How Ila Uses Coconut The Superfood

Greetings Family,

As I promised, just a simple post about how I use coconut, as I recommend you do too because it really is a superfood filled with so much nutrition as an oil, as water or as "white meat" - coconut is the real white meat! Very sweet and filling too.
Now this is just my biased opinion - there are raw vegans who don't use coconut because they believe it has the wrong balance of sugars. But again to each his or her own. Coconut water is so pure it can be used for blood transfusions and it still provides hydration for the cells - although the argument is also that a raw food diet without an dehydrating foods like Nori and cocoa will require little water. 

                                           

First of all coconut water is the bomb! As often as I can get them off the tree I have it. Sometimes we buy from vendors. It hydrates and cleans the body and blood instantly. Makes you feel happy and ready to go on the inside. It is just the perfect boost. It is best to drink young coconut water because when it ages it gets very fatty and sweet. I don't mind this though because I like it to use as a natural source of fats, healthy fats. 

                                        

Daily I use coconut oil. I use it for oil pulling, which is an ageless method of dental care, naturally. In the morning I take a mouthful, not too full though, and I swish it around and gargle for about twenty minutes. You will get saliva added in with the oil as you swish so don't take too much oil to begin, a tablespoon is enough. I usually swallow it when I'm done as a vitamin. But apparently I am ingesting toxins the oil is removing, so I guess it is up to you - you can spit it out in the toilet trash or in the garden.
 For smokers this is a great practice to have once or better twice a day, because it freshens breath and protects against gum disease. I recommend you look it up for better tips on how to oil pull.

It is good otherwise to just drink a spoonful of the oil for a vitamin, it hardly has a taste so don't be apprehensive! If you can't do that then you can try eating it with food.

I also add the coconut oil, which is specifically cold-pressed not cooking oil, to what I'm eating. When I make my salad dressings, I always include this oil, again to add more healthy fats to the meal.

 I also stir fry my veggies or make my peas or beans with it.

A popular trend that I myself have tried and will do again is making marijuana coconut oil. It involves heating and steeping for four hours, the marijuana in the oil. It must be a very low temp. Crock pots are mainly used to do this. the herb is lightly toasted first. But do check on YouTube for a variety of DIY videos.

My whole family uses this coconut oil for our hair and body too. I put it on when InI natty are still damp because the hair absorbs it better. I use it for scalp itch. I also used it for my babies in the diaper area. Coconut oil can also be used as a safe all natural lubricant for king and queen - but please do not mix with latex!

I love eating the white jelly of coconuts, so delicious and very filling! I also use the dried white meat in the shredded form. I blend it with water for milk and strain that, add a little cinnamon and nutmeg to taste. You can use this with oats to make smoothie bowls of cereal.   My kingman puts that in his oats punch too. I love to put the shredded coconut in my salad too, again to add fats. I also eat it plain as a substitute for unhealthy chocolate snacks. The reason being is that raw foods which I eat until dinner, makes you lose weight, that's why most of these raw vegans online do it to begin with. But I'm not trying to lose weight skinny as I am! I'm just trying to heal and become truly Ital and balanced, so I don't want to lose weight at all, so nuts seeds coconut and avocado and oils are the foods I eat for maintaining weight.

Coconut meat can also be used to make yogurt - i have done it but not with the added probiotics. If you want it to taste like yogurt these healthy gut bacteria must be added and allowed to stand overnight I believe. I would like to try one day.

I have recently bought coconut flour but I haven't figured out how I will use it vegan yet, as it will require trial and error. Cause they say it needs a lot of eggs and liquid to make it work. I have only used it to make bliss balls, which are just dates, nuts and gluten-free flour blended and rolled together into a ball.

So I hope this post gave you a few leads to check up on, do your coconut research and make it fit into your daily routine for better health! And don't forget to link RastaWifeLine on IG, reasoning to soon come I know ones are wondering what has happened, but it is all in the works! Bless!

 Love!

Ila

Date Paste: Your New Raw Snack and Sugar Substitute

Blessed Love

So many times I have wanted to post but alas I get sidetracked and then I forget! So today I made the effort to just post something short and quick. I've got  a backlog of recipes to share but I am also toying with making a small recipe book that you can simply download or print to have on hand whenever you need inspiration to eat healthy, or tips for maintaining a TRULY ITAL Livity. Soo...

Dates.

They are very sweet! High in fructose, but rich in iron, magnesium, manganese and B Vitamins! 

I don't know how people can sit an eat a whole bunch because of how sweet they are, but I appreciate how great a sweetener it is, and the fact that it is great for IRON and ENERGY because eating mostly raw foods everyday sometimes I feel very crash, like I just didn't get enough calories or carbs.

So I decided to try date paste since so many raw vegans rave on about it. And they were right, it is pretty rawsome! It really makes snacking in between or breakfast, have a great boost in nutritional value and taste.

Many people use the Medjool dates from the Near East But there are also California dates. I have seen both in Xtra Foods here in Trinidad, for about $20.00 TT or more for a pack which is not bad. Dates can last for eight months to a year in the fridge so don't worry About them spoiling once they are properly sealed.

Basically to make date paste you take a handful of dates and put them in a jar. Cover them with water, just a little over the top of the dates is fine. And just let it soak an hour. Pour off the water and blend the dates, using just 1 1/2 tablespoons of the date water.

And presto voila! You have date paste. Just store in the fridge in a Sealed container. 

I add a dollop to cucumber, apple and pineapple slices, the size of the dollop varies by what I am having. It tastes fabulous!

Now for the water left over I used it to sweeten freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and a smoothies, and it was effective!  So I think it can work for lemonade and limeade, passion fruit juice, whatever you need to sweeten! Now your natural juice can really be natural. It can replace cane juice and those syrups which are not raw or very healthy. If you need a specific amount of date water for your recipe just add the measurement to the dates when you are soaking! 

You can also add the dates to your green smoothies directly to mask the taste or lack of great taste green juices tend to have! I have done it before, but with just two dates, other people use way more, but again it is about how sweet you like your foods to be.  How about using it to sweeten almond milk? 

Or using the date paste instead of applesauce or bananas, when baking? I am eager to try that! 

How about blending them with banana to make nice cream? I see lots of raw vegans use dates and bananas together in green smoothies.

I think the possibilities are endless. 

So just remember, dates are high in fructose but the other nutrients they carry make them a great natural, raw food to add to fruit and vegetable snacks. Just don't overdo it. I'd say a dollop of paste is like 2-3 dates tops.

If you have other interesting ways you use date paste let me know! The children will probably love it!

Remember, it is great for energy boosting and keeping that iron up as women, we need that for outer cycles.

 Next post is on how I use coconut oil!

Ila

Raw Almond Cheese and Eggplant Mini Pizza

Greetings!

I wish to share a recipe for a very simple nut cheese that I came up with when making veggie pizza. Now unfortunately this cheese will not melt because it has no liquid in it like water or almond milk, so while I call it a cheese, it is more of a topping, that reminds me a lot of coconut flakes in texture. Now I personally don't think vegetable pizza actually needs cheese, the way I make it (a recipe to followup very soon as I plan to give it a second test tomorrow) so if you are looking for a melting cheese you can try what I have put below which is what I did in my cashew cheese recipe. I have to try it also to see how it will melt. You can also check some other vegan bloggers.

This almond cheese goes perfectly with salad or even a sandwich as a topping. If I still ate tofu eggs I'd definitely add to my omelet. The added bonus is that you can use as much as you would like and not be overpowered in flavour (because of the soaking).



ALMOND CHEESE

TOPPING
1 cup almonds raw
2 tbsp coconut oil
1 tbsp dried basil (optional)


Soak almonds overnight in the water or at least 6 hours. Make sure they are well covered. Peel off the skins when time is up. A lot of people do not soak their almonds to retain the great oils and flavour, be that as it may, almonds unsoaked will not digest in the tummy because the blocking enzymes have not been neutralized by soaking.

Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor until it becomes I thick paste that is soft and spreadable.  You have to mix and stop constantly because it is a very dry mixture, it just requires a bit of patience especially if using a plain ole blender.

It will still be grainy in a very fine texture but with no visible chunks of almonds.

Scrape it all into a bowl and mash around with a spoon.

Mould into a ball and place in a ziplock bag. Freeze for at least 2-4 hours.

It should be hard enough to grate over pizza.

The crumble will not melt.


For a cheese that can spread try adding these ingredients:

2 tbs apple cider vinegar or juice of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic

two stalks of chive
1 cup Water (slightly warm to help the almonds blend)
Blender or food processor

2 tsps nutritional yeast

If you want a mild taste leave out chive and garlic. nutritional yeast just for flavour it is not necessary.

Now for a recipe that will put your new almond cheese to great use!


EGGPLANT PIZZA

This is the same concept as baking or grilling seasoned eggplant slices, but with some fresh grated and chopped veggies on top.

1 eggplant
Turmeric powdered
Cumin powdered
Dried basil
Dried Italian seasoning
Dried parsley
Baking tray
Coconut or olive oil

small piece pumpkin
small carrot
small beet
1/2 sweet pepper
2 medium tomatoes



Slice the eggplant into 1/4 inch thin circles.
Grate pumpkin, beet, carrot; and chop sweet pepper and tomato. I actually used the veggies from my rainbow salad to whip up these pizzas to show how easily they can be prepared!

Put half in a big bowl and sprinkle all the seasons on the pieces. If it is dry sprinkle a little water to help the seasoning to stick.
Do the same to the rest of the eggplant. 

Transfer to greased pan with or without foil, it is up to you. Cover each piece of eggplant with the vegetables prepared. 

Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes on medium heat around 150 C.

Pull out and allow to cool 15 minutes.

Serve with grated almond cheese on top.
Two bites and they’re gone! Lovely little mini pizza substitutes. 

Will not be a favorite of anyone who doesn’t like "mushy" eggplant however.


Stay tuned for more to come, now that I have internet, I will be able to keep things going here on RastaWifeLine and InI YouTube channel.

Totally Raw Plantain Dressing for Salad Recipe

Blessed Love all loved ones in Fari!

Today's post is a recipe of one of my Sistren Kindele of TuffLikeIron clothing, who is also a raw vegan and activist. She taught another Sistren - Sis Quilin of The Fire is Lit Bookstore (you can find her store on etsy!) this recipe and she in turn recommeneded it to me - and I am so glad I tried it with this aging plantain I had in the kitchen.
FYI - plantain is in the family of banana - it is actually meant to be eaten RAW! and because the thought of it seems too tangy and like it would twist up your mouth I was reluctant to try it. But one thing to remember is that plantains are ultimately VERY SWEET! so there is no fear in trying it raw in this particular recipe because it is quite sweet with a lovely array or seasonings to spice it up.
Now I decided the added ingredients in this recipe here my own, and you can too. but this recipe here is pretty tasty!

RAW PLANTAIN DRESSING

1 ripe plantain (skin should be black)

half an onion

1 pimento

2 strings chive

ginger powder or a piece of ginger

dash Braggs liquid amino (soy sauce) 

(sea salt if you wish)

1 tsp olive oil (you could try another like sesame or coconut to see how the flavours mesh)

                   

Combine the above ingredients in the blender

Pause and shake to get it going, you don't need to add anything else.

It will be smooth and whipped and light!

          

Make your salad and spread the dressing sauce on top, makes enough for two people. I had mine with one large potato boiled, but baking is always better. try it with a sweet potato instead and you will be in heaven. I usually use a ground provision with my salad for the meal to be heavier, but a bigger salad will also work!

 This is the best raw salad I have had yet, try it and let I know how it goes!

Bless!

Ila