Lemon Tart with Blueberries

I was having such a craving for this flavor combination. Smooth creamy tart lemon with sweet and tangy blueberries. It turned out exactly as I imagined! I was so proud. I will now share it with you!

Lemon & Blueberry Torte


Ingredients:

1 cup brazil nuts
4 small dried medjool dates
1/2 cup cashews
2 tablespoons ground flax
1 small lemon
handful blueberries
2 tablespoons honey
sea salt
cinnamon

Assemble:

one) let brazil nuts, cashews, and dates soak ( I just so happened to leave them for 24 hours, I'm sure less time would be fine)

two) Combine brazil nuts, dates, and a dash of cinnamon in food processor until nuts are finely ground and dates bind them together.

three) press evenly into the bottom of a large cereal bowl, forming a crust along the side. place in freezer.

four) rinse food processor

five) slice lemon (leaving peel on) and combine with cashews in food processor, adding honey, flax, and a quick dash of sea salt until a whipped consistency.

six) remove crust from freezer, and evenly spread lemon whip over top.

seven) top with fresh blueberries! Then let refrigerate for a few hours.

enjoy!

Sunday Brunch

It is a rare chance that I am given a lazy Sunday.

I was craving granola but didn't have any, and this is what I came up with!

Raw-nola & Flower Milk

1/2 Cup Water
5 dried hibiscus flowers
1/2 teaspoon rose water
1 banana
1/2 inch of vanilla bean
2 cardamom pods
2 Tablespoons sunflower seeds
1 Tablespoon pumpkin seeds
1 Tablespoon beets, chopped
5 cranberries, chopped finely
blueberries, two large handfuls
2 large prunes, chopped
2 1/2 dried medjool dates chopped
dried bing cherries, 1 handful
1 T raw cacao nibs


One) allow dried hibiscus flowers to soak in half cup water over night

Two) remove flowers from water and combine with rose water, half a banana, inside of the vanilla bean & cardamom pods. Blend until creamy and frothy, then set aside.


Hibiscus has been credited with a wide range of healing properties. In Colombia, the plant is used to treat hair loss and scurvy; in Samoa, it is commonly given to women who are suffering from menstrual cramps or who are in childbirth, as the leaves ease labor pains. In the Cook Islands and the Philippines, the flowers are used to induce abortions. In a 1962 study, hibiscus was confirmed to be hypotensive, as well as antispasmodic, anthelminthic, and antibacterial. In subsequent studies, the plant was found to effectively work against such diseases as ascariasis and tuberculosis. Studies in France, Malaysia, and Egypt have found that the plant has anticarcinogenic effects.

One medium banana (100 g) is a good source of vitamin A; a source of vitamins B₆ and C, and copper; contains 0.3 g of fat, of which 33% is saturated; provides 3 g of dietary fibre; supplies 86 kcal (360 kJ). The sodium content is low (1.2 mg/100 g)

In old medicinal literature, vanilla is described as an aphrodisiac and a remedy for fevers. These purported uses have never been scientifically proven, but it has been shown that vanilla does increase levels of catecholamines (including epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline), and as such can also be considered mildly addictive.

Cardamom is best stored in pod form, because once the seeds are exposed or ground, they quickly lose their flavor. Green cardamom in South Asia is broadly used to treat infections in teeth and gums, to prevent and treat throat troubles, congestion of the lungs and pulmonary tuberculosis, and inflammation of eyelids.. It is reportedly used as an antidote for both snake and scorpion venom bite, it also is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stomach-aches, constipation, dysentery, and other digestion problems.


Three) Combine Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds

In addition to linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid), sunflower seeds are also an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin E, B Vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, calcium and zinc. Additionally, they are rich in cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.

Pumpkin Seeds , only five to ten grams daily could help prevent kidney stones. Furthermore, could help deter parasites, such as tapeworms. The seeds are also good sources of protein, and the essential minerals iron (25 grams (about a quarter-cup) can provide over 20 per cent of the recommended daily iron intake) as well as zinc, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and potassium. The seeds also provide polyunsaturated fatty acids (including the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. One gram of pumpkin seed protein contains as much L-tryptophan as a full glass of milk, making it of interest to researchers studying the treatment of anxiety disorders. Some eat the seeds as preventative measure against onset of anxiety attacks, clinical depression and other mood disorders. Some studies have also found pumpkin seeds to prevent arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and to regulate cholesterol levels in the body.



Four) Add Beet, Cranberry, Blueberries, and the other half of a Banana

Beets are very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamin C, Iron and Magnesium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Folate, Potassium and Manganese.
Blueberries have a diverse range of micronutrients, with notably high levels of the essential dietary mineral manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K and dietary fiber. One serving provides a relatively low glycemic load score of 4 out of 100 per day. Especially in wild species, blueberries contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and various phytochemicals possibly having a role in reducing risks of some diseases,including inflammation and different cancers. Researchers have shown that blueberry anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, flavonols, and tannins inhibit mechanisms of cancer cell development and inflammation in vitro. Similar to red grape, some blueberry species contain in their skins significant levels of resveratrol, a phytochemical. may alleviate the cognitive decline occurring in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions of aging. Feeding blueberries to animals lowers brain damage in experimental stroke. Research at Rutgers has also shown that blueberries may help prevent urinary tract infections. Other studies found that blueberry consumption lowered cholesterol and total blood lipid levels, possibly affecting symptoms of heart disease. Additional research showed that blueberry consumption altered glycosaminoglycans which are vascular cell components affecting control of blood pressure.

Five) Add prunes, dates, cherries and cacao nibs

Prunes are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin B6. They act as a natural laxative.

The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), one of the oldest cultivated tree crops. It provides a staple food for many populations in the Middle East and North Africa, and also is highly valued for feed, fiber, and shelter. 100 g of dried dates (three weighed with stones) provides 3 g of dietary fiber. Dates are also a good source of protein and iron

Cherries are high in vitamin C, carbohydrates, and water, and include trace amounts of fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), niacin, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium.

Unprocessed (raw) Cacao beans contain magnesium, copper, iron, phosphorus, calcium, anandamide, phenylethylamine, arginine, polyphenols, epicatechins, potassium, procyanidins, flavanols, vitamins A, B, C, D, and E

Six) Pour flower milk over Raw-Nola

Seven) Enjoy!

Cardamom Pear Parsley Salad

A salad so delectable I made it two days in a row. Inspired by a bottle of German Rheinhessen, a perfect paring resulted.

Ingredients:

6 large local butterleaf lettuce leaves, torn
1/4 cup sunflower sprouts
1/2 of a bosc pear, sliced and diced

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2 cardamom pods
1/2 inch vanilla bean
2 dried medjool dates
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons grapeseed oil

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1/8 cup hulled hemp seeds

sprinkle dried coconut (garnish)

6 pistachio nuts (garnish)

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Assemble:

One) Layer greens
Two) Break open cardamom pods & vanilla bean, combine with liquids
Three) Dice Dates & combine with mixture
Four) Add hemp seed, coconut & pistachios

Friday Night Dinner

Friday night is usually the only weeknight I'm at home to cook. I try to take advantage of this time and create something that satisfies both Jeff and I's taste. Last Friday we came up with Seitan & Potato Burritos! Yum Yum Yum.

Ingredients:
1 c brown rice
3 Yukon gold potatoes, small
1 carrot, small
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 vadallia onion, chopped
1/2 red pepper, sliced
1/2 c seitan, thinly sliced
1/2 yellow squashed, chopped
1/2 zucchini, chopped
1 portabella mushroom, sliced
1/2 box cherry tomatoes
1 avocado
1 small lime
fresh parsley, 1 medium handful
sunflower sprouts
zesty sprouts
4 large leaves butterhead lettuce
pico di gayo (mild) salsa
El Ray habanero salsa
grape seed veganise
dried oregano
taco seasoning
Cayenne pepper
El Ray Tortillas

First) Make 1 Cup brown rice in rice cooker.
Second) Warm frying pan with 2 Tbs olive oil over low heat, add garlic and onion
Third) Slice Potatoes in thin wedges, place in steam basket, place in rice cooker
Fourth) Peel carrot in long thin strips, add to potatoes in steam basket, let steam 5 minutes
Fifth) Place in frying pan, turn up to medium heat
Sixth) Add red pepper & seitan, soon followed by zucchini, squash, mushroom
)Flavor with dried oregano, "taco seasoning", and cayenne, all to taste
Seventh) Flavor rice with juice from 1/2 a lime and celery salt, to taste
Eighth) Place 1 tortilla at a time in steam basket, steam for 1 minute

Ninth) Chop cherry tomatoes & avocado. add juice of 1/2 a lime and fresh parsley, toss and let sit

Tenth) Add greens & salsas

Eleventh) Add veganise!

Twelveth) I then put jeffs masterful burrito rolling skills to use (his "day job" is qudoba)

Volia!


yum yum yum

Catch a glimpse.

Here is a debut for all of you who ask, "So, what do you eat?"