Cashew Milk Coffee Cream

 Cashew Milk Coffee Creamer

Try this plant-based coffee creamer for a creamy alternative to store bought dairy creamer.

Homemade Cashew Milk Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw organic cashews (soaked overnight)
• 4 cups filtered water
• 2-3 Medjool dates (pitted)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Method:

1. Soak cashews for 7 to 12 hours. Filtered water is preferable.
2. Drain and rinse soaked nuts.
3. Blend all the ingredients in a blender or juicer for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the milk is smooth and creamy.
   
   
   
4. Enjoy!
5. Be kind!
6. 
   

Recommended Reading

Miso says "Wake up, it's reading time!" 

I haven't done a Recommended Reading post since May 0f 2022!

Life has been busy and my attention has been scattered.  Now back on the right track, let's get down to business.

Some good news...

Honesty prevails at a Swedish library when it was accidently left open.

Get your swing on at America's largest swing set. open now in Philadelphia.

The world can feel heavy...32 Reasons why everything will be okay

Coming 2024...one love, one message lives on..Bob Marley-One Love

Health

What to eat for a healthy gut...Gut Health Diet

Research has shown that a plant-based diet can help in controlling Parkinson 's Disease

Known as the 3 Sisters these 3 foods consumed in this Costa Rican Blue Zones help residents live to 100.

An Essential Oil Blend to open your sinuses.

The surprising link between hydration and aging.  and the Importance of hydration.

The new rapidly growing trend of Multigenerational Living

Matcha More powerful than regular green tea? YES, yes it is!

Recipes

Coconut Crusted Tofu served over your choice of grain, by The Narddog Cooks, this is not the Andy from "The Office", but his name is Andy Bernard! For relaxing and great vegan recipes check him out.

Change up your grain intake with a Inca Quinoa Salad.

Today we are having simple "Blackened Tofu Sandwiches"

Press and slice Tofu, melt vegan butter in a skillet over medium heat.  Coat the tofu with "blackened seasoning" cook until blackened on both sides. Serve on bread of your choice with tomatoes, spinach, avocado etc. Easy seasoning mix of: paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper.

Environment

How the Dutch went down the toilet looking for heat. Sewage waste is being seen as a reliable for millions of homes in the Netherlands.

The Worlds largest landfill is now a park in NYC.

If humans went extinct, what would Earth look like one year later?

6 Must-see Environmental Films and TV shows of 2023

Crazy Shit

If you had a choice to receive 1 million dollars in one month or a penny doubled every 30 days which would you choose? It Might Surprise You!

If it isn't the Otters who take over the world, A group of Orca's originating from one "Grandmother" are doing their best to get revenge.

This can only happen in Florida.

This isn't really crazy shit, but interesting. Are you a miracle?

That's all for now!

 

Be kind!

Judd

Re-purpose Your Coffee Grounds

Re-purpose Your Coffee Grounds 

We are a coffee loving family!  We mostly have used a single-serve coffee machine over the years.  On occasion we used a French Press or a pour over for something different. The issue is, for the best tasting coffee a French Press can't be beat.  We recently purchased  a Smeg Kettle and a French Press. While it takes a little longer to brew than a K-cup, the wait is worth it. The flavor of the brew is phenomenal and so much more rewarding.

But wait, what do we do with the coffee grounds? We can just throw away the used K-cup, but it ends up in the landfill.  Rather than just dumping the grounds into the trash where they also end up in the landfill or down your kitchen drain which can cause plumbing issues, there are better ways to dispose of them. 

  A couple of ways to re-purpose your grounds are:

*  Turn them into a healthy and earth conscious fertilizer.  This will improve the ability of the plants to retain nutrients and supply additional nitrogen for improved growth. You can also spread them on your lawn or throw them in your compost pile if you are lucky enough to have one.

* Homemade hair and face products. A coffee body scrub can exfoliate and stimulate dry skin.

*Deodorize your fridge. Place a bowl of dried coffee grounds to eliminate unwanted odors.

Thank you for reading!

Be kind.

Judd

Soy Curl Chick'n Salad Sandwich

 

Soy Curl Chick'n Salad Sandwich

This has to be the best vegan version of chicken salad that I have had. Some recipes use chickpeas like our Cowabunga sandwich. This one tops them all!

4oz Soy Curls

2 Organic celery stalks

2 tbs fresh or dried Dill

2-3 diced Dill pickles

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup vegan mayo

Black pepper

Salt

Rehydrate the curls in water for 10 minutes, then squeeze out excess water the best you can.

Pulse the Soy Curls in a food processer.

Mix all other ingredients in medium.

 

In medium skillet, sauté' soy curls in 2 tbs olive oil.

Adding 2 tbs. onion powder.

1 tsp. fresh or dried thyme.

1 tsp. celery salt.

1 tsp. Italian seasoning.

1/2 tbs. turmeric.

1 tbs. Nutritional yeast.

When browned add all ingredients into medium bowl.

Serve on whole grain bread or sub roll with sliced tomatoes or 

Avocado Mango Salsa

1 ripe mango

1 ripe Hass avocado

1/2 diced small onion

1/2 tsp. Coriander 

Mix all together to make a delicious salsa

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.

Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land.

There is no other land, there is no other life but this.

Henry David Thoreau

Be kind

Judd

It's About Thyme!

 

It's About Thyme!

Thyme is a herb whose small leaves grow on clusters of thin stems.  Grown primarily as an aromatic culinary herb it forms a mound 6-12" and 6' wide.  Obviously low growing, it prefers dry, sandy and even rocky soils. It prefers full sun, good drainage and is even drought and frost-proof.  This makes it a very easy herb anyone can grow, even inside year -round!  Just remember to keep it trimmed back. Use cuttings of 5-6" for cooking, leaving 5' of growth for good health of the plant. This aromatic woodsy tasting herb is great on many types of fish, in  soups and veggies. 

What you might not have known about thyme is its medicinal uses!

At a time when antibiotics and drugs of synthetic origin weren't being used, thyme was actively being used by traditional healers to treat a variety of ailments- from coughing to nervous disorders!  The many benefits of using thyme are:

*Immunity booster: packed with vitamins and antioxidants, helping to prevent colds, flus and other illness.

*Cough and sore throat remedy: the essential oils help alleviate the cough and sore throats caused by bronchitis, colds and flu.

*Reduces inflammation and speeds healing: thyme has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and antiseptic properties which is why it has been long used for cuts, scrapes and bruises.

3-Ingredient Immunity Tea

This is excellent for a cough or sore throat also!

Take 3 sprigs of fresh thyme in 1 cup boiled water and let steep for 10 minutes.

Strain into a cup, squeezing a half of a lemon and stir in 1 tablespoon of manuka honey or raw local honey.

Sip and enjoy!

Thank you for reading.

Have a great day.

Judd

The Incredible Soy Curls

The Incredible Soy Curl

 

We have been eating plant-based since 2008, and for some unbeknownst reason, have never heard of soy curls!!  In some Whole Foods they offer a vegan General TSO  Chickin' in the prepared foods.  It seems that it is getting harder to find in most of their stores, which is sad, because it is delicious.

Kris and I have tried to replicate it numerous times, but to know avail.

UNTIL NOW!!

I regularly watch a Youtube channel called "The Narddog Cooks" https://www.youtube.com/@thenarddogcooks

No this isn't Andy Barnard from "The Office", but he shares the same name! He introduced us to Soy Curls and it hasn't been the same. Andrew shares some of the easiest and most nutritious recipes, all the while in a most relaxing setting. He is truly the best presenter I have come across.

His Chickin' Noodle Soup is awesome and made with Soy Curls.

Butler Foods is one of the most known producers of Soy Curls. Curls are Non-GMO soy beans, high in protein, fiber and are grown without chemicals and pesticides.

Here's our easy 4 ingredient recipe for General Tso Chickin': 

Pre-soak Dry Soy Curls in filtered water for 10 minutes.

Dry soy curls with a paper towel.

then brown them in a med-heat skillet until curls begin to firm.

Season with Adobo All-purpose seasoning.( we use Goya)

Add 2-3 tbs. of Tamari or Coconut Amino Acids to darken the curls.

Add 2-4 tbs. of Trader Joe's General Tsao stir fry sauce to taste.

Serve over Brown rice, Quinoa or choice of noodles, adding vegetables of your choice.

Hope you enjoy!

Be kind.

Judd

Andrew Bernard | The Nard Dog Cooks@thenarddogcooks