Raw Homemade Cashew Milk Recipe and a Brief Ethnographic Insight Into the Overconsumption of Food Products

Since finishing undergraduate classes in January I am now finding the time to keep myself busy by getting back into making more of my food from scratch (nut milks and butters, kombucha, sprouting, etc.).  When I used to eat dairy I would make my own yogurt, but with that predominantly out of my diet I have decided to break the surface of experimenting with the wonderously delicious world of nuts.  My recent palate desire in regards to nuts has been focused on cashews.  I don't have a fancy blender and GreenStar currently doesn't have any nut clothes in stock, so in my impatience I decided to experiment simply with what I had at my disposal.  This definitely passed the test in my book, resulting in a creamy, frothy, deliciously healthy and easy to make nut milk; I can't wait to make other nut milks in the future!

Raw Homemade Cashew Milk

Ingredients:
- 3 cups of raw organic cashews
- Water
Some recipes call for a bit of salt and natural sweetener (such as agave), but I personally prefer the unsweetened milk and would rather add that to individual servings later, as desired.

Directions:
1. Soak Cashews in water overnight - I let mine sit for about 16 hours.  Place the cashews in a bowl, cover with water, cover the bowl, and let them sit on the countertop until step 2.
2. Transfer soaked cashews and water into blender (ideally a Vitamix, but all I have is a very low-grade blender).  Blend until cashews are as broken down as possible.  Add water depending on desired thickness/richness.
3. Strain mixture over a bowl.  This involves pressing of the cashews through the strainer to get as much liquid out as possible.  I still got a few small pieces of cashew in my milk, but I think that only adds to the milk!  For ideal smoothness and no strangling pieces use a nut cloth to strain.
4. Store in a jar or other container in the fridge.  And enjoy in your coffee, tea, cereal, smoothies, etc.!
In addition to yielding delicious cashew milk, i was also left with the cashew pieces that were strained out - to use in addition to smoothies, as a nut butter, etc.

*This recipe can be swapped with any other nut, however nuts with skins (such as almonds) would want to either be peeled after soaking or strained with a nut cloth to remove the skin.

I like to rotate the dairy-free/soy-free milks I drink on a regular basis to both keep my palate excited and to make sure my body doesn't develop an adverse reaction by constantly consuming too much of one food.  This is speaking from personal experience from the overconsumption of soy.  Five years ago when I was mainly vegetarian and realized I had to cut out dairy because it was causing (for over 6 years) extreme headaches daily, I increased my soy intake without realizing the potential repercussions.  Almost instantaneous with my switch to soy milks and soy yogurts, in addition to already consuming tofu and edamame, I plummeted into a deep depression that had no traceable emotional root.  Most people in my life recognize me as a very happy person who has a (somewhat strange) love for academia and learning.  However, at this point in my life I had a hard time finding the drive to go to classes and became quite a recluse.  On my worst days I would find myself crying in my closet for no reason.  Luckily a close family friend in Colorado (the same friend who questioned my dairy intake in relation to chronic headaches) asked about my soy consumption.  As soon as my mother relayed this question I researched side effects of soy only to find out that I had many of the symptoms: weight gain (due to thyroid problems caused by phytoestrogens in soy), mood swings, depression, and even had a severe case of conjunctivitis (pink eye).  I immediately cut soy out of my diet completely and haven't experienced that emotional dis ease since.  Although I have never been diagnosed by my health practitioner to have an allergic reaction or intolerance to dairy or soy, I definitely have seen my body's adverse reactions to both of these foods and have chosen not to have to feel that way again.

I'm not too sure if I have always been allergic to soy or if I developed an allergy because of extreme overconsumption.  I have tried to eat it in small amounts (i.e. soy milk in my coffee when I'm not at home and another alternative is unavailable, a couple pieces of tofu here and there, etc.) and I was still feeling stomach pains until I cut it out almost completely; I do consume wheat-free tamari on small occasion (mainly just with sushi and sauces) - this is only because it is fermented and much easier for the body to digest.

This personal experience with food has led me to a better understanding of how what I put in my body truly affects my well-being, both physical and emotional.  That in turn has furthered my interest in studying food and medicine, and sharing this information with others.

Chia Pudding with Mango (vegan, raw, gluten-free!)

There are many nutritional benefits to the often overlooked chia seeds, which are now gaining more publicity as a "superfood".  Among these benefits Chia seeds contain Omega 3 (30%) & 6 (40%) oil, are rich in calcium, magnesium, and iron, are easily digestible, are rich in antioxidants and fiber, and are a complete protein, containing all 9 amino-acids.  Chia seeds are beneficial to diabetics because they slow down how fast the body converts carbohydrate calories into simple sugars.  They are also consumed by athletes because they increase endurance by being hydrophilic (naturally high water absorption); this in turn also helps dieters by making them feel full faster and for a more extended period of time.  For more information check out William Anderson's article "Chia Seed - The Ancient Food of the Future" and James F. Scheer's book The Magic of Chia: Revival of an Ancient Wonder Food, among many other informative sites/publications.

Chia Pudding with Mango (vegan, raw, gluten-free!)

Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup chia seeds
- 2 cups almond milk (or other non-dairy milk of choice - coconut is delicious!)
- 3-5 pitted dates (amount depends on personal preference for sweetness)
- Cinnamon and vanilla extract to taste
- Mango or other fruit of choice for topping (optional)
Yields 3-4 servings.


Directions:
1. Blend dates with a small amount of non-dairy milk in a food processor until they are fairly broken down - it takes a long time to get all the chunks out and I normally get too impatient to keep food processing them to that point... so, as long as most of the chunks are out, I am satisfied (it's also pretty tasty to get surprise chunks of date in a bite while eating!).
2. Mix all ingredients, except fruit, and let sit for approximately 30 minutes.  Stir once in a while; at first it will seem like there is too much liquid, but over time the chia seeds will absorb this.  The chia seeds will begin to look plump and gelatinous (it will look similar to tapioca pudding).
3. Serve with fresh fruit on top and enjoy!


This is just a base recipe - as long as the first two ingredients are there you can create your own endlessly delicious variations!  For instance, adding raw cacao powder is also extremely delicious (and another healthy superfood!) for all you chocolate lovers out there!!


Chia seeds are also a great addition when sprinkled in smoothies, salads, etc.  Let your imagination run wild!  I'd love to hear of new ways of consuming this wonderfully strange food - please comment if you have an interesting recipe :)

The Chocolate Revolution

Yesterday afternoon and evening I tabled at Lehman Alternative Community School (LACS) and Castaways, representing GreenStar Cooperative Market, showing our support for fair-trade at The Chocolate Revolution tour.  This tour is sponsored by Equal Exchange, a leader in fair-trade products, and is propelled by the band Left on Red and Grace Stumberg, who are traveling from New York City to Buffalo spreading the message of fair-trade chocolate to New York State schools/communities through music and education.

Left on Red & Grace Stumberg performing at LACS

It was both overwhelming and refreshing to set foot in a middle/high school during school hours after a long time being out of that environment.  I have been on a college campus for the past 4.5 years, but there is an overall shift in mindset that comes with the difference of education level.   Although college campuses are bustling with motivated young minds, the youthful aspect can too often be buried beneath too much caffeine, too little sleep, and endless to-do lists.  It was great to see so many young people full of life and energy at this event for an extremely important cause.

According to FINE (an informal association of the four main fair trade networks) fair-trade is "a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South. Fair trade organizations, backed by consumers, are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade".  Fair-trade is ultimately working to ensure that workers get paid - especially those at the lowest level who most often get forgotten in the larger picture, and beyond that, get paid well enough to survive and support themselves.  Furthermore, fair-trade companies also support and fund community development projects (building roads, houses, etc.) in these predominately low-income areas.


In America it is easy to forget about where our food comes from and it comes as a shock to many that people who are producing this food may not even be getting paid at all.  Fortunately this awareness has been increasing and is coming to a forefront in the food industry.  However, we still have great leaps to make in order to ensure all food is fair-trade and/or organic.  I am not normally one for labels, but unfortunately in the food industry (especially in regards to fair-trade) this is currently the only way we can truly tell that products are being produced in a humane way.  Unlike organic products where we have more accessibility to visiting local farms to see how they grow their crop/raise their livestock, most fair-trade products are produced in faraway countries (coffee, chocolate, tea, etc.), which many of us are simply unable to go to and check out first hand to see how the workers are being treated.

During the afternoon presentation at LACS, GreenStar marketing manager, Joe Romano, made a very interesting point about fair-trade, worded in a way that expanded upon and solidified my perspective.  He briefly talked to the students about how this truly is a revolution in the sense that fair-trade is a revolutionary way of thinking; for the first time in human history (or at least since the agricultural revolution) we are thinking about the wellbeing of other people, whom most of us will probably never meet, instead of just our own personal gains.  

Spending the day tabling and getting to know the wonderful girls touring this event across my home state was so motivating.  It was definitely one of the days that served to remind me why I believe what I do and inspired me to keep working toward this food revolution, even if it sometimes feels like my lonesome decisions won't add up.  I know they will.  But sometimes it takes organizations, events, and people like these to remind me not to give up and that this movement truly is something bigger than myself.

Urban agriculture

In the past few years urban gardening and farming has been growing rapidly and becoming much more popular, although this is not at all a recent fad; ancient cities such as Machu Picchu in Peru and Maya sites throughout Mesoamerica were surrounded and supported by terrace farming, along with other forms of agriculture.  There is a strong focus being made back toward eating local and organic produce in Western society, which had turned its back on this mindset with the expansion of technology in a growing, globalized nation.  This is a very important step to help create more sustainable communities and to open eyes to the fact that gardening/farming can also be successful in urban environments, not just the country.

The Dervaes family in Pasadena, California gives an inspiring example of how this can be done (and beyond!) with limited backyard space:

Growing Your Own

In Brooklyn, New York Rooftop Gardens works as a great example of how we can transform otherwise unused spaces into flourishing organic/local farms, which also work to make the city a little bit greener by reducing long-distance transport of food into the city, creating an alternative irrigation source, and reducing the overall heat of the city:

New York Organic Rooftop Garden

This can seem like a daunting task to embark on, however supporting these small-scale producers and/or even just having a windowsill herb garden is a start.  I have new sprouts growing in mine and can't wait to have an even bigger/better backyard garden this year!  I feel very lucky to live in an area that, although it is technically considered urban, is a small enough city to be surrounded by farmland on all sides, and the farm I volunteer at/get my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share from is only a 10-15 minute drive from my apartment.

There is so much growing information on this topic that I could devote this entire blog or even all of my research to it - for more information just hit up your favorite search engine and I can guarantee you'll be buried in reading/viewing material ;)

Little Baby Botflies NOMing on my back

Last Monday night I found myself driving to the ER around 11 PM in fear of validating that I have three botflies in my back. Botflies are parasites that lay their larvae on mosquitos, which then transfer the larvae to mammalian hosts (like myself); the larvae then burrow into the hosts skin, where they will continue to grow for 6-8 weeks, when they then crawl out of their hole and leave the host, to lay their own larvae.  We had learned about these parasites in my Belize: Rainforest, Reefs, and Ruins class when we read a book, Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, that discussed Alan’s run-in with a botfly and how he had to have it removed.  After all my other bug bites had gone away, three on my back had gotten bigger and started to be quite painful/itchy.  Last Saturday night I woke up at 3 AM unable to sleep because of this pain, but still convinced myself it was not botflies and eventually went back to bed.  On Sunday I had a few friends look at them; they couldn’t really tell what they were, but they were shocked at how large and red they were, and suggested I should maybe go to the hospital to have it checked out.  I thought about going, but ultimately decided that I’d wait and try some more home remedies before making a huge deal over it.  I tried taking a 45 minutes Epsom salt bath – which was supposed to make the botflies want to come out for air and then drown/float to the surface; that did not work.  I had also been trying to spray colloidal silver on the bites, spreading the jungle salve that we made with Polo (traditional Maya healer) on them, and taking Rosita Arvigo’s “Traveler’s Tonic” (Rosita is an American who has been living/practicing Maya healing in Belize for about 30 years); none of these remedies helped much – although I did feel like things were more active (pinching/itching) after I put the topical treatments on.  On Monday when I was hanging an art show the middle muscles of my back became extremely tense and hard to move, as if something was pinching on the nerve endings.  I still wasn’t thoroughly convinced a trip to the ER was necessary, but later that evening I had Googled enough and was paranoid enough to be willing to get a second opinion.

After sitting in the waiting room for an hour and a half I finally got to lie on an examining bed and wait even longer for the nurse to come in.  When he was asking me your run-of-the-mill questions, he asked if I regularly take any medicine or supplements.  I answered by saying, “not regularly, but if I need something I usually stick to herbal or homeopathic remedies”.  In response to my remark he said quite snarkily, “you know you have to be careful with that stuff, it can be more dangerous than they let you think”.  This statement almost enraged me to the point of walking out of the hospital.  However, considering that I had already waited an hour and a half to get this far, I figured I’d stick around to see if someone at least knew what botflies were, and if that was in fact what was in my back.  The first doctor that came in had no idea what botflies were, but he came back with a second, older doctor who said that he had pulled botflies out of his wife years ago in the Peace Corps in Africa.  After examining them with a magnifying glass he was able to see a little bit of movement from one of the holes, and although he said it was hard to tell because they seemed very premature, he was pretty sure they were botflies.  Before leaving the hospital they gave me a prescription for an antibiotic to prevent possible infection, but I am not an antibiotic person – especially if it is for a preventative measure.  I figure if it gets infected I will deal with it then, but why weaken my body when it is already tolled by hosting 3 parasites?

the Doctor put gauze & tape over the bites for the night, hence the tape marks...

The next day I spoke with one of the Belizeans whom we stayed with on our trip and she gave me the following instructions to get them out:

EITHER 1a. Mix tobacco (= to 1 cigarette amount for each hole) with vicks vapor rub (I used a “hippie” version of that, which I bought at GreenStar) OR 1b. Mix tobacco (= to 1 cigarette amount for each hole) with rubbing alcohol, 2. Shower OR  clean the affected area with soap or rubbing alcohol, 3. Place tobacco mixture over each hole, 4. Quickly cover with industrial duct tape, sealed very well, 5. Leave on for AT LEAST 1.5 days, this suffocates them and they try to come up for air, but are instead negatively affected by the tobacco mixture, 5. When affected area stops itching the botflies are dead, 6. Pull off duct tape RAPIDLY (NOT slowly) and the botflies should come with – you shouldn’t have to pull them out (they won’t crawl out of the hole completely, just enough to try to get air and then they will die in the tobacco mixture and get stuck to the duct tape).

tobacco/"vicks" mixture

duct taped up!!

I went out and bought the ingredients on Wednesday.  Buying tobacco was interesting and kind of silly because I have never bought any tobacco products, other than shisha for my hookah, before in my life.  I went to one tobacco store a couple blocks away to see if they had loose leaf, somewhat pure tobacco, but they did not.  However, they directed me to another shop a little further away that did.  When I got there and told the woman working what I needed the tobacco for she was so enthralled/excited and asked to see.  After I showed her the bites she proceeded to ask me if she could have one and that she would even buy one off of me… but planning to keep them myself I declined, as after having to go through all of this and have them living in me, I couldn’t just give them away!  I did reassure her that I would be back to show her them when they finally came out.

I had a friend put this on Wednesday night and then immediately proceeded to drink a great deal of rum because I didn’t know if it would be painful or not.  Luckily it was not painful, other than the duct tape pulling at my skin whenever I moved my back much... On Friday I had a friend pull off the duct tape, and although the botflies had come to a head at each of their respective holes, and one was poking out a tiny bit, they did not come out with the treatment:

only really looks so gross because of the excess duct tape/tobacco/salve... but if you look closely at the bottom one you can kind of see a little guy sticking out... 

That meant it was time to quickly shower and reapply the suffocation treatment.  This time I left the treatment on for a about 50 hours, however when I had another friend pull off the duct tape they still did not come out:

the dark spot is just concentrated tobacco...

Once again I showered and had her reapply the treatment.  Now I’m sitting here, no longer much grossed out, but just utterly annoyed that these little buggers won’t come out yet.  I’m not sure if they are too premature and need to grow more, or are just super mutant botflies… I’m hoping for the former, although the latter would be kind of cool…  kind of… In either case, I am putting these suckers in a jar full of isopropyl (rubbing alcohol, which will act as a preservative) and will post an update when they finally decide to suffocate themselves and stop NOMing on my back!

"Eating Healthy Without Breaking the Bank..." article

Check out an article and recipe focusing on produce and bulk foods, published in the latest Ithaca Health Alliance Newsletter (pages 4-5):

"Eating Healthy Without Breaking the Bank: GreenStar Introduces a New Discount Program"

"Ithaca Community Harvest Connects Crops to People" article

Check out my most recent article, published in GreenStar Cooperative's January 2011 GreenLeaf Newsletter:

"Ithaca Community Harvest Connects Crops to People"