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Spaghetti and Meatballs - Uncooked!

How do you not cook spaghetti and meatballs? Well if it is all raw ingredients, no cooking is required! It is nice to know that you can please your palate with old time classic meals that are typically full of unnecessary calories and ingredients that may not agree with your digestive system or your nutrition mentality anymore. So fear not, there are ways around this. I know for instance my Dad's all time favourite meal was Spaghetti and Meatballs and now he can't sit down and enjoy it the same way. The wheat in the spaghetti noodles makes him bloated, he is not one for red meat anymore and the dairy (from Parmesan cheese) does not agree with him. So this is the perfect opportunity for me to jump in and create something innovative, healthy and satisfying.
Since consuming raw foods has amazing health benefits and I am on a bit of a raw kick myself, I figured I would experiment. So for my spaghetti noodles, I opted to use Kelp Noodles. These are noodles made from a seaweed called Kelp - but they do not taste like seaweed at all! Kelp noodles are pretty much odorless, tasteless and have no calories and the virtually take on any flavour that you marinate them in. They are also so simple to prepare as all they require is a bit of water to soak in for a few minutes or hours. If you want to soften them a bit, add a touch of lemon juice or vinegar to the water.

For a Marinara sauce - I concocted a blend of:
1-2 cups of "fresh from my garden: tomatoes (both cherry and regular)
1/4 cup olive oil,
2 cloves garlic
1-2 dates
1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
handful of fresh herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
sea salt and pepper

Whirled that all up in my vitamix and there I had a sauce, all ready to go. If I left it in long enough it would have been warm!

Now as for the "meatballs", here is where I got a bit creative. In a food processor I added:
1 cup soaked almond
1 cup soaked walnuts
2 stalks of celery
1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
5 mini onions or 1 leek
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water

Smooth together until you get a thick paste and roll into balls and place in a food dehydrator for 12 hours or in your oven on a low temp - (as low as it will go) for 1-2 hours. But keep an eye on them!

Then top it off, I added some marinated kale and broccoli which I just tossed with some olive oil and sea salt and added to the dehydrator for about an hour to soften up.

Oh and if you needed a little "cheesiness" on top - because what is pasta without cheese, then I would add some crunched up pinenuts, cashews or hemp seeds tossed with some sea salt and lemon juice for a zesty topping!

Now if that isn't a hearty, satisfying and health prmoting bowl of Spaghetti and Meatballs, then I don't know what is!

The BEST night EVER!

These are the wise words of David Wolfe - a renown guru in the world of raw foods. I had the opportunity last night to go and see him speak in Orangeville Ontario. Even though he racaps on so much of what I know - he always has a way of taking nutrition to a whole other level beyond most people's consciousness.
The emphasis last night was on Superfoods. This term has been coined to emphasize food from nature which has superior health benefits. The best part is that these foods are so widely available to us - literally they are all around us in nature. Unfortunately most people don't even know what true superfoods are or better yet what they can do for our body, our mind and of course our health. Superfoods are foods that have unique properties that have the ability to nourish our body in more than one way. For instance on single food item (such as goji berries) may contain not only protein, but also immune properties, antioxidants and trace minerals. So in one single tiny berry you are getting an array of health benefits. Other superfoods - according to David Wolfe include Cacao (yes this is chocolate), maca, bee products, blue green algae, marine phytoplankton, aloe vera, hemp seed and coconuts.
So last night I went with a friend to watch and be inspired by David Wolfe's magnetic energy about superfoods. You can't help but feel his buzz and become pumped about all the benefits that these foods have to offer. Before I had arrived at the lecture, I was feeling a little tired from the long day I had, luckily there was a chocolate elixir available for me to drink and this perked me right up and made me feel amazing. I mean, who wouldn't want to drink a cup full of chocolate goodness? I am talking about chocolate in it's purest sense- no dairy and no unnatural sugars, only filled with herbal extracts and other super healthy goodies. This was followed by a slice of heavenly cheesecake made from cashews and coconut butter...I was in heaven!

David Wolfe with a Bag of Goji Berries on his head! - sorry for the poor quality pictures, I only had my phone available!

Since I already have been including superfoods in my diet for a long time - I thought I would share my favourite super smoothie recipe with you!

Chocolaty Super Food Smoothie!

1-2 cups almond milk
1-2 scoops of sunwarrior chocolate rice protein powder
2 tablespoons goji berries
1 tablespoon raw cacao or cacao nibs
1 tablespoon hempseeds
1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter
1 frozen banana
1 tsp maca powder
1 tsp cinnamon


Place all ingredients in blender or vita-mix and blend until smooth and creamy!
Enjoy!!

Organic Doggie Muffins

Yes, I make my dog super-powered organic, gluten free muffins. They are made from a base mix of- organic milled whole brown rice, organic whole chickpeas, organic whole quinoa, calcium, carob, 100% pure alfalfa, acadian sea kelp, oregano, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, ginger and garlic. This is a pre-made mix from Canine Life, a company that specializes in whole foods for dogs. They are an amazing company because they will cater to dogs that have ailments from food allergies, to skin disorders, cancer and arthritis. Dogs can suffer from the same things as humans and this can be a result of their diet, their environment or a genetic predisposition. Pet owners who take pride in their pets health will understand that they only want to feed their dog the best quality food. Why would you give your dog any less quality than you would give yourself? Why would you want to give your dog food that has no nutrients and is sometimes full of preservatives, chemicals and dead remnants of other animals that were not raised organically?

If you want to see your dog thrive and live a long healthy life - make sure to feed him or her the best quality organic foods. There are actually some great dried food mixes on the market that are made from 100% organic ingredients - so look out for them or ask at your local pet food store.
Or if you really want to take control and responsibility for your pet's diet - you can go the length and make them muffins!




Here is the recipe I make for my dog Casey

Casey's Organic Muffins

5 cups of Canine Life - gluten free flour mix
1 organic red apple, chopped
2 carrots, shredded
1 large handful of green beans, chopped
1 lb. organic ground chicken
1 organic egg
1/2 cup organic sunflower oil
1-2 cups filtered water
1 cup blueberries

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Stir well to combine everything.
3. Place in muffin tray and bake for 20-30 minutes until they have hardened up.
4. Take one muffin out to let it cool and give to your dog right away - because he will have been hovering around the oven for the last half hour licking his lips!

The Nourished Traveler

It is so important to make sure you nourished when you are away. That may mean that you have to pack a yourself a whole bunch of goodies to take with you on the go just in case! It really is the worst thing when you are away somewhere with no access to healthy food. If you choose not to bring your own food for whatever reason, then it is important to make use of the internet and source out some of the healthy, vegetarian and organic restaurants and stores that may be nearby. There are some great resources for you to use like Happy Cow which is an amazing site with listings of health centered and vegetarian restaurants and health food stores located all over the world. I have used this resources many a time - in London, New York, Los Angeles, Florida, Vancouver - you name it!

After just coming back from vacation to Scottsdale Arizona, a common landing spot for the Wasserman family - I was more impressed this time than ever before. I have been travelling here with my family for years. The first few years - most meals were centered around your standard American chain restaurants ( Cheesecake Factory, Houston's, P.F Changs) as the years passed and as my palate became more refined (and discriminating) I have had a yearning for more sophisticated and health based options - which Arizona clearly lacked. Luckily we have a "place" ( or a second home) down there and I have the ability now to stock up on my favourite groceries from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's which usually takes care of breakfast and lunches for me but often dinner is out at a restaurant and now finally I had places to go! So after much research online and just merely keeping my eyes open my family and I have now found more places to eat here than I have ever imagined. An amazing restaurant called True Food Kitchen - has become a new favourite. It is a restaurant built on the foundation Dr. Andrew Weil's anti-inflammatory diet. "The dishes feature whole grains, omega-3 rich fish, organic fruits and vegetables, whole soy products and anti-inflammatory herbs and spices such as ginger and turmeric. The result: food that is delicious, satisfying, healthy and environmentally responsible." This makes me so happy and of course fully nourished! Then there were some other hidden gems along the way like Pizza Fusion a happy eco organic pizza place that has gluten free crust and goat cheese! So as you can see I was very well nourished while I was away!



So here are some quick tips to make sure you can be just as successful on your next vacation!

Things to bring with just in case you have limited resources:

- quick grab goodies like healthy snack bars (lara bars, pure bar etc..) trail mixes (raisins, almonds, goji berries, walnuts)
- organic whole grain crackers or spelt flatbread
- organic dark chocolate bar
- a loaf of spelt or kamut bread or gluten free bread or rice cakes
- a jar of almond butter or now you can get them in little squeeze packs
- dried fruit (mango, apple, pear slices)
- seaweed (nori, dulse)
- rolled oats so that you can make them anywhere ( you may want to bring some cinnamon too!)
- a bag or box of spelt, kamut or brown ricepasta (this can really come in handy)
*** For the record - if you know you are going to be somewhere where you don't have many options on the menu and you have the guts to do so, bring in your own pasta - ask the head chef to make it for you and just add some tomato sauce or olive oil, order some steamed veggies and voila you have your very own healthy pasta dish! ( I did this while in Scottsdale, at a family dinner at a hotel - the only options for me were cheese layered lasagna or white pasta with tomato sauce - neither would satisfy - so I worked a little magic and instead of sitting there starving - I had an amazing dinner!)

Or if you are in big city (Vancouver, Montreal, New York, L.A, Chicago, Miami) be sure to:

- check out web resources such as happy cow or you may find a local website that has listing of local restaurants
- go to any health food store (such as whole foods) and ask if they can recommend restaurants
- find areas in the city that cater to a healthy living lifestyle and you can ask there - also any yoga studio or spa may have some ideas for you

Don't be afraid to nourish yourself and ask questions as you may discover some amazing organic and friendly places where the food is delicious!

If you have any suggestions or other resources to share all readers please leave a comment below!

Bringing You Back To Life - An Amazing Weekend RE-Treat!

Have you ever just wanted to get away for a weekend to reconnect, rejuvenate and re-energize your whole being? Who doesn't? We often don't get the opportunity to take a mini vacation and escape to nature and explore what really matters in our life. We get so caught up in our busy day to day lives and don't take enough time for ourselves. Well I if I told you that I had an opportunity for you to break away for a weekend mini vacation- to restore your body and your mind - would you do it? ...I hope so!

Here's what I got - I am part of an amazing group of people -organized through Evergreen Adventures and together we are creating a healthy living weekend just for you. A weekend where you can connect with nature and participate in a whole range of activities that are geared towards rejuvenating and rewarding yourself, by bringing your soul back to life!

Can you think of a better way to spend 3 days at the end of the summer? This is for everyone and anyone who is interested experiencing a relaxing weekend that will guide you towards a path of healthy living!



This amazing weekend starts on Friday August 28- Sunday August 30th 2009

And this weekend includes...

4 yoga classes (active hatha and vinyasa flow)
2 interactive healthy living cooking classes (taught by me!)
lessons in canoeing and kayaking
tea tasting and so much more...

So come and experience the 150 acres beautiful waterfront Muskoka property and stay in our 5000 square foot lodge for a weekend of relaxation, fun, and worthwhile activities.

If you are interested in participating in the amazing weekend please click here or call 416.843.6421 or email info@evergreenadventures.ca as spots are filling up fast!

Better than Timbits!

Of course these are better than timbits, because timbits are not even food. So really there is no comparison.(For those of you that don't live in Canada - Timbits are donut holes!) I really should have titled this post "GREAT Balls of Bliss" - because the second you let one of these little gems break apart and melt into your mouth, there is no turning back-you are in bliss. But don't have too many or you will be left with a tummy ache. Each little ball is so power packed full of nutrition - that you only need one or two to satisfy that sweet tooth or give you that much needed burst of energy. Just in case you didn't know, timbits or donuts only do the opposite - they make you tired and sluggish - not to mention there isn't one useful calorie in a donut. As they are filled with empty calories - meaning they contain refined white flour and white sugar and usually some low quality oils. Just for the record each "Bliss" ball is loaded with calcium, protein, fibre, iron, b vitamins, healthy fats and give you long lasting energy and make you feel great! So why not make something that looks just like it, is better for you and has a taste that is out of this world? Really there is not reason not to!

These little guys are so easy to make that all you need a food processor and some basic ingredients. What is also so much fun about making these, is that they are simple and they are not baked or heated. You can also sub in other ingredients and get creative every time you make them. If you or your child has nut allergies, you can use a seed based butter instead of almond butter or just just use pureed dates or figs. You also have the option of putting in all kinds of super foods like goji berries, spirulina powder, raw cacao etc... or you can just keep it to the basics like I did.



Chocolate Coconut-Almond Bliss Balls

3/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup tahini
1/2 cup maple syrup
3/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup quinoa flakes
1 cup coconut flakes

Procedure:

1. Add nut butter, tahini, and maple syrup to a bowl or food processor and blend until smooth.
2. Add sesame seeds, cocoa powder, oat bran and quinoa flakes and blend until mixture becomes like dough.
3. Scrape down sides of food processor as necessary. Spread coconut on a plate.
4. Rolled mixture into 1-inch balls and rolls in shredded coconut.
5. Cover and store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.