Raw Recipe Night SUCCESS!
The first official Raw Recipe Night hosted by Living Raw By Grace kicked off on Saturday, June 12th and the second was on the 21st. They both featured Raw Dips/Spreads/Dressings. I loved choosing dips as the first class, because you don't have to be raw in any aspect whatsoever to enjoy a dip. You can even eat them with crackers and chips, but it's a wonderfully healthy addition to your lifestyle. It's also a very simple raw meal...you grab some carrots, broccoli, celery, and/or cucumber and your dip of choice, and voila...you've had a raw meal! They were all either nut, seed, or bean based, which is your protein and complex carb (for those who like that full feeling) in their natural state, which also included all the vitamins and minerals that you usually cook right out and end up in the boiling water. Featured was a cashew "cheese" sauce, a garbanzo bean hummus, and a sunflower seed garlic spread, all with less than ten ingredients and taking less than five minutes to make. No cooking/baking/grilling = no waiting! I usually keep 2-3 dips in my fridge at all times as a quick meal or snack. I have at least ten more dip recipes, so I may do another dip class in a few months. This was by far the easiest raw dish class. The next will be a bit more involved, but still very easy. We'll be making pies next weekend, and I cannot wait. Raw desserts are by far my favorite to make and share, since they don't taste "healthy" at all. :) We'll be making a Lemon Meringue, a Chocolate Mousse (it was an apple pie I decided to replace), and a peach cobbler. Since the first class is during Independence Day weekend, I believe I'll make my lemon meringue pie into a flag. :) Can you tell I'm excited?! I was hoping to post pictures when I told everyone about the class, but I haven't gotten them downloaded yet...I need to bring my own camera to the next one...or someone should come take pictures for a free spot! ;) ;) Speaking of spots, there are only around ten spots per class (to keep it cozy and the costs down), so if you are interested, make sure you prepay to save your spot! The second pie class is almost full! During each class you get a cutting board and knife, (oh yeah, I put you to work! - no really, when you take part of the creation, it's more 'yours') a recipe sheet and pen (to take lavish notes), and a sample of the dish while we make it and some to take home (either bring your own reusable container or buy one at the class). You can ask any and every question you can think of...and I'll try to pay attention to what I make while I talk. I still haven't mastered that yet, and every so often I slip and lick my utensils. ;) Feel free to visit the Calendar for a list of upcoming classes and you can register directly on the website through Google Checkout. Local, organic CSA Horny Toad Farms supplies the produce at the farmer's market that I attend every Thursday night in Peoria, AZ and I have gotten to talk to the farmer, Stella, quite frequently about personalizing the produce she brings. I use greens like most people drink soda, so I'm always interested in organic greens. She usually supplies me with chard and lettuces, for ridiculously cheap prices for organic produce. This past week she mentioned her CSA, which is simply a prearranged, prepaid basket of produce that she delivers weekly. It's 8-10 different items in varying quantities that will change every week, depending on what is in season and what she harvests. I love that her farm is in Phoenix, and you can't get more local than that! The price of the basket is $20, which is cheaper than any CSA in the area (believe me, I've looked), and it's delivered to the Farmer's Market that is ten minutes from my house. Well, I'm sold! In fact, I have to share this with everyone! Stella tends to run at least 5-10 different farmer's markets in the valley, which keeps her plenty busy, you know...besides running her farm. So, I decided to help her out (I love the idea of helping a local farmer!!!) and organize the CSA at this farmer's market. I already have three that have prepaid and can't wait to see her face when a dozen people show up for her CSA this Thursday. Yes, this Thursday we are starting it up. :) We will prepay for the first three weeks, so $60. You can pay by check or cash when you arrive on Thursday to pick up, or I can make a button on my CSA info page on my website to pay through, just let me know. You can choose from two different baskets: a raw basket which contains mostly vegetables and fruit that you can eat raw, or the regular basket which contains things like potatoes, onions, eggplant and other things that you would use very sparingly, if at all, in raw dishes. Each week you will receive the pick of the pick regarding produce (the leftovers will be sold at the farmer's market). After the first week, I am planning on holding a quick little class on what raw dishes you can make with the produce in your basket. Something simple, and possibly some recipes to try out on your own with the produce you get. Also...if you cannot make some week, or Thursday nights are difficult for you to commit to, I can always take your produce home and meet you somewhere (or you can come to my place) to pick up in the next few days. Just realize that I have VERY limited fridge space...so it will have to wait out for you in my laundry room (dark and cool...hopefully will help your produce keep). :) LRBG is BUSY these days. If you are interested in the CSA, please contact me as soon as possible. If you miss this week's deadline, I'll let you know and get you signed up for next week's. You can always email me at LivingRawByGrace@mail.com, or contact me through my website, or visit my facebook page whether you want to sign up for a Raw Recipe Night or the CSA. For those who are not in Phoenix, CSAs are everywhere and the organic produce is usually much cheaper (not to mention healthier) than what you find in stores. Check it out!
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I’m so excited; I’m not sure what to talk about first! I’ll start with what I’ve been up to in the kitchen for the past hour. I find wonderful recipes on Goneraw.com, along with raw blogs and then I tweak them. I cut out a lot of unnecessary ingredients, substitute exotic ingredients with those I have in my kitchen, and I tend to simplify the process as well. Just as if you had gone online to look up an easy meatloaf recipe, or asked a relative, I go online to find ideas for how something has been made before. Goneraw is awesome simply because it’s a search-able database, so I plug in the exact dish I’m looking for, or simply the ingredients I have leftover that I need to use, and voila! There are multiple recipes to take a look at. I’ve been itching to make this wonderful “Stir Fry” that I found online. Of course, I made a few subtractions and additions, and quantities may not have been measured. I like to make food to my taste buds…a little more of this, a little less of that, etc. The stir fry I found was a mock “rice” mixture with other chopped veggies, covered in a spicy sauce. I LOVED it…and my simplifications qualify it as a LRBG recipe, so into the recipe book it goes! This is definitely a main entrée and I might add it to my Raw Recipe Night: Asian Entrees and Appetizers. My second dish was “Fettuccini Alfredo” that I will be adding to one of my Italian Raw Recipe Nights. I have planned three so far, but this may classify as a fourth. I cut the sauce down to five ingredients all blended together – literally less than 90 seconds to make, and I used Kelp Noodles. These bad boys are so close to the cooked version, it’s scary. Neutral tasting – no fishy taste, clear, and they absorb the sauce they are in. AND, they are a sea plant and hold nutrients (alginates that have a soothing and cleansing effect on the digestive tract, iron, iodine, etc) that aren’t found in land plants, thus making a wonderful addition to my lifestyle. I made it tonight and I’m going to let it marinade overnight and have it for breakfast. I cannot wait. I love how easy it was…a 90 second meal for two. My third dish for the evening was so simply I am kicking myself for not making it sooner. I have seen multiple recipes for a raw ‘yogurt’, but most included fermentation – which I neither have the interest in doing, or the patience. This recipe I found, which was part of a larger, more complicated recipe, but contained an easy yogurt like dish. It was so easy and SO delicious that I’m sharing it with all of you! It’ll be in my recipe book, and I’m sure It will be a part of some Raw Recipe Night I do…but it’s too good to hoard for myself. Rawgurt · 2 ripe bananas · 1 cup cashews · Juice of 1 lemon · ½ cup water (for blending) First, puree bananas until smooth. Add cashews, lemon juice, and water (add more if it gets too thick and won’t move). Chill after blending to let it thicken. Enjoy with fresh berries, drizzled honey, or crushed nuts! A couple nights ago I made stuffed mushrooms…anticipating my Raw Recipe Night: Holiday Appetizers coming up in the fall. I experimented with both button mushrooms and shitake mushrooms. Both mushrooms have been found to have more antioxidants than most vibrantly colored vegetables. They also contain many minerals and vitamins such as selenium, copper, niacin, potassium and the powerful antioxidant L-ergothineine, which protects against breast cancer and prostate cancer. I chopped the stems off and filled them with a wonderful avocado/tomato/garlic/whatever-was-left-in-my-fridge. While I absolutely adored these little powerhouses of nutrition and scrumptiousness, I’ll have to make them again to nail down a good solid stuffing recipe, as I was just experimenting before. I also ate them too quickly to take pictures. Yay! I have to make them again! My next exciting thing to talk about is the upcoming classes I’m holding. I scheduled FOUR Raw Recipe Nights for August. The first two (which will be repeats of one another so if you miss one, you can hit the second) are on Asian Entrees and Appetizers. I’ll be featuring an Orange Broccoli, a Lemon Ginger Lettuce Wrap, and an Oriental Noodle dish (although, this stir fry might bump one of those dishes out). I always used to like getting Chinese takeout when I ate the Standard American Diet (otherwise known as S.A.D.). These dishes are very reminiscent of their cooked counterparts. AND…they are easier! I love how simple uncooking is. The last week of August will feature two more classes, this time on raw ice cream. Yes…ice cream. Dairy-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, all the stuff that makes us sick or phlegmy, or guilt-ridden…is gone. Just like our pies will set you free from restricting your diet, this Ice Cream is Gods sent…literally. My daughter and I have a bowl of raw ice cream every morning for breakfast, which is hilarious. Not only is it good for us with only fruits and spices, but it’s DELICIOUS! August 23rd and 28th will feature Chocolate Almond Ice Cream, Vanilla Blackberry Ice Cream, and a Mango Strawberry Sorbet. Yum!!! I can’t wait to share these with everyone and how simple they are to make. Again, under five ingredients in all of them. Lastly…I’ve been working on the rest of this website. Slow going, I know…but I’m chipping away at it. I also had some new inspirations. I’ve decided to list a page citing all the fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, etc. and their health benefits. Arm yourselves with knowledge…learn what is so incredible about your food and it will motivate you to continue to eat raw, fresh foods. Have fun poking around my About Raw page…it will be loaded soon. Okay, time for me to finish my stir fry for the evening while watching an episode of Lost. Have a great night everyone!!! Raw Appliances?! I LOVE getting email regarding this website/blog. I have a few faithful followers who are full of questions, which is so much fun. I have had a few questions that I want to share with you. Q: Is the peach/apple sauce recipe you posted possible to make in a normal "cheap blender" vs one of the $300 blenders that you have? A: While I love my Vitamix and can't imagine life without it...it was expensive. I know several raw foodies that use regular blenders. One of my good friends has a pretty cheap Walmart blender that she uses hardcore and does the job. There are only two differences when making smoothies and sauces/dips: it won't get quite as smooth as mine (which is okay...applesauces are nice a little chunky), and you won't break down the chlorophyll in the greens as well (they have very strong cell walls), but ANY raw food is better than none. Do NOT allow appliances to hold you back from health! Most raw recipes require one of three appliances: blender, food processor, dehydrator. Now I own the top notch stuff because those are the ONLY appliances I will use. I don't have to buy an expensive stove, coffee maker, toaster oven, pots/pans, microwave, roaster, etc. AND, I use these daily. My blender also grinds nuts, seeds, and grains to make flour/meal, as well as blending so fast it warms up my soup (I actually have to be careful not to cook with it!). But if you aren't using your blender for these types of things, you can buy your flour or meal already prepared and stick with your current blender. As for a food processor, I found a wonderfully expensive Cuisinart on craigslist...unopened in box for half the selling price in the department stores. Notice a trend? Craigslist for my processor and my blender is the refurbished, two year old style. :) When you get to fun recipes that require a dehydrator, there are several other ways to dehydrate without breaking the bank. First, if you live in Arizona..the weather is completely suitable. I have been softening/dehydrating my squash lately by putting it into a casserole dish covered with foil and leaving it in the sun for a few hours. Voila! OR...depending on your make of oven/stove...some have a "warm" setting. You might want to check just how warm it gets (meat thermometer works fine), and try to keep it under 115 degrees to retain as much nutrition as possible (I WILL finish the page explaining this). So do you need to go out and buy fancy equipment to make the recipes I enjoy? NO! There are always ways to make your current appliances work. Nuts and dried fruit not getting processed like you were hoping? Soak them first! Food getting stuck? Add a liquid! I'll go into those in another post, but feel free to ask more questions regarding this! Partially Raw? Q: I don't think I can go completely raw like you, I don't think I can give up meat completely, and definitely not bread. How can I go partially raw to receive the most benefits, without going all the way? A: There are THREE easy ways to begin to add more raw foods into your diet. You don't have to do all three, but feel free to do so! The first one is my favorite and I totally use it with my family. 1. Eat ONE piece (or more, if you choose) of fruit before every meal. This way you add more and more to your diet, while still eating whatever you like. However, it will help to fill you up, so you eat less and less of the non-raw foods. Not to mention, this will not hurt your wallet...especially if you check to see what fruit is on sale in your area, or price match... 2. Replace one of your meals (the smallest one of your day: breakfast, lunch, etc.) with a green smoothie. Smoothie, not juice, because it contains the fiber and will fill you up as you drink it. You take a few leaves of greens, a few pieces of fruit, blend them all together and sip it slowly over an hour or so. THIS will provide the most benefits and changes...greens are powerful healers. They contain TONS of wonderful minerals and vitamins: iron, calcium, proteins, vitamins A, C, Bs, and all the other ones. Check out my Green Smoothies page and click on each green to find out what the benefits of each are. Not only will this fortify your body with whatever nutrition you are lacking, but it will improve your digestive health, your skin, and will help rehydrate you as well. Most of us don't drink enough water...well, not only is there lots of water/ice in your smoothie, but the fruit content is mostly water as well. 3. Try to eat one meal raw, or two meals. Hallelujah Acres is a raw food program that does two raw meals, one cooked meal. Albeit their cooked meal is restrictive, yours need not be. Feel free to eat whatever you like for that one or two cooked meals. Keeping one meal raw doesn't mean you ONLY drink smoothies...or eat salads. I will continue to post lots of fun raw dishes that are simple to make yet delicious. Raw desserts are lots of fun in this area: I have raw ice cream for breakfast every morning. It is GOOD for me, it is delicious, and my daughter begs me for it every morning. So, have that ice cream for breakfast, smoothie for lunch, and that steak dinner. Enjoy your food, don't restrict your diet. Also, the technical (if you want to split hairs) "qualifications" for being raw is 80% - 100% of your diet is raw foods. I'm not sure how you figure out what percentage you are raw. I suppose when MOST of your diet is raw, you can consider yourself a raw foodist. Labels can be very limiting, but I have found the most benefits when I'm 100%. Out of the 100-200 raw foodists that I have met in Phoenix, at the various potlucks (which I'll blog about later), I've met only a few who claim 100%. Most simply like the way they feel eating mostly raw. Some say they are "High Raw," "Partially Raw," "experimenting with raw," etc. The more raw food you incorporate into your diet, the more drastic the benefits will be. There are COUNTLESS (and my next post will be about this) testimonies of DRASTIC healing of chronic conditions, life threatening diseases, morbid obesity, and much more by going raw...and the more raw you go, the more complete the healing. I, myself, no longer have debilitating asthma. Allergies. Eczema. PMS. And so much more. My digestive health is wonderful, my skin is clear, I've lost those stubborn last ten pounds after having a child, my eyesight has improved, I have WAY more energy, and I need less sleep. That's just the tip of the iceberg. I went raw for my health. This is what I want to share with you. God is so good. :) Price Matching My frugality is an aspect of my personality, but it sure helps with grocery shopping. I love to bargain hunt, shop at thrift stores, craigslist, ebay, go to clothing swaps and freecycle. Now I can add one more to my list: Price Matching. I had heard of it before, but was always intimidated by it. I could just imagine myself in line with a host of angry shoppers behind me as I fumble with grocery ads, redfaced and seemingly inept. How wrong I was! Here is the concept: you search the grocery weekly ads for all the stores in your area. You find the bargains you like (i.e. cherries for $.79/lb - no kidding!), and then you find what stores "Price Match," like our Super Walmarts do here in Arizona. Then you take your list of bargains (and possibly all the ads as proof), you shop for the items, and at the checkout line you proclaim your "Price Matching" stance and voila! CRAZY bargains in one place. :) My becoming-better-friend-by-the-day, Christa, introduced me to how easy it was, and she even included the sales for the week. What?! A friend who not only shows me how to save MORE money, but makes it effortless?! Now, that is incredible! So, let me be that friend for you!!! If you are in the Phoenix Area: Ranch Market sells the CHEAPEST produce by far...check out the online ad for the sales you like. Food City comes in at a close second. Sprouts is where I do almost ALL my shopping (although, not anymore). And then you have Bashas, Frys, Safeway, Albertsons, Fresh & Easy, have I missed any? Just click on any of those links and you'll be able to find the grocery ads. When I went to Walmart I didn't have to have the ads, just my little notebook of prices and locations. The cashier acted like it was completely normal. SO easy and I saved more than I spent. How awesome is that?! Now the great thing about this is that it works not only for produce, which is all I buy, but also for EVERYTHING! For boxed meals, wine, meat, cheese...ANYTHING. Can you tell I'm geeking out about this?! Yup, it's what I'm doing from now on. Peach Sauce3 Peaches, pits removed 2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg 5 dates, pits removed Blend all ingredients until smooth. Serve cold. p.s. isn't that wooden bowl adorable?! I got a whole set at goodwill for a few dollars. I love wood...so warm and inviting...makes me feel all old fashioned. ;) MORE Raw Recipe Nights! Even though I haven't even held one official Raw Recipe Night for the public, I am planning away. I have added three more Nights to the Calendar, a few weeknights for those moms whose weekends are family nights, and a new class: pies! Ooooooh, desserts are my favorite Raw dishes. There is ZERO guilt. You can eat two helpings, heck let yourself have that third piece of Chocolate Mousse Pie! Not only is it NOT bad for you, but there is lots of good nutrition in there that is healthy and nutritious. Whether that dessert be my Lemon Meringue Pie that is so scrumptious I make it every Sunday so I can have a slice EVERY DAY, or my Vanilla Almond "Ice Cream" that we eat every morning for breakfast (unless it's Chocolate Almond, like today). Desserts are wonderfully filling, in fact they can be an entire meal. Usually a nut or seed base (your protein, and vitamins and minerals), with plenty of fresh fruits (the rest of your vitamins, minerals, and fiber), along with some fun spices and oils. While I'd love to do a "desserts" night, there are too many to choose from. So, this one will focus on PIES. I will be supplying you with my famous Lemon Meringue Pie (that has less than five ingredients!), a simple Apple Pie, and a delicious Peach Cobbler (because it's peach season!). ALL of these take less than five minutes to create, have very few ingredients, and are inexpensive. You don't need to be a raw foodie like myself to make and enjoy these lovely creations. That's the fun of it! Interested in the desserts theme? Stayed tuned for "Raw Chocolate Night" and "Raw Desserts in Under Five Minutes & Five Dollars" and "Raw Ice Cream Night" and "Raw Cupcakes Night" and much, much more. Oh, and have I mentioned that I'm creating a Raw Recipe Book? We have schemed that we will have binders available at each of the Raw Recipe Nights. The more nights you come to, the more pages of recipes to add to your binder...thereby making your own Raw Recipe Book! OR...when I'm finished you can simply purchase the whole thing. Should be within the next month!
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. :) I am ridiculously excited. I've been working with my best friend and we have come together with the first Raw Recipe Night that anyone and everyone is invited to. It's not held in my apartment, but in a guest house of a dear friend. I'm charging $15 a head to cover the costs of the ingredients and the space. It's in two short weeks. Want more information on the RRN? Have I mentioned that I'm excited?! My best friend and I have been talking about possibly having Raw Recipe Nights (RRN's from here on out) 2-3 times a month. Two Saturdays a month and maybe a weekday as well. Who says dreams can't come true?! This first RRN will be on raw dips: a simple and easy way to add more raw food into your lifestyle. Not only are the dips raw, but you use raw veggies to dip into them - viola, an entirely raw meal that is delicious! I have dip meals at least 4-5 times a week. I'll be demonstrating 3, maybe four dips. One using nuts, one with seeds, one with beans, and one without. I don't know what I'll do next, but my brain is abuzz as to RRNs to come: Raw Pies, Raw cookies, Raw Crackers, Raw Gourmet, Raw Snacks, Raw Beverages, Raw Kids Meals, Raw Ice Cream, Raw Breads, Raw Entrees, Raw Appetizers, Raw Mylk, and SO MUCH MORE! This also gets me off my tush and back to school to get some nutritional degree so I am accredited. I already have a B.A., but something tells me that English Literature may not be useful in my new field. Although, it seems to be helping here! I'm bouncing between the idea of a simple certification, or perhaps pursuing my masters. I'll talk it over with my mother when she is here for a visit, she's been pushing me to go for further education as my little one is getting easier and easier to care for. Tonight I had a wonderfully satisfying dinner (which if you are my friend on FB, you heard about). I left for the farmers market and completely forgot to bring dinner for myself. This is very rare, for as you know I take food EVERYWHERE I go. Well, I wasn't completely stranded, there are half a dozen Larabars in my car, but I try not to eat them - they are for emergencies, after all. So I thought, I'll just nibble as I go along. It started with a peach...YUM...and then a few little apricots that remind me of cherries they are so tiny and wonderfully scrumptious. Then those tomatoes began to look incredible, and I hadn't eaten a "white carrot" before - I had to try that one out. There was some sliced watermelon, so I helped myself to a few slices, along with a few slices of an apple that someone was offering. Then I went back to the beginning and had more of everything. By the time I was on my way home around 9:30 (my best friend organizes the farmer's market, so we visited afterward), I had eaten four peaches, six apricots, four tomatoes, three carrots, four slices of watermelon, a few bites of chard and lettuce and an apple. Holy Moly! No wonder I wasn't hungry! Wonderfully satisfying...not overly stuffed. AND, I have so much energy that I'm obviously blogging at ten at night. I could go for a night hike I have so much energy! I love organic produce!! And so cheap...I love Horny Toad Farms. Also, expect many more recipes and pictures in the next week. I have some eggplant in my fridge I'll use to make mini pizzas, some parsnip that I'll use to make Mexican rice, some monster zucchinis that I'll use for raw lasagna...oh and much much more. Which should I make first? Living raw means that I bring food EVERYWHERE. I do not have the convenience of stopping at a fast food place, a store, or a restaurant (unless I'd like salad) to eat, so I always make sure I have something on hand. Yesterday was two apples, one pear, a bag of trail mix, and my little girl and I made more Nori Rolls (little ones for her). I went to the mall yesterday to let my daughter enjoy their play area, which is quite fantastic. I try not to eat in the play area, for I don't know if any children have food allergies and don't want to make any kind of mess. So we went directly above the play area where they have some couches and tables. It's just around the corner from the food court, but I see no reason to submit myself to the smells or sights of food that kept me ill for 26 years. Now mind you, if we were with a group of people, my daughter eats whatever she likes. But if she is with me, she eats what I keep in my home and what I provide, which is usually raw. She was excited about her mini Nori Rolls and dessert of apple and pear slices, so I made a little picnic on one of the tables and we sat and munched while she bounced around and watched the kids playing below us (there is a cutout so you can watch - a little creepy at times, I must admit). An elderly man slowed down while passing our little table. A middle aged woman stopped and asked where I had bought my food at the food court. Several others slowed down and a couple stopped to hear my answer. When I told them that I made it myself, they were shocked and disappointed that they couldn't have the same option. I made maybe twenty rolls, about six for my little girl and the rest were mine. When we were both down to a couple, another crowd gathered and asked the same question. "No, the food court doesn't serve these, I choose to eat healthier and make my own snacks." A lot of nodding, some sad looking faces, and my four year old beaming as she pops one in her mouth (perhaps a little gloating?!) If I had been a little more prepared, business cards would have materialized out of thin air and I could have given them fliers regarding my upcoming classes. Perhaps that will happen soon? My first thought was simply, "They were attracted to something that would bring them health...I KNOW I am on the right path." So I prayed for everyone of them. That they would continue to recognize health and seek it out, to start asking questions, and to remain unsatisfied with the food court options. And of course...praying that I can share not only my health, but my faith. I was in the kitchen tonight taking inventory so I can go grocery shopping tomorrow. Five of my avocados were waaaaay overripe. :/ Oh no! Had I forgotten about them?! Well, looks like it's guacamole time! So into the food processor they went. I made a delicious and EASY guacamole salad tonight. I made my guac and laid it on top of a bed of greens and sliced up some cherry tomatoes for color (and to cut the spice in half...my guac can be sinus draining!), and sliced some sweet corn of the cob for a wonderful little contrast. Beautiful and yummy!!! Finished that baby off in minutes. Guacamole!
2 avocados ½ jalapeno 2 cloves garlic ½ teaspoon oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoon onion, diced ¼ red bell pepper, diced 1/2 ear corn, sliced off cob 1 tomato, diced Mash by hand or process avocado, jalapeno, garlic and spices. Stir in diced veggies and sprinkle lemon juice on top to keep it green and fresh. I don't know when I started doing Raw Recipe Nights, but my guess is over a year ago. I'm pretty sure it simply started because a girl I had met at a raw potluck (and raw potlucks will be a whole separate blog post) had been curious about a dish I had made, so I invited her over to learn how to make it. I've taught quite a few young ladies who were new to raw how to make simple dishes. That's my motto: fast, easy, delicious. I also answer questions they might have regarding simple nutrition, grocery shopping, food choices, etc. It's always been very informal and usually one-on-one, which has always been very effective. Last night I hosted a Raw Recipe Night and invited thirteen of my Facebook girl friends that I've made over the past year. Since I was hosting in my apartment, only ladies were invited (since safety and privacy are very important to me). Five women trickled in, three had previous experience with the raw lifestyle, one has just committed to a lifestyle with more and more raw foods, and one was curious and enthusiastic to simply learn more. I called the evening "Raw N' Roll", for I was teaching how I make Nori Rolls, which are a sushi equivalent, and Cinnamon Rolls with Icing. We began with the Nori Rolls, as it can be prepared nut-free and one of my guests couldn't do nuts. I put all the ladies to work cutting (julienne-ing) vegetables while I made the "rice" mixture and the Asian pate. Everyone got a turn rolling the delicacies and all of the rolls were eaten. We discussed where I shop for my food, how I get Nori seaweed inexpensively, what Jicama is and how to prepare it, nutrients in fresh vs. cooked vegetables, and much more. After we had eaten our fill, we moved onto the Cinnamon Rolls, which was much less preparation. The ladies visited and got to know one another while I made almond flour and milled flaxseeds. Since it was a large group, I got to make a monster cinnamon roll and we had traditionally sized rolls to eat when they were almost chilled (we just couldn't wait any longer!). Usually I make mini rolls for myself, and these large leftovers are quite the treat. Yum! It was a great time and I have emailed each of the ladies with the recipes we used, so they can attempt it on their own after having participated with me. It was so much fun, and wonderfully successful that I believe this is definitely what I want to do. My long term goal is to become a certified nutritionist with intentions on becoming a health counselor. I would come to your home and teach you how to make foods for yourself, where to grocery shop and how to choose what you want, plan out meals and teach you all the research I have done for myself. It would be a one-on-one thing, and I plan on hosting classes for groups on the side. One of my friends who came, who organizes an incredible farmer's market with a wonderful farmer who picks directly for me (Yay! Horny Toad Farms!), is so eager for my classes that she is volunteering to get it off the ground for me. Instead of trying to stuff a bunch of people into my apartment, I'll be using a larger space and providing a much more structured class. I'm so excited, and it looks like next month will be my first official class!! Each class will center around recipes and specific foods, while the education and information will be discussed as we un-cook. I'm thinking the first class will be dips, since they are easy and delicious and a fun addition to any lifestyle, raw or not. Almost everyone left just before ten that evening, which is about the time I assumed it would end. One of my friends ended up staying and we chatted until I almost literally kicked her out at 11:30! That's late for the girl who needed to be up by six am for church the next day. We talked about our raw lifestyles (of course) since we are both fully raw, but we also talked about our faith. I try to share with everyone that there is only one reason I am able to completely change my lifestyle successfully and that is by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It is His strength that carries me through the cravings I get when I'm around people who are enjoying their cooked foods. It is His patience that allows me to finish my green smoothie before I dig into that scrumptious cinnamon roll. It is His peace filling my every moment that keeps my food from becoming my obsession. It is His love that flows through me to share what I've learned with those who are open minded to an alternate path. It is His light shining within me that inspires everyone around me to ask questions and learn more about the Raw Lifestyle. I could go on and on, that's what happens when I'm passionate about a subject...you can't shut me up! :)
Raw Birthdays...Well, even if I haven't worked a stitch on the website as a whole, I can still blog about what is going on! Saturday was my birthday, and my second birthday raw. My first birthday was a bit sad, as my friends were moving to Alabama and I didn't know another soul who was raw. The reason for that is another story all together. But my friends that were leaving within the next month were still thoughtful and considerate and made me this lovely little raw birthday cake out of Larabars. Now Larabars are "technically" raw, but they are mass produced by the General Mills company, bought from a small independent raw founder. So, I consider these my junk food. Very easy to grab one and go...but definitely not a part of my regular diet. Anyway...back to the story. My friend's had invited me over for a goodbye/birthday party and I received some cute gifts, but my favorite was my "cake". They had taken two Larabars, sliced them thin and layered a cake for me. Very cute, not entirely raw but an A+ in the creative and thoughtful category. :) This year I am a billion times more confidant creating some raw delicacy for myself. With my friend's help I made a wonderful birthday cake. :) It actually should be considered a pie, but it's my birthday! I took my usual to-die-for Lemon Meringue Pie and she cut up the fruit and I decorated it all pretty. I even added candles and was able to celebrate with a new "sister" and family. My daughter even had a piece and licked her plate clean...now that is what I call success! I had fun making it, and eating it. We all had a slice and I enjoyed the rest of the pie for my dinner. :) Yum! Grocery ShoppingMy fridge/counters are stock FULL and I am still planning on going to ANOTHER farmer's market tomorrow evening! People always ask me how much I spend on groceries, thinking it is an astronomical amount considering the cost of produce (especially organic). I would say for me and my daughter (now mind you, I eat ALL the time because my metabolism is outrageously high), I spend around $250/month. I'm pretty sure that's cheaper than what I spent before. I went to Sprouts today (awesome grocery store, by the way) and picked up lots and lots of food...then I went to the farmer's market tonight and was able to get FREE green onion tops (he was going to throw them away! For shame!). I still have tons of food from earlier grocery trips. Now I go to the store at least twice a week (as I can't buy in bulk because it'll spoil, not to mention I have a small kitchen to work with), however my trips are quick and to the point...no impulse buys and I know exactly what I want. At Sprouts I buy mainly conventional produce with organic apples and pears (the most reasonably priced), and then at the farmer's markets it's all organic. So slowly I'm switching over...but It's slow going. The amount of food I eat...if I went completely organic, it would double my bill. I had SO much food in my fridge I had to take some out. There are some onions, tomatoes, carrots, and zucchini on my counter awaiting some fun creation. A few days ago I made a pate (that I ate on sliced tomatoes, yum!), that I will eventually make into patties and dehydrate into little burgers. I could add some flax seeds to what I have on my counter, blend it all up and make crackers. Hmm...sounds like a good idea. :) See! You helped me decide what to do! I also prepare food for Bible Study every Friday evening. Last week it was salsa and guacamole, with cut veggies, but I've done wonderful dishes like Stuffed Tomatoes and Pesto Cucumber Rolls smothered in Bruschetta. That $20 I spend on everyone is well worth it to see them eating wonderfully healthy food for the three to four hours we spend together. It's also my way of tithing...God has given me this knowledge, these gifts, and this money to serve Him. What better way than to feed his warriors as we prep ourselves for battle with His Word?! :) A few months ago I had heard from at least a dozen people that they wished I had a pamphlet, a recipe book, or a website they could visit and read all the research I talk about. Well, I could direct them (and did) to several other websites, books, pamphlets...but could feel there was much more to this idea. So I started to pray about it. And once I did, the ideas started to flow. Now I know from past experience to be careful about "answered prayer", because there is a war happening and I am smack in the middle of it. To be sure that this wasn't the enemy's way of diverting my attention and devotion from either of the three most important ministries in my life (spending time in the Word, my daughter, and my band), I spent a lot of time praying, pondering, working on it, talking to others, searching the Word, and giving myself some time and space. Rushing into anything has always gotten me into trouble, and when something feels to good to be true, comes too easily to be coincidence, it's not. Either God is nudging me and releasing the talents He's already given me, or the enemy is quick to pick up on anything he might use to his advantage.
Well, it's been a few months of playing with this website and conversing with my Father. I am confidant that He smiles upon this project and as long as what I do points people to Him, then I have the green light. This website is half done by my estimates, and I will be spending a lot of time working on it in the next few weeks. Imagine a ten to fifteen page research paper...and that's the mission I've given myself. Easy as pie for an English major like me, but it's been a few years since any formal schooling. I'd love all the encouragement I can get! The About Me Page is 95% finished, Green Smoothie Page is 50% finished, Recipes Page is up to date, I will continue to upload recipes often, but I haven't touched the Links page or the About Raw page. These pages are much more in depth, and will need time to finish and perfect. Thank you for your patience, it will not be long. :) Please leave comments, please share your thoughts, and of course if there is anything you are curious about, please ask...I will try to address it somewhere on this site, if not personally email you directly. May God bless your search! |
About the BloggerHaley is passionate about Raw Food and how God has used it to heal her. She loves to share what she knows with anyone who is curious, and finds herself talking to everyone around her about her lifestyle. Archives
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