Creating a Healthy Balance

Okay-- WOW! In the past month I have jumped into the cooking business, taken on studying for an entrance exam for graduate school and nurtured the development of a company I am preparing to launch while maintaining my current job. It's 5 am and I am starting the day off. Some discoveries where made while preparing the "Healthy Hash" and "Orange French Toast" that need to be revised--- 1) somehow in the translation process of the deliver process to me and the preparing process of reviewing the list on my end, ingredients appeared in the directions that were not noted in the ingredient list. That said, the Healthy Hash in all honesty is one of the most delicious and nutritious feeling foods I have had in my life. This was my first time experiencing any type of hash meal, but, it will not be my last. The recipe is going to need to be revised and reposted so that all the ingredients noted in the directions are in the ingredient list.... in terms or the Orange French Toast, well.... my friends, I had to order marlmade from the local grocer, this project is even bigger than I thought! Okay, no last minute preparing these recipes must be nurtured into perfection.

In the past week I also had a friend pass away, Brandon J. at age 30. We have known each other for nearly eight years, he was thin and hyper and had a quote he always reminded me of: He would say "Evie, sleeping is for the dead". Brandon died of a heart attack - complications of diet and other life complications I will not speak of. Food creates balance in our lives, it is what keeps us moving. It has a very spiritual connotation in the Bible as Jesus broke bread and gave to his disciples at the last supper, in the old testament Mana feel from the sky and nourished the Israelites and in today's society we can identify a number of religions, cultures and practices that exclude certain foods from the diet. The concept behind food restrictions is not to limit one's ability to enjoy life, but rather to give freedom. I have been considering Brandon's words this past week and feel strongly that sleeping is for the dead, and for the living. As we prepare our meals each day, we are giving our bodies the opportunity to rejuvenate, to over come toxicity and mal-nourishment. Moving forward I may not be able to keep with my original project goal of cooking a meal every Sunday for awhile, I need to pass my test with flying colors....and keep all things in balance. Corrections on the Healthy Hash and French Toast coming-- until the next post, please try the recipe yourselves and leave a post!

Love,

Evie

Eating Cake: Starting it all off Right

First Recipes on show case was sent in by Jessica Holmes in 2002, Nickelodeons Slime Time Co-Host

- Healthy Pepper Hash and Orange Croissant French Toast -- (Sounds Good!)

Jessica wrote: "Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, however you never seem to come across many good recipes, so here are two of my favorites"

Ingredients to Gather:

Healthy Pepper Hash

1 Tbs Unsalted Butter

1 Red Onion Cut Into 1/2 inch dices

2 Cloves Garlic (minced)

1 Medium Idaho Potato

6 oz Button Mushroom Stems cut into 1/2 inch. pieces

8 oz Ground Turkey

2 Tbs. All Purpose Flour

2 c. Low Sodium Chicken Stock skimmed of fat

1 Tsp Coarse Salt

1/4 Tsp. Paprika

2 Tbs finely chopped Parsley

6 Large Eggs, poached or fried

Orange Croissant French Toast

6 Large Eggs

1 1/2 Heavy Cream, half pure half milk

1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1Pinch Nutmeg

Grated Zest of 1 Orange

4 oz Cream Cheese, softend

2 Tbs Confectioners Sugar

6 Croissants (Preferably a day Old!)

1/2 Orange Marmalade, (+ more for serving if desired)

2 Tbs Un-salted Butter

2 Tbs Vegetable Oil

Orange Syrup

Breakfast Party and details to on cooking instructions scheduled next Sunday, Feb. 22, 2010! Now, Who to Invite over to start this all out right???

How to Eat Cake: #1 Love Life

Surrounded by snow 9 months out of the year is a definite change for a girl from Las Vegas, making it out on her own. But the icy roads and gray skies are only the pieces of Boston that I am coming to love! This place is beautiful! Working in real estate I get to meet some of the most interesting people that make this city come to life, and learn about some of the most interesting tid-bits about the area that don't usually come to one's mind.... It's exciting to be in constant touch with the people that make this city tick.

Five years ago I made a quest to write a cookbook, to be called: "Sweet Universe Gems and Recipes". The mission of the book was beyond cooking up the next meal, and moved to the core of what inspires and nourishes, from the inside -out. Within 6 months on just a few posts on a few selected sites, over 115 recipes were collected. The feed back from the readers were astonishing. One "friend" to The Children's with Diabetes website, named Courage ran a hospital in Zimbabwe and along with his favorite dish wrote: " Everyday I leave the hospital and wait and hour or two for my turn to use the computer at the local internet cafe, I want to reach the world with the stories of my people...." I loved the posts and the letters I received but soon found the task before me was larger then I was prepared to process. So many beautiful stories, many not in English, ingredients were scarce (Camel meat in Las Vegas is hard to come by...) I have left this collection still an open book.

After finishing college and re-locating, I am looking through the past at these Gems. The stories and the recipes of people wanting to encourage people to take life on, to not be held back and a desire to make the difference for others by providing actual recipes for chicken soups for souls. The recipes collected had three requirements: 1) The recipe sent must be a personal favorite, something that has a significant memory or emotional tie. 2) A story, thought or quote that has moved you in your life, or changed you in some way must be noted. The Gem 's that were sent, were the stories of people's souls, what inspired and moved people around the globe to reach for challenges.

Living with insulin dependent diabetes has made FOOD is frequently the greatest challenge for me... LOL- BUT I LOVE LIFE - therefore I of course must embrace it! Inspired by living in a city of so MANY I CAN's I vow to start the task I started so many years ago, Your stories have meant so much to me, but they were never meant to be shared with just me, your stories and recipes were sent in to change the world-- So Lets do it!

Sweet Universe Gems and Recipes -- Nourishing the Body and the Soul! I vow to promise to cook, or attempt to cook every recipe that has been sent to me - and share with the world what has been shared with Me! Thank you friends, I honor you and praise you - Your walks inspire me. Boston I Love You and your snowy winters!

- Evangeline Taylor