Ingredients:
Place corn, onion and bell pepper on a hot skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes until a tender. Let cool for a few minutes, then place in a food processor and puree.
In a separate bowl, pull hearts of palm to resemble crab meat in shape. Add puree to the bowl as well as the remaining ingredients (except for bread crumbs reserved for coating). Mix together and set aside. On a cutting board, spread bread crumbs that were reserved for coating. Spoon a 1-2 tablespoons of batter and roll in breadcrumbs. Fry in a pan or bake in the oven until golden-brown. Serve with vegan tartar sauce
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When you are looking to experiment with new kinds of food, especially raw foods, it can get a little overwhelming. To help you get started, I interviewed the creators of RawVolution.com and the writers of their new book – RawVolution Continues. If you live in LA (and if that’s the case, I am very envious!) you can drive down to their restaurant in Santa Monica and experience some of their foods before trying to make them. But if you don’t have such opportunity, don’t despair – Matt Amsden shared his tips on what’s most popular, what’s easy to make and what is sooooo worth the time to make it. To purchase the book, click here. Z-Tip – look at the numbers under each recipe and you will find how easy or complex they are as each one is rated on a scale from 1 to 3. Thank you, Matt and Janabai for this great reference! EASY DISHES Those who love raw food, love it for two reasons – you get the most nutrition and it is easy to prepare. Case in point – smoothies! Turn to page 54, 63 or 62 to find some delicious recipes for super easy concoctions. Wakame salad, one of my personal favorites is also very easy to create. I am happy to share the recipe below from page 151. Another easy one is the Dragon Rolls from page 176. They are filled with nutrition, flavor and take little time to prepare. ADVANCED LEVEL If you have already experimented with raw foods, then try the super-tasty Sea Cakes with Cilantro Chutney from page 132. Make a lot at a time, so you’ll get more than just one meal. For those who can’t imagine life without bread, don’t despair! Instead make the fabulous Focaccia Bread from page 125. Dip it in Olive oil or have it with a salad and you will feel satisfied. It is also great to be refrigerated for a couple of weeks. MATT’S FAVES When I talked to Matt, I also wanted to know what his personal favorite superfoods are. We all got our staple outfits in the closet and the same applies to pantry as our personal tastes reflect our choices. Try one or all of them, accessorize your meals with them and see how they fit you:
CREAMY WAKAME SEAWEED SALAD FOR THE DRESSING
FOR THE SALAD
To make the dressing, in a high speed blender, combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. To make the salad, combine the wakame, cilantro, green onions, and sesame seeds in a large salad bowl. Toss the salad with the dressing. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. July is now here and many Floridians are stocking up on watermelons for their 4th of July parties. If you are looking to do something more exciting than serving plain old watermelon slices, I am here to share some new ideas for this annual celebration.
Some fun facts and tips on watermelons:
Z-Tip on eating watermelons:
Watermelon Juice:
Juice watermelon, honeydew and cucumbers through a juicer. Squeeze lime by hand. Serve on the rocks for a refreshing beverage. For more watermelon recipes, click here Valentine’s Day is around the corner and that often means going out to eat and having drinks. With a plethora of beverages to choose from, many people feel lost in the choice and we are here to help you solve the dilemma.
Of course the number one beverage of choice would be a non-alcoholic, 100% organic, cold-pressed juice like OnJuice, for example. But let’s face it, those are not usually available at most parties. On average I have one alcoholic drink a week and if I attend lots of parties, then I stick to my invented concoction of sparkling water or soda water with 1 teaspoons of lime juice. Usually the bartender will either have a lime juice mix which does have sugar, but I figure that 1 teaspoon of it won’t be a big deal. The reason why I limit myself to 1 glass of alcohol a week is because it is very stressful for the liver to process. Since liver is the largest organ in the body and is also responsible for detoxification of your system, it is crucial to keep it happy and healthy. This point is especially important to remember when it comes to hard liquor. Yes, vodka may not have any calories, but its high alcohol content can undermine your liver function. When liver gets overwhelmed, the metabolism can get sluggish, pounds can start pilling on and the mood and quality of life can start to go down. However, I do indulge about once a week and my alcoholic beverage of choice is a glass of bubbly or red wine, both of which add up to about 120 calories a serving. Research has shown that in moderation, red wine has positive benefits for the heart, so it can give you a better bang for your nutritional buck. One tip of the trade: if you drink one glass of wine, it will relax your system, but if you over-indulge, then it can actually cause the opposite effect and result in insomnia. Champagne Fooler:
Healthier alcoholic options:
I know how busy you are and this is why I encourage you to go for the ultimate fast food - Fruit! It is easy to grab-and-go, it is on the budget and unlike processed foods, fruit actually has amazing side effects like longevity, optimum weight, abundant energy and balance. Fruits are filled with fiber and liver stimulants, which act as natural, gentle laxatives. Whenever possible, buy fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed to imported fruits shipped from far-off places. This keeps you eating in season, and more in harmony with your environment and climate. Eating raw fruit in summer months is highly cooling. Frozen, whole, puréed or juiced fruit can make great summertime cool-down treats. Try frozen grapes, banana-coconut smoothie popsicles or lime juice ice-cubes in iced tea! Here are a few summer fruits and their health benefits:
BANANA ICE CREAM 3-4 Frozen Bananas (peel them before you freeze them) Blend bananas in a Vitamix blender (other blenders may not be able handle frozen bananas), using the plunger to move them around. You will see the color change to white and the texture become just like soft-serve ice cream Put in your favorite glass and enjoy! PS. I am happy to offer FREE shipping on Vitamix Blenders. To take advantage of this offer, use this link: Vitamix.com As America is getting ready for the super bowl, many of my clients are concerned about the damage party foods may do to their bodies. I think life is about enjoyment, not deprivation and kicking back with your friends and having a great time is a part of life. However, there are small things you can do to minimize the nutritional damage SuperBowl snacks may do. Here are a few simple tricks and recipes that can help you do just that.
1. To boost your metabolism, do interval cardio (20 seconds very fast, 10 seconds slow) on Friday and Sunday and do weight training on Saturday. 2. Practice dry skin brushing in the morning to stimulate your lymphatic system and decrease bloating. 3. Have a half of a grapefruit before the party. 4. Take a vegetarian Digestive Enzyme to help you digest cooked food. Non-vegetarian enzymes have strange ingredients you may not want to have in your body. 5. If you are going to a party, bring your own food to contribute to the pot luck. That way you will know exactly what you are eating. Below are two recipes that are full of fiber that will help your digestive system. RECIPES Pizza Party Buffet 1 Jar of Organic Pizza Sauce 1 Jar of roasted peppers 1 Jar of marinated artichokes 1 Package of Crimini Mushrooms 1 Package of Daiya Cheese (www.daiyafoods.com) or Low Fat Organic Cheese Organic (Vegan preferably) Pepperoni High Fiber English Muffins Toaster Oven Toast the English Muffins for a few minutes first. Then top them with your favorite toppings and heat up in the toaster oven to melt the cheese. Enjoy! Easiest Chili Ever! 16 oz Can of Marinated Bean Salad (I love Trader Joe's Brand) 12 oz Jar of Salsa 1 packet of vegetarian meat crumbles (Will be healthy and delicious) Vegan or Low Fat Organic Cheese optional Put them all together in a pan and sautee for about 15 minutes. Drizzle with cheese if you'd like. Enjoy! Your guests won't tell a difference. When it comes to Halloween, I believe adults deserve some fun snacks that are not limited to sugar-loaded candy bars. Here are 3 of my guilt-free treats that will make your inner child smile. 1. Spooky Salmon Tea Sandwiches Recipe
To make a spider, cut black olives in halves. Take one half, slice length-wise and then cut 4-5 times across to make the legs. Assemble as shown on the picture below.edit. 2. Chocolate Apricots Recipe
3. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Parfait Recipe
HALLOWEEN CANDY ALTERNATIVES
Today is the first day of the Jewish New Year and one of my favorite traditions is eating apples with honey as symbol for a sweet new year. Here is my take on how to eat your apples while enjoying a delicious (and healthy) dessert.
AUTUMN APPLE COBBLER Filling Ingredients 6 Apples 1 Teaspoon Pink salt 2 Teaspoons of Ground Flaxseeds 2 Teaspoons of Cinnamon 4 Medjool Dates 1 Teaspoon vanilla powder ½ Cup raisins Topping 1 Cup of Crumbled Nuts (I like walnuts and almonds) Directions: Mix 3 apples with the rest of the filling ingredients in the food processor. Chop or slice 3 apples and mix with the mixture. (I like to use the slicing blade of my food processor to save time.)Scoop the filling into your favorite dessert dish, sprinkle with nuts and enjoy. With the cold, rainy autumn days upon us, many of my clients are looking for warm comfort foods. If you are looking for an easy, healthy meal that is on the budget to warm up your day, then here is one of my favorite recipes. You can get all the ingredients in any grocery store.
1 Spaghetti Squash 1 Round Box of Laughing Cow Cheese (for vegans, use Nutritional Yeast) 1 Jar of Tomato Basil Marinara or Spaghetti Sauce (I prefer Amy's Organic, Low Sodium) 1 Package of Baby Bella Mushrooms (Optional) Below are the directions for either using the oven or the microwave. Use a microwave if you don't have more than 10 minutes to spend on making dinner. I am not a fan of microwaving, but it is better and faster than getting drive-thru takeout. If you do have more time, then use conventional oven at 350 degrees. I prefer to use the oven and while the food is cooking, I use that time to workout. Step #1: Make a slit with knife in the squash and put the whole thing in the microwave for about 2 minutes. Carefully remove it and then cut length-wise in two halves. Scoop out the seeds and then place a wet paper towel on each half, facing up. Put back in the microwave for 6-7 minutes. For Oven Users: Cook the whole squash for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, carefully remove (it will be very hot) then cut in two halves. Scoop out the seeds and then place a wet paper towel on each half, facing up. Bake for 45 minutes. Step #2: While the squash is cooking, sauté mushrooms in the pan and then add tomato sauce and Laughing Cow cheese or Nutritional Yeast. Per 1 cup of squash, you will need about 1/2 cup of the sauce and 1 wedge (or 1 table spoon of Nutritional yeast). Step #3: When the squash is cooked, scoop it out with a large metal spoon and add to the ingredients in the pan. Mix well and serve. Garnish with fresh parsley. Bon Appetite! I know several people who love grilled cheese sandwiches. They love the gooweyness of cheese, the crunch of the fried bread, the warmth of the melted butter. However, they don't indulge in this treat because they believe it is not good for them. Being a Taurus and loving to give into my indulgences, I created the following treat that enjoy with all the satisfaction and without any guilt! And yes, I promise it is greasy, yummy and GREAT for you!
Ingredients: 2 Slices of Ezekiel Bread (The grains here are sprouted, so they are easier to digest. Also, sprouting destroys the gluten lectins) 1/4 cup Daiya Cheese in Mozzarella or Cheddar Flavor (This is a great non-dairy and non-soy cheese. Because it has no casein, which is found in milk, this cheese won't become addictive) 1 Teaspoon of Olive Oil 1 Tablespoon of Flax Seed Oil (You will get 6,000 mg of Omega 3's that are great for reducing inflammation and boosting your metabolism) Dust the bread with Olive Oil and fry it with the cheese in between slices. Once the desired texture is reached, put on a plate and cut. Right before you are about to eat the sandwich, pour the flax seed oil on it. You will get the greasy look and feel of the sandwich while getting all the nutrients you need! |
ASK ALINAWhy ask me?- After many challenges and different crazy life experiences I am living my dream life and since my friends say I am pretty wisdomous and I think I am a little bit funny too, I want to share my life approach with you so you can live the life you love as well. Here is a little bit about me: - I am a creator of #1 Best Diet as selected by Harpers Baazar Magazine - I started my career in the corporate world and didn't even know how to peel a shallot - I have been a chef for celebrities for over 10 years - I have a realistic approach to food and life - I have a great relationship with food and can even let chocolate go bad because I simply forget I have it at home (something I wasn't able to do 10 years ago) - I eat carbs whenever I feel like it without any guilt - I used to hate to cook and now absolutely love being a private chef and a food relationship coach - I wear whatever clothes I desire no matter what everyone is wearing or thinking - I am in good shape and my body’s biological age is 13 years younger than the one in my passport - I have experience being super poor, super wealthy and in between - I’ve worked in corporate world and am now an entrepreneur - I was married and divorced - I used to cry going to work because I was so miserable with my boss - I’ve had an emotional eating disorder - I moved from Russia to USA alone at the age of 15 - I’ve lived in Russia, Europe and on both coasts of USA - I have been super skinny and overweight - I have been insecure and unhappy with reasons and secure and happy for no reason - I used to wear glasses and healed my eyes with the power of thought and exercises - I created "Couture Nutrition®" so you can have tailor-made solutions for your body and soul - My brain usually comes up with jokes to soften stressful situations - I think color coordination, sparkles and rainbows are underused |