A Giveaway?

Here I am, sitting, half asleep, thinking if I should give something away?  How about a one-week raw food cleanse guide?  

No tricks, no gimmicks. I would give a copy to everyone who leaves a comment. 

What do you, my readers, think? Tell me by leaving a comment under this post.

Spreading Joy and Gladness {Giveway of Raw Dessert ebooks}

I was totally floored by the gesture of a fellow blogger.  Ingram of Raw Epicurean is giving away two of her amazing RAW VEGAN recipe e-books.  I personally jumped on the bandwagon and typed in my comment as quickly as my fingers would move.  Then I was ready to close my browser and head off to bed... but I felt almost guilty for not spreading the love.  Although I posted her giveaway announcement on Twitter and Facebook,  I would be amiss not to let my dear readers know too.  So, I am redeeming myself. 

HURRY UP AND HEAD ON OVER to Raw Epicurean and enter your information and tell Ingram whether you would like one or both of the e-books. I tried her raw cookie recipes before and they are amazing.  Go on, click on the link. You have until tomorrow, November 30th at 11:00 am, Pacific Standard Time to enter.

and 

Happy Holidays!

Spinach/Pomegranate Salad with Cranberry Dressing {Vegan}

Hi, gang!  Hope everyone is doing well and staying well during the onset of the winter season.  If you have not yet read how I stay well and fight flues and colds, you absolutely MUST to protect yourselves. I promise you that what I talk about is tried and true--I just got over a cold in less than 48 hours myself!  YES, you can beat a cold in 2 days NATURALLY!  No fever, coughing, sneezing or a runny nose in under 48 hours, just like I planned! [I did not plan getting sick, of course ;)!]

You can read following articles to learn the trick of the trade: Comfort Food--Vegan Bread Pudding, Staying Well During the Flu and Cold Season and Treating Colds and Flues Naturally. It is certainly not something your doctor will tell you about, but it sure works like a charm every time.

Today, in preparation for a full day and later on teaching a power yoga class I started off my morning with a healing green smoothie and then a vegan bread pudding [you can find recipes for both in yesterday's post: Comfort Food--Vegan Bread Pudding].

For lunch I whipped up a delicious duo: home-made Spaghetti with Chunky Veggies and Spinach/Pomegranate Salad with Cranberry dressing.

Would you like to know HOW to make these?  I bet you would!  Especially the salad :)

So, here we go.

Spaghetti with Chunky Veggies

• 1 bag whole wheat pasta, cooked to your liking

• 1 jar of your favorite organic vegan pasta sauce [I used Eggplant sauce made by Whole Foods in-house brand 365]
• 1/2 large eggplant, cubed into 3/4-1 inch squares
• 1 red bell pepper cubed into 1/2 inch [or smaller] squares
• 1 yellow onion cubed, or cut to your liking
• 2 zucchinis, cubed into 3/4-1 inch squares
• 4 tbs olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3/4-1 tbsp your favorite seasoning [I use Kirkland's organic blend]
• any one of your favorite herb for garnish

1. Pour oil and add remaining ingredients, except for pasta sauce and garnish herb into a frying pan;
2. Turn the stove on HIGH until veggies begin to sizzle, then reduce to medium high
3. Stir once in a while, sauteing for 5-10 mins
4. Add pasta sauce and simmer for 5 minutes
5. Serve on top of prepared pasta, garnishing with cilantro, parsley or dill. 

Spinach/Pomegranate Salad with Cranberry Dressing

Salad Ingredients

• 3 LARGE handful of spinach, washed and chopped
• 1 cup chickpeas
• seeds of 1/2 pomegranate
• 1/2-3/4 cup raisins

Dressing Ingredients

• 3-4 tbsp freshly made cranberry sauce [I make mine with: cranberries, honey and lemon grind]
• 2 tbsp olive oil [optional]
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey

1. Shake all ingredients until well combined
2. Pour over your salad and ENJOY with your freshly made spaghetti!

Have a fantastic day!

Comfort Food: Vegan Bread Pudding

I rarely get sick... ever!  A few weeks ago my husband and I visited his family in NJ and he, as brilliant as he is and as much as I love him, made a fatal mistake right BEFORE the trip--he worked out at a gym and went outside without enough coverage to protect his body, while the temperatures outside were dropping.  So, as you can imagine he got sick... while we were traveling!   No big deal. [right... ;(].  We got him feeling well in only a couple of days.  

You would think that he had learned his lesson!  But NO!  He did the same thing again... right before Thanksgiving!  As a result he came down with a cold.  Now, I have a strong immune system and my diet is impeccable, but when hubster gets sick, no matter what with, he ends up with the worst dry cough.  Both of us were getting little to no sleep because of it, while I was still teaching fitness classes.  And, although I took care of me the best I could, my body could no longer take the abuse and I ended up with his bug--talk about sharing. 

[hubster was cared for by me, so, even in spite of my best practices--no sugars while sick--I got suckered into baking him an apple pie (recipe can be found in the Guilt Free Delicious Vegan Desserts e-book)]

After teaching a power yoga class yesterday morning I got home and still cleaned the house, but then I developed a headache, then the body ache and a fever and then I knew--I am in for a ride. 

Thank God that I have a few tricks up my sleeve (read Staying Well During the Flu and Cold Season and Treating Colds and Flus Naturally).  I was drinking green smoothies, my health elixirs and mixtures and downing oregano oil as if it was my only hope. 

[I normally buy Oreganol's wild Oregano oil, which comes out to a whopping $30+tax for only 1 oz, but this week I lucked out when I stopped by Raisin Rack in Westerville OH and found their in-house brand for HALF the price!  Just imagine my excitement!]

I hate being sick because I despise being slowed down for any reason.  Yesterday, however, I spent most of the day on a couch in front of a TV.  By the end of the day I was too tired of sitting down and too sick of television, so I cleaned the house [again] and then decided to glam myself up for a mini self-portrait session. 

The excitement was short-lived though and I was craving all kind of foods.  Thankfully I was easily satisfied with our Thanksgiving leftovers: potato salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, Asian salad that I make and freshly made cranberry sauce.  I was still trying to behave though--no sugars and lots of green smoothies. 

Today [yes, I know, you get to read my boring sick story ;)] I endured only a couple of hours of hanging out on a couch before I rebelled and started to clean every nook and cranny, then fully unpacked the office, scrubbed every surface, did laundry, made myself a smoothie and lunch, and finally, by 4 pm crashed with 100 F fever.  BUT... I felt better about being productive. 

The appetite was non-existent compared to yesterday, but by evening I was craving comfort food.  So finally, at about 7 pm I succumbed to my internal pressure, pulled out bread stuffing leftovers [I made it with celery and cranberries], mixed it with a bit of barley soup I cooked up yesterday [I know it sounds crazy, but bear with me], added coconut creamer, water, baking soda and flour and baked myself yummy bread pudding.  I initially wanted to make it savory, but hubby, having his sweet tooth as usual, requested sweet bread puddin'.

Let me tell you, folks, it turned out fabulous!

On the first round I topped it with Toffuti's Better Than Cream Cheese, on the second round I splashed it with fresh cranberry sauce and Toffuti's Better Than Sour Cream and... my taste buds were in heaven.  I still wish I made half of it savory, but no deep regrets here.  Leftovers, at times, turn out to taste even better than the original dishes. :)

I have a plan to be fully recovered by tomorrow, in time to teach my 5:30 pm power yoga class, so, more Oregano Oil and more fluids for me, along with me health elixirs.  Here is a recipe of one of my Ninja Smoothies that Kills Flues and Colds on a Fly :)

• 1-2 cups water
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• 1 finger ginger root
• 1 tsp algae
• 1 ripe pear or banana
• 3 large kale leaves

If this does not get you well I am not sure what will :)

Stay well!

Not Missing and Pear/Collard Greens Smoothie

I am not MIA, I promise.  I am still pulling things together from our recent trip to New Jersey/New York.  I am still unpacking and keeping busy with my photography business [and loving it].  I am also teaching five [yes five] Power Yoga classes a week to book [you can find me at Aspen Fitness in Reynoldsburg OH!].  I am still "making house"--unpacking and settling in.  Things look like I might have a few moments this week to do a few posts with some recipes.  So, I will chat with you all SOON! :)

[an image from our trip to NY (Time Square)] 

[a friend of mine and I traveled to an IKEA store in Cincinnati where I bought three gorgeous bookshelves, and they are now almost set up! just a few more boxes to unpack, a couple of pictures/paintings to hang and my office will be officially open for business ;)]

[meanwhile we have been eating fabulously at home... 

...and on the trip in NY]

Enjoy this delicious green smoothie: 

Pear/Collard Greens Smoothie

• 2-3 cups of water or water kefir
• 1/4 cup George's aloe vera [optional]
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1 large ripe pear
• 1 orange, peeled and seeded
• 3-4 large collard greens leaves
• 1 cup cilantro greens
• 1-2 tbsp dulse flakes
• 2 tbsp hemp seeds

The taste is amazing!  Enjoy it and Stay well!

Plant Based {Vegan} Cooking Class in Dublin OH

Mark you calendars, Ohioans!   I will be holding a plant based [vegan] cooking class in 3 weeks in Dublin OH. 

DETAILS

WHEN: November19, 2010; 7-9:30 pm

WHERE: Dublin, OH [exact address will be provided to all registered]

WHAT: You will partake of a 2-course meal*:

1. Ratatouille [no, it is not a dish that was invented for a movie :)].  Learn how to make nutrient and vitamin rich delicious dish that will melt in your mouth.  

2. My Secret Apple Pie!

Refreshments will also be served! I might even teach you how to make rejuvenating, energy boosting Smoothies for the whole family—the kind that will give you a jump start and heal your body at the same time;

All ORGANIC ingredients!

Please notify me if you have any FOOD ALLERGIES!

The class is a perfect excuse to have a DATE night, to hang out with a friend, or just get away by yourself to indulge in a scrumptious meal and learn a few healthful tricks. We will make the meal together, so you can have a hands-on learning experience and know how to do it on your own.  I will also tell you all about the benefits of a plant-based diet, and feed you a 2 course meal!

HOW: You can register on-line or in person [contact me for the second method}

COST: $35 per person. Space is limited to 10 people.

TO REGISTER: If you are viewing this post on EHBH blog you will have an option right under this paragraph to register via PayPal. If you are getting this through RSS feed, click on this link: REGISTER.

$35 per person

That is how simple it is!

SCHOLARSHIPS

A very generous donor wanted to make it possible for 3 people who otherwise could not afford to come to learn life-saving cooking techniques to do just that! 

I am offering 3 partial scholarships:

• Two scholarships--$25 each
• One scholarship--$30

To apply for scholarships, please e-mail me directly.

I hope to see you there!

Coconut Bliss Ice Cream Winner & Rainbow Chard Green Smoothie

Mr. Random.org helped me to make the decision :)  There were 24 entries for the drawing... and the winner is:

#22 entry was from Melanie Swan

Melanie, shoot me an e-mail with your address and I will send you a coupon for a box of Coconut Bliss bars :)  You will just have to come back and tell us what you got and how you liked it :)  Congratulations!

For the rest, thank you for your entries :)  I hope to make it up to you with this refreshing Green Smoothie recipe:

Rainbow Chard Green Smoothie

• 2 cups water or water kefir
• 1 large Fuji apple, cored
• 2-3 very large rainbow chard leaves
• 2 inch long ginger root, peeled
• 1 tbs maca root powder

The smoothie, because of ginger in it, has a little kick to it, so it's not for the faint of heart :)

Good day to all!

Power Yoga Classes in Reynoldsburg OH & Other Things

Power Yoga Classes

BIG Announcement first :)

It's on! My training schedule at the new facility is official. Anyone on Columbus metro area with membership at Aspen Fitness will have access to my classes.

As of next week [starting 11/15]I will be teaching Power Yoga at the Reynoldsburg OH location of Aspen Fitness.  Make sure to come out to one or all of these classes:

Monday: 5:30 pm

Tuesday: 11 am and 5:30 pm

Thursday: 5:30 pm

Saturday: 9:30 am

You will discover and train muscles you did not know you had, meanwhile becoming more flexible and toned.

Power Yoga classes are very upbeat, encompassing cardio, flexibility and strength training. It is also great for weight loss!

So, mark your calendars and make sure to come out starting 11/15/10 to Aspen Fitness off 7064 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-2010.  Come yourself and tell others!

The membership fees are only $10-19 per month [depending what you choose]!  It's a brand new facility and classes are included at no additional charge!

Feel free to contact me for any details.

__________________________________________________________

Unpacking and What I learned About Myself

So, we ditched our new/old place that we moved to when we came to Ohio.  It simply did not sit well with us and was not US...  We love feeling comfy and cozy and we love to entertain, but the place where we were was anything but conducive to that. So... we bit the bullet, paid our dues and moved out to a better place in Dublin OH.  

The move was anything short of crazy.  We moved to a place on a third floor :(, AND I booked a photo session for the same day.  No, it was not intended, but just happened that way.

Thankfully we had a couple of friends help us move.  The stairs, though, killed us all. 

I was determined, however, that we would have as much unpacking done as possible the first day [by we I mean me, because hubster had to work].  So, the day after I had the bedroom unpacked and set up, kitchen almost unpacked and living room... almost set up. 

 

I even cleared enough space to work out

My office is still all in boxes [what you see is books for the most part--a real chore to get to the 3rd floor!]

So, what have I learned?  Don't more to the third floor--hire movers, and don't try to be a superwoman--scheduling a session and a move on the same day is pretty much madness. 

As of today I made more progress--the living room is starting to look lovely. I just need to hang pictures and curtains.  I also ordered a brand new desk for my office and will go shopping for bookshelves next week [can't wait!].

All the while, though, we still enjoyed our delicious vegan foods: green smoothies, veggie wraps, vegan whole wheat pizza, brown rice and beans:

I hear that brown rice and bean combo is referred to as poor man's meat, because it is packed with protein, but I can tell you that it is so much better and leaves you feeling great, as opposed to going into a food induces coma. 

Today's Green Smoothie was fantastic!

Dandelion Green Smoothie

• 3 cups water
• 1/4 cup George's Aloe Vera
• 1 large bunch dandelion greens
• 2 bananas
• 2 oranges
• 1 fuji apple
• 2 tbs dulse flakes
• 2 tbs flax seeds
• 2 tbs raw cacao nibs

It was a great pre- and post- workout meal. 

__________________________________________________________ 

Vegan Cooking Class in Dublin OH & Coconut Bliss Giveaway

If you are in/around Columbus OH metro area, don't forget to sign up for a plant based cooking class, which will take place next Friday, 11/19 at 7 pm.  Only 5 spots are left.  Check out details here. 

Also, don't forget to enter a vegan ice cream giveaway, which ends tomorrow!

Until next time: Stay Well!

Coconut Bliss Vegan Ice Cream Giveaway

'Tis time to celebrate, folks!  This is my 401st post!  I cannot believe that I have been blogging this long, but... I have. 

To commemorate such a monumental occasion I decided to host a giveaway.  One that is SOOO sweet even I have a hard time to let go of the prize.  

I am naturally not a sweets person, but when I stumbled upon Coconut Bliss Dark Chocolate ice cream by mistake a couple of years ago I got HOOKED!  To this day, now matter what other ice creams I have tried, this one is still by far my favorite ice cream.  My hubby, who was previously hooked on a different brand of ice cream, had also found a favorite flavor in Coconut Bliss offerings--the Cappuccino flavor. 

We both have done pretty crazy things in the past for CB ice cream.  We had our ice cream war between evil and good ice creams :)

and

I had gone so far as to rock a CB t-shirt that happened to be a size too small for me :( :

And I even scored a Coconut Bliss tote... that traveled all the way to AZ with us on our vacation this year... 

OK, go ahead and say it--I am nuts for this ice cream!

Recently Luna and Larry's brand came out with yet a different way to make this ice cream enticing--they now shape the same wonderful ice cream into bars!  They were kind enough to send us a couple of coupons--one we redeemed for a box of dark chocolate flavored ice cream and shared it with our Biggest Winner Challenge participants, who loved it also, and one I am going to GIVE AWAY [just hear my heart crying now...]. 

TO ENTER:

Mandatory entries:

1. Subscribe to the Newsletter and then leave a comment telling me you did it;
2. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite vegan ice cream is and why you would like to win this giveaway;

BONUS ENTRIES:

To increase your chances of winning--since I am thinking about using mr. random.org to help me pick a winner, you can do as many of the following as you would like: 

1. Blog about this giveaway [if you have a blog], linking to this post, then come back and leave a link to your post;
2. Twit about this giveaway, linking to this post; then come back, leave a comment with a link to your post;
3. Post about this giveaway on your Facebook status, linking to this post, then come back, leave a comment with a link to your post.

You can twitter or facebook about this giveaway once a day each day until the day of the drawing and get additional entries for that.  You just have to remember to come back and link to your post every time you do it.

The drawing is open to US residents only [sorry, I don't want to pay for out of the country mailing].  The winner will receive a coupon by mail from me, and will be able to redeem it at any store that carries Coconut Bliss bars. 

The drawing will be open until November 10th, 12 pm EST.

Winner will be notified through a post and e-mail [so make sure to enter your e-mail when you are leaving a comment] and will have 48 hrs to respond. 

Best of luck!