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LEMONS, cabbage and birds at the bay

1/19/2015

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Off the beaten path in San Francisco is a true green jewel, a peaceful oasis hidden in the Marina District and only visible to those who are on the look out for places to experience beyond Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square.
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The lovely Fort Mason Community Garden caught my forever searching eye on the way back from a city hike to my hotel, and I just couldn't resist adding time to explore the unexpected find with its organized chaos of the garden layout, plants, gardening tools, recycled household items, figurines and beautiful birds. The warm and gentle late afternoon sun was my perfect partner for catching the spirit of this retreat.
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A delightful blend of fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and flowers awaits the senses and one wants to linger under in the calming ambiance of ripe lemons, gorgeous cabbage and fragrant rosemary, and simply absorb the beauty of the moment under the watchful eye of the Garden Buddha and the kind bee.
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The garden is also a paradise for many bird species, including a number of nesting birds, some of them living there all year round, such as the community of House Finches and the Lesser Goldfinches. One can find Mockingbirds here, Ravens, Hummingbirds and many other winged friends, and in Spring the bird lover's eyes and ears can welcome the Hooded Orioles back, which only reside during the warmer months and after their return from their winter retreat in Mexico.
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Wish I could have stayed longer but then again ... there is always a next time in San Francisco  - with a visit of Greens Restaurant at Fort Mason Center.


Links:

Photography Susan Placek @ http://www.cocoonworx.com/

The rules for playing in the dirt : http://playndirt.com/listings/fort-mason-community-garden/

Fort Mason Center http://fortmason.org/

Greens Restaurant -
http://www.greensrestaurant.com/the-cuisine/the-cuisine

For more than twenty years, San Francisco's beloved Greens Restaurant has been in the avant garde of the cooking revolution in America. Through its endlessly inventive, ever-changing menus and bestselling cook-books, Greens has introduced millions of delighted fans to a sophisticated, meatless cuisine packed with transcendent, satisfying flavor. The heart of Greens cookings to use the best, freshest ingredients.

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the powerful orange root

9/2/2014

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ORANGE is a powerful color, it is one of the healing colors, stimulates enthusiasm and creativity. Orange also means vitality and endurance.
The CARROT, a highly popular and common vegetable, versatile, healthy and enjoyable raw or cooked. The list of recipes using carrots is endless and the fact that the root with the pretty orange color is high in potassium, beta carotene and vitamin A makes it a powerful addition to one's daily nutrition.


Carrots offer another big advantage.
The seedlings mature fast, they can be grown easily and it doesn't even require a garden to do so.

Many people are not aware of the fact that carrots can be planted and grown INDOORS all year round, which makes ...

CARROT SEEDS perfect for meaningful and memorable promotions and affordable business and client giving for any industry or recipient.



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CARROT SEED Postcards with logo personalization
Plenty of sunlight provided indoors is the only requirement needed along with keeping the soil/sand mixture (50% high quality rich potting soil and 50% sand - no play sand) on the dry side.
Carrots do not appreciate wet soil.


Links:

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=21

http://www.gardenguides.com/79857-grow-indoor-carrots.html

http://www.thecreativeideashop.com/seed-gifts.html
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lake shrine, temple of serenity, compassion & kindness 

5/24/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
Heading to my friend's book signing in Venice Beach I decided to pull myself away from the computer a few hours earlier and take a break at the nearby Meditation Center of Lake Shrine,  "nearby" of course in Los Angeles standards that is.
The serene Lake Shrine Meditation Garden and Temple is located in the beautiful Pacific Palisades off Sunset Boulevard featuring a spring-fed lake, nestled in the center of the Garden.
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Entering through the upper parking lot one is immediately captivated by the soothing sound of water coming from the court yard fountain, and the bright white Temple with the golden lotus flowers in sharp contrast to the deep blue sky, which visitors have a good chance for here in Southern California at most days of the year.
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Knowing the quite interesting history of this place makes a big difference in the whole experience. Being on a schedule  however I decided to focus on the Garden during this visit and walked straight through the double doors to the stairs, leading down to the lake.
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The sheer existence of what used to be Lake Santa Ynez can be seen as a co-production between men and Mother Nature. Extensive earth moving activities in the Santa Ynez Canyon, which used to be a silent movie production site of the then-famous Inceville motion-picture studio in the early 1920ies, were followed by water coming from nearby springs, quickly filling the basin, and bringing a halt to plans for future land development.
During the following 10 years the area remained untouched and more than a decade later the land, which meanwhile had turned into a forgotten swamp was purchased by H. Everett McElroy, assistant superin­tendent of construction for 20th Cen­tury Fox studios, and developed according to his vision of a unique private paradise, including the construction of a new residence situated across the McElroy's double-deck Mississippi-style houseboat which had been relocated from Lake Mead, followed by a boat deck with landing and a Dutch Windmill with a fifteen foot water wheel connected to an irrigation system.

And now the story becomes really fascinating.
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In the late 1940ies Mr. McElroy sold the property to an oil-company president who's strange re-occurring dreams of his new home becoming a "Church of All Reli­gions", inspired him to write a letter to the Self-Realiza­tion Fellowship Church of All Reli­gions in Hollywood, in which he offered his property for sale.
Deeply moved by his dreams he decided to quickly call instead of waiting for his letter to arrive, and when he did, the founder, Paramahansa Yogananda himself answered his call. Before the man had a chance to introduce himself, he was asked about the property he had for sale, even though his letter had not arrived yet.
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After change of ownership made possible through generous benefactors, once again construction began at Lake Santa Ynez. Paramahansa Yoga­nanda himself directed and oversaw the ongoing work and the creation of his spiritual legacy from his new and temporary headquarters, the houseboat.
1,500 people attended the formal opening to the public on August 20, 1950 of what was now Lake Shrine.
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All of Mr. McElroy's buildings still exist and are part of today's site and landscaping.

New constructions added under the vegetarian Guru's supervision were the Court of Religions honoring the five principal religions of the world, the Mahatma Gandhi World Peace Memorial, home to a portion of Gandhi's ashes, and a Museum which exhibits Paramahansa Yogananda's work.
The white hill-top Temple and Retreat, looking at the lake and the Pacific Ocean was built in 1996, 44 years after Paramahansa Yogananda's passing, fulfilling his last wish for a construction of such a building.
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Yogananda also designed the Golden Lotus Archway, or "wall-less temple, topped by golden lotus flowers, the Indian symbol of divine unfoldment and the awakening of the soul to its infinite potential.
The orange-red flowering plant next to the Archway looks like a shrub on fire, and I wonder if this species was purposely chosen to be planted there as a symbol of the eternal flame of life.
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Swans, ducks, turtles, fish and many other animals call Lake Shrine home and the park itself with its lush landscaping, rocks, waterfalls, trees, tropical plants, flowers and shrubs is a sanctuary for people looking for a place to unwind, to meditate or simply to enjoy this spiritual place and the stunning scenic beauty.
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With the Windmill Chapel currently under construction, to be re-opened again in Fall, and part of the Garden including the Visitor Center and the large statue by the waterfall not accessible at this time, there was only one more place to go to:
The Lake Shrine Gift Shop and Museum offering a variety of inspirational gifts from India, from books to statues, candles, incense, singing bowls, jewelry, clothing and hand made Indian arts and crafts.
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The moment I entered the store a colorful scarf begged me to be allowed to come home with me - how could I not practice kindness and compassion at a place like this. I couldn't.


Links:

http://www.lakeshrine.org/

http://www.yogananda-srf.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramahansa_Yogananda

Photography: Susan Placek/CocoonWorx  http://www.cocoonworx.com


Kindness & Compassion Gifts 
http://www.welcometoplanetvegan.com/store.html
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SEEDS FOR SOWING GOODNESS

5/8/2014

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Don't we all have those days when we wish things would be as simple as black and white with nothing in between, without the millions of shades of grey that make our world as complex as it is? All the madness on this planet might be fixed easily if there was only either "good" or "bad".
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For some unknown reason though the Universe doesn't work like that. Instead, we are all part of that mind blowing web called "life", where all is connected, where each single action of each single person matters and all is one.

It is my deepest desire to be part of something good, to be one of the many tiny little seeds in our society who crave for fundamental change on this planet, and who want to contribute somehow with something in this process of awakening the kind of human qualities that are lacking, but essential in becoming what we claim to be: HUMANE.

I chose Vegetable Seeds as a symbol of life, of new beginnings and of nurturing the human mind and soul, and combined them with one of my passions - being creative - for sowing Goodness and ultimately growing KINDNESS, COMPASSION, PEACE, HARMONY and HAPPINESS, envelope by envelope and seed by seed.

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Contact
for free logo personalization for businesses, organizations and non-profits and for wholesale.


Links:

http://www.welcometoplanetvegan.com/store.html


http://www.thecreativeideashop.com/seed-gifts.html

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why are carrots good for your business?

5/7/2014

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Originally - and that is 5,000+ years ago, Carrots were not grown for food but for a variety of ailments.

Based on the information historical documents and paintings provide, that's how long Carrots have been around and planted by humankind, also often mistaken for parsnips, one of their close relatives. Carrots were anything but orange back then, they were purple, red, white, and yellow. That is until the 16th century, when Dutch carrot growers invented the orange Carrot in honor of the House of Orange, the Dutch Royal Family. Cross breeding pale yellow with red Carrots resulted in the bright orange colored Carrot we know today.

With its measly 25 calories and 6 grams of carbs, but 2 grams of fiber per average size Carrot, this vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin A, giving you more than 200% of your daily requirement in just one Carrot. Furthermore these pretty edible roots are loaded with beta-carotene, a compound that is naturally converted to vitamin A when consumed. The deeper orange the Carrot, the more beta-carotene you’re getting.

Carrots are good for your eye-sight, for your bowels, for preventing or treating allergies and rheumatism, killing germs in the mouth and maintaining healthy gums, supporting liver function, and improving your skin and its tone. Carrots help reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood and the risk of heart disease, regulating blood sugar and lowering the risk of cancer development.

You may have known all of the above. But ...

Did you know that Carrots also provide excellent medicinal uses for your business too?

Carrots given out as Seeds are a powerful promotional ailment with health benefits for your business kicking in from the moment they are given out. The initial impact this giveaway causes what is known as the mental and physiological state of "surprise", triggering positively valenced emotions, followed by anticipation and the excitement of planting and experiencing the growing process from seeds to edible vegetables.

The carotene content of the harvested Carrots, providing a powerful anti-oxidant, becomes invaluable in the second phase of this all natural and organic treatment, which through consumption, helps your clients and prospects to protect their brains from oxidative stress, and ultimately supports the three main stages in the formation and retrieval of memory:

  • ENCODING - receiving, processing and combining the given information
  • STORAGE - creating of a permanent record of the encoded information
  • RETRIEVAL - calling back the stored information in response to your efforts

In other words - Carrots make your business more memorable.
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Contact THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP with your inquiry for a Carrot business treatment tailored to your needs.

Click here for more information about Carrot Seed Cards with FREE Logo Personalization and many other ideas for creatively using Seeds for GREEN, VEGAN AND ORGANIC business marketing and promotions.


Links:

http://www.TheCreativeIdeaShop.com  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrot
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The farm bistro in the big city

5/6/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of WELCOME TO PLANET VEGAN & THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP

A tractor is not necessarily what one would expect to find in the middle of a big city like L.A, you'll find it in front of the Sage Vegan Bistro though in Culver City, California. After planning on going there for a long time, finally last weekend I made it happen.
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Flowering artichokes, herbs, fruit and greens planted along the parking lot give patrons a nice first impression. The spacious outdoor beer garden is the perfect place for those sizzling hot Southern California days where olive trees provide plenty of natural shade for enjoyable meals.
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The simple but unique look of the  restaurant interior design, a combination of rustic wood and metal supported by farm themed decor is an invitation to come for dinner, to be part of the crowd and  indulge in a plant based feast at the long main table of Sage Vegan Bistro.

Arriving later in the afternoon we were able to choose from both, the lunch and the dinner menu and I must say, I had a hard time making up my mind with every dish being guilt free and many choices offered.

Sipping on green tea and just this time passing on the many beer, drink and wine choices, we decided to order
the Jamaican Jerk Burger, a patty made from black beans and walnuts, with jerked crimini and leeks, sliced refreshing mango, caramelized onions and mango saffron aioli. Who needs meat?

Our second choice was the "Fish" Taco made from Jackfruit with avocado and spicy cashew cheese.
On a side note, next time I'll trade the chips for the optional lettuce.

For dessert we sampled a scoop of "Vacation" ice cream with banana, coconut and chocolate flavor. The dessert menu isn't overly big and the lack of desserts featuring fresh fruit was a bit disappointing to me but overall, it's a great place to go for good and very tasty food.

We'll be back on a Thursday or Sunday evening, when live music adds to the vegan dining experience, slowly working our way  through the menu.


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The lunch invitation I owe to a friend of mine gives me the chance to check out the second location, in Echo Park. I am thinking of Saturday or Sunday Brunch ....

Links:

Sage Vegan Bistro
http://sageveganbistro.com/index.html


Photography Susan Placek/CocoonWorx
http://www.cocoonworx.com/
http://www.TheCreativeIdeaShop.com
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Time to go smell the roses ... remembering lucky

4/10/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of WELCOME TO PLANET VEGAN & THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
Anyone who has ever welcomed an animal to the home, bonded and developed emotional ties with that other being, just like with other family members, dreads the day that might come when a decision would have to be made. I was always hoping that life would allow all of our animals someday to just fall asleep whenever their time had come.

Lucky joined our family in 2002 when my husband found and adopted her through a private rescue place. He had been searching for a friend and companion for our then 12 year old son and I remember him bringing her home, entering our house for the very first time, I can still see her standing there quietly, looking around, checking everything out while her eyes kind of asked, "Will this be my new home?"
It was clear to see that she felt comfortable with us immediately but it took a few weeks until she could proudly hold up her tail during our walks. Since that day this gentle loving and always appreciative soul had been around me day and night, she was my daily walking partner and for some reason she liked people much more than other dogs even though people have not always been good to her before she came to us. I was the one in the family Lucky seemed to be most attached to, never wanting to go anywhere unless I too came along. Her nose was always busy, and in the later years her sense of smell seemed to increase while her eye sight started getting weaker. Our walks would have taken 4 times as long would I have waited for her to be done with smelling this bush, that corner, the flower bed or this tree. As it seems unusual for a female, she peed a million times during one walk, making her mark along the way. Lucky had been a traveler too and loved going to the mountains. We took her along on trips and people noticed how well behaved and quiet that dog was.
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One could sense that she never wanted to be a burden, she was just grateful for being able to be with us. She was such a good dog and the best four-legged friend and family member we could have wished for.
Last Fall Lucky started developing serious health issues and the vet told us that she would have only another 2 - 14 days to live. We took her back home and with the help of Lucky's grandmother's knowledge in Homeopathic healing practices Lucky got an extension in life and we were able to have her around longer than we thought possible. She started eating again, gained back weight and had 6 more month of quality life with us. She received Arnica montana D6, Apis mellifica D12 and Rhus toxicodendron D30 along with Homeopathic heart drops and a natural ginger like remedy for good digestion.
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The natural flower essence I found online worked so well to make her bad seizures go away, I can only recommend it to anyone who's dog experiences those viscous and scary attacks.
In the last few weeks her health again started to slowly deteriorate, she became so frail and weak, yet tried so hard not to be a burden by keeping her bodily functions going and taking her business to the yard. She sometimes walked like a drunk and bumped into things, and when she stopped drinking water it became obvious that this time there would be no recovery. Still I was hoping she would be allowed to just fall asleep peacefully at her home in one of her many dog beds. I just couldn't imagine making that decision and having to ask someone to take her life.

Last night - in spite of her bad condition and weakness - she was restless. The sound of the "tap tap tap" when she walked through the house always kept me on alert even when I was asleep, and sleep had been interrupted many times a night during the last few month. So I got up at 4 am to check on her and found her resting by the entrance door of the house. It was a very unusual place for her to linger, never ever had she done that before and she stayed there until my husband left for work.
When I got up in the morning she walked out of our bedroom and there was this look in her eyes, telling me that she didn't want to live like that anymore, asking me to let her go. Suddenly it dawned on me, the place she chose last night - right by the entrance door - was her way of telling me that she wanted to leave, that it was her time to go. In the end, she was the one making the decision for me, giving me the strength I needed to take her to the vet. She took the weight off my shoulders and it feels like her final gift of love to me, all she had left to give.

So, this morning I packed her into her red fuzzy doggie bed and together with my son we drove to the animal hospital. He had brought a gorgeous rose from his own garden with the most amazing smell. When I carried her into the building she had her head pressed to my chest and it seemed like she knew that this would be the last time she would see the sun on this side of life. Holding the rose close to Lucky's nose, embracing and constantly dropping kisses and tears on her head, Lucky crossed the rainbow bridge this morning at 11 am, peacefully and gentle, as the gentle dog that she had always been, leaving behind heavy hearts and so many beautiful memories of 12 years together.
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Back at the house everything reminds me of her, I hear the sound of her steps, I see her coming to me,  licking her mouth and signaling that she is hungry, jumping for joy when I put on my red sweat shirt before our evening walks and I think of that little dog's happiness whenever a family member came back home, even when gone for just a few minutes.
As I miss her so much and always will, I look into another pair of affectionate eyes, Sam, our four-legged grandson and the next dog generation visiting, he wants to go for a stroll. Sam is just 9 month old but already three times Lucky's size and weight. So I take this handsome boy out for a walk through the nearby park. The breeze feels good in the heat of the afternoon and it reminds me of Lucky running with her ears flying in the wind, chasing cats, squirrels and birds, barking at skateboarders, bikers and anything noisy, and I find myself smiling.
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It's almost as if she tells me through the wind, "All is good, I arrived at the garden on the other side and the roses smell wonderful here."

At night I look out of our window into the front yard and I see the little candle burning in our stone temple, shining in honor and the memory of Lucky. My little pawsome angel will be in my heart forever.
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Links:

http://www.petessences.com

7 Comments

cafe gratitude, a vegan lifestyle

2/28/2014

1 Comment

 
ULRIKE MARIA, Owner of MODERN THOUGHT THEORIES

What are you grateful for today?
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Café Gratitude is one of the new hip vegan eateries popping up in Southern California, especially in Los Angeles. With locations in Venice, Berkley, Santa Cruz and Los Angeles the owners of Café Gratitude are culinary trend-setters with a fresh, inventive cuisine for a good cause, namely animal rights.
The regularly packed restaurant and outdoor seating area shows that patrons, vegan and non-vegan alike, have found a place they both can enjoy.
Everything on the menu is made from fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and whole grains. Even carnivores will not miss the meat dishes when being served this type of creative and delicious food. The menu offers a variety of items with two of the favorites being the organic corn tacos with chipotle butternut squash, black beans, avocado, seasonal salsa fresca, and cashew nacho cheese, served with a side of Mexican coleslaw; and the super delicious seasonal grain salad, with sundried tomato and preserved lemon pesto with local brown rice or quinoa, butternut squash, chickpeas, sundried olives, almonds and Brazil nut parmesan, tossed with radicchio and golden balsamic vinegar reduction. To top it all of you should taste their signature tiramisu with almond cake, espresso and coconut cashew cream.
Cafe Gratitude first opened their doors in the Mission District of San Francisco in March of 2004. Founders Matthew and Terces Engelhart included positive affirmations on their menu and used fresh organic foods for their inspirational creations. The staff is encouraged to support one another and trained to change their attitudes to a more positive outlook, not only in their professional, but also in their personal lives - a win-win for all. 

What does it mean to be ‘Vegan’? Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of all animal products, mostly because of the unfair treatment of animals. This includes not only the commitment to a special meat and dairy free diet, but also to the shunning of leather products and the fur industry. It is a life philosophy, promoting that man should live without exploiting animals. The term ‘Vegetarian’ was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson when he co-founded the British Vegetarian Society, but vegetarianism can be traced as far as ancient India and Greece. Vegans, however, also abstain from eggs and all dairy products.

Mainstream acceptance of this gentler way of life has still a long way to go, as only approximately two percent of the American population call themselves ‘Vegan’. But the trend is definitely moving upwards.


Links:

http://www.ModernThoughtTheories.com


http://www.examiner.com/mind-and-body-2-in-los-angeles/ulrike-maria-wilson

Photography: Susan Placek


CAFE GRATITUDE

639 N. Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004

www.cafegratitude.com

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639 N. Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90004
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Salad "GRACIOUS"
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Corn Tacos "TRANSFORMED"
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Eggplant Parmesan "AWESOME"
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Signature Tiramisu "ADORING"
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The fascinating stuff from the ocean - kelp

2/24/2014

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Susan Placek, Owner of THE CREATIVE IDEA SHOP
Ocean Kelp is one of my favorite motifs when I am out hunting with my camera. I am fascinated by looking at it at the right time of the day  - sunset - when it reminds me of golden flames dancing on the water surface.
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Ocean Kelp is also widely consumed as food and appreciated for its health benefits, as a great source of Iodine and Iron, for its anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant activity. However there is a number of people who should avoid Ocean Kelp, those prone to nausea and diarrhea might experience worsening of their conditions. Kelp is also not recommended for pregnant women.

Kelp grows in almost every ocean on Earth and can be found an most beaches. It is known for its rapid speed of growth, with certain species having the ability to grow half a meter per day until their optimum length (often as long as eighty! meters) is reached. Some tourist destinations, such as Catalina Island in Southern California, offer rides into their Kelp forests along the shore. Gliding through this magical world in a submarine boat is a wonderful experience and worth the money for the ticket.
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Because of its rubber/leather like look and feel that it has, I often wonder if it could be processed into belts, maybe shoes and other goods that are usually made of leather.

 After all, tons of Ocean Kelp is washed ashore daily and delivered at no charge by our planet's Oceans.


Links:

http://www.CocoonWorx.com (Images)

http://www.TheCreativeIdeaShop.com


http://www.catalinaadventuretours.com/

http://www.puritan.com/food-supplements-004/sea-kelp-000623

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Vegan recipe exchange - black eyeD pea curry

2/20/2014

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Recipe and image courtesy POST PUNK KITCHEN, by IsaChandra
Black Eyed Pea Curry With Collards & Potatoes
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You'll need:

1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
2 jalapenos, seeded and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons mild curry powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon agave
3 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 lbs red potatoes, in 3/4 inch pieces

1 lb collards, rough stems removed, leaves chopped into bite sized pieces
1 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cups cooked black eyed peas (from a 15 oz can, rinsed and drained)

For the Mango Avocado Salsa:
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 ripe mango, diced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

To serve: Basmati rice
Optional garnish: Fresh chopped cilantro

Preheat a 4 quart pot over medium heat. Saute the onion and jalapeno in the coconut oil for 5 to 7 minutes, until onion is lightly browned.

Add the garlic and ginger, and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of curry powder, garam masala, salt, vegetable broth, agave, and tomato paste, and stir. The tomato paste may not dissolve just yet but that’s ok, it will when it heats through.

Add the potatoes, cover pot and bring to a boil. Once boiling, immediately lower heat to a simmer, and leave the lid ajar so that steam can escape. Let potatoes cook just until tender, about 5 more minutes.

In the meantime, toss together all of the salsa ingredients in a mixing bowl and set aside.

Once potatoes are fork tender, add the collards, black-eyed peas and coconut milk. Stir gently to incorporate. Leave lid ajar again, and bring to a simmer. Let simmer just until collards are tender, it should only take a few minutes.

Turn off heat and taste for salt and spices. Add remaining curry powder if needed. It tastes best if you let it sit for 10 minutes or so, but if you can’t wait then just dig in!

Serve over basmati rice, topped with mango avocado salsa and cilantro, if you like. Have some sriracha at the ready in case you want a little extra spice.

Links:

Post Punk Kitchen


http://www.theppk.com/
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