Perfect Pumpkin Pie

One of my favorite parts of our Thanksgiving meal is Pumpkin Pie. My Mom would make this pie with “three times as much spice”, and sometimes I find the store-bought pies are just missing something…

The good thing about these spices is that they are really great for your health! So the more, the merrier :) Not to be outdone, pumpkin provides a wealth of health benefits, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases, facilitating wound healing and providing cardiovascular protection.

GreenMedInfo has a recipe for pumpkin spice you can use year-round and a fantastic article on the health benefits. If you’d like a pre-blended mix of spices, I’ll always recommend Pinch Spice Market (who we will be using for our pumpkin pie this year). Swap out the pre-made mix for the four spices listed in the recipe below. (Spices make great gifts for the holidays too :)

Healthy Pumpkin Spice

• 3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

• 2 tsp. ground ginger

• 2 tsp. nutmeg

• 2 tsp. ground cloves

• 1.5 tsp. ground allspice

Pumpkin Pie (Adapted from Joy of Cooking)

For a gluten-free and dairy-free pie crust, check out Gluten-Free on a Shoestring’s recipe.

• 2 Large Eggs (vegan egg substitutes can also be used)

• 2 Cups freshly cooked or canned pumpkin puree

• 1 1/2 Cups vegan cream or evaporated milk

• 1/2 Cup Coconut Sugar

• 1/3 Cup Brown Sugar or Evaporated Cane Juice

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

  Spices (if using pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice, 2 3/4 teaspoons - feel free to increase that to your liking)

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice

Position a rack in the center of the oven and pre-heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using a pre-rolled pie crust, place crust in a glass pie pan, making sure to make a rim around the edges. Glaze the bottom with egg yolk (if desired) to prevent the filling from soaking into the crust.

Whisk eggs in a large bowl; and then slowly whisk in the remaining ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Warm the pie crust in the oven until it is hot to the touch, letting the filling stand at room temperature. Pour the pumpkin mixture into the crust and bake for 35 - 45 minutes, until the center is set, but quivery like gelatin.

Pro-tip: Place a baking pan on a shelf below the pie, in case any filling drips out after heating. Let your pie cool fully on a cooling rack.

Serve cold or slightly warm with some coconut whipped cream. Enjoy!

This is a part of Thanksgiving that can be made a day early, which saves time the day-of. If you’d like more Thanksgiving dinner ideas, check out one of our Thanksgiving Menus on madgood.

Vegan Cashew Cheese

Cashews are rich in essential minerals and have a nice texture for cheese. This recipe can be made with most nuts, but those that are harder (like almonds) will need a soak in warm water for a few hours first.

This recipe is adapted from The Plantpower Way by Rich Roll and Julie Piatt.

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashews, soaked

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1/4 cup chickpea or yellow soy miso

1 teaspoon lemon juice (squeezed)

Celtic sea salt to taste

In a Vitamix or high-powered blender, add all ingredients and blend until smooth. Add water to desired consistency. Transfer to a small saucepan and heat on low until warm. It will thicken quickly. Add water if you would like a thinner consistency.

For a green version, add 1-1/2 cloves garlic and herbs like cilantro. Include 1 extra tablespoon of lemon juice and blend until smooth. Add water as needed.

If you process for a full 3 minutes you’ll have a warm creamy cheese sauce. Enjoy!

Squash Spaghetti

It’s squash season! This delightfully easy recipe satisfies the taste for Italian cuisine with a vibrant texture but not the heaviness that can come from eating pasta.

Serves 4-6 

Spaghetti Squash  

Preheat oven to 375°. Rinse squash and place in a baking pan with half an inch of water. Cut off stem, and bake for 60-90 minutes (depending on size of the squash). When done, the skin will give slightly when touched. Slice longwise and scoop out seeds (for toasting later or planting in next year’s garden!). With a fork, separate spaghetti strings and place in a bowl until sauce is complete.

Tomato Sauce

• 1/2 yellow onion {diced}

• 1/2 red onion {sliced}

• 1 clove garlic {peeled + diced}

• 1/2 C mushrooms or cherry, pear or grape tomatoes (optional)

• 1/8 C sun-dried tomatoes {chopped} or 1 T tomato paste

• 4 C jarred or fresh diced tomatoes

• 2 T olive oil

• sea salt to taste

• fresh black pepper to taste

• Italian seasoning (basil, fennel, garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme, black + red pepper) to taste (2-4 T)

• 1-2 T red pepper paste, sun-dried tomato paste, pesto paste or a combination

• garnish: toasted pine nuts, a chiffonade (cut into long, thin strips) of fresh basil or chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Heat a deep sauté pan and add oil. Sauté onions, garlic and mushrooms (if using) until soft. Add diced tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes or tomato paste, spices and salt and simmer until tasty (20 min or longer). Add cherry, pear or grape tomatoes (if using) 10 minutes before removing heat so they retain their shape. Season with red pepper paste, sun-dried tomato paste, pesto paste or a combination of them to taste. Dust with black pepper to taste and let rest while you warm the squash pasta. Garnish with toasted pine nuts, fresh basil or fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Creamy Tomato Sauce

If you like a creamy tomato sauce, try mixing in this cream sauce inspired by Juliano's Mac Cream.

• 2 C macadamia nuts or raw cashews (or a mixture of both)

• 1/2 C lemon juice (from a lemon)

• 1/4 C coconut aminos or 1 + 1/2 t sea salt

• 1 clove garlic

• pepper to taste

• 1/4 - 1/2 C water

Blend all ingredients until creamy; add water to desired consistency. Mix with tomato sauce or enjoy on its own with veggies!

Romaine Apple Ginger Juice

Our dear friends gave me some delicious Romaine lettuce grown in their garden. It was so flavorful, I had to try it in a juice. I like to juice in the summer because it’s such a great source of nutrients and electrolytes. It helps our skin and liver recover from hours in the sun and heat.

As always, I suggest using organic fruits and vegetables to decrease the risk of getting a concentrated dose of pesticides. If they are grown in an organic garden, even better!

This can be made with any green from the garden or grocery. I paired the lettuce with apple and ginger to give it a little sweetness with a kick!

GreenMedInfo reports that ginger can help with a number of ailments, from nausea and arthritis to knee pain, migraines and allergies. Read more about the wondrous benefits of ginger here:

https://greenmedinfo.com/blog/eight-unexpected-health-benefits-ginger

Ingredients

• a bunch of Romaine lettuce or other green leafy vegetable

• 2-3 apples to taste

• 1-2 inch thumb of ginger

Run the ingredients through your juicer, following the lettuce with an apple or ginger so it doesn’t get stuck. I leave my ginger and apples unpeeled, but if you like a more delicate taste, they can be peeled.If you’re new tousing ginger in your juice, start small.

Enjoy in the backyard or on a deck, soaking up some sun!

Pineapple Digestive Elixir

For a refreshing blend of electrolytes and nutrients that aid in digestion, try this combination of citrus, apple and carrots. The pineapple has the added benefits of bromelain, an enzyme that digests protein (from all those summer barbecues). Bromelain reduces inflammation, aids in digestion, reduces blood clotting and plaque build-up in the arteries, and helps with sinusitis.

Makes 16 oz

• 3-4 spears fresh pineapple (skin and stem removed)

• 2 apples (cored)

• 4 carrots

• juice from 1 lime

Juice all ingredients except the lime in your juicer. Add the lime juice at the end and stir. Enjoy!

Curried Potatoes and Peas

Adapted from TeaNY by Moby and Kelly Tisdale

This curry is a go-to for an easy yet satisfying meal. Just the right amount of spice, carbs and protein, which can all be altered to fit what you have on-hand.

We actually visited the TeaNY cafe in the Lower East Side when we were in New York - An amazing tea shop and vegetarian eatery. It did live up to all the hype :)

• 3/4 pound peeled potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces

• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 small yellow onion, chopped small

• 2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped or mashed

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 1/2 cup coconut milk

Boil potatoes until completely soft. In a separate bowl, combine salt, curry, cumin and coriander, and set aside. Heat the oil in a skillet at medium-high heat. Then add the onions, and cook until they are translucent. Add the onions, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes and peas. Stir gently for 5 minutes. Add coconut milk, and stir until mixture is evenly coated. Enjoy!

Classic Potato Salad

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman

It’s potato salad season again! Anytime we have the opportunity for a barbecue or picnic, we try to make this potato salad. It can be altered a lot depending on what flavors you like, and the mayo can be replaced with a nice vinegar for a lighter vegan version.

Servings:8

Ingredients:

• 8-10 Medium Potatoes

• 1-1/2 cup Mayonnaise (We like Sir Kensington’s for Vegan Mayo)

• 4 Tablespoons Prepared Mustard (regular, Dijon or a mixture of both)

• 5 whole Green Onions (sliced) or 1/4 cup Red Onion (diced)

• 1/4 cup celery (minced)

• 8 whole Small Sweet or Dill Pickles (We like to use sweet relish)

• 1 teaspoon Sea Salt (to taste)

• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika (smoked if you prefer)

• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper (to taste)

• 4 -8 Hard-Boiled Eggs, chopped (can be omitted for vegan version, or replaced with avocado)

• Fresh Dill (for garnish)

  Instructions

  Cut potatoes in halves or thirds, then boil until fork tender. Drain. Mash potatoes or leave chunky. Fold potatoes together with mayonnaise, mustard, onions, celery, salt, pepper, and other seasonings you like. Fold in pickles (relish) and eggs, then taste for seasonings, adding more salt, mustard, or mayo as needed. You may also splash in juice from the pickle jar if salad needs a little moisture. Top with more paprika and some chopped dill. Goes great with any picnic or barbecue food. Enjoy!

Savory Crepes

This recipe starts out as an excerpt from Alton Brown’s book, “I’m Just Here for More Food”.

Alton would probably peel out on his hog if he knew I was making this gluten-free, but it works pretty well with alternate flours, and this version is actually grain-free. It can easily be made dairy-free (as this one is).

CREPES

• 3/4 C (170 g/6 oz) milk (I used Hemp Milk)

• 1/2 C (113g/4 oz) water

• 2 Eggs

• 1/2 tsp (3g/<1/8 oz) Kosher or sea salt

• 3 TBSP Butter (I used Miyoko’s cultured vegan butter) + Butter or oil for the pan

• 1/2 C (38 g/1 -1/3 oz) Cassava Flour

• 1/2 C (38 g/1 -1/3 oz) Chick Pea Flour

• Fresh or Dry Herbs to taste (optional)

• A dash of your favorite spices

• Cheese to Taste (I used cultured almond cheese from Kite Hill)

• Filling (any combination of potatoes, veggies, lentils or beans)

Using Alton’s Blender Method, combine liquids first (butter included), then the dry ingredients. Blend only a short amount of time (although I doubt this matters when using gf flours) and thin with water if needed to create a thin pancake on the pan. I use a large cast iron skillet.

Chop and cook the filling - this photo has a crepe with a red lentil chickpea filling, but any vegetables you have on hand should work.

I coat the pan with a brush to ensure a thin layer of oil. You’ll want to turn on the kitchen fan for this since burning oil can smoke. While cooking, make sure the sides have browned; the crepe should have bubbles indicating that it’s cooked through. You can layer the cheese inside or outside the crepe, and garnish with herbs or spices.

This dish goes well with salads, vegetables or solo. Heat the crepes in a toaster oven or convection oven at 200 F degrees to keep warm while the others finish cooking,

Enjoy :)

A Simple Salad

One of the deterrents for me in making a salad at home is that it takes too long! All the chopping and rinsing… leave that to the restaurants.

But having a salad with meals (or as a meal) helps aid our digestion, giving us the enzymes to break down other foods. Plus the nutrients and polyphenols in fresh fruits and vegetables help to lower inflammation in the body, even if they are accompanied by meats, breads, and processed foods.

So my solution has been to keep it simple. The salads I make at home usually only have three to five ingredients, and the dressing included in this recipe can usually be made with things we have on hand.

Ingredients

• 2 handfuls baby spinach or lettuces of choice

• 1 carrot (sliced)

• 1/8 Cup sliced tomatoes or dried fruit

• 3 green olives or avocado (sliced)

• 2 Tablespoons toasted pumpkin or sesame seeds

Hummus Dressing

• 2 Tablespoon prepared hummus

• Squeeze of half a lemon

• 1 tsp olive brine

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1 tsp flax or hemp oil

Wisk hummus, lemon juice, olive brine, and oils in a small mixing bowl and set aside to rest. Assemble spinach/lettuce, sliced carrot, tomatoes or dried fruit, olives or avocado and toasted seeds in salad bowl. Toss with 1-2 Tablespoons hummus dressing or dressing of your choice. Enjoy!

Simple Udon Soup

This light soup with umami broth is a nice break for the stomach from heavier winter meals. Proteins can be added easily, and it can replace the classic Chicken Noodle Soup in your wellness routine.

You can adjust the salt to your liking if you use homemade broth. Homemade broth is an incredibly alkalizing food. It offers easily digestible nutrients and electrolytes.

Dulse {red seaweed} is a great source of complete protein amino acids and iodine, plus helps to remove heavy metals and toxins from the body.

If you don’t do wheat, you can replace the udon noodles with a variety of gluten-free noodles: buckwheat, kelp or NoOodles {made with yams}.

Serves 4

• 6 ounces udon, kelp or yam noodles

• 6 cups homemade veggie broth or broth of your choice

• 6 Crimini or Shiitake mushrooms, sliced

• 2 handfuls baby spinach leaves

• 2 handfuls cooking greens: kale, dandelion, chard, collard greens, bok choy

• Sea Salt to taste

• 2 teaspoon coconut aminos (or tamari)

• 1 Tablespoon dulse granules

• Coconut nectar (or sweetener of your choice) to taste {optional}

• 1 Tablespoon onion flakes or diced onion

• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

•  Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, black seeds or Gomasio (seaweed, sesame seeds and sea salt)

Cook udon noodles in salted boiling water until tender, about 5 minutes (if using yam or kelp, wait until the end to add). Drain and rinse under cold water until cool.

Place broth in a pot and bring to a boil. Add mushrooms, greens and onions or flakes and bring back to a boil.

Stir in spinach and oil and season with salt, aminos, sweetener and dulse granules to taste. Add noodles and cook just until heated through.

Let rest for 5-8 minutes for full flavor. Top with sesame oil and seeds. Enjoy!

Moroccan Stew

Adapted from http://moroccanfood.about.com/od/maindishes/r/couscous_veg.htm

This is such and excellent winter dish. Warm, soft vegetables and a little bit of spice (or a lot!) can heat you from the inside out. This can be served without a grain or it can be served with couscous instead of rice. Vary the vegetables to your family's preferences or add what you have on-hand.

See How to Steam Couscous if you've never used a couscoussier.

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes

Cook Time: 35-40 minutes

Yield: Generously serves 6 adults (or several “seconds”)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried rice (rinsed thoroughly)

• 1 ¾ cup water

• 2 Tablespoons vegan shortening or coconut/olive oil

• 2 Tablespoons butter for topping

• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste

  ------------------------------------------------------------------

• 1/4 cup vegan butter or coconut/olive oil

• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped

• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced or sliced

• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

• 1 handful of parsley and cilantro sprigs, tied into a bouquet

• 1 teaspoon turmeric

• A dash of Ras el Hanout (See the story of this spice)

• A dash of Sumac Cajun Spice *optional

• 1 cup of vegetable broth

• 3 tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped, or jarred diced tomatoes

• 1/2 of a small cabbage, cut into 2 or 3 sections (or fennel, chopped or sliced)

• 2 or 3 small sweet potatoes (or 1 large), peeled and chopped

• 10 carrots, peeled and chopped

• ½ cup chopped cauliflower or broccoli

• 1 or 2 small zucchini, ends removed and chopped

• 1/4 cup dry chickpeas, soaked overnight or canned

• 1/2 cup fresh fava beans or kidney beans

• 1 or 2 chili peppers or red chili flakes (optional)*

• 1 tablespoons salt

• A dash of black pepper

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Preparation:

Prepare the rice by adding 1 cup to a rice cooker or pressure cooker (also works with a saucepan the stove). Add 1 and ¾ cup water, the vegetable shortening or oil and salt. Cook for 10-15 minutes depending on if you are using white (10 min) or brown rice (15 min).

Cook beans (if using dried and soaked beans) until soft.

Mix the, onion, garlic, ginger and spices in a large saute pan or casserole with two tablespoons of vegan butter (or oil). Add the tomatoes after the onions and garlic soften. One by one, add the rest of the veggies, adding salt and vegetable broth as needed to keep the veggies submerged.

Add the bouquet of herbs and cover and cook over medium to medium-high heat for 15-20 minutes, adding the zucchini, broccoli/cauliflower and beans last.

Reduce the heat to medium, and simmer rapidly for 10 to 15 minutes. Add broth as needed and reduce to a thick stew.

Empty the couscous (break it apart) and rice into the large bowl, and. Mix in the 2 tablespoons of butter and salt to taste.

Discard the herb bouquet and distribute the stew evenly over the couscous or rice and vegetables, topping with fresh herbs or vegan ricotta cheese.

Pinch Spice Market

It’s so important to support your local and small businesses to help them survive and thrive.

Our first focus will be on spices. Once you get away from all the salt in fast food, you start to realize the importance of having spices in your meals. Once you start using them regularly, you’ll start to notice information about what powerhouses many spices and herbs are in maintaining your health and immune system. Once your armed with that information, you become powerful too.

I’ve been following Pinch Spice Market since they had a shop in Bucktown (Chicago). From talking with the owners (and my own tastebuds), I know they use discernment when selecting the spices and herbs that they sell. The quality of their spices is top tier. Dedicated to sustainability and organics, Pinch knows how growing and processing spices can be pesticide and chemical heavy. But not only do I trust the “purity” of their spice, their blends are really what it’s about.

Now they’ve moved physically but still have a strong online market. Supplying many of Chicago’s finest restaurants with spice blends for seasoning, marinating and dusting, they are experts on the complex favors involved in making good blends. One of my favorites is Ras El Hanout, a Moroccan spice that goes well with vegan and vegetarian foods. I remember reading the blog posts about developing this spice blend and the nuances needed to really make it taste authentic.

And a must-mention my son’s favorite - Magic Toast Dust…evaporated cane juice, Vietnamese cinnamon, orange zest. Cinnamon Toast was such a comfort food growing up. We now make a gluten-free version with vegan butter.

Next time you need a spice, give this small business a try: https://pinchspicemarket.com/

You’ll be directly supporting the fair-trade and organic marketplaces :) And for that I’m grateful.

APPLE TART

PECAN-WALNUT CRUST

From Thrive Market’s Paleo Thanksgiving

1 cup ground raw walnuts

1 cup ground raw pecans

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 T coconut oil 6 – 8 dates

1 tsp cinnamon

Blend crust ingredients in the food processor until the dough sticks together when pressed. Transfer to a pie pan and press to flatten. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 7 minutes.

ALTERNATE RAW CRUST

From Sweetly Raw’s Deep Dish Apple Pear Tart

1-1/3 cups cashews

1-1/3 cups shredded coconut

2-1/2 - 3 tablespoons maple syrup

2 pinches salt

2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil

Grind the cashews and coconut into flour in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients. Process to combine. Press the mixture evenly into a deep 8" tart pan with removable bottom. Make sure to chill it in the freezer to set properly while making the filling. You can even let it sit overnight in the fridge to set before putting the filling in for best results.

FILLING

1/8       cup coconut, tapioca, cassava or arrowroot flour

1/2       teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2       teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8       teaspoon salt

8          cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (8 medium)

2          tablespoons coconut oil

1          dash of coconut sugar (to taste)

*Optional

a dash of apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice

the juice of half a lemon

Vanilla to taste

Ginger syrup

In a saucepan, combine apple filling ingredients and optional spices, and simmer until apples are soft and the sauce has thickened. After you remove the filling from heat, add the optional lemon juice, vanilla or ginger syrup and stir.

Layer into to pie crust and let set for 10 minutes to 24 hours. Enjoy with some coconut whipped cream.

Autumn Sweet Potatoes

Normally I would not recommend this amount of butter and sugar to anyone, but during the late Autumn months, our bodies are in the unique position of preparing for the coldness and conditions of winter… so a little fat and sugar is not so bad. You can always substitute coconut oil for the butter and coconut sugar for the white sugar to make this a little less of a guilty pleasure.

Ingredients:

• 4 large sweet potatoes or yams

• dash of sea salt

• butter or coconut oil (enough for each layer of your casserole). We like to use Miyoko’s brand vegan butter.

• brown or white sugar or coconut sugar for a lower glycemic index (1/2 cup approximately or to taste)

Peel and slice your sweet potatoes or yams and start to layer in a casserole dish. With each layer, put an ample amount of butter or coconut oil and a sprinkling of sugar. The potatoes are naturally sweet, so if you’re sensitive to sugars, you can always use less or none at all.

Layer up until you reach almost the top of the casserole dish. While cooking, the butter or oil should fully soak the potatoes and offer a place for them to simmer. Sugar mixed with cinnamon or spices can be added after baking.

Cook at 375 degrees F until the potatoes are soft and the sugar is slightly caramelized at the top, checking every 10 minutes.

Once out of the oven, let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before enjoying warm.

Easy Dal

When the weather starts to cool, it’s nice to have warm comfort food that’s nutritious as well as satisfying. This recipe is adapted from The Best Easy Dal Recipe by Happy Veggie Kitchen. The name implies that there are probably quite a few more complicated ways to make Dal… but we’re keeping it simple.

You may know from our lentil soup recipe what a powerhouse of nutrients and protein lentils are for vegans, and mixed with this blend of spices makes this a truly anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting meal.

Makes 4 servings

30 min preparation

• 1 Cup (190 g) dry red lentils

• Handful of green or black lentils for texture

• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Juice of 1 lemon, squeezed

Tarka (fried spices)

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 4 garlic cloves, sliced

• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

• 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (or 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin)

• Pinch of red pepper flakes

• Dash of smoked paprika

• 1 teaspoon garam masala

• Dash of ground coriander

• 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil

• 2 Tablespoons salted butter or coconut oil

Garnish

• Fresh cilantro or a chiffonade of basil (a culinary technique where you stack fresh basil leaves, roll them together, and slice them thinly into strips or ribbons)

Rinse the lentils in a sieve, then put them in a large saucepan with the turmeric, a pinch of salt and 3 cups (700 ml) of water.

Make rice if serving together.

Gather, prepare and line up your tarka ingredients. Traditionally, you will be adding everything in quick succession while frying, although I have (when constrained with time) put everything in at the same time, and it still turns out pretty tasty.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook the onions until soft and slightly browned. Add the sliced garlic and stir while adding the red pepper flakes and ginger.

Once fragrant, push all the onion, garlic and ginger to the sides of the pan and add the fenugreek and cumin seeds to the middle of the pan to toast them, just for a few moments until fragrant.

Turn off the heat and immediately add the butter or coconut oil, garam masala, corinander and smoked paprika. Stir as the residual heat melts the butter and slightly fries the spices.

Once the lentils are cooked, stir in the lemon juice. When the tarka is ready, pour over the lentils and stir through. Allow the dal to sit, off the heat, for a few minutes to rest.

Garnish with a chiffonade of your choice. Enjoy!

Golden Paste for Dogs (and People!)

The benefits of turmeric will astound you. It combats inflammation and nurtures the body. Integrating it into your dogs meals (and yours!) may help them (and you) heal faster and live longer. For more information on the healing power of turmeric, check out this article from GreenMedInfo: 900 Reasons Turmeric Might be the World's Most Important Herb

This recipe is shared by Ruthy, an herbalist and massage therapist at Pike Creek Pets - Canine Massage Therapy. Learn more here.

• 1/2 cup turmeric powder

• 1 cup water

• 1/2 cup raw unrefined coconut oil (or 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup peanut butter for picky dogs)

• 1-1/2 teaspoons black pepper

Boil the water in a medium saucepan. Add the turmeric and black pepper to the boiling water and simmer for five minutes, stirring. This increases the bio-availability of the healing compounds. Remove from heat and stir in oil (and peanut butter if using) until well blended.

Let cool for 10 minutes and store in a glass jar in the refrigerator or freezer. Mix a small amount with your dog’s meal or bake into treats.

We add golden paste to our soups and stews, and sautes that have Indian and African flavors. Or add to eggs to brighten their color and add flavor.

Mosquito Salve

In my first aid kit, this salve competes with hydrocortisone for an anti-itch solution for bug bites. I started making this as a natural deodorant, and found it helped stop the itch of mosquito bites. The baking soda neutralizes bacteria and gently exfoliates your skin. The arrowroot draws out toxins; and the coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil and aloe vera are antioxidant, antibacterial and healing.

• 1 Tablespoon baking soda

• 6 Tablespoon arrowroot

• 2 Tablespoon + coconut oil or olive oil {or a combination of both}

• 1 teaspoon aloe vera {optional}

Slice your aloe vera leaf {if using} down the center longwise and gently scrape juice out with a spoon, alternately use an aloe liquid or gel. Make sure to mix powders well before adding oil and aloe. Add enough oil to make a paste. I like to add 2 Tablespoons coconut oil and 1 teaspoon olive or grapeseed oil to help make it smooth.

Apply with your fingers and rub in a circular pattern.

The Standard

This is the formula for our standard, daily juice. It has enough sweet veggies and fruit to taste great, but also contains green leafies so you can benefit from their nutrition without having to chew all day long. This recipe makes 16 – 20 oz (enough for 2 people or to save some for later). Remember that the body can only absorb the nutrients from about 8 oz of fresh juice at a time, so don’t go crazy. Wait an hour before consuming more for optimum absorption.

The Base

• 2 apples (really any type will do) (peels on, seeded)

• 2-3 carrots (peels on)

• 1/4 – 1/2 inch of fresh ginger root (depending on your taste for ginger) (no need to peel)

• 1/2 – 1 beet (some beets can be quite big, so this is on average) (peel on)

The Greens

3-6 leaves or mixture of the following:

Goitrogens (good for a hyperthyroid and in moderation for regular folks)

• Kale

• Cabbage

• Collard greens

• Spinach

Lettuces (good for a hypothyroid and for regular folks)

• Any lettuce (even the stuff that you wouldn’t make into a salad, but don’t want to waste)

• Chard

• Basil or mint (technically herbs, but still green)

The Goods

Save scraps from a variety of fruits and veggies when cooking or making salads and add 1/2 - 3/4 C to each batch

Some examples:

• Pears (good for a hyperthyroid) (seeded)

• Peaches (good for a hyperthyroid), apricots, plums or other stone fruit (pitted)

• Grapes

• Berries – raspberries, blueberries, strawberries (with greens) are great!

• Celery

• Parsnips

• Cauliflower (good for a hyperthyroid)

• Radishes

• Kohlrabi (good for a hyperthyroid)

Make sure all the dirt is washed off so you don’t end up with a gritty drink. Combine all ingredients in your juicer and enjoy! Extra juice can be saved for about 8 hours. After that time it starts to lose nutrition and flavor. Use the pulp for your compost pile – it’s already ground up nicely!

Turmeric Elixir

Why make a turmeric elixir? Check out this article: 600 Reasons Turmeric Might be the World's Most Important Herb

This delightful recipe is quick, easy and may be the healthiest thing you encounter all day.

Makes 2 cups

• 4 apples

• 2 thumbs turmeric root (or 1 thumb ginger root)

• Juice of 1 lemon

Squeeze lemon into juice container and process apples and turmeric through juicer into the same container. Stir and enjoy!

Juice for Headaches

Many times a headache is a message that we need to detox something. They start to appear more evident during allergy season when the sinuses are also being taxed. This green juice, with many antioxidants and cleansing alkaline liquids, will support your sinuses, brain and body during this transformative season.

• 3 apples (cored and sliced)

• half of a cucumber

• 2 leaves kale (washed)

• 1 thumb of ginger (or to taste)

• 1-2 stalks celery

Push these through your juicer and enjoy this medicinal juice.

Share your experiences and successes in the comment section below.