Healthy chocolate recipe made from cacao powder

Recently, I made a chocolate from scratch - from cocoa powder! It tastes a bit different from the ones you get at stores, but it's a lot more healthier and yummy! I was asked to share the recipe by quite a few people, so here it is!

As usual, I didn't measure any of the ingredients, but made it with the "this-is-about-right" amounts, so you will need to adjust them according to your taste.

Ingredients:

- cacao powder (about 1/2 cup)
- coconut oil
- cinnamon
- stevia (or other sweeteners you like, such as honey, agave nectar, brown sugar, etc.)

How to make it:

- put cocoa powder, cinnamon and stevia in a container and mix them well. Check the taste at this point and make it a bit sweeter than how you like it to be
- put coconut oil in a pan and heat it until it becomes liquid (I was able to skip this step, as I live in Florida and my coconut oil was already in a liquid form without heating it!)
- Using a tablespoon, add coconut oil into the mixture of #1 above. When you do this, stir every time you add another spoonful and keep adding it until it gives the thickness of your liking. Make sure not to add too much oil and make it too weak. The color should be dark and it should be pretty thick, not liquidy.
- Optional: Add dark cherries, blueberries, raw nuts, if you like. It tastes better if you defrost frozen ones and use them, rather than using fresh ones.
- Optional: sprinkle rough xylitol on top of it evenly
- Put it in a refrigerator

That's all!

It's super yummy!! Try it and let me know how you like it!

Me :)

PS: People say cocoa contains antioxidant. It may be. However, just eating chocolate is not quite enough to get it! Taking vitamin E is a great way of getting antioxidant! You can get it at my online store, Kenkobi Factory: www.KenkobiFactory.com. We ship internationally.

This one has dark cherries in it! :)

New non-fat dressing recipe

I didn't really cook till just a few years ago. I was always very busy and just didn't have the time (that is my excuse!).  Once I started it, I found cooking to be quite fun. I really enjoy it. I don't want to give you a false idea, though, that I'm now a super cook! I'm nowhere near that, yet! Everything I make is very simple, but is easy and quick.

While I get some recipes from my friends or the internet, I often invent new ones of my own. I just come up with the idea of mixing certain things and can imagine how the taste would come out - well, most of the times.

With this reason, my recipes usually don't come with the exact measurement, as I hardly measure things. I just put things together with the amount which I feel "right."

Anyway, I just came up with the most delicious salad dressing, so wanted to share it with you:

- 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons of mustard (I used stoneground one, simply because I like that kind, but I think any kind would do)
- a bit of unsweetened coconut milk
- a bit of stevia

It is very creamy and sooooo good! Try it and let me know how you like it.

Have a great weekend!

:)

PS: If you want to take healthy oil by supplements, my online store, Kenkobi Factory, can help you! Go visit www.KenkobiFactory.com! 

I LOVE salad!! :)

My thoughts on Father's Day

It was the Father's Day yesterday. After I sent him a short "Happy Father's Day" message, I thought something like this:

"When it comes to parents, we tend to remember all the bad things they did when we were little, like 'they scolded at me on this' or they did this or that. But the truth is, besides the fact that I wouldn't even be here without them with all the opportunities to do many great things in life, they also did so many great things for us which are easily 100 times more than those little unpleasant mistakes they made.

Like for me, my parents sent me up to college because they believed in good education, helped me when I needed, take me to nice restaurants whenever I go back to Japan, etc., but I haven't been showing my appreciation for them enough. Not fair for them.

Looking back, my dad got up early in the morning to go to work to support us every day for over 30 years. And on his day offs, he again got up early to take us to the amusement park, the zoo, and many other places to make us happy. Factually, he didn't have any day offs for over 30 years!!

And my mom cooked for us every day. She said she didn't like cooking very much, but still cooked for us every day. I loved everything she made. I never had frozen food for dinner. And she didn't let us have fast foods for lunch saying it would not be good for our health, while other kids brought them for lunch. As a kid, we liked things like that and I complained to her, but she held her position.  

They have done just so much for me and it is sometimes overwhelming. I always mean to do more for them in return, but get caught by the busyness of everyday life and haven't done enough for them. 

I can't stay with them much either - they are in Japan and I'm here in the US. But I guess there are still things I can do for them from here, or there might be even things I can do, because I'm here. But either way, I want to and need to do more for them.

Thank you so much for all you've done for me so far and for your constant support."

So, I wrote down exactly how I felt and sent another message to them. My dad wrote me back and said, "Oh wow, it was very touching. I'll save this forever and put a copy of it in a frame." Haha... funny. But I guess they understood how I feel about them. An honest communication is really nice. :)

I suggest you take care of your parents, too. :)

With love,
Tomoko

PS: If you want to give your parents a gift of health, my online store, Kenkobi Factory, has various high quality vitamins, supplements. Please visit www.KenkobiFactory.com

I was like this when I was a child - totally looked like a boy!!!

Wheat-free basil bread

My friend introduced me to wheat-free bread using oat bran recently and I'm really into it now. I'm inventing many different versions. I came up with another recipe and it was SO yummy, so I wanted to share it with you:

- 30g oat bran
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg (or 2 egg whites)
- pinch of sea salt
- pinch of basil

1. Mix all the ingredients
2. Put parchment paper on a flat metal cooking tin
3. Lay the "dough" on it
4. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, if you like
5. Put it in the oven at 350 and bake for 8 minutes

O-h-h-h-h !!!! It is sooooo good!!!

:)

PS: It is best to get your nutrition through actual foods you enjoy! I'm a huge believer of that. But if you can't get enough of certain nutrition by your foods and need extra vitamins or supplements, my online store, Kenkobi Factory, can help you! Please visit www.KenkobiFactory.com. We ship internationally.



I tasted it to make sure the recipe I'm sharing was good before I posted it, and it was deliiiissshhh!! :)

Best detox program

I try most of the supplements myself before I carry them in my online store. While I understand everyone's body is different and the same item could work differently on each person, I want to make sure what I'm selling is actually good and high quality.

Many people are interested in detox nowadays, so I have tried several detox supplements myself. And I think I finally found the most effective detox method, so I wanted to share it with you.

Ready?

"EXERCISE" (and water)

I know!!! I can hear all your "ugh's" from all over the world! So sorry to disappoint you, but that is the fact! Of course, you can take some high quality detox supplements WITH IT and get even better results, but after all, you are going to have to work harder than just swallowing some pills to get the best result on this. Life is tough, huh?

I have to confess - I'm really bad at this, too. I mean, in this busy schedule, who could take the time to exercise, right? I don't care for just running or going to the gym for a treadmill. I like playing the actual sports - the "real" stuff, you know? Like tennis or volleyball. But it's so hard to find the day when everyone's available to play that the day will never come!

With this perfect excuse, I haven't done any regular exercise in double digit years! I started sometimes, continued for 2-4 weeks, and then quit.

A few months ago, a group of us got together and bought one-year gym membership at a local hotel. It's just 5 minutes away from where I live, but I still hadn't been there even once!

Recently, I ran into one of them and she convinced me that I should go, so I finally went. All I did was super-fast walk for just half an hour and spent some time in sauna, but, boy, did I feel great! From the point on, I started going 3-4 times a week.

Exercise is actually very good for you, even if it's a very mild one. It promotes blood circulation, and also puts your attention outwards and takes your mind off of things. It is quite therapeutic - physically and mentally. Just start from what you can. Some is better than none. You can always work it up gradually, if you want to.

Well, it's been only a couple of weeks since I started this healthy habit, but I started. :) And the more of us get together, the easier it gets, because we can be accountable to each other and encourage to continue. Plus, it's a lot more fun when we do it together!

So who wants to join me?

:)

Me

PS: Of course, there are some excellent detox supplements available at my online store, Kenkobi Factory. You can take a look at here: www.KenkobiFactory.com

This may work!!

Super easy summer dessert

LONG time ago, I was addicted to McFlurry (like, REALLY REALLY long time ago!). But if you like dessert like that, here is a healthy and super tasty substitute:

- Greek yogurt (or "yogourt" for people in the UK!)
- stevia (or other sweetener)
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed/ flaxseed meal
- pinch of cinnamon

You can add blueberries or strawberries, if you like.

That's it. Easy, right? And it is super yummy!!!

PS: During summer, taking potassium will help you get through the hot weather. You can get it at my online store, Kenkobi Factory! www.KenkobiFactory.com

Wheat-free pumpkin scone recipe

A couple of weeks ago, I posted a wheat-free sourdough bread recipe. With just slight change, you can also easily make a pumpkin anything - pumpkin scone, pumpkin pancake, pumpkin muffin, etc. I was asked for a recipe from quite many people, so I'm posting here separately.

Ingredients:

- 2 tablespoons oat bran
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin (you can get a canned one which has been already cooked and mashed)
- 1 egg or 2 egg whiltes
- svetia or other sweetner to your taste
- a pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

Mix all the ingredients.

For pancake - with oven

1. Put parchment paper on a flat metal cooking tin
2. Lay the "dough" on it
3. Put it in the oven at 350 and bake for 8-9 minutes

Here is the photo of it make in the oven (made with 2 egg whites)

For pancake - in pan

1. Prepare small skillet by heating up to medium heat and spray cooking oil
2. Pour mixture in pan and cook on one side until bubbles start to form on the pancake. Then flip.

For muffin

- Pour mixture in a muffin shaped container (use silicon container, so it won't stick)
- Put it in the oven at 350 and bake for 18 minutes.

Needless to say, if you use whole egg, it comes out more yellow, and if you use 2 egg whites, it comes out more white.

When I know I won't have much time the next morning, I make the mixture the night before and and make it all ready, so all I need to do in the morning is to pour the mixture and put it in the oven. By laying the mixture over night, it becomes thicker and you'll be able to make thicker scone. You need to adjust the baking time depending on how thick your scone is. The thicker it is, the longer, of course.

And here is the photo of muffin (made with a whole egg)

You can try many different ways and see which ones you like :)

Enjoy!!

PS: I believe that the best way to get nutrition is through real foods. It's much more tasty than vitamins or supplements, and making good foods are fun! But if you can't get enough of certain nutrition or vitamins, my online store, Kenkobi Factory can help you! www.KenkobiFactory.com

A "good loser"

I love tennis! I watch almost all final games of every major tournament, especially when my current favorite player, Rafael Nadal, is playing! He is such a fighter. His play is always very strong, energetic and speedy. He is persistent and doesn't give up. I really love watching his games.

In 2007 Wimbledon final, Rafael Nadal played against Roger Federer - another "one of the best of all time." They played against each other in 2006 Wimbledon final, too, and at that time, Federer won. In 2007, Federer was playing for his 5th title (and 5th consecutive) and Nadal was playing for his first title in Wimbledon.

It was such a close game. In fact, it was the third longest men's singles final of all time at 3 hours and 45 minutes. The result? Rafa lost again.

But I still remember his speech after this match. He said, "I'm a good loser." What? A "good loser"???

What he meant was (remember, his native language is Spanish!!) that he accepts his loss well. He does not make any excuses as to why he lost, but confronts the hard fact that he lost and that he lost because Federer's play was better in many aspects in the game today. He sees what his weaknesses are, what improvements he can make, so he can practice, get better at these points and come back as a stronger player.

Next year, the final was again, Nadal vs. Federere, and this time, Nadal won!

His attitude is very admirable. I know it's not easy sometimes. But that is why he's been one of the top players for many years now.

One of my very favorite authors, L. Ron Hubbard, said:

"Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today and you make your tomorrow."

This is a very helpful principle to follow. It saved me so many times.

Like just a couple of days ago, I made a pretty big mistake on something. I was a bit disturbed, as it couldn't be undone. I thought about it for a while, wondering what could have happened, if I didn't make the mistake. But it has already happened!! There is no point in keeping thinking about all sorts of "what if's"!

So I told myself, "OK, I made the mistake. It has happened already and it cannot be undone at this point. Let's stop thinking about it now and no look back! Let's see how I can avoid making the same mistake in the future and what I can do to make it up."

Once I took on this attitude, things started rolling again, and now I'm on the right track! And I'm sure I'll have better tomorrow!!

So I highly recommend you follow this principle, too!

:)

PS: When you are mentally very stressed, taking some vitamin B1 helps you tremendously. You can order at my online store, Kenkobi Factory: www.KenkobiFactory.com

Super easy wheat-free sourdough "bread" recipe!!

I got this recipe from my friend recently. It is super easy, super healthy and yummy!!

Wheat-free sourdough "bread" (this ingredient will make one piece/ slice)

Ingredients:

- 2 tablespoons oat bran
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 egg or 2 egg whiltes

How to make it:

1. Mix all the ingredients
2. Put parchment paper on a flat metal cooking tin
3. Lay the "dough" on it
4. Put it in the oven at 350 and bake for 8-9 minutes

DONE!!!

Easy, right? :)

You can also put the same "dough" in a muffin shaped container (use silicon container, so it won't stick) and bake it at 350 for 18 minutes

or

fry it in a frying pan using cooking spray and have it as a pancake.

I like to have it with scrambled eggs or yogurt on top. It's good with cream cheese, too. If you think of some other great idea, please write me at KenkobiFactory@gmail.com and share your idea.

:)

PS: Eating well and properly contributes to your health very much. Nowadays, the nutrition contained in foods are so small that you will need to take vitamins and supplements to get proper nutrition or to get your health back. My online store, www.KenkobiFactory.com, can help you for your vitamins and supplements need :)

"Best smoothie ever!!" recipe :)

I just made the BEST smoothie ever!!

Very simple!

1. Put the following items in a blender:
- some frozen dark cherries
- some almond milk (unsweetened) or rice milk. I like rice milk better :)
- 1 scoop of protein powder
- 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds
- 1 tablespoonful of unsweetened cocoa powder (optional, but is DELISH with it!!)

2. Blend them all together! :)

I use this protein powder. It is VERY good.

http://www.kenkobifactory.com/standard-vitamins-soy-protein-powder-21-oz/

Ummm... yummy!!!!

Enjoy the smoothie! :)

Tomoko

PS: My online store, Kenkobi Factory, has many more high quality vitamins and supplements on top of the protein powder I just introduced. Go visit and check it out! www.KenkobiFactory.com.

Anti-aging - a truly workable way!

How to not age or how to stay look young is a girls' forever theme (or guys', too, I guess?). There are so many products being sold to prevent one from aging, it is astonishing! Botox, plastic surgery, "magic" pills, you name it!

Here is my viewpoint on aging:

First of all, it is not a bad thing! It gives sort of a "flavor" to one's feature, or gives some idea as to what kind of life the person has been and is having. If you are always smiling or laughing, and get wrinkles because of that, they give you sort of a "natural happy look" and that's perfectly okay! I think it is very attractive.

Of course, if someone is angry all the time and that gives them the frowning wrinkles, that is not good! But that can be remedied easily by starting smiling more :)

Your spiritual condition/ state of mind affects a lot as to how young/ how old you look. I personally think this factor is more important than anything else. It affects much more than the actual time/ years passed. When someone is very happy and doing well in life, the person tends to look a lot younger!

And, to add to that, if you are eating right, getting proper nutrition and being healthy, you are more lively, energetic and look definitely younger.

Let's live a happy life and stay young!

With love,
Tomoko :)

PS: Antioxidant is known for anti-aging and vitamin E is an excellent supplement for it. You can get it at my online store! www.KenkobiFactory.com.

How to make great coffee - my way! :)

I admit shamelessly that I'm a coffee lover. I looove having a good cup of coffee in the morning. In fact, sometimes I go to bed at night just so that I can have my coffee the next morning! ;)

I usually have only one cup a day, though, but it has to be made VERY good and strong! :)

It seems that the dark roast is very popular nowadays - maybe since Starbucks became popular, I don't know. I like the light or the medium roast being made super strong using the French press.

So today, I wanted to share how to make good coffee, and believe me, I make GOOD coffee! :) Ready?

1. Grind some coffee beans. The amount depends on how strong you want your coffee to be. I use 4-5 scoops, but as I said, I like mine to be super strong. It may be way too strong for some "beginners," so start smaller amount and "work it up." ;)
2. Put the coffee in the French press container.
3. Boil hot water. Make sure to make more hot water than what you are going to drink. You'll know why soon at the step #6.
4. When the water is boiled (like REALLY boiled with it actually bubbling), pour it into the French press container (you only pour the amount you drink) and gently stir it.
5. Put the presser on top. You leave the "lid" at the level where the hot water is (See the photo below. Just like that). In other words, you don't press down the lid to the bottom, yet.
6. Pour the rest of the hot water into your coffee cup to warm it up. This is so that your coffee doesn't get cold by pouring it into a cold cup. This is a VERY important step, to me anyway, as I like my coffee to be served extra hot! :)
7. Wait for 4 minutes.
8. Press down the stuff (I don't know what it's called, really, but you know what I mean).
9. Pour out the hot water from your coffee cup and empty it (don't forget!), and pour your coffee.

And it is ready! :)

I like mine to be black. Once in a while, I put cinnamon. But you can put anything you would like and enjoy your coffee!

Actually, my online store has some great organic coffee beans. Check it out:

http://www.kenkobifactory.com/foods/

Have a GREAT morning! :)

How to make jelly - the plant-based way!

I'm not a vegan or vegetarian. I do eat meat and fish, and I love them. I think everyone's body's different and while some people do great with plant-based foods/protein only, my body doesn't do well, if I eliminate animal protein completely. I feel lethargic, lack of energy and experience water retention.

However, I'm trying to have as much plant-based products as possible, since I feel they are cleaner foods (whether it is correct or not. I just FEEL that way).

Today, I wanted to show you this product called "kanten" - a hardening agent (In English, it is called "agar" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agar). I use this when I make jelly. It is very commonly used in Japan (and I believe in the rest of the Asian countries, too).

OK, here are the photos:

 

I always use kanten instead of gelatin, simply because I just can't handle the idea of gelatin - derived from the collagen inside animal's skin and bones! Ugh....

There are several brands, but make sure to get a powdered one. It's a lot easier to use than solid ones. You can get it at any Japanese Supermarket, such as Mitsuwa or Nijiya here in the US, or at any Asian market, I believe. You can also get it here:

http://www.marukaiestore.com/p-5521-yamashin-rakuraku-kanten-4gx2p-028oz.aspx

(Just to let you know, my online store, http://www.KenkobiFactory.com, is not related to this store at all. This is an online Japanese supermarket which I personally found very convenient)

Let me know how you like it. I would love to get your feedback! :)

Gluten-free veggie pizza recipe

Oh wow - I got so many positive feedback on my last post - mashed cauliflower recipe! Thank you! :)

You know, I used to never cook. I was eating out over 95% of the time. I was always busy, but more than anything else, my cooking skill was SO bad that even I couldn't eat the stuff I made myself - true story!! So I just went out and ate. It was a lot faster and easier, and the foods were better... I THOUGHT. I've learned how restaurant foods are not so good sometimes - we never know what's in there!

So I started learning how to cook. I make everything from the scratch nowadays. It's been just this couple of years that I really cook stuff myself, but I'm getting better. :) And all my recipes are VERY easy to do. :) :)

So I thought I'd share another recipe. This one is "Veggie pancake." It's like Japanese okonomi-yaki, if you know what it is (If you don't know what it is, you can see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki). It's gluten-free, though, for those of you who are on gluten-free diet. :)

OK, here it is:

1. Get a bag of "broccoli slaw." You can get this at most of the stores in the US
2. Stir fry it with salt and pepper
3. Beat eggs
4. Pour eggs onto the stir fried broccoli
5. Fry it both sides, just like you make your pancakes

That's it. Easy, right?

I like to add coconut oil on the top. Or you can also put salsa (here in this photo below, you see I put salsa on the side). But these are optional.

Let me know how you like it. :)

Mashed cauliflower recipe - delicious! :)

See the photo below (sorry - this is not the greatest photo)? Do you know what this "mashed-potato-looking thing" is? It's mashed cauliflower!!

Here is how to make it:

1. Cut up cauliflower and boil it in hot water for about 4 minutes (I like it to be not too soft. If you like it very soft or very creamy, you can boil it longer).
2. Drain the cauliflower.
3. Put it in a blender.
4. Take it out from the blender and put it in a bowl or a plate
5. Taste it however you like it - salt, pepper, butter, garlic, etc.

It is super easy and delicious!!! Try it! :)

Your body is strong

This may sound a bit strange, as my online store, Kenkobi Factory, carries vitamins and supplements (as well as other things), but I don't take vitamins everyday myself. I'm not the type of the person who takes religiously.

I'm not a big fan of protein powder, either. I occasionally have it, when I don't have the time to cook, but I'd much prefer eating real foods over protein shake made out of protein powder.

I take vitamins and supplements only when I feel my body needs it. For example, sometimes I do feel I need to take primrose oil or Vitamin B or magnesium or whatever it is. When that happens, I take them. But I don't just take things mechanically. I don't think it is necessary. To prove that, all the results of my health exams - cholesterol, blood pressure and everything else are all very excellent!

Your body is made strong. It heals itself, if you take care of it properly. You don't have to "baby" them.

Eat well and stay healthy. And use vitamins and supplements as necessary. Let's not depend on them. But when you need them, please visit my online store:

http://www.KenkobiFactory.com

I'd be very glad to help you with what you need. :)

Let's be healthy

Ever since I was little, it has been my theme to overcome being "fat," "chubby," "big" or the concepts described by other synonyms. I guess I'm not considered to be "fat" in this country (I live in the US), but growing up in Japan, I was always and definitely considered to be heavy side, although I weighed much less then compare to now. You see how slim, small and fragile the typical Asian girls are? I was never and still am not like that.

My sister always had a super slim body (and she still does after two kids!). Actually, she has this thing called "gastroptosis" and has an opposite problem - she can't gain weight no matter how much or what she eats. I was very envious as a kid, but for her, that was a problem.

Having such a sister, it was always a nightmare to see the relatives! They all go, "Oh, your sister is so tiny and cute! And Tomoko, you are... umm... you look so... healthy!" Ugh. I started thinking all these supposedly positive words, such as "healthy," "pleasantly plump(!!)" = bad, bad, B-A-D!!!

It was always a HUGE problem for me. I was very much introverted and didn't want to be seen by people. When I had difficulties in life, especially when someone didn't like me (like boys!!), I thought it was because I was fat. Later, I realized that the problem actually lay within myself, not in my body. Plus, if someone doesn't like me because of the way I look, I shouldn't be associated with such people anyway. People should like me because of who I am, not because of the way I look!

But until I realized it, I confess - I have tried crazy diets several times in my life. It was horrible. By not eating properly, I got cranky, lacked energy and was not being healthy, and no one likes that - including myself! I mean, would you?

So I changed my focus to be healthy. :)

But I know many girls go through similar things and I TOTALLY understand what it's like, because I've been there myself. It is sort of promoted that way in this society, too.

That's why I created my online store, Kenkobi Factory (www.KenkobiFactory.com) with the purpose of helping people stay healthy and achieve their own natural beauty.

I believe that you'll look better, and more importantly, feel a lot better when you are healthy, even if you are a bit over-weight. Your focus should be being healthy and staying healthy. And if your friends don't agree with that, then you are probably with the wrong kind of friends. Be with people who love you for who you are and the way you are, and want you to be healthy, feel great and sparkly, because there are many like that out there - and here is one. :)

To your health and natural beauty! :)

  

Natural sleep remedy

Magnesium is a GREAT supplement. It relaxes your muscle and helps your sleep. It works well for constipation, too.

These 3 items in the photo below make my favorite magnesium drink. It's very easy and quick! Just put a teaspoonful of magnesium in a mag cup (and stevia, if you want to sweeten it. Stevia is a natural herb which can be used as a sugar substitute), pour some hot water and steep a tea bag. That's it! It's super easy!!

I use Nutrina's Super Mag (7oz. And it is $12.95). You can, of course, get it at my online store, Kenkobi Factory. :)

http://www.KenkobiFactory.com

Good night! Sleep well :) Zzzz....