Vivian’s Rockin’ Raw Root Veggie Salad

Dairy Free, Dressing, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Raw, Salad, Side Dish, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 4 Responses »

May 012013

The moment one learns the joy of cooking is the moment things get interesting.

A whole world opens up. Recipes, cookbooks, classes, TV shows and food blogs.

It can be a bit overwhelming to the point that there are so many recipes you would like to create you ask, what will I create next? How do I choose?

And then someone makes a suggestion that sounds so amazing you just have to make that next.

Thank you Vivian.

Vivian’s Rockin’ Root Veggie Salad

My friend Vivian from KyV farm created this deliciously simple recipe to use up any radishes, root veggies, fresh herbs and any hearty greens that can stand up to hanging out in some marinade.

I officially dubbed it Vivian’s Rockin’ Raw Root Veggie Salad.

Vivian’s Rockin’ Root Veggie Salad

Make this basic marinated salad up once and eat 1000 different variations all week!

Add cooked beans and grains, raw nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, roasted tofu….

Stuff tacos with it or eat it as a side!

Vivian’s Rockin’ Root Veggie Salad

Once you try it I think you will agree – it’s an awesome way to eat raw root veggies!

Vivian’s Rockin Raw Root Veggie Salad

Vivian’s Rockin’ Raw Root Veggie Salad

Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
Vegetables from KyV Farm

Ingredients

1 watermelon radish
1 golden beet (or any beet but it will color everything red)
4 large carrots (or about 3 cups)
1 small head red cabbage
1 green onion top
2 small green garlic (or 1 clove fresh garlic)
3 broccoli stems
Handful cilantro
Coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
2 tsp mustard
2 tsp agave (or honey)

Directions

1. Chop all ingredients or place in food processor to chop.

2. Whisk dressing ingredients and pour over salad mixture.

**No nutrition info since serving size may vary widely.

Warm Fruited Quinoa

Appetizer, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Favorites, Kid Friendly, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Main Meal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Side Dish, Vegan, Vegetarian No Responses »

Jan 182013

Warm Fruited Quinoa

Olive oil, various fruits, nuts and warm spices are typical in Moroccan cuisine – so here I did a twist on that with quinoa and olive oil and then added some dried fruits and seasoned it simply with salt and pepper.

If you feel adventurous try adding any of the following herbs and spices:

Fresh Mint
Cinnamon
Cumin
Ginger
Saffron

Each of these or any combination will change the flavors of this dish and make it unique.

Dates, Raisins and Walnuts

Why did I not add any of those spices?

Because, in this case, simple is perfect. I love the soft, warm quinoa and the flavorful olive oil with the crunch of walnuts; the sweet dates and raisins and the touch of sea salt. Mmmm…….

Add a grilled protein on top and up the serving to half cup and you have a lovely entree!

Warm Fruited Quinoa

Serves 8, 1/4 cup servings
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Ingredients on sale now at Native Sun Natural Foods Market

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa**
1 1/4 cup vegetable broth**
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup chopped dates (I used Medjool dates)
1/4 cup raisins
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil**
1/8 tsp coarse grind sea salt and some fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Rinse quinoa and heat in a small saucepan with vegetable broth over medium high heat; bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover; cook 15 minutes, remove from heat and let sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. Separate 2 cups of the cooked quinoa and reserve the remaining for a later use.

2. Add walnuts, dates, raisins, olive oil, salt and pepper to the quinoa. Stir to combine and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts
8 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 129.1
Total Fat 4.9 g
Saturated Fat 0.4 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.6 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.5 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 20.5 mg
Potassium 84.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate 19.8 g
Dietary Fiber 1.9 g
Sugars 7.4 g
Protein 3.0 g

Vitamin B-6 1.9 %
Vitamin C 0.4 %
Vitamin E 1.7 %
Calcium 0.7 %
Copper 3.8 %
Folate 1.1 %
Iron 9.0 %
Magnesium 2.2 %
Manganese 6.8 %
Niacin 0.8 %
Pantothenic Acid 0.5 %
Phosphorus 16.5 %
Riboflavin 32.6 %
Selenium 0.5 %
Thiamin 1.4 %
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.

Gingery Kale and Quinoa Power Salad with Garlic Herb Cashews

Dairy Free, Dressing, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Salad, Side Dish, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 4 Responses »

Jan 142013

Gingery Kale and Quinoa Power Salad with Garlic Herb Cashews

This month my favorite natural food store, Native Sun Natural Foods Market, has quinoa on sale in the bulk bin – so I hope you are all ok with a few quinoa posts! Quinoa IS one of the trendy foods of 2013, so just think, we’ll be ahead of the curve.

Quinoa

This is one of those cleansing power salads that will just make you feel amazing! Not only is this delicious and filling salad high in protein, it has tons of fiber, zero cholesterol, lots of calcium and the ginger aids in digestion.

Gingery Kale and Quinoa Power Salad with Garlic Herb Cashews

Take a minute to scroll down and look at the vitamin and nutrient profile for this recipe…

So many vitamins and minerals are present in large quantities. Here are some, just to name a few.

Vitamin A 354.6 %
Potassium 485.6 mg
Vitamin A 354.6 %
Vitamin B-6 29.5 %
Vitamin C 97.6 %
Vitamin E 9.9 %
Calcium 12.7 %
Folate 18.8 %
Iron 22.8 %

Kale and quinoa are a one two punch when it comes to power foods. Kale can lower cholesterol, detoxify the body, reduce inflammation and is a powerful cancer fighter. As for the grain-like seed called quinoa, to quote Worlds Healthiest Foods, “Perhaps the most striking health benefit provided by quinoa is its overall nutrient richness.” Like kale, it also is high in anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and calcium as well.

This salad has lots of texture – crunchy nuts and soft kale – as well as many layers of flavor that shine through, a bit of tart lemon, sweet agave and nutty cashews. Enjoy!

Gingery Kale and Quinoa Power Salad with Garlic Herb Cashews

Serves 6, about 1 cup per serving (will vary upon amount of kale)
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Ingredients on sale now at Native Sun, January 7 through Febrary 6, 2013

Ingredients

1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed well**
1 1/4 cups vegetable broth**
1 bunch curly kale, de-stemmed and chopped**
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt/Fresh ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup chopped Garlic Herb cashews (or regular roasted and salted)**

Dressing (or sub 1/4 cup Annie’s Sesame Ginger Dressing)
Juice 1/2 lemon
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp agave nectar**
2 tsp ground cumin
1 rounded Tbsp chopped fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

1. Combine rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth in a small sauce pan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover; cook 15 minutes; remove from heat (still covered) for an additional five minutes. Save 2 cups and reserve the rest for another use.

2. Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl; place kale in a large bowl and pour dressing ingredients over kale; massage dressing into kale for about 2 minutes – until the fibers in the kale break down a bit and soften. Season with salt and pepper; add chickpeas and quinoa, mix well; top with cashews and serve.

Nutrition Facts
6 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 296.0
Total Fat 11.9 g
Saturated Fat 1.6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.7 g
Monounsaturated Fat 6.8 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 500.7 mg
Potassium 485.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate 41.3 g
Dietary Fiber 7.4 g
Sugars 5.7 g
Protein 9.5 g

Vitamin A 354.6 %
Vitamin B-6 29.5 %
Vitamin C 97.6 %
Vitamin E 9.9 %
Calcium 12.7 %
Copper 23.9 %
Folate 18.8 %
Iron 22.8 %
Magnesium 15.9 %
Manganese 55.1 %
Niacin 4.4 %
Pantothenic Acid 3.8 %
Phosphorus 27.1 %
Riboflavin 36.1 %
Selenium 6.1%
Zinc 10.1 %

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

Gingery Kale and Quinoa Power Salad with Garlic Herb Cashews

Broccoli Stem Salad with Creamy Garlic Tarragon Sauce – Don’t Throw Those Broccoli Stems Away!

Appetizer, Dairy Free, Dressing, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Raw, Salad, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Tips, Vegan, Vegetarian 6 Responses »

Dec 112012

How many times do we throw food away and not think about it?

According to the EPA “More food reaches landfills and incinerators than any other single material in municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2010 alone, more than 34 million tons of food waste was generated, with only three percent diverted from landfills and incinerators for composting.“

Why should we be concerned about this? For many reasons; one being that as the food in the landfills rot, it creates methane which contributes to global warming. Secondly, think of how many people on this planet are HUNGRY. Americans portion sizes are so huge that we either eat the massive servings, sometimes enough to serve four people or more, and gain weight or send the left overs to a landfill. ”Feed People, Not Landfills - An estimated 50 million Americans do not have access to enough food. Organizations can donate safe and healthy food to a food bank or food rescue organization and both reduce food sent to landfills and feed those in need.”

How can you help? Think about portion sizes – especially when eating out. Can you share a dish with someone? Don’t forget you can always order more if you are still hungry, but my bet is that you won’t be. How about taking home the left overs? Remember that container ends up in a landfill. This may seem a little weird to some people, but there is nothing wrong with bringing a take-along container for left overs or buying some compostable containers and using those instead of Styrofoam. Secondly, think about what you throw away in your trash. Is there anything you can set aside in a large “dump bucket” such as citrus rinds, apple cores, coffee filters, etc. that you can dump into a compost pile? I don’t have one but I go back out to the woods and scatter these type scraps in the brush out back and let me tell you – that is some happy brush. Or even better – save those veggie scraps, such as the ends of onions, carrot peels and pepper ribs and seeds in a gallon size bag in the freezer. Once it is filled pour all the veggie scraps in a large stock pot, cover with water and make broth. See this recipe for Vivian’s Vivacious Vegetable Broth. You can then save that gallon bag and reuse it over and over and you save money on broth.

In the spirit of reduce, reuse and recycle I created this recipe to use those broccoli stems that always stare you in the face, challenging you to do something with them.

This is one of those salads that is so good, you realize simple is better. Add in your favorite protien to make this a complete meal or use this sauce/dressing recipe on ANYTHING – from topping some tofu, to a simple salad, or even as a dip. And if broccoli crowns are all you have, feel free to use those!

Broccoli Stem Salad with Creamy Garlic Tarragon Sauce

Inspired by The Flavor Bible
Serves 2 to 3
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe
**Ingredients on sale at Native Sun Natural Foods Market, Dec 7 through Jan 6th

Ingredients

3 broccoli stalks and leaves**
1/4 cup chopped green onion
2 Tbsp Vegenaise
1/4 tsp dried tarragon
1/8 tsp coarse sea salt
Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Peel or cut the skin of the broccoli stalks to remove; chop into bite size pieces; place in a medium bowl. Chop the broccoli leaves finely; add, along with green onions, to broccoli stalks.

2. Mix the Vegenaise, tarragon, salt and pepper in a small bowl; pour over broccoli mixture and stir until combined.

Nutrition Facts
2 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 115.2
Total Fat 9.3 g
Saturated Fat 0.6 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 254.2 mg
Potassium 292.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 4.7 g
Dietary Fiber 2.7 g
Sugars 0.0 g
Protein 2.7 g

Vitamin A 27.3 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 7.2 %
Vitamin C 136.9 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 7.3 %
Calcium 4.5 %
Copper 2.1 %
Folate 15.8 %
Iron 4.7 %
Magnesium 5.7 %
Manganese 10.9 %
Niacin 2.9 %
Pantothenic Acid 4.7 %
Phosphorus 5.9 %
Riboflavin 6.3 %
Selenium 3.8 %
Thiamin 3.8 %
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.

Watermelon Radish and Carrot Top Salad

Appetizer, Egg Free, Low Cal, Quick and Easy, Raw, Side Dish, Snack 5 Responses »

Dec 062012

Belonging to KyV’s CSA/Farm Share has opened my eyes.

I never would have seen such a thing as a beautiful watermelon radish with its mint green rind and gorgeous blushing flesh. It’s crisp and has bit of a bite and is so visually pleasing that you just have to eat it raw.

It is showcased in this dish with fresh carrots pulled from the ground the day before I made this dish. I just couldn’t throw away the abundant greens so I decided to incorporate them. KyV’s carrot tops are not bitter and are easily confused with parsley.

The dressing on this salad is VERY minimal. I wanted to keep it super light to really showcase all the flavors. If you like more dressing, feel free to add a vinaigrette or double the oil-free dressing recipe in this post.

Watermelon Radish and Carrot Top Salad

This diet-friendly salad is lightly sweet and super fresh – the colors are reminiscent of summer but by using glorious fall/winter root veggies we get different vitamins and minerals that we wouldn’t get in the summer.

This is one of the top reasons it is so good for you to join a CSA. Diversification. Just like you should diversify your portfolio – getting all these veggies you wouldn’t normally try simply rounds out the nutritional profile of your diet. Think about this – if the only vegetable you eat is iceberg lettuce you are getting very few nutrients and the SAME ones every day. The likely hood that you will be nutrient deficient is extremely high. But say you add in all these various veggies – your body is so much more likely to get all the vitamins and nutrients it needs and recognizes above supplementing with a man made vitamin pill. Food for thought right there, eh?

If you pair this salad with Mila through this holiday season you’ll likely find yourself in January more slim and svelte than BEFORE the holidays!

Mila is an amazing weight loss tool – pictured here – before and after absorbing liquids. Keep you fuller longer and displaces other calorie dense foods.

Watermelon Radish and Carrot Top Salad

Serves 4 to 5, about 1 cup
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

3 carrots
1 large watermelon radish
2 bunches green onions
1 bunch carrot tops
Juice 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp coarse sea salt
1 tsp agave (or local honey for non-vegan)

Directions

1. Chop carrots, radish and green onions; place carrot tops into a food processor and pulse until well chopped; add all to a medium bowl.

2. Mix lemon, thyme, salt and agave in a small bowl; pour over chopped vegetables and mix well.

Nutrition Facts (estimated – calculator did not have carrot tops – however, only will add negligible amount of calories.)
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 34.1
Total Fat 0.1 g
Saturated Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.0 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 188.9 mg
Potassium 239.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate 8.2 g
Dietary Fiber 2.1 g

Sugars 4.0 g
Protein 0.6 g
Vitamin A 110.4 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 4.0 %
Vitamin C 17.3 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 1.2 %
Calcium 2.9 %
Copper 1.6 %
Folate 3.1 %
Iron 3.8 %
Magnesium 1.9 %
Manganese 5.4 %
Niacin 2.4 %
Pantothenic Acid 1.4 %
Phosphorus 2.0 %
Riboflavin 1.9 %
Selenium 0.2 %
Thiamin 2.5 %
Zinc 1.1 %

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

Sweet Citrus Barley with Pistachios

Appetizer, Breakfast, Dairy Free, Dessert, Egg Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Native Sun Recipe, Quick and Easy, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Snack, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 4 Responses »

Dec 032012

Living in Florida is such a blessing. Not only was I able to take my cream colored Labrador, Tally for a walk yesterday without a jacket on (a fact I can really appreciate from growing up in Massachusetts), but the citrus trees are all heavy with fruit – including my Meyer lemon tree.

When you think of barley or grains you probably thing of savory dishes – so I wanted to change things up and bring sort of a sweet, salty, tangy dish. Your tastebuds will be dancing!

This makes a great side dish, snack, breakfast or even dessert!

Take a bite and you’ll get the crunch of pistachios but the creaminess of the barley slowly cooked over 40 minutes.

And talk about easy! I threw this dish together in under ten minutes – shelling and all.

Tell me what is your favorite thing to do with fresh citrus?

Sweet Citrus Barley with Pistachios

Sweet Citrus Barley and Pistachios

Serves 4, 1/2 cup serving
Vegan Option
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup barley
2 cups water
1 orange or Satsuma
Juice 1/2 lemon
1/4 tsp coarse sea salt
2 to 3 Tbsp honey or agave for vegan
1/4 cup shelled pistachios

Directions

1. Rinse barley well in running water; add to small pot with water, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover; cook 40 minutes; remove from heat cook an additional 10 minutes.

2. Peel orange and blend in Magic Bullet or blender with juice of lemon, salt and honey or agave; mix well and pour over 2 cups of the cooked barley, reserve the remaining barley for another use; spoon barley mixture into large bowl. Chop pistachios and top barley mixture.

Nutrition Facts
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 184.0
Total Fat 3.8 g
Saturated Fat 0.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.9 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 148.2 mg
Potassium 211.2 mg
Total Carbohydrate 36.3 g

Dietary Fiber 4.4 g
Sugars 11.8 g
Protein 3.6 g
Vitamin A 2.0 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 12.3 %
Vitamin C 26.5 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 2.3 %
Calcium 2.8 %
Copper 10.2 %
Folate 6.2 %
Iron 8.0 %
Magnesium 7.5 %
Manganese 15.7 %
Niacin 9.0 %
Pantothenic Acid 2.2 %
Phosphorus 8.6 %
Riboflavin 4.4 %
Selenium 10.7 %
Thiamin 10.5 %
Zinc 5.7 %

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

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.

Vegan Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Dip for a Clean Eating Cocktail Party

Appetizer, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Favorites, Gluten Free, Kid Friendly, Quick and Easy, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Snack, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian 2 Responses »

Nov 152012

It’s a Clean Eating Cocktail Party at Cara’s Cravings!

Recently my dear friend Cara invited me to join a cocktail party over at her place, www.carascravings.com. Of course I said, absolutely!

She got a bunch of us health food bloggers together and asked us to share a recipe we would serve at a cocktail party where the ingredients are as natural as possible. I wanted to keep with my theme of simple, delicious, gluten free and vegan so I created this a Vegan Cheesy Broccoli Rice Dip that is sure to be a new go-to for parties or pot lucks. It is light yet filling and the flavors shine through with minimal seasoning.

Vegan Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Dip

To see my recipe at the Clean Eating Cocktail Party please visit Caras Cravings!

Kicking off the New CSA Season with a Purple Kale and Sun Dried Tomato Salad and a How-To Video on Storage and Prep

Dairy Free, Dressing, Egg Free, Food Find, Gluten Free, Lighter Fare, Low Cal, Raw, Salad, Side Dish, Soy Free, Tips, Vegan, Vegetarian 1 Response »

Nov 102012

Yesterday was our FIRST delivery of the CSA season and what a great start!

In our bags we got squash, onions, broccoli, broccoli rabe, spinach, bok choy, peppers, radishes, beans, lettuce, purple kale and more.

Kohlrabi, Broccoli Rabe, Radishes

To celebrate – by popular request, I am posting my very first video on how to store and prep kale and lettuce! Please keep in mind I was at work at 6:30AM, worked through lunch, got my daughter, ran straight to the farm to grab my veggies, got home, took photos and then started dinner and made this video. Since this is my normal life, I decided the videos are going to be really spontaneous. Real life! My hair and makeup won’t be perfect and these won’t be scripted or edited.

Store those wrapped greens in the fridge and simply remove the amount you want for each dish!

What came of this spontaneous video was one of the most delicious salads I’ve had in a long time. I have fallen in love with the new line of dressings that KyV Farm is carrying and the one I tried last night was Tomato Basil.

Vidalia Valley Dressings

Think of the best homemade tomato sauce you ever had and turn that into a dressing. A perfect balance of sweet, acid, tart and aromatic basil. I remember enjoying Outback Steakhouse’s tangy tomato – and it doesn’t hold a candle to this organic blend. I’ve had three servings since yesterday.

Hiding underneath that dressing is the tart sun dried tomatoes, red onions with a bite, crunchy nuts, and even Mila, nature’s healthiest whole raw food, decides to join the party on top of this blend of purple kale and lettuce.

Purple Kale and Sun dried Tomato Salad

Raw kale?

Yes! This tender kale can be eaten raw! And isn’t that almost always the best way to eat a vegetable?

Purple Kale and Sun dried Tomato Salad

Purple Kale and Sun Dried Tomato Salad

Serves 4
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

4 cups chopped purple kale, KyV Farm
4 cups chopped lettuce, KyV Farm
4 Tbsp Mila
4 Tbsp sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained
4 plum tomatoes, quartered
1/3 cup mixed whole nuts
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 green onion, chopped
8 Tbsp Vidalia Valley Tomato Basil Dressing (Buy some right at KyV!)

Directions

1. Place 1 cup kale, 1 cup lettuce, 1 Tbsp Mila, 1 Tbsp sun dried tomato and one tomato on each of four plates; add the nuts, red onion and green onion over evenly. Top each with 2 Tbsp dressing.

Nutrition Facts (not including dressing)
4 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 149.0
Total Fat 8.0
Saturated Fat 0.8 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.3 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 106.3 mg
Potassium 680.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate 15.6 g
Dietary Fiber 7.4 g
Sugars 2.9 g
Protein 7.1 g

Vitamin A 383.9 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 12.4 %
Vitamin C 113.5 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 9.8 %
Calcium 16.5 %
Copper 20.1 %
Folate 25.1 %
Iron 16.7 %
Magnesium 14.1 %
Manganese 63.4 %
Niacin 8.6 %
Pantothenic Acid 3.5 %
Phosphorus 17.3 %
Riboflavin 10.8 %
Selenium 2.1 %
Thiamin 10.9 %
Zinc 6.1 %

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

Garlicky Black Bean Mila Dip and How Omega 3s Can Help Multiple Sclerosis

Appetizer, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Low Cal, Quick and Easy, Side Dish, Snack, Soy Free, Vegan, Vegetarian No Responses »

Sep 272012

My mom is an amazing woman. We talk every morning and she is my coach, friend and therapist all rolled into one. Never have I met a more positive, loving and gentle soul. She devotes herself to helping others and listening to their problems, at the same time battling a degenerative disease - Multiple Sclerosis.

MS is a disease that degrades the myelin sheaths around the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. When this sheathing is lost the nerves have trouble conducting signals. This means that mom gets tired….VERY tired. She tells me it is sort of like a cup of energy and when you use it all up, that is it for the day. There is no pushing through it or ignoring it and moving on. During times of change or extreme stress she sometimes has an exacerbation where the MS flares up and she is complete incapacitated for a period of time. The last time was when my daughter was born. She is her only granddaughter, but she could barely get to the hospital or hold my daughter – it was horrible and I know my mom was so sad to not be present every minute in the beginning.

My mom’s affliction is one of the main reasons I am so passionate about Mila. It came into my life through her visits to the neurologist where she would return and tell me about her amazing neurology nurse practitioner, Megan. Of course, my mom, being her friendly self, started telling Megan all about what I’m up to and how I write a food blog. Little did I know that Megan is also very interested in treating disease and illness with whole foods as much as possible. She contacted me to see if I had heard of Mila – I said no and asked her a few questions; she sent me a sample and the rest is history! After several weeks of eating it I was so impressed with the nutrition of the food that I decided to start up my own business helping people with this amazing food.

I asked Megan to share a little information about MS and her findings on Mila and this is what she said….

“Mila is a whole, raw, plant-based superfood source of omega 3 fatty acids…and this superfood may be helpful for many health conditions, including Multiple Sclerosis. While studies using omega 3 fish oil in MS have had conflicting results about benefit to modifying disease progression and decreasing fatigue, anecdotally, many people find Mila to be helpful in managing symptoms of MS. Some of the more common symptoms of MS that may be helped by Mila include fatigue, pain, and depression. Suggested diets for MS, like the Swank Diet and the Gold Coast Cure, are heavily plant-based, and recommend omega 3 supplementation. I support Mila because the addition of this superfood to the Standard American Diet (appropriately nicknamed SAD) will add health benefits to anyone living with (or without) a chronic disease! People with MS are more prone to other medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, etc. because of the potential for a sedentary lifestyle. By adding Mila into your diet, you are using food to increase your health! It’s kind of a no-brainer…food IS medicine! It is important to understand that Mila should not take the place of a disease modifying therapy, and that it’s use should be discussed with your health care provider, just like any supplement. The National MS Society has a nice overview about omega 3 supplementation in MS, but this review is based on fish oil. The benefits of Mila in the form of protein, fiber, and other minerals, are profoundly different than those of fish oil. The link for the MS Society review is as follows:

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/living-with-multiple-sclerosis/healthy-living/nutirtion-and-diet/the-omega-3-factor/index.aspx“

Many thanks to Megan for taking time out of her busy day in Neurology to share some information with us!

Do you know anyone in your life that suffers from a neurological disorder? Mila may be able to help them just like it helped my mom!

This dip is a fabulous way to get Mila into your diet – especially if you love garlic! For those that aren’t as fond, feel free to cut back to one clove. The hearty black beans and Mila soak up all those delicious spices and make for a satisfying appetizer. Try it as a sandwich spread or as a snack with dip fresh veggies or pita chips.

Garlicky Black Bean Mila Dip

Serves 10
Vegan, Gluten Free
Printable Recipe

Ingredients

2 Tbsp Mila
1 (14.5oz/411 grams) can black beans, drained and rinsed
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp EVOO
3/4 tsp coarse sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground paprika
1/4 tsp dried thyme
Pinch of cayenne
1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients well in a food processor, blender or magic bullet.

Nutrition Facts
8 Servings
Amount Per Serving

Calories 84.0
Total Fat 7.9 g
Saturated Fat 0.9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.5 g
Monounsaturated Fat 5.1 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 147.1 mg
Potassium 48.3 mg
Total Carbohydrate 2.4 g
Dietary Fiber 1.6 g
Sugars 0.1 g
Protein 1.0 g

Vitamin A 1.7 %
Vitamin B-12 0.0 %
Vitamin B-6 1.8 %
Vitamin C 1.6 %
Vitamin D 0.0 %
Vitamin E 4.2 %
Calcium 3.4 %
Copper 2.0 %
Folate 0.3 %
Iron 5.4 %
Magnesium 2.4 %
Manganese 6.6 %
Niacin 1.0 %
Pantothenic Acid 0.2 %
Phosphorus 3.5 %
Riboflavin 0.5 %
Selenium 1.2 %
Thiamin 1.9 %
Zinc 0.9 %

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

Older Entries