Friday, May 17, 2013

Today's the Day!

 
I'm leaving in a few minutes to drive to Massachusetts for the Yoga Retreat for Women of Color!!! It's been a world wind week of preparation. It's almost 5:30am and I'm excited.
 
If you want to make a last-minute trip to Kripalu this weekend for this retreat or any other one, go to:
 
 
Below is the page from the Kripalu Spring 2013 catalog with my name and photo in it!
Wowee!!
 

Love,
Althea

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Thursday, May 9, 2013

Raspberry Cheesecake

 
Where has Ms. Mocha Angel been? Working on a novel, traveling, and dealing once again with Raymond's seizures. In order, this second novel has been a work-in-progress for too long. 2013 is the year to get it finished. I went to Atlanta with my kids, and they both got sick! Aaaaaargh. Raymond's had seizures in December, March, and April. We have a new neurologist and a gastroenterologist. He's going to get an overnight EEG on June 17-18. Send up prayers that answers are found! I truly believe we are oh-so-close to an answer.
 
And good things are happening with my boys but I'll save that for next time. Overall, 2013 has been one of the best years I've had in a long time. Nothing like seeing your life move in a positive direction.
 
So of course, one must make a cheesecake to celebrate. This is from the blog My New Roots. She called it a Raw Cashew Dreamcake. Original blog is HERE.
 
To me, it was more like a raspberry-lemon cheesecake. There won't be any leftovers. It's a hit in my house.
 




Raspberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Crust:
1/2 cup raw almonds (pecan or walnuts will also work)
1/2 cup soft Medjool dates
¼ tsp. sea salt

Filling:
1 ½ cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 5 hours, overnight is best
juice of 2 lemons
the seeds of 1 whole vanilla bean (or 1 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract)
1/3 cup raw coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup raw honey (solid or liquid.)(Vegans use agave nectar.)
1 cup raspberries (thaw completely if using frozen)

Directions:
1. Place nuts and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse to chop until they are to your desired fineness (process a finer crust longer than a chunky one). Test the crust by spooning out a small amount of mixture and rolling it in your hands. If the ingredients hold together, your crust is perfect. Scoop out crust mixture in a 7” spring-form pan (if you don’t have a spring-form pan, use a pie plate lined with saran wrap), and press firmly, making sure that the edges are well packed and that the base is relatively even throughout. Rinse food processor well.

2. Warm coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan on low heat until liquid. Whisk to combine.

3. In the most powerful food processor / blender you own (you decide which one has the most torque) place all filling ingredients (except raspberries) and blend on high until very smooth (this make take a couple minutes so be patient). If you have a Vita-Mix, absolutely use it.

4. Pour about 2/3 (just eyeball it, you can’t make a mistake!) of the mixture out onto the crust and smooth with a spatula. Add the raspberries to the remaining filling and blend on high until smooth. Pour onto the first layer of filling. Place in freezer until solid.

5. To serve, remove from freezer 30 minutes prior to eating. Run a smooth, sharp knife under hot water and cut into slices. Serve on its own, or with fresh fruit. Store leftovers in the freezer (what leftovers?).
 



Love,
Althea

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Monday, January 14, 2013

Mexican Broccoli Cheddar Soup

(photo, used with permission, from The Lunchbox Bunch.)

So I went on a soup fix for a week. It was freezing here in Maryland. Now suddenly it's nearly 60 degrees!

I made three different soups. But only one of them was a real winner. I would have taken pictures but our computer died and my photo software went with it. I could load that same software on our laptop, but this is the "spare" computer. When we purchase a new desktop (soon!) I'll be back to my own original photos.

The winner was Spicy Broccoli Cheddar Soup (vegan, for real!) at the The Lunchbox Bunch blog. A link to the original recipe is below the photo above. This was so warm, fuzzy, and had a depth of flavor I wasn't expecting. I left the jalapeno pepper out only because I don't care for the taste. Then I added 1/2 a teaspoon of ground cumin and cilantro. Viola! The Mexican Broccoli Cheddar soup was born. It's a perfect pairing with a black bean burger or chips & salsa. 

The second change I made was to add a Vegan Ranch Dressing directly into the soup after it's in a serving bowl. I've shared this recipe with some of you privately. I was remiss not to share it here. The flavor in this dressing does not disappoint. It is a tangy, rich dressing that everyone loves.







Vegan Ranch Dressing from 30-Minute Vegan
3/4 cup Veganaise or other vegan mayo
6 tablespoons non-dairy milk ( I leave this out when I make the dressing as a dip)
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons raw apple cider vinegar
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons green onion, white part only
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon minced parsley or cilantro
pinch of cayenne
Blend all ingredients except parsley until creamy. Pour into small bowl. Add the parsley and stir.
Dressing will thicken if left in the fridge. Re-blend or whisk in additional milk to return it to smooth consistency.

Mexican Broccoli Cheddar Soup 
Adapted from Spicy Broccoli Cheddar Soup by Kathy Patalsky
vegan, makes a really big pot
*halve recipe for smaller portion

6-8 cups raw broccoli, florets and stalk, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
1 lemon, juiced
3 cups vegetable broth (salted)
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup soy creamer, plain flavor
3 cups cooked Yukon Gold potatoes, rough chop (skin on)
1 cup cilantro
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup soy milk, plain flavor
2 Tbsp Veganaise
1 1/2 cups shredded vegan cheddar cheese (I used Daiya)
Garnish/on hand: cilantro, ranch dressing, extra cheese shreds.

Directions:

I baked the potatoes ahead of time. You can put them in the microwave as well. (I don't have one.) I baked 3 Yukon Gold at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Be sure to poke holes in them first. They are done when you can insert a knife inside easily.

1) Chop your broccoli-including most of the stalks-don't throw them all away! Leave out about 1 1/2 cups of tiny broccoli florets for adding whole to the soup later. The rest of the broccoli will be pureed.
2) In your soup pot, saute over med-high heat: 2 Tbsp of your olive oil with the shallot and onion. When cooked lightly, add in lemon juice, veggie broth, remaining oil, cheddar cheese, cumin, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium.
3) Add the potatoes in here.
4) Add in the broccoli. Remember to leave out a few florets for later use though.
5)Cover with lid, when broccoli is tender, turn heat off.
6) Transfer contents of pot into a large mixing bowl. Allow to cool slightly. Add to the bowl the fresh cilantro, soy creamer, Veganaise and soy milk. Fold new ingredients into the hot soup mixture.
7)In batches, puree the soup in a Vitamix or other food-processor style blender. Soup should be smooth-no lumps or chunks. Warning: only blend warm soup in blender with extreme caution! Never aim blender toward your face and always start on the lowest setting possible. Never overfill the blender.
8) In the soup pot, add the additional broccoli florets, a dash of veggie broth. Saute covered for about a minute until tender.
9) Add the pureed soup back into the soup pot. Add a bay leaf.  
10) Simmer uncovered for at least twenty minutes to cook out all the air bubbles. Stir constantly for the first few minutes. Remove the bay leaf before serving or storing.
11) Serve with a garnish of 2-3 tsp ranch dressing, cilantro, and cheddar cheese.

You are going to want to freeze this. It's that good!
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Monday, December 31, 2012

Thank You 2012 and All of You


Thank you everybody for sticking with me after 5 years of blogging. And welcome to the 7 new subscribers who came on in December!

This is been a transitional year into wholeness for me. I was diagnosed with pleurisy in March. Then mistakenly believed to have had a heart attack and mild stroke. Nothing like being admitted to the cardiac wing of a hospital, stuck with the roommate from hell 5 days after your 40th birthday. I didn't have a heart attack. I did not have a stroke. Turns out I was really sick with pleurisy. I was sick for over a month.

But I turned it around. Made it to Kripalu with a much needed vacation and left with an offer to be a presenter at the Yoga Retreat for Women of Color. That was the turnaround point.

I forgave a whole bunch of needless $*&%! baggage from college. Saw my line sisters for the first time in 20 years. Ran my first 5K. Ended the year clear and energized.

I intend my 2013 will be full of peace, love, and joy because I'm full of peace, love, and joy.

And can I celebrate 5 years of being a blogger? I totally missed my November 17 anniversary!


Love and Thanks,
Althea


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Saturday, December 29, 2012

My First "Thickie"


No, a Thickie is not a sex toy. A Thickie is a smoothie that's thick, and meant to be a meal replacer. It's the brainchild of Katherine Natalia of GreenThickies.com. I found this by chance. I was reading an old email from Heather Pace of Sweetly Raw about her Caramel Apple Cheesecake, and at the very bottom she says, "I'm doing a 7 day Green Thickie Challenge."

I was like, "What the heck is a Green Thickie?" So off I went to explore this intriguing concept. Katherine's site is dedicated to both Green Smoothies and Green Thickies. Her personal story is here: How I lost 56 pounds on a Green Smoothie Diet.  

Finding this site was right on time. I'm in the middle of a modified fast. Liquid for breakfast and dinner, and a solid lunch. I'm juicing and doing smoothies and feeling great. I'll decide on Sunday if I'll do an all-liquid fast for a short period. I was worried if I could a fast again. I haven't been able to successfully fast since 2009. And then into my life comes Green Thickies.

I made Katherine's Healthy Apple Pie Thickie. This is considered a Dessert Thickie. Dessert or not, I had all the ingredients in my kitchen, so that's what I made! The picture above shows all ingredients except the raisins. The only thing I added were pre-soaked chia seeds. The recipe serves 2. I drank it all. Let me tell you, I am very full. And it was tasty. Like a pureed oatmeal and fruit breakfast.

I plan on making more Thickies, and sharing my experiences with you all. In the meantime, try this one, and show Katherine some love!

Here's the recipe:


Ingredients
  • 2 Cups Non Dairy Milk (oat, rice, soya, almond, hemp, coconut drink or raw nut or seed milk)
  • 1 Banana
  • 2 Apples
  • ¼ Cup Pecans
  • ½ Cup dates (or any other dried fruit)
  • 1 Cup Oats (use raw oat groats if following a raw food diet or oatmeal if you don’t have a powerful blender)
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon Allspice/Mixed Spice
Instructions
  1. Blend the ingredients in the order listed.
  2. Blend the ingredients a few at a time so that your blender can cope with the work, unless you’ve got a high powered blender, then you might be able to add them all in at once.
  3. If it gets too thick, add more water as necessary.
  4. If your blender has made the smoothie too warm, you can either cool it down in the fridge or freezer, or add some ice cubes or frozen fruit to it (You may need to add more water as this will thicken it further).

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Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Queen Afua Interview, Part 6


Queen Afua and my husband, Rom Wills

The last question – I could talk to you all day. I’ve read all the books – I remember reading Heal Thyself in 1999 when it was the dark green version – so I’m a for real Queen Afua advocate. So when I read that book I was like “this is the bomb." My now husband and I were in my apartment on my couch and he said, "I have never seen you read a book like that before." I was all into it. You should see my copy of Sacred Woman, it’s all falling apart (Queen Afua – I’m so proud of you … because if it looks all fresh, that means you haven’t been working it)– it’s tore up. You signed it in D.C., we met twice (I look forward to hugging you again).  Do you have any one piece of knowledge that you want to share with my readers – most of them are Black women, but I have people of all races, both sexes, anything you want to share?

Yes, my work has been primarily with the Africans in America, the Caribbean, Hispanic beings and it has been primarily 75% women – but when I started this journey it was really for both women and men.
But who came forth? The primary healers - the women came and they would go back and they would heal their families. And so I went that, the wave of the wind, that was the way the current went.

But global healing shows up in Heal Thyself. When I was writing about the globe I was thinking about all the people, because we all share the same air and if the air is toxic, then we’re all going to be poisoned by it – we must purify the air. And we all share the topsoil that grows the fruits and vegetables with not all of their nutrients in them so if the topsoil is depleted we all will suffer. And we all share the same water, bathing in it, drinking it. We share it and so if the waters are not pure we will suffer. And so we are on one Earth and we must begin to take on a holistic lifestyle so that we can have more reverence and more respect for nature. 

Nature provides for all of us, no matter our religion or walk of life. We need to understand this and tap into the power that is in nature. So I say to all of us, let’s give reverence and honor and gratitude to the air, the wind, the water, the earth, the sun and give thanks. Because without any one of those elements we are no more. But if we embrace all of them through our healing and cleansing, then we are made whole again. We are made healthy again and we are made into a humanity that is truly a humanity that cares one for the other. Then there will be war no more. Our children will not suffer from violence in the home or in the street, and we will not fight because someone is one religion or a next. Gender – there’s a battle going on and I know as we heal ourselves, that peace will reign supreme here and abroad. Globally I wish wellness for all who hear this message and that they take on this walk, this mighty, powerful transformative walk of wellness to save humanity. It is necessary to raise our frequency.


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Monday, December 24, 2012

Queen Afua Interview, Part 5




The next question is just about children, a lot of my readers have children – what advice do you have for parents to raise healthier, holier, happier children?

I learned a lot from having circles of women. I have a granddaughter that I helped to raise through the first son. And I saw her getting angry when she was 1 ½ years old – and I remember that the women in the circle crying and they were 30, 40 and 50. And that crying started when they were little babies. I remember they would tell me when I would ask them, so when did this crying begin. They would say when they were 5 – they would go into their subconscious and they would pull up the time – when they were 4, when they were 7 so I was looking out for that and I saw that anger come in at a year and a half and then I began to hug her a lot and I let her rest on me tremendously and then one day when she was 3 and a half, she became so loving and so extra sweet and I know she had parents love her, my daughter and her great grandmother – it's a lot of love around her but I still saw some characteristics start coming out and I said, "Ooh we have to heal that one, catch that quick."

Treat our children as if they are their own healers and tell them they have power inside of them all the time. One of the things I would tell my granddaughter, I would ask –“Who are you?” She was 3 and a half then, maybe 4 she said, “I am a healer and I am healing myself.” Once, when I was not doing so well, I went in my backyard of my mother’s house and I laid down on the backyard. I rested on the soil and on the grass to let the earth pull. I took all my juices, my herbs, my bath I did all of that and then I laid down to get that pull and that magnetic energy and she came out and asked me how am I doing and I said I’m healing myself so she went and got some plants and some grass and some dirt and she put it on all the areas she thought I needed. Around my face, on my chest, on my legs and then she sat in a cross-legged position and began to speak in tongues. “Close your eyes,” she said. Then she got some clay, she got my clay, she put that on me, I was filled with the dirt and the grass – all that. What I realize is that she tapped into her inner healer.

I see that children have so much power and we have to raise them like that. Because when they go into the world and they start going to school and life is beating them, they have to know they have the power to change their condition, the power of their mind and their word and their spirit. Teach our children their power, but you can only do that if you have been empowered yourself.

For parents I have a chapter I put into Heal Thyself to update it – I added an extra piece on how to heal your children holistically. They get mumps, measles and chickenpox are all unnecessary - its just toxicity and flesh food and junk food, and processed food– so feed them healthy organic food, become a food coop member it wont be too expensive.

If you feed them high-energy food, then they will not get sick as a normal child and their minds will be very sharp. And they’ll be able to see through people. They will not be hoodwinked and brought into directions that they need not go. They will be protected when they are away from you and then give them nature. Massage them and put them in baths and talk with them. Visit with them and sweat with them, make them your companion of wellness.

Final Part: Global Healing
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