Raw Vegan Lemon Cranberry Ice "Cream" {3 ingredients}

It's been such a miserable winter (& equally miserable Spring here in Canada), that I am so very excited to say these next two words:

"IT'S SUMMER!"

And to celebrate the first day of summer, here's a special treat that's super quick and easy to whip up for the hot summer days ahead.

 

Here's what you'll need (only three ingredients):

• 2 bananas, peeled & chopped
• 1/2 lemon, freshly squeezed
• 2 handfuls of dried cranberries (extremely precise measurements are always used here on Shanghai Monkey)

The taste of the ice "cream" will very much depend on both the ripeness of the bananas and how much lemon juice you add.  I had very ripe bananas, so I used half of a very large lemon to give the final dish a sweet, but also tart flavour.

Mix the bananas and the lemon juice in a freezer safe container.  Mix well and make sure all the bananas are coated in the lemon juice and place in the freezer overnight.

The next day simply toss the mixture into the food processor along with the cranberries.  Combine in the food processor until the mixture begins to resemble soft serve ice cream.  Remember not to blend for too long or you'll end up with a smoothie.

Use an ice cream scoop to serve.

I love the bright red cranberry flecks in the yellow mounds of ice "cream"

The variations on banana soft serve style ice "cream"s are only bound by your imaginations.  Here are some of the others featured on my blog:

The original raw serve ice "cream"

Triple Berry raw serve ice "cream"

Blueberry Pie raw serve ice "cream"

Cinny (cinnamon) raw serve with walnuts

Double Strawberry raw serve ice "cream"

Wishing you many happy & sunny days of summertime fun and festivities.  The sun is already shining it's mighty beams on my newest dessert creation ...

Quick & Easy Recipes | VEGAN Round-up

Here are a few of the lovely looking vegan recipes that have been popping up in my news feed recently ...

Raw Coconut Lemon Bites from The Vegan Pact

Gracious Living Banana Maca Chai Pudding

Sweet n' Succulent Kale & Avocado Salad by Karen Knowler via Better Raw

Raw Pear Berry Swirl Cheesecake by Sweetly Raw

Get Glowing Superfoods Breakfast Pudding by Healthful Pursuit

Raw Coconut Bok Choy Spicy Soup by Rawmazing

Ginger-Peanut Power Up Greens Salad Rolls by Healthy.Happy.Life

Sweet Zen Popcorn by The Simple Veganista

My mouth is watering looking at all these wonderful dishes.  I hope I can photograph my creations this beautifully one day.

Raspberry Pomegranate Smoothie | Vegan | Raw | G-free

Here's a quick and easy recipe for a pick-me-up smoothie with tons of health benefits:

• seeds and juice from 1 pomegranate
• 1 cup raspberries
• juice of 1 fresh orange
• raw honey (or other sweetener) to taste

Swirl everything together in the blender until smooth.

Renown as a "super-food" pomegranates have a long list of health benefits, including:

• Polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that aid in heart health and anti-cancer benefits
• These polyphenols may also help prevent plaque buildup in arteries 
• The seeds have more antioxidant power than cranberry juice or green tea
• Lowered blood pressure and delay the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in patients with coronary heart disease
• Improved blood flow
• May slow the progression of prostate cancer
• An excellent source of fibre, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium
• One pomegranate supplies one-quarter of a day’s worth of folate (a B vitamin needed to synthesize and repair DNA) and one-third of your daily vitamin C
• One medium pomegranate contains: 3.5 grams fiber, 9 milligrams vitamin C, 14 micrograms vitamin K and 205 milligrams potassium, as well as being an excellent source of polyphenols.

So go ahead and add a little pom to your next smoothie.

Orange Cranberry Pecan Holiday Cookies (Raw & Vegan)

Remember my self-proclaimed horrible photography skills?

Well the photos of these Holiday cookie balls prove I am getting better, right?

(I do hope so ...)

Here's a quick and easy raw vegan cookie to serve this Holiday season.  I think the cherry red cranberries give it a festive look.  Here's what you'll need:

loving this font by Jenna Sue Design Co.

Into the food processor goes:

• 1 cup pecans
• 1/2 cup dates, pitted
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• zest of 1 orange + a squeeze of the juice
• raw honey, to taste (I used approx. 3 tablespoons)

Since I was using whole pecans, I pulsed them in the food processor first and then added everything else.  If the mixture seems too goopy, add more pecans.  Roll into balls or flat round cookie shapes.

I hope these sweet treats bring a little joy to your holiday season.

2013 Eco Holiday Gift Guide

1. Enchantmints' wooden fairy forest lodge toy
2. Organic & fair trade Holiday Spice Set (cloves, nutmeg & cinnamon) from The Spicy Gourmet
3. Vegan lip tar and nail lacquer set from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
4. TOMS+ Grey Serpentine Desert wedges for women
5. Mosey working girl bag (made from 35 plastic bottles)

Have you started your holiday shopping yet?

What does HEIRLOOM mean?

The first thing that pops into my mind when I hear the term heirloom is tomato.  But recently I started to wonder: What exactly is an heirloom tomato?  It sounds like it's a really old tomato from your great great grandmother ...

... well actually it kind of is, but not in a pin cushion way.

Heirloom plants (there are many, not just tomatoes) are grown from seeds that have been passed on for generations.  Most importantly, these seeds have not been modified.  Heirloom seeds are grown using traditional gardening techniques, and relying on a process called open pollination.

Over time farmers save the seeds of their best plants - the ones that are the most vigorous, disease resistant, and flavorful. They then save the seeds from these plants and use them again the following year. This careful selection process ensures that only the best plants available are grown.

Why is HEIRLOOM important?

• superior taste
• promotes bio-diversity
• utilizes eco-friendly and sustainable farming methods
• not genetically modified (non GMO)
• seeds are hand cultivated over the years to ensure resistance to local diseases, pests, and weather extremes, which yields heartier crops with less pesticides
• supports family owned small farms

And now for the question on everyone's mind:

Is HEIRLOOM the same thing as ORGANIC?

No, the two terms are not the same.  However they are very closely related and frequently appear together.  Organic has nothing to do with using seeds from 50 generations ago, however organic produce, like heirloom cannot be genetically modified.

Another important note is that farmers of heirloom plants can spray their crops with whatever they like.  Although farmers who are interested in heirloom seeds are probably the type of people who purposely would not use artificial pesticides and fertilizers. While browsing the farmer's markets you might find most of the heirloom plants out there are grown according to organic standards, but are not certified organic, (which is a costly and sometimes lengthy process).

Now is the time that the farmer's markets are stocked with heirloom tomatoes, so go get 'em and enjoy!    

Updated Recipe Page (& embarrassing photos)

 Updated!

It took hours upon hours of HTML code and re-uploading photos from 2008-2010, but I finally have a modern and up-to-date list of my recipes (mostly raw and vegan) featured here on the blog.

I have a separate page for smoothies and other drinks, which I am currently working on updating as well.  I'll be sure to announce when everything is done, so stay tuned.

As all you fellow bloggers know probably just about the worst thing about having a blog is looking back at your photography from when you first started ...

Oh my!  
This is a raw vegan apple pie from my Raw Thanksgiving Post, which incidentally (and also incredibly embarrassing) is currently the most popular post on my blog!  Looking at the photo makes me cringe ... I think I might have even photographed it IN the fridge!!  I mean I couldn't even arrange the apple slices in a decorative way??!!

Anyhow as a result, I now have an irrational urge to re-photograph EVERYTHING!  I think the yogi in me can "let it go and let it be" ... except for the apple pie.  It has to be re-done.

Have you ever gone "back in time" on your blog?

  

Gluten-Free Goodies

Here are a few treats (sans gluten) I am lovin' these days ...

1. Udi's Au Naturel granola
2. LÄRABAR's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
3. LesserEvil's Chia Crisps in crunchy dill pickle
4. Giddy Yoyo's raw organic chocolate bars (any & all varieties)
   
5. Veggie-Go's Cinnamon Spiced Beet fruit snack

Organic Tip # 6: What's So Great About Organic Flowers?

What could be more organic than a pretty pink tulip, glistening with dew and growing out of the rich soil and into the sunlight, right?

Wrong!  Unless that delicate tulip came from your own garden, how do you really know how it's been treated?  Luckily there are now organic certifiers for plants.  Look for their logo and rest assured about the origin and treatment of your flowers.

5 GREAT things about organic flowers:

1. Organic flowers are eco-friendly and has the least negative impact on the environment (when compared to conventionally grown flowers)
2. Toxic chemical usage is minimized or eliminated.  That means no harsh and artificial pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers or other funky chemicals. 
3. Organic flowers are good for the soil.  When you add harsh chemicals to soil, some of the nutrients are lost and the natural pH is thrown off balance.  Dry, lifeless sand does not grow nice looking flowers, so conventional farmers need to add more chemicals back into the soil to regain the nutrients that are lost.  This creates a cycle of growing that does not and cannot work long term. 
4. Growing organic plants are safer for farmers and farm workers.  You know when you're looking at your garden (or lawn) and wondering how you can easily remove the weeds, without using chemicals that might be dangerous for your children and pets.  Well think about the people who do this for a living.  Do you want others to handle potentially harmful chemicals, exposing themselves to numerous health risks daily?
5. Research consistently shows that organic farming is far better for the environment and more sustainable than conventional farming (food or flowers).  Organic growing methods honor the natural cycles of plants, harnesses the helpful assistance of insects, birds, water and the sun.     

And now for the age ol' question ... how will I know which flowers are organic?

Veriflora  is a third party sustainability certification program for fresh cut flowers and potted plants.  Their website outlines their main objective as: 

"Encouraging farming practices that build soil, conserve water and support healthy ecosystems.  Promoting a healthy, equitable workplace that supports farmers, workers, their families and the community.  Supporting handling practices from seed to store that allow you to enjoy flowers and plants that look beautiful and last longer."

On closer inspection I couldn't find the word organic anywhere, but instead a healthy plethora of sustainability instead (me thinks the lawyers are responsible for that one).  However Veriflora seems to be the front runner on organic cut flower certification, and it seems that they are doing a good job so far.  

Did you know that the trusty Fairtrade logo is popping up on flowers too?  And Fairtrade is not just about paying a fair wage, it's also about the health and safety of workers.  According to the Fairtrade Canada website, "a detailed set of safety regulations specific to flower production limit the use of agrochemicals and prohibit the use of banned pesticides."  Again no mention of our favourite word organic ... but we'll get there one day.  Baby steps.

Where do you get your cut flowers?

I Like His Style: Blake Mycoskie

It's been a while, but I finally found another person worthy of a feature in one of my style posts ...

Last year I came across hottie humanitarian, Blake Mycoskie's book and I gotta say ...

I like his style! 

While traveling in Argentina, Blake was shocked to see many children without shoes.  Not a stranger to business (he already had started several), he began to brainstorm ways to help.  Helping children in under developed countries is not exactly a novel idea, so Blake knew it had to be different while still keeping a connection to the idea's Argentinian roots.  When he realized there may be a market back home for the unique and simple shoes worn in Argentina, TOMS was born.  For each and every shoe purchased another shoe is given to a child in need, a philosophy Blake calls One for One.   

That was back in 2006, and oh how far has TOMS come now.  I remember seeing the black, red or dark blue shoes all over college/universities campuses.  But now I am seeing all kinds of fun patterns, sparkly glitters and even VEGAN styles (no leather!!)

Of course Blake himself is frequently seen around town wearing his TOMS.  Wearing them both stylishly and cleverly, I think.  Wearing two different shoes to showcase two different styles.  Smart.

Actually I think his entire business concept is smart, and so do a lot of others.  Among TOMS' many other accomplishments, in 2011 Blake was named as one of the top entrepreneurs in Fortune Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 list.

How many products do we hear about or see where only a portion of the profits go to charity, or a measly $1 from a $40 bottle of shampoo goes to the endangered species of the month?  Too often.  What I like about TOMS (and so do others) is that when I buy a pair of shoes I know that the exact same shoe will be donated to someone who needs it (well ... actually I am not sure if he donates the sparkly glitter shoes, but you know what I mean).   

What I love even more about Blake is that he was photographed with my first style post muse, Lauren Bush, and they are each posing with their iconic style pieces.

I can see Blake Mycoskie's future and boy is it bright.  So bright he's going to need sunglasses.  Good thing TOMS has also started an eyewear line.

Happy Earth Day!

The trees may have looked like neon polyester fluff, but Dr. Seuss was wise beyond his years.

This Earth Day, I hope you do not buy anything, do not drive anywhere, use water mindfully,  creatively reuse/upcycle something you would have tossed in the trash and take some time to ponder the Lorax's words ...

Green Springin'

Here are some of my favourite things for this spring (of course all with a little dash of eco-ness):

1. Kids wooden rainbow puzzle from LivEco 
2. Blooms reusable gift wrap (with soy-based ink) from chewing the cud 
3. Daisy wristlet made from candy wrappers from Ecoist 
4. The twister tank from eco-chic boutique Carrot Banana Peach 
5. Camino fair trade, certified organic chocolate Easter bunnies

What's the Difference Between Natural and Organic?

"All natural"

"Eco-friendly"

"made from sustainable resources"

"locally produced"

Have you ever wondered exactly what these catch phrases mean?  Unfortunately sometimes these are just that, catch phrases and marketing tools to confuse health conscious consumers with pure intentions.

You can read my post about green washing techniques here.

The Canada Organic logo was designed to help clear up some of this confusion.  When you see the logo below you can be sure that the product is certified organic using Canadian standards.  That means no artificial pesticides or fertilizers and no genetic modifications.

Here's a quick summary from a recent article in the Globe and Mail:

Photo Source

If you are still in doubt use this handy organic check list made by the Canadian Organic Trade Association.

I know, I know, now you're probably thinking "hey what about my favourite booth at the local farmer's market?  There's no logo on their apples, should I abandon them and go to Wal-Mart instead?"  (Yes, there are certified organic products in Wal-Mart and many other chain stores).

Generally I would recommend, no logo, no buying (referring to the Canada Organic logo of course).  However there are some exceptions.  If you can talk directly to the producers and can be assured of how their products are grown and prepared, then certification may seem unnecessary.  In fact there are lots of smaller farms that are growing organic food that could meet certification standards, but they cannot afford to officially certify. 

The Canada Organic logo is a result of the increasing distance between consumers and the producers of their food.  When I'm in the grocery store buying an apple I only have the tiny produce sticker to tell me where this apple has come from.  I have no information regarding it's treatment, growth or conditions of transportation to the store.  Basically I am uninformed.  The Canada Organic logo, on the other hand, provides a wealth of information about the food it is found on, allowing consumers to make informed choices on the food they purchase and eat. 

So keep on hunting for that little red, green and white logo ...