Organic Granny

You have likely run across the benefits of a living and raw vegan diet for anyone who is gluten-sensitive or has celiac disease.   The major benefit is that raw fruits and veggies are chock-full of enzymes that help with the digestion of food, and generally, grains like wheat are totally missing from the diet because, well, they are highly acid-producing, have nasty-tasting 'inhibitors' in their bran, and just don't add anything to the deliciousness of the raw vegan experience.   As well, many writers of raw and living food recipes discovered their own sensitivity to gluten.  So, a good food dehydrator like the  Excalibur  is a great boon to broadening your gluten-free recipe repertoire. The amazing thing about raw recipes  is that many of them can be made up to similulate the flavor, texture, and other elements of "mouth appeal" that we look for in traditional heated recipes.  I'm just starting to use buckwheat crispies in various recipes.  You can too!  Belo

 I finally tried soy curls!  They are not available to us locally-- and I do like to buy my groceries locally-- so I ended up ordering them .   I topped two pizzas and made 3 sandwiches for about $7.50 CAD using about $4.50 of Soy Curls product for the 2 pizzas and maybe $1 of soy curls for each sandwich.   They are a whole food and non-GMO.  I didn't count in the cost of other ingredients, but I don't see them as being too dear when considering they were a nutritious part of six meals.  They were easy to put together and delicious!  Pizza GARLIC SOY CURLS RECIPE Ingredients: (makes 2 cups) 4 ounces/ 1/2 8-oz. Bag Soy Curls 1 1/2 cups hot/boiling water 1 tablespoon/15 ml soya sauce 1 teaspoon/ 3.28 g garlic powder Extra virgin coconut oil 2 tablespoons/11  g  nutritional yeast Fine sea salt ............... From Chris Wark of #ChrisBeatCancer, his latest best selling book:  Order Here BEAT CANCER KITCHEN: Deliciously Simple Plant-based Anti-Cancer Recipes METHOD for making G

  C ombine the following and  bring to a boil in a stainless steel 'less water' type pot, put on lid and turn down to Lowest setting for about 5 minutes.  Remove from burner and let it cool (lid still on): 1 C organic  quinoa 2 C water Preheat oven to 350 F Combine and blend together in a food  processor the following  (coarse vs. paste): 1/2 C. w ater 1 C  pecans  –  1 T. ground chia seed 1/2 C wheat-free  Tamari  1/3 C melted c oconut oil or olive oil 1/4 C n utritional yeast flakes 2 tsp dried organic  basil 2 tsp dried organic  oregano 2 tsp organic  onion powder 2 tsp organic  garlic powder 1 tsp organic  ground sage 1 tsp organic  ground fennel Pour into quinoa; mix well.   Let mix  sit  until extra water is absorbed.   A little  oatmeal can be added if the batter  seems too thin. On a parchment-covered pan mound  burgers.  Shape with fingers.  They will  be crumbly but delicious.   Bake 15 minutes on each side.  This makes about 10-20 patties.  Freeze well. --   Happy m

There are a few of us who are eating gluten-free at our Church and today's recipe, absolutely delectable finger-lickin good gluten-free apple cobbler is a great contribution to that-- or just as a family treat.   The trick will be to keep it away from all the people who can indulge in wheat desserts (like brownies, etc.) so that the gluten-free eaters at least get a chunk to sample at our Church and today's recipe, absolutely delectable finger-lickin good gluten-free apple cobbler is a great contribution to that-- or just as a family treat. The trick will be to keep it away from all the people who can indulge in wheat desserts (like brownies, etc.) so that the gluten-free eaters at least get a chunk to sample. INGREDIENTS 6 medium/ 10 small organic  Apples 1/2 C.  Sugar 4 tsp  Cinnamon 1/3 C.  Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 1 1/2 C.  Rice flour** 1/2 C.  Coconut Flour 2 C. organic  Sugar 2 tsp  Baking Powder 1/2 tsp  Sea Salt   2 C.  Rice milk or  other non-dairy milk METHOD Cut

 This red onion pickle recipe is so fast and easy-- and you can start eating the zesty relish the next day! What you need: 2 large or 4-5 small Red Onions 2 cups hot Water 1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar 1 tablespoon Sea Salt 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup Sharp knife Quart Mason Jar with lid Method : Slice the onions in thin halves (fans) Pile in clean jar Cover onion with hot water, and then the mix of salt  maple syrup and vinegar Put lid securely on jar and carefully invert contents, shaking gently to mix throughout Place right-side up in fridge. Enjoy: With Hummus Atop Avocado toast As a soup garnish In veggie sandwiches On burgers   Onions, Onions, WE Love Red Onions! Rossa di Milano- Pungeant Italian Heirloom Onions Get your Seeds HERE! Companion Planting The pungent odour of onions repels many pests and also protects nearby garden vegetables. Plant chamomile and summer savory near onions to improve their flavour. Onions also work well alongside beets, Brassicas, carrots, dill, kohlrabi,

Tomorrow we have been invited out for lunch. I have been I have already eaten enough with R. to know that she rarely eats dessert.   What can I take that she will enjoy?  She told me that growing up in the '50s in Northern Europe her diet was mostly potatoes, rye bread and salty oatmeal,and that salty oatmeal is a particular comfort food.  She also told me she eschews most sweets, but  does  like bitter-sweet chocolate.  So, I went in search of a gluten-free chocolate chip salty oatmeal cookie recipe.  The internet is great that way. Here is an adaptation of another recipe (that is an adaptation of yet another)*. It is super! I've just adjusted it to use what I have available (and because I don't  ever  use canola oil). Hope you enjoy it too! 1 C. Coconut Flour 2/3 C. Steelcut Oats, ground in food processor 1 C. Palm Sugar (or other sweetener of choice) 1 tsp. Cinnamon 1 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt 1 tsp. Baking Soda 1 T. Chia Seed, ground in coffee bean grinder (or blender) 3/4

 If you are a lover of "world"-style breads (as in, 'ethnic') you will love this recipe for gluten-free lentil-rice-chia flatbread. I promise.  When you are trying to follow a gluten-free lifestyle you know how frustrating it is to walk into a store and see all the yummy wheat-flour products that your mouth remembers so well... Yes, I have attempted to make many gluten versions of my fave wheat breads and buns, etc. When I am hungry enough, I can almost fool myself into believing that X tastes just like "real" bread.  And then there are all the 'store-bought' GF breads... let's just say that some are better than others. But they are expensive (ALL of them)and I ALWAYS think to myself that I could make a GF bread that was at least as good as "XYZ" if I just played around with the ingredients.  I am currently attempting to keep my diet GF, vegan, AND low yeast/low glycemic. Yes, you ARE lucky not to be me. And, YES, I did google it and

This delicious polenta pie recipe is my attempt to replicate the yummy polenta pie we sampled on my birthday at  Delicado's in Downtown Nanaimo . It's my way of feeding and thanking our son for building a shed today. CRUST: Preheat the oven to 400F "Eggy" mix: 1 T.  Ground Flax  in 3 T.  Water  (let sit while you mix the other ingredients together first) Cut the following together until small pea-sized: 1 1/2 C.  Bob's Red Mills GF Biscuit Mix  (or 1 1/2 C. Brown Rice Flour) 1/2 C.  Shortening  (I use solid Organic Virgin Coconut Oil) 2 T. Cold  Water Mix up the "Eggy" and add it to the Biscuit Mix. Make into a ball and press into a pie plate. Poke fork tracks into the crust so it doesn't buckle while cooking. Pop into the oven and bake until golden (12-17 minutes) Cool on a rack. "Mexican" Stir Fry Veggies: Next fry up  some "Mexican" type veggies  in 1 T.  Coconut Oil . Just check out your fridge and crack open a can of  kidney

I am very grateful to have a bounty of berries and other fruit to store away for winter meals. I must admit that these apples (above) are not a big thrill. They mature early-- in the July heatwave-- and are a fave with the tent-butterflies, wasps, bunnies, deer and crows. I also hear they attract bears. The fruit goes punky on the tree and falls off.  BUT if I take them in and process them (as in juice for breakfast, apple chunks in freezer bags and canned apple butter) we surely enjoy the results and soon overlook the minor hardships.   This recipe for apple butter is tasty and healthy-- I didn't add any sweetener just 3 teaspoons of cinnamon and a 1/2 teaspoon of ginger powder. Use it in oatmeal, vegan yogurt, on muffins, toast and bagels. Yummy and smooth as silk.   Ingredients :   Apples (however many you need to fill your crockpot or Instant Pot.  I filled a pint-sized mason jar (2 cups) and had enough for a small fridge storage bowl and some sample butter for the yogurt

  This Greek Salad is a refreshing whole food, plant-based recipe that involves marinated tofu chunks in place of the usual feta.   Start by marinating the tofu and vegetables in a herbal dressing for 4- 6 hours or overnight.   Herbal Marinade : 1/4 cup fresh pineapple chunks 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 1/4 cup walnut pieces 1 or more sprigs/leaves of the following herbs if available:Fresh oregano leaves, lemon balm or basil, thyme, green onion, and parsley,  2+ garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (optional) 1/3 cup of water Salt and pepper to taste **Blend until creamy smooth.  Chill.**                      Herbs for Marinade Salad ingredients :   Block of extra firm Tofu, pressed, cubed 3 ripe tomatoes, cut in wedges, or 20 cherry tomatoes  halved 1/2 nice red onion, sliced and chopped 1 cup black olives, pitted 3 cucumbers, chopped **Marinate tofu and vegetables for 4 to 6 hours in fridge (or overnight). Lightly toss before serving.** Great with delicious

  Plant-based cheesecake cookie snack After making a nice tofu Mayo with no oil, no refined sugar, or salt, I began to think of the possibilty of making a similar spread with a cheesecake flavor.   And while I was at it, why not put together an SOS (no salt, oil or refined sugar) plant-based cookie to slather the cheesecake spread on. Ingredients Cheesecake Spread 500g /16 oz. firm tofu Juice of 1/2 lemon 2 tablespoons Simply Organic lemon flavoring 2 -3 tablespoons maple syrup (optional) 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional) Snack Cookies 2 cups quick oatmeal 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce 1 tablespoon maple syrup 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 1/2 cup medjool dates, pitted and chopped    perfect PERSONALIZED PUZZLE......                  SHOPETSY  (CLICK ON HEART) Method Cheesecake Spread (9-12 tablespoons) 1.  Drain and press extra water from tofu.  Cut in cubes and put in bowl of food processor (or blender carafe) with other ingredients.   2. Pulse until smooth and creamy.  

Before I was 55, I perhaps  had heard of  arugula  (I recall once watching a video where it was mentioned by the urban farmers, the Dervaes family) and believe that I had even tasted it (my husband says so, and that "we" didn't like it).   This weedy-looking little green re-emerged in our lives when I enrolled in the 28-day Raw Cleanse over at Penni Shelton's  Raw Food Rehab  and started faithfully following some of the recipes in Penni's book,  Raw Food Cleanse .    My husband brought home the groceries for the recipes and when I went to make the fake-V8 (oh, so much much much tastier than the real-V8) I popped  the 'handful' of arugula into the vitamix that the recipe called for. And the first taste was one one those forehead-wrinkling-nostril-flaring-kitty-tonguing  (you know, nik,nik,nik licks that kitties make in the cream bowl) attempt to identify the very pleasant, but unname-able flavour in the glass.  And we are old hands at identifying ingredien

This is a delicious little snackfood  that needs to be considered a "treat"  vs. an everyday staple of the raw diet.   As with many "raw" recipes, it will be necessary to dehydrate the Kale to obtain that near-the-traditional (cooked)-thing mouth appeal.  I bought myself an  Excalibur dehydrator  early on in my raw food experience but any brand will do, and if you absolutely must have the chips,  even an oven will work -- preheat your regular oven to 140 degrees Fahrenheit/60 degrees Celsius or the lowest setting, and spread out your chips on parchment paper on cookie sheets.   Put them into the oven with the door slightly propped open with a butter knife or chopstick.  Your chips (or other dehydrated foods) will take a long time to dry satisfactorily this way and it is not an environmentally friendly method, so use it sparingly, and you will likely want to invest in a dehydrator with a timer pretty soon into the process. Tools I use for the process: * Coffee Bean G