The Avocado Queen Welcomes You

This blog is mostly about raw vegetarian/vegan recipes, many of which incorporate avocados. Since I became a raw/live food vegan several years ago, avocados became an important part of my diet. I'd even say that they are my favorite food, and as it turns out, they are also considered one of the world's healthiest foods. While my primary purpose here is to showcase avocados and how awesome they are, I will also share some recipes that are just plain good raw/live food as well as vegan food.

Most recipes are accompanied by a meditation or reflection - posting as "food for thought."

Wishing you peace, love, joy, and blessings wherever you are in your journey towards health...

All recipes of the Avocado Queen are original creations. In some cases, variations on other recipes have been made and credit of that original source has been given.

All content on this blog is strictly the property of the owner or has been used with permission. If you see a recipe or photo that you like, please contact the owner for permission to share it...more than likely, your request will be honored as long as you agree to give credit to the original source.

11.02.2010

Recipe for Enlightenment - Kale Salad

photograph by Jon-Erik Lido

Being enlightened means discovering the light within, acknowledging it and letting it shine.  So often in our stressful day-to-day lives the light within us becomes obscured by doubt, guilt, blame, fear, and other negative feelings. 

The good news is that our inner light is stronger than all of these things.  When we discover our inner light and let it shine, doubt, guilt, blame, fear, and all negativity disappear.  How then do we get in touch with our light within? 

Experiencing joy, hope, love, connection, peacefulness, and other positive emotions will put us in touch with our true selves, and then we will be able to see and know the light within.  Moreover, we must also acknowledge that it is there and let it shine, not only for ourselves but also for others.  The moments where life feels full of bliss are the moments when we are "enlightened."

There are many ways to experience joy, hope, love, connection, and peacefulness: prayer, meditation, giving/receiving a hug, making/listening to music, yoga, playing on a jungle gym, and of course, preparing and consuming food.

Recipe for Enlightenment - Kale Salad


Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch curly green kale - remove stems, wash, and tear into bite size bits  (about 8 cups tightly packed)
  • 3 TB extra virgin olive oil, first cold press
  • 2 TB Bragg's Liquid Aminos or nama shoyu or tamari
  • 2 TB apple cider vinegar, unpasteurized (or half of a lemon juiced)
  • 1 clove of garlic - pressed (or finely chopped)
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • optional garnishing: alfalfa or similar sprouts, shredded carrots, sliced mushrooms, sliced red/yellow/orange bell pepper, sliced avocado

Process:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, Bragg's (or substitute), apple cider vinegar (or fresh lemon juice), garlic, and cayenne with a whisk.  Then toss in the kale leaves, squeezing and massaging them so that they are well coated and turn a very vibrant green color.  The leaves should wilt down to about half their original size.  Garnish if desired.  Makes about 4 one cup servings.  It will keep well for a day or two in the fridge.

This recipe is about providing physical as well as spiritual nutrition. As you enjoy it, let it carry away toxins and negativity. As a source of green power, let it energize your soul and kindle the light within. Eat with gratitude; experience physical and spiritual nourishment.

This recipe is a quick and easy raw/live food dish.  Many proponents of the raw vegan lifestyle suggest that eating raw/live foods helps us be "light beings"; our bodies and our souls are lighter and we can more easily radiate light.

Kale is an excellent way to get Vitamins A, C, and K into our diets.  Vitamin K helps our bodies reduce inflammation.  Kale is an excellent source of fiber.  Also, kale nourishes our cardiovascular and digestive systems.