Just released, Raw-Riffic Food’s 101 Super-Charged Juices, Shakes & Smoothies, more than just a raw recipe book – e-book now available!

Over 80 pages of “raw” content – this book is packed with information on super foods, the raw food diet, tips, resources, and 101 fun, delicious, and healthy raw drink recipes!

Gilbert, AZ October 12, 2008 – Raw-Riffic Food presents it’s first self-published e-book for immediate release, “Raw-Riffic Food’s 101 Super-Charged Juices, Shakes & Smoothies, more than just a raw recipe book.” This book is colorful and complete with incredibly fresh and tasty, healthy drinks – everything from nut mylk shakes, to frothy juices, to green malts, and raw mochas. These super-charged recipes are backed-up with information and resources on raw super foods, and great tips for making them, and creating your own raw super-charged concoctions!

"Green smoothies never tasted better!" said Brad Marsh, my 14-year old son. “Transitioning to a raw food diet can be fun and delicious, get your super-charged raw smoothie e-book copy today!”

If you are interested in making a change to a raw food lifestyle, or just now making the transition – maybe you already live the raw food lifestyle and want to spice up your smoothies. If so, this book is for you! At $14.95, what better way to enjoy raw smoothies!

About Raw-Riffic Food:

The Raw-Riffic Food Site was created to share my experience, information, resources, and recipes so that others too can share in the wonderful health benefits and well-being through a high raw food vegan diet. This e-book, “Raw-Riffic Food’s 101 Super-Charged Juices, Shakes & Smoothies, more than just a raw recipe book,” is my first raw book to date, and the first in a series of raw food recipe books to be released in the near future.

All products, information, resources, and content both in the “Raw-Riffic Food’s 101 Super-Charged Juices, Shakes & Smoothies, more than just a raw recipe book,” e-book, and on the Raw-Riffic Food Site are strictly intended for opinionated informational and recreational purposes only – and not intended to be taken as medical advice, or to dictate lifestyle changes as it relates to one’s health and well-being. Always consult a medical professional and an expert nutritionist before considering any changes to a diet lifestyle.

Contact:
Deborah Marsh
Raw-Riffic Food
myrawlife@cox.net
http://rawrifficfood.com

###

Once again, it's been a while

I realize it’s been a long while again since I blogged. All I can say is the usual, “I’ve been super busy with this and that!” And I have! I just feel silly using the same excuse over and over again. Anyway, to get started, I thought I’d share a couple of things with you. First off, on August 14th, I celebrated my one year anniversary of changing to a high raw food diet! Yippee! Secondly, I’m proud to say, that since I joined the Raw Fu 100-day Raw Fu Challenge, I have been consistently 95-98.9% raw the entire 30 days so far…with only one day of falling off the wagon (back in the beginning). I paid dearly for that day with major stomach sickness…I’ve been too scared to screw up again (lol)!

Seriously though, when your body finally adapts to a new way of living, it’s very hard on it to change back. And truthfully, when you see how you feel and glow, why would you want to go back. Memories are great…but you can make new memories with this new way of living and being.

Plus over the past few months my family has been enjoying more and more drinking green smoothies with me on a daily basis, and eating healthier all the time. It’s fabulous!

I’ve kept up with the exercise and yoga, even with my super busy schedule. I really love yoga; I think it’s truly making a difference for me. Even with my chronic back issues, I feel better and better, and I haven’t had to have any pain meds. In fact, I’ve only had about 2 pain meds over the past 2-3 months. Again, to me, it’s a miracle. Those times when I feel physically hurt by my back, I’m able to work through with a lot more ease, and no “drugs.” It’s major, I mean really major for me! I’m a completely different person than I was a couple of years ago. The other great thing is I have more energy, and drive then I have had in a long time. I’ve always been a peppy person, but I was becoming sluggish…Now I feel younger than I did a few years ago. I feel “high” sometimes, but I don’t need alcohol or food stimulants to make me feel that way. I know it’s the green juice!!! I mean it!

Green Juices and Green Smoothies is where it’s at! If you want to feel great, if you want to feel charged, if you want to feel euphoric, you need to DRINK YOUR GREENS!!! Even my husband and son have noticed a considerable change in their own health since they have been drinking their daily greens! My husband’s favorite green smoothie tastes like a malt to him. The smoothie consists of spinach, dark cherries, mango, hemp seeds, Green SuperFood powder (or you could use Chlorella or Spirulina), a little dried coconut, bee pollen, raw protein powder, Goji berries, banana, peppermint flavored liquid SweetLeaf Stevia, water and ice. Sometimes we add kale or parsley to it too. The darker the greens and the more cherries, the yummier!!! He loves it! My favorite is still the simple green romaine or spinach, with parsley and mango…Sometimes I’ll throw in a banana too to make it thicker!

I’m still creating recipes here and there, and experimenting with existing ones. I also have been reading quite a bit…several books at one time as always. Someday soon (when I have more time) I’ll write some more reviews on the books I’ve been reading. Well, I just thought I’d check in and say “Hi” to everyone, and let you know I’m still around. I recommend that you check out the Raw Fu site if you haven’t already, also visit Raw Food Right Now – lots of great new things happening over there! And, drop a line sometime.

Before I go, here are a couple of recipes I wanted to share with you. Enjoy!

My Miso Soup:
Base:
hemp seeds, miso paste, raw almond mylk, Nama Shoyu, ginger, sea salt, cayenne, chili pepper flakes, cold pressed sesame oil, purified water.

Add-ins:
Mushrooms, spinach, red bell pepper, raw corn kernels, green onions, minced garlic, parsley, and dulse flakes

...it was very yummy! I think you could even add slices of avocado if you wanted.



Portobello Sandwich:
Relish: raw corn kernels from one cob, 1/2 a red bell pepper finely chopped, 1/2 a zucchini finely chopped, and 1 avocado peeled, stoned and finely chopped. (Blended all the ingredients, and added a touch of sea salt, and garlic powder)

Prepare Portobello by scraping and washing it clean, and then add to the dehydrator for about 1 hour - it's still firm, but a little tenderer.

Spread your favorite raw nut cheese over the Romaine lettuce leaves. I used Sunflower nut cheese. Add the mushroom and then a good heaping serving of the relish. Top with slices of tomato, topped with another romaine lettuce leaf with nut spread too.

Very yummy! Enjoy!



Here are some other goodies I’ve “uncooked” up lately! What do you think?



Till next time…keep it raw, and have fun! Peace!

- Debbie

Lots to blog about!

New sites to visit, with E-books to try
I recently discovered this great raw website, The Art of Raw Food and Healthy Living, ”Tried, Tasted, Served”. The site is very elegant, with beautiful photographs, and just packed with information. The site offers several informative E-books, recipes included. So, I chose to purchase “Chop to Impress”. This E-book is all about preparing gourmet style raw food, without using a dehydrator, or any other real fancy equipment. Just basic chopping skills and fresh produce, and spices is all you need. The recipes are incredible! I can’t wait to download the next E-book from this site.

My raw chocolate desires…
I’m not sure if I told you that I recently purchased the book Naked Chocolate: The Astonishing Truth About the World's Greatest Food Being the true choco-holic I am, anything centered around the word chocolate gets my attention!

I love the layout of this book. David and Shazzie have presented a very colorful, informative, and fun view of the history of “chocolate”, and all that it has to offer, both in health, wealth, and well-being. It’s the kind of book you can skip through various chapters if you want, and not get lost. However, I encourage you to read from beginning to end, so you don’t miss a thing. The book also offers some absolutely, out-of-site, tasty raw chocolate recipes you don’t want to miss! There’s nothing boring about this book in the least, and it delivers all the “chocolate” bliss you should expect!

Obviously this book has got me thinking, and dreaming about raw chocolate. I’ve really been craving it lately – but not just any chocolate. I’ve been craving “raw” chocolate (or raw cacao). I’m especially craving raw truffles. So, for the past couple of weeks I have been snacking on Uli Mani’s raw truffles. They are so delicious – I mean really good! You can either buy them online, which is what I originally did months ago. Or, you can buy them at Whole Foods Market. There are several different types to choose from, and all of them are great. My favorite is the Goji Berry truffles, and the Hemp truffles. But, now I’m not so sure, since I tried a new and exciting Mayan truffle – very hot and spicy – but oh so chocolatey!

Since I’ve been on this kick, I have been searching on my own for the perfect raw chocolate truffle recipe, in order to create my own. There are many delicious versions out there, and all are simple to make. So, as I always do, I studied all the varieties, and I’m creating my own as we speak. I’ll let you know how it comes out.

More books to read…
As you may be aware, I have been buying a lot of “raw” books lately. There are so many good ones to choose from, that I have started collecting them. Well, I’m kind of reading about four books at one time. Besides book Naked Chocolate: The Astonishing Truth About the World's Greatest Food, I also purchased Eating For Beauty

I love reading anything that David Wolfe produces, and this book is no exception. The layout and format of David’s works are always pleasing, and interesting. In this book, there are plenty of beautiful pictures, and informative explanations of the various methods of beautifying one’s self through fresh raw foods. There is no doubt that raw food is the ticket to bother inner and outer beauty. It doesn’t take that long to discover this when first transitioning to raw foods from the S.A.D. way of life – and David’s book definitely shows you how. I’ve just begun reading, but there’s no chance for disappointment with this read.

In between reading the two David Wolf books, and Raw Food Life Force Energy: Enter a Totally New Stratosphere of Weight Loss, Beauty, and Health, I’m also reading another new one that I just can’t put down, 12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food.

If you truly want good reading that hits home, and inspires you to make the change from S.A.D. to raw – this is the book to read. Victoria Boutenko’s writing is fantastic. It’s been hard to put this book down. I truly could relate to so much of what she writes about when it came to her family’s experience and the reason for their transition and transformation. Plus she presents great life examples that truly make you think about what it is we are doing to our bodies – it’s incredible!

I want to provide you with some type of summary review, but I’m not ready yet to share my notes. It’s the kind of book, that after you get through all the reading, you want to go back and read it again, just to make serious notes about the information you read, and the steps that you need to take for your own transition and transformation. There’s definitely more for me to write on this one. I’ll get back to you. In the meantime, if you can’t wait for me, then please do, pick up a copy of this book. You won’t be sorry you did!

Plans to take Yoga at the Rec Center
Now that my son Brad had his cast removed from his arm, we have decided to start going to the local Recreation Center three times a week to exercise and take a yoga class. I’m happy to say that the Rec Center is actually offering two types of yoga, once being Kundalini Yoga, which is supposed to be very good for people who suffer with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, like my son and I do. I’m hoping that by going to the Rec Center regularly, the two of us with both get into tip-top shape, and I’m hoping that my son will incorporate more of a raw-food lifestyle too. He already enjoys green and fruit smoothies with me, just as his dad does. I’m just hoping to move him over to a higher percentage of raw. He’s already 14 ½ years old – so healthy living is even more important to help him transition to a healthy adult! And it’s great for me, and he makes good company too. Tomorrow will be our official first time going. Just so you know, I already ride the recumbant bike at home three times a week for at least 20 minutes at full speed. I also do various back and leg exercises, and occasionally some weights. But I could definitely use a lot more “breathing” type exercises, and toning too. This will be a good thing for sure!

Great way to keep your produce fresh!
Have you tried the green produce bags? They really work! The first time I heard about these great bags was from one of the associates at Whole Foods. These bags can save you $$$ on most of your fresh raw produce for up to two weeks or more. At least that’s my experience with them. It’s the greatest invention. Especially if you have to travel far for fresh, organic, raw produce like I do. There are two brands that I know of, which price wise and quality wise seem about the same, Debbie Meyer Green Bags, and Evert-Fresh Green Bags. I’ve used both.

Natural Desert Gels
I have suffered from chronic back problems for many years. Part of my healing is finding other methods of “pain management”, besides taking pain pills. Next to raw foods, massage, exercise and chiropractic methods, I also use a great natural pain relieving gel, produced by Sonoran Desert Lotions - called Natural Muscle Relief. This stuff really works too! I know the manufacturer of this product personally, and I was one of the first people to ever test this product during it’s creation, and I can honestly say it has made all the difference in my back health! And the wonderful thing about these Natural Desert Gels is they are all chemical, Paraben, dye and fragrance free – meaning they are all natural! If you are interested, check out their website at http://www.sonoranbotanicalsllc.com/.

SweetLeaf Sweetener’s, Jim May on local TV
SweetLeaf Sweetener, owner and creator, Jim May was recently on the local NBC network television program, Sonoran Living to talk about the new GRAS approved SweetLeaf Sweetener. The only sweetener made with stevia, a naturally sweet plant that is 30 times sweeter than sugar, calorie-free, zero glycemic index, carb-free, and all-natural, making it the perfect alternative for diabetics, and individuals looking for a healthier sugar substitute. To see the interview, and learn more about this product, visit this Sonoran Living.

Smoothie recipes
Yes, I created a few more yummy smoothies to share. Enjoy!

So Cold and Refresh-een!:
1 ½ cups sliced frozen organic peaches (peeled and stoned)
1 ½ cups sliced frozen organic mango (peeled and stoned)
1 ½ cups dark frozen organic cherries (stemmed and seeded)
2 small bananas (peeled)
1 T hemp seed
1 scoop raw protein
1 scoop Green SuperFood powder
2 cups almond nut mylk (or any other nut mylk desired)
2 handfuls spinach
1/3 cucumber (peeled and cut)
3-4 sprigs mint (chopped fine)
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
plenty of purified ice cubes, and enough purified water to cover.

Place all ingredients in the blender and puree until very smooth and cold. Serves about 2-4 full cold and fresh glasses of green smoothie!



Veggie-Stone Smoothie:
2 celery stalks (cut)
1 handful parsley
1 handful spinach
1 scoop Green SuperFood powder
1 scoop raw protein
1 T raw honey
2 small bananas (peeled)
2 nectarines (stoned and cut)
2 peaches (stoned and cut)
2 cups dark cherries (stemmed and pitted)
½ cup frozen organic mango chunks
8-10 purified ice cubes, and enough purified water to cover

Combine all ingredients in a blender, and puree and mix on high until very smooth and cold. Makes about 4 full glasses.


I also made some other goodies too.


Well, that’s it for today. Hope you enjoyed my blog. Until next time!

Peace!
- Debbie

Looking back over the past year...giving thanks to the Raw Food Community

I remember over a year ago I was tired of feeling bad. One of my coworkers was studying to become a nutritionist and performed a hair analysis on me. Based on the results, I decided to start changing my diet, and stress levels. In the process I started creating recipes that I would enjoy that would cut out a lot of the things that were making me ill, such as refined sugar, artificial sweeteners, gluten, and white flour. I gave ups Starbucks (that was hard, but worth it!), and cut back on my processed chocolate bars. I started using more stevia in my recipes – after all, my company manufacturer’s the best and healthiest quality stevia you can find. One day I decided to make a low bake, low glycemic, and gluten free carob chip cookie.

I came up with my own recipe using stevia and oatmeal that was an absolute hit at work and home. I baked it at a very low temperature, and not for very long, then let it dry in the oven until it was set. These cookies were so good, that I began researching how I could make a raw cookie. Not because I was thinking about going raw, just because I thought it would be healthier for me to eat when I craved “junk food”. I got out my raw book that I purchased years ago, Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life, and started looking for something that would remind me of a chocolate chip cookie – but didn’t really find what I want. So, I went to the internet for answers and came across http://www.goneraw.com/. That’s when I discovered a whole world of delicious and easy raw food recipes to try. So, I was hooked – line and sinker! I began making my own recipes up and posting them on the site. I started researching more about the topic, and began reading my raw cookbook again.

Not to digress, but just need to mention this…it’s funny how things come to you in life. I mean, years ago when I worked in Semiconductor, my coworker bought Raw: The Uncook Book: New Vegetarian Food for Life book. She bought it for the pictures and layout. I mean, it is a spectacular looking book! When I saw it I was so impressed, I purchased my own copy. When I started reading about Juliano, raw food, and how some of the recipes were prepared, I started getting a little interested. I myself have tried vegetarian diets, even vegan diets, so I’m no stranger to eating healthier – just never was disciplined enough. Food always meant so much more to me then just food for health. It was thought provoking, emotional, passionate, exciting, mysterious – dangerous (ha, ha, ha)…just too hard to just not try it all (cooked, uncooked, processed, baked, fried, grilled, chilled…you name it, I wanted to try it!) So, that’s why the book ended up in my kitchen bookshelf with all the other “exotic” cookbooks…Now back to my journey to “RAW”.

One day while at the bookstore, I was looking for raw books, and discovered that Carol Alt was a raw foodist. Well for me that was great, because I knew who she was. I read the preface of her book, The Raw 50: 10 Amazing Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, and Drinks for Your Raw Food Lifestyle, and a little bit about her journey, and decided to buy the book for myself. Wow! Now I was even more impressed by this whole concept of raw foods. So then I started talking about it on myspace.com. That’s when I discovered Heidi and Justin Ohlander. Or should I say that they found me, and invited me into a whole new world and community of fellow raw foodists, and enthusiasts. “Thank you Heidi and Justin!”

That’s when I really started to dive into raw food whole-heartedly. I started looking at YouTube.com clips on Angela Stokes, and Philip McCluskey, and emailing them about how inspiring their stories were. And the cool thing is they are both very special and warm people. They both wrote me back. I thought that was way cool, since I’m sure they get bombarded with “fan” mail…lol.

Instead of watching the Food Network, I found myself watch YouTube.com clips of Karen Knowler, and Ani Phyo preparing the best darned raw food recipes – I tried each one of them for myself!

Anyway, every person I’ve met so far in the raw food community has been wonderful. I can’t wait to meet some of these people in person. I’m especially looking forward to meeting Kristen Suzanne someday, since she lives here in Arizona –and not too far away. Carmella, and Shannon Marie are also terrific gals that I would love to meet someday. There’s so many of these warm and inspiring individuals, it would take pages just to list every single one of them!

As you know, I’m not a purist…maybe some day. Until then, my main focus is to continue to incorporate as much raw food into my diet everyday – over 80% or more. Some days I know, and have, fallen off the wagon – but I still have managed to eat more than 75% a day no matter what. So, that’s not too bad for someone like me who is basically “addicted to food”! Blogging is definitely therapeutic for me, and helps me acknowledge my focus.

I truly appreciate all of you who take the time to read my blogs, and for the supportive comments. I hope that you too benefit from some of what I share. For all of you on this journey to optimum health and well being through raw food – I wish you life long success!


Hey, how ‘bout another smoothie recipe…I know, I’m obsessed lately with creating smoothies!!! Enjoy!

Stone Cold Smoothie:
(I gave it this name because the fruits used in this recipe are considered stone fruits, or drupes - fleshy indehiscent fruit with a single seed).

2 fresh apricots, stoned and cut
2 fresh peaches, stoned and cut
4 fresh plums, stoned and cut
4-6 dates, pitted and chopped
2 small bananas, peeled and chopped
2 handfuls goji berries
2-4 handfuls macadamia nuts
½ - 1 T maca powder
½ - 1 T lucuma powder
1 scoop raw protein
drizzle of agave nectar
lots of fresh purified ice
water to cover (more or less depending upon thickness)

Place all ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth and well blended. Makes about 2-4 full servings. (Recommendation: freeze your fruit, and then add it to your smoothie. It will make it colder and more like a shake; also, replace nuts and water with your favorite nut mylk for a creamier smoothie).

One more...

Carob-Cao Dessert Shake:

1 scoop raw chocolate ice cream
1 scoop raw vanilla ice cream
1-2 scoops raw carob powder
2 small bananas
1 handful raw cacao nibs
drizzle agave nectar
handful goji berries
4-6 purified ice cubes
purified water to cover

Place all ingredients in the blender, and puree until very smooth and creamy. Makes about 2-3 full servings. Yummy-yummo!

Till next time!

- Debbie :0)

"Food Matters" and smoothie recipes

Wow! I just watched the most incredible documentary, "Food Matters". I'm sure you have already heard about it, seen the trailer, or hopefully you've seen it too! I really was impressed by it. It kept my attention the entire time, and I watched it on my computer with a standard sized flat screen (small)...so you know it's good. I can't wait to watch it on our big screen!

Anyway, when I first saw the trailer I knew it had to be good, so I went ahead and bought it. I'm so glad I did. I definately want to encourage everyone I know to watch this. Especially those individuals who are not real familiar or hip on "good nutrition" as it really is. You know, raw fresh foods, nutrients, fresh air, good vibes...and all that. I have a lot of S.A.D. friends and family members that are very near and dear to my heart. They definately need to see this, at least so that they are informed. What they do with the information, obviously, will be there choice.

I took a few notes while watching the documentary. It gives a rough idea of what you will learn about from the film. The documentary talks about "Ortho molecular medicine", in other words "high dosage nutrition therapy". I believe I'm stating that right. The film definately impresses upon the importance of incorporating raw food, raw juices, vitamins, super foods, purified water, clean oxygen (through exercise), and sunshine, to encourage ultimun health and well being, and to protect against disease and chronic illness. It also encourages body cleansing through detoxification, colonics, and enimas to remove the toxins that have built up in our bodies from the way we eat, and from the way our food is preserved.

I liked what David Wolfe said about how weight loss shouldn't be done through our skin (from sweating through exercise, and such). We need to lose the weight through our bowels, because it's safer, and actually easier to pass it through our bowels and out of our cells by doing things such as colonics, juicing, etc. I truly agree with that since the older I get strenuous exercise only hurts me. I love to exercise, but I don't like to hurt. You should be able to exercise without hurting yourself, and still obtain the results you seek. More proof that what you eat does matter!

It talks about the drug and medical industry, and how our society has just gotten so far away from the basics of good health. And how taking charge of your own health by incorporating good nutrition through raw fresh foods and juices, mega doses of vitamins, super foods, water, and exercise, can make it so that health insurance won't have to be such a necessity. Afterall, encompassing raw fresh food, water and exercise, is "cheap, simple, safe and effective." That was also another one of my favorite liens from the documentary. Some of my favorite lines in the film are, "Teach them how to be healthy. Educate them instead of medicating them."

I can't remember the name of the gentleman off hand that talked about high dosages of vitamins for disease control. In fact he's the one that said most of the lines in the documentary that I remembered the most. I'll have to watch again to get his name. Anyway, I learned some things form him that I never knew about. Like the fact that high doses of Vitamin C therapy for removing cancer cells (up to 11,500 mg with no side effects); and that you can use Niacin therapy for depression (3,000 mg or more of Niacin/Vitamin B3, a day). I find it fascinating, since I'm all for natural means first to cure disease and illness, and pharmaceuticals as a last resort.

I'd like to learn more about ortho molecular medicine and how it can relate to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Oesteo Arthritis, and possibly Scleroderma. My son and I, and my husband all suffer from OCD. My son's OCD is severe. My mother suffers from Scleroderma, but has lived 20 years longer than expected (nutrition, environment, stress management had a lot to do with it). Both my husband and I suffer from Oesteo Arthritis, and have severe back damage. Pain management is a very big part of our life. However, I have managed to find other methods besides drugs and exercise to help my pain - massage and chiropractic methods are very big on my list for releaving pain. And now, raw food. "Yes," raw food has definately helped me feel better. Gee, I think I'm slightly digressing here...sorry.

So, the point I'm trying to make is, you need to watch this documentary, "Food Matters". It will well be worth your investment!

Now for some more smoothie recipes...enjoy!

Strawberry Tropic Green Smoothie:

2 peaches, stoned and cut
1 banana, peeled
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 scoop raw vanilla ice cream
1 scoop raw protein
½ cup frozen or fresh mango
2 handfuls spinach
2 handfuls strawberries, stemmed and cut
1 handful sliced raw almonds
enough water to cover
4-6 ice cubes

Place in blender and puree until green and smooth. Makes about 2 full servings.

Thai Coconut Island Green Smoothie:

1 young Thai coconut (meat and water)
2 kiwis ( peeled and cut)
1 ½ - 2 cups mango chunks (fresh or frozen)
½ - 1 slice pineapple (fresh or frozen)
2 small bananas (peeled and cut)
2 handfuls sliced raw almonds
2 handfuls spinach
1 scoop raw protein
Juice from one large orange
4 – 6 purified ice cubes
Purified water (enough to cover ingredients)

Place all ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth and creamy. Makes about 2-4 full servings. This is a very smooth and filling drink.

Tangy Carrot Zinger Slushy:

1 cup carrots (about 2 carrots, peeled, stemmed and chopped)
1-2 slices pineapple rings
Juice from ½ a lemon
1 T raw honey
1 bunch (about 1 cup) stemmed, chopped fresh cilantro
4-6 cubes purified ice
Purified water to cover

Place all ingredients in a blender, and puree until smooth and well blended. The consistency is a like a nutty slushy. Serve over ice or as is. Makes about 1-2 servings.

Sorry, it's the only picture I have to post today. Thanks for reading, and enjoy the smoothies!

Till next time!

- Debbie

The "diet-food" rollercoaster (my story and thoughts)

Recently there have been several articles within the raw food community regarding the diet scams that have been popping up with misleading testimonials. In fact, one of the diet pill companies was actually trying to misuse the “before and after” testimonials of some very well known raw-foodists. It just amazes me what people will do for the almighty buck! But it proves even another point. And that is, “DIET PILLS AND DIETS DON’T WORK!” Because if they did, that company wouldn’t need to lie about the success of it’s product by using other people’s testimonials, and lying to the public about it. It truly amazes me.

Reading about all this made me start thinking about my own self, and how over the years I allowed myself to be so mislead by promises of quick weight loss, and feeling super healthy and energetic. My “diet” life has been one major rollercoaster ride after another!

Have you ever been at a big amusement park, where you paid a lot of money for a thrill ride, waited for at least an hour, only to get on the ride, have a quick thrill, and then it’s over within seconds? It’s great, and it sucks all at the same time. Yet, for whatever crazy reason, you go and you pay, and wait in line again, for those few seconds of euphoric pleasure. Well, that’s kind of how I look at diets – or dieting, so to speak. You see, get hyped up about a great new diet. They say it’s the best, and you hear all the testimonials, and you’re like, “Wow, I need to do that!” So you go and you spend hundreds of dollars, and weeks of your personal time, using the “diet” plan you bought into. At first, you feel that the money and the wait were worth it. Only to discover shortly afterwards, that it was no big deal, and you are right back where you were…and sometimes even more let down.

I know first hand what I’m talking about. For years I have been on that “diet” food, or “diet” pill, or “diet” regime rollercoaster. I spend so much time, money, energy, thinking, “Wow, hey, I’m losing weight.” But then within a few weeks, and only about 5 pounds maybe a little more, the ride stops. The weight stays, and slowly…but surely, it creeps up again. Then, worst off, I feel disappointed, cheated, depressed, and fatigued, and sometimes broke, because I got fooled again by the diet food rollercoaster!

Just to give you an idea of how many “diet-food-park rides” I’ve been on, here’s a little list:

- 5-HTP
- Alli Diet Pills
- Atkins
- Beverly Hills Diet
- BioSlim
- Blood Type
- Caffeine
- Carb blockers
- Chitosan Supplements
- Chromium Supplements
- CLA
- Colon cleanser products (commercial)
- Cortislim
- Counting Calories
- Counting Carbs
- Counting Fat
- Cytolean
- Dexitrim
- Diet Pills Containing Ephedra
- Diet Pills Containing PPA
- Diuretics
- Ephedra
- Fasting (but not the healthy way – basically starving myself is more like it…)
- Glucomannan Supplements
- Green Tea
- Herbalife
- Hoodia Gordonii
- HydroxyCut
- Kellogg’s Special K
- Laxatives
- Lean body meal replacement
- Mega-Thin
- Metabolife
- Nestlé’s Sweet Success
- Noni
- Phen-Phen
- Quickslim30
- Slimfast
- Soup Diet
- South Beach
- Spirulina Supplements
- St. John's Wort Supplements
- Subway
- Susanne Somers Diet
- Tonalin CLA
- TrimSpa X32
- Ultra 90
- Ultra-Slim
- Vegetarian Diet
- Weight loss patches
- Weight loss teas
- Weight Watchers
- Xenadrine without Enphedrine
- Zetacap

I’m sure you get the jest of what I’m getting at. You can see how I probably have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars over the years on this crap; and all the time wasted, and the harm I have caused my body from all that. It just goes to show you, “DIETS DON’T WORK!!!” The only thing that does work is feeding your body “REAL LIVE LIVING FOOD”, CLEANSING IT REGULARLY, getting SUNSHINE, taking OXYGEN (you know, “breathing”), and drinking “PURIFIED WATER”! So, the bottom line, “RAW FOOD” is the ticket! But not for a week, or a few months, or even a few years. It has to be a lifetime commitment to take care of yourself, and live well, eat well! I’m not saying you have to be a purist. I am saying that you have to make conscious effort, and just “live it”! I can promise you, it will make the world of difference. In fact, the next ride you get on will truly be euphoric! And it won’t be costly, it won’t be disappointing, or tiring, or short-lived. It will become the ride of your life!

I’m no raw food coach, or nutritionist, or expert of any kind. For that matter, I’ve only been truly living this way for almost a year. I’ve toyed with it for many years, but never took it seriously. I just know that although, “yes”, I have emotional attachments to food – but truthfully, I only feel my best when I simply eat living food! You just need to get over – I need to get over, the need for eating whatever it is that you, me, we are being subjected to at the time (i.e. television, radio, restaurant drive-bys, the influence of friends and family).

I hope that I never lose sight of my healthful goals, and that I continue to stay focus on what is truly important for good health and physical, and mental well-being…living food is where it’s at! I mean that!

Well I’m done standing on my soapbox for one day. I just had to share that with all of you. I think it’s important to understand what we go through when we get caught up in trying to take shortcuts with our lives. It’s costly, it wastes time (what an oxymoron), its potentially dangerous, and most of all it just doesn’t work.

Raw Site Review: The Raw Table

I recently discovered a great raw food website, http://www.therawtable.com/, which is part of Purely Delicious Magazine - the ultimate living and raw foods magazine. (I probably mentioned it in a previous blog). Anyway, the recipe link has great stuff. I made delicious tropical tacos, super sweet and tasty carrot cakes, and awesome chocolate pudding. I'm telling you, these recipes are fabulous! Easy, and way tasty!!! Check it out for yourself...

Well, that's if for now. Just thought I'd share some "good things" with you all! Peace! :)

Learning about my weaknesses

I know what your probably thinking, why do I get so lax and wait more than a week at a time to write-up my blog, and list my daily raw - well, I can't really answer that, except by saying, "it's a personal problem." You see, I get real focused on something, and give it all I got, only to eventually fall off the wagon for a while, then wonder why I stopped. It worries me too, when I get this way, 'cause I don't want to have that happen with my "raw food" choices in life either. Fortunately, I did make the effort to write down on scrap pieces of paper what I have been eating every day since my last blog, and to write some notes on what I was feeling at the time (but not too much of that).

I decided to start my blog out this way, after reading a very good e-newsletter on the 5-steps for transformation, from Philip McCluskey, of Lovingraw.com. Philip talks about routine, and taking responsibility for one's self and the food choices, and lifestyle choices taken. Those few short paragraphs really hit home. I know my biggest deal is always having to admit that when I fall off the wagon or lose focus, it's all me - all my fault. Sure, I make excuses, and I do believe you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. But truth be told, it's because I got a little lazy, or I chose to take on more than I could truly commit too, and sure enough, I've fallen off the path I truly want to travel. Now don't get me wrong, I haven't fallen off the "raw food" path, but I have fallen off the need to eat better and more healthfully on the raw food diet. I have chosen easy outs, such as raw food bars (not bad for me, but not the best). Fresh juice, salads, and veggies would be a better choice. I do drink at least 1-2 smoothies a day, and try to have at least one green juice, or green salad a day. But then I over kill on the raw treats (i.e. raw cacao, dates, nuts, and so on). Just as I was starting to drop the pounds, I have plateaued again. Why? Because of overeating...overeating good "raw" food. And the more I find myself eating, the more I start to crave those foods that aren't raw and healthy for me. I worried about the temptation! Good news though, I have been exercising at least 3 times a week - and still going strong!

In case you didn't know, many raw-foodies around the globe have been participating in a 92-day global juice feast. I have always admired those individuals that have been successful at completing this great feast task. I have toyed with the concept for many months, but just can't see myself making the full commitment. I do make efforts to drink juice and smoothies on a daily basis, but I do eat other "solid" foods along with that. I recently joined a group on the Global Juice Feast for Modified Juice Feasters, hosted by JS Ohlander, and inspired by Heidi Ohlander's recent juice feast that lasted a little over a month. Heidi worked very hard, and blogged daily, and provided great information and support, but she admitted how hard it was, and how it doesn't necessarily work well for all individuals, and that some juice feasting (or modified juice feasting) is still very beneficial, and should not be taken for granite. So, that's where I feel I've been leaning towards all this time. I just think I need to do more of it. So hopefully I will make more time to cut back on the overall calorie intake, cut down on the amount of raw goodies I eat, and increase the amount of "super" green juice feasts to my daily routine.

My birthday is coming up, and we plan to go to California to celebrate, and to enjoy Spring break as a family. I will confess right now, before it even happens. I plan to take my birthday off, and eat my favorite seafood morsels on the pier, in San Diego, on my birthday. But, I do not plan to eat any "fried" food. I'm planning on steamed and raw fish and crustaceans. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. So, since I have made this declaration, I really need to focus on being a better and healthier raw-foodie, and cut back on all the raw "junk food" as my husband calls it. Oh, just so you know, I do plan to visit some local Cali raw food restaurants while there over the break. I know my family would love it!

Well, that's enough of that for now. Time to list my daily raw for all those days I missed...

2/28/08:

6oz berry smoothie

24oz raw body shake

30oz carrot, grapes, ginger, apple, spinach Juice Feast

2 almond, vanilla snackeroons

1 carob smart monkey bar

1 coconut/chocolate raw vegan bar

5 handfuls of grapes (red and green)

wedge of lemon

thin slice of (my recipe) Brazil nut bread

handful of pecans

tablespoon of my, Debbie's raw chocolate candy, liquified (melted)

lots of water

2/29/08:

6oz berry smoothie
24oz raw body shake

24oz mango, parsley, and romaine lettuce smoothie

1 almond, vanilla snackeroon

1 carob smart monkey bar

1 slice of (my recipe) Brazil nut bread w/pecan butter and raw blueberries with agave and SweetLeaf liquid stevia

2 slices of (my recipe) Brazil nut bread w/eggless salad spread, romaine lettuce, avocado mayo dollop

2 handful of grapes (red and green)

handful of jungle peanuts (very yummy)

1 piece of my, Debbie's chocolate candy

lots and lots and lots of water

3/1/08:

8oz berry smoothie

24oz raw body shake

24oz raw chocolate-banana super-charged nut-shake (Wow! Now that's good!)

1 slice of (my recipe) Brazil nut bread w/almond butter

1/2 cup kale and fig prepared raw salad from Whole Foods

2T cashew and fig raw salad from Whole Foods

1 banana

4 handfuls of grapes (red and green)

1 piece of my, Debbie's raw chocolate candy

3 scoops raw ice cream w/raw chocolate candy melted and hardened, and strawberries on top

1 strawberry

coconut and agave rawvolution bar

3 pieces of Dragon Roll sushi (not raw)

1 carob smart monkey bar

lots of water

3/2/08:

24oz Super-charged berry nut-shake (includes camu, lucuma, maca, and goji berries)

lots of grapes (red and green)

1 slice of my Brazil bread w/almond butter, agave and banana

3 romaine lettuce leaves with eggless salad spread

240z mango, parsley, romaine lettuce smoothie

lots and lots and lots of water

3/3/08:

6oz berry smoothie

24oz berry breakfast smoothie (w/maca, gogi berries, camu, lucuma)

24oz parsley, mango, romaine lettuce leaves

24oz Super-charged chocolate-banana nut-shake

1 carob smart monkey bar

3 romaine lettuce leaves wrapped with eggless salad spread and avocado

1/4 piece of my Brazil bread

grapes, grapes, and more grapes (red and green)...I love grapes!

2 dipped strawberries in Karen Knowler's chocolate dipping sauce

1 piece of my, Debbie's chocolate candy

lots and lots and lots of water (to wash it all down with...lol)

3/4/08:

6oz berry smoothie

24oz Super-charged berry breakfast smoothie (maca, camu, lucuma, goji berries)

24oz mango, parsley, romaine lettuce leaves)

1/2 piece my, Debbie's chocolate candy

3 scoops Heidi Ohlander's vanilla ice cream w/Karen Knowler's raw chocolate dipping sauce

3 large strawberries dipped in Karen Knowler's raw chocolate dipping sauce

3 handfuls grapes (green and red)

2 vanilla, almond snackeroons

handful of raw corn chips

2 slices of raw brown bread

lots and lots of water

3/5/08:

24oz raw body shake

6oz berry smoothie

24oz mango, parsley, romaine lettuce leaves

4 slices raw brown bread

2 handfuls raw corn chips

1 carob smart monkey bar

1 cacao brownie smart monkey bar

24oz green feast juice (celery, ginger, spinach, kale, carrots, parsley, apple)

several handfuls of grapes (green and red)

couple of strawberries with Karen Knowler's raw chocolate dipping sauce

3/6/08:

6oz berry smoothie
24oz mango, parsley, romaine lettuce leaves

handful of raw corn chips
5 slices raw brown bread
2 carob smart monkey bar
1/4 omega vegan raw bar (very yuk, and nasty!)

2 vanilla, almond snackeroons

2 handfuls of grapes (red and green)

2 dates

1 handful of hazelnuts

6-pc raw sushi rolls (avocado, marinated mushrooms in braggs and nama shoyu, red bell pepper)

12oz green feast juice (celery, ginger, spinach, kale, carrots, parsley, apple)
several handfuls of grapes (green and red)

3 scoops Heidi Ohlander's vanilla ice cream w/Heidi's famous raw chocolate sauce

water, water, and more water...I was very full!!!

3/7/08:

24oz raw body shake

6oz berry smoothie

24oz six on the beach juice feast (beats, cucumbers, ginger, parsley, carrots, kale)

2 vanilla, almond raw snackeroons

1 carob smart monkey bar

1 coconut, chocolate raw vegan bar

4 pieces raw brown bread

6 black olives with pits (I removed the pits of course)

slices of green bell pepper and lettuce

handful of hazelnuts

2 dates

(I did eat 1 small handful of popcorn - real popcorn. Let me just say this, it smelled much better than it tasted, and made me feel...I felt yuk afterwards!)

3 scoops Heidi Ohlander's vanilla ice cream w/Karen Knowler's raw chocolate dipping sauce
3 large strawberries dipped in Karen Knowler's raw chocolate dipping sauce
couple of strawberries with Karen Knowler's raw chocolate dipping sauce

lots and lots and lots of water...and yes, I am full!!!

Well, that's more than enough for me to write in one sitting. Till next time!

Keep it raw!

ttfn :)

A special day

Today was somewhat of a special day for me. I realized that Valentine's day marked the 6th month since I changed to a raw food lifestyle. I also discovered that I have lost an additional 2 pounds. This means that I have lost a total of 24-26 pounds. The reason for the range is because the doctor's scale said slightly higher, than what my scale said the day I first weighed in. However, it is very clear to me that I have definately lost weight, and in a healthy manner.

This Saturday was still my typical Saturday. I got up early, and made sure my son was ready to be picked up for karate. I went to Whole Foods (always fun for me) and got my groceries. Then I went to Walmart to get the remaining items needed such as soap, tissue, etc. Then to the library to pick up the dvds to watch over the weekend, and then to home to make some grub (both raw and sad).

I started the day out with a banana and water. Then I made some of my Rawbuck's Iced Mocha II - but only had a 6oz glass full. Later in the day I ate a raw vegan bar (only 75% raw), and then another banana. For lunch I had a small portion of some raw kale salad, and raw squash salad that I purchased at Whole Foods, to go along with my raw sesame sunflower seed bread and raw pecan butter spread. Very yummy! I also had my remainig piece of raw chocolate candy (my recipe), and a handful of grapes. For a late snack I made a berry smoothie, which I only drank about an 8oz glass worth. The rest I gave to my husband.

Here's where things kind of changed...just for today, so I consider this special too. I went to pick my son up from a birthday party. His friend was celebrating her 16th birthday. She is from India, and they are traditoinal vegetarians. When I got there everyone was having a wonderful time, so I stayed a little longer than planned. I have known this girl's family for several years. My son and her have taken karate together for about 5 years. Anyway, although they understand that I'm a rawfoodist, and that I am vegan, her mom didn't quite understand exactly what that meant. She figured it just meant vegetarian. Anyway, she wanted so much for me to try some of her authentic Indian Cuisine. I figured it would only be a small portion, and it doesn't mean I'm giving in. So, I had one bite of a cooked vegan cauliflower curry dish, and then one somosa with potato and spices (also cooked, but vegetarian), topped with a "raw" cilantro and mint condement. I also had a cup of hot, homemade, Indian spiced tea -- very yummy, and very soothing...lot's of ginger too! Anyway, it was delicious, and a special non-raw treat. But remember, I'm still raw, and this is not something that will happen all the time. But it was still very special to me!

When we got home, my husband, son, and myself decided to watch one of our dvds from the livrary, Saw IV. That's right, we love our horror movies. It was creepy and strange, and of course graphic and horrific as always...very disturbing - just the way we like it.

Anyway, I don't know if I'm going to eat any more tonight. If I do, I will add it into my next post on my daily raw. I'm going to close for now. We plan to watch another dvd. This time a comedy, "The Heartbreak Kid." Have a great night, and a great tomorrow!

Write to you later....

- Debbie :)

So, what have I been up to lately?

Like I said in my earlier post, I've been busy. I have had the opportunity to make quite a few raw goodies. I have made quite a few things from Ani Phyo's raw book. I've made mango crumble, sesame sunflower seed bread, sun burgers, carob crunch torte, and I've created a few things of my own. Here's a brief photo journal of the makings...

Raw Corn Chowder

Sunburger on Sesame Sunflower Seed Bread, with Raw Catsup, and Spicey Raw Mustard

Debbie's Raw Chocolate Candy

Debbie's Raw Apple Cobbler

Raw Mango Cobbler

Raw Carob Crunch Tart with Carob Sauce

Most of the dishes presented here are inspired by recipes from Ani's Raw Food Kitchen: Easy, Delectable Living Foods Recipes.

Well, it's getting late. Enjoy your weekend! Until next time...TTFN! :)

- Debbie

Playing catch up as usual...

Well, I finished making my raw rendition of a coconut, key-lime pie, and I have to say it was pretty darn good. It could have used some more lime juice, but I did use about 14-16 key limes as it was...lol...the crust was the favorite of my friends and family who tried it. It had to be from the coconut flakes, and lime zest I used with the mac nuts...very yummy!

After the pie deal, I started thinking more and more about drinking my green juice again, since I've been eating a lot of high fatty raw foods lately, and feeling bloated. So, I mixed it up over the past few days - smoothies, green juices, and salads, with a few snacks here and there...it definately has been making the difference.

I also have been reading a lot of raw blogs lately (more than usual), as well as reading my raw books (not just the recipes), "Rawsome Food", and "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen". Great information, and inspiration!

My back is feeling better...I actually rode the recumbant bike tonight, and did some back stretches. I still have to take it easy...I'm still suffering from sciatica, just not as crippling as it has been.

Well, I want to write more, but as usual, I'm cutting it short due to the time of day it is - night!

So, until next time...hopefully soon...have a wonderful evening, and a terrific tomorrow!

Here's my daily raw for the past few days:

Thursday, January 31st
6oz berry smoothie
16oz raw body shake
8oz rawbuck’s coffee II
2 slices key lime pie
3 leaves with avocado slices and mock tuna
small bowl cacao, macadamia, coconut iced cream, with raw chocolate sauce
couple of dates
zucchini, pine nuts, mushrooms, basil, tomatoes, evoo
4 slices raw buckwheat sun bread, with coconut butter and salt
1 taster’s cup green juice
carob smart monkey
handful mixed nuts
lots and lots of water

Friday, February 1st
6oz berry smoothie
24oz raw body shake
1 slice key lime pie
1 big bowl cacao, macadamia, coconut iced cream, with raw chocolate sauce
couple of dates
1 tall glass (24oz approx.) green juice
6oz glass green juice
handful of hazelnuts
banana and romaine lettuce leaves smoothie
lots and lots of water

Saturday, February 2nd
16oz raw body shake
8oz berry smoothie
1 carob smart monkey bar
1 banana
2 ½ -24oz glasses of green juice
2 sample size taster cups of green super-food powder juice
4 almond, vanilla snackeroons
5 pieces sprouted buckwheat sun bread with raw guacamole
2 handfuls grapes
1/3 cup jungle peanuts with raw chocolate fudge sauce (with lucuma, mesquite, cacao, and maca) lots and lots of water

Sunday, February 3rd
24oz berry breakfast smoothie with maca, lucuma, bee pollen, and berry greens super-food powder added
¼ banana
1 carob smart monkey bar
4 vanilla, almond snackeroons
2 dates
handful grapes
handful raw almonds
salad (white button mushrooms and portabello mushrooms marinated with bragg’s amino acids, and nama shoyu, napa cabbage, romaine lettuce leaves, red bell pepper, cucumber, pepitas, sliced almonds, sea salt, avocado)
lots and lots of water

Monday, February 4th
24oz berry breakfast smoothie (with maca, lucuma, and bee pollen)
2 ½ -24oz glasses green juice with green super-food powder
8oz chia seed cacao pudding
2 almond, vanilla snackeroons
1 banana
1 carob smart monkey bar
handful of grapes
handful of hazelnuts
lots and lots and lots of water

Good night everyone!

TTFN...Debbie :)

A day off for recovery, and a night of creativity

So yesterday I took the day off to get some rest, and to go to the doctor for my back. He wants me to have another MRI to be sure I don't have additional herniation or fractures in my spine (yuk). However, we decided that I need to go back to pain management (obviously), but to find one that does it all. The place that my doctor is trying to get me in is Desert Pain. They provide physical therapy, aquatics, massage, chiropractic, epidural injections (no thank you), and surgery (no thank you to this either). We also talked about the possibility of trying accupunture, which sounds pretty cool to me. When my great grandmother was alive she swore by accupuncture to provide relief for her scoliosis, and oesteoporosis. I should find out within the next week or so. The sooner the better!

Before I left for the doctor yesterday, I created a newer version of my Rawbuck's Coffee. I actually prefer my new version from my original. This one has mesquite added to it, as well as raw cacao nibs, and some modifications on the existing ingredients. I'll share later.

When I got home I was craving tuna, so I made some delicious "Mock" tuna on romaine lettuce. I've made the recipe many times before. You can find it at http://www.goneraw.com/. There are several recipes for mock tuna. The link I provided is to the recipe I love the most!

The "mock" tuna is ontop a slab of avocado mayo (yum-yum), which is all in the recipe that the link takes you to. I used romaine lettuce leaves instead of collard greens, because that is what I had available. It all works great!

Since this is what I ate yesterday, and today for that matter, I will go ahead and list my daily raw for both days.

yesterday, January 29th:

• 1 trail mix Smart Monkey bar
• 6oz berry smoothie
• 12oz Rawbuck's Coffee II
• 1 banana
• 1 gala apple
• 1 date (that's right, only one)
• 1 vanilla almond snackeroon (a new favorite!)
• few raw almonds
• 3 romaine lettuce leaves with avocado mayo, and mock tuna (yum-yum-yumo!)
• lots and lots and lots of water

Today, January 30th:

• 6oz berry smoothie
• 1 cacao and coconut Smart Monkey bar
• 2 romaine lettuce leaves with avocado mayo, and mock tuna
• 2 bananas
• 12oz Rawbuck's Coffee II
• spoonful of my new recipe, Rawsome Key Lime Pie filling
• lots and lots and lots of water

You've probably noticed that I've been snacking a lot on something called a vanilla almond snackeroon. That's because I recently discovered this great little raw snack at Whole Foods. The product is made by Laughing Giraffe Organics, a small independtly owned local company in Phoenix, Arizona. The owner and creator, Justin Baumgartner, also makes raw granola, and other tasty raw treats.

Tonight I decided to create my own recipe for key lime pie. So, I spent a couple of hours researching various raw recipes, and traditional recipes, and finally came up with a version that I think is rather tasty. I can't do the unveiling just yet. It's in the refrigerator firming up. But there's always tomorrow...it's only a day away!

Well, I'm going to close for now. As usual, it's late at night, and I need to get in bed. I hope all of you have a wonderful day tomorrow!

I should have more to share, and pictures too...

Take care!

- Debbie :)

Accomplishments, and goals...

It seems like I ate a lot of "junk" food over the weekend. What I mean by that is I ate a lot of nuts and raw sweet treats. Even though it was all raw, it was still a little higher in fat and calories. I need to be careful too, since I'm unable to exercise like I had been. Hopefully, I will get back on the road to recovery when I can start going back to the chiropractor. I know I sound like a broken record, but I'm serious when I say the pain is chronic, and unbearable. And so far, I found the most "pain" relief that's natural is through the chiropractor!


I was so happy this weekend, cause I actually got a lot of work done. I updated my one website with over 2,000 products; I finished the business cards for my friend - which is half the project he is paying me for; and I read up on a lot of my raw food blogs. Now I just need to catch up with my internship program, and finish the other part of the graphics project, and update my kid's website. Then I can really start focusing on my raw-riffic food website. I really want to start doing more and more with the whole raw food lifestyle, and incorporate it into my career as well as diet. I don't know to what capacity yet, but I do know I really dig all of it. And since I absolutely love the web, art, and computers, I think eventually I can figure out something to tie it all together, and include "raw" as my theme...

Anyway, a while back I brought up the idea of doing a juice feast. Then I brought up the idea of doing the master cleanse. Just for the record, I'm still very interested in both! However, the fact of the matter is, I need more information on it as far as how fasting or feasting will be on me, if I'm still forced to take the pain meds to deal with my chronic sciatica. I know it wouldn't hurt, but I really would like to wean off the "drugs" first...if you know what I mean.

Well, I need to get off to bed. I'm taking a day off tomorrow from work to rest, and then go to the doctor. I'll post more tomorrow. To follow is my daily raw for the past three days. Hope all of you have a pleasant evening, and a fantastic tomorrow!

Saturday, 1/26/08
4 almond vanilla snackeroons
3 pieces cherry, walnut, orange raw granola
1 sandwich (sprouted buckwheat sun bread, with avocado, cucumber, tomato, romaine lettuce, marinated portabello mushrooms)
2 bananas
6oz berry smoothie
handful raw corn chips
1 piece sprouted buckwheat sun bread with avocado
3 pieces of sushi (not truly raw -- only the fish)
1 sesame snap smart monkey bar
5 dates
1 cup symfre tea
lots and lots and lots of water

Sunday, 1/27/08
6oz berry smoothie
24oz berry breakfast shake with maca powder
1/2 banana
2 sandwich (sprouted buckwheat sun bread, with avocado, cucumber, tomato, romaine lettuce, marinated portabello mushrooms)
handful corn chips
2 almond vanilla snackeroons
1 small bowl cherry, walnut, orange raw granola, with almond nut milk
1 date
1 carob brownie
1 piece of an Asian pear
12oz mango, parsley, romaine lettuce, and water smoothie
1 bowl of cacao, macadamia nut, coconut iced cream, and cacao sauce with lucuma
lots and lots and lots of water

Monday, 1/28/08
6oz berry smoothie
24oz raw body shake
1 carob smart monkey bar
1 almond vanilla snackeroon
12oz mango, parsley, romaine lettuce, and water smoothie
1 banana
1 small bowl of cacao, macadamia nut, coconut iced cream, and cacao sauce with lucuma
1 bowl of buttery pasta (zucchini, portabello mushrooms, tomato, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sea salt, and cold pressed olive oil)
3 slices of the sprouted buckwheat sun bread, with raw coconut butter and sea salt spread
lots and lots and lots of water


Ta-ta for now!

- Debbie :)

Unbaking success, and my daily raw for Friday

I'm happy to say, my recipe for bread/crackers came out great! I brought some broken pieces, and an avocado to work with me so I could share it with co-workers. I got everybody to try it, with the exception of 3 people - not bad. And the consensus was that everyone loved it, and were amazed that it was "raw"!

This was also the first time I successfully sprouted anything. In this case it was Buckwheat. In addition to the Buckwheat, there is sunflower seeds, flax seeds, spices, and veggies. It's very yummy! For dinner I made two nice sized sandwiches with the bread, that had delicious veggies, and marinated portebello slices.


So, since I started out with my bread recipe. I might as well list my daily raw for the day.

Today I had my usual 6oz berry smoothie
24oz raw body shake
2 handfuls of raw almonds (love it)
2 carob brownies
1 mango, parsley, and romaine lettuce with water smoothie
1 banana
several pieces of my sprouted buckwheat sun bread with avocado
the delicious sandwich featured above, that included romaine lettuce, avocado, tomato, cucumber, and portobello slices marinated with bragg's amino acids, in between two pieces of the sprouted buckwheat sun bread. By the way, I had two of these sandwiches...
then for desert I had a big desert glass of my raw iced cream creation made of cacao, fresh coconut meat, macadamia nuts, dates, agave and vanilla. This was topped with bananas, and a delicious raw syrup made of lucuma, carob, mesquite, cacao, water, agave, and SweetLeaf liquid dark chocolate stevia. This syrup concoction was actually inspired by a similar recipe found on Raw Rob's site.

And of course, plenty of water throughout the day. I'm drinking some right now. :)

Tonight I also made a big batch of raw carob brownies for one of my closest friends. She's allergic to chocolate (imagine that), and wants so much to try new treats that aren't as bad for her, or as fattening. So, "RAW" it is! I'm sure she will enjoy them. I basically use the same recipe as the cacao brownies I made before. Simple and tasty!

Well, as far as my sciatica goes, it's still bothering me something awful. Obviously the pain meds help take the edge off, and my raw food helps keep my overall energy and health in check. However, I'm unable to exercise, which is not good; and I find it hard to sleep well, or relieve myself with ease. This is because the nerve pain shoots from my hip and groin area all the way down to my toes of my right leg. It's terrible. I mean it! I know I'm a broken record, but I'm serious when I say I need to get into the chiropractor, and can't wait till then...it should be real soon. I just have to be patient.

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy reading about raw food, writing about raw food, preparing raw food, meeting others who enjoy raw food, teaching others and sharing with them the joys of raw food, and eating (of course) raw food.

I'm going to call it a night. Hope all of you have had a great Friday, and that you will have a terrific weekend too!

Good night all!

- Debbie

My daily raw and more

Well, to start off with, I should list my daily raw intake for the past three days.

Tuesday, 1/22/08, I ate...

6oz berry smoothie

24oz raw body shake

12oz banana and romaine lettuce smoothie

2 bowls raw tomato soup (yum, yum)

3-4 handfuls raw corn chips (dipped in my soup)

2 handfuls nuts

1 gala apple

5 carob brownies (very good)

and lots and lots of water

Wednesday, 1/23/08, I ate...

6oz berry smoothie

24oz raw body shake

12oz mango, parsley, and romaine lettuce smoothie

2 handfuls mixed nuts

5 dates

3 carob brownies

1 apple

1 banana

handful of raw coconut meat

1 smart monkey bar

1 raw vegan bar

1 cup raw coconut water

2 1/2 raw almond butter nut cookies

lots and lots and lots of water

(I was in a lot of pain more than usual. Since I had to take pain meds, and because I didn't eat enough, I was a little nauseous for a while. I have to learn to eat more calories when I'm going through this "pain" issue).

Today, Thursday, 1/24/08

6oz berry smoothie

24oz raw body shake

12oz raw green juice feast (tomato, cucumber, romaine lettuce, parsley, apple, and water)

2 carob brownies

1/2 cup raw cacao, coconut, macadamia nut iced cream

1 smart monkey carob bar

5 raw veggie rolls (cauliflower, carrot, cucumber, celery, parsley, red bell pepper, mushrooms, sesame seeds, avocado, nama shoyu, sea salt, raw nori sheets)

1 banana

3 dates

handful raw almonds

lots and lots and lots of water

Well that puts me up to date with my daily raw. Now for today's update on me...

I'm still dealing with my chronic pain, and looking forward to making arrangements with the chiropractor, and seeing my doctor. Fortunately, my friend at work is a masseuse, and has been giving me massages to work the painful areas during our breaks at work. I'm grateful for that.

Today I tried to take it easy at work, and at home. The only thing I pushed was making my veggie rolls...which were delicious! I was inspired once again by another recipe found at the sunny raw kitchen site. Carmella has great stuff!

Anyway, tomorrow I plan to make my girlfriend some carob brownies. She is allergic to cacao, but likes sweet things. I'm trying to help convert her to raw...at least vegan...then hopefully, maybe raw. She and her daughter are already vegetarian, and trying to make changes in their diet. I know she's looking forward to the brownies. She's always interested in trying my goodies -- as most of my friends and co-workers are...lol.
I also plan to finish up my graphics art assignment over the weekend. No need to drag it out any longer. Then if time permits, I'll try to catch up on my participation in the internship program. Other than that, I need to just do what I can, and not try to do it all at the same time. Well, I think I'll turn in for tonight. I'll have more tomorrow. It's Friday you know!

Have a great night, and a great tomorrow!

ttfn - Debbie :)