The Amazing Sunflower Seed

By Laura Cruger Fox (www.rawinspirations - coming soon!)

Did you know that sunflower seeds have every vitamin and mineral known to man, including Vitamin C if germinated (soaked)? What a valuable food! They also make beautiful decorative flowers. I planted some in a shallow dish, and got tiny sunflowers with tiny sunflower seeds!

You can also grow sunflower 'lettuce' by filling a tray with organic potting soil, then sprinkling on sunflower seeds with shells. Moisten the soil well, then cover with a flat tray. As the sunflowers sprouts grow, the life force in them will actually push up the tray! When they are an inch or so you can remove the tray, and let them sit in a sunny window until ready to harvest, at several inches high. Just snip them off at the base, wash, and add to salads for a high nutritional treat!

Try out this tasty recipe that folks at my classes just LOVE!

Sunflower Baby Spinach Pate Burritos
Serves One - double or triple, etcetera, as needed

For Pate:
Juice of 1 to 1/2 lemon (to taste)
I cup sunflower seeds, soaked 2-8 hours and drained
I full cup baby spinach
Sea Salt to taste
Basil (fresh is best)
1 teaspoon Cilantro
1/2 teaspoon Dill
Garlic to taste (fresh or powdered)
1 teaspoon raw honey (or a coule of soaked dates, if you prefer not to use honey)

For Burritos:
Red Cabbage, Romaine or other green leaves for burritos

For Toppings:
Diced Tomato
Diced Spring Onion
Olives
Pine Nuts
Sprouts
Diced Avocado
Process all ingredients listed under "pate" with the S Blade in a food processor until it reaches desired texture. If you want it to be more like tuna fish, process less and leave it chunkier. If you want it to be a spread, process longer, to desired smoothness. If you don't get a chance to soak the nuts, or if you just want it to be smoother, add a bit of water.

Spread pate onto the leaf of your choice: red cabbage, romaine, etc. Sprinkle on toppings, and a dash of lemon juice and sea salt (optional), and devour!