Yogurt Parfait

Yogurt Parfait
The Anti-KFC

This is Vegan, Soy free, Gluten Free, Non GMO/mostly Organic and Low Glycemic 

You will need nine 8 oz jars for this recipe. 
Ingredients for base:
GF rolled oats: 1 tbl sp 
Ground flax meal: 1 tbl sp 
GF Granola (optional: 1 tbl sp)
Hemp seeds: 1 tbl sp, ¼ tsp
Cinnamon: 2-3 dashes

Ingredients for filling:
Unsweetened almond yogurt (I buy the 24 oz): 2-3 tbl sp
Monk fruit sweetener (optional: to taste)
Coconut sugar (optional: to taste)
Strawberries (1 package): chopped in quarters
Blueberries (1 package)
Or any seasonal fruit of your choice

I loved the parfait dessert from KFC as a kid so this is my adult, healthier version. It’s great for breakfast or a snack. With my last doctor‘s visit, I needed to be mindful of a few things: lowering my cholesterol, decreasing my sugar intake, and stabilizing my flora/digestive system.
To begin your base, take one scoop of gf oats and place on the bottom of each jar. Begin to layer with granola, hemp seeds, flax meal and cinnamon. Next is the yogurt, about 2-3 heaping table spoons (tbl sp). Then time for the 2-3 tbl sp of fruit, layered more with 1-2 tbl sp of yogurt. Top it off with more flax, hemp seeds, cinnamon and lastly a few blueberries. 
Enjoy and Bon Appetit!

Caring for Karin

Sometimes, if you say 'caring' especially if you're like me and talk really fast like a chipmunk OR
if you have an accent, the word can sound like you just said, "Karin".

So, Karin...this is For You.

I've watched my friend, Karin, now for a few days mope about her house in her ex-boyfriend's sweatshirt trying to hold it all together.  I've seen her frown and scowl more often then I'd like to admit and for the first time in...well, ever... she kind of snapped at me and at first, I was a little hurt but then I also realized how much she was hiding her pain.

A few days ago, her heart was broken by someone whom shall remain nameless.  What truly matters as of now is Karin.  And right now she is struggling and it's heart wrenching to see.  I feel a bit helpless so I pondered on what I could do.  So, as I'm curled up in her favorite fuzzy purple blanket on her couch that swallows you up, I'm thinking of all the different ways she has helped me.  I'm remembering all the amazing things she has taught me.  I also wanted to dedicate this writing piece to her so that whenever she needed a reminder, she can refer back to this at anytime and turn that frown upside down.  :0)

I'm quiet sometimes. I also listen to not just words but the words that are not spoken.  I observe.  And what I've noticed with Karin is her strength.  She is strong.  She is strong for her family, especially for her son, Trent.  She is strong for her Sisters.  She is strong for anyone and everyone.  She is even strong for her ex-husband and now ex-boyfriend.  The very same individuals who have caused so much pain and grief but because Karin is well, Karin...she is now the more stronger for it.  She is so strong, even for HerSelf, that crying and releasing has been difficult.

So, Karin, my sweet Sistar...let the tears flow and allow yourself to grieve.  You don't have to be strong all the time.  We are stronger because of You, let us return the favor...

Here's something else you may have already suspected.  Karin has one of the biggest hearts on the planet.  It's GIGANTIC.  From her love and devotion to her family and friends, to the care and nurturing of the environment/Mother Earth, to the various causes especially the ones directly involving children, to her ginormous love and passion towards children in and of itself, to her love of Truth and the discovery of Self...she amazes me in ways that have expanded my consciousness and my own heart.  The deep love and gratitude she has shown and given to countless others is reflected by my own desire to show up fully and meet her as well.

Thank you, Karin.  Thank you for showing up even though you sometimes want to crawl into bed and curl up with your favorite fuzzy blanket that I may steal from you one day.  Thank you even if you do stay in bed.  Thank you for showing me that I can have gravy without mushrooms because that is a miracle in itself.  Thank you for trying food prepared by me with the knowledge that it has nutritional yeast and I know you don't care for it but because of who you are, you'll eat the food anyway.  Thank you for listening and being there for others even though your heart is broken.  Thank you for making so many children and babies feel loved AND thank you for making them laugh.  Thank you for allowing yourself the experience of loving again even though you were probably terrified at first.  Thank you for forgiving those that have caused you pain, stress and heartache.  Thank you for being HERE not only for Trent, not only for your family, not only for US but also because it just wouldn't be the same without you.

To the Yummy Dessert that You Are, Karin.  To the Beautiful Goddess that reflects back at you in the mirror, Karin.  To the Beloved Daughter, Sister & Mother that You continue to Be, Karin.  To the Shining Star that will forever Be You, Karin.

We Love You.
You Are Amazing and Loved Everywhere.
(And just in case you forget, your Iphone will remind You.)

In Loving Gratitude,
Athena

The Goddess Cafe

One Day...

For the longest time, I've had this desire to have a cafe of my own..and not just any cafe, a Goddess Cafe featuring non gmo, organic, vegan, gluten & soy free yummylicious food and desserts. It would be THE place where people congregated, gathered and connected. The Center where enlightened souls divulged in orgasmic morsels and discussed their current spiritual practice(s) or latest novel being voraciously devoured. 

It would be a space where spiritual nourishment transcended from a 'practice' to a work of art such as tonight's dessert served in a wine glass: drizzled chocolate love sauce on the inside, a bottom layer of the special yoni berry sorbet, layered with ice cream and topped off with chopped up banana and yes! more chocolate sauce. Special chants, prayers and crystals were used. The end result? Total surrender for your taste buds and comfort food that essentially was intended to activate a mind, body, heart connection. 

Who says you can't have an 'experience' while satiating your appetite?

And if there are skeptics and naysayers present, I'd like to invite you to try some Yonilicious Chocolate Love sauce if you're up to it...for that, my sweeties, is one of the reasons why the Goddess Cafe came into fruition. :0)

The Premise:

Until a proper location is secured, the Goddess Cafe is mobile and travels within Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties.  However, traveling not only domestically but internationally is a possibility for the future. Most items are purchased from our local farmers markets and made with more love than the world has people. Seriously. 

Food is prepared and served at the designated Goddess House. Typically, The Goddess Chef chooses a theme and creates a menu. We gather together, eat, laugh 'til our bellys hurt and our tummys are filled to capacity. 

Who We Are:

We are Conscious Women co-creating and sharing our Gifts. We are a network of Spiritual BEings whom love to cook, connect, share, laugh, support and live healthy lifestyles.  We are passionate about so many different causes ranging from health, environment, politics, animal rights/activism, feminism, spirituality, and alternative healing to name a few.

Our Intention:

We feel that the choices we make and the steps we take directly reflect who we are and what we stand for. To BE healthy is to Live healthy and in order to do that, being mindful of what we put into our bodies is one of our top priorities. And we'd like to share our Love of Good Food and our hearts with You! We offer collaborative dinners, potlucks, and presentations.  Not to mention edible, educational and entertaining workshops showing you how easy it can be to eat with heartfelt and healthy intentions.

And, guess what? It's only the BEginning! :0)

For a tasty teaser, check out tonight's menu below!

Menu for 02.19.13

Theme: Comfort for the mind, body & heart

For Karin.

Starter: Kale salad topped with hemp seeds, almonds, mangoes. Simple dressing of hemp oil, apple cider vinegar, mango bits and salt 

Entree: Mashed potatoes mixed with rice milk, vegan butter, nutritional yeast w/ gypsy dance gravy (veg broth, gluten free flour, onions & garlic, herbs, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper). Sautéed Mushrooms on the side for Holly & moi because we are the biggest mushroom lovers in the world.

Side dish:  Corn sautéed w/ spinach, basil, garlic w/ the usual Athena staples (nutritional yeast, Himalayan or sea salt, pepper, love, giggles & shakes)

Dessert:

Special yoni berry sorbet: strawberries, blackberries, pineapples, maple syrup, coconut sugar, prayers/chants topped with special Chocolate Love sauce, chopped bananas with layers of ice cream served in a wine glass.

I made two kinds of chocolate sauce because Holly has an allergy to nuts and has some difficulty with coconut oil.

Holly's chocolate sauce consisted of: hemp oil, cocoa powder, toffee flavored liquid stevia, maple syrup, cinnamon, date syrup and crystal water.

The second consisted of the same ingredients except instead of hemp oil, coconut oil was substituted.

The dessert looked something like this:

A dessert fit for a Goddess...and that Goddess is You!

xoxo