lOVelY sUmmeR sALaD

Simple,

Diced Cucumbers, Tomato, and Bell Pepper

Sprinkled with some RAW goat feta

and good Salt!

sometimes I also add a dash of Apple Cider Vinegar, Or make a Tahini Dressing

sUpeR fuDge

Food Processor

Throw in Nuts that have been soaked overnight ( I used Almonds and Pecans) Coconut oil (best if its more runny, so maybe warm it a bit) maybe three spoons full

couple spoonfuls of Raw cacao

drizzle with agave nectar

dash of almond extract

dash of vanilla extract

pinch o salt

blend! should be to where there are no large chunks of anything floating around

as in it is all one consistent goop

throw goop in pan and spread it out

like fudge!

i like to sprinkle on coconut flakes

stick it in the fridge to solidify more

enjoy!

Yummy!

I had several people tell me they like it better than typical fudge!

And everyone that tried it really enjoyed the chocolate coconut goodness.

quiNOa

Open your eyes to a new grain!

The South Americans have been eating Quinoa for over 6,000 years, and in these days of over produced and over consumed wheat and soy, finding a new grain is never a bad idea.

"its protein content is very high (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest."
from wikipedia.


SO there you have three good reasons to try quinoa gluten free, high in protein, easy to digest!
I cooked mine and added avocado and some onion and bell pepper then added some olive oil a dash of Apple cider vinegar and some of my favorite spices: Salt, Garlic, Cayenne, Chipotle, and Chili powder.

Although it's not a true grain it cooked like on, so any way you would cook or spice rice,
would also be good for quinoa
I hear it is also amazing with coconut milk and mango!

cocoNut pudd'N

Don't just take my word for it! try it yourself

coconut pudd'n:

meat (the white part) from two Thai young coconuts

(see Thai young coconut blog for opening instructions)

agave nectar

pinch o sea salt

two or three heaping spoons full of cacao powder

some hemp milk (you can use any delicious liquid you prefer)

a dash of almond extract

throw all of the ingredients in the blender

(except the milk) start blending and add milk slowly just a bit at a time until the blender runs more smoothly there are less lumps, but not too much to make it watery

I like to add the almond extract at the end.

then put int he fridge to let it solidify a bit more

fabulous chocolaty yumminess!

I took this over to a dinner party and they loved it. We ate it with cherries

One dinner party attendee asked for the recipe.

cAulifloWer aGaiN?

I know!

I love cauliflower!

I really love it RAW, but my friend made this for me the other night and it was divine!

He baked Cauliflower in the oven with some olive oil, sea salt, garlic, and lemon juice!

He also bakes some broccoli (but separately since the broccoli takes less time)

and tossed them together.

On a cold night I mimicked the dish as shown here

It was very warm and comforting meal

I think I put the oven at 350 and of course I did not leave it in there very long just until it was warm and slightly softer, maybe thirty minutes?

Also note my nifty stoneware dish

I am trying to get away from all the metals in my food.

taHiNi and sUN dRiEd toMatOEs

My favorite things right now are sund dried tomatoes and tahini!

sundried tomatoe dressing:

cut up tomatoes

throw them in blender

add

olive oil

a dash of braggs apple cider vingegar

some sea salt

garlic

basil leaves

maybe a bit o water

blend

yummy

tahini dressing:
tahini
garlic
sea salt
olive oil
a dash of apple cider vinegar
any other spices herbs or veggies you want!
bell peppers, chipotle, or curry
you get the idea!

also I like to just cut up some sundried tomatoes and toss them over my salad!

which lately has consisted of marinated kale (with a few other greens)

which is basically a dressing from above poured over Kale and tossed around adequately to soften up the Kale

and aside from just dipping sundried tomotaoes in tahini

I also have been using it on breads!

I can't get enough of this

Perfect fatty meal for winter, when you feel you need a little something else to keep you warm at night. So rich and creamy!

Raw bread (also I have used ezekiel bread)

smothered with tahini

some sliced avocado

drizzle with a bit of olive oil (not too much or it will be greasy)

and then a dash of sea salt and garlic on there!

you could also add greens, mushrooms, sauerkraut, or maybe sprouts?

kAle sAlad

Kale is a tougher green, but very nutritious
I had heard of people marinating it to make it more plyable and easier to eat.
Last night I took a bowl of mostly Kale with a few other greens
I added a couple tablespoons of Oilve Oil
two cap fulls of apple cide vinegar
some sea salt, and garlic powder
a dash of agave
and tossed or gently messaged it, however you want to look at it

then I threw in some onion and avocado and bam!
it was a flavorful party in my mouth!
sooo yummy i couldnt wait to take a picture and upload it, I had to tell you now.

Cancer fighting superhero, packed with a crazy vitamin punch subdued into a flavorful medly by a little marinating. c'mon people how great is that!

TaBouli

RAW Tabouli!

You can make RAW tabouli just soak bulgar wheat in water and lemon or lime juice instead of boiling water. Then add your other basic ingredients Tomato, Parsley, Mint, Olive Oil, and some garlic and pepper.
I am working on a wheat alternative I hear hemp seeds are good, but I will let you know.

prOductS

When you start to become concerned about what is actually in your food, there are so many things you can not buy anymore it becomes overwhelming, and you get used to making things yourself, or emailing companies about the quality/handling of their product.

Here are some products I like

On the left is NOW brand phsyllium husk and Golden Organic Flax Meal from Bob's Redmill

Bob's Redmill ( http://www.bobsredmill.com/ has tons of alternative flowers, grains, rolled oats, and many other really cool products and some of them, like the flax, is cold processed.

Flax and Phsyllium are good for cleaning out your digestional tract and flax is full of Omega 3 fatty acids.

They are good to throw into breads or smoothies.

Also I sometimes miss them with bentonite clay for a very strong detoxifying mixture.

Primarily I buy bentonite clay for a great face mask!

I also use other things like pure apricot kernel oil and pure shea butter for lotions.

I use just plain aloe vera for a face moisturizer

MSM is a sulphur that is normally found in the dirt and therefore in our fruits and veggies. However farming practices what they are, the soil is deficient. MSM is good for hair, nails, skin, and joints. I like to throw it in my smoothies.

Green powders and other super food powders, there are tons of them!

Amazing Grass is a company i really like but in this instance I got mine for the local Daily juice.
you can find super food powders individually like wheat grass powder, spirulina powder, maca root, goji berry powder. Or there are these amazing blends available.

Normally I prefer things fresh and RAW.

but its nice being able to make more nutrition into a smoothie or bread.

Things like goji berries can not be exported out of china fresh and raw, cause then you could plant your own.

A lot of these super foods are just foods found somewhere in the world that have amazingly high nutritional content. They are mixed into a powder but they do not have crazy preservatives or corn syrup in them. They even have chocolate super food powders and you can throw them in some almond milk with agave for a very nutritious chocolate milk drink!

I try to buy local products and produce whenever possible.

On the right is my most fabulous dressing available to human kind.

It is RAW, and has no GMO oils in it!

I found this local place for grass fed meat. Which is not in my diet but my husband's so I thought I would share

http://www.greengrassmeats.com/

Other Fabulous Products:

for some reason i just didn't think to take pics of them

Braggs!

they have a wonderful RAW apple cider Vinegar

Braggs Aminos are not RAW but a good Soy Sauce substitute that gives you your full range of amino acids.

Lara Bars

Amazing grass bars

Anything from Daily juice including Baraka Bars

Nativas Naturals RAW Powders

Synergy RAW Kombucha Tea

oh there is also NadaMoo and CoonutBliss, which are not RAW but they are heavenly ice creams made from coconut oil and agave, no dairy at all!

and tons of other RAW products that seem to multiply by the day as RAW becomes more popular.

check out some websites like

http://www.therawfoodworld.com/

http://www.hailmerry.com/

http://www.goraw.com/

or check out your local health food store

RAW sections seems to be growing more and more popular

and you can always just search online!

P.S. Your Local Grocery store wants to serve you, and they want your business.

So ask them if they could carry a specific Item for you!

sNacKs

I start every day with fruit or on occasion a smoothie, and lots of liquids. That gives my body a nice start with some good nutrition sugars and carbs for a boost of energy without having to use a bunch of energy in digesting my food. There is so much variety here! You have your basic apples, oranges, and bananas. Your berries and citrus fruits, melons, mangoes, papaya, and my favorite when they are in season figs!

The rest of the day I usually snack on dried fruits like raisins, prunes, apricots, dried apples, and dried peaches. Careful of additives ,like sulphur, and sugars in dried fruits.

And Nuts and Seeds! Cashews, Pecans, Walnuts, Pistachios, Almonds, and on special occasions Pine Nuts! Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, and whatever else I find.

Lara bars are a great handy snack they are made of dried fruits and nuts and sweetened with dates. They are RAW! some are labeled 90% RAW, but that is still good in my book.

Another Favorite snack, pickles! Which should all be RAW in my opinion, but we pasteurize them too just in case of any harmful germs and so they can sit on the shelf for a thousand years!

Bubbies is a great company, they don't use harmful vinegars or any vinegar for that matter except what occurs naturally int he pickling process.

They also have a killer sauerkraut, which has been slightly heated. I emailed the company about it, they heat it slightly to slow down the fermentation process but not stop it (because they had a problem with bottles exploding on the shelf). So they are aware and cautious about the living quality of the kruat, and that seems good to me that they didn't kill the kraut!

Also for some reason their bread and butter chips are not raw just the kosher dill pickles.

Something I never thought i would be eating so much of, RAW cauliflower!!!
Sprinkled with some oil, garlic, sea salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of agave nectar or honey. This is an awesome snack. it is crunchy and flavorful with a hint of sweetness. it is likened to popcorn. The other day I baked this same dish in the oven slightly because it was a cold night and I wanted something warm and comforting and it was.

Cauliflower is an excellent source of potassium and a very good source of phosphorous, magnesium , calcium and sodium . It also contains small amount of iron, zinc, manganese, selenium and fluoride.
Cauliflower is rich in Vitamin C and choline. It has good amount of Vitamin E, B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. It also has small amount of Vitamin A, K, and folate.
Calorie Content of Cauliflower: 100g of Cauliflower has 25 calories. Calories from fat are 1.

Another yummy snack I didn't think I would be eating, and I never liked cooked, Bell Peppers!

They also have a nice sweet crunch and they travel well.

I eat carrots by the truckload, and so does my dog.

They are great with dips like guacamole and hummus , so are bell peppers.

and of course there is celery which as always pairs well with nut butters.

my favorites are cashew butter, almond butter and tahini (which isn't really a nut butter but who cares)

there are other nut butters like pecan butter, walnut butter, and pistachio butter. There is hemp butter, pine nut butter, and apricot kernel butter. These are usually harder to find and a bit pricey.

If you have a heavy duty blender you can make them yourself!

nut butters are also good with apples and bananas they digest well together cause they are starchier fruits.

SwEet ThAnGs

So this is a cake I made for my friend's baby shower.

I brought my own so that I could have my cake and eat it too.

I bring my own food to functions often

Frosting Avocado, Cacao Powder, coconut oil, coconut flakes, and Date Paste

maybe add a pinch of sea salt

Ingredients


Date Paste ( dates and water in the food processor)



Dough? Almond pulp from almonds soaked overnight, blended with water and then drained. Also Date paste, some coconut oil, almond extract, vanilla, cacao powder, and some coconut water.

My personal Favorite sweet thing to eat.
Bananas with Cashew or Almond butter
with honey or agave
pictured here with an agave cacao blend!

Another Favorite, Fudge pops
Avocado, coconut oil, and cacao in food processor or the blender.
I add a sweetener of choice palm sugar, dates, agave, or honey
blend!
stick in the ice cube trays and freeze.
perfect bite sized sweet snack.

taSty beVerAgEs

If you are lucky (which includes all you Austin Folk www.dailyjuice.org ) there is a nice juice bar near you, and I don't mean jamba juice. Here is a Girls on Film Smoothie from Daily Juice, which includes Durian Fruit! They have all sorts of Juices and Smoothies, as well as other tasty nutritious products!

Mainly I make my own sweet concoctions

Don't let the green fool you!

This is pure banana peanut butter heaven!

Well actually it is Almond butter, Bananas,

Hemp Milk (or Almond/ Rice/ Soy Milk), and heaping piles of Spinach!

But you do not taste Spinach at all!

This is Papaya, Banana, Strawberry, and Almond Milk
Another Favorite Smoothie is frozen Bananas and Hemp Protein Powder.
There are so many different smoothie combinations and endless experiments to explore.
Adding greens is a great way to ingest tons of greens without noticing the chlorophyll flavor.
I also like to add other super food powders like Macca Root, Mesquite Powder, MSM powder, or a green powder.
The Daily juice website is an excellent way to explore super foods as well as possible smoothie combinations, even if you are just mixing one up at home.





I started this a couple weeks ago and love it. I just cut up some limes and toss them in water with a drop of agave nectar and it makes a nice sweet tonic. Very Refreshing.





I also drink tons of tea! This Tea is mint, ginger, and some honey and lime juice.
It was cold and i wanted to keep my immune system up!

I also Drink Coconut Water
Kombucha Teas
and I cheat and buy Odwalla Carrot Juice.
I like to drink my carrot juice with a pinch of spirulina powder in it.
Another great way to clean out my system with greens, and only taste sweet carrot goodness.
I also heard that Carrot juice is similar in molecular make up to the blood!

thAi yOung cOcOnut

Coconut Water, while I am no scientist and can't prove it, I have heard that it is similar in molecular make up to your blood plasma, and is therefoe very hydrating and good at replenishing electrolites. So I like to call it Nature's Gatorade
I also find it interesting that it would grow in warm climates and be perfect for dehydration, huh.
What I do no for sure is that it is the most tasty drink, and when my lips touch it I feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Not quite the same taste as the coconut meat. Kinda green and sweet tasting.
but ever so delicious.


First, at the top, shave away the outer soft white part till you get to the hard brown shell underneath.

Then take the butt of your knife tot he brown shell near the top, I suggest putting your other hand behind your back for safety, and whack the coconut.

You only need to whack it a couple times on one side until the butt end of the knife can wedge under the hard shell. then use your mad levering skills to lift!

Then pour the contents into a glass,a nd enjoy! If the liquid is clear with a greenish tint it is good. If it is purple or red the Coconut has gone bad. This can happen often as it is hard to tell from the outside. If you take it back to the grocery store they are usually more than happy to exchange it.

You can also eat the inside meat. It is great in smoothies, or throw i in the blender with some cacao powder, agave, and salt for an excellent chocolate pudding.

Thai young coconuts run around $1.99 in these parts. Cheaper than a starbucks coffee!

GaZpaCHO

Thank you to my friend Jeff who made me RaW Gazpacho last week, It was beautiful and tasty!
Here is the Recipe and you can find more cold soup recipes at goneraw.com

Quick Food Processor Gazpacho

Makes about 3 quarts, serving 8 to 10. Published July 1, 2001.
Traditionally, diners garnish their gazpacho with more of the same diced vegetables that are in the soup, so cut some extra vegetables when you prepare those called for in the recipe. Additional garnish possibilities include chopped pitted black olives, and finely diced avocados. For a finishing touch, serve in chilled bowls.

3
ripe medium beefsteak tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), cored and quartered
2
medium red bell peppers (about 1 pound), cored, seeded, and cut into rough 1-inch pieces
2
small cucumbers (about 1 pound), one peeled and the other with skin on, both seeded and cut into rough 1-inch pieces
1/2
small sweet onion (such as Vidalia, Maui, or Walla Walla) or 2 large shallots, peeled and minced (about 1/2 cup)
2
medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2
teaspoons table salt
1/3
cup lime juice
ground black pepper
5
cups tomato juice
1
teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
8
ice cubes
extra virgin olive oil for serving
Instructions
1. Process tomatoes in workbowl of food processor fitted with steel blade until broken down into 1/4- to 1-inch pieces, about twelve 1-second pulses; transfer to large bowl. Process peppers and cucumbers, separately, until broken down into 1/4- to 1-inch pieces, about twelve 1-second pulses; add to bowl with tomatoes. Add the onion, garlic, salt, vinegar, and ground pepper to taste. Let stand until vegetables just begin to release their juices, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato juice, hot pepper sauce, if using, and ice cubes; cover tightly and refrigerate to blend flavors, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
2. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, remove and discard any unmelted ice cubes, and serve cold, drizzling each portion with about 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil and with desired garnishes (see note). (Can be covered and refrigerated up to 2 days.)

StAPles

So I will start with the obvious, Salad!



Don't get me wrong I think there is wonderful variety that comes with Raw food. Tons of snacks and foods I love, which I will explore more thoroughly in the blog, but let's start with the basics.

I usually snack all day on fruit, nuts, and seeds. Dinner is my main meal and I mainly eat salad. My favorite meal is a Big pile of organic greens, avocado, purple onion, and my SASS sesame garlic dressing. I eat this cause i love it. If I go without a big green salad too long I notice a big difference and I start to crave it.

I have kept it interesting though I like to change it up with whatever veggies I can find to throw in the mix. Bell Peppers, okra, sprouts, beets, tomato, snap Peas, sauerkraut, dulse flakes(seaweed), broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, and whatever else I find at the grocery store or market that looks interesting.

Dressing is key. I like to buy the Local SASS for my staple, but I have also mixed dressings like:
Avocado, Chipotle, Olive Oil, and Apple Cider Vinegar
Tahini, Lemon, Nam Shoyu
Sun dried Tomato, Basil, Olive oil, and Apple Cider Vinegar
sometimes I throw in herbs or veggies i have like peppers and parsley.




Another favorite Tacos!
I start with Ezekiel Tortillas (Sprouted whole grain)
add Avocado, tomato, onion, some greens and a sauce! Maybe Salsa, I like to add some tahini to mine, yummy.


Maybe I should at this point say, for those of you who do not know Me well, I am not 100% RAW. It can be overwhelming to worry about everything like if all your spices are Raw and organic. Change, at least for me does not happen over night, plus you need to give your body time to adjust. My diet has changed dramatically over the last two years, and I am continually seeking change and improvement for better health. So for now when I eat Ezekiel Tortillas I do not feel bad in any way afterwards or the next day. This may not always be the case. The Diet you are choosing may be more lax or more strict than this, to each his own.



AnD wRApS!!
One Day I was craving avocado egg rolls. So I took some avocado wrapped it up with alfalfa sprouts and bean sprouts. Drizzled it with Nam Shoyu and Honey (or Agave Nectar) for kind of a tangy sweet Asian sauce. Later I learned that Collard Greens make for the best wraps. They are flat and round but sturdy and do not break as easily as some other lettuces.
They are pretty tasty
and you can vary on this too adding anything you like!
I think in this picture i have a cranberry salsa in there (cranberries, peppers, onions, cilantro)




Raw "BrEaD"
this is fabulous and way easier than baking, at least I think so.



Start with nuts and seeds. Here I have Chia Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Flax Seed, Buckwheat Groats (not actually a wheat), and I like to add some pine nuts too. I soak them in a jar overnight to break down enzyme inhibitors in the seeds and make them easier to digest. After the first batch, which uses less than one fourth the jar, I just leave the jars in the fridge and pull them out whenever I want to make another batch. So simple



Throw seed mixture into the food processor, add in Veggies and Spices!
Here I am making Zucchini Bread with Curry and Garam Masala, and of course a bit of pepper, sea salt, and garlic.
I also make a really good tomato bread in which I add Italian seasoning and garlic. It is super yummy.
Blend up your seeds and whatever veggie/spice recipe you like maybe onion dill?
If you want a smoother bread throw it in the blender. Chunkier, just don't leave it in the processor long or after you are done mixing add some more seeds in there.
I plop a little glop onto a dehydrator tray (which I got off craigslist for $30)
I kind of smooth it out and leave it in for eight to ten hours.
The beauty is the work only takes five minutes. You can leave the dehydrator running while you sleep, or while you are at work. You don't need to watch it if you leave it there for twelve hours it won't burn or be ruined. maybe you just like it more crispy.

Another favorite is big portabella mushrooms!
I like to marinade them in olive oil and Nam Shoyu and stick them in the dehydrator to make them a bit more chewy like steak.
or you can just marinade them overnight.
Then add some guacamole, tomato and greens or whatever you like.

So those are my favorite dinners, and a big enough post for now.

as a side note I would like to say that I think cold pressed oils and a good sea salt is key. Don't throw out your whole spice rack at first, but these two are good healthy changes to make that are not too expensive.