Chef's Knifes - Which ones make the cut? + Best Article on Technique

Recently I was contacted by Lauren Riebs of Reviews.com.  The site featured a review of chef's knives which is right on point with me!  

For anyone who cooks, knives are one of the most important basic tools that can make the biggest difference in the kitchen.  This review is so comprehensive, detailed and thorough, I knew I wanted to post it here as a most helpful guide.

So check it out!  CLICK HERE FOR THE REVIEW

TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER HERE ARE TIPS ON TECHNIQUE FROM A PRO…

After you have your knives selected, technique is everything. When Jess Miller of Jen Reviews sent me the link to the article on their site about knife skills, I knew I just had to add it to this posting.

How to Improve Your Knife Skills in the Kitchen is written by accomplished chef Paul Melton. This most informative article details out what you need to cut like a pro!

So check it out and get chopping!

Plant Based Reset with 5 day Juice/Smoothie Fast

Plant Based Reset with 5 Day Juice/Smoothie Fast

• What's in it?

This is a 5 week on-line course with a private Facebook Group.  There are weekly meal plans (recipes included), instructions and inspiration.  Week 2 includes a 5 day juice/smoothie fast!

• Where did I find it?

Clean Food Dirty Girl, Plant Based Reset 2017

• Why do I like it?

I have tried juice fasts where you buy 3 days worth of juice and they were so awful, I had to stop after the first day!  

This time around was great for the following reasons:

I had already found this site and was subscribing to their weekly meal plans.

I have been eating vegan for 3 years so no need to wean off meat/dairy.

The week before I cut all sugar and junk/snacking foods.

The online community was fantastic!

The worksheets/weekly online seminars/support was great.

They give you a few juice and smoothie recipes and encourage you to experiment and create  your own.  This is so much better than buying juice that might have ingredients that you don't like in them.

Making the juice fresh at home from organic ingredients tastes so much better than store bought juice.

• Want to try it?  Click here.  This reset is held annually so check the site for the next date it will be offered.

• Want to make some of the juices and smoothies pictured above?  Go to the juice + smoothies tab inside the recipe collection on my blog, or click here.

 

Toolbox Filled with My Favorite Kitchen Tools for a Bridal Shower Gift!

Toolbox filled with my favorite kitchen tools!

I wanted to give my niece something truly special for her bridal shower. When she was younger, she would come over to visit me with her other cousins and we would always cook something.

My idea was to create a tool kit with all of my favorite kitchen tools so she could get her kitchen stocked with everything she would need!

I purchased the wooden tool box at Orchard Supply Hardware.

 

Here is a list of the tools -

Tovolo mini spatulas - Tovolo Spatulart Mr. and Mrs. Love Mini Spatulas - Set of 2

Lemon Squeezer - Premium Lemon Squeezer and Citrus Juicer - KitchenInstrument Brand

Mini Strainer - OXO Good Grips 3-Inch Mini Strainer

Silicone Pastry Brush -OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush - Small

Microplane Zester - Microplane 40020 Classic Zester/Grater

Measuring Spoons - NEESHOW Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons, Set of 6 for Measuring Dry and Liquid Ingredients

Cut Resistant Gloves - G & F CUTShield Classic Kitchen Cut & Slash Resistant Gloves, Food Contact Safe, Grey, Size Large

Can Opener - OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener with Lid Catch

Herb Scissors - RSVP Herb Scissors

Vegetable Peeler - Rösle 12735 Crosswise Swivel Peeler

Measuring Cups - Measuring Cups 7 Piece with New 1/8 cup (Coffee Scoop) by KitchenMade-Stainless Steel-Nesting set.

Banana Slicer - Banana Slicer-perfect for fruit salads

Salad Chopper - Trudeau Toss and Chop Salad Tongs

Spoon Shaped Spatula - Dreamfarm Supoon Mini Scraping Spoon, Fire Truck

Lemon Zester - OXO Good Grips Lemon Zester with Channel Knife

Kitchen Scissors - OXO Good Grips Flexible Kitchen and Herb Snips, Green

Grapefruit Knife - Tablecraft Firm Grip Grapefruit Knife

Whisk - Philonext Stainless Steel Kitchen Whisk, Balloon Wire Whisk, Egg Frother, Milk Beater, Kitchen Utensil for Blending...

The Spatula Series - What could be better than happy kitchen tools!

For us washing the dishes is a chore.  For them it's a spa treatment!

Foolproofing a gf brownie recipe made with nut butter and banana.  Hope to be smiling when they are done!

Don't know who is happier about this artichoke spinach dip - me or my spatula!

Foolproofing another recipe.  Just me and my spatula.

Making raw cacao chocolates with homemade organic almond butter on Vday.  The spatulas had a double date.

Look who has a new BFF!

Breaking down a butternut squash.  Of course my spatula needs to get in on the action.

Getting lost in the sauce...

Organic popcorn with pink salt and nutritional yeast and a smiling spatula, of course.

Drawer full of spatulas.  I have a soft spot for smiling objects in my kitchen!

Recipe for a Well Nourished Life

As I present wonderful foods to create on this blog I also want to include a recommendation for part the recipe that helped me become a whole person.  Body, mind and spirit are the essential components that come together to that end.  For the body we have nourishment through foods, creating those foods, exercise and loving connections with others.  For the mind and spirit there are many disciplines. Here is one that made all the difference to me on my journey towards balance and healing.

Since the 2009 I have had been blessed to be able to work with Heather Foxhall, a shamanic healer.  Her therapeutic methods got me through the worst crisis of my life.  I am honored to share a passage from her website outlining her philosophy.  If you are experiencing a healing crisis or looking for a non-traditional method of therapy I highly recommend you contact her for a session or two.

*Please note - I am not being paid for this post, it is a recommendation from my heart.

*   *   *   *   *

Recipe for a Well Nourished Spiritual and Emotional Life -

by Heather Foxhall

Want to go to the next level and nourish not only your body but also your spirit?

Then experience the healing work of Heather Foxhall as she shares –the manna—the spiritual nourishment- that is at the core of both Spiritual and emotional well being.

Using shamanic techniques along with color and sound-Ms. Foxhall has created an energy medicine—a way of directing the manna-- that goes to the core…the heart of energetic/emotional imbalances. These imbalances can be the precursor to illness whether it is emotional, mental and or physical.

Heather’s deep intuitive wisdom and healing gifts have helped multitudes of people from around the globe to breakthrough dis-ease and limitations- and expand into the wholeness of living from the truth and wisdom of their hearts –the manna of life.

Heather Foxhall has had a private intuitive/shamanic healing practice since 1994. She has travelled internationally with a global healing/peace initiative-The Global Wisdom Council-which she found in 1998.

For further information or an appointment email Heather at hfoxhall@gmail.com.

Cold-Brewed Coffee

Cold-Brewed Coffee

• What's in it?

Ground, organic coffee, filtered water

• Where did I find it?

Food 52, How to Make Cold-Brewed Coffee

• Why do I like it?

The flavor is outstanding.  Very intense without being bitter.  It is nice to be able to keep on hand in the fridge when making recipes that call for coffee - you don't have to wait for the coffee to cool before making your recipe.  You can use organic and decaf!

I use this for several recipes, coffee coconut milk ice cream, Paleo coffee ice cream and coffee banana shake.

• What did I change from the original recipe?

I get the coffee at Whole Foods and grind the entire bag there.  Then I measure out 3/4 of coffee already ground.  The original recipe asks for 3/4 whole beans that you grind after measuring.  

• Want the original article? Click here.

• Want the revised (printable) version?  Click here.

want to learn more about coffee?

Click here for a comprehensive article about all things coffee!  Kathy Gallo from DailyCupo has thought of everything you would ever want to know - from the definition of coffee to the types of beans and on to drink recipes, it's all there!

Dr. Oz 3 Day Smoothie Cleanse

Dr. Oz 3 Day Smoothie Cleanse

Want to try a smoothie cleanse?  Check out this one from Dr. Oz.

Click here for the cleanse recipes and directions.

I really like the smoothies in this cleanse.  I have made the breakfast one swapping out frozen peaches for raspberries.  I have also made the dinner smoothie with peach instead of mango. Sometimes I make the breakfast or lunch smoothie for breakfast.

Plant Based Restaurants in LA

Don't want to cook?  Want to find a great plant based restaurant?

If you are in the Los Angeles area, click here to see a list of great options from Timeout.com.

Egg Substitutions for Plant Based Cooking

Want to "veganize" some of your favorite recipes?  Click here to see the No Meat Athlete's handy guide to plant based egg swaps.

From the site No Meat Athlete

How to Clean Your Vitamix

You know how the pitcher of your vitamix can get cloudy.  Check out this article from Well and Good for the best way to get it super clean.

Click here - For full article on how to clean your vitamix from Well and Good.

EWG Guide to Pesticides in Produce

There is so much evidence that organic is better for us and the planet.  I am choosing to buy as much organic as possible.  Even stores like Target, Costco and Smart and Final have begun to carry organic produce and packaged goods.

Want to find out which items are cleanest and which carry the highest reside of pesticides?

Click here for the Environmental Working Group guide to pesticides in produce so you can make the best choices while stocking up your kitchen!