Welcome to my blog about my LOVE for God's Raw Living food. Please join me on my journey towards health and wellness. I truly believe that pure natural raw living food is the doorway to a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
You are currently browsing the archives for November, 2009.
November 23, 2009
I wanted to tell everyone about what I thought of the Hijiki and the Sweet Tahini Dressing. I am sorry to report that it was the second most disgusting recipe yet. Apparently the taste of hijiki makes my taste buds want to expel the flavor. It was so bad. I tried one bite and thought oh my gosh I can’t eat this, but I’ll try another bite, maybe it gets better, NOPE, I ate the second bite and then I placed it back into the refrigerator. I don’t know why I did, nobody else in this house will eat it. It is still sitting there and I am sure it will remain there until I throw it out.
Tonight I decided to make another ice cream. We all enjoyed it so much the other night. I think that Jason and I will be the only people eating this flavor, but I don’t mind, more for me:)
I had to have Jason run up to the store. I didn’t have any peppermint extract. I felt bad that he just got home and he always asks what I want from the store before he gets home. I didn’t want him to stop because I miss him. He knows that I usually do my recipe at night, and I usually need something, but tonight I didn’t think I wanted anything. When I decided to look in the recipe book I kept looking at recipes with peppermint extract. So out of the kindness of his heart, he went. Even though he has a paper due in less than 24 hours.
It was so easy to make, I threw cashews, coconut meat, water, instead of agave I used stevia and sea salt into the Vita-Mix. I blended it quickly and waited for Jason to return with the peppermint extract and vanilla extract. I poured a tablespoon of each into the mixture, the recipe calls for 2 T peppermint extract, but it seemed like it would be overpowering, so I started with one. It was a good decision. After I tasted the mixture I threw in coconut oil, and we poured it into the ice cream maker. I am surprised that it is working with the stevia. I feel like I get a headache from agave. I wanted to test it out with Stevia and see how I feel. I love stevia. It doesn’t seem to bother me the way agave does. Agave is high in sugar, so after I have some it also makes me feel like I want to eat more sugar then go to sleep. I hope this is still considered to be M.K.’s recipe. I never really alter his recipes, I just wanted to try it with Stevia.
Mint Cacao Chip Ice Cream Ingredients
1 cup cashews, soaked
1/2 cup young coconut meat
1/2 cup agave ( I used stevia)
1 1/4 cups water
1 T vanilla extract
1 vanilla bean, scraped
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 T spinach juice (optional)
2 T peppermint extract (I used 1)
1/4 cacao nibs
All ingredients poured into the ice cream maker.
It took 25 minutes to make the ice cream. Jason and I are going to enjoy some yummy ice cream. Can’t wait. He is serving it in beautiful glasses.
Oh my gosh it is so refreshing. I love the flavor! It reminds me of Breyers Peppermint ice cream that they bring out around the holidays. My mom would always buy that ice cream during Christmas time. I still remember it with the pink and green colors. This is so much better:)
I am sleepy and ready for bed. I can’t believe it is already 11:30, a bit late for ice cream, but it so much fun!
“Without ice cream life and fame are meaningless.”
— Unknown
Posted 15 years, 12 months ago at 11:41 pm. Add a comment
November 22, 2009
Today is Sunday, so I started my morning reading the Word, then went off to work. I started around 7:30am then at 10am went to Unity. It was a great service today. I really am so thankful Rev. Lauri is back. I really needed the meditation. I have been meditating everyday but she has such a special voice. Her voice always takes me to that special place. After service I went back to work and didn’t get done until 9:15pm. It’s a long day on Sunday to be on my feet, but I love it.
I made 3 new recipes today at work. I am excited and I hope the customers like them. I made squash muffins, cashew cheese stuffed red peppers, and quinoa with apricots and walnuts. It is always fun on Sundays, I get to crank the music and I listened to Daniel Vitalis’s interviews. I admire his work. I haven’t heard as much from him but I feel like there is much to learn from him. Sunday’s allow me to be free of all the cares in the world. Sunday’s it’s just me and the food. I am grateful that I have a job that I completely adore:)
Tonight was the night to make the meal complete. I made the dressing for this salad two nights ago. I didn’t have the hijiki so I had to buy it tonight. I have to be honest, this was by far the most expensive recipe yet. A little bag of this cost me $20.00. I keep thinking the price must be wrong. I don’t think it is though, the price is unbelievable. I doubt I will ever buy this stuff again. I haven’t tried the salad yet, I am sleepy and ready for bed. I will try it tomorrow.
I soaked the hijiki for 30 minutes in warm water, peeled the kohlrabi and cut into my desired shape. I couldn’t garnish with sesame seeds, I forgot to buy them. I love seaweed, I think it will be a good meal. I hope it’s worth the 20 bucks!
Hijiki Ingredients
Hijiki soaked
1 kohlrabi, peeled and thinly sliced
Garnish
salt and pepper to taste
Chives
sesame seeds
When I put this together it reminded me of the ocean so I got somewhat creative and made a shell and starfish. I am far too tired to get elaborate with this meal. I just wanted to have some quick fun!
“Love is like seaweed; even if you have pushed it away, you will not prevent it from coming back.”- Nigerian Proverb quotes
Posted 16 years ago at 10:46 pm. Add a comment
November 21, 2009
Today was a special day for Sebastian, his first Florida Gator Game. We left our house this morning at 8:30am. We had to stop at Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy him a jersey with Tim Tebow’s number 15 on it. He has been so excited about going he kept talking about it all week. Jason went in to buy the jersey and surprised me with a basket for my bike. Now I can go shopping for veggies and put them in the basket instead of on my back. He is so good to me! I love him!
Christian and I went to the Devil’s Millhopper and went to the bottom of this magnificent peaceful place. After we left we went to eat something before the movie. I laid a blanket on the ground at the movie theater. It was a perfect day for sitting in the shade outside. It was actually a bit chilly under the shade. I read some of my book and then we watched the movie The Fourth Kind. It was a disturbing movie. I used to love scary movies but now they make me think too many negative emotions. I know Christian really wanted to see it so I decided to go. This movie really played with my emotions. It is a movie that causes you to think about the truth about alien abduction. I keep questioning if she really was abducted or was she hallucinating all of it. I would like to see it with Jason so we can discuss what might have happened.
Overall it was a pleasant day. When I got home I decided to make the Cherry Chip Ice Cream. It was super easy to make. I didn’t soak the cashews (oops) so the prep time took 5 minutes. Jason arranged the ice cream maker. The base was frozen so it was ready to go. I mixed the ingredients in the Vita-Mix, then we poured it in the ice cream maker. The ice cream took literally 15 minutes to make. What an awesome treat for all of us. Sabby didn’t like it but Christian and Jason are still eating it. I am sure we will make it again. I want to make it with stevia instead of agave. I have been cutting down on my sugar consumption, so I sorta have a slight belly ache. But it is delicious. It reminds me more of gelato, not ice cream. There are various types of ice creams in M.K.’s book. He gives other suggestions to make different ice creams. I want to make marshmallow, with chocolate pieces. Oh my that would be amazing. Pumpkin ice cream will be amazing too. The pie I made is gone, I know that the ice cream would be gone in one night. I am sure the ice cream maker will stay on our counter for a few days:)
Cherry Chip Ice Cream Ingredients
1 cup cashews, soaked 1-2 hours
1/2 cup young coconut meat
1/2 cup agave
1 1/4 cup water
1/4 vanilla bean, scraped
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup + 2 T frozen cherries, thawed and chopped (I didn’t thaw them)
1/2 cup Chocolate pieces (Mine were frozen)
I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~Jason Love
I may have used this quote before. It holds true to me, even though a good body would be nice:) I know I am healthy and making the choices to be the best I can be. Thank you God for me!
Goodnight!
Posted 16 years ago at 9:12 pm. Add a comment
November 20, 2009
Today was an exciting day in my kitchen. I made several recipes. I made the wraps that I talked about last night. I was craving them. I also made sunny pate’ and fermented saurkraut.
For my Matthew Kenney recipe I decided to make the sweet tahini dressing. This dressing will be a lovely addition to hijiki. I haven’t had any seaweed in a while. I was thinking today that I should eat nori. I make nori rolls with the sunny pate’, after I roll them, I dehydrate them. They are a raw vegan resemblance of a slim jim.
Sweet Tahini Dressing Ingredients
raw agave
tahini
water
miso
lemon juice
salt
The dressing is a perfect blend of salt and sweetness. I do love tahini. We finally got a new type of tahini at Rutabagas. The brand is
Krinos, it is the creamiest and smoothest tasting tahini I have ever had. I haven’t bought any tahini in a while, because the store has only been able to purchase roasted. When I bought this brand I realized how much I miss the flavor of my favorite dressing.
Tomorrow I will be going out of town to hang out with my family. It should be a great day. Jason and Sabby will hang out by themselves for a while, and I will hang with Christian. I miss hanging out with Christian. I feel like he is growing up so fast and I am missing him. He is at that age that he wants to read in his room and doesn’t say much about his day. It will be great to see a movie with him and of course he wants to go to Barnes and Noble. I love it that he loves to read so much. He always has. Some of my best memories of him have been reading books to him. Glad he chooses to read in his room, it’s alot better than what other 13 year old boys are doing. He does do more than read, but I would say that is his choice of relaxation.
My boys are the best!!
Goodnight, I am going to get ready to listen to the free Longevity Program Seminar. I can’t wait to hear David Wolfe.
Families are the compass that guide us. They are the inspiration to reach great heights, and our comfort when we occasionally falter.
— Brad Henry
Posted 16 years ago at 9:20 pm. Add a comment
November 19, 2009
I have been craving something to add to a salad, instead of tahini. I use tahini alot now. I make an awesome dressing with tahini, garlic, lemon juice and water. So simple and so divine! I decided to make this cheese for my salad tomorrow.
I always loved Feta Cheese when I was vegetarian (lacto-0vo). I would put in on a tabouli wrap and ohh it was splendid. I think I will make it raw if this is delicious. I would like to make some wraps for it too. I love Cherie Soria’s Red Pepper Wraps. That recipe is my ultimate favorite by her.
Macadamia Feta Cheese Ingredients
2 cups macadamia nuts
2 T lemon juice
1 T nutritional yeast
1/2 medium shallot
3/4 t salt
I put all the ingredients in the Vita-mix and mixed it up really fast. Spread it on a dehydrator sheet and placed it in the dehydrator and I will get the cheese out tomorrow morning.
Now I keep thinking about making the wraps. Tomorrow I will make them. I need to get the ingredients for them. They are made from Red Peppers and Zucchini, Avocado and some psyllium. I can’t wait. The wraps with parsley tabouli, and feta cheese. Just like old times but raw vegan! I love the ability that we have to create. The human species is the best animal there is:)
I went for a long bike ride today and I met a friend. I lonely horse. I rode the bike for an hour one way and at my turn around I saw this beautiful horse. He seemed to be waiting for me to come pet him. He was so sweet. I had to get my pic with him. It was a beautiful ride. My legs feel like they really got a nice workout. I love being outdoors. It never feels like exercise, when I am outside, hiking, biking or walking. After I returned from Floral City I ran down to my spot by the lake. I read my Wayne Dyer book and then did some deep breathing and enjoyed the silence. It was such a perfect day. I hope I get a day like today tomorrow. I am addicted to biking.
My family is waiting for me to join them to watch the movie Up. So I better get off of here.
The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine. ~John Howard
Posted 16 years ago at 8:01 pm. 1 comment
November 18, 2009
Gazpacho Ingredients
lemon cucumbers (I used green cucumbers)
deseeded and diced tomatillos
golden tomatoes
lime juice
jalapeno pepper
salt
olive oil
I mixed all ingredients except olive oil in a large bowl; seasoned to taste. I placed 3/4 of mixture in a food processor and process until smooth. I added back to bowl and stirred to combine.
I have never had tomatilloes before. They remind me of a melon but it is similar to a tomato. I bought yelllow pear tomatoes today at Rutabaga’s and I bought the tomatilloes at Sweetbay. I really didn’t even know how to pick the tomatilloes out. I figured they should probably not be too hard to the touch, so I picked them out just like I would tomatoes. The recipe calls for lemon cucumbers, unfortunately, living in a small town doesn’t allow for me to get many gourmet items. I would’ve liked to get some, but I don’t know where to get them. I thought about calling Whole Foods and asking them if they have some, but I didn’t have time to drive there, they are over an hour away. So Jason looked up on the internet about a substitute for lemon cucumbers and it said green cucumbers, so I used the good ol’ regular cucumbers.
The dish did turn out great. I love that it isn’t loaded with fat! I will eat the meal tomorrow. It is late at night and I must get to bed, honestly I am really not that hungry:)
Goodnight!
There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state to another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.-ALEXANDRE DUMAS:
Posted 16 years ago at 11:29 pm. Add a comment
November 17, 2009
I finished my recipe early today. It’s only 9:30 am. Normally I am making the recipe at the end of my day. Last night it was 10:30 pm. I went to bed around 11:30 and woke up today at 4 am. I was writing recipes and notes for tonight’s gathering. It will be great to see everyone again. I haven’t seen so many of them for about 2 months. We will be in a new place with a fantastic guest speaker, Nuris Lemire, she is doing a presentation titled Digging Your Grave with Your Fork.
I made the filling for the pie. I am making it a bit different than the directions specify. I wanted to be somewhat different. My plan is to cut the filling into tiny squares and stick a piece of crust on top. My crust didn’t come out as crumbly as the directions said. I think sub-consciously I didn’t want it to crumble. I wanted to make ice cream sandwiches for Sabby and Christian. They loved them a few potlucks ago. This time I am making them with pumpkin filling. I know Christian will love them. He likes pumpkin ice cream. I saved a little in a small bowl and it’s in the freezer. It is too runny to put on the cookies. So when it hardens a little I will be able to form the ice cream sandwiches. I cut the cookies into square shapes. They look better as circles but I don’t want to waste any:)
If I could only find my camera. I have a iphone but I don’t know how to put pics on my computer. I know I am computer illiterate sometimes.
This recipe was more time consuming. I had to juice carrots and soak cashews. My coconut oil was hard so I had to melt it in the dehydrator. The pie filling is freezing right now and when it is done, I will still have to cut up the pieces. I am hoping it will turn out as I imagine it will.
Now I have to get started on the chili. Ahhh so delicious!
Pumpkin Filling Ingredients
3 cups cashews, soaked 2-3 hours
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup agave syrup
1 cup coconut oil
1 ¼ cup carrot juice
1 t vanilla
½ t salt
¼ vanilla bean, scraped
3 t ground cinnamon
3 t ground nutmeg
Blend all ingredients in a Vita-mix until very smooth. Pour into plastic-lined ramekins and freeze. I used a 9×13 in pan lined with plastic.
**I will post pics when I can.
“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”-Jim Davis
Posted 16 years ago at 9:43 am. Add a comment
November 16, 2009
I am super tired tonight. I was going to make the pumpkin flan BUT I didn’t. I was gone all day at Sarah’s house to see her new little critters. She bought her kids, sugar gliders, they are so adorable. The one kept biting me though, so I decided that they are cuter a few feet away.
The weather was beautiful today. I did get a chance to read my book today, I love my new reading spot. Behind the library. It is quiet and I feel like I am in the woods, but I am not far away from more books and a restroom:) I am known now to carry my backpack where ever I go and I have a good book in it and a blanket. I love my life…it’s PEACEFUL! I practiced patience several times today and actually succeeded. I know that I am close to my source in me and around me, so I rest assured that HE is taking care of me!
I got a 97% on my Anatomy test, so that really made my night complete! Ahhh now I can focus on the next test.
Tomorrow night is the potluck and I am more than ready. I am making Chili, Hummus, and Pumpkin Flan. Can’t wait to have chili again. I love that stuff.
This salsa sounds perfect. It goes with a gazpacho and I am hopeful I can find all the ingredients. I have never made anything with tomatillos, I do think they sell them at Sweetbay here in town, although they are not organic. I also will need golden tomatoes, and lemon cucumbers. I believe it is the wrong time of year, but I will find the ingredients, I must focus on the things I DO want instead of what I DON’T. This salsa goes on top of the gazpacho.
Avocado Salsa Ingredients
avocado
cilantro
jalapeno
lime juice
salt and pepper
I am waiting until tomorrow to try it. On a beautiful salad sounds perfect. I am not making the gazpacho tomorrow. Hopefully the next day I will have all ingredients together to make the complete meal. There are so many days that I have intentions to make things then I end up making something else. One thing that is the most important is that I am succeeding at making at least one recipe a day! Life shows no limits:)
I have misplaced my camera for several days, so I am hoping to find it for tomorrow’s potluck and the rest of this month’s pictures.
“Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.” Denis Waitley
Posted 16 years ago at 10:35 pm. Add a comment
November 15, 2009
Today was a fun day of preparing food at Rutabaga’s. I made many things. Every time I go into work I realize how fortunate I am to have such an awesome job!
I decided to make this hummus for the gathering on Tuesday. It is oh so yummy! Our guest speaker does not like hummus made from beans so I made it in honor of her. I found a really cute serving plate with a space for a dip or sauce that I want to buy. I have to go tomorrow or it will be too late. It is a fall colored plate that is either sunflowers or daisies. Either way it is perfect.
I made this recipe slightly different because I didn’t have macadamia nuts. They are so hard to find around here. Organic is very hard to come by so I used cashews. It turned out superb!
Ingredients
2 cups seeded and chopped red bell pepper
2 cups cashews, soaked 1-2 hours
1 cup macadamia nuts, soaked 1-2 hours (I used cashews)
1/2 cup lime juice
3 T olive oil
1/2 cup raw tahini
1 t sea salt
1 1/4 cup water
I dehydrated the peppers last night and took them out tonight. I threw everything in the Vita-mix and bammm it was done. The flavor is so rich. I love it! Another knock out recipe. I think hummus is okay made with beans. I do enjoy D’Adjoa’s recipe with sprouted chick peas the most. This recipe is my favorite by far for a bean-less hummus. It will be interesting to hear what everyone else thinks on Tuesday night.
I watched some of Food Inc. last night. I became discouraged last night listening to a mother that was interviewed on the movie. She was explaining her reasons why she buys her children McDonald’s instead of making dinner. She said she doesn’t have time and it is too expensive to make dinner. I really think that eating raw food and preparing it is really cost effective. Raw food prep is so easy. I wondered to myself…what is she buying that she doesn’t need? And how could she squeeze in at least 20 minutes to prepare food every night? I think many people are so accustomed to buying cigarettes and sodas and extra junk food and extra expenditures that if they cut the bad habits out and formed healthy habits, I think the purchases would really be similar in cost. I understand many people don’t have alot of money to spend, but I think that a family can cut costs somewhere to better their lives nutritionally. I also think that we are so accustomed to getting things quick ie. fast food that we just think it is too time consuming to cook or prepare anything. I am not judging the lady on the movie or any other person but it is sad that many people don’t know of other options (co-ops, sprouts, neighborhood gardens, wild foods). I think having one prepared meal together as a family is important, it’s an excellent time to catch up on eachother’s lives without interruptions. I don’t do this everyday but we do try to do it most days of the week.
Speaking of wild foods I am going on a medicinal plant walk at the beginning of December. It should be very educational.
Well, Jason just got home and now I get a foot bath:) Ahhh Paradise!
The good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge-BERTRAND RUSSELL
Posted 16 years ago at 10:59 pm. 1 comment
November 14, 2009
Happy Birthday to my lovely Sister, Cathy!!
Today is my official 3 year anniversary going vegan. I have been vegan before, but since I started again, this is my 3rd year. It seems longer because I have learned so much about nutrition, and myself through my journey. The most wonderful thing is that I realize that I am always changing, and I will forever be learning.
Tonight I decided to “roast” the raw food way, DEHYDRATE!! This is to make the red pepper hummus for the potluck.
2 cups of red peppers are dehydrating as I type this.
Today has been a very busy day. I woke up at 5:30 am and did lab homework for 3 hours. Then went to the gym to work out. I love working out again! I have been going consistently for a month now:) I want to stay active, it makes me feel even more alive.
Sebastian had his first soccer game of the season. His team did so well, I am always proud of him. He made several goals, but his whole team worked together and I really think he has grown so much. It’s great to see him talking to his teammates and assisting each other instead of fighting over the ball.
I went to get my hair done tonight. I had some lowlights and highlights put in it. I don’t go very often, but I do enjoy getting it done. Holly does my hair and she is so easy to talk to. I think it is very important to enjoy the company of someone you will be spending 2 to 3 hours with. It is a long time to sit. This is one reason why I don’t go often.
After getting my hair done I went to the movie, A Christmas Carol, with Jim Carrey. I love this story. No matter how it is done I always appreciate the lesson in this story.
I hear in the background the music to Food, Inc. We received it in the mail today from Netflix. Now I am going to lay down and watch it. I have waited months to see it!
Today was such an awesome fun filled day! Goodnight!
“Yesterday is a canceled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have – so spend it wisely”-Kay Wisely
Posted 16 years ago at 9:54 pm. Add a comment
Living Rawesome 
