Raw Harvest Algae Salad & Being Weird
That weird, too passionate altruist
who plans to save the world. Who?
Oh my.. you should have met me some 10 years ago. In school I was the one discussing polluted oceans, the horror of banana plantations and inventing ”religions” where past lives and living in the heart were central. No one could argue I did´nt have passion. But I would have traded it any day to feel like I fit in. Keep reading…
I was never an outsider (or?!), I really enjoyed hanging out with the people in school and I have been blessed with wonderful crazy amazing friends. But I have always been older then my age, no argument there. When everyone started drinking at 14 I was so shocked that they really wanted to do that to themselves. Meanwhile I was reading books on spirituality and making chocolate cakes with my sister (Much like now but the cakes are raw this time). Sure, later on I had my insane clubbing- & sneaking out -period (ohhhh, fun times!).
I feel like over the past years I’ve started to catch up with myself (or my age is starting to catch up). I’ve found a way to move through life with all fabulous parts of myself welcomed and present, plus everyday we learn something new about them.
And what about the weird altruist who wants to save the world? Oh, she is SO present and super excited to have found a way (and a community) to actually work with those passions and save the world one recipe at a time.
Yes, I realize I am talking about myself in third person. Go with it…
Fun & Fabulous Facts
Today I feel like writing a love letter to the waters of this planet. Totally magical and pretty damn necessary for the survival of, well everything. So here I go.
”Dear waters of the earth, let me be on your side.
I admire your strength, your never ending love of life and your powerful yet soothing movements. You are a miracle worker, a superhero and the bravest one I have ever known. You have carried me for so long, now let me carry you for a while. Let me stand up tall and take your side. Let me give you all my love. Let me give you all my love just as you have do
ne for the earth over millions and millions of years. It is time. I promise you this. I will carry you.”
With this promise in mind, I will tell you something WACKY.
Over the past decades our longing of living ”well” has put us in a really tricky situation. We raced so fast from agriculture to agribusiness that we forgot the word ”quality”. We wanted so bad to measure the success of society based on how much food there were. We got there. We got to the other side with subsidized hamburgers and fries but are we happier? healthier? Let me tell you what. The waters are definitely NOT happier or healthier as a direct result of our agribusiness obsession.
If we keep going on the way we are. The oceans will die. Literally. It´s already happening. An enormous part of the Mexican gulf is now a so called ”dead zone” where pretty much no lifeforms can exist. These zones are found all over the earth and If you were to fly over one you would see it´s complete blackness. I have t
o admit that the first I saw one of those pictures on Google (head over there after reading this) my tears welled up immediately. It is said that certain plane routes are actually being changed because governments does not want us to see the dead zone
s first hand. Scary, eh? But why do these zones exist you might ask? Well, it´s simple really.
Toxic loads coming from agribusiness, factory farming and pharmaceuticals leaks straight to the waters of the earth. Our idea of living well have resulted in the death of oceans and we have turned the water into a place for dumping things we don´t want to see. We grow food with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and all other wonderful things (note the sarcasm) and after spraying this poison over plants and earth, it goes directly into our oceans and causes nutrient enrichment. The nutrient enrichment then cause an insane amount of toxic aquatic growth. When the aquatic plants naturally decays, all oxygen is used for the process = no oxygen left for fish, sea shells and all other darlings very much needed for a thriving eco-system. Tadaa – a dead zone is made.
So have a look in your kitchen, are there mostly conscious vegan whole foods? Then good job. You´ve voted for thriving oceans.
Note on good algae: Natural algae cleans the waters of the earth so if grown in a toxic place it contains a lot of those nasty things. Therefore it´s crazy important to buy algae from a trusted company and always organic. I am SO for adding algae to your everyday diet and supporting healthy waters for them to grow in. Note: The sea spaghetti in the pictures are good guys. Promise.
Raw harvest & algae salad
I focused on the yummy creamy algaes for this recipe (insanely tasty and easy to make) then I went out to the veggie garden and harvested that which was available. Weather or not you go to the veggie garden or the supermarket. Grab the greens in season and they will work perfectly!
Creamy sea spaghetti – 2 servings
30 g dry sea spaghetti (or algae of choice).
1/2 avocado
1/2 lemon, juice & zest
1 tsp light Miso
1 stalk celery
1/2 tsp salt
1 pinch chili
1 tbsp Tamari
1. Rinse the sea spaghetti thoroughly and then soak in clean water for at least 2 hours (put them in a bowl of water in the morning and they will be ready for either lunch or dinner).
2. Rinse the sea spaghetti thoroughly again.
3. Mix the rest of the ingredients preferably using a handblender.
4. Massage the creamy sauce into the sea spaghetti and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (preferably more).
Glorious greens
1 yellow apple cucumber
1 large fistful of sugarsnaps
3 large fistful of Mache salat
2 beet roots, thinly sliced
some calendula flowers
Arrange
Prepare the vegetables and arrange with the marinated creamy sea spaghetti on two plates. Drizzle with good quality olive oil and toasted sesame seeds (optional).
So, honey – now it´s up to us. Are you willing to make the same promise I just did and care for the waters of the earth?! I certainly hope so! We can be weird altruists together!
Head over to Twitter and Facebook and tell me:
Did you know about the Dead Zones of the Oceans? If so, have you seen them?
Huge amounts of LOVE!
Elenore
Sources:
www.Greenpeace.com
www.KRAV.se
www.Natgeo.com
27 Comments
Sarah B
10 september, 2012oh yum yum YUM!!!!
can’t wait to munch on those veggies too :D
love you!
Sarah B
ElenoreEarth
10 september, 2012Counting down the minutes, love. 150 to go!
celia
10 september, 2012This is a beautiful post Elenore. I really enjoyed reading the beginning where you talked about how you were in school. I can see myself in you a bit with the way that i was in school as well.
It’s such a huge scary thing to think that the ocean/waters are suffering, but it’s divine the way that you speak out on the issue.
And i’m a freak for Seaweed. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
ElenoreEarth
10 september, 2012I am so happy that you took everything into your heart, dearest! It´s such a pleasure knowing you read it!
ola
10 september, 2012Dear Eleonore!
I’m searching for recipes with sea buckthorn and thought would have a look at your blog, but can’t see any searching engine. is it possible to find recipes by ingredients on your site? and one more thing, have you thought about selling your nordic super food mix on your website? i have the feeling your readers would be very happy if it was possible :) greetings,
ola
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012Dear Ola,
Thank you for your thoughts, I´ll keep them in mind for sure. I would love to sell the Nordic Superfood mix on my website but however it would be a lot of distribution work.. we will see!
Have a beautiful day!
ola
15 september, 2012Wish you good luck then! And is there any chance for a recipe involving sea buckthorn?;) Hugs from Copenhagen!
Elizabeth
10 september, 2012I’ve recently subscribed to your page on facebook and I’m a new vegetarian. Cancer survivor that needed a way to get healthier and happy. I love the things you post and would love to get the most from the information. What are some simple things that my new veggie family can do to achieve the goals you listed above? Don’t mean to be so out of touch….but if I don’t ask I’ll never learn. Thank you again for your amazing insight and inspiration.
E
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012Hi dearest Elisabeth!
I am so glad you have found your way here! I would urge you to quickly subscribe to my newsletter because then you will
receive the Earthsprout BAsic Bible. It´s a great starter, inspiration boost and knowledge kick. Put it on your fridge and
let that veggie passion flow!
Golubka
10 september, 2012Feel the same way about being ‘weird’, although it might hard when you’re younger, it definitely gets better with age :) And oh my goodness, this salad!!!
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012Yeah.. I´m letting my age point me in the right direction.. its a strange thing though.. Society puts so much into age.
I hope you´ll love the salad as much as I do, honey!
brandi taylor
10 september, 2012Oh my goodns I was crying before I even got to the recipe. I am vegan, now if I could just switch my husband over. Hmmm
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012Oh, dear.. thank you for your honesty! <3 LOVE
Mély
10 september, 2012Dear Elenore,
Yes, I am willing to make the very same promise you did, to the ocean, and to our Earth Mother ♡
I promise I will really try to take care of them both, as I will with myself : body, soul & heart ✩
I also promise that I will make all the efforts possible to bring Love & Light to everyone who is ready to receive & welcome it.
Love.
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012You are such a miracle light worker my love”!
Tamaura
11 september, 2012You have made me swoon….AGAIN! Your passion rings through your writing and the photographs highten the flavor in my soul and on my tongue. Thank you from the center of my heart, for being truely divinely YOU. Blessed be <3
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012Ahhh, wow! My heart just might explode from reading your words! Darling You, Thank you for shining so bright!
Keep up your glow
Wild Plant Forager
11 september, 2012Elenore, I am so deeply touched by your love letter – maybe we should all try to write more love letters to the loves of our lives that we take for granted.
Usually we take a yearly trip to the coast of Northern France, where we harvest our own seaweeds. This year our summer has been so busy that we haven’t done that yet. But now I can’t wait to get there. I’ll waive to you :)
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012And I will wave back for sure! More love letters it is!
Simple recipes
12 september, 2012Excellent recipe. Simple and delicious recipes. Good for you.
I cook tonight your recipe
Judith
12 september, 2012Dear Eleonore,
Thank you so much for yet another amazing and inspiring post!
I sooo feel with you when you are talking about you being ”weird”. I made the same experiences. But I think it’s getting ”better” when you’re older cause you get to know a bunch of other ”weirdos” and some of them even write out-of-the-worldly brilliant blogs ;-)
oh and thanks for the recipe! Now I only have to find some spaghetti algae ;-)
lotsa love & bliss to you!
Ariela
14 september, 2012What a beautiful letter Eleanore! I too have had those moments of feeling ”weird” because of the ideas/beliefs/passions I hold true to myself. But! It’s so important to be ”weird” about issues that affect the planet we live on, and it’s so great to have a community of bloggers like you who put themselves out there (”weirdness” and all) and create a place where we can all meet, connect and make changes.
And this salad is gorgeous too!
ElenoreEarth
15 september, 2012It is so true, Ariela! We need to put that ”wierdness” out there because it heals the planet and sends out a TON of awesome vibes!
Keep up your glow!
Tara Drury
15 september, 2012This was beautiful, and very emotional.
Gena
30 september, 2012If wanting to make the world better is wrong, then I don’t know what’s right!
ElenoreEarth
30 september, 2012That´s why being ”wierd” is AWESOME!
david @SaladPride
6 november, 2012i’m loving your blog!
great stuff
:D