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In today’s VitaClay Newsletter, I was excited to see that in addition to all the really easy and delicious meals one can make in the VitaClay, apparently the VitaClay can also be used to make yogurt! The author describes his experimentation with making homemade yogurt in the VitaClay. Having the VitaClay myself, I am excited to give it a whirl! If you are interested in how my yogurt turned out, give us a call and I would be happy to share my experience with making yogurt in the VitaClay.

Copied from the VitaClay Newsletter:

I’ve recently been learning about fermented foods and how very beneficial they are for health. As I learn, I’ve been experimenting with various recipes I can make at home, especially for foods that are either not available or are prohibitively expensive in stores. One example is kombucha, a fermented tea beverage filled with probiotics, enzymes, vitamins, and soury goodness. Success! Next I decided to try yogurt-making. The first reason was that I heard it was easy, and when you make it yourself you can increase the beneficial probiotics available in the yogurt by allowing it to ferment longer. I had also read a review where a VitaClay customer used our cooker to make her own yogurt, and was very impressed with the results. Yogurt in clay! I had to try it. I looked up a recipe online, bought some organic plain yogurt that listed live cultures among the ingredients, and even found some raw milk at my local farmer’s market (raw milk purportedly increases probiotics all the more).

It was quite easy. I poured the milk into the pot, hit “reheat” in the rice menu (my favorite short-cut) and waited until the milk looked frothy (I couldn’t be bothered to buy a thermometer). I removed the clay pot from the cooker for faster cooling, until I could comfortably touch the clay with my hand. I then stirred in the yogurt (which I had left out to reach room temperature) into the frothy milk. I replaced the clay pot into the cooker and set it on “warm” for about 8 hours. I opened the pot to find the most beautiful, creamy yogurt with a nice layer of whey on the top. And more delicious (even hot!) than any yogurt I’ve ever tasted.

Next I’ll use the whey strained from the yogurt to make kimchi!

To view the VitaClay Rice & Slow Cooker, click here.

Whether you are perusing Christmas gifts for others or making your own Christmas wish list, there is sure to be something here for everyone. And, it’s just a few of our favorite things, to see our complete collection of healthy living tools please visit the rest of our online store!

The Blend-Tec Home Blender!

With a powerful 3 horsepower motor, a sleek design that fits under your counter top, and a digital electronic touch-screen, this blender is the best in it’s class. Can you say green smoothie delight? $399.95 (available in white, black, red, and bronze)

The Nesco Grip ‘n Go Stick Hand Held Blender!

Mix, Chop and Blend, all in the palm of you hand! Imagine all the possibilities! This handy tool is so convenient you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Comes with several accessories. A great gift! $39.95

The Excalibur 3900 Food Dehydrator!

The ‘King’ of all Dehydrators. The Excalibur 3900 Dehydrator will not disappoint. With 15 sq. feet of drying space, removable trays, and an adjustable thermostat, you can make everything from raw & living food to meat jerky to large batches of yogurt. Also, an excellent tool for food and garden preservation! This unit comes with a free 194 page recipe book and a 10 year manufacture warranty. $219.95

The Soyabella Soymilk Maker!

Making fresh, homemade soymilk, bean milk, and raw nut milks is as easy as making a pot of coffee with the Soyabella! Homemade soymilk has an amazing flavor and is fantastic because you can control the ingredients (no additives or nasty sweeteners and only organic soybeans!) Not tot mention you can dramatically reduce your waste of all those milk cartons Makes tofu too! $99.95

The VitaClay Chef Gourmet Rice & Rice Cooker!

This unit is a fast slow cooker, it will make your favorite slow cooker dish in just a few hours. Speeding up the slow cooker process uses less energy and doesn’t overcook your food, so nutrients and flavor are retained. Inner pot is made of the special Zisha clay, renowned by the Chinese for it’s purity and health giving properties. No ceramics or glazes! $119.95

The Omega 8004 Juicer!

Hands down, the best single gear juicer for your buck. This juicer offers an extremely high quality fruit, vegetable, leafy green and wheatgrass juice. It will also aid you in making nut butters, soymilk, fresh pasta and extracting oil from grape seeds, flax seeds & rose hips. All with a 15 year warranty from the manufacture, what are you waiting for? Get juicing! $259.00

The Omega VRT350 Juicer!

The best of the best! This upright single gear juicer offers the same high quality juice as it’s cousin the 8004, and has the added bonus of being an upright design that is self-feeding. You will be amazed by the quality and quantity of juice you get with this juicer, as well as the ease of use and the ease of cleaning. The VRT350 does not disappoint! Full 10 year manufacture warranty. $370.00

The L’Equip Mini Pulp Ejector Juicer!

Going to the cabin for a week and don’t want to interrupt your daily juicing routine? The L’Equip mini will fit in the smallest of kitchens and is easy enough to use and clean that you are able maintain your daily routine just about anywhere! Compact, efficient, and affordable. $99.95

The Green Star Elite 5000 Juicer!

The latest from Green Star. The Green Star Elite has all the upgrades that customers have been asking for over the years: new patented mixing and rubbing stage and jumbo twin gears for higher yields and more versatility, lighter weight components and slicker design, latch system makes cleaning a breeze, new safety switch system, and detachable power cord for easy traveling! The ultimate in twin gear juicing systems. $529.95

The Complete Book of Raw Foods!

This book is a giant bible to those interested in raw foods! Plan weekly menus, find delicious new treats, and feel healthy. Includes more than more than 400 recipes from the World’s top chefs. $27.95

The Book Juicing for Life!

A fantastic juicing guide that includes an A to Z in prevention and treatment of health disorders. Cherie Calbom and Maureen Keane are leaders in natural health in nutrition and will inspire you get and stay healthy using diet and your juicer. $12.95

The Wonder Junior Deluxe Grain Mill!

Milling your own grain is an excellent way to incorporate whole grains into your diet! And, this is THE mill to own. The Wonder Junior is the highest quality most versatile hand mill available. You can create super fine flour or coarse cracked grains for cereals. By simply swapping the stone heads for the stainless steel burr heads you can make delicious peanut butter or other nut butters, you can grind flax or any other oily or wet grains, you can grind herbs and spices, soy beans, and legumes. And you can even grind fresh coffee.  $199.95

The Miracle Harsch Fermenting Crock Pot!

These amazing Crock Pots utilize the age-old method of lactic acid fermentation. Lactic acid fermented foods are a fabulous way to improve one’s health! They bring beneficial flora to our intestines keeping our digestive system regular and healthy. Fermented foods are also packed with vitamins and minerals and are an essential element of food preservation.  $126.95

The Roma Cabbage Shredder!

An invaluable tool for making healthy, traditional sauerkraut. Allow you to whip up that big batch of kraut, just like grandma used to make. The Roma Cabbage Shredder will shred your cabbage with 7-8” mm thick strips. $39.95

The Back to Basics Apple Peeler!

Got Apples? Then you will love the Back to Basics Apple Peeler! Peels, slices and cores in a quick and smooth action. We love this item pared (pun intended) with the Excalibur Food dehydrator for quick and efficient way to whip up a big batch of apple and pear chips. Mmm… Also great for apple sauce, apple pie, apple cobbler, canned apples, etc. Made of durable cast iron and stainless steel, you will use this tool for many years. $23.95

The Roma Food Strainer Package Set with 4 Piece Accessory Kit & Electric Motor!

The Roma Food Strainer Package Set with Electric Motor comes complete with the the Roma Food Strainer 200P, the 4-Piece Accessory Kit (which includes one standard tomato/apple stainless steel screen, stainless steel berry screen, salsa screen, pumpkin/squash screen and plastic grape spiral) and the Dual Purpose Electric Motor to make preserving your garden bounty effortless.

The Yogurt Lover’s Gift Set!

Includes the YoLife yogurt maker, and (2) boxes of Yogourmet Casei Bifidus Acidophilus Yogurt Starter (6 packets in 1 Box). We love the YoLife because you can use your own glass jars to make the yogurt in, no more plastic cooked yogurt! Four mason jars will fit under the tall lid, allowing for a large amount of yogurt to be made in each batch. The CBA yogurt starts have the highest probiotic count, and best variety of probiotics in each packet. This not only creates an exceptionally nutritional yogurt, it also aids in the thickness of the yogurt. A truly excellent gift! $54.95

The Sprout Lover’s Gift Set!

Do you know someone who is trying to change their diet and get healthy? Support them with this sprouting set! Sprouting is a great companion to healthy diet. It provides fresh, live, nutrient rich foods that can be added to salads, sandwiches, or eaten separately as a great snack! The Sprout Lovers gift Set includes the Biosta Sprouter, one bag of organic sprouting mung beans, one bag of organic sprouting alfalfa seeds, and The Sprouting Book by health guru Ann Wigmore. $43.95

Organic Broccoli Sprouting Seeds!

Broccoli Sprouts are incredibly, incredibly healthy! The have recently been discovered to contain 50 times more sulforpohane than fresh broccoli, sulforpophane being an excellent cancer-fighting phytochemical (plant-chemical). They are also packed with protein, anti-oxidants, vitamins A,B, C, E and K, and the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Whew. What are you waiting for? Open mouth, insert broccoli sprouts!$15.95

The BabySteps Natural Feeding System!

The perfect way to support the new baby in your life with a healthy diet! The BabySteps Natural Feeding System includes everything new parents need to create fresh, healthy foods for newest little love; food mill w/ carry case, electric food mill, 2 pack of freezer trays, a feeding dish with utensils and usage guide. BPA/Phthalate Free! $59.95

Deluxe Vinyl Dumbbells!

Resistance training increases muscular strength, endurance, independence, and ability to perform a large range of activities. It reduces disability and enhances quality of life. Other benefits include increase in bone mineral density and lean body mass, says the American Heart Association. These dumbbells are the perfect addition to your resistance training routine. $3.95 (Price varies with weight of dumbbells, see weight selection for price.)

The Jade Harmony Rubber Yoga Mat!

Beautiful, functional, and eco-friendly! To offset the environmental effects of manufacture and transportation of their products, Natural Fitness plants a tree for every product sold. The Natural Fitness Yoga line was inspired by the earth and designed with the yogi in mind. Green your workout…. Green our world.  $49.95

The Bamboo Meditation Bench!

Meditating with our Earth-Friendly Bamboo fold-able Meditation Bench provides a very comfortable alternative for those who have difficulty in cross-legged sitting meditation. Made with beautiful and sustainable fast growing bamboo with an eco-friendly natural oil finish. $53.95

The Whale Therapeutic Back Bench!

Ahh…This is an amazing therapeutic tool, designed to rejuvenate and energize the entire body while stretching and elongating the spine. Perfect for those who work on computers all day. Made of beautiful handcrafted oak, this item has us signing! All I want for Christmas is Whale Back Bench, a whale back bench, a whale back bench… $399.00

The Seagrass Meditation Chair!

Handcrafted beauty and comfort are added to you most scared time of day with the Seagrass Meditation Chair. The backrest of the Seagrass Meditation Chair is tilted at 3 degrees forward angle to allow you to be able to sit upright with no effort, which allows for the correct posture for meditation. The renewable mango wood legs and renewable seagrass weave make this a beautiful and ecological addition to any room.  $269.00

Pulling off a Raw Thanksgiving may be easier than you may think. With the right kitchen tools and equipment, you can easily put together a nutritious live Thanksgiving menu that has all the comforts  of a traditional thanksgiving menu, but with no cooking, imagine that! And, the tools required for many of the following recipes are the  likely tools of most raw foodists, and are a great addition to any natural, healthy kitchen.

The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes, turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, house rolls or bread, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie and probably other goodies too. However, using some of  the common raw food tools of a Food Dehydrator, Vita-Mix Blender, Champion Juicer, and the Food Processor you can create all the traditional Thanksgiving favorites, Raw!

Your Raw Thanksgiving Menu:

Noasted Nurkey (Tastes like turkey and dressing) Sprout Café Shinui Living Food Learning Center, Rosewell Ga.USA
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
2 tablespoons fresh sage
2 tablespoons rosemary
2 tablespoons fresh thyme

2 cups (480 ml) walnuts soaked 12 hours and drained
2 cups(480 ml) almonds soaked 12 hours and drained
1 tablespoon organic unpasteurized white miso
1 large onion, chopped very fine
6 stalks celery, chopped fine

1 cup (240 ml) parsley sprigs (as garnish)
1 cup (240 ml) cranberries (as garnish)

1.  Place garlic in a food processor and process well.
2.  Add sage, rosemary, and thyme, processing well.
3.  Add walnuts, almonds, and miso, one at a time and process well.
4.  Remove to a bowl and stir in onion and celery.
5.  Place on a Paraflexx Ultra Food Drying Sheet and form into an oval loaf shape. Place in a dehydrator for 6 hours.
6.  Remove and turn loaf over, removing Paraflexx Ultra food drying sheet from the bottom. Dehydrate for 4 to 6 hours more.
7. Garnish with parsley and cranberries. Serves 8.

Raw Mushroom Gravy by Halston Bruce

1/2 cup almonds, soaked for 12 hours
1/2 cup water
2 1/2 cups shiitake mushrooms
1 garlic clove (or 1/4 teaspoon powdered garlic)
Dash of Bragg Liquid Aminos
Water, as necessary

1. In food processor grind almonds fine.
2. Add remainder of ingredients and process to paste.
3. Add water as necessary

Raw Cauliflower aka Mashed Potatoes and Chives by giveittomeraw.com

1 c chopped cauliflower
1/2 c cashews, soaked
1/4 c water
1/4 c chopped chives, reserve 1 teaspoon for garnish
1/2 garlic clove, minced
Juice of one half lemon
1 T sea salt

1. Place cashews and cauliflower in a vita-mix blender, add lemon juice and water 1 tablespoon at a time to create a creamy consistency.
2. Remove mixture from blender jar and place in a large bowl. Fold in garlic, chives and sea salt. Garnish with 1 teaspoon of chives.

Raw Green Bean Casserole by goneraw.com

1/2 lb. fresh green beans
1 batch mushroom soup (raw recipe below)
¼ cup red onion, sliced very thin
½ cup chopped mushrooms
2 pieces of your favorite onion bread, sliced into thin strips and dehydrated until crisp

1. I bought very fresh thin green beans and then cut them into small strips (French cut). You can dehydrate them a bit to soften them if you wish.
2. When you make the mushroom soup, cut the water to half the amount called for in the recipe in order to make it thicker.
3. Mix green beans, onion, mushrooms and soup.
4. Then top with the strips of onion bread. It can be warmed in the dehydrator if desired.

Classic Raw Mushroom Soup by goneraw.com

This tastes just like a classic cream of mushroom soup. Thick, creamy and delicious. The real version of this soup used to be my favorite when I was young. I just made this on a whim so the measurements are from memory and may not be accurate. Taste the soup as you’re making it to be sure the measurements are to your liking. I hope you enjoy.

1. Blend the sunflower seeds with the water until you get a nice creamy smooth mixture.
2. Add the garlic, salt, yeast and pepper.
3. Blend for a long time until slightly warm.
4. Add the mushrooms and blend for about 10 seconds, just to spread them around.

Corn Bread Crisps (can make in dehydrator the night before if making the Noasted Nurkey on Thanksgiving Day)

1 1/2 cups corn (frozen)
1 small red bell pepper
1 small yellow bell pepper
1 tsp celtic sea salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1. Blend all ingredients in the food processor.
2. Spread it on a Paraflex sheet.
3. Dehydrate for 3 hours, flip onto mesh and dehydrate for 3 or more hours, depending how crispy you want your bread.

Raw Cranberry Relish by Elana’s Pantry

1 orange, peeled, sliced, seeds removed
1 lemon, peeled, sliced, seeds removed
2 dates, pitted and chopped
2 cups fresh cranberries

1. Blend orange, lemon and dates in a food processor.
2. Add cranberries and process until coarsely chopped.
3. Serve!

Raw Sweet Potato Pie by Rita Romano

Crust:

2 cups walnuts
1/2 cup dates, pitted
1/2 tsp. 5-spice powder
1 tsp. Braggs Amino Acids [found in health food store]

1. To make the crust, mix the last four ingredients in food processor, using “S” blade attachment.
2. Press into pie shell and set aside.

Filling:

6 medium sweet potatoes (or yams)
1/2 cup dates, pitted
1/2 cup pine, almond or cashew nuts
1 teaspoon coriander
½ teaspoon 5-spice powder
2 tablespoons psyllium powder [found in health food stores]

1. To make the filling, peel and slice sweet potatoes.
2. Put the sweet potatoes and the nuts and dates through a Champion juicer, using the blank attachment, and alternating some of each ingredient.
3. You should end up with approximately three cups of sweet potato puree.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the mixture and mix well.
5. Press mixture into the pie shell.
6. Garnish with nuts around the outside edge of the pie and chill.

Raw Cashew Whipped Cream
(Makes 1 cup)

1 cup of raw cashew nuts
1 1/8 cup of cold water
1 1/2 Tbsp of raw honey
1/4 tsp of pure vanilla extract

1. Place cashews, 1 cup cold water, raw honey and vanilla extract into a blender. Blend on high speed for about 1 minute. Add a little more water and blend again until smooth. Taste cream and add a little more honey if necessary. If you want the cream to be a little runnier, add another 1-2 tablespoons of water. Blend for another minute until completely smooth. The cream may seem watery but once refrigerated it settles and thickens.
2. Cashew cream should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Lactic fermentation is one of the oldest methods of food preservation. It has been used around the world as a method of food preservation and as an essential addition to a healthy diet. The lactic acid bacteria that ferments vegetables has a pleasant acidic taste and a rich content of vitamins and minerals. Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), for example, has a very high vitamin C level, and has long been touted for it’s health giving properties.

Along with the increased vitamin and mineral content of lactic fermented foods, they also include the fiber of the vegetable for maintaining a healthy digestion and lowering cholesterol. The lactic bacteria present is important for the build-up and maintenance of healthy intestinal flora. Other secondary plant substances can help the body to prevent cancer, and prevent the body against infection, and inhibit the growth and reproduction of fungi. Many fermented vegetables also contain anti-ulcer properties that protect the stomach against and help prevent intestinal ulcers.  Acetylcholine is also present in sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables which has natural anti-depressant properties.

Lactic Fermentation is the only one that preserves all the natural substances of the vegetable. It also allows the flavor to fully develop, thereby, preserving the food, and improving its quality. As a nutritionist, I highly recommend consuming this type of fermented vegetable at least once day.

The best method of lactic fermentation is made traditionally, in old-world style stoneware fermentation pots. The patented original Harsch stoneware fermentation pots are hand-crafted, baked at 1200 degrees Celsius and are suitable for fermenting almost all kinds vegetables such as cabbage, pumpkins, cucumbers, carrots, beans, celery, onions, and bell peppers. Theses pots are the superior method of fermentation for three main reasons. First, because they are made of  natural stoneware the environment they create is mold and slime free, whereas other pots made of glass or other substances are more porous and can allow for the development of mold. Additionally, the the Harsch fermentation pots contain a water groove around the rim of the pot which as long as the groove is always filled with water will prevent air from penetrating into the crockery pot, the formation of film-forming yeast which makes the vegetables slimy, the top layer of vegetables from perishing, dust or bugs from coming in, and the weighing stone from becoming greasy. And finally the Harsch fermentation pots include a two-piece weighing stone that ensure the vegetables are always covered in liquid and generates the correct pressure required for lactic fermentation to take place.

Sauerkraut Recipe - for use with a 10L Harsch fermentation pot

approx. 5-8 kg of cabbage

approx. 5-8 g of salt for 1 kg cabbage (The better the pot is sealed the less salt is required.)

1. Remove the outer wilted leaves of the cabbage and the stalk (either with a special cutter or a knife) and shred the cabbage into a large dish.

2. Weigh the salt and place it next to the cabbage.

3. Put one layer of shredded cabbage into the stoneware fermentation pot, add some salt and press down firmly (with your fist or with a stamper) until juice (cell sap) emerges.

4. Repeat the above procedure until the pot is full.

5. Place the weighing stone on top. If there is less than 3-4 cm of juice above the stone, add some boiled and cooled salt water (15 g of salt for 1 L of water).

6. Close pot with the lid and pour some water in the groove.

7. Leave the pot at room temperature (20-22 degrees C) for 2-3 at best in the kitchen. When you hear the bubbling sound the fermentation process has started.

8. Put the pot in a cool place (approx. 15-18 degrees C).

9. After 4-6 weeks you can eat the sauerkraut. Store in a cool cellar (5-15 degrees C).

The Hurom Slow Juicer and the Omega VRT330 are both new juicers to the market. They are a new, upright design of more traditional single auger juicers. Both hold several advantages over other juicers that have dominated the juicing market for years. First, it is important to note that both the Hurom and Omega VRT330 are manufactured in the same plant. They are virtually the exact same juicer. The similarities between the two are almost undetectable. They are both fantastic juicers!

The advantages of this new upright design in a single auger juicer are many. Both the Hurom and Omega VRT330 are able to juice fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and wheatgrass in an extremely efficient manner! For example, the Hurom has recently been added the Ultimate Nourishment kitchen and we have been able to yield about 24oz of juice from 2 large apples, 5 regular carrots, 1 small beet and 2 medium chunks of ginger. This is quite substantial over other juicers on the market! And, while the technology of the juicer allows for slow rpm juicing compared to say the rpm juicing of a centrifugal juicer, the juicing process is actually quite fast, and clean-up is a breeze!  The auto-feeding design on these juicers is brilliant and eliminates difficult juicing of hard vegetables like carrots and beets. The auto-feeding also allows for the longer juicing sessions to take place quickly, with no compromise to the juice nutrient quality.

If you are in the market for a juicer, we can not recommend both of these units enough. They are an innovative and easy way to get you or a loved one on the fast track to juicing health!  The use, design, and efficiency of these juicers is unbeatable. Many research studies have concluded that drinking fresh juice daily can not only boost the immune system and fight disease, it can actually help one to look younger! The Hurom and the OmegaVRT330 juicers extract a superior quality of juice. Thus, utilizing nature’s best source of nutrition, drinking fresh juice daily provides the body with more nutrition than any other food source. Give yourself or another the gift of good health, with an easy, delicious way to enjoy nutrition, Juicing!