Day 8 of 28 Days of Raw & Green Smoothie Challenge

A very snowy Friday morning here this morning.  Will be heading out shortly for a great workout shovelling snow. :)

But first I'm going to enjoy a large glass of todays smoothie.

I'm calling this one Fruity Friday. Using up whats in my fridge and counter.

Fruity Friday
1 small ripe mango
6 ripe strawberries
1/2 cup fresh pineapple
2 handfuls of baby spinach
14 raw almonds
2 cups water
1 cup fresh coconut water

Makes 2 large servings enough for an afternoon treat as well.

Very tropical and perfect for this snowy morning!

Have a rawk'n great Friday!

For more smoothie recipes visit my FB page www.facebook.com/RawFoodYogini.

Day 7 of 28 Days of Raw & Green Smoothie Challenge

Wow day 7...time seems to be flying by so quickly and totally having a blast in my raw food kitchen coming up with new smoothie recipes everyday using the handy tips I posted last week.

I'm also totally enjoying converting some of my favourite cooked meals into raw meals.

I played around in my kitchen the other day and put together a test sample of chinese dumplings (pictured below).  Using soaked almonds as the base for the filling and the raw corriander coconut wraps made with Thai young coconut meat from the abundance of coconuts I found in the grocery store.

Now I'm ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year this coming Sunday!

Chive and Cilantro Almond Dumplings

Wrap
Coconut meat from 2 thai young coconuts
Sea salt (to taste)
Handful coriander (cilantro)
1 tablespoon psyllium husk

Blend until smooth in your high speed blender.
Pour onto a permaflex dehydrator sheet and spread thin to the corners.
Dehydrate at 110-115 degrees until dry enough to flip.
Continue dehydrating for an additional 2 hours.
Remove from dehydrator, cut into squares and use a wraps for dumplings or cut into bigger pieces and use as an alternative wrap for other ingredients.

To store, place wrapper between parchment paper, and place into a zip lock baggie.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Filling
1 cup green cabbage, gently wilted in warm water and salt, drained
3 tablespoons chives (garlic chives if available)
1/3 cup soaked almonds, peels on
1 tablespoon tahini
1 tablespoon lemon juice
a light drizzle of sesame oil

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process until you can form mixture into a ball.

Assembly
Add 1 teaspoon of filling into each wrapper.
Bring the ends together forming a pouch and tie with closed using a sprig of chive.

Chives and Cilantro Almond Dumplings

Day 5 & Day 6 of 28 Days of Raw & Green Smoothie Challenge

Day 5 and Day 6  

I am feeling a bit tired after having such a busy day 5 and my schedule today isn't any lighter.

On days like these I just keep things really simple and maintain a full raw diet by having lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, my own pre-made salads and dressings handy.  Sure helps having raw vegetable wraps available as well, so that  I can whip up a meal in minutes.

My green smoothies sure help too.  They keep me satisfied all morning.

If you are looking for green smoothie recipes  you can find a whole bunch on my Facebook page at the following link, www.facebook.com/RawFoodYogini, come on over and check out what I have been making each day and what others who have taken on the green smoothie challenge have been enjoying as well.  If you are game, join in on the fun and start posting your own creations so that we can enjoy them too!

Here is one of my favourite dressings for you to enjoy.

Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing
3 tablespoons tahini
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, Braggs
1 tablespoon agave
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
water to thin to your desired consistency

Place all ingredients in a bowl, stir and pour over your favourite mixed green salad.

Day 4 of 28 Days of Raw & Green Smoothie Challenge

Is it already day 4?

Raw Super bowl chili turned out great.  Even my hubby, liked it.  Very fresh and not too heavy. If you missed it just click on the following link to find the recipe.

http://rawfoodyogini.blogspot.ca/2013/02/day-3-of-28-days-of-raw-green-smoothie.html

Monday's are tough aren't they? Most of us get weekends off and then we are thrown back into the grind Monday mornings with waking up early, and heading out for a busy work day, only to come back home tired and hungry.  Often after a busy work day exercise and eating well is the farthest things from our minds.

That is why thinking ahead will keep you in the game of maintaining good health.  I'm not saying you have to spend your entire weekend preparing foods.  There are so many convenient raw foods out there that you can purchase and have on hand.  Opt for the prepared salad kits and veggies that are already washed and chopped for you.

I have noticed that on the shelves of the produce isles there is more & more organic items that are reasonably priced and ready to go.  I have always bought kale, washed and deveined it myself, chopped it up and had it ready and waiting in my refrigerator to toss into a salad or smoothie at any time.  But now you can find baby kale mixed with other greens right on the shelves, ready to go.  How convenient!

So when you are in a pinch and would rather spend some time taking part in your favourite fitness activity than standing at the kitchen counter washing, chopping and dicing, splurge and pick up some raw sweet goodness that is already to go!

Eating raw and staying healthy is getting easier and easier to do.  You know what?  It's actually getting harder to make up an excuse too!

Stay healthy everyone and have a RAW-some Monday!

Good Morning Sunshine Smoothie

1/2 cup fresh or frozen mango
1/2 cup fresh or frozen pineapple
1 medium carrot chopped
2 large handfuls baby spinach
1 medium golden beet
1 tablespoon hemp hearts
1 cup coconut water
1 1/2 cups water

Give it a whirl, no pun intended, and enjoy.

For more green smoothie recipes visit the Raw Food Yogini Facebook page and join in on the 28 Day Green smoothie challenge.  Create a green smoothie and share your recipe with others who are taking the challenge. 

Cheers!
www.facebook.com/RawFoodYogini

Day 3 of 28 Days of Raw & Green Smoothie Challenge

Day 3 and feeling great!

Just put some green coconut wrappers into the dehydrator as I am looking forward to making myself a batch of dumplings for the Chinese New Year which is on the 10th.

Today however is Superbowl Sunday and even though I am not a big football fan I do love vegetarian chilli.  So tonight I will be making myself a heaping bowl of raw chilli! Trust me it tastes just as good as the cooked version.

Here is the recipe for you!


Almond or Walnut Taco Meat
1/2 cup almonds or Walnuts
1/4-1/2 clove garlic
1/8 Tsp cumin
1/8 Tsp ground Corriander
1 1/2 Tbsp Tamari
1 Tbsp EVOO
Sea Salt*
Chipotle or chilli powder*
Dash of ground cayenne pepper*

*Add more to taste

In a food process, process almonds to the consistency of ground cooked meat
Add the remaining ingredients and process lightly till blended.
Place in a bowl and let the Almond meat absorb the flavors.

Tomato Sauce and Vegetable Base
In a bowl and the following ingredients except sun dried tomatoes:
1.5 cups chopped tomato
1/2 medium onion; chopped
1/2-1 jalapeno pepper; finely chopped
1/2 medium red pepper; chopped
1/2 medium portabello mushroom (chopped)
handful of corn kernals (optional)
red kidney beans canned (not raw and optional).
2 Tbsp EVOO
1/4 tsp cumin
1 dash or 2 of cayenne pepper
Sea Salt to taste

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix throughly to incorporate flavours.
Transfer 1/4 of the mixture into your high speed blender or food processor, add soaked sundried tomatoes and blend into a thick tomato paste like consistency.

Add paste and almond taco meet to the remaining Vegetable Base, stir in almond or walnut taco meat and dehydrate at 115• until warmed through.

Serve over a large bed of salad greens and enjoy.

Enjoy the chili and the game!

Raw Chili

Don't forget to check out todays green smoothie recipe on my Facebook page.  If you like chocolate you will like this one!

Just click on the link and it will take you there.
www.facebook.com/RawFoodYogini

Day 2 of 28 Days of Raw & Green Smoothie Challenge

It really did make my heart sing each time I checked my FB page yesterday.  I have some great people who have taken the green smoothie challenge on.  BRAVO to each of you!!!

Some great recipes too!  If you want to check them out click on the following link and visit the page.  Like it and come on board the challenge.  I would like to see you there posting your green smoothie creations.  www.facebook.com/RawFoodYogini

So here I am on day two of my 28 Days of Raw.  I have to admit that already this time around I'm finding that it is just that much easier to wrap my head around eating 100% raw.  I know its' only day two and things may change but already I feel quite different than last February when I took this challenge on for the first time.

Speaking of wrapping.  Yesterday, being Friday, you know, the day I spend in my kitchen experimenting.  I made myself a batch of vegetable wraps.  No recipe, just playing around with what I had available.  I'm looking forward to enjoying one today at lunch and will let you know how they turned out.

I also made myself a couple of sun burgers. I enjoyed one yesterday for diner wrapped in romaine lettuce, topped spicy macadamia nut mayo, tomato and avocado slices.  Delish!

If you want to give them a try here is the recipe for you. No real measurements though, so improvise if need be.

Sun Burgers
1/2 medium carrot
1/2 small onion
1/2 celery stalk
about 1/3 cup
about 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons tamari

Add all ingredients into your food processor and blend until ingredients come together well.  Form into two patties and dehydrate at 115% for 3 hours.  Turning patties half way through.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Day 1 of 28 Days of Raw 2013 & Green Smoothie Challenge

Day 1 of my 28 Days of Raw and some of my friends and Facebook followers will be joining me for the next 28 Days with a Green Smoothie Challenge.

Last night I posted my day 1 green smoothie recipe.  Did you miss it?  Are you curious?

It's not too late to join in on the fun, take part in the 28 Day Green smoothie challenge that I'm running on FB.  Just create a recipe and post it in the comment section of the post for the day. Each day for 28 days.

What are you waiting for? Visit my Facebook page, like, and share your green smoothie creation.  www.facebook.com/RawFoodYogini

Looking forward to trying your recipe tomorrow!

Keep rawk'n it out in your kitchen!