Guest Post: Wheatgrass Juice Without A Juicer

I am so excited to have Jacqueline guest posting today. Jacqueline is one of my former students and through the wonders of social media, I have been fortunate enough to stay in contact with her. I have been thrilled to follow along as she has discovered more natural remedies and developed a passion for all that is healthy, holistic and good for the body, mind, soul and earth. She recently posted about making wheat grass juice without a juice. My head nearly exploded from the wisdom she dropped and I was super stoked to try!

I am a huge wheat grass juice fan and feel a wonderful energetic lift from a shot. A wheat grass shot has normally been an extravagant treat, when I was at a juice bar or natural foods market. Knowing I can have this delicious and healthy treat more accessibly has made me down right giddy. I will let Jacqueline take it from here and share how to easily make this shot of wellness, anytime of day.

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Greetings! I’d like to firstly thank Angie, for allowing me to be apart of her blog and share with you all something I am very passionate about. My name is Jacqueline and I love learning and practicing with herbs, oils and all remedies that come from our mother earth!

Nature has everything living beings need to be healthy! I have recently been learning about all the incredible benefits of wheatgrass and the purist form to ingest it. Making wheatgrass juice is the best way to receive all of the nutrients it has to offer. Before researching different methods for making it, I would drink it from local juice bars or just blend it up in my blender. With further research, I found out that blending strips away most of its benefits and juicing is good but most places cut the blades from its roots way before serving to their costumers. Since wheatgrass is alive it needs to be taken that way in order for you to get the complete benefits, drinking it as soon as possible after it has been cut from its roots is best. After twenty minutes its nutritional value begins to decrease.

Wheat grass is powerful! Here are some benefits…

• Wheatgrass juice contains up to 70% chlorophyll, which is an important blood builder.
• Science has proven that chlorophyll stops growth and development of bad bacteria.
• Chlorophyll is antibacterial and can be used inside and outside the body as a natural remedy.
• Chlorophyll improves blood sugar problems, helps purify the liver and neutralizes toxins.
• Compared to other fruits and vegetables, wheat grass juice is superior as a detoxification agent.
• 2 ounces of wheatgrass juice is nutritionally equivalent to almost 5 pounds of the best organic produce.
• Wheatgrass contains a full spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals

 The purest method to make wheatgrass is with a good ol’ fashion mortar and pestle! I made some the other night and it was really fun and came out absolutely delicious. I’d like to share with you all the steps to making this powerful immune booster! 🙂

 All you will need is a mortar and pestle, water, scissors or a knife, cheese cloth, a cup and living wheatgrass!

 First step, cut enough wheatgrass to fill the bottom of your mortar. In order to grind the blades evenly it’s best to do a little at a time. When finished with the first pour start over again with the same amount of wheatgrass and water.

In a circular motion, grind the blades until they form somewhat of a gunky, shredded paste. Next, add enough water to cover at least ¼ of your mortar. Continue grinding the wheatgrass in the water until they get very light in color and the water is green. Finally cover the top of your cup with a piece of cheese cloth and pour in the juice. When finished gather the ground up blades into the cloth and make it into a little sac to squeeze the rest of the juice. Add a little lemon if you wish and enjoy!!!

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I had to try this for myself, so I got out all my tools and got to grinding.
It was a little more muscle work than I anticipated, but that’s never a bad thing. I was psyched that it worked and I was able to have my very own wheat grass shot, prepared at home! It’s not wrong to serve up wheatgrass shots in my Vegan Beer Fest cup, is it?

Thank-you so much Jacqueline, for sharing the recipe!

Guest Post: Karen from Run Wright

If we are still on schedule, I am wrapping up a fabulous trip in Paris!

Today’s guest post is from Karen at Run Wright. Take it away, Karen!

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Hi. I’m Karen and I’m a runner. I wasn’t always a runner. In fact, when I was a kid, I was diagnosed with a heart murmur and my pediatrician advised my parents that I shouldn’t participate in competitive sports. I wasn’t excused from playing sports in gym but the fear that I might overdo it and cause myself harm might have been enough to dampen any athletic ambitions I had. A few years ago I watched the New York City marathon and declared that I wanted to run it someday too. Lofty goal for someone who hadn’t run more than a few blocks at a time back then, but I started.

Over the course of the past 4 years, I started and stopped and started again. There were times I didn’t have time to run because I got up at 5 to get to work at 7 a.m. and I didn’t get home until it was dark. There were times I felt too fat to workout (contradictory, I know) and there were times I ran a little too fast too soon and injured myself and had to take a few steps back. But I always come back to running.

Over the past 5 years or so, I’ve felt my age creeping upwards and my body doesn’t do all the things it used to when I was in my teens and early twenties, back when I could eat candy and drink soda for breakfast with no repercussions. These days, if I overindulge in a meal, I feel my body lagging so I try to be kind to my body as I ask it to perform.

And I’m not through making performance requests. This year, I am planning to achieve my goal of running in the NYC marathon. I have a spot with a charity so I can raise funds for cancer research as I run to the finish line. But even with a marathon goal in mind, I am just enjoying the ability to run.

In April, I did a modified running streak where I ran 6 days and rested 1 day and after about 3 weeks, I felt the wear on my body like I was always running on tired legs. They says that’s supposed to be good for marathon training but it didn’t feel good at the time. Since completing the streak, I decided to take some time to just readjust and run when I want to, for as long as I want to. And it’s proven to be the best decision ever.

Yesterday, I ran 4.59 miles without planning to, just because it felt awesome to hear my running shoes pounding the pavement, feel my diaphragm expand and contract as I concentrated on taking deep breaths, feel the sweat bead on my face and neck and trickle down my shirt. Despite all the fancy tech running gear, and wicking shirts that I own, I wore a cotton T-shirt for the run. It was a shirt from the first century bike ride that I won a free entry for but didn’t run – it was the same day of a 10 mile race that I wanted to participate in more and although I regret not being able to do both events, this shirt reminds me of the choice I have to make sometimes in order to run.

Running might not always be convenient. I might have to make a sacrifice in order to run. I might not win medals or even be recognized for my effort. Running might not even help me lose weight because I eat the calories I burn trying to refuel for the next event. Running, itself might be free, but I could blow my budget on cool gear that makes me comfortable. Running requires sacrifice that might never be repaid.

But running is its own reward.

I don’t run because of something that I hope to get from someone else.

I run because a long time ago I couldn’t. And now I can.

Karen is a runner, writer and Engineer who lives in New York City. You can find her running or cycling in Central Park or on her laptop blogging about her latest adventure. 

Guest Post by my Sister Marcella: The Harmonious Relationship Between My Veggie Sisters and I

I should still be in Paris today, hopefully off exploring Versailles. My sister Marcella is the guest blogger today. She is my middle sister and the one who eats meat, but I still love her. I am sure it cannot be easy to try to always accommodate two non-animal eating siblings, but she has been a great sport about it, and is always up to try new foods. I will let her tell you how she does it…

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Hi All!

I’m Marcella, and I’m taking over the show while Angie is in Europe. I’m the middle sister of the Martinez clan: I’m the tall one, the artsy one, and the carnivorous one.

Angie asked if I would write a post while she was off exploring, but I didn’t know what to write about. She suggested writing about a vegan dish that I like, and I thought that was a great idea. There’s one thing that I LOVE talking about and that’s food!

As I mentioned before I’m the carnivore of the bunch. Both sisters have been on the peace-eating path for years now, and as you can guess, that has caused both challenges and creativity for our meals. When it comes time for us to have a gathering, the easiest meal that we all agree on is BBQ!

We have always been fans of hot dogs, so it’s something that we usually throw on the grill. There’s lots of good brands out there (Morning Star, Yves), but they aren’t always vegan.

However, Smart Dogs are labeled vegan and are actually pretty good.

Top these with barbeque sauce and grilled jalapenos, and you are in for a tasty treat.

Now for side dishes.

I love Bush’s Vegetarian Beans. They are only labeled vegetarian, but both the label and the website have stated that the product does not contain any meat by products.

Bush FAQ

Now, get your favorite summer veggies prepped. We cut up zucchini, bell peppers, and onions.  Coat them in olive oil, sprinkle some lemon juice, salt and pepper and grill until tender.

Lastly, we grill the corn (well actually we put the corn on first because it takes the longest to grill…but you get the idea).

I like to leave the corn in the husk when grilling, but you can do whatever suits your fancy.

Eat with butter (vegan butter of course) and chili powder and Enjoy!

So I hope you enjoyed this post, and I hope that you enjoy our favorite vegan treats.

Happy Grilling!

Guest Post by My Sister Kristen: The Adventures of a First Time Juice Cleanser

Today, I should hopefully be in Paris! I have waiting for this day for a long time and promise to take an annoying amount of pictures to share.

This post is by my baby sister, Kristen. Kristen became a vegetarian just a few months after I did. Neither one of us have eaten meat for over 8 years. She has been making attempts to try out veganism lately, and even attempted her first juice cleanse. I will let her describe how it went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hi everyone! My name is Kristen and I am Angelina’s youngest sister. While she’s out exploring the world, she has asked me to write a guest blog, so here I am!

Anyone who knows my sister knows that she cares about health, yoga and a lot of good food. One adventurous day I decided that being a vegetarian just wasn’t enough for me, I wanted to take my health to the next level and kick it off with a juice cleanse. I called up Angelina, who invited me over, made a days worth of juice for me, and sent me on my way. I was ready for my first ever one day juice cleanse.

Many people think that juice cleansing, dieting, exercising etc. is all mental. Well, it’s NOT. Your first ever detox will likely not be pleasant, particularly if you live in Southern California and have toxins swarming your body every single day. I got through work with flying colors but once I got home it really hit me. Now, I will say that a lot of it IS mental and I’m sure I made it worse on myself.. but I truly felt weak and miserable.

My head was aching. I had zero energy and I felt close to death (well, almost). I ended my day by begrudgingly drinking my dinner smoothie and going to sleep before 9. I literally dreamed about food all night.
Pathetic.

After a week or two you begin to forget the pain and agony that you went through for 24 hours. In fact, you start to remember some of the good things about your experience.
I was crazy enough to try it again… and for 3 days this time.

Here’s where the fun began! Angelina bought me an amazing Breville juicer for my birthday, so I loaded up with fruits and veggies and got ready for my cleanse.

I was nervous. I imagined 3 days of headaches and grogginess. But I couldn’t have been more wrong! It had been over a month since my first cleanse and I had been eating much healthier so my body wasn’t so filled with disgusting food rotting away in my system as it was the first time.

I survived day 1 with flying colors, I hardly even noticed the hunger. I couldn’t believe it, compared to my last juice cleanse this one was a breeze so far. I didn’t even dream about pizza that night.

Day 2 came and went. I had a bit of a mental breakdown after lunch when all of my co-workers went to one of my favorite places- Miguels Jr., but I sucked it up, made my favorite green tea and got through it, still headache free and more energy than ever.

Typically, once I get home from work it’s a miracle if I can make it to the gym or make lunch for the next day. But on day 2 I went to work out, cleaned my room, washed all of the dishes, did a few loads of laundry AND still had energy to burn. Not an easy feat for someone who is known as an avid napper.

Now, day 3 is where I truly surprised myself. My sister Marcella is a photographer and was asked by Pura Vida Bracelets to shoot some photos of their product! Amazing, right?
Well, guess who she picked as one of her models… yours truly. So not only did we hike up to a waterfall, we hiked up Mt. Rubidoux. That’s right… day three of juice cleansing and I hiked two mountains. My energy was flying high as I was literally jumping from rock to rock. I felt so great after my cleanse and even lost a few pounds, I can’t wait to try another and really hope I have encouraged someone who has never tried a juice cleanse to give it a try! I can’t promise that your first one will be easy (especially if you’re as overdramatic about life as I am) but I can promise that it’s a great and worthwhile experience..

Happy juicing everyone!

Guest Post: Melissa from Press Play

If we are still on schedule, I am in Beaune, France today. I could not think of anyone better to guest post about travel, than Melissa. She is my traveling kindred spirit and has already visited so many places that I hope to go. I will turn it over to her to share some of her traveling tips.

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Hi there! My name is Melissa, and I blog over at Press Play about goals, reading, music travels, and everyday life. I’m so excited to be guest blogging for Angie while she’s off traveling Europe! I left part of my heart when I backpacked Europe- 2 summers in a row- and couldn’t be more jealous of her adventures.

I can honestly say that traveling over the course of 5 years changed me as a person, and I am so happy that I took the opportunities that came my way and visited various parts of the world when I could. I’ve learned some really great lessons while on the road, and in the spirit of Angie’s travels, thought I would share 5 points that guided some of my adventures.

1. Always eat fresh and local. Sometimes it’s scary to eat food outside your comfort zone, but I promise the food in a new country is half the experience. I know some people will stick to the foods they are comfortable with at home- and in some countries that might be okay- but there is honestly nothing like a fresh meal halfway across the world! I still dream of fresh pizza in Italy, and the amazing home cooked meals I had in the outdoor kitchens in Brazil.

2. Get a good night’s sleep. Obviously there will be a few nights that you’ll want to be out partying and enjoying the city’s night life, but there is so much to see, do, and experience during the day, make sure you’re getting 7-8 hours almost every night. I remember trying to survive on 5 hours a night while backpacking Europe, and after almost a week of 14 hour non-stop days, I almost collapsed. Don’t overdo it, because that’s not fun either!

3. Bring two books you wouldn’t read at home. Some of my favorite books that I’ve read have been while I’ve traveled, and they’re also coincidentally the books that I would have been least likely to read if I had left them for some later time. I discovered the wonders of Malcolm Gladwell on a beach in Greece, and the beautiful story that is Patti Smith’s autobiography (“Just Kids”) while traveling on a ferry through the Greek isles. Of course, bring one or two easy reads, too! There is just no feeling like great novels while you travel.

4. Once you’ve packed your bag, pack it again. I’m an over-packer by nature, even though I’ve traveled with my worlds’ possessions on my back, through multiple continents, in the span of just a few months. I have the fear that I’ll leave something behind I REALLY WANT TO WEAR while I’m gone, and it’s 99% never the case. Once I’ve packed my bags and I’m ready to go, I take a walk, come back, and re-pack by trying to remove a few extra pieces of clothing (or shoes). It helps take some weight off my shoulders- literally!

5. Do something completely out of your norm, just because. My friends will be the first to tell you; I’m not a daredevil. The most exciting thing I do at home outside of my routine is stay up a little late. But when I travel, I try and open my mind and my heart to experiences that are scary, and that I probably wouldn’t enjoy under any other circumstance. Hell, sometimes I don’t even enjoy it in another country either, but I am ALWAYS happy to give something new a chance. I’ve surfed in the freezing cold Pacific, swam with stingrays, jumped off the edge of a boat into the bright abyss of the Mediterranean, and hiked a volcano. Some things I loved, some not so much, but they are all stories I am so, so happy to have brought home with me.

Most importantly? Have fun! There is no feeling quite like packing up and heading to the unknown. Make the best of it, try not to complain too much- even when your feet hurt and you’re exhausted, and write down the details so you don’t forget them when you head back home.

Have an amazing trip Angie, can’t wait to hear your stories!

What important lessons have you picked up during your travels? 

Guest Post: Visiting Peace by Jessica from Far From Kansas

If we are on schedule, I should finally be in France! I am scheduled to be in Annecy today and extremely excited to explore the French countryside.

I was fortunate enough to be paired up with Jessica from Far From Kansas, for a book exchange, a few years back. She introduced me to Barbara Kingslover and I truly reading about her travels and life abroad. I will turn it over to her to describe one of her most recent trips.

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Last year I visited Oslo, Norway. Despite it being October the weather was sunny and warm-ish…warmer than should be expected for late-October. In other words, it was beautiful!

I arrived on Thursday and the friends I was visiting had to work Friday so I was left to wander the city on my own. No problem there! Oslo is very walkable if you don’t mind walking and given the aforementioned nice weather I didn’t mind at all. Once I made it downtown from my friends’ apartment one of the first places I came across was the Nobel Peace Center.

The Nobel Peace Center is the museum about the Nobel Peace Prize. Our permanent installations tell the story of Alfred Nobel and the Peace Prize laureates and their engaged and groundbreaking work.

Our changing exhibitions provide insight into the fields of war, peace and conflict resolution, often presented in new and surprising ways.

Through exhibitions, guided tours, various events and family activities, we are a venue for reflection, debate and involvement.

[Source]

They had an exhibit titled, “What the World Eats.” Not surprisingly, we in the western world consume a whole lot more than most other parts of the world. I’ve lived in some of the non-western world and the consumption and waste here in the west is staggering and heartbreaking.

There’s also a little restaurant on the side of the building. The awning made me immediately think of Angie!

“Food for Thoughts. Thoughts for Peace. Peace for All. All Peace.”

I highly recommend a visit to Norway if you get the chance (warning, though, it is the most expensive place I’ve ever visited!). Oslo is beautiful. The harbor, the museums, Fronger Park… and the Nobel Peace Center.

Don’t tell Angie, but I just might have brought something back for her from the center. Shhhh!!! I haven’t mailed it to her yet so it’s a surprise!

Guest Post: Barb from That Was Vegan

If all is going as planned, I am currently in Venice! Today, I am featuring one of my favorite bloggers, Barb from That Was Vegan?. Barb’s recipes make it completely impossible to feel like you are missing out as a vegan. She designs delicious, comfort foods to meet all cravings. I will stop babbling now and hand it over to her!

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People often think preparing vegan food is somehow more complicated or time consuming than “regular” food, and they’ll use that as an excuse for not including more plant-based meals in their diets.

This isn’t true, of course. You can make super-complicated or ultra-easy meals of any kind, no matter what kind of foods you eat!

If you’ve ever read my blog That Was Vegan?, you know I share all sorts of easy recipes that are perfect for new vegans and the veg-curious, many of which are based on what I call “old favorites”… the types of dishes we all used to eat before going vegan! Why do I focus on these kinds of recipes? Because I believe with all my heart that vegan food is a wonderful, delicious and easy way to make a huge change in the world around you. Who wouldn’t want to make the world a better place just by eating, right?

And so today I bring you one of the easiest recipes ever: Vegan English Muffin Pizzas! These delicious bites are perfect for a light lunch or a fun movie-night dinner. Have a teenager who is interested in veganism? They could totally make these on their own!

I piled mine high with bell peppers, onions and even a little summer squash. For the cheese I used just a bit of Daiya mozzarella for some richness. Your favorite red sauce combined with a little S&P and oregano will finish it all off nicely. And obviously this is a dish that really lends itself to changing it up depending on your moods and tastes!

Okay, looking for some more details? Here you go…

Chop and water saute your favorite veggies (~1/4 to 1/2 cup for each pizza) for just a couple minutes to get them soft. If you’d like them to retain a little bite, skip the saute! Split your english muffins in half and top each side with 1-2 tablespoons of pizza sauce, then pile on the veggies. Top with vegan cheese shreds, plus S&P to taste. Other great seasonings? Crushed red pepper flakes, dried basil, oregano, or even an Italian-mix! Bake on a cookie sheet at 375 for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melty and everything is warm!

Guest Post: Nicole from Fabulous Vegan Recipes

Hello friends, if all is going as planned I am currently in Florence. Nicole, from Fabulous Vegan Recipes is today’s guest blogger and sharing a delicious recipe. Take it away, Nicole!

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Hi, I’m Nicole D’Angelo of fabulousveganrecipes.com and I’m so excited to be guest blogging on Angelina’s blog! I wanted to share a super yummy chia seed pudding recipe and talk about why I became vegan. This is an apple fig chia seed pudding that tastes like apple pie in a jar. So yum. Check out the recipe:

2 organic red apples
4 dried figs
2 tbsp of chia seeds
1 cup of almond milk
3 tsp of cinnamon
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

Add the milk, chia seeds and protein powder to a mason jar and mix well. Put 1 apple in your food processor and process on high. Cut the figs into small pieces and slowly add them to your food processor. The mixture will get a little chewy and thick. Add the fig apple mix to the chia seeds, milk and protein powder and mix well. Add in the cinnamon and mix. Slice the other apple and top your pudding with it. Put the lid on the jar and refrigerate overnight.

I became vegan four years ago; I was already vegetarian so I was already almost there. It was easy to give up eggs but I had a hard time with cheese for a while. As I read more and more about factory farming, I began to realize how damaging it is to the environment and how animals are abused and neglected and I could not partake in that. I gave up cheese and went full steam ahead with my vegan journey. Becoming vegan has ignited my passion for cooking, nutrition and wellness. I published an ebook of my recipes called Fabulous Vegan Recipes in December. I enrolled in the health coaching program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in January 2014 and I’m loving it. I never thought fruits and veggies could be so versatile but I love making plant based food. I’ve also found a supportive vegan community on fb and IG. Becoming vegan changed my life, my career goals and the way I feel. If you are new to the vegan scene and have questions or need help, check out my website FAQ or email me at fabulousveganrecipes@gmail.com

Thank you, Angelina, for having me!

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Thank-you Nicole, for a great post! Visit her blog or find her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

 

Another Guest Post: 20 Qs with Modern Day Missus

I am fortunate enough to guest blog, once again. Modern Day Missus featured me on her 20 Qs post. Click here to read the guest post.