Green Salad and Assholes in Yoga

February 5, 2010
I’m still doing the raw diet. Last night, I prepared a large and delicious salad. Plus, I got to use my salad spinner, which I only used twice since I bought it in 2008.
Since I have a financial deficit (I’m broke and it’s no joke), I cannot afford the pre-washed greens. I have beautiful green leaf lettuce, but it is dirty. I can actually see the dirt on the leaves.
When I was making my salad, I could not figure out how I was going to wash the lettuce and dry it so my ruby, red grapefruit dressing will not be diluted. That was when I remembered my salad spinner. I was so happy. My lettuce came out clean and dry. Why the hell have I been paying 2.99 for lettuce when I can get it for .99, and spin that shit? That’s what I’ve been asking myself since last night.
Green salad:
Green leaf lettuce, cherry tomatoes, half of green bell pepper, garbanzo beans, Greek black olives, a handful of parsley, clover sprouts, half of an avocado.

Grapefruit Dressing: 1 shallot, 1 clove of garlic, half of a red grapefruit, half of a lime, red pepper flakes, a pinch of kosher salt.
Combine the minced garlic clove and the sliced shallot in a bowl then squeeze the lemon and grapefruit over them (this is important because the citrus fruits mellow these root veggies). Then add the salt & red pepper flakes to taste.

I’ve had a headache since I woke up. I think it is from eating less cooked food. Many of the raw foodist that I have researched and spoken to, tell me that this is normal. Apparently my body is rid itself of toxins. However, I do not feel weak like many people have reported, but it is only the third day.
This morning, I blended a personal seedless watermelon (the whole thing) and a cup of strawberries for breakfast. I’m saving my cooked meal for dinner tonight. I went to the gym on this fruit. I did an hour yoga and an hour of Zumba.

On the spiritual side, I told myself to spread love to humans and think of the many blessings in my life. That was before I got cut off in traffic and started calling people dumb-asses. I came back to my senses and chanted to myself “Today, I will not be an asshole. Today, I will be kind to all humans.” My mini-mantra worked because I did not curse at two bitches who invaded my space and stood in front of my yoga mat, and I mean close like not even an inch away. I found that to be a hostile act because there was plenty of room in the large dance studio for them stand and talk, and neither one of those bitches was near her own mat. They made it a point to invade my space. However, I sat down on the edge of mat and smiled while I gathered myself. I am still a crazy, angry, asshole, who needs to refrain from the consumption of meat. Namasta

Miso Soup for Breakfast

I have been inspired by the life-regenerator to try raw food. Many raw foodists claim that a diet free from cooked foods will provide optimum health. The major effect of raw food is weight loss, but others have claimed to have serious illnesses cured or put into a state of remission. I’m all about the weight loss, and the beauty factor of the diet. I’ve got to start somewhere, so why not with vanity.
On the spiritual side, I have noticed that the fruit & veg has cleared up some of my mental fog. I am able to notice emotions and thoughts that are just programming (thoughts that are on a mental loop, thoughts that I have without questioning). It’s like I am still affected from negative experiences that happen in the past. These experiences come with actual physical sensations. I can feel my heart quicken, the heat rise through my body, and the anger. So, if I can recall negative experiences, then why can’t I call recall positive. That is the programming. I am programmed to focus on the toxic thoughts (e.g. Life sucks, I never get a chance, etc…). I could write a list of these negative thoughts, but I want to focus on the positive and the blessings in my life, to reprogram my mental wiring.
What I am doing to make this reprogramming happen?
I have renewed my commitment to exercise. Lately, I have been getting a little bit of a happy feeling after working out.
Oh, I am off my point. I wanted to talk about the raw food thing. Yesterday, I started an 8 week experiment with eating raw. Realistically, I cannot be 100% raw because I love to cook, but I want to try 80% raw. So, I told myself that I can have one cooked meal a day, which can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Today as well as yesterday, I started my day with miso soup. Then I went to the gym and walked for 45 minutes on the treadmill. I really need a mellow day today because yesterday, I did yoga and zumba.

Miso Soup recipe (serves 2):
2 teaspoons of white miso paste, 2 cups of water, 1 green onion, 5 mushrooms, 1kale leaf, and ¼ teaspoon of wakeme seaweed.
Soak wakeme in a little bit of water until it expands, Mix miso paste with the rest of the water, add mushrooms and kale bring to almost a boil, turn fire to low cook until kale is tender. Take wakeme out of water and chop into thin threads, and add the water to pot. Turn fire off and add wakeme.
Serve in a bowl garnish with green onions for flavor and for beauty.

Spanikopitas Vegan Style

My lesson for the day is to increase energy, and to let go of energy suckers. The goal is to increase my sense of peace, and to close the door on old aquaintances (whether people, or habits)that drains me of my life force.

Today, I needed some energy. So, I tried to make some vegan spanikopita. They were delicious, but I do not have the triangle thing down. After about the third one I folded wrong, and just started folding them any direction that took my fancy.

I love spanikopita. What is better that spinach and cheese encrusted in light and flaky dough? Being a vegan, I cannot get them from my usually haunts; no one makes spanikopita without dairy. Make sure to season in layers., so I created this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of spinach (note: make sure the spinach is washed to removed dirt and grit. It sucks to put gritty spinach in my)

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon of sea salt

1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper

1 onion

1 chopped clove of garlic

1 cup of chopped mushrooms

9 sheets of filo dough

½ cup of olive oil

¼ cup of white flour

¼ cup of plain almond milk (note: you can also use soy milk, rice milk, or a milk substitute of your choosing)

¼ cup of white wine

5 slices of vegan mozzarella cheese (optional)

Steps to prepare:
1. Sauté spinach with lemon juice until spinach wilts. Make sure to season spinach with salt & pepper to taste.
2. Strain all of the juice from the spinach and put to the side
3. Pour ¼ cup of olive oil in sauté pan heat.
4. Place chopped mushroom in with the oil olive, season to taste with salt & pepper, sauté until the mushrooms get some color on them.
5. Add the onion and the garlic, season with salt & pepper to taste, and sauté until onions and garlic are transparent.
6. Add flour, almond milk, spinach and wine stir. This makes a creamy sauce.
7. Place spinach filling in a food processor and blitz a few seconds.
8. Get 9 sheets of filo dough, and place them between two wet towels, so they don’t dry out. Paper towels are a bad idea. I learned that the hard way. The filo sheets will stick to the paper towels.
9. Brush one filo sheet with olive oil, place spinach filling on filo sheet, fold into to triangle, or a packet, or whatever you can do. Then add vegan mozzarella cheese to five of them.
10. Place it on a parchment lined sheet pan and repeat steps 8 and 9.
11. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes, or until golden brown, and remove from oven and serve (recipe makes 9).