queer as plants

Chia Pudding with Fresh Fruit

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 01:42:00 +0000

Mix a few tablespoons of chia seeds with unsweetened coconut milk in a bowl and let sit in the fridge for 2-3 hours so the chia seeds can soak. Mix in fresh fruit or honey for some sugar. Enjoy!

Mmm Turmeric!!

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Mon, 09 Dec 2013 07:05:00 +0000

10 Ways to Use Turmeric

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9206/10-ways-to-get-more-turmeric.html

Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 22:38:00 +0000

Brown rice, toasted seaweed flakes, sautéed fennel, onion, bell pepper, garbanzo beans and greens (ie whatever is in your fridge), with raw sauerkraut and avocado.

Always try to add something raw or fermented to your cooked meals!

Greenest of the Green

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 01:31:00 +0000

Green Dino kale, green avocado, green fennel, green endive, green cucumber, green(ish) lemon juice.

WORKOUT

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 04:04:00 +0000

We joined a gym! Buddy system family plan accountability time. Fitness is hopefully part of our good eating from now on.

Postworkout din din: pink Himalayan rice, canned black beans, Dino kale, avo, pink homemade sauerkraut

Experimental Kraut

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 06:14:00 +0000

Beginnings of a new experimental kraut: chopped smallish head of cabbage, half a white onion, cumin seeds, whole dried peppers, salt in the amazing ceramic fermenting crock. See ya in 3 weeks!

Peaches & Blackberries

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 05:47:00 +0000

The last few days I've been craving sugar like crazy. Like fruit juice, waffles, chocolate chip cookies. I'm not much of a sweet tooth normally, but I think I'm transitioning to less sugar from our month in Italy - where a sugary pastry started each morning, alongside the best cappuccinos in the world. Where life was sweet and we walked everywhere, coming back more fit than when we left (even if we ate sausage, feta, pasta, and pastries like you wouldn't believe).

It's only now as I write that I realize the adjustment back to a plant-based, lots of raw lifestyle - which was so normal in LA and so inconceivable in Italy - is actually a challenge. Up until last week, I continued dropping spoonfuls of sugar into my frothy, whole-milky, homemade cappuccinos. I continued with the sausage and meats, the cheeses and pastas. But now, as re-entry has fully arrived, I'm craving my green juices, avocados, and kale salads, while also longing for sugar cookies and sweet creams.

On top of all of this, I've had a weird inflamed Eustachian tube in my ear for a month. This week it became infected, and I'm on a load of antibiotics. I feel whacky, out of it, uninspired, and aimless.

And I'm craving sugar. And I'm exhausted. And Saturn Returns is here for me.

The point of this post was meant to ponder the connection between my cravings and my ear infection/antibiotics; to ponder my being wiped out by my ear, and how it feels like I can't heal my ear with food. Maybe I can, but right now, the ear feels disconnected from the rest of my body/has me feeling fragmented into parts. I think about the greater context of antibiotics and illness in general - how it takes up all your energy; how even the doctors appointments can rule your life. And, I have health insurance, unlike the majority of humans in this country. We live in a country where being uninsured and lucky for your good health, or uninsured and buried in medical bills, is commonplace. We live in a country where those of us who are privileged enough to "be insured" have little agency in the kind of healthcare system we enter into for "healing," and zero control over the products that are prescribed to fight off our infections. I have no idea what I'm putting into my body to kill this ear infection.

But I'm drinking my green juice and probiotics to counteract the negative impact. I'm resting (and exhausted). I'm kissing Sammy whenever I can.

The little sweet things matter. I fulfilled my sugar cravings today with a bowl of sliced peaches and blackberries, that really DID meet my need for sweetness. But, I'm isolating a little bit, in my illness. I guess that might be what I need too.

What are your thoughts, dear readers, on this post, travel, transitions, infections, healthcare, finding balance, etc?

Lots of love,

Sofia

Greek Salad Pasta

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 19:11:00 +0000

Have only been inspired to make this and Greek salad after our amazing Italy + Greece vaca...

Greek salad pasta: fusilli w black olives, sugar plum tomatoes, red onion and feta. Remember to make the pasta al dente (1-2 mins less than written cooking time)!

Salad: Remixed

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 02:05:00 +0000

Salad: cucumber, kale, red cabbage, tomato, avocado, garbanzo beans, Gorgonzola with olive oil and balsamic

Mom Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Queer as Plants) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:55:00 +0000

Dinner with mom tonight! Endives with cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes and Gorgonzola. Olive oil, balsamic and red wine to top it off. Lentils not pictured.

Spring Spinach Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 May 2013 18:58:00 +0000

Spinach salad with homemade kimchi, walnuts, dates, raisins, pepitas, bell pepper, and lemon garlic tahini dressing.

Blackstrap Molasses for Iron

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:54:00 +0000

I've wanted to be careful about iron deficiency, not knowing exactly how to get enough iron without meat. I know my leafy greens are a great source of iron & calcium, but I don't have a bundle every day.

A woman I met while sweating at the Korean spa mentioned that Organic, unsulphured, blackstrap molasses had totally cut her cravings for meat. She schooled me on the nutritional benefits of molasses.

Yesterday, after Sammy pointed out a bruise on my elbow, and after starting my moon today, we stopped and got some.

Took a tablespoon tonight, it wasn't tasty.
We'll see how it goes!

Here are a few facts about molasses, how it's made, benefits, etc.

Here's another vegan blog's take on molasses.

Fermented Carrots

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:21:00 +0000

The beauty of fermentation!

I'll post a kimchi-inspired recipe on here soon with more details on the fermentation process, but here are the basics.

You'll make a salt-water brine for the vegetables to ferment in. A good measure is a tablespoon of salt per cup of filtered water. Stir that up so the salt dissolves.

Grate many many carrots, and put them in your fermentation crock. I'll also do a whole post on fermentation containers, because that -- for me -- was the most difficult part of fermentation! The rest is easy. I have a great German-style fermentation crock given to me as a gift from Sofia, with weights that fit inside. The most important thing is that your find a way to weight down the vegetables so they stay under the salt water brine. As long as they stay anaerobic, and do not touch oxygen at the surface, they'll stay delicious and rot free!

So you'll throw your carrots in there, with tons of grated ginger (and I got tired of grating so I just chopped too), and then you'll pour the salt water brine over it. Push the veggies down so they go under the water, and put your weights over it. Those could be another jar, full of water, a plate with a glass jug on top to keep it down, or a plastic zip lock full of water. There are many ways to set up your weight system. I have these.

Then you'll wait about a week. Today we ate some that were exactly a week old as a salad, which was delicious! I put some in a jar to keep in the fridge, and left the rest in the crock to keep fermenting. As Sandor Ellix Katz says in Wild Fermentation, it's nice to enjoy the changing flavors of the vegetables as they continue to ferment.

When they're fermented to your taste, pack a jar (add some juice from the crock to keep it submerged) and stick it in the fridge! It will continue to ferment, but at a much slower pace. Add it to your salads and dishes, and experiment with other vegetables in the crock the next time around!

Raw Bell Pepper Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:54:00 +0000

So easy!!
You need a blender, food processor, or magic bullet.
Throw in all of these:
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 half a large cucumber, chopped
Squeezed lemon juice from one lemon
Wooden spoonful of miso paste
1 garlic clove
Quarter of an onion
A cup or two of water (depending on how much liquid you want)

Blend and dinner is served;)

Fermented Carrot Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:49:00 +0000

Fermented Carrots with raisins, walnuts, and avocado. Voila!

Wild Chaga

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:45:00 +0000

Chaga is a superfood I only just learned about today. Apparently it's a mushroom that grows on birch trees. The Chinese called it "king of all herbs" and the Siberians deemed it "gift of god" (or says the brochure I picked up today). The Japanese called it the "diamond of the forest" because of its value.

Loads if benefits that you can read about here. I like Chaga Black because its a great coffee substitute! Strong, bold, and delicious.

Morning Green Juice Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

So at the korean spa I was talking to this massage therapist. We started out talking about forgiveness. Our conversation moved towards juicing. I let her know I was juicing this week - and that the hardest part of cleansing for me is giving up coffee! She suggested that replacing coffee with juice will give me the energy I desire without the acidic side effects. She also mentioned juicing every day (just like brushing your teeth) will have radical healing results. So I decided to juice daily for the next two weeks. I'm documenting my skin with photos to see if my complexion clears up. My skin always shows me when something is up with my body. Anyhoo, hopefully we'll see some miracle healing with food as medicine!

10 minute Green Juice:
Couple leaves of Chard (or kale)
Bunch of Spinach (two handfuls or so)
One Green Apple
Celery
1.5 inch (ish) of Ginger
Cucumber
(Carrots or Beets optional)

Spring Cleaning Cleanse!

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:43:00 +0000

Hello loves!

We are cleansing for Spring!

Stay tuned for recipes and musings in the coming week.

Day One began with decaf coffee, a homemade fruit smoothie, tempeh &kale, and most importantly, relaxation! Cleansing is a time to let your body rest and restore. To get the detox going, I spent a few hours sweating at the Korean Spa. I steamed, sauna'd, soaked in hot mugworts tea and cold cold pools, and healed with the infrared room.

Olympic Spa is my favorite self-care spot and its right down the street from our house!
I'm going to try and head to Olympic a few times this week while I'm cleansing. :)

Date Walnut Kale Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:25:00 +0000

Beautiful dino kale chopped up and massaged with avocado.
Slice up some dates, chop whole walnuts into quarters and throw in.
Squeeze fresh lemon and toss.
Salt to taste;)

Treats Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:51:00 +0000

Salad with lettuce, apple, chives, mandarin, bell pepper, chard from Summerland Produce box and some red kale. Tahini sauce with garlic, crushed red pepper and lemon from a kind soul at KPFK. Sliced fresh cucumber from Summerland produce box with Himalayan salt and olive oil. Hard boiled egg from Tony at Wellington market.

Veggie Gnocchi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:48:00 +0000

Gnocchi with chard, kale arugula, garlic, olive oil, plum tomatoes

Cookin Apples

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:12:00 +0000

On a Sunday morning, I'm cooking some sliced apples with lemon juice and cinnamon. Sammy's mama's suggestion! We'll add the apples to our oatmeal. Feels and smells like I'm about to make an apple pie.....yum!

Breakfast, Love

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:09:00 +0000

Sammy is the King of yummy breakfast. This was our love day morning brew: teff with dates, honey, and walnuts (salt to taste), Greek yogurt w blueberries, and cafecitos.

In kundalini yoga we asked each other what love means to us.

Love to me is being with and for another human. Sometimes that's my partner. Often, it's the youth I work with, family and friends, and perfect strangers.

The opportunities to love abound. In every moment, notice how you can open to them.

Los Angeles Bombas

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Up the street, at Crenshaw and Pico, there's Mateo's Juices.

Amazingly, it's right across from a community healing center - Village Health Foundation - known for offering affordable healing work (acupuncture, yoga, health workshops, youth leadership, etc) for the QTPOC community! They even give out scholarships for young African-American lesbians!

Jewel Thais-Williams is founder of Village Health, as well as it's next door neighbor, Jewel's Catch-One (the oldest QTPOC-owned bar & dance club in LA and the country).

In any case, Village Health is amazing, and I have a relationship with the power of the Needle and Maria and myself through acupuncture there.

Maria, my acupuncturist, introduced me to Bombas. She drinks one every night for dinner, from Mateo's.

Bomba smoothies are the bizness.

You can make them at home. Often times you throw in whatever fruit you have, dried and fresh, plus some granola and walnuts, and ta-da, you are so happy.

Here's a link for more on the Bomba (common in Mexico City) with a recipe.

Spirit of the Winter Cleanse

noreply@blogger.com (Sofia Rose Smith) — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 07:20:00 +0000

to cleanse in summer is one thing.
to cleanse in winter is another.

to cleanse is to cleanse your mind and body and spirit of resistance.

and oh how much resistance surrounded me for this winter time cleanse. i did not want to do it. sammy heard me when i told her i wanted coffee. when i said, "oh i'm not really cleansing." the group began on saturday, and i pushed against it. i didn't speak with my ancestors. i didn't set intentions. and yet, spirit was there all along. my body and mind and spirit were cleansing just that: my running away-ness, my don't tell me what to do ness. releasing my pretense that "this isn't really happening."

it is happening, and i'm committed to it.
i've not bent to my caffeine addiction.
i've allowed the juices and the plants to work through me, medicine that they are.
ive swished the oil of sunflowers through my boca in the mornings, listening to them do their thing.

i giggle beside my colleagues, as they think it's a funny thing - and an almost impossible quest - to juice for a couple days. the words "you are so skinny" falling off the tongues of so many, as if it were a prideful thing, a shameful thing, a cool and weird something, a los angeles hollywood movie star thing. but it isn't, it's merely what happens when our bodies let go of what they don't need. my skin clears up. my scalp sheds. my own snake tongue spits out my blood's toxicity.

the physicality of the cleanse is never the most difficult part for me, though. aside from coffee, i don't crave. it's my inner life, my emotions, and my spirit that struggle and effort the most.

last night, release came big in tears and sobs, that just needed to move through me, water.
wretchedness flowing out of us, through mouths and eyes and holes of us, leaves us, and we are whole again, in the way we were before. spirit was with me on this cleanse every minute. holding me, moving through me, letting me rest and rise.

so i can wake up beside my partner, warm in bed, and she can slip her hands to my belly and whisper to me, and i will smile. and she will tell me she loves me, and we'll apologize for just not seeing each other clearly right now.

this is the cleanse.

juicing and all.

The animals are with me, the four directions are guiding me, and all teachers, and all my relations, sit in a circle with me, ever-connected.