Healthy Simple Living

Raw Tomato, Macadamia Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tart

lilla — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:24:34 +0000

I catered a lunch to be filmed for InStyle Magazine TV yesterday. As I brought out dessert, the film crew turned the camera on me and the interviewer asked me about the dishes I created. I froze and barely whispered what they were – LOL. It’s for Korean TV, so hopefully I’ll be dubbed.

I made an all-raw lunch of Zucchini with Walnut Basil Pesto; Heirloom Tomato & Herb Salad; Raw Tomato, Macadamia Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tarts; and Blueberry Cobbler with Cashew Whipped Cream. Unfortunately, I only had a chance to take a photo of the Tarts.

Raw Tomato, Macadamia Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tart

This recipe is inspired the Raw Chef, Russell James except I tweaked the crust recipe and made caramelized onions instead of fennel. Soooo yummy, if I do say so myself. You can find free raw food recipes and videos on his blog.

The Raw Food World Anniversary Sale!

lilla — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:05:19 +0000

My favorite source and affiliate for all things raw, The Raw Food World, is having a HUGE sale until next Wednesday June 30, 2010. A whopping 14% off of ALL orders with the coupon code ANNIVERSARY14 to celebrate Matt and Angela’s one year anniversary – YAY!

The first thing on my shopping list is the Living Tree Community Tahini. This is truly the BEST tahini I’ve ever tasted! Last week in a pinch, I bought Joyva tahini in the tin can at Whole Foods. Blech! Living Tree is sooooo much better by FAR. I think I’ll also buy the sunflower lecithin to replace the soy lecithin in my raw whipped cream recipe. Has anyone used the sunflower lecithin?

Besides the huge 14% off sale, Matt & Angela decided to give away ALL of the radio interviews they did this past year with nine remarkable beings: David Wolfe, Shazzie, Gabriel Cousens, Victoria Boutenko, Daniel Vitalis, Paul Nison, Jameth Sheridan, Leonid Sharashkin and Elena Tonetti-Vladirimova. You can access the interviews for FREE from their website – just click on the Raw Food World RADIO SHOW tab at the top of their website.

And last but not least, check out Matt’s video audition and vote for him to get his own TV Show on Oprah’s Network. Good luck, Matt! :)

Coconut Chip Winner!

lilla — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:35:30 +0000

Yay! We have a winner of a gallon pail of the best organic coconut chips ever! The winner is Kristen who plans on making granola with her chunky coco chips. Awesome, Kristen! And thank you everyone for entering and for your wonderful comments!

My Water Spring

lilla — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:02:30 +0000

I was so excited when I found a water spring a few miles from my home at Holy Face Monastery in Clifton. I contacted the state to try to get information on it, but no luck. After hauling 8 gallons back home, I took out my tds meter (forgot to bring it with me) and the reading was 320ppm!!! I was shocked! Then I tested my tap water and it’s 110ppm. From what I understand that means one part contaminant per million parts water and the higher the number, the more contaminated the water? So the spring water is nearly 3xs worse than my tap water. I’m not sure, but now I don’t even want to give it to my plants, let alone drink it myself!

The next closest spring that I know of is about an hour drive away from me. Hope to get there soon. Read about raw living spring water on Daniel Vitalis’ website and why it’s so important to drink clean pure water. Also check out FindASpring.com for springs all around the world. This is a great site developed by Daniel Vitalis, Heidi & J.S. Olander. If you find or know of a fresh water spring, you can contribute to the database too.

Giveaway: Big Fat Organic Coconut Chips!

lilla — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:41:05 +0000

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!

Big fat coconut chips! I love ‘em because they’re so versatile. I can use them in an impromptu trail mix with nuts and goji berries (shreds and flakes are too small to grab by the handful); add them on top of a yummy dessert like coconut cream pie to make it look STUNNING; or pulse them down finer, if I need smaller flakes or even coconut flour in a jiffy.

One of my fave quickie desserts is to melt a couple tablespoons of coconut oil, stir in cacao, maca, mesquite and lucuma powder until smooth, pour into mini-cup mold and top with big chunks of coconut chips. Pop it in the freezer and voila! Low-sugar, super-easy, coconut-cacao, bite-size treats.

"Mini Coconut Chip Cacao Cup"

If you read my blog regularly, then you know I’m partial to Tropical Tradition’s products and coco chips are no exception. They’re organic, unsweetened and contain no sulfites – just PURE coconut. And this month, Tropical Traditions has generously offered to gift one of my blog readers with a whopping 1 gallon pail of organic coconut chips! I mean this tub is HUGE!

"Gallon Bucket of Coconut Chips!"

Win Tropical Traditions Coconut Chips!

You can enter as many times as you wish by doing any of the steps below. Please write a new comment for each entry and remember to fill in your e-mail address so I know how to contact you if you win! Winning post will be chosen via Random.org.

1. Sign up for the Tropical Traditions newsletter.
2. Share this post on Facebook.
3. Save & share this post to Digg, StumbleUpon or your fave bookmarker!
4. Copy & re-tweet this line: FREE Organic Coconut Chips @ http://tinyurl.com/cocochip #giveaway #freebies
5. Write me a comment on how you will use the coconut chips if you win.

RULES: Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Giveaway will run from May 25, 2010 through June 7, 2010. Please be sure to fill in your email address with your comment so I can contact you if you win. If I can not reach the winner, a new one will be chosen. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me with their mailing info. If they do not reach me in that timeframe a new winner will be chosen. Prize will be shipped directly from the sponsor.

"Free Virgin Coconut Oil Book"

Free Virgin Coconut Oil Book!

Once you visit the Tropical Traditions website, I’m sure you’ll see a bunch of things you’ll want to buy. If this is your first order, you can get a complimentary copy of their Virgin Coconut Oil book! It has 85 foundational recipes, gluten-free coconut flour recipes and 100 personal stories from people using Virgin Coconut Oil and how it’s changed their lives.

To get the book with your first order, there is a place to choose “How did you hear of us?” when you fill in your account information. In the drop-down menu, choose “Referred by a friend” and type in this code for a FREE copy of the Virgin Coconut Oil book: 6132311.

HOT TIP! Check out the Tropical Traditions Healthy Buyer’s Club for discounts on bulk orders. If the minimum bulk order is too large for you alone, ask friends if they are interested in placing an order with you. That way you can take advantage of the great prices. And remember, coconut is VERY shelf-stable. I just ordered a GALLON of coconut oil just for moi! Between using it for cooking, as a moisturizer and conditioner, I go through it – no prob!

DISCLOSURE: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product, and I was under no obligation to review it or write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. I am not being paid to share their products with my readers. Instead, I am sharing them because I like them and you!

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