Temple Balls II
When vegans or plant-based eaters discover dates, it’s a game changer. Dates are moist, chewy, and naturally sweet, so this luscious “food from the Gods” lends itself to making naturally sweet treats including what many people refer to as date balls: dates, nuts, seeds, spices, and other ingredients (i.e. cocoa, coconut, goji berries, raisins, etc) mashed and blended together into dessert or snack balls.
Although there are a zillion recipes for date balls on line, there are occasions when time or equipment (a food processor) is a factor so people turn to ready-made balls. But, as with every prepared food, ingredients are key so read labels or turn to Glaser Organic Farms – a trusted preparer of raw, vegan, and organic certified snacks. Read more 
10 Great Holiday Food Gifts for 2019
Holidays are all about enjoying food so there is no better time to give a palate pleaser than now. Not everyone is a foodie but nearly everyone appreciates wholesome, delicious food like pure maple syrup, colossal roasted cashews, creamy, rich peanut butter cups or almond cups, award winning crispy potato chips made with extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate mint meltaways, fresh fruit, and chewy, sweet dates. To wash all that down, consider Fever Tree drinks: tonic, club soda, or ginger ale. Read more
Organic Sweet Carnival Grapes
Last week my husband brought home a produce carry tote that contained “Organic Sweet Carnival Grapes” which were described as “as sweet as any carnival treat.” To be honest, my first thought was “cotton candy” which didn’t sound appetizing as I was never a fan of the sticky, puffy, blue and pink stuff sold at carnivals. But, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Sweet Carnival grapes are sweet and super crisp (an essential attribute of a good grape for me) but they are especially delicious when ice cold, although they are also exceptional chilled or at room temperature. The flavor is reminiscent of cotton candy for sure so they taste like a sweet crunchy flavorful treat that is a healthier choice than cotton candy. That these green (although they are called “white”) are seedless and organic is an added bonus. Read more
The Microgreen Salad
In the plant-based world, there is a common phrase “eat the rainbow” that is a constant reminder to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. With that in mind, the following recipe for a salad combines greens (microgreens), fruits (apple, peach, and mango), vegetables (broccoli and carrots), and beans (garbanzo) along with lemon juice, dill, and pink peppercorns to make a delicious and nutritious super colorful salad that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. From start to finish, the salad takes about 15 minutes to make and looks as beautiful as it tastes. Read more
Blueberry Crumble Coffeecake (Vegan)
If you think a cake can’t taste great without white flour, butter, oil,, eggs, and refined sugar, think again because it’s all about finding alternative nutritious ingredients to replace the undesirables. Instead of white flour, consider oats and almond flour.; instead of butter, oil, and refined sugar, choose date paste (dates and water); instead of eggs, select ground flaxseed meal. Using these alternative ingredients not only produces a nutritious cake but also a delicious one…promise! Read more
Noka® Superfood Smoothies
No prep. No waste. No mess. No wait.
Who doesn’t love a smoothie? A thick, smooth drink typically made with fruit, vegetables, and some type of liquid (i.e. water, almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, juice, etc), a smoothie is thirst quenching, filling, usually nutritious (depending on what is added to the fruits and vegetables), delicious, and very satisfying.
The problem with smoothies is that you either have to make a smoothie at home or go to a store to have one made for you, which isn’t always convenient. You may be on your bike, at a sports event, or even in the car when all you have is a dry energy bar in your backpack or handbag when what you really want is a smoothie. Until recently, you had to settle for the energy bar but not anymore. Read more
Summer Greens and Berries
Eating light in the summertime is as easy as tossing a salad together with fresh seasonal produce. Fill a large bowl with assorted greens (the darker the better) and then add a handful of blackberries, blueberries, and sliced strawberries along with a chopped avocado and sliced almonds for an added crunch. Drizzle some balsamic vinaigrette or your favorite dressing over the top, toss and serve. Lunch never tasted so good! Read more
Summer Chopped Salad
A few days ago I was making a party platter of fresh cut vegetables to dip in hummus when I realized I don’t know that many people who eat raw red, orange, or yellow pepper slices (and, I don’t know anyone who dips green pepper slices into hummus although there must be some green pepper fans out there).
So, I quickly decided to omit the peppers and instead use these “capsicums” (as they are called in Australia and India) to make a chopped salad. But, because peppers can be overpowering I added mangos, peaches, and the juice from a navel orange along with fresh flat leaf parsley, and a touch of salt and pepper to make a colorful, delicious, crunchy, and slightly sweet, savory side dish. Read more
Powerballs
Powerballs are moist, nutty delicious bites made from eight ingredients: dates, walnuts, dried apricots, sprouted sunflower seeds, goji berries, hemp hearts, flaxseed meal and cinnamon. Sweet and scrumptious, Powerballs are the ideal snack or dessert that satisfies those sweet cravings we all get from time to time.
Inspired by the recipe for Superfood Breakfast Bites in the How Not To Die Cookbook, Powerballs are heavy on the dates, apricots, and walnuts but its the seeds, berries, hemp, and flaxseed along with the cinnamon that make these treats so special. Read more
Is There Anything More Beautiful Than A Dragon Fruit?
To me, a Pitaya – also known as a Dragon Fruit – looks like a fruit worthy of the fanciest fruit salad. With a fluorescent magenta and green outer skin covering a slightly sweet juicy interior that tastes like a melon, the Dragon Fruit is both beautiful to look at and scrumptious to eat.
In fact, it’s so beautiful to look at, that I often use a few as a center piece on the table until ripe (note: as the fruit ripens, the pink color gets brighter and brighter). Then, I place the fruit in the refrigerator to chill for a few hours or overnight because the flavor is best when chilled. Read more
Paddock Post 