Borrowing time/ Happy International Women's Day and a BLT to celebrate!!!

First things first.... I had to borrow some time yesterday.. which meant not writing and how I missed it!!!


I had a very busy day and an engagement at night.. which lead to a very late putting the boys to sleep and a battle with my toddler high on sugar from his first mini cupcake with red sparkly frosting! AHHHH! Yeap, bound to happen I saw him inhale it from the corner of my eye and it was too late! then I found him again half way through a yellow sparkly mini cupcake! It was a battle to put him to bed... finally he crashed at almost midnight from exhaustion! And at that time... well, I too was done.


He is miserable today, with all sorts of dots on his face ! I guess he is special in the same ways that I am... no crap on my food please!!!


Anyway... I got so much to say today I am sure I will make up for yesterday's silence.


So ladies, Happy International Women's Day!!!!
Everyone else: say it louder! We kind of like to hear it!


International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th every year. It's beginning dates back to the early 1900's. It started as a Socialist political event in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Soviet Bloc. It has become a worldwide movement of respect, appreciation and love towards women. A celebration of women's economic, political and social achievements and well- being. A day to reflect on our human rights and a day to re focus our thoughts and actions for the rights of women around the globe who do not have the freedom to live those rights.


We have come a long way, but a long way is still ahead. I am an immigrant to this amazing Oh Canada! All though I grew up in a free democratic society, the Machista of my culture was always on site, and the roles of "Women" were carved in stone. In the years prior to our departure, and as I grew from teenage years into womanhood, I began to understand and appreciate my womanhood and what it meant depending on where in the world I found myself. My freedom of speech, my political and economic freedom, my freedom of simply walking without harrasment down the street!, or simply being safe at night should I decide to out on my own... a mix of what I call little freedoms and big freedoms... all to be thankful for.


So to celebrate this very awesome day I had a BLT!!!!....


what?... PLOP!.... That!!


Basil Lettuce Tomato with eggplant strips on an raw onion bread! what else did you think I meant?


OH... you people out there.. I heard you PLOP! ... yes I did.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BLT (BASIL LETTUCE TOMATO.. WHAT ELSE!)

Raw dehydrated Onion Bread (recipe follows)

Lettuce

Sliced tomatoes with Basil and Nutritional Yeast drizzled in Cold pressed Olive Oil. Nutritional Yeast is available at health food stores- this is NOT active yeast.

Eggplant strips (recipe follows... kind of life bacon, but nothing like it really... mmmh)

Sea salt to taste

Kimchi on the side

Caper berries 

Assemble like you would a sandwich. Place lettuce, Tomato mix (along basil, nutritional yeast and oil), and eggplant strips in between two slices of Onion Bread. Place some tasty Kimchi and Caper berries on the side... mmmhh mhhh mhhh... warning: you will eat more than one!

RAW DEHYDRATED ONION FLATBREAD
3/4 cup tomato, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
1 TBS miso paste (unpasteurized preferred)
1 red onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 large garlic clove, chopped
3/4 cup flaxseed powder
1/2 cup hemp seeds
2 TBS chia seeds


In a food processor or Vitamix, blend the tomato, raisins, and miso paste together until smooth. Add the onion, garlic, and flaxseed powder and blend again until it is as smooth as possible. Fold in the hemp seeds and chia seeds by hand.


DEHYDRATOR METHOD

• Spread mixture onto several teflex sheets, and dehydrate at 105F until dried out into a flatbread (about 24 hrs, but I find it really depends on what else is in the Dehydrator). 
• Flip over after 8- 10 hours to allow even dehydration. 

OVEN METHOD

• Preheat over to 250F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Pour mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Use a spatula to spread into a thin layer, forming about a 10 x 14 inch rectangle (spread as evenly as possible to ensure even cooking).
• Bake for 1 hr., then remove from the oven and place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the spread. Holding the two layers together, flip the whole spread over so that the new parchment is on the bottom. Carefully peel away the top layer of parchment from the spread and discard.
• Return to the oven for 15-20 min, or until the edges begin to brown slightly. Turn off the oven, and leave the tray inside until the oven has cooled, about 30 min. Break into larger peices for flatbread, into smaller pices for crackers, or crumble into croutons.

EGGPLANT SLICES WITH A KICK!
3 large eggplants
1/2 cup tamari sauce  (wheat free)
2 TBS raw honey (or agave -but I don't recommend it!, or maple syrup)
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (here is da Kick! so know your limits!)


Whisk together the marinade.
Peel and discard skin of the eggplants. Continue to peel the eggplant into 1-inch wide long strips. Rotate the eggplant until the core is reached. Discard the core. Marinate strips in the mixture for 1 hour.


Once marinated arrange the strips on mesh dehydrator racks and dehydrate for at least 12 hrs, until crisp. Once dehydrated keep in a plastic container and cover.


note: I made these a while back. They keep for a long time and they are handy to have for the BLT moments!
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"The fastest way to change society is to mobilize the women of the world."-Charles Malik

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