A Conscious Splurge: May 2011

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Website

In April I got together with my Sister's Friends and we did an ACS photo shoot with some chocolates I was able to make in the time frame I had with the intention of making a website when work slowed down. I was so excited about the pictures I couldn't wait.
We are in the process of being official YEAH! I still have pictures to go through and a couple more pages to add but here is the rough draft! Hope you all like it!

http://www.aconscioussplurge.com/

I am guesstimating I'll be able to take online orders in late July or August but will absolutely keep you posted. The local farmer's markets are on hold for now. (Again, I'll keep you posted as the details unfold).

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

More Bday Treats!

Sis and Husbands birthdays are back to back (literally the 29th and 30th) and I try to make the some homemade goodness each year. This year I wanted to go Semi-homemade and this is what I came up with...

Gluten Free Double Chocolate Chip Cookies for Sis (milk and dark chocolate chips)

Husband's treat was a Mocha Almond Fudge Ice Cream Cake

(SUPER easy to make. I'll post a proper recipes here soon if you care for it. It's super simple so you really won't need one...take your fav. package of brownie mix, favorite coffee ice cream, fudge topping and chopped almonds- mine were soaked raw and fresh roasted but use whatever you have.)Prepare brownies, cool. While the brownies cool take ice cream out of freezer until soft but not melted. Add to brownie crust (I used a spring form pan so I could get it out), freeze. Next slightly melt the fudge/chocolate sauce and spread evenly over top, freeze. Chop almonds and add an hour before serving. Let sit out 10 minutes before cutting.

Now I had to sample both of the treats which contained dairy so damage control pictures follow:

Green smoothie and green tea; breakfast of champions!

Veggie Rice Bowl (again Leftover gourmet. Left over rice and veggies from BBQ a little raw sauerkraut, avocado and some previously made dressing, I think it was a vinaigrette)

Quinoa Bowl with spinach and carrots

My FAVORITE macrobiotic condiment; sunflower and sea palm (shown on Quinoa Bowl). Toast both, smash up the sea palm, mix and enjoy.

Kale Salad

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.