Sunny Almond Pâté

It's the holidays... a time to share our culinary treasures with family and friends. Sunny Almond Pate is quick and easy to make and full of high quality nutrition. It's always a big hit at pot lucks, and during the holidays, serve as a prelude to your holiday meals.

Sunny Almond Pâté

Makes 3 cups

Sunny Almond Pâté takes about 5 minutes to make after the sunflower seeds and almonds have been soaked. It does take some planning as the sunflower seeds must soak at least 6 hours and the almonds, 12 hours. Soaking nuts and seeds is an important step as it makes their nutrients more bio-available. For a quick appetizer, spread Sunny Almond Pâté on ribs of celery. This pâté can also be served on whole grain crackers, rolled in leaves of lettuce, or for a quick meal, wrap-it-up in a warm sprouted wheat tortillas, add some salad and a dressing. It's that easy!

1 cup raw almonds, soaked 12 to 24 hours

1 cup raw sunflower seeds, soaked 6 to 12 hours

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon pink crystal salt or 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce

1 to 2 cloves garlic

1 cup grated small carrot

1 cup chopped small fresh parsley leaves

In a food processor, with the S-shaped blade, put all the ingredients, except the grated carrot and chopped parsley, and process until smooth. Add water as needed so mixture flows freely through the blade but not too much as you want your pâté to be thick. Stop the food processor, add the grated carrot and chopped parsley and stir by hand to mix.

Store in a covered glass container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Goji Berries... the happy berry!

Goji Berries, known in Asia as the “Happy Berry,” is perhaps the most nutritionally rich fruit on Earth. Gojies are small red berries that resemble raisins in size and texture, but wow, what a power house.

Gojies have been hailed as increasing longevity and they are the number one ingredient in Chinese medicine. It is easy to understand why this is so when you take a look at their nutritional profile. Gojies are a supreme source of vitamins Bl, B2, B6 and E. This makes them famous as a tasty antioxidant. The Goji Berry has 19 amino acids (about the same as bee pollen) and 21 trace minerals, linoleic acid and other beneficial food co-factors. It has the same polysaccharide that has been found to stimulate the secretion of human growth hormone in the pituitary gland, a powerful innate anti-aging hormone. Goji Berries are a true super food, condensed nutrition in a bite size, chewable fruit.

And did you know that you can grow goji berries in most climates. I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains just south of San Francisco and about 3 weeks ago I planted some of my goji berries just to see what would happen… and bravo, they grew (see picture to right)!

Here is a recipe from my most recent book, Celebrate Life! that features goji berries in a most delightful way.

Goji Sesame “Mylk”

4 cups water
¾ cups white sesame seeds
¼ cup raw macadamia nuts or pine nuts
¼ cup goji berries
¼ cup agave nectar (optional)
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pinch pink crystal salt or Real Salt

Blend until smooth: Put all the ingredients in a high speed blender (or blend in 2 batches in a home blended) and blend until smooth.

Strain if you like. Straining will give a more velvety texture which affects taste as well.

Serving Ideas: Serve over granola and fresh cut fruits in season. Stir a little into tea in place of dairy milk. Add some cacao powder (raw chocolate) for a delicious chocolate beverage or enjoy as is any time of the day. Goji Sesame “Mylk” can be used as a base for a nutritious smoothie by blending it with fruits(s), a raw protein powder and/or green powders for extra nutrition.

How to Store: Store in a covered half gallon glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Shake or stir before serving.

Kitchen Yoga With Jia

In Jia's classes you will learn that the most important ingredient is YOU!

Along with showing you great vegan dishes you can prepare in 30 minutes, she will also teach you how to bring love, joy and gratitude into every meal you prepare and serve.