Raw Travel Snack

Packing my bag and getting ready to take a small trip to visit family for a few days!

As a snack for the flight I'm packing myself some raw pecans, almonds, pumpkin seeds, raisins and of course a few organic chocolate covered almonds, just for any chocolate cravings that may hit on the flight.

But first off to teach my Sunday afternoon yoga class!

Ciao for now!

Have a Raw-some Friday!

Kick off your Friday with this great Choco-nutty Green Smoothie.

Recipe:
1 large handful organic baby spinach
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla (optional)
2 tsp organic raw cocoa powder (more if you really like a deep chocolate flavour)
1 tbsp natural peanut butter
1/2 cup frozen cherries

Add all ingredients into a blender, blend until smoothie and enjoy!

Raw Polenta - Success!

Getting up early in the morning, always in some way or another, seems to get my creative juices flowing.  When I worked in research it was those early morning commutes and times in my office where I battled the issues from the day before and how to overcome them.

This morning after weeks of battling how in the world can I make a raw polenta without using my stove I went into my kitchen and let instinct take over.

I wish I can share this recipe with you right now!  It will have to wait until I test drive it a few more times to make sure that it will work for you too!

Here is a couple of pictures of the final product!

As you can see it is thick and creamy, just like polenta should be! Can't wait to top it off with some yumminess for todays lunch!

 

Love How Good I Feel. How about you?

I just love how good I feel when eating and maintaining a raw food diet.  As I mentioned in previous posts that my diet consists of 80% raw pretty much most of the time with odd days being 100% raw.  On occasion I will not have a raw day at all and I do pay the price for it the next day.  Feeling lethargic and heavy and not happy in my tummy.

The 80% raw and 20% cooked just seems to work for me best.  I'm a bit curious about my readers and would love to hear about what works for you?

So please comment below and tell me about your raw food diet and how you feel.

I know you are out there!

Cheers!

Why Did I Wait This Long?

Ever since I started eating raw I have always purchased my almond milk due to the lack of owning a nut milk bag and I guess time too.

I have looked for nut milk bags at our local health food store before with no success and the only place I've seen them is at other whole foods stores that are not so local. So unless I was going in that direction.....

On Friday, during my weekly shop, I looked again but could not find them on the shelves.  While checking out I asked the cashier if she knew if they had any.  She said are you looking for these as she walked over to a table and area of the store that I don't always go to and picked up a bag.  YES!

I purchased two one for making nut milks and the other perhaps for sprouting very small seeds.  Love my small sprouter but when it comes to small tiny seeds they just go right through the strainer.  I've read that they are great for sprouting as well.

I soaked my nuts over night...I just had to say that ☺ and this morning I'm going to be making my first homemade batch of almond milk. To peal or not to peal that is the question...I'm going with not peeling the almonds to gain the most flavour.

Raw Almond Milk
1 cup almonds soaked overnight
3 cups filtered water
1 medjool date for a touch of sweetness (optional)

Place all ingredients into a high speed blender, blend, strain through a nut milk bag and enjoy.

OH my what a difference....Don't know why I waited so long to make my own!

Wrap It Up Please!

Love my salads but when I can wrap them up and eat them with my fingers I like them even more!

Bet you would shock the server at your favourite Thai restaurant if you asked this question!

Thai Mango and Cabbage Salad to go please, and can you make it a "wrap"?

Oh and a side of something zesty to dip them in too!

Mango and Cabbage Salad Wrap with Zesty Peanut Dipping Sauce

Mango & Cabbage Salad Warps
1/4 green cabbage, shredded
1/4 red cabbage, shredded
1 whole green mango, julienne
1/4 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 large red or orange sweet pepper, thinly sliced
handfull of cilantro, chopped
Rice paper rounds to wrap

Zesty Peanut Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 lime juiced
1 or 2 pinches of cayenne pepper
1-2 tsp agave, to taste
Himalayan salt, to taste
Filtered water to thin out to a dipping sauce consistency

Makes 10-12 wraps

1 Creamy Pineapple Coconut Green Smooth to Go Please!

If you haven't already guessed, I love my green smoothies.  Especially on a crazy busy day where I don't really have any time to sit around and enjoy breakfast at the dining table.

Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of fruits and veggies in right away.  Nutrient dense and satisfying.

This morning my smoothie to go was a Creamy Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie that was light and filling and really made my drive into town so much more enjoyable.

Here is the recipe for you to enjoy as well!

Creamy Pineapple Coconut Green Smoothie

1 cup fresh or frozen pineapple 

1 cup or large handful organic baby spinach

2 cup plain almond milk

1 tsp (heaping) chia seeds soaked

1 tsp coconut butter not oil

Place all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth and creamy!

Yum!

Start Your Day with Lemon Water

I just finished a 3 day raw food cleanse and feeling great!

I noticed the last time and really confirmed it this time through my cleanse that lemon water in the morning is quite refreshing, clean and purifying. I really don't know why I didn't keep this practice going from the last time but I plan to do so from now on.

I only used room temperature water and I think that is the main thing for me because I really don't like ice cold water.  On a cold morning, which today it isn't, I will warm the water and it is quite nice.

I have noticed by just starting my day with 32 oz of lemon water that it sets the precedence for my day.  Becoming more aware of what I am eating and making choices that will serve my body and not necessarily my cravings.  Making a big difference in my energy level and in my yoga practice.

Here are a few reasons why you should start your day with lemon water:

• Boosts your immune system
• Aids in digestion
• Balances pH
• Acts as a gentle natural laxative
• Helps with weight loss

Raw Polenta Update

I know some of you are eagerly awaiting the raw polenta recipe.

I did give it a go using organic corn meal and I have to tell you it was not pleasant.  The taste was okay but the corn meal remained gritty even when soaked heated in the dehydrator.

ah, NO!

This is the ugly when trying to develop a new recipe.  Next go around I think I'm going to use frozen organic corn kernels to see how that works out.

I'll post the results as soon as I have them.  Fingers crossed that it will be a recipe that I can share with you then.

Namaste

Thanksgiving Green Smoothie

Woke up this Thanksgiving morning to a chocolate craving.  Have no idea why, must have dreamt about chocolate without having any awareness that I did so.

To satisfy that craving I made myself a green smoothie that I think I'm going to call a Green Monkey.  Not that a monkey is green or that it loves chocolate but the banana in this smoothie and maybe the peanuts would be an awfully nice treat. And besides, it is green, the smoothie that is! :D

Green Monkey

In your high speed blender add the following ingredients:
1 ripe organic banana
1 large handful of organic baby spinach
1 cup True vanilla almond milk (Silk)
1 tbsp organic raw cacao
1 tbsp natural peanut butter

Whirl till well blended and enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers!

Raw Polenta

Polenta is an italian word for cooked corn meal.  The dish is prepared by cooking either a fine or coarse corn meal in either a vegetable or chicken stock until it is thick and pasty.  It is then cooled, sliced and either baked or pan seared and topped with a tomato or eaten as is.

In my family polenta was only made with a vegetable stock and often we added chopped broccoli into it making a very hearty dish.  We did not add any toppings and ate it hot.  As it cooled it would thicken and my brother and I would just run our spoons over the cooled surface, scoop it up and gobbled it down.

Yesterday all my child hood memories of this dish came rushing back. While spending the day with my my mom and dad, my mom went into her garden and picked fresh broccoli crowns and tender leaves from her organic garden and made polenta for diner.  This of course was the cooked version and now I would like to create a raw version to enjoy.

Of course the raw version will require raw corn.  Fresh or frozen is the question or shall I start using an organic corn meal?

Some research is needed here for I do not know if corn meal is heated or if it is prepared with naturally dried corn then cracked or ground.

I might have to prepare my own if I want to start with a dried corn meal rather than a mash.

Stay tuned...I'll post a raw polenta recipe as soon as I can!

P&J Smoothie

Inspired by Susan's P&J smoothie recipe, I put one together this morning for breakfast and it was yummy. Tasted chocolatey without any chocolate in it! That works for me!!! :D

1 cup organic spinach
1 tbsp natural peanut butter
12 frozen black cherries
1 cup vanilla true almond milk

Whirl in a high speed blender till smooth and enjoy!

Go ahead add a spoonful of raw cocoa!  I'm going to next time!