Raw 'Pasta' Salad

Wondering how to get more veggies in your diet?
Make a Big Bowl of this and Munch!

YOu can use whatever Veggies you have on hand really
I have a mandolin that I cut my zucchini and carrots up with to cut down on some of the chopping
What I used

Zucchini
Purple Cabbage 
Carrot
Green Onions 
Bean Sprouts 
Red Pepper 
Cilantro 

crushed up Almonds as Garnish

Dressing (my ultimate fav dressing/sauce...I use this stuff as dipping sauce for sushi too)

1 small shallot (or 1/2 small onion)
3 Tbsp Tamari or soy sauce
3 Tbsp Lime Juice
3 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp Tahini
1 clove Garlic
1 inch Ginger Root 
& a tiny bit of cayenne (careful with this a little makes a lot of heat)

Pop all the ingredients in your blender Wiz it up

Chop your Veggies
Make your dressing
sprinkle with crushed nuts

Crunch your yummy salad and be super happy

xoxo
Ashie Girl

Chai Tea from Starbucks...we have to talk...It's not you its me...we can still be Friends though!

Chai is so wonderful
who WHO WHO!!!! would ever break up with Chai!
well...although Chai is warm, comforting, spicy, and sweet
It secretly is being bad to you
and your friends know
and they aren't even telling you
Sorry
I am the sort of friend that is going to tell you
things like...
Dude you have spinach between your teeth
and
Man..... I am really sorry buddy but...
Chai is a jerk
you need to break up with it
ahhhhhheemmm
Lets be specific
Starbucks uses a syrup to make this spicy treat
Primary ingredients include cane sugar, honey, and citric Acid
so like we are talking ball park...220 - 300 calories
yup
if you want to go there you might as well go here

I mean I DO go there ...not the doughnut...its not my thing ...but starbucks chai I sometimes cannot resist this yummy treat
but it is a treat
and I know it

BUT wait!  There's more!!!
You can have Chai at home.!!!
It is Cheaper
You can make it stronger or weaker with the spices you like best.
You can have it with black tea...or caffeine free so you can even share it with your kids.
IT IS LOW FAT AND LOW CALORIE
Now that is a Tea you can fall in love with!

My kindergarten teacher would always steep a pot of Chai tea during quiet time/nap time.
I remember lying on my blanket on the floor staring at a tall ceiling with rows of long tulip shaped red and yellow hanging lights
The strong smell of fresh ginger and cinnamon simmering in warm milk and honey
Followed by the sound of fresh popcorn coming to life in a Big Pot on the classroom kitchen stove
waiting to be drenched in soy sauce and nutritional yeast
Did she make us this same snack every day???
It is the only one I remember.  Still to this day Chai is complete comfort, warmth, and calm.
*sigh*
Ok back to Chai
So there are two ways you can make Chai at home.  Many Tea stores sell amazing loose leaf Chai tea mixes.  My total fav is Silk Road Herbal Chai.  Silk Road is in Victoria...but I have found that Fairway market in Nanaimo sells this tea too!
SO you can buy a loose Chai tea or you can make your own with just a few spices.
THIS recipe makes about 5 Cups worth.

In a medium sized pot bring 4 Cups of water to a boil.  Once boiling turn down to a simmer.  Add about a Tablespoon or two of you Chai tea loose tea mix OR

12 Whole Cardamom pods
12 whole peppercorns
2 cinnamon sticks
4 Slices of Fresh Ginger
5 whole Cloves (I omit this ingredient...it isn't my fav I sub star anise instead)
1 Cup unsweetened Almond Milk
1 TBSP raw honey (I use Stevia ...about one good squirt of the liquid version)

Let this simmer for at least half an hour....the longer it simmers the yummier it gets
If you want your Chai to have black tea in it add two tea bags just before you are ready to drink
steep for two minutes then pull the bags out
You can cool this and store in a large mason jar in your fridge ready and waiting for you whenever you want comfort