Detox Day 4 – getting creative
January 14, 2011 I’ll admit, I’ve been craving chocolate.
It might not help that I’m detoxing during my time of the month [sorry Dad].
That brings me to curbing my cravings with breakfast. Or at least trying to!
Chocolate Scottish Oats! They look a bit more delicious than they actually were. I got a little heavy handed with the cocoa powder, and since I’m not using any sweeteners, it was a little bland. Definitely not terrible though and saved with the coconut butter + peanut butter.
I made a BIG bowl this am:
- 1/2c Scottish Oats [ground steel cut oats]
- 1c almond milk
- 3/4c water
- 1t cinnamon
- 2T cocoa powder
- vanilla
You better believe I ate every last bite. :)
In between breakfast and lunch, I got one huge thing crossed off my to-do list. I updated my recipes page! It was long overdo…like since August. My recipes are a bit out of control, and I even weeded some out. I’m hoping to have it better organized when I redesign the blog.
For part of lunch I made a juice consistency smoothie.
It contained:
- amazing grass vanilla chai powder
- coconut milk
- vanilla
- 3 clementines
- 1/2 banana
The rest of lunch was simple + tasty.
- spinach salad with balsamic/apple cider vin/olive oil + pepitas
- 2 pieces of the chickpea curry bake
- 2 scrambled eggs
After lunch I made a new version of the chickpea bake. I’ll be posting photos + the recipe for Saturday’s post.
I made a chocolate coconut version that turned out quite tasty! It’s not sweet at all, but I still love it. Definitely not something everyone would like. Also, these chickpea bakes are actually called “socca.” The twins, over at Pure 2 Raw, have a whole page dedicated to socca recipes. They look amazing!
My sis-in-law picked up these 2 bags of farro for me from Costco. Too bad I can’t eat it right now!! Farro is a form of wheat…dang!
When I was in Boulder yesterday, a friend that I met through Laura, dropped off a dozen fresh eggs for me. Amazing!!
He has a number of chickens and also keeps bees. Two things I love! I am a huuuge fan of eggs.
These eggs are gorgeous!
I got creative with dinner tonight and had so much fun making it! I started of by soaking + boiling beans. Then I made a Mexican spiced wild rice.
For 1c of wild rice I added:
- 2c water
- black pepper
- 2t cumin
- 1t chili powder
- 1/2t coriander
- 1t garlic
- 1T oil
I brought everything to a boil, stirred once, covered + simmered for 45min. Then I took it off the heat and kept it covered for 10min, then fluffed with a fork. Rice perfection! Wild rice has such great texture. A little crunchy and a little chewy!
I really haven’t missed cheese or any dairy at all, but wanted to whip of some Nacho Cashew Cheeze. I’ve made this in the past from a recipe, but wanted to see if I could throw a few things together and have it turn out. It totally worked! No cashew soaking required either and this seriously tastes like nacho cheese.
Quick Nacho Cheeze Sauce [yields ~1c]
- 3/4c raw cashews
- 3T nutritional yeast
- 1/2c water
- 1 medium bell pepper [frozen works]
- 1t chili powder
- 1/2t cumin
- 1/2t garlic
- pinch or 2 of smoked paprika
- pinch of cayenne pepper [optional]
- pinch of salt
- Add water to the blender, then all other ingredients.
- Blend until smooth, adding more water if necessary, until desired consistency is reached.
Definitely ate quite a bit of this right off the spoon. Healthy cheese?? YES! Love it!!!
As you may have noticed, I’ve been loving chard lately. The crunch is awesome, and it doesn’t have to strong of an earthy flavor. I actually prefer the flavor raw, over cooked.
It still baffles me that these intense, bright colors grow out of the earth!
Here is where I had some fun and where things got messy. I wrapped up little rice + bean burritos in the huge leaves.
The chard added such a lovely crunch to the meal. Almost like chips! Almost… ;)
Avocado + lime on the side with nacho cheeze drizzled all over the top. This dinner was fabulous!
It was also messy, to make + eat. I had a a bowl of rice + beans on the side as well.
YUM.
And now for my daily overview:
Detox Day FOUR
- It was even easier to not have coffee today. I’m not having any problems feeling sleepy in the morning and no caffeine withdrawal issues.
- The lemon water really keeps things moving. Seriously.
- Definitely need to switch up breakfast tomorrow.
- Was productive all day, but felt tired from 3-4. I decided to drink the nasty detox tea around 4:15 and then get outside to walk the dogs, for some fresh air. The tea completely reenergized me, as did the walk. It may be nasty, but it’s made me feel noticeably better when I start to feel sluggish.
- Rode my bike on the indoor trainer and felt great.
- I was craving sweets + chocolate more intensely today, but got my mind off it with other snacks. Snacks were the same as usual, but I wasn’t quite as snacky today. Although, a nice hunk of chocolate would be fabulous. ;)
- Bloating has gone down even more from yesterday.
- No headaches or any other weird things to mention.
- I feel healthier/cleaner, if that makes sense.
- My skin is much softer in the past two days. Thank you dry brushing.
Time to crash into bed. I was go-go-go today!
Happy Friday!!
<3 Ash
In case you want some quick links to catch up!
Recipes, beans, cashews, chickpea flour, cocoa, detox, eggs, rice, scottish oats
Reader Comments (91)
Aw, I can only imagine how much more difficult a cleanse would be during the time of the month. I don't know how I'd keep chocolate away. Go Ashley's willpower!
Thanks for the detox deets and how youre feeling, very interesting and thanks for sharing it all!
The cheeze sauce..I have a recipe like that too! It reminds me of my kale chip coating or one called cheezy dip. Cashew, nooch, red pepper, life is off to a great start with those things :)
Your drizzle over your wraps is PERFECT! Please tell me it was a squeezie bottle..if you did all that with a spoon I need your skills! :)
those eggs are beautiful!!
starring this post in my reader - ALL of this looks amazingly delicious.
I just had a dry brush + steam :)
girl you are doing GREAT!! im so impressed- and esp with that nacho cheeze sauce!
You're doing great! And I know just what you mean about feeling healthier and cleaner. After my fall cleanse I went to the doctor for my flu shot -- the medical assistant said "you're glowing" Yeah, I knew I was ;)
I've enjoyed reading your posts because my winter cleanse begins Sunday. You're helping me get mentally prepared!
Those chard wraps look Amazing! I've never actually had chard but they make me want to try it. Keep up the awesome detoxing work :)
As you ween off of coffee, I am like an addict! I need 3 cups at least now to keep me awake. It's terrible! Loving all these kale/chard wraps, etc. you're making. Gorgeous!
Your eggs always look fabulous! Still using the poke and scramble method? I will never use another way to cook my eggs again. It's the best!
Those eggs are so pretty!
Hi Ashley,
This series has really pulled me into your blog--I love all the practical, re-set information. For the lemon water, are you just squeezing a big hunk of lemon into water? or doing anything with the skin? I read this huff po piece yesterday (tis the season for these types of posts, obviously), and wondered how you would use the zest for something like this. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashley-koff/cleanse-for-health_b_801398.html
Good luck with it all!
You are so incredibly creative! That dinner looks great and does not look like a detox meal!
Glad to hear the detox is going well! Those eggs are gorgeous. I love the colors!
That dinner is so colorful!! Looks awesome. Love that it's healthy "cheese sauce"!!! Definitely seems like you are having a blast with this. Two big bags of farro?? Lucky you!! I really want to try this whole socca things. They look amazing. Looking forward to your next post! :-)
If you want to make your cocoa oats sweeter without added sweetener you should mix in 1/4 to 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, it is DELICIOUS!
The eggs are so pretty. I love all of the different colors! Your dinner looks great and so creative.
I love all the colors eggs that you get from small farms! They're so pretty :)
It really is amazing that even in this detox, you can still eat such a wide variety of meals. They all look delicious!
Mmmm, everything looks delicious as usual :) Did you use raw cashews for the cheeze?
You are so lucky you didn't have any major withdrawals from coffee. I was DYING on day 2 sans caffeine but thankfully I've managed to keep it under control since. Although I AM having a cup of decaf at the moment...
Your eats look so fresh & good! Those super fresh eggs are making me drool. I love fresh eggs.
That dinner looks SO good! I need to try chard wraps! :D
xo
Your burritos look great, all of the food you're eating looks great actually.
I love multicolored eggs :) so pretty!
That cocoa bowl looks so, so good.
Ohh I already had a bowl of oats this morning, but your chocolate one looks divine! I will experiment with that tomorrow :)
that may be why i'm craving chocolate so much as well....actually i'm always craving chocolate :p never thought to use cocoa powder though! maybe i'll try a bit in my next bowl of oats.
the rice and beans wrapped up in chard leaves looks so amazing! you think of the most creative things :)
I'm excited to check out your recipes! You have some of the best recipes- I've liked everything I've tried! And those eggs are insanely gorgeous. They're the prettiest pastel colors!
Dinner looks freaking amazing! Win!
You make me want to try and give up the coffee even after last week I wrote a post about how I would never give it up! What's a girl to do!?!?
I love that you are incorporating chocolate into your detox. Well done! I keep meaning to try chickpea flour as all the socca recipes look amazing on the twins' blog.
Oh my goodness, those eggs are stunning!! I've never seen so many different shades other than brown & white! Hahaa you really could make green eggs & ham ;)
haha only during the time of the month would someone mix chocolate with chickpeas.
Love to hear about the bee keeping! We want to do it sooo badly!
Kissmybroccoli recommended I check out your blog and I'm so glad I did!!! I just tried oatmeal for the first time yesterday and I loved it so now I'm looking for more recipes! Your scottish oats look delish! I'd probably add some Truvia though, because I like things sweet :)
My best friend www.thechubbyartist.wordpress.com just started a detox, so I'll be sure to refer her to your blog! I think it would give her some good ideas of things to eat :)
Have an awesome weekend!
Sometimes I get a little heavy handed with the cocoa powder in my oats and I find a banana really helps with some added sweetness. What a fun dinner you made! I avoid dairy, so I'll be trying out your cheese never soon!
I'm not sure if someone has already pointed this out, but unless oats are certified gluten-free, the likelihood of their containing wheat is extremely high. Oats are grown in fields and processed with wheat, so there is little control as to wheat being packaged with oat products. Bob's Red Mill does make a gluten-free line, as I'm sure you know, which tests to ensure that there is no wheat/gluten in their oat (and other) products. If you're truly trying to detox from wheat, even a small amount consumed will have the same affect on your body as, for instance, a piece of bread. I worked formerly as a sales and customer service rep. for a gluten-free company, and Celiac Disease runs in my family, so that's where the info. comes from. :)
I am in love with your chard burritos! They look sooooo good, and the fact that they are cleanse friendly just makes it even sweeter!
Wow, it's really impressive to see how things have changed in just over two days. Just out of curiosity (no judgement here), do you think any of the changes might be a sort of placebo effect?
By the way, I made the monster bars! But I wish I had had sugar free jam, because I used apple butter instead (as well as apple sauce instead of banana) and I feel like it wasn't as good as it could have been. I think I might prefer the almond version more too, since peanut has such a strong flavor--even though I love peanut butter (weird, I know). It was very dense and filling though, which was great!
Oops 4 days..not two hehe
omgosh those look just like my eggs! we get brown, white, green and blue, and also have quite a few bee hives, and even make our own beeswax candles.. and this just made me really miss summertime and the garden, especially after seeing all this chard! I need to go buy some..
Oohh my gosh, those burritos look amazing!! What a creative idea. You really make detox food look delicious (those chocolate oats!? oh my).
I did not think it was possible not to consume chocolate during that time of the month. hahah...you must have super human powers!
Those burritos are so vibrant and creative! I need to get over my chard dislike because it is so beautiful and fun to play with.
mmmm your burritos look delicious! AND i just happen to have some swiss chard sitting in my fridge...and black beans...and wild rice...and cashews...could it be you just provided me with dinner tonight ;)? thanks, ashley!
oh, and i kind of love the taste of the detox tea! hah! funny how different people take to different foods.
those cute lil' wraps w/ nacho cheeezzzzeeee (i like to draw out saying that word for fun) look AMAZING! they are definitely on my to make list :)
I appreciate your enthusiasm for my food. :) hehee
I did my "Unstuff this turkey" challenge at that time of the month too. It was hard, but I felt so proud of myself when I was successful!
I really think that you need to start a restaurant!! You are SO creative. Those wraps look to die for. I'd order them!
Glad you like the tea!! I just hate licorice flavor..but man does it make me feel good!
I'm consuming chocolate...just not sweetened chocolate. So I'm not sure if that counts! haha Raw chard tastes much better to me than cooked! I would try stuffing it with a banana and almond butter, or something fun like that first! ;)
Oooh, you have chickens?? Fun!! Awesome about the bees too. :)
It's always hard to tell whether something is having a placebo effect or not. I totally understand you asking that question because I find myself really thinking about it too! However, there are a few things I know for certain. 1. The lemon water seriously gets things moving. Without a dought! 2. Dry brushing has make my skin softer than ever. During a very dry Colorado winter, I definitely know it's from the dry brushing. 3. The first 2 days, I was still quite bloated, but day 3 and 4 it has diminished quite a lot. That is fact! What to attribute it to, I'm not sure yet. :) I'm sure there are a few other things as well and I'm trying to be as critical as possible! Glad you liked the monster bars! Funny you didn't like the PB combo. I could see how it got a bit sweet on you from the apple butter. Sounds good though!
Thanks so much for your comment Danielle. I was aware that oats were not guaranteed gluten free. I've heard mixed comments from people that are gluten intolerant or have celiacs on whether they can use regular oats or not. I might pick up a bag of the GF oats now though, since it seems there is more of a chance for wheat contamination than I thought. Thanks again!
There was a banana in there..couldn't taste it at all! haha
Thanks for saying hi Liz!! I'll definitely be checking out your friend's blog. Take care!