Month: March 2015

Cauliflower Crust Pizza!

Healthy Meals, Recipes

Calling all pizza lovers and well…health lovers, too! This recipe for cauliflower crust pizza will not only quench your pizza craving, but it’ll do it guilt freeeeee. It’s one of my favorite things to eat:

Cauliflower Crust Pizza Recipe:

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Ingredients: 

4 cups raw cauliflower

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup soft goat cheese (chèvre)

Pinch of salt

Here we go!

Preheat oven to 400F. 

Step 1: Begin making the cauliflower “rice”. 

Place the 4 cups raw cauliflower in a food processor until it reaches a rice like consistency.

Step 2: Cook & strain the rice. 

Fill a pot with one inch of water and bring to a boil. Add the “rice” and cover it. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes. Then, drain into a fine mesh drainer. *Secret trick: Once you’ve drained the rice, transfer it to a clean dishtowel (or cheese cloth). Wrap the steamed rice in the dish towel/cheese cloth and squeeze out all the excess water.

Step 3: Make the dough

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In a large bowl, mix the cauliflower, beaten egg, cheese and salt (or other spices) until super together. The texture won’t be what you are expecting, but don’t worry, it’ll work. Next, press the dough onto a non stick baking sheet (or line a baking sheet with parchment paper). It’ll look something like this:

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Step 4: Bake

Bake for 35-40 minutes at 400F

Step 5: Load up on toppings! 

We made 2 pizzas:

1.  Caramelized onions, brussel sprouts, brie & prosciutto  IMG_3182

2. Caramelized onions, garlic, mushrooms & asiago cheese

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Step 6: ENJOYYYYY (sans guilt)!

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Recipe cred: http://detoxinista.com

Meditation for Dummies: Oprah & Deepak Help You Out

Spirit Bath

You guys! Oprah and Deepak Chopra are hosting a FREE 21 day meditation experience! It’s called “Manifesting True Success”. Why is this so exciting, you ask? a) Because it’s free and they usually charge $120 for the series. And b) Because it’s eassssyyyy and it helps you immensely. But, it’s only free for a limited time, so sign up soon (here’s the website: https://chopracentermeditation.com). Each meditation lasts around 20 minutes. This includes words from Oprah, words from Deepak and then the meditation itself.

I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to take up meditation. I can’t tell you how wonderful it has been for me. Meditation has helped me center myself and my thoughts, made me a much calmer person and has helped me gain SO much clarity on issues being weighed down by constant thoughts. Most importantly, this is a meditation that anyone can do. So please: don’t be intimidated!  And they guide you through it so you won’t be like “whaaaaaat is going on?” – Take care of your souls and doooo itttt! You won’t regret it.

Namaste.

Xx,

Caro

Here’s the website again: https://chopracentermeditation.com

Yoga Review: Modo Yoga on La Brea

Yoga Studio Reviews

Modo Yoga (La Brea) has a cult following similar to Bryan Kest (except it’s more expensive and very different). This is a great yoga studio for busy people. They have a wide selection of classes and they have a lot of them throughout the day. Average duration is an hour, which is much shorter than most yoga studios in LA, and they start and end on time (v. punctual). Signing up online prior to class is highly recommended (and many times necessary) to reserve your spot. No latecomers are allowed and they release your spot 10 minutes before class starts (#annoying). I’m not a big fan of this system as it adds stress to an experience that should be calming. I understand the reason for such a system, but seriously Modo, take a chill pillll. You are a yoga studio, not the Gestapo.

Now, onto the class itself. This is a hot yoga studio. Thankfully, it’s clean, it doesn’t smell and they have showers. The classes are slightly below average in terms of difficulty. If this was regular yoga with no heat, I’d say: too easy, don’t waste your time. But the heat adds a level of difficulty which makes it acceptable. Though the curriculum is the same, some teachers are harder than others. My favorite teacher is Joe. Joe’s classes tend to be more vigorous – which, in my opinion, means you get more for your money. However, if you are looking for a spiritual experience, this is NOT your place. It’s a very Westernized approach to yoga. You do the poses, a quick 2 minute savasana (if that) and then you’re out. No spiritual wisdom is imparted, but you do sweat a lot and walk out of class feeling lighter and a bit high. Also, Russell Simmons was in my class, so it’s definitely on the map and beware, it’s trendy.

To recap,

THE GOOD: It’s clean & it doesn’t smell.  It’s HOT so you sweat A LOT (great for detox). Nice staff (for the most part). A big selection of classes to choose from and a lot of scheduled classes throughout the day. Valet parking available (across the street). Showers. Good for a quickie yoga sesh (if you live a busy, scheduled life, this is useful).

THE BAD: Not hugely spiritual, they focus more on the poses and that’s that. Low level of difficulty. Feels like you are in a truncated yoga class (if you are used to 90 minute practices). You have to sign up online beforehand for a lot of the classes otherwise you won’t get a spot. $20 no show fee (#annoying). They release all reserved spots 10 minutes before class. Late comers are not permitted.

THE BOTTOM LINE: It’s a convenient, clean place to practice Westernized yoga. You won’t get an enlightened experience, but you’ll get a good, sweaty workout. And you’ll be in and out in an hour.

 

Overall Experience: Unknown Unknown Unknown

Level of Difficulty: Unknown Unknown

Likeliness to return: Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown (Mostly because it’s convenient, clean & quick)

Checkout Modo Yoga yourself: los-angeles.modoyoga.com

Modo Yoga: 340 S. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, Ca. 90036. P: 323-938-5000

Morning Detox Elixir

Detox, Recipes

Say hello to your all natural, super clean morning detox elixir. I drink this shot every other morning, first thing in the morning. It’s the perfect way to jumpstart your health. It’ll also jumpstart your senses (it’s strong, but so worth it). It’s also super duper helpful if you are feeling under the weather (hello, flu season)

Ingredients:

1 tsp. Organic, Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg’s Raw-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar)

1 small lemon, peeled

1/2 inch ginger, peeled

Cayenne Pepper (amount is up to you. I use around 1/2 tsp.)

A bit of water (amount is up to you depending on how strong you want the drink)

Blender or a NutriBullet

Directions: Toss the peeled lemon, apple cider vinegar, ginger and water into your blender. Blend for approx. 30 seconds. Once it’s blended, add the cayenne pepper and drink to your health!

Benefits of each ingredient:

Apple Cider Vinegar: ACV is high in acetic acid, which is great for you. Here’s why: The acetic acid suppresses your appetite, increases your metabolism and reduces water retention. Scientists also theorize that ACV interferes with the body’s digestion of starch, which means fewer calories enter the bloodstream. It also lowers blood sugar, soothes a sore throat (great for if you feel a cold coming on!), lowers cholesterol, prevents indigestion and clears a stuffy nose.

Lemons are an alkalizing power food! They taste acidic, but have alkalizing properties which help restore balance to your pH system. They are also rich in vitamin C and flavonoids which work against infections like colds and the flu and they neutralize free radicals that make you age poorly. Lemons are skin brighteners – My skin has gotten so much brighter since drinking this elixir.

Ginger reduces pain and inflammation. It has a warming effect and stimulates circulation. It also inhibits rhinovirus, which can cause the common cold; Ginger reduces gas and painful spasms, prevents nausea and is an immune booster.

Cayenne Pepper is a circulatory stimulant (it works by heating the body so that the natural detoxification process is streamlined). It’s a metabolic booster & decreases appetite in addition to being an anti cold & flu agent, having anti-fungal properties and is a digestive aid. It eases upset stomach, sore throats, coughs and prevents migraines.