[VIDEO] Cynthia Explores Community Shared Agriculture in California

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Cynthia enjoys her Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) organic produce at Fairview Gardens in Santa Barbara, California

Check out this short video on my wonderful experience as a CSA member
(Community Shared Agriculture) at Fairview Gardens, one of the oldest organic farms in California. With increased national interest in eating locally grown organic foods for one’s health, the environment and supporting your local farmers, a CSA program is a great and affordable way to ‘eat like a Mediterranean’. The Mediterranean diet, largely plant-based, has been proven scientifically to be one of the healthiest diets in the world.

» Link to video

Check out RomancingTheTable.com for recipes, tips and watch me explore the cuisine of the Mediterranean (on location) with our #1 New York Times’ About.com Culinary-Travel DVD, A Greek Islands Destinations Cooking Class (DVD), filmed in Santorini, Greece. For women’s wellness tips, check out my Amazon.com Top Selling book, Diary of A Modern Day Goddess.

For more information on Fairview Gardens visit FairviewGardens.org.

To find a local Farmer’s Market or CSA program near you, visit LocalHarvest.org

  An Affordable Date Night Luxury Staycation at The Hadsten House Inn & Spa in California

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At the Hadsten House Inn & Spa affordable doesn’t have to mean without luxury. Whether you are a searching for an affordable staycation where you vacation locally or you are traveling from out of town to visit the beautiful Santa Barbara wine country/Santa Ynez Valley of California – The Hadsten House Inn & Spa is delightful destination/staycation.

After noticing an ad in the newspaper that the Hadsten House Inn & Spa in nearby Solvang was offering specials, I did further research. Their special one-night dinner package included lodging, dinner for two at their restaurant, wine and cheese in the afternoon and a buffet breakfast ($189 during the week and $259.00 on a weekend (double occupancy). I also discovered that the Hadsten House Inn was a former motel that underwent a year long renovation to transform it into what their website describes as a “luxury boutique lodging destination.”

Since my husband James and I had many “home dinner dates” and we had just completed major work projects, we thought an “extended date night” getaway at the Hadsten House Inn would be ideal.

My husband and I always look forward to our weekly date nights. On Sunday, we sit down for 10 minutes to discuss the activities of the upcoming week and to schedule our mid-week together time and our weekly date night. Each week, we alternate who plans the date night. The person in charge either makes dinner or makes a reservation and also selects the entertainment. We make sure to discuss the ideas with each other to make sure we’ll both enjoy the plans. Many of our date nights are home dates of a delicious home-cooked meal and movie. Staying in allows us to save up our money for dinner out and/or buy tickets to a film festival, concert, play or an overnight getaway.

We both agreed an overnight date night would be a great idea. Since it was my turn to plan, I made the reservations and we were soon in the car enjoying the thirty-mile drive from Santa Barbara to the Santa Ynez Valley – a scenic route of landscapes reminiscent of the old west.

The Hadsten House Inn & Spa is located in Solvang, which is a European Village in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country. The climate and location is great for outdoor activities from strolling to cycling to visiting the nearby wineries, many who offer discounts to the Hadsten House guests.

Once we arrived at the Inn, we took a tour of the property that included a day spa for massage, an indoor pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi area with cozy seating by two fireplaces and a delicious restaurant.

We were pleased with our spa suite room that included a decorative fireplace and a Sanijet Jacuzzi that had plenty of space for two (The spa suite upgrade costs an extra $50 and is well worth it.) Our European style bedroom included French furnishings, a luxurious and comfy custom bed with high thread count sheets, and a second decorative fireplace that produced glowing flames with a flick of a switch. The interior design touches also included crown molding and a stylish armoire.

Since James and I were in much need of some down time together, we decided to relax on site by enjoying the restaurant and in room spa. We found the in-room Jacuzzi to be a wonderful way to relax together. For our one night package, we received dining vouchers, which listed a nice selection of California-Mediterranean appetizers, entrees and desserts included in the package. You are free to substitute other entrees on the menu for an extra $10 (The menu can be viewed at www.HadstenHouse.com).

The Hadsten House restaurant interior has dark wood, decorative lighting and a warm fireplace that creates a Santa Ynez wine country feel. For our meal, I had the grilled wild salmon with vegetables, which was delicious.

My husband enjoyed the pork chops cooked to perfection and served with an apricot and fig chutney, roasted potatoes, baby carrots and asparagus. James said the pork chops were some of the best he had ever tasted. The house salad of chopped greens, chopped tomato and cucumber with goat cheese had a delicious twist of a creamy sherry dressing. For dessert, James ordered the bananas foster which came in a puff pastry with fresh bananas and strawberries. Since I have a wheat gluten allergy, I asked for a fruit salad. The chef created a layered fruit and whipped cream parfait. James and I found both desserts to be amazing. All of our menu selections were offered in the dinner package.

Soon it was time to leave. And the next day, as we drove back to Santa Barbara, we reminisced about our delicious meal. We returned home feeling reconnected and relaxed. Our overnight “extended date night” staycation at the Hadsten Inn & Spa was affordable, luxurious and just what we needed.

If you’d like more ideas on romantic getaways, tips and delicious date night recipes, sign up for my e-newsletter on the homepage of RomancingTheTable.com and you will also receive downloadable bonuses that include my date night scheduler and 12 tips for happier times at the table.

For more information on the Hadsten House Inn & Spa go to HadstenHouse.com. As of this writing the specials included our one-night dinner package, a two-night spa package, a wine country getaway and a two-night golf package. They also offer AAA & AARP midweek pricing.

–Cynthia Daddona

  [Video] Romantic, Greek Culinary Memory in Mykonos, Greece

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During the course of one’s lifetime we will all have eaten many meals whether alone or with others. Some which are ordinary and others quite special. The mere scent and taste of a certain food or even a photo can transport us back to a wonderful food memory which includes the people, the food and the location.

A Greek salad or horiatiki (villager salad) is what I love to make at home as often as possible. Its gorgeous colors and shapes of ripe tomatoes, green or red peppers, Kalamata olives, cucumber slices sprinkled with Greek oregano and lemon juice and completed with a glisten of olive oil and creamy feta cheese (made from goat and or sheep’s milk) are a feast for the senses. It is also take me back to my wedding and honeymoon on the Greek islands of Santorini and Crete and our recent trip to Naxos and Mykonos.

Watch the video below and join me as we enjoy a Greek salad by the Mediterranean sea at a Greek taverna, Alexandros, located in the Little Venice section of Mykonos:

» Click to watch the video

Our Greek village salad in Mykonos is another precious deposit into to our romantic culinary food memory bank.

Remember you can create or recreate your own wonderful food memory at home or while traveling as well.

– I want to share with you a simple and easy recipe to make your own Greek salad which I now call:

"A Grecian Goddess Greek Salad."

- Go to the recipe section of this website to view this and all the delicious recipes.

- You can also watch clips of another culinary travel memory we had in “A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class” DVD which was filmed in romantic Santorini, Greece and chosen the #1 NY Times About.com culinary travel gift.

If you any questions or a culinary food memory you would like to share email me at cynthia@moderndaygoddess.com

  Delicious Grecian Goddess Greek Salad

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This is a wonderful salad to share at the table with family, friends and loved ones.

Here is the recipe for a quick and delicious Greek Village Salad. It is one of the staples of a healthy Mediterranean Greek diet, which research has shown contributes to living a healthier and longer life. I just love the sweet crunch of the red peppers, the refreshing cucumbers, the succulent vine ripe tomatoes, the creamy, crumbly feta cheese and the Mediterranean sun-kissed Kalamata olives. For dressing I use lemon, extra virgin olive oil, oregano and garlic salt to taste. If available, I prefer to use sheep’s milk feta which is softer. If not, then try goat milk feta. In Greece, most feta is a combination of sheep and goats’s milk. The growing popularity of Greek Salads in US restaurants is actually an American variation which includes lettuce. This recipe is for a traditional “Horiatiki Salata” (Village Salad), most common in Greece, which does not include lettuce.

For a total mini Greek vacation play Greek music from “Zorba” and dance your way to the table. Greek music just seems to make mealtime more lively! As you eat your Grecian Goddess Village Salad visualize yourself feeling like a goddess and sitting in a taverna (restaurant) on a beautiful Greek island overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. You can also watch the video I hosted in beautiful Santorini, Greece called A Greek Island’s Destination Cooking Class. It was chosen as #1 NY Times about.com culinary gift.
Go here to order the DVD or watch some clips.     OPA!

A Grecian Goddess Greek Village Salad

Ingredients:

3-4 tomatoes quarted
6 oz feta cheese in cubes 1 medium sized cucumber sliced and quartered
1 sliced onion (optional)
2 medium sized red peppers sliced
1/2 cup-1 cup Kalamata olives
3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
sprinkle of dried, ground oregano,
squeeze of 1/2 lemon
garlic salt to taste

Method:

Mix bite size sliced ingredients, olives and toss with olive oil, oregano, lemon and garlic salt to taste. Add feta cheese on top and serve.

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Please credit this recipe to its creator – Cynthia Daddona:

Cynthia is the author Diary of A Modern Day Goddess® – a guide to creating a life that nurtures your body, mind and soul. She also hosts Romancing the Table® website/vblog which celebrates life, love and food. For recipes, photos, podcasts and videos go to her Romancing the Table.com. To see a clip or order A Greek Island Destination Cooking Class (DVD/video) that Cynthia hosted in Santorini, Greece go to www.RomancingTheTable.com or www.CelebrateGreece.com   If you have any questions or culinary food memories she can be contacted via cynthia@moderndaygoddess.com

  Grecian Goddess Burgers

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Here is a recipe for quick and delicious Grecian Goddess Lamb Burgers to have anytime — indoors and especially for summer grilling. It is Greek food recipe I created with a modern day goddess twist. It starts with my Grecian Goddess Greek Salad to be placed inside the pita along with a small lamb burger. I like to use the word Grecian Goddess in the name of this recipe, because it is so delicious that after you eat it will make you feel like a Greek god or goddess! The ingredients in the recipe are some of the staples of a healthy Mediterranean diet, known for contributing to living a healthier and longer life. I just love the sweet crunch of the red peppers, refreshing cucumbers, succulent vine ripe tomatoes, creamy crumbly feta cheese and Kalamata olives that have been ripened in the Mediterranean sun. This recipe uses ground lamb which I have found prepared in a speciality markets here in Santa Barbara, California. You can also ask the meat department of your local store to prepare some for you. Lamb is the national dish in Greece.

For the Grecian Goddess Greek salad, I prefer to use sheep’s milk feta which can be milder in taste and softer in texture. If not, then try goat milk feta. If these are not available, then cow’s milk. In Greece, most feta is a combination of sheep and goat’s milk. For dressing, I use lemon, extra virgin olive oil and oregano. In the US, restaurants will often serve an American variation of the Greek salad which includes lettuce, but this Grecian Goddess Greek salad is a “Horiatiki Salata”, (Village Salad) which is most common in Greece and doesn’t include lettuce. The village salad and is my favorite salad. For vegetarians or vegetarian guests, serve only the Grecian Goddess salad with pita and feta (a good source of protein.) For a mini Greek vacation atmosphere, play Greek music from Zorba the Greek (Zorba the Greek), and dance your way to the table. As you eat your Grecian Goddess Lamb Burgers visualize yourself sitting in a taverna (small, traditional restaurant) on a Greek island overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. For some post-dinner Greek entertainment, watch the video I hosted in beautiful Santorini, Greece called A Greek Island’s Destination Cooking Class (DVD), which was voted the #1 by NY Times About.com Greek food Guide culinary travel gift. Opa!

Make the salad first, then the Greek Goddess Dressing, next the burgers and then assemble as per the instructions below:

A) Grecian Goddess Greek Salad

(To be enjoyed alone or inside the pita bread with the Grecian Goddess Burger and Grecian Goddess dressing)

3-4 tomatoes quartered
1 medium sized cucumber sliced and quartered
2 medium sized red peppers sliced
1/2 cup-1 cup Kalamata olives
6 oz feta cheese in cubes (preferably made from sheep’s and/or goat’s milk)
1 sliced, small red onion (optional)
3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
A sprinkle of dried, ground oregano (preferably Greek oregano, if available)
Juice of 1/2 of a lemon (Medium size)
Garlic salt to taste

Mix bite sized ingredients and toss with olive oil, oregano, lemon and garlic salt to taste. TIP: For freshening the flavor of dried oregano, rub between the palms of your clean hands as you sprinkle it on your salad.

B) Greek Goddess Dressing

3/4 cup of plain, Greek Style, full fat yogurt
1/8 cup mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 teaspoon of fresh mint finely chopped
Drizzle olive oil to taste
1 teaspoon of honey
(LEMON)
Garnish with mint

C) Grecian Goddess Burgers

1 pound ground lamb or turkey if desired (I think ground Lamb works best)
1 teaspoon of garlic salt
1 tablespoon of fresh, chopped oregano (If using dried, use 1/2 tsp)
1 tablespoon of fresh, chopped spearmint or mint (If using dried, use 1/4 tsp)
1 tablespoon of plain, Greek Style Yogurt (full fat)
4-6 pita breads cut in half (I prefer thicker Pita bread)

Mix all ingredients, except pita bread, and form into small, ground meat patties. Cook in frying pan until done.

Assembling the Grecian Goddess Lamb Burger – Lightly warm the pitas in a toaster or an oven until soft. TIP: You can also double the pitas by cutting in half and placing one inside the other. First, spread dressing inside warmed pita. Second, put burgers in half and insert into pita halves. Third, place Greek Salad around inserted burgers. Use napkin or square foil to cover bottom of pita. Serve with extra Greek salad on the side. Enjoy! For more recipes and tips for celebrating Life, Love, Mediterranean Food and Travel, sign up for our newsletter at www.RomancingTheTable.com.

  Cynthia Daddona’s Cameo with Meryl Streep in Romantic Comedy

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Golden Globe® Nominated Romantic Comedy highlights Food and Romance in beautiful Santa Barbara, California.

Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Nancy Meyers (Something Gotta Give & The Holiday) brings moviegoers her latest film It’s Complicated, a sophisticated romantic comedy with an all-star cast of Meryl Streep (two-time Academy Award® winner), Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, Rita Wilson and myself, Cynthia Daddona, (two-time Telly Award winner & host of RomancingTheTable.com®) as an extra!

I was delighted when the casting call for “It’s Complicated” took place where I live in Santa Barbara, California. My husband James and I were selected for the Farmer’s Market scene. I portrayed a shopper and James, an upscale flower vendor. In the movie, you can see me behind Meryl Streep selecting some fruit and on-screen for 4 seconds when she is on her cellphone with Alex Baldwin! We will be looking to see if James (who is also creator of CelebrateGreece.com) maybe in the bonus section of the DVD once it is released.

Santa Barbara with its gorgeous Mediterranean like atmosphere, architectural beauty, sweeping views and abundant farmers markets is highlighted beautifully in the movie, especially in the opening. Over the years, Santa Barbara has been developing into a foodie mecca and we are delighted it is now highlighted in a major motion picture. In Oct 2009, the city hosted a month long culinary festival to celebrate the delicious gastronomy and seasonal menus of our town. (Epicure.sb)

The film It’s Complicated has received three Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture for Musical or Comedy, Director/Screenwriter Nancy Meyers for Best Screenplay and Meryl Streep for Best Performance for an Actress in a Motion Picture who is also completed against herself for playing Julia Childs in Julie & Julia. Meryl does a superb job in both films.

Nancy Meyers has once again done a wonderful job with this Golden Globe nominated movie about love, divorce and everything in between.

Exes Jake (ALEC BALDWIN) and Jane (MERYL STREEP)

Meryl Streep plays Jane Aldler, a mother of three grown kids, who owns a thriving Santa Barbara bakery restaurant. She has been divorced for ten years from her ex-husband attorney Jake played by Alec Baldwin. But at their son’s graduation they share an innocent meal with a bit too much wine and you can guess the rest. Caught in the love triangle is Adam, a divorced architect hired to remodel her kitchen – played with understatement and charm by Steve Martin.

Jane (MERYL STREEP) and new love interest Adam (STEVE MARTIN) share a meal in the film.

Portraying Meryl’s closest friends and romantic advisors are Rita Wilson, Alexandra Wentworth, Nora Dunn and Mary Kay Place. It’s Complicated offers many insights into divorce, love and surviving and thriving on one’s own.

(L to R) Friends Joanne (MARY KAY PLACE), Jane (MERYL STREEP), Diane (ALEXANDRA WENTWORTH) and Trisha (RITA WILSON)

Food, love and good times at the table also play major roles in the film. I believe these elements contribute to happy relationships and are some of the reasons that I was inspired to create RomancingTheTable.com years ago. In the movie, Jane’s kids comment on how good it feels for the family to eat together again at the graduation weekend.

Jane (MERYL STREEP) and new love interest Adam (STEVE MARTIN) get to know each other better cooking chocolate croissants.

One of my favorite food scenes is when Jane (Meryl Streep) takes Adam(Steve Martin) to her upscale bakery after hours and says she will make him anything he wants on the menu. He chooses the chocolate croissant and as they cook together so does the relationship!

This film opens on Christmas Day and I recommend it if you’d like to enjoy a funny, insightful, smart comedy about relationships, food and love.

To view the trailer for this movie from Universal Pictures go to www.ItsComplicatedMovie.com

  Goddess and Crowns appear on television

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What a joy it has been to appear on TV to give interviews on RomancingTheTable.com which celebrates Mediterranean food, culture, romance, travel and our #1 NY Times’ About.com culinary travel video – “A Greek Islands Destination Cooking Class.” Below is my ABC-TV interview during which I crown the male host with one my Greco-Roman crowns I designed.

You can watch the trailer of our new DVD here as well as order a copy which makes a great gift for yourself or loved ones.

Also, my husband James (of www.CelebrateGreece.com) and I were in New York as honored guests in the Greek Independence Day parade on Fifth Avenue and we were interviewed live by My9TV NY. You can watch that interview here.

- If you’d like your own crown inspired by the Ancients! Please contact me.

Wear these silk ivy leaf crowns to access your highlighted and magnificent self and feel like the modern day Greco-Roman god or goddess you were born to be. Great for romantic, Mediterranean date nights! Click Here to Order

[Pictured above] ABC-TV – Cynthia Daddona, Goddess Crown Designer, Author & TV Host wearing her Goddess crown & crowning her interviewers on camera!

Cynthia and her husband being interviewed live on MyTV 9 NY

  First-Class Romantic Mexico

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Romance, Relaxation & Gourmet Dining.

My husband James and I were delighted with our experience at Secrets Capri Riveria Cancun, an all-inclusive ultra luxurious resort located on the Mayan Riviera on 71 oceanfront acres. This adults-only resort is a romantic, relaxing, first-class getaway.
The cuisine was delicious, gourmet, healthy and well presented. The overall resort service was top notch. The Mexican Mediterranean architecture surrounds a scenic pool and a white sand beach offers thatched umbrellas and couches to lounge on by the sea,

When we mentioned prior to our arrival that we were recent newlyweds and that it was also my husband’s birthday, we were greeted with a honeymooners banner on the door and balloons in the room on the day of his birthday. Our room had a fabulous view of the ocean, the resort and the pool. We had a four-poster bed and a full Italian marble bathroom.

The resort activities where the staff “shares a secret” included everything from how to sculpt towels into love swans, to cooking classes to couples massage to dancing. The activities were low key so you could still relax by the pool and beach if you weren’t participating in an activity. The resort also has a variety of beach, land and water activities including complimentary golf at Cancun Golf Club.

One of the highlights is the resorts lovely spa – where you can experience a romantic couples massage side by side under an atrium directly on the beach. It was a wonderful feeling knowing my love and I were receiving massages at the same time.

Click on the images below to view larger

The other highlight of our stay was Secrets’ all inclusive dining which included five gourmet a la carte restaurants with menus offering Seafood, Mediterranean-Italian, Pan-Asian and Mexican cuisine plus a sumptuous buffet and 24 hour room service. Our two favorites were Oceana and Portofino. At Oceana, we celebrated my husband Jim’s birthday with a romantic table for two on a private balcony overlooking the pool. At Portofino we enjoyed Italian cuisine and experienced a private romantic dinner for two with a menu designed by the talented chef in Portofino’s wine cellar (available for an extra charge.) Overall, I enjoyed presentations and flavors of the Mediterranean Mexican dishes that utilized an abundance of fish, seafood and fresh produce. One of my favorite desserts was the flan. For variety, there was an outdoor dining event held on the beach for the guests complete with a live show of talented dancers. There was also a Mexican buffet by the pool that was a colorful feast.

Secrets Capri Riveria was exactly what we were looking for – a resort that offered first class amenities such as romantic and delicious dining options, couples massage and a tranquil environment. This allowed my husband James and I relax together, spend time on the beach, in the pool, dining, reading and just enjoying being together. What a lovely trip first class Mexico offers for couples wanting romance, relaxation and gourmet dining.

To get there:
From Los Angeles we took a Mexicana Airlines flight direct from Los Angeles to Cancun. (4.5 hours) Then secured a driver we arranged ahead of time with the resort to drive us to the resort which was 35 minutes south of Cancun Airport and 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen. We visited the resort in December and enjoyed the sunny and warm weather. For more information go to www.secretsresorts.com

  A Celebration of a California Healthy Harvest

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Looking for ways to enjoy more love, romance, joy, happiness and healthy, love infused food at the table? Want to feel and feast like a god and goddess and still look and feel healthy? Listen in to my show Romancing the Table™ with Modern Day Goddess: a celebration of life love and food. This fun, inspiring, informative show explores key ingredients that nurture and delight the palette, heart and soul. It airs on the voiceamerica network which you can access from my website here.

This week I am celebrating the delicious and healthy harvest, especially since I live in Mediterranean like Santa Barbara, CA. I feel so blessed to live in California and especially beautiful Santa Barbara I decided to celebrate my local farmers and food artisans.

I interviewed Theo Stephan, founder and owner of Global Gardens & www.oliverevolution.com an organic gourmet food products & organic olive oil mail order company and only food tasting room in Santa Ynez wine country located in Los Olivios, CA and Sam Edelman, Gen. Manager of the Santa Barbara, CA Certified Farmers Market Association (www.sbfarmersmarket.org) & Tiffany Cooper, Education Director from Fairview Gardens – the center for Urban Agriculture (www.fairviewgardens.org) on buying local fresh produce. Both Theo and Tiffany also talk about how to have fun cooking with kids. Tune in for a healthy harvest celebration you can share with your loved ones wherever you live.

  Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup

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CHILLED HEIRLOOM TOMATO SOUP

Ingredients:

2 Red Heirloom Tomatoes (Brandywine)
2 Yellow Heirloom Tomatoes
5 French Shallots
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 large stems Basil
Salt and Pepper
Water from 1 Thai coconut
1 tbsp powdered lecithin
1 oz rainbow micro greens

Method:

In 2 separate pans separate the red and yellow tomatoes
Slice up the shallots and basil and spread evenly over both pans of tomatoes
Drizzle olive oils over the tomatoes. Roast in a 375°F oven for 20 Minutes
Remove the pans of tomatoes and allow to cool
ass the contents of each pan through a juicer first the yellow then the red
Season both soup purees with salt and white pepper
Place both red & yellow soups into pour spout jugs & refrigerate for 2-4 hours
When plating the soup pour both color soups simultaneously slowly into opposite ends
of the soup bowl
To garnish mix the lecithin into the coconut water and froth with a wisk. Allow 20 second for the bubble to set on top and skin off a small bit of foam for the center of the soup
Place a small amount of the micro greens in the middle to garnish

Serves 5 people

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