Who put the Guac in the Guacamole?

This weekend was spent trying lots of recipes to fill the fridge with yummy treats and snacks for the following week. Guacamole and Salsa are some of my favorite things, and of course, a dehydrator would come in really handy to make some chips to go with that dip!!

The chip in the dip is not raw, but it is a healthy alternative to the regular processed chips. Kristen is about to enjoy her "requested" chips and dip cuddled on the couch with a nice movie. I got a nice compliment from her today, one that put a smile on my face. She said "this is what I love about your house mom, we always get healthy food".... sometimes in life, there are signs along the road that tell you that you are headed in the right direction. Thanks Kristen <3

For those who are interested in getting compliments for the best Guac around, here is my (not so) secret recipe: Groovy Guacamole. It is nice to hear your kids fighting sometimes "hey, pass me some, you have had more than enough... hey, come back here!"
PS - my 30 days will start tomorrow, November 10th... :o)

I'm "Krauting"

Our Traditional Easter Dinner, coming from a Polish Family, consists of sticks, cabbage rolls, perogy and sauerkraut. Now, years ago, my favorites and my dinner plate would certainly consist of the first three, I was never much of a sauerkraut eater.

I have heard about, and toyed with the idea of "raw sauerkraut", and this years Easter Celebration was all I needed to attempt my own. Now of course, I didn't have it ready for Easter, in fact, it is sitting on my kitchen counter as we "speak", but I am "krauting" none the less!

I had a hard time finding a raw sauerkraut recipe on the web, but I ended up basically shredding the cabbage (boy, am I thankful for my food processor) and adding salt and caraway seeds, smashing the cabbage and placing it in a mason jar. From what I read, it will be ready in three to seven days.

I especially like the idea of making raw sauerkraut because of the health benefits. I hope this recipe works well, and if not, in three to seven days, I will be looking for another one!

And of course, with all that shredded cabbage around, I just had to have an Asian Pear and Cashew Salad for dinner!

If you haven't noticed, I've finally figured out how to add the "subscribe to" button on my site! Hope it works!!! (Sometimes I'm a bit computer challenged!)

Mothers of Green Smoothie Drinkers Unite....

There seems to be a "green smoothie" movement out there. Not entirely sure if it has been there for awhile and I am just catching on to it, or whether it is a new idea among the "raw bloggers". Regardless of what it is, green smoothies seem to be getting attention.

The idea of blending your greens is a good way to release all of the nutrients that they contain. According to "Green for Life" the cellular makeup of the leaves makes it very difficult for our bodies to get to the nutrients unless they are chewed up really well. Every time I hear or read that, it reminds me of my grandmother and my dad (apple doesn't fall far from the tree) tellling me to chew each bite 40 times. Not sure about you, but I can't do that! My jaw actually starts to hurt. So, it makes sense to release all of the nutrients in the greens by blending them.

I remember when the "health stores" started coming out with "greens". Never bought any myself, but it is my understanding that it is some kind of putrid powder, that you mix into a big glass of water and have to choke down. I don't understand that entirely, why would anyone want to do that instead of enjoying a refreshing, easy to make, good for you, etc. etc. smoothie? That I guess is my question of the day.

I do have to say, that feeding children greens via a smoothie is a lot less stressful than telling them that they can't leave the table until all their veggies are gone. If you can get them past the colour of the drink, they enjoy it! Think I have just solved the veggie dilema for mothers everywhere! Now, if I could just contact all of them and sign them up for the "Mothers of Green Smoothie Drinkers". hmm, could be on to something here!

Okay, kidding and thoughts aside, I have to share my dinner last night (well, not literally, of course). I must confess that I am running out of ideas for getting excited over a bowl of salad, or one single fruit. I actually think my body is needing a change in the fruit department because it isn't as appealing as it once was. This recipe made me feel like I was eating "real food" which is what I needed at the time.

My "Real Food" Recipe

½ cucumber, diced into small pieces
3 tomatoes, diced into small pieces
1 green onion, sliced
2 cobs of corn (minus the cob)
Basil

Place all in a bowl, top with fresh basil, and enjoy - This one is a keeper in my books, nothing tastes better than raw corn on a cold winter day!

Let the Green Smoothies Begin!

Tropical Green Smoothie

2 clementine oranges
1 banana
½ pineapple
water and ice chips
ground flax meal
spinach (3 handfuls)

Place all in smoothie maker and enjoy!

This one even all of my kids liked the taste of! This morning, upon making the regular banana/pineapple smoothie, I wanted to add some "greens" to it. Knowing that the kids would scrunch their noses up, I poured their glasses out, and needed to add more ingredients to make enough of the "green goop" to fill my water bottle and take to work. Looking around the kitchen, I came up with the above ingredients, threw them into the blender, and the result was delicious. The girls all tried a sip, and agreed that I could make this smoothie for tomorrow's breakfast!

I am one week from joining The Raw Diva's on the three day green-smoothie challenge (even got my dad interested in joining me!). I have been enjoying "Green for Life", and am very interested to learn all of the health benefits in a green glass of goop! I am trying a few recipes to come up with a yummy green treat, and today I might have found one. I am conciously trying to add the green smoothies into my daily diet. I am trying to have 32 oz per day (that is one glass in the morning, plus my "smoothie" jug full to take to work with me). I am going to introduce green smoothies into the kids diet, every-other day, starting tomorrow.

Even the girls at work tried my green smoothie today! They were all impressed at how good it tastes, regardless of the look! Maybe I will have some more green-smoothie converts soon! So, Tigerlily, next time your friends ask about your swamp-water, see how daring they are - mine made quite the conversation around the water cooler at lunch today!

Banana Smoothies - More Smoothie Creations!

This Yummy-Yellow Delight was enjoyed by the whole family last night as a "dessert" after dinner. It was such a success, that it was again the smoothie of choice for breakfast today. I must admit though, I don't think there is such a thing as a "bad smoothie combination", if there is, I haven't come across it yet. Seems everytime I throw fresh fruit in my smoothie maker, with water and ice chips, the result is simply delicious!

Banana Delight Smoothie (named by Kristen)

3/4 Pineapple
2 Bananas
1 cup ice chips
4 cups water

Throw into smoothie maker and enjoy - makes an entire blender full!

My Raw Buddy, Tigerlily and I have successfully made it through our 7-day detox. The Raw Divas are offering a "Green Smoothie 3-day Challenge", and that is going to be our next mission together (starting December 17th). We also have a new member to our group, Pepper, and she is on The Raw Divas also. She is starting her detox this weekend. You can read all about Tigerlily's and my detox on The Raw Divas website's Powder Room, under pre-detox chit-chat. Here you can also find a lot more valuable information about detoxing and the raw diet. I'm thinking we should all plan a "raw diva slumber party" together, maybe even invite Tera and Amy!

With my children getting so involved in this raw adventure, it has added an additional layer of excitement for me! I want to be well informed and make sure that this is the right thing for them also. I have ordered "Green for Life" by Victoria Boutenko. I think that will help educate me more on this raw food adventure. Tigerlily has read this book also, and it seems to be mentioned on nearly every raw food sight that I have frequented. I also want to continue reading my "Living on Live Foods". I'm going to have a few favorites to pull out infront of a friends fireplace this year!

SPECIAL NOTE: Imagine my surprise when I logged on to my blog and read the comment left on yesterday's post! Thanks Kristen, you just warmed your mom's heart! And I am always proud of you too!

Christmas Came Early

Christmas came early in my house this year. It came in the form of a new Back To Basics Smoothie Maker. How did I know it was Christmas, because when I walked down the blender aisle at my department store and found that they had a smoothie maker, I yelled "YEAH!" (and I think I might of even jumped up and down). Embarrassingly, I stated to the other shoppers who looked at me quite stunned, "I've always wanted one of these!" as I hugged the box. Gee, what a girl...

My New Smoothie Maker is even better than the old one. It has a dispenser from the bottom, that powers up the blades as soon as you put the cup against it, fresh mixed smoothies with every glass. Today's breakfast consisted of 1/2 pineapple, one banana, 2 cups frozen strawberries and 1 cup of globe grapes. It was so smooth and creamie, I even had my kids "ooing and awing" this morning. This Smoothie Combination tastes just like a Strawberry Daiquiri, better save that recipe! Think it is time to start intoducing some more green smoothies to our mornings!

I even bought myself a coffee grinder last night. What on earth would a raw girl want with a coffee grinder you ask? Well, I need something to grind all of those raw cacao beans once I am off my detox! I found a list on one of the raw websites that listed a coffee grinder as a "must have appliance" for a raw food kitchen. So, I am glad that I have one (price was right), but my "must have" is definitely my SMOOTHIE MAKER!!!!!! Somehow a regular blender just doesn't make the grade!

Christmas is fast approaching (less than a month away and it will be all done!). As this is my first "raw" Christmas, I'm sure that I will be tempted by mash potatoes and gravy (never been a turkey girl), perogies and cabbage rolls, not to mention my mom's absolute best shortbread ever made! Sheesh, getting anxious just thinking about it. I have signed up for "The Raw Holiday Survival Guide" with Raw Food Right Now. I am looking forward to additional support as I make my way through the holiday season.

My 7-day detox is almost at an end. This week I am losing weight at a rate of about 1/2 lb per day. Add that to the 5 plus pounds from last week, and I am feeling really good about myself. Looking back at my detox week, it was much easier than I thought it was going to be. I think it also helped me from developing a dependency on nuts and oils, which can happen on a raw-food diet. I think that I am going to make a batch of my macarroon truffles to celebrate this weekend!

I know that my raw-food buddy, Tigerlily and I, will have a continuing journey for a long time to come. She survived Thanksgiving, we survived the detox and now we can look forward to Christmas together. I am also glad that I have someone I can talk to on an on-going basis. Without The Raw Divas, we never would have found each other!

Strawberry Daiquiri Smoothie
1/2 pineapple
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup green globe grapes (complete with seeds)
1 banana
Water
Place all ingredients into a smoothie maker, and enjoy - recipe makes a full blender!

Easy Quinoa Salad and Raw Macaroon Truffles

My first raw creation! This is what happened to those quinoa seeds that I sprouted a few days ago, and what become my dinner last night.

Guess this is part of the "raw food adventure". Don't think that I would have ever posted a recipe for "Chicken whatever" before, nor would I have the same satisfaction in saying "I made this!". In fact, I don't think that I ever would have been daring enough to try my own creation on a SAD diet. I was never very good at it. Substitution was my enemy. If I didn't have all the ingredients, and didn't prepare the meal EXACTLY as the recipe stated, it would more than likely end up in the garbage. You are encouraged to try your own creations on a raw food diet, and that is something that excites me more than I ever thought it would. I hope I can make experimenting in the kitchen a "weekly event".

Easy Quinoa Salad
3 cups soaked Quinoa (1 cup pre-soaked)
1 cup chopped grape tomatoes
½ cucumber, diced
1 green onion
Juice of ½ lemon

(I think Cilantro would be good in here too if you like it, I'm not that big of a fan). Place all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy! Even my kids liked this one, they thought it was pretty interesting to see the "seeds with tails" in their salad!

I also made "Raw Macaroon Truffles" (I'm so proud, and of course, an original recipe also!) They will be for my dinner party tonight.

Raw Macaroon Truffles
1 cup dates pitted and soaked
1 jar (8 oz) Cacao Bliss (chocolate coconut butter)
½ cup carob powder
Cacao Nibs

After soaking dates, place in food processer until blended. Add jar of Cacao bliss and blend some more. Add Carob powder. Place in freezer until firm enough to form into balls. Roll in Cacao nibs.

Kids loved this one. I (sigh) stayed clear, as not to disrupt the detox. Proud of me T.Lily? Hopefully I can say the same thing after I attend the dinner party.

The one continuing theme that I seem to come across is not to be hard on yourself for going astray. If you happen to "slip" while on your raw-food adventure, it is just as easy to start off from where you left off. The guilt that you carry around could be more toxic to your body than those few bites of whatever you ate that was not allowed.

I know that I will do fine tonight. As it is my first "raw adventure outside", I am interested to see how I feel mentally when I am sitting at a table with people eating cooked food, other than my children. But life offers all kinds of new adventures for us to take, and this is just one more on my path!

Happy Saturday!