Carrots, Eggs & Coffee

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee... You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.''Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that! each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.'

Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff ? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or, am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.

If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying. You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.
If you don't send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone's day with this message! May we all be COFFEE!!!!!!!

Vegetarian Recipes Tested from Kara's Kitchen

WHERE IS YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN?

Your GARDEN SHOULD BE your MEDICINE CABINET AND your KITCHEN YOUR DRUGSTORE! So, when you get ready to prepare your meals on this warm summer evening, don't forget to seek out your... VEGETABLES! (ASPARAGUS, PEAS, BROCCOI AND SNAP PEAS)

try them all tossed around on a wonderful homemade pasta and cream sauce. If you don't have time to make this dish, just attend some of our cooking classes and check it out!

Vegetarian Recipes Tested from Kara's Kitchen

PASTA PASTA !!



Not everyone know how to cook pasta!



Most people boil the pasta, separating the starch and pulling it into the water, where it should not be. Pasta is a carbohydrate food (starch), and should be chewed slowly and thoroughly for easy digestion. The enzyme that acts on a starchy food is called ptyalin and is produced in the mouth through the process of chewing. So, if you are eating any starchy foods, remember to chew chew chew!

How to cook Pasta
1. Let water come to a boil

2. add pinch of sea salt and few drops of oil

3. place pasta in pot, stir and let return to a boil

4. once it comes to a boil, quickly remove from stove and cover.

5. Let stand until pasta is tender but not over cooked.

6. drain and drizzle with oilive oil or not!

Note: Hot water can overcook pasta! Be mindful. May toss once before draining! Water should be as clear as when you first started out!

Vegetarian Recipes Tested from Kara's Kitchen

Shortcake with Berries

Soy Buttermilk:
1 cup soy milk
lemon juice (pour slowly until milk curds)
mix ingredients together

For Biscuits:
2 cups bread flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 Tablespoons fructose
5 Tablespoons cold soy butter
1 cup homemade buttermilk (see instructions above)

For Filling:
12 oz. Raspberry (about 3 cups)
6 oz Blackberries (about 1 ½ cups )
2 Tablespoons fructose

For Cream:
½ Block tofu
1 Tablespoon fructose
Vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla


Biscuits: Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Wisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Mix in butter with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk and stir just until a soft, sticky dough forms. Drop dough in 6 mounds about 2 inches apart on an un-oiled large baking sheet and bake until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer biscuits to a rack and cool to warm, about 10 minutes.


Filling: While biscuits bake, gently mash half of berries with 2 tablespoons fructose in a bowl, then stir in remaining berries.


Cream: Blend tofu in blender until smooth, add fructose and vanilla. Slowly pour in oil until smooth and creamy. Chill

Assemble: Open biscuits in half with hands or cut (make sure if cutting they are cold and not hot) Place berry mixture on bottom half and top with soy cream and top biscuit. We enjoy this dish with homemade soy ice cream in place of cream.

Vegetarian Recipes Tested from Kara's Kitchen

Potato, Chives and Soy Cheese Waffles

Ingredients:
2 small to medium potatoes, peeled, grated.
three cups bread flour
1 tablespoon baking powder,aluminum free
Pinch of sea salt
1 tablespoon fructose
1 tablespoon chives, diced
¼ cup diced soy american cheese
1 cup of soy buttermilk (see directions)
Pinch of cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl and stir. Mixture should not be too thin neither should they be too thick. If you need to add water, do so slowly.

Buttermilk: one cup of soy milk..room temp., add juice of one lemon until starts to curddle! Don't overdue the lemon juice!

Note: Make sure your waffle iron is pre-heated and spray with non-stick spry.

Make sure the waffle iron is already hot before spraying and if using gas stove, never spray waffle iron while eyes are burning. Turn off just before spraying. Serve Hot!

Remember, these are potato waffles so the texture will be a little different! But, GREAT!!

Serving suggestions:
Great with tofu scrambled
soysages or striplets
Try a little maple syrup
or Pecan syrup! Some people suggest bananas..your choice!

My favorite is just plain and hot off the griddle!! yummie!

Vegetarian Recipes Tested from Kara's Kitchen

Mincemeat Ice Cream

Soy Vanilla Ice Cream or your own

Place soymilk mixture into Ice Cream Maker. Chill for about 1 hour (you may use your own recipe)

Mincemeat: Vegan

2 Golden Delicious apples (about 1 1/3 pounds), peeled, cored, cut into ¾ inch cubes
1 ½ cups raisins
1 cup pecans, toasted, chopped
1 cup fructose
¾ cup apple cider or juice (purchase from Health Food Store)
¼ cup rum extract and ¼ cup of almond extract mixed together

¼ cup soy butter
2 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to medium and cook until almost all liquid is absorbed, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick. Transfer mixture to bowl; refrigerate until cool, about 2 hours.

Fold in 3 cups cold mincemeat into ice cream mixture. Cover and freeze until firm, about 4 hours total. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.)

Vegetarian Recipes Tested from Kara's Kitchen

Grilled Pitas with Tomatoes, Olives and Tofu Feta

Pita bread serves as the crust for this pizza-style dish. Look for prepackaged mixed in the deli section of most supermarkets or make your own fresh! Serve with: Tabbouleh (bulgur salad), arugula salad with red vinaigrette, and marinated artichoke hearts.
4 Servings

Ingredients
1 cup diced seeded plum tomatoes (about 4)
½ cup pitted coarsely chopped mixed olives
½ cup chopped red onion
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
4 whole wheat pita breads
½ cup crumble soy feta cheese
(about 3 ounces)

Prepare barbecue grill (medium-high heat). You may use stovetop grill skillet if you so desire.
Stir tomatoes, olives, onions, 2 tablespoons oil, and mint in small bowl.

Brush 1 side of each pita with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; place pitas, oiled side down, on grill. Cook until lightly charred; about 2 minutes. Turn pitas over; top with tomato mixture, spreading almost to edges. Sprinkle with soy feta cheese.

Cover grill with pitas until topping is warm, about 2 minutes. This is optional.
Transfer pitas to plates and serve.

TEST-KITCHEN TIP: To pit an olive easily, simply crush the olive with the side of a chef’s knife and pop out the pit. Note: Grilling can be one of the quickest ways to get a great meal on the table.

Homemade Pitas:

3cups bread flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon of bread yeast
½ teaspoonful sea salt
1 cup warm water

Mix flour, salt, oil, bread yeast in bowl. Slowly add water until mixture is manageable. Should not be sticky. If so, sprinkle with a little four. Place mixture out on flat surface. Knead a little. Let rest for 20 minutes. Shape out small round pieces. On flour surface, roll out ball into flat mini pizza shapes.
Not too flat, about ½ inch thick. Place on pre-heated stone. Watch the pitas come to life. Remove with browned, not too dark. Place on rack and sprinkle with a little olive oil (optional). When all are completed, or you have cooked all you needed. Place toppings on them and serve. The remaining may be frozen after cooked. Great homemade. You may use your favorite pizza dough recipe.

Tofu Feta Cheese

Makes one serving:

1 cup crumbled Tofu

1 cup soy parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon tofutti cream cheese

1 teaspoon lemon juice. Add more to taste if necessary.

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and place in refrigerator for three to four days, tossing daily! Can be used right away, but for better tasting feta, let set a few days before eating!