11 JUICER, BLENDER, FOOD PROCESSOR: Do you really need all three?
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FEBRUARY 2014 | Vol. 2 JUICER, BLENDER, FOOD PROCESSOR: Do you really need all three? 11 CHOCOLATE JALAPEÑO POPPERS & VANILLA ICE CREAM
FROM THE PUBLISHER THAT’S Forkin’ AMAZING! I’m often asked for advice about kitchen equipment. People want to know what brands I recommend, what models I use personally and what they should buy first, especially if they’re on a budget. While there is no one-size- fits-all answer, I do have some opinions about small appliances and gadgets used in food preparation, which I share in this month’s feature story “Tools of the Trade.” And if you’re confused about which equipment actually does what, check out “Juicer, Blender, Food Processor: Do you really need all three?” for a quick tutorial. Also in the “gotta have it” department, Kristin Lennert Murra reviews a new book called No Meat Athlete by Matt Frazier. If Matt’s name sounds familiar to That’s Forkin’ Amazing! readers, it’s because he wrote a story for our special Raw Food Week edition last summer. Speaking of Raw Food Week, Des Moines will celebrate the third annual event August 18-24, 2014. We’re looking for volunteers to help on the planning committee, so please step forward if you want to be a part of the only event of its kind in the country! As we blaze forward into the second full year of this ezine, please join me in a round of applause for our contributors and the design team at Cooper Smith & Co. who make this publication, Raw Food Week and even my Fork in the Road TV show look so darn cool. Thank you everyone! May all your forks in the road be healthy, Sheree Wherever you are on your road to health, Sheree Clark will educate and motivate you to change your life for the better, one bite at a time. Through her health counseling practice Fork in the Road, Sheree will help you unlock the healing power of delicious food found right in your grocery store. You’ll not only lose weight, you’ll gain a new lifestyle of vibrant health and energy by getting to know the power of whole foods. Sheree is also the organizer of the Des Moines Raw Food MeetUp group.
IN THIS ISSUE TOOLS OF THE TRADE — PAGE 4 — JUICER. BLENDER. FOOD PROCESSOR — PAGE 6 — CALENDAR OF EVENTS — PAGE 9 — SPEED BUMPS: Q+A — PAGE 10 — FORK IT OVER: RECIPES — PAGE 11 — FORK ON THE ROAD — PAGE 12 — CREDITS That’s Forkin’ Amazing! February 2014 Published by Fork in the Road Des Moines, Iowa PUBLISHER Sheree Clark EDITOR Lisa Lockwood CONTRIBUTORS Kristin Lennert Murra Katelyn Finocchioli DESIGN Cooper Smith & Co. www.coopersmithco.com Contact Details & Editorial Inquiries That’s Forkin’ Amazing! magazine, Fork in the Road info@fork-road.com (515) 249-2992 © Fork in the Road and Sheree Clark, 2014. Reproduction of any of the contents of this ezine are prohibited without express permission. Please remember that your health is your own responsibility. Nothing contained in this publication is to be construed as medical advice. The information here is not intended to replace appropriate care from a qualified practitioner. 3
TOOLS OF THE TRADE Sheree’s advice ON OUTFITTING YOUR KITCHEN FOR HEALTH CHEF’S KNIFE A good knife is, hands down, Today’s home cook has such a huge range my #1 pick for “what to invest of appliances, gadgets and utensils to choose in first.” A healthy-eating lifestyle includes food—mostly fruits from it can be overwhelming. But counter and vegetables—that must be chopped. A good, comfortable knife space is valuable real estate and there is no need makes hours in the kitchen seem like minutes. You absolutely do not need a big wooden block with a dozen different tools in to clutter your kitchen (or your life!) with this it! Start with an 8” chef knife; it’s a good, all-purpose tool. Also season’s “As Seen on TV” gizmo. Here are a consider a paring knife for peeling and making garnishes, and few of my must-have healthy-kitchen tools. a serrated knife for soft vegetables and slicing. Good brands to consider include Shun, Mac, Henckels and Wusthof. Expect to pay $80 or more for a higher-end knife. Also, get a good cutting board, preferably not plastic and definitely not glass. I prefer bamboo or maple wood. HIGH-POWERED BLENDER A strong blender will make the creation of things such as creamy soups, thick smoothies and fresh nut butters a breeze. My favorite brand is Vitamix. And while some might think $400 and up is a lot to spend on a blender, know that this workhorse comes with a 7-year warranty. Its versatile speed ranges from 11 to 240 miles per hour, which lets you not only do more, but also do it faster. Domestic blenders are prone to burning out with overuse, and they simply are not as efficient as a high-power blender. The Blendtec blender is another option to consider, but my alliances lie firmly with Vitamix. FOOD PROCESSOR The term “food processor” can include a wide range of appliances, but here we’re talking about larger units that have chopping, slicing and shredding capabilities—depending on their accessories. Prices can range from well under $100 to more than $700 for extra large or commercial grade models. Cuisinart is probably the most well-known brand of food processor, and there are a variety of models and sizes available. If you already own a food processor, you probably have used the standard S blade, but if your appliance also came with disc/slicer blades, it would be beneficial to learn how to use them. They will open up a whole new food prep world for you!
JUICER DEHYDRATOR With so many kinds of juicers available, An electric food selecting the right one can be confusing. dehydrator is perfect Consider the ways you intend to use your for simple preservation, machine and how much you are prepared such as making your to spend. Centrifugal juicers are the own sun dried tomatoes most popular and the most affordable. and banana chips. I also They’re great at juicing almost any fruit or use mine for elaborate vegetable, but are not capable of making juice concoctions like raw vegan from wheatgrass or leafy greens. I like Breville pizza crusts, kale chips and cookies. centrifugal juicers. My favorite brand is Excalibur, which features a rear-mounted heating unit and horizontal airflow fan. The temperature can be Single gear (masticating) juicers use an auger that literally regulated (85 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit) and the doors and chews fruit and vegetable fibers and breaks up the plant cells. trays are all removable, making it flexible for lots of uses, as Generally more efficient than centrifugal juicers, they are good well as easy to clean. I really like my nine-tray model, which for juicing most fruits and vegetables. They will also extract also has a timer. Consider purchasing a few of the optional juice from leafy greens and herbs, but they can be slower and nonstick dehydrator sheets, which allow you to make fruit usually require more chopping of food before using. I use the leathers, crackers and other “wet batter” treats that would Sampson brand. drip through a standard mesh sheet. Twin gear (triturating) machines are among the most expensive, but they also offer lots of benefits. These juicers turn at slow Don’t put off your healthy food adventure speeds resulting in less oxidation and foam. I own a Green Star because you don’t have this tool or that appliance. Can’t afford twin gear juicer I really like. It yields more juice than my other to buy new? You can often find good deals on eBay, Craig’s List, machines—the drier pulp is proof of it’s proficiency—but it takes longer to make the juice and requires a little more effort or at garage and tag sales. Get started now and build up your to clean up afterward. kitchen arsenal as your means will allow. MORE TIPS FROM A PRO: BE SHARP. Never put any knife or blade (including those from your food processor or blender) in the dishwasher—it’s the fastest way to ruin it. PRIORITIZE SPACE. Place the healthiest appliances— like the juicer and blender—on the countertop to encourage use. (Put the toaster in the closet!) BUY SMART. Purchase a good appliance now and you’ll enjoy it for years. Rather than “upgrade later,” think “buy the best, now.” JUST DO IT. Visit the Fork in the Road store to see what else I recommend for your kitchen and bookshelves! 5
Juicer. BLENDER Blender. A blender is most often used to break down foods into a smooth consistency. Blenders are ideal for creating Food processor. smoothies, salad dressings, soups and even frozen cocktails, if you’re so inclined. The main features that differentiate one blender from another are What do these kitchen appliances have in common? They motor speed, controls and design, and of course pulverize food into tiny bits. So, do you really need to invest each of these variables affects price. Do some in all three? Perhaps, depending on your lifestyle and budget. research to determine the best model for your needs. While the results produced by each appliance can appear to BEST FOR: be similar, the machines function in very different ways. • Combining liquids and soft foods Here’s a quick guideline for when to bust out the blender, • Pureeing jump on the juicer, or plug in the processor. NOT GREAT FOR: • Combining or pureeing mixtures of only JUICER solid foods—liquid is needed to blend the food properly. A juicer is used to extract the juice and nutrients from solid fruits and vegetables. The blades, or auger, of a juicer TYPES: separate the juice from the flesh of the produce, dispensing • In addition to countertop blenders, there are handheld the juice into a separate container. The nutritious end product immersion blenders which also use blades to turn solids produced is essentially pulp-free and ready for consumption. to liquid. These are useful, but less versatile than countertop blenders. BEST FOR: • Getting large amounts of liquid nutrition from raw foods • Removing the fiber and pulp from fresh produce FOOD PROCESSOR A food processor is a great tool to use when cutting, dicing, or NOT GREAT FOR: chopping solid foods. It lowers the time it takes to perform tedious • Depending on the juicer, certain items, such tasks—like mincing an onion or shredding cabbage—down to a as leafy greens, may not juice effectively. matter of seconds. There are many different sizes of food processors, so there are lots of options depending TYPES: on the needs of your household. Don’t be • Centrifugal juicers are the most common intimidated by the round slicer/grater or disc and usually the most economical, but blades that come with some processors. depending on what produce you’ll They can make short work of certain be juicing, they may not be the kitchen tasks! most efficient. • Masticating juicers can also BEST USED FOR: be used to make nut butters • Processing both hard foods and foods or sorbets. • Chopping, dicing, grating NOT RECOMMENDED FOR: • Recipes with large amounts of liquids • Pureeing foods into a smooth consistency TYPES: • Consider investing in a “mini food processor” as well as a regular model if you do recipes that require much preparation work. 7
NOW ON DVD! The TV show that will guide you on a life-changing journey … You get all 13 episodes of Season One for just $24.95 — a savings of $5 off the retail price! EPISODE 1 Special Guest: Jennifer Cornbleet, Raw Food Chef (Part 1) Shopping at the Farmer’s Market (Part 1) Recipe: “Cheesy” Cauliflower Popcorn EPISODE 2 Special Guest: Jennifer Cornbleet, Raw Food Chef (Part 2) Shopping at the Farmer’s Market (Part 2) Recipe: Ambrosia Fruit Salad EPISODE 3 Special Topic: Eating Healthy at the Market Deli Storing Fresh Foods Recipe: Orchard-fresh Applesauce EPISODE 4 Special Guest: Lydia Hol, A Parent’s Story Shopping at the Health Food Store (Part 1) Recipe: Jammin’ Jam EPISODE 5 Special Guest: James Miller, A Yoga Journey Shopping at the Health Food Store (Part 2) Recipe: Sweet Miso Dressing EPISODE 6 Special Guest: Val Stanfil, DIY Personal Care Products Shopping at the Health Food Store (Part 3) Recipe: Pecan Pie Smoothie EPISODE 7 Special Guest: Sandi Hoover, Pregnancy Preparation Shopping for Natural Personal Care Products Recipes: Collard Greens, Chocolate Dipping Sauce Hosted by the Midwest’s leader EPISODE 8 in holistic living, Sheree Clark. Special Guest: Eric Underberg, Fermented Foods Dehydrating (Part 1) Interest in holistic health has exploded in recent years and this Recipe: Vanilla Extract educational and entertaining TV show takes the mystery out of EPISODE 9 natural alternatives. In each episode, Sheree Clark helps you Special Guest: Sandy Seeman, Food Supplements Dehydrating (Part 2) make decisions about your own forks in the road. A wide range Recipe: Stuffed Dates of topics will inspire you with simple ways to live a healthier lifestyle through naturally delicious recipes, everyday household EPISODE 10 Special Guest: Abby Miller, Acupuncture and personal care tips and visits with food experts and Choosing Kitchen Gadgets (Part 1) practitioners in all aspects of healthy living. Recipe: Fig & Ginger Sun Tea EPISODE 11 “You’ll feel like you’re sitting down with a caring Special Guest: Dr. Jean Lorentzen, Meds and Nutrition Choosing Kitchen Gadgets (Part 2) friend who is sharing her knowledge of natural Recipe: Easy Raw Candy living and holistic health with you.” EPISODE 12 ~ Wendy L. Special Guest: Isa O’Hara, Essential Oils High-Speed Blending (Part 1) Recipe: Rosemary Lemonade »ORDER NOW! visit: fork-road.com/store EPISODE 13 Special Guest: Jordan Kersey, Coffee Shop Savvy High-Speed Blending (Part 2) Anticipated shipping date is March 15th, 2014 Recipe: Fresh Coconut Milk
FEBRUARY MARCH 05 SWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 | 12:30 – 1:15 P.M. MOOTHIES ARE LIQUID LIFE-FORCE! 11 EATING MONDAY, MARCH 11 | 7:00 – 8:00 P.M. WITHOUT HEATING: Yost Family Chiropractic AN INTRO TO RAW FOOD 3993 100th Street, Urbandale Sun Room, Iowa State Memorial Union Put down those canned energy drinks full of sugar 2229 Lincoln Way, Ames and caffeine and power up with a healthy high! This event is co-sponsored by the ISU Culinary Science Making your own yummy smoothies is a great way Club and the Committee on Lectures. to add more raw and living foods to your diet! For info and to register: To register: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/...................Free http://www.lectures.iastate.edu/lecture/32019 10 SHEREE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10 | 6:00 –7:30 P.M. CLARK WHIPS UP NUDE FOOD » LOOKING AHEAD: Whole Foods Market 4100 University Avenue, West Des Moines AUGUST 18-24, 2014 Are you a gourmet foodie? Or just want to shrink your booty? Discover naturally delicious ways to feel great ANNUAL RAW FOOD WEEK and lose weight! Start by going skinny sippin’ and The 2014 Raw Food Week planning committee is learn how to make fresh, au naturale smoothies (or working hard to bring speakers and events to educate what health coach and vegan chef Sheree calls: and inspire attendees to jump into a healthier lifestyle. “Yummy in a glass that won’t go to your a**”). Like our Facebook page to keep up to date with the If you’ve seen Fork in the Road with Sheree Clark latest announcements. Check back often—there on KCCI TV, you know this will be a fun talk! are plenty of big updates to come! For info: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ To register: call (515) 343-2600 or visit Customer Service desk. $10 24 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24 | 6:00 P.M. HEALTHY BREAKFASTS 101: RISE, SHINE AND FEEL FINE Indian Hills Junior High School 9401 Indian Hills Drive, Clive Ready to transform good mornings into behold-the-power- of-my-pure-awesomeness mornings? Then drop the danish and ditch the donuts, darling! Learn how to make healthy, mouth-watering breakfasts in minutes. Delish dishes perfect for a relaxing brunch with friends. And don’t forget about the refreshing juices and smoothies for a natural energy jolt—without the java! For info: meetup.com/RawFoodDSM/ To register: http://www.wdmcs.org/commed/take-a-class/............$29 CALENDAR of events We are continually adding new classes, workshops and events to the schedule. Go to our website calendar for the latest additions and more details. And if you join the MeetUp group, you’ll automatically receive notifications when new things are announced! www.meetup.com/RawFoodDSM 9
Speed BUMPS Stumped about an ingredient or recipe? Got a health query? Here’s your chance to ask Sheree your most compelling questions! Q I’m looking for a good all-around food and nutrition book. I’d like one with recipes, but I also like some science Q What is a rebounder? and theory. Suggestions? Quite simply, a rebounder is a mini-trampoline. Unlike a regular trampoline, the idea isn’t One of my favorites is Paul to bounce high, but to perform a series of Pitchford’s Healing With small, controlled movements. Done correctly, Whole Foods. I can say rebounding is as close to zero-impact exercise as you it changed my life…for real. It’s can get. Rebounding is said to: comprehensive and well-written and contains lots of good recipes to boot. • Boost the lymphatic and immune system To buy it—and to see some of the • Improve circulation other books I recommend—visit • Increase heart and lung capacity the Fork in the Road store on • Improve coordination and balance our website. • Reduce stress and tension • Improve muscle tone • Increase energy and vitality Q hat kind of vegetable peeler W do you like? I have a rebounder at home and I enjoy just a few minutes on it There are several kinds of vegetable peelers available. Each one is good for certain tasks. A several times a swivel peeler is the type your grandma had: the week. Afterward, I blade swivels so it can conform to the surface of feel great…sort of whatever is being peeled. These are great for vegetables that are harder to hold, and also work well on carrots, like a “runner’s high.” zucchini and larger potatoes. Non-swivel peelers have a fixed blade. These are good for round fruits and vegetables, such as turnips, apples or beets. They work well for people who peel toward themselves, rather than away. Slingshot peelers are useful for specialty tasks like curling chocolate or making ribbons, but they’re not as good for peeling potatoes or other hard vegetables. Please remember that your health is your own responsibility. Nothing here is to be construed as medical advice. This information is not meant to replace the guidance offered by your health practitioner. 10
Typically our recipes are simple and use little— if any—fancy equipment to prepare. But in this issue we’ve talked about some different appliances, so…let’s try ’em out! CHOCOLATE JALAPEÑO POPPERS FRENCH VANILLA ICE CREAM See a video of Sheree preparing this award-winning If you made the jalapeño poppers above, this recipe recipe here! will cool you off! Yield: 40 servings Yield: 6 servings EQUIPMENT: EQUIPMENT: Food processor Blender Dehydrator Ice cream maker Slice 20 medium jalapeño peppers lengthwise INGREDIENTS and de-seed. Rinse and set aside. 2 cups almonds, soaked 12 hours and drained CHOCOLATE FILLING 2 cups water 2/3 cup cashew butter 1 1/2 cups cashews, soaked 4 hours and 2/3 cup coconut nectar drained 2/3 cup chocolate powder 1 tablespoon psyllium husk powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup agave nectar or maple syrup 1 vanilla bean, soft center only Process in a food processor until smooth. 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Pinch unrefined salt BREADING 1/3 cup walnuts Blend the soaked almonds with water to make a thick 1/3 cup almonds cream. Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag to 2 tablespoons flax seeds, chia seeds or a make an almond cream. Blend the almond cream with blend of the two. the soaked cashews and remaining ingredients until smooth and creamy. Pour the blended mixture into an Process into a fine powder. ice cream maker and follow manufacturer’s directions. Stuff de-seeded jalapeño halves with chocolate filling and top with breading. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for approximately 15-18 hours, or until peppers have softened to your liking. Do you have a fun, fabulous original recipe you’d be willing to share? If so, please send your gem to info@fork-road.com. Preference will be given to vegetarian, low-glycemic, wheat and dairy-free concoctions. 11
Featuring reviews of events you might want to know about or places to eat. Send suggestions, or send a review: info@fork-road.com No Meat Athlete by Matt Frazier Kristin Lennert Murra If you’re an omnivore, carnivore or piscivore, you might not immediately be drawn to a book entitled No Meat Athlete— especially if you are an athlete or an active person. Author Matt Frazier may be an ultra-marathon runner (100 miles... an intimidating distance!), but in his new book he uses very approachable methods to demystify the benefits of a vegetarian or vegan diet for athletes—regardless of sport choice or skill level—and non-athletes alike. As early as its foreword, No Meat Athlete reinforces that Matt’s plant-based philosophy isn’t necessarily about rigid habits and sacrifices, but instead about “broader changes… that will have a lasting impact.” And every chapter supports this concept. Matt’s writing style is conversational and friendly; he encourages readers to start small and offers easy choices to provide a smooth transition to changing your diet. In spite of its obviously vegetarian-leaning orientation, the author doesn’t judge if you suddenly crave a turkey burger. As Matt describes, “Running is the fastest way for ordinary Instead, he emphasizes education, providing informative people to do extraordinary things.” He goes on to say almost sections on nutrition, calorie guides, shopping lists and anyone can run a marathon with proper training and nutrition. kitchen tips. His formulaic approach to recipe development This section reminds novice and seasoned runners there means readers can adapt the dishes based on what’s in is always more to be learned about the sport—and not just their kitchen or use their favorite flavors—my favorites are better ways to fuel the body. Matt outlines ideas for setting the veggie burger and energy bar. goals (and rewarding yourself when you get there), form and breathing, even training and race techniques for And speaking of flavors, Matt’s creations have lots of them. beginners and experienced runners. Like the nutrition Buffalo hummus? Yes, please! I love dipping carrots into and recipe chapters, this section breaks down running this creamy deliciousness. (As Matt says about this recipe, into a non-intimidating how-to that is equal parts “booyah.”) Matt’s recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts is simple inspiration and instruction. and no-fail, along with almost every other recipe in the book. Woven throughout the book are motivational messages from What makes Matt’s book different than other nutrition guides athletes, chefs, nutritionists and others whose stories and or cookbooks, though, is his emphasis on how a plant-based examples make Matt’s message all the more vivid. But most diet can benefit athletes, specifically runners. In fact, the importantly, No Meat Athlete speaks to every reader—athletic book is divided into two sections: Plant-Based Nutrition, or not—whether they are curious or have already begun to focusing on healthy eating in a way that’s both simple and add plant-based foods to their diet. logical; and Running on Plants, which is oriented specifically toward running. 12
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Sheree Clark | Holistic Health and Nutrition Coach (515) 249-2992 | sheree@fork-road.com | fork-road.com
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