Orange, Ginger Salmon and Baby Bok Choy

Ingredients: 

Marinade:

1. 1/4 cup orange juice
2. 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce
3. 1-2 teaspoons freshly grated ginger (keep your fresh ginger in the freezer for easier grating)
   
4. 1 clove garlic

Baby Bok Choy:

1. 4 baby bok choy, washed
   
2. 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil or olive oil
3. 1 teaspoon Ume Vinegar
4. Gomasio or Sesame Seeds
   

Rice:

1. 1 cup brown rice
2. 1 tablespoon coconut oil
   

Additional ingredients:

1.  2 salmon fillets
2. Sweet chili sauce
   

Directions:

• Put salmon into a container for marinating.  Add 1/4 cup orange juice, two teaspoons soy sauce, a pinch of freshly grated ginger and one chopped garlic clove.  Let marinate in refrigerator for several hours or over night.
• After marinating the salmon, measure out the dry rice and let soak for a few hours.  Soaking the rice allows for the phytic acid to be removed, which makes it easier to digest and for your body to absorb the nutrients. 
  
• Start rice 50 minutes before meal time.  Add the coconut oil to the rice water and cook as directed on the package (about 50 minutes).
• When rice is close to being finished, turn the oven on broil and heat a cast iron skillet for a few minutes.
• Once the pan is hot, add the salmon fillets with a little marinade to the skillet.  Place under the broiler for 7-9 minutes (no need to flip).  This cooking method is called "Quick Broil", you can read more about it on the World's Healthiest Foods website.
• While the salmon cooks, start boiling water in a vegetable steamer pot.
• With about 3 minutes left for the salmon to cook, add the baby bok choy to the vegetable steamer pot.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes.  Top with the Ume vinegar, toasted sesame/olive oil and Gamasio.
  
• Place a scoop of rice on your plate, and top with the salmon.  Cover with sweet chili sauce and accompany with the baby bok choy.

Yum.

Left-Over Rice for Breakfast!

Ingredients:

1.  1 cup left-over brown rice
2.  1-2 tablespoons orange juice
3.  1-2 teaspoons maple syrup (the real stuff)
   
4.  2 teaspoons (organic) raisins
   
5.  1 tablespoon walnuts
6.  Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

• Heat rice in a small sauce pan over medium heat on the stove.
• Add orange juice, maple syrup, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon.
• Heats in about 5 minutes.

Voila, breakfast!

But Organic is Expensive....

Although you might like to buy all organic fruits and vegetables it can get expensive.  The good news is, some conventional foods are lower in pesticides than others.  The rule of thumb is that if you have to peel it, then it's probably okay to buy conventional. 

Here the dirty dozen list of fruits and veggies that you should buy organic:

Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes

Here is a list of the fruits/veggies that are okay to buy conventional:

Eggplant
Broccoli
Cabbage
Bananas
Asparagus
Sweet peas (frozen)
Mango
Pineapples
Sweet corn (frozen)
Avocado
Onions

Not sure if what you are holding is organic or conventional?  Check out the PLU number (the number listed on the sticker).  If the number starts with a 9 then it's organic!

Raw Chocolate Truffles

Here is the source for this recipe:

Raw Chocolate Truffles Galore and much more…

Chef Karolina’s Raw Chocolate Truffles 
 
Prep time:  10 mins.
Un-Cook time:  20 mins (to roll and dredge in toppings)
Yield:  25 truffles

Ingredients:

1 cup cacao powder
1 cup cashews
½ cup maple syrup
Water (to mix) 

Mix cashews in a food processor to a powder, adding water to mix.  Add maple syrup to cashews and process then mix with cacao powder, refrigerate for a few hours or overnight for better results.

*roll in shredded coconut, chocolate nibs, cacao powder, dehydrated cherries or ginger, or whatever you love!
*try macadamia nuts instead of cashews


THEY ARE SOOOO GOOD!

I made some last night and coated mine with coconut, crushed salted almonds, and crushed biscotti.  Macadamia nuts would also be really good, or maybe add in a little orange or lemon zest.

The recipe calls for raw cacao, which is considered to be a "super food".  If you want to learn more about cacao, then watch this video of David Wolfe.  You can find raw cacao powder at most health food stores.  I bought the brand Navitas at Super Supplements.

If you love dark chocolate, then give these truffles a try.

Pizza, Pizza, Pesto Pizza

Ingredients:

Pizza Dough:

1.  1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
2. 1/2 teaspoon sugar
3. 1 cup warm water 
4. 1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
5. 1 cup whole wheat flour
6. 1 teaspoon sea salt
7. 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
8. Garlic powder and Italian seasonings 

Toppings:

1.  Pesto sauce
   
2.  Fresh mozerella
3.  Spinach
   
4. Black olives
5. 1 red Tomato
6. Zucchini slices
7. Canned artichoke hearts
8. Cheddar and Parmesan

Directions:

Pizza Dough:

• Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water.  Let stand for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• In a food processor, add the flour, salt and 1 teaspoon olive oil.  Season with a little garlic powder and Italian seasonings.
  
• While the machine in on low, add in the liquid until absorbed by the flour.
• Let knead for an additional 30 seconds.
• Place in a zip lock bag and add in the remaining olive oil to coat the dough.
• Let sit in a warm place for 45 minutes to rise.
  
• Place dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into desired size.
• Lay crust on a pizza stone or baking sheet.
  

Preheat oven to 425:

 Toppings:

• Coat the crust with pesto sauce, slices of mozzarella, and veggies.  Top with a little bit of shredded cheddar and Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Not enough time to make your own crust?  Try an individual pita pizza!  I like to use Ezekiel Pitas.   You can find these in the frozen section of your health food store.  You will only need to bake them for about 7-10 minutes.  Instant pizza.

Nuts about Raw Pecan Pie

Here is a good dessert to try out.                            

                                                      

I actually found this recipe in UsWeekly (not that I read that garbage or anything...wink...wink)  Of course, I had to modify it just a bit, but mainly because I don't like following directions.

Ingredients:

Crust:

1. 2 cups raw walnuts (rinse them first, this helps eliminate any bitter taste)
2. 2 cups pitted dates 
3. 1 cup coconut flakes

Filling:

1. 1/2 cup unrefined virgin  coconut oil
   
2. 1 cup organic raisins
3. 1 tsp vanilla extract
4. 1/3 cup maple syrup
5. 1 tsp sea salt
6. 1 cup raw pecans, soaked

Directions:

• Mix walnuts, dates and coconut flakes in food processor until combined.
• Press mixture into the bottom of a pie pan, or muffin pan.
• Blend the filling ingredients until smooth.
• Pour into crust/s
• Garnish with pecans and freeze for 5 hours.

I suggest the muffin pan and keeping the extras in the freezer.  Wrap them individually, or put them in a Tupperware.  

You can find organic virgin unrefined coconut oil at most health food stores.  It is all the rage right now because of it's proposed health benefits!  If you want to read more, click on the hyper link above.  I bought a jar and put half in the bathroom and half in the kitchen.  I use the one in the bathroom for skin care.  I put it on my face, lips and hands.  The one in the kitchen I use as a butter or oil substitute (it's solid below 85 degrees).  Try it on toast instead or butter, or add it to the water when making rice.  It will give your rice a nice tropical flavor.

Another thing I like to do with coconut oil is add it to my coffee!  No, it's not gross, it's good!  I put in a little soy milk and a small dab of coconut oil.  Okay, at least try the dessert :-).

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti!

Ingredients:

1. 1 Spaghetti Squash
2. Marinara Sauce (my favorite is Dave's Gourmet Red Heirloom Organic Pasta Sauce from Costco)
3. Parmesan Cheese

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Cut squash in half lengthwise (hot dog cut)

• Scoop out the seeds and rinse the squash 

• Place halves face down on a baking sheet or roasting pan.

• Bake for one hour, or until the inside of the squash is soft.

• Use a fork to scrape out the squash.  It should, start to look like spaghetti noodles when you do this.

• Place the "noodles" on your plate, top with sauce and Parmesan cheese.

I coupled my "spaghetti" with the kale recipe below (I'm really into kale right now) and a simple arugula salad.  The salad had candied walnuts, a little Parmesan cheese, pear slices, a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of fig balsamic vinaigrette.

Feel free to make your own sauce from scratch or add meatballs.  Trader Joe's and Jenny-O  make some really tasty turkey meatballs (I'm sure you can find organic meatballs, as well).  I know it can be hard to sit down to a dinner that has no meat and no carbs, so feel free to embellish.

Enjoy!