Debit Card Drama, Disneyland Trip, Maple Roasted Tempeh and Seasonal Fruits and Hurom Slow Juicer

OMG.... I can't believe i am finally posting! Which means I actually have a day off! I have been so busy... I gave  my notice at my job to start another one working for a Urologist. So, I have been doing both jobs until the 24th... it is a lot. The new job will be good though because it is normal hours, Monday through Friday and I will be able to spend more time with Mackenzie, which is the most important :)


So...


We had fun in Disneyland even though my debit card number was stolen two days into the trip and my bank shut my card off... good thing I had brought another credit card to use because it was the weekend of the 4th and all the banks were closed. Have you ever had you identity or credit cards stolen? Big pain in the ass! Not cool!


Mackenzie loved getting autographs and meeting all the characters and I did get her onto a few scary rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones... but there was no way she was about to get onto California Screamin'... the BIG roller coaster I would have loved... maybe next time!

we waited for an hour in line to see Minnie Mouse!

Glad she had fun!

Onto food... I have been enjoying my Maple Roasted Tempeh... sweet and yummy. 


1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 package tempeh


Mix first two ingredients and brush onto the tempeh, roast at 400 for about 20 minutes, flip half way through. Yummy and easy. 




I have also been enjoying fresh figs. Love these and they are not around for long. I was excited to see them at a farmers market I went to and snatched some up. Do you have any good fig recipes to share? 


My newest purchase is the Hurom Slow Juicer. I haven't used it yet, but will today. I have been wanting it for a while. After readind review I have found that people say it maintains the nutrients in the juice better. When I juice with my juicer if I don't drink it right away, I don't like the taste. With the Hurom you should be able to juice in advance (which means less clean up... a huge plus for me!) and still enjoy the juice later. I'll let you know what I think next post. 

Next recipe I will share is my baked Falafel balls with cucumber sauce... so good and healthier then the fried version. I am on a falafel kick lately... can't get enough of them!


Hope you all have a great day! 

The BEST Raw Oats, Chocolate Coconut Bars, Dehydrated young thai coconut and Healthier Cinnamon Banana Chips

Hello! 

It feels like it has been forever since I posted. I have finished my classes and have been working more. I will be starting full time next month. It is exciting because all the work I have done going back to school to change careers is coming full circle. I have to say that I LOVE being a nurse, so rewarding! And, of course I keep my Real Estate license current so if the market decides to come back strong I can always go back to that too. 

Anyway.... I wanted to share with you a recent purchase that I am just thrilled about. These YUMMY organic, RAW, fresh flaked oats and oat flour that I ordered online from Sunrise Flour Mill. They are so good, fresh tasting, and RAW. Why buy dead processed oats when you can get fresh flaked raw oats! It is amazing the difference in taste with the fresh oats... you should order some and see what I mean. 

What have I been making with the oats? First I did Averie's overnight oats with a twist. I placed some oats in a bowl, added maple syrup,  soy milk, cinnamon, dash of salt, walnuts and raisins and it soak overnight. It was creamy and sweet in the morning. Yum! It made me remember being a kid I used to mix uncooked oatmeal with water and eat it... I love the taste of oats. 

Breakfast today was a fluffy waffle, left over from Sunday mornings breakfast, topped with coconut butter (my new favorite slather on everything goody) banana and maple syrup. 

I want to share a delicious treat that could not be easier to make. I found this online but can't remember where. Anyhow, take the meat of a few young coconut and dehydrate until chewy. It is SOOOO good! It is hard to not eat it all at once. Chewy, sweet and good for you. 


I really like banana chips, but are they fried? I decided to make my own. I melted some coconut oil and mixed in some cinnamon...

tossed the banana slices and dehydrated.... yum!

I pulled mine out when they were still a little chewy. 

I also made some Chocolate Coconut bars. Similar to my copycat Lydia's Organics Bars but with cocoa powder and cocoa nibs. These are crunchy, sweet and light. 

In food processor, mix 2 bananas and 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder.

Add 2 cups flaked coconut and some cocoa nibs

Optional... add some cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a kick. 

Dehydrate overnight or until crisp. Break into chunks and enjoy!

Question: Do you have several careers under your belt? Have you had a major career change due to the downturn in the economy? 

What do you do differently now than you did before? 

Also, check out the daily raw cafe for a chance to win a Jennifer Cornbleet uncook book or Blackbird Truffles!

Schools almost over! Favorite recipes...

Hello friends! 


I have not posted in a while because I have been so busy studying... yes... finals next week then I am done with my classes... yay! I can't wait to get back to devoting more time to creating yummy raw recipes, product reviews, and training for another half marathon. 
I will be signing up for the half marathon in Santa Rosa in August. 


I am curious... what are your favorite raw recipes? Are there any recipes that you love that you would like to be made raw? I know that I LOVE bread and have had fun creating different raw breads, like my cinnamon raisin bread, and this nut free raw bread recipe.

slathered with avo, yum!

I also love my spiced buckwheat crispy granola... have you made it yet?

perfect with fruit on top and nut milk!

I am on a mission to create some fabulous new raw dessert recipes. Anything you would like to see? Pie, cake, cookies???

Days 8 and 9 of initiative. Cantaloupe and Blood Orange Sake Martini, Quinoa Krispies

Hello! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. I am excited to say that I was 3 pounds lighter when I weighed in yesterday... yay! Possibly some water weight, but none the less, it feels good. One week down, 10 more to go! Do you need some motivation to get healthier or drop a few pounds? Visit Raw Food Rehab!


Yesterday I ran 3 miles and did an hour of weight lifting at the gym. Then Mackenzie and I took a trip to Ross, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods... I could spend so much money in there, I have to be careful. 


My eats for Saturday...

Sprouted grain toast with coconut puree (blended coconut meat and water)

1/2 banana


1 raw energy bar


Salad with guacamole, veggies and mango vinaigrette at High Tech Burrito while on our shopping trip. 


Frozen yogurt on the trip home, Mackenzie insists on stopping for this... it is like a tradition/ treat for the 50 minute windy ride home. I topped mine with carob chips and almonds. 


After getting home I decided to try a new recipe from the cocktail section of Living Raw Food by Sarma  Melngailis.  The book has recipes for some really yummy looking martini's. I drink alcohol very rarely but wanted to try one. I picked up some sake at Whole Foods and made a spin off of one in the book. 

Cantaloupe and Blood Orange Sake Martini

1/2 cantaloupe 

2 small blood oranges

juice of 1 lemon

squirt of agave

sake 

I blended everything except the sake until smooth. I added some sake, to taste, and shook with ice until very cold. Poured into a pretty glass and enjoyed. I had leftover juice... this is enough for a few drinks. It was very good! I want to try other combos of fruit now. 

Dinner was a mix of leftovers... the Curry Cilantro Corn Soup I made the other day, 

some corn  and cherry tomato salad with shredded carrots tossed in and some tofu. 

Finished the night with some popcorn dusted with carob powder. 


I got up this morning and went running but only ended up doing 12 miles, not 15... I just didn't have it in me. Maybe I need to try eating something else before my run.. suggestions? Please!!! The protein powder, banana, nut butter smoothie just didn't cut it today. Maybe oatmeal or something. 


I came home from my run and was starving so I grabbed the quickest thing I could find, some greek yogurt (I have not been eating much dairy at all lately) with coconut cream and some of the quinoa krispies I made. 

I never thought dairy bothered me, but boy did it today... talk about stomach cramps. Did I used to feel this way and just didn't know it, or am I more sensitive now? Who knows? What I do know... no more dairy! I also had a green juice.

I also had some of these tasty things I picked up TJ's... yummy!

I wish I had bought more because between Mackenzie and I we finished the bag!

So, I had mentioned that I needed to get some veggie plants planted after starting some seeds...

Notice some are missing?

Bad doggie! Good thing he is cute!

Haha... notice the one ear back, I know I did something bad look?

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. Check back next week for some raw goodies give away!

Eggplant Roll ups, Liquid Gold Elixir, Lydia's Organics copycat bars, Chocolate Cocoa Nib Cookies

Another beautiful day here in Northern California! I went for a run this morning with my running buddies. I ran 14 miles and the first seven were uphill, that was my first time running uphill for that long. I am used to doing rolling hills, you know, a little up, a little down, then do it over and over. The rolling hills are so much easier because you actually get to recover a little. The seven miles back downhill was a treat!

Today I have eaten...

Protein shake before my run made with a banana, protein powder and a tablespoon of almond butter.

After my run I had a tall glass of Green Lemonade and some mixed fruit drizzled with cinnamon honey. I used a banana (love bananas!) a mandarin orange, a couple strawberries, and a nectarine. Yum! The cinnamon honey rocks!

For lunch I made a green salad with lettuce, asparagus, carrots, cucumber, some of the thai curry tofu from last night, and drizzled with Natalia Rose's Liquid Gold Elixir salad dressing made of...

1 cup lemon juice

tablespoon garlic

tablespoon ginger 

3 tablespoons Nama Shoya

1 tablespoon raw honey

3/4 cup olive oil

It makes a big amount, so I store it in a mason jar and use it all week.

I used the same dressing to marinate some thinly sliced eggplant and mushrooms and have then warming in the dehydrator.

Here they are all nice, soft and warm...

I spread some pesto on each piece of eggplant, topped with a mushroom...

And rolled them up into little logs. Perfect snack!

Mackenzie and I watched a movie in the late afternoon and I snacked on some nuts while she enjoyed a bag of popcorn.

I started a few things in the dehydrator. I am making raw chocolate chip cookies, which I threw together a recipe based on the ingredients in the cookies I bought from One Lucky Duck, but with several tweaks. I used....

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup almond meal

1/2 cup buckwheat groats

1 tablesspoon vanilla extract

dash of sea salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup cocoa nibs

a little less than 1/4 cup agave nectar

I blended the almond meal and buckwheat groats in a food processor then added the agave nectar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla. I stirred in the cocoa nibs by hand and dropped the dough by the teaspoon full onto my nonstick dehydrator sheets. I have then dehydrating at 105 and will remove them when dry on the outside but still chewy inside. 

I also started some more of my copycat Lydia's Organic's bars  but added a couple strawberries and a heaping tablespoon of hemp seeds. I dehydrate these at 105 until totally dry. 

The mixture...

On the sheet...

Remember to score it into bars after about 4 or 5 hours. 

Just for fun... a picture of Mackenzie with the Easter Bunny on Saturday. 

So nice to finally have her not be TERRIFIED of the bunny like she used to be!

Happy Friday! I am so glad the weekend is here and the sun is shining! I woke up and went for a 7 mile run this morning and I was dragging. It was harder than my 10 mile run last weekend. I think I need to start eating a little something before I run more than a few miles. Last weekend I ate an energy bar before my run and it helped to keep me going strong. I had bought a box of these bars when I found them on clearance on Vitacost.com. They are really good, kind of tastes like a Lara Bar.

Another thing about running... does anyone get blisters on their feet? When I first starting running longer distances I got a HUGE blister on the arch of one of my feet, I had to stop running for about a week to let it heal. During that time I bought new shoes (I did not know that you should run in shoes a 1/2 size bigger than your normal size because your feet swell) and some thorlo socks. At 10.00 a pair they are not cheap but they helped a lot. The best thing I have found are these patches that you stick to the inside of your shoe wherever you are prone to blisters.

Very inexpensive and work fantastic!

When I got home from running I was starving so I drank a protein shake and has some of the gingerbread granola I made the other day with almond milk and a banana. It was so good and tastes just like the Kaia brand that is around 9.00 a bag.

Gingerbread Granola

1 cup sprouted buckwheat

1/2 Cup Unsweetened Coconut

1/2 Cup Raw almonds

1/4 cup maple sryrup (could use agave, honey or yacon sryrup)

1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1/2 Teaspoon Ground Allspice or Nutmeg

1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 Teaspoon Salt

8 medjool dates

Blend medjool dates to make a paste. Toss everything else together with the date paste and dehydrate for 4 hours or until dry at 105 degrees.

One of my favorite things to eat is seaweed salad. I usually buy sun dried wakame and make my own. I had this the other night...

Wakame Salad

4 or 5 strips wakame

1 small orange peeled and segments removed

whatever juice you can squeeze from the orange after cutting out the segments

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

dash of chinese 5 spice powder

1) soak wakame in warm water until soft

2) mix everything together and enjoy.

I have since found these kelp noodles...

The WHOLE bag only has 18 calories! I am going to have these for lunch with a miso/ nut dressing. I'll post the recipe later.

Have a great weekend!

Raw Sweet Potato Cassarole & Smoothie Recipes

I woke up in a fabulous mood today! I just knew it was going to be a good day. I dropped Mackenzie off at school and headed for the yoga studio. I did 90 minutes of bikram yoga then came home and made a yummy smoothie. I used...

1/2 head of romaine lettuce
5 leaves of kale
1 banana
2 mandarin oranges
1 cup nut milk kefir
ice
6 drops of vanilla stevia.

1 heaping tablespoon bee pollen (For information on benefits of bee pollen and where I get mine click here)
 

This made enough for 2 smoothies.

I also made a Sweet Potato Cassarole and it is to die for! I wish I had taken pictures along the way. You must try this. I thought it would have a weird texture but it doesn't... it is perfect! I split it into two portions (after cutting the recipe in half) and froze one.


Ingredients

• 1  cup pecans or walnuts

• 4 cups peeled and chopped sweet potatoes

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/2 cup dates

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon vanilla 

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 cup honey

Directions

1) Put potatoes, 1/4 cup nuts, dates, cinnamon, water and vanilla in processor and puree till smooth.

2) Pour into a casserole dish.

3) In another bowl, mix the remaining nuts with salt and honey, and sprinkle over the potato mixture.

Amazing! I will be making this sure during the holidays!

Apple Pie, zucchini wraps, smoothie and cracker recipe

Hello,

I just need to take a minute to vent. Where I live we run on electricity and propane. In my old house I used to have to fill the propane tank a few times a year, and a bit more in the winter. Keep in mind I am in Northern California so it is not like we are getting close to zero or anything. I moved into a new house last December and have had to fill the tank 3 times now at 400.00 a pop, that is almost once a month. Something has to be wrong, I have not been using the stove, the heater has been set at 60 at night and around 65 or so when I am home, it is just my daughter and I, can we really be using that much? I have someone coming out to check for a leak today (another 96.00 to the propane company) so we'll see what they say. If there is no leak... do I really have to budget 400.00 a month for propane on top of the PG& E bill? That is crazy!

Anyway... on Sunday I made the Apple Pie from Ani Phyo's Raw Food Kitchen book, Mackenzie and I loved it so I thought I would share the recipe. I cut the recipe down because I didn't want 16 servings.

In food proccessor:

1 cup almonds

Proccess, but not to powder, and add

1 cup medjool dates

dash of sea salt

process again

Press mixture into individual

 dessert cups or a small bowl after adding a little almond flour to the bottoms

(Helps to get your fingers a little wet)

Cut 2 peeled apples into thin slices and add 1/4 cup raisins and 1 tablespoon cinnamon

In the food proccessor...

1 small orange

about 6 dates

proccess into a syrup, you may need to add a little water

add syrup to apple mixture and toss

Spread apples into each cup onto the pie crust. Enjoy!

This morning I made a green smoothie with...

1/2 cup nut milk

1/2 cup coconut kefir

1 banana

5 drops vanilla stevia

1 small orange

ice

3 leaves kale

Blend and enjoy... the coconut kefir makes it tangy and creamy... LOVE it!

Zucchini Wraps

1 zucchini

splash of Braggs liquid aminos

2 tablespoons flax meal

sea salt

proccess in food proccessor

spread onto non stick dehydrator sheets

Dehydrate at 145 for an hour then drop down to 105.

Take them out when they are dry but still pliable. Wrap your favorite veggies inside and enjoy.

Cheese Crackers

So, I just finished a bag of chees-y quackers from One Lucky Duck and I loved them, but not the price. Here is my attempt at recreating them...

1 cup soaked almonds

1/2 cup flax meal

sea salt

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 red bell pepper

Proccess until smooth, add water if you need to. You want it to be thick, but easily spreadable.

Spread onto teflex sheet...

Start at 145 for a hour and drop down to 105. After 4 hours peel back non stick sheet and continue to dehydrate until dry.