Archive for organic food

Fresh herbs

June 4, 2008 at 2:57 pm · Filed under health tips, organic food, raw food, Uncategorized

herbs

Herbs can take whatever you make to the next level. Besides tasting so very good they also offer therapeutic benefits. We have a variety growing in the garden and indoors too. You can find heirloom and organic varieties at the Village Market or order them from Urban Harvest .

These are some of the herbs we love:

Thyme: Undispensable in French cuisine and exemplifying graceful elegance to the Greek, thyme has a strong, delicious herby taste. It is very effective for chest problems and supporting the immune system. It tastes so good in soups, salad dressings and just about any vegetable dish.

Mint: The original medicinal mint was spearmint. It is the variety we are growing. Mint is a flavor that almost everybody is familiar with. It is recommended for tonic purposes, arthritis, morning sickness and digestion. Wonderful in tabbouleh and home made lemonade.

Basil: Mmmm… Basil always reminds me of Italy where I first had it. I probably use more basil than any other herb. Although identified with the Mediterranean cuisine, basil is a native of India where it is regarded as a sacred herb. Basil is yummy in pesto, with any tomato dish, lasagne and soups.

My son tends to our herbs with much love and for sure we can taste the difference.

 

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Sundried Tomato Pate

May 22, 2008 at 2:30 pm · Filed under health tips, organic food, raw food, recipes, Uncategorized

 

This is a Pate I made last week and really enjoyed. When tomato season comes around buy tomatoes in bulk and dehydrate your own.  They taste so good.  You will need a lot of tomatoes though. They shrink a lot. Of course you can grow your own too. Mine just never produce enough so I am glad to get them from the organic farmer’s market.

1 cup sun dried tomatoes, soaked for a few hours

1/2 cup fresh tomatoes

1/2 cup walnuts, soaked

1/4 cup basil

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp curry powder

Salt to taste

Blend everything in the food processor. If you do not have one you can try the blender or a hand blender.

I enjoyed the Pate on cucumber slices and loved it spread on collard leaves and wrapped up. You can add olives, cucumber, avocadoes etc. to the wrap as well. It is so quick to make and can be stored in the fridge for a few days.

Enjoy.

 

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Spirulina Guacamole Dip

February 6, 2008 at 12:58 am · Filed under green food powder, health tips, organic food, raw food, recipes

Get your omega-3s in this guacamole. 

This Raw Superfood Dip was featured on Oprah’s show today: Dr  Oz’s Ultimate Anti Aging Checklist. Dr Oz was featuring all things healthy and good, like super foods, meditation and yoga. I love the word he recommends for while meditating: YUM. I do not agree with his aspirin recommendation but got to love most of his presentation.

Dr. Oz recommends this healthy dip recipe containing spirulina algae, a source of valuable DHA omega-3s.

  • 2 avocados, pitted
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves
  • 3 Tbsp. spirulina (available at some health food stores)
  • 1 tomato seeded and chopped or 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients, except for tomatoes, into a blender and mix until combined. Stir in tomatoes and season to taste.

If you love Louise Hay, check out Oprah on Wednesday, February 6, 2008.

A High Five to Oprah for featuring daily lessons by Marianne Williamson  on her website.

Tomorrow I will post new research on Avocados.

Check out more info on Spirulina here.

Fatma

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Maca – Primal Energy

January 21, 2008 at 4:46 pm · Filed under health tips, organic food, raw food

Maca

Here is another superfood that I had mentioned in the recipe for Superfood Bliss. It is a wonderfully grounding and warming food for the winter.

Maca is a root that grows in the high mountains of Peru. It is rich in nutritional content (higher levels of calcium than milk). It is also known as Peruvian Ginseng. It grows at 3000 feet above sea level and is the only plant that can survive at that altitude because of extreme weather conditions. For 2000 years it has been an important traditional food and medicinal plant in its growing region. It is used for humans and animals.

Maca helps with

Energy and Stamina – It is considered an adaptogen and improves the ability of the body to handle stress

Hormonal balance (Menstrual pain, menopause, hot flashes,  libido, aphrodisiac, skin problems, menstrual irregularity, fertility, osteoporosis, increases DHEA levels)

Found to produce a sense of wellbeing

Great source of hormone precursors and amino acids. It provides many of the same effects created by a high protein diet.

Helps to improve levels of concentration for kids and promotes mental clarity

It comes in capsules and powder form. There is regular powder and gelatinized powder where the starch has been removed.

Look out for a recipe with maca tomorrow.

Love

Fatma

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More on Goji berries

January 16, 2008 at 8:29 pm · Filed under health tips, organic food, raw food

Goji berries, Chapursan Valley 

Goji berries are not touched by hand, but collected by shaking the vines as touching them causes them to lose some of their nutritional potency.

They contain the following nutrients:

19 amino acids, 6 times more than Bee Pollen

21 trace minerals, including Germanium

6 essential fatty acids

Vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, E

More betacarotene than carros

High antioxidant power

4 unique polysaccarides found in no other food source which help immunity and inhibit 3 kinds of inflammation

Goji berries are known to have a unique polysaccharide that stimulates the pituitary gland in the anterior of the brain    to produce more Human Growth Hormone, the master hormone in our body.

Apparently people who eat Goji berries on a regular basis notice improved eyesight, restoration of hair color, mood enhancement, noticeable improvement in energy, better sleeping habits, and more zest of life.

In Chinese medicine, it is considered a superb Yin Jing tonic – fundamental for remaining youthful. It is a superb blood tonic and said to brighten the eyes. Chinese Taoists consider Goji berries to be transcendental – that is it helps a person grow on the psychological, emotional, and spiritual levels. It heps protect the liver. This delicious fruit is also considered a beauty tonic.

Goji berries, anyone?

Fatma

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Goji berries

January 15, 2008 at 3:57 pm · Filed under health tips, kids, organic food, raw food, recipes

Goji Berries

 I have not written about food for a while. Today I want to tell you how much I love Goji berries. These vibrant red berries from China or Tibet have a tangy taste that is addictive. Many of my clients do not care for it and my sister will not even touch it. But when I start I cannot stop. Tomorrow I will post the nutritional rundown on this superfood. Today I am giving you some ideas of how to use it.

Sometimes I like to make a sunflower goji smoothie. I soak 1-2 tbsp of sunflower seeds and goji berries and blend it with some water to make a smoothie. It is bright red orange and I love it. Yesterday I decided to add hemp seeds to this blend and I did not like it. Hmm, what to do? I poured half of the blend into a bowl, added a cut up banana and a truffle (hazelnuts, dates, almond butter, vanilla, cinnamon) I had made the day before. Mmmh, that was good. To the rest of the blend I added garlic and herbs and made salad dressing and that was good too. So play with your food and get creative. You will surprise yourself with what you create.

Other ways to use goji berries:

Add to trail mix or just use one seed like sunflower seed or pumpkin seed for  a dose of power minerals

Add it to your raw smoothies or juices

Sprinkle on your raw muesli or cereal

Use them in your energy bars

Add them to your herbal tea or ice tea

Make ice cream with them

Sprinkle them on your salad

Decorate your pies with their vibrancy

For a variation in taste, soak the goji berries in fresh orange juice, water with lemon, a drop of lemon or orange essential oil

Eat straight from the bag and do not stop until you are done (oops that is just for me, you can only have 2 handfuls)

I will be travelling to Africa next month and I will definitely be having goji berries in my handbag. Should I encounter you, I will gladly share them with you. 🙂

If you want to know a bit more about me, check out my profile at Start up princess. It is a fabulous site for women entrepreneurs.

Love

Fatma

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Raw inspiration

January 11, 2008 at 4:24 pm · Filed under inspiration, organic food, raw food

salat

Raw food makes life so much more colorful and delicious. When I started eating more raw food over 2 years ago I could not have dreamed how very wonderful it would make me feel and how it would transform my life on all levels. I was healthy when I started going raw yet I feel healthier today on all levels. The Raw Energy is incredible and truly helps me to live Life to the fullest.

If you are not feeling well check out my friend Neeta’s blog and how raw food and juice feasting is changing her life and freeing her from a list of ailments and aches and pains. All this in just 3 months. You truly do not have to go through life feeling sorry for yourself. There is so much inspiration out there as well as some dramatic transformations. Check out the super raw social network site Give it to me Raw and meet and read the stories of some beautiful people as well as find plenty of information  to help you live a vibrant life. And please do not forget coming back here 🙂

Just on the side, if you like Indian Music check out this uplifting video and transport yourself to India.  The singer is Neeta’s brother.  

Have a colorful day.

Fatma

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Coleslaw

November 8, 2007 at 6:03 pm · Filed under health tips, organic food, raw food, recipes

coleslaw 

This is for Lorraine, who left a comment asking for a coleslaw recipe. Ask and it is given. I have given you not one but 2 easy recipes.

In European folk medicine, cabbage leaves are used to treat acute inflammation. A leaf is wrapped or placed on the area of discomfort. Cabbage contains significant amounts of glutamine, which has anti-inflammatory properties and that is why cabbage juice is recommended for ulcers and healing the intestine.

It is also a source of indol-3-carbinol, phyto chemicals that inhibit the growth of breast, stomach and colon cancer as well as support the body’s detoxification mechanisms. Cabbage is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, calcium and potassium as well as Vitamins B1, B2 and B3. Red cabbage has higher amounts of phytonutrients.

Besides using it is coleslaw or sauerkraut, you can add it to other vegetables in your blender to make raw soup,  add it to your green juice or use it as a wrap for a variety of fillings.

Asian coleslaw

1/2 cabbage coleslaw, shredded

1/2 onion, sliced

1 carrot, shredded

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp curry powder

salt to taste

Mix all together and let marinate for at least 1/2 an hour. Of course you can grate an apple into the coleslaw. You can also sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

African coleslaw

In Tanzania this is served as a side to barbecued meat. Forget the meat and just enjoy this simple dish on it is own. It is soooo good.

1/2 a pack of tamarind, soaked – can get this is all Asian stores

1/2 a cabbage, sliced thinly

salt and chilli to taste

Add the tamarind water, salt and chilli to the cabbage  and let marinate for at least 1/2 an hour. This keeps well for a couple of days in the fridge. Again you can add grated apple to this slaw too.

Leave me a comment if you have any questions or would like to see other information on the blog.

Fatma

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An Apple a day

November 5, 2007 at 6:27 pm · Filed under health tips, kids, organic food, recipes

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Once considered the “forbidden fruit”, today you are encouraged to indulge in this fruit.

My 7 year old daughter loves apples and can eat several a day. She says eating several a day will keep the doctor forever away. But that it not why she eats them. She just loves them. Right now is apple harvest time and at the Village Market they have several varieties. I have been buying whole bushels of them as we go through them so fast. There are so many varieties. Cortland, Spy, Red Delicious, Royal Gala are just some that I have bought and enjoyed.

I love the tart apples in my green juice.  They contain boron, an essential trace mineral for strong bones. Research confirms that the antioxidants in apples counteract damage done by LDL cholesterol. Apples belong to the most highly pesticide-sprayed fruits, so it is better to buy organic apples. They also taste so much better. Most of the nutrients in apples are in the skin and directly below the skin. The skin is also high in phenols, that exert hefty protection against UV-B rays. Apples are  the perfect portable snack.

Here some quick ideas:

Apple slices with raw almond butter

Add chopped apples to your salad

Grate them into coleslaw

Make a fruit salad. I just had some with a banana, an apple, half and orange. Add the juice of the other half orange mixed with a teaspoon of coconut butter to the fruits.  Yummy.

Blend some hazelnuts or brazil nuts with water until smooth. Add an apple and some cinnamon and blend until chunky. Enjoy with a spoon. Sooo good.

Just enjoy a crunchy, juicy apple on its own.

Have you had your apple a day?

Fatma

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Green Juice, Oprah, Healthy Kids

November 1, 2007 at 4:02 pm · Filed under health tips, inspiration, kids, newsletter, organic food, raw food

 Dr. Oz describes the stamp test.

Yasmin, my Oprah guide lets me know that Dr Oz will be on Oprah today talking about anti-aging. Dr Oz is always worth listening to.

My November newsletter contains information on Green Juice and also includes Dr Oz’s recipe courtesy Kris Carr. The newsletter contains information on

Green Juice

Who is doing it?

Juice Fasting

Juice Feasting

What to do with the pulp

Be sure to check it out.

While we are on the subject of green, check out the Healthy Child, Healthy World website which is full of green living inspiration. Celebrity mothers like Sheryl Crow, Meryl Streep, Olivia Newton John and Kelly Preston are featured on the site.

I encourage every mother to become green conscious and raise our children with awareness. I love Sheryl Crow’s comment: “Nobody can do everything but everybody can do something.”

hc-logo.gif

We live on a beautiful planet. It is a blessing to give something in return.

To the beauty in all of us

Fatma

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