Living Rawesome

Day #95 Moqueca Sauce and Tomatoes pg. 166 entertaining in the raw

October 28, 2009

Happy 13th Birthday Christian! And Congratulations Sebastian for winning the first annual spelling bee!

I am such a proud mom! Both of my boys had an awesome day! I love them so much and I’m so grateful for them. Sebastian won his spelling bee with the word success! This describes him. He was so adorable up on stage, he looked nervous but confident. We just got home from a long day away. I had class tonight. I was fortunate to have Jason go with me to study the muscles. We had the birthday cake over at my parent’s.

I am rather tired so I will make this short. I was awake very late last night. I couldn’t sleep. I lay in bed for a while before I got up. I decided to get on facebook and chat with Rhonda. When I was on the computer I received an email through facebook from Matthew Kenney! He is sending some recipes from his new book for me to try. I can not wait. I keep checking my email to see if they are there but not yet.
I think it is such an honor to have him share these recipes with me. What a genuine person, who cares about people who are interested in the lovely art of raw food creations. I can’t wait to meet him. It would really be a dream to work beside him or learn from him. When I receive the recipes I will make them.

The recipes tonight were simple to make.

Moqueca Sauce
red onion
tomatoes
cilantro
green onion
parsley
carrot juice
coconut meat and water
salt
cayenne pepper
black pepper

Tomatoes
cherry tomatoes (I used grape)
olive oil
salt and pepper
cilantro

The sauce was simple in the Vitamix. The tomatoes are in the dehydrator now. I will eat this tomorrow.
I only have the mushrooms to do.

Giving your son a skill is better than giving him one thousand pieces of gold. ~Chinese Proverb

Day #94 Coconut “Rice” pg. 166 entertaining in the raw

October 27, 2009

I have had another busy day. The time just flies by on my days “off”. Hmm. Still trying to get used to the housewife mode again:) I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband that wants to take care of me and love me as if we were just married. He lifts my spirits and is comforting to me. It is pretty easy to slip back into my new/old life. It allows me to have so much more freedom and get caught up on life’s blessings. Friends, family, and even bills (yeah I said it, bills). I get to make my recipe during the day now, so it is a change for me. I am more awake when I make it, it sparks more creativity in me.

Today I made coconut rice. Jicama and coconut were the main ingredients. Super easy to make. I love the flavor of it. Lime and coconut are two of my favorite flavors. Its such a light and carefree flavor. It reminds me of my honeymoon, on Blue Lagoon. What an awesome time. Lime and coconut always remind me of turquoise water and a gentle breeze blowing and the smell of coconut lotion on a sunny day.

Coconut Rice Ingredients
jicama
coconut meat
agave
lime juice
salt
coriander
cayenne

I pulsed the jicama in the food processor and added all other ingredients to the vitamix. Added jicama and dressing in a bowl and stirred. Yummy! I am enjoying jicama more than ever. It is a good thing, because many M.K.’s recipes are based on jicama.

I went for a walk today with the dogs, then went to the gym. I am really enjoying the peace I have within me. I thought at first that when I quit my job I would be very depressed and not knowing what to do, but I always kept busy before Rutabaga’s, and now I am just as busy. I am trying to get things situated to start our potlucks at Unity Church. We are planning on doing them the last Tuesday of the month. I have been praying for a long time to find a place that was central in Citrus County and someplace big enough. I think we found it:)

It is my goal to reach as many people as possible about the benefits of Raw Living Food and to show them just how easy it can be to incorporate fresh, whole foods into their lifestyle. I know that it has changed my life and I would love to see how it works in other lives. It is simply the food God intended for our bodies.

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
-Pericles

Day #93 Cuban Salad with Breaded Onion Rings and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette pg. 198 entertaining in the raw

October 26, 2009

I made the BEST SALAD EVER!

SALAD INGREDIENTS

romaine
cherry tomatoes
lime vinaigrette
pineapple (I omitted)
avocado
breaded onion rings
fresh cilantro
red pepper dust

The red peppers were done dehydrating so I made them into dust using the coffee grinder. This was so delicious, it reminded me of the pepper wraps that I used to make out of Cherie Soria’s Raw Revolution book. I miss those, they are so delicious and what a great wrap for sandwiches with no flax or nuts:). The dust smelled so fresh and delightful, I used the entire batch. I will make more today. The onion rings are so delicious too. I am going to make more tomorrow. I liked this salad so much I didn’t save any for my hubby.
I still have some dressing left so hopefully it will last until the onions and peppers are done. The dressing was perfect. Last night it was too tangy from the lime and too salty.
What a great idea for extra peppers. Dehydrating them. I will do this from now on. This is definitely one of my fave recipes.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” -Oprah Winfrey

Day #92 Vinaigrette pg. 198 entertaining in the raw

October 25, 2009

Ingredients

olive oil
lime juice
garlic
cilantro
parsley
sea salt

This dressing goes with the onion rings, red pepper dust and a salad which I will make tomorrow.
This dressing is a bit salty for me, and sour. I am sure that it won’t be so strong on the salad. I tried it with carrot sticks. I do love cilantro. With the avocado it will taste delicious, I hope:)

I had a great day with my family. I went for a walk this morning with my favorite dog, Sirius, then to Unity, to the gym, then for a bike ride. I am going to watch the Proposal with Jason. Then off to bed. I am exhausted from exercise. I do love it though.

If your dog is fat, you’re not getting enough exercise. ~Author Unknown

Day #91 Red Bell Pepper Dust pg. 198 entertaining in the raw

October 24, 2009

Tonight was Christian’s 13th Birthday Celebration with his friends. I was spending time with him by the fire. He is really growing up to be a funny teenager. I love seeing him with his friends. I am truly blessed to have boys! I love them.
I made a simple recipe for my salad tomorrow night. Red Pepper Dust is easy to make. I chopped up red peppers. It called for 4 red bell peppers, but I only used 2. I really do need to start cutting the recipes in half. I have so much food, I really don’t know what to do with all of it. I have been freezing some stuff and of course giving some away.

Red Bell Pepper Dust Ingredients
4 Red Bell Peppers, chopped finely
Dehydrate them for 24-48 hours then put them in Vitamix and blend to a fine powder. Then store in a spice jar.

I have never thought about dehydrating and blending red peppers. I have heard of doing celery, but never red peppers. I bet it will be very good, like most of M.K.’s recipes.

We planted a garden a while ago and this is the one pepper we got from it. I feel like it is sacred. The lonely pepper.

“Whatever with the past has gone, the best is always yet to come.”
Lucy Larcom

Day #90 Onion Rings pg. 198 entertaining in the raw

October 23, 2009

Onion Rings Ingredients

1 medium red onion, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 cup olive oil
1 cup almond flour
1/4 cup oat flour
1/2 teaspoon
1/4 cup flax meal
1 1/2 t nutritional yeast
1/4 t oregano

I found this recipe tonight. It is always interesting how I find recipes that I have never seen before that intrigue me and I decide to make them. This recipe sounded so delicious. I have made onion bread and I love it. I can’t eat too much of it because there is Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, and it makes my lips dry because of the sodium. This recipe is similar, but no Bragg’s.

I cut the onion and put them in cold water for 30 minutes. Then I dried them off with a towel.

I ground up all the dry ingredients in the Vitamix. I placed the olive oil and “flour” in separate bowls.

I dipped the onion into the olive oil then coated them with the flour mixture and placed them on my dehydrator tray. They are dehydrating now. They will be done in 24-48 hours.

I will finish the other parts of the recipe over the weekend. I still haven’t made the pumpkin ice cream. I am trying to figure out how to make it. I will figure it out this weekend.

I had a great day today with Destiny at Shalom Park. I will post pictures soon.

” A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.”
– Arabian Proverb

Day # 88 and #89 Wild Mushrooms and Creamy Sage-Pumpkin “Risotto” pg. 171

October 22, 2009

I know that it seems strange that I am writing 2 days on one entry, but the truth is we were getting our computer fixed. Now it is running so much faster. I don’t have to wait minutes to get information or load photos, or websites. It’s great! Thank you Paul!
I made wild mushrooms on October 21, 2009.

Wild Mushrooms Ingredients
portobello mushrooms
cremini mushrooms
extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
rosemary and thyme

Risotto Ingredients
4 cups peeled jicama
1 1/2 cups peeled pumpkin
3 T extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup cashews, soaked
6 T water
3/4 t sea salt
1 1/2 t agave
2 T fresh sage

Tonight I made Risotto. Jason and I went for a bike ride today to the gym and on our way home we stopped and got a small pumpkin and jicama for this beautiful meal. It is warming in the dehydrator now.

I made the risotto in the dehydrator and the sauce in the vitamix. The sauce tasted so much like comfort food in the autumn, with the creamy sauce and pumpkin mixture. I am hoping to make raw pumpkin ice cream sweetened with stevia. I will make it tomorrow. I am not sure if I will just make it in the vitamix or if I will make it in the ice cream maker. I have always loved pumpkin ice cream so to have it raw, will be amazing!

It has been a very challenging day for me. My last day at Rutabaga’s was yesterday. My husband and I decided that it is better for us if I stay at home for a while. He is very overwhelmed with homework and school. Some days I would have to leave early to work and he would have to get the boys ready for school after staying up half the night studying. He is such a great husband he also cleans the house too. I felt like it was time for me to stay home and take some of the burdens off of him. I don’t know where God will take me from here, but I know that we will be blessed. I will miss Rutabaga’s. It taught me so much about myself, life, friends and most of all the meaning of LOVE.

Oh goody the meal is done. Jason and I are going to try it now. I am sure it will be delicious.

YUMMY! I am so glad I made alot of it. I will definitely eat this during the week. It is sweet but just enough. I think it could even be a dessert or a meal. Delicious. Bravo!

~ Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~ Maria Robinson

Day #87 Cayenne-Cacao Syrup pg. 102 entertaining in the raw

October 20, 2009

agave
cacao powder
carob powder
vanilla extract
cayenne
sea salt
coconut oil

I made this syrup for the potluck. I am going to put strawberries and bananas on long skewers and pour on the sauce. I didn’t put the cayenne in it because I think it will be too spicy for some people. I am going to add the coconut oil before I pour in it on the skewers. I got the idea from our trip to Maryland. We stopped at a Godiva shop and I saw their skewers. They looked so beautiful. Hope mine will look just as beautiful, I know they will be better for me.

I am on the way to Orlando to see Trevor Hall again! I am exhausted from the gym. I did legs today and shoulders, with an hour of elliptical training. I am wooped. I am sure I will get energy when I get to House of Blues. All of my family are going so it will be memorable. Cathy bought us tickets for our birthday presents. She is the best sister ever!

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~ Isadora James

Day #86 Amaretti pg. 171 entertaining in the raw

October 19, 2009

I did it! I passed my test! I don’t know what grade I got, but I know I did good. I felt like I was celebrating tonight. I told Jason I am going to act like I am going to a party, and I will not be nervous. I showered and even straightened my hair for it. Well, really I did it because I was home all day with my sicky baby, Sabby. I had time to actually straighten my hair. I went into the test knowing that God put this in my heart to do what I am doing, so I was not nervous, but very focused. I think it was probably worth about 180 points (that is what I heard someone say). It was a long test. But I feel like the more I study the stronger my brain becomes, if that makes sense. I wasn’t as exhausted after studying so hard all week and having a 2 hour test. I will find out on Wednesday what my grade is.

I decided to make the amaretti today, I am going to bring it to the Potluck this Thursday night. It was quite easy to make, but I made the biggest boo boo, I used agave in it because I thought it said to use Maple Syrup but it really called for maple syrup powder:( I still need to order it. Foo.

They came out great though. I didn’t taste them, but the consistency was easy to work with. I made almond flour in the vitamix then put it in a bowl. I added all ingredients and mixed it up. It was near the consistency of pancake batter.

I used a tablespoon to make the cookies. I ended up making 20.

I put the mixture on the parchment paper, then flattened them with the measuring spoon.

They are in the dehydrator for 24 hours.
This is going to be a beautiful presentation. Pumpkin Jicama Risotto and mushrooms go on top of these amaretto flavored cookies. Gosh I love Matthew Kenney, his creations are so much fun. I never imagined putting a recipe like this together. His creations are so different from other recipes.
Amaretti Ingredients
2 cups almond flour
1/2 t almond extract
date paste
1/2 cup maple syrup powder
1/2 cup coconut oil
sea salt

Hope the gathering goes well, with these special treats.

“Chance can allow you to accomplish a goal every once in a while, but consistent achievement happens only if you love what you are doing.”-Bart Conner

Day #85 Portobello Sausage pg. 60 everyday raw

October 18, 2009

I soaked the nuts and seeds last night, so they would be ready for this morning. I cut up the eggplant and mushrooms first and marinated them with olive oil, braggs liquid aminos, apple cider vinegar.

Then I strained the pumpkin seeds and almonds in a colander then processed them, and placed them in a bowl.

I placed the remaining ingredients into the food processor then put them with the almond and pumpkin seed mixture. The mixture was not as wet as I thought it was going to be when I was making the sausages. I thought they would fall apart when I tried to take them out of the dehydrator but they came out fine.

Portobello Sausage Ingredients

olive oil
nama shoyu (braggs)
umeboshi plum sauce (I couldn’t find)
apple cider vinegar
portobello mushrooms
eggplant
almonds
pumpkin seeds
coriander
scallions
garlic
parsley
sea salt and pepper

These turned out ok, I think they are too bitter. I don’t think they taste like sausage at all:( it could be because I didn’t have the plum paste, but I am doubtful. Maybe I could crumble them up and put them on fajitas. Fajitas were my lovely breakfast this morning. I had the fajitas on the tortillas. Now this was an awesome breakfast. I am so fortunate to make the best food in the world and have whatever I want for each meal.

I am off to bed, my test is tomorrow, I need my rest! Hope to do great on it. I feel like I studied as much as I possibily could. I am looking forward to it. I am prepared!
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson