Archive for May, 2010

No Matter What, Always Be Encouraged

The sun always comes once the clouds have parted from the rain. There is always a lesson learned and an upside to various situations, it merely depends on your point of view, on how you look at things. There is experience to be gained in all that we do, there are stories to live and stories to be told. There is wisdom gained and knowledge to be passed on to others who endure something similar.

We know that it is not always easy to make lifestyle changes. Whether you are new to raw foods and holistic health, or a seasoned raw foodie looking to shake things up a bit, we encourage you all to take it one step at a time. For just as learning to walk or ride a bike for the first time left you with a couple bruises or scrapes, so might you unintentionally fall off track or take a wrong turn. No worries though, because we want to encourage you that at any point you can get back up again and get back to the raw food lifestyle.

We have several ways to for you start the raw food lifestyle depending on your own personal preference for learning and trying new things. Check out our Going Raw article here. If you are looking for ways to shake things up a bit, in addition to raw-tastic recipes, we have an article on how to Get More Raw into your diet. Ultimately, we want you to know that we are here to support you in your journey, which is why we provide all of this information and resources for free. We want you to succeed.

Here are some tips to help you stay on track with your journey to holistic health and wellness:

• Have A Night In: Invite a couple friends over for an un-cook night. That’s right, claim that together you will make a meal that is super healthy and taste amazing. Use our site or another website of your choice to pick some easy raw recipes that are sure to awe (we recommend raw sushi, raw tacos, spinach powerhouse salad, raw cookie dough, etc). You all can meet up at the grocery store and hand pick your produce. Then put on some good music and make the magic happen in the evening.
• Try Something New: Be sure you are not falling into a routine with your food. You will get bored, which is a time when we can become susceptible to temptation.  Our website is jam packed with yummy raw recipes, all of them super easy to prepare. Consider planning at least one new recipe a week to keep things going. Also feel free to experiment, which can be loads of fun.
• Find A Veggie Friendly Restaurant: This is a once in a while suggestion. If you cannot find a raw restaurant, opt for one that has vegan friendly options. This is a good way to add some more variety and spice into your life.
• Raw Dessert: Don’t let the wholesome goodness fool you! You can totally have raw sweets that taste even better than what you’ll find in the standard American diet, which all natural ingredients! We commend raw cookie dough, raw banana soft serve, or raw carob balls.
• Join A Group: Raw foodies have a desire to meet and connect with others who share in their lifestyle. Use groups like Ning.com and Meetup.com to see who’s getting together in your area. If you cannot find a raw food group, find a vegan or vegetarian friendly group instead and see if they would be open to a raw food night or gathering.

Other Articles to Support You In Your Journey:
Affirmations for Health and Wellness
Healing Requires Presence and Awareness
How to Stay Raw at Work

The Little Things

Sometimes we get so caught up in the day to day routine of our lives that we forget about the little things. And aren’t those the things that matter the most? Like when you are just relaxing outside and a little lady bug flies in and lands beside you? Or have you ever had a moment where your gaze is instantly interrupted by a carefree butterfly, meandering through the air to land where she sees fit. It’s beautiful to watch the little moments of nature and life happening right before you. Often we can be so busy or so immersed in what we are doing that we forget to look up and take note of what is happening around us.

We are a technology driven species, it is clear. In fact, if do get the opportunity to glance up while you are outside surrounded by people, take a look at how many of them are deeply concentrating on their cell phones, so involved in what’s going on in that little screen that they are literally walking one foot in front of the other and that’s it. We encourage all of our readers to take a moment to break away from the many computer screens and paperwork that makes up our day and actually take a moment to appreciate what’s going on around you. Again, it’s the little things that matter the most.

Surely there will be something simple and yet fascinating to capture your attention. We’ve listed 10 examples of some items you should see if you can find. They are sure to make you smile. Or, be sure to comment and leave behind your “little things” moment.

• A child with colorful rain boots splashing in puddles
• A family of ducks flying in the perfect “V” formation
• A woman planting flowers outside her home
• After a gentle rain, the clouds part and there is a rainbow
• A favorite song from your youth playing on the radio
• The clouds in the sky taking on a familiar shape
• Noticing the stars on a night sky and how far away they are
• A gentle breeze and a familiar scent in the air
• The warm embrace of a friend you’re excited to see
• The wind picking up leaves and carrying them to a new destination.

Happy thoughts to all our readers and a friendly reminder to remember the little things. They are happening all around you!

We’ve Got Raw Doughnut Holes!

Once again we wanted to let you in on the amazing fact that you can indeed enjoy delicious treats that are wholesome and good for you too. That’s the beauty of raw foods! The desserts and snacks are guilt free. You don’t have to worry about checking for calories or adding points. You simple make it and enjoy it. This is the perfect recipe to serve to friends, because they will be so shocked to find out how great these taste and yet they are made from all natural, raw ingredients. This is proof that you don’t need artificial sweeteners and food dyes to have an amazing dessert. This recipe comes to us from Susan Powers, the creative force behind Rawmazing, the website designed to help you transition from the SAD (Standard American Diet) to the healthy, tasty world of raw food.

Here’s how to make this delicious dessert below:

Ingredients:
Doughnuts:

• 2 C Brazil Nuts
• 1/2 C Oat Flour (made from raw oats)
• 1 C Flaked Oats (raw)
• 1/3 C Coconut Oil
• 1/3 C Maple Syrup (not raw but used in raw food recipes, you could substitute agave or dates to experiment)

Topping:

• 1/3 C Sucanat (not raw but not processed, used in raw recipes)
• 1 1/2 t. Cinnamon

Equipment:
Foodprocessor, and a mixing bowl with spoon

Directions:
1. Fine chop Brazil nuts in food processor until fine. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.

2. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl, mix together and then add to the wet ingredients. Stir.

3. For the topping, combine and put through blender. I use a coffee grinder for this to break up the grainy sucanat. You can skip this step and just combine the ingredients.

3. Roll into balls. Roll in sucanant cinnamon mixture and refrigerate. In an hour or so you are free to enjoy (if you can wait that long!).

Source Information: Recipe and photographs are copyright 2009 Susan Powers www.rawmazing.com. All Rights Reserved.

Summer Salad: Spinach Power House

Do you want a hearty salad that is delicious, good for you and jam packed with nutrients? Then you’ve got to try this Raw Power House Salad! It is a party for your tastebuds and very filling. Trust us, you will be getting so much green along with all of the other colors of the rainbow. You will glow with energy and wholeness. Give it a try.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 cups of baby spinach
• 1 cup of spring salad mix
• 1 cup of cabbage slaw (sliced raw cabbage & shredded carrots)
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 1/2 red onion
• 1 cucumber
• 1 avocado
• parsley flakes
• splash of olive oil and lemon juice

Equipment:
Really nothing is needed beyond a cutting board and knife, and a bowl with spoon for mixing

Directions:
1. Place the handfuls of baby spinach into your mixing bowl. Then add the cup of spring salad mix. Blend all of the leaves together.

2. Add in one cup of cabbage slaw and mix it with the leaves.

3. Slice your red onion in half and then slice it vertically and horizontally to get nice small chunks of onion. Toss those into your salad.

4. Peel the skin of the cucumber if it is not organic. Then slice it long ways down the middle. Turn each half so that the flat side is on your cutting board. Then cut nice chunky slices and add them into the salad.

5. Take your avocado and remove it from its skin (If you’re not sure how to do this, read our article on Avocados). Slice your avocado into small chunks and toss them into your salad.

6. Slice your red bell pepper in half. For the half you are using, cut both horizontally and vertically to create small squares (similar to the size of what you might find in a chunky salsa). Add these to the salad.

7. Sprinkle in the parsley flakes

8. Add a dash of lemon juice and olive oil and mix well.

9. Serve in a plate or bowl and enjoy!

3 Delicious Raw Sushi Recipes

This recipe comes from Philip McCluskey’s website, Loving Raw, where he shares his raw inspirational story and his journey of continued health and wellness through eating raw foods and taking care of himself. There have been a couple requests from readers who want to tackle raw sushi but are a little intimidated because the recipes look intimidating. So we went out on a search for an easy approach to making raw sushi and we stumbled upon this fantastic find on Philip’s website. Here’s the article below:

So you got friends coming over and you don’t know what to make, how about Raw Sushi!

It’s fairly quick to make, looks impressive, and tastes great!

Heather and I were just eating soups for the day, but we had friends come over and wanted to whip up something special.  Sushi was just the ticket.

People have commented in the past that raw sushi was intimidating to make because they were afraid they wouldn’t be able to roll the nori (seaweed) correctly.  A ripped or sloppy nori is not really a big deal when your home alone, but when friends are coming over, its got to be right… or so the thought is I guess.

You’re in luck then, cause to roll nori correctly no tools are required.  Nope, not even that bamboo rolling mat.  There are a couple ideas I work off of, but overall here are some of the techniques I use.  In the end practice makes perfect.

I basically make three types of raw sushi:

Pate Sushi – Lettuce, pate, and veggies.  This can be crunchy, flavorful, whatever you like.

• I usually place some sort of lettuce base down on the nori to start (like romaine or spinach).  This protects the nori from getting wet if I am going to lay down a pate.  Note:  A wet nori is a sloppy or ripped one.
• I will have whipped up a pate as well.  Something usually nut (almond, macadamia, brazil) or seed (sunflower, pumpkin, hemp) based.  I thrown in some spices (usually cayenne, sea salt, cumin) and complimenting veggies.  Meaning… if I am using red bell peppers in the nori I will add some to blend into the pate as well.  Have fun, be creative.  There are no rules here.
• Lay some of the pate on the lettuce, then top with veggies (peppers, sprouts, celery strips, carrot shreds).  Only put food on 1/4 of the nori.
• Then roll.  Just grab the end with the food and roll over and tuck under.  Inch by inch, roll and tuck.  When you get near the end wet your fingers in water and wet the end of the nori sheet.  Roll the final nori over and let it rest on the seal until it dries.

Faux Rice Sushi – Faux parsnip rice and veggies.  This is the closest looking and has the most “real sushi” appeal.

• Check online for your favorite parsnip rice recipe.  Basically its just ground parsnip and a few other seasonings.  Start with laying down a thick layer of rice.
• Add other veggies (peppers, sprouts, celery strips, carrot shreds)
• Sometimes it can be fun to make a savory sauce you can drizzle over the veggies.
• Then roll.  Just grab the end with the food and roll over and tuck under.  Inch by inch, roll and tuck.  When you get near the end wet your fingers in water and wet the end of the nori sheet.  Roll the final nori over and let it rest on the seal until it dries.

Raw Veggies Sushi – Just plain veggies in a nori wrap.  This is the simplest, usually if I am on my way out the door.

• Grab a handful of sliced, diced, julienned, or mushed (avocado) veggies, and lay them across the base of your nori.
• You might want to add a squeeze of lemon juice, or maybe a sprinkle of sea salt if desired.
• Then roll.  Just grab the end with the food and roll over and tuck under.  Inch by inch, roll and tuck.  When you get near the end wet your fingers in water and wet the end of the nori sheet.  Roll the final nori over and let it rest on the seal until it dries.

Add-Ons
Add a nice green tea (Sencha) for flavor, maybe a little Eden wasabi powder blend for a kick, and a little unpasteurized Nama Shoyu for dipping and you’re all set.

Break out the fine china, or in this case Japanese sushi plates, and have a party!  Spending time with loved ones is the real reward.

Source Information: Recipe and photographs are original property of Philip McCluskey www.lovingraw.com. All Rights Reserved.

Cantaloupe Monkey

Wanna spice up your summer dinning table? Make the kids want to eat more fruit? We found this and thought it was adorable, especially if you have kids! You can see from the picture that it is really easy to make! And its yummy too! This monkey is sure to be a crowd pleaser.The prep time is about 10 minutes, and the ingredients simply include one cantaloupe and two plums. The website we found this on, Instructables, has step by step picture instructions on how to get this monkey’s face just right! Click here to read how simple it is and then enjoy!