Forsyth County
• Past president of Gamma Delta, a local chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha (ESA), a non-collegiate women’s organization whose primary philanthropic projects are St. Jude Hospital and Easter Seal
• Selected as a VIP for the Easter Seal Telethon
• The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recognized her as one of Atlanta’s professionals who have made an outstanding commitment to Atlanta civic and charitable organizations
• Successful completion of the NYC marathon twice

Christine is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring others to also “Go for it.” Her enthusiasm and ability to inspire others make her a highly regarded and sought-after motivational speaker.

BookLogix Inc.
1264 Old Alpharetta Rd., GA 30005
www.booklogix.com
Phone– 770-346-9979
sales@booklogix.com

PRESS RELEASE- BOOK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Christine M. Roberts
Office: 470-253-7393
Mobile: 404-915-9309

Inspirational Mind Food – Positive Thoughts and Actionable Ideas to Improve Your Mind and Life

Chicken Soup for The Soul meets The Secret

“Inspirational Mind Food” is a compilation of short vignettes in the life of Christine M. Roberts: wife, mother, room mom, writer, business woman…the list goes on. Christine takes us through moments in both her personal and professional life when she was able to consciously create a positive situation, and sometimes not. Christine shares the philosophy that a paradigm shift can occur in your life with both moderation and the power of positive thinking. “Inspirational Mind Food” provides powerful food for thought, which will hopefully help you to live a kinder, more confident life. “Each of us is special, deserving, and worthy of all the goodness life has to offer but it’s up to us to change and improve our path.”

Holiday promotion regularly $ 12.95 now for limited time $ 10.00

Can be purchased at:

· Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Inspirational-Mind-Food-Christine-Roberts/dp/1610052242
· Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inspirational-mind-food-christine-roberts/1113712052?ean=9781610052245
· Or www.ChristineMRoberts.com
· Please follow on Face book – www.facebook.com/SpeakerChristineMRoberts

A couple of Reviews:

By Atlanta Olives

What I like most about this book is that each chapter is specific to a thought or feeling we all have at some point and some really stand out as those you have more often than others. The chapters are short, with a brief example from the author’s point of view on her personal experiences with how some of our destructive thoughts can really wreak havoc on our lives. But she also provides a way to turn it around, and think about it from a different perspective. The book includes ‘take action’ suggestions for how to overcome or reduce these negative thoughts/actions. I have dog-eared a few of the chapters that really resonated with me personally, and I keep it by my bedside to remind myself of how I can control my thoughts and actions when I start to spiral down about a situation. Each chapter is a quick read, so I use it as a reminder when my thoughts start to turn negative. Highly recommend this book!!

By TriesHard

I enjoyed this book and the easy to read format. It’s the kind of book you can pick up and put down easily. The messages are basic and meaningful. Not overly complicated or sappy…Just honest and thought provoking. The correlations to the author’s real life experiences are enjoyable and add to the credibility of the messages.

Simple Lemon Garlic Green Beans with Crispy Onions

Appetizer, Articles and Reading, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Soy Free, Tips, Vegan, Vegetarian No Responses »

Nov 282012

Ready to get a little crazy?

How about THIS instead of your same old green bean casserole?

Fresh green beans, Meyer lemon from the tree out front, a hint of aromatic garlic and some crispy onions – what is not to love?

According to one of my favorite websites, World’s Healthiest Foods, green beans are full of carotenoids – just like carrots and tomatoes! They are high in vitamins C, K and A and even have some of those B Vitamins that many of us just don’t get enough of in our diets.

Green beans are also the perfect diet food – high in fiber and low in calories. I confess that I wasn’t too excited about green beans - I had gotten bored. I needed a new and fresh way to prepare them, so I broke out one of my favorite cooking tools, the Flavor Bible. It is a must have for every cook that wants to create their own recipes. For each ingredient, the book offers what flavors pair best and there was quite a list for green beans.

The Flavor Bible

I have a feeling that if you are bored with the same old casserole, with this recipe you will fall in love with green beans all over again!

Green Beans

Simple Lemon Garlic Green Beans with Crispy Onions

Serves 2
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

10 oz fresh green beans
1 tsp coconut oil
1/8 tsp coarse sea salt
1 clove garlic, minced finely
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp crispy onions, (Loebs)

Directions

1. Heat 1 tsp coconut oil in large skillet; add green beans and salt; cook about 1 minute; reduce heat to medium low, add 1 Tbsp water and garlic; cover and cook 5 minutes. Uncover, stir; cook an additional 5 minutes; add fresh lemon; spoon onto plate and top with crispy onions.

Nutrition Facts
2 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 90.5
Total Fat 4.2 g
Saturated Fat 2.7 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 116.3 mg
Potassium 313.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 13.0 g
Dietary Fiber 4.8 g
Sugars 0.3 g
Protein 2.7 g

Vitamin A 18.7 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 6.4 %
Vitamin C 47.8 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 2.9 %
Calcium 5.5 %
Copper 5.2 %
Folate 13.3 %
Iron 8.3 %
Magnesium 9.0 %
Manganese 16.3 %
Niacin 5.4 %
Pantothenic Acid 1.5 %
Phosphorus 5.6 %
Riboflavin 8.8 %
Selenium 1.5 %
Thiamin 8.3 %
Zinc 2.4 %

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Older Entries

Sunny Mila Dreamsicle Smoothie

Ever wondered how to disguise tofu? This very humorous, last minute (and shaky) video shows you how. Warning: The videographer was my 4 year old.

Grilled Adobo Tofu and Veggies

Fresh Citrus Salsa

Cilantro Sunflower Seed Pesto

Disney World.

Blissful Blueberry Bake

And the winner of the giveaway is April K! Congratulations! Please go to Yoga Den Studio to pick up your prize.

Enter for a chance to win FOUR free classes from Yoga Den Studio. A value of almost $50! 2929 Plummer Cove Road, Jacksonville, FL

How to enter:

Sweet and Salty Broccoli, Carrot and Tofu Stir Fry

Andrea – thank you for inspiring me to take the initiative to get up and out and live life – no excuses!

Theresa’s No Bake Energy Bites

Simple Lemon Garlic Green Beans with Crispy Onions

Ever wondered how to disguise tofu? This very humorous, last minute (and shaky) video shows you how.
Warning: The videographer was my 4 year old.

Enter for a chance to win FOUR free classes from Yoga Den Studio. A value of almost $50!
2929 Plummer Cove Road, Jacksonville, FL