Vegan Zoodles, Pesto & Sun Dried Tomatoes

4 Comments November 14, 2014 DrD4Health

Have you had one of those days when you just throw something together and it turns out so Yummy & Deelicious?!?

Well this Raw Zoodle Dish is definitely a crowd and tummy pleaser!

Easy + Yummy + Guilt free = Winner!

First buy some sort of Noodle maker… They are all only about $20 dollars. I suggest the Spiralizer over other brands (research & personal experience)…

Either that, or use a ceramic peeler to create shavings. The texture is much better with the spiralizer… but anything works!

Homemade Zoodle Pesto:

1 bunch of Basil or Cilantro;
1/3 cup of pine nuts;
2/3 cup of Raw Coconut Oil;
5 cloves of Garlic;
Sea Salt to taste;
Pepper to taste;

Place all ingredients in a food processor or high speed blender until you have the consistency you desire!

Toss & drizzle Pesto on top of Zoodles, thrown on some Sun dried Tomatoes and Voila!

You are going to be licking your plate!!! It’s so Yummy Yummy Baby! 😋😋😋.

Stay Healthy & Happy ~ Dr. Dee

Dr. Dee

Super Moist Vegan Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake: Healing Benefits of Raspberries

9 Comments October 28, 2014 DrD4Health

When things in life look really really bad… it’s time to get to work!

Did you know that when Ludwig van Beethoven discovered he was going deaf at age 26, he didn’t give up composing his music? Beethoven started working more diligently and told people he knew there was work he was born to complete…

When our newborn son was diagnosed with H-Pylori, a bacterial infection of the stomach, we were told there was nothing we could do but give him antibiotics and synthetic medications that would cause all sorts of horrible side effects and probably not cure his infection. So our choices were to give up or be inspired by Beethoven!

Helicobacter pylori or H pylori is a bacteria that causes peptic and duodenal ulcers and many other types of stomach inflammations that cause burning, pain, nausea, bloating and extreme distress. In some people, some strains of the bacteria do not cause any symptoms, while other strains develop life threatening conditions like stomach cancer.

Inspired by Beethoven, instead of believing there was nothing I could do, I went straight to work and was more determined to find some relief for our 8 month old infant. I started researching what people around the world were doing to naturally cure H-Pylori.

This mom on a mission discovered so much more about fruits which have strong antibacterial qualities and are potent in treating Helicobacter pylori and many diseases. Fruits heal because they are also rich in phytonutrients which are antibacterial, anti carcinogenic, and antiviral in nature.

In addition, I discovered there are many other natural powerhouses that can help slow down the growth and pain associated with the ulcers and bacteria, which gives the gut a chance to heal. Some of these natural remedies are: Tumeric, Garlic, Apple Cider Vinegar, Fresh Wasabi, Baking Soda, Broccoli Sprouts, Mastic gum and of course, Raspberries. Luckily, Bodhi’s favorite remedy is Raspberry.

Raspberries are considered a Super-Fruit and really carry a lot of healing power in every little berry.

Tests conducted at the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina have revealed that the human body benefits from raspberries in so many ways.

The Medical Benefits of Raspberries:

Raspberries have Ellagic acid, an anti-inflammatory, kills Cancer cells & kills H-Pylori Bacteria.
Raspberries do not have any fat, saturated fat, sodium or cholesterol.
They are high in Fiber, Vitamin C, potassium and folate.
Raspberries contain antioxidants such as Quercetin & Gallic acid.
Gallic acid fights against cancer, heart and circulatory disease and age.
They are also high in polyphenolic compounds which also fight cancer.
The Anthocyanins in raspberries are antioxidants that protect against heart disease & mental decline.
The oil from raspberry seeds is rich in Vitamin E & Omega-3 fatty acids.

Raspberries can be eaten any way you like: fresh, frozen, cooked or preserved, the ellagic acid remains intact even after cooking or preservation. Make sure that you have a continuous supply of ellagic acid in your diet to prevent the recurrence of the H-Pylori condition, which is very common.

When Beethoven lost the majority of his hearing and his greatest love… he composed Immortal Beloved, When life handed me tart raspberries… I made Sweet Raspberry Cake! 🙂

Today, I’m sharing a recipe for Raspberry Pumpkin Cake… a Yummy Yummy dessert that is so soft and moist, it’s filled with healing raspberries, and is just one big tasty holiday party in your mouth! This cake has all of your favorite holiday spices, but with a frosting that has a twist!

Yes, there is sugar, but it is super Moist, Vegan and Gluten Free! Shhh your guests and family will never ever know!

Vegan & Gluten Free Raspberry Pumpkin Spice Cake:

Cake Ingredients:

3/4 Cup homemade pumpkin puree
1/8 teaspoon of Fresh Ginger Shavings
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/3 Cup Coconut Oil, melted.
1/4 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk, room temp (or coconut, rice milk)
2 Tablespoons Coconut Nectar (or Molasses, Agave)
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 teaspoon of All Spice
3/4 teaspoon of Ground Cloves
1/2 teaspoon of Ground Nutmeg
1 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons Gluten-Free All-purpose Flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
pinch of Sea Salt (optional)

Instructions for Cake:

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 3 medium ramekins with cooking spray.
Wash your sugar pumpkin and clean it inside and out.
Dry pumpkin, cut a round cap, then cut pumpkin into slices & squares.
Remove pumpkin skin, then boil Pumpkin Meat squares until soft.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients, whisk to combine.
In a separate bowl, combine room temp milk & melted coconut oil.
Once Meat is boiled, place in a high speed blender with Ginger, blend.
Now add all the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well.
Evenly pour the batter into each prepared ramekin.
Bake about 28-30 minutes, until center is set & toothpick comes clean.
Allow cake to cool in ramekin, on top of a wire rack, for at least 30 minutes before placing on the rack to finish cooling completely. While cake cools, make the frosting.

Frosting

1/4 Cup softened Coconut Butter (or butter of choice)
2 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
3-4 Tablespoons of Coconut Milk (or milk of choice)
In a large mixing bowl, combine vegan butter, 2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 3 tablespoons Vegan milk of choice, and beat with an electric mixer on medium high speed until smooth. If needed, drizzle in more milk until desired frosting consistency is reached. If frosting is too loose, add a bit more confectioners’ sugar or milk until you have desired consistency.

Raspberry Garnish

3 packages of Raspberries
Set 1/3 of the raspberries aside to garnish the cake.
Using a small knife, split the remaining raspberries down the middle so they can be opened flat.
Put one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with one third of the frosting and add one half of the split berries.
Add a second layer and repeat with another third of the frosting and the remaining split raspberries.
Top with the last layer of cake and remaining frosting, garnish top with the remaining raspberries.

Oh your house is going to be filled with the aroma of the holiday spirit! This will be an absolute hit with all your family and guests! Looking forward to hearing how much you loved this Yummy Yummy treat!

Stay healthy & happy ~ Dr. Dee

Edible Dragon Fruit finger paint! Healthy Snack turns into homemade fun! Vegan, GMO & Gluten free.

Link 1 Comment October 16, 2014 DrD4Health

Dragon Fruit Finger-Paint: Healthy & Loads of Homemade Fun!

So I’m working on a snack for my lil one – I turn around for one second and this is how Dragon Fruit Finger-Paint was born!

Finger painting is a great activity to do with your toddlers- but we all know lil ones love putting things in their mouth, so its tough on kids who are gmo-free, gluten free and vegan!

No worries – here are our some easy breezy instructions to make your own Edible, Safe, Homemade version of finger-paint with some ingredients you may already have at home!

The added bonus is that while you are having your healthy snack, you can explain that this is how paint was made a long long time ago… Fruits, flowers, herbs – all Nature!

Dragon Fruit Paint Ingredients:

– Ripe Red Dragon Fruit

– Glutenfree Flour

– GMO free Sugar

– GMO free Salt

– Spring Water

– BPA Free Cups

Dragon Fruit Paint Instructions:

– Add 2 Tbsp of Sugar into a sauce pan.
– Add 1 tsp of Salt into it.
– Next add 1/3 cup of flour to the pan.

– Mix with 2 cups of spring water and whisk well until it is very smooth. Turn on low heat and stir continually until the mixture thickens.

– Carefully pour mixture into the plastic cups equally.

– You will need one cup for every color of paint you’d like to make…

* Hot Pink – Red Dragon Fruit
* Purple – Blueberries (heated)
* Gold – Tumeric or Cumin

*My toddler had a great time using only one color, but have at it!

– Mix in about 17-26 drops of Ripe Dragon Fuit juice and stir until completely dissolved!

– Allow the paint to cool completely before allowing your little toddler to stick their fingers in and get really Hot Pink & Silly!

So why Dragon Fruit?
It’s filled with Vitamin C and Vitamin Bs all while improving your immune system and lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure! Dragon Fruit, also known as “Pitahaya” or “Pitaya” is also low in fat and full of fiber – so it’s healthy & beautiful!
Dragon Fruit is also a good natural source of anti-oxidants which help to prevent the dangers of free radicals in our body! The number, quantity, and variety of antioxidants in real food like this is unmatched – so go for it!

Send me some pictures… I’m looking forward to seeing the yummy yummy baby magic you create with the lil one in your life!
Wishing you health & happiness
~ Dr. Dee

Raw Vegan Southwest Zucchini Lasagna

23 Comments September 29, 2014 DrD4Health

Cumin, cumin, cumin…

There are some things I miss about Texas, such as, friendly drivers, everbody loving the same team, all of my childhood friends and the taste of Cumin! My momma was always adding Cumin to everything! I just love the smell and taste of it!
Tex-Mex food is just different than Southern Californian Cuisine. Oh don’t get me wrong- I do love the flavors out here… but nothing says home like Southern-Tex-Mex food with Cumin!

Why Cumin? It appears Cumin has been used by thousands of years by the Egyptians, Indians and the Native Americans…

Cumin seeds contain numerous phyto-chemicals that are known to have antioxidant and anti-flatulent properties. The seeds are also an excellent source of dietary fiber.

The active ingredients in Cumin are known to improve gut motility and be a digestive aide by augmenting gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions.

A study on rats by researchers at Mysore University, published in the “Indian Journal of Medical Research” in 2004, found cumin useful for both dyspepsia and diarrhea which are prevalent in Celiacs. Cumin appears to stimulate the liver to secrete more bile, which aids in the breakdown of fats and the absorption of nutrients, leading to healthier digestion. In the study, cumin increased bile secretion in the rats by 71 percent.

Cumin Essential Oil is also of great benefit! Cumin oil is a bactericidal, carminative, digestive, diuretic, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, detoxifier, emenagogue, stimulant, nervine, and tonic substance.

This Golden Spice is an excellent source of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Copper is required in the production of red blood cells. Iron is required for red blood cell formation. Zinc is a co-factor in enzymes regulating growth, development and sperm generation.

Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps maintain our heart rate and blood pressure. Our body uses Manganese as a co-factor for the powerful anti-oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.

Cumin spice also contains great amounts of B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, vitamin B-6, niacin, riboflavin, and other vitamins like vitamin E, vitamin A and C. There is so much goodness in Cumin, it’s easy to see why it’s been used by various cultures around the world! Oh, how I love learning the healing properties of food!

I want to take this opportunity to remind you that it is very important to know our B-Vitamin Status! Are you experiencing any pain, inflammation, auto-immune issues? Being aware of our homocysteine levels and genetic polymorphisms is very helpful in maintaining long-term health and well being. In the meantime, Cumin is a great way of helping you get some vital nutrients, vitamins and anti-oxidants!

I’m not sure how my mom always made Cumin work into her recipes, but she did! Here is my attempt at channeling her Cumin that always left us Cummin back for more! Mmmm… this lasagna is Yummy Yummy Baby!

Savory Southwest Lasagna Ingredients

3 Zucchinis
Zesty Cumin Marinara (See below)
Cashew Cheese (see below)
1 Tomato, sliced
1/3 Cup of Red Onion, sliced
1/3 cup Black Olives, sliced & pitted
1/3 Cup Sun Dried Tomatoes
Fresh Oregano
Cumin

Instructions for Lasagna

To make Zucchini Strips, use a Mandoline slicer or a large ceramic peeler for long thin slices.
In a 9 X 13 baking dish, create layers with Zucchini ribbons on the bottom (as if pasta layers).
Next, gently slather the Cashew Cheese on Zucchini, then spread 1/2 the diced tomatoes, 1/2 sliced Red Onions.
Next pour & spread 1/2 the Marinara, then sprinkle 1/2 the black olives over Marinara, then Oregano leaves.
Create your second layer by repeating the exact same steps.

Zesty Cumin Marinara

3 Medium Tomatoes (about 3 cups chopped)
1 1/2 Cloves Garlic
3/4 Cup Fresh Basil leaves
1/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 Juice Lemon (fresh)
1/2 Juice Lime (fresh)
2 teaspoons Pitted Medjool Dates
1 teaspoon Oregano
1 teaspoon Rosemary
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
5 Tablespoons Sun-Dried Tomatoes
1/8 teaspoon of Cumin

Instructions for Zesty Cumin Marinara

Put all of the ingredients inside a food processor, EXCEPT the sun-dried tomatoes. Once the mixture is smooth, slowly add the sun-dried tomatoes until you see that it is thickened and not too runny.

Ingredients for Cashew Cheese

3 Cups of Soaked Cashew Nuts
Juice of 1 Lime
Juice of 1 Lemon
3 Cloves of Garlic
3/4 Cup of Basil leaves
1 teaspoon of Sea Salt
1 Cup of Spring Water

Instructions for Garlic Cashew Cheese:

Place all ingredients in the Food Processor, but slowly add in the water until you see that it is a smooth and creamy texture.
This cheese can be used for so many different things, including wraps and vegetable dip to name a few.

First Layer

Second Layer

I’m looking forward to hearing about your South-Western Italian Night!

Stay Blessed! Dr. Dee

Tasty Tomato Tidbits-Coconut Vegan-Veggie Wrap

10 Comments September 18, 2014 DrD4Health

Aloha everyone! Yes, many of us love tomatoes… but do we all know exactly why they can be good for us? Tomatoes are oh so tasty, but better yet, they contain very powerful healing agents that are Scientifically proven! Today I am sharing why Organic Tomatoes are such a big party of our family’s diet.

Organic Tomato Health Facts:

FOR MEN:

Medical research revealed that Lycopene is the only nutrient that turned out to have SIGNIFICANT preventative value against Prostate Cancer. Due to the high lycopene content in tomatoes, eating Organic Tomatoes in any of it’s various forms more than 2 times a week, can help reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer by 21-43%.

Cooking Organic Tomatoes in oil encourages intestinal absorption and results in a two-to-threefold rise in plasma lycopene concentrations. We cook our tomatoes in Coconut Oil because of it’s other healing properties.

FOR WOMEN:

Lycopene helps women guard against cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, (CIN), tumorous tissue growth in the cervix.
Lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of the growth of breast, endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) and lung cancer cells.

FOR MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN:

Organic Tomatoes are good for the eyes.

Lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in the blood serum, was found to be the key antioxidant that guards against ARMD ( Age-Related Macular Degeneration), a condition that may cause blindness.

Tomatoes are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium.

Lycopene is an inhibitor to heart disease.

Organic Tomatoes are perfectly safe and healthy to eat, Tomato leaves are actually toxic.

NaturalNews.Com reported that foods rich in cooked tomatoes may boost your body’s ability to ward off skin damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and stave off the effects of aging, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Newcastle, England, and presented to the British Society for Investigative Dermatology.

After three months of eating Organic Tomato Paste, researchers analyzed skin samples from 20 participants and found that volunteers who had eaten the tomatoes exhibited 33 percent more protection against sunburn than those who had taken olive oil alone. They also had higher levels of procollagen, a protein that plays a crucial role in preserving skin structure.

The scientists believe that lycopene neutralizes free radicals that are formed when UV radiation strikes the skin. These free radicals have been linked to cancer and the effects of aging.

The best part of all these studies were the results that demonstrated it did not matter in what form we ate the Tomato, it only mattered that we ate Organic Tomato. The health benefits included, Organic Tomatoes, Organic Tomato Sauce, Organic Tamato Paste and Organic Ketchup. So here I’m including a quick recipe that includes tomatoes. This is one of the recipes that proves Fast Food doesn’t have to be junk food to be Yummy Yummy Baby!

COCONUT VEGGIE WRAP

Coconut Veggie Wrap

Recipe:

Coconut Paleo Sheet, Fresh Tomato Chunks, Fresh Zucchini Shavings, Fresh Coconut Slices, Fresh Carrot Shavings, Fresh Cilantro, Fresh Mixed Greens.

Sauce: Vegenaise, Apple Cider Vinegar, Mustard, Honey, Salt, Pepper (all measurements to your taste)

Fun Fact:

Tomato is a fruit. The confusion arose after the 1890s when the US supreme court named Tomato a Vegetable for taxation purposes. A fruit is the edible part of the plant containing seeds, a vegetable is stem, leaf or root.

Sending you Love & Light, Dr. Dee 😉

References:

Giovannucci, Edward et al., “Intake of Carotenoids and Retinol in Relation to Risk of prostate Cancer,” Journal of the National Cancer Miracle Nutrient That Can Prevent Aging, Heart Diseaseand Cancer,” Advanced Research Press, Inc. 1999. Hauppauge, N.Y.

Tomato Research Council, Article, “Lycopene in the American Diet,” Undated

Hanley, Daniel Q., “Tomatoes, Oranges, Pasta and Soybeans Studied as Cancer fighters,” AP, April 14, 1997

Kumpulainen, Jorma T. et al, “Natural Antioxidants and Food Quality in Atherosclerosis and Cancer Prevention,” Royal Society of Chemistry Information Services and Scheer, James F., “Tomato Power! Lycopene: The Miracle Nutrient That Can Prevent Aging, Heart Disease and Cancer,” Advanced Research Press, Inc. 1999. Hauppauge, N.Y.

Meres-Perlman, Julie A., Ph.D., “Serum Antioxidants and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Population-Based Case-Control Study,” Archives Ophthalmology, December, 1995, Vol. 113:1518-1523.

Aviram, Michael, Ph.D., “Lycopene and Antherosclerosis,” A publication of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Scheer, James F., “Tomato Power! Lycopene: The Miracle Nutrient That Can Prevent Aging, Heart Disease and Cancer,” Advanced Research Press, Inc. 1999. Hauppauge, N.Y.

Journal reference: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/jf0401540)