One of the fundamental principles taught in English 101 is the essay “thesis statement”–that’s your stance on an issue, your argument, your point of view. When I first learned how to craft a thesis, my professor was very clear: never choose a topic related to life-or-death issues, because the goal of the essay is to convince someone of your viewpoint, and it’s virtually impossible to shift someone’s opinion when it comes to topics like capital punishment, abortion, or whether or not God exists.
Are you starting to crave green like I am? It’s around this time of year that I grow weary of squash and root veggies and instead start dreaming of all things green (well–given my anti-candida crusade–the exception there is mold, of course). This creamy broccoli salad that I created for Attune foods is a perfect example. It’s a vegan and gluten free recipe that’s easy, quick, and yes, very green.
One of my favorite vegetables that works in any season is broccoli. It’s great cooked, roasted, in soup, raw or as a vehicle for your favorite dip. In this salad, the brilliant emerald hue heralds spring, and the combination of creamy dressing and crunchy, garlicky topper creates a stellar culinary experience.
Head over to the Attune foods blog to check out the recipe, and get a little early taste of spring!
(PS Book edits continue apace. . . I should be breathing normally again next week. Thanks, all, for your patience!).
* AKA Cranberry, Pomegranate and Kale Detox Juice (but don’t tell anyone about the detox part)
[Sometimes, you just want a dish that's quick and easy--no fuss. I've decided to offer a mini-post every once in a while, for a dish that comes together incredibly quickly or else is so simple to make that no recipe is required. Here's today's "Flash in the Pan." (For other FitP recipes, see "Categories" at right).]
I know–right now, everyone else in the world is baking cookies, Pinning cookies, tweeting about cookies, posting cookies on Facebook, sharing cookie roundups or making cookies as gifts. . . and here I am offering you a JUICE. Not only that, it’s actually a detox juice, which means it’s uber-healthy, too, what with all the antioxidants and chlorophyll it contains.
Man, that Ricki is a downer. (Yeah, and have you heard how she goes on and on about how much she hates winter, too? Whine, whine, whinge, whinge, ‘I can’t stand ice and snow, I loathe the cold, I hate the boots and mitts, blah blah blabbedy blah’? Seriously annoying.)
But wait!! Before you flit off to the next mega cookie blog, consider how great you’ll feel sipping on this lovely, fruity, naturally sweet concoction as you debate whether to bake up the Sugar-Free Sugar Cookies or the Chocolate Macaroons. Your desire to consume massive amounts of cookie dough will magically dissipate (well, maybe a wee bit) and you’ll be helping your body cleanse and prepare for the onslaught of heavy meals in the next few weeks–all at the same time.
When I whipped up this libation the other morning, it suddenly occurred to me that I have never posted a juice on this blog. How is that possible?? I drink freshly squeezed juice every week, sometimes several times. My usual veg/fruit beverage of choice contains kale, cucumber, carrot, beet, ginger, apple and lemon, with a garlic clove thrown in for antibacterial good measure (you don’t taste it in the final product) and a bit of whatever herb I’ve got in the house, usually cilantro or parsley. Over the years, I’ve ventured more into the “green” aspect of green juices and smoothies, so whereas I started with the ratio of fruits to vegetables weighing heavily toward fruit, these days I am happy with more alkalizing greens and the juice still tastes great to me.
The HH, unfortunately, won’t partake of my creations. He takes one look at the mucky green elixir, sniffs it tentatively, then declares, “It smells like grass. It reeks of cholorophyll! Ptewy!”. (Silly guy doesn’t know what he’s missing).
With this juice, though, I endeavored to create something the HH would actually like, too, with a flavor profile that highlights the fruity components. It still boasts some great detoxifying properties via the kale (which encourages the liver to excrete toxins and also provides minerals, vitamins and fiber); and the fruits add their own beneifts, with heart-healthy antioxidants called punicalagins via the pomegranate and proanthocyanidins from the fresh cranberries. Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and cancer prevention, and the pear, apart from offering fiber and more antioxidants, is just plain yummy.
I adored this juice, which felt very seasonal and festive to me, and provided a great break from the massive quantities of baking I’ve been doing lately. It’s naturally sweet, but if you prefer a sweeter drink, add the optional stevia.
Given the ingredients, you may be wondering, did the HH imbibe? Well, yes, he did give it a taste, and even tentatively approved it. “It’s good,” he said, but then stopped to lick his lips and reconsider. “But it would be even better without the cholorophyll.” Next thing I knew, he was reaching for a cookie.
Festive Cranberry, Pomegranate and Kale Detox Juice
A refreshing, naturally sweet and nourishing juice that combines some key produce of the season, with just a hint of optional mint for an additional festive touch.
4-6 large leaves kale, as you like (add more for more detox properties)
1 cup (240 ml) pomegranate arils (from one large ripe pomegranate)
1 cup (240 ml) fresh or frozen cranberries (if frozen, allow to thaw a bit before juicing)
1 pear, cored
one knob (about 1 inch or 2.5 cm) fresh ginger, peeled
6-12 leaves of fresh mint, optional
stevia, to taste
Place ingredients in juicer one at a time (I reserved the pomegranate seeds for the end, as their high fiber content pushes out anything else left in the juicer mechanism), strain if desired, and serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.
“Mum, we really don’t get why you hate winter so much. I mean, it feels perfectly balmy when you’ve got a permanent fur coat on. Play Time!”
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)
Every year, I spend pretty much the entire fall and winter whining, grumbling and griping about the weather (Oh, how I hate the cold! How I wish this season would just whiz by with no snow! How come we can’t have summer all year–boo hoo? And how are you supposed to wear those hats with the ear flaps, anyway??–etc., etc.). Well, seems that so far this year, I’m getting my wish. It’s incredible how quickly the time is zipping by–winter will be over before you know it. Seems it was just Labor Day; then, all of the sudden, Canadian Thanksgiving; and now it’s almost American Thanksgiving. Before we know it, it will be Christmas–and my goodness, where have all the days gone??
Well, I suppose I have a valid excuse for that fleeting feeling this year. What with a full course load at the college (we’re in the throes of final-stretch of the semester, with piles of essays and assignments to mark), a cookbook manuscript due in, oh, just a few weeks (gulp!!), cooking up new and tasty anti-candida fare every day, plus all the usual demands at home (“Now that you mention it, Mum, we have been feeling rather neglected these days. . . though taste-testing all your baked goods hasn’t been too bad“)–well, no wonder I feel as if I’ve been living in a time warp. Sort of like Young Joe gazing across the table at Old Joe and wondering how the heck he got there. (Okay, so that’s an obscure allusion. But you should go see it–it really was a good movie. And I have such an old-lady crush on Joseph Gordon-Levitt.).
Well, this faux tuna is pretty good exemplar of the types of foods I’ve been eating lately: quick and easy to prepare, even quicker and easier to eat (and it can be made portable, too–bonus points!).
As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I consider my mother to be a latent vegetarian. She didn’t eat meat, and she refused to touch the whole fish my dad sometimes brought home, that he’d been given as gifts from customers.
A major exception, however, was canned tuna. My mother would purchase only the “solid white” kind, mix it with an inordinate amount of mayonnaise for a mushy, white, gluey spread that she slathered on sandwiches or plopped over salads. According to my mom, the white kind was the only kind that was edible, with its firm flesh and mild taste. At the time, I couldn’t understand why she’d eat it at all, since to me it was reminiscent of shredded cardboard–not that I had any true experience consuming shredded cardboard, of course. (“Mum, take it from us–and we do have experience eating shredded cardboard–there’s just no comparison with canned tuna.“). In retrospect, I imagine the reason she preferred that type was precisely because it didn’t taste anything like fish.
As for me, I prefer my tuna faux, in any case. I’ve already served up some yummy chickpea-based spread on this blog before, but this new recipe offered a terrific alternative that was both light and filling at the same time. Unlike the more common versions, this recipe from the book Main Street Veganby author Victoria Moran contains no legumes, but is nut-based instead. I received a copy of the book last summer from the publisher, and have been meaning to write about it since (see what I mean about time zipping by?).
While the book does contain recipes, it is not a cookbook per se; instead, Main Street Vegan provides a reference source and guidebook for anyone who may be curious about, or interested in, adopting a vegan lifestyle, but is not sure where or how to begin. The book offers a balanced, non-preachy, informative and even keeled approach without proselytizing. As her publisher tells, us some of the topics covered in the book include:
Figuring out what works for you as an individual, even if that means taking baby steps
Saving money; being plant-based doesn’t have to mean spending your whole paycheck on Tofutti or Tofurkey
Leaving diets behind and making peace with your body for keeps
Making this work in real life: dating, raising kids, traveling, eating out, and getting along with people who just wish you’d eat some meat
How a vegan diet changes the world for animals, and for people
Plus much more! Each chapter ends with a recipe. This Faux Tuna made an appearance after the chapter, “Let Fish Off the Hook.”
This spread really does look a lot like “the real thing,” except this one is full of flavor and plant-based nutritional goodness as well–nothing at all fishy about that.
Mock Tuna Salad (reprinted with permission from Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran)
2 cups (480 ml) raw walnuts, soaked in room temperature water 4-6 hours and drained
1/4 cup (60 ml) dulse fronds, washed (I used kombu)
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, sliced
2 Tbsp (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil, preferably organic
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) fine sea salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped celery
1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped onion
1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh dill, chopped (measure first, then chop)
Combine walnuts, dulse, bell pepper, garlic, lemon juice, oil and salt in a food processor and process until it becomes creamy, adding water as needed. Add parsley and blend briefly. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and mix in the celery, onion and dill with a fork. Serve immediately or cover and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Makes about 2 cups.
“Mum, it may not be from a can, but this Faux Tuna still looks great to us–we’d love to taste-test some of this! I think you’d better let us deal with the leftovers. . . .I mean, you don’t want us to keep feeling neglected, now, do you?”
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)
It’s Wellness Weekend once again–welcome to another week of sugar-free, whole foods, healthy recipes! As always, last week’s entries were a stellar combination of seasonal, creative, and absolutely mouth-watering recipes (and glad you all enjoyed Elsie and Chaser’s Halloween costumes so much!).
Thanks so much for continuing to link up!
Newsy Tidbits
It’s HERE! I received my copy ofSimply Gluten-Free Magazineand am delighted with how beautiful, informative and jam-packed with recipes it is! And for a little preview, here’s what you’ll find from me in the magazine:
These individual Black Forest Trifles are featured along with a rich, decadent Pumpkin-Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake. All gluten-free, sugar-free, egg-free, and dairy-free, of course! To find out where you can purchase your own copy, or subscribe to the magazine, check the Simply Gluten-Free magazinepage.
My friend Cara is hosting a Clean Eating Cocktail Party throughout November! Every day this month, she’ll post a new recipe from a different blogger, with great ideas for what to serve at your holiday or other parties and get-togethers. Cara kicked off the festivities today with an amazing Rosemary Caramel Almond Popcorn recipe. Be sure to check in throughout the month for more party-worthy recipes!
The Cutco Knife Giveaway at Healthy Life Lessons continues until October 31st! Cutco knives are well known for their long lives and great customer service. I’ve had one for over 10 years and still use it daily. Head over to Erica’s blog to enter! Ends October 31st.
Photo shoots for my cookbook started this week–what fun it was to watch the pro in action! If you’d like to keep up with the tester recipes that have been made so far, check out the cookbook Pinterest Board where testers post their creations daily!
Do you have a blog linky event, giveaway or other event you’d like me to mention? Send me an email with the details and I’ll include a few each week (depending on how many requests I get, I may not be able to include them all).
PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY. I will list the events under “Newsy Tidbits” for you if you send me an email to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom.
This Week’s Picks:
Here are this week’s picks based on the theme, “Something fruity!”
Persimmon Blueberry Parfait from Cats in the Kitchen. I just adore persimmon and love this unusual way of using it!
Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter and Facebook (there’s a new, shorter twitter hashtag, too, so you can write more about the food: #WWknd as well as the original #WellnessWeekend).
Here’s How to Participate:
The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.
Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go!
This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
Pleasemention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!
I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!
And n0w. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).
It’s Wellness Weekend once again–welcome to another week of sugar-free, whole foods, healthy recipes! But before we get to the food, I couldn’t very well begin this week’s event without acknowledging the incredible storm that just swept through the US and parts of Canada.
Some of you know that the HH and I took an impulsive trip to New York last weekend as a little getaway for my birthday. As always, we had a fabulous time (I’ll post a few pics next time). As it turned out, we flew out of the city on Saturday evening–literally just in time to bypass Hurricane Sandy. Watching the developments on TV and twitter, my heart was aching for our friends and all the New Yorkers hunkered down there during the storm, and I can only imagine what they are all going through at present. Wishing everyone who’s now dealing with the aftermath–whether in the city or surrounding areas–a safe, dry and quick recovery from any damage.
On a lighter note, it was also Halloween yesterday. I hope you all had a great time dressing up and trick or treating! The Girls refused to participate this year, pouting in their annual photo:
“Well, if we don’t get to bark and snarl at everyone who comes to the door, it’s really not worth it, Mum.”
Those wacky Girls! Guess we’d better move on to the news!
Newsy Tidbits
Don’t miss the Tiny Treats giveaway!! I’m giving away a copy of this amazing ebook filled with 25 spectacular sweet treats. The authors are also donating a portion of the book’s proceeds to an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Read an interview with Lisa and Nicole and ENTER the GIVEAWAY here! Ends tomorrow!
My friend Cara is hosting a Clean Eating Cocktail Party throughout November! Every day this month, she’ll post a new recipe from a different blogger, with great ideas for what to serve at your holiday or other parties and get-togethers. Cara kicked off the festivities today with an amazing Rosemary Caramel Almond Popcorn recipe. Be sure to check in throughout the month for more party-worthy recipes!
The new Simply Gluten Free Magazine is available starting November 6 this week! In case you missed it last time, here’s a preview of the magazine, available at a Whole Foods or Barnes and Noble near you!! The magazine looks simply beautiful. And check out my two “Stellar Vegan Holiday Desserts” while you’re browsing!
Cutco Knife Giveaway: Healthy Life Lessons is giving away a Cutco Santuko knife to one lucky Canadian! Cutco knives are well known for their long lives and great customer service. I’ve had one for over 10 years and still use it daily. Head over to Erica’s blog to enter! Ends October 31st.
I’m on Facebook and twitter! Please join me there for blog updates, health information, out-take photos of the Girls, and more!
Do you have a blog linky event, giveaway or other event you’d like me to mention? Send me an email with the details and I’ll include a few each week (depending on how many requests I get, I may not be able to include them all).
PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY. I will list the events under “Newsy Tidbits” for you if you send me an email to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom.
This Week’s Picks:
This week’s theme is “replace fast food”: dishes you can enjoy as healthy alternatives to burgers, Sloppy Joes or Mexican take-out.
Squash Tortilla Soup from Real Food, Real Deals. Enjoy a little taste of Mexico in a bowl.
Dr. Furhman’s Amazing Bean Burgers from Triumph Wellness. Emily promises that these burgers are moist, hold together when cooked (yeah!) and are delicious.
Readers’ Choice, Sweet:
Raw Protein Balls from The Rebel Grrrl Kitchen. A bit of sweet, a bit of cinnamon, a bit of protein–and you’ve got a great snack, even during a cleanse!
Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter and Facebook (there’s a new, shorter twitter hashtag, too, so you can write more about the food: #WWknd as well as the original #WellnessWeekend).
Here’s How to Participate:
The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.
Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go!
This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
Pleasemention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!
I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!
And n0w. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).
Welcome back to Wellness Weekend! First, let me say “thank you” to everyone who sent Happy Birthday wishes via twitter and Facebook over the weekend–what a lovely way to make the day even more special! The HH and I celebrated on Sunday (and it was so great to get a break–even if only half a day!). I also got some gorgeous earrings from my honey (one size fits all–thank you, HH).
And now, on to this week’s Pre-Halloween edition of Wellness Weekend! Have you seen as many Halloween-themed foods on blogs as I have this past week? Choosing foods to prepare will be almost as tough as choosing an appropriate costume! (If you read my last blog post, you’ll also know that the HH and I don’t give out Halloween candy any more–and the reason why).
Newsy Tidbits
You’ll find a great roundup of healthy pumpkin recipes here at Whole New Mom. Lots of vegan options, too. Trick or treat!
I’m thrilled to share this preview of the new Simply Gluten-Free magazine, due out November 6th at a Whole Foods or Barnes and Noble near you!! The magazine looks simply beautiful. And check out my two “Stellar Vegan Holiday Desserts” while you’re browsing!
Cutco Knife Giveaway: Healthy Life Lessons is giving away a Cutco Santuko knife to one lucky Canadian! Cutco knives are well known for their long lives and great customer service. I’ve had one for over 10 years and still use it daily. Head over to Erica’s blog to enter! Ends October 31st.
Please join me on Pinterest! It’s another great way to keep track of recipes you love. I’ve also created a new board to showcase recipes from my upcoming cookbook–the recipe testers and I will be adding photos on a regular basis.
Do you have a blog linky event, giveaway or other event you’d like me to mention? Send me an email with the details and I’ll include a few each week (depending on how many requests I get, I may not be able to include them all).
PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY. I will list the events under “Newsy Tidbits” for you if you send me an email to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom.
This Week’s Picks:
Here are some favorites on the theme of “Liquid Nourishment”:
Chocolate Almond Milk from Gluten-Free Cat. Heather shows us how to create this rich, creamy treat from scratch!
Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter and Facebook (there’s a new, shorter twitter hashtag, too, so you can write more about the food: #WWknd as well as the original #WellnessWeekend).
Here’s How to Participate:
The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.
Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go!
This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
Pleasemention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!
I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!
And n0w. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).
Wellness Weekend is here once again! And last week’s event looked sort of like a Squash-a-thon to rival my own recipe creation these days! We sure do love our pumpkins and squashes when autumn hits North America, don’t we? From pumpkin donuts to Snickerdoodles to pancakes to latte creamer, we had it all!
Newsy Tidbits
My friend Andrea Nakayama is offering a new course, EstroZen, designed specifically to restore a woman’s hormonal balance and target resistant issues that affect us during peri-menopause and menopause. You know: that almost-instant weight gain from even looking at certain foods; changes in hair, skin and nails; dips in sex drive; and all the other lovely consequences of being a “woman of a certain age.” Andrea’s three-week detox course will provide protocols, menus, online support through the entire 3 weeks, and more. Click here for more information or to register. [Full disclosure: I am an affiliate for this program. If you join the detox, I will earn a small commission.] As you know, I think Andrea is brilliant and immensely talented at what she does, so I wholeheartedly support her work.
This article over at Sheckys.com features 10 Cancer-Fighting foods, and I couldn’t be happier that my Raw Pink Breakfast Bowl is included! Check out all ten, with recipes, here.
Recipe testing is well underway for my upcoming cookbook and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the response of the testers! Thank you once again to everyone who volunteered–I truly wish I could have asked all of you to particiate. If you’re interested in what kinds of recipes will be in the book (and how well they turn out for regular folks), head over to the cookbook Pinterest page.
Do you have a blog linky event, giveaway or other event you’d like me to mention? Send me an email with the details and I’ll include a few each week (depending on how many requests I get, I may not be able to include them all).
PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY. I will list the events under “Newsy Tidbits” for you if you send me an email to dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom.
This Week’s Picks:
Here are four favorite links from last week on the theme of “Blended!”. If you like any of them, please feel free to pin them directly from these photos–just hover your cursor over the photo, then click on “Pin It”:
Roasted Eggplant Dip (Babaganoush) from Real Food Eater. A creamy eggplant dip that’s perfect with-well, just about anything. Why haven’t I made this yet?
Roasted Eggplant Dip
Roasted Homemade Peanut Butter from A Life Unprocessed. True, I can’t eat peanut butter on the ACD, but it’s such a beloved spread that I couldn’t deprive all of you!
Cheese Garlic Crackers – Gluten and Dairy Free – from Part-Time Health Nut. Looks like a must-make to me!
Gluten and Dairy Free Cheese Garlic Crackers
Readers’ Choice, Sweet:
Gluten-Free Autumn Amaranth Bars from Bring Joy. Even if you don’t normally like amaranth, Janae promises you’ll like these. (Just be sure to follow directions–or else!).
Amaranth Bars
Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter and Facebook (there’s a new, shorter twitter hashtag, too, so you can write more about the food: #WWknd as well as the original #WellnessWeekend).
Here’s How to Participate:
The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.
Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed,” since they either contain a single ingredient, or could technically be made at home. Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go!
This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
Pleasemention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!
I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!
And n0w. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).
Welcome back to Wellness Weekend! If you’ve been wondering what that strange, high-pitched, jagged noise has been the past week, it was me, wailing about the cooler weather. Did I really think our glorious summer this year would last forever? (We can all hope for miracles, right?). Still, I do love all the fall produce, and I suppose I must admit that bulky sweaters can be pretty. So onward we go!
There was an amazing lineup of recipes last week, and I can’t wait to share the top picks and faves. But first, news!
Newsy Tidbits
Tonight’s your LAST CHANCE to enter to WIN A YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION to Simply Gluten Free Magazine! This beautifully photographed lifestyle magazine for anyone with food sensitivities, allergies or special diets (and that includes vegan, of course!) will launch in November, just in time for the holidays. Enter to win a free subscription, or buy one for a friend! (And I’ve been LOVING all your comments and suggestions for the magazine!!).
Not one, but two separate giveaways for Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil this week! If you’ve ever tasted this wonderful product, you know it’s the gold standard for coconut oils (you can check out my original review here.). This week, both Sensual Appeal and Anne Marie Cain are giving some away! Click on the links to enter (but quick–one ends Sunday and the other ends Monday!).
Are you on Pinterest? It’s another great way to keep track of recipes you love. Please join me there! I’ve also just created a new board to showcase recipes from my upcoming cookbook–the recipe testers and I will be adding photos on a regular basis.
How do you feel about affiliate links? These are the product links I’ve added toward the bottom of the right sidebar. As with anything I recommend on the blog, these are items that I actually use or have used myself and can wholeheartedly endorse. If you end up purchasing something after clicking on one of the links, you’ll also help support DDD, as I will earn a small commission from the sale. Eventually, I’ll be adding these to a custom “store” page on the blog, where they will join my full list of favorite products. Do you find them useful? Annoying? Are you indifferent? I’d love to hear your feedback.
Do you have a blog linky event, giveaway or other event you’d like me to mention? Send me an email with the details and I’ll include a few each week (depending on how many requests I get, I may not be able to include them all).
PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR GIVEAWAYS OR CONTESTS TO THE LINKYS BELOW–THEY ARE FOR RECIPES ONLY. I will list the events under “Newsy Tidbits” for you if you send me an email.
This Week’s Picks:
Here are some of my favorite links from last’s week’s Wellness Weekend on the theme of “on the side” (and please feel free to pin any of them directly from these photos–just hover your cursor over the photo, then click on “Pin It”):
Pav Bhaji Sloppy Joes from Vegan Richa feature a veggie base and Indian spices. Delicious!
Readers’ Choice, Sweet:
A healthy twist on Raisin Oatmeal Cookies from Allergy Free Alaska was your top choice this week. And no xanthan or guar gum!
Thanks for joining in and sharing all your healthy, sugar-free and vegan recipes. I love seeing what you whip up each week! And I hope you’ll also share on twitter and Facebook (there’s a new, shorter twitter hashtag, too, so you can write more about the food: #WWknd as well as the original #WellnessWeekend).
Here’s How to Participate:
The event occurs once a week, starting Thursdays at 8:00 PM my time and running until the following Monday at midnight.
Simply link up a vegan recipe you made (and posted about) that contains health-supporting ingredients. This means any good-for-you whole foods, especially those with antioxidant properties or “functional foods” (ie, offering naturally medicinal or health-promoting qualities–such as garlic, coconut oil, all vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc.)–but any fresh, real food is welcome!No-no’s include white flour or sugar, highly processed foods, or animal products. Items like vegan protein powder, grain or bean flours, or coconut milk are fine even though they are technically “processed.” Also, if you render a recipe vegan-friendly by adding a vegan option to your ingredients, your post will be good to go!
This is a recipe event. Your blog post must contain a recipe.
You may link up older posts from your archives as long as they contain a link to this post. Please do not link up any posts you have previously shared at an earlier Wellness Weekend event.
Please link the post with your recipe, NOT your blog’s home page or another event page. The post must contain a recipe.
You may submit up to three recipes, but please follow the guidelines for each one individually. ONLY ONE THUMBNAIL FROM EACH BLOG POST, PLEASE.If your post contains two suitable recipes, link up once and people will still see all your fabulous recipes when they click on the linky.
Pleasemention this event and include a link back to this post so that others can find all the recipes posted!
Feel free to use the blog badge, above (or see the left sidebar of this page–if you need the html code, let me know and I’ll send it to you). Many thanks to Adrienne of Whole New Mom for setting up the badge code for me!
PLEASE NOTE: In order to promote your posts and the event, I like to occasionally tweet, mention on Facebook, or pin your blog post(s). On occasion, I will repost your photos in the following week’s Wellness Weekend as well. If you prefer that I NOT use your photos or links, please let me know in the comments below, or send an email to me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom. Thanks!
I will reluctantly remove any links that don’t comply. I apologize, but I will no longer be able to leave a comment telling you that I’ve removed a non-compliant link. I hate to have to remove links! PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES BEFORE POSTING!
And n0w. . . what have you been cooking up lately? Please share!
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”).
[Many thanks to everyone for your kind wishes about the new book! I was blown away by the tremendous response to my call for recipe testers. Thank you! I'm still happy to take names for the next few days before I begin to sort according to your locations--I am looking for people worldwide. So keep those requests coming! If you're interested, just email me at dietdessertdogsATgmailDOTcom with the subject line, "Cookbook Tester." Thanks so much!]
My old friend Phil had a saying in high school. Whenever she spied an ultra-feminine style (such as an all-pink ensemble, or multi-ruffled blouse, or a pink hairband lined with decorative bows, or one of the (at the time) trendy sweaters bedecked with appliqués, studs or a glittery weave in contrasting colors), she’d wince, wrinkle her nose, and proclaim: “Ech! Too much frilly-do.” You see, Phil is a no-nonsense kinda gal, and her personality was relfected in her choice of suit-cut pants, down-to-business attire and sleek, straight hair–left unadorned.
Me, I was the opposite. I embraced my inner frilly-do quite enthusiastically. And as I got older, it morphed into my outer frilly-do. In fact, except for a brief period just before kindergarten, I basically adored all things frilly-do. (According to my dad, I was the quintessential tomboy back then: I captured caterpillars in a jar, collected worms after a rainfall, ran around the neighborhood with one shoe on, cheeks blushed with mud. Who was that kid?!). Later on, I wore my frilly-do with pride. Lay that frilly-do on me, I’d say. All hail the frilly-do!
[A blast from my past: how do you do, frilly-do?]
While I’ve pared down the florals and the three-dimensional clothing somewhat these days, I’m still unabashedly fond of all things feminine. Yep, I’m a pink girl (and I see absolutely no contradiction between that and the fact that I’m also an avowed feminist). I was one of those young women in my 20s who’d don ruffles, lace and camisoles entirely for myself (okay, so I would have been more than happy to wear them for “that special someone” else, too, if there had ever been a “someone” around to appreciate them). I’m not talking about overtly sexy or “come-hither,” either; I just mean softer fabrics, paler colors, flowery prints, maybe some pearls–you know: frilly-do.
When it comes to clothing, pink may not be a color I wear that often any more, but I do still love its verve and cheekiness. Pink is the color of blushing cheeks, of toddler’s smiles, of lover’s fingertips, of summer berries about to burst.
Pink makes me smile.
A couple of weeks ago, when I was still suffering daily toothaches, I searched for ways to soften up some of the typical fare I consume (and believe it or not, the natural treatments I’ve been using, such as rinsing with goldenseal or applying poultices of cotton saturated with oil of oregano, have worked! No pain for over a week! Whoo hoo!). I love me a good, crunchy apple, but two weeks back, anything too hard or crunchy was clearly a “no-go.” I decided to take the concept of the Pink Breakfast Bowl (one of my all-time favorite morning meals) and convert it into a raw version using apples in a way that I could then enjoy them. The method was inspired by Doug McNish’s raw apple-chia bowl in Eat Raw, Eat Well, where he grinds up apples to create a base for his recipe as well.
This is a terrific quick-fix, juicy and filling, flavorful and healthy breakfast. The ground apples and walnuts create a thick, smooth base that’s much like porridge, while the grated apple and beet add texture and sweetness. Hemp or sunflower seeds top it off with crunch and extra protein. Just for fun, I calculated the nutritional stats on this one and was pleased to learn that for a mere 302 calories, this bowl offers up 12 grams of protein (25% of the daily requirement); 11 grams of fat (20% of the daily recommendation); 17 grams of fiber (a whopping 50%–or more–of your daily requirement!); as well as 30% of daily calcium needs and 10% of your iron for the day.
Not bad for a little bowl of pink. Yes, this will certainly frilly do.
Cut the apple into quarters; reserve two quarters and set aside. Coarsely chop the the other two quarters.
In the bowl of a mini processor or a Magic Bullet, purée the chopped apple quarters, walnuts, cinnamon, ginger and almond milk until relatively smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the chia seeds, if using.
Grate the two unchopped apple quarters using the medium holes of a box grater or food processor. Grate the beet using the small holes of a box grater (fine holes on a food processor) and add to the bowl with the stevia; stir to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness. Sprinkle with seeds and more cinnamon, if desired. Makes one hefty serving.
["Sorry, Mum, but I just can't get behind this 'frilly-do' thing. I'd be happy to eat one of those pink breakfast bowls, though. . . "]
Never miss a recipe–or a comment from The Girls! Click here to subscribe to Diet, Dessert and Dogs via email. (“We love subscribers, Mum. . . almost as much as we love treats!”)
To find out where you can purchase your own copy, or subscribe to the magazine, check the 
