Drafts...

I have so many drafts awaiting the edit/publish step. =\ I tend to go through them all together so I can make sure they're not crap. Usually, they are. I should probably keep up with things more often...though, surely no one will notice. ;)

'D' is for...

I don't have anything exciting to say about this post, except that this is Damn Delicious.

1/2 Banana

3 Strawberries

1T Sunflower/chia bitter

Greens

Hemp milk

Ice

Blueberrchata

1 Banana

1 Handful of Blueberries

2 tsp Flax

1 tsp Horchata powder mix (optional)

Coconut milk

Ice

I don't think the photo does this delicious concoction any justice! Mom even tried this and REALLY liked it! =)

Black & White chili

• 1/2 Onion chopped
• 1 Shallot diced
• 2T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 box Veggie Broth
• 28 oz can Crushed Tomatoes
• 28 oz can Diced Tomatoes
• 15 oz can Black Beans (I didn't drain, I need the extra sodium)
• 15 oz can White Beans (Drained-they looked slimey)
• 2 Carrots peeled diced
• 1 Celery stalk diced
• Chili powder to taste (a lot)
• Cayenne to taste (a lot)
• Cumin 1/2t
• Parsley 1/8t
• Pink himalayan salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

*I'm not good at measurements because I just shake, shake, shake, ...shake shake, shake, ...cook, taste, repeat.

**All this junk is natural or organic to the best of my wallet's ability. =)

I've made this twice thrice now because it is just so yummy, and comforting! The second time I made this, I used 3 cans of beans! Black, white, and kidney, thinking the kidney beans would give it more of a 'chili taste', but to be honest, I preferred it 'as-is'. But, hey, don't let me stop you from experimenting! Go bean crazy!

P.S. I very rarely make it 3 days with a whole pot of chili. I tell myself, "Oh, I'll freeze some for next week, when I don't feel like cooking." Welp, that doesn't happen. Once I know it's available to nom, I NOM.

iNom?

DetoxMay!

DetoxMay*

Black Bean Hummus w/ GF "Chips"

GF "Chips" w/ Guac & Salsa

So, it's been 11 days now of DetoxMay! I've been free of gluten and dairy since May 2nd and completely vegetarian since March 14, 2013, that's two months! I have to admit I definitely see this as a life-change rather than a "hip and trendy" fad. I think the main deciding factor is that I recognize the consequences I have to deal with when I make bad decisions.

Eggplant "Parmigiana" w/ GF Pasta

GF Pasta w/ Veggies & Herbs

Surprisingly, I've also recently (just today in fact) realized some positive effects of being gluten-free, dairy-free, and meat-free! (I should add that I'm also egg-free, soy-free, and corn-free for a while now.)

Here's what I've noticed throughout the past few weeks/months/year since I've changed my eating habits:

•Obvious large amounts of weight-loss (exercise included).

•*Huge* loss of bloating (face and stomach) This is a dairy thing. I have hip bones!? ...and a waist! Also, ribs/breast chest bone things?

Massive Veggie Stir-fry/Curry

•For some odd reason I've been waking up early. I'm attributing this to the lack of gluten. If you're gluten intolerant or have wheat allergies (or allergies of any sort), they physically wear your body down. Maybe now that my body is rid of gluten, dairy and meat it doesn't need as much sleep? Who knows. (I am, however, still chronically fatigued with everything else medically and physically going on, but I've been working on that as well!)

•I mentioned before that my mood directly correlates to what I eat. This continues to be proven by DetoxMay!!!

Green Smoothie

You might be wondering why I only write recipes for juices and smoothies, and if that's all I consume...Well, I'm here to tell you: I eat. A lot.

Here are a few staples in my diet as of recent.

Hummus
Black bean hummus homemade chips
Curry
Stir fries
Green smoothies
Eggplant pasta
Salsa
Guac
Big Salads
Teas
Lemon honey water
Horchata
Etc.,
Etc.,

*My "Detox" from a wide variety of foods. I'm on the Road to Recovery!

Detox May

Detox May

1 Carrot Peeled

1 Gala Apple Peeled

1 Celery Stalk

4 Mint Leaves

2 Kale Leaves

2 Handfuls of Spinach

Handful Fro Pineapple

Handful Parsley

Ice

It's that time again. I've learned the hard way (by eating out yesterday), that I need to be gluten and dairy free. So here I am, beginning Detox May! I'm aiming for at least one über-green smoothie/juice per day and healthy meals with no dairy, no gluten, and, of course no meat!

I know that the most difficult part will ultimately be the cravings, while also attempting to maintain a high enough blood pressure due to the POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Peer pressure has all ready shown to be somewhat difficult. I get feelings of guilt when someone offers "delicious food that I must try". They can't seem to understand that I'm not just being picky, or fussy, or rude, I am simply trying to heal myself by eating what I can tolerate, and avoiding what I makes me ill. UGH!

Life is all about choices. Every choice that we make, either consciously, or subconsciously, or even unconsciously, impacts our lives in numerous ways. That's the beauty of life. These choices, all of them, are up to you to choose what to do. Whether small or large, (putting an apple in my mouth, or eating pizza; climbing a mountain, or going skydiving) we can choose to do what we feel is right for  us. Sometimes when we're overwhelmed or stressed, it seems we tend to shift toward the extremes, which can possibly lead to a dangerous downward spiral. Other times, we can choose to do nothing at all, which is often worse than doing something. YEAH CHOICES! 

 My choices are my own, and I shouldn't have to justify them to anyone else or feel guilty of hurting feelings by saying "No, thank you." Right?

Poop-y Juice

Looks like poop, not poop

Kale
Spinach
Parsley
Golden Beet peeled
Carrot
Blueberry
Chia seeds
Cucumber
Honeydew
Coconut oil
Mint
Raspberry
Ice

Not the most delicious. But fairly nutritious. I'm not a huge fan of raspberries. I think it's the seeds that get me. =\ But I know how good they are for you, and I also know a bunch of berryholics!

Way Too Good

1 gala Apple peeled
1 Carrot peeled
1 Handful Parsley
1/2 Golden Beet
1 Hefty Handful frozen Blueberries
1/4 Cucumber peeled
2 frozen Strawberries (for kicks)

There's just something about how the cucumber, parsley, and apple all come together in this heavenly juice.

Give it a whirl and let me know if you agree!

Why so serious? Fried Rice

1/4 Red Onion diced olive oil
Mint - chopped 3 leaves
Cilantro - chopped handful
Julienne style Carrot
Coconut oil
Rice
Juice from Lemon 1/4 to taste
Mango ginger chutney delicious junk
Cinnamon to taste
Salt pepper to taste

Sauté onions until translucent.
Add mint cilantro and carrots. Stir-fry 3 min on med/high. Add rice lemon mango ginger cinnamon salt and pepper and coconut oil. If needed a few tbsp water. Stir-fry. Then let brown 3 min. Stir. Let brown 3 min. Repeat until desired friedness!

Oh my yumminess!!!
=O

Tropically Refreshing Juice

...and beautiful! I was so thirsty/hungry I didn't even have a chance to snap a pic before I ran out the door this morning. I will admit it was a little odd for me to leave out the greens. But, I am getting my fair share of GREENS via delicious stir frys and curries. I pack 'em in there, babyy! I've been trying to eat/snack more often and enjoy smaller meals; I'm running out of ideas!

Welp, have a go at this delectable Tropically Refreshing Juice.

1/2 Golden Beet peeled
1 Carrot peeled
1/4 Cucumber peeled
1 Handful of frozen Pineapple
1 Handful of frozen Honeydew
Ice
1-2c water (I just eyeball it, like all of my recipes.) =$

Blend until liquefied.

Top with gelled Chia.

Best served over ice with a straw on a hot day! =)

#
Vitamix beet juice

33 Days.

I've been *strictly* Vegetarian for 33 days now. It doesn't seem that long, yet it seems longer at the same time. For the past year or so, my goal has been to incorporate heaps of veggies into my everyday diet, while trying to determine what makes me sick. (At the same time, cutting out the obvious "junk" and trying to be more active.) Up until now, I've gotten the veggie thing down pat...it was/is the *major* temptation of foods that I'd known and loved before, that had always made me break. So, I feel like I was never really able to "heal" properly. Now that I have a good basis of ~1 month of zero meat in my system, I can start eliminating other possible hazards from my diet, while continuing with a vegetarian lifestyle. (For the foreseeable future!)

I will admit that having a buddy who shares your eating habits makes for much easier meals, while also limiting temptation and peer pressure. Which has probably been my most difficult battle thus far. Example: Growing up I always heard, "Dude, your mom is the best cook!" ...Yeah, I know. She still is. And I'm learning to become my own "best cook", by necessity. So, when Mom makes one of those meals from my childhood that I have fond memories of (when in reality, they were probably exacerbating my symptoms and contributing to my illnesses), I'm taken back to a time of delicious comfort. Not to mention the convenience of having a meal ready to eat. UGH! I've gotten much better at this within the past ~month; "If It Has Meat, I Will Not Eat!"

Next stop: Dairy. Shouldn't be too bad, since I've been egg-free for years now. I crave cheese. =( Cheese hates me. In fact, all dairy hates me. I break out. I bloat. My migraines are intensified. I get achy(/ier).

So, yeah. Toodles, dairy!

Are there any Veggie Lovers out there?
Peace, Love & Veggies <3

Speckled StrawLeMint Sorbet

Speckled StrawLeMint Sorbet

4 cleaned frozen Strawberries
1/2 Lemon juiced
5 Mint leaves
1-2T Raw sugar
Ice
2T Chia seeds gelled (Add 1/2c water to 2T chia in separate cup. Stir. Wait ~10 min to gel. Stir.)

Add first 5 Ing. to Vitamix, blend until desired consistency. Top with Chia gel. =)
Et Voilà. Speckled StrawLeMint Sorbet, by yours truly!

IMG-20130116-01022.jpg

Pretty mild and nutty

2 tsp Chia
Water/Almond Milk/Milk of your choice
2 tsp Almond butter
1 tsp Honey
3-4 Strawberries
4-5 Blueberries
2-3 handfuls Spinach
Ice