Are you disconnected?

When is the last time you walked outside without shoes on? If there’s been snow on the ground for months where you live, I understand. Though I know that it’s still possible to walk outside without shoes on in the snow, it’s just much less pleasant (I did grow up in Wisconsin after all). I’m still going to argue that it’s possible. Allowing the soles of your feet make contact with the earth is just one of the many many ways to reconnect.

My husband Joe and I launched PsychedelicTimes.com over six months ago now. It’s drawn some of the focus and attention away from my passion for writing about Sensual Food, yet I will never compromise my health, and thus the Sensual Foodist lives on.…

The sequel sensual music video

Happy Holidays! 

 

How do you feel right now? I’m feeling really peaceful. The hustle and bustle energy that Christmas seems to bring each year has died down, and I’m so relieved. Even though we have chosen not to carry on this tradition for at least five years now, I still feel the intense energy of this time of year. My husband Joe and I don’t buy “presents” for each other, and buy only one for Joey, our 14 year old. This year, we actually didn’t buy him one at all. It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made. The uncomfortable, unnecessary pressure of Christmas consumerism has dissolved almost completely.

I know that New Year’s Eve has yet to come, and I really encourage you to to let this tradition live on.…

Bypass cancer with 10 action steps

Just over one month ago (though it seems much longer) I wrote about my father being in the hospital as a result of COPD. It really sucks to say; I’m not surprised that my grandmother ended up in the hospital over 2000 miles west, only a few weeks later. What are the chances? I guess I didn’t give it much thought before the situation came to be, but the chances were high.

Imagine NEVER cleaning your house. No washing the dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, and so forth.  Do you think it would get filthy? Probably so…

What about your body? It’s a great metaphor, (that I certainly didn’t create) the body is a home. I love to refer to my body as a sacred temple.…

Argentine Locro for Burning Man

The title says it all! I’m on my way to Burning Man, and will be playing in dust for the entire next week. Life is moving at a dizzying speed since I started school, and when I settle myself and sit down to eat, all I can think about is Vegetarian Locro (Argentine Hominy Stew).

Last week, my friend from Argentina had his mother visiting. She made us dinner. It was a totally oralgasmic meal. My friend is a strict vegan, so his mother made this traditional Argentine dish just for him. She left out the usual five animals limbs and parts.

I fell so deeply in love with this meal that I MUST share the recipe. I did not make this myself yet, which means I didn’t change anything or put my own spin on it.…

30 second dinner

There’s no good reason to spend hours in the kitchen every day. I highly recommend an hour or two-maybe once a week? Otherwise,

[Tweet “I’m all about fast, efficient and nourishing. “]

My husband Joe and I were traveling this summer and we wanted all the time we could get on the beach in Miami (we dream about that bathwater frequently). In other words, we wanted to spend as little time inside as possible. However, south Florida is nothing like the San Francisco Bay area. The sensual food scene is sparse. We opted for preparing our own at home. We rent through airbnb when we travel and always look for a decent kitchen. This spot couldn’t be beaten.

We’re home reminiscing already.…

Do you have kitchen trauma?

What was dinner like for you as a child? Did your mother or father, grandmother or caregiver figure in your life cook for you? Was there love in your kitchen?

This summer, while my husband Joe and I were in Miami, we met up with a good friend of ours who I learned something new about. She was raving about decorating her new apartment and how getting placemats for the kitchen table was a big feat for her. I listened intently and felt happy for her, but had to cock my head a bit and think about the placemat comment. It was a “feat?” Why were placemats such a big deal. I asked and she went on to explain that the kitchen wasn’t her strong point.…

Recipe for Savory, Nutty Italian-inspired Crackers

Crackers can be addicting finger foods. Anything in bite-sized form with a delectable crunch always gets me excited. I love crunchy and savory. These crackers are made with fresh basil, so they’re even more delicious. I believe that my serious cracker snacking days were when I was young. I’d sit with a box of Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies and go to town (I’m sounding super Wisconsin right now aren’t I)? For me, there’s this childhood nostalgia associated with crackers.

I have to be honest, there are a few strings attached here. This recipe includes almond meal. Yes, you

can purchase almond meal at the grocery store, however!  My boatload of almond meal, chillin’ in the freezer is from the gallons upon gallons of almond milk I’ve made.…

School lunch with a side of food

Cardboard crust with ketchup and plastic coating disguised as cheese. Maybe a few discolored green beans. The side “vegetable” was the closest thing to food on my plastic tray. This pretty much describes the pizza, and unbalanced meal I was served in middle school. Remember school lunch? Maybe you have kids, and it’s easy to recall just what a “school lunch” is.

I am a parent. My husband’s 13 year old son, Joey keeps us in the loop with what’s going on in public school lunchrooms. As of two years ago, he left the private school; where we prepared his vegetarian, sugar-free lunch each day. Even in the prestigious, cutting edge, Los Altos, Blue Ribbon School system, we’re witnessing discord. Joey’s back in public school where he’s questioning ethics in the lunch room.…

Fireworks in your mouth

fourthof JUly

For a while when I was in high school, and in my early college years, I was an activist obsessive. I wanted to take a stand on, well, everything. I wasn’t happy about fireworks and their effect on the environment. I’ve matured now and have learned that appreciation is a better emotion than anger. I’ll just appreciate the beauty of this spectacular day than be angry and fight against it. I’ve found even more ways to love Independance Day, which means that I am incorporating the holiday spirit into my meals. I truly believe that everyday should include a an explosion of tasty fireworks on the palette, but in honor of the fourth of July-we have a recipe to share with a little red, white and blue (and of course green too)!…

Collecting spring water for better sex

I could actually title everything on LanaShay.com “x” for better sex. Ninety-percent of everything I eat and drink contributes to a healthy love life. This is certainly not an ego-trip, it’s fact. I’m preaching because I want you to feel good and experience sensual bliss too. If that’s alright with you, then read on.

This is a continuation from last week, when I ranted about drinking plastic flavored water. It was a sad moment when I ran out of water when I reached the top of North America’s tallest waterfall, because it was contaminated by my low-quality plastic hydration pack.

My husband Joe and I collect our water from a natural spring. We used to have an Aquasana filter on our sink, but learned after a year of using it, that it wasn’t delivering us the best source of pure water.…