"Winter Asparagus- Fennel Soup"

It's official- we have evolved to a VEGAN EXCHANGE!

This meal is in honor of all those trying to fight off illness.

Although I added some variation and spice, ingredients for this meal were inspired by a recipe found on another vegan blog, The Health Seekers Kitchen. Check out the link for list of primary ingredients and healing properties.

http://thehealthseekerskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-asparagus-fennel-soup.html


To our health!

Parasite cleanse

Hi Foodies,

I am considering a three week long parasite cleanse after the Holidays, in early January. It has been a good 2 years since my last fierce full body cleanse and I am thinking that it is time. An estimated 95% of American have BAD parasites, which cause all sorts of nasty problems such as weight gain, water retention, digestion problems, eye sight issues, just to name a few. We get them through our food (esp meat), water, and even through toxins in air we breath.

I was wondering if any or all of you would be interested in also taking part in the cleanse with me. The diet of the cleanse is fairly restrictive and in my experience, this cleanse is A LOT easier if you do it with some other folks to help keep you on track and give support.

The cleanse involves the following:

No eggs or dairy

No sugar

No flour, pasta or bread

No Meat (foryou non-full time veggies)

No coffee (THIS ONE is HARD and where I need the most support!!!)

No booze

You can have lots of:

Fruit, berries are esp good

Non-starchy veggies (stay away from potatoes, go for the greens)

Beans or other protein

Whole grains, like brown rice, barley, etc.

Nuts

You take the following herbal tinctures (all of which you kind find at Lexington or Feel Right):

Clove (kills the parasite eggs)

Wormwood (kills the mature parasites)

Blackwalnut (kills the mature parasites and flushes 'em out)

You drink lots of:

Aloe juice

Check out this website for more info:

http://www.the-natural-path.com/parasite-cleanse.html

Let me know if any of you are interested or if you would like to talk more about the cleanse. It is a hard three weeks, but in the end, you feel amazing! I think this would be an awesome thing to do together as a group. But it does take a lot to do it and I understand that not everyone may have the means to participate (whether that be time, money, energy, etc.).

I should also tell you that in the second to third week, you will have to use the bathroom A LOT. This cleanse is all about flushing the parasites out of your system and this means poop. So, that is also something to consider. Also, if you have lots of existing health problems, you may want to consult your doctor/ homeopath/ herbalist prior to your involvement.

-Katie

Xana's Black Bean Soup

Black Bean Soup

2 Large Spanish Onions rough cut
7 cans of Black Beans...yes you can buy dry and soak overnight but I did not for this.
Between 1/4 and 1/2 cup olive oil. Enough to sauté all the veggies without sticking
One head of Celery. Rough cut including the celery leaves.
3 large green bell peppers. Rough cut
A couple of chopped jalapeno's or a conservative tablespoon of "Green Chili Paste produced by Laxmi. I use the Chili paste. I buy it at Spice Bizarre and it is wonderful stuff. Beware very,very hot. You can always add more. If any of you want a jar, let me know and I can pick you up one next time I go to the Spice Bazaar. It costs approximately 99 cents.
2 Heads of Garlic. Yes heads.
3 Bay LeavesOne Bunch of Cilantro with stems
8 cups vegetable broth
A healthy hand full of cumin seeds, toasted and ground.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Finish with: Green onion, cilantro and lime peppered sour cream. I used the juice of three limes for a container of sour cream.

Heat oil and add onion, celery, green pepper and garlic. Sauté for around 10-15 minutes.Add beans, broth, cilantro and chilies in whatever form you choose.Cook for about an hour or so. If time permits, let it sit for an hour or so after it is cooked. The flavors marry and the beans have more time to thicken and give the soup more of that smokey nutty taste.Discard Bay Leaves and puree. Finish with lime sour cream with green onions and cilantro.

Now you need to invite your friends over because you have just make soup for a small city:)

Pumpkin 8-Grain Bread

Dry ingredients:

2 cups spelt flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup 8-grain mixture (bought at local co-op; includes flax, oat, millet, corn, rye, ....)
1-2 tablespoon fresh ground clove, anise, nutmeg and cinnamon mixture
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt

Wet ingredients:
1 can pumpkin puree (or 2 cup pumpkin, roasted, pureed and spiced)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup cane sugar
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup fresh squeezed apple juice
4 large eggs
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Optional:
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup almonds, chopped
1/2-1 cup chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients in bowl. In separate bowl, mix wet ingredients & add to dry. Add nuts and chocolate chips. Add mixture to greased pan. Bake 350 degrees for 60 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Makes 2 loafs.

Recent dialogue...

If Todd, Diane, Meg and Christine are all out, and thursday is of course the big food day we are probably sharing with others, then yes, I also support resuming the 29th. Others??

Also, wanted to take the time, via here or our blog to check in about how the new incarnation of the F.E. is going thus far. How do people feel?? Impressions, thoughts, likes, dislikes?

I love how we finally, without planning it, perhaps inspired by Nancy's burritos, had a THEMED week this week.

Also, I am SO GRATEFUL to be back, and Matt is having a blast helping me cook, pick recipes, and is delighted to go and pick up our food each night. He and I had a conversation yesterday about quantifying "impact data" for our efforts. In other words, because we are buying fresh food, and many of us probably composting, recycling, etc... we are reducing our environmental footprint. Less gas and water used in each household on a daily basis, other then re-heating, bulk foods and fresh veggies involve less packaging...

THANKS Meghan for helping with and creating the spreadsheet and let's get the blog going.


Let's also try to align calendars as Jeanne suggested for a pot luck to get together.

Love,Megan

Salmon Salad

Delicate and light- perfect for a brunch

Fresh salad greens- ideally a lighter leaf
Raw Salmon (lox)
Shredded carrot
Thinly sliced raw onion

Dressing:
Capers and caper juice
honey
fresh lemon juice
olive oil
apple cider vinegar
fresh black pepper
fresh dill

buffalo food exchange on none other than..

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