Non-Dairy Nectarine Salad Dressing

This is a non-dairy and non-citrus dressing a only a touch of oil the ingredients needed are as follows:

2-3 Nectarines or Peeled Peaches frozen fruit could also be used.
1 Bunch of Fresh Basil approx 125ml
3-5 leaves of Fresh Mint
10ml Flax Seed Oil
50ml Water

Creamy style use dairy alternative rather then water.
Vinegrette style do a 3:1 ratio of oil and vinegar added to this base.

Place all ingredients in blender and liquefy pour some over mixed greens or some other salad green/veggie mix.

Its summer time Nectarines and Peaches are two of my favorites perfer the nectarines since they do not have the fuzzy skin.  I was experimenting last night with this in the end it turned out not too bad.   I think I would omit the mint in another batch and add some citrus like a squeeze of lime since you can never go wrong with lime.  You could also add some dairy alternative if you want like coconut milk or almond milk or even Soy for a creamy style dressing and even add some coconut oil for some added tropical flavor.  It is so easy to make your own dressings all you need is some imagination and a blender and just play around with things you like to eat;  why buy salt, dairy, and sugar packed dressings that just do more harm then good make healthy perservative free dressings cheap and simple just like the one above.

If your going to buy premade dressings go with Renees at least you know they are not packed with a ton of preservatives and other junk since they are kept refrigerated in the produce section;  not on some dusty shelf in the middle of the store.  Though since no premade product out there that I know of uses dairy alternatives for there creamy dressings lactose intolerent people and vegans are still left without choices.  Make your own then you know what is going in them no guess work involved or ingredient labels to read.

Spinach, Basil & Hemp Seed Pesto Non-Dairy

Pesto is an awesome product to many dishes and can be used to highlight a relatively bland dish into something extemely tasty and satisfying.  In this recipe we are omitting the traditional parmesan cheese and using Hemp Seeds for that creaminess and primarily using Spinach with just a touch of Basil.  The ingredients needed are as follows.
One item is toasted

125ml Walnuts or Toasted Pine Nuts (optional)
125ml Hemp Seeds
125ml Fresh Basil
1000ml Spinach
300ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil
4-5 cloves Garlic
Sea Salt and Pepper for taste

This will make about 3 cups of Pesto once processed and will last in the fridge for about a week although it probably will not be around that long.

Preperation:

Place Spinach, Hemp Seeds, Basil, Garlic, and the optional nuts in food processor or blender;  add 1/3 of the oil to get things started and then slowly incorporate the rest of the oil in the mix while blending turn off check for taste and then add salt and pepper until desired taste is accomplished.   Remember salt is strong and can over power the rest of the dish use enough to season but do not make it how you like it if your a salt junky it may be to salty for others to enjoy you can always add more later to your portion.  Use this as a dipping sauce for veggies, in a raw burrito/wrap, or drizzle on your salad or use on dehydrated veggie sheet for your next raw pizza.  You could even add it to your next salsa to give it an extra flavor zing.

God Bless and Enjoy.

Spicy Basil and Orange Vinegrette

This is a very versatile dressing which can be used from mixed greens, kale, bok choy,  romaine or some other type of leafy greens
The ingredients needed for this are as follows

250ml of Orange juice not from concentrate or 3-4 juiced oranges
125ml of Fresh Basil
375ml of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
10ml Flax Seed Oil
125ml of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar or Rice Vinegar.
Sea Salt and Fresh Cracked Pepper to taste
Cayenne Pepper or Chili Flakes for some extra heat (optional)
Agave, Stevia, or honey to sweeten (optional)

Put the orange juice and the basil in the blender with the vinegar and the slowly incorporate the oil once combined you will have a nice vinegrette to share with your family.  This is a traditional vinegrette suing the 3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar.  Even though this has oil and vinegar it is essential to keep your joints and muscles lubricated and natural oils are the best for this Flax seed has many health benefits and is incorporated into this not only becasue of this aspect it has some nice flavor contrasts as well. --> --> --> --> --> -->

Watermelon Time Oh Yeah

Well for all of those people out in Raw Food land we know that watermelons are coming out and the price is now reasonable for your average consumer.  I love these highly hydrating monsters of the fruit world and the taste is second to none.  The colors can vary from a like pink to a wild yellow and even some in between.  Melons are the fruit in which we can do so many things with they are versatile in many ways eaten on its own or placed into a fruit salad or used in other aspects like flavor in a mixed greens salad.  One of the best ways I have had this beautiful fruit lately is simply large chunk watermelon with a bunch of fresh mint tossed in; mixed together the mingling of this sweet fruit and the twang of the mint just creates this flavor explosion.   I have also found that you can easily turn around throw this same concoction into a blender and have a very refreshing beverage as we all know watermelons rightfully named are 92% water and therefore very low in calories as well and blend nicely.  So the next time you polish off a whole watermelon in a warm sunny afternoon do not fret because most of it is water 0 calories.  Watermelons are known for another awesome aspect they are one of the best fruits to consume that helps detox the body from many issues;  as it will help to pull and dislodge crud from the intestines and colon by giving your body extra hydration one of the main reasons many people become constipated is they do not consume enough water to push digested food out of the body.  So if your hungry and looking for something sweet and well good for the body not a fatty chocolate bar grab some watermelon and chow down;  not only will this curb the hunger it will also help with dehydration as it has been proven that up to 95% of the time your brain says your hungry it is actually saying hey drink some water.  Watermelon is also full of Lycopene a bright red carotene which gives it the natural red pigmentation commonly known in the tomato family and some other red colored vegetables like red carrots for instance.  This pigmentation not only is it a recognized antioxidant which helps the body aid in  prevention of cancer it has been shown to have a great correlation particularly with prostate cancer another huge reason men eat up your watermelon.  Though watermelon has benefits for everyone and can be enjoyed by all which is why it is one of  the most popular fruits on the planet; especially with BBQ season in full swing have a tasty healthy treat for your next get together and reap the benefits of this amazing fruit. 
Just remember people do not have seed fights if your lucky enough to find a seeded watermelon eat them they also have many health benefits and properties.

God Bless.   

Pickled Zucchini Salad

I had some fresh zuccini in my fridge and was kind of hungry wanted something to snack on.  I used a pull peeler and made some zucchini ribbons did not use seed part then added some fresh chopped rosemary and pineapple sage along with dill and some sauerkraut I  ahd sitting in the fridge and added some of the pickling liquid.  I tossed it all together and added some cayenne pepper for a little heat.  I let this sit for about 10minutes to allow the zucchini to absorb some of the sauerkraut flavor and the dill.  Gave it one final toss with the tongs and devoured it man what a taste delight.

Ingredients:
2 zucchini -make ribbons using peeler or a mandolin slicer if you got one or go real fancy and use a spiralina machine.
15ml dill weed I used dried which is more powerful if you use fresh at least double it.
1/2cup sauerkraut
50ml sauerkraut juice
5ml cayenne
5ml chopped fresh rosemary would not recommend dry to potent
5ml chopped fresh pineapple sage reg. sage would work as well or you could omit.
salt and added cracked pepper optional
I did use a touch of prepared mustard but feel I could have omitted this after the fact.
I would recommend some parsley or cilantro if you like the flavor I did not have any at this time.
A nice bit of citrus would also do nicely like some lime.

This was very plain and simple you could add other veggies if you like, my fridge was getting bare and I was just using up some items before they started to go.
P.S. You could also do this with english cucumber.
God Bless.

Baby Kale Dairy Free Smoothie Delight

The last time I was in my local super market I came across organic baby kale to my delight I knew I had to buy this
along with some fresh ripe mangos,  and a few bananas; this was the makings of a great dairy free smoothie.  I took this home and started preparing this superfood delight. 

I peeled the mangos and the banana and deseeded the mango and broke up the banana in chunks  and placed them in blender and then added two big handfuls of the baby kale 2 cups of plain water and then liquefied this concoction.

Ingredients needed:

1 large or 2 small bananas
1 mango or 1 cup frozen or prepared
2 cups of baby kale
2 cups water
1/2 cup ice if wanted colder "optional"

Both the mango and kale are considered superfoods and are full of iron, calcium, protein, Vitamin C, chlorophyll, Vitamin D, and many other essential nutrients, and minerals.  Kale on its own is considered one of the most alkaline boosting foods
on the planet and is why it is getting huge notice in the raw community not just in the kale chip form but as juices and smoothies as well and makes a great marinated salad.   Bananas you can never go wrong good amount of potassium and natural sugars for that needed energy boost and gives a all natural non-dairy smoothie that creamy flavour and texture. 

I love the large kale leafs but these baby leaves are soft and nimble and next will try them in a delicious salad.

Even though this may not have a strong sweet taste like your Booster Juice Outlets and other juice bars it is the health benefits from drinking a green smoothie that make it a smart choice.  If you do like it super sweet add another banana or maybe use some natural fruit juice instead of water or add a touch of agave or stevia.

God Bless and Best Wishes.