Dehydrated cauliflower popcorn

Part of summertime fun is seeing lots of blockbuster movies, having friends over for a swim and then relaxing in front of the television for a comedy or action packed flick.  Well, I don’t know about you, but when we were little my mother would pop fresh popcorn, place it in a huge bowl in the middle of the room, and we would lay on the floor and munch away with friends and family while we were enjoying our show. Little has changed in my house since I was a kid, and the summertime fun still looks much the same, but with a raw twist:  Now I make Cauliflower popcorn, and we are all the better for it.

Promise me that  you aren’t still making microwave popcorn…   It’s not that I’m passing judgment, I mean,  I used to buy the large cases of microwave popcorn from my discount warehouse store, and pop a few bags in a week.  I mean, how convenient was that, a minute and 30 seconds away from munchy fun.

However…

Microwaving anything, even water (especially water) is an extremely toxic and overall damaging process to your body, mind and the world.  But microwave popcorn takes the danger to an even more serious degree.  The chemical coating used in microwave popcorn bags is so toxic, as it breaks down when heated, it turns into a substance called perfluorooctanoic (PFOA),  a major carcinogen.  The butter flavoring that we all love, even causes more damage. The fake butter flavor is actually an FDA approved chemical called diacetyl that causes debilitating respiratory disease, affectionately known as “popcorn workers lungs”.  The medical name for this condition is “bronchiolitis obliterans”, suffered by those who work in the factory which packages microwave popcorn.  Although since discovering the butter flavored disease, many companies have discontinued  the product.  But, many have not.  So if you want to make popcorn, air pop it or jostle it over a hot kettle and enjoy it the old fashioned way.

If you want to try something new and RAW, adding great health benefits as well as a cheesy delight, try making cauliflower popcorn.  I promise you won’t be dissapointed.

Live cauliflower popcorn

Chipotle Cheese Popcorn

I always make a few batches at a time, as they are gobbled up so fast.

Ingredients

• 1 heads of cauliflower, broken into 1 “ florets
• 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1/4  cup walnuts, or sunflower seeds
• 1/4  cup nutritional yeast
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

Place cauliflower florets into a large ziplock bag and coat with olive oil. In food processor, blender or nut and spice grinder, add nuts or seeds, nutritional yeast and sea salt and process until finely ground. Pour over florets and close top.  Shake bag until cauliflower is well coated. Cauliflower may be eaten RAW, or place on dehydrator rack on a grid and paraflexx sheet.

Dehydrate at 110 degrees for 2 hours or moist, 6 hours for slightly crunchy, and 10 hours plus for harder consistency. If fully dehydrated, it will have a week shelf life!

Ingredients

• A bunch of Bananas
• Popsicle sticks (Or Bamboo Chopsticks)

Directions

1. Peel and cut bananas in half.  Place popsicle stick up through center of the banana until secure, but enough room to hold the stick.
2. Holding stick, dip banana in chocolate sauce, using a twirling motion to coat the entire banana.
3. Place Buckwheaties on a flat plate and lay the chocolate-coated banana on the surface of cereal.  Roll gently across the plate, allowing Buckwheaties to coat completely.
4. Place on tray lined with wax paper and cover.
5. Place in freezer until solid.
6. Store in Airtight container in Freezer for up to 2 weeks.

Chocolate Sauce

• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
• 1/2 cup agave nectar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut oil

Directions

Set coconut oil jar in a warm bath to melt.  Place, cacao, agave and vanilla in small mixing bowl, add melted coconut oil and whisk together until smooth. Pour into a flat serving dish.  Extra sauce may be stored in airtight container at room temperature for up to a month.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups buckwheat, soaked and sprouted
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

In a metal or glass bowl, soak Buckwheat groats for 12 hours in pure water.  Drain and rinse in a fine mesh strainer.  Lay strainer on top of a fitted bowl for run off. Sprout buckwheat groats by rinsing under cool water 4-5 times a day until little tails develop. (appx 24-48 hours)  Rinse one last time, place in a clean bowl, season with maple syrup, agave, and sea salt.  Mix gently and lay evenly on paraflexx sheet in Excalibur dehydrator, and dehydrate for 12-24 hours at 110 degrees. Remove and store in airtight container.

*For a morning cereal, add Almond Milk and Berries.

One of my favorite natural skincare products is Coconut Oil, because it not only nourishes and softens the skin, but it promotes healing. It is an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin.  It also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. It can delay wrinkles by penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin and strengthening the underlying tissue.  Rub it on your face, your body and your hair.  And enjoy your natural glow.