Let's look at the numbers...

I get annoyed when I hear people talk about juicing and their complaints about calories and cost.  Yes, the cost is higher, but the cost can be manipulated to be cheaper, and if you drink one Starbucks coffee a day, buy a beer at a bar, or eat out at restaurant once a week, then there's no excuse.  The calories?  The math's below.  Yes, good health does does come at a price, but seriously, it's not that much.  It's called priorities, people.

Yields over 5 cups of juice....5 CUPS!:

1 VERY large apple (300g):  140 cal & 14g sugar ($1)

2 lemons:  40 cal ($0.40)

12 leaves romaine lettuce:  40 cal ($1)

1 cup spinach:  7 cal

1 cup parsley:  22 cal  ($0.50)

½ cucumber:  22 cal  ($0.50)

1 large carrot:  30 cal & 2g sugar ($0.10)

Total:  301 cal, 16g sugar($3.50)

Yields 1 serving size bowl cereal:

1 cup Kashi Go Lean Crunch:  190 cal & 13 g sugar

1 cup 1% milk:  110 cal & 12.7g sugar

Total:  300 cal, 25.7g  sugar

The Cost:

• Yes, juicing is a little more pricey than a bowl of cereal in the morning, but the cost can be tinkered with.  Organic is the way to go, but if you can't afford it, you can't afford it.  Buy non-organic and your price will go down.  Also, notice how the apples and romaine lettuce are the most expensive items.  I put two apples (or one VERY large) in my juice because I make a LOT of juice.  I like it a little on the sweet side sometimes, and sometimes I don't.  Also, when you first start making green juice, you will probably want it sweeter, and then you will see your taste buds will start to need less "sweet."  Therefore, depending on taste preference, how much apple you use will affect the overall cost, sugar, and calorie levels. 
• Romaine Lettuce is one of the more pricey greens.  At my local grocery store, a head runs for $1.99 non-organic, and $2.99 organic.  I use at least a half head in my juice, but I also mix in other greens.  I'll use any leafy green lettuce, kale, and/or spinach.  All of these greens are nutrient dense, and are less expensive than romaine.  If you can't afford to use romaine every day, then don't; supplement with other greens that are less expensive.  Also, when I'm out of fresh greens, or running low, I have a jar of spirulina powder I use to supplement.  Just 1 tsp. has a huge nutrient dense profile!  When I go this route, I juice whatever I plan to juice, then pour it in the blender with 1 tsp. spirulina, and give it a quick spin to distribute.  It's still great!
  

The Nutrition:

• Fresh, unpasteurized, GREEN juice supplemented with a small amount of fruit is so much better for you than a bowl of cereal that has been most likely fortified with synthetic vitamins, mucus forming (and hard to digest) cow's milk, refined processed sugars, and acidic pH producing non-sprouted grains.  FYI, I know there are many worse things to eat for breakfast than cereal, but I decided to take the generally understood "healthiest" option to compare with juice to be the most fair.  Cereals do provide a good source of fiber, which is good.  Also, there are some great cereals out there made with natural sugars and sprouted grains, but you're going to pay extra for them...like you pay extra for quality juice.  Raw fruit/veggie juice is loading with enzymes and nutrients!  Enzymes helps us digest food, eliminate toxins and waste, assimilate nutrients, and support our immune systems.  They're, like, kind of a big deal.  When we pasteurize juice, we cook out all the enzymes and much of the nutrients, hence the necessity of having raw green juice as apart of your daily food intake.  Look at green juice as your daily mutli-vitamin and cell cleanser!

 

*Please don't feel like you need to rip me a new one if these calorie numbers are slightly off, etc.  The point is to get a fairly close general idea for comparison*

Coconut Milk Vegan Ice Cream

Not only have I been on the search for the best brownie, I've also been on the search for the best non-dairy ice creams.  Basically, I'm on the search for the best everything when it comes to food!  When experimenting with raw food, you may remember by fascination with and love for young Thai coconuts.  Well, I still think they're great, but living in a small town, I don't have easy access to a Whole Foods all the time.  Since weening off the raw wagon, I'm still looking for vegan ice creams to try that are not necessarily raw.  

I've seen some recipes using tofu (haven't tried, yet), cashews (tried and decent), coconut milk, and soy milk/creamer.  Honestly, I bet the soy milk/creamer versions are the best at mocking real dairy ice cream, but my gut tells me soy creamer just can't be that healthy for you.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that stuff, but it does seem real "fake" to me.  With all the negative literature that's been going on around soy, I figured I'd try to stay a little clear from it...especially with as much ice cream as I eat (no lie)!  I am anxious to try this non-soy "MimicCreme" product in the future, also, and will definitely keep you guys posted on that.  Back to the punch, here, I decided to give the canned coconut milk version a try, and so far it's my favorite, and easiest, of all the non-dairy ice cream recipes I've tried.  Non-vegan Steven even thinks it's great.  Give it a try; you won't be disappointed! 

Ingredients:

-  2 cans (14oz) coconut milk (not the light versions)
-  1 cup sugar
-  1/4 tsp. salt
-  1 vanilla bean (optional, but wonderful)
-  1 tsp. vanilla extract
-  1.5 Tbs - 2 Tbs. rum (vodka would work, too)

(as you can see, HEB did not have the Thai kitchen brand this time, but this brand instead...)

Directions:

Shake the cans of coconut milk before opening with can opener; it is common for it to be separated.  Basically, you just throw all the ingredients in a large bowl, and whisk to combine and break up those vanilla bean seeds.  Look here for how to open and scrape the seeds out of a vanilla bean.  If not using a vanilla bean, increase the vanilla extract to 1 Tbs.  

*The rum is not used as a flavor ingredient, necessarily; it's actually used to help cease the freezing process just a bit so the ice cream does not freeze rock hard.  I chose to use rum in this recipe (over the vodka) because rum and vanilla do go so well together, and the subtle taste from the rum would be pleasant.  Play around with the alcohol measurement; you may want to reduce it to 1 Tbs. if you feel the flavor is not for you.  Another way to help keep the ice cream soft is to use Agar Powder by heating the liquid ice cream mixture on the store with about 1 tsp agar until it slightly thickens.

VERY IMPORTANT:  Place mixture overnight, or for a few hours, in the fridge until it is completely cool.  You're ice cream maker will not cooperate with you well if you skip this step.

As you can see here, when you scrape a vanilla bean you can end up with some of the vanilla bean wall in your mixture.  You can leave these bit in your ice cream as it will not change the flavor, but for a pretty ice cream, I would advise you pour it through a strainer, as I did here.

Once your mixture has cooled completley, run it through your ice cream maker and make some ice cream...duh!

Mmmmmm, yummy ice cream!  Mission accomplished.  I store my ice cream in some GladWare, and keep in the freezer.  Try one of those vegan brownies topped with coconut milk ice cream...heaven!  This recipe can also be used as a base vanilla recipe for whatever your little ice cream lovin' heart desires.  Add mashed bananas, strawberries, flake coconut, nuts, cookie pieces, brownie pieces, whatever!  Add cocoa powder for chocolate, espresso powder for coffee, and the list goes on.  Get creative!

Lick the bowl,

CC Bloom

Best Vegan Brownies (So far...)

I've been on the hunt for the best vegan brownie recipe out there.  So far, I've tried three, and this one is by far the best.  I've even given this brownie to many non-vegans and they have raved, wanting the recipe.  I'm a brownie snob, and even think the best brownies out there come from a box.  I have ONE non-vegan homemade brownie recipe I love, but that's it.  These, on the other hand, are good...I swear.  I actually found this recipe here, but the recipe I post down below has some slight variations to my own liking.

Best Vegan Brownies (So far...)

*Note* Since posting this, I have also made this recipe with melted Earth Balance butter directly in place of the coconut oil, and they turned out wonderful.  I would slightly decrease the salt if using the butter, as the butter has salt in it.

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup all purpose flour

- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

- 1 1/4 cup sugar*

- 1/2 cup cocoa powder

- 1/4 tsp. baking powder

- 1 tsp. kosher salt

- 1 Tbs. flaxseed ground into meal**

- 1/3 cup + 2 Tbs. hot water water (hot tap water from the sink is good)

- 1/4 cup coffee

- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

- 1/2 tsp. butter extract

- 1/2 cup + 1 Tbs. coconut oil***

- 1/4 cup non-dairy chocolate chips (optional)

*I use evaporated cane sugar, or sugar in the raw, but you can certainly use refined white sugar if you like.

**I buy whole flaxseed and use a small coffee grinder to make it into a fine meal right before use.  Flaxseed meal spoils WAY faster than whole flaxseed, so this is a good way to buy in bulk at Whole Foods and save on money and spoilage.  If you happened to have flaxseed meal on hand, just use 1 heaping Tbs. in place of grinding your own flax seed.

***Coconut oil really makes this recipe, but if you don't have it, or don't want to buy it (it's a little pricey), you can substitute with canola or vegetable oil.  Buy the coconut oil!  Chocolate and coconut go great together!  If using coconut oil, scoop out what you think is close to a half cup, put in a small bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds, or until it becomes liquid.  Then pour the oil into a liquid measuring cup to get the desired amount.  Simply pour whatever excess oil you have left back into the container. (Raw foodies would have a fit over this procedure, so you can also fill a pot with water, put the whole coconut oil container in there, and heat up the water surrounding the oil container by placing the pot on the stove, and gradually warming the oil to a liquid state by use of this "water bath.")

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350F, and grease a 9X9 square baking pan.

Sift together flours, cocoa, and baking powder into a large bowl.  Add the sugar, salt, and chocolate chips.  Stir to combine.

In a smaller bowl, combine flaxseed meal and water.  Whisk together, and let sit for just a couple minutes.  You will see the texture change a bit, and become slightly gelatinous.  Add the coffee, vanilla and butter extracts, and  coconut oil to the flax mixture.  Combine thoroughly.

Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients.  Stir until combined.  Pour into greased pan.  Bake at 350F for about 25 - 30 min, give or take depending on how "gooey" you like your brownies.  Let cool before cutting.

Eat the sweets!

Claire

Gratitude 1.28.2010 - 2.2.2010

"Oh, the Lord is good to me, 

and so I thank the Lord...

for giving me the things I need

the sun, and the rain, and the apple seed.

The Lord is gooooooood to me..."

 

1.  Stay home from work day-  I never call in sick, and when I do, it's the real deal.  My work atmosphere is extremely personal, and I just can't take advantage of that situation.  Well, last Thursday I was for real sick...but I will admit I have been worse and still gone to work.  Work was super slow last week, so I decided to stay home and take a R&R day to help pin this forthcoming cold in the butt.  I did nothing all day, and it was wonderful....except I did manage to get off my but and make...

2.  Coconut Milk Ice Cream-  Heck yeah, I did!  I'm telling ya, my Kitchen Aid Ice Cream attachment bowl is one of the best items I've ever bought.  I have been trying every non-dairy ice cream recipe out there in hopes of appeasing my very demanding taste buds, and I think I've finally found the winner...coconut milk ice cream!  This stuff is so easy, has the closest consistency to real dairy ice cream, and did I mention it's way too easy?!  Recipe to come...

3.  Homemade fresh pasta-  Have you ever made homemade pasta?  You would if you had a pasta rolling machine ($20) and knew how easy it was to do.  I love making homemade pasta, though I hadn't done it in a while; it's light years better than dried store bought pasta!  I was craving some warm comfort food Friday night, so I decided to make fresh homemade pasta tossed in a creamy mushroom white wine sauce (vegan).  It was awesome...duh...and made for a great cozy night at home with Steven and the movie Without Limits.  Steve Prefontaine rocked, and I could stare at Billy Crudup for hours *drooling*

4.  Lunch at the new Mama Fu's with the Kennedy's-  New Braunfels has had a plethora of new restaurants join the community recently, one of them being Mama Fu's.  Steven and I met our awesome buds Holly and Drew Kennedy over there for Saturday lunch.  Not only was the food great, but getting to hang with the Kennedy's was the best.  We hadn't hung out in ages, and it was awesome to cut-up, be goofy, and harass the boys with Holly.  I was introduced to Drew through the music scene, and of course became close friends with his wife eventually.  She's one of my closest friends...and the only one who can eat as much as I can.  We have no shame!

5.  My wonderfully quirky boyfriend-  I just love Steven.  He is one the few people who can genuinely make me laugh.  I totally had this guy pinned wrong when I first met him; he is super quirky, anal, but fun,  sweet, but not a doormat, and the list goes on.  He never ceases to amaze me!  Steven is such a chihuahua when it comes to cold weather.  This past weekend was cold here in TX...in the 30's, yo!  We went to a bar-b-que birthday party thing Saturday, which was outside, and when I came by to pick him up he looked so funny with his random array of tobagons, shirts, silly jackets, socks, gloves, etc.  You would have thought this guy was going to Antarctica!  Silly boy :-P

6.  Doggie Day Care Day with Big Momma, Big Daddy, and Stella-  My folks' grandparent names for Fred are "Big Momma" and "Big Daddy."  My mother hates it.  She swears she will NOT have her grandchildren calling her "Big Momma!"  I used to take Fred over to their house every day for doggie daycare, as I like to call it, when I went to work.  Now, I only take him over there about once a week, so it's kind of like a special day, now.  I get to see my folks through out the day, Stella gets to act like Fred is actually playing with her, Fred get's attention for a full day, and everyone is happy.  Doggie daycare...daughter daycare...I think we all love it.

7.  Central Market Cooking Class-  Ever been to a Central Market cooking class?  I think Whole Foods offers them, too?  If not, and you like food, it's a "must-do" in my book!  I've been to many various classes, and Steven bought us tickets to a hands-on sushi making class for Christmas.  We went Monday evening, and it was awesome!  That was my first hands on class I'd even been to, and we had a blast.  Every couple, or small little group of girl friends should go to a CM cooking class!  Steven said his favorite part of the night was when the sushi master would comment on how to "better" my sushi making skillz.  I told Steven a master only picks on his students with the most potential in order to ready them for perfection ;-)

8.  My super supportive and truly caring boss- I've been contemplating my "career" lately, and what it is I may want to further my education in.  Accounting/bookkeeping is one of them.  The majority of my job now is bookkeeping.  As a person with a bachelors in English Lit/Comp, and a minor in Religious Studies, I would have NEVER in my wildest dreams imagined I would ever enjoy accounting...but I do!  Anyway, I've been thinking about, among many other ideas, weening off my full-time position at my current job, going to part-time, and picking up some contract labor work on my own as a bookkeeper for hire.  I presented this idea to my boss, and instead of freaking out, he offered one of his clients to me to give a try, and said I could stay at full-time, do the work needed for my outside client on his time, and keep the money I make with that client all to myslef.  Wow....you really can't ask for a more generous offer from your boss than that.  I'm truly fortunate to be in such a positive work environment, and to have a boss that actually cares about my happiness and success.  Thank you, Darrell!!!

10.  3.4 Mile run-  The Wagners and I went for a run yesterday; it was my first run outside in over a week.  I'd been sticking to the treadmill all last week due to allergies, then the cold, and also due to rainy weather.  I also spent a lot of last week trying out some weight training on my legs, and adding a plant protein for my post-workout recovery snack.  I was curious to see how a week of that would affect my first street run in a while.  Well, all went well!  My legs felt a little stronger, and my endurance was good.  Granted, I don't think that's all a result of the weights and protein, but also due to NOT being sick anymore, NOT being doped up on antihistamines, and catching up on some much needed rest.  Whatever the case, it was a great run, and that I am grateful for.  As all runners know, you have just have good weeks and bad weeks, and I sure am glad I didn't let last week's crapiness bring me down.

Gratitude 1.27.2010

1.  Puffs Kleenex PLUS Lotion-  For reals, I wouldn't have a nose left if it weren't for lotion kleenex.  I have been so sick with allergies, and then a cold...bleh.  I'm exhausted from blowing my nose and eating antihistamines like candy.

2.  Zack and Shannon-  I grew up with my friend Zack, and Shannon is his most splendid girlfriend.  I also went to school with Shannon, but she was a couple grades below me, and her sister was actually in my grade.  Not until she and Zack started dating did I get to know her.  Zack was actually my debutante escort....hahaha!  Can you imagine the pair of us acting all prim and proper in black tie attire?!  Yeah, that's because we didn't...hehe.  Best escort ever!  Anyway, Zack now works for my dad's sporting goods sales rep. company, so I get to see Zack and Shannon more often...like last night!  My folks and I met Zack and Shannon over at The Huisache last night, and had a great time, like always!  They're are always such a breath of fresh air.  Zack and Shannon as individuals are jewels to the world, as they are as a couple, too.  They will continue to be life long friends of mine.  Let me introduce you to Zack and Shannon....

3.  Puppies-  Not only was it great to see Zack and Shannon, but they also brought their new addition to the family...Dobie!  They just got a new beautiful German Short-hair puppy, and brought her over to be formally introduced to the Cunninghams.  Stella went nuts for Dobie, and I'm pretty sure Dobie was nuts for her, too.  I mean, who doesn't like puppies?!  at&t U-Verse, of course.... ;-)

4.  Amy's Kitchen Vegan Prepared Canned Soups-  Amy's is such a stellar brand.  Their prepared food products are actually really good, and their canned soups are such a God-send when I'm in a pinch for a quick vegan meal.  And when I'm craving a cheat night for pizza, I LOVE their frozen pizzas.  I'm telling you, they're the best!  Buy Amy's Kitchen products...'nough said.