06 December 2010

*Knocking my Pretty Skull*~

Seriously... What is wrong with me?! I could never keep my word about posting on a daily basis! I can tell you this... that this does ring so very true.. that I do lead a very fulfilling, fun-filled life! I can't seem to get my tiny, pretty arse to sit in front of this screen and click-clack the keys away!

I recently posted this status on my FB and I love it! (It was posted yesterday)

Alynn Davis loves how words can crawl into our mouths and be blurted out! Sometimes words are not enough. Sometimes actions are not enough. Are you enough with yourself? In other words... Are you contented and at ease with yourself? Alynn knows she is!~


Hmm... Off the point here... I did say that I would... actually... I said that MAYBE I will post up a recipe and with a kind heart, I have decided to post one today. It is for those who already or aim to purchase an Excalibur Dehydrator -

Quinoa-Sesame Crackers
I don't consume quinoa myself, even if it is raw and sprouted, but I made this and it has been raved upon! You GOTTA give this a whirl and try!

Servings:  makes about 3-4 dozen
Feel free to experiment with the flavours. Also, this makes a lot of crackers; If you're not sure you'll like them, it's easy to halve or quarter the recipe.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup quinoa seeds, sprouted* (that's one measured cup before sprouting. After sprouting you might end up with 2 or even 3 cups worth)
- 1 cup water
- 3-4 generous Tbs tahini (i.e. about as much as you can get onto your tablespoon!)
- 1 cup ground flax seeds
- 1 cup of sesame seeds - Yep!! LOTS OF IT!
- any flavouring you like: Coconut Amino's, Bragg's, fresh herbs, garlic/hing

Preparation:
*Quinoa is one of the easier seeds to sprout - it doesn't take too long & I've never yet had a batch spoil on me. Rinse the quinoa seeds well, then leave to soak 2 hours in plenty of water. Rinse well again, then place in a sprouting jar or tray, and sprout for 12 hours - rinse them well again about half way through this time. (Quinoa is coated in bitter saponins, & you need to make sure these are thoroughly washed off.) As long as they're completely dry, the sprouts should keep for up to two weeks in your fridge.

Place the quinoa sprouts, water and tahini, plus any liquid flavourings like amino's, in a powerful food processor or blender, and process until the quinoa is mostly broken down. If you're adding anything like fresh herbs, you might want to add these in next, & pulse briefly to break them down a little. If you're not using Amino's or Bragg's, you might also want to add a little salt to the mix.

Tip this mix into a bowl, & stir in the ground flax seeds, and any flavourings you haven't added yet. Then add lots of sesame seeds - I often almost double the volume with the amount of seeds I add. Amino  flavoured ones taste great with black sesame seeds added!

Once they're dried though, they taste great, so don't let it put you off. :)  Place a heaping spoonful of the mixture onto a teflex sheet on your dehydrator tray, & spread it out using the back of the spoon into a round 1/2 cm thick. (You could try making them thinner, but the mix is so sticky, I can never be bothered to fight it to get it thinner than this.) This is easier if you use two spoons - one to scoop, the other to scrape the mix off the first spoon.

Dehydrate your crackers at 115 degrees until the top is dry, then flip them over onto the trays & remove the teflex. Continue dehydrating until they're completely dried out, & store in an airtight container.

ENJOY!~

Property of Alynn Davis~
Please ask for permission to share (it may be in the book!)~

01 December 2010

Giving Up My Car Was Best Decision Ever


By Chris Hrubesh, CNN


STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Chris Hrubesh says trading his car for a bike was one of the best decisions he's ever made
  • Hrubesh gets around Atlanta by cycling and taking public transport
  • He estimates he saves between $300 and $500 per month by not owning a car
Read the full CNN article here

27 October 2010

J.J. Bechhold

Cleveland, Ohio and Washington, DC/Alexandria, VA

Occupation University Student/ Capoeira Instructor

Eco-skills I wouldn't call them skills, but I try to reduce my carbon footprint by bicycling, rollerblading, running, or taking the metro to places.
Carpooling, recycling, reducing, reusing, repurposing (I try to convert the stuff I buy into stuff I would actually use instead of disposing of them).
Creating cardboard compartments/shelves/organizers.
I buy stuff from local stores and farmers markets. I'm growing some herbs and next summer I'm going to try to grow some vegetables.
I believe strongly in tea and their healing properties.
I try to not purchase commercial products, I try to buy organic or local products whenever possible.

Eco-interests EVERYTHING.
Off-the-Grid Living, Self-Sustainable/Self-Sufficient, Herbalism/herbology, Healing arts/Bodyways (Reiki, Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi, Shiatsu, whatever), Farming and Dining/Shopping Locally, Being politically involved to support Fair Trade and our economy. Holistic health, outdoors activities, you name it, I'll most likely be interested in it.
I am mainly interested in the physical healing arts, one of the reasons I play capoeira is because I feel that it heals me in a way other martial arts cannot.

Contact makacapoeira at gmail dot com
Facebook J.J. Corajoso Bechhold

Blog/Website:
blog http://deafcapoeira.wordpress.com/
website http://cdodc.weebly.com/
(Monthly/yearly updates/blogs)

10 October 2010

Sandria Graham: vlog about reversing diabetes without the use of drugs

Sandria Graham, a Deaf dietitian, submitted a video, sharing information about reversing diabetes without the use of drugs.

05 October 2010

Nimli - Raw Bags Bamboo Handbag

This is something I would love to have my hands on!!!!!!

Nimli - Raw Bags Bamboo Handbag

Be sure to check it out, kiddos!~

02 September 2010

2nd Annual ASL Fall Yoga retreat in the Catskills

Oct 8-10, 2010

Come enjoy delicious home cooked food, the brilliant fall colors, hiking, hot tub and weekend of Yoga in ASL!

Deepen your understanding of yoga or start your journey towards the benefits yoga can offer.

Take a glorious break from your life, quiet your mind, and let go!

"I feel so much calm and filled with serenity from the retreat"

Video and pictures from last year: www.jenkagan.net, www.heathenhillyoga.net

Register early to reserve your place. Limited to 12 students.

SCHEDULE (timing subject to change but 6 hours worth of class: Topics may include yoga asana, philosophy and pranayama)
Friday-arrive 7 pm
Saturday
- 10-12 class, Lunch-Free time, 4-6 class, Dinner.
Sunday
- 10-12, Lunch, 2 pm end of workshop.

REGISTRATION FORM

Please Fill out form completely and return with payment to
Jennifer Kagan
255 Eastern Parkway F12
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Name

Phone/VP

Email address

Check your choice (see the heathenhillyoga.net for pictures and descriptions.)
Rates are per person and are all inclusive (except for travel).

**12 places for lodging and 6 for Camping. Reserve your place early!

Check in time on Friday is after 6 pm (no dinner served on Friday)
www.heathenhillyoga.net----to see pics of accommodations.

_______Yoga House $355
N/A Honeymoon $355 (double)
_______Le Trailer $430- two single rooms It has one bath and a full kitchen.
_______Campground Basic $275
_______Campground Luxe $350
________Just coming for the day $215

*$150 non refundable deposit balance due Sept 25th.
*If you pay in full cancellation policy is as follows
100% 30 days Notice 50% 15 days notice
Arrangements can be made for Cash payment

Any Medical conditions or injuries?

Any special dietary requests? Meals are mainly vegetarian

All bed linens and bath towels are provided. DO bring your own beach towels.

This is going to fun!!! I look forward to seeing all of you at Heathen Hill

Yoga.kagan@gmail.com




29 July 2010

Lawn Envy

I have lawn envy. I look at my neighbor's lawn across from my home and I see a beautiful sunny green lawn.


My own yard has many mature trees and its hard to grow anything here other than moss. I have fantasies of going over to my neighbor and asking if I can at least plant a couple of peach trees or blueberry bushes.


This neighbor is the kind that still brings home food in plastic bags. I doubt the very idea of growing her own food has entered her mind. What to do...what to do...

28 July 2010

Furoshiki: the Japanese art of cloth gift wrapping

Here's a link to a cool instructional pdf by Japan's Ministry of the Environment on how to wrap gifts with cloth you can use again and again. Use this next time you give someone a wine bottle, book, or gift box!! Ditch the paper gift wrapper.

http://www.env.go.jp/en/focus/attach/060403-5.pdf

23 July 2010

A Review of Gorilla Food

Going to Vancouver on a business trip, I searched online for vegetarian friendly fare, and discovered a PETA recommendation - one of the top ten vegetarian restaurants in North America was in Vancouver! Off I went to Gorilla Food, a raw, organic, vegan cafe in British Columbia, Canada. This vlog depicts the food I ordered and the state of bliss I was in at that time :) I also discuss briefly the philosophy behind raw food eating. This cafe gets two gorilla thumbs up!


What I ate/drank:
Choco-Gorilla
almonds, cacao, bananas, hempseeds, date, coconut oil
Ahimsa Alfredo
Linguini “New”dles spun from zucchini then smothered in a rich white cashew cream.
Served a la carte or with your choice of dressings and a side Medicinal Mesclun Salad.
GO Veggie Burger
A stack of two veggie burger patties thickly topped with guacamole, fresh tomato slices, cucumber slices, shredded seasonal veggies and a ginger-tomato ketchup.
Served in a lettuce leaf bun.

Of course, the main reason why I went there - dessert!
Dark Raw Chocolate Fudge
Something that keeps gorillas coming to work even on days off!
Chocolate Truffles
Smooth creamy orbs of differing decadent delicious superfood pleasures!
Butterfly Bliss
Infused chocolate flowers topped with a fresh walnut and raw caramel.
Maca Choco-Roons
Cacao, coconut, maca root and dates - these are definitely the new jazz haystacks!
Chocolate Protein Orbs
Highly hemped and algae powered!
Sweet orbs made of cacao, seeds, nuts and body benefiting bounties!

And some cookies - chocolate almond pecan, orange walnut spice, etc.

Yes, I'm a big eater :) Hush! :)

05 July 2010

Join the Kombucha Tea Party!

Darla gives the basics on the "elixir" known as Kombucha Tea. Brewing your own is fun and doable!