Lentil Tacos

Mmmm tacos. I could end this post right there. Taco's are one of my favourite fast foods (meaning it takes practically no time or effort to prepare it). It's perfect for those days when we are on the go and I'm running out the door in the evening.

To be honest, I thought my taco days were over. Not wanting to eat highly processed foods, how could one possibly construct a delicious taco without resorting to those fabulous taco kits in a box. Well, it was easier then I thought, after I actually took the time to give it some thought. :)

For a while now, I've been replacing ground beef with lentils. It's awesome, and when cooked and mashed up, has the same consistency as ground beef, and once you add spices, there's hardly a difference, in my opinion anyway. So we had a start. I went looking through my cupboard for my favourite taco seasoning to add to the lentil "beef", but as habit would have it, I instinctively read the ingredients list and couldn't believe all the junk crammed into that little packet of goodness. Yikes! I had to come up with a better alternative. I began racking my brain about what to do. Then it hit me. Epicure! Duh! I have a cupboard full of Epicure spices which are just beautiful and don't have all those nasty filler ingredients or sugar added. I decided on the Avocado Dip Mix and it was perfect! Just the right flavour I was hoping for. You could use any mixture of spices that you like, giving it more heat or a new twist on flavour.

Thus with all my ingredients laid out, I set out to make this oh so easy, quick, family and kid friendly dish, which is also gluten-free and can be vegan and dairy-free as well.

LENTIL TACOS

After your lentils have been cooked and mashed, spoon a generous amount of lentil "beef" onto your tortilla of choice.

 I decided to slice up some avocado for my taco, as a topper (I have quite bland taste buds). Hayden grated some cheese and had sour cream on his. You can do whatever you like best. We like to keep it simple.

Then add all your favourite taco toppings, we chose to add some organic baby spinach and call it a night. Be as creative as you like with your tastes! 

The finished product was quite delicious. This recipe will definitely be a return guest in our home. Plus, it's a meal that can be easily adjusted to each individuals' tastes, without having to make 5 different meals. Hope you like it as much as we did.

Ingredients:

Serves 2-3

1 cup organic green lentils

2-3 cups water

spices of choice, to taste

toppings of choice

tortilla's (Whole wheat or Brown Rice)

Directions:

- Add lentils and water to a pot and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender. Time can vary but approximately 15-30 minutes, depending on the amount of lentils you're cooking. If your water is disappearing, add some more.

- Drain and rinse lentils, return to pot and mash up with a potato masher. Add spices till desired flavour is acquired.

- Build your taco on your tortilla of choice using your favourite toppings.

- Enjoy!

 Happy Eating!

Monday Feature: Bean There Roasting Company

There's something about awakening from slumber, wrapping yourself in a warm robe or sweater, shuffling out to the kitchen, brewing a mug of your favourite coffee, and then sitting, inhaling deep the pleasant aroma of the hot beverage sitting between your cold fingers, warming you to the bone. It's true delight and something many of us look forward to each and every morning. Since becoming pregnant and having a wee one, I have reduced my coffee intake to, well, almost never. But I treasure the days when I get to enjoy the rich, delightful taste of this well beloved drink.

My husband is, I wouldn't say picky, but picky, when it comes to the coffee he consumes, and rightfully so. He knows what he likes, how strong it needs to be, and nothing else will suffice. I know many people like this, it's nothing new to coffee lovers. One brand of coffee that we both adore immensely, is coffee from Bean There Roasting Company. I was first introduced to this amazing coffee when, at a silent auction, we bid on a basket of coffee and won! This entitled us to 9 different coffees from around the world, a new one roasted fresh and delivered to our door each week for 8 weeks (we had the first one at the auction to take home). It was so much fun to see what the next coffee would be, where it would be from and what it would taste like, comparing it to the others we'd tried, with all the different flavour notes. My absolute favourite is the coffee from Haiti. There just wasn't another one to compare, in my opinion. However, Hayden has an entirely different favourite one, Sumatra, so really, you just have to try them all to find that perfect one for you! :)

Brian Kannekens is creator, owner and operator of Bean There Roasting Company. Although I've only known him for a short time, my husband is no stranger to Brian and they have known each other for much longer. Brian is friendly, outgoing and knows what he's talking about when it comes to anything coffee. That's just the type of person you want to buy coffee from, in my opinion.

 <----------------- Brian is on the very left.

At the Zambian coffee farm.

Bean There Roasting Company is a small, home based business that "opened its door" in January of 2006. Brian notes, "Since that time, we have been fresh roasting and delivering coffee to our customers so that they can truly enjoy their daily cup of joe. The idea is simple. Fresh roast your coffee when you order it, and then deliver it as soon as possible at its peak freshness for you to enjoy."

That's right! No more dusty store shelf coffee that has been sitting there for who knows how long. Fresh roasted, just for you! Can I get an amen from all you coffeeaholics out there! :D 

Bean There Roasting Company was first created in 1996, after Brian and 3 others went on a missions trip to Zambia and Kenya, Africa. Brian recalls, "While we were there, we had numerous conversations about how the staff there were able to raise enough money to support their families, send their kids to school, and provide funding for their ministry opportunities. During those discussions, the four of us that were on the trip realized that even the full time staff members were not paid to be doing their ministry work, but were required to raise all of their support from supporters they were able to contact and have become part of their team. After discussing this on our trip home, the four of us decided to brainstorm business ideas that might be able to help provide some support for these friends we had met. Thankfully, [Bean There] has grown enough that we have been able to provide support to these friends twice a year to assist them with their expenses."

Bean There Roasting Company, itself, evolved from a discussion that revolved around something that could be home based, and that was able to be managed by just one person. "The idea for coffee came about as the result of one of our African friends' father-in-law, who was in the coffee business in Kenya. In our discussions, however, we really were looking for something that was unique in regards to coffee and how it was marketed and served. The idea of roasting and serving was nothing new, but when added to the delivery concept, we felt it was something totally unique that we could work on."

After Brian returned home from Africa, he was able to spend the next year doing extensive research and learning about coffee and the whole process of growing, harvesting, processing, shipping, and finally receiving the green beans and roasting them. Brian says, "This has been one of the most educational parts of having Bean There Roasting Company. It has really provided an opportunity to learn something new that is part of our world economy on a large scale, and part of people's everyday life on a much smaller scale."

Coffee plants in Zambia

Coffee plants on the horizon

Visiting Munali Coffee Farm in Zambia

Not only was the coffee side of the business part of the learning experience for Brian, but also setting up a small business and being able to run it successfully on a day to day basis. "This is an ongoing process that every small business owner experiences and something that I learn from every day."

After almost seven years, Brian's focus continues to be the individual customer and finding a coffee that they will enjoy as part of their day, just as mine is the Haiti and Hayden's is the Sumatra, although I'm open to trying some of the new additions. :)

"I really value the time spent speaking with customers about what types of coffees they like to drink, and trying to find one that we offer that fits into their profile. It is also fun to be able to educate people about the difference between Bean There's fresh roasted coffee, and what you buy at the grocery store or local gas station." Or if I may be so bold as to add….what you buy at Tim Hortons *whispered softly* :P

"Many customers have asked why our coffee is more expensive than what you find at the grocery store, and once I have helped them understand how delicate it is and that coffee is meant to be consumed shortly after roasting, they begin to understand that our product really is a premium offering, providing the best taste experience possible for the money they are spending."

And come on, many of us are willing to shell out $5 for one drink at Starbucks (I know I do), but refuse to pay a little bit more for better coffee for our consumption at home. Save your Starbucks (or Tim Hortons) pennies and buy some of Bean There's coffee and I guarantee, you won't be disappointed.

Talking with the farm owners

The bright red ones are ready for picking

Young coffee plants in the nursery

Bean There Roasting Company's list of coffees is always evolving and changing. While they do have some that are consistently available, they also have been able to find more "exotic" coffees to offer when they are available, and those are worth snapping up for sure!

"Recently, I have been able to offer Hawaii Kona,..." which is fantastic, by the way, "...Jamaica Blue Mountain, as well as coffee from the Galapagos Island and Indonesia. Two of the highlights of sourcing out new suppliers occurred when I was able to bring in coffee from Reunion Island, which is very rare, as well as the most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak. Yes, this is the stuff that is eaten by a cat and then processed and left on the ground to be collected, washed and shipped around the world." Remember Jack Nicolson drinking it in The Bucket List? I am curious enough to try it someday. "[Kopi Luwak] is also very rare, so to be able to find some was a real treat. It was very, very good!!" If Brian will drink it and in turn sell it, it's got to be good stuff.

"Some of our "regulars" include coffee from Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Costa Rica, Haiti (yum yum), Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, and Sumatra. My favourites are the African coffees, but more specifically anything that we have had from Ethiopia. Their flavour, body, and aroma to me are unsurpassed, and I will drink them anytime I have a chance to try different ones from different growing regions."

The washing and processing area

Where the coffee is dried

As you can clearly see, this is a small operation that offers a wide variety of quality coffee from around the world, thus supporting local farmers in those regions and helping out the world, one little bean at a time. It makes me smile with every sip.

A finished batch of roasted coffee

"One of the things I am most proud of, is the fact that the business has grown enough for me to be able to send the support we had hoped for, to our friends in Africa. Of course, this would not be possible without customers to whom I am very grateful. Being able to help people understand why what I do is different, has really made all the difference in our continued growth and success."

"It has also been great to meet so many new people through the business. Many of my customers have become friends as a result of the relationship built through their morning cup of coffee."

First roaster Brian started out with

Bean There's current roaster

Current roaster

The best way to contact Brian and Bean There Roasting Company, is by phone at 403-502-5833. Brian is very personable and wants to be able to talk to you, his newest customer, about exactly what you might be looking for in your coffee, whether it's something familiar or something exotic and new (Kopi Luwak anyone?) to find the perfect coffee for you that you will truly enjoy and look forward to. 

Bean There is currently in the process of setting up a website, but until that time, all orders can be made via phone. 

You can also follow Brian on Twitter @roastedfresh4U and stay updated on new coffees and where he might be selling his coffee on any given day.

Brian spends many of his Summer Saturdays at the Farmers Market, which is Bean There's "Summer store front." During this Christmas season, you can find Bean There Roasting Company at the Medicine Hat Exhibition's Christmas Market on November 9th & 10th at the Cypress Centre, as well as at the Last Chance Christmas Market on Thursday, December 6th, in the Auditorium of the Cypress Centre.

Last, but not least, we have a special Growing Green incentive for you! You won't want to miss out on this one if you love your coffee as much as we do.

When you call Bean There Roasting Company to make your coffee order, simply mention that you read about Bean There on the Growing Green blog, and you will receive a free 4 oz bag of coffee with every 16 oz (1 lb) bag of coffee ordered. The 4 oz bag will be a different type then what you have ordered and will be chosen by Brian for you to try. There's no better way to try more varieties then like this! This offer is valid from today, October 29th, 2012 until December 31st, 2012. 

Enjoy and cheers to you!

Next weeks' feature hint: bird lodging

 Set up for the Christmas Market

Beef Stew with Gluten-free, Dairy-free Dumplings

This past week has been crazy indeed. With starting my new job as the Winter Market Manager, this last week was dedicated to creating some signage before yesterday's market, and thus, my blog severely suffered for lack of extra time. Life happens though, and there's nothing you can do about it. But I'm writing today with a most yummy recipe for you, so I hope that makes up for the 3 day silence!

I love soup. I love stews. I love them because you can eat and drink them all at the same time, with one utensil! It's such a brilliant invention. If I could, I would eat soup or stew everyday, however, I'm sure my husband would have something to say about that. And of course, there is something to be said about eating foods in states other then a liquid that makes it feel a bit more substantial.

One thing I grew up absolutely loving, whenever my mom made stew, was dumplings. She would cook them right on top of the stew. I can't say why I loved these dumplings so much, but I truly did and always got excited when I saw that mom was making them. Being gluten-free, however, can place a hurdle directly in front of you, when it comes to consuming most-loved, comfort foods. It takes effort to figure out how to jump the hurdle, you can't just walk through it. But with the effort comes much satisfaction and great reward.

With the cooler season upon us, I decided some beef stew was in order, and with beef stew, I HAD to make dumplings. I was just going to have to experiment and make them gluten-free, and why not dairy-free while we're at it as well. So with that, I was on the phone to my mom to get her dumpling recipe, pulled out my crockpot, and got the stew going. I hope you enjoy this adaptation.

BEEF STEW WITH GLUTEN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE DUMPLINGS

Beef Stew adapted from a recipe on "allrecipes.com" 

Adjust measurement according to how many people you're feeding. I was cooking for two and we had leftovers.

Ingredients:

1lb of TLC Farms stew meat

1/8-1/4 cup gluten-free all purpose flour

1/2 tsp sea salt (more to taste if need be)

1/2 tsp ground pepper (more to taste if need be)

1 clove organic garlic, minced

1 bay leaf (I only had chunks, so just sprinkled some in)

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (can contain gluten. Use alternative sauce to make the stew 100% gluten-free. As I am only wheat sensitive and not Celiac, Worcestershire sauce doesn't affect me.)

1 organic onion, chopped

1 1/2 cups organic beef or vegetable broth (I used vegetable)

3 potatoes, diced

4 organic carrots, sliced

1 stalk organic celery, chopped

Directions:

- Place meat in the slow cooker.

- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, salt and pepper; pour over meat and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. (My meat was still frozen, so I just covered the outside as best I could)

- Stir in garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, broth, potatoes, carrots and celery.

- Cover and cook on low setting for 10-12 hours, or on high setting for 4-6 hours.

Now for my favourite part! The Dumplings!

This recipe is adapted from a Betty Crocker recipe.

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp Grapeseed oil (or oil of choice. Original recipe calls for shortening and that could be used as well)

3/4 cup gluten-free all purpose flour

3/4 cup quinoa flour

2 tsp gluten-free baking powder

3/4 tsp sea salt

3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Directions:

- Mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl. Mix the almond milk and oil together in a separate bowl.

- slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until completely combined. The consistency should be similar to a really thick pancake batter or really wet bread dough.

- Plop spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture onto the top of your cooked stew (about 5-10 minutes before you're ready to eat).

- Cook, covered with a lid, until dumplings are firm to the touch and have lost their sheen. You may want to cut one open, just to be sure they're cooked all the way through.

- Eat your heart out!

Hope you enjoy this delicious and simple meal.

Happy Eating!

Monday Feature: Teaka Marie

One thing fall always brings to mind for me, is clothing. I'm not a crazy shopper when it comes to clothes in general, but fall gets me every time. The colours, the cozy outfits, the warmth and comfort they exude as they tantalize me with pictures of wearing them whilst sitting by a fire, holding a hot beverage. *sigh* If I can honestly say I have a fetish, it's sweaters and boots. My husband can attest to this. My favourite colours, earth tones. Hence my love of fall collections, to the utter demise they cause in my life :)

So of course, with clothes ever on the brain this time of year, it's only fitting that today I would bring to you a small, local business, specializing in unique clothing, with a flare of vintage, that is sure to bring pleasure to the clothes-aholic side of us all. Let me introduce to you, Teaka Marie.

I first met Teaka Ritz, creator, owner, designer, sewer and mastermind of Teaka Marie, at the same wedding (obviously) that I met her husband, Jonathan (whose photography I featured last month). Thanks to many mutual friends, I would occasionally see Teaka at social gatherings now and then, and every time, I was delighted at the chance of getting to know this fabulous woman more.

Teaka is so friendly, easy to talk to and besides being super crafty and creative, always comes wearing a big, beautiful smile. Her craftiness and creativity are probably some of the reasons, I'm sure, that she dove into the world of being a seamstress, and it couldn't have been more of a right fit. Teaka's designs are unique, delicate and original and something you are proud to wear and feel "one of a kind" when you do. In today's market, where everyone is buying from the same chain stores, you're apt to run into one or more people wearing the same thing as you. Not my idea of being original.

Teaka was born and raised a Saskatchewan farm girl, however, she swapped farm life for city life and currently resides in Medicine Hat, Ab, with her husband, Jonathan. Teaka currently works a full time retail job to help keep the bills paid, however her passion is for sewing clothing, which in turn she then sells on her Etsy shop, Teaka Marie. 

Teaka went to school for Fashion Design and Marketing and recalls, "It wasn't until my last year that I challenged myself to believe I really could take on the design and sewing side of fashion and possibly attempt my own business in it. I knew what type of clothing I liked and was drawn to, and I was beginning to see that maybe others might like these styles too."

"I made a few goals at the beginning of this year, and after graduation I went straight to creating new items that I loved and wanted to share with others through Etsy. Honestly, there wasn't a catalyst or any major [event] in my life that caused me to start creating and selling. I just knew that for my personality type and skills, I thrive more with hands on, sewing and making, as opposed to sitting in an office for a living."

"I'm by no means a professional tailor, as I've made some major mistakes this year and things I'm not proud of. But that's all part of growing and trying to work through skills and business."

We all have to start somewhere and I'm so glad that Teaka has stepped out with her passion. It's truly inspiring for the rest of us who have a dream, but are nervous to take the risk involved. Thank goodness for Etsy, because it allows the "small guy" to make and sell without the need of a storefront and can help us get started on the right foot, as it has for Teaka. :)

Teaka continues, "I love my Etsy shop, because it's a way for me to show off what I'm working on, and if people are interested, they can purchase the garment and I can custom make the item in their size. It keeps me motivated to continue to design, pattern draft, and sew samples, and then sew the real item. It is quite a process and sometimes a bit daunting, but once I get into the momentum and step by step process, I really enjoy everything."

Teaka has only had her Etsy shop for a few months now, so is still in the infancy of her up-and-coming business. I have no doubts that it's going to take off and become something beyond Teaka's wildest dreams. It takes you and I to help see Teaka Marie become a success, and really, it shouldn't be that difficult, because we're getting some awesome clothes on our end of the deal! 

"I'm just in the learning process, trying out things and seeing what does and does not work. It's definitely a passion of mine and I hope to one day grow my skills and business to a point where I can manage it as a full time job. That really is my dream."

One day, I believe Teaka Marie will be up there with Vera Wang and rivalling the likes of Dolce and Gabbana. When asked at the Oscars what they are wearing, the stars will respond with a satisfied "Teaka Marie", to the awe of the world. What a nice thought that is. :D

You can shop for your Teaka Marie clothing at Teaka's Etsy shop: here

It's also the perfect place to get some Christmas gifts for your loved ones :)

Also check out Teaka's blog site, which is always fun to read, at: www.lifelikehoney.ca

If you have any questions or inquires for Teaka, please email her directly at teakipost@gmail.com

And of course, what would a Growing Green Monday Feature be without a special incentive just for you?

Teaka Marie is offering Growing Green readers 20% off any item on her Etsy shop. HOWEVER, you must contact Teaka first so she can make a custom page with the reduced price for you. If you do not contact her first, you will not be eligible for the discount. Simply mention "Growing Green" in the message box and what item you're wishing to purchase. If you have more questions concerning this incentive, please email Teaka.

This special incentive expires November 30th, 2012.

(Do you like Growing Green's feature incentives? Let me hear from you and tell my why and which ones you've used, so I can be sure to continue getting special incentives just for you!)

Next weeks feature hint: Brewed goodness

Beauty Detox Part 1: Chapter 2, Segment II

A Clean Body is a Beautiful Body

We want to aim for ultimate health, and with this comes our most beautiful self. "The natural healing pioneer Professor Arnold Ehret wrote, "Disease is an effort of the body to eliminate waste, mucus and toxemias, and this system assists Nature in the most perfect and natural way. Not the disease by the body is to be healed; it must be cleansed, freed from waste and foreign matter, from mucus and toxemias accumulated since childhood.""

Our body is always trying to maintain balance, but it must be cleansed first of toxic materials before this can happen, both new sludge and old sludge. "It all comes down to digestion and how much Beauty Energy we have."

What is it that we strive for? healthy looking nails, shiny hair, less wrinkles, clearer skin etc. The list goes on! Instead of making changes inside, we lather up with expensive shampoos, face creams and products that promise those results. Truly, our bodies can do these things on their own, but "keeping our skin wrinkle free and our hair shiny is of little concern to our bodies when our livers are overloaded with waste, our adrenals are exhausted and our intestines are all backed up!"

Kimberly continues, "The less energy the body has to spend on digesting, the more energy the body has to clean out the old toxic material and perform all those beautifying process. The toxic sludge amasses at a much faster pace when we are not digesting our food efficiently."

We have a long and winding intestinal tract, so there's an abundance of room that waste can be stored. Because our bodies are made of spongy tissues, that waste can absorb and permeate other tissues and organs. Not only is this an extremely repugnant thought, it can be dangerous to our health. Kimberly encourages us all to be aware of this and to cleanse.

So, about these toxins. "Where do these toxins come from? They are the preservatives and chemicals in our food, and also food particles that are not properly digested. The improperly digested foods become breeding grounds for "unfriendly" bacteria, yeasts and mold in our body, and the wastes they release are acidic and toxic." Yikes! Hence the need for whole, natural, organic foods and meats that are hormone and antibiotic free! Nothing processed or canned.

Kimberly hits it on the head when she says, "Most diets out there are focused on the number of calories or grams of carbs and protein to consume, yet they make no effort to deduce how efficiently - or not - our system can break down or use any given food."

Kimberly continues, "Calories and grams of carbs and proteins alone do not give a holistic picture of how healthy a food is within the human body, how nutrient dense it is or how much fiber is has. Nor do they give us any clues as to the amount of foreign chemicals, preservatives and additives that may be in that given food." Hence dieting seeming like a chore and struggle for so many, not mention how miserable it can make people. There is hope though, as you will see. I've lost 12 pounds since eating the Beauty Detox way alone, and it's been fantastic and not difficult at all. It's not a "diet", it's a lifestyle choice.

I love this next part from Kimberly, "We must respect how incredibly powerful our bodies are. Our body has the ability to heal itself, and it will achieve its highest potential if we clear the way for it to do so."

Remember, the build up of toxic waste has taken years to accumulate, so detoxifying cannot happen overnight. It needs to be gradual and take time, but most importantly, it needs to be continuous! If we detox to quickly, we can feel or become sick, which is never fun.

Stay tuned for the next segment: The Alkaline-Acid Principle

Kale and Broccoli Soup

There's so much to learn when it comes to cooking and trying new things. When I try out recipes from other people, the perfectionist part of my personality emerges from the depths, and I expect to get proper results. This is not always, nor will always be the case, as I've come to accept.

Thus, as mentioned, today's Kale and Broccoli Soup is one of the recipes I tried that, while still turning out delicious, did not turn out the way the original recipe was intended. It was supposed to be creamy, smooth, and a soup that slid down the throat with decadent ease. What I got was gritty-chunky and watery, thus becoming a soup destined to be chewed, at the risk of choking. A vita-mix will pulverize those little bits of kale and broccoli to a nice smooth puree, but a normal blender has a tougher time doing that (the vita-mix is on the wish list ;) ). When I saw that I wasn't getting the desired texture, I started blending less to make this a more chunky soup, instead of becoming a purely gritty one. Also, I was missing tahini, which would probably have added the desired creaminess that I was hoping for. Next time I'll be sure to have some on hand.

Regardless of texture mishaps, this soup was extremely tasty and filling, it just wasn't what I was picturing, therefore, initially I was disappointed. But I soon forgot my disappointment while I indulged in this flavourful soup, along with a homemade gluten free garlic cheddar muffin.

I came across this recipe at one of my "go to" blogs for meals http://www.fortheloveoffoodblog.com/. It's packed full of healthy, delicious recipes for sure. Check out the original recipe for this soup here with pictures of what it was supposed to look like :D.



KALE AND BROCCOLI SOUP

 saute some onions and garlic in oil

Add stock and boil 

Add Kale and Broccoli and simmer 

 Muffins are out!

Blend ingredients 

Enjoy deliciousness!

Ingredients:

1Tbsp olive oil
1medium yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups vegetable stock
1 bunch broccoli, chopped (6 cups)
1/2 bunch kale, chopped (4 cups)
2 Tbsp tahini (what I was missing :( )
Course sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions:

- Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and saute about 3 minutes.
- Add stock and bring to a boil.
- Add the broccoli and kale, turn heat to low, and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in tahini.
- Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

-Blend the soup by using an immersion blender or transferring it to a regular blender. (If using a reg. blender, be very careful as the steam can sometimes cause the lid to blow off. It's recommended to allow the soup to cool for a few minutes before blending. Then blend in small batches on medium speed, while holding the lid down with a large pot holder or towel)

- Squeeze lemon wedge over soup. Serve hot.

Hope you enjoy this delicious soup. Perfect for a cool, fall evening.

Happy Eating!

Monday Feature: Make Cheese

I love cheese. I always have. I confess that it's a weakness for me. Cheese is one of those foods that can stand and shine on its own, and it makes pretty much any other food taste better then they do on their own. Veggies, meat, bread, etc. It's not necessarily a healthier alternative, mind you, but it's sure a delicious one, and now and then, we should allow ourselves to indulge. :)

Cheese has always been a special connector between my dad and I. We both love our strong, aged cheeses and enjoy trying new varieties and flavours. Sometimes we fancy ourself "cheese critics" and it's so much fun. So, you can imagine when I became lactose intolerant during my pregnancy, how difficult that was for me. I cut out all other dairy, but would still indulge in a bit of cheese once and while, to my own demise (and my poor husbands :P). Even though I seem to tolerate it once again, we hardly consume any dairy products at all anymore, except for our cheese, and that, occasionally.

Which brings me to today's feature with great excitement. Because not only does it involve consuming delicious cheese, it involves MAKING your own cheese! Yes, you read that correctly. Now we can all be cheese connoisseurs. Oh happy day!

Today's feature is Make Cheese! Owner, operator and genius behind the many cheese kits is Ella Kinloch, from Calgary, Ab.

I met Ella at the Millarville Farmers Market outside of Calgary. I saw the word "cheese" and of course, could not resist wandering over to see what her booth was all about. It was within a matter of seconds that I realized that I wasn't looking at sacks filled with cheese, but sacks filled with all the tools and ingredients (minus milk) needed to make my very own cheese! I was ecstatic! It also didn't take me long to see that Ella is one of the most sweet, kind-hearted women you will ever meet. She was so enthusiastic about her kits and about cheese, which got me even more excited, if that was even possible. Ella is down to earth, super friendly, extremely generous and she knows her stuff when it comes to cheese. 

The idea of cheese kits intrigued me, and I have a feta one here at home that Hayden and I are going to make, hopefully this week! I will then update you on how it went, with pictures! :D I'm so excited to try my hand at making some cheese. I have enough supplies for 100lbs of feta! If it goes well, look out family! Guess what you're getting for Christmas :D 

I was definitely curious about Ella and her story and how it was that she began her business "Make Cheese". Ella recalls "I started out blindly. I wanted to start my own online business and the only way I could muster up the courage, was to start small. I had good reason for playing it safe, because the last time I tried a business, my world turned upside down."

"After falling in love, and leaving my teaching job, I pursued a cheesemaking internship in New Jersey. My partner and I at the time, were going to start a farm, and I wanted to make cheese. I set out to do the cheesemaking internship and I learned many things about cheese, and most unexpectedly, I learned lessons from humbling experiences on the farm –things like getting whipped in the face a few times from cow tails caked in "special mud" or being a tour guide on the farm for posh New Yorkers who wanted to see the country." 

Ella felt she needed to be grounded and felt her business plan, to make cheese commercially viable, needed some realism added to it.

"I had to learn that although cheese can be a successful business for many, it takes knowing about nature, animals and science to really be an artisan. After returning from the cheese making internship, everything turned upside down. My relationship ended and I was stuck with a box full of books on cheese and no motivation to pursue being a cheesemaker anymore."

Ella put the idea aside and began marketing at an engineering company. "I didn’t want to talk about cheese for a few years, until a friend of mine encouraged me to see what happened if I sold cheese kits online."

That’s when Ella started Make Cheese Inc to see if she could sell a couple kits a month. In a matter of months the kits were selling like crazy (which I'm not surprised as they are ingenious!). To Ella, it felt like overnight success. 

"I will never forget falling asleep and hearing my phone beep several times during the night. I woke up the next day to see paypal orders flashing on my phone! I started to cry because it was so real – people wanted my cheese kits. I was offering a part of me to help others. My ‘small’ business turned into a assembly line of late-night kit making and recruiting friends and family to help me get through the Christmas season."

Some of Ella's biggest highlights to date are: Being featured on her favourite website: www.springwise.com. Meeting home cheesemakers as she teaches her Cheese Nights (courses on mozzarella in people’s homes. Click here for details about how you can book a Cheese Night with your friends), and being featured in McLean’s magazine.

Ella reminisces on "how my heart melts at how supportive my friends and family have been with my new pursuits. I love them dearly." As is true for all of us, we are more apt to succeed in our endeavours with the support of those we love most. Thank you, Ella's family and friends, for enabling her to create these fantastic kits that we all get to enjoy!

To date, Ella sells the following kits: Cream Cheese, Kefir, Mascarpone, Mozzarella, Brie, Chevre (goat cheese), Feta, Poutine and a soon to be released Gouda kit! Once you try one, you'll want to try them all! It'll make a great Christmas gift for the cheese lover you know, whether you give them the kit, or lovingly make them the cheese yourself :)

You can find Make Cheese, to buy your kits, at the following places: Millerville Christmas Market, Spruce Meadows Christmas Market, Market Collective Market, Make It Productions (Edmonton),  Got Craft (Vancouver) and possibly the East Village Christmas Market. So there's lots of options for you!

For more information on Ella, Make Cheese, kits, hosting a cheese night, etc, please visit her website at

www.makecheese.ca

You can find Make Cheese on Facebook and "like" it here or follow Make Cheese on twitter here

If you have any further questions or would like to contact Ella directly, please email her at

ella@makecheese.ca

Ok, now the part you've been waiting for! The Growing Green special incentive! You won't want to miss out on this one! Trust me :D

Here's what Ella says to do: "Hey readers, thanks for reading this article! I would love to welcome you into cheesemaking -if you visit my facebook page and like my page, then leave a message on my wall regarding where you read the article (Growing Green blog), I will send you free cream cheese ingredients to make your own batch of cream cheese. Complete these steps and email me your address and I will send you your prize in the mail!" I told you she was generous!

Deadline to complete is before December 1st 2012.

Umm….yes please! So don't hesitate to head over to Ella's facebook page.

Next week's feature hint: sewers delight

Beauty Detox Part 1: Chapter 2, Segment I

It's been a while since I last posted the final segment of Chapter 1. I've have readers asking when I would be continuing and I apologize for the lapse in time. Life became a bit crazy since the last Beauty Detox post, and when life is crazy, getting to the computer can be a bit of a challenge. Plus, the Monday features are a priority to get posted before anything else :)

However, it is my hope that I will not keep you waiting longer with this next chapter. So let's dive in shall we?

Chapter 2: Beauty Energy

Medicines have limitations; the divine creative life force has none.
                                                           ~ Swami Sri Yukteswar

"Energy is a key factor in our ability to shed weight easily and permanently, achieve great health and look our most beautiful." Throughout the book, Kimberly refers to energy our bodies use, to do any of the things just mentioned, as Beauty Energy. Just to clarify. We get our energy from foods we eat, the air we breathe, and sunlight, and some of us, through a Spiritual means. "Energy fuels how efficiently our organs work, how efficiently we detox our bodies, and how efficiently our body is able to do the very basic things that contribute to beauty. Energy regenerates our liver and other tissue cells, flushes toxic waste from the body, helps maintain our ideal weight, keeps our skin's collagen smooth and our hair healthy, and keeps blood from stagnating into dark under-eye circles!"

"The more energy we have, the better we feel and the more beautiful we become"

MORE ENERGY = MORE BEAUTY

Now some of you may be thinking "is this a vain book? Why such an emphasis on "beauty"." Kimberly is not talking about beauty in the way of flaunting our good looks or all becoming super models, she's talking about becoming the most beautiful you, inside and out, just as you were made to be. It's not for vanity's sake, it's for health's sake and feeling good in the skin you're in, becoming a more confident you, and being able to truly enjoy life to the fullest because you feel and look your absolute best. How many of us miss out on life events because we are tired, sick, diseased, over-weight, or lacking self-esteem? I, like Kimberly, want you to feel your best, look your best, and BE your best, so you are able and capable to enjoy each day as it comes, to the fullest.

Kimberly talks about one of the major functions our amazing bodies perform, that can suck up most of our energy (more even then going to the gym or doing anything physical): Digestion. "Some experts estimate that digestion takes as much as 50 to 80 percent of our total energy."

"Digestion is the key that can elevate our beauty to the highest levels, or, adversely, take us down, by sucking up precious energy that could be used for other processes."

Thus why we are going to do the Beauty Detox Solution. It's designed to help free up energy from digestion to help us in other areas of our body, such as weight loss.

The Real Cause of Aging

How does the world fight aging? Fillers or face-lifts, avoiding sunlight like it's the plague, lathering in sunscreen if sunlight exposure is inevitable, breaking the bank with expensive antiwrinkle creams, eating fatty fish or taking supplements to help plump or support the skin. Any of that sound familiar? How many of us have tried many, if not all, of these "remedies" to slow down aging. I too am guilty as charged with some of those! But these are all topical "fixes", none of which actually get to the root of aging. Most of us don't understand what actually causes aging.

Kimberly uses a fantastic analogy. We must think of ourselves as a wheel. "When we are children, the wheel rolls along quickly and easily, and without obstruction. We never had to obsess over what to eat, or how many calories or grams of carbs we were ingesting, yet we were always the right weight, had high energy, and slept perfectly. Over time, from years of exposure to less than perfect foods, pollution, preservatives, toxic additives, medications and many other things, waste begins to build up in our bodies. Internal waste is like sludge in the spokes of a wheel."

That's a great visual. A wheel, covered in caked on, hard mud with bits of gravel and grass. Or even worse, that horrible clay around Medicine Hat that is near impossible to get off and sticks to itself the more you walk or ride over it. It becomes near impossible to go anywhere or even move.

So it is with our bodies. We get "sludge" stuck in the "spokes of our wheel" which "prevents the wheel from rolling along powerfully and easily." As years go by, it becomes more and more difficult to maintain weight or have high energy, even if we're eating the same way we were five years earlier.

Issues that were never issues, become issues to us. Annoying issues such as acne and brittle nails, to life-threatening ones, such as various diseases.

"This sludge is what makes us old." We can do whatever else to battle aging with quick fixes such as creams, supplements, Botox etc, but we won't be able to truly fight aging "until we work to clean out the sludge."

Did you know the skin cells on our face are renewed every six to eight weeks? Most of the cells in our body are replaced each year. This is awesome news, because it means that even if we have had poor habits up till now, a lot of the effects of those bad habits are reversible "if we begin to adopt good habits and consistently build on them now." If you follow the Beauty Detox Solution, you will be giving your body "the best quality nutrition while simultaneously cleansing your cells on an ongoing basis." Your body will begin to absorb minerals and nutrients more efficiently and "your cells will become more purified and you will look younger."

This is truly fantastic news!

Stay tuned for segment II - A Clean Body is a Beautiful Body!