Living Rawesome Matthew Kenney Project-6 Month Review
January 28, 2010
I am so proud to announce that I have completed my first six months of my journey of making a raw recipe a day from the Ever So Talented Chef Matthew Kenney. When I decided to embark on this life changing project I never realized that I could do it. It was a huge challenge for me to make the decision that I did. I questioned if I would first have the courage to do something like this and make it known to everyone. I doubt myself too often that I can complete something that I start. Of course I am always looking back at diets failed, workouts not completed, incomplete assignments, and failed relationships. When I decided to make the decision I had many things going on in my life that I was questioning. Friendships, Jobs, My future, and My present existence. I didn’t know where I was heading. I have known for years that I love to cook and prepare food. I know that I enjoy preparing raw food the most. So when I saw the commercial for Julie and Julia, I thought someone should do that project raw, and why not make that person ME?
Here I am 6 months later and I feel absolutely incredible. My life is smoother now than I imagined that if would be. 6 months ago, I literally felt like I was falling apart on the inside. I was losing a sense of who I was and who I was becoming. I knew that I loved raw food and the benefits from it, so I wanted to keep working in that field, but quite honestly I felt empty and wanted more out of it. I had been rejecting my”SELF”, too often, and putting others’ needs in front of mine. As we all know, if you don’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of others. I was working so much, for so long and my focus was on all the wrong things. Rutabagas was really my first job that I had for more than a year. While I was growing up I never had to work. When I started college I had a job for a short time and quit. So family life came and I was just going to college and staying at home. I am very blessed as are my children, because I got to spend time with them in the years I feel are most critical. But when my focus started straying from what I should’ve been doing, the balance in my life was shifted and it caused me to fall.
I don’t want to ramble on about past happenings too much, POINT IS…since this project, things have been put into perspective for me. I am going to church pretty regularly now at Unity, which I do love! I have been making my husband dinner more than I ever have in our whole relationship of 11 1/2 years. I am putting my family first. I realized that they need to come first! I need to be first. It is all a balancing act. I started back to the gym on a regular basis. I began reading books on self improvement. I am meditating now. I am in school, and I have to blast, I am doing super! I never imagined myself getting As in Anatomy and Physiology. I am starting classes in March, by myself, teaching raw food prep. I am keeping up with house work, homework, kids activities, while continuing to stay grounded and be in the present moment. There are many times when I get out of feeling like everything is going great, and then I am reminded by God that He is there and He will not fail me. I know that what I am doing right now, is what I am supposed to be doing. I don’t know how long I will be doing all the things I am doing, but I do know this…GOD HAS MY BEST INTEREST AND HIS IN MIND!
I have not missed one day making a recipe. I think there is one day that I blogged late at night, so it appears on my calendar that I didn’t do it that day, but it was just the hour that I entered the blog entry. Even after, late nights working, out of town dates, my son’s broken arm (I actually had to make it after I got home late that night, but I did it before the deadline:), vacations, and events.
It took planning and good fortune for this, but most of all, I believe that it is because I have the ability and passion for Raw and Living Foods, there is no doubt about it. I couldn’t do something as extensive as this if I didn’t enjoy it. Raw Food is healing to me in so many ways. Spiritually, Mentally, Physically and Emotionally. I haven’t lost weight with it, but ya know what, I have gained a life of gratitude, great friends, realization of family importance, closer to my Source than ever before, I am centered in my studying, and I know that I am at Possibility Junction.
Now that I have done the first 6 months I feel like if I can do this, I know I can do what ever my HEART desires! This year, I am going to become Alissa Cohen certified, I signed up for the Quest, which is a year long study of self actualization and spiritual growth. If I have grown this much doing this project I can’t wait to see the outcome of the Quest! I am going to enjoy the ride because the destination is really not the prize! The prize is the small things that make up the journey!
All the recipes were really not that challenging. Some require more preparation and many are quite expensive. There are so many favorites. I am going to refrain from telling Jason’s faves, or my kids, I am going to focus on what I feel was the best recipes, in every facet. The cost, time, and taste.
Starting with the least to the most desirable, but all are my faves.
10. Brazil Nut Milk-Everyday Raw
9. Creamy Sesame Dressing-Everyday Raw
8. Tomato Basil and Ricotta Pizza-Everyday Raw
7. Apricot Yogurt Cake-Entertaining in the Raw
6. Cinnamon Graham Smores-Entertaining in the Raw
5. Barb-b-que Crisps-Everyday Raw
4. Spicy Almond Dressing-Everyday Raw
3. Lemon-Macaroon Cheesecake Tart and Cherry Chip Ice Cream-Everyday Raw (Tied)
2. Empanadas-Entertaining in the Raw
1. Raspberry Vanilla Almond Granola and Chili-Everyday Raw (Definite Tie)
Ok, so I couldn’t narrow it down to 10, so 12 does it!
I am looking forward to the next 6 months, but the problem that I see me running into is that I made most of the recipes that look so inviting to me. The next six months will allow me to delve into unknown territory. I will be making things I have never even heard of or tried. Not all recipes will be a challenge for me to eat, but some will.
I have to say my absolute least fave was the Liver Pate. I won’t go there again:) If you love liver, YOU WILL LOVE IT!
God Bless Everyone reading this and thank you for reading it. Even if there is just one person out there reading it. I am thankful! I have learned so much!
“The successful always has a number of projects planned, to which he looks forward. Anyone of them could change the course of his life overnight.”
–Mark Caine
