The Dirty Dozen

No, we are not talking about a movie here, we are talking about food. Did you know there is a list of foods that are considered 'The dirty dozen'? These are the 12 foods with the most pesticide residue on them, here is the list:

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines
7. Grapes
8. Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale and Collard Greens

The only way you can save yourself from all these harmful chemicals is to buy them organic. Whole foods stores can be a bit pricey but if you look for farmer's markets around your area you will be amazed at what great deals you can find. Sometimes the difference between buying inorganic and organic at a local farmer's market is just a few cents. I know times are hard and money is tight, believe me I know but I try to buy Organic whenever I can. Shopping at my local farmer's market allows me to support the local farmers who keep bringing us good organic/clean produce.


RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE

Baby Ricky loves his breakfast smoothies

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
2 cups frozen raspberries
1 cup soy milk (vanilla flavored)
2 Tbsp flax meal
1 tsp coconut oil (optional)

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth and enjoy.



CUCUMBER SLIDERS

Ingredients:

1 - 2 cucumbers, sliced thinly

Pesto:

1/2 cup walnuts
1/3 cup pine nuts
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups fresh basil leaves
Pinch of salt or salt to taste
1/4 cup olive oil

Place all ingredients into a food processor with an 'S' blade and blend till smooth.

ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE HAPPY

In everything ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE HAPPY and remember to EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

Vegan Veggie Pizza with Gluten-Free Crust

My friend Maureen Lermer and her three children have been on a gluten-free diet for years and I love to feast my eyes on her beautiful food photography. I have been toying with the idea of eating gluten-free myself. When I'm doing all raw of course I am totally gluten-free but when I am making some vegan foods I still incorporate some gluten in my diet. Today I decided to make a vegan veggie pizza with a chickpea crust and the result was DELIGHTFUL!

WHO WANTS PIZZA?

SO FILLING AND NUTRITIOUS I WAS FULL AFTER TWO SLICES

THIN, FLUFFY, GLUTEN-FREE CHICKPEA CRUST

 PIZZA TOPPING

Ingredients:

2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 onion, sliced into rings
1 zucchini, chopped
1 small Indian egg plant , chopped
1 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and and let marinade for about 15-20 minutes.

CHICKPEA CRUST:

Ingredients:

1 cup chickpea flour
Dash of salt
1/2 cup warm water
1 tsp yeast
1 Tbsp olive oil

First, add yeast to cup of warm water and mix. Pour mixture into bowl with chickpea flour and salt, mix until smooth and then cover and let stand on kitchen counter for 30 minutes. Uncover and  add olive oil and mix well. Pour into baking pan and place in 450 degree oven. Let bake for 10 minutes. Take out and set aside.

I  decided to use left over mango pesto I had in the fridge for my 'cheese'. Here's the recipe from an old blog entry:

CHEESE: MANGO PESTO

Ingredients

1/2 cup pine nuts
3 cups basil leaves (I used 1 bunch)
2cm ginger root
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup + 2Tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt or salt to taste
1 Tbsp fresh parsley
1 Tbsp almond butter (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cups ripe mango chunks
3 cups of mung beans, rinsed and patted dry

Put all ingredients except the mung beans in a food processor with an 'S' blade and blend until smooth.


ASSEMBLY:


Generously spread mango pesto over crust. Add pizza topping over the pesto and place pizza into the oven for another 5-10 minutes to warm. Serve and enjoy!

Eating healthy is a labor of love just like every worthy thing we have or strive for in our lives. Taking time to prepare your foods makes it very much easy to be grateful and appreciate life and ourselves. If you do try this out I would like to know how you liked it. Next, I will be working on making some vegan condensed milk, yup, you heard right, yummy stuff isn't it? Till then, be safe and ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE HAPPY.

MY SISTER TOOK THIS PHOTO, I think she did a good job, thanks Gege

Remember TO EAT AND DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

3 + 3 Reasons to be Happy

I just came back from a much needed vacation and I must say it was also my best birthday yet; no big birthday bash, cake or anything like that but it was peaceful. I had peace in my heart, resolved issues, decisions made, bigger dreams and goals to be achieved and oh, I became an auntie (my nephew was born on March 5th, four days after my birthday) and my mother arrived from Cameroon on my birthday itself.

Picking up Mom from the airport

What more could I ask for? Added bonus: I left the kids at home, yup, mommies need time away every now and then, Daddy did a good job filling in for me.

My Happy 33rd Birthday ...

Lounging

What about you all? what have you been doing in my absence? been eating good? exercising enough, sleeping well? breaking old habits? making new friends? what? I hope all good though. I started reading more again, great books always get me going...my anchor has always been God, Great circle of people and Great reads, what about you? What is your anchor? what gets you revamped? My Mother says her secret is staying JOYFUL but then she goes on to explain to me the difference between Joy and Happiness....well, I am so proud of her and impressed with her keeping up with FYR even in Cameroon. She actually fits in jeans my sister and I wear...trust me I almost fell to the ground when she zipped and buttoned this pair of size 8 Jeans.

53 year old mother of 5 adults

Mama

"Staying JOYful is my rejuvenator."

I enjoyed some Cameroonian dishes while I was on vacation, boy oh boy! my mother brought some cooked eru from Cameroon! Impossible? yes! but did she do it? YES! hahahahahahaha she is a NINJA. Eru is our traditional meal, consists mainly of a green leafy vegetable called 'eru', some palm oil, crayfish, maggi and any meat of choice. It is eaten with fufu or gari or in my case some rice or plantain.

My traditional meal: Eru (with gari)

Anyway, that's what I've been up to just in case anyone missed me :) I have been dreaming of some pesto and some cheesecake (raw-vegan) and some...oh well, I'm back to my juicing and RAW feast, care to join? Come back soon, you never know what I'll be un-COOKING next time. Have a swell day everyone and ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE HAPPY xoxo

"I'm living my life like it's GOLDEN."

Remember to  EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

A VERY FISHY AFFAIR

Click on each picture to get an 'EYE-FULL' yummmmmy...

The only reason why I will not be considered 100% vegan is because every now and then I love to eat my fish, I guess you can call me the TWISTED VEGAN :) It seems like it is the only food out of the Vegan food list that 'sits well' in my stomach after I eat it. I love Tilapia, Salmon and Cod fish. My portion is literally like a deck of cards and I always eat it with a side of veggies. I'd say I eat fish at least once a month or once every other month and it is more than enough for me. As for meats and cheese (and all other forms of dairy), they really are my enemies, even though sometimes I 'tease' around with them. My body reacts negatively to these foods and I guess that's why I stay away...Meats and dairy (yes including fish too) are acid-forming foods and live foods (organic fruits, veggies, etc) are alkaline-forming. We ALWAYS want our bodies to be slightly more alkaline. An acidic body is a breeding ground for Dis-ease. If you'll like to know more read  THE CHINA STUDY.

A Very FLAKY-FISHY Affair:

I usually use Salmon for this recipe but I didn't have any at home. Works well with either.

Ingredients for Fish:

4 cod fillets
1/3 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Lightly rub olive oil on both sides of each cod fillet. Next, coat each side of the fillets with Italian bread crumbs. Place each piece of fish in a baking dish. Set oven to 350 degrees and bake fish for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Ingredients for 'CHEEZY' Veggies

1 cup mixed carrots and peas
13 oz can garbanzo beans (cheakpeas)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp olive oil
Sprinkle of salt (Optional)
2-3 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Directions:

First, lightly steam carrots and peas mix and chick peas, set aside. Next, in a separate pan saute onions until translucent. Add garlic powder, black pepper and mix. Then  add carrots and peas and stir. Lastly add  nutritional yeast mix and let cook uncovered for about 2 minutes. Serve with fish and enjoy.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it. My favorite part of this meal is the Cheezy veggies, the nutritional yeast gives it that creamy-cheezy flavor and it is also very nutritious for you. Here are some great benefits of nutritional yeas, which you  can buy at your local farmer's market or whole foods store.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST FACTS:

-Great source of  B-complex vitamins especially B-12
-It is a complete protein
-It is low in sodium, fat and is gluten-free and dairy-free
-It is NOT YEAST(because it has been deactivated)

ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE HAPPY

Another blurry picture gone ARTSY! 

Remember to  EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY XOXO

George & Camilla (One of my favorite pictures of these two)

How will you spend your Valentine's day? Are you one of those people who show their love everyday and don't feel that one day should be solely dedicated to 'Lovers' or are you going to jump into the band wagon of those willing to pour enormous sums of money into this capitalist frenzy known as Valentine's day? Whichever one you are, do what feels right for you and follow your beliefs, it is one more day in which you are alive so be HAPPY in it! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all the lovers out there.....

Colleen & Dan (What woman wouldn't love to be kissed on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris?)

For Those of You with Significant Others:

1. Go out on a date or better yet set up date night at home  if money is tight.
2. Do something fun together, what do you enjoy doing together? hiking, pottery painting, etc do something out of the ordinary.
3. Write each other a love letter, a poem, a note, a massage, a foot rub, do the dishes, take out trash: love is in the details, it's usually the very small things that count the most (check out some of my mushy-lovey-dovey poetry at www.authorsden.com/berniceangoh or better yet get a copy of my book 'When a Woman Loves a Man' )
Click Here: BUY 'WHEN A WOMAN LOVES A MAN'

Irene & David (Such infectious smiles too)

For Those Who are Single:

1. Love yourself, pamper yourself, go to a spa or give yourself some TLC treatment at home

Maureen Lermer Photography "Bubble Bath"

2. Talk to an old friend, go out for tea with a friend or go by yourself, enjoy being single!
3. Be your own best valentine, write a love letter to yourself and spoil yourself rotten like no one else can
4. Do some work around the house, paint, read, dance...

What a man can do a woman too can do, EVEN BETTER!

5. If you have children it gets even better, who says your children can't be your little Valentines?

Had to steal this picture of my friend, Maureen and one of her 3 children, Malaika

Maureen &  her daughter, Malaika: "GIRL TIME"

Here is a poem I wrote for my daughter several years ago (well, now I have revised it and included my son):

My little Valentines, Nina & Ricky: I was so happy to have captured this cute moment :)

LITTLE CUPID

She/He came neither with a bow nor an arrow

yet she/he cut right through me

with her/his very first cry.

Copyright © 2008-2012 by Bernice Angoh

For Those Who are Broken-Hearted:

1. Cry, it always works. The end of a relationship is like a death, you have to go through all the stages, don't fight it. But remember that you will be happy again, oh YES! even if you don't believe it this moment.

2. Get a copy of 'Lemonade Street', a collection of bitter-sweet love poems. You will thank me later for this. Click Here: BUY 'LEMONADE STREET'

 3. Be your best Valentine ever, spoil yourself rotten!

Maureen Lermer Photography "CANDLELIGHT"

 Thank you to all my friends who let me use their beautiful photography to CAPTURE this wonderful season and BRIGHTEN up my blog entry, love, B

XOXO

PRETTY RAINBOW...

Nina, 8 years old. 

Are you drooling yet?

Eating raw foods makes you appreciate food in such an awesome way...the time you put into making it, touching the food, smelling it, admiring the colors and texture and tasting..hmmm. So why is it that we humans like to take the shortcuts, avoid pain and change, when we know that those things are very necessary to building and molding us? Something to think about isn't it? Lots of great new this week and last, so my little Wonder aka my 8 year old, Nina, got a very impressive report card and a certificate because she made it to Honor's Roll. How cool is that? As a mom and her home-school teacher I feel so humbled and extremely proud.

*** I appreciate all of you who take the time to leave a comment, questions and/or suggestions in the comment box below every blog entry, makes me know that people are at least reading what I write, kinda' important for us bloggers and it's just really nice to get feedback too, so feel free to join the site, recommend to your friends  etc

PRETTY RAINBOW SALAD

Ingredients:

1 small head cauliflower, lightly steamed and then chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped thinly
1 medium carrot, chopped thinly
1 Tbsp green onions, thinly sliced
1 Tbsp fresh parsley, thinly sliced
1/2 Yellow bell pepper, chopped thinly
Dash of salt
Dash of black pepper

Place all ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Salad Dressing:

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp dry yellow mustard
1 Tbsp cashew butter (or nut butter of your choice)
1.5 Tbsp agave nectar

Mix all ingredients for the dressing until smooth and then pour over salad. You may add a few cashews or chopped almonds over the salad or eat as is.

VERDICT= I LOVE IT! It was so refreshing...

Little Miss wants to make a Yoga DVD  for kids. This is one of her invented stretches, well,  for kids huh? mommy can't do this for 3 seconds without tumbling over ! (And I am very flexible :o)

Breathe, MEDITATION

Ninashka

Remember to EAT &  DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!