Bitter Sauté with Mustard and Split Pea purée

Another great Chicago meal....

Chicago Dinner 2. Creamy Brown Rice Pasta Yumminess!

Creamy Brown Rice Pasta

Rigatoni Brown Rice Pasta

String Beans

Black Radish

Leeks

Fried tofu cubes with orange zest

Veganase Dressing

Topped with dulse flakes

Hello Chicago! Ready for a brown rice 'mock' risotto?

 

Hey Folks!

Took off on a little trip to the mid-west.  First stop Chicago!

Cooking up some afternoon lunch with Markobiotic Chef....Marko!  (Yup, that's spelled correctly)

Sauteed Kale and Squash with mix herbs.  Brown Rice Mock Risotto.  Sauerkraut.

Try this recipe on for size:

Brown Rice Mock Risotto

Left over brown rice (short grain)
Diced leeks
squash
garlic
Radishes and tops
baby mustards
sliced almond
dulse flakes
veganase
xtra virgin olive oil

Saute in oil in this order: garlic, squash, radishes, leeks.
Add the left over brown rice and sliced almonds and work into vegetable mix.  Might need to add more oil.
Add the radish tops and baby mustards.
Add the dulse flakes.
Dissolve hemping few table spoons of veganase in a little water and whip.  Then add to make mock risotto.  You need to stir constantly to cook flavors and absorb all fluids.  Texture should start to get creamy.

Tastes best when sits for a while (with flame off) and even great the next day.

Try it!! Happy Cooking and Happy Memorial Day!

Dear Folks -

In collaborating with international macrobiotic counselor Virginia Harper, and You Can Heal You, we are offering a 10-day Healing Lifestyle Training Program in Lagrange, Indiana.

If you are suffering with Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease, other digestive disorders, auto immune diseases, or chronic illnesses, this is where you will learn to regain your health through the power of FOOD!

Please write me to request more information. 
Happy Health!

Summer Time "Sweet" Chilled Tea

The weather is warming! We all like our fresh rejuvenating drinks. Try this homemade Cool Tea for a fresh taste.

2/3 kukicha twig tea (brewed and cooled)
1/3 apple juice (R.W. Knudsen is the brand I like to use)
Lemon slices (to your liking)

Kukicha Twig Tea is a wonderful, calming tea for the intestines. Perfect for settling the stomach after a heavy meal. And...believe it...there is protein in it!

Standard American Meal... Adjusted!

 

MEAT ALERT!

Before you read any further, please note that there is meat in the following dish.

Okay readers, so I'm not 100% vegan.  There are the rare occasions (and by rare I mean once every 3-6 months) that I get the "standard american diet" craving too.  After all, unfortunately this is the stuff I grew up on so there are still that underlying urge that exists in my cells.  

But all that crap aside, who says this meal can't be beneficial for you AND there is a better way to digest it. I thought for a while whether I wanted to post this, and than thought, OF COURSE! This is exactly what people need to know to not be afraid of making changes.  So here is goes:

Open Faced Burger

Mac N Cheese

Salad

Open Faced Burger is made with Grass-Fed Local Ground Beef (this is the most important ingredient!)

Topped with Sauerkraut, Avocado, mustard, and sauteed mushrooms

served over a whole wheat toasted slice of bread (who needs the other half?)

Mac N Cheese is "Annie's organic macaroni and cheese boxes (I know yuck).  But I did use Earth Balance for butter to make it creamy, and be sure to not over cook the pasta. Of course there are much better ways of making a delicious vegan mac and cheese but for this night, it's what was called for.

Side Salad - did I say Salad? I actually meant steamed collard greens topped with grated (raw) diakon.  Sprinkled with some lemon to neutralize the bitterness.  This is the MOST important dish!!  The diakon and greens will actually help break down animal fats and proteins in the body!  So you better pile them on the dish.

I promise you, if you want to do a back yard summer BBQ and entertain people with the best choices, follow this guideline and you'll be feeling nice and energized, instead of bloated and uncomfortable.

For you meat eater's out there, ONLY,  feel free to try it! ;)

Workshop This Tuesday!

This Tuesday, March 6th, Dr. Brian Blatt and myself will be hosting an introduction workshop on what causes chronic diseases. You'll have, first hand, the perspective of a chiropractor and a nutritionists speaking about the true causes of disease in the body. Come see how our views support each other, and support a truly wholesome, healthy life. RSVP to save your spot! Yummy snack from me will be served.

"Magic" Black Soy Beans...and there is a tea for it!

So maybe the old man who sold Jack those beans for his cow knew they were black soy beans, and the power behind them.... c'mon folks... Jack and the Beanstalk? No? No one!?

Okay, enough of that. Let's stop with the ridiculousness, we know there's nothing magical about black soy beans, but you'd be in awe if I shared their powers with you.

Without getting into too many complicated explainations, black soy beans are the black seed of the latin plant, glycine soja. Sweet in taste, it's found to be extremely benefical for the spleen and kidneys. Don't be surprised if it also improved blood circulation, acts as a duiretic, improves bone and joint disorders, bronchitis, improves kidney and bladder problems, irregular menstration, removes toxins from the body, and overall helps to relax. Phew! What a mouth-full.

I've been feeling a little under the weather with this winter season and wanted to give my dry cough some reflief, so I whipped up some yummy black soy bean tea. Try drinking a cup of this for 24 hours and tell me how you feel after...I feel great!

BLACK SOY BEAN TEA
1/2 cup rinsed black soy beans (un-cooked, no cans please)
2 cups of water (ratio of beans to water will always be 1:4)
1-inch piece of kombu

Place the beans in the water with the kombu. Let it come to a boil and cover. Heavy pot and lid is always best. Cook beans for 30 minutes! They won't be cooked all the way, but you can always finish cooking them later. Strain the beans—you better save that water because that's your tea! Drink about 1/2-1 cup every 2 hours. It's like MAGIC!

Ask the 'Duke' if it's time for a Lunch Break

It's COLD outside and I just need something to warm me up. It's the perfect time of year for Udon Miso Soup!

Nothing's better than homemade, but I know what you're thinking, 'I didn't have time to cook today.' For my Manhattan'ers out there, it's Duke to the rescue! I got a large bowl of Miso Soup with fresh udon noodles, vegetables, and tofu. I paid a little extra for some fried tofu, so my total price came to $7.40! Not bad for Manhattan. You can't beat miso to watch those winter sniffles go away.

Check out Cafe Duke!

This location is in Soho and one of my favorites for many years now. Check it out sometime and write me about it ;)

Gratitude....

Dear Blog Readers -

It's been a momentous night for me. I've never felt so grateful and blessed. With the airing of my documentary tonight, it's brought me back to experiencing it all over again. It's been such an incredible journey for me over the last 10 years of my life. You really never know where life will take you. I never thought I would ever develop a life-threatening illness, and I never would have thought that I had the strength to overcome it. I truly believe that each and every person has an inner strength within them. I started this blog thinking that if I could just make a difference in one persons life, it would be worth it. Knowing that I've reached 100 followers is astounding and heartfelt. You can make anything happen if you believe in it enough.

Life is truly a gift. Tonight, I hope you all live every moment of it to it's fullest and never have any regrets.

To all of you who follow me, I couldn't be this happy without you.
xo
Marisa