Tag Archives: holistic

Creamy Sunflower Seed Dip

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I absolutely love this dip for so many reasons. It’s so easy since all you have to do is throw all the ingredients into a food processor. The dip is so creamy and makes you feel as though you are indulging in your favorite ranch and cream cheese dip..minus the dairy.

This dip is raw so it contains all the enzymes needed for digestion. It’s an easy way to include more raw food into the diet and to switch up the hummus dip typically served with veggies.

I love to eat this dip with flaxseed Foccacia, a recipe and new favorite I learned about from Healthful Pursuit’s “The Keto Beginning.”

Why was this dip included in the detox?

Raw sunflower seeds are a rich source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps the body fight off oxidative stress and free radicals. They also contain tryptophan, an enzyme that produces serotonin and relieves tension and promotes relaxation.

It contains fresh lemon juice which is very important when it comes to detoxing and alkalizing the body, and so are fresh herbs (especially parsley!)

Garlic is an important anti-bacterial which helps to strengthen the immune system, fight off infection as well as delivers important minerals like selenium and manganese…among many other health benefits.

Creamy Sunflower Seed Dip

Makes 2 cups

1 1/2 C raw sunflower seeds (soaked for at least 3 hours)

1/2 lemon, juiced

3/4 C water

1 tbsp fresh dill

1/3 C fresh basil mint

1/3 C fresh parsley

1 green onion (for garnish)

1 garlic clove

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1/4 C cold pressed olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS : Put all ingredients except the olive oil in a vitamix or high powered blender.

Once the blender is running drizzle the olive oil through the opening in the lid and process until smooth. You may need to stop the blender to scrape down some of the sunflower seeds from the sides. Do that and then just run the blender for another few seconds. Refrigerate the dip for 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Post your comments below once you try it!

Raw Superfood Demo at Shanti Retreat

This weekend, I offered a raw  superfood demo at Shanti Retreat as well as a conscious cooking workshop. My intention was to educate and inspire people to include more whole foods in the diet and to increase the amount of raw, enzyme rich foods and supplements.

Here are some highlights and recipes from the demo!

Raw Soaked Muesli with goji berries

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Directions:

Combine any amounts of the following ingredients (according to preferences and what’s in your pantry!) and soak overnight with double the amount of liquid, either almond, coconut or soy milk. In the morning, add fresh berries and sliced bananas and more milk if needed.

Rolled Oats

Chia Seeds

Pumpkin or sunflower seeds

Almonds

Dried Fruit (goji berries, dates, cranberries, raisins, figs, apricots)

cinnamon

vanilla

sea salt

maple syrup

almond, coconut or soy milk

My favorite superfoods and their benefits

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Raw Cacao (powder, nibs, beans): high in magnesium, minerals, iron and antioxidants

Sea Veggies (spirulina, chlorella, kelp, algea, E3live): increases energy, complete protein, reduces stress, alkalizing, anti-aging, full of vitamins and minerals, detoxifies, improves mental clarity.

Maca: increases vitality and energy, balances endocrine system and hormones, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants

Carob: source of calcium, fiber and vitamin D

Leafy Greens: fibre, chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals

Parsley: alkalizing high in vitamin K and C

Hemp Seeds: complete protein, omega fatty acids, minerals

Coconut Water: nature’s gatorade, replenishes electrolytes

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Cookies (w/ oat pulp)

Oatmeal chocolate chip and cranberry cookies… (Made from steel cut oat pulp after making delicious banana oat milk for granola and smoothies)

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If it’s up to me, nothing goes to waste..especially in the kitchen! I love to make homemade almond and hempseed milk, and was feeling inspired to make banana oat milk which I had tried at Hridaya Yoga Center in Mazunte,  Mexico.

I found an easy and delicious recipe from Oh She Glows and then added a banana for creaminess and sweetness (I add banana to anything if I can get away with it!)

When I noticed I had all this leftover steel cut oat pulp, I wondered how I could get creative with it. The recipe I came up with is so tasty and satisfying for dessert, pre-workout or breakfast.

Oatmeal chocolate chip and cranberry cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup oat pulp (leftover from oat milk)

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground

1 tsp vanilla

1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 2 tbsp hot water)

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

 

1 1/4 cup light spelt flour or gluten free baking flour (look for a buckwheat base)

1/2 cup  vegan chocolate chips

1/3 cup cranberries or raisins

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine ground flaxseed and warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.

In a separate bowl, combine oat pulp, oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, flax egg, salt, baking powder, and vanilla. Mix until combined.

Add flour, cranberries, and chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Makes 10 cookies.