Saturday, November 23, 2019

Mealtime Magic: Not-Yo-Mama’s Collard Greens

Balancing our lives can be challenging.  We want more energy, but we are tired of all the latest trendy and fad diets.  Detoxification means ensuring your entire body is functioning at an optimal, balance level.  When our bodies are in balance, we feel energized and refreshed.
Award-winning market researcher, health coach and certified yoga instructor Dena Dodd Perry has just released her first book DETOXELICIOUS: EASY SOUL FOOD INSPIRED 10-DAY DETOX CLEANSE RECIPES AND FITNESS FOR SUPER BUSY PEOPLE, a self-help food-fitness book that will assist readers make their food-fitness journey easier and delicious.
DETOXELICIOUS is an easy soul-food inspired guide centered on foods that detoxify, fitness and mindfulness. It is a detox 101 resource book that is supported by healthcare professionals which promotes healthy living and healthier food designed to be dairy-free, sugar-free, grain-free, meat-free and carb-free.

As we head into the holiday season try this “Detoxelicious” recipe.

Recipe and Photo reprinted with permission from
Detoxelicious by Dena Dodd Perry
Balboa Press/2019
Not-Yo-Mama’s Collard Greens
Serves 4 to 6 people
INGREDIENTS:
•    Three bunches of collard greens, soak in warm water, de-stemmed & cut 

•    2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
•    1 large chopped onion
•    1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
•    1 minced garlic clove or 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
•    2 tablespoon coconut liquid aminos
•    2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
•    4 cups vegetable stock
•    2 tomatoes, chopped
•    Garlic salt and pepper to taste. 
INSTRUCTIONS: 
Soak collard greens in a large sink or steel bowl. Pick through the greens and discard yellow leaves and any thick stems. Dry and cut out the thicker stem of the collard greens. Stack 3-4 leaves and roll the leaves crosswise into tiny strips or chop into 1/4” strips. 
In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Sauté the onions until slightly softened, about 4-5 minutes, then add the red pepper flakes, and garlic, cook another minute. Add collard greens and cook another minute. Add the vegetable stock, coconut liquid aminos and balsamic vinegar, cover and bring to a simmer. Add filtered water as needed. Cook until greens are tender, about 40 minutes. Add or garnish with tomatoes and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 
RECIPE 411:
Did you know food historians date collard greens back to prehistoric times? Collard greens are members of the cabbage family. These greens are immune boosting and full of iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and other hearty nutrients. Although many people associate greens with southern African American culture, the reality is different. Here’s the deal. Collard greens are popular plants with a rich soulful history. The Romans and Portuguese have long used collard greens. Even so, I know you might want to hear more about the southern variety of greens that has hammocks or smoked turkey meat added to the collard greens, or the cornbread for dunking but you’ll be shocked to know how “detoxelicious” this dish is without any added meat. It’s just the African slaves and Native Americans shared ideas on how to make the collard greens more flavorful in the South. So, from my grandma table to yours, eat “detoxeliciously,” without any complex animal meat proteins. 
TIP: It takes a lot of will power and patience to get rid of the grit that loves to cling to these green leaves. Because rinsing is not enough, I recommend you soak them ahead of time. You can fill a clean sink with cold water and sprinkle the greens with salt. I recommend you clean the sink again then let the greens soak one to two more times. After soaking, then remove the coarse stem from the leaves with a knife. Cleaning greens can be fun for the kids since they have little fingers. It helps them to understand the concept of “farm-to-table” foods. 

The 10-day detox plan in Perry’s book is based on her own health story having suffered the effects of pneumonia as a young child and the complications she experienced from having to live on a battery of antibiotics for a long period of time.
“I was on a mission to restore balance for my own gut and cardiovascular health. I decided to start by taking the ‘old school’ cayenne pepper and lemon water cleanse, then I proceeded to drink cold pressed juice cleanses once a year beginning in 2012. Then, I finally found a 10-day detox supplement plan in 2014 that I loved,” Perry explains.  “My detox approach was to cross reference plant-based super foods with soul food that I loved to eat as a child. I especially loved eating my Grandmother’s collard greens from Selma, Alabama. I incorporated those favorite recipes into this program.”
DETOXELICIOUS provides readers with daily mindfulness exercises such as yoga movements and breath work.  Recipes include: Berry Strawberry Smoothie, Gentle Lentil Vegetable Soup, Beyond Cheeseburga! Cheeseburga!, Vegan Barbecue Chicken Pizza, Hot Buffalo Cauliflower, Hip-Hoppin’ John Black-Eyed Peas, African Fire Vegetarian Chili.
      
With the aim to make every reader healthy inside and out, DETOXELICIOUS offers plant-based recipes intended to give the kidney and liver a 10-day break from complex proteins and processed sugary foods. Supplements supported by healthcare professionals are also added in order to reach desired health goals effectively with renewed energy levels. Moreover, the book highlights the importance of yoga fitness (to aid the body’s natural detoxification) and mindfulness (to remain mentally inspired throughout the detox journey).

For every copy of DETOXELICIOUS sold, proceeds will go to local children’s charities.

The recipes in DETOXELICIOUS can be used within the 10-day program or stand alone when you want to eat something delicious and good for you.
About the Author
Dena Dodd Perry is an award-winning market researcher with over 20 years of experience in the wellness industry. DETOXELICIOUS is her first food-fitness book. She is a “momprenuer” and a certified yoga teacher. She received her 200 CYT training in Hot Power Yoga. In addition, Perry expanded her yoga teacher education with her 300 CYT training in all major aspects of yoga including restorative yoga, pranayama breathing exercises, gentle flow yoga, chair yoga, detox yoga, pregnancy yoga and many other styles. She received her specialized mantra meditation training from the Deepak Chopra Center in San Diego. Perry also has over 25 years of experience in statistical methods as an industrial engineer, with over combined 10 years of Pilates and yoga experience as both student and teacher. She teaches corporate yoga classes on a weekly basis as an employee of Active Wellness based in Sausalito, California. She is the founder of Yogashero and the Pop.N.Go Rain Scarf brands which has been featured in many publications including Beauty Business, Women's Health, All You, Real Simple and Instyle, among others. To learn more about Dena Dodd Perry, visit her website, www.DenaDodd.com

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