Sweet Corn Chowder (raw & vegan)

Breakfast: Groovy Tangy Raw Smoothie (recipe adapted from a previous post)

• 1 banana
• 1 kiwi
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• Small piece of fresh ginger
• 1 cup filtered water

Combine everything in the blender.

I didn't have any raspberries today, so I used blueberries instead. The smoothie turned a dark purple colour and was delicious.

Lunch: Raw Sweet Corn and Cashew Chowder (recipe from Ani Phyo via Food & Wine)

• 3 1/4 cups fresh yellow corn kernels (from 4 large ears)
• 2 cups water (I only used 1)
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small garlic clove
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt (I used 1 teaspoon of sea salt)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped cilantro leaves (for garnish)
• Freshly ground pepper

In a blender, combine 2 1/4 cups of the corn with the water, cashews, olive oil, garlic and salt and puree until smooth. Pour the soup into bowls. Garnish with the remaining 1 cup of corn kernels, the cilantro and a sprinkle of pepper, then serve.

Dinner: Smoothie repeat

I was feeling a bit under the weather today, so I didn't feel like eating the dinner I had planned (I'll save that recipe for next week). Instead I made myself another smoothie (similar to the one from this morning).

Dessert: Raw Peaches & "Cream" (recipe from 101 Cookbooks)

• 3 peaches
• 1/2 cup whole raw cashews
• 2-4 tablespoons raw honey
• 1/8 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract (alcohol free)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of sea salt

Soak the cashews for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse. In a blender or food processor, blend cashews, honey, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt until smooth. Cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. Peel the peaches and slice into thin slices. Fold the cashew sauce into the sliced peaches. Spoon the peach and cashew mixture into dessert cups. Allow to chill for an hour or two in the refrigerator.

I still managed to chow down this yummy dessert, despite feeling a bit sick today (LOL!). The cinnamon and nutmeg gives it a spicy flavour that was quite nice. Again this was originally a pie recipe, but I have omitted the pie. Next week I should be making my first raw pie when some visitors come. YAY! Until 'then ...

Eco Wedding Gifts

It's wedding season! Of course you plan on giving your newlywed friends green gifts to celebrate their new life together. Here are some ideas:

• Bamboo/organic cotton blend bedding. Don't let your friends and family sleep in pesticide laden bedding. These silky soft 250 thread-count sheets are an eco-friendly blend of 50% bamboo and 50% organic cotton. Made from all natural fibers, so it's breathable, lightweight and the bamboo helps to wick away the sweat, keeping you dry. Available online from Gaiam. Prices range from $36-229 USD.


• Bamboo garment rack. Of course you don't use a dryer and neither should the newlyweds. Double up on your green impact by hanging your wet laundry (therefore saving energy) on this beautiful bamboo rack (made from sustainable materials). Available at Canadian Tire. $169.


• EARTHchef bamboo kitchen accessories. No one wants to chop, serve and store their food in plastic that leaches BPA or wooden utensils made from trees that will take decades to grow back. So give the couple-to-be bamboo utensils instead. Bamboo grows super quick (3-5 years), and since the plant is anti-bacterial its perfect for use in the kitchen to minimize germs without harsh chemical cleaners. Available at The Bay, Zellers and Home Outfitters.


• Counter top compost container. Collecting your kitchen waste in this chic container helps to save trips out to the compost while keeping the kitchen neat and odour free. Available at Canadian Tire. $19.99.


• His & Hers organic cotton bathrobes. What could be better on a cold winter night than wrapping a plush, super soft organic cotton robe around you and your new spouse? These luxurious robes allow you to give a lavish gift while remaining true to your values. Not made in a sweat shop. Available online at rawganique.com. $169-179.


• Solar lanterns & garden decor. Widely popular, even outside green communities, solar powered lanterns, lights and garden accessories are super easy to install and available in many stylish designs. They collect power in the daytime and automatically turn on when it gets dark. Be careful not to buy the kind that requires batteries. Some of the more inexpensive lights use the solar panel to charge a rechargeable battery which powers the light. The battery usually only lasts one year, requiring you to buy new batteries every year. Widely available in a large selection of prices.


• Simple Human recyclers. I LOVE this rectangular recycler. The removable dual bins inside make sorting waste easy, and the patented lid closes slowly preventing it from slamming shut like most petal garbage containers. Pair this gift with the counter top compost pail and the newlyweds have all their eco bases covered. Available at The Bay or online at Simplehuman.com. $179.99.


• Raw vegan uncooking classes for 2. Give the gift that keeps on giving - to the planet. Pay for raw food classes which will teach the couple how to prepare nutritious, delicious, live food that minimizes waste and environmental degradation. Pair this gift with a raw food accessory such as a spiralizer, or his & hers hemp aprons personalized with the couples' initials embroidered on the front is also a nice present.
  

Raw Raw Rasputin (recipes)

LOL! Can you tell I'm running out of clever titles!

Breakfast: Raw Pretty in Pink Smoothie

• handful of fresh strawberries, hulled & quartered
• 1 mango, peeled, cut into bite sized pieces and frozen overnight
• 1 banana, peeled, sliced and frozen overnight
• pinch of cinnamon
• water (to make it blend)

Toss everything in the blender and whizz until smooth. The drink comes out a beautiful soft pink colour. YUM!

Lunch: Raw Tomato Soup

Leftovers from last week's lunch. This soup freezes well. I thawed it overnight and added 1 chopped tomato as garnish. I also had a small cabbage salad on the side (not pictured).

Dinner: Raw "Pasta" with Raw Basil Pesto (recipe from gone raw)

• 1 zucchini per person, julienned or spiralized
• 2 cups (packed) basil, de-stemmed
• 3/4 cup pine nuts
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 olive oil (cold-pressed)
• water (to blend)

Throw everything (except the zucchini) into the blender until smooth. Serve over zucchini noodles. Garnish with more pine nuts and freshly ground black pepper. I used half a yellow zucchini and half a green one, as well as a few pieces of broccoli stem cut up with my julienne peeler.

Dessert: Raw Chocolate Pudding with Raw Chocolate Walnut Cookies

PUDDING - (recipe adapted from gone raw)

• 1 avocado
• 1 banana (the riper the more sweet)
• 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (alcohol free)
• pinch of sea salt
• 1-2 tablespoons water (if needed to blend)

In a large bowl, mash the avocado and banana with a fork. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. If the mixture is too thick add some water and stir. Serve immediately or refrigerate to save for later. Alternatively you can mix everything together in a blender or food processor.

COOKIES - (recipe from Ani Phyo via Go Diary Free)

• 1 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup raw walnuts
• 1⁄4 cup raw carob powder (I used cacao)
• 1⁄8 teaspoon sea salt

Combine the raisins, walnuts, carob powder, and salt in the food processor. Process until the dough begins sticking together. Press the dough into a pan in a thin even layer. Or you can roll into balls and flatten into a round shape. Freeze for 30 minutes. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for later.

I cut the cookies into triangles and placed them on the outside of the pudding cups as garnish. However the cookies are fantastic just own their own too!! Another gggggreat recipe courtesy of Ani. Chocolate and walnut is one of my favourite food combinations.

Raw Kitchen Tales

Breakfast: Groovy Tangy Raw Smoothie (recipe from Green Appetite)

• 1 banana
• 1 kiwi
• 1/2 cup frozen raspberries
• Small piece of fresh ginger
• 1 cup filtered water

Combine everything in the blender.

Lunch: Raw Tomato Soup

Another repeat soup.

Dinner: Raw Veggie Bowl

Quick & easy supper tonight. I pretty much threw all the veggies that I needed to use up in a bowl and topped with olive oil and lemon. My bowl used: zucchini (julienned), broccoli, romaine lettuce, orange bell pepper, cucumber, carrots (julienned), mango, parsley and mint. Normally I would have put some tomato in there too, but I left it out today because I had tomato soup for lunch.

Dessert: Raw Raspberry Delight (my own creation)

• 1 cup cashews, soaked for at least 3 hours
• 1/4 cup raw coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2-4 tablespoons raw sweetener (depending on taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (alcohol free or use seeds from a vanilla bean)
• 2 handfuls of raspberries
• water

Combine everything in the blender. Add enough water to make it blend. Pour into dessert cups and chill for a few hours. Garnish with mint (if you want). This one is so delicious I couldn't stop eating it!

Post Yoga Snack

Here's a simple pudding that I whipped up in 5 minutes for after yoga:

• several scoops of jelly out of a young coconut
• handful of strawberries
• pinch of sea salt

Combine everything in the blender until smooth. Depending on the strawberries, you may want to add some raw sweetener. Pour into dessert cups and chill for a few hours - or start chowing down right away.

Raw Menu Du Jour

Breakfast: Raw Blueberry Banana Mint Smoothie

The mint is in full bloom in our garden, so I made this smoothie yet again.

Lunch: Raw Spinach Soup

One of my fave's from May.

Dinner: Broccoli with "Cheese"

I used the leftover nacho "cheese" from last week to pour over cut broccoli.

Dessert: Raw Banana Pudding (recipe from gone raw)

• 1 cup cashews, soaked for several hours
• 6 dates
• 3 very ripe bananas
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons raw sweetener
• dash salt
• dash allspice

Combine everything in a blender. Pour into dessert cups and chill.

Another day, another belly full of raw goodness!

Bamboo Yourself

So you already know that bamboo is a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to wood. But do you know the benefits of wearing bamboo? If not, then read on!

• Bamboo is anti-bacterial, so clothing made from this plant is perfect to wear when exercising and as under garments (bamboo underwear and bras are sublime!).


• Bamboo is also naturally very absorptive, thus bamboo fabrics quickly absorb and evaporate sweat and moisture. This makes bamboo great for towels, exercise clothing and summer wear.


• Bamboo provides UV protection, so get out there on those sunny days. Consider buying bamboo blinds and curtains.


• In contrast with the coarse grass, bamboo fabrics are soft and silky to the touch, and since it's a natural fiber it's breathable against your skin. Many people even find it cooler than cotton.


• Bamboo is 100% biodegradable! This means when you throw out your bamboo clothing you can rest easy knowing you won't be polluting the earth during decomposition.

And don't forget about bamboo soap ... yes soap! I have just recently discovered bamboo soap myself and I haven't looked back since. I have very sensitive skin and have been known to break out when using soaps that are supposedly "all natural" from Lush or similar stores. But bamboo soap is very gentle. It's naturally mineral and nutrient rich, and since the bamboo plant is anti-bacterial the soap freshens my skin without any harsh chemicals (no thank you sodium laureth sulfate).

If you can get your hands on bamboo charcoal, it's great to use around the house for freshening and removing odours. Put some in the fridge and it will absorb food odours. Put a few pieces behind the toilet to remove bathroom odours (nice for those days when you over-do-it on the green juice). Ask your local health food store to order some food grade bamboo charcoal and use it to purify water. I haven't tried the water purification yet, but I've heard it's good for that too.

Happy bamboo'ing!

Yoga Asana of the Month (July)

This month's posture is one of my favs - pigeon pose (eka pada rajakapotasana). The video shows a seated initiation, but I like to start in downward facing dog, then bring one leg forward, bending it while bringing it forward onto the mat. Once in the pose, you can also place your hands on either side of you on the mat and arch your spine backwards for a nice back stretch.

Note: The above video is provided by YouTube. I have no control over the ads within this video. I am not affiliated with these advertisers, and do not endorse their products.

RAWesome Good Eats

Breakfast: Banana Blueberry Mint Raw Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 2-3 handfuls of fresh blueberries
• a few sprigs of fresh mint
• water

Mix in the blender until smooth. Add some ice cubes if its a hot morning.

Lunch: Raw Cuke Soup (Again!! Can you tell how much I love this recipe?)
This week I only used 1 cucumber (instead of 2 as recommended in the recipe). It made the soup a bit thicker and creamier. Garnished with parsley and freshly ground black pepper.

Dinner: Raw Cheese Wraps ("cheese" recipe from gone raw)

"CHEESE" -

• 1 cup raw cashews
• 1/3 large orange or red bell pepper
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon onion
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• water

Put all the ingredients in a blender. Add enough water to just cover the cashews, and blend. You can vary the thickness by using more or less water.
To assemble the wraps, place a large dollop of the "cheese" in a lettuce leaf. Top with whatever strikes your fancy. I mixed the "cheese" with chopped celery and topped it with sliced tomatoes and freshly ground black pepper. YUM!

Dessert: Raw Chocolate Mousse (recipe from We Like It Raw)

Yes, it's another pie recipe with the pie crust left out. I substituted raw cacao for the carob, and since I didn't make an entire pie, I halved the original recipe.

• 1 avocado
• 1/2 cup carob (or cacao)
• 1/4 cup raw sweetener (I used honey)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 cup fresh young coconut
• pinch of salt

Combine everything in a blender until smooth. Pour into dessert cups and garnish with dried coconut. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Grape-sicles

These yummy grape popsicles are so easy to make, and hit the spot on a hot summer day. I guess this technique could be used with other fruits, but the high water content of grapes makes them perfect for popsicle making, plus there's no cutting required. I can't take the credit, I first saw this idea on Raw Food Crafting (a great website for raw vegan recipes). Eating these really makes you wonder what's in a commercially available "grape" popsicle ... I'd rather eat one of these any day!!

Today's Raw Recipes

Breakfast: Raw Berry Blend Juice (recipe from Donna Karen via Martha Stewart)

Yes it's true, there are a few raw recipes on Martha Stewart's site. I didn't have any bee pollen lying around, so I didn't include it. The result was berry-licious!

• 1/2 cup strawberries
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• Pinch of sea salt
• Dash of raw agave
• 4 to 5 Brazil nuts
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon bee pollen (optional)
• Unsweetened coconut flakes (for garnish)

Lunch: Raw Creamy Tomato Basil Leftovers Soup

Remember last week's minestrone soup and the basil pesto sauce that I made for my "pasta"? Well I made a lot ... of both. So I wondered: what would these two taste like together? The answer is pure raw food heaven. Last Tuesday night I combined both in a container and stuck it in the freezer. Last night I took it out and put it on the counter to thaw. Garnished with a few pieces of fresh avocado and parsley, and voila!

Dinner: Raw "Tuna" Salad (recipe from gone raw)

I thought I better put tuna in quotation marks as there are some raw foodists that eat actual fish. Thankfully this delicious dish is fish (& cruelty) free. It's a little bit more time consuming than the dishes that I usually feature on this site, but definitely worth it.

• 2 cup almonds
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
• 3 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 dashes cayenne pepper
• 1 cup pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
• 4 dates, pitted
• 1 clove additional garlic
• 1 teaspoon additional sea salt
• 1 tablespoon additional lemon juice
• 1 large avocado
• ½ teaspoon each dill, thyme, basil (optional)

Place almonds, parsley, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and cayenne pepper in a food processor. Pour the mixture into a bowl and mix with the chopped celery and green onions. Set aside.

Now make the "mayonnaise". Place pine nuts, avocado, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, dates, 1 clove garlic, and spices in the food processor. blend until the mixture becomes really smooth and creamy.
Next mix the "mayo" with the celery mixture. Garnish with sliced avocado, sliced tomato, sprouts or olives. If you'd like a "tuna" salad sandwich, place the mixture on a collard leaf and roll. Cut the roll in half.

Dessert: Raspberry Ganache Fudge Cake (recipe from Ani Phyo via Go Dairy Free)

FUDGE CAKE -

• 3 cups dry walnuts
• 2⁄3 cup unsweetened cacao powder or carob powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup pitted Medjool dates

FROSTING -

• 1⁄3 cup semi-soft pitted Medjool dates
• 1⁄4 cup agave syrup
• 1⁄2 cup ripe avocado flesh (from about 1 medium avocado)
• 1⁄3 cup cacao powder

FILLING -

• 1⁄2 cup raspberries

To make the cake, combine the walnuts, cacao powder, and salt in the food processor and pulse until coarsely mixed. Avoid over processing. Add the dates and pulse until mixed well. Shape into 2 stackable cakes of desired shape and set aside.

To make the frosting, combine the dates and agave syrup in the food processor and process until smooth. Add the avocado and process until smooth. Add the cacao powder and process until smooth.

To serve, frost the top of one of the cakes with half the frosting and top with the raspberries. Stack the second cake on top and frost the top and side. Serve immediately, or place in the refrigerator for a couple hours to firm up. The cake on its own will keep in the fridge for many weeks. The frosting will keep separately in the fridge for 1 week.

Next Tuesday I'll be away from home visiting family for Canada Day celebrations. It'll be my first attempt at eating raw on the road. Stay tuned ...

Strawberry Mandarin Spinach Salad

The perfect summer salad to honour the first day of summer! Simple, quick and delicious too.

• 1 bunch of spinach
• 1 pint of strawberries, hauled & halved
• 2-3 mandarin oranges, peeled & quartered

You can also mix up a quick dressing. Although this salad is delicious undressed as well.

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (cold pressed if you're eating raw)
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (unpasteurized if you're eating raw)
• 2 tablespoons sweetener (raw honey/agave/stevia, etc ...)

Happy summertime everyone <3

DIY #5: Therapeutic Flax Pillow

I'm sure you know all about the health benefits of eating flax seed:

• It contains soluble fibre, which binds to cholesterol preventing it from being absorbed in the body.
• It helps inflammatory conditions, which may explain why eating flax can prevent heart attack and stroke.
• Flax is a plant source of Omega-3 fatty acids (leave the fish oil for the fish please).
• Flax is also very low on the glycemic index, which means it helps control blood sugar. When eaten with a meal, flax seed can prevent a high blood sugar peak after the meal.

But do you know about the therapeutic uses of flax? I'd heard a little bit about it, but it wasn't until I over heard a woman in a store talking about her flax seed boot that I realized all the wonderful benefits of those little seeds. This woman had accidentally fallen asleep with a flax boot on her foot. When she awoke the next morning, not only was her pain gone, but her foot felt moisturized and soft. That's because flax seed is an oily seed (remember its packed full of those Omega-3's). Turns out that flax seed pillows are good for relieving:

• tension headaches
• shoulder tension
• back pain
• wrist pain
• poor circulation
• menstral cramps
• stiffness in hips or hamstrings
• sunburn

The store I was in sold flax seed eye pillows, back pads, mittens, boots and shoulder wraps all for $30 and up. I wanted the benefits of flax, but I didn't want to pay those prices, so I decided to make my own.

Flax seed is surprisingly inexpensive. I bought 4 lbs at my local bulk food store for under $4. If you can find it in bulk, buy organic. Again to keep the cost low, I used some scrap fabric in green that was left over from another project for outer shell of my pillow. Simply cut the fabric in your desired shape, and sew right sides together. Keep a small opening to fill the pillow with the flax. Only fill the pillow 3/4 full so there's some room for the seeds to move. Stitch the opening closed. Larger pieces will need extra stitching; horizontal rows of stitches every inch on larger back pads, boot and mitt shapes will keep all the flax seeds from slipping down to one side of the pillow. Now you're ready to use your pillow.

Depending on your own preferences, the pillow can be used hot or cold. Simply throw the pillow into the freezer (you'll want to cover it in a bag first), or heat in the microwave. Be careful not to burn the flax! Once burnt it will lose all it's therapeutic benefits. Start off by heating it in small increments - 45 seconds. Remove the pillow from the microwave and shake to move the flax seeds around. Heat again for another 45 seconds, and continue until the desired temperature. If you need the heat therapy, but you don't use a microwave in your household, try filling a hot water bottle and resting it on the flax pillow until it heats. Or in the summer you can put the pillow in your car and let it heat up in there - I've tried it and this works! If you take care of it, these pillows should last you for years.

So what are you waiting for, get sewing!!

Rawday (aka Tuesday)

Breakfast: Iron Woman Smoothie

• 1-3 romaine lettuce leaves
• 1 handful of spinach
• 1 banana
• 1 orange, juiced

Toss everything in the blender and mix until bright green and lovely.

Lunch: Home-style Raw Minestrone Soup (recipe from Ani Phyo's Ani's Raw Food Kitchen)

Snack: Watermelon Sorbet (recipe from In the Raw)

I saw this recipe on In the Raw this morning - how perfect! I had some watermelon left over in the fridge, so I went straight to making this quick sorbet.

Dinner: Raw Zucchini "Fettuccine" with Raw Basil "Cream" Sauce (recipe from gone raw)

I finally got a julienne peeler! This is going to make my raw pastas a lot easier to prepare. You'll probably be seeing a lot of raw pasta recipes in the next few weeks ;)

• 1 zucchini per person
• 1/2 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 cloves garlic
• Juice of one medium lemon
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion, chopped
• A dash of freshly ground black pepper
• 1 big handful of fresh basil

Combine everything (except the zucchini and basil) in the blender. Blend until smooth. Add the basil and pulse to speckle the sauce with green flakes. Slice the zucchini into a fettuccine shape with a julienne peeler or spiralizer. Pour the "cream" sauce generously over the pasta.

Dessert: Raw Key Lime PuddingA blast from the past (new picture though).

• 1 banana
• 1 avocado
• 4-5 limes, juiced
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup raw sweetener (agave, stevia, honey, etc ...)

Combine everything in a blender and mix until smooth. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Now it's back to the drawing board for next week's raw day ...

Raw, Raw & Mo' Raw Food

Breakfast: Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie

• half a small watermelon, cut up into chunks
• two handfuls of strawberries, hulled
• raw sweetener (to taste)

Toss everything in the blender and enjoy!

Lunch: Simple Salad with Raw Sun-Dried Tomato DressingMy salad contained: broccoli, orange bell pepper, daikon, carrots, sugar snap peas, celery and lettuce (pretty much all the veggies in the fridge that I needed to use up).

DRESSING (recipe from gone raw) -

• 1/2 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup Nama Shoyu (or Bragg's)
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes

Combine everything in a blender until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad. Garnish with sliced sun-dried tomatoes.

Dinner: Raw Cuke Soup (again)

Dessert: Raw Pecan Pie Cookies (recipe from Ani Phyo's new book Ani's Raw Food Desserts)
Makes eight 2 1/2 -inch cookies

• 1 cup pecan halves or pieces
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed orange juice
• 8 ounces plump, whole dates, pitted, then chopped into chunks

Combine the pecans, cinnamon and juice in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the nuts are finely chopped. Add the dates and pulse to form a mixture that can stay pressed together.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions. Roll each one into a smooth, golf ball-size ball, then flatten to form a 2 1/2-inch-round cookie. Place on the lined baking sheet. Repeat to use all of the mixture. Cover and refrigerate or freeze until ready to serve.

The cookies don't really photograph well (looks like falafel), but they taste heavenly! I love how simple the ingredients and the preparation are. If you don't have a food processor (like me), buy the pecans already ground. Add the cinnamon. Pit and chop the dates as finely as you can, then mash with a fork. Add the mash to the ground pecans and mix with your hands (so much more fun than a food processor). Add enough OJ to make the whole thing stick together to form a ball. Make 8 balls and then flatten into cookies. Chill in the fridge.

Snacks: Raw hummus (will post recipe soon ...) with carrots

Snacks really are key for me to get through my day. It keeps my blood sugar even throughout the day and gives me energy. If I don't have a snack between lunch and dinner, I start to feel sluggish at 3:30 - 4:00 PM.  Before going raw I always carried a stash of granola bars with me.  Luckily I have found some raw versions too!  My fav these days is the Cocoa Môlé LÄRABAR.

5 Quick Eco Tips

1. ENERGY - Don't leave your cell phone/mP3 player/PDA, etc ... charging overnight. Most of these devices can fully charge in 2-3 hours. So why leave it plugged in for 6-8 while you sleep?


2. WATER - If you use a dehumidifier, don't dump the water down the drain. Use it to water house plants or your garden.


3. SOIL - If you can't afford to buy all organic produce, commit to buying at least 1 organic fruit or vegetable a week. See my previous post on the best produce to buy organic.


4. GAS - Inflate your tires. You'll use less gas.


5. WASTE - Save the thin clear bags that you put your produce in at the grocery store. Stash them in your cloth grocery bags and re-use them week after week. Or knit a few of your own.

Happy eco'ing ...

RAW Day

Breakfast: Cashew Banana Mylk (recipe from Ani Phyo's Ani's Raw Food Kitchen)

Lunch: Raw Stir Unfry with Raw Dressing

Stir Unfry -

• 4-5 bok choy leaves, torn into pieces
• ½ head small cabbage, sliced
• 1 small daikon radish, shredded
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper
• 3 stalks broccoli
• handful of snow peas, destemmed
• few sprigs parsley
• Sesame seeds (to garnish)

Combine everything in a large bowl.

DRESSING -

• splash of Nama Shoyu (or Bragg's)
• splash of raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 inch piece of ginger
• 3/4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

Combine everything in a blender until smooth. Pour over stir unfry.

Dinner: Raw Cucumber Soup (recipe from gone raw)

• 2 large cucumbers, peeled
• 1 cup celery juice
• 1 avocado
• ½ cup olive oil (cold pressed)
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon Nama Shoyu (or Bragg's)
• 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon raw sweetener
• Celtic sea salt, to taste

Combine everything in a blender until smooth and yummy.

Dessert: Raw Key Lime Coconut Bars (recipe from gone raw)

• 1½ cup raw cashews
• 1½ cup dates
• 1 teaspoon lime zest (zest before juicing)
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1 cup dehydrated raw coconut
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon raw coconut oil

Combine everything in a food processor. If you don't have a food processor (like me), mix everything in a blender on the lowest speed. The mixture shouldn't be a liquid, but should be moist enough to hold together when you squeeze it in your hands. Press the mixture in a pan. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Cut into squares and enjoy.

Yoga Asana of the Month (June)

It's that time again. Another yoga asana to soothe your yogic soul. This month is eagle pose (garudasana). The name of the video states this is an advanced yoga pose, but it's really not. I've been instructed in this pose in beginner classes. If you're having trouble balancing try focusing on one point and nothing else. As you become more comfortable in eagle, you can wrap your arms and legs at the same time (not legs first and then arms as in the video). Eagle pose will stretch out your ankles, calves and thighs. With continual practice eagle pose should also improve balance. Don't forget to do the other side too!

Note: The above video is provided by YouTube. I have no control over the ads within this video. I am not affiliated with these advertisers, and do not endorse their products.