Before I became a motivational speaker, I spent years learning about the healthy benefits of vegetarian eating while working in a local health food store. I’m talking a time of full tilt immersion: cooked in deli, taught cooking classes, had a 15 minute (15 MINUTE!) cooking show, wrote 2 cookbooks, participated in “retreats”, and above all, subscribed to the bible of vegetarian lifestyles, Vegetarian Times. Fast forward 30 years and here I sit re-inspired to try new recipes because I’m reading my first delivery of that same magazine. Yes, I re-subscribed and it’s like a B12 shot right in the arm (translation: energized)!
Not 12 pages into it I found a fabulous article on Papaya. I’ve had great respect for the power of the digestive enzymes in papaya, called papain, since my wonderful Aunt/Nutritionist Roxanne, prescribed the chewable pill form of papain for my halitosis (whispered behind cupped hand) many years ago. Her educated guess was that I wasn’t digesting meat protein very well and explained that the enzymes in papaya would aid in that task. It totally and completely worked!!
If you haven’t discovered the deliciousness and nutritiousness of Papaya yet, here are 3 suggestions that I know I’m going to try this week!
1. Puree papaya, coconut milk, pineapple juice, vanilla , and agave syrup for a tropical dessert soup; garnish with toasted coconut and hazelnuts.
2. Saute chopped papaya, shallots, ginger, and garlic with a dash or sriracha pepper sauce, and serve as a topping for your favorite (veggie) burger.
3. Puree papaya, papaya seeds, mustard, honey, lime juice, and olive oil to make and sweet and spicy salad dressing.
Don’t those sound absolutely scrumptious??? Pick up a fresh papaya pronto!
From your fresh-breathed motivational speaker, Polly Pitchford.
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Dang! You make me want to RUN to my grocery store and pick up a few!!! Thanks, Polly! And I love knowing about the breath sweetening qualities. Who knew? There are some people I’d like to “share” this information with. And use it for myself just in case!
I immediately thought of John with these recipes so I emailed him too. You might just find them on your dinner plate one night! Joy!
Hey Polly – I once had not one but two papaya’s that I just couldn’t resist when speaking in Hawaii. The next day I was speaking in San Francisco and I discovered the OTHER affect of papaya! Let’s just say, that too much of a good thing leads one motivational speaker to tell her audience “if I run out of the room, don’t worry. Just doing a little unexpected elimination!” – every 30 minutes for hours!!!
Oh geez. Thanks for the headsup on THAT one, Marilyn!!
And now for something that makes you go hmmmm… back home in Africa,when western medicine won’t help your body to heal with an infected wound… a piece of papaya (we call it paw paw) with all those wonderfully clever enzymes, strapped flesh down often does the trick.
Fantastic, Paul! Isn’t Mother Nature the best!!