Raw Chocolate Pudding

Where I live I don’t get to find young coconuts very often so when I go into the big city (lol) and find them especially on sale I am in heaven.

If you haven’t tried one I highly recommend it.  Young coconuts, both the liquid and the meat is not only tasty but very nutritious and you can do lots with them.  I look so forward to being able to make smoothies out of them for my morning shakes.

Here is a simple, quick,healthy and oh so tasty treat.  Good when you are craving that sugar.

For a good serving you will need to coconuts for this recipe. You will need to take the top off the coconut, which you can find in an early post here on how to do that.  Be careful as the liquid will start to come out, so I don’t take the top fully off until after I drain the water.

Once drained, take the top off and then with a bigger spoon, scoop out the white meat.  There won’t be a lot and it’s not hard like a coconut you are used to seeing.

Put it into your Vitamix or blender.

Add in

2 tbsp Organic Cocoa Powder

2 tbsp Maple syrup (not raw) or Honey (not vegan) or Agave –  I tired using Stevia with this recipe and it just didn’t taste good I much prefer one of the others.

1/4 cup of the coconut water (approx) depending on how creamy or thick you ike it

vanilla  optional I like to throw in a little of the vanilla bean itself

Process until smooth

Some variations after processing it are adding in some Chia seed and  / or sliced up bananas or other fruit.

It’s yummy and takes care of those sweet cravings!!

Enjoy and please share this if you like it!!

Thank you

JB

Eggplant Delight

This is totally Vegetarian, part Raw and of course Vegan and Gluten Free, whew covered it all!! lol Oh yeah and it tastes pretty good.

I find though dishes that use fresh, alive ingredients usually do.

This is fairly simple but a little chopping time is needed.

Take one Eggplant and wash the outside, cut off both ends then cut the rest into approx 3/4 inch circles.

Sprinkle with a little salt and set aside for a little bit.

I rubbed a little cold pressed Olive oil on both side and I did cook this part in the oven at 375 for about 5mins flipping in between so both sides were done.  If you wanted to stay completely raw, you could dehydrate them and it would take about 4 hours.

Pepper Salsa

2 Organic Tomatoes finely chopped

1 Organic Yellow pepper finely chopped

1/2 Organic Red Onion

1/2 cup chopped organic Chives & Parsley

1 minced organic Garlic

dash of celtic sea Salt

1 tbsp cold pressed Olive oil

juice of 1/2 organic Lemon

Mix all together, this will be added on top of the eggplant.

Cheese Sauce

1 cup raw Cashews soaked for at least an hour

1/2 cup water maybe a little more depending on consistency

juice 1/2 organic Lemon

1 tsp Miso

1 organic Garlic clove (optional)

dash celtic sea Salt

Mix all together in Vitamix, blender or processor until smooth, this may take scraping down the sides a few times.

I like to add the water in a flow not all at one time.

This is the topping on the salsa.

Serve immediately, makes a nice light lunch or a great side dish.

Enjoy!!

JB

Ahhh it’s that time of the year…January…after the Christmas / New Year’s bustle, January can be a hard time for some people.

The days are short, and many missing the sun,  not to mention the warmth too depending on where you live.

We got some snow here this week, which isn’t always typical where I live, kids love it, so does my dog Spirit.

I watch as this 9 year old dog turns into almost puppy like.

I watch him enjoying the moment and being.

I watch him be playful.

One of my favorite things to do is walk Spirit through the rain forest here.

I am always in awe of the beauty.  Nature is abundant and ever changing, adapting.

It’s quieter this time of year.

The animals are nestled in more with their little extra fat or store of nuts.

Just like we are……or some of us.

We are suppose to take the time when the days are shorter to listen to our bodies more, go within, rest, be……

Some of us instead of going within a little more, distract ourselves with mindless tv or trips to the fridge.

Sometimes we have been so busy doing it’s hard to just be……trust me, I know…..been a multi tasker most of my life and thought that was something to be proud of.  Was so busy doing…….especially as a single mom, I had no idea how to be……I am still learning.

Walking in nature helps me with that for sure, I let go of my next thing I have to get done and really look with my eyes and see the beauty that surrounds me, never looking the same depending on the time of day or kind of light.  I am learning to be….be me….and just be…..still….in the moment.

I am starting to carry my camera with me on these outings as I just never know what I might see.

How much do we miss by keeping busy, watching tv, multi tasking or worrying about things?

Take a minute, take a deep breath, let go and look around, don’t think, just be, maybe you will see something you’ve been missing, or maybe you will catch the sunset  or some other beauty that has really been there all along,

Have a beautiful day!!

JB

Quinoa & Kale Salad

Quinoa is one of those ancient grains and it’s good for us!!

It has all essential amino acids, is gluten free, a great source of protein for vegans, high in vitamins like the B’s and in iron. Oh and it tastes good too!!

I cook it just like rice but depending on the kind of rice, a shorter time.

Quinoa & Kale Salad

-  1 cup cooked Quinoa

-  3 – 4 oz cold pressed Olive Oil

-  2 oz wheat free Tamari

-  1/4 cup chopped Chives

-  1/2 cup chopped Parsley

-  1/2 head (or more depending on size) of Kale chopped up

-  2 Green onions chopped into thin slices

-  1 Carrot shredded

-  1 Beet shredded

-  1 clove Garlic minced

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Eat this as a side dish, main or for your lunch…..enjoy!!!

JB

If after the holidays you are left feeling sluggish, a little heavy feeling, maybe a few extra pounds on as well, then this you may like.
I also know after the holidays of some over indulgents this may also seem boring, but you and your body will love you for it!!
It’s easy to make, quick, simple, healthy, tasty, nutritious , full of enzymes, vitamins and nutrients, and will help you lose that sluggish, tired and feeling a little full feeling!!

Great for lunches, light dinners or even a snack.

Green Soup

-  Big Handful of Organic (if possible) Spinach

-  1 chopped up Carrot

-  1 chopped up Celery stick

- 1 clove of Garlic

-  juice of 1/2 Lime (or Lemon)

- 1/2 cup Parsley

- sea salt to taste

-  1/2 Avocado

-  3/4 cup Water

Throw all ingredients into your Vitamix or blender and blend until smooth.  For more of a creaminess you can add the whole Avocado or cut back a little on the water, if you want it thinner add a little more water.

This is a guideline, but you can throw any vegetable in, but you want lots of greens….spinach , kale, collards etc and herbs….use any that you like.  Garlic and salt adjust to your liking……just don’t use table salt!!

If you want it warm, you can slight warm it on the stove, BUT do NOT heat it or boil it as it will kill all the nutrients, enzymes, vitamins and minerals.  We are programmed to eat HOT foods or think we need them and I know at times living in the rainforest here that I want warming foods……add spices like cumin, chili peppers etc to warm you up inside.

Experiment with the flavors and if you are needing to chew, when you’ve got the soup to how you like it, throw in a few veggies and just pulse for a min or two so you will have a chunky soup or have some crackers with it.

Enjoy!!

JB

]]> http://jodiburke.com/2012/01/raw-vegan-green-soup/feed/ 0 http://jodiburke.com/2012/01/happy-new-year/ http://jodiburke.com/2012/01/happy-new-year/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:38:02 +0000 admin http://jodiburke.com/?p=2229 So 2012 is now here…….did you have a great New Years? Did you set any New Years Resolutions or Intentions? Yes I know I am a little behind, I had full intentions of getting this out earlier but we had a death in the family New Years day and I have been doing some thinking [...]

So 2012 is now here…….did you have a great New Years? Did you set any New Years Resolutions or Intentions?

Yes I know I am a little behind, I had full intentions of getting this out earlier but we had a death in the family New Years day and I have been doing some thinking about life and living since then.

Every year it seems most of us set resolutions or goals……they have a list of the most favorite top 10 NY’s Resolutions……you know…quitting smoking, lose weight, get into better shape, make more money, work less, spend more time with family, tame the bulge……. but by March we are back where we once were, resolutions forgotten. Now, we made them with good intentions, or maybe after a few glasses of bubbly….so what is the trick?

Life is too short not to be living the way we want to be. Set your intentions…….be very clear on what you want, the more clarity the better. write it out, see it, feel it and believe it. For instance, lets say you want to lose weight…..don’t just say I want to lose weight or even 10 lbs……yes you can say I want to lose 10 lbs, but how will that feel, what will you look like? Will you feel and look healthy, alive more vibrant? Then picture that. Create a dream board with photos on it or with one of the new phones you can record you goal….get detailed about you will feel and listen it to every day especially when you are feeling weak or want to give up.
Clear intentions……..I know I have set mine out, wrote it out and even voice recorded mine so I can listen to it every day…..as I want to make every day count……isn’t that what’s life all about??
Here’s to making 2012 our best year yet!!!
JB

Merry Christmas!!!

It has been awhile……lots of changes going on……all good.

As you may remember, I was promoting The Challenge, I thought it was a good bridge to people to get back on the track or start eating healthier.  I was seeing some people getting results and some not, some sticking with it and some not.  I did learn about how some people eat and don’t eat  and it got me to thinking and searching……was it another bandaid solution?

Personally I like shakes in the morning, what a great, easy, nutritious way to start the day……..not full of fillers, white flours and sugar or other crap. You can get creative with different fruits and even greens…..so I am all for them not matter what you use.

It really did lead me on a journey looking at beliefs…..which are powerful, whether they are good or bad for us……countries kill over them.  Which lead me to look at energy……..everything is energy…….thoughts are powerful…….what you think about you bring about…….especially for yourself.

That lead me to  start researching and studying Universal Laws and some Quantum Physics and even spirituality…….way off the topic of food or weight loss but it was all good!!!

In this time I was really reflecting on what I wanted this blog to share and be, plus I moved, which my stuff had been in storage for over 2 years, which wasn’t planned, so Christmas came early for me and I also took 12 boxes to Sally Anne……if I didn’t miss it or even like it any longer it was gone…….a real clearing out on many levels going on.

I have been putting this off for a couple of weeks to make sure I was really clear, plus a bout with the flu, 3 birthdays in one week in this house, Christmas coming, and finding out we’re gluten intolerant as well has lead me to trying different recipes.

Clarity is in and I hope you will stick with me as the blog is having changes done to it and in the New Year will more posts as I share my Journey with Food, recipes and more.

I just wanted to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas, and that I am looking forward to sharing the New Year!!!

When you look in the mirror at yourself do you look for and see your beauty, your greatness what you love most or that you are perfect just the way you are?

OR

Do you look in the mirror at yourself and see what you don’t like, what needs fixing, improving or you criticize and find fault?

Look in the mirror and really see the beauty in you, because I do……..you are beautiful!!!

Once upon a time I couldn’t even look in the mirror………Life is too short to be your best enemy……..start today…….by loving yourself a little more!!!

JB

My thoughts on counting all those things……..

Fresh Fruit Pie

Easy, healthy, quick, tasty and raw!! People won’t believe it….what else can I say??

Enjoy!!

JB