Archive for June, 2009

Chocolate Cravings?

This article was syndicated from: Laurel on Health Food

Chocolate Cravings?

Let’s face it…I love chocolate. I have a favorite new brand of chocolate bars too. They’re raw, organic, vegan, homemade, packed with superfoods, and free of cholesterol, dairy, soy, gluten, and refined sugar.

Vanessa, the owner and creator of Gnosis Chocolate, is a holistic health counselor and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (the school I’m currently attending). I tried one of Vanessa’s special chocolate bars a few weeks ago, and knew I had to have more. Here are some of the flavors she offers:

Simplicity - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Love

Cool Peppermint - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Agave Nectar, Fresh Peppermint Leaves, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Peppermint Essential Oil, Love

Pomegranate Acai - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Brazil Nuts, Black Currants, Agave Nectar, Barberries, Pomegranate Powder, Acai Powder, Crystal Manna, Vanilla Bean, Love

Vanilla Hazelnut - Cacao Beans, Cacao Butter, Hazelnuts, Agave Nectar, Lucuma Powder, Vanilla Bean, Crystal Manna, Love

SuperChoc - Cacao beans, cacao butter, agave nectar, goji berries, raspberries, mesquite, maca root powder, Siberian ginseng powder, ashwaghanda powder, ginko biloba powder, gotu kola powder, burdock root powder, açai powder, crystal manna flakes, camu camu powder, vanilla bean, reishi mushroom powder, passionflower powder, rose hips, lavender flowers, Love

Check ‘em out for yourself, you won’t be disappointed. This kind of chocolate leaves you happy and satisfied without feeling any guilt. Here’s a bonus: Gnosis Chocolate donates 10% of its profits to The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation.

NBA Finals Veggies

This article was syndicated from: Laurel on Health Food

NBA Finals Veggies

I’m rooting for the Orlando Magic to get a win in the Finals tonight, so I’m cooking up some yummy eats for the game.

Luckily, I bought some beautiful baby eggplant, zucchini, and red/yellow bell peppers at the farmer’s market yesterday. I chopped them up in big pieces and tossed them on a sheet pan to roast in the oven. Then I made a quick seasoning paste with my food processor (garlic, olive oil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and lemon juice). Check them out before I put them in the oven (400 degrees for 15-20 min). Looks delish, right?!

Please excuse my sad excuse for a sheet pan. I really need some new ones.

I’m also making some chicken wings with a homemade BBQ sauce. I’d tell you how I made those, but that one is a family secret. If I told you, my Dad would never forgive me. : )

Go Magic!

Green Tea with Mochi & Umeboshi

Pan fry mochi in a heavy, covered skillet over a medium-low flame or oven bake at 350° until the mochi puffs up, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove, place mochi in a soup bowl with the umeboshi and pour the hot tea over. Garnish with nori and scallions.

Mochi Waffle with Strawberry Syrup

Place the mochi in the sections of a hot waffle iron, close and cook until crispy and slightly golden, about 5 minutes. While the waffle is cooking, place half the strawberries and the syrup in a blender and puree until smooth. Slice the remaining strawberries and set aside. Remove the waffle and place on a plate. Sprinkle sliced strawberries and blueberries over the waffle. Pour strawberry syrup over. VARIATION: Serve with any Eden Organic Fruit Butter or Apple Sauce in place of strawberry sauce.

Quick & Easy Bean Salad

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss well. The salad can be served room temperature or refrigerated and marinated for 1 to 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to blend.

Update on FRESH the Movie

This article was syndicated from: Laurel on Health Food

Update on FRESH the Movie

I wrote about the movie FRESH a few weeks ago, and how I wished they would screen the movie in Florida. Happily, I just found out some great news. We can host a home screening of the movie for just $20! Check out the Host a Screening page on the FRESH website for details or to buy a copy.

I purchased the home screening package and am planning a friends get-together to watch the movie. My $20 paid for the DVD, the electronic publicity materials, and a license to screen the film in front of 1-20 people.

I’ll definitely let you know what I think of the movie once we watch it. In the meantime, check out The Huffington Post interview of FRESH director Kerry Trueman. I really like how she talked about her journey to improve her relationship with food (something she didn’t expect when she started making the film):

“Eating well was no longer about (or only about) improving my health or not gaining weight, it was about pleasure: taking care of myself and the folks that I love and taking the time to do so.”

Quinoa Breakfast Muffins

This article was syndicated from: Laurel on Health Food

Quinoa Breakfast Muffins

So, I tried a new baking adventure yesterday. I’ve been craving something yummy and filling for breakfast that I can take on the go. Someone recently recommended that I try quinoa breakfast muffins.

If you’ve never eaten quinoa, it’s a seed that you can  use in place of rice or other carbs. It has protein and fiber, so it’s a great choice when you want something healthy and filling.

Here’s a picture of some plain quinoa:

I used Martha Stewart’s Quinoa Muffins recipe (with a few tweaks) and they came out delicious! Here’s what I changed:

* I used 1 cup whole wheat flour to replace 1 of the cups of all purpose flour.
* I used 1/4 cup sesame oil in place of the vegetable oil. You could also replace it with olive, walnut, flaxseed, or peanut oil. Or…real butter.
* I cut out the raisins and put chunks of banana in the center of the muffins instead.  Gooey and delish!
* I used 2% milk instead of whole milk (it’s what I had).

Finally, check out these picture of my delicious treats. They were so yummy, I had to have 2 this morning.

Here they are after I put the banana in the center.

Here’s the finished muffins! Yum yum yum!