Raw Food Passion

Light Vegetable Lasagna Recipe: Time Saving Tips for the 9 - 5 Working Vegan

2012-07-15T17:46:00.002-05:00

Dear Readers,

I hope this post finds you all doing quite well. I have recently started working a full time 9 -5 job. As you may know, for the past three years I have worked for myself as a yoga instructor and while I was busy my schedule was much more flexible. I am enjoying my new job but it has taken some getting used. I find I have to really plan and schedule ahead to make sure I have healthy delicious meals to eat every day. I am also working on creating a new schedule for blogging so that I can continue to post new recipes with helpful tips for this lifestyle on a time budget.

Today I am sharing a light vegetable lasagna that is a wonderful summer meal. The main ingredients are currently in season such as the tomatoes, zucchini, and basil. In fact the reason I decided to make this recipe was because my boyfriend brought me a giant zucchini that was given to him by a coworker picked from his garden. I wish I had taken a picture of this zucchini because it was about 3 times the size of a typical zucchini. Also, speaking of tomatoes, I have a picture of our tomato garden below. You can't see them but they are covered with tons of green tomatoes! We are impatiently waiting for our green tomatoes to turn red so we can start enjoying them!

Five Time Saving Tips For the Working Vegan:

1. Create snacks ahead of time that you can enjoy during the week or take into work in addition to lunches. Right now I have got some flax granola going in the dehydrator that I plan on using for snacks for the week.

2. Prep your fruits and vegetables ahead of time so that when you reach for them they are already chopped, sliced and diced and ready to go for cooking or smoothies.

3. Have a go to fast food healthy choice in case your in a pinch and stuck without food. My healthy fast food choices are Chipotle ( veggie bean burrito bowl), Wendy's (Bakedpotato) or a grocery store's fresh cut fruit.

4. Bring no hassle fruits with you that do not require a lot of prep work to enjoy. Bananas and apples are great examples.

5. Make sure you have a stash of nuts and or dried fruit if you need a snack or have a hunger attack.

Do you have any time saving tips that you can share?

Vegetable Lasagna Recipe:

Ingredients:
2 medium zucchini
3 avocados
Handful of basil
4 tomatoes
4 carrots shredded
1/4 onion
Sea Salt to taste

Directions:
1. Peel zucchini into thin strips.
2. In a food processor, blend the avocados with fresh basil, 1/4 onion and sea salt to taste.
3. Slice tomatoes thinly.
4. You are now ready to assemble your lasagna!
5. First, create a layer of zucchini noodles on the bottom of a glass baking pan.
6. Next create a layer of your avocado pesto.
7. Sprinkle the shredded carrots on top of the avocado pest.
8. For your final layer, add a layer of sliced tomatoes.
9. Continue to build up your layers until you are out of ingredients. If you use a smaller pan you will probably make two to three layers. With a larger pan, you may only have one layer.
10. Allow the lasagna to set for half an hour and then dig in and enjoy!

Green Smoothie with Blueberries! Happy 4th of July!

2012-07-04T11:39:00.002-05:00

Thank you for all of the comments on my last post for my mango, banana, carrot, coconut breakfast pudding! I hope some of you got to try that super easy and delicious recipe. I think the carrot especially adds a lot of depth to that recipe, providing some veggies for the day in a very palatable way. The carrot also turns the smoothie a very pretty rich orange color.

As I mentioned in my last post, I went to the restaurant cafe sunflower to celebrate my birthday. The picture above is myself with my boyfriend at Cafe Sunflower. This is definitely my favorite vegan restaurant in Atlanta and I love to go there on special occasions! The restaurant has two different locations but my favorite location is the one in Buckhead, the heart of Atlanta. This one is my favorite because of the atmosphere inside of the restaurant, I love the interior decorating at this location. Both locations have different menu options and I like the menu options at the Buckhead location best. My two favorite menu items are the Orzo Eggplant Lasagna and the Sesame Chicken.

During my recent trip to Cafe Sunflower I decided to be different and order something new off of the menu, it was a coconut curry vegetable dish. When I ordered it I was thinking of some of the delicious thai dishes that I have ordered that are so wonderful. Unfortunately, I wasn't as pleased with my order and the flavors didn't taste quite right. I guess that is what happens when you try something different rather than sticking with the tried and true. However, dessert definitely made up for it, I ordered a slice of coconut cake which was delicious! I don't have cake often but a slice of vegan cake on my birthday is fine by me. I am sorry that I don't have any food pictures from my trip to Cafe Sunflower. I only have people pictures!

The next day I went blueberry picking with my family. My dad has a friend that has a blueberry farm and he only charges $6 per gallon of blueberries that you pick. We picked a gallon and they were so delicious! We do plan on going back again very soon to stock up on blueberries!

Lately I have been enjoying this green smoothie posted above. It is filled with mango, banana, kale, and topped off with some fresh picked blueberries. This is a great breakfast that is quick and easy to make.

I hope you all have a wonderful Fourth of July! I will be out of town the next couple of days, vacationing in the North Georgia Mountains! I can't wait!

Green Smoothie Recipe:

Ingredients:
2 mangoes
2 frozen bananas
1 cup of kale
1/4 cup of blueberries

Directions:

1. Place the sliced mangoes, frozen bananas, and kale into the vitamixer. If you are using a blender you may need to add half a cup of liquid.
2. Mix until well combined.
3. Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top off with blueberries. So delicious! Enjoy!

Mango Banana Carrot Coconut Breakfast Pudding!

2012-06-22T17:55:00.000-05:00

This delicious mango banana carrot coconut pudding has been a breakfast staple for me this week! I can't get enough of it! It is a quick way to get enough fuel and energy that lasts until lunch time. It also tastes delicious and is very nutritious! That is a winning combination if you ask me!

I am sorry but this is going to be a short post! Today is my birthday and my boyfriend is taking me out for dinner. Tomorrow I am going out with my family and my boyfriend for lunch at a vegan restaurant. I will take pictures and post a review of the restaurant! On Sunday we are going blueberry picking! Have a wonderful weekend and you have to try this recipe!

Breakfast Pudding:

Ingredients:
2 small mangoes
2 frozen bananas
2 carrots
1/4 cup of shredded coconut

Directions:
1. Put the mangoes, frozen bananas, and carrots into a vita mixer or blender and blend until you have a smooth consistency.
2. Sprinkle the shredded coconut on top of your pudding. Eat and enjoy!

Interview with Cecilia Kinzie: Before and After Raw Food

2012-06-14T07:31:00.000-05:00

Before Raw Food

After Raw Food Diet

Today I am very excited to bring you the results of my interview with Cecilia Kinzie. You can see her inspiring before and after pictures above. Many years ago, when I was first researching the raw food diet I came across her blog and was very touched by her story. I was honored when she contacted me a few weeks ago to write a blog post featuring some of my recipes. You can read her blog post here. In return I asked to interview her for my blog and was thrilled when she accepted. I hope you are inspired and informed from the interview below!

1. How long have you been eating a raw food diet? How did you first hear about the raw food diet?

I discovered the diet in 2002, so about ten years ago. I was exclusively raw for the first five years and for 5 years I been high raw but not exclusively raw. I was searching for a way to recover from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was very open at the time to anything that might help me feel better.
A friend of mine mentioned that a friend of his got better from CFS through raw foods. That same night I did a web search and discovered a few raw food websites which had a lot of great information. The next day I bought my first raw food “cook” book. I started going to raw food potlucks and dived into not only the diet, but the lifestyle as well. It was like a whole new world opened up to me!

2. How has eating a raw food diet changed you (physically, mentally, and spiritually)?
I was able to heal from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Asthma, depression, and significantly reduce my symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis (IC). I no longer think about my weight, dieting, or calories. I feel satisfied and nourished by what I am eating and no longer have cravings or the desire to binge eat. I have lost all desire to eat any type of junk food. I feel more comfortable and confident in my body. I am able to really listen to the messages my body is giving me. I have more compassion for animals and much more awareness of where my food comes from and how it is grown. I am so much more in tune with nature and the seasons because I eat mostly local. I feel much more aware intuitively and awake in my life. I guess you could say I feel more me!

3. What percentage of raw food works best for you (50 %, 75 %, or 100 %)?
I played the 100% game for 5 years. I guess now you could say I am high raw.
Now I don’t even think about percentages unless someone asks me.
These are the only things I worry about:
Does the food I eat satisfy and nourish me?
Does the food I eat make me feel good and look good?
Do I feel good about how my food was grown, raised, or processed?

4. What is your diet like on a typical day?
It is constantly changing but the one thing that is constant is simplicity. Vegetable juices, blended foods (smoothies, soups, purees), and I enjoy steamed veggies, squash, sweet potato, and/or rice and quinoa in the evenings with a special mineral broth that I make. Over the years, I have gravitated towards the lighter easier to digest blended foods and less nuts and dehydrated foods.

5. What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a raw foodie?
I think the biggest challenge we face is the cost and availability of organic produce. I live in sunny California, so I am luckier than most, but not everyone can afford the raw food diet and lifestyle. In order to afford the best organic produce and supplements, I definitely make financial sacrifices in other areas of my life because my diet is so important to me.
Another challenge I face, is the time it takes to make all my meals from scratch and feeling like I am cleaning the kitchen constantly. That is why I stick to such a simple diet, if not, I wouldn’t get anything else done! I also try to teach others simple raw food recipes because most people are balancing family and work and just don’t have time for fancy food preparation!

6. How did your friends and family respond to you when you first began eating this way? Did you deal with any negative feedback and if so how did you handle it?
My family is a group of free spirits who encourage individuality and they have always been extremely supportive. When I first went raw, I was finishing up college and still living at home. My dad bought a special refrigerator just for me, because all my produce didn’t fit in the family fridge anymore!
I have gotten very little negative feedback, probably because I was so clear that what I was doing was beneficial for me. I would tell people, “I got my energy back, I got my life back, and my Asthma is gone from eating this way”. They really couldn’t say anything negative after that.

7. What are some of your favorite entrees or desserts to eat?
My all time favorite raw entrée is a sprouted buckwheat salad with mashed avocado, garlic, and parsley. My favorite raw dessert is the no nut coconut cream pie from Café Gratitude.

8. What are some of your staple foods in your kitchen?
I get two organic produce boxes delivered to my house every week, so I guess whatever is in season in Southern California is a staple for me. Since I do a lot of green juices I always have cucumbers, greens, and apples on hand as well.

9. What is an interesting fact about yourself that readers might be surprised to find out?
I try to spend at least an hour in deep meditation and energetically send love and blessings to the earth or to people in need every single day.

10. What are your hobbies and interests outside of raw foods?
I love my two Chihuahuas, love taking long walks in nature or on the beach, I love dance and yoga, and I love to meditate and teach meditation. Besides my raw food website and blog I also have a healing meditation website and blog as well, that teaches meditative self healing techniques.

Thanks for reading about me and to learn more about me and the raw food diet, please check out my raw food blog .
Hugs,
Cecilia Kinzie
http://www.rawglow.com

Spicy Lentil Tacos

2012-06-07T20:59:00.000-05:00

I love any excuse to put smashed avocado on top of my meal. By default, Mexican food is probably one of my favorite cuisines. I had the idea to make spicy lentil tacos while cooking dinner for my boyfriend last week. I was making him ground up turkey tacos and had just added a taco bell seasoning spice packet to his turkey. I was curious if I could add this seasoning packet to add more of a kick to lentils. I think lentils on their own can taste rather bland and need something extra to add flavor.

I love lentils because they are very quick and easy to cook. They are very healthy and have a lot of potential to create a variety of different meals. However, lately I have been getting a little tired of lentils and have been looking for a way to make them into a more exciting meal. For lunch today, I added the taco bell seasoning packet to my lentils and it was wonderful! It really gave the kick that I was looking for.

In the future I will look for a healthier taco seasoning packet. I think I have seen some at Trader Joe's. I finished off both of the above tacos for lunch today and was very happy!
The wraps for my tacos are my homemade gluten free wraps that I have made before and posted about here. They are delicious and I highly recommend that you try them.

Spicy Lentil Tacos:

Ingredients:

2 cups of dried lentils
4 cups of water
Taco bell seasoning packet (or get a healthier version of this like I plan to do!)
Diced tomatoes
Spring salad mix
1/2 avocado

1. Pour 2 cups of dried lentils into a pot with four cups of water.
2. Cover the pot with a lid. Bring the lentils to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
3. Allow the lentils to simmer for 20 - 25 minutes.
4. Once they are full cooked, drain the lentils to get rid of excess water.
5. Add the taco bell seasoning spice to the lentils and mix until well combined.
6. You can buy taco wraps or follow the recipe for gluten free wraps here.
7. Fill your taco with the lentils, diced tomatoes, spring mix salad and smashed
avocado. Enjoy!!

Get Free Stuff on Your Birthday!!

2012-06-06T10:05:00.001-05:00

I know some people really dread celebrating their birthday, especially once they get past their twenties and into their thirties or above. Yikes. I am going to be thirty-one this year on June 22. I don't feel like I am going to be thirty-one but I am still excited about my birthday! I have always enjoyed birthdays! Well, now there is reason for you to celebrate your birthday for an entire month!

Last year I found some websites, similar to this one and this one that list many of the stores and companies that will give you free stuff during the month of your birthday. Some restaurants offer free meals, or a free dessert. Last year I got a free Moe's burrito and I blogged about it here. Unfortunately, this year Moe's only sent me a free drink with a dip when I order a burrito. Today I am going to Benihana's restaurant with my brother for lunch. I will use the $30 off my meal coupon that was e-mailed to me.

Some companies will send you coupons for a discount or a certain amount of money off of their products. Some of the discount offers that I received and plan on using are: $5 free at DSW, $10 free at pacifica (awesome natural perfume!), and 2 free bowling games.
Last week, Aveda sent me a post card in the mail that said they had a $24 gift waiting for me in one of their store locations. Over the weekend I went to their store location and got to choose between a few different full sized aveda products. I picked the bath salts! You can see the picture of my free gift from aveda above!

All you have to do to get all of this free stuff is go to the particular company's website and sign up to be on their e-mail subscription list. I wanted to share this with you so that you can enjoy this birthday perk as much as I have enjoyed it!

Above I have posted my breakfast this morning! It is the the exact same recipe as my mixed berry oatmeal yesterday, however, the only difference is that I replaced the oatmeal with sliced apples and sprinkled dried coconut on top! Have a great day!

Mixed Berry Granola with a Splash of Citrus

2012-06-05T08:39:00.003-05:00

This is a quick and delicious breakfast filled with colorful antioxidant rich berries. As long as I can remember, my family has taken me blueberry picking every summer. When I was a child we would go blueberry picking up in North Carolina near our family cabin. For the most part this tradition has stayed with me and every summer I love picking berries! Two weekends ago I went strawberry picking at Washington Farms, which is a strawberry farm in Georgia. You can see me below with my gallon of strawberries. The farm charged $10 for the gallon. It took us around thirty minutes to pick the entire gallon.

The blueberry farm I go to in Georgia charges us $6 per gallon of blueberries! What a great deal right? The blueberries at this farm are normally ripe July through early August so I will have to wait a few more weeks to pick blueberries. Last year my boyfriend and I picked a total of four gallons of blueberries. We froze most of them to use in smoothies or to top with oatmeal. I think this year I need to make a blueberry pie!

During the summer months I buy a lot of local food from markets and local farms and the raspberries in my oatmeal this morning are local organic Georgia raspberries. They are delicious! Fresh picked berries always taste so much better to me than the kind that you buy in the stores. Do you plan to pick any berries this summer?

Mixed Berry Granola Recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup of oatmeal

Handful of blueberries

Handful of raspberries

1 orange juiced

1/4 cup of boiled water

1 tbsp of cinnamon

1 tbsp on agave nectar or honey

Directions

1. Boil water on the stove.

2. Juice your orange.

3. Once the water has boiled pour it over your dried oatmeal.

4. Add the orange juice, blueberries, raspberries, cinnamon, and honey to the oatmeal.

5. Eat and enjoy!

Avocado Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

2012-05-29T09:05:00.002-05:00

I absolutely adore avocados! On a typical week of grocery shopping I normally buy around five avocados for the week. As a child I watched my grandfather eat avocados out of the skin with a spoon. I remember being grossed out by the green color. I never did enjoy avocados until years later when I first started on the path towards vegan and raw foods. I believe they became a dairy replacement for me and now I love adding them to salads, topping them on baked potatoes, or eating them as chocolate pudding.

Over a month ago I shared a recipe for a banana deep hair conditioner. In the past I have also shared my avocado face mask recipe. I enjoy using fruits on my skin and hair and have had great results from doing so. Lately, I have experimented with the avocado deep conditioning hair mask. I find that avocado is a great treatment for dry or brittle hair. It adds shine and body back to dull hair. My hair tends to be both very dry and oily at the same time. I think it may have to do with the hard city water and blow drying my hair. I am always searching for ways to improve the quality of my hair and this is definitely a new staple. Although the banana deep hair conditioner works well to make hair soft, I believe that the avocado hair mask conditions hair on a much deeper level.

For the future I plan on deep conditioning my hair with an avocado mask on a weekly basis. You could also pair this with an avocado face mask for a full spa like experience, all for the cost of one avocado. Enjoy! Do you have any natural home made beauty recipes?

Ingredients:
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup of water

Directions:
1.) Cut an avocado in half and scoop it out from the skin.
2.) Put the avocado in a bowl and mash it with a fork until it is creamy.
3.) Add the water to the avocado and mix until creamy.
4.) Apply the avocado to wet or dry hair (I apply to dry hair).
5.) Once your hair is covered with avocado use a shower cap to cover your head and leave the mask on your hair for an hour.
6.) After an hour has passed, get in the shower and wash the avocado out. Next, shampoo and condition your hair. Please note that sometimes I have to shampoo and condition my hair twice so that it does not look oily when it has dried.
7.) Enjoy your shiny hair!

Tea Time: Some of my Favorites and Home Made Mint Tea

2012-05-10T13:16:00.001-05:00

I have never been a coffee drinker. I simply do not like coffee. The first time I tried coffee was when I was twelve years old. I was with my family at formal sit down event and someone suggested that I try coffee for the first time. Well, the first sip was very bitter for my taste. After adding lots of sugar and milk to it I began to like it a lot and drank one too many cups of it. I was sick for the rest of the night and ever since then I haven't wanted coffee again. Instead of coffee I drink tea.

It is only in the past year that I have become a tea drinker. I have not been reimbursed by yogi tea, I just really like the stuff. I drink it to unwind or warm myself up when it is chilly. I also drink it for therapeutic reasons. When I feel myself coming down with a cold I drink tea with echinacea to boost my immune system. When I can't sleep at night I drink bedtime tea or Kava Stress Relief tea. Both of these teas help me to have a great night's rest, and to feel very refreshed in the morning. These are just some of the examples of the benefits I have received from drinking tea.

I do like yogi tea because of the organic ingredients. Another perk is that each tea bag has a positive message attached to it. As you drink your tea you can meditate on this message. I have used Celestial Seasons bedtime tea and found that it worked just as well for me when I have trouble sleeping. It knocks me out. I think the best place to buy yogi tea is on amazon. If you buy it in bulk you can get each box for around $3 and normally they cost around $4.50 or higher at the store. Sometimes Kroger will have a sale on yogi tea, which would be a great time to buy them in bulk.

In some of my past posts I have mentioned that I have TONS of mint growing in my back yard. Lately I have started making my own home made mint tea. Mint tea has many therapeutic benefits. It is helpful for relieving stomach pain, relaxes the mind, and some sources say it is helpful to drink before bed for a good nights rest. I had a cup before breakfast this morning and the aroma alone is reason enough to drink this soothing tea. The best part about mint tea is that I can have it for free from my own backyard.

If you enjoy knitting you can have a cup of warm tea as you knit. Below is one of my latest knitting projects: I am working on sock one for my pair of socks.

If you have mint growing in your backyard you should definitely try out this recipe!

Mint Tea

8 Mint Leaves
2 Cups of Water

Directions
1) Fill a pan with two cups of water and put your mint leaves into the pot.
2) Bring the water to a boil and boil the leaves for five minutes.
3) Take out the mint leaves and drink the tea once it has cooled. Enjoy!

Home Made Crackers with Hummus on the Side Please

2012-05-04T17:53:00.000-05:00

I am excited to bring you two amazing recipes tonight. A home made gluten free cracker with home made hummus. I am going crazy for crackers tonight! I have never made home made crackers in the oven before so I was hesitant about the outcome. These crackers far exceeded my expectations in many ways: they look great, taste great, and hold together great, making them ideal for dipping. I think they would make a wonderful snack addition to any party, or simply along side a meal.

So, where did this recipe come from you might ask. That is a very good question, I am so glad you asked! I bought garbanzo bean flour for the first time a few months ago. It is such a great deal at my local farmers marker. I get around four cups of it for $1.50. I first tried this sandwich wrap recipe with the flour which turned out quite well. After preparing this same sandwich wrap several times I was curious about what else I could make with this flour. While surfing the internet earlier this week I found the wonderful site Nourishing Flourishing! On this blog, Katie shares her gluten free mostly vegan recipes which all look wonderful! She has a recipe for garbanzo flour crackers. As soon as I saw this recipe it was love at first sight!

These crackers are extremely easy to make and I am flirting with the idea of bringing them with me to a Cinco De Mayo party tomorrow. You seriously have to try them!

Now, what goes better with crackers than hummus? Although I do love guacamole, which probably ties with the hummus in my book. I made home made hummus for the first time ever this week. This ties in nicely with my recent obsession with beans. They are cheap, very high in protein and are filling. I just used a standard hummus recipe but in the future I would like to experiment with different flavors like garlic roasted or red bell pepper hummus.

I hope that you all have a nice weekend! Enjoy these recipes!

Gluten Free Crackers

3 Tb ground flax seed
1/4 cup of water
1 cup chickpea (garbanzo bean) flour
1/2 t salt
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 Tb dried parsley

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make flax egg by mixing water and flax. Set aside to thicken for a few minutes.
2) Mix dry ingredients.
3) Add wet ingredients to dry and stir to combine.

4) Pour the batter onto a parchment paper-laden baking sheet, and begin to flatten with hands. If you make the dough thicker you will get more of a flat bread consistency and when thinner you get a cracker consistency.
5) Once you’ve shaped the dough place in the oven.
6) Cooking time is between 15 - 20 minutes depending on preference or difference in ovens. When they are browned at the top you know they are done. You can score them when they first come out of the oven and are still a little bit soft. You can also break them into pieces for a rugged look.

Hummus

2 Cups of cooked garbanzo beans (chickpeas) - you can use them from a can or make your own from scratch.

3 Tb lemon juice

1 1/2 Tb tahini

1 Tb garlic powder

1 Tb olive oil

1 Ts sea salt

Directions:

1) Add all of the ingredients into a food processor or a vitamixer.

2) Mix until thoroughly combined and smooth. Taste to see if you want to add more salt or more flavor to the hummus.

3) Use as a dip for your crackers and enjoy!

The Ultimate Budget Smart Food: Beans and Garbanzo Bean Salad

2012-04-27T11:45:00.000-05:00

On an average week, I try and keep my grocery bill around $50 for the week. Sometimes I keep this goal and other times I go above and beyond that amount. It is very important to me that I eat high quality delicious food but I try and do that as budget friendly as possible. I have to admit that my grocery bill this week was more around $70 and so I am already planning out how to improve that for next week.

For a long time I was not much of a bean person but in the past year I have experimented a lot with different varieties of beans and have been quite happy with the results. Some of my favorite recipes have bean my yummy black bean burgers, lentil loaf, and finally lentil soup. If you are looking to save money by adding beans to your diet, I highly suggest buying dried beans rather than ones already cooked in the cans.

First of all beans taste much better when you make them yourself and secondly you can save a lot of money this way! I normally spend anywhere from $1.50 to $2.50 on a package of beans that contains four cups of dried beans. You have to soak the dried beans for a few hours and during this time they usually double or triple in size, turning one cup of dried beans into three cups of cooked beans.

One of my favorite recipes to make when my family comes over for dinner is my black bean burgers with home made french fries and salad. I can feed my whole family with room for seconds with around $2 worth of beans. I had the above garbanzo bean salad for lunch today and it was delicious and filling! I made garbanzo beans for the very first time this week. I made around three cups of them and have been topping them on my salads for lunch and dinner time. They are much cheaper than nuts (I love nuts but they are so expensive!) and are a perfect salad topper filled with lots of protein. On average one cup of cooked beans has around 15 grams of protein.

Well, enough talk, below I will walk you through how to make garbanzo beans from scratch and reveal how I made this delicious salad! Enjoy!

Garbanzo Bean Salad:

2 cups of dried garbanzo beans
6 cups of water
1 cup of mixed lettuce greens (organic preferably)
1 carrot shredded
1/2 avocado diced
1/2 tomato diced
1/8 onion diced
pinch of sea salt

Directions:
1. Soak 2 cups of dried garbanzo beans in 6 cups of water over night (around 8 hours). They should triple in size.
2. Cook the soaked garbanzo beans in a large pot with 4 - 6 more cups of
water. To cook them you first need to bring the pot to a boil. After it
has reached the boiling point, turn down the heat and allow the garbanzo
beans to cook on low heat for 1 - 2 hours. They will be ready when they
are soft and easy to eat. This will make 4 -6 cups of cooked garbanzo
beans.

Salad Directions:
1. Wash off your lettuce, dry it, and put it in a large bowl.
2. Add in your diced onion, tomato, avocado, shredded carrot, and cooked
garbanzo beans.
3. Top the salad with some sea salt and your favorite salad dressing. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this recipe! By the way, what are you doing this weekend? Last weekend I went to Chattanooga and had a great time!

Banana Oatmeal Vegan Pancakes!

2012-04-17T08:40:00.001-05:00

For Easter I hosted a brunch at my house. I served these wonderful banana oatmeal vegan pancakes along with hash browns and fresh squeezed orange juice. I have to admit that I normally just eat fresh fruit for breakfast and I have not attempted to make vegan pancakes since becoming a vegan. These pancakes are just as delicious as they sound! I topped them with fresh diced mango, coconut butter, and honey. They tasted more like a dessert!

I originally found this recipe by searching for vegan pancakes on the internet. I found so many options but the site Colourful Plate stood out to me the most and I took my inspiration from their vegan banana oatmeal pancakes recipe. I made these pancakes again this weekend and I have decided that they are a good Saturday or Sunday lazy morning breakfast.

What is your favorite lazy morning weekend breakfast?

I did tweak the recipe just a little bit by using coconut milk instead of the soy milk. I think you could also make these gluten free but I don't have a gluten free recipe right now. I hope you get a chance to try out this recipe and let me know what you think! I am in love with them!

Banana Oatmeal Vegan Pancakes:

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup old fashioned oats

½ cup organic whole wheat flour

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. sea salt

1 ½ cups coconut milk

2 ripe bananas

2 - 4 tbsp coconut butter for cooking and garnish

Directions:

1. Put the oats into a food processor and process until you have oat flour. Pour into a bowl.

2. Blend the bananas in a blender until smooth and creamy.

3. Pour the pureed banana, wheat flour, baking powder, sea salt, and coconut milk into the mixing bowl with the oat flour. Stir until you have smooth pancake batter.

4. Set the stove to medium heat and use the coconut butter to cook your pancakes. You could also use olive oil or another oil.

5. Makes 6 medium sized pancakes.

6. Garnish with coconut butter, mango slices and honey. Enjoy!

Wrap It Up! Home Made Vegan and Gluten Free Wraps

2012-04-05T13:51:00.002-05:00

I love wraps! I love to combine a variety of delicious tasting ingredients together, stick them into a wrap, and then chow down! I saw a recipe for this particular wrap a few months ago and tried it about a month ago. I have been so happy with it that I have made it a couple of times since. I have been meaning to share this recipe on my blog but kept forgetting to take a picture. I made these wraps for lunch today and right away I snapped a picture.

In reference to the theme, wrap it up, I have thought of other ways this concept applies to my life. I am dealing with some different challenges lately. Many circumstances in my life are unresolved as I am looking at some possible career shifts, family changes, and as a result I have had more stress than usual. I am trying to use what I learned in my yoga training to deal with the stress. One mantra, or phrase I learned during my training was, inhale peace, exhale release. I find that I use this phrase often when I am feeling overwhelmed. It keeps me focused on the present moment rather than worried about the past or the future. I love to use this phrase when I am in Atlanta traffic, which can be very stressful.

I also use breathing exercises to help me to deal with stress. In yoga, we are taught that the breath symbolizes prana, which is our life force. By taking deep, full breaths, we activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for slowing our heart rate, blood sugar levels, and giving us an overall sense of calm and peace. Focusing on my breathing keeps me from getting too worked up over a situation and helps me to stay connected to the here and now. By focusing on the things I can control and letting go of those that I can not control I find peace. Of course stress still does affect me but when I use these important life tools to deal with stress I find that I bounce back much more quickly. And that's a wrap!

Home Made Wraps:

Ingredients:

1 cup of Garbanzo bean flour
1 cup of water
1 tbsp of onion powder
1 tbsp of dried parsley
1 tbsp of olive oil

Directions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until the lumps are gone.

2. Pour half of the olive oil on a frying pan over medium heat.

3. Pour half of the batter into the pan. Allow it to cook fully on one side, which may take five to ten minutes. Flip it over and allow it to cook on the other side.

4. Fill the wrap with your favorite fillings, eat and enjoy!

This recipe will make two wraps.

A Different Kind of Recipe: Home Made Deep Hair Conditioner

2012-03-29T14:54:00.001-05:00

The weather in Georgia has been so wonderful and I am happy to welcome the signs that Spring is approaching. The perennial flowers on our back deck that were planted last Spring have come back even more beautiful than last year. Our baby tomato plants are very happy and in a few weeks we will be planting them outdoors, crossing my fingers that we get tomatoes this year! The weather is perfect outside with the warm sunshine and nice cool breezes. This is one of my favorite times of year!

Today I bring you a recipe for a home made deep hair conditioner that I use one to two times per week on my hair. I started using this hair conditioner a few weeks ago and my hair has become noticeably more soft and shiny ever since. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you may know that I love making home made beauty recipes. One of my all time favorite home made recipes would have to be my avocado face mask! You can find the ingredients and read about it here. I have also learned my lesson from making my own beauty products. I had a really bad experience last year using crushed up garlic on a pimple. It caused a burn on my face that took over a month to heal. I learned that just because something is natural doesn't mean it is good for you. It is a good idea to make sure you are not allergic to something before applying it to your body and use anything with caution.

About once a week I have my own personal spa day in the comforts of my own home. I apply my banana deep hair conditioner to my hair and leave it on for one hour. At the same time I apply my avocado face mask and leave that on for one hour. While waiting to wash off your beauty masks you could give yourself a pedicure or manicure to really pamper yourself! When the hour is done you rinse off the face mask and then wash off the banana hair mask. I notice my hair is extremely soft after rinsing out the banana. After I wash out the banana I normally wash my hair with shampoo and conditioner ( I get organic hair products from Trader Joe's for a great price) to get all the banana out of my hair. My hair has always tended to be oily at the scalp with dry hair. This routine has seemed to balance my hair out, it is much less oily and is no longer dry and brittle. I hope you get a chance to try out this beauty recipe! Do you have any home made beauty recipes or secrets?

Banana Deep Hair Conditioner:

1 banana
1/4 cup of water
Directions:
1. Place the banana and water into a blender and mix until completely smooth.
2. Rub the banana into your hair and scrub it onto your scalp.
3. Once you have used all of it, cover your head with a grocery bag and let it sit for one hour.
4. Rinse the banana out of your hair and then shampoo and condition your hair.

Guest Blog Post with Lauren: Confessions of a converted non-baker

2012-03-15T13:19:00.000-05:00

I am very excited to bring you a guest post from a fellow yoga instructor, world traveler, and long time friend. I met Lauren during my yoga teacher training at Yandara Yoga Institute in the Fall of 2007. We were both there with one goal, to get certified as yoga instructors. Since then we have been able to keep in contact over Facebook. Recently Lauren started posting pictures of recipes she made from my blog on my Facebook page. I was impressed with her results and felt she would bring an interesting perspective to my readers. She is not a vegan or raw foodie but just someone who appreciates a healthy, simple, and delicious raw dessert. Below she shares her experiences with non baking!

Confessions of a converted non-baker:

I hate baking. It has too many rules. It requires math. Things have to be done in a specific order. Honestly, I’m too much of a flake to bake. When I see the words “in a spring-form pan…” on a recipe card my immediate gut reaction is spring for the door. I’ve made beautiful pies in the past, gorgeous looking cupcakes, but somewhere in the process I decide I do not need measurements anymore and throw the recipe out the window in order to freestyle it in my kitchen. What results is aesthetically stunning deserts that taste awful.

I had seen pictures of raw treats that looked edible. This intrigued me. Most of them weren’t even green! I just assumed though that raw food would be an even more intricate process than baked- I mean its raw and its square- how is that even possible?! I stayed away. Then two-weeks ago when my mother asked me to look after her house while she was on vacation, I found myself trying to postpone working without any of my usual toys. Going through facebook I saw my friend April’s page and meandered my way toward her blog. I had romantically fantasized about her raw deserts in the past, but always quickly snapped out of it, deciding that any baked goods that didn’t involve baking and were completely devoid of butter and refined sugar probably wouldn’t taste much better than what I was already making. Well, that day, in my mom’s kitchen I decided I would engage in the ultimate procrastination- go grocery shopping for food I had no clue where to find, use kitchen power tools I had never plugged in, and attempt something raw. It just seemed like a good idea. Here I was in a kitchen Martha Stewart could be envious of, with varying degrees of food processor, pie plates in several sizes and enough counter space for me to have a slumber party on. I figured it would be a good waste of a day.

I decided to try April’s Apple Crumble pie first, because I knew of a reliable place to buy apples. I headed to the fruit store. To my extreme surprise, my local (seriously local, just one block away) fruiterie had EVERY SINGLE ITEM on the list! Pre-pitted dates (I had no clue such a thing existed), nuts…well you can read the recipe… I came home and followed the instructions. Again, not wanting to conform too much, I substituted Agave nectar for a mix of honey and maple syrup- I am Canadian after all. The apple marinade was surprisingly delicious. Surely the crumb part would be my breaking point. I threw the nuts and dates in a food processor along with vanilla and cinnamon. I pressed the button, jumped at the noise, pressed it again, holding this time and ABBRA KEDABRA, I had made vegan crumb. Shocking, I poured everything into a bowl. It looked amazing. It tasted sweet, tart and just like pie. I’m probably hallucinating I thought. I called my sister over to try it out. She did. She liked it too!

Well, this little crumb pie gave me so much confidence in my skills as a vegan master patissiere, that I decided to take a plunge- raw vegan cheesecake. Certainly this one would taste funny- cheesecake without CHEESE!? Absurd. Back to the local fruit store I went, secretly hoping that they would be devoid of the itemized list that was foreign to me. When they did not have unsweetened coconut, I could just leave defeated with a well I tried attitude and forget the whole thing ever happened. Again, I was wrong. They did have coconut flakes, and coconut meat, and coconut oil. Fate. I came home and once again skeptically followed the recipe (without actually measuring anything out, just eyeballing it). It was so simple. I took out a blender and made a freaking cheesecake! I set in in the fridge overnight and had it for breaky the next morning and you know what? It was delicious! I’m hooked. Raw vegan deserts are fun, easy and pretty guilt free, unless you’re me and you eat ¾ of an apple pie in one sitting and a whole cheesecake the next day.

So there it is: my raw admission of a kitchen klutz’s experience with vegan deserts. Go forth foodies and non-bake!

Lauren Rudick RYT 500 is an international yoga instructor, based out of Montreal, Canada. She specializes in teaching yoga to athletes and injury prevention/recovery. Her classes are infused with humor and positivity, helping students build confidence on and off the mat. When not teaching she dabbles in clothing and jewelry design. Lauren’s joys in life include her dog Julius, bare feet, snowboarding, delicious food, beaches, climbing trees and spontaneous world travel.
Find Lauren on
facebook: facebook.com/laurenrudickyoga
Twitter: @avignayoga
URL: www.avignayoga.com

Finding Balance With Raw Foods

2012-03-08T14:51:00.000-05:00

Life is a constant balancing act. We may have to balance our time between work, school, family, friends, alone time, hobbies, exercise, blogging, and the list goes on! I am always working towards balance in my diet. I try to pay attention to what I am eating and how it affects me physically, mentally, and emotionally. One thing I have noticed over the years is that I feel the most balanced when I am eating LOTS of raw food. Lately I have been working on increasing my raw food intake (specifically vegetables) and I have noticed that I feel more balanced in every way.

Specifically, I have increased my intake of raw vegetables. I have done this by having two large salads every day. I usually have a large salad for lunch and then one again for dinner. The picture above is an example of what I had for lunch today. This is one cup of chopped celery with two mangoes and one avocado diced into small pieces. This lunch was around 375 calories, very filling, and made me feel great. For dinner I have been eating a spring mix salad with a variety of vegetables including broccoli, shredded carrots, sesame seeds, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Sometimes I will throw some diced apple pieces into my salad for extra sweetness and extra calories.

When I first started incorporating more raw food into my diet I was determined to eat a 100% raw food diet. Now, years later I am at a place where I want to incorporate large amounts of raw food into my routine but leave the option open to eating a hot cooked vegan meal as well. I have found my balance through lots of experimenting over the years.

My Balanced Diet:
Breakfast: 3 pieces of fruit (lately two grapefruits and one banana)
Snack: Fruit, nuts, flax crackers with almond butter
Lunch: Large salad
Snack: fruit, nuts (I love dipping sliced apples in almond butter)
Dinner: Large salad with occasional cooked vegan food after the salad or gourmet raw dish
Dessert: Fruit smoothie (lately I am obsessed with banana, mango, coconut!)

As a side note, I want to say that this is my ideal everyday diet. There are times when I veer from this diet but I always come back to it seeking balance and restoration. This is the diet that I have evolved towards and helps me to be my best self! What balance have you found with your food choices?

Chocolate Cake: And a Secret Ingredient

2012-03-02T16:40:00.003-05:00

I am always on the lookout for healthy dessert recipes. I have done my share of experimenting with desserts in the raw food world and for the past eight months I have been experimenting with vegan baked goods that are as natural and healthy and delicious as possible. My first baking attempts without flour lead to my delicious creation of chocolate chip banana peanut butter cookies. These little guys are only sweetened with dates and use coconut flour (my version of coconut flour is grinding up unsweetened coconut flakes) making them gluten free as well as vegan. For Christmas and Valentines day I experimented with vegan sugar cookies. One sugar cookie version used organic white flour and the other used whole wheat flour. I still would like to try a gluten free recipe for sugar cookies, just haven't done it yet. I wander how almond flour would work for a sugar cookie...

This week I was browsing through foodie blogs, when I ran across a flour less cake with quinoa as the main ingredient. When I first saw this recipe on the blog healthful pursuit I knew I had to try it. I already had a large amount of cooked quinoa in the fridge that I was eating with my salads. I took this as a sign from the Universe that I should make this chocolate cake. So, how was it? Well, there isn't any cake left and I made it yesterday. That tells you two things: I have no self control when it comes to healthy vegan desserts and it was delicious! You can try the version from healthful pursuit or my own adaptation of the recipe which is below. By the way, do you have any interesting flour less baking recipes?

Quinoa Chocolate Cake

3 cups of cooked quinoa
1/2 cup of agave nectar
2 pureed bananas
1 cup of coconut meat (from a young thai coconut)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup cacao powder or cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp Himalayan rock salt

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and water. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat [keep covered!] and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Once complete, fluff with fork and set aside.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F
Lightly grease one square pan
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.
In a large bowl, whisk together cacao powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the contents of the blender to the bowl and mix well with a hand mixer.
Cook the cake for 30 - 40 minutes. You can test to determine if the cake is done by inserting a toothpick in the middle.
Allow cakes to cool for a couple of hours before removing from the pans and topping with icing.
Serve with chocolate avocado icing on top ( 1 avocado, 1 banana, 1/4 cup of chocolate, 1/4 cup of agave nectar blended until smooth)
Enjoy!!!

Weekend Getaway and Vegetables for Breakfast

2012-02-27T19:09:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite places to take a vacation in Georgia is the North Georgia Mountains. Blue Ridge is where I went this weekend with my boyfriend. This city is an hour and a half drive from Atlanta and is an ideal and relaxing place to get away and get back to nature. Some of the fun things to do in this area are white water rafting, hiking on the Appalachian trail, hiking to waterfalls, tubing, horse back riding, and just being in nature. We stayed in a beautiful cabin with an awesome view of the mountains. At night the stars were so bright. The weekend was filled with nature walks, hiking, nights by the fireplace, playing games, soaking in the hot tub, and doing a lot of nothing as well. I can't wait to plan another trip.

I took some pictures of my breakfast one morning. I have been trying to squeeze even more vegetables into my day. I love fruit salads but decided to add celery to my cut up apples and I thought it was pretty tasty. I plan on adding this simple salad to my list of staple menu items. I have to admit I got this idea from a salad one of my friends made (avocado, mango, pineapple, and celery). That is a great combo as well and gave me the idea of adding bits of celery to my fruit.

The hash browns were yummy. I used Korean sweet potatoes (we have a lot of Asian markets close to where we live). Hash browns are fun to make because they cook up very quickly compared to the length of time it takes to bake them or roast them in the oven. I used some organic ketchup on top of them to add the final touch. I have to admit that I LOVE ketchup! I love anything that I can smear ketchup onto. I always get an organic brand with cane sugar, which makes me feel healthier about the whole addiction to ketchup.

The other pictures are some of the scenery in the area. The mountain view is the view that we looked out onto from the deck of our cabin. The river is named the Toccoa river and it was close to our cabin. I love to hear the water rushing in the river. It is such a relaxing sound to me! I hope you had a nice weekend wherever you were!

Fruit Salad

1 apple
3 pieces of celery from the stalk

Directions:
1. Dice up the apple and the celery into small pieces.
2. Mix together in your bowl and then eat and enjoy!

Hash Browns

2 medium sized potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
sea salt to taste
ketchup to taste

Directions:
1. Grate the potatoes with a grater.
2. Pour olive oil into your pan and stir fry the potatoes on medium to high heat.
3. Add sea salt to taste as well as ketchup. Enjoy!

Day After Valentines Cookies: Whole Wheat Vegan Sugar Cookies and Self Care

2012-02-15T17:04:00.000-05:00

Happy belated Valentines day! Yesterday was such a busy day for me that I am just getting to posting these pictures today. Whether you are in a relationship or are single, caring and loving yourself is an extremely healthy thing to do. You can show yourself that you love you through your actions. Take time to do things that make you happy, that make you feel inspired, and that help you to relieve stress. It is not selfish to make time to do nice things for yourself. In return your cup will be full and you will have so much more to give to others.

Here are some examples of things you can do to care for yourself:

1. Schedule a massage appointment. I like to get a massage every other month as a way of taking care of myself. Try a reflexology session for something new. You can find ways to do this affordably if you are tight on money. You can check out groupon or find a student massage clinic in your area.

2. Exercise. Exercise helps to relieve stress, boosts serotonin in the brain - the feel good neurotransmitters, and can be free! It is important to make exercise a part of your life, whether it is walking at the park, taking a yoga class, or hiking.

3. Laugh. Make time to do things that make you happy and make you laugh. If there are certain friends you really enjoy being with, make it a priority to schedule time to spend with them. I enjoy watching improv theatre in Atlanta. This is something that makes me laugh so I try and schedule it into my calendar.

4. Facial. Do something that makes you feel refreshed. I enjoy giving myself avocado facials twice a month (mash up avocado and smear it on your face, leave on for up to an hour). This facial makes my skin feel extremely soft. You could also try giving yourself a pedicure or getting a pedicure.

5. Give Back. Giving back to others whether through our profession, volunteer work, families, or friends is important. Let others know you love them, keep your commitments to other people, and find ways to give back through your own gifts and talents.

I hope you enjoy some of my examples of self care suggestions. Now, I just finished eating one of these yummy sugar cookies and I think they are even better the second day! Yummy!

Whole Wheat Vegan Sugar Cookies:

1 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour

1/2 cup of cane sugar

1/2 cup of olive oil

1 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of sea salt

1 banana (blended until smooth in a blender)

Directions: Blend the dry ingredients: whole wheat flour, cane sugar, baking soda and sea salt. Add the wet ingredients (olive oil and blended banana). Roll it flat with a rolling pin. Use heart cookie cutters to make the heart shapes. Set the oven to 325 degrees and bake for ten minutes. Take them out and let them cool for half an hour.

Pink Icing:

1 cup of young thai coconut meat

1/4 cup of honey

6 strawberries

Directions: Blend the above ingredients in a vitamixer or food processor until creamy and smooth. Once the cookies are cool ice your cookies and enjoy!

Chew on This: Banana Flax Granola and Bill Clinton's Vegan Story

2012-02-09T14:43:00.000-05:00

This banana flax granola has been going like hotcakes since I made the last batch on Tuesday. It tastes wonderful eaten alone or topped with almond butter and honey. I had some this morning for breakfast and it is extremely filling. My boyfriend loves it too, which is part of the reason it is not lasting very long :-). I am making another batch today so I can have enough to last through the weekend. I am so happy to have a dehydrator again so I can make delicious granola! I experimented some with baking flax seeds in the oven to try and make crackers and granola but they never turned out very well.

While you munch on that, I wanted to talk about Bill Clinton and his journey towards a vegan diet. Bill Clinton was well known for his love of hamburgers, barbecue, and french fries when he first reached the White House. He has a family history of heart disease and his unhealthy diet was causing plaque to build up in his coronary arteries. Almost four years after leaving the White House, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery. In 2010 he needed another heart procedure: two stents to open one of the veins from his bypass surgery. Clinton made an appointment with Dr. Ornish who directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Ornish, along with Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn have concluded from their research, that a plant based diet can prevent, and in some cases reverse heart disease. Currently, the former president states that he does not consume any meat, dairy, or eggs. For the full report, click here. Since his diet change, he has lost twenty pounds and is feeling healthy.

I believe it is a positive thing that someone so well known is living a vegan lifestyle and sharing his story with the public. The Clinton Foundation has joined forces with the American Heart Association to help 12,000 schools offer healthier school lunches.

Banana Flax Granola:

2 cups of flax seeds
2 cups of water
1 cup of almonds
1 cup of raisins
1 tbsp of cinnamon
2 bananas

Directions: Soak the flax seeds in water for one hour. Put the bananas in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Combine the almonds, raisins, cinnamon, and banana puree to the flax seeds and stir until well combined. Spread the mixture onto dehydrator trays and set the temperature to 115 degrees. Dehydrate the granola for 15 - 20 hours, until crisp and dry. Break apart into pieces and store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Spaghetti with Carrot Noodles

2012-02-02T15:42:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't love a giant plate of spaghetti? Spaghetti was a staple dish in my family growing up, only with a slight twist to it. My father became a vegetarian when he was in his twenties (similar to me). By the time I was born he had been a vegetarian for a number of years. My mother was not a vegetarian and was always concerned about my father getting the proper amount of protein in his diet. She used to make spaghetti with peanuts in it to make sure he was getting some protein. I never grew up with spaghetti and meatballs, just peanuts. As far as I was concerned peanuts went with spaghetti like mustard goes with ketchup.

I have added some of my own twists to this dish as my diet has changed over the years. I have had raw spaghetti with delicious zucchini noodles. I have two yummy recipes for raw spaghetti here and here. My newest version uses carrot noodles. I like carrot noodles better when they are cooked opposed to eating them raw. They get softer and taste like a real noodle. I had this plate of spaghetti for lunch today and it was delicious. By using the vegetable as a noodle I stay away from eating the refined flour that is in the typical spaghetti noodle.

I hope you enjoy my twist on spaghetti and try this recipe out for yourself!

Spaghetti with Carrot Noodles:

5 large carrots

1/4 onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 can organic tomato sauce

5 mushrooms

dried parsley to garnish

Directions: Use a vegetable peeler to create your own carrot noodles. Boil the noodles in a pot with 4 cups of water for 10 minutes. In a pan saute the garlic, onion and mushrooms. When this is complete, add the tomato sauce and continue to cook the sauce. Drain the carrot noodles and place the desired amount of noodles on a plate with your spaghetti sauce. Garnish the dish with parsley flakes. Yum!

Flax Crackers: How I Have Missed You!

2012-01-29T22:11:00.001-05:00

Hello dear readers! I know that my posts have been less frequent lately and I do apologize for that! This is due to a new change in my schedule. I have started teaching Gerontology classes at a local college in addition to my yoga classes. I am excited about this change as it gives me the opportunity to use my masters degree in Gerontology. I am still working on adjusting to a new routine with the added classes. I hope to begin posting more regularly again, meaning at least once a week starting in February.

I have missed eating flax crackers! In December I wrote a post listing some items on my Christmas wish list. One item that I have wanted for a while now is an Excalibur dehydrator. I had a Nesco dehydrator previously but it broke over the summer. The Nesco dehydrator worked well for about four years and I would recommend it for those who are not ready to pay more money for an Excalibur dehydrator. I was without a dehydrator for half of a year and I missed it! I was extremely happy when I got a four tray Excalibur dehydrator for Christmas.

Flax crackers were one of the first snacks that I learned how to make in my dehydrator. They are very easy to make and if you are like me, you enjoy having a chip like snack that you can munch on, dip into various spreads, and enjoy without any guilt! My favorite ways to eat them are with guacamole, almond butter, and hummus. Flax crackers were also the snack I made most often when I had my dehydrator. They are the first thing I have made since getting my new dehydrator over Christmas. I made a batch this past week and it lasted me for the week.

There are a few different kinds of Excalibur dehydrators that you can buy. You can purchase one with four trays, five trays, or nine trays. The four tray version is much smaller than the five tray and nine tray versions. There is less space between each tray and the surface area of each tray is much smaller as well. I knew this when I decided that I wanted a four tray version. I knew that for the most part I wanted to make crackers and breads and I felt I could make a week's worth with the four tray Excalibur. If you have a larger family or want to try more complicated recipes you may want to look at purchasing the five or nine tray version.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe and I hope that your new year has gotten off to a wonderful start!

Flax Crackers:
2 cups of flax seeds
2 cups of water

Directions: Allow the flax seeds to soak in water for an hour. The flax seeds will absorb the water and get larger creating a sticky like paste. Spread this paste onto the teflex sheets for your dehydrator. Set your dehydrator for 110 degrees and leave them in for 10 hours. At this point flip them over and dehydrate them for another 5 hours. Break them into chip size pieces and enjoy!

An Inspiring Interview: Michele, creator of Super Raw Life Magazine

2012-01-16T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I am so sorry that I have been gone for such a long time! However, today I am back to share an inspiring interview I did with Michele, the creator of Super Raw Life magazine. If you are looking for some inspiration for 2012, to get into shape or start eating healthier, you have come to the right place! Michele lost 72 pounds eating a raw food diet and she is here to share her story with you.

I met Michele through social networking. One day she posted a picture of some raw tacos on facebook and tagged me, letting me know it was my recipe. I wrote an article for her magazine and I asked her if she would also do an interview for my blog. If you would like to find out more about Michele you can go to her website to contact her or subscribe for her magazine!

1. How did you first hear about the raw food diet?
I first began my raw transformation back in 2009. I participated in a 21 Day Holistic Healing Cleanse with my mom, Beverly Dunford, from Strength from Within . What started out as a break turned into a total inner and outer body transformation. “Raw” was not the intention. “Raw Vegan” was unknown to both my mom and me. One aspect of The Strength from Within 21 Day Cleanse is to eat all fresh fruits and vegetables. Years of bad habits left it hard for me to appreciate and enjoy the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables repetitively. By day 11 my body was yearning for more; for more of the tastes and more of the textures I was so used to finding comfort in. It was at this point Google became my friend. I wanted to take some of the healthy ingredients to emulate the foods I normally enjoyed. One search, using the term “raw food and recipes,” brought up thousands of links to information on the living food lifestyle. This led to a new manageable twist on eating fresh fruits and veggies. Chance, fate, just being at the end of my wits, led me to the raw food diet!

2. How has eating raw food changed you (physically, mentally, and spiritually)?
I lost 72 pounds my first 75 days eating 100% raw, and to date I have maintained being over 100 pounds lighter than my heaviest by enjoying the raw food lifestyle. Raw food changed so much more than just my physical body. Really, my transformation was and continues to be so much deeper than just skin deep. What you take into your body, changes your dynamics. I feel better and I think clearer when eating raw. I am a more patient mother, and I don’t even know how to put this into words, but my energy and vibration levels are higher than ever. Raw food is so empowering to me. Unbeknownst to me, I was an emotional eater for years. Once I truly evaluated my lifestyle choices and really dug deep within myself, I was able to let go and free myself in the process. Raw food changed the direction my life was going. It truly saved my life!

3. What is your favorite raw dessert? What is your favorite entrée?
Ice cream has to be my favorite raw dessert. I swear I ate ice cream two to three times a day when I first went raw. It was an emotional comfort. I did not realize how often I craved sweets and satisfied my emotions by opening the fridge or going to the candy isle at the grocery store. I would make it for breakfast, for snacks, sometimes even for dinner or when I was having a hard time sleeping. It is so quick and versatile, depending upon what you are craving. My freezer is always full of a wide variety of frozen fruits. I buy bananas by the case just for this reason! And of course my seven-year-old could eat a dozen a day all by himself! I really like making my Raw Peanut Butter Cup Shake recipe. You combine 2-3 frozen bananas, 2-3 tablespoons raw almond butter or about ½ cup fresh almonds, and 2-3 tablespoons raw chocolate spread. (This varies depending on the chocolate recipes I have made and what I have left over. If I do not have any chocolate sauces put together, I use cacao nibs.) Blend it all together, and then sprinkle more chocolate or cacao nibs on top! It is a visual and texture thing for me. I always asked for extra Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in my shakes at the drive-thru! I can mix this up in about a minute and get a quick chocolate fix!

My favorite entrée is a different story. Not one meal in particular comes to mind. It really depends on my mood and what I am craving. I peruse through my cookbook collection or on Google to satisfy the meal I am craving with a “raw vegan recipe”! I saw a post on Facebook for your pizza one night, and that is how I ran across your awesome blog! I really like your taco recipe. It is so quick to put together and definitely satisfies the taste buds!

4. What percentage of raw food do you find works best for you? (Some people eat 50%, 75%, 100%, etc).
Honestly, I am an all or nothing girl. I hate to admit it, but it is true. Being an emotional eater, it is like giving an addict one drink. I do best when eating 100% raw. It is the most empowering. What I have noticed over the years is all it takes is one taste. One salad smothered in normal ranch dressing and I am back to my old habits, temporarily. I continually strive to overcome this. And every so often, I tend to go a couple weeks eating many non-raw items. It reiterates my desire to be raw and want to feel good. In those moments, I lose control. With the mindset that I already ate one thing that was not raw, why not enjoy dinner as well, and tomorrow I will start raw again. Well, tomorrow would not come, and it just spiraled from there and would leave me feeling drained and sick. The biggest things I realized when eating my old normal way, was that I wanted to keep eating even though I was full. My body would crave the nutrients and enzymes that were lacking in the cooked and processed foods. I would eat something, and my body would only get a small percentage of the benefits it would get when raw, so it would signal to me to keep eating. Not because I was still hungry, but because it wanted and needed certain nutrients.

5. How was the idea to create a raw food magazine first conceived?

Going raw changed my life. It made me look at things differently, it made me step out of my comfort zone and take a chance. It helped me be in tune with my intuition and change what I was doing. A month and a half after doing my 21 Day Cleanse and starting on my 100 Day Raw Challenge, I decided to act on intuition and start taking classes at a photography school. As part of the curriculum, I needed to take a graphic design class. For our final, we had to design a cover and three-page spread for a magazine. To top it off, each student got to pick their topic of choice. I was very passionate about raw foods and decided to choose raw food as the topic for my “mock” magazine. I got an “A” on my final, and I was very inspired by the idea of doing a magazine and being able to provide a platform to share with and inspire others. It was my way of showing my appreciation to the universe for my own personal transformation, and I wanted to share that knowledge with everyone I could. So, I just did it! I got a team together, coordinated with many inspiring individuals worldwide, and we put together the premiere issue of Super Raw Life. I encourage you to act on inspiration. When you have an idea, don’t let fear hold you back. Especially if it is something that you are passionate about! Going into our second year, Super Raw Life Magazine is getting ready to launch its fifth issue and we have subscribers in over 100 countries!

6. When you first began eating a raw food diet, how did your friends and family respond, and how did you deal with any negative feedback?
Well, many thought I was crazy. First, I called off a wedding a few weeks before it was to occur, and then I decided to eat all raw! But then they saw the pounds start to melt away, naturally, radiantly. I was beaming! There are so many myths about the way things are suppose to be and the guidelines for a normal life and eating style. When you take the time and chance to do something differently, others will respond—both positively and negatively. The response that stands out in my mind the most referred not to my actions against myself, but my actions affecting my children, as if I would be neglecting them by not giving them milk, eggs, and cheese. With the knowledge I have now, any future children I am blessed with, I will raise them on a living foods lifestyle. My 100 days were for me. I never pushed it on my kids. I offered, and I shared, but I did not require it. The boys associated what Mom was doing with being bad. Raw is bad. At first I was sick, I was detoxing, and I was going through food withdrawals. They thought that whatever mom was eating must be bad. This gave them a dislike right up front for raw foods. If Mom is eating it, we don’t want it. Over the years, things have changed. My seven-year-old loves raw food. He chooses raw over normal more often than not. His body knows what it wants and needs. He had the hardest time with raw cereals at first, but then he grew to love them. A few months into only eating raw cereal, I found a box of Raisin Oat Bran in the back of the cupboard. Knowing this was his favorite, as a surprise I poured him a bowl. When he came out to the table he energetically sat down, then he looked into his bowl, and his facial expression changed. He took his spoon and sloshed it around through the cereal, and then he looked up and said, “I didn’t want this kind!” My jaw internally dropped, as I asked him what kind he wanted. He said, “The kind we normally have!” So, I dumped the Raisin Oat Bran down the drain and gave him a bowl of raw homemade granola! He finished off the bowl and asked for a raw smoothie after! Live your life by example. The energy is contagious!

7. What are your hobbies outside of the raw food world?
My seven-year-old loves to play wheelchair tag after getting done with his homework each day, and I have to admit that I really enjoy doing this as well. It is a fun family activity. I love to hike, explore hot springs, hula hoop, sing in the shower, garden, and doodle. (I am an avid doodler of ideas. I graphed out gardens as a young child, and I graph them out now as well!) I learned to drive a tractor recently, so I’ve been helping out friends and neighbors with digging projects. I love to travel. I love to learn new things. I am a dreamer, and I love to laugh. I also forgot how much I loved volleyball, until I played on the Mom team at the school the other day. What a blast! And the rolls as you dive for the ball… just like riding a bike. It all comes back to you!

Vegan Sugar Cookies and Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T23:55:00.001-05:00

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas this year. I had a very nice Christmas. I was lucky to spend it with my wonderful family and my amazing boyfriend. We drove through a beautiful light show last night at a local college, opened some presents this morning, ate lunch with family, and played some board games this afternoon. I was very excited to get a four tray Excalibur dehydrator. I am ready to continue experimenting with bread and cracker recipes.

A good friend of mine suggested that we sew our own Christmas stockings this year. The above stocking is the result of my hand sewn stocking. I must say I was proud of it. The sugar cookies above were delicious. I have never made home made vegan sugar cookies before so I found a recipe online (check it out here) and they turned out great. I did hear Santa was planning to go on a diet so I left him some of these cookies with almond milk to wash them down. He didn't leave a crumb so I think he liked them.

On the menu for last nights dinner was black bean burgers (recipe here), home made baked fries (recipe), and broccoli casserole (a new creation). The broccoli casserole was delicious but I did not get a chance to snap a picture of it. I will share the broccoli casserole recipe with everyone tonight. Then, I have to hit the sack. This girl is tired! Did you try any new holiday recipes?

Broccoli Casserole:

3 heads of broccoli
one cup of basmati rice
1 cup of almond milk
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 onion diced
1 cup cashews
1/2 cup of water
1 lemon

Directions: In a pot lightly steam the broccoli until cooked. Cook the basmati rice (we use a rice cooker to make it). In a food processor blend the cashews until creamy with 1/2 cup of water. Set the oven to 350 degrees. Once the rice and broccoli are done cooking, put them into a casserole dish and add the creamy cashews, almond milk, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, diced onions and lemon. Mix this up and bake it in the over for 30 minutes. Enjoy the creamy casserole dish with friends and family! Enjoy!

Mint Chocolate Parfait and My Top Five Christmas Wish List

2011-12-16T18:27:00.000-05:00

Once again, avocados come to the rescue providing a delicious and healthy mid day snack. I whipped up a parfait this afternoon when I needed a quick pick me up. The recipe is quick and simple and just requires the use of an everyday blender. While you chew on that, I decided to share my top ten list of Christmas gifts for 2012. Hopefully, Santa is reading this because I have been a very good girl this year. Don't worry, Santa, I promise to leave some cookies for you this year that are so good, you won't even know that they are vegan and fairly good for you.

My Top Ten Christmas Wish List:

1. Excalibur Dehydrator - For the past couple of years I have been using a nesco dehydrator to make delicious granola, crackers, cookies, etc. However, this summer my dehydrator finally gave out on me and I had to get rid of it. I did like the nesco because it was very affordable (around $30 for a used one), and it dried food evenly. One of the reasons I didn't like it was because it had a big hole in the middle and each time I used it I had to cut a donut shape from parchment paper for each tray. This year I am hoping Santa brings me a 4 tray Excalibur dehydrator with Teflon sheets. I know a number of people who have had their Excalibur for years now and recommend it highly. I wanted the 4 tray version because I just want something small that will fit well in the kitchen. It would also be nice to start making raw treats again!

2. Pacifica Perfume - I first discovered this brand of body products at whole foods. Pacifica products are made without: Animal testing, animal bi-products, phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, GMOs, mineral oil, peanut oil and triclosan. All Pacifica products are cruelty-free and vegan. My personal favorite scent is the Brazilian Mango Grapefruit. I really like the perfume bottle and it smells wonderful!

3. Kiss My Face - I love their lip glosses and lip tints. Right now they have a Holiday sale offering 25 % off of their products with the code Holiday25 at checkout. Their body products will make great stocking stuffers.
4. Vegan Cook Books - My top three vegan books that I would like are: Color Me Vegan, Baby Cakes, and the Flying Apron. I have checked all of these books out at the library and fell in love with them. Baby Cakes and the Flying Apron are great vegan baking books that use a lot of healthy ingredients in the recipes.
5. Organic Clothing - I like to wear organic clothing. It feels better on my skin and is supports a healthy environment. I really like this store on etsy that sells organic lingerie.

Chocolate Mint Pudding:
3 avocados
1 bunch of mint
1 cup of honey
1/2 cup of water
1/4 cup of chocolate powder

Directions: In a blender add 1/4 cup of water, bunch of mint, 1 avocado, 1/2 cup of honey, and blend until creamy and smooth. Take it out and put it into a bowl. Next, in the blender add 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup of chocolate powder, 1 avocado, 1/2 cup of honey, and blend until creamy and smooth. Make fun layers with the two flavors. Dig in and enjoy! What is on your wish list this Christmas?