Addicted to Hemp(milk!)

HAHA if the title didn't make you giggle, then I guess you don't share my wacko sense of humor :P but that's ok! So...for those of you who don't know, hemp is a super plant! It can grow with little to no chemicals & can be used to make fiber (and from hemp fiber, rope & fabric, etc.) & can also be eaten or taken as a dietary supplement. This is my first hemp food product, and to sum it up...Hemp makes a mighty fine non-dairy milk!

It creamy, consistent in texture, and had a lovely flavor. I tried the Unsweetened Original, and I will be buying this again FOR SURE - it is the only non-dairy milk I've ever had that I have enjoyed as a beverage, meaning all by itself, in a glass with nothing adding. I'd like to thank Christina from Living Harvest for the sample!

Sunrise Smoothie

On a school day or a busy weekend, I need something quick, easy & healthy that will give me energy to get through the morning. Especially when I have a test at school and two shifts per day at work over the the weekend. We have always been big smoothie fans at my house, probably because we have a fantastic Vitamix a la 1993. Thanks to this resource, as well as our stash of frozen bananas and constant supply of 8+ quarts of local peaches, I was able to whip up a sweet smoothie in a matter of minutes.

This easy smoothie is perfect for people with food allergies - no dairy, no nuts, no soy, no gluten...and it's raw, too. So toast to good health and enjoy one while the peaches are ripe.

SUNRISE SMOOTHIE
This healthy smoothie (190 calories, 0g fat) is a great start to your day. Makes one large smoothie.

• 1 peach, washed & skin left on
• 1 frozen banana
• juice of 1 orange (about ½ cup)
• a handful of ice cubes (if you want a thinner or colder smoothie)

Pulse in a high-power blender until desired consistency is reached. Enjoy immediately.

Remembering Florida...

I remember the taste of the ocean, tangy and harsh on the tongue, down the throat. The fluidity of the sand, stirring about, though weighed down by bulk of the water. The instinctual sensation of floating among the fish, the seaweed. When one floats in the water, what is felt? The power of the ocean, yes, and the helplessness of one's own body, unguarded and so incredulously small amongst the creatures of the sea and the ancient waters themselves. The primal intuition that a miracle is in front of us, around us, above and below us. A place to cherish. The waves slap the shores endlessly, carried in from lands in the infinite distance, their tune echoing mellifluously across the beach. An incredible song, that melody of sea and sand. The silhouettes of scavenging birds hang in the pastel light of morning, streaked across a nearly-cloudless sky. A glorious place to be, the beach.












TROPICAL PAPAYA TREAT
This tropical drink is ideal for a hot summer day. Serves 4-6.

• 1 ripe papaya, skin & seeds removed
• 4 frozen banana
• 1 cup of frozen mango
• 1 cup of lite coconut milk
• one 16oz. can of pineapple

Refreshment from Mexico & Earrings on Flickr

I learned about licuados in Spanish class. They are fruity, summery drinks that have a consistency that is thinner than a smoothie. They are made with fruit, ice, and often milk. For this simple, refreshing version, the bubbles, sweetness & appeal are the same; it's the tofu that is unconventional.

I apologize for the time between posts - I just wasn't in a cooking mood for a few days there. I have some ideas for posts down the road, and I am hoping to enter more contests in the future. (I entered DMBLGIT a few days ago - my first!) I did finally make some jewelry. (Colored words = links!) Enjoy the recipe (and the earrings.)

HONEYDEW LICUADO

This light Latin American drink is perfect for breakfast or a snack. It's a breeze to whip up.

• 3/8 of a ripe honeydew melon
• 9 oz. soft silken tofu

Cut up the honeydew and the tofu. Put the ingredients in a blender. Squeeze the honeydew rind to get all of the juice out - if the melon is ripe, you'll get a good amount. Blend well. Be aware of tofu chunks - they are hard to see, but inevitable if you don't blend it well enough. Serves 2.