Vegetable Wedges with Creamy Cashew "Mayo"

This is one my easiest go-to recipes when I want a nutritive, healthy and rich-tasting meal.  I don't think I have to tell you how much your body will love you for eating veggies and the sauce I am calling "mayo" is made with cashew nuts which list among its benefits obtaining a healthy heart, healthy hair, healthy nervous system and it even prevents cancer.  The most important part is that the mixture of  sweet flavors of  beets & carrots with the zesty of the "mayo" makes this dish incredibly satisfying.

These are the ingredients

• 5 medium carrots, each cut into thick wedges

• 2 large beets, cut into similar sized wedges with the tops discarded

• 2 hands full of raw cashews (or 3 heaping tablespoons cashew butter if you don't have a food processor)

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper

• 1/4 cup fresh mint (or 1 tablespoons dried)

• Sea salt and fresh black pepper

This is what you do

1. Steam the carrot and beet wedges in a steaming basket until tender (roughly 15-20 minutes depending on size and water temperature).  Keep an eye on the evaporating water.

2. Drain and place in a bowl to cool.

3. In a food processor begin to create the "mayo" sauce by adding the cashews with a little bit of olive oil and pulse your processor till you begin to cream the cashews.  Add more cashews and olive oil till you create a mayonnaise consistency.

4. Then mix together these creamy mixture withe the water and red peeper and half the mint. Season with salt and black pepper.

5. Pour over the carrot and beet wedges and add additional fresh mint to garnish, and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

Serves four (or two hungry yogis).  Enjoy

Cool Cucumber And Avocado Soup

It’s that time of the year when Summer is upon us, and all of Winter’s extra calories and Spring’s extra allergens catches up with our bodies.  As we progress into our Spring Cleaning, it is also a good time to do some good Digestive Cleaning.  This Cucumber and Avocado Soup is a great Spring/Summer addition to your Detox recipes.  The green color is so mesmerizing and the flavor is soothing and just kewl. This is what you need:

zest of 1/2 lime

juice of an entire lime

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cucumber, peeled and seeded, roughly chopped

1/2 avocado, peeled and roughly chopped

This is what you do

Blend everything together until totally creamy and smooth.  I love drinking this at room temperature, but I can’t see why it would be a problem warming it up a bit if the idea of a cold soup isn’t appealing to you.

This is a 1 serving recipe, who else is going to join you for it  and it only takes 1 minute to make, you got no time to waste!

Enjoy!

Cucumber Apple Salad - a break from breakroom treats

I worked in retail for so long that I tend to ignore the holiday decorations and music, gliding oblivious to the fact that the end of the year is approaching.  To me, the holiday season starts the moment all the home made treats appear on the break-room tables across America.  New recipes get tested, excess sweet treats get recycled, sugary gifts get re-gifted...you name it; temptation lurks around the corner.  Unless you are made out of stone, you will succumb.   When I do, I always tell myself what I imagine Iyanla Vanzant would tell me: ' Beloved - I love when she says that- you must first forgive yourself, don't blame the sweets, don't blame yourself, ask instead what can you do to bring  the caring and wellness that you deserve back into your life?' Nothing serves me better than a nutritious, light and fresh lunch.  Below is one of my favorite cleansing salads.   The crunchy apples and watery cucumbers always taste heavenly during this time of the year.  Enjoy.

This is what you need

1 Apple- cored and diced.  I tend to use green apples, but you can try your favorite kind.

1 small cucumber, peeled and chopped with seeds removed

1/4 small red onion, diced

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

sea salt and fresh pepper

Sometimes I add a little mint or any other fresh herb I may have at hand.  A little bit goes a long way with these simple ingredients.

This is what you do

In a bowl, toss all ingredients together and serve!  I love any recipe this easy.  I promise the flavor of this small lunch will be so big you will be satisfied till snack time.