This cleanse of mine

I've done a cleanse before, it was a soy/raw freeze dried fruit shake based cleanse, and it was really great actually, very filling and not too sweet, so you could add what you wanted to it, and the cleanse allowed for all the raw fruits and veggies you wanted, so it wasn't massively restrictive. However, I did discover that I have a pretty intense soy sensitivity, and I had to either eat like, half a pomagranite or drink a large cup or green tea to not start feeling itchy and hot. So this time I'm going with the 'pressed' cleanse, which is an almond/green protein juice cleanse. I decided to go with the 3 day cleanse instead of the 5 day (mainly for cost reasons) with 3 days prep and 3 days to ease back into a more normal diet on either end (9 days total).  I'm trying to get exercise in after work when I can since the days are longer (woo!) and it's actually been pretty nice weather (double woo!!) Post cleanse, the first day will be pretty 'soft' only adding fresh greens and steamed veggies, then I will add in goat cheese and fish. I will be trying to go back to how things were toward the beginning of the year, diet wise. The last couple of months have been pretty hard on me, so part of my 'healthy sabbatical' has had to do with me just trying to comfort myself (I know, I know, not the best coping mechanism, shu-uh!) anywhoo, I'm pretty stoked to get healthy again, I'm really hoping that this summer kicks ass, since the last two have really kicked mine!!

cauliflower pizza

I've been attempting to make vegetable based pizza crusts for a few years now. I attempted a zucchini crust recipe a few times a couple of years ago, and the first attempt was delicious! it stuck to the pan really bad though, so I figured I'd made it too thin. Every subsequent attempt was not great to say the least...
Cut to a few weeks ago, I was reading on a different blog and was inspired to try the cauliflower crust pizza. I  augmented the recipe a little, and so far I've made it 3 times, and it was so good!! the first time I forgot to cook the cauliflower after I riced it, but it was OK, just a bit raw-ish tasting. I used an olive oil base and topped with brie, Gorgonzola, and mushrooms.  The second attempt was about the same, and I added sauteed french shallots. This last time I made it, I switched to a tomato based sauce and topped that with mozzarella balls, olives and mushrooms. I was only able to snap a picture this last time because it was eaten so fast the first two times! The coolest thing about it is, there's less than half the calories of a typical slice of plain pizza IN THE WHOLE FRIGGING THING! (minus the toppings of course ;))

anyway, the crust is super easy, here's the basic recipe:

1C cauliflower, riced (grate, then microwave for 8 min)

1C mozzarella, shredded

1  egg, beaten

1t dried oregano, or alternative spice mix (I used the salt free pizza spice mix from the bulk section at central market)

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 t garlic salt or other flavored salt (I used truffle salt)

olive oil

spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray, or spread olive oil, thick and even over the whole surface. pre-heat oven to 450. in a largish bowl, stir together cauliflower, egg and cheese. add spices and salt and mix thoroughly. transfer to sheet and pat into desired shape with your hands. brush with olive oil. bake at 450 for about 15 min. remove and loosen from sheet with a spatula, careful to not break the crust!! 

top with whatever your heart desires and pop it back in the oven for 4-5 min until topping cheese is melted (I usually boost the heat up a bit too at this point, but you don't have to) 

this is enough for one pizza, which, with salad, was enough for me and my husby.

easy peasy!!

skinny bitch

I've never been the cutest/prettiest/coolest/smartest in any group of average girls, but I have been the skinniest. I'm really not saying this to be braggy, and it's really not that great by comparison (no guy outside of Los Angeles or the Fashion/entertainment industry has ever been heard saying, 'I really dig skinny chicks, I don't care how pretty they are' not that I've heard anyway) and it doesn't matter if you're being made fun of because your too fat or too skinny, it hurts either way, trust me.
Anyway, as ubiquitous as the quest for skinny is in the life of the American female, I have to say, I was given a good foundation. We always ate pretty healthy growing up, and I have the physical tendency toward skinniness, even though it doesn't necessarily run in the family. I was(am) never(not) particularly athletic, and not into sports, but always active (and now with the farm, i mean...) and never really gained weight until I was in my mid 20s. At my most unhealthy though, it wouldn't have mattered if I weighed 100 or 1000 lbs, I felt like shit. I was tired all the time, my skin sucked and all of my clothes made me feel like sausage. To contrast that, when we first started farming and getting into more holistic body care(?)(using less chemical stuff, etc) I was doing physical labor most of the day, eating extremely close to the ground (so to speak) and had a killer tan. I may have been dirt poor, but I felt amazing.
I'm currently surfing the space between. I eat more meat than I did a few years ago, and don't always have time to prepare every meal from scratch. I use oil of olay and sometimes even eat (gasp) fast food. I try really hard not to be a totalitarian about any of this stuff, and as strongly as I feel about being healthy, I hate the sound of my own voice and cringe at the memory of the times I've gotten super preachy about it. So, if I ever got on your nerves with my 'down with monsanto' ethos, sorry about that. love ya!
At this point I feel balance is king, all the rest is clanging gongs, ya know?

my 1st lunch today (I usually have 2 small breakfasts and 2 small lunches)

 remains of the yummiest breakfast I ever made

 tuna noodle casserole from (sort of) scratch

before and after