Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Introduction to Eating Raw

I realize "eating raw" might conjure up thoughts of cold, crunchy, tasteless food day after day (it did for me) - but it doesn't have to be this way! 

I've been 70-100% raw since February 2012, and while the food is room temperature or colder, it's also colorful, flavorful and glowing with life-force energy. I feel lighter and healthier and really enjoy my food - even more so that I did cooked food.

If you're interested in getting started with raw, it's very easy; you don't have to be 100% - start with maybe 20% and gradually increase the amount of raw fresh foods in your diet each day. Since it's summertime, this is a great time to start.

All you need is a food processor, blender, and optionally a paint strainer (for the green smoothie & nut milk  - you can get a 2-pack of paint strainers from Home Depot for about $8). Eventually, if you decide you love eating raw, invest in a food dehydrator so you can make flour-less breads (about $30-50, like this one). 

For this post I'll share some of my favorite, delicious, easy-to-make raw treats (that don't require a food dehydrator). Also, whenever possible eat organic!!!

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 MEALS  & SIDE DISHES

Nut milk
Soak 1 cup almonds for 4+ hours (can also use a mix of almonds, walnuts & pecans). In a blender, mix nuts with 2 cups water and a few ice cubes. (Optionally you can add 1-2 pitted dates and/or 1 tsp vanilla to taste)
Pour the mixture through a paint strainer and squeeze or "milk" the strainer until all liquid has been extracted. Keep refrigerated.

 
Breakfast Cereal
1 heaping tbl flax meal
1 heaping tbl slivered almonds (or chopped walnuts)
1 tbl raisins or blueberries
1 tsp stevia (or agave)
1/2 cup nut milk

Optionally, add cinnamon, a spoonful of vanilla protein powder or sliced banana.



Quick Guacamole
Mash 1 avocado with a fork. With a spoon, mix in 2 tbl chopped purple onion and 2-3 tbl lemon juice. One of my favorites!!!


Garden Burgers

Combine
in a food processor:

  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup walnuts (or sliced almonds)
  • 1/4 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 tbl agave
  • 1 tbl oil: extra virgin olive, sesame, or your choice
  • 1-2 tbl nutritional yeast (optional: makes for "cheesy" flavor)
Scoop a heaping spoonful onto a large lettuce leaf (such as Romaine) and fold the leaf over in lieu of bread. Optionally, add Bragg Amino Acids to the mix for more flavor. Delicious and very filling!






Green Salad (adapted from therawtarian.com)

Mix chopped kale and romaine lettuce (about 1 cup each).
Using your clean hands, mix in 1 tbl olive oil, kneading until all leaves are saturated with oil.
Add 1 tsp of raw apple cider vinegar, 1 tbl chopped purple onion, and 1 tbl walnuts.
Optionally, sprinkle on 1 spoonful of nutritional yeast. Very tasty!


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 SNACKS & DESSERTS

 
Banana Walnut Pudding
So easy - just mash a banana and add cinnamon and chopped walnuts. Gooey but sweet and filling!

Carrot Cake (adapted from therawtarian.com)
Combine in a food processor:


1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup walnuts
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 tsp agave (or 1 packet of stevia)
1/2 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
 1 tbl water

Do not over-process - just pulse a few times until everything is crumbly. Tastes just like carrot cake!




Crumb Cake
Mix equal amounts of pecans and walnuts in a food processor (do not soak in water beforehand) until crumbly. Transfer crumbs to a bowl and add cinnamon and agave to taste. Makes an amazing dessert!!!
You can also add a little cacao for a chocolatey treat, or add nut milk & raisins and eat for breakfast.

Chocolate Pudding

In a food processor, mix:

1 avocado, diced
¼ c raw agave nectar, or more to taste
¼ c cocoa powder
¼ c water
2 t vanilla extract
¼ t sea salt
Place avocado, agave nectar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and sea salt in a blender. Gradually add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to achieve a creamy consistency. Chill overnight and enjoy as a rich dessert the next day.




Chocolate Fudge Brownies (adapted from therawtarian.com)

One of my favorite desserts - they really do taste like real brownies!


Combine in  a food processor:

1 cup pecans
1/2 cup dates
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup avocado
5 tablespoons raw cacao 
4 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut (optional)
2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Spread into a pan or cookie sheet (about 1/2" high). Freeze overnight; cut into squares. Store in the freezer for amazing chewy brownies!!!


Thin Mints (from http://www.onegreenplanet.org)

Mix together:

3/4 cup protein powder
1/2 + 2 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp stevia, liquid
1 tsp peppermint extract
6 -7 tbl coconut oil, liquid
Place all ingredients into a bowl and stir together.  Scoop onto plate or tray, then set in fridge to set (you want the cookies to be hard to the touch). Keep refrigerator or store in freezer.



Cheesecake Pudding (adapted from therawtarian.com)
Soak 1 cup of cashews in water for at least 4 hours. Drain and add cashews to your food processor. Using the s-blade, whip the softened cashews, adding small amounts of water until the consistently is that of pudding.
Transfer "cashew cream" to a small bowl, and add about 1-2 tbl lemon juice and 2-3 tbl agave (modify amounts according to your taste). Oh soooo good!!!

Quick Cheesecake (adapted from therawtarian.com)
Based on the above, if you want to make firm cheesecake, mix about 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil in with the whipped cashews, lemon juice and agave; spread the mixture in a pan and refrigerate. Cut into squares and serve with fruit. Delicious, and I swear it tastes just like cheesecake!


Apple Cobbler
 

In a food processor, mix:

1 apple, chopped
1/2 c walnuts
1 tsp maple agave
cinnamon

Don't over process, but mix until crumbly. Delicious!!!
 

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SMOOTHIES

Berry Smoothie
In a blender mix:

1 cup nut milk
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup chopped strawberries
1/3 cup blueberries
1/3 cup chopped blackberries

1 tsp vanilla
stevia (I use 2 packets) or agave to sweeten
a few ice cubes

Optionally, add
1 heaping tbl vanilla protein,1 tbl flax oil, 1/4 cup of coconut kefir or 1/3 sliced banana. Thick & yummy!


Green Smoothie
In a blender, mix:

3 cups water
1-3 chopped green apples (depending on how sweet you like it)
1/2 chopped cucumber
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped kale
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1 tbl spirulina

After mixing, strain about 2/3 of the pulp by pouring the mixture through a paint strainer little by little, and squeezing or "milking" the strainer until all the liquid has been extracted. Dispose of the pulp and rinse the strainer. Optionally, add stevia to the smoothie to sweeten.

Almond Smoothie

In a blender mix:

1 cup nut milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup almond butter
1 heaping tbl vanilla protein
1 tbl flax oil
1 tsp vanilla
 stevia (I use 2 packets) or agave to sweeten
a few ice cubes

Chocolate Smoothie
In a blender mix:

1 cup nut milk

1/2 cup water 

1 tbl avocado
1 heaping tbl cacao
1 heaping tbl vanilla or chocolate protein
1 tsp vanilla
stevia (I use 2 packets) or agave to sweeten
a few ice cubes

Optionally you can further thicken by adding
1 tbl flax oil, 1/2 cup cashews, 1/4 cup almond butter, chocolate pudding (recipe above), or 1/3 banana



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Activist Films Worth Seeing!

If you'd like to see what's really going on in our society (contrary to what the mainstream media would have you believe), I highly recommend the following documentary films. 

You may not agree with everything said, but these will at the very least make you think:


Ethos - Narrated by Woody Harrelson, this film discusses who's pulling the strings on our society
http://ethosthemovie.com


Thrive - By Foster & Kimberly Gamble, this film is beautifully designed and entertaining. Like Ethos, it explains how society really works and what we can do to live freely and healthily.


Hungry for Change - Takes a hard look at the quality of food we are eating http://www.hungryforchange.tv/


Loose Change - Asks tough questions about what really happened on 9/11
http://lc911finalcut.com/

Tapped - Regarding our water sources & bottled water
http://www.tappedthemovie.com/


Fresh - About green living & obtaining healthy food
http://www.freshthemovie.com

Fed Up! - About our food sources
http://archive.org/details/Fed_Up_Genetic_Engineering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeh_ZKxYwYo  (movie trailer)


Food, Inc - Enlightening movie about non-organic food sources; not for the faint-of-heart
http://www.solarmovie.eu/watch-food-inc-2008.html

Ingredients - Regarding our food sources and farming
http://www.ingredientsfilm.com/

What In The World Are They Spraying? - Discusses what is happening with our skies and the air we breathe
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/what-in-the-world-are-they-spraying/


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