join us celebrate and help us give back

I want to share my excitement with you and hopefully we can have you at the cafe on 17th december with us.
About this time last year I was scrubbing, painting, cleaning, lifting to get Shokuiku open. still hard to believe it will be almost 1 year since we opened the door to the public.
I would love you to come and celebrate our almost 1year anniversary (we actually opened in the end of Jan but I am eager to celebrate now!).
I have always sponsored a few girls through ActionAid , which is an amazing organisation , dedicated to securing human rights, especially women and girls around the world. We are so fortunate to have means and power to be inspired and empower ourselves. I believe it is necessary and am grateful that I could share this with people who may not have the same opportunities. When you buy a ticket to come and celebrate with us, connecting with like minded others, eating our organic raw festive inspired finger foods, desserts and drinks, you are sharing this love with others. 100 percent of the profits made on this night would be going to help women and their communities enjoy real freedom. Freedom to choose. Freedom to lead. Freedom to demand what is rightfully theirs.

I have create the eventbrite site so you can book a ticket here
as you may know our place is quite small so tickets are limited

 17th December 2013   sold out
just being added 16th December 2013

6:30pm - 8:30pm

at shokuiku

120 high street, Northcote, VIC

all organic and raw festivity inspired finger foods and small dishes and drinks

hope to see you then
with love
http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/celebration-and-fundraising-with-shokuiku-organic-raw-and-living-food-cafe-tickets-9424451789?aff=es2&rank=1&sid=dd7f91e351c811e39a0822000a9f3045

garcinia cambogia and weight loss

You might have seen these little ads coming up on your Facebook page or you may even have heard that Dr Oz, TV personality made famous by Oprah,  has been talking about this exotic fruits.
Garcinia Cambogia. http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/garcinia-cambogia-newest-fastest-fat-buster-pt-1
It is a fruit grown across India and Southeast Asia and it is used there as a food and its rinds are used in some traditional recipes of south India.
Apparently it has a compound called hydroxycitric acid, which is said to promote weight loss and works as appetite suppressant.

Probably the main discussion here is not whether this works or not. We do sell them at the shop along with other things like gymnema and cha de burger, which are known to help with the weight loss.
What I want to write here is the obsession  and negative attitude to the whole weight issues in the society.
Myself, like many others I know, have experienced it and still have some voices in my head sometimes. I was too thin once and I was embarrassed  how I lost all the curves. I managed to put on weight and felt self conscious about my stomach. After all if I am not embracing myself as a soul I could always find many faults in my outer self.
I started to understand that I am not my body and yet how amazing my body is. Whatever we give attention to it only gets more prominent. There are always reasons why you have put on weight or lost weight ,  in an unconscious phycological way. when i finally realise the truth about who I really am and my full potential everything became much easier. I could listen to the "voice" and still let it not control me. ( I am still leaning though!)

I have been taking this powder for a month or so now and I did lose weight, though only 2 kg or so. It could just be a placebo effect anyway but I can confidently say it came from better place this time. I see this as a supplement like any other herbs or super foods that I take regularly to help my body to work in an ultimate way. astragalus and medicinal mushrooms for my immunity, marine phytoplankton for my nervous system, zeolite to detox, MSM and schisandra berry for my skin and hair, gynostemma for its adaptogenic effects etc etc. My diet is full of these amazing super, powerful "foods". It does not mean that i am only relying on them and eat and live the way that does not serve me well. I want to live so that I can accomplish works that I am here to do, and I want to do this with passion and energy. the holistic approach makes sense to me.

Maybe I was going too deep on this issue but i would like to hear what  your thoughts are.



Garcinia cambogia
Our Garcinia cambogia fruit powder is at least 50% extract, meaning each serving contains a 50% concentration of the HCA (Hydroxycitric acid).
HCA is effective at blocking the conversion of sugars and starches into fats by inhibiting the effects of the liver enzymes ATP Cytrate Lyase which is responsible for turning carbohydrates into stored fat. as well as it works to suppress appetite by raising the level of brain chemical called serotonin. Serotonin regulates mood and it is one of the chemicals produced when a person eats carbohydrate. It can sometimes lead to the craving for carbohydrate and sugary foods. Garcinia Cambogia naturally enhances serotonin without the need of eating carbohydrate.
It also is an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-viral agent
Possible Benefits
- Appetite control
Weight reduction
- Reducing the body's ability to store fat 
- Helping with urinary & uterus conditions 
- Combating ulcers 
- Relieving conditions of the throat, chest colds, & cough
- Supporting healthy joints & connective tissue
- Creates a process in the body called thermogenesis
- Alleviating constipation 
- Supporting healthy liver function 
- Helping with colic 
- Fighting intestinal worms, parasites, & Ebola virus
- Combating some strains of the flu virus 
- Lowering cholesterol & triglycerides
- Helping with catarrhal conditions of the throat, urinary system, & uterus
Suggested Use: Mix 1 teaspoon with juice or water 30 minutes prior to meals

Bee pollen vegan , non- vegan, or ethically harvested?

it is one of a controversial  subject in a vegan industry. It is wildly known that honey is NOT vegan, as it is produced when bees digest nectar they have collected and then regurgitate it.
But how about Bee pollen?
Bee pollen is male seeds of flowers, that means it comes from a plat based source. It is an essential food for young bees and it takes a lot of effort to collect a small amount. Imagine this … a working bee has to work 8 hours a day for one month to collect just one teaspoon of bee pollen.  One teaspoon dose contains over 2.5 billion grains of flowers. I thought I was working long hours but obviously not as hard as these amazing creatures! so from that point of view I understand most vegans do avoid any bee products. however if it can be harvested consciously in my opinion (fallen pollen in a tray collected with care and gratitude)
Bee pollen is a true superfood, containing almost all the nutrients us humans need and about 40 percent protein, mostly in a highly absorbable form. Chinese medicine regards bee pollen as an energy and nutritive tonic as well as many other cultures throughout the world


This is how I summarised in our superfood book at the cafe
Sometimes referred to as “nature’s most perfect food” bee pollen is a combination of flower pollen, nectar and the digestive juices of worker honey bees.
Bee pollen provides 96 nutrients including all known vitamins, from A to K, 28 minerals, 14 fatty acids, all 8 essential amino acids, several hormone-like compounds and all 22 known essential nutritional elements (plus other unknown yet to be identified). It contains 25-40 % protein in a highly bioavailable form and all the nutrients can be assimilated directly by the body.
Many studies have proven the natural antibiotic effects in bee pollen, including salmonella and other strains of colibacillus.
Scientists recently found that bee pollen showed a strong anti-estrogenic effect (it inhibited the natural estrogen 17 beta estradiol). Furthermore it caused no estrogenic activity or chromosome damage int he cells whatsoever.
They also found the ability to protect cells from the genotoxic effects of three common anti-cancer drugs _mytomicin C, bleomycin, and vincristine, which are used to kill cancer cells but also damage healthy DNA as well. (european journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2010 Jun 9)
Bee pollen is believed to help rejuvenate the body, stimulate organs and glands and enhance vitality. Many world class athletes have used Bee pollen to help to relieve brain fatigue and improve alertness and concentration,increase energy levels and enhance recovery. 
Bee pollen is an excellent immune system builder and eliminate toxins from the body.
Possible Benefits
-May be effective in building, restoring, and maintaining the body's cells
-May be useful in maintaining healthy blood pressure
-May assist in aiding in indigestion 
-Containing thousands of enzymes and co-enzymes
-May be helpful in improving mental clarity and memory
-May help to relieve menstrual and menopausal symptoms
-May be beneficial for lowering high blood pressure
-May be helpful for improving concentration
-May be useful in treating arthritis
-Contains 15% lecithin, which may support the nervous system and brain
-May be effective in building resistance against allergies
-May help to increase energy and endurance
-May assist in promoting a strong immune system
-May help to eliminate toxins from the body
-May be effective in increasing alertness and well-being
-Traditionally used to treat constipation
-May helps to regulate sleep and promote normal sleeping patters
-May be effective in maintaining good heart health
-May be beneficial for reducing stress and anxiety
-May help to balance hormones
-May be effective in enhancing the libido
-May be beneficial in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels
-May help improve skin tone and overall skin health

Our Organic Bee Pollen Powder is responsibly and sustainably harvested from honeybees that come from wilderness areas located far away from human pollution in Canada. Worker bees are not “smoked” out, as some methods of pollen collection entail, and the pollen is not over-harvested or sprayed with chemicals.
I really wanted to get organic bee pollen as bee pollen is an air cleanness indicator and absorbs chemicals rapidly. i would love to get an organic bee pollen from Australia if possible. if you have any recommendation please let me know. And also i would love to know your view on bee products. No judgements here!


Warning: Bee Pollen is not recommended for those with pollen or bee allergies. Bee pollen should not be taken if you have had prior reactions to bee stings or bee pollen. In some cases, anaphylactic shock has been reported. If you have a history of any kind of anaphylactic shock from any allergic reaction, you should not use bee pollen. If you suffer from asthma, please consult your doctor before using bee pollen. Bee pollen contains allergens that may interact adversely with asthma.

we are always learning and sometimes it hurts

sorry to be personal again. this blog is like my dairy..
I feel the energy at our cafe is shifting. We welcomed a couple of wonderful new staff and had to let go of a couple.
After being open for a while  I know some of the reasons why many small businesses fail. It is not easy, especially if you started merely because you are so passionate about it and wanted to follow you heart.
My business skill, hospitality skill and spirituality as a person, who is a business owner, friend, mother  and many other things still need fine tuning.
I know we never stop learning. But learning in this life can hurt you so much because it is so emotionally attached. Because learning this way means you have to look deeper into yourself. Lots of guilt, shame and unworthy feeling that you learn to hide from yourself and others can surface at that time. I have learned now to recognise that but I am still at the stage that I still have difficulty letting go of them now and then.

How good would it be just to receive without any attachment, expectations, guilt, and unworthiness. How good would it be just to ask for help and share my journey with others without all the above.

When someone offers to help me i still seem not be able to fully accept. It is challenging especially when the person is so dear to me. As a result I get hurt and they do too.

Hope I have learnt my lesson this time …

can you relate to this? if so is there anything that help you?

yoko xxx

sugar sugar sugar! why we feel bad eating sweet food?

Oh how we love sweet things….
if you have a condition that requires you to cut down all the sugars, including fruits and less processed sweeteners then please follow your practitioners as well yourself.
if not i don't see sweet things as 'bad" food anymore.
For a while i was strictly avoiding everything sweet. I think i only ate maybe 2 pieces of fruits in 6 months because I was even avoiding "natural' sweet food. It was a good experience but for now I am happy with "choosing to eat sweet things consciously" path.
I find it interesting that many of us feel guilty about eating something sweet, even though our first food, mother's milk, is extremely sweet. We didn't feel guilty about it then, right? Is it because of all these processed products labelled as "guilty pleasure", "naughty habits", "bad food" ? or is it because we feel we are not worth enjoying the deliciously sweet food?  or is it the strict mind set that all the sweet food is something that is damaging to the body?

All the smoothies, desserts, cakes, biscuits and other treats at the cafe are made to be enjoyed for your tastebuds and mentally. All our sweeteners come from less processed sources, such as dried and fresh fruits, super powder that is naturally sweet (e.g. mesquite, lucuma, maca), coconut nectar and sugar, yacon syrup, stevia and lakanto. Though I still don't want to over eat them and always balance out with something green I don't feel guilty about eating them anymore. When you know that it comes from natural and whole food source and they are made with "love" it fuels my body and mind in many ways.
I stay away from overly processed sugar , including agave syrup as I learnt and experienced  negative effects on my body. I still find it hard when people kindly share or give me things that I would not normally eat. I am learning to be grateful and eat them with gratitude, and I feel it helps. But sometimes it does backfire after. I am still trying to find the balance…

I would love to know how you cope with the situation like this!

if you are interested in the effects of white sugar and alternative to them click here
Also i will be posting the latest sugar alternative that I am so excited about soon

until then, enjoy your cake "consciously"
 yoko xx

eating organically.

If you know me, you know that I am really passionate about buying organic/ bio dynamic products. They may be a bit more expensive but I truly believe that they are worth it. It is beneficial for your health (because they are not covered with toxic pesticides, artificial ingredients and hormones etc), for the environment (less chemicals for our air, water, soil), for animals and workers (less chance of exposing them to the nasty chemicals), and of course to our taste buds.However eating conventionally grown (preferably locally grown) vegetables and fruits is better than eating none at all. You can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly 80 percent by avoiding the “dirty dozen” 

dirty dozen

apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, nectarines, peaches potatoes, spinach, strawberries, sweet bell peppers plus silver beet and kale, zucchini

A you can see most of them are vegetables and fruits that don not have any skin or covering that you take off before eating. Sometimes when people thing they are allergic to something they are getting a adverse reactions not from the certain food but from the toxic substances that are on or in the food. 

Here are some tips to save money when buying organic

-eat seasonally 

buying ingredients that are out of the seasons are expensive. Plus foods grow at a certain times for a reason

-cook from scratch

the best thing you can do for your health is to make things yourself. this way you know exactly what you are eating and how it is prepared. pre packed and packaged products may be convenient but is it up to your standard? and how long have they been sitting on the shelves?

-grow them yourself

what is better than produce from your organic store? from your garden. freshly picked produce has way more vitamins and minerals and also the energy force. 

-buy in bulk

many stores have been offering bulk options to customers. because they don't have to package they can sell things for cheaper price. why not join or start local coop where people get together to buy things in bulk. it is a great way to build a community too.

is there anything that you do to save money when buying organic? is it important for you? comment below to let me know

yoko xxx

grounding / earthing

vibration and natural electric energy might sound too new age for you. But more studies are finding how important this is and some are even claiming that this is The way to heal almost anything.

what is earthing?
Earthing involves coupling your body to the Earth's eternal and gentle surface energy. it means walking outside on a grass, sand on barefoot and /or sitting working or sleeping while connected to a conductive device that delivers this energy into your body.

what happens they say, is that your body becomes suffused with negative charged free electrons abundantly present on the surface of the Earth. Your body equalises to the same electric energy level as the Earth.

Benefits
the list of benefits from Earthing goes on for a long time but here is a start
- defuses the cause of inflammation, and improves or eliminates the symptoms of many inflammation related disorders.
Reduces or eliminate chronic pain
-improves sleep in most cases
-increases energy
-lowers stress and promotes calmness in the body by cooling down the nervous system and stress hormones
-normalises the body' biological rhythms
-Thins blood and improves blood pressure flows
-relieves muscle tension and headaches
-lessens hormonal and menstrual symptons
-Dramatically speeds healing and helps prevent bedsores
-Reduces or eliminate jet lag
-Protects the body against potentially health disturbing environmental electromagnetic field (EMFs) - yes you are conducting this while you ar eon the computer reading this!
-Accelerates recovery from intense athletic activity


When I first hear this idea I was quite skeptical. Then I started hearing many scientific researchers and medical practitioners are talking as if this is the greatest health breakthrough

One pilot study conducted by Dr. Maurice Ghaly, measured the secretion of cortisol (stress hormone) in people before and after grounding. The study found that Earthing during the sleep "resynchronises cortisol secretion in alignment with its natural, normal rhythms.
Conditions related to chronic inflammation can be extreme, such as MS, arthritis, fibromyalagia, intestinal disorders, headaches, kidney failure, chronic pain, diabetes, cancer, allergies, and cardiovascular diseases. Earthing is said to be helpful because of the electric energy of the Earth. The energy on the surface of the planet takes the form of free and limitless supply of sub atomic particles called electrons. These electrons are negatively charged. So when you have direct contact with the Earth, they are absorbed into the body and negate any positively charged area of inflammation

Infra red images showing the reduction of inflammation that occurs from before (left) and after (right)

cortisol levels during sleep

It does make sense and testimonials from people around globe are quite amazing. We have increasingly disconnecting from nature by our lifestyle. Our plastic shoes, electronic devices, wireless connections and stressful lifestyle can all contribute to decreasing our ability to connect the healing power of the Earth. 

It is not hard thing to do or expensive. Just walk outside barefoot on grass, sand, swim in the ocean. And for those who don't have time to go outside to do this there are many reasonably priced products available. 

I now have a grounding mat (which I use while using a computer and while driving a car) as well as grounding sheet, that I sleep on. 

resources and websites, products

http://www.barefoothealing.com.au

http://www.groundology.com/au/earthing/grounding-mats

http://www.earthingoz.com.au/online-store/earthing-mat

more blog articles coming!

When I was having a look thorough this blog the other day I thought myself thinking "wow, I haven't posted one for so long" I used to love doing my blog but I recently shifted focusing on sending private newsletters to people who have registered for my newsletters and updates.
I now decided to post the contents in the newsletters on this blog for everyone to see. This way I can reach more people plus we can look back to previous articles on the web as well.

I feel like a reborn blogger! I am so excited to restart this journey with you. If you still would like to register for updates from shokuiku I highly recommend you to do so. I would still be sending updates, specials, and more recipes this way.
I would also love to use this place for people to connect and encourage and inspire each other. that would be so much fun ;-)

If you follow me on Facebook, I posted this…

Shokuikuaustralia Yoko Inoue

May 7 near Melbourne

I just wanted to share this with you. I am not sure what sort of responses I get and maybe I shouldn't voice this out because there are many opinions out there. I was on "melbourne vegan Facebook group " and I was describing my cafe. as you may know all our dishes, drinks, and desserts are vegan but we do carry bee pollen and honey for people to have if they choose to. firstly I was mistaken for saying honey is vegan (which I know it is is not) and secondly I felt like being attacked because to some carrying bee products are unethical and it is not what I say I try to do. Our honey and bee pollen come from sustainable, organic and small bee keepers or wild crafted to make sure they are not given antibiotics and pesticides etc. Also I respect that the bees are an important component of organic and sustainable agriculture and is a powerful food to us. I do not like labelling my self as anything. if I start to call myself one thing it is hard to evolve and grow. I would feel so stuck in the box. I am just ME. we all try to be compassionate and to respect others's opinions and where they are at. Who are we to judge others anyway? we have so much to learn from each other and I am just grateful to have people around me to support and inspire me continuously. thank you for letting me who I am 

I received so many beautiful encouraging comments after this, moving to discuss who we are and believing in ourselves and not letting anyone or anything cloud up your forces. I don't mean that you shouldn't listen to other people's opinion. However if you feel judged or attacked I feel it is important to stop and check what you are doing in a compassionate way.

I do love what I do and I don't cut corners. I am so grateful the opportunity to express myself and my belief in this way and have so much support from you. But I am human after all.. I get insecure and start to doubt myself sometimes. It used to be harder to pull myself out this in the past. Now I have tools to find myself again. One of the tools i have is to reach out to people, who inspire me so much to keep going.
thank you.
Hay House World Summit
if you are interested in learning more about your inner strength Hay House is doing FREE global on line world summit in June. Amazing speakers such as : Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, Esther Hicks, Suze Orman, Cheryl Richardson, and Doreen Virtue. and many more are involved in this. I cannot wait!

Our greatest strength lies in the gentleness and tenderness of our heart" - RUMII

I love this quote.

so I would love to hear your thoughts. have you ever felt judged by others? if so what did you do to pull yourself out of the cloudiness? comment below to let me know.

look forward to the next blog already
love
yoko

my shop opening

finally happening now.
My shop/cafe is going to open this Friday (1st feb 2013)
it has been such a journey and I am sure it will go on.
there are lots of bits and pieces I still have to organise but I just couldn't wait any longer.
limited hours and menu this week but I should be able to be more organised from next week.

I am getting the shop ready and cooking at the same time! just not much time but love the every minutes of it.  yes I am tired and often things can get stressful but I am so excited and happy now. How fortunate to be able to follow my dreams and do this. How I became and still becoming to be stronger and more centred person that I always wanted to be. I am so grateful for all the experiences that lead me  to where I am, and also all these people who supported me and guided me along the way.

Menu example
superior smoothies with super foods, super herbs such as E3 live, macs, marine phytoplankton, mesquite, cacao,noni, fo-ti, astragalus etc.
elixiers
super food gelato
tonic tea
raw desserts (of course)
freshly made salad
daily specials




I would love to see you soon.

january newsletter

January newsletter is out now!



importance of vitamin D, irish moss - is it really inflammatory to your body?recipe for basic almond milk and carob cookies.


If you haven't registered for the newsletter please click the bottom above to register.
I have been so busy lately to update my blog I know! I feel that I am going to get busier with my shop opening! (in case you didn't know, I am so close to opening my own place in a couple of weeks! It is in northcote, melbourne.)
lots of smoothies, tonic beverages made with super food, super herbs, decadent and healthy raw desserts, snacks and greatest salads.

Our space was created with sustainability in mind using stunning timbers which are recycled, reclaimed or from FSC (Forest stewardship council), and other sustainable materials, such as energy efficient lights, bio degradable packagings, as much as possible.

I can't wait to meet you in person xxx

December newsletter

The december issue of newsletter is out now. If you haven't registered yet. Please do so and I can send it to you. This month I have attached some info on super fermented food "natto" and recipe for rejuvelac, corn soup (raw or cooked) and cashew and raspberry mousse tart.

why can't we give a certain food?

I was talking to a friend the other day about which food we want to have less of, but find it hard to do so. I couldn't think of any. I did mention chocolate and maybe not so much nuts and seeds. but I have no intension of giving up entirely!
Because there are so many different opinions on what is "good" and what is "bad" , and also I believe everyone is different and react in a different way toward certain foods I am not here to categorise what needs to be avoided etc.

I just find it quite interesting to observe what stops people to give up certain food that they know they should. they appreciate the logic and sensibility of healthier diet. The value of having more energy and feeling of well-being. Against all that wisdom what makes them hesitant in changing their habits?
There are some obvious factors such as
Convenience - fast food chains at every corners!!
Cheaper Price - what? $1 for a big milkshake???
and then, for some these are foods that are part of the social landscape or work and family environments.
Finally, there is a taste factors. (Although when you start eating cleanly most of the "junk" food tastes all the same and not pleasant)
so, why are some things easier to give up than others? if you are told to give up cholorella, would you find it so hard? why does giving up certain food feel like serious deprivation?

It is true that our tastes are established before we are born. Experts have found that a mother's diet during pregnancy have a big effect on a baby's taste. We also develop emotional associations with certain foods thorough early and/or recurring memories. Any meaningful experiences like home traditions can create these connections.

Our moods can influence our vulnerability as well. Emotional eating, binging can flare up at the time of stress. Unfortunately it is more likely that you feel worse with the feeling of guilt.

When you become taken in by a sudden urge to indulge, there are some things you can do.

-the out of sight, out mind approach (the more hassle it is to get the that food, the less likely you'll bother with it)

-taking a brief walk of do something to distract you

-find out what is driving you (is it hormonal? or a nutritional deficiency? or unconscious reasons that you need to sort out?)

-alternative therapy such as acupuncture can be effective

-find something healthier alternative to give you similar tasting pleasure. (replacing commercially made burger with ones you made yourself, factory made corn syrup ice-cream with coconut, cashew ice-cream etc.) options are endless these days

The certain food offers momentary pleasure. But what if giving them up means more energy, less congestion, more restfulness, less medicated?

No one is perfect. Our mind feeds our body as much as great diet and lifestyle. Don't feel guilty about a little slip now and then because it is about learning to respect and listen to your body.

newsletter November

I know I have been away from blogging for a while. Sorry!
Please register for my newsletter I have just sent out the november issue. This month an article about adrenal exhaustion (if you feel you are always tired???) and the recipe for creamy green soup and flax cracker.

I will have an exciting news to share with you soon so I will be back soon :-)

review for documentary "the cure is"

thanks to Shannon from conscious life media I got to see this documentary "the cure is"
Before I watched this I thought this is about the relationship between what you eat and your health. But this documentary is more than that.
your emotions, mind, stress levels play major part in your health. Did you know that genes don't control your biology? Less than10 percent of diseases are passed through genes. the rest, you guessed it!, through your lifestyle.
It is very empowering. We can control our destiny by changing our thought, what we eat and how we deal with the world every day. The genes does not control us.
I am inspired, motivated and feeling strong and empowered. great film to watch to remind you of what is important.
this film features many respected experts, including Dr. BernieSiegel, M.D.  Bruce H.Lipton Phd, Dr. JoelFuhrman M.D.  and Dr. SueMorter
It will be available 0n 11th November 2012.  

watch the trailer here

highly recommend this documentary. This is something that you want to watch again and again to remind you of the truth, truth that everything is a miracle including yourself. "the cure is you"

raw blueberry jam filled cookie recipe included

I love spending time in the kitchen, especially when I am creating something new. But there is something else I love doing. that's spending time with my daughter.
So when I get to combine the two together it is just so perfect!!!
while our pastry is getting dehydrated we go outside together.

Now that the weather is getting warmer we started doing more in the garden. We have planted many fruit trees including apples, fijioas, nashi pears, red currant, blackberries, citruses, etc etc… My vegetable garden is not too exciting at the moment but still producing wonderfully spicy rockets and other salad leaves like mizuna, chinese greens to pick at the moment.
 Layla sometimes help in the garden but her favourite thing to do in the garden is making things with what she finds.

Layla's fairy garden

raw blueberry jam filled cookie

pastry

1 cup almond flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/4 cup date syrup

1 tsp lemon zest

1 tbs coconut oil, melted

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt  

Mix almond and coconut flour in a food processor. 

Add the remaining ingrediet and process untiol dough is formed. You may need to add some liquid either water or nut milk.

 with a rolling pin, roll out the dough, about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to desirable shapes. Cut half of the cookies with a circular cutout and half without.

Dehydrate till crisp. (about 10 hours)

assembly

spread about 1 tb spoon blueberry jam on a cookie without the cutout then top with the cutout one.

blueberry jam

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberry

1/4 cup saltana ,soaked in water to soften for 1 hour

1tsp vanilla

blend to chunky consistency. Place in a dehydrator for 3 hours or so till it thickens. 

 have one with your favourite beverage.
the use of the jam is endless. I love it with whipped cashew cream and fresh berries to make parfait, stir in with your breakfast. keep the jam in the fridge.

the date for the next cooking class is set. It is 11th November 1pm -4pm
Please email me to secure your spot
shokuiku.life@gmail.com

exciting news! my product.

Please let me share this! because I am so excited!
I have working on this project for a while and finally it is coming together.
I am launching my products.
Yes it is more ego boosting self indulgence kind of thing. And also because I love what I make and wanted to share them with larger audience.
It has not been easy and a learning process because I am fussy with no large sum of money...
However I think these products have shaped well and above my expectations!

        

All my products contain no dairy or animal products, and free from gluten. Also no sugar added (that means no concentrated syrup such as agave, maple syrup etc. either) made with only the organic "real" foods.

The packaging was also important for me. I wanted everything to be sustainable. I have thought about many different options (within my small budget!) After looking at the computer screen for so so long comparing and sourcing different ideas and products, I have decided on cello bags made with natureflex (renewable and compostable packaging bag) and stickers from labels from distant village (100 percent tree free material , sustainable printing with socially responsible business practice)
As I learnt more about the packaging out there I was amazed. Even the packaging that looked more sustainable are merely the look. But I do understand why though. It does cost a lot more, maybe 3-5 times more, and that is such a shame. I think we should all move towards to more sustainable packaging and make it more affordable.

Anyway along the process I have dealt with many inspirational people and I thank everyone who have involved in the process.
I am also in a process of getting these products certified organic. still getting all the paperwork sorted. (it is not simple! but I am getting there...)

thanks for expressing the interested in becoming one of the reviewers. I had more responses than excepted and very grateful...
the products have ben sent and look forward to hearing the thoughts!

just my sad self on my daughter's birthday

Over the weekend I had an opportunity to be one of stall holders at this amazing event, Kindered Sprit festival. It was a festival to celebrate music movement and meditation with many workshops, yoga, musical and art performances etc.
The line-up was quite amazing with international diversity.
Many stall holders there were great as well. Some I knew before but many I am glad to connect for the first time.

If you know me personally it was also my daughter's birthday on Sunday. When I was asked to do the festival I didn't think I was going to for that reason.  For children there are a few days in a year that they get so excited about. Birthday is one of them. For me, as her mother, it is the time for celebrating the birth of the most precious thing in my life and reflection on what I have.

I changed my mind when I found out that my daughter and her father already made a plan for her birthday celebration without my knowledge. Realising that I was not going to wake up with her in the morning of her birthday, I went into my usual way to avoid pain.  "distraction"
We do things for two purposes in life, either for pleasure or pain. My decision to do the festival mainly was so that I wouldn't have time to focus on the fact that I was not going to be there with her. I am not sure if my strategy is a positive thing but it does work. But sooner or later it does come back to you. Overwhelming sadness for some things that happened in the last 9 years and self doubt about if I am a good enough mother or not hit me last night. When I picked her up I had an enormous guilty feeling that Layla could not have her mum and dad together to celebrate anymore. I held her tight and said to her "happy birthday. Sorry I couldn't be with you today. Did you have good time?" and could hardly chock back my tears. She hugged me back and reassured me that she did and said this to me. " I missed you but I knew you were with me wherever you were."

Happy birthday to my angel...

my gourmet lunch today.raw tart with macadamia cream and nuts free banana and chocolate tart

I usually eat very simply. But today I am in an experimental state of mind. 

So this is what I made today for my lunch. with this kind of raw food it does take a bit of preparation. Soaking , dehydrating does take time and also a bit of planning. But when its done the reward is definitely there!

 tart shells made with almond and chia seed.
fill with finely cut broccoli and red onion that has been soaked in water.
Cover with macadamia cream (simply blend soaked macadamia and water, lemon juice, garlic and seasoning)

then pop them in a dehydrator.

after about 6 hours or so.

then dessert time :-)

I have been trying to cut down the amount of nuts in general.  Raw desserts are the greatest but they tend to contain a lot of nuts and make them quite high in fat. Don't get me wrong. unprocessed fat is so much better than processed fat, especially cooked or deep fried. They oxidise above certain temperature and become quite harmful to your body.

raw unprocessed fat from whole foods such as nuts, seeds, coconut, avocado etc retain much more nutrients and I believe we all need them. 

But sometimes I do go overboard. avocado, nuts and seeds and those coconut butter ohhhh......

anyway this is nut free decadent layer tart.

crust with coconut, pumpkin seeds and prunes

vanilla layer with banana, lucuma and dates

chocolate layer with avocado, dates and strawberries

 

top with chocolate alphabets. how would you spell yours?

take a break from your busy life a little

when people ask me how I have been or how the week has been I have caught myself saying "great. busy but being busy is good for me" most of the time.
When did I start thinking that being busy is good for me I don't know.
It is easy to lose touch with ourselves when our busy everyday routines leave us no time to think and to realise how we are surrounded by beautiful  pleasurable things everywhere.

My daughter is nearly 9 years old now. She knows I am busy with work and it robs our time together that we used to have when I was not working. I am so fortunate to have her support and patience. One day after school we came home and as usual I started to think what I need to do. She came in a bit later and said to me. " mum, can i say something?" I asked what it was. She replied "Look, I have been making a boat" She showed me what she made with leaves and flowers she picked from our garden. Then she continued "Mum, I would love it if you would make one with me" I was about to say "No i can't. I have to do some work" but I didn't. I said ok and sat down with her to make a boat, just like what we used to do. We used to collect little nature things and made all sort of things. boat, bouquet,  pretend meals, house etc. I have forgotten I wonderful it was.
We made a boat each with little flowers inside and we placed them in a paddle just outside our house together.
Thanks Layla for reminding me

 "There is more to life than increasing its speed." 

--Mahatma Gandhi

"When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another - and ourselves"
--Jack Kornfield

interview by a guest blogger Vienda Maria

You may remember a beautiful post by a guest blogger Vienda maria
I have an honour to interview her to share with you. If you haven't already have a look at her site. You can learn a lot from just reading the posts!

So here we go

1. you are working on “building your own business and blog website guide”. why did you start on this and why do you think it is necessary for people to have a guidance and support for this community

I once read a business book by two very switched on guys called Rework and a point that really stuck with me was that there is no such thing as waste. All experiences and processes we go through are valuable, not only for ourselves but also to help others. When I first create my online presence I didn't have a clue what I was doing and therefore did enormous amounts of research and learnt so much form many different sources in order OT be able to build the image and brand that I wanted. After some time other bloggers and friends started asking me how I did it so I decided to compile a little e-guide with everything I have learnt from the process so far. For me clearly my site is an ongoing project and I'm no web whizz but I can share what I know and that's how the Create Your Own Business Blog guide was born. I've finished the copy and just have to start working out the design so hopefully it'll be available soon!

2. Do you have a favourite blog post that you have done 

I'd say my favourite post at the moment is What's For You Won't Pass You By

http://www.viendamaria.com/2012/01/whats-for-wont-pass-b

3. Do you have a favourite blogger 

There are so many fantastic bloggers in so many different facets that I adore and admire so there's no way for me to choose a favourite. I really appreciate all the talented people who share their unique gifts and viewpoints on the web with all of us.

4.How do you find your own voice, do you read lots of other bloggers fro inspirations and ideas? 

Finding my own voice was certainly a process but I've come to realise that I write the best when I am completely myself, authentic and voicing my own opinions, thoughts and ideas without worrying what others may think. For me, reading other people's work doesn't influence my own writing, I think if it did my writing style would change and would no longer represent who I am and what I want to say.

5.Were you always a spiritual person?

I believe we are all spiritual beings enjoying a physical experience. Whether we connect with that spiritual part of ourselves or not is entirely up to each of us. I personally went through an enormous inner transformation in my early 20's where I became clear on what is true for me in a metaphysical sense and how I connect with my inner source which changed my life. 

6.What degrees and training do you have? and having that helps you in any ways? any particular course you did that you’d recommend to people

I have a degree in psychology and have studied life coaching, NLP, Reiki and read a lot of books on personal development and so on. I love to learn and continue to do so every day and really value the studies I have undertaken but I don't believe that there is one route that suits everyone. There are so many ways to learn and the greatest lessons come from life experience. If I were to recommend something to people I would say, learn to listen to your inner guidance system. Your connect to source or spirit or whatever you would like to call it. That is where the truth and wisdom for each and every one of us lies. Courses can be a valuable way to teach us what we want to learn and confirm the wisdom that already lies within you but I don't believe that they are a mandatory way to move forward and succeed in life.

7.You have travelled extensively and you are away again. how does it help with your personal development. do you dream about settling down at one place?

Do you have a place that calls home?

Everyone is different. I was born into a nomadi life so travelling is simply a part of me. It's in my blood, it's my life. I love the sensation of being between places. Travelling opens our minds, our hearts, our perceptions of life and the diversity that exists on this planet. It makes us more accepting of ourselves and of others, recognising that there are many ways to be happy and live a good life. Travelling teaches patience, letting go of expectations and trusting that what is happening is exactly what is meant to happen. It also shows us how good, kind and generous human beings across the globe are. I do dream of having a home where I can rest my laurels and store my treasures but I will always be a wanderer. In general, home is simply where I place my love, it is where I am. There is no specific place that I call my home.

8. You mention self realisation. can you define that for us 

Self realisation is a term coined by a psychologist known as Abraham Maslow. You can read a more detailed outline of his theories here, but for me self realisation is simply recognising WHO YOU REALLY ARE. Which is much more than just this physical body and experience. You are a whole and complete entity of which your physical part is only a small aspect. You have god-like manifesting powers through your heart, intuition and your mind. We are all powerful infinite beings, recognising this is self realisation. 

9. Do you have a fovourtite quote or stories 

I do have some favourite stories which you can read here 

10. you have a great knowledge to help people in  a deeper level. Do you personally  have moments that you are uncertain about yourself (like I am not good enough moments!) and if so do you have ways to shake off that feeling. Haha, this is a great question! I am a human being just like everyone else which means I absolutely have moments of self doubt, insecurities and fears. This is a good thing because when these crop up, they show me what areas in my life I need to work at and heal underlying disruptive thoughts that I have picked up long ago and are no longer in line with who I am and where I am going. The fastest and easiest way to shake your feelings of uncertainty is to first recognise them and where they come from, which is like shining a light on them. This part of the process may feel uncomfortable but is so important. It's like cleaning a cut before you place a plaster on it. Then you start changing your thought process by telling yourself what you want to believe around that situation, even if it doesn't feel true for you right now. Beliefs are simply repeptitive thoughts so when you repeat them enough, they become true for you.

11. You have a few posts with healthy recipes. why do you think it is important to nourish our bodies with good food. Nourishing our bodies is critical because what we put in we get out. You literally are what you eat so when you out good, healthy, whole, nutritious food into your body you receive a heightened life experience as opposed to when you put crap into your body which makes you feel tired, sluggish and unmotivated. Also, feeding yourself good food is an excellent way to practise self love which is so important. You will always be treated the way you treat yourself so why not show the world that you want the best for yourself.

12. Are you a savoury or sweet person or both? 

I love food so both sweet and savoury tastes are most welcome in my mouth!

ABOUT THE AUTOUR

THIS POST WRITTEN BY VIENDA MARIE. SHE IS A WRITER AND LIFE COACH, WHO HELP OTHERS WITH THEIRE SELF REALISATION.

YOU CAN READ MORE OF HER POWERFUL POSTS HERE. THEY HAVE OFTEN HELPED ME THROUGH.