Alive by Raw Chocolate

I recently met this beautiful girl, Christine McSpedon.  She is a Holistic Health Counselor from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.  I know; I asked the same question.  She specializes in working with those who are transitioning into including more plant-based foods into their lifestyle and people who just want to eat what is right for them.  Oh, I so need a health coach.  To learn more about Christine and for a free health history visit her website at www.Christinemcspedon.com. I met Christine while she was looking for the perfect gift packaging for chocolate truffles.  I know; I asked her the same question.  She makes the truffles herself.  She told me that she began making raw vegan chocolate truffles to healthfully satisfy the sweet tooth of many of her clients.  And then, one night at a networking party Christine’s truffles took on a life of their own . To her surprise people wanted to buy her truffles and NutsBalls Truffles was born. In between helping her wonderful clients achieve balance and wellness and rolling out boxes of chocolate goodness, Christine also hosts workshops on green smoothies and healthy cooking.  She is my nutritional heroine.

I was able to extract from Christine the basic recipe for raw chocolate truffles.  This recipe can be the solution to the infamous dessert Death by Chocolate, which leaves you, well, dead.  These babies are raw, vegan, organic, and dairy & gluten free!  Before you read the recipe, here are some kewl fact about raw cacao that Christine shared with me:

It Keeps you Young! Cacao contains the highest amount of antioxidants than any other food (including red wine!)

It’s Mineral Rich! Cacao is a high source of Magnesium, Iron, Chromium,  Manganese & Zinc!

Enhances Mood & Concentration Cacao contains: •    Phenylethylamine - a chemical group naturally produced by our bodies when we fall in love. •    Anandamide -an endorphin also known as the “Bliss Chemical”. •    Trytophan -an essential amino acid that produces serotonin

This is what you need

A food processor (or a Molcajete!) ¼ cup organic raw cacao powder 6 dried organic apricots ½ cup soaked raw organic almonds 2tsp warmed (so its liquid) organic coconut oil 2 tsp organic raw organic agave 1tsp warmed organic raw coconut butter ½ vanilla bean Pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt

This is what you do In a mini food processor  blend cacao, vanilla bean, coconut oil. Add apricots and agave. Remove and put to the side. Process almonds until very fine. Using a medium processor /batches in mini or simply mixing with hands combine ingredients and mix adding coconut butter and salt. Roll into teaspoon size balls.

For different flavors try adding nutmeg & cinnamon (pumpkin spice), lemon zest, almond extract, coconut flakes. Roll in nuts, cacao powder or dip in chocolate.

I know; I asked her the same question.  If you just want to try these delicious Nuts Balls Truffles, you can contact Christine for ordering information and current flavors nutsballstruffles@hotmail.co.uk or you can even call her 914.319.54.14

Are my spices too old?

I originally posted this back in 2009 in Al-Abode, but I feel it was worth posting again. This is my favorite time of the year to cook and try out new recipes. I can already smell the earthy flavors of the fresh roots roasting in the oven and the ambrosial aroma that spices can bring out from any dish. To prepare for this coming feast, I decided to re-organize my spices and in the process I started questioning the freshness of some of my bottled friends. I bought some of these spices when the Spice Girls were coming out with their first album--OK, I had to mention the Spice Girls somehow, forgive me.

I consulted the McCormick's site, they had some good tips to determine if you must edit your spices and replace them. To remember these tips think CASH (after all it cost some cash to replace spices)--Color, Aroma, Storage and Humidity. Here is the run down in my own words,

Color: Check to see that the color of your spices and herbs is vibrant. Pastels are not vibrant colors, I don't care what Martha says. If the color has faded, so has the sass--kind of the highlights on your hair. No color, toss. (of course, if the spice is cream or light to begin with, use your intuition)

Aroma: Rub or crush the spice or herb in your hand, smell it. (You can follow this rule in dating as well). If the aroma is weak and flavor is not apparent, toss it.

Storage: Store herbs and spices in a tightly capped container, and keep away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight. There were wars fought over spices and expensive enterprises were device just for spices - Columbus' journey, any one?  Spices are expensive, spend some time and effort in keeping them in the proper container. If you haven't stored the spices properly, chances are they need to be replaced.

Handling: Try not to sprinkle spices and herbs directly from the bottle into a steaming pot. OK, I do this all the time. Repeated exposure to heat and moisture will ruin the whole thing - think about the hair analogy again. Measure them into a cup, measuring spoon, or bowl and then add to your recipe. If the spice is moist, it needs to be tossed.

While doing my research, I found this very useful picture:

Determine if your spice needs replacement

I love how Vanilla extract lasts "indefinitely"...guys, take note: diamonds may last forever, but vanilla smells better!

Have fun cleaning up your spices and if you have any questions let me know.

Storing Ginger - vodka pickled ginger

Whenever I can, I use fresh ingredients.  One of my favorite flavors to add to any zesty meal is ginger root (by the way not really a root, but an underground stem or rhizome).  Minced or grated, the fresh aroma of ginger root will evoke voluptuousness and its spicy flavor will delight you every time.  Fresh ginger root is like the Scarlett Johansson of spices!  But just like any starlet would tell you, it is not easy to stay fresh. Typically, one only uses a small amount of fresh ginger root in a dish .  So I always ended up trying to store the rest so I could have it available when I needed more.  I tried or heard of many methods: wrapping on paper towel and placing in the refrigerator (only good for a week storage); pickle ginger in Madeira wine (I never tried this, but it sounds odd); wrapping in aluminum foil in the freezer (stores well for a long time and the flavor is great, but texture and handling is awful), and burring it underground in a small pot in the kitchen and keeping it moist (OK Martha, I have a hard time remembering to water the plants that I can see!).  So after many years and trial, this is the method that gives the best results:  vodka pickled ginger.  This is a variation from a Japanese technique I heard in which ginger is stored in sake.  I however, always trust vodka over any alcohol (I think Scarlett does too)  This will provide you with fresh ginger for up to a year.  A bonus is that you can prepare ginger martini, nothing is wasted.

Things you will need

ginger root

a vegetable peeler and a metal spoon

a clean glass jar (this is why you keep those around)

vodka

permanent marker

This is what you do

Peel the ginger root using the vegetable peeler for the straight sections and the spoon for the curvy ones.  Place the ginger root inside the jar.  Add vodka till the root is submerged.  Place the lid on the jar and write the date on the lid.  This is the best way to preserve your ginger.  Fresh, crunchy, light color, every time.  Keep in the refrigerator for up to a year.

A Winter Corpse

The winter months seem to move slower than the rest of the year, which I am always willing to emulate.  The darkness, I thought, was an invitation to contemplate in the solitude of my home.  And there is a lot of true in that.  My thoughts about winter shifted recently, when my friend Lafy invited me to a walk in the park with her (look at her, how can you resist?)  This new experience showed me that there is so much more active energy in winter than what I thought.  There in the woods, walking with friends, there was a clam, peaceful, almost inanimate scene, but the energy around us was inquisitive, playful, and inviting. This shift in perspectives is similar to what we may experience during Savasana (a yoga pose meaning corpse pose).  In the traditional pose, the body lays face up on the floor motionless, very much like a corpse or your drunk roommate in college.  By staying still for some time and keeping the mind quiet, one relaxes in a very conscious way.  According to B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the world’s foremost yoga teachers, this is a very difficult pose to master.  You can see why; even when we ask the body to stay still, the mind will move in all directions.  Sometimes, when I want to practice Savasana for a longer period of time (10-15 minutes), I try a more grounding version as the one I describe below.  This isn’t a replacement for the classical pose; one must think of this version as hiking in a winter wonderland with a great friend; something you may not want to do everyday, but you sure enjoy it every time.

Things you’ll need

comfortable clothing

~15 to 20 minutes total

a wall, everyone needs a good yoga wall at home and any wall would do!

a mat or rug to lie down

3 to 4  blankets (such as Mexican blankets or large bath towels)

a bolster (if you don’t have one read Create Your Bolster Substitute)

What to do

Roll up a blanket, burrito-style, and place it alongside a wall.  Lie down with the soles of your feet against the blanket.  Place an additional rolled blanket or bolster under your knees.  These actions will passively engage you calve muscles and allow the thighbones to move deeper into the hip socket (i.e., for Anusara folks: Loops activate!).  This helps release tension in the iliopsoas and allows the pelvis to rest more heavily on the ground.  Place a folded blanket or sofa pillow over your belly to release tension and weigh the hips down even more.  Rest your arms by your side, palm facing up; keep the arm closer to your torso for this variation.  Place a folded blanket under the head for extra support.  Your chin should be perpendicular to the floor and your throat should feel open and tension free - think CPR!  With each inhalation summon a feeling of gratitude and wonder, and with each exhalation allow the earth to fully hold each part of your body.  After some time you will feel grounded, this may take longer for some of us, and a bit uncomfortable at the beginning, so keep bringing awareness to the breath.  Be patient and you will feel the hand of Mother Nature holding you in space, while you relax.

Create your bolster substitute

I heard that there used to be a tradition, not sure where, in which a wife would construct a long cushy pillow out of bamboo and offer it to her husband  before he'd go on a trip.  They idea, was that he wouldn't feel so lonely at night.  This, I heard, is the story behind the name "Dutch Pillow," a cousin of the bolster.   I don't know if a bolster can truly replace a spouse, but it can sure make you feel supported when it matter the most: while relaxing in a restorative yoga pose. Chances are that if you practice any type of restorative yoga, your practice will be enhanced with a bolster, which is a great investment.  I really recommend having one at home.   However, if you don't have the space for one or if you don't have the inclination of adding a bolster to your collection of "let me try this," here is my way of faking one at home - I mean, if a wife can fake a bed companion for her husband, it is only fair...

I tried various versions of this bolsters substitute, this is the version that resembles the supported feeling of the bolsters you may encounter at a yoga studio.

Things you will need

2 bath towels

2 blocks or equal size hardcover books, such as Harry Potter (if traveling, hotels usually have handy books available)

1  heavy blanket - I used a Mexican style blanket

Here is what you do

Fold each towel in thirds lengthwise, then fold it into a rectangle over a block/book.  Fold the blanket into a quarter of its size, make sure that if the blanket has fringes, they stay to the same side.   Place one of the (block/book + towel) rolls lengthwise close to one of the short ends of the blanket, then place the second roll next to it.  Fold the blanket over the rolls as many times needed till there is no more blanket left to fold.

Listo, you got yourself a spouse substitute or a pet for your existing bolster!  Take it for a spin...there are many restorative yoga poses you can try now.

Boot Tray 2.0

A boot tray in your mudroom or entrance space can be a blessing when you are dragging the not so nice snow in your home.  I loved the idea of the boot trays, but I was always irritated after a puddle of water was left marinating my snow boots.  Martha Stewart to the rescue; she suggests adding river stones to the tray to allow the melting water to move below the stones, allowing the shoes to dry faster and to stay dry.  It works so well, I can’t even tell you how exciting I get to see this simple design at work.  You can find a rubber tray at The Container Store (TCS) , Bed, Bath and Beyond (BB&B) or simply recycle an old lid from a discarded plastic box.  If hunting for river stones is not your thing, Michaels sells the stones.

I resolve to intent

intention [inˈten ch ən]; noun:, aim, purpose, design, contemplation. At this time of the year I hear and read a lot about New Year’s resolutions.  Even though this concept is still foreign to me, I always find the transition time to a new calendar year a good opportunity to clarify my intentions.  Not necessarily my goals, but just my spiritual intentions or purpose.  One can do this just by taking simple actions that show the person one wants to be.

I remembered a New Year celebration years ago back at home, when my aunt Hilda right before midnight brought out a suitcase she had packed earlier that day and went out into the night to make sure the New Year would find her “traveling”.  She later explained that her wishes for the New Year were to travel abroad, so she was showing the New Year what she wanted.  I’ve always loved her demonstration of faith and this idea has always inspired me to try to behave in the way I want to be seen.  I am not advising we start packing suitcases (though I do remember aunt Hilda traveling to several countries that year); or hitting the gym at midnight on January 1^st to confirm our resolution to get in shape (though I am thinking this would be a good time to find an empty treadmill in January).  What we can do to clarify our purpose in life is to acting out our intentions, and by doing so we become who we aspire to be or become inspire to re-design our intentions…Happy New Year.