tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50977714950688777002024-03-13T10:52:03.144-04:00Diary of a Smart Black WomanThe things I doDiary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-78875076234365722112012-01-14T19:37:00.012-05:002012-01-14T20:49:23.064-05:00Juice Feasting: An Odyssey - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I had one really cranky, cravin' food kinda day - about 4 days into the fast. I had a few sips of this and it instantly had an amazing, calming effect on me! Just as important, one small glass was incredibly filling. This one's a keeper!!</i></td></tr>
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On January 1st, we set out to do a two week Juice Feast- and we made it! Today marks day 14 of consuming only fresh fruit and vegetable juice.<br />
<br />
The BIGGEST challenge has NOT been HUNGER. Yes, of course we have dealt with our fair share of hunger pangs, but since we are getting all of our daily caloric requirements, we recognize that it wasn't true hunger we were feeling most of the time - but just cravings. In fact, we each only felt real hunger 2 or 3 days out of the 14 - and this was usually when we had done a lot of activity or waited too long between drinking juices. So no, the biggest challenge wasn't <i>not eating</i>. The biggest challenge was finding new ways to stimulate ourselves that didn't involve food.<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>This time has given us a great opportunity to step back and realize just how much of our lives we spend eating for pleasure.</b> Besides our 2 or 3 regular meals a day (we're often breakfast skippers), we frequently eat both when we're bored AND when we're having a good time (watching movies, hanging with friends, etc.). I know we're not alone in this. So many people have social lives that seem to revolve, or at least heavily involve, eating. One of our goals in this juicing experience is to change our habits so we are not just eating because it's time to eat or because - "hey, why not?". Yes, we still love eating, but we really wanted to create the space to give ourselves other things that give us pleasure.<br />
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</b><br />
<b>So what have we done to fill up our time during this Juice Feast?</b><br />
<br />
We've gone hiking at a few different parks, walking around our neighborhood, done yoga, played card games, and watched a few documentaries and comedies. We even did a bit of work for our business: <a href="http://www.newfamilynaturals.com/" target="_blank">New Family Naturals</a>.<br />
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We've both done a good deal of reading - usually several hours a day. Engin has started blogging on his new Turkish-language blog. At my request, he's also making me an awesome copper wind chime, tuned to a popular middle eastern scale (giddy with excitement over that one :).<br />
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All-in-all, it's been pretty low key - and we wouldn't have had it any other way. We've really enjoyed our time to relax and just hang with each other. <br />
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I thought I'd end this post with the recipe to the drink pic posted above.<br />
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<b>Calming Cantaloupe Juice</b> -<i> 2 servings</i><br />
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1 cantaloupe, seeded and skin removed.<br />
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.<br />
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Put cantaloupe and dash of each spice in blender. Blend until smooth and strain through cheesecloth or nut milk bag.<br />
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Pour in 2 glasses and enjoy with a loved one! <i></i><br />
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All the best,<br />
<br />
Toya<br />
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++++Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-48138358408937221792012-01-08T14:23:00.000-05:002012-01-08T14:23:47.369-05:00Juice Feasting: An Odyssey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVFimrpeoWMcjFHtuFBSG-9DDrxaDU30-vUhNOBF3ADOCuL7GMn8W04hD7tfte6RrZ_9OOrxOu2Z-Kl3QOnEoRENgHro9EOYlI8xlu_lGQIJJhsJZPfDByA8_QBxyi0euWeCpNTondhQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVFimrpeoWMcjFHtuFBSG-9DDrxaDU30-vUhNOBF3ADOCuL7GMn8W04hD7tfte6RrZ_9OOrxOu2Z-Kl3QOnEoRENgHro9EOYlI8xlu_lGQIJJhsJZPfDByA8_QBxyi0euWeCpNTondhQ/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Other than a select few family members and friends, I haven't told anyone that I am doing a Juice Feast. Today marks day 8 that I have only had fruit and vegetable juices to "eat."<br />
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The reason that I haven't told anyone is because I just wasn't sure if I could do it. I've done short juice fasts in the past, but I have been feeling rather "out of control" when it comes to food lately, so I wasn't quite convinced I would make it beyond one or two days without chomping down on something deliciously bad for me.<br />
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Now that I have safely made it beyond the first week, I feel a bit more confident in announcing the fact that I plan to do a prolonged fast. I am hoping to use this time to break some food addictions I've developed, as well as release some of the many pounds that have crept up since spending time at Optimum Health Institute (OHI) in 2010.<br />
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<b>What is a Juice Feast?</b> I'll generally go with the developing alt. health phenomena of naming this a "feast" rather than a fast because I am consuming more than 1200 calories a day in juice, as opposed to a juice "fast" which typically gets one around 500 calories a day. Since you are still meeting the body's caloric needs, it is meant to be something anyone can do regardless of any family or work obligations you might have.<br />
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Regardless of semantics, this is still a fast in that I'm abstaining from a very huge part of life - eating. I am quite fortunate that I do not have to show up to a 9-5 gig during this time. Although your body still is getting the nutrition it needs, giving up all the junk you are used to can be quite a shock for the body and mind to get used to. I'd much rather have this time to retreat from outside demands so I'm not distracted from my goals. Luckily, my husband has taken off 2 weeks from work to join me on this juicing adventure, as it is really much easier when you have a partner to help with the actual juicing as well as provide much appreciated support and encouragement.<br />
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Although I'm still having massive cravings for all manner of bizarre foods, I am becoming used to the idea that this is just not part of my reality right now. <br />
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<b>What do you juice?</b> So you may be wondering what exactly I've been consuming. The best thing about feasting, versus fasting is that I drink as much juice as I want. I also drink water too, of course. If I'm feeling particularly starved, I might have 5 or 6 juices in one day. Generally, I hang around 4 or 5 juices a day though. Although I often change what I juice from day to day, here are some of my common concoctions:<br />
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<b>Breakfast:</b> fresh squeezed orange juice<br />
<br />
<b>Mid-morning:</b> baby spinach, romaine, celery, lemon, ginger juice<br />
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<b>Lunch:</b> tomato, bell pepper, kale, chard, parsley, radish, lemon, kelp, spices (we call this our "soup juice")<br />
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<b>Dinner:</b> carrot, celery<br />
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<b>Dessert:</b> pineapple, parsley <br />
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Now that you know what I'm up to, I look forward to sharing more with you in the days to come.<br />
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Much love,<br />
<br />
ToyaDiary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-71437546138739796572011-04-08T16:53:00.000-04:002011-04-08T16:53:13.132-04:00Asian-Style Noodles - A Raw Food Recipe (Guest Blog)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MXOZBsJXsYgW3rf-Hdtm6thCwe8XCpyrhrhuwcj8mBHR5jgs88Rh_ECzc6dt7QvTkzUrEQ9A8qXZbLdgcUzDlBAyaLzEehBH9fKeSjl5veYZQ7GQvrN_4BWXFT9EnhNl4N3-e6_tR-Y/s1600/kelp+noodles+blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MXOZBsJXsYgW3rf-Hdtm6thCwe8XCpyrhrhuwcj8mBHR5jgs88Rh_ECzc6dt7QvTkzUrEQ9A8qXZbLdgcUzDlBAyaLzEehBH9fKeSjl5veYZQ7GQvrN_4BWXFT9EnhNl4N3-e6_tR-Y/s400/kelp+noodles+blog.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">[The following is a guest blog post from my good friend, and former personal chef, The Wellness Woman (Visit her blog <a href="http://wellnesswoman.typepad.com/">here</a>). We recently made and enjoyed this delicious kelp noodle meal together. And before you say KELP?!, no it doesn't taste fishy. It tastes like real pasta. It truly was out of this world – delicious. I suggest you grab yourself some kelp noodles and try this dish, pronto. Hope you enjoy!]</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">A Raw Foodie’s Pasta Paradise – by The Wellness Woman</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Growing up I loved to eat pasta.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> And pasta loved me back so much it gave me a big hug and wouldn’t let go, clinging to my body in excess fat and bloating.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Yep, the song is true, sometimes love does hurt.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I realized this relationship wasn’t working so I broke up with my pasta pal and transitioned onto a raw food diet saying ciao to the pasta pounds.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I loved my new svelte self and the extra energy and radiance I experienced from being a raw foodie, although I must admit I sometimes craved my old versatile friend that made many meals so delicious and filling.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I tried to fill the gap by spiralizing zucchini, carrots, and even parsnips.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Even though it was tasty, it wasn’t really the same.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Just when I thought I would have to suck it up and live without my beloved pasta fix forever, I discovered it…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Kelp noodles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, that might not sound too appealing (neither does excess fat and bloating) but I can assure you they taste AMAZING.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> And wanna know something even more amazing?</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Kelp noodles are nutritious AND (yes, there’s more!) are gluten-free, fat-free and only 6 calories per serving.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (Feel free to pause reading here while doing your happy dance). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Kelp noodles are easier to prepare than traditional pasta too.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> No waiting around for water to boil, just rinse in warm water and give them a quick massage with your hands.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> To soften the noodles further, try marinating them in nama shoyu and a bit of nut butter.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Here is my one of my favorite recipes, which is quick, easy and delicious.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I package Sea Tangle Kelp Noodles, rinsed</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">2 Tablespoon cashew butter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">2 Tablespoons nama shoyu (soy sauce)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">1 red pepper, julienned</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">large handful of cilantro, roughly chopped </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">pinch cayenne </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">topped with a generous serving of alfalfa sprouts</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This is one example, but to be honest, take whatever fresh vegetables you find in the fridge and add it to the noodles.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Try peas, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, avocados…it all tastes great.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Go Italian with garlic and herbs or Thai with mint, basil, and ginger.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Get creative, have fun and enjoy pasta AND your svelte self! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">[Editor's note: <a href="http://jrox.therawfoodworld.com/jrox.php?id=1098">You can get some kelp noodles here</a>. I recommend ordering more than one bag; you'll be glad you did!]</span><br />
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</div>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-45944121048844187052010-12-13T11:03:00.000-05:002010-12-13T11:03:17.479-05:00Winter's Brew (Glühwein)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk1LGdNz1PPX3VM908tbLcwPxuMvoa6C5wFIDLTuUeqwEK-deSuP0JgR9eQLxI9CCn27LS7iq8J3fA7t-kp83YU5Js4VJLJZJaSHIWB_QsPiW9mU24TbiNnuMbUvulXS0vobZykoFnhc/s1600/winters+brew.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk1LGdNz1PPX3VM908tbLcwPxuMvoa6C5wFIDLTuUeqwEK-deSuP0JgR9eQLxI9CCn27LS7iq8J3fA7t-kp83YU5Js4VJLJZJaSHIWB_QsPiW9mU24TbiNnuMbUvulXS0vobZykoFnhc/s400/winters+brew.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, one of my husband's friends brought us a huge bag of juicy sweet raisins from Turkey. They were so good, but unlike the raisins we buy here, they had seeds in them. I wanted to find a way to enjoy them while they're still fresh, so I brought out my crock pot and came up with this drink. It's a warm, sweet mulled-spices drink. It tastes just like German Glühwein<em></em></span><span style="font-size: large;"> - except it's completely alcohol free. It's a great family-friendly alternative to hot apple cider. <i>It's so good, if I do say so myself! :)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Winter's Brew (AF </b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Glühwein</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>)</b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 cups raisins</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Peel of 1 orange</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup dried elderberries <i>(great for colds and congestion - get it in the bulk herbs section of your local health food store)</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 whole nutmeg <i>(use one you've already grated from)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 dried clove<i> (use more if you like - I just like a hint of it) </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 small stick cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheesecloth or nutmilk/nylon bag</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Place everything in your nylon (nutmilk) bag or a large piece of cheesecloth. Tie the bag or, if using cheesecloth, gather ends together and tie at the top. Place in a crock pot/electric ceramic cooker. Fill with water 1 inch from the top (I don't know the exact capacity of my crock pot - but it's large - though the pic below doesn't represent that well). </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlHwfQtVpTNP9T_OKFtAlCoBZvj5IGhp__sDRZeFwpT0ybPlKdRYlldwXSAPbBNG6JP796foQmJN4KJzB7uktTJotz7mDmERBEuz9vTdOnTqggYfihuEjAgjqD3E2uZWUUbrLkecafRs/s1600/gluhwein++prep+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlHwfQtVpTNP9T_OKFtAlCoBZvj5IGhp__sDRZeFwpT0ybPlKdRYlldwXSAPbBNG6JP796foQmJN4KJzB7uktTJotz7mDmERBEuz9vTdOnTqggYfihuEjAgjqD3E2uZWUUbrLkecafRs/s400/gluhwein++prep+pic.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Turn crock pot to the highest setting and place the top on it. Every few hours, use a large spoon to press on bag (to help crush the softened raisins).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let your brew stew for 6-8 hours. More sugar will be released from the raisins the longer you stew it- and the sweeter it will be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Serve warm</i></b>! This is a delicious drink to serve at parties or to enjoy with family on a cold day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tip: The elderberries give this a great fruity taste. If you can't find them, try frozen cherries or dried blueberries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I hope you'll give this a try!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">***********************************</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-44209017754723858482010-12-10T11:38:00.001-05:002010-12-10T12:16:41.896-05:00What I would do for 5 dollars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknaNEwxzFAFoTfdga8f7tm0Z3E7wILIUueILkRG97or7VjQsySuAu-BEWKDhXaeCd36VrRJuSaUSMveOtj9dIiT4bl_2ehPPZPSoGaM-Edc3S5S6YYFCq2lSUKW52rrhKOzV2sNjygQc/s1600/editor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgknaNEwxzFAFoTfdga8f7tm0Z3E7wILIUueILkRG97or7VjQsySuAu-BEWKDhXaeCd36VrRJuSaUSMveOtj9dIiT4bl_2ehPPZPSoGaM-Edc3S5S6YYFCq2lSUKW52rrhKOzV2sNjygQc/s320/editor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm working on a qualifying paper, a precursor to doing my PhD dissertation. I think it will determine whether or not I will/can continue in the program. Not 100% sure I want to, though :) --- It's been a hectic and fast year.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad I had the summer off where I spent nearly 3 months at Optimum Health Institute in San Diego. Even got to visit their facility in Austin a few weeks ago....</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Anyhow, on to what I would do for five bucks.</i></b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been editing and writing for about 10 years now - for the past five, consulting on everything from government documents to fiction/non-fiction manuscripts. Due to school, I had to get out of major professional writing, but was still able to manage a few large/ongoing editing jobs a year. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">However, since I <i>really </i>don't have a lot of time these days, I figured I'd try doing a lot of small jobs. In comes a website I stumbled upon: <a href="http://www.fiverr.com%20/">www.fiverr.com </a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can find a whole host of things people are willing to offer up or want to buy for $5. It's pretty cool.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I know a lot of people out there are looking for jobs (I guess I sorta am too :), so I figured offering a proofing service for resume cover letters would be a fun way to try the service out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>What would YOU do for five dollars? </i></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Check it out:</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.fiverr.com/users/toyatanis/gigs/edit-your-cover-letter">http://www.fiverr.com/users/toyatanis/gigs/edit-your-cover-letter</a></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>************************* </b></span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-30937062271255274022010-06-17T11:09:00.001-04:002010-06-17T11:10:23.133-04:00OHI Raw Food Detox Program - Days 3-7 <object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cyRe5DiOXS4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cyRe5DiOXS4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Detox Day 7 ---- 13 pounds down so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We did a 3 day juice fast the first week. There were two basic juices</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. t<b>he hypoglycemic "hypo" juice</b>: cucumber, celery, zucchini, chard, green cabbage, bok choy, mixed sprouts, parsley, basil, kale, ginger, fennel, kelp and dulse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. <b>regular juice</b>: the same as the hypo plus beets and carrots are added.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast is always some type of fruit, such as watermelon (my favorite), cantaloupe soup (super yum), orange and grapefruit wedges or whole fruit applesauce. Most other meals consist of sprouts, mixed salad, a vegan seed cheese - which are basically seeds which are soaked, ground, fermented and seasoned, and some side dish. Past side dishes have included raw crackers, guacamole, half an avocado, radish salad, sauerkraut, seaweed salad, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper spears or cucumbers. Although I do love the avocado and guac., they do slow down the detox for people who don't want to lose a lot of weight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of these days I'll take pics of what they serve. Cheers!</span><br />
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So today is actually my fourth day at the holistic health, body, mind detox center (OHI) and I'm feeling exhausted but fantastic. All the food is raw but not gourmet at all, but I really don't mind. I'm having a great time. Part of the detox is also detaching from phones, tv, and internet as much as possible..so I'm only going to upload a video every few days. I will be documenting as much as I can about the program though for people who are interested in coming to OHI themselves or would like to do something similar on their own.<br />
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The vid. below is just an introduction to the program and my first couple of days here. Peace and greens! - ToyaDiary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-45251446297338455172010-05-24T15:15:00.001-04:002010-05-24T15:16:50.536-04:00Eritrean Fiery Potato Stew (D'Nish Zigni) - Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT2NHgt5zwJQCvpF6_mjzpvVUgd-O0hcAJY8E6P-qRetjFFymrJP-uU-_phD6NN8RlQruXwmXMQhmPqlPQkK2FX5cRsX90Cs_zTV2DtK0dvdbOwy2v8qo1V3s0CsQdMvFeFTaPBoxVoo/s1600/fiery+potato+stew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT2NHgt5zwJQCvpF6_mjzpvVUgd-O0hcAJY8E6P-qRetjFFymrJP-uU-_phD6NN8RlQruXwmXMQhmPqlPQkK2FX5cRsX90Cs_zTV2DtK0dvdbOwy2v8qo1V3s0CsQdMvFeFTaPBoxVoo/s400/fiery+potato+stew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I made this recipe in honor of "Africa Day" designated for May 25th, 2010. I was inspired to put this post together by Casey Angelova over at "</span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.caseyangelova.com/">Eating, Gardening & Living in Bulgaria</a>" </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">who encouraged other foodies and bloggers to help recognize the diverse and often under-appreciated cuisine from the African Continent. At first I had no idea what to make because I don't have a lot of experience with African cuisine. The more I thought about it though, I knew I wanted to try and re-create an awesome potato dish I had at my Eritrean friend's house several months ago.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> So, I did a search for some recipes online and found something that sounded like what I remembered eating. Although it doesn't compare to the authentic Eritrean spicy potatoes my friend's mom made that day, it is pretty darn close. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><br />
<h1 class="title" style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border-width: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">When I originally tried to recreate this a few months ago, it didn't come out quite right--but that's because it was missing one key ingredient: Berbere. Berbere is a staple in Eritrean cuisine. It is a complex blend of chilis, peppercorns and lots of other spices that I don't normally use, such as </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">fenugreek, cardamom, cloves and coriander ---</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">I would liken it to a super hot Indian curry spice - but African style. It also includes the more familiar cinnamon and allspice. You can get the complete recipe for Eritrean Berbere <a href="http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Berbere_Eritrea">here</a>. </span></span></h1><span style="font-size: large;">Other than mixing and roasting the spices for the Berbere, the recipe itself was pretty easy (Note: If you do decide to make your own berbere, make sure you open a window! The aroma from roasting and stirring a bunch of chilis caused lots of whooping and coughing in my house! :). Overall, I was really pleased with how this came out. The dish is so simple, yet the flavors are so complex. Served along with some pita and yogurt</span><span style="font-size: large;"> (I used Turkish pide)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, this makes a great lunch entree or dinner side dish. I hope you'll give it a try.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>D'Nish Zigni (Fiery Potato Stew)</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(Recipe taken from recipeisland.com - which was adapted from Olivia Warren's "Taste of Eritrea.")</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 Tablespoons Olive Oil<br />
1 Medium Onion — Chopped<br />
4 Teaspoons Berbere — Or Hot Sauce<br />
6 Medium Potato — Cubed ( I peeled before cutting)<br />
1 Can Tomato Paste<br />
1 Teaspoon Salt<br />
4 Cups Chicken Stock (I used vegetable broth)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Directions: Saute onion in oil for 5 minutes. Add berbere, and potatoes, saute for 5 minutes. Add broth and simmer for 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and salt, simmer for 10 more minutes (I simmered 25 minutes instead of 10). Serve with injera or pita bread. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*******</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-21697732466392004382010-05-19T23:25:00.003-04:002010-05-21T15:10:02.376-04:00What the Heck is Raw Food? -- Plus some resources to get you started!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHjdUFveZLww6UMsAv8UvTIU7c0ZIdStAgQzh_RxpLdTW7tfzSjSgvNViKSZtr-bjMWPjiSnPV3rxBJESutkQPnHyA9U5uGBKLvP4e79THE_WVEu7UcCLF2P_UfuJrT_UW2TLo0KIvXY/s1600/Amys+Bento+Box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHjdUFveZLww6UMsAv8UvTIU7c0ZIdStAgQzh_RxpLdTW7tfzSjSgvNViKSZtr-bjMWPjiSnPV3rxBJESutkQPnHyA9U5uGBKLvP4e79THE_WVEu7UcCLF2P_UfuJrT_UW2TLo0KIvXY/s400/Amys+Bento+Box.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<i>Photo courtesy of my bud Aimee "The Wellness Woman." You can find the recipe to this gorgeous all Raw Bento Box <a href="http://wellnesswoman.typepad.com/the_wellness_woman/2010/04/bored-by-the-same-old-lunch-have-some-variety-with-a-bento-box.html">here</a>. Aimee is an amazing raw food chef and an inspiring life coach. She has also graciously agreed to do a guest post for my blog in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So, What the Heck is Raw Food Anyway?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The terms "Raw Food" and to a lesser degree "Living Cuisine" have been making their way into the mainstream public's consciousness recently. This is due in part to a few celebrities who've adopted a raw foods lifestyle (... Anyone remember the hoopla surrounding Demi Moore's amazing bikini body when she appeared in the Charlie's Angels movie? Well, she achieved her svelte figure by going raw.). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But what exactly is raw food, you may be asking. Simply put, raw food consists of fresh, minimally processed and uncooked ingredients. Raw foodists are almost all exclusively vegan or vegetarian, so in this sense, raw food does not refer to raw meat and seafood. As an additional guideline, if you pick up any raw foods book (see resources list below), you'll read that food is no longer considered "raw" once it has been heated above a certain temperature -- most agree that's somewhere between 105 and 118 degrees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>So what do raw foodists eat?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it's not just salads. There's an unending supply of fabulous raw food recipes out there (one of my favorites is raw, vegan lasagna). Still, leafy green vegetables, including wild greens and sprouts are usually at the top of a raw foodist's menu. Then there's a healthy dose of fruits (both sweet and unsweet), nuts and seeds, and fats/oils (avocados, coconut, olives). Some also include seaweeds and so-called "super foods" such as maca, cacao (raw chocolate) and goji berries. (more about super foods another day).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some people do eat a 100% raw food diet. However, this is just not realistic for most (especially me), so many who are into the raw foods lifestyle eat "high raw" where they strive to eat anywhere from a 60% to 90% fresh, plant based diet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why would people eat only raw food?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are many reasons why people adopt this way of eating. Many health buffs are turned on by the super high content of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients this diet offers; still, others claim this diet gives them more energy, improves digestion and makes them more conscious of where their food comes from; <b>but the major reason people go raw is because they are facing some sort of health challenge</b>. For instance, there are many people who have reversed their type-II diabetes and have completely come off of insulin after going raw. While training as a raw food chef, I even met one Type-I diabetic who has been able to significantly reduce the number of daily insulin shots by eating a diet high in raw foods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Though, the biggest impetus behind people going raw seems to be Weight Loss. This is certainly true for me. Do a google search for before and after pics of people on a raw diet. There are some really amazing stories of people who have shed massive amounts of weight on this diet. One woman (Angela Stokes-Monarch), for example, lost and kept off about 160 pounds eating this way. The reason why people lose so much weight on raw foods is because raw foods are nutritionally dense but still low in calories. Thus <b>you can eat a lot more raw food by volume while still consuming significantly fewer calories than you would by eating cooked food</b>. Raw food also has more dietary fiber than cooked food, which is great for weight loss since foods with fiber make you feel fuller longer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Diet for the Masses?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many people think that a 100% raw food diet is too restrictive. I happen to be one of them, but I think that it is a great Healing Diet, and periods of all raw can be great after days (or weeks) of eating too much junk. (Speaking of healing diets, I will be doing 3 weeks at Optimum Health Institute in June --stay tuned for my video-blogs about my experience!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, even though all raw many not be for everyone, most people could stand to add a little more fresh fruits and vegetables into their diets. And if you're feeling stuck in a salad rut and want to find fun new, healthy ways to feed your family, I highly recommend you give some raw food recipes a try. </span><br />
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</div><div style="color: #073763;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some Raw Food Resources</b></span></i></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following is a partial list of some raw food resources I've found helpful over the years. Although I do not agree with every opinion in the raw food movement, I like the overall messages of the people and products below and I think they are a great resource for beginners. Still, with most things in life, I take what is good for me, learn from it, and leave the rest behind. I suggest you do the same.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g4yDwtCwRWtP7Thyphenhyphenwk4grynH1FTqR2TNkltYx0IlTT-NqpKbZUXOSlTKi_zv73s2pOVR91AMonbqcL7lTurQOBJPOFbgIm4V-ho_pjz70iOw5x7bv3BmKbcRGPBtiO81GikBCvwwI3U/s1600/the-raw-food-detox-diet-the-five-st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_g4yDwtCwRWtP7Thyphenhyphenwk4grynH1FTqR2TNkltYx0IlTT-NqpKbZUXOSlTKi_zv73s2pOVR91AMonbqcL7lTurQOBJPOFbgIm4V-ho_pjz70iOw5x7bv3BmKbcRGPBtiO81GikBCvwwI3U/s200/the-raw-food-detox-diet-the-five-st.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Raw Food Detox Diet, by Natalia Rose</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Super accessible, with multiple transition plans to help you incorporate more raw foods into your diet...especially for those who do not wish to go 100% raw. I also really liked her "raw before dinner" recommendations.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5lAuew9UIuxo62DdvV6xUKGfCU0090ATPfbK9gleBXBLWpWabd_vY1StlLWuTau0rUgHfsi92Yc0A9qSTxYBpyeKRUsCjipjXMCKRKKHD5i1HrgyGTfapopoyluZocFoTQeR3hJdGoY/s1600/Matthew-Kenney-Everyday-Raw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5lAuew9UIuxo62DdvV6xUKGfCU0090ATPfbK9gleBXBLWpWabd_vY1StlLWuTau0rUgHfsi92Yc0A9qSTxYBpyeKRUsCjipjXMCKRKKHD5i1HrgyGTfapopoyluZocFoTQeR3hJdGoY/s200/Matthew-Kenney-Everyday-Raw.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Everyday Raw, by Matthew Kenney</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is, by far, my favorite raw food recipe book of all time! It has everything: </span><span style="font-size: large;">soups, salads, snacks, desserts, main courses and more. The mango wrapper on the cover is what prompted me to buy this book, and it did not disappoint!</span><br />
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<a href="https://secure.vitamix.com/redirect.aspx?index.aspx?COUPON=06-005049"></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://secure.vitamix.com/redirect.aspx?index.aspx?COUPON=06-005049" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokGkxsOpnrYGQEJHomUBKCwG2N07g8V_BoVeNPXtsBGGalcZzMGjBtnYvttPPZr2g7ZZR9RHaFWYT2wr2xbUwjkJIU0zM_3DH8Ir99G06SmFacGmpxNuleTeFX6KEHiYtvxyFHdy1EZI/s320/banner_affiliate_0109_120x240.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Vita-Mix blender</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This blender is used by professional chefs and kitchens (such as on Food Network's Iron Chef Kitchen stadium) and it's usually the go-to-gadget for raw foodists everywhere. I even know people who travel with theirs! See my glowing review of the amazingness that is the Vita-Mix <a href="http://diaryofasmartblackwoman.blogspot.com/2010/03/vitamix-product-review.html">here</a>.</span><br />
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<b> </b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Online Raw Food Shopping </b></span></i><br />
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<b> </b><a href="http://jrox.therawfoodworld.com/jrox.php?id=1098_1_bid_21"><img border="0" height="75" src="http://jrox.therawfoodworld.com/image.php?bid=21&mid=1098" width="470" /></a> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Most things I need I can get at a regular grocery store, at my local health food store or Whole Foods. However, when I need a specialty item or just feel like treating myself to a tasty treat, The Raw Food World is where I go. It's my online stop for raw goodies and natural/health items for my home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-67531400495060788552010-05-17T10:18:00.002-04:002010-05-17T10:27:42.092-04:00Research links pesticides with ADHD in children<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhoTvvyWbYiFgFGkt3S2Pew8ZQrkXmRXDF3_Z5ycqpeA2cu0tidapuWH1LhwBCp_8iaysUsk4uGwYInxGAzGL5E6jGuTzUbyIoCgHK9v444JOigrT6_ULdwYgIpY8dz_a3Fjky9Eh_ug/s1600/abc+pesticides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhoTvvyWbYiFgFGkt3S2Pew8ZQrkXmRXDF3_Z5ycqpeA2cu0tidapuWH1LhwBCp_8iaysUsk4uGwYInxGAzGL5E6jGuTzUbyIoCgHK9v444JOigrT6_ULdwYgIpY8dz_a3Fjky9Eh_ug/s400/abc+pesticides.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> Crop duster in West <a class="DL-topic-highlighted" href="http://topics.abcnews.go.com/topic/Texas">Texas </a>(Image Bank/Getty Images) - from ABCNews <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Scientists have recently found a link between Attention Deficit Disorder and pesticides commonly used in food production-- Good news for organics, but bad news for the kids (and their parents). Maybe this will hush up some of the annoying "scientists" who call people quacks for seeking out organic alternatives. Of course one study won't change the world, but it might lead to more studies and hopefully challenge us (agricultural industry and consumers) to reassess and CHANGE how we choose to grow our food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">An excerpt of one of many articles on this topic is below (bold emphasis added by me); you can read the full version <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTYBGK4Q5G80gbPU-TZdXuWRyNTQD9FOBV881">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">From the Associated Press... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Children may be especially prone to the health risks of pesticides because they're still growing and they may consume more pesticide residue than adults relative to their body weight.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the body, <b>pesticides break down into compounds that can be measured in urine. </b>Almost universally, the study found detectable levels: <b>The compounds turned up in the urine of 94 percent of the children.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The kids with higher levels had increased chances of having ADHD</b>, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a common problem that causes students to have trouble in school. The findings were published Monday in Pediatrics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The children may have eaten food treated with pesticides, breathed it in the air or swallowed it in their drinking water. The study didn't determine how they were exposed. Experts said it's likely children who don't live near farms are exposed through what they eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Exposure is practically ubiquitous. We're all exposed," said lead author Maryse Bouchard of the University of Montreal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She said people can limit their exposure by eating organic produce. Frozen blueberries, strawberries and celery had more pesticide residue than other foods in one government report.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A 2008 Emory University study found that in children who switched to organically grown fruits and vegetables, urine levels of pesticide compounds dropped to undetectable or close to undetectable levels.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTYBGK4Q5G80gbPU-TZdXuWRyNTQD9FOBV881">Continue reading here</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*******</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-18323011231799186702010-05-10T20:30:00.001-04:002010-05-10T20:33:03.565-04:00Pineapple Mango Lassi - Smoothie Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cwy6tB8LUd9JcjJyi5Q7-ZWHEFV1FFVDvqhiV2N-44yJ_QTCir-pCXQpL3KmkxRAuYtinZqp0Bm-GZxVpRY6CMQ6wU_6rT9adoS5UTzwS7U9N5CitQm5BSv3cXgMMEZ35HhNV3UhfEk/s1600/pineapple+mango+lassi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cwy6tB8LUd9JcjJyi5Q7-ZWHEFV1FFVDvqhiV2N-44yJ_QTCir-pCXQpL3KmkxRAuYtinZqp0Bm-GZxVpRY6CMQ6wU_6rT9adoS5UTzwS7U9N5CitQm5BSv3cXgMMEZ35HhNV3UhfEk/s400/pineapple+mango+lassi.JPG" width="393" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, my final exams still aren't over -- I have my last one tomorrow --but my husband informed me that my self imposed "1 week break" from my blog has expired! lol : ) Thus, I've decided to take a quick break from sociolinguistics to put one of my latest creations up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Friday I had minor oral surgery (bit of bone and gum tissue removed - exciting stuff!) and unfortunately that means I've been taking antibiotics. Although I prefer natural remedies, I do feel like conventional medicine also has its place, in my life at least. With that in mind, I like to combat the bad effects of taking said antibiotics with some pro-active treatment. What bad effects you ask? Well, anti-biotics, while good at fending off infection, can wreak havoc on your intestinal flora, destroying the good bacteria that helps keep our tummies healthy. Antibiotics have also been known to cause recurrent yeast infections in some women. So what can you do about it, if you plan on downing your penicillin? I, personally, ALWAYS make sure to take probiotics -- 4 hours before or four hours after -- each time I take antibiotics --for the duration of my treatment...and for a few days after. Probiotics help by restoring the good bacteria, giving us "healthy guts." And for those skeptics of alternative medicine out there, recently, even main stream docs have been recommending probiotic therapy for when their patients take antibiotics.(Note: Antibiotics will destroy the probiotics if taken too close together.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As for this tasty beverage, I normally don't like putting dairy in my smoothies (I'm not vegan, but I just don't prefer it). But seeing as I've been chewing-challenged, I've made an exception. Though, the real reason why I opted for yogurt (i.e., dairy) in this smoothie is because yogurt contains the probiotic acidophilus (among others)...Check out the side of a yogurt container. They should all say something like "contains live and active cultures" followed by which strains of good bacteria are present. These live and active cultures are super beneficial in maintaining digestive and intestinal health. So although I take my probiotics in pill form, for good measure I like to ingest mass quantities of yogurt during this time as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although I may be using the term "lassi" somewhat loosely, I take full advantage of creative license here. I love mango lassis ( a tasty Indian beverage), thus mangos made it into this drink. The pineapple made it for another reason. Although there's only a small amount in this, I love pineapple because it contains the enzyme bromelain. Bromelain is great for indigestion (it's also the active agent in most meat tenderizing seasonings) and it also is an anti-inflammatory. Since my face and mouth have been a bit swollen, I figured a little food-grade anti-inflammatory medicine wouldn't hurt any.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, enough of the background info. Here's my contribution to all you yogurt-filled smoothie lovers out there! Hope you enjoy it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Pineapple Mango Lassi - Smoothie Recipe</b> - serves 2</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/3 cup yogurt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3/4 cup pineapple</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup mango (I used frozen)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 Tbs honey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2-3 pieces ice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">freshly grated nutmeg, to taste - optional</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Place all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth and serve!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">************</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-26759698332808560832010-05-02T15:52:00.002-04:002010-05-02T15:56:28.354-04:001 Week Break - Final Exams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijILU536BNVhVwzBmdWR0JQgII93IenKwPXLqd7jaGYdBTmYYzTPh4KEHVtVCWydezsbtgQl2JxaxyxtiuxpYv-cUqE8lwPhNwyfq9e6eC8AGCG3DwQEEuzgFaGcl67UHcrkPsEJI0Bmg/s1600/toya+reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijILU536BNVhVwzBmdWR0JQgII93IenKwPXLqd7jaGYdBTmYYzTPh4KEHVtVCWydezsbtgQl2JxaxyxtiuxpYv-cUqE8lwPhNwyfq9e6eC8AGCG3DwQEEuzgFaGcl67UHcrkPsEJI0Bmg/s320/toya+reading.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear luscious readers:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've decided to break away from my blog for one whole week to prepare for final exams. I have lots of studying and a looong paper to write. Don't worry, though, I'll be back with the Raw Food article I promised. I'll also be coming at you live from Oklahoma City, OK, where I will be tasting and reviewing the cuisine at the cutting edge "105 Degrees" Raw Food Academy and Restaurant. Super exciting stuff. See you then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Peace and Greens, from the Diary of a Smart Black Woman.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>******* </b></i></span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-85925288443083352022010-05-01T11:51:00.008-04:002010-05-01T12:11:10.776-04:00Music Post - My Husband's in a Music Video! :)<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="UIStory_Message">Here's a Nature/Charity music video my husband is in. It's meant to help raise awareness about environmental issues and to encourage people to honor the earth. He has a 5 second spot - around minute 7. He's the one looking mildly disinterested (lol)..Yours truly was the camerawoman. It will be premiering on Turkish TV sometime next week...</span></span></b></h3><br />
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<object height="385" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11365230&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11365230&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/11365230"> Doga icin Cal 2 / Uzun ince bir yoldayim - official video</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/dogaicincal">Doga icin cal</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-64410616700588763852010-04-29T08:55:00.003-04:002010-04-29T09:02:12.524-04:00Better than Salad - Collard Wraps - Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wcwBjVN1jt58hILQVB4RFu0Nc946y1h1aynnWHtqWHYmGGaUylwXQYQm-mo0Ip-cAjMIiptPCZaQxnmHIExxRFUpjk5zHJQ5F61rCbyb5F5KH9ltdl1BHZQlDngfyECC6ErsMYW2gLA/s1600/collard+wrap+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wcwBjVN1jt58hILQVB4RFu0Nc946y1h1aynnWHtqWHYmGGaUylwXQYQm-mo0Ip-cAjMIiptPCZaQxnmHIExxRFUpjk5zHJQ5F61rCbyb5F5KH9ltdl1BHZQlDngfyECC6ErsMYW2gLA/s400/collard+wrap+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This recipe is basically a continuation of my previous post - the <a href="http://diaryofasmartblackwoman.blogspot.com/2010/04/creamy-maple-tahini-dressing.html">Creamy Maple Tahini Dipping Sauce</a>. I meant to post this two days ago, but sheer laziness --and delight at having a few days off from school --got in the way ;) Although I often vary the seasonings I put in that dressing, I usually always have some version of it when I make collard wraps. I'm a hungry girl - and I love to eat! But, I've found that four or five of these wraps, paired with this rich and creamy dressing make for a gratifying and highly satisfying, healthy meal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, when most people think of a wrap, they probably think of a flour tortilla, perhaps shredded lettuce, cheese and who knows what else. This, however, is a raw food version ("What the Heck is Raw Food" article to appear tomorrow) --and my wrap is made from collard leaves, instead of tortillas (great for gluten free diets). So when I'm sick of salad, but still want to get some fresh veggies onto my plate, these are great because they're basically <i>like a salad</i> - but refined and kicked up a notch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Growing up, I never would have imagined eating collard greens raw. I didn't even know you could. If any of you come from households where Soul Foods or southern foods are featured prominently, then you know that collard greens - and nearly all vegetables - are cooked until they're soft and falling apart, or "tender" as my grandma likes to call them. Unfortunately, cooking your greens for over an hour destroys so many of the vital enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Although I still love my nana - and her greens, I will only eat them this way on holidays. I've been eating (and juicing) them raw for so long, I can't even fathom ever cooking mine. Of course, I'm not telling you not to cook your greens, but perhaps consider eating them raw sometimes, or if necessary, try to just lightly steam them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, back to the recipe...This is one of our all time favorite meals - cooked or raw. I highly recommend you give this a try!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Better than Salad - Collard Wraps </b>(Serves 2)<b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6 collard leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 red bell pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 medium cucumber</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 package sprouts - alfalfa, radish or broccoli will do fine</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 carrot</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3 Tbs basil - chiffonade or chopped </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">any other vegetable you like - optional (ex: spring onion, avocado, mint, radish)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To prepare the collard, simply cut along both sides of the stem in order to separate it from the leaves:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7md_5xD8abRFGJnmqFbgg7jEYMbPvz1Iqb_hTBIAbaB2jqgyb3_2Zv86pS6BLLmdJ7yBLwGow2ziJGyf7oWL8mjwTO1Uz-WOw65UX3258g8D8sy2amb-4cEBjM17FH_K89WyJ72k_UO4/s1600/Collard+Wrap+Prep+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7md_5xD8abRFGJnmqFbgg7jEYMbPvz1Iqb_hTBIAbaB2jqgyb3_2Zv86pS6BLLmdJ7yBLwGow2ziJGyf7oWL8mjwTO1Uz-WOw65UX3258g8D8sy2amb-4cEBjM17FH_K89WyJ72k_UO4/s400/Collard+Wrap+Prep+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Discard the stem (or use for juicing). De-stem all 6 pieces of collard. You should now have 12 leaves/wraps. Next, julienne the carrot, cucumber and bell pepper. They should be about the size of 3 inch matchsticks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To roll: Place a collard leaf with the darkest side down and the more veiny side facing up. This is where you will stack the vegetables. On the lower third of the leaf - the part closest to you - start stacking your veggies. Depending on the size of your leaves, place 4-5 pieces of each julienned vegetable on your leaf, leaving a bit hanging over each end. Next, top with a few pieces of the chopped basil and a generous bit of sprouts (Note: I ended up adding twice as many sprouts as what is pictured below).</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCQ75DfihxPdPDpdp0T_GCos6bT-5zi8I9fDUJHC3xERLlGSe5t10ZwNpYPJGHjfHgkvuPsRpa1-cjfY-TWCOgkUkmOC043lyGzzPSch-1qhv3ED8Yijt0JP6I0ZlhyphenhyphencXom4VFFcvliE/s1600/Collard+Wrap+Prep+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCQ75DfihxPdPDpdp0T_GCos6bT-5zi8I9fDUJHC3xERLlGSe5t10ZwNpYPJGHjfHgkvuPsRpa1-cjfY-TWCOgkUkmOC043lyGzzPSch-1qhv3ED8Yijt0JP6I0ZlhyphenhyphencXom4VFFcvliE/s400/Collard+Wrap+Prep+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tightly, but carefully, roll the bottom flap over the stacked vegetables. Try to roll one side more tightly then the other so that you will get a slightly conical shape (this will make it easier, i.e., less messy to hold and dip in the sauce when it's time to eat them). Continue rolling all the way to the end of the leaf. Place seam side down on the plate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Roll the remaining 11 leaves in the same manner as above. Serve and Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tip: These stay together quite well, considering they are not sealed. Still, I find it best to hold them by the side that is slightly smaller - this prevents veggie matter from coming out of both ends.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Peace and Greens, from the Diary of a Smart Black Woman</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-size: large;">*****</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</b></span><span><b>Like what you've seen on this blog? Let me know you're out there and reading. Click the "follow" link on the left side of the page.</b></span><br />
<span> </span><br />
<span>******</span></span> <br />
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</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-25118813768975152362010-04-26T12:31:00.000-04:002010-04-26T12:31:07.396-04:00Creamy Maple Tahini Dressing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3NcpkU1hLDMOCvdHLQpOKoVWZlJ-IoDuJCidEPiWm0VwlMDwETrTINZ7cUtG4PSoWrrP3pywLvzm2wxVldQnl8vwXXp2NKh4AN9psXlG5e_bxRDcB8ispztwvNQA98NFts9RcVGs-rM/s1600/Creamy+Maple+Tahini+Dressing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3NcpkU1hLDMOCvdHLQpOKoVWZlJ-IoDuJCidEPiWm0VwlMDwETrTINZ7cUtG4PSoWrrP3pywLvzm2wxVldQnl8vwXXp2NKh4AN9psXlG5e_bxRDcB8ispztwvNQA98NFts9RcVGs-rM/s400/Creamy+Maple+Tahini+Dressing.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking for an Asian inspired dressing or dipping sauce? Then look no further, cause this one is spicy, sweet, creamy....and good enough to drink!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I use this as a dressing for hearty salads like romaine mixed with root vegetables (think carrots, beets, radishes). It's also AMAZING as a dip for crudites, veggie wraps, or vegetarian satays.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I really do love making homemade dressings and I hope you'll give this one a try.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Creamy Maple Tahini Dressing</b> - (Makes a lil more than 2 cups)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup tahini ( If you use almond or peanut butter, you'll need to increase the water)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3 Tbs olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 Tbs + 1 tsp sesame oil (I used toasted)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3 Tbs soy sauce</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 Tbs maple syrup (If you don't have real maple syrup, use honey)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup lemon or lime juice (I used a combination)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 clove garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 tsp chili flakes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp ginger powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup basil, chopped</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Place all ingredients <i>except basil</i> in blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add in basil and pulse until blended...leaving a few flecks of green visible. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving - This will allow sauce to thicken and flavors to combine. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tip 1</i>: I was a bit heavy handed with the soy. I meant to do 2 1/2 Tbs but managed to spill (inside the mix) while I was measuring! : )...I compensated for the extra saltiness by adding more water. Feel free to reduce the amount of soy if salt is a concern for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tip 2</i>: I used a bit of Thai basil in this, but regular basil tastes great too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tip 3</i>: For a variation, try adding 2 Tbs of mint instead of basil, and/or honey instead of maple syrup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">******</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Like what you've seen on this blog? Let me know you're out there and reading. Click the "follow" link on the left side of the page.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">******</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-17077346522360657722010-04-24T18:21:00.001-04:002010-04-24T18:22:31.928-04:00Tropical Green Nectar - Juice Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFVyjPyWpupoX1eaM_UsxDRKkwwMMt3J_-qVLH88S1RX_IMdahyqmA3jyIMcugrSnVfB4WT22sqlLDTTmD_Ia2GQ8tAzfdTs21jNKF1eGornuHg3_GOk-MCXuRSwgqs2g-D19qBTdvjk/s1600/Tropical+Green+Nectar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFVyjPyWpupoX1eaM_UsxDRKkwwMMt3J_-qVLH88S1RX_IMdahyqmA3jyIMcugrSnVfB4WT22sqlLDTTmD_Ia2GQ8tAzfdTs21jNKF1eGornuHg3_GOk-MCXuRSwgqs2g-D19qBTdvjk/s400/Tropical+Green+Nectar.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> (If I do say so myself, this pic came out pretty great considering it's unedited)</div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I splurged and bought a nice plump guava at my local asian market last week. Since then, it's been hanging out in my fruit bowl, calling my name, begging to be put in a juice. It was also passing the peak of ripeness, with its intoxicating, outrageously sweet fragrance wafting through my living room. I knew it wouldn't last another few days before it went bad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't planning on posting another juice recipe this week, but since this one is SO EASY to make (and so delicious), I figured I'd share. Quite frankly this is delicious as a juice or a smoothie - and I've had it both ways; but be warned: if you don't have a high speed blender (such as the <a href="http://diaryofasmartblackwoman.blogspot.com/2010/03/vitamix-product-review.html">VitaMix - which can crush avocado seeds</a>) you should just have this drink as a juice because guava seeds probably won't be completely pulverized by a regular ol' store-bought blender. Either way, though, this is definitely a recipe for beginners, i.e., those not used to drinking vitamin-rich green drinks. Although there are greens in it, this is not bitter or earthy tasting at all. It's mildly sweet, incredibly fragrant and quite pleasing to the palate. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tropical Green Nectar</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups baby spinach </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 cup mango - I used frozen</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 large guava (you'll know they're ripe if they smell like a piece of heaven!)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups water</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Process fruit and veg through juicer. Mix in water. Alternately, place fruit/veg AND water in blender. Strain through fine mesh. Serve on ice.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tip: This juice is somewhat on the thick, nectar-y side. Because of the amount of fruit and the thickness, I added a bit more water than I usually do with my drinks. Use your discretion. If you "need" it sweeter, use less water; if you like your juice less sweet, like me, add up to 2 cups water.</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-7944381939744982532010-04-23T15:16:00.002-04:002010-04-23T15:18:21.126-04:00Çoban Salatası (aka Shepherd's Salad)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwicimsxr5JDN8OLazrtE_LpEETj25yXBfJBbQhYuiwrEF2vP07qHDbXCYZ9FgkVqag7mAowqUglYBuhPt_OXQq1jkyEadYBFn0mxX4JLqApxue4sZM4dO_MM8R8Mtx-CVTgCAx1er9w/s1600/coban+salad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwicimsxr5JDN8OLazrtE_LpEETj25yXBfJBbQhYuiwrEF2vP07qHDbXCYZ9FgkVqag7mAowqUglYBuhPt_OXQq1jkyEadYBFn0mxX4JLqApxue4sZM4dO_MM8R8Mtx-CVTgCAx1er9w/s400/coban+salad.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So this is another very traditional Turkish dish. I love it because it is so simple to make, yet still so delicious. It's a perfect spring or summer dish, pairing cool crunchy cucumbers with sweet and succulent tomatoes. It's so light; so refreshing; and so tasty. The folklore/history behind this dish is that shepherds, while out all day tending their flocks, would pick a bit of this and a bit of that..basically, whatever veggies were available out in the fields, and that's what they would eat while working. And well that's where the name comes from..as shepherd is "Çoban" and Salatası is, you guessed it, salad. There really is no set ingredient amount for this, so I'll just tell you how I made it last night.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Çoban Salatası (aka Shepherd's Salad) </b>- Serves 4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 cucumbers ( I seeded mine, but I don't usually)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">4 roma tomatoes --or 2 large regular tomatoes (Again, I seeded mine, but I don't usually)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 onion, chopped or minced - I used red -but use whatever you like</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3 Tbs lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 Tbs olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/8 tsp salt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/8 tsp black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup chopped (or minced) parsley</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 garlic clove, minced</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Chop cucumbers and tomatoes, mix with remaining ingredients. Let rest at least 15 minutes so flavors combine. Serve.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tip (1): I always like this dish a little on the lemony side. I've also had it made with more of an accent on the olive oil. So, if you don't want yours as lemony as I like mine, try increasing to 3 Tbs of olive oil.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tip (2): I was in the mood for a chunkier salad last night. Generally, the veg in this dish are chopped a little finer than what I did. Have fun and play around - and make it however you like. This really is an easy-to-make, fail proof dish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Cheers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">********* </span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-34294468853087280752010-04-23T08:17:00.004-04:002010-04-23T14:53:15.068-04:00I finally have a translator on my website!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEIH0x9DIfZmorG5W5zzZW2s_9h0Nr-cez6-0IPLbmxQBq3TNYhI30VMAlboAtAUgOUMYMbLnJE9RsgvypZuXSzOTH-wNOaCF30dVir15TWJFk5QN5c9tbe3nxcUvIFMPuNMGH4nW7wQ/s1600/flags.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEIH0x9DIfZmorG5W5zzZW2s_9h0Nr-cez6-0IPLbmxQBq3TNYhI30VMAlboAtAUgOUMYMbLnJE9RsgvypZuXSzOTH-wNOaCF30dVir15TWJFk5QN5c9tbe3nxcUvIFMPuNMGH4nW7wQ/s320/flags.png" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span dir="ltr" id=":1bd">Turk ailem icin "Google Translator" mevcuttur. Sayfanin sol ust tarafindan dilinizi seciniz.Umarim isinize yarar. Sevgiler, Toya.</span></span><br />
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<span dir="ltr" id=":1bd"><span style="font-size: large;">(Thanks to my husband for the updated, better Turkish translation than google was able to give me! lol) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="medium_text" id="result_box"><span style="background-color: white;" title="I finally have a translator on my website.">I finally have a language translator on the website. Use the Google Translator logo on the left side of the page to select your language.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="medium_text" id="result_box"><span style="background-color: white;" title="I finally have a translator on my website.">********** </span></span></span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-66418906867204279602010-04-20T15:28:00.002-04:002010-04-20T16:27:07.187-04:00Love Your Ovaries (aka Antioxidant Powerhouse) - Juice Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzAd713gDsjkfeoPhCto4NJI7Y0WFE5Ic6WINehjUiNJzpMNJIAJ89q6aZ9gnCvrSiwn8Q1cyrLWY8lC5J-1Q2UR41K412k9YtPYuyrs7yK3OkQlzyE_iQ8GTgufsJXvxGuZ-K3bUU9o/s1600/Love+Your+Ovaries_Juice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzAd713gDsjkfeoPhCto4NJI7Y0WFE5Ic6WINehjUiNJzpMNJIAJ89q6aZ9gnCvrSiwn8Q1cyrLWY8lC5J-1Q2UR41K412k9YtPYuyrs7yK3OkQlzyE_iQ8GTgufsJXvxGuZ-K3bUU9o/s400/Love+Your+Ovaries_Juice.JPG" width="372" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier this month I saw an episode of a TV show called "The Doctors." The whole show was about 50 Dos and Don'ts for your health - with many alternative, do it yourself, methods for self care. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The show seems like it's trying to cater to a mainstream, pop culture audience, so I was really excited when they started talking about cures, remedies, and prevention protocols using food! In particular, they cited recent studies which showed that <b>parsley and celery can help in the prevention of ovarian cancer.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since these are two of my favorite juicing ingredients, this episode inspired me to make a vitamin-packed, ovary friendly, cancer-fighting drink. I rounded out this antioxidant powerhouse by adding other goodies known to help prevent ovarian cancer: blueberries, spinach, collard, and beet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I talked about the benefits of dark, leafy greens <a href="http://diaryofasmartblackwoman.blogspot.com/2010/03/creamy-green-love-smoothie-recipie.html">here</a> and beets <a href="http://diaryofasmartblackwoman.blogspot.com/2010/03/beta-caro-greens-juice-recipe.html">here</a>. So, now a bit about blueberries.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Blueberries</b></i>, with their dark, blue-purple color, reportedly have the highest antioxidant (cancer-fighting) capacity of all fresh fruit. Further, <a href="http://www.womenfitness.net/blueberries.htm">a study</a> at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center suggests that blueberries may help reduce belly fat and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Blueberries have also <i><b>been shown to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 40 percent in women.</b></i> Ladies, I think that alone is reason enough to include them in your diet. Plus, they are, of course, amazing tasting on their own but they really give a great taste to drinks --and for whatever reason it's just fun to drink something purple. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A side note on blueberries: Although I won’t knock anyone who wants the thick creaminess that yogurt gives to a smoothie, if you're including blueberries in your drinks for cancer prevention, there's something you should know. I was really shocked to find that "<b>milk destroys the</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>antioxidant benefits in blueberries</b>!" <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/025516_blueberries_antioxidant_cancer.html">(See info here.)</a></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The skinny on this juice</b> - with the exception of the pear (which is great for fiber), all of the ingredients in this juice have been shown to be packed with ovarian cancer fighting nutrients. Of course these fruits and veggies have other health benefits - so guys, you can drink some too - but I think us ladies should definitely take some time out to focus on loving our ovaries. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Love Your Ovaries - aka - Antioxidant Powerhouse Juice</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cup blueberries (I used frozen, because that's what I had)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 pear</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup spinach, packed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup collard greens, destemmed, packed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup parsley, packed</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3 ribs of celery</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 beet</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> 1 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Run all fruit and veg through your juicer and mix with water. If making in blender, place all ingredients in blender, strain through fine mesh and serve!</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tip:</b> I'd classify this as an intermediate juice. For some, it might be getting out of the realm of the familiar, but I think it's quite tasty and refreshing. So if you're adventurous, go ahead and give it a try as is. If you are new to juicing, but still want to get some of the benefits, you might want to decrease the amount of beet to 1/4 and perhaps use only 1/2 cup of collards - this should cut down on the earthiness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Peace and Greens, from the Diary of a Smart Black Woman</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>*****</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Like what you see on this blog? Let me know you're out there and reading. Click the "follow" link to the left of this page.</b></span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-75571519736763901982010-04-16T17:45:00.001-04:002010-04-22T12:25:43.580-04:00Cream Pop Punch - Juice Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifleWZrYpWzK-FxI0h_l18KoET3Q4MeNVJAQ0LBobtT3yaYyT__opRghJmgc-GpiPCKYqBYibR0LOR5IGNMqu0oB2Jr9Jznxyspx31v8DjBeNrGu0WTLZBdmswwJYWpGxATp7HIuURmuQ/s1600/cream+pop+punch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifleWZrYpWzK-FxI0h_l18KoET3Q4MeNVJAQ0LBobtT3yaYyT__opRghJmgc-GpiPCKYqBYibR0LOR5IGNMqu0oB2Jr9Jznxyspx31v8DjBeNrGu0WTLZBdmswwJYWpGxATp7HIuURmuQ/s400/cream+pop+punch.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I never really liked creamsicles as a child. Yet, like many people, I find my tastes are constantly evolving as I get older. And today, for some strange reason, I found myself craving the taste of a creamsicle ice cream pop. For those who don't know - a creamsicle is a frozen vanilla ice cream bar enrobbed in an orange (juice) flavored shell. As a kid, there was something about the combination of orange and cream that just felt so wrong, but now it feels oh so right. I won't be going out to buy any real creamsicles anytime soon, but I've recreated my own version with a twist. I'm calling this one Cream Pop Punch. There's orange, a dash of vanilla, and.....bananas to give it a thicker, creamier texture. So, although there's no ice cream or dairy in this version, it's still nice and creamy and oh so dreamy. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cream Pop Punch</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups dairy free milk (I used rice milk - soy, almond, or any other dairy free milk will work as well) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 oranges, peeled</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 banana</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">dash of vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">10 pieces ice</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Makes 2 - 3 servings.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tip: Although the banana is by no means over powering - or the star of this drink, if you want nothing to do with bananas in your cream pop, try eliminating the banana and adding a half cup of yogurt - plain or vanilla flavored.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*********</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-53158482496891239732010-04-14T13:41:00.000-04:002010-04-14T13:41:15.749-04:00Green Grape Cooler - Juice Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRpdo8o84NBNzTjUXyauNw4gOiPAPimf4j2x0OnCi7QhDeDUVMMKrNK2W024oMBj750HEl6jwXQOYzoeNylE14vx9qYs7xAtMJ-7sJ2vvHUoevoDAqhNjCGDneOLj-pZsPRqyulwTgcI/s1600/Green+Grape+Cooler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRpdo8o84NBNzTjUXyauNw4gOiPAPimf4j2x0OnCi7QhDeDUVMMKrNK2W024oMBj750HEl6jwXQOYzoeNylE14vx9qYs7xAtMJ-7sJ2vvHUoevoDAqhNjCGDneOLj-pZsPRqyulwTgcI/s400/Green+Grape+Cooler.JPG" width="323" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Those of you who've been following my blog know that I love greens - especially in my juice. I generally don't juice a lot with grapes, but I find that beginners, i.e., people new to juicing, do well with grapes because they're one fruit "normal" people consume on a regular basis. Grape juice is also used quite frequently in most commercial juices and juice blends you buy in the grocery store. For some reason, drinking cucumbers in water has gone more main stream, too, so newbies seem to like these in juice as well. I suppose it's all about familiarity and comfort. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This recipe isn't necessarily an everyday juice - due to the sweetness factor - but the combination of celery, cucumber, and collard are sure to give your body a healthy dose of minerals, thus refreshing and replenishing you after a workout or a hot day of basking in the sun.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Green Grape Cooler</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup green grapes </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">3 ribs celery</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 medium cucumber </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">5 large collard leaves - stems removed and discarded</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Method</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If there are a lot of seeds in the cucumber, or if they are really large - simply spoon them out and discard - otherwise, juice the whole cucumber (sometimes really seedy cucumbers can give a bitter taste to juice).</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If using a Juicer: Process all fruit and vegetables through juicer, mix with water and serve.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If using a </span><span style="font-size: large;">Blender: Place all ingredients, including water, in the blender. Puree until smooth. Strain juice through a fine mesh strainer - to separate it from the pulp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Serve on ice. - Enjoy!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Like what you see on this blog? Let me know you're out there and reading. Click on the "follow" button on the left side of this page. </span></b><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Peace and Greens, from the Diary of a Smart Black Woman</span></b></i><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">******</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-4389787882327420172010-04-13T14:10:00.000-04:002010-04-13T14:10:29.465-04:00The Great Vegan Lava Cake Experiment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWpMQvOiCbjwKYOrGgK8V_PbcSm3Am0z3wnFHDlVrF30zfHi-7vHOVujqJXXqhBOTnGcSA7wFIMvhqmByW2vhDtF05J_VcMNlVe3Mr_0OMd9eBV7rX6oaYkFPqlkHGeVeJHoRINjKxAg/s1600/lava+cake+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWpMQvOiCbjwKYOrGgK8V_PbcSm3Am0z3wnFHDlVrF30zfHi-7vHOVujqJXXqhBOTnGcSA7wFIMvhqmByW2vhDtF05J_VcMNlVe3Mr_0OMd9eBV7rX6oaYkFPqlkHGeVeJHoRINjKxAg/s400/lava+cake+1.JPG" width="382" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year for Valentine's day, I made lava cake for the very first time. I served it with whipped cream, a dusting of powdered sugar and some fresh raspberries. It had to be one of the best desserts I've ever had - ever. It was, however, EXTREMELY rich and sweet! There were 3 eggs, a whole lot of chocolate, and even more butter. Although, I knew I couldn't exactly make a healthy lava cake, I started thinking of how I could cut out at least some of the fat. This led me to the idea of a vegan lava cake. This version I came up with has no eggs and no butter; instead, I opted for pureed fruit (egg substitute) and coconut oil (butter replacement). I cooked it a lot longer then I would a traditional lava cake, baking it 20 minutes instead of 10 minutes, but when I removed it from the oven, it was still quite jiggly and wet inside, yet it was set on top. So we decided to take a quick post-dinner walk while the lava cake cooled. Unfortunately, I left the lava cakes on the sheet pan on top of the still-warm oven, and by the time we came back from our walk, the lava cakes were no longer so lava-y (more fudgey) and had completely set all the way through.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Looking back, I will definitely try this experiment again. Next time I will probably only use one type of fruit and won't let it "cool" on top of a warm stove. This vegan version was still very sweet like the original, but I think I will also reduce the amount of sugar next time since the fruit added a bit more sweetness. That being said, I liked it, but my husband loved it. In his words, the fact that a cake without eggs could taste this good was "<i><b>revolutionary</b></i>." While I wouldn't go that far, it was still rather tasty. Enjoy!</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Great Vegan Lava Cake Experiment #1</b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 apple, peeled and deseeded</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">12 de-stemmed strawberries</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">6 oz semi-sweet baking chocolate </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/3 cup coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp baking powder</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/3 cup sugar</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place jar of coconut oil under hot running water - or place jar in bowl filled with hot water. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature - so this will liquefy it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Place apple, strawberries and water in blender or food processor - and puree until smooth. Strain puree through fine mesh strainer in order to remove strawberry seeds. Set aside.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Put coconut oil and chocolate in large sauce pan. Melt over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Once chocolate is melted, remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and fruit puree. Slowly, whisk dry ingredients into chocolate mixture.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grease 4 ramekins with coconut oil and place on sheet pan. Ladle mixture into ramekins and place sheet pan into oven. Bake 18-20 minutes. Remove from sheet pan and let cool for a few minutes on cooling rack. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar or creme Anglaise.</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-49757999268194203502010-04-10T15:55:00.000-04:002010-04-10T15:55:23.378-04:00Orange Spritzer - Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR4euLXcCreLJ74OgG8B8k1bZBjStBIPUxjt30dGyJaxBx63g9_cNLoJ3dTxJDiwPr1r5kxQipJjjuxNeV-FggXdRQsHAo8aaBePfLj8tQQfaPag1BwPmmiCtnppHVSRm6mm-F759RZ0/s1600/Orange+Spritzer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR4euLXcCreLJ74OgG8B8k1bZBjStBIPUxjt30dGyJaxBx63g9_cNLoJ3dTxJDiwPr1r5kxQipJjjuxNeV-FggXdRQsHAo8aaBePfLj8tQQfaPag1BwPmmiCtnppHVSRm6mm-F759RZ0/s400/Orange+Spritzer.JPG" width="303" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This one is short and simple, just like the <a href="http://diaryofasmartblackwoman.blogspot.com/2010/04/fresh-ginger-aid-soda-recipe.html">Ginger-Aid Soda</a> recipe I posted a few days ago. I decided I should probably call this a spritzer though, since it is nowhere near as syrupy or sweet as a traditional orange soda. I've been wanting to make this drink all week - but we ate all our oranges before I got the chance. I also intended to throw one or two baby carrots in, so the color would be more reminiscent of a Minute Maid or Orange Crush soda, but oh well - I forgot : )</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I generally like to keep plain seltzer water in the house to quench our cravings for carbonated beverages, but I thought it would be fun to sweeten it up by adding a bit of fruit. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Orange Spritzer</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2 oranges, peeled</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 Tbs honey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Orange zest</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Seltzer water</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Blend all ingredients in blender - <i>except</i> for the seltzer water. Strain the blended ingredients and discard the pulp. Fill 2 or 3 large glasses with ice. Fill the glasses half way with juice and top them off with seltzer.</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-52230304972448841432010-04-07T16:41:00.000-04:002010-04-07T16:41:02.660-04:00Product Review - Imagine's Creamy Butternut Squash Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE2wZmHhyphenhyphenNZJh0CfjncYwgP0TI1ZUyjYEHz4uVcH-fINd4DsRr_ZFQXBPV72LNio15BPuQQbsY2UNDGpwuS2wt_meRTV1IK8qEyzx09r888DGYWXA0k77n9UwgwCfNjdDdMgztq9TqSc/s1600/butternut+squash+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuE2wZmHhyphenhyphenNZJh0CfjncYwgP0TI1ZUyjYEHz4uVcH-fINd4DsRr_ZFQXBPV72LNio15BPuQQbsY2UNDGpwuS2wt_meRTV1IK8qEyzx09r888DGYWXA0k77n9UwgwCfNjdDdMgztq9TqSc/s400/butternut+squash+soup.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> (FYI -They've recently changed the packaging - so it looks slightly different than this pic)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Today marked yet another wondrous day at the dentist. Although my dentist does actually care when I'm in pain, sometimes it seems like dentists in general forget that your mouth is actually attached to your face. That being said, I'm back to sucking down soups; and as much as I love making my own homemade soups, after 2 hours in the dentist's chair, I'm just too tired to move. So this morning - before my fateful appointment - I stopped by my local market for some of my favorite pre-packaged soup: Imagine's Creamy Butternut Squash Soup. As the name suggests, it's creamy and also, it's oh so delicious. I first tried this soup about 10 years ago, and it's still as good now as it was then. Although I occasionally spice it up by adding curry or cinnamon, it's one of the few soups that I find perfectly balanced in flavors - so I also like plain, right out of the container.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What I like about it:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First, it's organic, which is always a plus. Second, it only has a handful of ingredients; and better, I recognize and can pronounce them all. There are no weird additives or unidentified who-knows-what lurking in my bowl. There's also only 2 grams of fat and 90 calories per serving. So, if I'm really famished or have to go a whole day without chewing, I can unabashedly knock back the entire 4-serving container, and this would only set me back 360 calories and 8 grams of fat. Not bad for an unassuming (big) bowl of soup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, if your looking to try something new - and need a bit of a break from the kitchen - I'd absolutely, 100% recommend you get yourself some of Imagine's Butternut Squash Soup. </span><br />
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<div style="color: #0c343d;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Peace and Greens, from the Diary of a Smart Black Woman</span></i></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">******</span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Like what you see on this blog? Let me know you're out there and reading. Click on the "follow" link on the left side of the page!</span></b>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5097771495068877700.post-6503095909282796332010-04-06T13:00:00.000-04:002010-04-06T13:00:40.271-04:00Fresh Ginger-Aid Soda - Recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvDPIC45cGlsKsQL2Vwv596GlnQ3P6wbL6OXxpNP3ytNKRd8qMiJ3ZBJ0qaVmQJAVbf_xE7sj2mKYG5mSuK_-U84UVMDizsYAoIkd9Zu_mIwP_QfP4JsUrX0T8xqk17kguXjY-9H2L_g/s1600/ginger+aid+soda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvDPIC45cGlsKsQL2Vwv596GlnQ3P6wbL6OXxpNP3ytNKRd8qMiJ3ZBJ0qaVmQJAVbf_xE7sj2mKYG5mSuK_-U84UVMDizsYAoIkd9Zu_mIwP_QfP4JsUrX0T8xqk17kguXjY-9H2L_g/s400/ginger+aid+soda.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This past week, I've been busy trying to get a term paper together, healing from multiple dentist appointments, and fighting off allergies and the cold I caught from my husband. My stomach has been growling, out of control, with discomfort for the past couple of days. I have a feeling it's due to the zinc lozenges I've been supplementing with. So, I bought some seltzer/soda water to sip on and figured I'd experiment with a little homemade ginger ale - hoping for a little added relief. I've never made this recipe before and I think I'll tweak it a bit in the future to make it more like store-bought ginger ale. As for it's medicinal usage, I'm sipping on it as I type, so we'll see if it works it's tummy-calming magic in time for class tonight : )<br />
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Here goes...</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fresh Ginger-Aid Soda </b>(makes 2 large servings)<b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 1/2 cups green grapes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1/4 cup water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">pinch of fresh lime zest</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">juice from 1/2 lime</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2 tsp honey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1 inch chunk of fresh ginger </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">12 oz seltzer water</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Blend all ingredients in blender - <i>except</i> for the seltzer water. You will add this later. Strain the blended ingredients and discard the pulp. Fill 2 large glasses with ice. Fill the glasses half way with juice and top them off with seltzer. Sip and wait for some healin'...</span>Diary of a Smart Black Womanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15395373765694725103noreply@blogger.com3