Saturday, November 28, 2009

PomTini


The word pomegranate means "many-grained apple".
Eat the pomegranate, for it purges the system of hatred and envy. --Muhammad







This drink is a real crowd pleaser!



  • PomTini
  • Makes 2-3 servings
  • 1 cup fresh pomegranate , or cranberry juice, strained (fresh juice will produce a cloudier drink than bottled)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons agave nectar
  • 1 cup dry organic white wine, or sparkling wine
  • ½ cup dry sake
  • 3 teaspoons lime juice, freshly squeezed is the best!

Combine ingredients and shake with ice in a martini shaker, strain and serve in martini glasses. Garnish with a fresh rosemary sprig (remove lower needles and skewer fruit of choice).
This recipe comes to you from Rebecca Carlson in the current issue of Purely Delicious magazine.

Pomegranates promote the production of red blood cells; expel tapeworms; strengthen the bladder (especially for the elderly) and the gums; and soothe ulcers in the mouth and throat. The peel is used as a home remedy for treating chronic dysentery. A kitchen remedy for burning eyes is to place a drop of pomegranate juice in each eye before sleeping.
Pomegranates reduce pitta and kapha.

We have so much to be thankful for!
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love you all!
Michelle
Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Pineapple Bleach

Wowza!
It's been over a month since my last post! So many things have been happening in my life. Spending time with my family and enjoying our day to day rituals.
I was also able to take a trip by myself down to the Tree of Life in Patagonia, Arizona.
What a wonderful experience!
I am still digesting everything and I am really looking forward to sharing wonderful information with you in the future!
Today, I am at home, cleaning house and taking care of loose ends. It's snowing outside, and beautiful. Between the cleaning and longing for the warm sun I must be in a tropical mood because today's post is about the wonderful pineapple! I have been meaning to make this post since June! I think that pineaple just might be my favorite fruit! I love to eat it fresh, make ice cream in my VitaMix, and dehydrate it for a scrumptious snack. The girls love dehydrated pineapple in their school lunches!


Fresh pineapples are wonderful, but what do we do with the rind?!?!?
Well, you could compost it but before you do that you could...
Make bleach, the best all natural kind!
Take pineapple rind and put it in a jar.
Fill jar with water.
Leave jar out on counter for 24 hours to ferment (don't tighten lid too tight, you don't want it to explode).
After 24 hours, use fermented pineapple juice to whiten whites or even clean your bathroom!
To whiten whites just soak in fermented pineapple water for a couple of hours and voila!

What's better than a gentle bleach that is safe for us and the environment?
After your done making your bleach, don't forget to compost!



The delicious pineapple originated in Brazil, it takes 18 months to grow, and contains a proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which breaks down protein. Pineapples are a cooling food, wonderful for people with intestinal disorders, as it aids in digestion of starches and protein; as well as destroying intestinal parasites. Pineapple juice relieves chronic bronchitis and has a soothing effect on a sore throat, possibly because it contains the anti-inflammatory enzyme bromelain which literally digests foreign microbes or diseased cells in the bronchial tissues.
A person with hemophilia or those with kidney or liver disease may choose to avoid raw pineapple as it may reduce the time taken to coagulate a persons blood.

Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality and often appear in household art motifs. Have you ever noticed pineapples on brass door knockers or light fixtures?

That's all for now!
Think warm thoughts!

Love,
Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Stuffed Avocados

In the couple of weeks before the wedding, I nourished myself quite often with this quick meal, that was very satisfying.

All you have to do is, have on hand, avocados, "refried beans," cashew sour cream and salsa.
Gratifying and addicting!
Historically avocados had a long-standing stigma as a sexual stimulant, and were known by the Aztecs as "the fertility fruit". (And no, Noah and I are not planning on having any more kids as of yet, we just got married!)
Avocados are also known as palta or aguacate in Spanish, the butter pear or alligator pear, is a tree native to the Caribbean, Mexico, South America and Central America, it is classified in the flowering plant family along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. The name "avocado" also refers to the fruit, which is technically a very large berry! (I love berries!)
About 75% of the avocado's calories comes from fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat.
Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K. They have the highest fiber content of any fruit. Wow!
The avocado is very popular in vegetarian cuisine, making it an excellent substitute for meats in sandwiches and salads because of its high fat content.
Nutritious and delicious!
This is a HUGE plate! There is no way I could eat all of this it was too filling!

Kind Refried "Beans" (without the musical side effects):
1 whole dried chile (soak for 4 hours and reserve water)
12 whole sun-dried tomatoes, (soak and reserve water)
2 cups sunflower seeds, soaked and drained
1/2 jalapeno
2 whole green onions, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped and packed
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, chopped
In the bowl of the food processor fitted with the "S" blade, puree the drained seeds, tomatoes, and chipotle to a chunky "bean like" texture. (If you choose, save 1/4 cup of the sunflower seeds to mix at the end for an even chunkier texture.) Now place the rest of the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor, and continue to pulse until you reach your desired texture. It will be necessary to add a little of the reserved tomato water, and if you like it spicy use the chipotle water. Be careful not to use too much water, as you are looking for a consistency like refried beans or even ground hamburger.
Finally, taste your "beans" and adjust the flavor if necessary. When you are satisfied with the flavor, fold in the remaining sunflower seeds!
I personally omit the chili, add more chili powder and sun-dried tomatoes.
Just thinking about it makes me hungry!

Cashew Sour Cream:
1 cup cashews, (soaked a couple of hours and drained)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup water
if desired: 2 tablespoons chives
Blend cashews, lemon juice, salt, and just enough water to blend into a smooth kream.
Put sour kream in a bowl and stir in chopped chives.
Will keep in fridge for 4 days.

Use salsa recipe of your choice, have at least three avocados on hand.
Cut avocados in half, remove seed, you may choose to score the avocados for easier scooping. Then stuff with "beans", add sour kream and salsa. I also like to add cilantro. Yummm!
Enjoy!

xoxoxo
Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Friday, August 28, 2009

Rawsta (aka Raw Pasta)!

Last week at the farmers market Kate and I served Raw Pasta or Rawsta with Ramesan (non-dairy parmesan), with a side salad made with beautiful local green from Ten Lakes Farm!
We also had raw non-dairy cashew cheeze cake as well as coconut-carob haystacks, which is just a different spin on the ever-so-famous macaroons!

To make Rawsta:
Spiralize or julienne 3 or 4 medium zucchini.
If you would like you could make it the consistency of cooked pasta by adding a touch of olive oil and salt.
Marinara:
1/2 cup strawberries
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
1 tsp. ginger
2 Tbsp. garlic
1 tsp. jalapeno pepper
1/3 cup basil
1/3 cup red bell pepper
1/4 cup oregano, fresh chopped
1/4 cup nama shoyu
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
2 green olives
1/4 cup red wine
1/4 cup shallots
2-4 dates, soaked
Place in food processor, blend until you reach desired consistency.

Rawmesan: Nutritional yeast, ground up sunflower seeds, and herbs and salt to taste.

Enjoy this day!
Love,
Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Monday, August 17, 2009

Chocolate Macaroons

I am constantly amazed about how much people love these decadent treats! They are simply gluten free bliss!


Ingredients for Chocolate Macaroons:

3 cups dried, unsweetened coconut flakes
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
1 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup coconut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

To make Chocolate Macaroons:

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine.
Using a small ice cream scoop, your hands, or a big tablespoon, spoon rounds of the dough onto dehydrator screens. If using your hands, it helps to refrigerate the mix a bit prior to forming the macaroons, or have a bowl of water to wet your hands so macaroon mix does not stick. Dehydrate at 115 degrees for 12 to 24 hours, or until crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. you may also choose to put them in the freezer for a frozen treat or simply dehydrate in oven by turning it off and on till desired consistency is reached.
*You may also substitute carob for the cocoa powder.


Benefits of Raw Cacao:
Magnesium: This is one of the most essential minerals, yet studies say that more than 80% of the United States' population is deficient in magnesium. In nature, the most concentrated source of magnesium is raw cacao! Other good sources of the mineral include certain nuts and any chlorophyll molecule. Magnesium supports the heart, increases brain power, relaxes muscles, increases flexibility, causes healthy bowl movements, and helps build string bones. As one of the body's primary alkaline minerals, magnesium assists the normal functioning of several chemical enzymatic processes -- facilitating more then three hundred different detoxification and elimination functions.
Chromium: This mineral helps balance blood sugar levels, and cacao has ten times the amount of chromium as whole wheat, a chromium-rich food, making it the highest food source of this mineral.
Antioxidant Power: Raw cacao beans are super-rich in antioxidant flavonols. They contain 10,000 mg (10 grams) of flavonol antioxidants (that's a 10% concentration level!). This makes cacao possibly the best source of antioxidants, with twenty to thirty times more than red wine or green tea.
Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, C, and E are all present in significant quantities.
Other nutrients: Fiber, iron, niacin, phosphorus, as well as hundreds of other chemicals and phytonutrients (special plant nutrients) are found in cacao.

In pure chocolate bliss,
Michelle
xoxo

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Farmer's Market Bliss!


Kate and I participated in our very first farmer's market on Tuesday evening in Whitefish! It was amazing! Thank you to all of you who came out and supported us!
The energy was wonderful!
Kate's boyfriend, Eric helped us set up, Thanks brother! I thought I was going to have some time to sit down, and talk to people, but what really happened was that we had swarms of people around our booth, it was very exciting!

We served raw tacos. The shells were made with corn, flax, red bell pepper, herbs and spices. The insides consisted of "refried beans", fresh greens from Ten Lakes Farm, salsa verde, cashew sour cream and topped with some fresh, organic tomatoes!

Some people even just bought the "refried beans" to take home and top their own salads.

To make 2 cups of "refried beans" is easy!

Soak 8 sun dried tomatoes in 1/4 cup olive oil for 2-4 hours
2 cups sunflower seeds
1/2 jalapeno
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup packed cilantro with stems, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 clove garlic

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the "S" blade, puree the sunflower seeds, tomatoes, and garlic to a smooth pate.
Now place the rest of the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor, and continue to puree until smooth.
It may be necessary to add a little water to attain the consistency you desire, remember you are looking for a meat like or refried bean like consistency.
If you like it spicy add chipotle.
Done! It's sooo good!

Sunflower seeds are high in protein and rich in essential omega-6 fatty acid, calcium, and iron.

We also served the ever-so-famous chocolate macaroons! Delish!

Thank you again to all who supported us for the first market! Be looking for us next week where we will be serving spring rolls with dipping sauce, cheese cake, fresh salad, and maybe some soup!

Lots of love!
Michelle
xoxox

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Living Cereal with Almond Mylk


Most mornings I wake up, have a glass of water with sole and iodine and then a nice tall glass of fresh juice to get me going.  Then, a couple of days ago, my juicer broke so I have been making good morning shakes.  But today, I was hungrier than normal and was in the mood for a little something different.

First I cut up half an apple, cranberries, and some sprouted buckwheats that I dehydrated with cinnamon spice (I like to always have some on hand because they are a lot like rice krispies), next I added some raw trail mix with cacao nibs, raw cashews, golden raisins, goji berries, and mulberries, I added homemade almond mylk and coconut flakes. The combination was great!

Almond mylk is naturally sweet, versatile and alkaline.

Soak 1 cup of raw almonds overnight (I add half of a vanilla bean to the soak water). The next morning, rinse and drain your almonds and place in a blender with four cups of filtered water.  Blend until ingredients are smooth.  Pour into a strainer to separate the remaining pulp.  You may use the pulp again for a lighter mylk. Place almond mylk back in blender and add a pinch of sea salt, agave, and the soaked vanilla bean for flavor.  Blend and serve.

The Real Deal About Cow's Milk, is that it isn't good for you!
1. Modern commercial farming involves the heavy use of growth hormones and antibiotics, in order to produce more, supposedly healthier milk.  The problem is that these hormones and antibiotics get into the milk the cows produce, and when we ingest them, they have far-reaching effects on our health, including the possible endocrine and reproductive problems and the development of "super" strains of bacteria that are resistant to the constant low doses of antibiotics they are subject to.
2. More than 60 percent of the human population is either lactose-intolerant (meaning their bodies do no produce the enzyme to digest the main sugar in milk, lactose) or they are allergic to milk. If more than half of us can't drink milk, it can't be as necessary to good health as many think it is.
3. Dairy products cause excess mucus production in the body.  Excess mucus production can ultimately affect your digestive and immune systems.
4. Dairy milk really isn't as nutritionally packed as we are led to believe.  We are all told that we need milk in order to get sufficient amounts of calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D. But truth be told, this is a marketing scheme, and milk is not a very rich source of these vitamins naturally; it's generally fortified with them.  And most green vegetables have more calcium than milk!  Eat your veggies and you'll be just fine. (Cow milk info from Renee Loux, Living Cuisine).

In Love, Life and Laughter!

Michelle

Please check out my personal site at: www.MichelleBerryShaffer.com