Great weekend so far!

Well, I’m so pleased right now. I have had an absolute fabulous and fun raw day today so far. I attended my very first raw food class today. It was Kristine Suzanne’s Raw Chocolate Class, held at Whole Foods, in Scottsdale, AZ, and it was absolutely great! I met some very nice people there, and enjoyed a great class.

Kristine is so adorable, and even cuter and bubblier in person. She does a great job with teaching the class, and making it fun and interesting! Plus, we got to meet her mom, who was definitely a special treat herself. She was great fun, helpful, and has great personality. They were truly a wonderful and beautiful Mom and Daughter pair!!!

We learned how to make about 11 recipes, plus an additional bonus recipe all to take home. And the sampling was absolutely out of this freaken’ world! I mean, the raw chocolate recipes really RAWKED!!! My mouth was watering so much, I wanted more, more, more…in fact, I couldn’t wait to get home and start making one of the recipes – that I started just now. I’m making the "Chocolate Chia Crackers". I would love to share the recipe she gave us, but you’ll have to wait for her special E-book coming out real soon! Believe me, the chocolate recipes are well worth it, so stay tuned, and check Kristine’s blog from time to time, so you can get your copy of the E-book, other recipes from her site, and all the great raw tips and tricks she has to offer. And if you ever get the chance, definitely take at least one of her classes! It’s great fun! I definitely plan to do this again real soon!!!

Speaking of Kristine, her June 30, 2008 blog posting, “How To Make Raw Food EASY!” is great reference material. She always has the best tips on how to keep it raw and simple, and delicious! I printed this one out to keep as a nice reminder that when I get too busy and feel tempted to give-in to unhealthy choices, I don’t have to – no excuses!

Oh, I have to write this, just in case. One of the young ladies I met at Kristine’s class was telling me how much she liked the Lydia’s Organics crackers. I told her I didn’t much care for them, because of the few I tried. But I decided to give them another try, so I purchased the Luna Nori flavored crackers – and boy were they ever good. I take back what I said!...lol…

Just had to update you…while writing this blog, I took a break and placed my “Chocolate Chia Crackers” in the dehydrator, and then whipped up a batch of Kristine’s “Romantic Raw Chocolates” –which we also learned how to make today. Yum-yum! More to come…

More great food from the Sunny Raw Kitchen
Well, Carmella has done it again! She just published her second raw E-Book called, 'The Best of Raw Freedom Community' This book is packed with all the best recipes that Carmella and friends of the Raw Freedom Community have shared over time! I recommend you add it to your collection if you haven’t all ready!

Tried Tasted Served
There’s a great new raw blog out there in cyberspace, packed with super good raw information on raw food, "Tried Tasted Served". The pictures, layout, writing, and information is very classy, and it’s packed with resources and more…a few blogs ago I wrote about how I purchased an E-Book called ‘Chop to Impress’. A perfectly raw and simple way to eat delicious raw food, without a lot of work – very nicely done too.

This weekend is making up for a long and hectic week past…

I’m amazed I kept up with my exercise this week, since it’s been so gosh darned hectic! As you know my son and I have been going to the rec center at least 2-3 times a week. We have made it to two full yoga classes, and had a kick-ass workout in yoga this past Wednesday. Although I’ve been super busy at work, and pretty busy when I get home, and getting to bed pretty late every night, we still managed to make it to the rec center last night. And boy I’m glad we did! I didn’t have a lot of energy, cause I missed lunch at work, but I had a banana before we left and felt fine. We definitely worked up a sweat, and hit the weights hard. When we got home I made us a nice green and tropical smoothie – just the way my son wanted. Then I attempted to read my "Raw Magic" book, but fell asleep.

During the week, I have managed to make some type of delicious and nutritious green smoothie for myself and my family every single night. This has helped my family cut back on the amount of S.A.D.food they have for dinner, and it’s been easier for me as far as prep time and cleanup! I did take some pics, but not a lot. So to close, I will share another yummy smoothie I made this week…hope you enjoy it! Till next time…

Southern Green Peach Smoothie
3 medium yellow peaches
1 medium banana
1 big handful baby romaine lettuce
1 big handful spinach
1 cup red and green grapes
1 cup mango chunks (fresh or frozen)
1 handful goji berries
1 scoop raw protein
1 scoop MSM
1 T raw honey
1 tsp bee pollen
Dash ground cinnamon
Purified water and ice cubes to cover

Place all ingredients in a blender and puree on high until smooth and creamy! Yum-yum!

Peace! :)

Doing the body good...

My son Brad and I have made it to the Recreation Center 7 times over a two and a half week period. We have also made it to two full hours of yoga over a two week period, plus I went an additional ½ hour the first week we started. We go Monday, Wednesday, and then again on Friday. Each time we go, we walk at least 1.25 miles around the indoor track, lift weights (resistance equipment), and also complete stretches. This past Monday, we actually walked over two miles before hitting the weights. This is only because my son was a little embarrassed to go into the weight room area when people who knew from school were there. Teenagers are so funny! But hey, it was a great extra workout for us, so it was well worth it!

On Wednesday is when we take the yoga class. It’s actually a yoga fitness class, so it’s harder, and definitely gets the heart rate going. It’s a great class because we work hard, and then we cool down to such a relaxed and focused state…its wonderful! We really love it so far. I love it so far! I’m thinking about purchasing my own yoga mat, so I don’t have to keep using the rec center’s mats.

Not only have I been going to the rec center to workout, but I’ve also been riding the recumbent bike at home still. I do this on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and occasionally on the weekends too. Yesterday was the best bike ride I’ve had in weeks. I was very happy about that! Oh, I even go swimming at least once or twice on the weekends – just to keep that heart rate up, stretch those limbs, and enjoy the refreshing water, and soak up the sun! Fun, fun!

I feel like I've really been doing the body good! :)

I’ve been using the heck out of my new juicer, and loving every minute of it. I’ll make yummy juices, and then turn them into yummy smoothies! Very cool! I haven’t done much dehydrating, except for some spicy corn chips and creamy spicy ice cream that has already been gobbled up by my family and me. But for the most part I’ve been spending most of my time working, exercising, making juices and smoothies, and reading my raw books. I’m really hooked on “Raw Magic” by Kate “Magic” Wood. This book is so cool! I can’t even describe it in words. The first part of the book digs deep into super foods and all that it is…I actually purchased several recommended items because of this book. I’ve gotten my purple corn extract, now I’m waiting for some other “oddities” that are very good for you. I plan to make her recipe for Cake Mates. It looks absolutely devine!

There are lots of original and creative, and delicious recipes in the book too! But right now I’m stuck on the information part of it first. Kate provides web links to resources for a lot of the things she writes about in her book. So I research them as I read along. It’s actually a great marketing tool…lol…Another great feature about Raw Magic is the wonderful layout of the book, the shiny smooth pages and cover, and the terrifically cool photos that are in the book. I believe Shazzie, of “Naked Chocolate: The Astonishing Truth About the World's Greatest Food” fame, is the one that took the pictures. It really is a cool book! This is the one I purchased online directly from Kate’s website in the UK, and had her sign it. She’s a celebrity in my eyes!

I consider many of the raw foodies in cyberspace, “raw celebrities!” In fact, this weekend I’ll be seeing another one, right here in Arizona – “Kristine Suzanne”, I can’t wait! This Saturday, July 12th, will be the first raw food preparation class I have ever taken, and it’s with Kristine Suzanne. She is teaching a raw chocolate class at Whole Foods. I know it’s going to be great!

Well, it’s getting late, and I really need to get ready for bed. So, I’ll close with a simple yet yummy smoothie. Here it is:

Papaya-Mango Green Smoothie:

1 medium papaya
1 fresh mango
1 cup frozen organic mango chunks
2 big handfuls spinach
1 handful parsley
Coconut water and ice to cover

Place all ingredients in the blender, and puree until smooth and creamy. This smoothie is easy, filling, and very refreshing!

This week’s blog

Well, I’ve been enjoying my new collection of raw books. I try to read a few pages in each one. Some of the books truly grab my attention with the information they have to offer. While others are just beautiful to look at, with all the fabulous and delicious looking recipes – I can’t wait to try them!

My son Brad and I did make it to the Recreation Center three times over the week. We went Monday, Wednesday, and then again on Friday. We had planned to go today, but were actually a little tired from staying up late last night. Each time we went we walked at least 1.25 miles around the track, lifted weights (resistance equipment), and also completed stretches. On Wednesday I took my first yoga class. It was yoga fitness – and it was hard. I was able to hang in there for the first half hour, but then had to stop. My back started to hurt, so that’s a sign I’m over doing it. However, I did go and do stretches, and walk a bit more around the track, since I couldn’t finish the class.

Not only did I work out with my son those three days, I also rode the recumbent bike at home on Tuesday and Thursday, and then again on Friday after we returned home from the Rec Center. That’s a lot for me too. I even went swimming for a bit yesterday. I had planned to go today, but I have been busy writing and researching. Who knows, maybe I’ll go later in the afternoon…we’ll see.

I finally got paid for the art job I did a couple of months ago – perfect timing too! I need it to pay for my son’s marching band camp and uniform this month. School is just around the corner again! Boy does time ever go so fast! Anyway, I used some of the money to purchase my new juicer. I decided on Jack LaLanne's JFPJ-B Power Juicer Juicing Machine. It’s great! Now I can start planning to do a “juice feast”…I hope. I’m still trying to psyche myself out to do it. I don’t know what’s really holding me back. I practically do nothing but drink my meals anyway on a daily basis.

I have to tell you, I’ve been a little discouraged this week. Even though I don’t feel or look like I have – I have gained back at least 5 of my lost pounds. I’m so bummed. I can’t help but think it’s caused from the few cheats I have succumbed to over the past couple of months. Even though I don’t cave-in regularly – I must do so enough to warrant the weight gain. I really need to watch myself. Then I think that maybe it’s from working out more lately or from hormones lately. Regardless, I need to watch myself. I also know I have been eating a few more raw bars than usual. I need to cut back on that too. That’s a lot of nuts and good fats...I may have to start my daily raw food journal again to keep better track of my eating behaviors.

I can’t wait for July 12th. I’m taking my first raw food preparation class. I have signed up for Kristine Suzanne’s raw chocolate class at Whole Foods. I know it’s going to be a blast! Plus Kristine is a very warm and personable individual. I can’t wait to meet her in person!

Although I’m not posting a smoothie recipe today, I am posting a very simple, colorful, and flavorful juice recipe that I made in my new juicer; and, I’m posting a yummy mocha dessert. So enjoy!

Orange, Carrot, Ginger Juice:

4-5 large oranges (peeled and cut)
3-4 medium carrots (tailed and leaves removed)
1 inch knob of fresh ginger

Place all ingredients in the juicer, and juice away! This juice is very colorful, and refreshing. Try it over ice, or in a smoothie, or at juicer temperature…it’s all good!

Cacao-Nut Cupcakes with Mocha-Coco Pudding Topping:

For cupcakes:
2 cups raw almonds
1 ½ cups pitted dates
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ - ½ cup organic dried coconut flakes
1 scoop raw cacao powder (approximately 2-3 T)

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until combine. Press mixture into cupcake molds. Refrigerate up to one hour before serving with topping.

For pudding topping:
Flesh from 2 young Thai coconuts
2 scoops cacao powder (approximately 4-5 T)
1 scoop mesquite powder (approximately 2-3 T)
1 scoop lucuma powder (approximately 2-3 T)
3 T agave nectar
1 dropper chocolate flavored SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia
2 tsp organic coffee extract
1 T cold pressed coconut oil
dash organic ground cinnamon
¼ - ½ cup or more fresh Thai coconut water

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Mix well until silky smooth. Serve as pudding or topping on a raw cupcake, such as the Cacao-Nut Cupcake. Very yummo!

Well, that’s it for today. I’ll have to find some more time later in the week to tell you more about the books I’ve been reading.

Until next time! Peace!

- Debbie :)