Dara's Blog

What do people want to read in this blog?

2012-01-17T21:46:00.000-08:00

If I were reading a blog I would want to know the persons true authentic thoughts.nthings that they might not say on YouTube. Things meant only for intelligent people who not only watch videos but read as well ;). I might like to know what they think of the raw food world, the cast of characters in it. Does my favorite raw food educator cheat ever? If so what do they eat when they cheat? What is their love life like? What makes them happy? What to do on those days you just plain old mess up? How does it really feel to be raw in a cooked world? What sacrifices need to be made? Socially especially. What on earth can raw foodists do for fun in a world so centered around food and drink? I think that I can answer most of these. Except maybe the one about the cast of characters. Not Nice to gossip after all ;).
I do find it interesting though how many of them change their tunes. Raw vegan to meat eating? Gosh that could make things so confusing.
So. Things i look for in someone I follow...are they walking their talk? When I hear them speak, does what they say ring true? Does the word authenticity come to mind? And their energy, do I like it?
So on that note with much to think about and many topics to cover in the future.ninleavenyounwithnone true thing, Get Your Greens On!

THE REAL REASON WE EAT RAW FOOD. :)

2012-01-10T16:51:00.000-08:00

Hi Everybody, it's Dara ;)
do you know what the whole point of the raw food thing is for really?
why on earth limit your diet to plants, fruits nuts and seeds?
for LOVE, that is why.
Raw Foods cleanses us. Until we are clean our cells our clogged, our lymphatic system is clogged, our blood, our skin, our aura, the etheric realm where all true messages from the divine come in, are clogged. These messages are trying to get to our hearts. How can we "hear" them if we are clogged.
messages are sent from our heart to others and to the divine. how can we be heard if these pure and true vibrations are being muffled?
When we eat a plant based diet high in fiber, fruit not fat. We are able to cleanse it all. the body, mind and spirit. the synchronicites become apparent and serendipities tickle us regularly.
This is why we eat raw food. This is why we step away from things that will clog us and lower our vibrations. we eat this way to feel clean, clear and bright so that we may feel the love in our hearts, the hearts of others and the love from the divinity within. It becomes overwhelming and delicious, deliciously overwhelming.
So the next time we think of taking a bit of cheese, bread, pasta, whatever... consider the mantra,
"i am living a life that is clean, clear and bright." and see if the food you are considering supports that.
If not, make a different choice.
It is that easy.
and...get your greens on! ;)

My New DVD, Tonics

2011-11-19T01:04:00.001-08:00

My new DVD, Tonics, is available to pre-order! Learn ten great recipes: the Choco-Banana Tonic, "Nighty Night" Tonic, Libido-Creativity Tonic, Hibiscus Tonic, Savory Tonic, North American Tonic, South American Tonic, Coffee-Alternative Tonic, Intuition Tonic, and Ayurvedic Tonic.

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Raw Arugula Salad

2011-10-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

Interview with Joe Cross

2011-08-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

easy Raw Hummus recipe. no BEAN no BLOAT! ;)

2011-05-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

easy "raw" spaghetti! with tomato and basil! no fat.

2011-05-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

really easy!!! xo everybody!

sauerkraut LIVE!

2011-05-06T22:39:00.001-07:00

make burgers from juice pulp!!! must see ;)

2011-05-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

2011-05-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

i am at the 35th hour of the water fast and i don't feel bad at all. i think the thing about fasting is that you miss food. only a couple of times was i really hungry. it is so nice to feel the full effects of rest. because we are not stimulated by food when we fast our body makes us rest. this gives us rest for our minds as well as our bodies. it is amazing! i think that there is a lot of fear around not eating. but for 36 hours? really amazing. if you don't think you can do 36, try just 24. that means eating dinner at 6 or 7 pm not eating throughout the next day and breaking the fast at 6 or 7 for dinner. that should not be too hard to do. the water is hydrating and cleansing. try it you might not like it at first, but you will like the results. in any case, be mindful of what you do put in your body when you eat. make the best choice possible. :)

quiet the body and the mind. water fast #3

2011-05-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

i am doing it again. a 36 hour water fast.why you ask? because it works. the benefits outweigh any discomfort. when i look back at the videos i made right after both water fasts i can SEE a difference. energetically and physically i look brighter. eyes, skin, energy, spirit. it seems so very true that that wonderful healing can occur if your body has a chance to heal itself rather than "work" at digesting new food. so today is a day for me to rest from prepping food, a day for my body to rest from digesting food and a day for my mind to revel in silence. i wondered wether it would be best to stay away from technology for the day and decided to stay in this form of communication. i decided to stay as this is a beautiful form of creativity for me. a precious way to expound on my thoughts and share them. if i have a chance to inspire i will take it. so next time perhaps i will fast, be in silence and stop typing. but for now two out of three ain't bad. so my friends, if you are not fasting today please have a piece of fruit and a green juice and think of me ;) happy day! Dara

ninja nori roll recipe :)

2011-05-02T06:32:00.001-07:00

beauty secrets ;)

2011-05-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

lose weight with...

2011-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

no more nuts

2011-04-22T06:10:00.001-07:00

liver flush 1 of 12 :)

2011-04-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

my liver started cleansing on its own. :)

2011-04-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

I got tired of preparing raw food. hours of operation in my kitchen. the soaking, the sprouting, blending, shredding, mincing, dicing, shaking, chopping. i got tired of shopping for the vegetables and washing them. i needed to just drink GREEN JUICE. and so i did. I told my client that i needed personal time. i didn't say that i needed personal time with me and my juice. but that is what it was. a relationship with wheatgrass and green juice. AND i went out of the house for it. i cheated on my kitchen. i tried every place in the area for their wheatgrass and greens. i stepped away from the kitchen and had fun. i was hearing a calling to simplify my diet. lose the dehydrated things and the nuts and seeds. i needed an internal spring cleaning. all the while wondering if i would ever want to go back to making cashew cream cheeses and nutty breads...i had my doubts. i didn't realize at the time but during this year, all the transitional raw food that i made, was making me look and feel heavy. i woke up one day simply not wanting it.
so i cruised the internet as i always do on the raw food subject and came across a Dan Mcdonald youtube video. he was promoting wellness and life regeneration just through fruits and veggies. i thought to myself, "i must meet him. i can go to this April 1rst retreat. i want to see a man who eats just fruits and veggies."
i had ten days to practice my desire of just drinking liquids and i did. i call it the "liquids only" i had done juice fasts before and decided that to make this one easy on myself i would have liquids (drinks including fiber)to lead up and detoxify. it worked, lbs started coming off, i started feeling like my old self, before culinary school, before a year of transitional food for my client (which i ate also) i had been raw for 5 years before. by the time i got to Grass Valley for the juice feast i was feeling great. by the time i left the juice feast i was feeling even better. it was not until Dan Mcdonald came to stay in my art studio while he was in town, did i realize what detoxifying can really do. we did a 36 hour water fast. that completely took me to a whole new level! the liquids and juicing had also led me to get a colonic which led me to know that my liver was cleansing! without me even trying. there were stones coming out. my liver was asking for a cleanse. the colon hydrotherapist suggested a liver flush and i jumped on it! word up, do not do a liver flush unless you have time and space to identify any emotions that come up. the liver stores anger and resentment. this is NOT the time to have company, your child, boyfriend or husband! if you do not release the old emotions might stay trapped. i have a plan to do a liver flush once a month for a year. the patience and love in my heart will be free without old things that are toxic hanging around. i look forward to this really. So here is to the great big detox and future flow of everything good! :) Dara

showing some skin :)

2011-03-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

body by liquiding. juicing soon!

2011-03-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

hi my friends!
for me, here is what is coming up.toning coming up, leaner, happier, brighter, shinier.All possible just by drinking your nutrients? YES! IT IS SO EASY. and it gets more fun with every day! try it. you won't be sorry. i promise. lots of love, and lets drink to happiness! ;)

liquids only for 7 days!

2011-03-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

i feel great. but the proof is in the pudding as they say ;) skin is smoother and glowing
and the whites of my eyes whiter. and it is just a minute before my "skinny" jeans feel good to wear.. so, this is not boasting. take it as motivation. seriously, you can do it too! xo everybody, Dara

i used to HATE wheatgrass

2011-03-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

now i find wheatgrass appealing. not for the way it tastes, but for the way it feels. i am noticing a difference in my skin, my eyes are whiter and even my teeth feel cleaner. i am losing weight (although i have only been drinking smoothies and juices) and i feel great. i used to not be able to get down a wheatgrass shot, now i have 4 oz a day! two in the morning and two in the afternoon. strange. anyway. i highly recommend (as usual) as much green juice as you can manage AND one wheatgrass shot in the am. cheers everybody!
Dara

just liquids. a rest. a luxury.

2011-03-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

i am getting ready to go on a 5 day juice fast with Dan McDonald- the life regenerator on April 1st. it is held at an ashram in Grass Valley. i am looking forward to it for a number of reasons. The peace of it, yoga, meditation, being at a place like this with no distractions. Dogs, child caring, food prepping, normal life. i will drive 7 1/2 hours to drive north east to just be, drink juice AND have an infusion of a very like minded soul. Dan Mcdonald spends his time eating and drinking fruits and vegetables and inspiring others via youtube to do the same. he is infectious, enthusiastic, charming, but most of all genuine. i will take a dose of genuine with my fruits and veggies anytime! after this year of prepping gorgeous gourmet raw food, it is a luxury for me to just DRINK. i am giving myself this rest and in prep for it have begun since yesterday a "liquiding" diet. i have wheatgrass first thing. 2 0z. then i have a blended fruit with water drink. pineapple, blueberry, strawberry, mango. i buy two 32 oz containers of veggie juice: beets,celery, parsley,spinach, ginger, garlic and lemon. i am fully equipped and capable of making my own juice. i just don't want to. i need to be away from the kitchen for just awhile. i imagine that in a couple of days i will want to make my own concoctions with watercress and fennel and other fun more obscure things. for now
i am happy to imbibe juice from the co-op. :)
i am doing this and the only thing you need to do if you think you are so far away from this is have ONE GREEN JUICE DAILY. there, i have said it. your body will guide you after that. love to all of you and many, many greens,
Dara

kelp noodles. zucchini is not the only raw PASTA!

2011-03-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have a friend on the east coast who has just let me know that she is on and loves her raw food diet. I love to hear this and get so inspired to share ideas and recipes. Here i am the next morning sharing one of the most satisfying of all raw dishes. For those of us who crave pasta and get tired of the same zucchini spirals (which are always a good easy standby) try kelp noodles. They are shockingly good, IF prepared the right way. :)
First, where to get them. they are usually by the tofu in the refrigerated section of natural food stores. Cut the bag open and soak them in a big bowl with hot water. rinse and rinse. they are naturally crunchy, but we want to "bring them down" to a softer feel to resemble spaghetti. This is where the trick comes in. Massage fresh lemon juice and himalayan salt into noodles and let sit for a little bit. when the noodles are soft, drain. that is your pasta. sauce comes later...next blog. Go out and get bags and bags of these you will love them!
video didn't post. coming soon!:)

raw fast food/spaghetti

2011-03-14T18:22:00.000-07:00

peace of mind, thanks and a tomato

2011-03-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

do we all get enough time to ourselves? to lie on the ground and stare up at a tree. to feel the grass, dirt, sand, snow or even concrete? the warmth or chill of the earth is grounding, feeds us like nothing else can. when we were children we would lie down, run around in circles, draw pictures of things without telling ourselves we couldn't. we would giggle and act silly, jump on beds and make up words. where and when on earth did we get so serious? AND when will we stop? when was the last time we lovingly washed a tomato and cut it knowing we were feeding it to someone we love? some of us have never grown a tomato from a seed and lovingly nurtured it until ripe. Those who do grow their own food are more connected and for those of us who don't, let us remember where food comes from, how it grows, honor and marvel at it before we put it into our mouths. if we grew produce we might be less likely to do things to alter it, like cook it, knowing that plant life force is perfect just as it is. we are perfect just as we are. it is time to remember. it is time to be thankful, to lie down, be silly and draw a picture of anything. how about a tomato?
raw, organic if you please. ;)