Down with meal labels :)

For simplicity of the day I have been trying to go without breakfast, waiting for closer to mid-day to eat. It seems natural to head to a water source when you get up, like other animals, and hydrate well. Sometimes I can, sometimes I don't, but I have learned that typical breakfast foods are always unappealing and often unhealthy. So these are just a few of the meals that can be called lunch, brunch or simply, the daily bowl.

wild rice with mushrooms, cashews, pear, plum, date and olives

kale, carrot and almonds with bragg dressing.

french lentil salad with artichokes and greens.

The Five Tastes and The Five Ways

You know how when you finish a meal and you’re still craving something, especially sweet?  This could be the answer. 

In the Japanese culture the 5 tastes and 5 methods of cooking are often thought of while preparing a meal. The tastes are salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami (savoury) and the methods of cooking are raw, simmered, fried, steamed and roasted or grilled.

I have been experimenting with it and have found that when I've had a meal with most of the above variances I feel satisfied. Thinking back, I remember my Mom used to put sweet pears or peaches on our dinner plates and I thought it was odd but we never craved or had dessert in our house. 

Similarly, always avoiding fried foods may be worse (resulting in eating a tub of fries) than satisfying that craving with just a little tempura vegetable. 

So although it’s never perfect, I do now think of the five tastes and the five ways whenever putting together a meal or filling the fridge with dishes for the week. 

For more information http://savoryjapan.com/learn/culture/power.of.five.html

Sweet raw melon, salty fried chips, simmered umami french lentil salad

Bitter green olive/kale a bit of a sour in the tomatoes. Pickles are super for sour.

Making Sushi is an Exercise in Presence

Making Sushi must be a beautiful meditative experience but the harmony in those delicate movements, like everything else, takes practice. 

It was my plan for lunch today but the rice was cooked yesterday so the 'sticky' was gone and I was too hungry to stay on task. It was messy but, oh well, still delicious.

When I was at Japan Town I bought a little sushi roller so I'm looking forward to doing a proper job of it. I'll share the process and my results soon. 

Nori topped with brown rice, cucumbers and Tamari.

That 'Aliveness' in Fresh Picked Produce

I think there is something more than vitamins in 'just picked' fresh. There's a glow that can be seen and an energy that can be felt. Even if it's just a few herbs and tomatoes, growing your own food is the best.

Kale is one of the healthiest vegetables and is surprisingly good as a salad. All I did for lunch today is wash some kale, walk out and pick few vegetables from the garden, added just a touch of Bragg oil and vinegar and sat in the sunshine and enjoyed. 

My garden isn't the best this year but I found the tiniest beets, carrots, green beans, parsley and tomatoes.

Earlier I had diced a beautiful cantaloupe for a touch of sweet to finish. 

Very simple, so good.

Easy abundance - recipe calls for whatever is fresh

Chop the phytonutrients and place on a plate

Vibrating with life . . . Sprouts

When grown in the kitchen they just don't get any fresher. Literally still growing as you eat them. From the sunshine on the window sill, to your plate. As close to grazing in a field as humans get.

Foods that glow, happy food

Sweet & Spicy Rubies for lunch

Pea sprouts, pomegranate seeds with just a touch of spicy mango dressing and a sprinkle of black sesame seeds. 

Must be feeling in the Christmas spirit.

Simplicity, health and flow

Sweet & savory

Rethinking the idea that a meal requires a theme and focusing on the dilemma-what shall we do for dinner? Editing it down to a few simple ingredients: some warm, some raw, some savory some sweet-whatever you feel like minutes before dinnertime.  As long as the fridge is full of fruit and vegetables you can't go wrong: Simplicity equating to healthful meals with very few dishes to wash and an uncluttered mind. Peace, presence and flow.

Vibrant Colour = Vibrant Health

Nature's Palette gives it all. After awhile the desire for anything but fresh and alive goes away.

Good Strong European Flavour

Mustard

It's the Dijon that makes this stack of vegetables delicious.

Live Food

Pea Shoots & Radish Sprouts
Blueberries, carrots & seeds with just a bit of dressing. Very grateful to people who decided to grow these greens close to home. A large shared greenhouse in every community is where my imagination takes me. These are so very tasty.

beets, carrots & zucchini with shaved almonds

Grated vegetables with no dressing doesn't sound very tasty, but it is. It's actually amazingly delicious and filling.

Keeping it simple with pea shoots & blueberries

More and more raw

Delight! a fancy sandwich at picnic birthday.

steam

French Lentil Salad

This tastes much like potato salad, with the Dijon and dill. Ingredients were cucumber, celery, onion, lentils and sweet corn - tossed in oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, dill and garlic.

simple & vibrant

Greens. Mango. Blueberries. Raspberries. Pomegranate vinegar. Black sesame seeds.

French Potage made with leeks & garlic. Leeks taste gentle & the garlic feels healing.

raspberries just go with chocolate

lunch and dessert at the same time :)

Greens with Organic Raspberries, Pistachios and Pomegranate Vinaigrette; Rye Crisp and a little dark chocolate, because raspberries and chocolate just go together, even better than strawberries. Dr. Oz says that dark chocolate relaxes arteries immediately after ingestion. That's a good enough excuse for me.