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NEWS: I'll Be at Otakon 2014!

I'll be in the Artist Alley, table M01:

I might be able to wrangle a very SMALL amount of Chp 2 and 3 early from the printer (the rest of the books will be coming in about two months, I'm told! Kickstarter merch can go out when those arrive! Ah, I'm sorry it takes a while to be made!), this way I will.. actually have some books to sell at my table! But it will be a very limited amount, so it might sell out quick!

I don't have a panel or anything at Otakon, I'll just be at the table- please stop by if you are around, I'd love to say hello!

See you there! -Hamlet




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NEWS: I'll Be at Yaoi Con 2014!

I'll be in the Dealer's Room at Yaoicon this year! (Sept 12th-14th) This is my only CA con this year, so if you're attending, please stop by!

SEE YOU THERE! -Hamlet




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NEWS: I'll Be at Nijicon 2014!

I'll be a guest at Nijicon, an east coast con all about m/m romance, Oct 18th and 19th in Valley Forge, PA!

I'll also be on a panel but I'm not quite sure when that will be just yet!

I hope to see you there! This will be my last con of 2014--! -Hamlet




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NEWS: We'll be at Fanime 2015!

I’ll be at Fanime! San Jose, CA, May 22nd - 25th!

I’ll be in the artist alley! I hope to see you if you’re attending! Come say hello~ -Hamlet




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NEWS: October Con Trio 2015!

I will be traveling quite a bit from this weekend until the end of October for conventions!

Event Yaoi's Yaoi Yuri Con - I will be a guest of honor at this convention in Lyon, France! I don't get to travel abroad for conventions very often so I am really looking forward to meeting European fans! :)

NYCC - I will have a table in the Artist Alley! (Table T12)

Nijicon - I will be a guest here! (I'll have a panel!)

So, I have three cons this month (IT JUST SORTA HAPPENED), one of which is overseas, so the Starfighter updates will have to wait until I get back! That sucks, I know, but I will be meeting with friends and fans at conventions, so it's all for a good cause! :) I will be back shortly after I return to wrap up Encke and Keeler!

I hope to do you all proud! Thank you so much as always for your support! -Hamlet





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NEWS: We'll be at Oops Summer Fest 2016!

I'll be a guest at the OOPS SUMMER FEST in Monterrey, Mexico!

This is my first time there- if you are attending the convention, I hope we can meet! (My Spanish isn't great, but I will try my best!)

VIP members get an exclusive print I made <3

See you there! <3 -Hamlet




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NEWS: We'll be at FanimeCon 2017!

I'll be at Fanime in San Jose in May!

This will be our only convention in California this year!

See you there! <3 -Hamlet




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NEWS: We'll be at Flame Con 2017!

Finally-- a con in our hometown, NYC!

This is our first time at Flame Con, so we're looking forward to it! If you're there, feel free to stop by and see us in the Artist Alley.

See you there! <3 -Hamlet




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NEWS: We'll be at Small Press Expo 2017!

We'll be at the Small Press Expo in Bethesda Maryland!

This is our first time at SPX! If you're there, feel free to stop by and see us in the Artist Alley – we'll be at table W49!

See you there! <3 -Hamlet




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NEWS: We'll be at Yaoi Generation 2017!

Bonjour! Je serai l'invité d'honneur à Yaoi Generation.

October 21st, Lausanne, Switzerland

This is the event's first year and I think it will be very special! I am not able to visit abroad often, so if you are able to come, I hope we can meet!

I look forward to seeing everyone soon! <3 -Hamlet




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NEWS: LEt's cYbeR

Our first sale ever is happening right now at the online shop ~ please enjoy, my friends!

Click on this link to apply it instantlyor use LETSCYBER code at checkout! 15% off the entire Starfighter shop with any $25 and up purchase until 12/25! -Hamlet




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NEWS: LEt's cYbeR 2018

Our second annual holiday sale is happening right now at the online shop ~ please enjoy, my friends!

Click on this link to apply it instantlyor use LETSCYBER code at checkout! 15% off the entire Starfighter shop with any $25 and up purchase until 12/31! -Hamlet




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NEWS: We'll Be at Anime NYC 2019!

This is our second time at AnimeNYC! If you're there, feel free to stop by table H21 and see us in the Artist Alley!

See you there! -Hamlet




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KOMENTÁŘ: Pomoc ano, odškodnění ne. Podnikání bez rizik není možné

Kam až má sahat pomoc státu podnikatelům, živnostníkům a firmám? Očekávání jsou rozsáhlá, bude to velká zkouška odolnosti vlády. Protože podnikání je dobrovolná aktivita spojená nejen s profitem, ale i s rizikem.



  • Ekonomika - Domácí

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Trumpův oblíbený uhelný průmysl čerpá půjčky pro malé podniky

Prostřednictvím amerického Programu ochrany mezd pro malé podniky získal uhelný průmysl v USA více než 31 milionů dolarů. Ozývají se rozhořčené hlasy z řad environmentalistů. Administrativa Donalda Trumpa podle nich využívá finanční pomoc na záchranu odvětví, které mělo potíže již před krizí.



  • Ekonomika - Zahraniční

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Bez práce je víc než čtvrt milionu lidí. Jejich počet vzroste

V dubnu bylo bez práce 254 tisíc lidí, nejvíce od března 2018. Nezaměstnanost vzrostla na 3,4 procenta, potvrdil ve čtvrtek Úřad práce. V evidenci přibývá lidí z oboru služeb. O dubnových číslech hovořila již v pondělí ministryně práce Jana Maláčová (ČSSD). Podle ní jsou data stále příznivá.



  • Ekonomika - Domácí

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Albertu se daří, plánuje e-shop. Lidé víc dají na slevy, tvrdí jeho šéf

Maloobchodnímu řetězci Albert se v koronavirové krizi dařilo. Prodeje mu v některých dnech vzrostly až na trojnásobek a těžil hlavně z prvotních panických nákupů některých Čechů. Měl však i vysoké náklady. Firma teď navíc plánuje i spuštění e-shopu. Podle jejího šéfa však Češi v budoucnu budou více vyhledávat výhodné ceny.



  • Ekonomika - Domácí

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PŘEHLEDNĚ: Pandemie zanechává desítky milionů lidí bez práce

Nezaměstnanost se šíří světem podobně jako virus. Nejhorší je situace v USA. Tamní centrální banka čeká až třetinovou nezaměstnanost. Jednou z nejvíce postižených zemí v Evropě bude Španělsko, kde se může ocitnout bez práce více než pětina lidí.



  • Ekonomika - Domácí

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SETI@home hibernation

On March 31, the volunteer computing part of SETI@home will stop distributing work and will go into hibernation.

We're doing this for two reasons:

1) Scientifically, we're at the point of diminishing returns; basically, we've analyzed all the data we need for now.

2) It's a lot of work for us to manage the distributed processing of data. We need to focus on completing the back-end analysis of the results we already have, and writing this up in a scientific journal paper.

However, SETI@home is not disappearing. The web site and the message boards will continue to operate. We hope that other UC Berkeley astronomers will find uses for the huge computing capabilities of SETI@home for SETI or related areas like cosmology and pulsar research. If this happens, SETI@home will start distributing work again. We'll keep you posted about this.

If you're currently running SETI@home on your computer, we encourage you to attach to other BOINC-based projects as well. Or use Science United and sign up to do astronomy. You can stay attached to SETI@home, of course, but you won't get any jobs until we find new applications.

We're extremely grateful to all of our volunteers for supporting us in many ways during the past 20 years. Without you there would be no SETI@home. We're excited to finish up our original science project, and we look forward to what comes next.





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The coronavirus outbreak has officially been labeled a pandemic...



The coronavirus outbreak has officially been labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization, potentially grinding the global economy to a halt. Yet every step of the way, the Trump administration’s response has been to deny, blame, obfuscate, and generally cover up. 

Trump and his enablers are focused only on mitigating the economic consequences of the outbreak, especially before the election – mulling proposals like corporate tax cuts and bailouts for airlines and the hotel industry, but resisting the needs of average Americans and our broken healthcare system. 

The outbreak has also revealed the utter weakness of our social safety nets: workers may be forced to choose between a missed paycheck and risking their health because too many employers have no paid sick leave, schools are weighing whether or not to shut down because hundreds of thousands of poor children rely on them for hot meals, and our cruel for-profit healthcare system is preventing people from getting tested for the virus for fear of a hefty bill.

And, remember, 80 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Coupled with Trump’s incompetence and narcissism, it’s a recipe for total disaster.

Meanwhile, the Democratic electorate is in the midst of a primary to unseat this sociopath. After Tuesday, Biden has kept his delegate lead with wins in Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, and Mississippi. And while the race isn’t over yet, it’s wise to start making contingency plans.

Biden’s biggest weakness is his failure to attract progressives and young voters. In a CNN exit poll for Michigan, Bernie won a whopping 82 percent of voters age 18-29. Without these voters, if Biden is the nominee, Democrats will not be able to get the votes needed to defeat Trump.

So what are Biden’s options for getting out the vote of this crucial portion of the Party? He must select a true progressive for Vice President, like Elizabeth Warren or even Bernie Sanders, who can push bold progressive ideas like a wealth tax, Medicare for All, tuition-free college, cancelling student debt, and a Green New Deal.

These progressive policies are also winners with the electorate – a majority of voters even in Mississippi and other southern states supported replacing the current healthcare system with a single-payer system, and polling continues to reflect this appetite for transformative change. Even if Bernie isn’t getting the support he counted on, his ideas are.

And don’t count Bernie out just yet. A debate is coming up this weekend that could boost his campaign enough to help him secure wins in later key states like Ohio and Pennsylvania.

But if he fails to get traction, he needs to do whatever he can to help reunite the party, and most importantly, keep working to shift the party in a progressive direction. Behind the scenes he needs to negotiate with Biden a pathway to gain progressive support.

Meanwhile, Biden needs to take up the issues of concern to young people, who are the future of the party and who Democrats can’t win without. This might seem like a pipe dream, but Biden has no choice. This is not 2016. The nation cannot afford another 4 years of Trump. If you’re angry – and rightfully so – use that anger to keep pushing the movement.




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Will He Get A Second Term?Donald Trump has proven himself to be...



Will He Get A Second Term?

Donald Trump has proven himself to be the most corrupt, dishonest, and incompetent president in American history. 

But despite all of the lies, abuses of power, and damage to the country – I must warn you – there’s a very real possibility he could be reelected. This doesn’t have to be the case. 

Let me explain.

Although Trump has been impeached and is one of the most unpopular presidents in modern history, he still has devoted support among his core base. Nearly 90 percent of Republicans still approve of the job he’s doing, a rate that’s held constant throughout his presidency. According to one survey, a third of Trump supporters said there was nothing he could do to lose their support.

Trump still maintains substantial support in key swing states as well. Recent polls show him neck and neck with leading Democratic candidates in the key states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Arizona, and North Carolina. Remember, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 by 3 million votes but still lost the election because of the power of these states in the Electoral College.

Big money donors are also forking over record sums of money to keep Trump in office. In the last quarter of 2019 alone, he raked in a staggering $46 million, far outpacing any of his Democratic opponents. He now has more than $100 million in the bank, not to mention the millions raised by pro-Trump Super PACs. The GOP’s biggest donors – some of whom didn’t support him in 2016, but received massive windfalls from Trump’s tax cut – are now paying him back.  

At the same time, voter suppression is on the rise. To suppress turnout by likely Democratic voters, Republican officials have doubled down on their efforts to keep low-income and minority voters from the polls. They are intimidating immigrant voters, purging voter rolls, closing polling places, and making it harder to register in the first place. 

Florida went so far as to institute a modern-day poll tax, requiring people with past felony convictions to pay off any fines or fees before exercising their right to vote. In 2016, over 20 percent of black voting-age Floridians weren’t able to vote due to past felony convictions, and now, hundreds of thousands could still be prevented from going to the polls this November in this key state.

We are also at risk of foreign powers trying to interfere in the election, as they did in 2016. Experts warn that many states still lack the necessary safeguards to protect against interference. The FBI, Department of Justice and National Security Agency have also raised concerns that Russia, China, and Iran might attempt misinformation campaigns. I can’t believe I even have to say this, but foreign governments should not have a say in our elections.

So why am I telling you all of this? I don’t mean to scare you. And the last thing I want to do is cause you to be hopeless, and give up. To the contrary, I want you to be more determined than ever. Despite all these attacks on democracy, we have what it takes to make Trump a one-term president. But only if we remain focused and united.

It may seem daunting. We’re up against a full-fledged attack on our democratic institutions. But there is a way forward: 

We can defeat Trump and his enablers by building a multiracial, multi-class coalition. And we do that by supporting a true progressive with a bold vision for an economy and democracy that works for all Americans. That way enough voters will be inspired to show up to the polls and stop Trump’s authoritarian machine for good.

This isn’t a pipe dream. We already beat the liar-in-chief by 2.8 million votes in 2016. And the 2018 elections had the highest turnout of any midterm election since 1914 – handing House Republicans their most resounding defeat in decades. People are outraged – and we must keep fighting.

If we come together, we will prevail.




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Dear Bernie

I’m sorry you will not be president, but I understand and appreciate your decision to end your...




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Trump’s 4-Step Plan for Reopening the Economy Will Be Lethal

Donald Trump is getting nervous. Internal polls show him losing in November unless the economy comes...




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Probert's "Hat"


I have neglected to post about my decision to start muzzling Probert when he is with "the pack" because so many people react so negatively to it, but I'm ready so here it is. I have posted a few photos of Probert in his "hat" (we don't use the "m" word) on my personal Facebook page and have gotten some very mixed reactions. I understand that it is sometimes difficult to see a dog in a muzzle because it makes them "look mean" or for any other reason. For the first month after I bought Probert's muzzle, I couldn't even put it on him for any amount of time, but I finally dove in and now I am very used to seeing it on him and know that underneath, he is still my sweet little guy.

Probert has a history of redirecting in stressful situations (in the yard, something outside the fence usually) and biting Wrigley. He has done Wrigley some serious damage and in the interest of preventing that from happening (on the occasion when it does happen) and also in not isolating Probert from the pack, I bought him a muzzle. Since buying it several months ago, there have been two incidents when it has prevented him from doing any damage when attempting to bite Wrigley and the rest of the time, it allows him to interact with the pack like a normal dog and without my worrying about what "could" happen - so it's doing its job.

So, despite the "scary" exterior appearance of the muzzle, I have to say that it's one of the better decisions I have made for the health and happiness of all of my dogs. In the interest of looking a little less "scary" (and preventing further wall-gouging and painful leg-bashing from the heavy metal one) I just ordered Probert a new JAFCO clear flexi vinyl muzzle, so we'll see how that one works when it gets here. If anyone is interested, I will be happy to report back! In the meantime, please don't be too quick to judge a dog (or his person) by his hat!




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Slumbertongue


Greta, sound asleep (despite all of her enthusiastic barking, she does indeed rest at times).




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24 things, and if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. Thing 6.


This is from the tour show. It's the image we put up at the start of the sketch about the designer of the snake, to try to get across the idea of an animal design department. Tomorrow, I'll put up the image that replaces it when the head of the department says he has one or two questions about the new design...




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24 things, or not, but maybe. Thing 13.



Apologies if this is baffling to non-Brits. But count yourselves lucky.




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24 Things, though it would be quite funny to drop out now. Thing 20.


These are the practice sketches for yesterday's, but I think I like some of them better than the way it turned out. Especially the cheerful chap in the bottom right corner.




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Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff: Everyone Believes in Horse Theft

In the latest episode of their scrappy but determined podcast, Ken and Robin talk underdog opponents, the Sandby Borg massacre, All Rolled Up's Fil Baldowski, and lunar metal.



  • Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff

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Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff: Number One Nightmare

In the latest episode of their starry starry podcast, Ken and Robin talk alternate reality tech levels, Sarah Saltiel, emergent continuity and Belle Epoque astrologer Ely Star.




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In case you were wondering where I’ve been…

Just thought I’d give an update, since I haven’t posted any articles in a while…I decided to take some time off from this site as it was taking up a lot of time just trying to keep up with the news lately, and I’ve been super busy with many other things that I just couldn’t […]



  • Sci-Fi Storm

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Small is beautiful: India looks to local leagues as sport seeks restart

Most stakeholders agree that holding smaller competitions will be the best way forward post-lockdown.




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Annual IOC Session meeting to be held via video

The IOC Session -- an annual meeting of approximately 100 members -- will be held in July via a video conference rather than the originally scheduled gathering in Tokyo prior to the Summer Olympics.




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Je nárok na stravenku při home office? A co další benefity v době rouškové?

Místo zájezdu nové brýle a namísto pravidelné masáže konzultace s lékařem na dálku. Vládní opatření proti koronaviru změnila také čerpání zaměstnaneckých benefitů. Na rozdíl od výplat je však firmy nekrátí.



  • Finance - Práce a podnikání

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Vyrábějí z vlastního ovoce. Perou se s přírodou, ale daří se jim i bez dotací

Sbírají jedno ocenění za druhým. Nejvíce si ale váží ocenění zákazníků. Své mošty a přesnídávky rodinná firma vyrábí v Bílých Karpatech, v místě, kde je příroda takřka nedotčená a čistá. Takové chtějí i své produkty.



  • Finance - Práce a podnikání

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Hugo: Best Editor, Short Form - starting point

The finalists are:

I'm a subscriber to Uncanny Magazine, edited by the Thomases, and a Patreon supporter of Clarkesworld, edited by Neil Clarke. I keep up with neither magazine as much as I'd like, but I generally enjoy both of them. Uncanny Magazine in particular has a very high hit rate for me when I do make time to read it.

(I also had the pleasure of meeting Neil Clarke in his kaffeeklatsch at Dublin Worldcon last year, which I really enjoyed & learned a lot from.)

I have one of Jonathan Strahan's anthologies from last year, Mission:Critical on my to-read pile, and I've also been eyeing the Made to Order: Robots and Revolution anthology published this year.

Ellen Datlow edits a lot of horror, which I'm cautious of, and I happen not to have read any of the Tor.com short fiction she acquired last year, but that could be remedied (in a well-lit room during the day, etc). She also lists a couple of anthologies, and while I'm not touching a Best Horror of the Year anthology, I might risk the ghost stories anthology.

C.C. Finlay and Sheila Williams edit respectively F&SF Magazine and Asimov's Science Fiction, neither of which I subscribe to or read regularly, but because I'm already not keeping up with the things I do subscribe to, not for any stronger or more considered reason.



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Hugo: Best Editor, Long Form - starting point

The finalists are:

You can find lists of books published in 2019 edited by each of these finalists at this crowdsourced page at File 770, of which:

  • Brit Hvide: 2 books on my wishlist
  • Devi Pillai: 1 read, 2 on wishlist
  • Miriam Weinberg: 2 on wishlist
  • Navah Wolfe: 1 read, 1 on to-read pile

Devi Pillai edited A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, which I love so much, and Navah Wolfe edited The Twisted Ones by Ursula Vernon, which is one of the few marketed-as-horror books I have willingly read. (It won't ever be my favourite Vernon book, but it was a good read.)



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Hugo: Best Professional Artist - starting point

The finalists are:

Just looking up those websites has given me a lot of pleasure - my art knowledge continues to be "I don't know much but I know what I like" - and I'm looking forward to taking more time to consider each of the finalists more carefully.

I'm pleased to see Galen Dara on the shortlist, I've seen her work frequently in Uncanny, Lightspeed & Fireside Magazines, and usually like it. I was lucky enough to get into a kaffeklatsch with John Picacio at Dublin Worldcon last year (although I came there sideways, through interest in his work founding The Mexicanx Initiative, which was a finalist for Best Related Work), which was a great experience.



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Hugo: Best Semiprozine - starting point

The finalists are:

  • Beneath Ceaseless Skies, editor Scott H. Andrews
  • Escape Pod, editors Mur Lafferty and S.B. Divya, assistant editor Benjamin C. Kinney, audio producers Adam Pracht and Summer Brooks, hosts Tina Connolly and Alasdair Stuart
  • Fireside Magazine, editor Julia Rios, managing editor Elsa Sjunneson, copyeditor Chelle Parker, social coordinator Meg Frank, publisher & art director Pablo Defendini, founding editor Brian White
  • FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, executive editor Troy L. Wiggins, editors Eboni Dunbar, Brent Lambert, L.D. Lewis, Danny Lore, Brandon O’Brien and Kaleb Russell
  • Strange Horizons, Vanessa Rose Phin, Catherine Krahe, AJ Odasso, Dan Hartland, Joyce Chng, Dante Luiz and the Strange Horizons staff
  • Uncanny Magazine, editors-in-chief Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, nonfiction/managing editor Michi Trota, managing editor Chimedum Ohaegbu, podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky

In this category, everything but FIYAH is available free online, supported by subscriptions / Patreons etc. FIYAH puts a list of contents of each issue, and also publishes a Spotify playlist for each quarterly issue. Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Fireside Magazine and Strange Horizons also all publish podcasts of each of their fiction / poetry, and Uncanny Magazine publishes two podcasts per issue which cover some but not all of the content (as far as I can tell). Escape Pod is of course a fiction podcast to start with, but does provides transcripts of its episodes.

I subscribe to Uncanny Magazine & FIYAH, I had a subscription last year to Fireside Magazine, I support Strange Horizons on Patreon and I'm on Beneath Ceaseless Skies's mailiing list to get notifications of new issues, even if I don't always read them. I'll need to have a bit of a think about how I'll rank them.



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Hugo: Best Fanzine - starting point

The finalists are:

The only one of these I follow is The Rec Center, a weekly email of fan news and fanfic recommendations, which I've subscribed to for about 18 months now. That's also the only finalist where the 2019 output isn't easily viewable (but cunningly I already have the emails in my archive folder).



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Hugo: Best Fancast - starting point

The finalists are:

I'm not familiar with any of these, and I'm not confident of finding time to change that between now and voting time. But I have at least bookmarked the YouTube playlist (she helpfully made a "Hugo Voter Packet" playlist!) and downloaded some sample episodes from each podcast to listen to.



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Hugo: Best Fan Writer - starting point

The finalists are:

Another category in which everything is free to read online. Some of the fan writers already helpfully have their Hugo packets prepared and easily found on their respective sites too, which is pretty impressive. My starting point is that I sometimes read James Davis Nicoll's reviews and I've read some of Bogi Takács's work, but I haven't routinely read any of these finalists.



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Raw Food Recipe Menu: September 27, 2015













Breakfast
Pumpkin Spice Smoothie
serves 2 ~ $.70 per serving





ingredients
  • 2 carrots ($.30)
  • 2 bananas, sliced and frozen ($.40)
  • 1 apple, peeled and chopped ($.50)
  • 1 tablespoon agave ($.20)
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • water for blending, about 1 cup

directions

In a blender, puree all ingredients until very smooth. A high speed blender will smooth out all the little carrot bits, and a less high powered one will leave a bit of pulp. If you're very opposed to pulp, juice the carrots instead.






nutritional information: calories: 165 fat: 0 gr carbs: 47 gr protein: 2 gr








Lunch
Apple Avocado Soup
serves 2 ~ $1.44 per serving





ingredients

  • 1 avocado, chopped ($.88)
  • 2 medium apples, peeled and chopped ($1.29)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped onion
  • handful arugula leaves ($.50)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil ($.20)
  • 2 cups water, for blending
  • minced onion
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • red pepper flakes directions


directions
  1. Set aside a few arugula leaves for garnish.
  2. In a blender, combine the avocado, apples, chopped onion, arugula leaves, olive oil, and water, and puree until very smooth.
  3. Salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with a few chopped arugula leaves, some finely minced onion, and red pepper flakes.
  4. nutritional information


calories: 275 fat: 18 gr carbs: 42 gr protein: 7 gr







 Dinner
Taco Salad
serves 2 ~ $3.55 per serving

 


ingredients
  • 1/4 cup walnuts ($1.00)
  • 1 large tomato ($1.00)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 head romaine ($2.30)
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced ($.20)
  • 1 small jalapeno, sliced
  • 1 ripe avocado ($.1.00)
  • black olives ($.50)
  • green olives ($.50)

  • 4 tablespoons cashew cream ($.60) {recipe below}

directions
  • Make the walnut taco meat first and set aside.
  • In a food processor fitted with an "S" blade, pulse the walnuts, half a tomato, cumin, and salt until chopped but still a little chunky.
  • To a bed of chopped romaine, add the walnut taco meat, the other half of tomato (chopped), sliced onion, a bit of sliced jalapeno, chopped avocado, and olives. 
  • Top with a couple scoops of cashew cream.

cashew cream

  • 1/2 cup cashews ($2.00)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice ($.20)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Blend all ingredients in small blender until very smooth. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

nutritional information

calories: 398      fat: 30 gr      carb: 26      protein: 13





Dessert

Maple Bacon Ice Cream
serves 2 ~ $1.00 per serving 






ingredients

  • 1 zucchini, sliced 1/4" thick ($.70)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil ($.20)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup ($.40)
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar ($.10)
  • 1 small clove garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

directions

Slice the zucchini into strips about 1/4" thick. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients. Toss with the zucchini until well coated, then dehydrate for several hours or overnight, until just a little bit crunchy but pliable.







Tear the zucchini bacon into pieces and serve over vanilla banana ice cream with maple syrup. To make the ice cream, slice and freeze four bananas. When ready to use, grind them in a food processor with one teaspoon vanilla and a splash of almond milk. Process until smooth, which may take a few minutes and some scraping down on the sides. This will cost about $.30 per serving.



nutritional information: calories: 298 fat: 14 carbs: 45 protein: 2 gr


 
 
Any Time Snack
Kitchen Sink Smoothie
serves 2 ~ $1.70 per serving

ingredients
  •  2 big handfuls greens (kale, romaine, etc) ($.75)
  • 3 bananas, sliced and frozen ($.75)
  • 1 cup blueberries ($1.00)
  • 2 tablespoon ground flax seeds ($.20)
  • 4 tablespoons hemp protein powder ($.90)
  • about 2 cups water for blending

I love making big, sweet, hearty green smoothies in the morning, and this is what I had this morning. I'm pretty sure I put just about everything I had in it, hence the name "(everything but the) Kitchen Sink Smoothie!"

My blender is small and weak, poor thing (but has lasted forever), so I blend my greens first. If you don't have a VitaMix or other high powered blender, this might work better for you, too. They get pretty smooth if I process them for a minute or two.

I also used Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 50, 50% Protein Powder, 32-Ounce which is my favorite hemp powder. Manitoba Harvest leaves all the good omega-3s intact.

Just blend everything well until smooth and serve.


nutrition information:      calories: 342      fat: 9 gr      carb: 60 gr      protein: 14 gr      fiber: 13 gr





Total cost for the day: $8.39
total calories: 1478
total fat: 71 gr
total carb: 220 gr
total protein: 38 gr




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October 4, 2015: Raw Food Recipe Menu






Breakfast
serves 1 ~ $2.10 per serving




ingredients

  • 1 apple, washed (peeled if not organic) ($.60)
  • 1 cup mango,chunks, fresh or frozen ($1.00)
  • 1 banana, sliced and frozen
  • 1 handful kale leaves ($.50)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 cup ice
  • water for blending (more or less depending on how thick you like it)

Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender until very smooth and enjoy!


nutritional information
calories: 230
fat: 4 gr
carbs:47 gr
protein: 6 gr 
 
 
 
 Lunch
serves 2 ~ $2.55 per serving
 


ingredients

dressing
  • 3 tablespoons tahini ($.30)
  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice ($.60)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave (can substitute stevia or omit) ($.10)
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ($.10)
  • 1 tablespoon flax oil ($.20)
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce ($.10)
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric ($.10)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder ($.10)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder 
  • 1 teaspoon cilantro flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

salad
  • 1 head romaine or other lettuce ($1.80)
  • 2 tomatoes ($1.00)
  • 1 cucumber ($.50)
  • 1 small onion, sliced ($.20)



directions
Place all dressing ingredients in a small blender and puree briefly until well mixed. Use as desired (over salad, as a veggie dip, over a rice bowl, etc). Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in an air tight container.
 
 
nutritional information:        
calories: 299    
fat: 9 gr      
carbs: 31 gr      
protein: 9 gr
 
 
 
 
 
Dinner
serves 2 ~ $2.80 per serving




  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced ($.70)
  • 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, thinly sliced ($.70)
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced ($1.50)
  • 1 cup black or kalamata olives ($1.50)
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced onion ($.20)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil ($.20)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice ($.40)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar ($.20)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave (optional, for those who like a touch of sweet) ($.20)
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 tablespoon fresh, chopped)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano 
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
  • 1-2 medium sized zucchini, spiralized

Prepare the red and yellow bell pepper, mushrooms, olives, and onion and place in a medium sized bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, syrup, onion powder, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Pour over the prepared vegetables. Allow to marinate for at least a half hour, but it can marinate as long as a day.

When ready to eat, simply pour the marinated veggies and marinade over a portion of spiralized zucchini noodles and toss.


 



nutritional information:
calories: 389
fat: 23 gr
carbs: 35 gr
protein: 11 gr



I use my spirilizer as much as any kitchen tool I have (except my VitaMix, of course!!). The Paderno brand one I have can be found on Amazon HERE, or in most stores that sell kitchen supplies.







Dessert
serves 4 ~ $.95 per serving (x2)



 
 
  
fudgesicles
 
  • 2 bananas, sliced and frozen ($.60)
  • 1/2 cup almond milk ($.40)
  • 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
  • pinch salt
  • few drops of stevia, if more sweetness is desired
 
 
 
chocolate shell
 
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil ($.80)
  • 1/4 cup raw cacao powder or cocoa powder ($.80)
  • 1/4 cup finely ground coconut palm sugar ($.80)
  • pinch salt 
  • 2 tablespoons chopped pistachios ($.40)
 
 
 
directions
 
  1. Place all fudgesicle ingredients into  blender and puree until very smooth. Add more almond milk or water if needed to facilitate blending. 
  2. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for several hours until fully frozen. 
  3. Prepare the chocolate shell coating. 
  4. Place all the chocolate shell coating ingredients into a small bowl and stir well until smooth.
  5. Remove the fidgesicles from the freezer and pop them out of their molds.
  6. Dip the fudgescicles into the hard chocolate shell, or drizzle it over them to coat. 
  7. Just heating the coconut oil up enough to melt it and not any warmer will yield the best results. If needed, gently remelt the chocolate hard shell. 
  8. Add a sprinkle of chopped pistachios or other chopped nut, if desired. Cacao nibs also work well.
  9. Any leftovers can be wrapped and stored in the freezer for a week or so.
 
 
nutritional information:
calories: 195
fat: 10 gr
carbs: 25 gr
protein: 2 gr
 
 
 




Total cost for the day: $9.35
total calories: 1,308
total fat: 56 gr
total carb: 163 gr
total protein: 30 gr




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Raw Food Recipe Menu: October 18, 2015






Breakfast
Orange Banana Breakfast Salad
serves 2 ~ $2.25 per serving






Orange Banana Breakfast Salad
serves 2 ~ $2.25 per serving


This salad is so simple and is delicious and super healthy for breakfast. It's the very beginning of citrus season so oranges are exceptionally tasty right now as well. 


ingedients
salad
  • 1 head romaine, chopped ($1.70)
  • 1 orange, peeled and sectioned ($.50)
  • 1 banana, sliced ($.30)
  • 2 tablespoons sliced onion

dressing
  • 2 oranges, peeled and sectioned ($1.00)
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ($.20)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or two droppers stevia) ($.40)
  • 3 tablespoons tahini ($.40)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • crushed red pepper flakes for the top

directions
  1. Prepare the salad ingredients.
  2. Place all the dressing ingredients except the crushed red pepper flakes into a blender and puree until very smooth. 
  3. Assemble the salad ingredients on plates or in bowls. Add the orange sections, banana slices, and onion to the top.
  4. Pour salad dressing over and add a sprinkle of black pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. I added both.

nutritional information:       calories: 256      fat: 15 gr      carbs: 33 gr      protein: 6 gr



 

Lunch
Chocolate Chia Smoothie
serves 1 ~ $2.15 per serving
 
 
 
ingredients 
This is a simple, creamy ~ kind of decadent ~ way to start the day, that's also packed with healthy protein and omega-3s.
In a blender, combine all ingredients except for the pistachios. Puree until very smooth. Top with a few chopped pistachios, if desired.
 
 
nutritional information:       calories: 555      fat: 21 gr      carbs: 81 gr      protein: 26 gr
 
 
 
 

 
Dinner
Black Bean Soup with Sweet Potatoes

serves 4-5 ~ about $2.50 per serving
 
 



Egads! This is not raw! But it's great tasting and healthy, too. This soup, from Dreena Burton's Plant Powered 15 book, has an irresistible quality, the flavors are deep and earthy with some sweetness from the potatoes. Don’t let the number of ingredients intimidate you - they build layers of flavor, but this soup is not at all difficult to make!


ingredients
  • 1-2 tbsp water
  • 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 cups chopped onions (one large onion)
  • 1 1/2 cups combination of chopped red peppers and green peppers
  • 1 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste (generous is good)
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp dried oregano leaves
  • 1/4 tsp allspice (rounded)
  • 1/4 tsp (or less/more, to taste) red pepper flakes
  • 4 medium-large cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 4 1/2 - 5 cups black beans (reserve 1 cup; this is three 14 or 15 oz cans)
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 - 1 tsp pure maple syrup
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 1/2 cups cubed (in small chunks, about 1/2”) yellow sweet potato (or can substitute      white potato)
  • Chopped cilantro for serving
  • Extra lime wedges for serving
  • Chopped avocado tossed with lemon juice and dash of salt, for serving

directions
  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add water, onions, red and green peppers, salt and pepper, cumin seeds, oregano, allspice, and red pepper flakes. Let cook for 5-7 minutes until onions and peppers start to soften. Add garlic. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and let cook another few minutes to soften garlic - if sticking/burning, add another splash of water. 
  2. After a few minutes of cooking, add 3 1/2 cups beans (reserving one cup of beans), water, tomato paste, vinegar, lime juice, and maple syrup (start with 1/2 teaspoon). Using an immersion blender, puree soup until fairly smooth. 
  3. Increase heat to bring to boil, add bay leaf and diced sweet potatoes, then once at boil reduce and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add remaining cup of black beans and extra maple syrup if desired (taste test). 
  4. Stir through, let simmer for another few minutes, then serve, topping with cilantro if desired and with lime wedges. Also delicious to top soup with some chopped seasoned avocado or a simple guacamole.  Serves 4-5 as main course.


nutritional information:      calories: 319      fat: 6 gr      carb: 33 gr      protein: 11 gr
 
 


 
Dessert
Pecan Pie
serves 2 ~ $1.45 per serving
 
 
 
 

  • 1/4 cup walnuts ($.50)
  • 1/2 cup raisins ($.50)
  • 6 dates, soaked ($1.20)
  • 1/4 cup pecans ($.70)
  • pinch salt
In a food processor with an "S" blade, process the walnuts and raisins until they are crumbly and stick together. Press into a small tart plate (the one I used is 5 inches diameter) and chill. Then in the food processor again, puree the dates with a tiny bit of the soak water until they form a gooey paste. Spread into the crust and top with pecans.

The amounts can be easily increased to make a larger pie for a more conventional sized dessert. 
 
 
nutritional information:      calories: 349      fat: 22 gr      carbs: 39      protein: 5

 
For the dinner soup that uses sweet potatoes, you can substitute any of the orange fleshed squash if you like. Like these I found at my favorite local farm market ... 
 
That Pink Banana Squash is amazing. They're about two and a half feet long and weigh around 20 lbs. A steal at $3 each.




Hope you're having a great fall!
 




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Raw Food Recipe Menu: November 1, 2015







Even though we enjoyed a beautiful, warm, sunny day here today, hard core fall is coming. This menu has some heavier, more substantial meals using seasonal produce. Pears are plentiful right now and citrus is coming into its best season soon. You should be able to score some great tasting produce at reasonable prices!




Breakfast
Simple Fruit and Berries

serves 2 ~ $2.08 per serving





Simple, juicy, and delicious ... everything that's the best of raw plant foods ...

ingredients
  • 1 peach, sliced ($.80)
  • 1 plum, sliced ($.90)
  • 1 apple, sliced ($1.25)
  • 1/2 cup blueberries ($.50)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice ($.20)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts ($.50)

directions
  1. Slice the fruit, mix together, add a splash of lemon juice and chopped walnuts (a bit of nut milk would be good, too ... like a bowl of fruit cereal).

nutritional information: calories: 137 fat: 1 gr carbs: 33 gr protein: 2 gr




Lunch
Grapefruit Pear Salad
serves 2 - $2.50 per serving


salad
  • 1 grapefruit ($.50)
  • 2 pears, sliced ($1.40)
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 head romaine, chopped ($1.90)
  • 1/4 cup walnuts ($.50)


dressing
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice ($.20)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil ($.30)
  • 2 tablespoons agave ($.20)
  • pinch nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper



directions
  1. Cut the grapefruit by first slicing off about 1/4" off the top and bottom.
  2. Stand the grapefruit up on a cut side and slice along the outside curve of the fruit, cutting away the skin and pith.
  3. Use a sharp knife to cut each grapefruit section away from the membrane.
  4. Slice the pears and onions, and chop the lettuce.
  5. Toss together and sprinkle the walnuts on top.
  6. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients and drizzle over the top.


nutritional information: calories: 304 fat: 17 gr carbs: 40 gr protein: 5 gr








Dinner
Pad Thai

serves 2 ~ $2.28 per serving


ingredients


  • 2 medium zucchini ($1.20)
  • 1 carrot ($.15)
  • 1 bunch green onions, sliced ($.59)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced ($.50)
  • large handful mung bean sprouts ($.75)
sauce
  • 4 tablespoons almond butter ($.80)
  • 1/2 in piece ginger, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon braggs aminos or soy sauce ($.10)
  • 1 clove garlic ($.05)
  • 1 tablespoon agave ($.10)
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons chopped cashews ($.20)

directions
  1. Noodle the zucchini and carrot using a vegetable peeler or spiral slicer. 
  2. Toss with the bell pepper, green onion, and bean sprouts.
  3. In a bullet type blender, puree all the sauce ingredients until very creamy. Because of the high fat content of the nut butter, this can get quite hot while blending. Stop and let it cool for a minute if it becomes too hot for your personal definition of raw.
  4. Pour over noodles, toss lightly, serve. 





nutritional information:        calories: 345        fat: 23 gr        carbs: 30 gr         protein: 8 gr







Dessert
Chocolate Orange Mousse

serves 2 ~ $.99 per serving 
 




ingredients
  • 1 ripe avocado, chopped ($.88)
  • 2 bananas, chopped ($.30)
  • 3 tablespoons cocoa or cacao powder ($.60)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
  • 2 tablespoons agave ($.20)
  • 1/2 dropper liquid stevia
  • 1/4 teaspoon orange extract

directions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor fitted with an "S" blade and process until very smooth.
  2. Add coconut oil to room temperature or warmer ingredients only, otherwise the coconut oil will harden into little lumps before it has a chance to blend.
  3. Chill for at least a half hour before serving.
  4. Top with a few orange sections and/or pieces of fruit and a pinch of orange rind, if desired.






nutritional information: calories: 321 fat: 16 gr carbs: 41 gr protein: 5 gr



Total cost for the day: $7.58
total calories:  1,107
total fat: 57 gr
total carb: 144 gr
total protein: 20 gr














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Raw Food Recipe Menu: November 15, 2015






 
Breakfast
Buckwheat Coco Puffs

4 servings ~ $.73 per serving



ingredients
  • 1 cup buckwheat groats, soaked ($.75)
  • 2 ripe bananas ($.30)
  • 3 tbsp coco or cacao powder ($.15)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla ($.10)
  • 1/2 tsp salt1/2 cup almond milk ($.40)
directions
  1. Rinse one cup buckwheat groats and then soak in about two cups water for 5-6 hours or overnight. Rinse the buckwheat groats well. There will be a gooey or gelatinous coating on the groats and and they will need to be rinsed several times. 
  2. Once rinsed, drain well and pat with a towel to remove most of the water.In a food processor with the S blade, add the banana, cocoa or cacao powder, vanilla and salt. 
  3. Process for a minute or two until very creamy. 
  4. Fold into the buckwheat groats. 
  5. Then spread the mixture in clusters about 1/4 inch thick on the teflex or plastic sheets in a dehydrator. Dehydrate for about 4 hours, then turn over and dehydrate for another 2-3 hours, until the clusters are dry but pliable. 
  6. They don't seem to get brittle dry, but stay a little bit pliable. 
  7. Break up into smaller clumps. These can then be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Serve with 1/2 cup almond milk.





nutritional information:      calories: 333       fat: 10 gr      carbs: 50 gr      protein: 7 gr





Lunch
Coconut Cashew Soup
Serves 2 ~ $4.04 per serving






Oh. Yeah. Coconut butter is divine. Artisana makes organic, raw and vegan nut butters and coconut products. They provided some of their coconut butter and nuts butters for me to try, which are great straight from the jar and worked out really well in this easy and convenient soup.  


ingredients 
  • 4 tablespoons artisana coconut butter ($2.20)
  • 4 tablespoons artisana cashew butter ($2.35) 
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 3 dates ($.60)
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves ($.10) 
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • juice of one lime ($.50)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cucumber, sliced into noodles ($.89)
  • 1/2 avocado, chopped ($.88)
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 2 stalks celery, minced ($.20)
  • small bunch cilantro leaves ($.05)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved ($.30)
  • red pepper flakes


directions
  1. In a blender, process the coconut butter, cashew butter (almond butter will work as well), water, dates, cilantro, garlic, red pepper flakes, cayenne, lime juice, salt and pepper. 
  2. Puree until as smooth as possible.
  3. Cut the cucumber into noodles and put in bowls with the avocado, celery, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes. 
  4. Using a wire mesh strainer, strain the coconut and nut butter soup base. This will take out any larger pieces of dates or spices. A higher powered blender may make this step unnecessary. 
  5. Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.


    nutritional information:      calories: 537       fat: 44 gr       carbs: 33 gr       protein: 11 gr






    Dinner
    Sweet Potato Noodles
    serves 3 ~ $1.95 per serving








    ingredients

    • 3 sweet potatoes ($3.00)
    • 3 green onions ($.50)
    • 6 tablespoons agave or maple syrup ($.60)
    • 3 tablespoons olive or flax oil ($.30)
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice ($.30)
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ($.20)
    • 1 clove garlic, pressed
    • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
    • 3 green onions, sliced
    • 1/4 cup walnuts ($1.00)
    directions
    1. Spiralize the sweet potatoes using your chosen tool and method. 
    2. Whisk together the agave, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and pepper. 
    3. When ready to serve, toss with the sliced green onions and walnuts. 
    4. If desired, warm the noodles in a dehydrator or a warm pan before serving. 
    5. Store the noodles and dressing in separate containers.


    nutritional information:      calories: 646      fat: 36 gr      carbs: 79      protein: 13 gr






    Dessert
    Plum Pie
    serves 3 ~ $2.47 per serving




    • 1/2 cup walnuts ($1.00)
    • 1/2 cup raisins ($.85)
    • 3 plums, sliced thinly ($3.00)
    • 3 tablespoons coconut butter ($1.65) 
    • 2 tablespoons coconut nectar ($.40)

    • banana ice cream ($.50)
    • blackberry puree





    In a food processor fitted with an "S" blade, process the walnuts and raisins until the mixture begins sticking together. Press into a plate, pie plate, or tart pans and chill for several minutes.

    In the food processor, again with the "S" blade, process one plum, the coconut butter, and the coconut nectar. When pureed, spread over the pie crust. Place the plum slices on top. 

    This goes really well with a bit of banana ice cream and a bit of blackberry puree.



    nutritional information:       calories: 396      fat: 19 gr      carbs: 60 gr      protein: 6 gr


     

    Total cost for the day: $9.22
    total calories: 1,744
    total fat: 139 gr
    total carb: 222 gr
    total protein: 37 gr




    be

    Anti-Inflammatory Orange Turmeric Tea plus 10 Healthy Benefits of Turmeric



    Tumeric is famously anti-inflammatory and can be enjoyed many different ways, including juiced raw. But today, I wanted to pass on this super easy tea (psst, it's not raw!).

    I've been drinking it almost every morning for a couple months now and it's still delicious to me, which is a good thing. Turmeric has so many beneficial qualities ... let us count the ways (scroll below for the tea how-to).

    1. Anti-inflammatory.
    Turmeric, the brightly colored spice that gives curry it's intense color, contains beneficial compounds that have positive health benefits. The main compounds are the curcuminoids and the most important of these is curcumin. One of the most beneficial things curcumin can do is lessen inflammation, which is implicated in most Western diseases.

    To be fair, inflammatory responses are a good thing. We wouldn't be able to wage a defense against bacteria and viruses, or injuries, for example, without a strong inflammatory response. However, too much of a good thing can cause problems. Chronic inflammation has been implicated in many diseases that plague us today, including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and obesity. Curcumin can reduce inflammation as effectively as some anti-inflammatory medications, but without the side effects. One of the ways it does this is by inhibiting (NF)-kB.  
     
    2. Antioxidant
    Oxidation is a chemical reaction that produces free radicals. Free radicals have unpaired electrons. These lonely little fragments damage cells and wreak havoc and destruction wherever they go. Antioxidants, like curcumin, terminate the chain reactions that lead to unpaired electrons and, therefore, free radicals and the damage they cause. Seriously, it's the radicals, man.
     
    3. Heart Health
    Almost 50% of Americans will die prematurely from heart disease. Heart disease and chronic inflammation are so closely linked that inflammation is thought to be an atherogenic response (atherogenic means it causes atherosclerosis, aka, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, and is also peripheral artery disease). It's even thought possible that the slight benefit sometimes derived from statins could be due to their anti-inflammatory properties. Reducing inflammation is a vital key to reducing heart disease.Curcumin is a potent COX-2 inhibitor, that

    4. Cancer
    Curcumin is being investigated as prevention and treatment for cancers such as that of the colon and pancreas. Chronic inflammation and free radicals promote cancer. Reducing those conditions can be preventive and curcumin works well at both. 
      
    5. Arthritis
     Inflammation is an important mechanism in arthritis. Curcumin acts as a COX-2 inhibitor in the same way pharmaceutical drugs such as Celebrex do, but without the dangerous side effects. The tea below, as well as curcumin supplements can ease the pain of arthritis and rejuvenate mobility.

    7. Alzheimer's 
    India has a low incidence of Alzheimer's, possibly linked to higher intake of curcumin. Because inflammation plays such a big part in most disease, including Alzheimer's, it can be protective and preventative.

    8. Brain Function
    Alzheimer's is not the only thing that can go awry in brain function, and again, inflammation is implicated. In this case, it's known as neuroinflammation, or inflammation specifically in the brain and reducing that can help overall brain function. 
       
    9. Depression
    Depression and anxiety are often linked to brain inflammation (this is why going gluten free can help mood, as well). It seems to offer some improvement and relief to those who have depression.

    10. Gall Bladder Function 
    Curcumin causes the gall bladder to contract, which stimulates bile formation and gall bladder emptying and a freely flowing gallbladder is a happy, healthy one (unless you have a stone blocking the exit, which can cause a painful gallbladder attack).

    11. Pepper
    I can't talk about turmeric and curcumin without also mentioning black pepper. The Piperine in black pepper increases the absorption of curcumin by 2000% (that's 20x). So, add a little bit of black pepper to whatever you make with turmeric for the greatest benefit. It tastes good, too.

    *Do not use turmeric or curcumin if you are using blood thinners such as Warfarin or if you have existing gall bladder disease.




     This tea (and this salad dressing, too) are delicious ways to get a healthy dose of turmeric.


    Orange Turmeric Tea
    serves 3 ~ $.33 per serving


    ingredients
    • 1 orange, peeled and chopped ($.70)
    • 1 teaspoon powdered tumeric ($.10)
    • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds($10)
    • a few black peppercorns, or pinch of black pepper
    • stevia or sweetener, if desired ($.10)

    directions
    1. Place the orange, turmeric, and caraway seeds in a large saucepan with four cups water. 
    2. Bring to a boil over high heat and continue to boil for about five minutes. This will reduce any bitterness in the turmeric.
    3. Add the peppercorns or pinch of pepper and steep for a minute or two. 
    4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer into mugs and and the sweetener of your choice, if desired.