Living Rawesome

Day #244 Rocky Road Brownies (unreleased)

March 26, 2010

HERE IT IS!! THE FINAL BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT….ROCKY ROAD BROWNIES!

This was such an honor to make. This recipe was sent to me from Meredith Baird. Thank you Meredith for allowing me to make this amazing recipe. I consider myself very blessed to have this recipe and make it before the book is released. It’s really very special to me to be on this endeavor!

Tonight I was filled with much joy, but sadness too:( I thought, what am I going to do when this project is over? I don’t like to think about that, because I want to enjoy this project to the fullest! I know that God will put something in my life to do with Raw Food! Maybe a trip to 105 degrees will be on the menu:) Whatever it may be, I know I will keep growing and knowing that this is what I love to do!

Here are the ingredients

Marshmellow Crème Ingredients
Cashews Soaked
Agave
Coconut oil
Vanilla extract
Salt
1 bottle marshmellow extract

Blend all ingredietnts until smooth. Store in the refrigerator until ready for use.

Caramel Ingredients
Agave
Macadamia Nuts
Pine Nuts
Vanilla
Salt
Lemon juice

Blend all ingredients until smooth.

To assemble- Smooth marshmellow crème on top of dehydrated brownie. Top with chopped spiced nuts, caramel and maple glaze with ready to serve.

Christian kept eating the toppings and Sabby tried the brownies. They both really enjoyed them, but they didn’t try the entire recipe. I am waiting for my hubby to get home, he is going to melt when he tries them..I can’t wait to see his face!

Tomorrow will be the Blondies!! So Check Back and see what these look like!

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
~Mahatma Gandhi

Day #243 Rocky Road Brownie Mixture (unreleased)

March 25, 2010

Meredith Baird sent this recipe to me the other day. I wasn’t able to get to the store and buy all the ingredients that I needed. Today, I was able to gather the ingredients that I needed for this amazing recipe. At first the recipe looked intimidating because there are several parts to it, but the two parts that I did tonight it only took about 10 minutes. I love making raw food because it never really takes that long for each step of the recipe.

Rocky Road Brownies Mixture Ingredients

Wet Ingredients
Cacao powder
Mac Nuts
Cashews
Water
Date Paste
Agave
Lemon juice
Salt

Dry Ingredients
Cashew Flour
Brazil Nut Flour
Cacao powder
salt
Vanilla Extract

Brownie-Blend all wet ingredients except cocoa flour until smooth in Vita mix. Then slowly add Cacao powder.
Mix all of the dry ingredients well in a food processor or mixer and then combine with the wet ingredients.
Press into brownie pan (preferably with a removable bottom) and place into the dehydrator for 2-3 hours until firm. Spread on the maple glaze. Then remove from pan and dehydrate overnight on plane rack. 10-12 hours more.
**I didn’t have a brownie pan so I used a pie plate lined with plastic wrap. I am really tired of making round desserts and entrees. I need to buy some other pans. I like rectangles and squares too, so hopefully I can buy some soon!

I am looking forward to serving this to some people. I just had a meeting with someone today that I think would be interested in trying them. I will bring them on Monday. I love to see the smiles on the faces that try the food for the first time. Especially the desserts!

Here comes the rain again! I am going to go study for a while and listen to the rain. Jason is finally home tonight so I am going to study with him, while the boys hang out with their friends. They have a long weekend, so one of the boys is staying the night.

“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
Mother Teresa

Day #242 Grapefruit Cleanser pg. 35 everyday raw

March 24, 2010

I had Sebastian get grapefruit from our tree out back. He grabbed one that was on the ground. It wasn’t bad, but it had dried a little. The grapefruit wasn’t the best but the other ingredients made up for it. I still had some apples left from last night’s potluck, so I used those and of course kale is always yummy. This drink was surprisingly refreshing. I was worried about the flavor of these ingredients together, but I enjoyed it. The sour and sweet were a perfect combination. I always love kale.

This is an excellent blend because the Vitamin C from the grapefruit helps the absorption of iron from the kale. I always try to eat things in this combination. I have always been concerned about getting enough iron. I quit eating red meat at an early age, so I learned how to make the most of my food choices. I often read that the best way to get the most of your iron intake is to eat it with Vitamin C.

This week has been difficult but one thing that made me so happy was knowing my son’s grades have improved in school. He is capable of doing all the work and more, but sometimes he gets a bit slack. Possibly he is bored? I am happy that he put forth effort and raised his grades tremendously! It was the best report card yet.

Grapefruit Cleanser Ingredients
3 grapefruits
2 apples
2 limes, peeled
3 stalks of celery

Push all ingredients through juicer. *I juiced the limes and grapefruit with a citrus juicer, then I used the juicer for the apples and kale.

Time to study some more. I am almost done with my Digestion Chapter. I am loving it.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”
John Lennon

Day #241Mediterranean Mini Tarts

March 23, 2010

I just got home from another fabulous potluck!! It was another success this month!! I was so blessed to have met many new people tonight.

I made this meal for the gathering and it is all gone now, but I made it in an 8 inch pie plate.

I think everybody’s favorite recipe that I made was the almond butter cup ice cream. So yummm!

Recipe Ingredients
Click here:)

I still have to put away all of the items I brought to the potluck. So I will keep this short.

We did a green smoothie demo and we are going to do a challenge for a month and report our results. I am looking forward to seeing everyone again!

I love this lifestyle. Every time I get together with the group it’s like a new awakening for me. Thank you Lord for bringing us together.

~ A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act. ~
Mahatma Gandhi

Day #240 Crust for Mediterranean Tarts pg. 199 entertaining in the raw

March 22, 2010

It’s been an interesting day. I really am pretty upset right now and really don’t feel like writing. Something happened today with one of my son’s teachers and I really just want to go pray, so I am going to keep my entry short. I know the Good Lord has everything taken care of and I really just need to lean on the spirit to guide me.

Crust Ingredients
2 cups almond crumbs (I used almond flour from almond milk)
1/2 cup cashew flour
1 T nutritional yeast flakes
3 T olive oil
1/2 T salt
1/4 cup water
1/2 T cumin

Mix all ingredients in a bowl with hands. Press into plastic-lined mini tart shells (I used a 8 inch pie plate) and dehydrate 4-5 hours. Remove from plastic and place on dehydrator screens; dehydrate overnight.

All great change in America begins at the dinner table.
Ronald Reagan

Day #239 Banana Almond Butter Cup Ice Cream pg. 136 entertaining in the raw

March 21, 2010

I don’t know why but, every time I put in the date for my entry, I write December, it’s funny, because all month I have been doing that and today I keep feeling like it’s Christmas. I was even listening to Christmas music earlier. I guess I feel more carefree now that my class is over for this month. I was honestly very nervous about how I would perform for the class. I feel accomplished now:)! I feel like I can relax and stop worrying so much. It is really my first job since leaving Rutabaga’s, so I was uncertain how things would turn out. Everything was perfect. The night before the class, I made 3 recipes of each of the recipes. I did this so I wouldn’t have to prepare all the servings in front of them. I think they would get extremely anxious if they had to wait that long. Also I would have run out of time, I ran over 15 minutes anyway. We had everything we needed, except the Vita-mix base. I didn’t get upset with myself for forgetting it. Jason was so kind to go back home and get it, and he even got back before I started the class!

I think almost everyone had a memorable experience, I know I did! I really am excited to do next month’s class. I am going to do a brunch menu. I am sure I will have the whole day planned out by the end of this week. I may not have everything done, because my Nutrition test is next Tuesday, but it will be done soon after that.

Today I decided to make banana almond butter cup ice cream. I made the almond butter cups last night, so I made the mixture for the ice cream and then added the cups into the mixture. I decided to make it into ice cream today so it would be ready for Tuesday night’s Raw Food Gathering.

Ice Cream Ingredients
1 cup cashews, soaked 1-2 hours
1/2 cup young coconut meat
1/2 cup agave
1 1/4 cups water
2 fresh bananas
1 t lemon juice
1/4 vanilla bean, scraped
pinch sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup almond butter cups
1/2 cup cacao nibs (I omitted and added more almond butter cups)

Blend all ingredients except Almond Butter Cup pieces and cacao nibs in Vita-mix until very smooth. Stir in Almond Butter Cups by hand. Pour into ice cream maker, add cacao nibs and follow manufacturer’s instructions. Yield 1 quart.

This recipe is actually quite easy. It just takes some time to freeze the mixtures. I can’t wait to hear the remarks about this recipe! I hope they all love it!

I am on the way to my parent’s for dinner. I also have my nutrition chart to do for Anatomy and Physiology. I am so excited, I love this stuff!!!

I almost forgot to mention that I started the P90x regime today. I started with the Plyometrics and I seriously couldn’t make it through. My stomach hurt, and I felt like I was going to pass out. I sat down and I only thought about the moment and the way I felt. I wasn’t thinking anything else. I felt like I kid again, when I used to run and play basketball. Where everything around you becomes so clear and carefree. I guess that is a good thing. I really am out of shape, even though I have been going to the gym. I love this kind of training. It really tests my boundaries and it kicks my booty into shape. I can’t wait to do this some more! I need to stick with it. Agave and cashews, have sent me over the edge. I have never been this heavy. I feel really great, but I think it’s time for a change. Is anyone with me on doing this P90x?? I would love the support.

All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.
Albert Einstein

Day #238 Almond Butter Cup pg. 136 everyday raw

March 20, 2010

Today was a success! The L.O.V.E. Food Prep Class is over for today and I am really exhausted. I didn’t sleep very long last night, I guess because I was excited. I had so much fun and I am looking forward to doing another class next month.

It is getting very difficult to pick recipes out for this project. Most recipes require me to do more shopping than I have been doing. I did almond butter cups because I LOVE almond butter and I had some of the almond butter left that I made the other day and I had cacao, agave and coconut oil.

Almond Butter Cup Ingredients
1 cup almond butter
1 1/2 cups agave
2 cups coconut oil, divided
1/2 T sea salt
1 cup cacao nibs

I halved the recipe. I didn’t have enough room in my refrigerator or the freezers to put all of the recipe. The recipe says to use the Vita-mix but I used the food processor. I figured it would work fine and it did. I know that when I have small amounts of ingredients it is hard to blend up in the Vita-mix and I didn’t want to waste any of this delicious mixture.

I know I said I didn’t want to eat agave anymore, but I couldn’t resist. I tried it and oh my, the almond butter tasted like caramel. I first put the chocolate mixture on parchment paper, let it freeze, then I poured the almond butter mixture on top. It is now in the freezer and I am waiting to put the top layer on.

This recipe goes with the banana almond butter cup ice cream.

I am going to bed, but before I do I am going to put the chocolate on top.

goodnight;-) I am so overtired, my eyes are burning.

“Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.”unknown