Carrot Grapefruit Green Juice

Recent lesson learned: key to juicing is variety! 

I decided to change up my traditional veggies 

and try something new for better detox.  

I am not a big fan of carrots, 

since I was traumatized in drinking carrot juice when I was younger, 

but I needed something new. 

Change is hard, but definitely necessary in life. Don't you agree? :)

Also I bought fresh wheatgrass 

and used it as my detox veggie! Whoohoo.

And finally, the ruby red grapefruit transforms the juice into deliciousness. :) 

Carrot Grapefruit Green Juice

1 carrot
1 ruby red grapefruit, peeled
1 head of iceberg lettuce
3 inches of euro cucumber
3 stalks of celery
handful of fresh wheatgrass

My basic green juice recipe: 

one fruit for sweetness, handful of greens, and 1 detox item

For more info on my juicer-ware: click here

For my other green juice recipes: apple ginger, beet lemon, beet apple, cabbage orange, pear kale.

Have you tried wheatgrass before? Anything new you've tried lately?

Veggie Hummus Dip

I love schmancifying the ordinary... :)

 with a healthy twist of course hehe ~

...like dressing up a tub of hummus 

with some colorful veggies!

Palatable to the taste buds,

and inviting to the eyes. :) 

Simple, healthy vegan entertaining for you~

Veggie Hummus Dip

1 tub of hummus (flavor of choice)

1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted

1/4 cup euro cucumber

1/4 cup baby tomatoes

1/8 cup fresh parsley 

Directions:

1. Finely dice veggies and arrange on top of hummus.  Or layer it veggie by veggie. :)  

2. Mix together when ready to serve.  Eat with pita chips and enjoy. :)

How do you like to eat your hummus? Favorite type of hummus?

Pear Kale Green Juice

I saw an entire counter of pears at WF.
I couldn't have been happier!
Brought back so many memories in Ann Arbor...
running across the street to Busches or the local farmer's market
just so I could have a perfectly ripened bosc pear. :)

But today I decided to enjoy something new: red anjou pears!

Pear Kale Green Juice

1 red anjou pear

handful of green kale

handful of parsley

3 stalks of celery

1 lemon with peel 

My basic green juice recipe: 

one fruit for sweetness, handful of greens, and 1 detox item (lemon, ginger, beet). 

For more info on my juicer-ware: click here

For my other green juice recipes: apple ginger, beet lemon, beet apple, cabbage orange.

What is your favorite type of pear?

Coconut Banana Spritz Cookies

 Coconut Banana Spritz Cookies

paired with cocoa powder, cinnamon, and sugar crystals

yummy and healthy tea party entertaining for you :)

 oh yes, a vegan cookie, might i add. hehe

This post is in honor of Foodbuzz/Electrolux's fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer Research

for every tea party recipe before 3/23, 

$50 will be donated to the cause by Foodbuzz, $1 by Electrolux,

and your recipe will be eligible for the top 9 tea party takeover on 3/25.

Please join me in helping raise money for this beautiful cause. 

Coconut Banana Spritz Cookies

1 cup expellar pressed coconut oil
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup banana
2.5 tbsp golden flaxseed meal
6 tbsp water
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp sea salt

optional:
cacao/cocoa powder
cinnamon
sugar crystals

Directions:
1. Mix flaxseed meal and water and let it sit for 3 minutes.
2. Puree 1 banana (about 1/4 cup) into a food processor or mixer.
3. Add coconut oil, sugar, flaxseed mixture to the pureed banana and cream together using the food processor/mixer until smooth.
4. Combine flour and sea salt. Add mixture slowly into the wet mixture.  Continue to mix the batter with the food processor or blender until the batter is soft, smooth, and dough-y. Do not refridgerate dough even though it may seem soft.  Use immediately.
5. On an ungreased cookie sheet, put your cookie batter into your cookie press and create all sorts of creative cookie designs.  Garnish with cinnamon and sugar crystals. Add cocoa/cacao powder for a chocolate version (use the food processor/mixer).
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes or until golden on the edges.

For more details on the fundraiser: Click here

What is your perfect go-to tea party recipe?

Top 5 Daily Essentials

I've been tagged by Fish+Cake. :*)

My Top 5 Daily Essentials

1. Freshly pressed veggie juice with a piece of fruit, a knob of ginger and a whole lemon.  

2. Steamed greens is a must.  Green cabbage is my absolute favorite.  Kale is next in line. 

3. Nutbutters + seedbutters.  Freshly ground roasted almond butter makes my palate swirl.

4. Baby tomatoes are my go-to afternoon snack.  I go through a carton a day. Nom nom. 

5. Freshly brewed homemade roasted barley tea.  My pick-me-up drink. 

All of mine are food related. Hehe. :)

I tag....
Younique, Alien's Day Out, Healthnut, Allez Kensington, Simply Life, Jenna Laughs, Elephant Eats, Life as Kristina, HiHoRosie, Rawk Me, Sinfully Spicy, Sweet Pea, A Girl and Her Carrot, Wallet Friendly Wellness, Go Sam.

What is one of your daily essentials? [Food, Beauty Product, Electronics, etc.]

GCC Membership Project

*my heart story for the local church*

the church at it's full bloom is absolutely beautiful

the foundation of solid rice, a symbol of life and fertility

sprinkled green sugar seeds, surrounded by pepitas for visionary dreams

the first blossoms of dedicated love and prayer

the ultimate vision that lies ahead

the life cycle of a church, all in perfect harmony

I decided to commit to Grace Community Chapel, 

a local church that is passionate and visionary, 

thriving in the heart of New Jersey.  

Commitment to this local church means... 

to love, pray, build, share, and dream together.

My prayer is that this church will be built on solid rock,

seeds planted in the hearts of the people,

prayers sown and a harvest reaped. 

I finally found a new church home and family.

Thank you God. :)

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. 

Ephesians 3: 16-21 (NIV)

Leave a comment and share your thoughts on life with moi, please. :) 

If you are a GCC friend, say hello please. :)

Rice Cupcake

a "2nd generation" twist on the classic Korean steamed rice cake,

a baked rice cupcake with natural sugar crystals. :)

Rice Cupcakes

1 cup white or brown rice flour

1 cup all purpose flour or whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup white sugar
3 tbsp golden flaxseed meal

3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt

1.5 cups water
1 tbsp canola oil
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp vanilla extract or almond extract

sugar crystals

Directions:
1. Mix rice flour, all purpose flour, arrowroot, sugar, sea salt, flax, and baking powder together.
2. Add in water in 1/2 cup increments and mix the batter in slowly.
3. Add in vanilla or almond extract + canola oil + lemon juice.
4. Pour spoonfuls in cupcake pan.  Sprinkle with natural sugar crystals.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until edges are slightly golden and top is firm.

Other tips: Because rice flour lacks gluten, the all purpose flour is necessary to make it rise.  Other flours might work well too.  This cupcake is best eaten right away since rice flour (steamed or baked) hardens after a day.  

Other information: I used India Tree decorating sugar crystals - flavored naturally with veggies and fruits. No processed sprinkles here. :)

Have you used rice flour before? Any other ideas?

Sweet + Savory Steamed Buns

Savory Steamed Bun 

Stuffed with Portabella, Kale, Onion & Cashews

Sweet Steamed Bun

Stuffed with Strawberries + Almond Butter + Cinnamon

One of my favorite dinner breads growing up was a steamed bun. :)

Airy and light, it was just so good.

This bread can be stuffed with veggies, 

 fruit, nut butter, or eaten solo. 

A nice change of pace from the traditional baked bread.

 Btw, kneading dough is so therapeutic, I discovered. 

My new form of stress therapy. Hehe.

Sweet + Savory Steamed Buns

Adapted from Carol's recipe on All Recipes

1 tbsp active dry yeast

2 tsp sugar

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup warm water

1.5 cups all purpose flour

2 tbsp sugar

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup warm water

1 tbsp canola oil

*1 tbsp dried parsley (savory)

*2 tsp dried oregano (savory)
 **1 tsp cinnamon  (sweet)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 portabella mushroom, finely chopped

1 stalk of kale, finely chopped

1/8 purple onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup cashews, soaked for 1 hour, finely chopped

4 strawberries, finely chopped

2 tbsp, almond butter 

Directions:

1. Combine yeast, 2 tsp sugar, 1/4 cup flour, and 1/4 cup warm water. Let it stand for 30 minutes.

2. Combine remaining 1.5 cup flour, 2 tbsp sugar, sea salt, baking soda, water and canola into the proofed dough. Kneed dough until it is elastic and smooth.  It shouldn't be crumbly or flour-y.

3. In a greased bowl, let the dough stand for 2.5 to 3 hours. Cover with a paper towel. It should triple in size!

4. Punch down the dough once and cut in half. Put half of the dough in bowl. With the other half, knead dough for 5 more minutes on a surface sprinkled with baking powder.  Kneed in *parsley + oregano for savory steamed buns; **cinnamon for sweet steamed buns. Cut and shape into small balls of dough and put on wax/parchment paper. Let it stand for 30 more minutes.

5. Prep veggie + fruit mixture depending on your choice of steamed bun.  Finely chop all the ingredients.

6. With each piece of dough, create a hole in the middle and fill with mixture. Close the dough by pinching it in the middle. 

7. Bring water in a steamer (lined with a paper towel or parchment paper) to a boil.  Put the pinched side of the dough down on the steamer. Steam for 15 minutes.  

8. Eat right away! :) 

Other tips: Only steam buns when ready to serve, since they are best served hot and fresh.  Add more flavor to veggie mixture with dressing of choice such as soy sauce, olive oil, or balsamic vinegar.  Other ideas for dessert buns: banana, maple syrup, nut butter, or sweetened red beans. :) 

Have you eaten a steamed bun before?

Amaretti Cookies

It's no secret that I am pretty obsessed with almond anything...

almond butter, almond milk, almond extract, oh the list goes on and on~

Was perusing through a vegan cookbook the other day

and I was shocked at how simple this almond cookie recipe was...

I present to you an amaretti almond cookie

made with arrowroot powder

and a lot of love. :)

Amaretti Cookie

Adapted from The Complete Guide to Vegan Food Substitutions

1 1/4 cup raw unsalted almonds

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp sugar

2/3 cup arrowroot powder*

2 tsp double acting baking powder

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 tsp pure almond extract

5 - 6 tbsp of water 

Directions:

1. Roast almonds at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until fragrant. This step is key to get the rich aroma of almonds in your cookie. 

2. Combine freshly roasted almonds, sugar, arrowroot, baking powder, sea salt in the food processor and process until finely ground. Let it cool.

3. Put the mixture in a mixing bowl and add almond extract and mix. 

4. Add 1 tbsp of water and mix. Continue to add tbsp of water until the mixture looks like coarse wet sand. The mixture should not be liquid-y.  The mixture should hold together in a ball but then should be able to easily crumble. Add more tbsp of water if needed or decrease as needed.

5. Roll into balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  If the balls don't hold together well, then there needs to be more moisture in the batter.

6. Bake for 18 minutes at 350 degrees. Immediately transfer cookies onto a cooling rack. 

7. Enjoy your vegan amaretti cookie :). 

More Info: *Arrowroot Powder is a natural plant-based thickener, a healthier substitute for cornstarch.  According to Amy, she ate arrowroot cookies growing up! :)

What is your favorite dessert with almonds? Anyone else baked with arrowroot before?