Photo Diary // Food + Friends!

This week seemed to have been full of food upon looking back in pictures - Woohoo!!

It started off with a genius take on a cake using watermelon instead of flour, and continued at a friend's potluck with a raw nectarine cobbler. 

I also had the honour of attending my soul sisters' food tasting, for a mostly raw food truck they are starting up in the city of Calgary. I'm so proud of them and the impact they'll be having on the city - Look out for Yummi Yogis once it hits the streets - and of course I'll keep you updated!

Other than eating deliciously healthy food, I've also been busy shopping for crystals for my limited time offer of custom pieces. I love the process, and how it feels to see a finished piece in all it's beauty - I'm toying with the idea of accepting orders for just a few days 2-3 times a year. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!

Sending love to you all, and here's to a unexpectedly wonderful weekend!
xo Beth

A watermelon cake I discovered on Facebook - and promptly had to make one for myself! Recipe on the blog next week!

My babes - 2 from the Yummi Yogis Calgary! Including the baby ;) Teehee 
Lisa -  Sunny -- Brianne - Nikki!

Juicy nectarines awaiting their raw dessert destiny!

A pretty arrangement at the Yummi Yogis Tasting

The reflection of a wine glass atop a fresh + savoury salad

Crystals for custom pieces charging up in the sun - The ones you see here are Celestite, Citrine, A gifted piece of Tree Agate from a soul friend + Blue Calcite

Gold chains, resting on wood, and awaiting being put together 

Raw Bagel Recipe - Rich in Probiotics

If you follow me on instagram you know that I was experimenting with raw bagel recipes this past week (raw meaning none of the ingredients are cooked) and OH MY GOODNESS do I have a treat for you. I created pretty much the greatest thing known to mankind. Ok, perhaps that sounds extreme, but seriously, I'm pretty sure I can say it because it's true.

I started with fermented oatmeal in sauerkraut juice. Although this may turn you off right away, HALT YEE and stay on the page! I'll explain. Sauerkraut juice is FULL of probiotics, and fermenting the oatmeal in it creates a ton of living organisms that are imperative for a healthy + beautiful body.

Probiotics are key for healthy digestion, glowing skin, and the ability to actually absorb the nutrients that are in our food. Most of us are deficient in probiotics because of antibiotic use - either directly - or those that are found in industrial dairy and meat products. 

Raw Bagel with Peanut Butter

I also added a ton of fun superfoods because I had them handy, like Maca, Camu Camu, and Holy Basil, but these can be left out, or swapped with anything you have on hand. The point of trying out a recipe like this is to have fun with it, and do your own thang. And to shake it.

Without further ado, here is the most delicious recipe in the history of mankind:

Raw Bagels

3 cups of Oatmeal ( I used gluten free oats)
6 cups filtered water
1/3 cup Ground Flax
1/3 cup Sesame Seeds
1 tsp Sunflower Oil
1/2 cup Unpasteurized, Local Honey
1/3 cup Chia Seeds
2 tbsp Maca
1 tsp Camu Camu
1 tsp Holy Basil
Cinnamon, Nutmeg + Allspice to Taste

Please note - The quantities are approximate.

Directions

1. In a large bowl, pour in the oats + water. (I used a mixture of water and sauerkraut juice for extra probiotics, but it's not necessary) Allow the mixture to sit, room temperature, for 1 -3 days.

2. Pour out any excess water, and use it in smoothies or on cooked oatmeal. (It's full of friendly probiotics at this point)

3. Add in the rest of the ingredients, until a runny batter like consistency is reached.

4. Mould the batter into bagel shapes in your dehydrator. Turn on a med-high setting, and leave for 6-12 hours. Flip. Wait 3-4 hours.


The bagels take on a slightly gooey, fully delicious consistency, and go well with pretty much anything.  I toasted the bagels for a minute or two and topped them with peanut butter. My roommate + bestie had his with coconut butter and alfalfa sprouts. I also tried mine with avocado, salt, and barbecue sauce. The possibilities are endless.

Happy experimenting!

xo Beth

Vegan Mango Ice Cream (No Ice Cream Maker Required!)

I really do love desserts, but my body typically doesn't love refined sugars, gluten or dairy. While for some this may seem restrictive, there's actually a plethora of other options for after meal treats. On top of that, most of them are so good for you, they can be eaten as snacks throughout the day.

One of my favourite new discoveries is vegan ice-cream. My love of coconut milk inspired me to craft this recipe up, and ohhhhh (wo)man, I'm glad it did. This ice cream can be made with very few ingredients, in very little time, and without an ice cream maker. It can also be easily changed around to accommodate for what you have on hand.

Ingredients

A Can of Organic Coconut Milk
1/2 Tbsp of Maple Syrup
A dash of Cinnamon
A Handful of Frozen Mango
2 Tbsp of Applesauce

Directions

1. Pour the coconut milk into an ice cube tray, and put in the freezer.
2. Once the coconut milk has frozen, remove 8 or so cubes, and throw them in a food processor or high powered blender.
3. Add the remaining ingredients, and blend on high until the mixture is smooth!
4. Eat the ice cream in all it's yummy goodness before it melts. (It doesn't keep in the freezer well)

Im thinking that a substitution of mango for pumpkin pie mix would be unreal for a fall rendition of this recipe, but try it with bananas, blueberries, rhubarb, cocoa, whatever you're feeling! Have fun crafting. :)

Dairy Free Survival Guide - When Dairy Stops Loving You Back

I was recently talking to a friend who had just discovered a dairy intolerance, and she was lamenting how much the revelation was affecting her. “How do I live without dairy”, she asked, “It’s just so good!” I told her once she committed to it, it would be easy - understandable her next question was - “But what about CHEESE?!”

Granted, cheese is a tough one to reproduce vegan style, but there are ways. I’ve been living mostly dairy free for years now, because, frankly, it makes me feel like shit. And it’s really awesome NOT to feel like shit, and that’s why, my friends, it’s really awesome to live without dairy.

Almonds make a super tasty milk alternative.
Photo from Jules | Flickr

Here’s my survival guide for those of you who suspect that dairy is no longer returning your longtime love.

1. Coconut milk 

Godsend. Seriously. Coconut milk is creamy, delicious, and much tastier than regular old milk. It’s especially good for coffee and tea, as almond and rice milk are usually much too watery to convert your morning beverage into a creamy treat. Just make sure you don’t overdo it - a few tablespoons a day is plenty.

2. Almond (Cashew, Sunflower Seed, Pumpkin Seed, Hemp, etc.) Milk 

Almond milk was my go to for a while, and I still love it, though I prefer the homemade kind the best now. Even though the storebought brands are much better for you than milk, they’ve still been processed in order to sit on a shelf for long periods of time. Try making your own nut milk - it’s super easy. Soak raw almonds overnight. Then add them to 3-4 cups of water. Blend the two ingredients together, and sift it through a strainer or cheesecloth. Add a dash of salt, some vanilla, cinnamon, and maybe even maple syrup to the final product and you’ve got the most delicious milk of all time. See the links above for more recipes.

3. Nutritional Yeast

Ah yes, nutritional yeast, my love. Nutritional yeast is one of your new replacements for cheeses. You can throw it on pizza, popcorn, toast, wraps, even on salad, and it adds a unique flavor that somewhat mimics what you may love about cheese. It’s also good for you, which is a major plus. Find it at most natural food stores.

4. Avocado

Of course, avocado. It’s fatty (in the good way), flavourful, and delicious on pretty much everything. Salads, wraps, toast, pizza, rice, pasta, sandwiches, the list goes on. Add a dash of sea salt to bring out it's ultimate flavour.

5. When You Just Gotta Have Some Cheese

All right, I get it, cheese is unbelievably delicous. It just is. Sometimes you may crave it just a little bit too much to grab that avocado, and thats ok! In times like these, opt for goat cheese, or feta, and make absolute sure it’s organic. Factory farmed cows produce non-organic cheese, and the energy of that product will throw your system way out of whack. Organic goat cheese and feta are much easier for your body to process than the regular stuff, so if you end up having a bite every week or two, it’s not the end of the world. Just make sure to observe how you feel afterwards.

www.wavesoffire.ca

Eat Your Way to a Divine Life

I've always known that exercise and eating right were a guide to physical health. Still, I resisted physical movement for much of my life. It wasn't until recently that this all changed, as I began to understand the real effects of taking care of my body.

Green Smoothies are easy, incredibly energizing, and super customizable!

Organic Coconut Milk, Water, and Chia Seeds with Watermelon - A fantastic way to start the day!

The truth is, movement and healthy eating aren't just keys to physical health, but to emotional, mental, and spiritual health as well. Here's why:

• Exercise releases stored stress in the body. Worrying, guilt, and fear based thinking often work their way into our muscles. Once this happens, the only way to release the stored toxins is through movement. When we exercise, we're literally releasing negativity - and unblocking energetic pathways in the body. 
• Healthy eating keeps our bodies clear, light, and happy. Healthy eating doesn't mean looking at nutritional charts, and adopting a one size fits all plan - it means listening intuitively to your body - what does it want to eat? (Hint: It's probably not ice cream, that's your mind at play) If you can't quite hear it yet, that's ok! Start with fresh organic veggies and fruit, and light sources of protein, such as nuts, chia seeds, tempeh, mung beans, and sustainably sourced fish. Eat raw meals as much as possible. When you need a sweet treat, try dates, coconut 'milk'shakes, or raw macaroons.

When we keep our physical channels clear, magical things happen. Our subconscious is no longer tied up paying attention to the discomfort in our bodies. It can now hear the subtle vibrations of our intuitive guidance, and our angels. We can clearly receive divine communication that will lead us to our ultimate lives. 

Where Do Miracles Come From?

I can’t count the number of magical moments that have happened to me since I decided to live my life on purpose. A couple weekends ago I had a day full of those moments. Upon walking out the door to meet with a client, I started to think how amazeballs it would be to live in nature. Not 2 seconds later, I found a huge, beautiful feather on the ground, whose size I’ve only come across in the wild. Miracle #1.

Being in love with the wild feather I found on the ground.

After my meeting, I decided to head to the organic food store to pick up one of my favourite raw treats. On my way, I spontaneously popped into the crystal store, where I was ceremenoiously gifted 2 of the very same treats I had been lusting after. I didn't even know they sold them there!

How did this synchronicity make it’s way into my day? Here is the CRUCIAL component: I felt good about what I was thinking about! As I was thinking about nature and raw treats, I was feeling positively lovely feelings. My positive feelings helped call those positive situations to me. I wasn’t feeling anxious or badly because I wasn’t in nature, or that I didn’t have a yummy delicious organic macaroon in my mouth. I was feeling the love that comes from imagining those gifts as if they were present.

In short, my feelings were centered around abundance, not around lack. Be aware of how you feel today when you’re thinking about what you want. Do your feelings come from lack or from abundance?

Mango Mint Green Smoothie Recipe

A delicious Mango Mint Green Smoothie

Starting my mornings off with green smoothies is an obsession of mine. Not only do they taste DELICIOUS, but they also start the day off right with raw, superfood goodness. I'm in the habit of getting inspired by recipes, and then creating my own version based on my preferences and what I have in the house (or garden!) This Mango Mint Green Smoothie was based on a refreshing concoction I tried at Jupiter in Tofino, BC.

• 1 handful leafy greens ( I used spinach & pea sprouts)
• 3/4 cup frozen organic mango
• 1/4 organic banana
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 3/4 cup water
• 2-3 tbsp chia seeds
• 10-15 fresh mint leaves
• Sweetener to taste (I used coconut tree sap, but honey, dates, raisins & maple syrup are also good choices)
• Optional: hemp hearts, flax seeds, spirulina

Blend all, and enjoy! Happy sipping.

Make your own, and have fun with the recipe!