Fennel Salad and raw "Cheez" veggie dip

Tonight's Dinner

This was a bittersweet meal.  First, I had never tried fennel, so branched out to try a fennel salad recipe from "Live Raw" by Mimi Kirk.  Note: I now know I do not like fennel raw.  It oddly tastes like licorice...  The fantastic part of this meal was the raw vegan "cheez" veggie dip that I made.  MOST AMAZING FOOD EVER.  It has the consistency of hummus and has a cheesy taste that is to die for.  And, it's raw!  :)

Recipes by Mimi Kirk, Live Raw p. 120

Fennel Salad (Serves 2)

- 2 cups fennel bulb, thinly sliced

- 1 cup spinach

- 1 sweet red pepper, sliced or chopped

The dressing

- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

- 4 tblsp. lemon juice

- 1 clove garlic, minced

- himalayan salt to taste

Whisk all ingredients together until well incorporated.

Raw "Cheez" Veggie Dip

- 1 cup cashews, soaked for 4 hours

- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, soaked for 4 hours

- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

- 2 tablespoons lemon juice

- 3/4 cup water (more if needed)

- 1/2 cup EVOO

- 1 clove garlic

- 1 tblsp. onion

- two generous pinches turmeric

- pinch paprika

- himalayan salt to taste

- pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth.  Start with half a cup of water and add more if needed to make a smooth thick mixture.  

Sprout your stuff!

Yummy, delicious, tender, mouth-watering sprouts are the way to go. Always.  When in doubt, sprout.

The benefits of sprouting are endless.  You can sprout almost any legume, seed, or grain.  When seeds start to sprout, a dormant health superpower wakes up to nourish and grow the plant.

- Enzyme inhibitors are diminished.  (These keep the seed/ grain from sprouting when being stored)

-  Calories are reduced

- Protein is increased

-  Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron are released from their bondage within the seed while sprouting

Some lentil sprouts I sprouted the past four days.

This is how I sprout to get the most out of my seeds:

1.)  Rinse and drain the dried seeds, beans, rice, etc several times to remove the soapy layer.

2.)  Place rinsed seeds in a bowl full of water to soak for 8-12 hours.

3.)  Rinse, rinse, rinse and drain!  You don't want them to mildew...

4.)  Repeat for 3-4 days until 1/4 inch magical sprouts emerge.

Some garbanzo beans sprouted the last few days!  I will use these for some delicious protein packed raw hummus.  

So, when people ask, "How do you get your protein?"  We respond, "Sprouts!"