Culinary Zen: December 2017

My Food Philosophy

It starts with realizing your connection with the Earth. The earth will always provide you with the food that you need. Whole food in its purest form. Not chemically laden formulas disguised as food. You will begin to appreciate the people who grow the food. You will not settle for a fruit or vegetable that was grown in the most clean way possible. Because, you see, the energy from these foods becomes a part of you when you ingest it. It's all about conscious eating. Being aware of not only what you put in your mouth but where is comes from. I choose to live a plant based and gluten free lifestyle. This blog is an evolution of sorts. It starts with my dedication to using whole foods and moves into my dedication to a plant based cooking lifestyle. All those recipes you didn't think you could have eating the way I do....Bon Appetite

For more information on plant based wellness, please visit my website at www.pranaholisticwellness.com

Friday, December 8, 2017

Christmas Sweets #2

Vegan/GF Puppy Chow

So this puppy chow could use a little more powdered sugar but still tastes the same as the "regular version."

9 cups rice and corn chex
1 cup chocolate chips (I use Pascha brand, 88% cacao)
1/2 cup nut butter of choice (I use sunbutter)
1/4 cup earth balance butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Combine chips, nut butter, and butter in pan and melt. Once melted mix in vanilla. Coat cereal with this and mix until well incorporated. Put powdered sugar in plastic bag. Poor cereal mixture in bag. Close bag and shake it up until coated with sugar. Put on co

until till cool.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Christmas Sweets #1

Here is an easy one. I loved chocolate covered peanuts growing up and most people don't know how easy they are to make. This is also a very easy one to make vegan.

Chocolate Covered Nuts and Raisons

1 bag (80% cacao) chocolate chips (not milk chocolate)
1 container walnuts/pecans/peanuts/raisons (whatever you prefer to cover)

Melt chocolate in microwave or on stove.
Mix in item you are covering.
Scoop out in dollups onto wax paper and wait until set.

*This one is perfect for dark chocolate fans. Although there is also a 55%
cacao version that I also make for those who like it less bitter.

Food is love. At least for me it is. My journey and love of food started as a child. Food has always been a big part of my family. Many memories of my grandma are her food. Her shrimp salad, pizza buns, birthday cakes.....the smell of her french fries in the oven. If I think about it hard enough, I can even taste her oil and lemon dressing she would put on her salad. My parents were also into cooking. I grew up thinking that everyone made their own spaghetti sauce. I assumed that everyone had a cupboard in their basement full of fresh canned tomatoes and a mulch pile in their backyard to throw veggie and fruit scraps. The calm and peace I feel when preparing a meal is something I cannot explain. As I chop veggies, boil water, and try new spice combinations for a dish I forget about everything else and go into a zen state. I put alot of thought into the quality of my food, the way it is prepared and the way it is served. My meals are made with much love, thoughtfulnes, and gratitude to my mom, dad, and grandparents. They have passed down to me how important food is not only to your body but to your soul.