How close can I get?

So, I decided a month or so ago to cut out processed sugar from my diet, which was less difficult to do than I expected.  I use raw honey in my morning cup of coffee and created a date puree to sweeten oatmeal, yogurt and chai tea...among other things.  Although I cannot claim to be a raw foodist, vegan, gluten free or even vegetarian,  I am incorporating all of these practices into my diet to the point where my meat intake has dropped by 90% and my dairy has dropped by 75%.  I find that I can't be too strict about anything or I end up eating a whole plate of bacon and a cheesecake.  The main goal is to eat as much 'whole foods' as I possibly can (in a meat and potatoes family).  Thankfully my family is curious enough to have a go at my 'concoctions' and over half the time, they really like it, if only for the novelty.  NOW, onto the actual post.

My husband LOVES apple butter...as do I but when the second ingredient is high fructose corn syrup, not so much.  How could I create something that was raw, free of processed sugars, really healthy AND tasted like apple butter?  Date puree.  I don't have real measurements yet - feel free to try it and let me know - but the test batch measurements were:

• 1 tablespoon of date puree (1 cup of chopped dates. 1 cup of water. Soak. Puree.)
• 1 cap full of apple cider vinegar
• 1 dash of cinnamon
• 1 TINY pinch of clove

I stirred it all up, brought it into Jason and asked him what it was.  "Apple butter?".

WIN.  I bet I can do a 'pumpkin' butter style too.

So why should you add dates into your diet?  Here are some of the many benefits of consuming dates:

• rich source of vitamin A, B vitamins and vitamin C
• High in fiber and amino acids
• Improves digestive health
• Aids in weight loss
• Aids in relieving constipation
• Invigorates a weak nervous system
• Reverses anemia due to high iron content
• Reportedly aids in preventing and healing abdominal cancer
• Increases sexual stamina
• Aids in lowering LDL cholestorol

SO there you have it.  Tonight, while Jason is at the OU game, I'm gonna make this tangy raw goat cheeze (miso and sauerkraut = interesting)

More on turmeric

Since my last post, I've been experimenting with fresh turmeric root because I've learned that I MUST have this in my diet.  But first, here are some of the health benefits of this amazing root:
A safe anti-inflammatory
Improves digestion
Lowers cholesterol
Helps prevent gas or bloating
Improves skin conditions (i.e. eczema)
Blood purifier
Liver tonic
Natural antiseptic
...and 2 heavy hitters:
Prevents progression of Alzheimer’s
Helps prevent and reverse cancer (i.e. breast, prostate, skin, lymphoma)

The list is long and impressive.  So HOW do you add this pungent herb into your diet?  Here are three recipes that I came up with.

1. Sweet and creamy turmeric chai 

Steep the following ingredients in 6 cups of water for 20 minutes (a rice cooker works GREAT)

• 2 'fingers' of fresh turmeric root, grated
• 3 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and grated
• dash of clove powder (or 2 whole cloves)
• 3 heaping tablespoons of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• a teaspoon of vanilla

After 20 minutes, strain and store in a glass jar.  You can sweeten your chai with anything and add almond milk or cream if you want, but I wanted this beverage to be healing, so I made a date puree to sweeten mine:
blended up equal amounts - 1 cup each - of dates (or date sugar) and boiling water and puree.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

I like a super creamy 1/2 & 1/2 type creamer in my beverages so I made a cashew cream:
Soak 1 cup of raw cashews in boiling water for 20 minutes. Drain and add 1 cup of filtered water and puree.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

The purees yield enough for 8-10 chai teas, using about 2 tablespoons of each per drink.  It's a bit of work upfront, but easy breezy after that.  This combo makes a great cold beverage too.  This morning, I didn't fel like having coffee (which is ODD), so I added green tea to my chai...and YUMMO.

2. Savory turmeric broth

Steep the following ingredients in 6 cups of water for 20 minutes

• 2 'fingers' of fresh turmeric root, grated
• 3 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and grated
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup of fresh oregano or 2 tablespoons of dried herb
• 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1/4 cup of miso (I use brown barley aged miso)

Miso is alive, so be sure to let the brew cool off to the point where you can hold a finger in it for at least three seconds without burning before adding it in.  This condiment has some pretty amazing benefits as well!  This broth (sans turmeric) has been my standard cold/flu prevention tonic over the winter months.  My whole family came down with the flu a couple of winters back and I made a giant pot of this broth.  I was the only one to not get sick and the others got over it faster than usual.  BTW, strain the broth, if you'd like

3. Turmeric smoothie

• 1/2 banana
• 1 inch finger of fresh turmeric root
• 2 tablespoons of date puree
• 1 cup of coconut milk...or your favorite
• 1/2 a cup of orange juice (or a spoon of concentrate and 1/3 cup of water)

Puree and enjoy.  I don't like this one frozen but if you do, slice and freeze a banana.  The o.j. is really important to the overall flavor of this recipe, so don't skimp on it or the turmeric will overpower the drink.

So there you go!  Feel free to share your thoughts and recipes :)