Generosity

I have come to the decision that the reason why I love to talk about Raw Foods is the same reason why I love to talk about my God.  Because I have found this incredible good news that I want to share with every single person I come across! Yes, you can be healthy, you can enjoy your food without guilt or shame or disease.  Yes, there is Someone who DOES love you unconditionally, who sacrificed everything for you, who can give you a life you can only dream of.

I find the more that I continue on the path before me I find this generous spirit welling up within me. Of course, I know it's not my spirit, but the Lord's Spirit working through me as I give Him room to work.  This is so exciting! Not only am I more generous with my time and attention (first with my daughter, which is obvious, and then with everyone else), but I'm finding my tight-fisted approach toward life is also loosening.  It seems to cover every ounce of my life.  I don't mind lending money to those I'm not sure will repay me.  I'm starting to enjoy giving things away instead of selling them for whatever I can get.  I continue to invite more and more people into my home, when I don't consider myself a hostess and feel rather awkward, but am beginning to love it. I usually only make raw food for those I think would appreciate it, but lately I've been making gourmet  dishes whenever I have the moment so I can share them with everyone. 

There are a few dishes that have felt intimidating and I've been putting off for weeks, but I was able to work on them this weekend.  I finally broke down and bought a really good vegetable peeler (it's electric!) so peeling vegetables didn't feel so daunting.  The first dish I made was Raw Lasagna, which really is a lot of work, and I made WAY too much - three large casserole dishes worth.  I gave one of them to a friend as a birthday present and felt REALLY good about that.  She enjoyed it and shared it with everyone she knew.  She liked to brag about how healthy, yet delicious it was.  I shared another one with a friend I was hosting in my home for a couple days and she enjoyed it as well, even though I doubt she was all that interested.  I have to say that it is incredible and I'm looking forward to offering some to my mother.  In the past I would have hoarded it for myself (especially with the time and effort I put into it - over an hour), but lately I can't stop myself! (hover your mouse over each picture to read the captions. ;)

I also made my Eggplant Mini Pizzas yesterday, which I thought would dehydrate fairly quickly, but are taking longer than I had assumed.  No pictures of that yet, I'll definitely take some and post them when they are nice and crisp and ready to eat. That was much easier than I had assumed, especially with my new veggie peeler.  I'm posting that recipe when they are ready to eat and I can post pictures of them as well...so stay tuned the next few days.  Tomorrow I will be working on my "Mexican Rice" recipe.  I bought a few parsnips at the store - which when processed have a wonderful rice texture. I can't wait to start experimenting. I also have a lot of peaches left, so I'll be making some peach desserts for the week.

Have I mentioned what a strange irony it is these days, that I enjoy making food?  I LOVE to be in the kitchen, making raw dishes.  I spend hours making multiple dishes for the whole week, and am always itching to do more.  When I ate Standard American Diet (here on out S.A.D.), I detested the kitchen.  I felt so inadequate, so inept at cooking.  Everything I ever made never measured up to what I had eaten before.  Whether it had been prepared by a friend, relative, or had come out of a box, can, or freezer...it was infinitely better than anything I attempted.  So I would very rarely make anything.  I just bought everything pre-made.  Now...simply because I HAVE to make everything from scratch and do not have the option to buy raw lasagna at the store, I have learned to hone my culinary skills.  I have forced myself to experiment, to create, and to enjoy my creations.  I also love that everything I make is a NEW creation.  It doesn't have to taste like it's  cooked equivalent, and no one I know has made anything like it before.  Not to mention, when I succeed at making a truly delicious dish that is easy, quick, and inexpensive, I'm ecstatic! Who can I share my new creation with?! 

You. :)