A Conscious Splurge: On-the-go Gourmet

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

On-the-go Gourmet

Okay, been ridiculously busy lately and haven't set aside time to blog... I have been so busy in fact that I started eating out again (which took a minute but I've made peace with it) and have found creative and delicious solutions to nourish and enjoy on the go! Most places (cafés and/or restaurants) carry something that you can enjoy and not think twice about. If you're not sure ask or find a way to make peace with it and know you're doing the best you can.
The local café I go to for wireless has a yogurt and granola bowl I order sometimes this AM I wasn't feeling it. So I brought left over (homemade) cranberry-cacao sauce, had some granola in my lunch bag from the day before in a re-purposed jar (The granola I like is produced by Thoughtful Food- I think that's what they're called. It was the "seriously seedy" kind,may need to purchase online www.thoughtfulfood.net.) and ordered a bowl of yogurt with an orange. No funny looks or snarks but he did ask if I wanted the fruit and yogurt bowl with granola instead. "not today". I took a seat (away from the counter ;o) and doctored up my AM treat...

Cranberry Cacao sauce- just in time for Thanksgiving!

1 pint cranberries simmered in a 1/4 inch of water until they all burst and when stirred make a beautiful sauce.
Remove from heat, stir in 1-2 tsp of agave, (or your favorite sweetener, I prefer liquid ones like agave or brown rice syrup, my body seems to process them better. Every body is different so you decide what's best for you)
grate 1-2 tsp of 100% cacao. (Dagoba sells a bar that you can just grate right into dishes, challenging to find so if you do and it's something you'll use TOTALLY worth the $6 and the impulse buy. My sister in law found one and bought it for me, so awesome!)
I did garnish it with a TINY bit of smoked sea salt.

Cran-Orange fruit and yogurt Parfait

To layer the "parfait"

1 order of plain yogurt (organic- if available) and fresh fruit (I chose bananas for the potassium)
Stir in fiber of choice with yogurt (dried coconut, ground flax seed, etc. I used ground flax with inulin- by Spectrum Organics)
garnish/decorate sides of bowl of yogurt with orange wedges
spoon in cranberry sauce
drizzle a little flax oil (mine was almost out so I brought it with me and used it up)
1-2 tsp of good quality granola (low sugar) and Gluten Free if you care

Admire a job well done and enjoy!

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What are raw, macrobiotic and vegan foods?

My style of cooking and preparing food is very unique. It combines traditional American cooking and incorporates raw, vegan and macrobiotic principals. What these three have in common is that they all (respectively) use whole unprocessed ingredients to create beautiful meals and basically guilt free and seriously delicious desserts.
One day I'll have my own restaurant and our slogan will be "Come for the dessert, stay for dinner!"

Raw foods are minimally processed foods where the internal temperature of the food does not go above 115 degrees (to preserve the nutrition of the food as it is presented in it's raw form). There are different types of "raw food-ists"; raw-vegan (no dairy or animal products), raw vegetarians (just like it sounds. This diet relies heavily on a wide variety of veggies, fruits, seeds and nuts. Raw foods are best for my body in the spring and summer time. They provide amazing amounts of vitamins, minerals, fiber and even protein!
Macrobiotic foods "emphasize locally grown whole grain cereals, pulses (legumes), vegetables, seaweed, fermented soy products and fruit, combined into meals according to the principle of balance (known as yin and yang). Whole grains and whole-grain products such as brown rice and buckwheat pasta (soba), a variety of cooked and raw vegetables, beans and bean products, mild natural seasonings, fish, nuts and seeds, mild (non-stimulating) beverages such as bancha twig tea and fruit are recommended. I cook macrobiotic-ally year round. I use this type of cooking to keep or promote balance in my body. Vegan Foods are similar to vegetarian and emphasize again grains, fruits and vegetables, pasta, etc. with out the use of any animal products (no dairy, butter, cheese, etc.) Die hard or "ethical" vegans do not use ANY type of animal products whatsoever.