Summer Harvest Salad

8/31/2014 0 Comments

Today we enjoyed a wild summer salad made from natures finest. Wild freshly harvested amaranth leaves packed with nutrition topped with mini bell peppers, red onion, garlic, nopales, cucumber, a handful of mixed nuts, rice cake crumbles for extra crunch, an apple on the side with TUNA!

HA! Don't worry not the fish - it's another name for the prickly pear, the fruit of the nopales cactus!

Amaranth was a staple of pre-Colombian Aztecs and is still enjoyed in many cuisines. In Mexico and India the seeds are popped and mixed with sugar or chocolate to make a tasty treat. The Peruvians make beer from the grain.

Amaranth has been used by herbalists to to treat toothaches, inflammation of the gums, fevers, as a wash for external wounds and internally as a treatment for diarrhea and dysentery.

"Amaranth seed is high in protein, some 16%, contains lysine and methionine, two essential amino acids that are not often found in grain, and is high in fiber, three times that of wheat. It also has calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, vitamins A, C and E."

Amaranth leaves are nutritionally similar to beets, Swiss chard and spinach, but are nutritionally superior! For example amaranth leaves contain three times more niacin (vitamin B3) than spinach leaves and 2 x's more Zinc than Kale.

The plants are easy to grow and supply a grain packed with protein that can be made into cereal and flour. We discovered Amaranth in 2011 and have been enjoying it as much as possible since. We planted some in AR and CA with success! This year we tossed a few seeds out and were happy to find big plants among other WILD amaranth plants! Salads and green smoothies are covered this season. My husband picked a bowl for us yesterday, I picked one today!

With temperatures blazing I couldn't think of turning the stove on so today we enjoyed a Summer Harvest Salad for lunch!

Fresh squeezed limes brought the meal to the next level!

PREP TIME: 15 minutes | Serves 2
Per Serving:
Calories: 214
Fats: 10.4 g
Protein: 5.1 g
Carbohydrates: 28.2 g

gluten-free, soy-free, refined sugar-free, dairy-free, raw

Ingredients:

1 bunch dark leafy greens (amaranth, spinach, kale...)
3 mini bell peppers, chopped
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 garlic clove - diced
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
OPT: 1 small nopales pad, needles removed, diced
1/4 cup mixed nuts
1 rice cake, crumbled
1/2 lime, squeezed
1 green apple, cored and sliced
OPT: 1 TUNA a.k.a. prickly pear (seriously optional: my husband wasn't a fan of all the seeds!)

Peaceful Preparation:

Wash and prepare the vegetables and place in two bowls.
Start with the dark leafy greens, add the chopped bell peppers, onion, garlic, nopales, cucumber and top with nuts, rice cake crumbles. Place green apple slices and optional Cactus Pear slices on the side. Squeeze with fresh lime.
Add your favorite dressing (s) and enjoy!!!

Plus this recipe has great benefits:

No cholesterol
Low in sodium
High in manganese
High in magnesium
Very high in selenium
Very high in vitamin B6
High in vitamin C

I hope you enjoy this Summer Harvest Salad! Today marks the last day of August. What a great month of summer sunshine fun! Beginning September 1 is not only my sisters birthday but it marks the start of VeganMofo! I had no idea what VeganMofo was and just so happened to stumble upon it with only a couple hours left to sign up. It was described as a worldwide blogging extravaganza - The Vegan Month of Food! For one month bloggers are challenged to present a minimum of 20 blog posts that are 100% vegan. Warning, I am about to flood your inbox with delicious tantalizing recipes that are healthy! My theme? Vegan Alchemy!!! Gerald and I just recently started making colloidal silver so the theme seems fitting.

I'll talk with you tomorrow for an exclusive birthday treat!

Love and Light!
Christa xo

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Mandarin Spring Salad + Gamut Life Review

4/11/2014 0 Comments

Spring is such a beautiful time of year. The flowers are in bloom, the birds and baby birds are chirping happily, the sun is shining and the sky is blue. It enlivens the senses! To celebrate this special time of year join me in making a delectable treat for the palette that will leave you with a sweet taste in your mouth and a refreshing burst of energy.

Start with fresh baby greens, spread chopped red onion and green bell pepper around the outskirts of the bowl. Add your favorite crunchy toppings, I used sunflower seeds and roasted cashew pieces. Add raisins for a hint of sweetness, 3 heirloom baby tomatoes, and a mandarin orange to make each bight burst with flavor! Add a jalapeno slice or two for an added kick and a sun dried tomato if you have one handy. Drizzle with your favorite dressing we chose Trader Joe's Goddess Dressing mixed with Sesame Soy Ginger Vinaigrette. What are you left with?

No cholesterol
High in vitamin A
Very high in vitamin B6
Very high in vitamin C

I've been working on adding more colors to the salad for a rainbow of health! Enjoy the beautiful energy the plants bring to your body!

Servings: 2 Calories per serving: 220 (includes 2 tbsp dressing)

Ingredients:

2 Big Handfuls of Baby Greens
1/4 chunk red onion - chopped small
1/4 chunk green bell pepper - chopped small
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup roasted (or raw) cashew pieces
1/4 cup raisins
2 mandarin oranges - peeled
2 slices sun dried tomatoes
4 slices jalapeno
6 heirloom tomatoes
2 tbsp Goddess Dressing
2 tbsp Sesame Soy Ginger Vinaigrette

Directions:

Place greens in your bowl
Place onion and green bell pepper in a food processor to chop up finely. (Time saver!)
Sprinkle with seeds, nuts, and raisins.
Spread the mandarin slices on the outer edge.
Place 3 heirloom tomatoes in each salad, with one sun dried tomato and two jalapeno slices. Top with dressing and dig in!!

Gamut Life recently reached out and blessed me with an incredible tank-top and sweatshirt for the spring season. I am so grateful as they instantly became my new favorites!!! It feels great to spread a positive message while living life. I can tell their apparel is designed with care. The cuts are made just right causing an ideal fit for woman. The material chosen is high quality and feels great on your skin. If you want to support the cause get your very own by clicking the picture.

I think it's absolutely worth it. While you are at it check out their YOLO edition! What a beautiful flattering fit. A million thanks for sharing the love. I HIGHLY recommend Gamut Life!!!

What is Gamut? - http://gamutlife.com/http://gamutlife.com/apparel/go-vegan

"GAMUT IS AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE BRAND.Gamut is dedicated to and inspired by art, music, fitness, skateboarding, sports, community involvement, nutrition, and philosophy/spirituality. We endorse taking an active role in your physical, mental, and spiritual health rather than looking for the "magic pill" or quick fix. When you wear our custom clothing or headwear, buy art from the shop or support in any way, you are representing a passion for life and culture, commitment to your own health and well-being through positive avenues, with style.

RUN THE GAMUT. We encourage you to go out and do everything you can with a healthy mindset. Fake it till you become it if you have to. Learn constantly and stay fresh. Be a kid again. Support local. Workout daily. Meditate if u want. Question the media and the corrupt mainstream. Notice nature. Try a random class or activity. Pick up a paintbrush or dust off your old instrument. Get out of your comfort zones. Get your bodies and brains firing again. Create your own version of The Gamut Life. You already know what you need to do.

HAVE THE COURAGE TO LIVE. ANYONE CAN DIE."

WOW - What a message for humanity Gamut Life is sharing. We must all rise up (including ME!) and have the courage to LIVE our dreams, to LIVE this life honorably. Each day is a precious gift. As Gerald would say "May you find your passion and share it." Spring forward with a gust of fresh energy!

With love,
Christa

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Ensalada!

2/8/2014 0 Comments

The other day for lunch I whipped up a quick salad for Jerry and I, it was so good I made it again but added even more to it to amp it up a notch! Me encanta todo de ensaladas! I love the ingredients, preparing the salad, eating it and best of all how it makes me feel! RAW HEALTH stemming from natures finest. The varieties are endless. This salad is flavorful and left me feeling FRESH! I like to take notice of how different meals make me feel. Typically the easier it is to digest the better it makes me feel. I can't get enough shakes, salads and soups and why? Because they make me feel SO good! When I make bread, muffins, cakes, crackers, waffles and pancakes I feel weighed down and my energy decreases. When I eat something that is easier on my digestion system I feel rejuvenated, alive, refreshed and re-charged!

Do you ever take note of how certain foods make you feel? What makes you feel great? Tuning in and listening to how our bodies make us feel is key! With that...lets eat!!!

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh sprouts
2 leaves chard - shredded
1/2 cucumber - peeled and sliced
1 stalk celery - chopped
2 pieces broccoli - torn
2 slices sweet onion
1/2 cup mixed nuts
1/4 cup raisins
2 tbsp sundried tomatoes
2 tsp chia seeds

Directions:

Prepare ingredients and place in a bowl
Add your favorite dressing and dig in!

In these times we have to keep moving on - grooving on - finding the positive - emanating the frequency of love - we have to stick together and unite! Stay thankful, grateful and mindful of our thoughts as they create our reality....so let us unite and shine on!!!!

With love,
Christa

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Brussels Sprouts Salad

11/28/2013 0 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving wherever you are! We have so much to be thankful for. One of many would be sharing a meal with Jia Patton and her husband Michael in Kauai, Hawaii! What a honor! She had just shared her beautiful inspirational cookbook "Celebrate Life" with me. Within the book she talks about kitchen yoga where the most important ingredient is you. I took her advice, and did some yoga as I chopped the vegetables thankful with each chop, singing a bit. I let my heart flow and a new recipe was created! :) Brussels Sprouts Salad! I'd never had raw Brussels Sprouts before, turns out they're delicious!

Take 1 lb of Brussels Sprouts, chop them up, add raisins, nuts, fresh and candied ginger for a spin, salt, pepper, olive oil and some balsamic vinaigrette. Mix 'er up and top with fresh red grapes to create added flavor and an artistic flare!

Brussels Sprouts are great for the holiday season, having them raw provides a new spin that will surprise your guests and your taste buds! I hope you enjoy! I'm so thankful for all the sweet blessings that overflow this season, what are you most thankful for?

Ingredients:

1 lb Brussels Sprouts - Chopped finely
1 tbsp fresh ginger chopped or grated
1 cup raisins (or cranberries)
1 cup mixed nuts (cashews...almonds...walnuts...)
2 pieces candied ginger - diced finely
Salt and pepper to taste
Drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette to taste
1/2 1lb fresh red grapes

Prep:

Chop the veggies
Toss the veggies together in a large bowl
Add salt and pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Toss together.
Decorate the top with fresh red grapes, enjoy!

Thank you all for your wonderful support!!! I'm so thankful to be sharing with you!
With love and gratitude,
Christa

What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Last year we had a Thanksgiving Dinner to remembert! Click here for pics!

Here are some recipe ideas, maybe you'll be in the mood for something different like a Spicy Kale Quinoa Crustless Quiche.

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Roasted Purple Asparagus

Mixed Berry Pie with Almond Crust – Vegan & Gluten Free!

Happy Thanksgiving or Thanksliving as vegans like to say!

With Love & Light!
Christa

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Fall Salad for Two

10/16/2013 0 Comments

There is nothing like fresh raw vegetables to make your body feel alive, happy and well. Last night we share a delectable fall salad for two with all the right fixins'. Fresh organic romaine lettuce, a few leafs of chard and amaranth from the garden, some raw onion and garlic for a healthy immune system, royal purple cabbage, a small tomato, jalapeño and cucumber topped with a sprinkle of raisins and cashews.

Raw onions, really? Yes please! I love the flavor and not to mention the health benefits.

Not only do they help regulate blood sugar, but they've also been known to reduce inflammations and infections, help with immunity, are heart healthy and much more! Sprinkle a few on your salad, enjoy on a veggie sandwich..'n more. Learn more here.

We finished it off with some homemade cookies that were irresistible! The recipe is in my cookbook!

Simple Fall Salad

3 leaves Romaine + few dark green leafs of your fav (kale/chard/spinach..)
1/8-1/4 cup sweet onion - chopped
2-3 cloves garlic - peeled and chopped
1 small tomato - diced
2 leaves cabbage - chopped
1/2-1 jalapeño - chopped
1/4" slice of cucumber - chopped
handful of raisins, cashews and jalapeño crisps (opt)

Directions:

Prepare a bed of lettuce
Top with ingredients opt to decorate with love or toss!
Enjoy with favorite salad dressing and soak in the good health!

Best wishes for a bright, happy and healthy day!
Christa

"Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me"
- Karen Carpenter

Let's keep reaching for the stars, even while our back is against the wall, somehow let us all find the strength to keep moving forward with grace and compassion. Shine on!

If you haven't listened to the Audio of my husband's book "The Anunnaki of Nibiru: Mankind's Forgotten Creators, Enslavers, Destroyers, Saviors, and Hidden Architects of the New World Order" check it out and support his beautiful frequency and message today!

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Middle Eastern Salad ~ A Flavor Sensation

7/25/2013 0 Comments

This salad is sure to leave you satisfied. The lentils add a nice texture change taking the dish to a whole new level. It's not "just a salad" it's a flavorful hearty meal! The recipe has been modified and stems from Miriam with Mouthwatering Vegan Recipes, click the link for the mouthwatering original!

My best friend and I used to make a Greek salad with finely cubed vegetables and I just crave it at times. This is a great modified alternative and even has a vegan parmesan to cover that cheesy craving!

The tip from Miriam was to cut each ingredient into very small squares/pieces. I took the advice and must say, it worked well! Great advice, great recipe! I'll be back again! I modified the recipe to add my spin to it and used freshly cooked lentils, bright green lime, sensational red onion, deep red cabbage and vegan parmesan cheese.

To start - I pre-cooked some lentils. Once cooked, I spread 1 cup on a plate to cool while I finely cubed the vegetables.

It's as easy as chop.....

Toss......

Add lentils and vegan parmesan.....

Decorate with chips and be prepared to impress your palette!

Ingredients:

1 cup pre-cooked lentils
2-3 organic tomatoes - chopped
1 jalapeño - chopped (opt)
1 small bell pepper - chopped
1 small cucumber (w/skin) - chopped
1/2 red onion - chopped
3 large garlic cloves - chopped
3/4 - 1 cup red cabbage - chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup vegan parmesan cheese
Opt: add some fresh basil & parsley! (I forgot but do recommend it!)

Prep:

Place ingredients into a bowl
Toss together and add the cooled, pre-cooked lentil beans
Toss with the following homemade dressing!

Dressing:

1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp dried curry powder
dash of ginger powder
garlic salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes to taste
1 tbsp brown rice syrup (or your fav!)
Juice of 1 lime
2 tbsp lemon juice
3 tbsp grape seed oil or olive/your favorite
Dash of Balsamic Vinegar

Enjoy tossed over the salad with organic corn chips, pita bread...etc! My husband and I almost devoured it all in one sitting. Please leave a comment and let me know how you enjoyed it!

With love,
Christa

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5 Min No-Chop Salad

7/1/2013 0 Comments

Do you ever want to eat a salad but you don't want to have to chop anything? Let's be honest. Sometimes it can be a bit of a production!

This weekend I was starving and wanted something quick! I placed pre-cooked quinoa on the bottom, a handful of spinach grabbed for the cucumber and thought "what if I didn't have to chop anything?" That really excited me so I switched gears and started pulling bite sized fruits and vegetables.

In the end, I was left with a stunning salad that was jam-packed with flavor. Will I do it again? You know it!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pre-cooked and cooled quinoa (Tip: Sometimes I'll keep this handy in my fridge, it's a great addition to many meals)
Handful baby spinach
Handful sunflower seeds
Handful mixed nuts
Handful green grapes
Few heirloom tomatoes
One strawberry on top!
Favorite dressing. I used: Olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette and a dash of salt and pepper!

Prep:

Place ingredients in order listed above
Add your favorite dressing and dig in!

Have a great week everyone!

0 Comments

Turmeric Roasted Chick Pea Salad with Mango

6/30/2013 2 Comments

Ginger and Turmeric go together like peanut and jelly. The flavor is sensational! I honestly was not very familiar with Turmeric until I created this recipe. Now, I can't wait to experiment with it more! I love the bold color it brings and not to mention all the health benefits!

Turmeric has many health benefits and can treat minor to more serious problems. It's been recognized by Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years! Why? For it's anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties! It can help with inflammation, weight loss, diabetes, colds & flu, cancer, asthma, arthritis and even help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's. Am I full of it? No way! Check it out for yourself! http://www.undergroundhealth.com/health-benefits-of-turmeric/

I decided to make Roasted Chick Peas! While they were cooking I prepped a hearty salad. I started with a bed of quinoa, topped it with chopped kale, surrounded it with red cabbage and red onion, fresh mung beans and topped it with chopped cucumber.

Toss it together!

Add the roasted chick peas and toss. Top with sliced mango and a few slices of Serrano pepper. Sweet & Spicy! This is a NEW favorite salad, I've already make it twice!

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Makes: 2 hearty servings!

Roasted Chick Peas:

1 can chick peas (Garbanzo Beans) - drained and rinsed
Drizzle of olive oil
1/2 tsp Tumeric
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 knob minced ginger
To taste: salt and red pepper flakes
Slice of lemon - Squeezed

Prep:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, prep a cooking sheet with parchment paper and olive oil spray.
Add all of the ingredients in a bowl or bag and mix well.
Pour chick pea mixture over prepped baking sheet.
Bake for 15-20 minutes.
Serve as a side or enjoy as a salad topping!

Kale and Mango Salad:

1/2 cup pre-cooked and cooled quinoa
2-3 leaves kale - remove stems and chop
Thin slice of red cabbage - chopped
1-2 slices red onion - chopped
1/4 of a large cucumber - chopped
Few fresh mung bean sprouts
2 slices mango - chopped
Opt: 1 Serrano pepper - chopped

Prep:

Start with a 1/4 cup of kale in each bowl.
Top with Kale.
Add red cabbage, red onion, mung beans, cucumber and roasted chick peas
Toss and top with mango and Serrano! Enjoy with your favorite dressing!

2 Comments

Taco Salad

12/14/2012 0 Comments

I love tacos, especially quick and easy tacos that require minimal effort. Corn chips, salad, a beef alternative and beans provide a hearty salad with healthy benefits! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Corn chips
Organic lettuce mixture
1/4 Red onion - sliced
2 garlic cloves - diced
3 jalapeno's - sliced
1 can red kidney beans - rinsed & drained
1 cup TVP w/1 cup boiling water
1/4 package taco seasoning
Tofutti "Sour" cream

Directions:

Boil 1 cup of water, add to TVP and set aside.
Place chips on a plate
Add lettuce, sprinkle fresh vegetables on top.
Add taco seasoning and kidney beans to TVP, combine and place on top of chips.
Add "Sour" cream and dig in! We add Sriracha hot sauce as well to kick things up a notch!

0 Comments

Summer Salad

6/3/2012 0 Comments

Bursting with life this raw summer salad will make your mouth water and your belly smile. The sweet peas, sweet peppers, fresh berries and grapes make for a divine treat. This is a beautiful salad for the summer time. Fresh, in season, colorful and healthy! Great for BBQ's, parties, as a side or a meal!