Raw Food Gluten Free Recipes for the Holidays

At this time of year, you might spend lots of time shopping for just the right gift for everyone on your list. But what about you?

Have you ever considered giving yourself a gift? Today’s post has the perfect plan for giving back to the only person who will be with you at every moment and can support you best of all. And it’s not one of those store bought gifts, either. It’s one from your heart.

A Special Gift to Give Yourself

1. Purchase of make a pretty card for yourself.
2. Address the inside of the card to yourself by name.
3. In the white space, write ” My gift to you is” followed by one self care thing you plan to include in your life on a regular basis. Pick something you have not already managed to make routine. It could be taking a daily walk, making a green drink, meditating, taking a yoga class, doing daily stretching. The sky’s the limit. Make it something you know would benefit your health and well being and just hasn’t been given the priority it deserves.
4. Sign the card from you.
5. Put the card in an envelope and address it to YOU.
6. Put the card with the gifts you plan to give away and open it at the appropriate time.
7. Surprise!!! Follow Through with Joy!

You deserve to be healthy, happy and whole.

Make a commitment to do it NOW.

Holiday Recipes for You

If you haven’t already decided on your holiday menu, consider adding these recipes. Perhaps instead of being tempted by the traditional mashed potatoes and gravy loaded with gluten, dairy and processed fats you’ll enjoy my mashed potato recipe made with cauliflower and loaded with cancer fighting and hormone balancing phytochemicals and mushroom gravy made with immune boosting mushrooms.

These recipes variations of recipes in my eBook Healthy Holiday Traditions, which is loaded with recipes for the holidays including the familiar holiday favorites like gingerbread cookies, latkes and “egg” nog, apple pie, Christmas cookies, pumpkin pie and so much more

Herbed Mashed “Potatoes”

Ingredients:

• 1 head cauliflower
• 1 cup macadamia nuts, cashews, or a combination of both
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 – 2 cups corn (fresh, or frozen and thawed) or 1 1/2 cups zucchini, peeled
• 1 scallion, finely minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or amount to taste

Directions:

1. Break cauliflower into 2-inch chunks and chop in food processor with “S” blade until grainy.
2. Put corn or zucchini in blender and process until smooth. Add water if necessary, but only enough to result in a smooth, creamy blend. It should be relatively thick.
3. Add nuts and lemon juice to blender and process until smooth. Add water only if necessary. This mixture should be thick and creamy.
4. Add the blender mixture to the cauliflower in the food processor and process until well combined, but not completely smooth. It should have a bit of texture, like mashed potatoes.
5. Place in serving bowl and serve as-is (mixture should be warm from the processing) or put entire mixture into baking dish and place in dehydrator for 2 hours to warm through.
6. Serve right away. The taste is best if served shortly after preparing (it changes after refrigeration).
7. Optional: Add flax oil, salt and pepper to taste, and minced herbs just before serving. Top with mushroom gravy.

Personal Note: This is a slightly modified version of the recipe on page 24 of Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo.

Mushroom Gravy

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/4 cup Brazil nuts or almonds, soaked for 6 hours, rinsed and drained
• 1 shallot, or 1 clove garlic
• 2 teaspoons dried mushrooms, ground to a powder, or 1/2 cup fresh brown mushrooms
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 pinch of pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)

Directions:

1. Put all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.
2. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
3. Make this just before serving so that it’s warm.

Personal Note: This recipe is from page 25 of Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo.

Holiday Indulgence Without the Guilt

Whenever I break out of my sheltered world of health conscious people who eat organic whole foods and use natural products to clean their clothes, homes and bodies, I am reminded of just how much work is left to do to educate the masses about the importance of diet and environment on our health. As a nation we’re obese, sick and for the most part unconscious. We’re fueled by sugar, caffeine and artificially flavored and colored manufactured consumables that don’t deserve to be labeled food. In spite of a seemingly raised awareness of the role of our daily choices on the state of our health, there are still huge segments of the population that hasn’t a clue.

As a part of some seminars I’ve been investing in to improve my ability to more fully service my tribe of health seekers, I was asked to identify my mission in life. My mission was described as the far reaching and BIG impact that I yearn to have on the world. I was told that it needs to be big enough that it is unlikely to be reached in my lifetime, yet throughout my life, my day to day actions contribute to the its fruition.

I spent a lot of contemplative time exploring my inner crevices to determine what my mission is. After some deep soul searching, here’s what I came up with.

“My mission is to end needless pain and suffering from lifestyle related diseases. These include “The BIG Three”, cancer, heart disease and diabetes” as well as so many others.”

As the flight attendant came around and asked if I wanted to purchase a meal and described the choices, I realized that another mission, a step if you will on the path to the big mission, is to facilitate the creation of a world where whole, fresh organic food is the ONLY choice on airplanes, fast food restaurants, private homes and all other places where food is available.

Imagine a world where EVERYONE returned to eating only real whole food. Imagine no temptations, no pressure to eat processed food from well meaning yet misguided friends and family members. In such a world, there would be vibrant health, compassion, joy and true peace.

As we head into the holiday season, I’d like to offer a suggestion to you IF you’d like to enjoy vibrant health, powerful energy and joyful interactions throughout this season of celebration. Do this exercise only if you’d like to wake up on January 1 in a body that you love – a comfortable, energetic body that is at or on the way to your ideal body weight.

Sit down in a comfortable place with pencil and paper and make a list of all the foods that you associate with your enjoyment of the holidays. Rate each on a scale of -5 to +5. Foods that are negative have a negative impact on your health, positively numbered foods have a positive impact on your health. The larger the number the more positive,. The more negative the number the more harmful the food. An example of a -5 food is anything containing hydrogenated o heated oil, such as margarine or many commercial pie crusts and snack foods. Foods that qualify as +5 are foods that are very nutrient dense, like green juice and sprouts. Make a commitment to yourself to only eat foods with positive numbers.

It’s quite possible that you can find or make variations of your favorite negatively rated foods that would rate as positive.

We’ve created a class called “Healthy Holiday Feasts: Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Living Foods versions of Traditional Holiday Favorites” to provide you with the tools you need to create delicious and satisfying versions of traditional holiday favorite that you can enjoy without guilt and with the assurance that this year you’ll sail through the holidays with your waistline in tact and wake up on New Year’s Day feeling energetic, strona anf on your way to a phenomenal year, without the need for soon to be broken New Year’s resolutions.

We’re excited to offer the class as a webcast as well as a live and in person one, and to make the high quality videos available afterward. These videos will nicely round out your holiday recipe collection.

In a few short hours, you could be learning recipes like eggless egg-nog, turkeyless turkey loaf, potatoless mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie and more. The pumpkin pie is a new lighter, lower fat version of the one in my book “Thanksiving Feasts” book and it tastes just as delicious.

Whether you’d like to create a complete Thanksgiving feast or simply replace some of your old favorites with healthier gluten-free, vegan living foods versions, you’ll learn lots of tips at the class. And you’ll be giving yourself the best gift of all this holiday season – the gift of health!

Learn more and sign-up at

http://www.drritamarie.com/videoclasses/holidayfeasts2010-11

On the web, in person or on video afterward, this class is a winner.

In love and gratitude,

Dr. Ritamarie

Holiday Feasts cover

3 Keys to a Vibrantly Healthy Valentine’s Day

Valentines Day is the LOVE holiday…the day when we express our love to the special people in our lives.

The tradition of Valentine’s Day is believed to have originated from the pagan customs of the Third or Fourth Century B.C., when the Festivals of Purification were celebrated in Ancient Rome.   With the advent of Christianity, priests attempted to replace all ancient heathen practices, and in the fifth century A.D., they created its own holiday around the same date,  and selected a saint who to honor for his devotion to love.

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day is a day when health takes a  backseat as most people embellish their loved ones with chocolates, little candy hearts with sayings on them and all sorts of sweet, heart shaped treats and lavishly rich dinners.

What would it be like to enjoy the magic of your  Valentine’s Day love connections without compromising your health and your waistline?

Here are 3 key strategies that you can use to create new and memorable health promoting Valentine’s Day rituals.

1- Celebrate and thank the one person you can count on to be there every moment in your life, through thick and thin, good times and challenging ones and until you take your last breath…YOU. Do something special for yourself. Self love and care is health care. One of the best ways to improve the quality of your health and increase your energy and longevity is to consistently make time to reward and acknowledge yourself.

Take a minute right now to stroke and massage your shoulders, arms and hands. Doesn’t that feel great? Plan a time for a candle-lit hot bath, or an evening in bed to read, write or meditate. What’s your favorite pass time? What do you love to do? Reward yourself by scheduling time to do it. Schedule it right NOW.

Jot me a note in the comments box and let me know how you plan to show self love.

2- Create special treats for your loved ones using whole, fresh, organic and living foods.

As a special Valentine’s Day gift from me to you, I created a recipe sampler you can use and enjoy.

http://www.drritamarie.com/candy.htm

3- Make aphrodisiac foods a part of the celebration, to spark some passion into your love life.  These  traditionally include:

• Almond – aroma is supposed to induce passion in a female.
• Arugula – has been documented as an aphrodisiac since the first century A.D.
• Avocado – The Aztecs called the tree the “testicle tree”.
• Basil – Is supposed to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility.
• Chocolate – contains PEA, a neurotransmitter that stimulates a feeling of love and connection.
• Fennel – a source of natural plant estrogen, fennel was used in the early Egyptian times as “libido enhancement”.
• Figs – An open fig is said to resemble the female sex organs and traditionally thought of as sexual stimulant.
• Garlic – is said to stir sexual desires.
• Mustard – is believed to stimulate the sex glands and increase desire.
• Pine Nuts – have been used to stimulate the libido as far back as Medieval times.
• Raspberries and Strawberries – are described in erotic literature as fruit nipples
• Vanilla – The scent and flavor is believed to increase lust.

Do you have any favorite aphrodisiac foods?  Submit your recipes and a description of the aphrodisiac properties of the food here:

http://www.drritamarie.com/newsletter/contributions/

I’ll be choosing one to publish in this month’s newsletter, which will be sent on Thursday February 18.

Please comment below… what are your valentines day plans?

Happy Valentines Day!

Remember to download your Valentines Day Recipe Sampler HERE and have fun!

With Love, Roses and Raw Chocolate Kisses,

Dr. Ritamarie

Peppermint Patties Go Raw: Gluten Free Raw Food Recipe for Superfood Candy Made with Hemp Seeds and Green Powder

My latest Yummy treat – I just made this as a variation of my Peppermint Patty Recipe from Healthy Halloween Treats , a complete guide to raw and living foods, gluten-free recipes for Halloween.

This 100% raw foods recipe is also gluten free and sugar free.  Much better for you than the peppermint patties you may have eaten before.  It’s high in omega 3 fats from the hemp seed, selenium from the brazil nuts, copper from the macadamia nuts, chlorophyll from the greens and antiviral lauric acid from the coocnut.  They are very low glycemic, as they contain no  sweeteners.  If you prefer the filling a little bit sweeter, you can add  1/4 cup pitted dates.

Super Food Peppermint Patties

by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Ingredients

Filling

• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup brazil nuts
• 1/2 cup raw macadamia nuts
• 1 1/2 cup dried coconut shreds
• 1/8 teaspoon green stevia
• 1 Tablespoon each chlorella and blue green algae powder (or your favorite green powder)
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

Chocolate Coating

• 1/4 cup  cacao paste, softened in the dehydrator for 15 minutes at 115 degrees  or in a double boiler
• 1/8 cup cacao butter, melted as for the cacao paste.
• 1/8 teaspoon stevia
• 2 drops mint essential oil

Directions:

1. Process the filling in food processor until almost smooth.
2. Press the filling into silicone molds, disposable mini cupcake papers, or any other shapes desired.  If you prefer, you can spread it on a piece of wax paper and score into desired sizes.
3. Freeze the filling for at least half an hour.
4. Stir all sauce ingredients together in a small bowl or blend in blender.
5. Pop the filling from the molds or cut into desired sizes.
6. Dip the filling pieces into the chocolate sauce (you may need to re-soften it unless you made it right before dipping.)
7. Place carefully on a piece of wax paper to harden.  Store in refrigerator or freezer.

Chocolate topping variation

• 1/4 cup cacao powder
• 1/8 cup melted cacao butter
• 2 drops mint essential oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder

Other Variations

You can add a couple of drops of mint essential oil to your favorite  chocolate sauce or any of the chocolate sauce recipes in  my books Healthy Halloween Treats and Healthy Holiday Traditions:  Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations. Both of these books are filled with gluten free raw and living foods recipes for holiday treats using health promoting ingredients.

Enjoy this recipe.

Love, Health and Joy,

Dr. Ritamarie

http://www.drritamarie.com

http://www.GreenFoodMagic.com

Hanukkah in the Raw: Living Foods Version of Traditional Latkes

When I first met my husband I had no idea what a latke was, nor did I know very much about Hanukkah.  Having grown up Catholic the only thing I’d learned was that Hanukkah was like Christmas, only they got presents for 8 days instead of 1!

I’ve come a long way since then.   Now I know quite a bit more about the holiday, and the meaning behind it.  I’ve also taught myself to make healthier versions of the traditional foods.  My favorite is  latkes.  Latles are potato pancakes and are traditionally served on the first and last nights of Hanukkah, at least in my husband’s family.  Traditional latkes are made from potatoes, onions, flour and egg, and are deep fried in vegetable oil.  They come out crispy and very greasy.  Quite frankly, all that grease just never appealed to me.

So my first experiments were created by simply using  non-gluten flour in place of the unbleached white, flax or psyllium seed in place of the egg and a bit of olive oil, brushed on before baking instead of frying.  They were a bit hit with my family and friends.

Next I experimented with substituting some or all of the potatoes with shredded broccoli stems, daikon radish or zucchini.  I got to the point where I could make them without any potatoes, and my kids still loved them.  I was happy because they were eating lots of veggies!

Finally I took it to the next level and created a recipe that I could “low temperature bake”  in the dehydrator.  These are uncooked and maintain the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes of the raw ingredients.  I served  them side by side with the cooked potato version and most of  my friends preferred the raw ones.

I put all of the variations of the recipe in my new e-book  Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations.

I’m sharing the Living Latkes recipe here.  The book has recipes for raw dairy free versions of applesauce and sour cream too.

Living Latkes

by Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo

Equipment Needed: Dehydrator and Blender

Ingredients

• 2 ½ pounds of a combination of shredded daikon radish and broccoli stems
• 1 medium onion
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) tahini
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional)
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Shred daikon and broccoli stems and place in a large bowl.
2. Shred or thinly slice the onion and add to bowl with the daikon and broccoli.
3. Blend the tahini, pepper and salt and add to bowl with vegetables. Mix well with your hands.
4. Brush with a thin film of olive oil, if desired.
5. Form into patties and place on the mesh tray of your dehydrator. Dehydrate overnight, up to 12 hours.

Serve with apple sauce or  nut sour “cream”

Shared with love from Dr. Ritamarie’s Healthy Holiday Traditions: Nourishing Recipes for Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Celebrations.

Enjoy, and have a happy healthy holiday.

Love, Health and Joy

Dr. Ritamarie

P.S.  Even if you’re not Jewish, the latkes are worth making.  Everyone loves them.

http://www.DrRitamarie.com/WinterHolidays