Betcha didn’t know…

    *Philosophie cleanse glass bottles are reused and recycled

    *Philosophie produce is all purchased from the local farmers market, using only a bike or walking for transportation

    *Philosophie containers are made of potato, corn or reused Tupperware

    *Philosophie superfoods and produce is 100% organic

Tag: vegetarian

Marinated Kale Salad

February 17th, 2010

This is a staple dish in our home. Everyone loves it! My husband, friends AND PUPPY! :) It will store for a few days in your fridge after marinated and prepared.

  • 1 bunch fresh kale, de-stemmed and shredded
  • 1 avocado, cubed or sliced thin
  • 3 stalks celery, sliced thin or minced
  • 1 green apple, sliced thin or minced (in the same size as your celery pieces)
  • 1/3 C lemon juice
  • 1/2 t sea salt
  • 2 T Bragg’s liquid aminos
  • 1/3 C olive oil
  • 1 T honey or agave nectar

Put the shredded kale in a large bowl with the salt. With your hands, squeeze and massage the kale and mix it well with the salt. Keep massaging the kale for up to 3-5 minutes as the kale will darken, shrink in size and the fibers will break down. Once this happens, mix in all of the other ingredients into the bowl, except the avocado.

Serve on a pretty plate and garnish with pretty avocado pieces on top. :-)

note: you might want to experiment with how much lemon juice, bragg’s, and agave/honey you put in this. the above recipe is a pretty good guideline but you’ll find that you’ll have your own preferences. Go with whatever tastes good to you!

Gluten-free Banana Oat-Nut Muffins

January 31st, 2010

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 3-4 ripe bananas
  • 2-3 Tbsp Agave or Honey
  • 1 C ground rolled oats
  • 1 C almond meal or raw almonds
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal
  • 1 1/2 t cinnamon
  • 2-3 T melted butter (or vegan butter alternative)
  • 2 free range eggs (or vegan Ener-G Egg replacement)
  • 1 tsp Vanilla

1. Begin by processing the almonds with a food processor until they are close to a flour consistency (or you can buy almond meal pre-made). Add oats into food processor until mixed well. Put into large bowl.

2. In large bowl combine “flours” with cinnamon, baking soda, sea salt and flax meal.

3. In a separate bowl, melt butter. Let butter cool for a bit. Then add eggs and vanilla to butter.

4. In a 3rd bowl, mash ripe bananas with a fork. Add agave to bananas and mix. (you may leave the bananas chunky or puree until super smooth, depends on your taste preference). Add bananas and agave to egg/vanilla/butter to the flour bowl. Mix all ingredients together with a large spoon. Then use that spoon to scoop mixture into muffin pan.

5. Bake muffins 25-30 minutes. Test with a toothpick, it should have residual dry crumbs only. (no moisture)

This recipe is dedicated to Riley Carrington, my god daughter :)

1 London vegetarian cook & 1 raw organic vegetarian restaurant = one happy American

January 5th, 2010

Reporting in from InSpiral Lounge- London, England

I’m writing this review as I sit in this lively raw organic vegetarian restaurant (and Vegan) in Camden Town, London. I’m sitting at a small wooden table with uneven chairs, by the glowing Himalayan sea salt figure light source, while the energetic African music smiles in my ears.

I just finished eating a raw nut burger, what they call their “Sunfood Burger”. It was a little dry, but overall very tasty and I basically swallowed it whole.With every dish you purchase, you get 3 sides included, so I chose 3 raw salads with bright, vibrant colors and distinct familiar tastes. It’s been 3 days since I’ve had this food I love so dearly, so I practically licked the plate.

My husband and I drove back to London today from Belgium in order for me to work for this restaurant, InSprial. This is our “honeymoon”, or at least our version of it. It’s not that we aren’t enjoying each other, or totally infatuated with each other: it’s just that we love our jobs that much. We are in Europe and by day we walk around on the bustling streets and go have European cappuccinos (mine with soy obviously) and for a few hours each day we bring our computers and tap into our clients, blog readers and the jobs we love so dearly.

Which brings me to this moment:

At first I thought it was oxymoronic to say “healthy food in London” BOY WAS I WRONG!

I emailed InSprial before leaving for England, after finding them on the internet, explaining I was coming to London for two weeks and would love to do a workshop for them on raw food or help in the kitchen. A week later, I received an enthusiastic reply, indicating they would put me in touch with their head chef. A few days later Enzo, their vegetarian cook, wrote asking if I could help the restaurant recreate their raw menu for the New Year. I obviously said Yes… with zero attempt at hiding my zealous vigor.

I met with Enzo last week and we discussed his ideas and what he needs from me. In the quickest hour of my life, I told him what I thought of the dishes they already have, he told me what he thought, and within 60 minutes we had a plan. He needed 7 new raw salads with superfoods in the dressings or in the salad & 2 new entree’s-one raw sushi dish and one random dish using my incredible imagination :)

We decided on my hours for this week (so that Adi and I could go to Paris and Belgium for a few days) and voila! Here we are! I showed him all my work–the 7 new recipes and 2 entrees–and he loved all of them.

Here’s a sneak preview on my ideas:

  • Sprouted Mung Bean Salad with Sesame Seeds and a Raw Tahini Lime Dressing
  • Edible Flower Mixed Greens Salad with Fresh Raspberries, Agave Soaked Goji Berries and a Creamy Lemon-Maca Dressing
  • Raw Caesar Salad with Baby Jam Lettuce, Raw Parmesan and Capers with A Cacao-Balsamic Dressing

for my “creative” entree I decided on a Mock Loaf with a Raw Mushroom Gravy

PICTURES TO COME!!!!! Things may change a bit once I get into the kitchen, but that’s when the fun & gratification really begins!

Stay tuned. :)

1 London vegetarian cook & 1 raw organic vegetarian restaurant = one happy American

January 5th, 2010

Reporting in from InSpiral Lounge- London, England

I’m writing this review as I sit in this lively raw organic vegetarian restaurant (and Vegan) in Camden Town, London. I’m sitting at a small wooden table with uneven chairs, by the glowing Himalayan sea salt figure light source, while the energetic African music smiles in my ears.

I just finished eating a raw nut burger, what they call their “Sunfood Burger”. It was a little dry, but overall very tasty and I basically swallowed it whole.With every dish you purchase, you get 3 sides included, so I chose 3 raw salads with bright, vibrant colors and distinct familiar tastes. It’s been 3 days since I’ve had this food I love so dearly, so I practically licked the plate.

My husband and I drove back to London today from Belgium in order for me to work for this restaurant, InSprial. This is our “honeymoon”, or at least our version of it. It’s not that we aren’t enjoying each other, or totally infatuated with each other: it’s just that we love our jobs that much. We are in Europe and by day we walk around on the bustling streets and go have European cappuccinos (mine with soy obviously) and for a few hours each day we bring our computers and tap into our clients, blog readers and the jobs we love so dearly.

Which brings me to this moment:

At first I thought it was oxymoronic to say “healthy food in London” BOY WAS I WRONG!

I emailed InSprial before leaving for England, after finding them on the internet, explaining I was coming to London for two weeks and would love to do a workshop for them on raw food or help in the kitchen. A week later, I received an enthusiastic reply, indicating they would put me in touch with their head chef. A few days later Enzo, their vegetarian cook, wrote asking if I could help the restaurant recreate their raw menu for the New Year. I obviously said Yes… with zero attempt at hiding my zealous vigor.

I met with Enzo last week and we discussed his ideas and what he needs from me. In the quickest hour of my life, I told him what I thought of the dishes they already have, he told me what he thought, and within 60 minutes we had a plan. He needed 7 new raw salads with superfoods in the dressings or in the salad & 2 new entree’s-one raw sushi dish and one random dish using my incredible imagination :)

We decided on my hours for this week (so that Adi and I could go to Paris and Belgium for a few days) and voila! Here we are! I showed him all my work–the 7 new recipes and 2 entrees–and he loved all of them.

Here’s a sneak preview on my ideas:

  • Sprouted Mung Bean Salad with Sesame Seeds and a Raw Tahini Lime Dressing
  • Edible Flower Mixed Greens Salad with Fresh Raspberries, Agave Soaked Goji Berries and a Creamy Lemon-Maca Dressing
  • Raw Caesar Salad with Baby Jam Lettuce, Raw Parmesan and Capers with A Cacao-Balsamic Dressing

for my “creative” entree I decided on a Mock Loaf with a Raw Mushroom Gravy

PICTURES TO COME!!!!! Things may change a bit once I get into the kitchen, but that’s when the fun & gratification really begins!

Stay tuned. :)