Naraya Cooking Health Recipe

Like the title says, salad should be the main meal on the dinner table! It is so important to get tons of greens in your diet, as well as veggies. Both are super low calorie, high fiber and packed with the best quality nutrition on the planet. What more do you need? Well... okay, you need raw brownies too. Note: If you don't like tofu plain and raw, then go ahead and marinate, bake, or prepare it however you like.

Mega dinner salad: serves one to four people

Dressing:
1 tablespoon each of mustard, tahini, miso, raisins
3 tablespoon sun dried tomatoes Water, as needed

Salad:
3 heads of lettuce, washed and ripped into pieces
1/4 cup baby tomatoes, halved
5 olives, halved
1/4 package of tofu, cubed
3 mushrooms, sliced and marinated in tamari
1/2 avocado, chopped

Blend all the ingredients for the dressing until smooth, using as much water as needed. Toss the lettuce with dressing until evenly coated then top with the rest of the salad ingredients. Enjoy!

Ingredients (one serving)

• 1 grapefruit per person (I used ruby red)
• 1 tablespoon coconut sugar, divided 
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated ginger or a generous sprinkle of dried ginger, divided

optional toppers

• shredded unsweetened coconut (add after the first two or three minutes)
• dash of cinnamon

Preheat broiler. You can alternately use a toaster oven for this using a high temp.

Slice grapefruits in half. You may have to slice a tad bit off the bottom if your grapefruits don't stand straight. Place each half, cut side up, on your rimmed cookie sheet or baking dish. Top each half with 1 1/2 teaspoon or so sugar and 1/4 teaspoon or so ginger. Use your fingers to blend and spread the ginger on the grapefruit halves.

Place in broiler and cook anywhere from 4 - 7 minutes. I find it best to set your timer for 2 minutes, check grapefruit, if sugar is not caramelized or there is no excessive charring of the grapefruit rind (white part), add another minute and repeat the process until sugar is caramelized and rind is gently colored but not overly burnt all around. If using shredded coconut, sprinkle on top of the grapefruit halves after the first two minutes.

Once done, serve immediately or let cool and serve at room temp.

As with all recipes, adjust seasonings to your tastes.

Segmenting: Segmenting can be done before broiling or after. Once you have sliced your grapefruit in half, use a grapefruit knife or a serrated paring knife and cut each segment so the pink flesh is cut away from the membrane. Next, gently par around the whole outside area of flesh cutting away from the rind. It will make your grapefruit eating a little easier and less messy.

I am really loving coconut milk and frozen fruit as combination ingredients lately. If you're getting tired of it - I am sorry. But no need to fret, because summer is quickly approaching and she promises a fresh, local, always-changing variety of new produce each week at the farmers market. I am excited to be inspired every Saturday by the organic options available to make new raw food creations for myself, my family, friends, and you, of course! But for now - I must stick with frozen fruit, and coconut milk is an excellent pairing.

The ice cream is just coconut milk and raw cane sugar. You can use whatever sweetener you like; I am sure date paste, raw agave, maple syrup or bananas would all work. You can use the canned coconut milk found in stores or make your own, using this recipe I found. I was really excited to learn that you can make your own raw coconut milk at home (although when you actually think about it - it shouldn't be a surprise). I will be doing this next time. I am probably going to drink the entire concoction right away, self-restraint thrown out with the coconut husk shavings...



I poured the sweet coconut milk into popsicle molds filled with frozen fruit and thyme (I have since learned that it was not thyme I picked, nor rosemary, but lavender. You can use whatever herb you like.) The combination is an explosion of wholesome goodness in your mouth, and I mean that in the best way imaginable. I'm learning that my favourite herbs like basil, rosemary and thyme, pair wonderfully with my other favourite foods like berries, citrus, and other fruit. I suppose I shouldn't be shocked; these raw plants are all best friends in nature so it makes sense that they taste magical together.

Ingredients (makes apprx. 9)

• 2 1/4 cups almond flour*
• 1/3 cup old fashioned rolled oats (I used GF), optional
• 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal (ground flaxseeds)
• 1/2 teaspoon mineral salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk, or non-dairy milk of choice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup grated apple, cored...with or without the skin (about 2 very small apples)
• 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped 

• 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, pure cane sugar or turbinado
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• tablespoon chopped oats, optional

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, flaxseed meal, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Next you want to combine and heat your maple syrup, coconut oil, non-dairy milk and vanilla either on the stove top on low, or in the microwave until the coconut oil is just melted, about 45 seconds (This is to ensure that everything is warm or your coconut oil will harden when coming in contact with chilled ingredients.) Once your wet ingredients are warmed and coconut oil is melted, pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just combined. Stir in the grated apples and nuts of choice. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes or so to let the flaxseeds and oats thicken a bit.

In the meantime, either line your muffin tins with liners or grease with coconut oil. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon, set aside.

Scoop and fill each muffin cup almost to the top. Sprinkle with some cinnamon sugar mixture and add a some chopped oats on top too if you like. Bake for 20 minutes or so, until toothpick comes out clean and muffins are browned on top. Let cool, remove muffins and enjoy.

*You can make your own almond flour at home by grinding your almonds in a food processor. It's very easy, takes about five minutes and will save you 2 to 3 times what you would pay for almond flour in the store. Use 1 1/2 cups raw or toasted almonds to make 2 cups almond flour. For this recipe use 1 3/4 cups to make 2 1/4 cups almond flour.

In celebration of April 20th (a.k.a. 420) - the day once a year groups of people around the world come together to enjoy the natural delights of cannabis in all it's forms, legal or otherwise - I have decided to do a hemp recipe roundup, so throughout the post there are linked photos - click them for the recipes! I also have a bit of a rant about supporting the legalization of marijuana. I am NOT saying everyone should smoke weed, but I do believe we should have the RIGHT to, if we want. It is part of our duty as promoters of plants (and discouragers of government dishonesty and manipulative corporate profiting) to promote this wonderful green plant! Read on.


I don't want to lose my beloved readers over this controversial topic, but I also need to be honest. I really feel that supporting the cannabis plant - including marijuana - is an important part of my job as an individual who promotes an eco-friendly, cruelty-free and healthful, wholesome lifestyle and at the same time REFUSES to live a life reliant on major corporations, drug companies, agribusiness, chemicals and toxins.


Essentially - part of my being vegan is a devotion to HOLISTIC living. Supporting and encouraging the legalization of beneficial medicinal herbs that have been used for thousands of years by intelligent civilizations is directed connected to my chosen holistic lifestyle.

When you look at the controversy around marijuana - it is almost identical to the controversy around meat, dairy and other animal products. Let's take a look:

Initially, when the scientific data was not able to be conclusive, animal products were thought to be healthy and so the government promoted eating them. Companies and farmers selling animal products grew to giant corporations and now we fast forward several decades to today: the science IS conclusive and it tells us animals products are disastrous for our bodies, the planet and of course with factory farming - we see the brutal torture and murder of innocent creatures reach the billions each year. Yet because of long-held and deep-rooted traditions, beliefs and convictions, many still are clinging to what they learned when they were growing up - that meat and milk makes you strong! They may never learn of the dishonest reality behind these foods because the government and major animal product corporations are purposely hiding it from them, under packs of lies, crimes and distractions. Why? As always, because of profits. They are not evil people, just business people. There is too much for the government and these corporations to lose now. For more on this, read the China Study, Eating Animals, and Mad Cowboy, and watch Food Matters and Food Inc.

If animals products are good for us - why are the top two killers in America cancer and heart disease? Why will every one in three children be diagnosed with diabetes? Why does the factory farming industry produce more pollution that all transportation combined? Because it's a lie - processed, factory farmed animal products AREN'T good for us.

Now let's compare this to marijuana, shall we? Initially, when marijuana entered American culture (largely by Mexican workers) the scientific data was not able to be conclusive so marijuana was perceived as a toxic drug. It is sad it became categorized as drug rather than a plant since it is firstly a plant, and the word drug negatively groups it in with cocaine, etc. The government thought it would have a negative effect on the country and so it basically used scare tactics to discourage the use of marijuana with no concrete evidence behind the claims they made.Fast forward a few decades to today: the science AND history is conclusive and it tells us that marijuana has been enjoyed for generations upon generations without a problem - in fact it can be beneficial to many. It takes away pain, produces a relaxing mood, brings about a euphoric feeling, all while treating a large number of serious diseases. Yet because of long-held and deep-rooted traditions, beliefs and convictions, many still are clinging to what they learned when they were growing up - that marijuana is a scary, evil substance that can ruin your life! They may never learn of the actual positive reality behind of plant because the government and many major corporations are purposely hiding it from them, under packs of lies, crimes and distractions. Why? As always, because of profits. There is too much for the government and these corporations to lose now. For more on this, read The Benefits of Marijuana, and watch Grass: The History of Marijuana, The Union, In Pot We Trust, and Run From The Cure: The Rick Simpson Story.

If marijuana is bad for us - then why has it never caused a single death while alcohol, cigarettes, processed food and prescription drugs combined kill millions every year LEGALLY? Why has marijuana been enjoyed for centuries by ancient cultures who praised it's medicinal and spiritual benefits? Why is it succesfully used a treatment for glaucoma, depression, cancer, anorexia, AIDs wasting, nausea and multiple sclerosis? Because it's a lie - cannabis does NOT have to be bad for us.

The stories are the same. Profits keeping the truth from the confused public so government and corporations can continue making money, at the expense of the health of the planet and its inhabitants. Let's stop listening to the lies and start thinking for ourselves. As people who are choosing this alternative, plant-based lifestyle - we need to promote the love and respect of plants! At the same time, we need to explain the ugly truth behind processed animal foods, factory farming, pharmaceutical drug companies, and this reductionist way of living that so many have grown accustomed to. It is time to find our roots in holistic methods and mindsets. A part of that duty is understanding the beauty of the plant marijuana, and letting go of it's stigma.