Food, Recipes and Food Justice
October 12, 2007
I recently learned about an org called Food Justice, formed by an alliance of women with the purposes of Community to Community Development. Food justice is a women-led, place based, grassroots organization working for a just society and healthy communities. We are committed to systemic change and to creating strategic alliances that strengthen local and global movements towards social, economic and environmental justice.
Si I would like to present some recipes I found at the voice yourself website, another effort by people interested in Justice. Maybe the food related thinking will help us as individuals to connect and get to know each other in supportive ways. If we cannot do it as people interested in sharing with others from different backgrounds and cultures, how can the orgs recognize eachothers purposes?
Maybe we should all have dinner one night? Get in touch and lets plan something cozy and warm!
Here are a few ideas for the table….
Chocolate of the Gods Mousse
Yields 1 dish
This “chocolate of the gods mousse” came to me in a dream. (literally). The secret is avocado for a sumptuous, creamy base! A truly decadent chocolate to satisfy any sensual sweet tooth. Raw carob powder can be used as a base with the compliment of a good organic cocoa to lift the flavor to divinity (I recommend Green & Black cocoa powder- for the integrity of the company and their assurance that the cocoa is treated with the respect of low-temperatures to protect luscious flavor and quality)
This mousse can be prepared as a parfait, layered with berries in a wine or martini glass for a stunning appearance. Or, the mousse can be complimented by a crumbly nut crust to serve as a pie. Definitely top with fresh mint leaves, and lick the bowl
with well seasoned love,
Renee
INGREDIENTS
3 avocados
1/2-cup maple syrup
or 1-1/4 cup soft dates (as an alternative sweetener)
2-4 tablespoons organic evaporated cane juice* (optional- for a sweeter tooth)
1-tablespoon non-alcoholvanilla extract
1-1/2 tablespoon cold-pressed coconut butter or olive oil (I recommend Omega Nutrition coconut butter as it does not smell or taste like coconut- which interferes with the fine flavor of chocolate)
3/4-cup raw carob powder
4 tablespoons organic cocoa powder (add a touch more for “darker” chocolate- I adore dark chocolate)
If raw carob is not available, use a total of 2/3-cup coca (as cocoa has a much stronger flavor than carob), adding more to taste
1-pint raspberries or sliced strawberries
Fresh mint leaves
*An unrefined, organic “raw sugar”- produced by a company called Wholesome Foods- available in most health food and natural food stores
TECHNIQUE
If you are using dates:
pit the dates and cover with fresh water to soften for 5-15 minutes
In a food processor:
Blend avocados (scooped out of the skin without the pit!), with sweet ingredients, vanilla and coconut butter or olive oil until smooth
Spoon in carob and cocoa powder and blend until creamy
Layer with fresh berries in a wine or martini glass and top with fresh mint leaves
This mousse will stay fresh in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days
CRUMBLE CRUST
1/2 cup almonds, soaked in fresh water for 8 hours
3/4-cup pecans
3/4-cup walnuts
4-6 soft dates, pitted
2 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
pinch sundried sea salt
TECHNIQUE
In a food processor:
chop nuts into a fine meal.
Add dates and maple or honey and chop until well mixed.
Add cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
The texture should be crumbly and sticky.
Press evenly into a pie plate.
Sliced strawberries or bananas can be layered into bottom of the piecrust.
Spread the Chocolate of the Gods Mousse evenly into the pie crust and generously top with fresh berries and mint.
AND
Carrot Coriander Soup
Serves 2-4
This is one of our favorite simple soups. Fresh carrot juice and creamy avocado are a luscious match. Seasoned to perfection with fresh ginger, cilantro and coriander.
2 cups fresh carrot juice
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (add more for a little more warmth)
1 medium avocado
1/2 cup fresh loose cilantro
1/4 cup loose parsley
1-2 teaspoons coriander seed, (whole coriander seed freshly ground is best)
1 tablespoon good olive oil (optional)
2 tablespoon nama shoyu
pinch sundried sea salt to taste
2 green onions, sliced finely
Technique
Blend carrot juice, ginger and avocado at medium-high speed until smooth.
Remove cilantro and parsley leaves from the main stems.
Add in de-stemmed herbs, coriander seeds, oil, and nama shoyu.
Blend in pulses at medium speed until mixed. It is preferable to still see small pieces of herbs rather than a uniform smooth color made pale-green from the herbs.
Season with a pinch of salt if necessary to taste.
Peel outer skin of the green onion and slice finely. Sprinkle on top.
Serve chilled
And here is the source of those recipes:
http://www.voiceyourself.com/09_dakinekitchen/09_easy.php
AFFECTIVE TOUCH
October 5, 2007
How are all the massage healers and therapists out there? Where are you? Teaching yoga creates great longing for swedish relaxation. I have been researching the various styles of massage and have also been networking with people who are interested in doing trades. Would you like to practice some yoga or would you like the motivational help to establish or improve your practice?
Has anyone heard of Dana Gee or have you experienced her therapy? I do not think I need any thing rough, no rolfing but maybe at the right time. But maybe I should ask Luca Williams if there are any people that the LMP crowd knows who would like to deep tissue. Dancing through the roots of integrative bodywork, I heard of Matia and thought her approach sounded gentle. But the emails on the cards I find on the cork message boards at the coffee houses do not always seem to work.
I bet there are really amazing artists of affective touch who can understand my special needs as one who is putting my body through a lot of yoga. Bellingham is a quiet place, and thats what makes it a joy to be here, our ability to connect and share and build with people who value the healing arts.
I will be starting some community service soon and will be out promoting as much as I can, maybe we will meet at the tea house or the park.
Please say hello if you see me and lets talk about a day in the life of the independent healer. I enjoy the awareness of those who work from the heart, interdependently and spiritually.
The only websites i found on the several cards I gathered were:
www.anewworldrising.com and www.lucasrolfing.com
I will check them out and report back to you.
Peace
Yoga Community in & of Bellingham
October 1, 2007
I am starting a list of the various places and people of practice. I will continue to add to it and will share my experiences and feelings about yoga here. Please let me know if you are aware of any independent teachers who teach privates outside of the studios, people who are also interesting and indamix!
Today I found the first few Studios to add.
Everybody’s Yoga
http://viniyogabellingham.com
IyengyarYoga Northwest
www.yoganorthwest.com
1210 10th St
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 647-0712
Fusion Flow Yoga
Inner Composure Yoga
Sattva Yoga Studio
http://www.innercomposure.com/
8 PetalsYoga
Elizabeth Kerwin 360 738 4805 ext. 1
Elizabethkerwin@hotmail.com
Amanda Upton, M.A.Ed
http://www.shaktimovement.com/page/show/477
amanda@shaktimovement.com
The Yoga Room
http://www.bellinghamyoga.com/classes.php
1210 Bay Street, Suite 101
Bellingham, WA 98225
360.733.7628
Beyond Limits
http://www.beyondlimitsyoga.com
209 Prospect St. #4
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-YOGA (9642)
Additional Bellingham locations include:
Bikram
YMCA
Additional links are of near by studios, I think its important to travel to see and practice with teachers of distant lands and consider it part of the way of life that yoga is.
Anacortes
Kundalini Yoga with Pamela Nixon
Kenmore
Orange Carbon
But if you are doing yoga in Bellingham, or near by, please support the Fire House Community Center and look into classes with Andrea.
Meet a new view of Bellingham
October 1, 2007
What is your view of Bellingham? What is mine? Can we share it? Does it change? Do we?
