nonGMO Archives - LoveSelf

Ritz Carlton Inspired Gluten Free Feast

Rachel Kahn — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 02:15:58 +0000

Chef Daniel at the Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain creates a gluten free wellness feast that will inspire your next dinner party. And he gave us the recipes!

If you ever thought losing the gluten would mean sacrifice, you are about to be forever changed. Welcome to true farm to table decadence with a focus on organic wellness.

Recall our dear Farmer Starkey? The loving abundance from his farm is the spark that ignited this meal.

For our first course, I was served a Tepary bean soup with a slow cooked organic egg, Oregon truffle, pork belly, and tuscan kale.

Tepary beans are native to the Southwest. These protein packed beans adore the Dove Mountain desert! Chef Daniel’s soup is not only gluten free it is also vegan. Without the heaviness of a traditional bean soup and just a touch of heat from the Ancho and Guajillo peppers you will be perfectly comforted in your desert oasis.

Chef and his team pureed the soup to create a perfect foundation for the sous-vide pork belly. (Sous-vide means to seal in an airtight bag and cooked in water bath at low temperatures for an extended period of time). After 36 hours of a love bath for the pork belly it was served with beautifully prepared kale and the most decadent egg you will imagine. Curious about what made the egg so wildly amazing? A truffle! Truffles are an incredible delicacy and simply stated, are similar to an earthy mushroom yet they grow underground. They nourish the forest ecosystem and ultimately us! That is, of course, if we are lucky enough to be served such mama earth riches.

LoveSelf food trivia of the day…. When Ancho chilis are fresh they are called Poblanos. Would you like to make the bean soup at home? Chef provided us the recipe!

Our second course was as beautiful as it was fresh and delicious. Chef and his staff served an artistic salad. Complete with pickled radishes, candy striped beets, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese, and pecans. The overall result was the best kind of raw joy. All of this delicious wellness was served on a ‘red rock soil’ canvas. Imagine homage to the red rocks of the Sedona desert. The team created such wonder by dehydrating tomato skins and red bell peppers. Stunning!

Are you curious about the dressing created by Chef Daniel? We have that recipe for you too!

Our third course was a baked rainbow trout, served whole, with a smoked fava bean puree, citrus coriander bloom, white asparagus, and a green garlic vierge.

Watch Chef Daniel and Chef Devin Create the Beautiful Presentation

What is a citrus coriander bloom you ask? It is the beautiful herb flower you saw Chef Daniel and Chef Devin adding to the baked trout. The herb adds that perfect citrus punch of lemon and cilantro.

More LoveSelf trivia! Asparagus that is grown without sunlight stays white. The flavor is a bit more mild than its green partner.

The vierge is a combination of garlic, shallots, basil, tomato and parsley. And yes we have the recipe!

Now ask your tongue to imagine such perfection on a plate. Perfectly flakey fish with citrus note. Smokiness from the puree. Subtle nuances from the asparagus and the perfect blend of spice and layered herbs from the vierge. In other words, every aspect of your palate sings joyously together.

Our fourth course was an eleven spice encrusted pork leg, complete with sweet oranges, and smoked paprika. Before continuing this mouth watering journey of food love, I want to talk about gratitude and honor. (No I am not switching the subject!)

When I received the itinerary for the amazing two days with the Ritz Carlton team I was told I would be participating in the breaking down of the pig from Farmer Starkey’s ranch. Considering I am the lady that carefully carries spiders outside and prays for the animals, I was very nervous. Instead of realizing my fear I discovered something beautiful. Farmer Starkey follows the ancestral traditions of not transporting or causing fear in his animals. He raises them with healthy non-GMO food, tons of love, and personally honors his animals for their sacrifice. The Ritz Carlton continues this respect by using every part of the pig to nourish our bodies. Absolutely nothing was wasted. I witnessed the devotion and was moved to tears. The treatment of that pig was honoring to its life. Truly. I was changed. It is up to you whether you choose to be vegan or paleo. We are all on a journey. Whatever choice you make, please do so with respect, gratitude, and honor. We are energy and every choice we make affects the earth, one another, and all of life.

The meal was complimented with beautiful gluten free bread. It actually had air pockets like the real thing!!! Whoohooo!

We ended with lemon meringue cheesecake. The lemons were from Farmer Starkey’s trees and the graham crust (once again!) will make you wonder why you ever cared about gluten to begin with.

Here’s to your decadent wellness!!! Cheers!

The post Ritz Carlton Inspired Gluten Free Feast appeared first on LoveSelf.

8 Things I Learned About Wellness That Totally Changed The Way I Eat

Rachel Kahn — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 00:21:09 +0000

The eight things I learned about wellness that totally changed the way I eat and how to make a date with a cookie.

I love food. And when I say “love,” I mean the earth-shattering, chow-down kind of love.

Because of my excessive adoration, I treat the object of my affection with honor and integrity. Anything else would be less than what real food so lustily deserves.

So why do I tell you this? Because throughout our lengthy courtship, I have learned a lot about what is truly food, and whom is the imposter attempting to take me on a date.

Reinventing your relationship with food? Here are a few lessons that I have learned along the way.

1. Gluten-free isn’t just a trend.

In fact, it may just be necessary! More and more studies are beginning to show that a significant percentage of the population may have sensitivity to today’s wheat.

Gluten allergies are likely becoming more commonplace due to the modification of the modern wheat plant. Our current wheat is no longer the amber waves of grain we once consumed.

In recent decades, hybridization began modifying the wheat plant resulting in less digestible gluten. Coupled with chemicals sprayed, such as Glyphosate, much wheat contains a potentially damaging combination that many bodies just don’t like.

However, just because it is “gluten-free” doesn’t mean it is good for you. Many gluten free items are full of sugar and processed carbohydrates. Read the labels carefully and make wise decisions.

2. Pasteurized is not always pleasant.

The pasteurization process is designed to kill potentially dangerous germs. Unfortunately, it is frequently used in excess and also eliminates the healthful properties inherent in the food.

Take, for example, honey. Raw honey has amazing health benefits. Those little bees are brilliant! Their honey, in its natural state, is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and full of fabulous vitamins and minerals.
Unfortunately, once heated to the recommended pasteurized levels, the nutrients vanish, resulting in a non-nutritious sugary substitute. Eating raw honey is safe, tasty, and full of the nutrition your body loves. I adore raw honey. We have a date later with a cookie.

pistachio cookie

3. GMO?! Oh no!

GMO stands for genetically modified organisms. The genetic modification results from the transfer of genes between two unrelated species.

GMO’s were first introduced into our food supplies in the mid 90’s by biotech companies and have served the monetary purpose of increased crop herbicide and pesticide tolerance.

The question is, at what price? Genetic modification has been linked to major health issues. In most parts of the world, GMO’s are either banned, or require labeling. In the US, the majority of our processed food are GMO’s, derived from such ingredients, as corn, soy, canola, and cotton.

What are a few things you can you do to avoid GMO’s? Eat organic. Shop at your local farmers market. Stop eating processed food. Have some fun and plant a few veggies of your own.

4. Rule of thumb: if it has more than three syllables, don’t eat it.

This one is pretty simple. If your grandparents would not have recognized the ingredient, you may wish to pass it by.

Grandma knew the word carrot, yet likely wasn’t up to speed on butylated hydroxyanisole, potassium bromate, or ammonium sulfate. Smart grandma!

Added tip…natural flavorings usually equal chemical flavorings. Yep, this would have made grandpa pretty ornery.

gluten free pancakes

5. There are many different words for MSG, and they all mean yuck.

Speaking of multiple syllable words, monosodium glutamate can act as a neurotoxin and is one of those “additives” you may just want to avoid.

MSG is often labeled as autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed protein, and many other tricky labels. MSG is definitely one of those imposter dates, so you may want to block that message and save your favorite dancing shoes for the real thing.

6. Organic just means real food.

Speaking of real, organic is the way to go. Back in the day (ya know, that grandma thing again), organic food was just “food”…meaning chemicals weren’t the norm. Gardens were grown in mineral rich soil and cows wandered around grass fields.

I have an idea! Let’s just start calling organic food “food” and label everything else “food-like substance.” Ta da! Solved.

7. Food is, indeed, medicine.

Remember that saying “you are what you eat”? Well, it’s true. Mama Earth has created the perfect combination of nutrients in all her abundance.

Garlic? A natural antibiotic. Coconut? Anti-viral. Kale? Full of calcium. Fish? High in Omegas. Eggs? Full of vitamin B. You get the idea! Eat, eat, eat, and be well. Remember: food can either heal you or hurt you. Go with the healing route.

8. Healthy is yummy.

This one is my favorite! Imagine plates of brightly colored decadence, tantalizing spices, happy herbs, and sweetly loved cupcakes.

Can you picture it? Does it seem like a heavenly dream? Oh, but it is reality, my friends. We can choose to eat it everyday.

And guess what? This food loves you back!

organic lemons

Originally published by www.inspiyr.com

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The Beach. Self Love. And Healing Your Inflammation with Juice.

Rachel Kahn — Tue, 26 May 2015 02:25:10 +0000

The story of one woman’s journey to create a restaurant designed for love and healing.

In a happy beach town on the California coast you will find an amazing restaurant founded from healing and mother earth perfection. Introducing The Source Café and Ms. Amber Caudle, owner, chef, and wellness food extraordinaire. Amber knows first hand the brilliance of self-love and eating well. I loved watching her talk. She has the rapid speech and exuberance of a person thrilled by her craft.

Before I tell you all about my kindred spirit and inspirational food healer. Let me first give you the scoop on the Source Café. Wherever you are in the world, this place is worth the drive (or even the flight!). The Source Café exemplifies the best kind of wellness eating; casual, healthy, and amazingly tasty. Imagine walking into an adorable little shop, complete with outdoor tables in the California sunshine, fresh juices, and amazing desserts tempting you from every angle. Heaven, right? Well almost. It seems heaven has layers. The Source will take you to even greater heights. Because all this deliciousness is non-GMO, organic, frequently gluten free, and even paleo. Score!!! Now that we have crossed the pearly gates imagine food nirvana. A sandwich with flax bread (What??? You mean someone makes that other than me AND at a restaurant!). Chocolate chips cookies that are grain free and contain no processed sugar?! Not one speck of icky GMO’s! Juice to heal your thyroid and turmeric tonic that help with inflammation! Whoa. I cannot believe someone created the restaurant of my dreams.

Recall my kindred spirit? Well it seems Amber and I also channel the same desires for love, healing, and healthy eating. Amber’s journey began by cooking with her grandmother. A self described obsessive kid she was cooking gourmet dinners for her family by the age of 12 and knew that her life’s journey was to be all things culinary. As we often speak about at LoveSelf, life’s greatest rewards often come from life’s greatest challenges. While working as a successful executive chef, Amber found herself facing numerous health challenges. She speaks openly of her sugar addiction, of thyroid challenges, weight gain, painful joints, and a life not fully lived. She always knew there was something more. Yet, she didn’t know what that meant or even how to manifest this vague knowing. One day, and quite divinely inspired, she found herself taking a leap and booking a fasting retreat in the desert. Amber describes being “ripped wide open” and “a heavy chain being lifted off”. For six days she cried and knew that everything beautiful starts emerging when you allow yourself to feel. It was as if a reset button was hit and she woke up to self love.

Her love and passion are in her food and everything she does. So is her moxie. After returning from the journey that changed her life, she learned that a friend had a restaurant space for sale. “I want to buy it”, she heard come out of her mouth. Her friend said yes, her family supported her, and 31 days later a restaurant was born. Did you read that right? 31 days? After 18 hours a day and a vision, complete with the team she trusts and adores, The Source Café was born.

Amber sources organic ingredients, is a regular at the farmer’s market, and is constantly experimenting with new wellness ingredients. She tells me about her latest love for yam smoothies and brought me that day’s creation… almond balls. Imagine almond butter with flax, coconut, and raw cacao. They are so delicious I had to stop myself from acting for a dozen.

I asked Amber about her advice on how best to love ourselves. Once again our kindred spirits emerged. She spoke of following your heart and gratitude. We suggest listing five things everyday you are grateful for and five things you love about yourself. Adore!

Oh and one more suggestion. Stop by The Source Café. Grab a snack and a juice the color of the sunset. Walk down to the beach and know that every moment of your life is beautiful.

Amber created for us the best paleo oatmeal I have ever had! Recall that yam smoothie? Check it out.

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A Tiny Organic Farmer, Fairies, and the Art of Saving a Seed.

Rachel Kahn — Mon, 04 May 2015 02:16:16 +0000

How our food system has depleted over the last fifty years and the organic seed you can save.

On an organic farm in the Midwest resides a little twenty-something lady with a huge heart and mind. She is proof that intellect can indeed reside in the cutest of feminine faces. Introducing Betsy Goodman, organic farmer, seed saver, passionate historian, and environmentalist.

I arrived to interview Betsy well into a dark starry evening. After driving down winding gravel roads, I could see little except the shadows of hills and a cold clear night sky. I pulled into what appeared to be the correct farmhouse and out came Betsy. Is this where I confess that I still couldn’t see this hospitable stranger that had been so lovingly nominated for a feature? Only after walking inside am I greeted with a smiling young lady surrounded by hundreds of baby plants. Ascending to the second floor I found myself surrounded by soaring ceilings and endless windows. The moon greeted us as if to say welcome to the start of an amazing evening.

Betsy describes herself as a preacher. Food is Ms. Betsy’s religion and she “preaches the organic gospel”. She also preaches hard work. Her little frame farms three acres without the assistance of a tractor or machinery. Her tools are a shovel and her hands. “Everything needs personal attention”, she tells me. On the farm Betsy cares for, veggies are saved through the hard Midwest winters in a cold storage room. Yes, even the most frozen tundra can have root crops all season. I asked her what is easiest to save and her answer was quite a list! To start with imagine eating garlic, onion, cabbage, beets, and carrots. Not because you made a trip to the nearest grocery store because you walked to your cellar and chose from the bounty of your labor.

I asked Betsy how the urban granddaughter of a United States Senator became so interested in loving mother earth. Her story begins as a small child that admits to being afraid of nature. Until one day at the age of six, she discovered a creek and a tree. She sat next to the tree and listened to message of the water. She also heard her internal calling and had found her peace. Many years later, her beautiful sanctuary was destroyed and she knew that her life must be devoted to protecting the harmony she had found a decade before.

Betsy attended college at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, majoring in environment studies. Her second year in college she began working at an organic grocery and learned about herbs and eating well from the earth she so adored. During her senior year she met the man that would become her mentor. Like all things unexpected, her first introduction to the brilliant hippy that spoke of a Fairy Congress and becoming Friends with the Trees, was to wonder what twilight zone she had stepped into. And because as I always say life gives us messages, Betsy was offered her spirit guidance. One evening while walking home contemplating her future, she crossed paths with a fox. Rather than either of them departing, she describes the fox gently staying with her and “walking her home”. She felt compelled to look up the spiritual symbolism of her companion animal and learned they represent the entrance to the fairy realms. She needed no other coaxing. She completed school, turned down a corporate job and began to learn the art of organic farming and living in harmony with nature.

The journey of Betsy’s heart has brought her to a deeper knowledge of farming than she ever expected. The knowledge of history and the seed. Our seeds are our “right to real food”. They are also dying with conventional mono-cropping and GMO’s. So much of what has been passed down for generations, in the last 50 years, has become the sad sterile version of what was once bounty and beauty. Betsy has started a seed saving program at the Omaha Public Library and has become a proponent of our rights to save the abundance so willingly offered by nature. She is testifying in front of the state legislature to ensure our rights, and those of Mother Nature are protected. “It is our responsibility to uphold our food system”. Her emotion and intellect clearly shine through when she speaks of Thomas Jefferson handing out seeds to our ancestors and telling them that with the seed, community and health are always available. For more information on the different types of seed check out our Differences in Seeds Article.

When I asked about the modern practices of farming with chemicals she became sad. Our “bodies don’t want that”, she told me. The chemicals and GMO’s create autoimmune disease. This is something she knows first hand. Each time the neighboring farmers spray, her immune system shuts down, and her body reacts with what she tells me is “gut collapse and horrible headaches”. And in perfect LoveSelf fashion, Betsy reverts to her beautiful story of health and tells me “Loving life is loving yourself”.

Betsy and I have a question for you. What can you do today to support yourself and the small organic farmer that is only trying to save our health and the earth?

During our time together Betsy and I meditated with the earth and looked to the heavens. In her words we both know that it is time to live with “your feet in the mud and your head in the sky”.

Betsy in her organic health and abundance has given us her three ingredient green smoothie Enjoy!

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Recipes

Rachel Kahn — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 23:47:09 +0000

Join our FREE Secret Recipe Club!

Join Now !!

At LoveSelf, we adore happy bellies and earth empowered food! We create and share healthy joyous recipes knowing that what we eat is best when happy and inspired.

The ingredients in our recipes are selected for phenomenal wellness and the yummiest flavors.

Always gluten free, soy free, non-GMO, and sweetened naturally. We adore dairy free, paleo, and raw too! Why? Because love is all about what is best for the earth and your body.

Choose a favorite and tell us your food story!

Have you created a favorite earth inspired gluten free recipe you would like featured? Email us to see your recipe highlighted!

* All submitted recipes will be tested and become property of LoveSelf. Not all recipes received will be featured. Only original content considered.

Explore LoveSelf Recipes

Kale Salad with Quinoa
by Chef Frank
Gluten Free | Dairy Free | Organic | Sugar Free | Non-GMO

Paleo Grown Up PB&J Cake (Secret Recipe)
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Paleo | Organic | Non-GMO | Soy Free

Paleo Almond Spice Cookies (Secret Recipe)
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Paleo | Organic | Non-GMO | Soy Free

Paleo Apple Fritters (Secret Recipe)
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Paleo | Organic | Non-GMO |

gluten free vegetarian meatballs

Gluten Free Vegetarian “Meatballs”
by Marissa Markowitz
Gluten Free | Soy Free | Non GMO | Sugar Free | Organic

Gluten Free Jalapeno Cornbread
by Merle and Michele Herrick
Gluten Free | Soy Free | Organic | Non-GMO

Organic Heirloom Sourdough Bread
by Darrold Glanville
Organic | Non-GMO | Soy Free | Dairy Free | Vegan

Paleo Green Tea Shortbread (Secret Recipe)
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Paleo | Organic | Non-GMO | Soy Free

Paleo Beef Stew
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Organic | Non-GMO | Soy Free | Sugar Free

Gluten Free Apple Celeriac Stuffing
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Organic | Non-GMO | Soy Free | Sugar Free

Gluten Free No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
by Rachel Kahn
Gluten Free | Sugar Free | Non-GMO | Soy Free | Organic

The post Recipes appeared first on LoveSelf.