Showing posts with label soups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soups. Show all posts

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Kaia Foods Giveaway Winner & Best Soup Ever!

Hello! 


Hope everyone has been enjoying their weekends. I have been working but today is my Friday... yay! The weather has been beautiful and it finally feels like Spring, now that it is almost over. 


The other day I watched this video clip of Natalia Rose sharing an easy soup recipe. I love sweet potatoes and had leftover  carrot cake carrot juice (recipe below) so I made it. It is my favorite soup recipe to date. 


2 to 3 cups carrot juice
1 large sweet potato diced
4 or 5 dates
1/2 avocado
1 tablespoon (or more) pumpkin pie spice. 


Blend until creamy and smooth and enjoy. It is so good... tastes like pumpkin pie and reminds me of the sweet potato cassarole that I love to make. 


I used some leftover Carrot Cake Carrot Juice that I had made. I used...


1 two pound bag of carrots
4 apples
small chunk of ginger
sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg (sprinkle them right into the juicer)


At work, some of the girls have been asking me about raw foods. I usually get... "what do you eat, just salad?" So, I think I will prepare some raw foods and bring them in. I always like to surprise people with what you CAN eat raw, not what you can't eat. 


Maybe I can bring in Raw Apple Crumble....




What about a raw cupcake?


What foods do you like to prepare for non-raw friends to wow them?

Onto the winner of the Kaia Food giveaway...

The winner is comment # 8,Lauren..

Lauren said...

I added you to my blogroll: gingeristhenewpink.blogspot.com

Lauren, please email me at sryseff@yahoo.com with your mailing address... congratulations!





Sunday, April 18, 2010

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!


















Friday, April 16, 2010

11 week initiative, day 7. Raw Curry Cilantro Corn Soup & More raw cupcakes!


Happy Friday!


I am so glad the weekend is here and the sun is shining! What are your plans for the weekend? I ordered some raised veggie beds  that I have been waiting to set up so I can plant some veggies. I want to plant tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, beets, potatoes, lettuce, kale, herbs and anything else I can get to grow. 


I think I will take Mackenzie to see the new movie How To Train Your Dragon, and make a much needed trip to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Where do you do most of your shopping? I live in such a remote area that I have to drive about 50 minutes to get to TJ's or WF's. Other things I am aspiring to do... clean my car, long run on Sunday, yoga on Saturday and some cleaning of the house.... save the best for last right? Wrong! :)


Yesterday I made some soup with a few ears of corn I had in the fridge. Here it goes...


Raw Curry Cilantro Corn Soup




3 or 4 ears corn (kernels shaved)
1/4 cup cashews
1 cup water
1 teaspoon garlic
1 green onion
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon tumeric
dash of salt 
handful of cilantro
1/4 jalapeno pepper




Shave kernels from corn cobs.

Reserve about 1/4 cup of the corn kernels for garnish. Blend the rest of the ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor. 

Transfer to a bowl and add the remaining kernels. Optional garnishes are avocado, cilantro or a  drizzle of honey. Enjoy!



After breakfast I decided to make some more raw cupcakes from Shannon's Cupcake E-Book. I made 4 of the Bunny Spice Cupcakes with Nut Butter frosting from the book. So good! These are perfect for me as I love pie spice and nut butter. Perfect! Here they are....
Naked Cupcake...

 Frosted Cupcakes...

One with coconut and golden raisins..
One with walnuts...


and one with pecans...


All yummy! Don't you want to eat one Ellen???

Have you joined Shannon in her quest to get Ellen to eat a raw cupcake? Jump on board, it is so much fun!


Before I get to my eats for the day,I have to update yesterdays... around 10:00 last night I was starving so I made Danielle's microwave banana cake... yum!


For today... after my five mile run I made a huge green juice with romaine, celery, ginger, an apple, and a grapefruit. 



The finished product...




For breakfast I had some mixed fruit (banana, blood orange, strawberries)  topped with cinnamon. 



Lunch was some of the corn soup from above, some tofu and a salad with corn and cherry tomatoes. 

Later I had a raw cupcake and some popcorn at the movie theater that I brought along with me. 

Dinner was kelp noodles with veggies and tofu... I have been on a tofu kick lately. 

Dessert was banana soft serve with a few pecans on top... yummy!

Also, tomorrow is the big weigh in for the 11 week initiative... be sure to come back and check my progress!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Vita Mix... I love you! Raw Brownies and Roasted Butternut Squash soup

When I first started eating raw I was using my regular food processor and blender, which worked okay for most recipes but not great for others. Before long I decided to buy a Vita Mix. I was torn between the Blend Tech and Vita Mix and ended up buying the Vita Mix because I got a good price on a reconditioned model off the Vita Mix website. I am so glad I bought this appliance! If you are going to invest in something to make your raw lifestyle easier and more delicious... get a Vita Mix... YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT! 

My soups are so creamy! Even my favorite cooked soups, like a recipe from Ina Garten that I love, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Curry (recipe below) tastes even better when blended in the vita mix because it comes out velvety smooth.

The raw sweet potato cassarole that I love to make would never get so smooth and creamy in a regular blender. And green smoothies are like having dessert! The greens get blended so well you would never know they were in there if the smoothie were not green!

All of this aside, today I fell in love with my Vita Mix in a whole new way! I am a huge chocolate lover and my favorite non raw dessert is the ooey, gooey brownie! I LOVE brownies and for some reason had not tried to make them in my Vita Mix yet. I have tried in my food processor and the texture was just lacking for me.
Today I tried them in Vita Mix and I am a happy girl... REALLY happy! They are fantastic. Just as good... well, better than the original! Here is what I used...

Raw Brownies
2 cups walnuts
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons carob powder
squirt agave 
9 medjool dates

Blend until smooth, press into tupperware and store in fridge or freezer. So easy but perfectly delicious! 

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Curry Condiments
recipe by Ina Garten

Ingredients

  • 3 to 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded
  • 2 yellow onions
  • 2 McIntosh apples, peeled and cored
  • 3 tablespoons good olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 to 4 cups vegetable stock (or water)
  • 1/2 teaspoon good curry powder

Condiments for serving:

  • Scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and sliced diagonally
  • Flaked sweetened coconut, lightly toasted
  • Roasted salted cashews, toasted and chopped
  • Diced banana

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Cut the butternut squash, onions, and apples into 1-inch cubes. Place them on a sheet pan and toss them with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the squash mixture between 2 sheet pans and spread in a single layer. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, tossing occasionally, until very tender.
Meanwhile, heat the stock to a simmer. When the vegetables are done, put them through a food mill fitted with the medium blade. (Alternatively, you can place the roasted vegetables in batches in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add some of the stock and coarsely puree.) When all of the vegetables are processed, place them in a large pot and add enough  stock to make a thick soup. Add the curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Taste for seasonings to be sure there's enough salt and pepper to bring out the curry flavor. Reheat and serve hot with condiments either on the side or on top of each serving.

This soup is fantastic and comes out very creamy when blended in your Vita Mix! 


Saturday, April 3, 2010

Mock Mashed Potatoes, Heathy's Parfait, Pecan Pie, Creamy Corn & Avocado Soup and more...

Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a great weekend! I am bit sleepy as I worked until 10:30 last night and it was the first day of my new job. It is always hard to start new jobs but it feels great to be working as a Nurse after going back to school to become one. I am working again tonight but will have Sunday off. Which leads me to ask you... will you be celebrating Easter? My family will be spending the day together and I have been busy thinking of what yummy raw dishes I want to bring. I have decided on these for sure...

Mock Mashed Potatoes 
(adapted from the RAWvolution book)

2 1/2 cups cauliflower
1/4 cup cashew nuts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
small clove garlic
pepper

Blend everything together until fluffy and smooth. 





It looks fantastic, light and I have almost everything I need in the fridge already... always a plus!




Coconut Cream
Fresh strawberries, diced
Fresh mango, diced

Any other fruit of your choice
Coconut Cream
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups young coconut pulp
(my pulp was pretty firm)
1/3 cup coconut water
1/4 cup agave
2 Tablespoons agave powder (I don't have this so might substitute Lucuma)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy

Thanks for the recipe Heathy! If you have not checked out Heathy's Just Desserts E Book, you really should. It is filled with yummy desserts and is a great price. She also has a new e book on Moon Pies and a contest going on.... click here to check that out.  I would love to be a judge for that contest!

I am also going to make Pecan Pie from the new book I ordered RAWvolution. Great book by the way, really delicious and simple to make recipes. Here is the easy recipe...

Pecan Pie


For the crust:


2 cups raw almonds 
1/3 cup agave nectar


For the Filling:


1/3 cup coconut water
1/4 cup pecans
1/2 cup raisins


Mix together crust ingredients and press into pie plate/ tin. 
Mix filling ingredients and pour into crust. 
Garnish with pecans. 


How easy is that! Only 5 ingredients, that is my kind of recipe. Lots of the recipes from RAWvolution are like that. One of my new favorites books. 








Today after my workout I decided to make some soup. I had a couple ears of corn and avocado that needed to be used so I made this...

Creamy Corn and Avocado Soup

2 ears corn (shave corn from ears)
1 avocado
1 cup water
1 heaping tablespoon miso (optional)
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon coriander
dash cayenne pepper
dash sea salt
1 tomato
garlic (to taste)

Blend in Vita mix or food processor until smooth and creamy. Yummy!


Hope everyone has a happy weekend!