Creamy Garden Cucumber Soup - Serve ChilledRaw Vegan, And Gluten Free

Raw almonds make this chilled cucumber soup creamy.

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Busy Week
Sorry it's taken me so long to post this month but we've been busy harvesting 3.7 tons of organic Pinot Noir grapes in our vineyard here in Sebastopol, California. Sudden hot weather caused the sugar in the grapes to quickly spike and we had to scramble to get the grapes harvested. The sugar level dictates the percent alcohol in the wine and since we like our Pinot to be around 14% alcohol or under, we pick our grapes when they are around 24% sugar (Brix) or less. 

Friends, family, and workers came to our rescue and we got it all done in three days. My brother and his wife happened to be visiting (thinking that they were here for a relaxing vacation) only to find themselves out in the field picking grapes. They enjoyed the experience and now have a story to tell back in Charleston, South Carolina.

Check out last year's post on how we make Pinot Noir.

My brother Peter, harvesting grapes.

My sister-in-law Dianne busy at work.

Back to Cucumber Soup
Before we roped Peter and Dianne into harvesting, we did some fun things. It was Sonoma Wine Country Weekend and we took them to a fabulous wine event at Fred MacMurry's Estate that featured 200 wineries and 60 local chefs. 

One of the chefs made a delicious chilled cucumber soup. Since it was creamy I assumed it was made with dairy. (I always have to ask since I'm allergic.) But to my surprise, the cucumbers were blended with almonds (my favorite source of vitamin E). I didn't get the recipe but I have attempted to recreate the dish, especially since my garden is packed with cucumbers right now. My version is a bit thicker and instead of drizzling olive oil over the soup, I use cold-pressed hemp oil since it has more omega-3. 

Cucumbers in my garden

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Creamy Garden Cucumber Soup
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes about 2 1/4 cups - 4 small servings]
Requires a high-speed blender such as a Vitamix 

3 cups diced, peeled cucumbers with large seeds removed
1/4 cups raw almonds, soaked over night
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 small garlic clove, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill plus some for garnish
1 1/4 teaspoon cold-pressed hemp oil

To prepare the cucumbers, peel and quarter lengthwise. If you have large seeds, remove them. Dice and measure 3 cups and place them in a high-speed blender.

Add the soaked almonds, lemon peel, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and dill and blend until smooth. If it's too thick, add a tablespoon of water or non-dairy milk and blend until mixed. Chill until ready to serve. 

To serve, place the soup in 4 small teacups or bowls and drizzle 1/4 teaspoon of hemp or olive oil over each bowl. Take a demitasse spoon or a toothpick and stir the oil into the soup. Garnish with a small piece of dill and serve.

Per serving: 77 calories, 6 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 170 mg omega-3 and 1,749 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 3 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, and 293 mg sodium.

Chimichurri Sauce With Fresh Cilantro, Parsley, And JalapeñoRaw Vegan And Gluten Free

Chimichurri makes a great topping!

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Fresh Herbs
There's nothing like fresh herbs to liven up a dish, especially when they are combined with jalapeño!  This quick and easy chimichurri sauce combines fresh cilantro and parsley, both bringing with them their unique health benefits. Cilantro is known for it's ability to rid the body of heavy metals, such as mercury. And parsley is a vitamin and mineral powerhouse packed with vitamins A, C, K and folate and important minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese.

Most chimichurri recipes have more oil. I've cut the oil with some veggie broth and used more fresh citrus and wine vinegar. For the oils I use omega-3 rich, cold-pressed hemp oil and a good quality, heart-healthy, extra virgin olive oil.

Although chimichurri sauce originated in Argentina as a topping for grilled meat, I like to use it on top of baked potatoes, pasta, beans, steamed veggies, salads, corn fritters, tacos, burritos, eggs, and just about anything that needs extra flavor and spice.

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Chimichurri Sauce
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 1 1/2 cups]
Best when made with a Food Processor such as a Cusinart

1 jalapeño, stem removed and quartered
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1 packed cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 packed cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime or lemon juice
1/4 cup vegetable broth, room temperature
2 tablespoons cold-pressed hemp oil
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

With the food processor running, throw the jalapeño and garlic down the shoot and processes until they are minced.

Minced jalapeño and garlic

Place the cilantro, parsley, salt, pepper, and oregano into the processor and process until the herbs are chopped.

Combine the vinegar, lime or lemon juice, veggie broth, and oils. With the food processor running, pour the mixture slowly down the shoot into the chopped herbs until combined. Do not over process.

Place the sauce in a 2-cup container and serve.

Chimichurri makes a great topping for
Vegetarian Zucchini and Corn Pancakes.

Per 1 tablespoon serving: 28 calories, 3 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 182 mg omega-3 and 838 mg omega-6 fatty acid, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g dietary fiber, and 50 mg sodium. 

And Here Come The Zucchini!Try This Delicious Raw Zucchini Salad

Baby zucchini are used in this chopped veggie salad.

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And Here They Come!
It's funny how excited I get when I harvest my first zucchini and how happy I am at the end of the summer when I pull the plants out for the season. To maintain my joy this year, I've made a promise to myself that I would harvest every zucchini while it is still relatively small. There are several advantages of doing this. First of all, the zucchini and its skin will be tender with few seeds. But most of all, it will keep me from being overwhelmed with the sheer amount of this prolific vegetable.

Female zucchini flowers

Do Your Zucchini Start to Fruit and then Wither?
As prolific as zucchini are, in the beginning of the season you may find that your plants begin to fruit only to wither. If you are having this issue, read last year's post on boy and girl zucchini flowers and how they need to develop before fertilization can take place.

Simple and Delicious Chopped Salad
Here's a simple chopped salad that uses tender baby zucchini. This raw vegan salad is gluten free and less than 100 calories per serving. It is suitable for weight loss and a raw food cleanse. And of course it is a delicious salad to serve anyone during the summer months when these wonderful fresh veggies are in season.

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Zucchini Salad
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[Makes six servings]

2 small zucchini, diced (2 cups)
1 red bell pepper, diced (1 cup)
Kernels from 1 ear corn (1 cup)
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon cold-pressed hemp oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 avocado, diced

Place the zucchini, red bell pepper, corn, red onion, and cilantro in a medium-sized bowl.

Make the dressing in a 2-cup container by combining the lime juice, hemp oil, salt, and pepper. Mix until the salt dissolves. 

Mix the avocado into the dressing and toss gently until well coated. 

Mixing the avocado into the lime dressing
helps prevent it from turning brown.

Pour the dressing and avocado over the chopped salad. Toss gently until all the veggies are well coated and serve.

Per serving: 98 calories, 6 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 389 mg omega-3 and 1,887 mg omega-6 fatty acid, 2 g protein, 11 g carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, and 205 mg sodium.

Update
Oops, we didn't get to this one in time. This guy was hiding under a big leaf!

Romesco Sauce Makes A Wonderful Dip With Almonds, Red Bell Peppers & Tomatoes

Romesco sauce with almonds, peppers, and tomatoes.

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Romesco
This thick, tasty Catalan sauce can be made with various nuts and red bell peppers. I love it with raw almonds because they are such a great natural source of vitamin E. Vitamin E prevents oxidative stress and protects against heart disease, cognitive decline, cancer, cataracts and macular degeneration. It also helps supports the body's immune system. You cannot get too much vitamin E from food but you can over supplement which could lead to excess thinning of the blood and hemorrhage. So each your almonds and put away those supplements! 

Although most recipes toast the almonds, I shy away from roasting any type of nuts as it can damage and alter their polyunsaturated fats.

Romesco sauce is traditionally served with seafood and meats, but it's also wonderful on veggies and as a dip. I recently served this at a tapas and sangria party along with warm focaccia.

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Romesco Sauce
Vegan, Gluten Free (if made with gluten-free bread)
[makes eight (1/4 cup) servings]
Requires a food processor, such as a Cuisinart

2 Italian Roma tomatoes (or 1 large tomato)
4 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 large slice crusty bread (or gluten free)
2 roasted red peppers (1 cup)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus some for greasing pan
2 tablespoons cold-pressed hemp oil
3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon mild pimenton (smoked paprika)
pinch or two cayenne pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Slice the tomatoes in quarters and place them in a slightly greased, small roasting pan with the garlic cloves. Place in the oven and roast until soft, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Tomatoes and garlic before and after roasting.

 Place the almonds in a food processor with an S blade and process them until they are ground. 

Processing the almonds until ground.

Lightly toast the bread. If you want the recipe to be gluten free, use gluten-free bread.

Break up the bread into pieces and process with the ground almonds until the bread forms crumbs.

Rinse the jarred roasted red peppers and pat dry. Add them, along with the roasted tomatoes and garlic, to the food processor.  

Mix the vinegar, oils, salt, smoked paprika, and cayenne in a small cup and stir until well combined. 

Process the roasted red pepper and tomatoes with the almond and bread mixture until it starts to combine. Through the top shoot, slowly drizzle in the vinegar and oil mixture. Process until combined.

Place in a small bowl and serve.

Per 1/4 cup serving: 131 calories, 11 g fat, 1 g total fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 536 mg omega-3 and 3,516 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 3 g protein, 6 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, and 391 mg sodium.

Edamame Succotash SaladSimple And Refreshing Summer RecipeVegan And Gluten Free

Edamame is used instead of lima beans in this
simple and refreshing succotash salad.

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Edamame Lovers
Here's a new twist on succotash that uses edamame instead of lima beans. Edamame are soybeans in their most unprocessed state. I'm a soy fan but only in products like edamame, home made soy milk and tofu. I stay clear of soy protein isolates and fake foods. I have discussed the soy controversy many times but here's a short interview with Dr. Oz and dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick that will hopefully provide additional information on soy and what soy products are good for you and which should be avoided.

You can find frozen edamame in most local supermarkets.

Soybeans contain important plant chemicals such as:
Flavonoids, Isoflavonoids, Phenolic acids, and others.

1/2 cup of edamame has 94.5 calories and provides:
4 g of dietary fiber
8.5 g of high quality protein
280 mg omega-3 fatty acids
Soybeans are a good source of thiamin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper.
They are also a very good source of vitamin K, folate, and manganese.

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Edamame Succotash
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 8 servings]

3 cups fresh corn
12 ounce package frozen shelled edamame
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 jalapeño, seeds removed and minced*
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon cold-pressed hemp oil
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 clove pressed garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste, optional
* leave some or all of the seeds if you like it really spicy

Remove the corn from the cob using my husband's trick of cutting it horizontally. This will keep it from flying all over the kitchen.

Prepare the frozen soy beans as directed on the package. Drain.

Place the corn, cooked edamame, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a large salad bowl. Set aside.

Mix the lime juice, hemp oil, olive oil, and pressed garlic in a small cup. Pour over the corn and edamame and toss until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Per serving: 135.5 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 425 mg omega-3 and 2,239 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 7 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates, 4 g dietary fiber, and 157 mg of sodium.

Pomelo And Avocado Salad, Raw & Gluten Free What's That Giant Yellow Thing In The Produce Department?

Pomelo is a bit sweeter than grapefruit - delicious with avocado!

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The Giant Pomelo
For years I would walk past this giant yellow citrus in the grocery store, not really knowing what it was or what to do with it. But curiosity eventually overcame my reluctance and I brought one home. 

Pomelo, or citrus maxima, is native to Southeast Asia and tastes like a mild and sweeter grapefruit. It's dwarfs the size and price of a grapefruit. I paid $3.99 for a single organic pomelo in Whole Foods but it yielded over a pound of cleaned sections that are packed with vitamin C.

A pomelo (right) next to a very large grapefruit.

This pomelo weighed 2.5 pounds before cleaning.

How to Clean
I like to use everything I can on a pomelo so first I zest some of the skin. I use the zest in salad dressings and when baking muffins.

I use my microplane zester to grate the pomelo.

After getting enough zest, I use a potato peeler to remove some peel to use to flavor my water.

Pomelo peel adds a delicious flavor to drinking water.

To peel the pomelo, slice the top and bottom (enough to reach the top of the fruit.) Score the sides and peel off the thick skin. 

As you can see, the skin is quite thick.

Tear apart the sections and peel off the membrane to expose the flesh of the pomelo. The membrane is quite tough and thick and not pleasant to eat.

Removing the membrane takes a little patience
 but the effort is well worth it.

1 cup of pomelo sections provides:

72.2 calories
 0.1 g total fat
1.4 g protein
18.3 g carbohydrates
193% of the daily requirements of vitamin C

You can eat as is or toss in a fruit or green salad. I think it also screams "Italian Ice." I'll have to try that!

Like grapefruit, pomelo pairs beautifully with avocado. Here's a salad I made with that in mind.

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Pomelo and Avocado Salad 
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 4 servings]

For the dressing
1 clove pressed or finely minced garlic
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated pomelo zest
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon cold pressed hemp oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

For the salad
4 large handfuls of mixed organic greens
1 cup cleaned pomelo sections
1 peeled and sliced avocado
1/4 cup raw English walnut pieces

Make the dressing by mixing all dressing ingredients thoroughly. Set aside.

Toss the greens in a large bowl with enough dressing to coat, reserving some for the pomelo and avocado. Place in 4 individual salad bowls.

Place the pomelo and avocado in the large bowl and gently toss with a small amount of dressing to coat. Place one forth of the pomelo and avocado in each salad bowl spreading them evenly over the greens.

Top each salad with 1 tablespoon of walnut pieces and serve.

Per serving of salad: 135 calories, 10 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 701 mg omega-3 and 3360 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 3 g protein, 10 g carbohydrates, 4 g dietary fiber, and 23 mg sodium.

Per tablespoon of dressing: 51 calories, 5 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 422 mg omega-3 and 1867 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 0 g protein, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g dietary fiber, and 117 mg sodium.

Romano Green Bean And Garbanzo Bean Salad With Basil Pumpkin Seed Pesto And Cherry Tomatoes - Vegan And Gluten Free

Romano beans are an Italian snap bean.

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Romano Beans
If your garden is still producing beans, cherry tomatoes, and basil, here's a salad that I think you'll enjoy!

Romano beans are my favorites. They are Italian snap beans. If you can't find them in the grocery store, try the farmers' market. They are fun and easy to grow too. You can use any kind of green bean in this salad so if you don't have access to Romano beans, just substitute what you have.

Romano green beans

Pesto
Making pesto is a great way to use up that garden basil while you still have it. At the end of the summer, I like to make lots of pesto and I freeze it in 1/2 cup servings. It freezes well, especially when you make it with lemon juice (which I always do) which allows it to keep its color. I use cold-pressed hemp oil when making pesto for a salad and extra virgin olive oil if it's going into a cooked dish. Hemp oil should never be used for cooking as it will destroy the heat-sensitve omega-3 fatty acids.

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Romano and Garbanzo Bean Salad with Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes
Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 6 servings]
Requires a food processor

For the pesto
1 large clove of garlic
1 packed cup fresh basil
1 heaping tablespoon Red Star nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons raw, shelled pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons cold pressed hemp oil or extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste

For the salad
1 pound Romano or other type green bean
1 (15 oz) can no salt added garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup pesto (above)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Run the garlic through the chute of the food processor. Add the basil, nutritional yeast, pumpkin seeds, oil, lemon juice, and salt and process until almost smooth. Set aside.

Pesto ingredients

Processed pesto

Prepare the green beans. Trim the ends and cut in half. Steam until just fork tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Test occasionally to prevent overcooking.

If the cherry tomatoes are large, cut them in half.

Place cooked green beans, garbanzo beans, cherry tomatoes, and pesto in a large bowl and toss until well combined. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste and serve.

Toss in a large bowl.

Per serving: 176 calories, 7 g total fat, 0.7 g saturated fat, 724 mg omega-3 and 2,636 g omega-6 fatty acids*, 7 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 7 g dietary fiber, and 113 mg of sodium**.

*Essential fatty acids do not include any contribution from the nutritional yeast since that information is not available from the manufacturer. 

** The amount of sodium does not include the amount added "to taste". 

No-Cook Tomato Sauce With Garlic And Fresh Basil - Vegan And Gluten Free

No-cook tomato sauce on gluten-free brown rice noodles.

Check out my ebook, Health Begins in the Kitchen.

Garden Tomatoes
Is your garden loaded with ripe tomatoes? Are you looking for ways to enjoy them?
Here's a quick and easy no-cook sauce that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes. And don't leave out the oil!  Good fats, when eaten with foods that contain lycopene (like tomatoes), have been shown to increase serum lycopene levels. Increased lycopene levels have been linked to reduced risk of coronary artery disease. That makes sense since lycopene is fat-souble.

I use a little cold-pressed hemp oil in this recipe for the beneficial omega-3 fatty acid. Hemp oil should never be heated on high temperatures as it will destroy the omega-3. You can also use extra virgin olive oil, especially if you plan to put it over direct heat. I typically use this sauce at room temperature and toss it in with hot pasta.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid associated with lowering the risk of coronary artery disease.

  
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No-Cook Tomato Sauce with Garlic and Basil
Raw Vegan, Gluten Free
[makes 1 1/2 cups]

1 pound ripe, tomatoes (about 3 good size tomatoes)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cold-pressed hemp or extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Fill a small pot of water and bring to a boil.

Wash the tomatoes. Cut out the stems and score an x on the bottom of each tomato.

Tomatoes with stems cut out and bottoms scored.

Drop the tomatoes in boiling water for 1 minutes to loosen their skins.

Parboiling helps loosen their skins.

Gently remove the tomatoes with a slotted spoon and place in a colander to cool. When they are cool to touch, remove their skins.

Skins peel off easily.

Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally. Holding each half in your hand, over a sink, squeeze out the seeds and some of the juice.

Tomato halves after seeds are removed.

Chop the tomatoes and place them in a bowl with basil, garlic, oil, salt, and pepper.

Chopped tomatoes, garlic, basil, oil, salt and pepper.

Mix to combine.

Ready to eat!

Toss the room-temperature sauce with hot pasta or pour over hot polenta and serve.

Nutritional information: Note that the hemp oil provides more essential fatty acids than the olive oil.

Per one half cup of sauce (with hemp oil): 70 calories, 5 g total fat, 0.3 g saturated fat, 677 mg omega-3 and 2,792 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 7 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, and 202 mg sodium.

 Per one half cup of sauce (with extra virgin olive oil): 70 calories, 5 g total fat, 0.6 g saturated fat, 45 mg omega-3 and 565 mg omega-6 fatty acids, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g protein, 7 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, and 202 mg sodium.