Vol. 3, Issue 56, June 27, 2009
From the Desk of the Diva
 Summer is here and she's been so good to me this week! Spending time with loved ones by the pool, feeling the sun soak into my skin, and losing myself in the tickle of grass between my toes..
These are the moments I long for all winter, and now they're here!
The Raw Mom Summit has been a triumphant success. The positive feedback keeps pouring in and we've still got a lot to go! We've had nearly 7,000 people join us from all over the world. While this feels like a lot to humble divas like us, we know that it's just the beginning. The Evolution of Motherhood has arrived and we're anxious to get the word out there and watch this information transform the lives of others.
In last week's issue, I confessed that I'm in loooove and invited you to add me as your friend on Facebook to sneak a peek at my beloved! Many of you sent in your comments and kind wishes. Thanks! *blush*
One of the things I didn't mention is that Mr. Right is a prosciuto-eating prince! I never could have imagined matching up with someone with such different dietary values, but I admit that it's been fabulous field research for my upcoming book, Raw Mom, Cooked Dad. Shannon Leone and I will be joining forces to bring this masterpiece to the world. I gave a bit of a sneak-preview and mini-rant on the blog and it's worth checking out, for sure!
I know the energy has been heavily maternal with the Raw Mom Summit going on, but those of you who don't resonate with this, will be happy to hear of the other things happening around here.
 Our National birthdays are coming in Canada and the US, and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE from Cooked Food! Sign up before Independence Day and make it official! I love, love, looooove this week's feature article! It admit that it's one of the best I've ever read! If you would like to contribute a feature article, recipe, or helpful tip to our Health in High Heels newsletter, just drop me a line and let me know! It's a great way to show off your stuff and get noticed by your budding diva community! There is a VERY special announcement--a gift to all active members of this community and once you've soaked up this week's issue of Health in High Heels, just click on the present on the bottom of this issue and you'll be able to read all about the special gift that's come to Divaland.
Here's wishing you the kind of weekend that leaves you refreshed, restored and oozing with gratitude for your beautiful life. You deserve all those warm, fuzzy feelings you keep getting, so just soak them up, Si-star!
Love,
Tera
In this week's issue:
Recipe of the Week: Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo's Cheddar Cheese Dip
The Raw Deal: Body Enlightenment System & Clutter Free Combo
Feature Article: Ode to Wheatgrass: The Sweet, Green Grass of Summer, by Michelle Rankin
Marketplace, etc.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall..
Who's the Fairest of Them ALL?
Be Your Most Beautiful!
Recipe of the Week: Creamy Cheddar Dip
This recipe comes to us care of Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo, who has co-created the 6-Week Detox with me. You can learn more about her site here!
Ingredients:
1 large bell pepper
1 cup cashews or macadamia nuts, or half and half soaked 3-4 hours
(1/4 cup pine nuts and ¼ cup Brazil nuts can be substituted for cashews )
Juice of 1 lime or lemon (about ¼ cup)
1/4 tsp Celtic, Himalayan, or pink salt
Directions:
Cut the bell pepper into small chunks and place in blender. Blend on high speed until the pepper has been liquefied. Place nuts in blender with the pepper and blend until creamy. Add lemon juice and salt to taste. If need be, adjust to desired consistency by adding water to thin or additional nuts to thicken
Variations:
Any nut or seed or even avocado can be substituted for variety. Paprika, cayenne and Chile powder can be added to make a spicy nacho cheese dip.
Declare Your Independence From Cooked Food!
SIGN UP for the Summer Session of The Body Enlightenment System
Before July 4th and Make It Official!
Ode to Wheatgrass: The Sweet, Green Grass of Summer
by Michelle Rankin
 A shot of wheatgrass seemed so... sexy?, alternative?, healthy?, gross?. I'd heard for years about people in big cities with juice bars drinking wheatgrass shots as if it was the finest breakfast tequila, but I had no idea just exactly what wheatgrass could be. Then we moved to a slightly more metropolitan area and I actually saw wheatgrass for sale in my local organic grocer so I bought a little 4inch square pot for $4.00, then realized I didn't have an appropriate juicer. It didn't matter anyway because my cat proceeded to help herself to the entire little square and I discovered it too near her litter box to reclaim. I should have realized at that point that it was exactly the same stuff I bought, called Cat Grass at my local pet store, but we'll get to my realizations about what wheatgrass is a little later.
I needed a new juicer anyway so I bought a sleek little Omega 8005 and vowed to figure out this wheatgrass stuff. Now, I should admit here that I am the daughter of a Montana wheat farmer and it should have dawned on me exactly what wheatgrass was, but in my defense, I was quite young when we moved off the farm. Besides, it sounds so exotic and it is so expensive at the store that I figured it couldn't be all that simple, so I marched back to the store for another $4.00 little square pot. I came home and locked the cats in the basement and got out my kitchen sheers and sent the entire little pot right through the juicer. I ended up with about... a quarter of a shot glass full of bitter tasting juice. It was right then that my dad called and laughed so hard at my purchasing a 4-inch pot of wheatgrass, for four bucks, that he couldn't even explain what was so funny. I decided to do an internet search myself and realized that I could indeed fill an entire shot glass for much less than a quarter (10 cents in raw wheat and 15 cents in organic potting soil). It was then that my own little wheatgrass revolution was born.
So the basics...
Wheatgrass is nothing more than the sprouts of wheat, the first green you see in what will become a golden wheat field. For you Americans, that would be Amber Waves of Grain. Any raw, non-genetically modified grain can be sprouted but I have found wheat to be the tastiest, easiest, and most consistent.
Purchase yourself a couple cups worth of grain at your local co-op or health food store. They'll have it sitting near a grinder for making your own flour. Don't grind it. Take it home and soak about a half-cup in filtered water overnight. Meanwhile, find yourself a fairly shallow container to use for growing. These days, I use those big rectangle shaped organic spinach or mixed green containers, but I started out in a big bonsai pot. Fill your container, to within an inch of the top, with organic potting soil or half garden soil mixed with half compost.
After soaking overnight, drain your grain and spread it evenly on your soil. Try to cover all the soil with grain and attempt to get the layer just one grain deep, and then cover the grain with a light dusting of soil. Water thoroughly but don't drench it. Placing a lid on top will help it sprout faster and will maintain the moisture. Once your sprouts are up, remove the lid and water daily until the second true leaf appears (about 5 days to a week).
Once the second leaf appears (it will be about 3 inches tall), you're ready to juice. Cut it off a little above the base, avoid cutting deep into the white part and don't cut into the grains or soil. Let it grow for a second cutting, then give the remains to your cats and compost when they're done. I start a batch every three days so that I always have some available.
I place my sprouts on my refrigerator, which is indirect light, to keep them away from my cats. You can move it to a windowsill once it has sprouted if you don't have cats or if you don't mind sharing.
FAQs
Two common questions are, does wheatgrass juice contain gluten and what are the little white moldish looking things near the base? Common consensus is that it does not contain gluten as you are not juicing the grain, and the little white stringy looking things are usually roots that have come up the stalk looking for water. Give it a good drink and the roots will dive back underground. You'll have to experiment to find the perfect balance between over and under watering. If you're prone to over watering your houseplants, I recommend that you cut holes in the bottom of your container so excess water can drain out.
You can make growing wheatgrass as simple or as scientific as you want. This article is just intended to be an overview and the ideas expressed here are simply my own. If you encounter problems, a simple internet search will uncover lots of help. Oh, and juice it before it gets too tall or your juice will be as bitter as my first four dollar sip.
But I don't like it...
The benefits of this wonder juice seem to be amazing for most people and although I'm personally a big fan of wheatgrass, I'm also a big fan of common sense. I don't buy the argument that if you have a strong negative reaction to wheatgrass juice, you simply need it even more. If you don't like wheatgrass, if the smell makes you nauseas, if you feel ill when drinking it, don't drink it. Wheatgrass can be a wonderful tool for healing but keep in mind that in nature, we would not have the means to juice it in shot glass quantities. Yes, we have gotten out of touch with our innate sense of choosing healthy and appropriate foods and wheatgrass may be very good for us, but a very strong negative reaction is a loud message from your body that shouldn't be overridden. You can try diluting it with water or adding it to a big mixed vegetable/fruit juice but ultimately, tune into your body and follow your instincts. I recommend continuing on a path toward a high raw green diet and then try wheatgrass juice again a couple months later to see if your reaction has changed.
Wheatgrass juicer options on a budget...
I LOVE my Omega 8005 juicer and it cost just over $220 USD. I personally feel that the Omega line doesn't get quite enough kudos in the raw food community. It is a single auger juicer and handles greens and wheatgrass like a champ by wringing them out so you don't get more foam than juice. It is affordable and cleans up in seconds. Plus, it is fairly compact, comes in white (8003 model) and stainless (8005 model), and it looks nice enough to be left out on the counter. If you already own a juicer not capable of wheatgrass or don't have one at all, you can buy a manual hand crank juicer for about $50. I know of people who have used crank juicers every day for years with no problems at all.
Marketplace
Five Minutes to Fresh, Raw Food!
Can't resist those late night snack sessions? Read THIS!
Raw desserts that will end your cheesecake cravings!
I've got a gift for you!
Click it!
Click it!
Click it!
|