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Blackberry Parfait
From Ani Phyo, SmartMonkey Foods Serves 3-4Blackberry Cream Ingredients
2 young Thai baby coconuts
1/2 cup fresh blackberry juice
1/3 cup pitted dates
1/2 vanilla bean, optional
1/2 cup coconut water, as needed
Preparation
Scoop meat from coconuts and rinse, making sure only the soft coconut meat remains. Blend with blackberry juice, dates, vanilla bean, and as much coconut water as needed for the mixture to become fluffy and smooth. Place 1/2 cup of blackberry cream in bottom of each glass or bowl.
Blackberry Syrup and Topping Ingredients
1 cup fresh blackberries
4 oz. dates
1 pint fresh blackberries
mint for garnish
To create fruit syrup, in blender combine dates and berries. Blend until the mix reaches a syrupy texture.
Top blackberry cream with 1/4 cup syrup. Top off the cream and syrup with 1/2 cup blackberries per serving. Garnish with mint and enjoy. Will keep refrigerated for up to two days.
living food Retreats
You’ll find spas and retreats offering personal healing programs that feature raw nutrition as well as living food preparation courses in every region. Visit the websites for detailed information on rates, programs, and each spa’s individual philosophy.
Annapurna Retreat & Spa: Located in the seaport village of Port Townsend on Washington State’s beautiful Olympic Peninsula, Annapurna offers a variety of retreat packages focused on detoxification through “Organic Alive Nutrition.” Seminars and workshops on topics like reflexology and healing live foods are also offered. Call (800) 868-2662 or visit www.annapurnaretreat-spa.com
Ann Wigmore: Considered by some the “mother of living foods,” Ann Wigmore operates rejuvenating retreats in New Mexico and Puerto Rico. Both offer living food preparation courses and personal healing retreats to develop a practical understanding of the “many complementary facets of a living foods lifestyle.” Ann Wigmore Foundation, New Mexico. Call (505) 552-0595 or visit www.wigmore.org. Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute, Puerto Rico. Call (787) 868-6307 or visit www.annwigmore.org.
Optimum Health Institute: With locations in San Diego, California, and Austin, Texas, OHI offers a “holistic mind-body-spirit approach to achieving optimum health.” Three-week-long sessions focus on cleansing the mind and body and reconnecting with one’s own spiritual center. Visit www.optimumhealth.org.
Tree of Life: Located in the gorgeous high desert of Patagonia, Arizona, the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center blends ancient Essene spiritual practices with modern holistic healing techniques, including organic living cuisine and detoxification. Living food preparation courses are also offered through the Tree of Life Café. Call (520) 394-2520 or visit www.treeoflife.nu.
Equipment for the living food kitchen
In order to explore the world of living foods, you’ll need no more than a good knife. A blender or food processor is helpful as well. If you find the lifestyle suits you and want to delve more deeply into the world of gourmet living foods, you can expand your recipe repertoire with some additional kitchen equipment.
Dehydrators: Essential for “baking” living breads, crackers, and cookies, dehydrators are an excellent addition to the gourmet living food kitchen. Especially in winter, when you crave hearty comfort foods and the selection of fresh produce can be sparse, a dehydrator will allow you to expand your raw culinary horizon.
Juicers: Champion, (209) 369-4638, www.championjuicer.com; Samson Juicer, (888) 992-7333, www.samsonjuicers.com; Waring (800) 492-7464, www.waringproducts.com
Vita-mix: Beyond your standard blender, the Vita-mix will juice whole fruits, mill grains into flour, homogenize dressings, and much more. Excellent for making soups, nut butters, salad dressings, and smooth, creamy nut milks. (800) 848-2649, www.vitamix.com
May/June 2004
