Black Mission Fig + Raw Goat Cheese

S I M P L Y   D E L I C I O U S
This is a super simple snack with endless flavor
We're talking slicing black mission figs in halves, topping with a little organic goat cheese, adding black pumpkin seeds, drizzling some honey and dusting with smoked paprika

V E D A

RESOURCE: Guerilla Beekeepers 

Unfiltered, Cold-Processed, Sustainably Produced Wildflower Honey

Honeybees will visit nearly two million flowers to make a pound of honey, and each bee, in her entire lifetime of six weeks, will produce about 1/12th of a teaspoon.

We feel guilty when we harvest, but were it not for our rescue efforts the colony wouldn't exist at all. Thank you to all the businesses and private citizens who have allowed us the opportunity to rescue and relocate their unwanted honeybee colonies.

The flavor of a wildflower honey depends entirely on what flowers are blooming at the time the bees are there. We never heat our honey during processing because this destroys the delicate flavors and drives off the delicate aromatics found in the highest quality honeys. All commercial grade (we like to call it, "Evil Squeezy Bear") honey is heated to around 140° F to make it flow through the processing equipment more quickly, and is filtered. Both of these things destroy the flavor and quality of the honey. Comparing raw, unfiltered honey to commercial honey is like comparing artificial maple syrup to the real thing.

All honey will eventually crystallize, and unfiltered honeys will do so more quickly than highly processed commercial honeys. If your honey crystallizes just simply put the jar in a pot of warm water or a sunny window. Your honey will re-liquify without being harmed at all. Always store honey in a cool, dark place - the kitchen cupboard is fine - and never put it in the refrigerator - this will cause it to crystallize more quickly. Honey will *never* spoil as long as the moisture content remains below 18%. In fact, edible honey has been recovered from Egyptian tombs dating back more than 4000 years!

Cashew-Turmeric Aioli

Cashew-turmeric aioli

2c cashews
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c water
1 oz lemon juice
2 tbsp evoo
1 tsp turmeric powder

Method
Combine ingredients in blender, blend until smooth

Veda
A plant-based alternative to aioli that's packed with protein and healthy fats from the cashews. Now turmeric, you can think of it as gold for the body. It's powerful anti-inflammatory properties treat a wide variety of conditions, one common one is joint pain. It's pretty much nature's aspirin! This flavorful - nutrient dense condiment is perfect for wraps, sandwiches, veggie burgers and just about any veggie dish.

Strawberry Spinach Detox Smoothie

Strawberry Spinach Detox Smoothie + Chia and Coconut 

8oz coconut water or almond mylk (OR 1/2 & 1/2)
2 cups spinach
8-10 fresh or frozen strawberries
1/2 lime, juiced
2 tbsp cashew 
1 tbsp chia seed
1 medjool date pitted or 1 tbsp honey (optional)

Method
Combine ingredients in blender, blend until smooth // garnish with chia and fresh strawberry   

Veda
Coconut water is super hydrating and full of electrolytes - think of it as natures Gatorade. The almond mylk and cashews offer healthy fats and protein to this liquid meal. Strawberries are loaded with vitamin c & plenty of antioxidants. Spinach like other dark leafy greens, is filled with magnesium, protein and iron. The chia seeds flood your system with omega 3 fatty acids, giving you a clean burst of energy! 

Avocado Gazpacho

Avocado Gazpacho

1 bottle of Cold Pressed Green Juice (no fruit added), I used #getyourgreens by Project Juice
1 medium avocado
2 heaping tbsp sweet onion, roughly chopped
1/4c yellow bell pepper, roughly chopped
1/4c cucumber, roughly chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp ume plum vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp sea salt

Blend ingredients, serve chilled
Garnished w/ diced cucumber, diced sweet onion, diced yellow bell pepper, picked cilantro, shredded red cabbage, daikon sprouts & smoked paprika

Serves 4 

Veda
Not all juice is created equally. Cold pressed juice contains about 5-7 times more nutrients than your standard centrifugal juice and because it is exposed to minimal heat and air, it contains more vitamins, minerals and enzymes. This means it tastes fresher and satisfies cravings; enzymes are what tell our brain we're full.  In this case it gives the gazpacho the nutrient value of 100 salads, adding the most delicious flavor. It's a perfect energy boosting way to have a light meal without feeling weighed down. 

Clarified Butter (ghee)

Clarified Butter <ghee>

8 ounces(2 sticks) of organic unsalted butter, cut into cubes 

Method
Heat the unsalted butter in a heavy-duty saucepan over very low heat, until it’s melted. Let simmer gently until the foam rises to the top of the melted butter. Once no more foam seems to be rising to the surface, remove from heat and skim off the foam with a spoon. (It can be saved and added to soups, bread doughs, polenta, pilaf, or a bowl of warm oatmeal.) Skim off as much as you can but you can remove the rest when straining it. Line a mesh strainer with a few layers of cheesecloth or gauze and set the strainer over a heatproof container. Carefully pour the warm butter through the cheesecloth-lined strainer into the container, leaving behind any solids from the bottom of the pan.

Clarified butter has a deep decedent flavor, I added thyme and himalayan sea salt to this recipe to for the delicious black olive roll. Add a touch of fresh and salt to your finished clarified butter, cook over low heat until flavors infuse. Clarified butter can also be seasoned with a number of spices. A few I recommend: cinnamon, turmeric, curry, saffron. Add fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary to add a flavorful touch to your roasted veggies. Add seasonal berries and cook until they plump up stir well. When finished let berry and ghee solidify by placing in refrigerator or freezer. Cook butter longer at lower heat to decrease the moisture and deepen the flavor. Clarified butter will keep for 3 to 6 months in the refrigerator. Some say you can leave it at room temperature if the conditions are optimal, but I keep mine under refrigeration. It can also be frozen for a similar length of time.

Clarified Butter (Ghee) // Coffee : If you like to have your coffee for breakfast add 2 tablespoons of clarified butter to one cup of coffee for a smoother flavor and a burst of nutrient rich energy. 

Veda
Clarified Butter/Ghee (unlike other oils) is rich in butyric acid, a short chain fatty acid. Beneficial intestinal bacteria convert fiber into butyric acid and then use that for energy and intestinal wall support. A healthy body therefore makes it own form of ‘ghee’ but you can aid that greatly by just consuming it. Butyric acid helps lubricate joints and reduce inflammation, leaving your body feeling flexible. These fatty acids are absorbed directly to the liver (like carbs) and burnt as energy. Active individuals can use ghee as a consistent energy source. The energy from these fatty acids can be used to burn other fats in the system and aid in loss of unnecessary weight.