Cosmic Rhino

This is a delicious alternative to regular milk and pretty easy to make.

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup raw almonds
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/3 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1 cup raw oats
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla
• 2 tbsp raw agave nectar (optional)

Instructions

1. Blend almonds, sea salt, coconut and oats to powder.
2. Add vanilla and agave nectar
3. Add a little water to blend.
4. Add more water to make 1/2 gallon of milk (8 cups).
5. Strain through cheese cloth.
6. Lasts about 1 week in the refrigerator.

My friend Jeff, who knows volumes about wine, asked me a very good question - he asked me why I was picky about quality fruits, vegetables, oils, meats, etc., but just drank the wine that was on the shelves at Trader Joes. My excuse was my complete lack of knowledge. His recommendation?  Just go to the stores that carry the quality wine and ask them for help. That’s why they’re there.

Well, I just returned from a fantastic trip to the state of Washington to visit with the family. Oh, if I could cash it all in and help my mom and sister’s family transition their farm to a sustainable one.  You should see the progress they’ve made already. It’s inspiring, to say the least. But alas, I am now back in the city of Long Beach, complete with sirens, crazy people, and piles of work. Boo.

One of the many culinary delights of the trip was the perfect margarita without all the junk most margaritas have. This one is simple but the flavor will knock your socks off. A warning: the lime/agave goodness masks the tequila. They go down WAY too easy.

I have but perhaps one claim to fame and that is my friendship with Floyd, the founder of Big Orange Landmarks (a sweet website dedicated to discovering the historical landmarks of Los Angeles, one by one).

Recently, Floyd got braces and eating solid food has been a struggle, so this smoothie recipe is dedicated to him. May you not go hungry, Floyd!

Ingredients:

• 2 large carrots, washed and chopped into 1″ chunks (for ease of blending) or about 12 baby carrots
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 cup frozen mango chunks

CR Mom wants another smoothie recipe and I must oblige. She’s me mum, after all.

This berry smoothie is a great way to get veggies, especially if the recipients (kids, boyfriends, husbands, little sisters, etc.) do not like veggies. Blueberries, flax seed, kale…you can’t ask for  more super-foods in a smoothie! It tastes good, too.

Ingredients:

• 1 large carrot
• 2-3 leaves of kale (lacinato version shown above). Can also use chard, or even a few heads of broccoli.
• 1 cup cold water or orange juice (OJ works best when you’re trying to mask the flavor, but it does add calories)

A kale smoothie is the perfect solution when you know you simply have not had enough dark leafy greens in your diet and your body is screaming for them. Isn’t it pretty?

Let me start by saying that you’ve got to go into this one thinking of it as medicine, which is precisely the advice my friend Cathy gave me when I tried it the first time. If you are expecting a Berry Pizazz Smoothie at Jamba Juice, it’s not going to work. So try the medicine approach like I did and the truth is I actually like it!

Need a healthier snack for you or your kids? Something other than chips, cookies and soda? Try this one. It’s fast and simple and I’m addicted to these little guys! It’s the perfect snack when you’re on the go. In fact, they were a hit on a recent hike to Mt. Islip which gave us lots of jumping energy at the peak, as you can see.

A warning: They are not necessarily low in calories so don’t go eating them all in one sitting.

Ingredients and Instructions:

In a saucepan, combine:

• 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth works better)