Avocado Smoothies

My travel to Bali inspired me to use avocados in my desserts. In SE Asia, avocados are used to make creamy avocado smoothies. There they make smoothies by blending milk, sugar, and avocado. Here I make a raw vegan almond nut mylk to use as the base, then add in avocados for the flavor. It's sweetened with dates, a whole food, containing fiber, minerals and vitamins. The ingredients I use are listed below. Adjust quantities to you liking. I also have variations of these recipes in Ani's Raw Food Detox. I'll be teaching this recipe in class this weekend too. Join me at an upcoming Ani's Raw Food Certification Course to learn recipes like this and many many more! Smoothie almonds dates avocado water Chocolate Sauce cacao powder agave syrup, maple syrup, date syrup, or coconut nectar Toppings chocolate sauce goji cacao hemp Guilt-free, and absolutely delicious, good-for-you food! Enjoy. Will keep for at least a day in your fridge.

By |August 14th, 2015|Beauty, Desserts, Drinks, Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Soups, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Avocado Smoothies

Superfood Granola Recipe

I've been mixing up a yummy granola with walnuts, almonds, cacao nibs, vanilla bean, coconut, sprouted buckwheat groats, and goji berries. This morning I used it to top raspberries and blueberries with almond mylk for an antioxidant superfood blast. It tasted delicious. What other ingredient should I include in my mix?

By |July 22nd, 2015|Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Superfood Granola Recipe

Superfood Brownie Recipe

Superfood brownies are the perfect workout food fuel for my climb today. They can stay out of the fridge, and travel well. These brownies are my homemade energy / protein / superfood bar. The following recipe is from Ani's Raw Food Detox. 1 c walnuts 1/4 c cacao powder 1/3 c pitted dates pinch salt Process walnuts, cacao, salt. Then, add dates to bind together. I will sometimes roll the batter into balls, but this time I pressed it into a lined pan and sliced 'bars'. I topped with cacao nibs (for extra energy) and goji berries (for added vitamin C and antioxidants) too. Bon appetit!  

By |May 21st, 2015|Desserts, Fitness, Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Superfood Brownie Recipe

Mushroom “Bul Go Gi” Recipe

    Please join me for lunch today! This Korean inspired recipe is from Ani's Raw Food Asia. It's my vegan, gluten-free, and raw version of Korean BBQ, made with marinated shiitake, crimini, and wood mushrooms. I call it Mushroom "Bul Go Gi" (page 186). Use your favorite green leaf, like romaine or red leaf lettuce as the wrap. Then, top with cucumber, carrot, thinly sliced garlic, and my delicious Gochujang Sauce (page 225) made with unpasteurized miso (for living enzymes), sesame oil, and chili powder, to taste. Add a sweetener syrup like agave or coconut nectar too to balance out the spice, salt, savory, and sweet. Super yummy on a rainy day here in LA (thank goodness, we need the rain!). Mushoom "Bul Go Gi" Lettuce Wraps BulGoGi 4 cups sliced mushrooms 2 T tamari 1 T toasted sesame oil 1/2 T minced garlic 1/2 cup Asian pear, microplanes or pureed in food processor Fillings 1 clove thinly sliced mushroom 1 Korean or jalaeno pepper, sliced 1 cup julienned cucumber 1 cup julienned carrot Wrappers 8 red lettuce leaves, or more Toss together all BulGoGi ingredients in one bowl. Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes, until softened. Prepare fillings, and set aside. Squeeze excess marinade from mushrooms, and place into each lettuce leaf. Top with fillings. Drizzle with Gochujang Sauce, below. Serve and enjoy! Gochujang Sauce 2 1/2 T unpasturied miso, any color 2 T toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup agave syrup or coconut nectar 1/2 teas chile powder, or cayenne, to taste Whisk to mix well. One last tip: I just moved my car out of my garage and onto the street so it will be 'washed' clean by the rain! Conserving water during our [...]

By |May 14th, 2015|Beauty, Farmers' Market, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Mushroom “Bul Go Gi” Recipe

Thai Green Mango Salad

The freshest tropical salad recipe at Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand made with romaine lettuce, shredded green mango, toasted coconut, roasted cashews, and sliced red onion. I left out the pomelo, but that would be yummy to include too. Superfood, vegan, gluten free, and organic salad made with all local and seasonal ingredients that are great for detox and boosting overall wellness. Enjoy with a Thai baby coconut....Delicious!

By |April 2nd, 2015|Beauty, Dressings & Salads, Green Living, Health, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Thai Green Mango Salad

Giving Thanks Day

I wanted to share 3 of my favorite raw vegan superfood pie recipes for Thanksgiving. All 3 recipes are from Ani's Raw Food Kitchen: All American Apple Pie, Autumn Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Chai Pie. I hope you will enjoy them! Wishing you a very happy holiday celebrating gratitude while counting our blessings. Let's all remember to tell our loved ones and those in our community how much they are appreciated. It's a wonderful time of the year to help those around us, and to give back. Helping others puts my own life into perspective for me. It reminds me to give thanks for the many blessings in my  life. I'm grateful to have my health, my friends and family, clean running hot water, organic produce, a safe comfortable home, and all 10 fingers and toes. On this day of giving thanks, what are you grateful for?

By |November 26th, 2014|Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen, Desserts, Gluten Free, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Giving Thanks Day

The Power of Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is liquid sunshine! A raw, vegan, mega-superfood! Just 2 ounces contains the same amount of nutrition as 5 pounds of organic vegetables. And, about 20% of its calories come from complete branch chain amino acids and protein. It's a powerful detoxifier for the liver and blood, neutralizes toxins and pollutants in our body, and lessens the effects of radiation. Wheatgrass cleanses the body of heavy metals too. I love GREEN! The color comes from chlorophyll, a very important phytonutrient our cells need to heal and fight disease. Chlorophyll also helps carry tons of oxygen to our blood. Lots of oxygen is always a good thing! Best taken on its own, fresh, and on an empty stomach so that its nutrients can be best absorbed. Most fun shared and enjoyed with friends and loved ones! xoxo  

By |July 23rd, 2014|Beauty, Farmers' Market, Fitness, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on The Power of Wheatgrass

Mushroom Bulgogi Taco Recipe

I like to make my Mushroom Bulgogi with mushrooms, instead of beef. This is one of my favorite recipes, and perfect to wrap in a leaf or inside a thinly sliced daikon radish... like a taco!! ….Like in the photo above (courtesy of Vegetarian Times Magazine). In addition to this recipe tasting delicious, mushrooms are a super food that boost our immune system while helping us fight illness, disease, and even cancer. Check out the recipe in this month's June 2014 issue,  and on their website: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/mushroom-bulgogi-filled-daikon-wraps/   Enjoy it! xo

By |June 26th, 2014|Article, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, PRESS, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Mushroom Bulgogi Taco Recipe

Strawberry Superfood Beauty Shake

  Shakes and smoothies help me kick start my day by food fueling my body with nutrients and superfoods that keep me at the top of my game. The blender 'chews' up the food for me, so it's easier to digest, and leaves me with more energy. Plus, on super busy days, it's just easier to for me to blend, rinse out my blender container, and then drink my shake on-the-go or while typing on my keyboard. This recipe is made with antioxidant-rich strawberries (it's strawberry season!); healthy fat and omegas from almond, flax, and hemp; maca and cacao for energy and mood-elevation; buckwheat (a complete branch chain amino acid) for protein; camu camu for vitamin C; MSM for building connective tissue and the collagen in my skin; and sweetened with stevia (my favorite non-glycemic, non-caloric sweetener). Drink up and get your glow on! Strawberry Superfood Beauty Shake 2 cups organic strawberries, fresh or frozen 2 Tablespoons raw almond butter 2 Tablespoons flax meal 1 teaspoon camu camu 1 Tablespoon maca 1 teaspoon MSM 4 drops stevia Blend with about a cup or 2 of filtered water, to desired consistency. Pour into your favorite glass. Serve topped with cacao nibs, hemp seeds, and sprouted + dehydrated buckwheat groats. Enjoy! xo  

By |June 11th, 2014|Desserts, Drinks, Gluten Free, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Strawberry Superfood Beauty Shake

Eat Your Sunblock

I do love the sun! Just 20 mins a day is enough to give us our recommended daily levels for Vitamin D. But, when I'm in the sun, I do make sure to cover up my face with a huge hat and sun glasses (to avoid those dark spots us Asians get…they are our 'wrinkles')….vanity! LOL. Beware of chemicals in most sunblock lotions. Instead, we can EAT our sunblock. Here are some raw, vegan, gluten-free super foods that are high in antioxidants to help destroy free radical damage from the sun:  Spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots (lutein) - Dr Salvador Gonsalez of Harvard University says “our data is the first of its kind to suggest that lutein may have the potential to act as a preventative agent against UVB-induced skin cancer. In addition, these data suggest that lutein protects the skin against damage caused by exposure to UVB light, further validating our position that lutein is a critical component to overall skin health.” A study in the International Journal of Cancer found that a serving a day of leafy greens reduces the recurrence of skin cancer tumors in patients by more than 50%! Green tea, black tea, cacao (polyphenols) Brazil nuts (selenium) Tomatoes (lycopene) Chia, flax, walnuts, algaes like chlorella and spiraling (omega 3s) So eat up, and get outside! Summers here, and there are many fun trails to hike…like this one in Joshua Tree National Park…my favorite place on Earth!  

By |May 29th, 2014|Beauty, Fitness, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Super Foods, Superfood, Travel, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Eat Your Sunblock