How to store, ripen, & keep from over ripening bananas (VIDEO)

Late May to Early June garden harvests + dinner ideas

For the last two months we have been eating many varieties of greens. For a little over a month now we have been harvesting a big salad every day to eat. The more you pick, the bigger the leafs get --the Collards especially.

This year so far, the collards and kale have out performed the rest of the salad greens in size and abundance. The lettuce has been plentiful too. I have been especially enjoying the Buttercrunch variety. I am definitely getting loads of Vitamin A and K.

In the following photos, I show you the greens we have been harvesting for the last two weeks. I also show you the salads I make with the garden greens.

May 31st 2015 harvest



May 29th 2015 greens harvest





Collard wraps with grated carrot, tomatoes, zucchini noodles, avoado

June 1st 2015 harvest

June 2nd salad harvest

Lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, avocado, sunflower seeds

June 4th 2015 harvest

June 5th 2015 greens harvest

Lettuce, tomato, peppers, avocado, squash noodles

June 6th broccoli harvest

June 7th harvest

I found it odd that the three large cauliflower plants have not started to make a head, but the three tiny plants have formed heads. At least these will be ready to harvest soon.

Besides showing the harvests, I wanted to provide a quick update on the rest of the gardens.

We have planted over 150 tomatoes, and many of them have fruits that will ripen in the next two weeks. I think we have over 30 Peppers plants, which also have fruits setting. The peppers will be growing and ripening around the same time as the tomatoes. It seems though I start harvesting Zucchini and yellow squash before I start harvesting Tomatoes and peppers. I wouldn't be surprised considering the squash garden is looking big and healthy.

I expect to harvest beans, corn, cucumbers in the next month, and the winter squash and melons will be ready to harvest later in the growing season.

The melon patch is flourishing with different varieties. I think the Hugelkultur mounds create the perfect growing conditions for melons. Hugelkultur mounds retain moisture in the decaying wood, which creates fungus that builds fertility in the soil. 

There are a couple watermelon plants and cantaloupe, flowering and setting fruits. Two weeks ago we added over 50 Golden Honeydew seeds within the melon patch, and they have their second set of leaves. And, several days ago I added Santa Claus melon seed. I also planted Golden honeydew, Santa Claus melon, and Canary melon seed in various places around the garden and yard.  

I really like this relationship I have with fruit. I eat the melons, and throw out the hundreds of seeds that came from one fruit which has the potential to grow a hundred more melons.

100 Scientific Reasons to not eat animals

100 Scientific Reasons to not eat meat -- Part 2

Below is an excerpt from the article in the link provided above:

"90.) Mercury and PCB exposure, due to fish consumption, shown to harm fetus brain development...
91.) Mercury in fish shown to outweigh benefits of omega-3s when it comes to brain development (specifically IQ)...
92.) Due to mercury “sticking” to our bodies, most women planning on getting pregnant need to avoid mercury containing foods 1 year before...
93.) Pregnant women eating fish once a week give their infants more mercury than if they were injected with six mercury containing vaccines...
94.) Some chemicals (dioxins, PCB, and DDE) found in fish have half lives as high as 10 years...
95.) Gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy which causes abnormal fetal growth, birth defects, and infant mortality) risk is increased when meat is consumed before pregnancy...
96.) Cow’s milk contains estrogen and other hormones (naturally) which promote the conversion of precancerous cell to invasive cancer and enhance the progression of cancer cells...
97.) Just how smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer...
98.) “Meat glue” enzyme, transglutaminase, has potential food safety and allergy implications...
99.) Study found 70% of purchased chicken breasts for the study contained cancer causing form of arsenic beyond the safety thresholds of the FDA...
100.) Amino acid leucine has the greatest effect on increasing mTORC1 (believed to accelerate
the aging process). Meat products have the most leucine."

Inexpensive Vegan Meals & Convenient healthy snacks

I have come to an understanding that I am not going to convince the masses to go vegan by pushing them to eat solely raw, whole, fresh fruits and vegetables. Most of you know that a common breakfast for me are seven to ten bananas blended with water. For lunch and snacks I eat other fruit, especially dates, apples, and mangoes and orange juice as these are inexpensive and convenient foods to eat.

Although I cannot convince others to eat a fruit-based diet, I can convince people to add fruit to their diet. Adding fruit instead of other foods will greatly improve digestion and overall health.
Presenting healthier and cruelty-free alternatives of burgers, pizza, sandwiches, scrambled "eggs", "ice cream" and the like can change people's perspective of the Vegan diet. It can be much more satisfying, filling, and nutritionally advantageous than any other diets.

I have lived without animal and animal derived foods for nine years as of April 2014, while my partner has for seven to eight years. I have become acquainted with hundreds of other people that live without ailments, and have greatly improved their health and even reversed cancers and diseases.

Here, I have compiled a list of recipes/photos that will encourage non vegans to try some cruelty free foods. These meals are inexpensive, filling, nutritious, low fat, and are Vegan boyfriend-approved.

Vegetable Lentil Burgers

Above are Vegetable Lentil burgers I made back in 2012, for my partner. He loved these with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onion in toast.

To make the burgers, boil lentils for 30 minutes or more, drain, and mash in a bowl. With the mashed lentils, add shredded carrots, zucchini, and onion with a little flour (oat or rice flour, etc). Add as much flour as needed till they form perfectly shaped patties. Add seasonings if desired.

Cook patties with a little oil, on medium heat until one side of the patty is completely cooked. Then flip to cook other side.

Serve patties with vegetables and condiments of our choice on your bread of choice.

This meal is a healthier alternative to hamburgers and even some other vegan burger recipes, because of the high fiber content of the lentils, carrots, and zucchini.

**I highly recommend limiting fried burgers, even fries, chips, and other foods containing oils because of the high fat content. High amounts of fat, like in meat eaters diets, will clog cells and cause disease in the body. You will find in the list I recommend limiting some of these foods, and I myself do not eat them anymore because I continue to clean up my diet.

Vegetable Spring Rolls with Sauce

As you may notice in the following recipes, I love Asian cuisines. And also notice that with this list of recipes provided, you can pick up large quantities of similar ingredients for every different dish.

This recipe calls for Spring roll wrappers. Simply julienne your vegetables (carrots, zucchini, squash, onions) and cook with a little water and seasonings of your choice.

Boil water for your Spring Roll wrappers.

After water comes to a boil, pour in a large bowl to soak wrappers to make pliable.

Make a sauce of peanut butter and soy sauce for dipping rolls.

After veggies have cooked, add to wrappers and roll like a you would a tortilla.

Dip rolls in the peanut butter sauce.

Vegetables and rice

This next Asian cuisine uses the same ingredients of carrots, zucchini, squash and onion.

Simply boil rice while lightly cooking vegetables.

It is not best to fry vegetables or cook them in oil. If you're going to cook vegetables, slowly cook with vegetable broth or vegetable stock. You could also cook veggies with a little water and spices of your desire. Garnish with sesame seeds!

Keep in mind, you should use a ceramic (lead-free) skillet for cooking food. Many pots and pans have been coated with plastic and contain lead.

Vegetables and Noodles

I have replaced the rice from the previous recipe with rice noodles for this dish.

After I boiled the rice noodles, I cut raw cucumber, carrots, and green onions to garnish the noodles.

I am not sure what I used for the sauce on the noodles, but I may have used soy sauce and garnished with sesame seeds.

Vegetable Spaghetti 

Another great dish everyone loves is spaghetti. Boil spaghetti noodles, buy a vegan spaghetti sauce from the store (make sure it is dairy, meat-free). Saute peppers, mushrooms, and onions in small amounts of water. After vegetables are cooked to desired, add spaghetti sauce. Drain noodles and add to your spaghetti sauce with vegetables.

Burrito Bowl (or burrito wraps)

Here  a Mexican cuisine I call the "burrito bowl".

Simply boil rice and black beans, then combine with salsa, lettuce and a little avocado (or guacamole).

Add lime for a little zest~

Canned beans have absorbed the salt and so usually high in sodium, and preservatives are also added. The better option is to buy dried beans, and if using them soak overnight and boil with water for 30 minutes or more when ready to use.

**If you prefer eating a burrito wrap, use corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas as healthier alternatives. Tortilla wraps are usually high in fat because they contain oils. Eat less tortilla wraps and increase the rice and beans to feel fuller.

Peanut butter Ramen (Extremely poor person's food)

I understand the position people are put in when they can only afford Ramen noodles. One pack of ramen noodles is $0.20 cents compared to one organic red pepper that costs $2.50, or the $1.35 per avocado, or one pound of bananas that equates to $0.57. I have not personally bought Ramen but I have had to eat ramen noodles in desperate situations (when I was at my Dad's house for the weekend, etc). I DID NOT use the chicken seasonings--just the noodles. I would make my own seasonings of chili powder, garlic powder, soy sauce (peanut butter optional), and Add sesame seeds for garnish (or raw green onion, cucumber or carrots).
**I repeat, Ramen noodles are to be eaten when in desperate need, as they are one of the most unhealthy foods. High in fat, using genetically modified wheat, high in sodium. Overall Ramen makes you feel sluggish but in the end makes you feel full.

Carrot and Pea Soup 

Soak green split peas overnight. Boil the peas, with desired amount of carrots, celery, and onions.

Use vegetable broth or stock in place of water and seasonings when boiling vegetables.

After you cook the vegetables with the broth or stock, let cool then transfer to a blender to create a creamy soup consistency.

Any variation of vegetable soup or bisque is a great low fat lunch or dinner option.

Vegetable-only Sushi Rolls

Buy seaweed wraps from a safe source (for example, do not get from Japan considering the nuclear waste spill).

Boil rice and let cool.

Transfer small amounts of rice spread onto a sushi wrap, then add sliced pieces of cucumbers, carrots, tomato, avocado, spinach (or any vegetable of your choice). Layer vegetables vertically.

Then roll each wrap into a long burrito shape, and cut small portions of the wrap to create bite-sized pieces.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds, no need to dip in soy sauce. Soy sauce is high in sodium and usually contains genetically modified soy beans. Plus, seaweed as a Vegan food is debatable because it contains much fish contaminants. 

**I would limit the amount of sushi intake. Actually, I probably will not eat Sushi any more, as it was a phase for a year, and I cannot separate the idea that Seaweed comes from polluted water.

Butternut Squash Chili

**The combination of food may be eccentric, but I am using ingredients (peppers and tomatoes, beans and butternut squash) because they come from my garden.

If using dried beans, soak them overnight. Or you can use canned organic black beans, kidney beans, red beans, or pinto beans (any bean of your choice). Cook butternut squash first, along with onion, peppers, jalapeno pepper, tomato (or salsa). Add canned beans. If using beans that have been soaked overnight, cook beans separately from butternut squash and veggies. Then add veggies to the beans.

Vegetable Pizza

Gluten free alternative with oats

This is the most common, most loved, and favorite food of America. Most Americans identify pizza as their number one favorite food. I may have to agree that it is a very stimulating food, because there's something about bread, sauce, and toppings that is appealing.
This is a very easy concept, prepare your dough first using a low fat recipe alternative (without using oil). Use a tomato sauce or a vegan pizza sauce and Slice vegetables like mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and olives over top the dough.
Recipe for Low fat dough:

2 cups of flour
1 cup potato flakes
packet of instant yeast + 1/3 cup water
1 cup water
Italian herbs, seasonings

Add 1/3 cup of water and yeast  in a cup, stir and let sit for 10 minutes or longer. In a large bowl, Stir dry ingredients first: add flour, potato flakes, Italian herbs (sage, basil, marjoram, thyme, garlic powder). Then add yeast and the additional water. Knead into ball, keep in the bowl and cover with a wet cloth for 30 minutes or longer.
After 30 minutes, Preheat oven at 400 degrees. Grease pizza pan and layout dough into desired shape. Prick holes in the dough and Bake dough for 3-5 minutes. Afterwards, add sauce and toppings, then bake for 15-25 minutes. Daiya Mozzerrella cheese sprinkled over top the pizza is a nice addition, but unnecessary added fat.

Main dish Plain Potatoes 

Another easy recipe is simply boiling 6 potatoes. Sweet potatoes are best. Cut potatoes into cubes and boil in water for 15 minutes or more. Juice a lemon over top of potatoes to create a buttery taste. Serve with lettuce.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To me, there is no meal better than eating 5 mangoes for lunch, 10 bananas for breakfast, or 30 dates, 3 lb of strawberries..Eating fruit makes me feel my best and gives me energy, so a usual grocery week for me is 20-40 lb of bananas, 10-20 lbs of other fruit, pasteurized juices and smoothies, frozen concentrated juice, frozen fruit, dehydrated fruit, canned fruit. Because I have created an importance in my life towards growing fruits and vegetables working towards self sufficient gardening, I receive free medicinal health benefits from the fruits and vegetables.

I explain to others the mis-truths about Protein, Fats, and Carbohydrates, emphasizing that an increase in Fats and Protein can harm the body, specifically animal fats and proteins. Instead, a diet rich in Carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, grains) are healthier options. It is well documented and heavily studied that a diet emphasized on fruits and vegetables alone will reverse cancer, heart disease, cholesterol, blood sugar, allergies, arthritis, tumors, and more. So encourage your family members and friends to make small changes in this direction as well, because it could really save their life, or avoid spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical care.

If you are starting out, taking the Vegan diet slowly, purchase small amounts of Fruit you like. Do not eat anything you do not favor the taste of. If you don't like Kale or spinach, do not eat them, eat Lettuce instead. If you do not like Cantaloupe, eat Watermelon, or if you hate bananas, eat Mangoes.

But of course you can buy Convenient, quick and healthy snacks, for example...

Frozen concentrated Juice. Simply add whole or half of the carton into 2-3 cups of water, mix in a blender. Here I have bought the Pineapple-Orange Juice Frozen concentrate, which I usually add with frozen raspberries or strawberries. Although it seems like a lot of calories, juice does not contain the amount of fiber to feel "full". Consuming a larger quantity of juice will allow you to feel satisfied for longer.
** Warning: Be aware that some Orange Juices contain Calcium Lactate (animal derived), so watch out for labels that say "Plus calcium" or "Added Calcium" on the covers. 

You may also notice below the cartons of concentrate is a box of frozen bananas. With a food processor, add almond milk and frozen bananas, blend to create ice cream consistency. Banana "nice" cream is a puss-free, hormone-free, fat-free, cruelty-free dessert that tastes like a vanilla milkshake.

Canned fruit and dehydrated fruit are other healthy snack options. Only will I buy Peaches and pineapples canned. I cannot imagine any other canned fruit to have the same consistency and taste as if it were fresh as Pineapples and Peaches do.

I'm not proud of the Del Monte brand Peaches...

Dehydrated fruit, dates, mango, grapes (raisins), blueberries, papaya, pineapple are my favorite. Any time I hang out with friends, I always bring a bag of dates, or my friends and family keeps a bag of dates at their house for me. Raisins are the next best dehydrated fruit because it is inexpensive compared to Dates. Raisins can be added to cereals and oatmeal. Buy the Old fashioned oats to make oatmeal as they have not been processed and do not raise blood sugar.
Keep in mind that dehydrated fruit like dates can aggravate your teeth, much like jerky or meat wears at your teeth. Eating a fresh raw diet of fruits, vegetables, and greens will prevent tooth problems.

Bagels can serve as a low fat alternative for breakfast or snacks. Toast or warm in the oven.

Another healthy snack is applesauce. Actually I made a full meal out of the applesauce jar you see below. It contained nearly 600 calories in total, and I ate every bit of it as a snack. I have always believed that it makes little sense to eat small amounts of unhealthy food when you can eat large quantities of healthy food.

Organic brown Sugar and dates are also seen here which are great ingredients for cereals or oats.

In the next photo I have burrito wraps. Wraps are usually high in fat, and it may be best to not eat too many wheat products, however 2-3 burrito wraps with rice, beans, salsa, and avocado will be filling enough to avoid taking in more bread.
I will say you can make a burrito bowl like I have demonstrated in the above "Burrito Bowl" recipe.

In this next photo, I have "Silk brand Almond Milk" which is fortified with 50% more Calcium in milk, vitamin D, B12. Actually when cow's milk is consumed, the acidity leaches Calcium from your bones to neutralize the pH of your blood. I highly recommend dropping the cruel Cow's milk and begin purchasing "Silk" because it contains necessary vitamins and nutrients that most meat eaters are lacking in their diet. I also have "Naked" brand Blueberry smoothie, mostly because it was on sale and the Odwalla orange juice was also. When I go to hang with friends, I usually bring a large bottle of juice that contains a meal's worth of calories.

Don't forget to eat fresh raw salads and smoothies as well.

Bananas + Spinach + Mint + water

Bananas + water + drizzle of blueberry

Soaked dates + water & spices

A diet of raw fruits and vegetables will allow your body to self-heal. There are many different styles of the Vegan diet, the most optimal is a low fat, mostly fresh fruits and vegetables diet, little nuts, seeds, avocado, and no oil. 
This diet and lifestyle is not a struggle, however. Many people even body builders go Vegan. Once it becomes revealed to you the horrors of the meat and dairy industry, this lifestyle is easier than

Familiarize yourself with the literature on Fats, Proteins, Carbohydrates, diet and lifestyle. For example, Read materials from Vegan doctors, Dr T Colin Campbell of The China Study (one of the most comprehensive nutrition study ever undertaken), Dr John McDougall of the Starch Solution, Dr Greger, Dr Doug Graham of 80/10/10, Dr Neal Barnard of "Reversing Diabetes", and many more...

In the photo above are Vegan "fats", for example Avocado, guacamole, vegan "Nayowhipped", tortilla wraps. There are some over ripe bananas and vegetables in the picture too. Avocado goes well in salads, sandwiches, over rice, and burritos.

May 11th, 2014 Garden update (Transplanting Cantaloupe & Squash)

Fortunately I started my melons indoors a month ago (around the beginning of April) so now that the weather is permitting, I was able to transplant 100 cantaloupe plants yesterday. I am sure (and hoping) that Eastern KY will not get a late Frost in the middle of May (or else a Frost may hurt my melons).

100 Cantaloupe transplants in 6 wide rows

Wide rows for growing melons

I will wait to put out my Watermelon plants because I have yet to hoe up a spot for them. But they are doing as far as size, as you can see below. Last month a man plowed a 50+ foot spot across the road from my Grandparent's, which I have designated for Watermelon and corn. I am not too keen that the spot is next to the road where hundreds of logging trucks drive by every week and the plants may be sucking up much of the pollution-- however it's fertile ground that is not being used for anything, and it's the only piece of property (at my Grandparent's) that gets the most sun. Hence the reason for designating the Watermelon and Corn plants in this location.

As mentioned in my last post, I transplanted 160 Zucchini and Yellow Squash plants (see below). The process took a little over 2 hours, but I was lucky to get them out before the rain. Now they are almost twice there size since I planted them three days ago. It will be raining here for the next week, so I expect the squash plants and Cantaloupe grow much bigger. I may see some cucumbers sprouting during this time. Not only should my Cucumbers be sprouting, also should my Pumpkin, Cushaw, and Butternut Squash plants.

160 Zucchini & Yellow Squash transplants

Zucchini sprout

Of course my lettuce, kale, spinach, peas, and potatoes have been in the ground for a month so they are responding well to this warm and rainy weather.

Have a beautiful Mother's Day!

May 8th, 2014 Garden Update (Cucmbers, Squash & Grapes)

Tomorrow and Saturday will be rainy days so I made appoint to plant my summer vegetables. As of now, I can directly sow and transplant all varieties of fruits and vegetables, considering it is the first week of May. 

I am not expecting any late Frosts, so today I transplanted 160 zucchini and yellow squash, and directly sowed 400 cucumber seeds, 200+ butternut squash seed, 20 pumpkin, and 20 cushaw. In the photos below I have one row of half pumpkin and half cushaws, two rows of butternut squash and one extended row of cucumbers (probably over 40 ft).

10 rows of potatoes/40+ft row of cucumbers

1 row of cushaw/pumpkin & 2 rows of butternut squash

cucumbers

Another little job we did today was hoe/till between the rows of potatoes. As I mentioned I planted 125 lbs of potatoes, a total of 10 rows. And, the lettuce, kale, spinach, and peas are doing beautifully as you can see in the photos below. Notice the plants are crowded in wide rows, this is to discourage weeds growing in and around the greens. Also I have wide walking rows in order to till between them, this is to aerate the soil.

(from left to right) "Grand Rapids" lettuce, "Salad bowl" lettuce,
Spinach, Kale, "Iceberg"/"Buttercrunch" lettuce, & Peas

Kale

Lettuce

In the near future I will be transplanting pepper, tomato, and melon plants. Below I have posted additional photos of plants growing in my gardens.

Grape pods from my plants

Strawberries

Purple Iris

Toad

My partner and I have been conscious of the Toads in our garden. Today we counted five Toads hanging around that we transported to the woods. Luckily we are aware of these creatures in an effort to avoid tilling them. I know it must seem I am destructing their habitats but I keep aware of them as well as Spiders and other things that I want to protect. Keep this in mind when you're working in your garden as well.