The Food Journey: Pleasant Plantain Chips

Hi Folks -

Since I am in detox mode I have to find snacks that will satisfy my snackaholic ways and nourish my body.  Plus, Caleb cannot eat processed/packaged foods and the little guy loves to snack too (wonder where that trait came from!).  So I made some raw plantain chips.  You can usually find this snack food in a bodega or corner store.  It's usually fried in vegetable oil and seasoned with salt.  My rendition is similar except no hot oil touched these plantains...I used the dehydrator!

This snack is EXTREMELY simple to make.  I thinly sliced one ripe plantain, put the slices on the dehydrator tray, set the temperature to 135F, sprinkled salt and coconut oil on the plantain slices and let it dehydrate for about 18 hours.

Chip preparation (thinly sliced plantain, pink Himalayan salt, touch of coconut oil (not shown))

Plantain slices on dehydrator tray

Nesco dehydrator (set to 135 F)

Final result! Pleasant Plantain Chips!

Plantains are naturally very sweet and once in dehydrated form they were even sweeter! However...I think 18 hours was a little too long.  The chips were really hard, but so tasty.  For the next batch I make I will decrease the drying time, add more salt and cut the slices a wee bit thinner. 

If you don't have a dehydrator try doing this in an oven with very low heat.

FYI...This snack is Caleb approved! :) He had a hard time biting them at first...but he adjusted and tore up those chips!

Any suggestions for other healthy snacks I can make?

Peace and blessings!

The Food Journey: Kale Ginger Ale

Hi Folks! 

Smoothies are a great way to have a raw...yes raw meal and to provide your body with fresh unaltered nutrients.  If you are a good smoothie mixologist, you won't even realize that you are drinking raw food! :)

Here is another simple smoothie recipe you should try called Kale Ginger Ale.

Recipe:
1 1/2 inch of fresh ginger root
4 - 5 leaves of kale (any type will do)
1 cup pineapple (not shown)
1/2 cup hemp seeds
H20 for desired consistency

Put everything in the blender and whirl away!

Remember to free style this recipe...tweak the amounts I provided to suit your taste buds.

Remember: kale is the Queen of the Greens! It's packed with so many vitamins and minerals  and even contains protein.  Ginger is good for digestion and  promotes good circulation. Hemp seeds are packed with protein and calcium so you are getting a power punch of energy to fuel your day.

Kale Ginger Ale (kale, ginger, hemp seeds (not shown) and pineapple (not shown)

Try it and tell me what you think!

Peace and blessings!

Detoxification: Liver, Onions and Divas!

Hi Folks!

It's time for another detox experience.  This year I did a dry brush and a raw food detox.  Both left me in good shape.  I was sharper, leaner, stronger, softer (skin wise) and focused. 

One of the things I've been wanting to do is a liver cleanse/detox.  The liver is the powerhouse of our bodies.  It helps our digestive system, filters out toxins and secrets hormones that we need to keep living.  It often gets overlooked and ignored, but without it we would not be alive. 

So...I want to give my liver a BIG hug and KISS!

The Power House

To do this I will be drinking teas and cleaning up my diet.  This liver cleanse is sponsored by Herbal Bush House.  I have coupled this liver detox with another program called Detox For a Diva  sponsored by Soul Food Therapy. 

The Liver Cleanse:
The liver cleanse I'm doing consists of 4 weeks of preparation.  The prep work consists of  drinking a series of teas, taking a product called Gut Buster Pro and cleaning up my diet.  This is where Detox for a Diva comes in.  The recipes provided are nutritious and most of all DELICIOUS!

After 4 weeks of prep the 5th week will consist of all raw food (including juices, smoothies and fasting).

Detox For a Diva:
To help me get ready for the 5th week of the liver cleanse, I've been a part of the Detox for a Diva program.  Along with the great recipes/food, the regimen consists of dry brushing, drinking lemon water every morning, and taking nice cleansing baths.  So far I'm behind the rest of the ladies but I'm hanging in there! 

I'm also doing well with drinking my teas.  I've just completed week #1.

More to come!!!  Mr. Detox and I have gotten reacquainted! Whew! I was on a slippery sweet, salty slope these last few weeks.  Time to put on my big girl panties and get it together!! :)

I will say it did not take me long to get in swing of both programs (Liver cleanse and Detox For a Diva) due the progress in self control and commitment I've made by finishing the raw food detox challenge (Raw Food Diet is Over!).  Plus...I LOVE doing the right thing for my health.  It supersedes any cravings for munchkins  I may get! :)

Stay tuned.........

Peace and blessings!

The Food Journey: Berry Blizzard

Hi Folks!

I've been on the run these last few weeks...so much so, that I've been making TONS of smoothies and quick meals to prevent myself from eating things I shouldn't and to keep my engines revved up!

Here is a simple but absolutely YUMMY smoothie recipe I've made about 6 times in the last few weeks! I call it the Berry Blizzard smoothie.  This smoothie is full of vitamin C and antioxidants and is so TASTY! Oh...and Caleb approved! :)


Berry Blizzard Recipe:
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 - 1/2 cup fresh red grapes
1 cup goji berries (dried)
1/2 cup cranberries (dried)
water (add to reach desired consistency)

Optional:  hemp and chia seeds

Add all ingredients to blender and whirl away!

Berries in VitaMix

Cranberry (dark purple), Goji berry (bright red), Strawberry and Red Grapes

Berry Blizzard!

 

Happy smoothie making!

Peace and blessings!