Raw chocolate...addictions and affections

I know it's late, but I felt like sharing with you what fun I had today as it relates to my experiences with the raw food community -- even during a busy and stressful week at work. I recently have been obsessing over raw chocolate and how many raw chocolate bars there are on the market, and which ones I prefer. So, I decided to purchase a variety of well-known raw chocolates from around the globe.

I recently ordered one of each kind of chocolate that Shazzie (detoxyourworld.com) has to offer, one of each kind that the Raw Chocolate Factory (featured on Raw Reform/Raw Success) has to offer, several from Kate "Magic" Wood, and several from gnosis. I even have the three chocolates from Righteously Raw, and Wild Bars. Some I've tried before, and some I haven't. I'm still waiting for a few to arrive before I do my ultimate taste test, and blog review on them. I'm excited - cause I loooooove chocolate - Raw Chocolate that is! :)

Yesterday I received my Shazzie chocolates...beautifully wrapped, and fragrant too! I but doubles of one flavor, so I ate it immediately -- oh my gosh! This was super super good!!! :) Shazzie's online store also provides the best customer service -- and they are across the ocean! Super nice!

Well, besides chocolate bars, I decided to make my very first purchase from One Lucky Duck. I ordered raw chocolate sauce, and raw chocolate chip cookies. Oh my gosh! This was such a special surprise for me! The box came with the cute duck label. Inside the box was my packing list folded, with a hand written "Thank you" and a smiley face. That was so special...but wait there's more. Then there was a cute sample piece of raw bar inside a little baggie with a pretty ribbon tie. This sample wash delish! But wait, there's more...then there was pretty pink tissue paper that lined the top of my products, which were also carefully wrapped. Once I got to the goodies I couldn't believe how beautiful that product packing is in real life! Well, I tried to refrain from eating my cookies, but I broke the package open immediately and ate two...wow was this ever so RAWSOME! I mean these were the best raw chocolate chip cookies ever - better than any baked cookies! And fresh, and just oh so yummo! I had to write them and let them know how pleased I was. So I did. Guess what, Sarma herself wrote me back within an hour or so and thanked me for the nice email. Wow! It was super -- really super terrific!!! :)

Well, I have to tell you the sauce is incredible too! I tried some tonight, and I ate two more cookies...gonna have to order more!!!

Oh, I also received my gnosis chocolates. Beautiful, and waiting for me to eat! But I have to be patient you know...I want them all at the same time...

Tonight was fun, cause Bunny (Raw Fu) had a Raw Fu Chat. Although I got on over an hour late, the short time I was on was fun! I got to briefly chat with lots of my Raw Fu friends! It was great! Hope we get to do this again real soon!

Well, I should probably go for now. I'll give you the links to the various sites mentioned tomorrow. I need to get to bed!

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