How Not To Go On Vacation (plus some easy spring eating tips)

Tulum last night restaurant sceneSo I was cruising for the finish line. I’d worked. Taught classes. Pitched articles. Visited my in-laws and extended family for holidays and emergencies, checked on my upstate house. I had 5 days to work hard at the day job, teach more classes and get everything organized and packed and set up so nothing fell down around my ears while I was away with family in Mexico when…BAM, the flu. Or something very like it. Yeah. That kind of knee-capped me. READ MORE >

Why I Won’t Offer You Perfection in 6 Easy Steps-And a Healthy Shamrock Shake

Can we talk about this whole inspirational healthy living thing? I’m beginning to be annoyed. If I see one more post about how to be better, happier, healthier, wealthier, thinner and more spiritually evolved  with “6 easy things you can do today” I will spit.

I understand these posts, and why they’re titled this way. Hell, they get even me to click. But the items are never what I’d think. And if they are, then I’m almost always already doing them.

And I’m not perfectly healthy, wealthy, skinny, evolved and spiritual. Go figure.

Drink lemon water? Don’t eat on the run? Get up early? Schedule in my mat time? Get rid of processed/packaged food? Check, check, check, check and check.

And oh, green juice is the ANSWER. Green juice is the DEVIL. Meat is bad. Meat is good. Plant milks are better. Processed plant milks are the path to destruction with their added emulsifiers. Can you really get to the bottom of it in 6 easy steps?

I tell you what, health does not come in pre-packaged sound bytes. No my friend, health and wellness and spiritual connection are hard. They are not linear and straightforward paths and there is no one answer for everybody. Also, there is no one answer for you at all times in your life. There’s still a lot of mystery to how the human body works, no matter how much we may have learned. And no one has the one, easy perfect answer.

On the other hand, there are some things we know. Real food is better than chemicals. Eating while stressed out isn’t a great idea. Moving your body is important. People who feel loved are healthier.

Ok, there’s somewhere to start. Go hug your husband/wife/dog/child. Stop texting or working on your report while you eat. Take a walk in the lovely spring weather. Oh, and make this smoothie. It’s jam packed with real food. No creepy food coloring, processed sugar or conventional dairy. Also, I didn’t replace the dairy with icky GMO, pesticide rich, mucus producing soy milk, as so many of the vegan shakes do. It’s pretty simple, a spin on my cashew milk, nog and hot chocolate recipes (which you can get by subscribing to updates in the sidebar, or if you’re already subscribed, by contacting me here). And it’s healthy enough to have for breakfast.

This shake is one step closer to a whole foods lifestyle, in a goblet or jar or glass. And it’s delectable. That’s my big idea.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Go drink your greens (and I don’t mean Midori or Jaegermeister).

Love,

Me

shamrock shake

Clean Green Shamrock Shake
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A healthy spin on the Shamrock Shake with only whole foods. Healthy enough for breakfast!
Servings Prep Time
1 3minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 3minutes
Clean Green Shamrock Shake
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
A healthy spin on the Shamrock Shake with only whole foods. Healthy enough for breakfast!
Servings Prep Time
1 3minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 3minutes
Ingredients
Servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Measure all ingredients except cacao nibs into jar of blender.
  2. Blend well until completely emulsified.
  3. Add more ice, avocado or water to desired consistency.
  4. Taste for flavor and add more peppermint extract if desired.
  5. Measure cacao nibs into blender and blend briefly on low, just to break up slightly.
  6. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

I like 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract for a mildly minty flavor, but you can add more if you're a big mint fan!

For extra sweet, you could add a little maple syrup or stevia.

For a little caffeinated morning kick add 1 teaspoon of matcha powder.

For extra decadence replace the raw cacao nibs with chopped super dark chocolate.

And, feel free to share, as dessert instead of a meal. But I bet you won't want to!

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Ayurveda be D*mned, I Want a Salad

kale and avocado saladI have an admission. I seem to be full of em. I’m a yoga devotee. A healthy living pusher. A passionate cook. And a Vatta type. Yes, I’m airy, light, windy, cold and dry. Especially now. And I have a tendency to get Vatta deranged. I know Ayurveda says I should eat lots of cooked, hearty, warming, oily foods this time of year in the frigid northeast (and so should you, probably). I do eat them. I’ve been eating sweet potatoes by the dozen and slathering everything I eat in grass fed butter and ghee and coconut oil. I’ve been doing oil baths and drinking warm beverages and the whole bit. But d*mn it all, this week I really want a salad! And here’s why… READ MORE >

Giving Thanks and the Easiest Bread of All Time

Giving Thanks and the Easiest Bread of All Time

Easiest Bread EverHappy post-Thanksgiving everyone! Wherever you are, I hope it’s wonderful. In  Massachusetts, it’s cold and snowy and perfectly New England Quaint. I had family visits in rotation every day. Time to bake pies. And a fire to relax by after our mega meal. I can be thankful for that!

And, while we’re all busy being thankful, recovering from wrangling family and holiday buffets, I wanted to offer you an easy breakfast option for the coming days.  READ MORE >

Can I Wine?

Savor WineI have a taste for some of the finer things in life. Especially when it comes to food. Though I don’t care what my car represents as a status symbol, I do care what my plate looks like! You won’t catch me throwing together rice and beans and calling it a night. And even when I just serve salad I top it with something interesting and arrange the colors “just so”.

What in the world does this have to do with wine?

Well, for me it’s all about being present.

There was a time when I didn’t drink at all. I felt sure this was the way to be fully awake, fully present, fully yogi. But in the end, I’m not sure that hard and fast “rule” was actually working the way I’d intended. READ MORE >

A Fall Soup to Ease Summer’s Passing

It’s fall. Yep, I mean, there are still summery days, but fall is in the air. I refuse to wear socks, or boots, yet. But I admit it. I love fall. It’s so awesome to be able to throw on a scarf and walk in the crisp air, it really makes my heart sing. But it’s always a little sad to say goodbye to the easy breezy summer lifestyle. Salads with fresh tomatoes. No need to turn on the stove. Flip flops and a sun dress.

This soup will ease the blow. It’s creamy and comforting and about as fast as a home-cooked meal could be. It may be the easiest soup of all time, and it’s about as delicious as any I can think of. READ MORE >

Labor Day Brunch

Pancake with Berries 1Here it is, Labor Day. How did that happen? Last time I looked it was March and 22 degrees and now summer is just about officially over. I will say this though, I’ve loved this summer. It hasn’t been too hot, and so I’ve been able to keep up with my cooking experiments. I’m saving some to bring to you in a new way soon, but couldn’t resist sharing this one right away. It’s just too perfect. If you don’t make it for Labor Day brunch tomorrow, well, you are totally missing out.

The great thing about this is you just put it in the oven, pull it out and serve. It’s like eating pancakes without all that flipping and paying attention business. And those late summer local berries are perfect on top. I dare you not to love it!

Not only that, but it’s not heavy and floury like your normal pancake breakfast. You won’t need a big nap. but it’s ok if you take one anyway…after all, it’s a holiday.

Thanks Noelle Smith for these amazing photos! (she and her daughter loved this by the way and said it was super easy to make which made brunch a breeze). Noelle is an amazing food photographer/stylist. Find her at noellebeesmith.blogspot.ca

Skillet Cake MediumBanana Pecan Skillet Cake
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Dairy Free Optional

Serves 4 (or 3 if one of them is my big hungry husband)

2 Overripe Bananas
4 Eggs
1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
1 Tblsp. Pastured Butter or Coconut Oil plus more for the pan
1 Tblsp. Pure Maple Syrup or Honey
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
pinch salt
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
To Do:
Preheat oven to 400.
Mix all ingredients except nuts well in blender or stand mixer, then stir in nuts.
Or
Mash bananas well then mix in all remaining ingredients.
Grease a 10-inch oven safe skillet with coconut oil or pastured butter.
Pour in batter.
Bake for 20 minutes. Test for doneness then bake another 5 minutes if necessary.
Cake is done when it is firm on top and a toothpick comes out clean.
Serve with pure maple syrup, more bananas, berries or nuts as desired.
Note: you can cook this in a smaller skillet, like an 8 inch. It will be more fluffy and cakey than thin like a pancake and may need to cook a little longer.  I love it both ways!
Pancake with Berries 2

What To Do With Your CSA

Well, here I am in the middle of celebrating my birthday. And while I would love to document it for you, I’m a more “in the moment” person than “write about the moment” person it seems. I’ll have to give you a little recap later.

Meanwhile, a friend wrote and asked what to do about the CSA deliveries that are drowning her right now, and even in the middle of princess-like birthday celebrations, I love nothing more than to share delicious ideas with friends. So, since I suspect loads of you are in the same boat, here are some suggestions. Not recipes, just ideas of what to do. If you have questions, ask me in the comments and I will help! READ MORE >