Lift Your Mood and Feel Energized with Burnout Reviver

After a long week at work or a particularly stressful time, I find that it is very important to take time to do things that help replenish my energy, nurture my spirit and take care of my body. One thing that I recently discovered during a trip to Whole Foods in Massachusetts is this fantastic essential oil blend called Burnout Reviver.

As soon as I smelled it, I felt better. This stuff is amazing. I brought it to work with me to help improve the air quality near my desk and smell it when I need a lift during the day - and let me just tell you, it is working! I put it on my wrists and use it like perfume. Ahhh... yes.

Check out Leyden House, the company that sells various essential oil blends, carrier oils, shea butter and diffusers.

Next time you are feeling fatigued or need a mood lift, try out some essential oils!

Here are some benefits of diffusing essential oils:

• Improving air quality and health
• Can significantly reduce mold spores, dust mites, fungus, bacteria and viruses from the air we breathe
• Help with respiratory issues
• Elevate your mood
• Reverse negative emotions
• Can encourage concentration, reduce stress and improve sleep

Quick and Satisfying: Soba Noodles in Shiitake Broth

I love this dish because it is fast, easy to make, delicious and a complete meal in one bowl! When I come home from a long day, the last thing I want to do is cook a big meal. This dish is simple and fun and does not take much time to prepare.

Ingredients:
1 package organic soba noodles
1 stamp sized piece kombu
2 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked for 1/2 hour (reserve soaking water)
1/2 block firm tofu
soy sauce
sweet potato
scallion
optional: any other vegetables you like

1. Boil the soba noodles in a pot until they are cooked. Drain and set aside.
2. Boil 2-4 cups of water in a pot (depending on how much soup you want to make).
3. Rinse off the piece of kombu and drop it into the boiling water. Add shiitake soaking water.
4. Trim stems off of shiitake mushrooms and discard. Slice mushrooms and add to the boiling water.
5. Dice sweet potato and any other vegetables you would like to add to the soup. Add to the boiling water.
6. Turn the water to low and let all ingredients simmer.
7. Cut the tofu in small cubes and add to the simmering pot.
8. Once the vegetables are cooked, add generous amounts of soy sauce to flavor the soup.
9. Place some noodles in a bowl and ladle the soup and vegetables on top.
10. Garnish with sliced scallion. Enjoy!

Heaven and Earth Meet at Ahwatukee Farmers' Market

If you love healthy and delicious food and you live in the Phoenix area then you are in for a treat! An incredibly talented and creative chef has recently opened up shop with an array of absolutely delicious and nutritious sushi, side dishes, desserts and beverages at the Ahwatukee Farmers' Market every Sunday from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Chef Seiko Yamanobe of Heaven and Earth House of Macrobiotics prepares natural, local and in-season fare to feast your eyes and your mouth on.

Here is a "taste" of their ever changing menu... YUM!!


Miso Soup & Market Vegetable Soup
made from scratch daily

Small Plates and Deli Items
Edamame Hummus, Macro Green Goddess Dip, Cashew Miso Spread, Kale & Quinoa Salad, Steamed Vegetable Plate, Italian Miso Salad, more.

Maki
unique macro in nori rolls
Heaven & Earth Roll, Not California Roll, Tokyo Tempeh Roll, TBLT Roll, Cabo Cabo Special, Shojin Tempura Roll, Kyoto Kinpira Roll, and more.

NuMacro
modern twist on classics
Earth, Wind + Fire Spring Roll, Veggie Heaven (all vegetable) Roll, and more.

Drinks
quintessential Macro basics & more
Twig tea, Roasted Barley tea, blended Apple tea, Green tea, Home-made Fresh Ginger Ale, Amazake Shake, Ume Sho Bancha, and more.

Macro Treats
sugar, dairy, egg free, gentle gems
Yin & Yang Sesame Crunch, Kanten Jelly, Brownies, PB & J Cookies, Almond Biscotti, Blueberry & Raspberry Muffins, Carrot Cake, and more.

Five Elements Energy Bars
formulated for each season, sugar, dairy, egg free
Tree Energy (AAA) Bar, Fire Energy Bar, Earth Energy Bar, Metal Energy Bar, Water Energy Bar

See their carefully selected menu of the day.  (Always in harmony with the season, balanced whole foods, inspired by nature.)

Check out the amazingness every Sunday at 4700 E. Warner Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85044.

For more information, to see the menu or to pre-order, check their website:
http://houseofmacro.com/

Like them on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heaven-Earth-House-of-Macrobiotics/340114606022234

Put Some 'Spring' In Your Step With Seasonal Fruits and Veggies

Lots of Veggies in Springtime 

Spring is here and so is an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Spring means that it's time for us to eat foods that are lighter and more refreshing. We can incorporate more raw foods into our meals, salads and pressed salads, light soups, quick stir fries and emphasize vegetables in our meals. Leafy greens, sprouts, parsley and scallions are excellent for this season. Sour and bitter flavors like lemon, lime, and bitter dandelion greens help support the liver and gallbladder in detoxification. Mildly sweet foods help us feel happy and relaxed Cooking with less oil and shorter cooking times are recommended.

Recently, I have been trying to make milder sweet dishes that satisfy my cravings but don't leave me feeling the sugar rush of super sweet baked goods and other desserts. Here are some great alternatives to heavier and more intense sweets from Winter.

Instead of grabbing a cookie, muffin, cupcake or chocolate, try...

• Sweet fresh corn on the cob. Buy organic, steam for 3 minutes and then smear with umeboshi paste. It is DELICIOUS!!! You will never eat corn on the cob another way again.
• Cooked squash - there are so many to choose from and they are all sweet and satisfying.
• Roasted Japanese sweet potato or yams. Clean the yam/sweet potato, take out any eyes, and put in a Pyrex dish in the oven on 425 degrees. Let it cook for about 45 minutes and poke with a fork to see if it's done. When the fork goes in easily, it is ready! Slice and peel the skin. Enjoy the creamy sweetness.
• Whole grains. When I want a sweet snack I take some left over well cooked brown rice and drizzle brown rice syrup over it. So easy and so good.
• Carrot juice - refreshing and sweet. I like it best mixed with green apple juice, so it's sweet and sour 'Carrot Green Apple Juice.' Yummm.
• Fruit compote - if I am craving something fruity, I toss some sliced fruit into a pot with a pinch of sea salt and simmer it for 10-15 minutes. I like to mix it up and use fresh, frozen and dried fruit. Fruit compote can be simple (made from one fruit) or more complex. I like to use apples, dried apricots, frozen blueberries, frozen cherries, peaches, raspberries, strawberries... the combinations are endless. The compote can be eaten plain, served on top of oatmeal for breakfast, or spooned over frozen dessert (see below).

Vanilla Soy Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberry Peach Compote and Toasted Almonds

Clean THE LAND May 18, 2012

During my time in Israel, I remember thinking that people there needed to really step-up their game when it comes to basic environmental awareness. I constantly saw trash all over the place - throughout the streets in neighborhoods, on the side of the road, everywhere I looked.

I was raised in a neighborhood that was pretty conscientious about recycling, not littering and taking care of our environment. So going to what many people refer to as "the Holyland" and seeing it totally trashed was a pretty surprising sight!

I thought I was somewhat alone in my views about trash in Israel, but I am excited to say that I recently found the coolest group doing exactly what I had wanted to do, but did not have the time or resources while I was there.

This group is called Clean the Land.Clean the Land is a social, environmental initiative with two simple components: a coordinated, annual, nation-wide trash pickup day; and a mission to educate communities about recycling, sustainability and environmental protection. Ummm, YES  Pleeeeease!!

I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to hear about this group! Environmentalism does not just stop in your own home, or in your neighborhood, we need to spread the word about it to everyone - even in other countries. Not everyone grows up with environmental education and awareness like many Americans do, when they learn about these things in public schools. Many children do not know that they should not throw their candy wrappers on the ground outside...

Be a part of the solution. Help educate the people. Bring communities together.

This MAY 18, 2012 is the Nationwide Trash Pickup Day in Israel. If you live in Israel, get involved. If you know someone who lives in Israel, tell them.

Let the Clean the Land motto inspire you, "Love it. Live it. Clean it."

Check their website for more information and to get involved:

http://www.cleantheland.org/

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/CleanTheLand