Day 6/ Reintegration: Wild thing... I think I love ya....

I was so wired on high energy and sauerkraut last night I had to get my 'Dandelion Tincture' out and root back down.....Happy Leap Day!!!!

Last day of February.... I don't know about you, but this winter has just flown by me. Tomorrow is March ,  which to me means Spring is around the corner! So get spotting.. our wild things will soon be here!
I love wild things. Wild foods are an important and forgotten part of our diet. They are the richest in nutrients, life force, and have survived mother nature's cycles without 'our help'. They are tough, and gentle at the same time, and our bodies thrive on them. By incorporating Wild foods into our diet, we become one with the natural world. "Wild foods, microbial cultures included, possess a great, unmediated life force, which can help us adapt to shifting conditions and lower our susceptibility to disease."- Sandor Katz. Author of Wild Fermentation.

Benefits of Wild Edible Plants

There are numerous benefits to eating wild edibles such as:

• They are free.
• They are genetically stronger than other food.
• Nutritionally speaking they are beyond organics!
• Longer root systems make most weeds drought-resistant.
• Most edible plants and weeds are more nutritious than hybridized store produce.
• Eating local wild plants means that the plant fights off the same organisms as your body therefore making them highly beneficial for the immune system.

Last night, or rather, quite early this morning, I took out my Dandelion Tincture I made last May. They last for a very long time and this year I made a huge batch of it! Dandelion is well known for its diuretic and blood purifying properties. It helps flush toxins and excess salt out from the kidneys. It helps build immunity and strengthens the liver and gallbladder and aids in their detoxification. It's bitter taste stimulates the digestive system.


Making your own Tincture is easy and well worth the effort, so put away your spray and get your shovel! Dandelion roots here you go!


Dandelion Tincture Recipe:

Gather several dandelion roots from your garden and chop them up into small pieces (i am tempted to say sidewalk too, but depending where you leave that may not be such a good idea!).

Fill a quart-size jar halfway with dandelion root. Pour 80-90 percent proof vodka over the root until 2 - 3 inches above the root. Cover with a cheese cloth and then close tightly. Place in cupboard (away from light).

Shake daily for a month. If the root expands above the liquid add more vodka. Keeping the root submerged in alcohol keeps the root from breeding bacteria.

After a month, place cheese cloth in a mesh strainer over a measuring cup. Pour tincture through strainer. Pour into a dark coloured bottle with a dropper lid. Voila!! A few drops in your tongue is all you need.

__
"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light."
- Theodore Roethke, poet
__

Day 5/ Reintegration: Holy Kraut! I am full of it!

Yes I love my Krauts... Sauerkraut's that is!


Nothing like unpasteurized (raw) bubbly Sauerkraut... rich, spicy or not, sweet or tangy on the tongue... It's filled with oodles of probiotics for the gut, making your intestines happy, and your body shine from the inside out! There is really no comparison between the "live" version of probiotics and the "over the counter" version.


Sauerkraut is the name given to the process of fermenting vegetables, cabbage is a common ingredient but it doesn't have to be the only one! In the lacto-fermentation or "culturing" process the friendly bacteria already present in the vegetables convert the starches and sugars into lactic acid creating more Lactobacilli (probiotics). There are lots of options when it comes down to it, and lots of different health benefits that stem from your choices as always.


Sauerkraut, Kim chi, Fermented coconut water kefir, Rejuvelac all have a number of common well known health benefits on their resumes... worth taking a look?


They are well known for:
∗ Increasing nutrient bioavailability: increasing your body's ability to absorb the nutrients you consume.
∗ Boosting our immune system: probiotics help friendly bacteria colonize the intestines and keeping potentially harmful bacteria in check. 
∗ Decrease inflammation: eating small amounts of Sauerkraut daily can help with inflammation of the colon. It also helps to keep Candida in check.
∗ Regular bowel movements
∗ Very high in Vitamin C and digestive enzymes.


Ready for the goodness? Get your mason jars out, or undust your grandmother's ceramic crock if you got one .... here are two delicious recipes my family loves... yeap.. my kids fight over it!


Simple Sauerkraut Recipe:
3 heads of green Cabbage, shredded in food processor (keep a few outer leaves intact aside)
6 large carrots, shredded in food processor
3 inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
6 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped
4 cups of water
Several 1 Litre wide mouth mason jars sterilized in the dishwasher.


Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. 
Remove 3 cups of the shredded mix and place together with the water into blender. Blend until smooth to create the 'Brine'. It should look like a thick juice.
Mix 'Brine' back into the bowl with the shredded vegetables and massage well.
Tightly pack vegetables and brine into the mason jars. (Use your hands or wooden spoon). Leave 2 inches at the top.

Press the cabbage down firmly to cover it with the Brine and place the cabbage leaves you had left aside on top. Roll them up to create "logs" and place them down against the top of the jar. 

Place a cheese cloth with an elastic band around the mouth of the jar and close the jar with the lid.

Let the culture sit at room temperature (about 70 degrees is best) for at least 3 days, a week is even better. The longer they ferment the more "pickled" they will taste. Refrigerate to slow down the fermentation process.

Your culture should be alive and bubbly !!!

Live Kim chi
3 heads Napa Cabbage, shredded in food processor or chopped into 1/4" strips (keep a few outer leaves intact aside)
3 cups of water
5 tablespoons dried paprika powder
6 large cloves garlic
10 Medjool dates
1 - 3 inch long piece ginger
3 TBS salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 hot peppers
1 packet vegan kefir starter (available health food stores)
1 sterilized glass gallon jar (wide mouth jars are best!). I sterilize mine in the dishwasher.


Tightly pack the cabbage into the glass gallon jar leaving about 2 inches at the top. (Use your hands or a wooden spoon)
Blend all remaining ingredients for 1 minute until smooth to create the Brine, and pour into gallon jar, completely submerging the cabbage. 
Shake and move the jar around to make sure the Brine reaches all areas of the jar. 
Press the cabbage down firmly to cover it with the Brine and place the cabbage leaves you had left aside on top. Roll them up to create "logs" and place them down against the top of the jar. 
Place a cheese cloth with an elastic band around the mouth of the jar and close the jar with the lid.


Let the culture sit at room temperature (about 70 degrees is best) for at least 3 days, a week is even better. The longer they ferment the more "pickled" they will taste. Refrigerate to slow down the fermentation process.


Your culture should be alive and bubbly !!!




Now I know there are only so many of us Kraut lovers who can open up a jar and eat it up straight.... mmmh, but to those of you who are not quite ready for that just yet, there are many ways to integrate your Krauts, Kim chi's and other fermented goodies into your life. I often add them to salads, roll them up into my kale rolls, or simply add to them as a side to any meal.


Here is a simply recipe for an explosion in your mouth kinda salad. I made it yesterday and was happy to welcome back my dear friend the Kraut into my life.

Rainbow explosion in your mouth kind-a salad:
a few hand fulls red cabbage sprouts (any sprouts will do)
3 Celery stalks, chopped
1 grapefruit
1/2 cup blueberries
2 TBS black sesame seeds
a few TBS of Sauerkraut (trust your tummy)
small strip of Dulse (seaweed, cut into small pieces)
Flax seed or Hemp seed Oil (optional- I left those out yesterday)


Mix all ingredients together and get ready for a one of a kind taste sensation in your mouth! 




So there you go, tonight I am full of it!, full of recipes for you that is.


As the days go on I will continue to post, but will focus on new explorations in the kitchen, all things yoga, meditation, breath and health! I will not be posting so much my every bite, but more so my every inspiration!
__
"Exploration is really the essence of the human spirit."
Frank Borman
__

It's been a full and busy day and I have been exploring new taste sensations in my kitchen so much I don't remember all I have had! It's been good. I've continued juicing,  I have reintegrated greens and salads yesterday and today. Tonight I was daring and tried my delicious dahl (cooked lentil recipe) and have not had any reactions!!!! So far so good.

Day 4/ Reintegration: soothe the skin you are in!

I have been soothing my skin with  a Salve I made here at home that is making the rash on my right hand go away and it's making my skin sooo smooth, it's just pure lovely goodness: all natural, no un welcomed gifts, no chemicals, no side effects!

So here is the Magic Skin Salve:

Irish Moss (small piece)
1/2 cup Water
1/4 cup Aloe Vera Juice
2 TBS Coconut oil (if it's hard gently heat to melt- careful not to boil.)
5 drops Essential oil of your choice. (optional)

There is two ways to prepare Irish Moss, one is raw, one is cooked.

Raw preparation of Irish Moss:
Rinse the Irish Moss throughly several times until there is not sand in it. Soak the small piece of Irish Moss in the 1/2 cup of water overnight. Blend together to create a paste.

Cooked preparation of Irish Moss:
Rinse the Irish Moss throughly several times until there is not sand in it. Place the small piece of Irish Moss in a pot along with the 1/2 cup of water. Bring to boil and simmer for 15 min. Turn off. Let it cool down a bit, blend to create a paste.

Blend together all the ingredients. Store in glass jar in a cool place or in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.


Now what on earth is Irish Moss... yes yes... I can hear you think too!

Irish Moss is a little miracle I discovered a few months back. It is a seaweed superstar!!!

Irish moss is now thought to contain 15 of the 18 essential elements that make up the human body. This includes great amounts calcium, iodine, sulphur, and potassium as well as Vitamins A, D, E, F and K. This is why this most amazing seaweed is thought to be able to cure everything from bladder disorders, bronchitis, bad breath, intestinal disorders and glandular problems to swollen joints, lung difficulties, thyroid conditions, tuberculosis, tumors, and ulcers. It is antibacterial and antiviral, it soothes the mucous membranes in the body and aids with digestion discomfort. When used topically it is be helps to soothe skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, sunburn, and chapped skin. 

Not bad at all!!

I make lots of things with it, from putting it in my tea brews, chai's, to using it as a binding agent in rawlly good desserts that everyone loves! It's taste really blends well with anything.

You can purchase Irish Moss online at www.upayanaturals.com
__
"Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick."
Gwyneth Paltrow.
__

Morning: Arugula, carrot, celery, apple, lemon. 16 oz.
Mid morning: Bowl of raspberries, mango, hemp seeds, raw honey, sprouted flax and chia seeds. Tea: Burdock root, Chaga tea. "Almond Toast" (dehydrated).
Lunch: grapefruit, celery, blueberries, dulse, unpasteurized Sauerkraut, black sesame seeds super salad!
Afternoon: Almonds.
Dinner: Orange, carrot, ginger Juice. 28 oz.

Day 3/ Reintegration: creating change in your world.

Change happens slowly for some, fast for others. What kind of changes have you noticed in your life lately?

We often are focused on getting to the yoga matt, on getting the meditation class, on getting to the place of stillness away from the 'world'. But what happens to the world around us as we begins to change? Most often it changes with us.

I have noticed a huge ripple effect stemming from my choices and actions during the past 40- so days and I am sooo delighted to see those changes in my family, my parents, and my friends! One juice at a time, one smoothie at a time, one veggie and fruit at a time! It actually happens.

So a pat on the back to you! for embarking on the journey of change, on the journey of taking better care of yourselves and those around you. Love your new juicers, love your new commitment, and make it as delicious as you can !!! when the changes feel good, and we you begin to see the goodness that comes into your life ... those changes become easier to integrate as your lifestyle.

But what happens if change is hard for us? What happens when we are overwhelmed and resist the change? Most often, struggle, stress and conflict happens. If you find yourself in this space, breathe, deeply breathe. Anything is possible. Make the steps on the journey you seek smaller so they are easier to manage. And tap into the community you seek. You are never alone on this journey. Seek the support you need and trust the process. Those who may not understand or support you now, might have an "ah Ha" moment of their own as they witness your journey. This is about you, not them. In your hands you hold the gift of your life. LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE.

__
"Be the change you want to see in the world"- Mahatma Gandhi.
__

Morning: Celery, cucumber, purple kale, carrot, apple, lemon. 40 oz.
Mid morning: red pear, cucumber. (not juiced)
Lunch: Bowl of strawberries, blueberries with hemp seeds, almonds. Tea: burdock, astragalus, chaga tea.
Dinner: Purple Kale, apple, pear, ginger, 5 oz wheatgrass. 40 oz. Few pieces of celery and cucumber.

Day 2/ Reintegration: Making your brews!

I love making my tea brews. Getting to know your herbs, roots and the power of their combinations is truly liberating. Most commercial teas have added gifts just for you that you may not want. Buying the herbs and roots on their own or in small combinations without any additives is best!. Here are a few herbs and their healing powers for you to start experimenting with.

Chaga Mushroom
Astragalus root
Burdock root
Catnip
Cat claw
Goji berries
Palo d'arco

Let the herb steep in hot water for about 5 -10 min. then enjoy. Some people like to simmer the herbs/roots for 20 min or so to pull all the 'goodness' out of them, then let it sit and enjoy!. For me I just do the steeping, otherwise it gets too strong for me. It's a personal choice. Get to know your body.

Here is a recipe for the Best Chai Ever! using the tea from above as a starting base. Use any and/ or all the herbs or in combination.... see what you like.

The Best Chai Tea ever!
4 cups of brewed tea from the herbs above (one or in combination).
1 cup of almonds (soaked overnight in water)
1 1/2 Tbs Ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cardamon
1 tsp. all spice
1/4 tsp. black pepper or 4 black pepper balls
pinch sea salt
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/4 cup soft dates (medjool works great)
2 Tbs. raw honey

Rinse soaked almonds and blend with the tea and all other ingredients at high speed until smooth. Pour through a fine strainer or nut milk bag. Adjust taste if necessary. Gently heat it up and warm your soul! It's sooo rawllygood!

__
"Live what you love."- Unknown.
__

Morning: blueberries and a few raspberries. Tea of the day: burdock root, astragalus root, Chaga, catnip.
Mid morning: Melon.
Soon After: Parsley, fennel, celery, carrot, orange, grapefruit, ginger, 5 oz wheatgrass. 50 oz.
Lunch: Red grape, green apple, grapefruit. 16 oz.
Soon After: Collard, spinach, celery, cucumber, lemon, apple. 40 oz.
Dinner: Spinach, celery, carrot, apple, ginger. 16 oz.
As I write: cup of hot water with Unpasteurized Miso.

Day 1/ Reintegration: harder than juicing!

Now that I know the juice fast is done, I found it challenging to only have the prunes... so I ate an apple too! I was hungry for lots of them, but I stuck with one in hopes that my system copes with the process of reintegration.

Tomorrow I will be able to dig into water based fruits and I am so looking forward to that!

Coping. Stress. Words we are all familiar with. Here is a video I have found touching and inspiring. It is about the implementation of Meditation as a tool for coping with stress in a troubled school in San Francisco. 


"Surrounded by poverty and escalating violence, a San Francisco middle school committed to peace and embraced a program of meditation that has made students feel safer, teachers more productive, and brought unity and purpose to the school."

Incredible, isn't it?

__
"Root out the violence in your life, and learn to live compassionately nad mindfully. Seek peace. When you have peace within, real peace with other is possible." -Thich Nhat Hanh
__

Before juicing: 6 oz prunes soaked in water and their water.
Morning collard, chard, lemon,apple,ginger. 10 oz.
Soon after: parsley, purple kale, cucumber, apple, coconut water, 5 oz. wheatgrass. 50 oz.
Lunch: 6 oz prunes soaked in water and their water.
Mid Afternoon: Pak choi, asian pear, celery, lemon, arugula sprouts, carrot. 40 oz.
Later: sliced apple. (not juiced).
Dinner: Pear, apple, ginger, cinnamon. 20 oz.

Note: way too many prunes!!!! wooo.

I have a rash on my right hand. It came a few days back, but today it is bigger. Red, hot and it is making my right hand very dry, almost like sand paper dry. Not sure what it is. Hoping it is part of the healing.

Day 40/40: can you see the extra bounce in my step? this RAWllygood thing is here to stay!

DAY 40 OF 40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the sun is shining!

Can you see the extra bounce in my step? the extra big smile on my face? I have done what I set out to do and more!

Today I completed my 40 day Juice Feast, my 40 minutes for 40 days Meditation practice and my yoga Asana practice. What a ride!

The last 40 days have been the beginning of a new journey for me. All I have done is here to stay. The juices will stay, obviously not as much daily. I will do 2 daily after my reintegration period. The 40 min a day Meditation practice is here to stay, as is my Yoga Asana practice, which I actually would like to lengthen. 

I have loved the whole journey. I have written about this before, I have approached this journey from a different place in my heart, a place of peace, where my mind and body together made the choice, a place of surrender to life's mystery. I have felt carried, supported and loved the whole way through. I did not struggle overall with the Juice Fast in the way I had previously struggled before when I had done 10 days and 7 day Juice Fasts. I felt constantly riding the wave, at times challenged by it, but the commitment within was so strong that there was never questioning thoughts of what I was doing or thoughts of not going all the way.

The meditation gave me the gift of sweetness, of space, of learning to be the witness to 'my story' while living it!, of feeling more grounded. It connected me with my breath, with it's power to heal and transform. It has given me 5 precious minutes with my kids at night before they go to bed, where we sit and meditate together, connecting with each other at the heart. It has given me the power to rejuvenate after I have been up through the night with my toddler. (yes, the little sweet rascal did it again last night!!#@#!!!). It has allowed me to get to know my mind at a deeper level, my habits, my patterns of thought and behaviour, what I see as my 'limits' and the ability to go beyond them. I feel more at peace with myself and the world. Over the last 40 days, I have sat for 40  minutes a day. I have tried to do 30 min in the morning and 10 before bed. I have found that to work best for me. The 30 min. get me ready for the day, the 10 min. allow me to reconnect before bed. There is a different flow to my days. I know I will take care of myself, no matter what I will sit, and it's made a huge difference in my world.

The yoga asana, has allowed me to connect with my breath while moving. I see it as a moving meditation. It has allowed me to connect deeper with my energy and with the energies around me. It also allows me to go deeper into my meditation practice, as I usually do it before I sit to meditate for 30 min.

The Juice Feast, has provided my body with oodles and oodles of liters of fresh vegetable and fruit juices. A super High nutrition that I would never be able to eat my way through. It has given my internal organs a break from their 'jobs' to gather and collect their energies for the benefits of my whole body. As much as they have been 'on vacation', they have been working on breaking down the cells that are no longer healthy or useful, repairing and rebuilding. A fast forward jump to the next level!.

The synergy of the 3 together has been exponential! The one feeds and supports the other, all allowing me to connect with my inner warrior, with my strength, courage, edge, peace, love, acceptance, laughter and compassion. My own true nature and the source of my being: my spirit. At times when I felt challenged, one of them, if not all supported the process. They have allowed me to heal deeply in ways I am not yet conscious of. They have given me the gift of experiencing that anything is possible.

As I sat in meditation today I felt a lot of gratitude, for everything and everyone!! I feel grounded and happy. I broke the fast with the sweetness of the water I soaked the prunes with. It was like drinking nectar, sweet delicious, an explosion in my mouth. Then, slowly I ate the organic prunes. I have to admit I was a bit giddy to be eating them! What a sensation to be eating again! I have noticed through the fast my sense of smell getting stronger and sharper. Yes, I can tell you what you had for breakfast today right now! (just kidding). The texture of the prunes was so soft and welcoming. I had 8 oz of prunes soaked in water for 8 hrs. That will be my meal of the day. Before and after "da meal" I continued to juice.

I started this journey weighing 138 pounds. I am now 125 pounds. I have lost 13 pounds. I did not start the Juice fast with the intention of loosing weight, nor did I really think I would loose this much!. But I am not worried about it, as I start to reintegrate foods into my days, the weight will come back and the body will balance itself out. 

Now onto the great news!... This RAWllygood thing is here to stay!!! yeap. I will be writing about my process of reintegration over the next week or so. Then I will continue to share with you all things health, yoga, asana, meditation, and delicious plant based mainly raw foods from my kitchen to yours!!!

My husband always says I am a bit of a mad scientist in the kitchen, I use every dish and appliance... and voila!!! It seems as if the Tazmanian Devil has been through my kitchen.... I love it! mmmhhh so RAWllygood. Now I have an excuse to invite MR. TD over  more often!!!! Ha!

So stay connected 'cause there is more to come!

Thank you for being my community and a big part of my strength in this process. Thank you for your calls, your emails, your words of encouragement. I have loved and cherished them all. Thank you for sharing your stories of inspiration with me. Thank you for taking the time to see what is possible for you.

__
"We all have possibilities we don't know about. We can do things we don't even dream we can do."

Dale Carnegie. __ Morning: Collard, celery, carrot, orange, strawberry, gooseberries, 5 oz. wheatgrass. 60 oz. Mid morning: coconut water. 18 oz. Lunch: cup of Honeybush Vanilla tea. Mid afternoon: Kale, celery, cucumber, mint, green apple, ginger. 40 oz. Dinner: Kale, celery, fennel, carrot, orange, grapefruit. 50 oz. As I write: 3 cups of hot water with Unpasteurized Miso.