Posted By admin on January 26, 2012

Related article: From Ocean to Table: Sea Veggies

Ingredients:

2 extra large farm fresh eggs
4 thin spears asparagus, sliced in thin chunks
½ small sweet onion, chopped small
Dash of sea salt
1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese
Dash of turmeric (optional)
Extra virgin olive oil

2 Nori Sheets

Instructions:

Warm the olive oil in a small cast iron pan or eco-friendly skillet. Sauté onions and asparagus until softened. While veggies are cooking, scramble eggs in a medium size bowl and add sea salt, turmeric and feta cheese. Pour mixture over the veggies and gently scramble eggs, stirring lightly.

Lay out Nori sheets one at a time on a cutting board. Spread half of the scrambled eggs across the sheet, leaving top and bottom borders (leave more room on the bottom) and some room on the sides as well. Roll up the Nori sheets as firmly as possible.

To slice the Nori roll, use a sharp knife and make horizontal slits across the top, then place the knife into the slit and slice. It takes a little practice and a very sharp knife. Alternately, do not slice and enjoy as a roll.

Experiment with your favorite veggies and spices.

Please share your combinations!

Category: Recipes | No Comments »
Tags: asparagus, Blood type A recipe. Blood Type B recipe, Blood type AB recipe, blood type diet, blood type O recipe, cast iron skillet, eggs, feta, nori sheets, onions, organic, seaweed

Posted By admin on January 16, 2012

Most of us receive our daily veggie intake from crops grown on dry land, plucked by the farmer, preferably local and organic, carefully dusted off and sold for consumption.

Far from the acres of a neatly cultivated harvest, sea veggies sway with the tide while land and sea teeter in a state of unbounded wonder. Also known as seaweed, sea vegetables have nourished parts of the planet for centuries. Yet, many parts of the world are unfamiliar with the greens that grow in the sea or their impressive nutritional profile.

Nori, wakame, kombu, and kelp are several of the varieties of available seaweed, often sold in dried sheets, powders, flakes or tea blends. Nori sheets are most recognized as a wrap for sushi, while kelp flakes or powder can be used to season vegetables, soups or stews. Kombu and wakame strips are often used to flavor miso soup. Some varieties of sea vegetables can be found in the form of chips and snacks.

Incorporating the ocean’s bounty into our diets requires a bit of creativity as well as a spirit of adventure. They do emit an odiferous scent from the sea reminiscent of a good day’s worth of catch. On their own, they can be strong but combined with other foods can lend interesting flavors to a favorite dish. For example, I have found a teaspoon of kelp powder greatly enhances my turkey meatloaf.

There are plenty of good reasons to incorporate sea veggies into your diet:

High mineral content—sea vegetables contain almost all of the minerals from the sea, including iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and a high concentration of iodine, implemented in thyroid health.

Phytonutrients—most notably Sulfated Polysaccharides, known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer properties are found in abundance in sea veggies.

Antioxidants—in addition to antioxidant minerals, sea vegetables contain antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C and E.

Sea vegetables can be purchased at Health Food stores, specialty grocery stores and online. Due to heavy metal contamination and its toxic effects on vegetables from the sea, it is best to purchase organic. Traces of arsenic have been found in all sea vegetables tested. To purchase organic Nori sheets online, visit vitascost (no affiliation).

http://www.vitacost.com/Emerald-Cove-Organic-Nori-Sheets

Coming soon: Recipe using seaweed: Scrambled Eggs wrapped in Nori Sheets

Additional Information and sources

Category: Healthy Living | 1 Comment »
Tags: antioxidants, healthy, high mineral content, kelp, kombu, nori, organic, phytonutrients, recipe, sea vegetables, seaweed, sulfated polysaccharides, wakame

Posted By admin on January 14, 2012

If the idea of doubling or even tripling your vegetable and fruit intake sounds appealing, the Vita-Mix may be for you. Fast, fun and efficient, this powerful blender produces juice, smoothies, nut butters, frozen treats, ice-cream, hot soup, sauces, dips, spreads and more. The Vita-Mix Whole Food Recipes cookbook offers ample opportunity to provide healthy creations for you, your family and guests.

In a league of its own, the Vita-Mix pulverizes produce into super smooth juices, smoothies, and other treats, with all the fiber intact. The machine makes light work of skins and most seeds, adding even more nutritional value to the finished product.

After extensive research, I replaced a juicer, blender and food processor with the powerful Vita-Mix machine. Unlike a juicer, clean-up is a snap and none of the healthy fiber is tossed out the shoot, yet the texture is smooth and light. While most common blenders burn out after a few years, the Vita-Mix has a powerful 2 HP motor allowing it to tackle numerous combinations of food processing, backed by a full 7 year warrantee. Its ability to chop veggies, puree soups and mix and blend a variety of food combinations left the food processor, with its chunky blades and parts, alone on the shelf.

Always concerned with lessening my toxic load, I was immediately impressed with the health-friendly, BPA free 64 oz. shatterproof container. This feature alone makes the Vita-Mix a stand-out product in its class.

The Vita-Mix has become the most utilized piece of equipment in my kitchen, consistently living up to its reputation and providing a creative outlet in food preparation.

Here are the top reasons I love my Vita-Mix:

Healthy juices and smoothies can be processed in one minute, complete with fiber, providing several servings of fruits and veggies per day. The Vita-Mix utilizes skins and seeds of most fruits, so preparation is super quick.

Nut butters are a favorite in my house, especially sesame tahini! Peanut butter, almond butter, pumpkin butter or your choice can be prepared quickly and efficiently in the Vita-Mix. No more purchasing expensive nut butters!

The Vita-Mix whips up frozen delights of varying textures and thickness made from fruit in no time. If you are an ice-cream lover, the Vita-Mix can prepare that as well, with pure simple ingredients.

Kids love the colorful smoothies created in the Vita-Mix, even my kids who are young adults! A handful of spinach is virtually undetectable when blended with fruit.

The Vita-Mix is a perfect companion for entertaining. I whip up salsas, bean dips, spinach dip, carrot spread, guacamole, hummus, and cheese fondue in a flash, leaving more time to enjoy guests!

Speaking of guests, the Vita-Mix is a pro at several elite infusions, such as a Cappuccino, Iced Peppermint Café, Whole Fruit Margaritas, and Peach Daiquiris.

Quick breads are truly quick when the Vita-Mix takes on the blending of ingredients.

Emulsify salad dressings and prepare marinades and sauces in a flash.

A steaming, hot bowl of soup is prepared without ever turning on the stove.

And last, but certainly not least, the Vita-Mix is super easy to clean; in fact, Vita-Mix has its own self cleaning feature! My days of scraping screens in the basket of the juicer or straining to clean around blades inside the blender have officially ended.

By now you can probably tell I think the Vita-Mix is an amazing machine that enhances my healthy life style and brings joy into the kitchen every single day! If you are as passionate about healthy living as I am, the Vita-Mix is a great kitchen companion; well worth the investment in your health and the health of your loved ones.

The company offers a full 7 year warrantee for all parts and labor, including the cost of shipping on all repairs. Also available is a direct phone line to customer service with a knowledgeable representative waiting to address your concerns.

If you are interested in ordering a Vita-Mix, please click here to receive free shipping!

If you should choose to order by phone, please provide the free shipping code of:
***06-005218***

For phone orders, call: 1-800-848-2649

Please feel free to contact me, I would be happy to answer your questions.
Lisa.colasurdo@yahoo.com

Category: Healthy Living | No Comments »
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Posted By admin on December 19, 2011

Returning from the Easton Holiday Mart with grass fed beef and fresh veggies in hand, I was craving the comfort of a bowl of warm soup bursting with local flavors. Savoring the diminishing growing season and countering the nip in the air, this hearty creation hit the spot as I bid a fond farewell to the blessings of a late bounty.

Grass Fed Beef and Veggie Soup

1 lb. lean grass fed beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup cubed rutabaga (or turnips) cut 1 inch thick
1 cup sliced carrots
2 cups chopped kale (or other hearty green)
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. oregano
5 cups organic chicken or beef broth
14 oz. can of tomato sauce or diced tomatoes
Sea salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil

In a large pot, heat olive oil, add chopped onion and sauté until softened. Add ground beef, breaking up with a spoon and cook until no pink remains. Season with sea salt, add thyme and oregano and stir. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add rutabaga and carrots and return to a boil. Simmer about 6-7 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add tomatoes, return to a boil and add chopped kale. Simmer about 5-10 minutes until kale is tender. Adjust seasonings.

*Note: Allow soup to rest if possible, giving the flavors a chance to meld. Very good leftover (add additional broth if necessary) and freezes well. Serve with fresh ground pepper if desired.

Variations: add parmesan cheese or a can of beans.

Related article

Category: Recipes | 2 Comments »
Tags: blood type diet, blood type O recipe, carrots, Easton, Easton Holiday Mart, fresh, grass fed beef, kale, local, onion, PA, rutabaga, turnip, veggie soup

Posted By admin on December 12, 2011

Easton, PA is doing it right. I love living on the fringe of this eclectic, little cosmopolitan city where pride radiates from the historic center square and beams into every nook in town. Boasting a theatre, mountains of history, the oldest running Open Air Farmers Market in the country (yes, I said country!), and the landscape of the lovely Lehigh Valley, Easton appears to be evolving into the prototype of what every town, USA should be. Friendly people, fresh local food, town spirit, and some very hip restaurants, artists, merchants and musicians, Easton consistently attracts area residents to the plethora of activities it offers.

A leader in locavore living, this little gem of a town bordering NJ across the Delaware river has been expanding before my eyes for the past several years. This season marked the debut of the Easton Farmers Market Holiday Mart offering local farmers, crafters, artists and bakers a venue to market their goods through the holidays in a “store front” setting. In from the cold came many of the Farmers Market regulars and a few new vendors as well.

Tis’ the season to be jolly and nothing makes me jollier than fresh produce. Not even “pork chop,” the pot bellied pig who donned a big red santa’s hat at the Holiday Mart and greeted shoppers. After purchasing local gifts of jam, lavender sachets and dried herbs, the real “merriment” set in as I made my way to the farmers, who stood behind crisp, clean, fresh produce still yielding well into December. This late bounty brings its own amazing grace to the table. Delicate leaves of colorful chard, petite spinach, hearty kale and crisp romaine look surprisingly appetizing and are often wrapped like small bouquets. Turnips, carrots and rutabagas are displayed in piles showcasing their variety of shapes, colors and floppy tops. I indulge in an assortment of goodies and feel truly blessed for this extended season of fresh and local.

Heading home, visions of sugar plums are replaced with roasted turnips, hearty soups and stews loaded with leafy greens and chunks of rutabagas, and fresh romaine salad. Sampling my bounty, I note the end of the season brings out an amazing sweetness in turnips and rutabagas as their bite is much tamed. Kale, usually quite a bold green, has also mellowed with the colder weather and has a surprising sweetness.  After a big bowl of local Grass Fed Beef and Veggie Soup (recipe coming soon!) and a crisp salad, all is well. I have been fed. Thank you local farmers and Easton Farmers Market!

There’s still time to visit the Holiday Mart located at 20 S. Third Street, Easton, PA

Saturdays 10 am – 3 pm through December 17th
Fridays 10 am – 3 pm, December 23 and 30th

Category: Healthy Living | 6 Comments »
Tags: carrots, December produce, Easton, Easton Farmers Market, grass fed beef, healthy, Holiday Mart, kale, Lehigh Valley, organic, PA, Pennsylvania, rutabegas, spinach, swiss chard, turnips

Posted By admin on November 27, 2011

It was Christmas Eve at Great Grandma Maggie’s house. Dozens of packages were wrapped and piled high on the bed in the spare room without any tags to distinguish one from another. All the lucky young girls in the family knew what was under the bright Christmas wrap yet the thrill remained year after year.

Grandma Maggie had 13 children and countless grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a very able woman and one of her many talents included sewing. Months before Christmas, she would purchase endless yards of cotton flannel fabric and craft each of the girls a warm, soft nightgown. There was such delight knowing every Christmas Eve we would tuck into bed with a new nightie from our loving grandmother. Even though the grandchildren and great-grand children varied in ages, shapes and sizes, Grandma Maggie may have invented the original “one size fits all” concept. I never remember a nightgown feeling too big or too small, just warm and cozy like grandma herself!

Recalling the many Christmas gifts I received as a child, none touches my heart as deeply as the special nightgown made from grandma’s own hand. Maggie died at age 92 just a few months before my wedding leaving me without the honor of receiving the customary hand crocheted tablecloth given to every new bride in the family. Perhaps someday I will inherit my mother’s delicately threaded ivory version.  

While the days of constructing holiday gifts are much diminished among families, we are blessed with local talent whose livelihood comes by way of designing and crafting handmade items, both functional and decorative. And although our local purveyors may not quite conjure up memories of a loving grandmother, there is undoubtedly a special transfer of feelings that comes from this exchange. Appreciating local talent, keeping dollars in our own community, and helping our neighbors stay employed are just a few of the reasons to own or give a gift crafted from hand and heart.

You may be surprised to discover the wealth of talent in your neck of the woods. Crafters of jewelry, handbags, clothing, artwork, and household and decorative items are very likely available to you in close proximity. Be sure to stay abreast of local happenings and community gatherings showcasing local flair. Experience the fun and excitement of hangin’ and shopping with the local crowd! Feel the pride that comes with supporting your own community!

Please share some of your favorite local handcrafted finds. My favorites are a wooden cutting board crafted by Bob’s Boards and a special handbag made by Veronica from Out of Africa. How about you?

Visit Bob’s Boards at http://www.bobsboards.net/products.htm

Category: Inspired Life | No Comments »
Tags: Bob's Boards, Christmas, community, crafts, handmade, holiday, local gifts, locavore