Simple Cashew Cream

Creamy, sweet goodness:  Simple Cashew Cream

Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashews
approx. 1/2 cup coconut milk
approx. 1/4 cup 100% grade B maple syrup
2 pinches of sea salt (or more to taste)

Directions:
Soak raw cashews in a bowl of water overnight.  Be sure there is plenty of water covering the cashews, because they will soak it all up!  (If you are in a rush and need to get this done sooner than later, pour boiled water over a bowl of cashews and let them soak for 3-4 hours).  Drain and rinse the cashews and pour into a food processor or a great blender (I swear by my NutriBullet for this!).  Add in the coconut milk, maple syrup and sea salt and blend until smooth.  Add a splash more of the coconut milk if it seems to be a little to dry, you want it to be nice and creamy.  Taste test to see if you need more sweetener, or more sea salt.  Adjust until you get this cream right where you want it to be. Spoon out into a dish and place in fridge (covered) to chill.

How to use it:
I love using this cream to make a morning parfait (in place of yogurt), or even for a desert parfait.  Dipping fruit into it is just divine.
It goes wonderfully with black bean brownies and a little fruit salsa (Chop fresh, organic strawberries and throw into a bowl with organic blueberries. Stir a little maple syrup or honey into the berries until coated.  Take a small handful of the berries and blend quickly in a blender or food processor, then pour back into the berry mix for a fresh fruit salsa.)
Top a pumpkin pie (or any pie!) with a dollop of it in place of whipped cream.
I also enjoy placing this cream in between fresh baked chocolate chip cookies for a whoopie pie!
Get creative with it and use it wherever you need some sweetness on your plate.

Rama, Rama, Rama

Today is Lord Rama's birthday.  Gandhi's personal mantra was "Rama." As the story goes, when he was very little, he was very afraid of the dark, and a servant in his house told him to repeat the word "Rama, Rama, Rama" whenever he felt afraid. The mantra made him feel so much better, so he used it his entire life.  In fact, after he was assassinated his last word was, "Rama."  Every time I think of him uttering the Lord's name in his last breath I get the chills.  So beautiful!  

With the recent Boston disaster and the scary man-hunt that is going on today, maybe we can all chant Rama, Rama as we go about our day.  

Look younger and feel better by...

Ain't that the truth!?  Smile, smile, smile!

This picture was snapped at a place called Woody's Burgers in Port Antonio, Jamaica.  It was the sweetest little burger joint run by a lovely woman.  She whipped up the most delicious burgers for Lammer and I (yummy veggie options of course).  I couldn't help but snap a bunch of shots while we waited!  I left so inspired.  

Drink more water: Fluoride-free.

The number one thing that I tell my clients and just about everyone else is to first and foremost DRINK MORE WATER!  Take your body weight, divide it in half…that equals approximately how many ounces of water your body needs each day.
  We can all benefit from drinking more water, but before you go chugging water from the tap or even from most bottled water, know that there is a known toxin that may be lurking in it.  

FLUORIDE.

It has been established that fluoride has the ability to alter your endocrine function, yet this fact is being ignored by the agencies and associations that continue to promote the practice of water fluoridation. Consuming it internally allows this known toxin into our delicate tissues and puts our bodies at very serious risks.  It is beneficial to avoid fluoride as much as possible.  Here are a few ways:

Buy toothpaste from a health food store that is fluoride free – my favorite is Auromere, but there are quite a few other fluoride-free brands.

Choose smaller coldwater fish such as salmon and halibut that usually have less mercury.



My Berkey!

Avoid tap water, which is full of fluorine and chlorine. Both these chemicals can inhibit your bodies ability to absorb iodine.

 Unfortunately, even most bottled water contains it and a store bought Brita or Pur filter will NOT do the trick.  If you’re looking for a filter for crystal clean filtered water, purchase a Berkey!  I’ve got one and LOVE it.  It’s affordable, pretty in my kitchen and simple to use.  I have to change the filters maybe twice a year for the size I have.  It’s well worth it and now I know I’m ingesting just water when I drink and cook with it.  

Most importantly, get active.  Call your town to find out if your water supply is fluoridated, and express your concern for it.  Write letters, attend local meetings, spread the word to others...let's all work towards getting this harmful toxin OUT of our precious water supply.

You, your family and your pets deserve the best water there is!