When I grow up, I want to drink Green Juice

So, when I grow up, I want to drink Green Juice: When you first start drinking coffee, very often you need to have three cream and three sugars to be able to drink it; and then you slowly wean off the sugar and cream until you can tolerate a more "grown up" coffee (even at the end of my coffee drinking days, I only got as far as two creams and one sugar).

When a person switches to raw food (at least in my case), there is a love affair with fruit. The natural sweetness of the fruit is very satisfying. Another blogger, Darice Michelle is pursuing a "14-day no fruit" diet right now. She too is a fairly new rawbie, and seems to have fallen in the fruit path, much like me. I wish her luck, not sure if I could have a salad for breakfast every day! Heidi, from Raw Food Right Now, also eluded to enjoying the fruit juice over the green juice at the beginning of her Juice Feast.

There are days when I find myself only consuming fruit. Not only is it delicious, I find that it is very easy to "take and go" when I am leaving the house for work in the morning. I know that I have to add more greens to my diet and I also know that my body starts to crave the greens if I have gone without them for very long. It is amazing to me, since becoming raw, how easy it is to "listen" to your body. The food cravings seem to melt away (well, maybe not the chocolate), and you are left having your body tell you what you need. I find that there are times when I love nuts, and can eat them by the handful, then there are other times, when the same nuts taste awful. This is my bodies way of telling me "enough"!

I am TOTALLY LOVING my juicer! Every morning since its arrival, the kids and I have been enjoying a fresh glass of juice in the morning. Experimenting is one of the exciting aspects of a juicer. I will be incorporating more greens into my juices for the Global Juice Feast, but for now, I am being a child, and enjoying all of the excitement and pleasure in a simple fruit juice.

Today, I made a small mason jar of naval oranges, blood oranges and clementines, to take to work with me. I juiced a glass of a naval orange, clementines and an apple for me to enjoy while soaking in the tub this morning (I’m not much of a shower person - I enjoy a nice soak much more). The kids all had a professional activity day, so I had the juice, the kitchen and the bathroom to myself this morning! APPLES AND ORANGES: surprised that the juice makers haven’t come up with that combination yet. It was truly amazing and so simple!

I will be spending the weekend in Toronto. I have packed my ice skates (for Nathan Phillip Square) and my juicer (glad it’s a portable one) to treat Chris to a nice glass of juice tomorrow morning (think I’ll save the zucchini pasta for another time). I’m also very excited because at some point over the weekend, we will be visiting the Live Food Bar, my first trip to a Raw Restaurant. This is a very special Anniversary for us, and I look forward to what the weekend has in store....
Hope your weekend is off to a great start! (Pretty neat colour for Blood Orange Juice!) Happy Friday!

Blood and Chocolates

There is nothing in this world better than raw chocolate. I have to admit that a high percentage cacao chocolate bar, takes a bit of getting used to. However, add some raw cacao powder, raw carob, or raw cacao nibs to any recipe and you have a taste sensation. Nutritionally, raw chocolate is very good for you, much unlike its evil twin "processed chocolate".

If you have a sweet tooth like me, and are in desperate need of a chocolate childhood memory, be sure to check out Rawdorable. Shannon has her own blog site, as well as weekly blog for We Like it Raw. Believe it or not, this week she has rawified "sex in a pan" (at least that is what we call it). She also has raw girl guide cookies and Mallomars to her credit. I know from personal experience, that if you are having problems with one of her recipes, you can contact her via Give it to me Raw, or her blog and she will be more than willing to help.

A favorite recipe of mine when I need a chocolate hit is as follows:

Smooth Chocolate Avocado Pudding (pictured above)
3 regular sized avocados
3/4 - 1 cup maple syrup or agave nectar (adjust to taste)
1/4 cup carob powder
½ cup cocoa powder or raw chocolate powder
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
splash of salt
First blend the avocados in a food processor. Then add half the maple syrup. Then add the powder while its running. Add sweetener to taste. Add the extract at the end. Keep blending until smooth. Best served chilled.
Recipe by Heidi & Justin S. Ohlander
Raw Food, Right Now!
http://www.rawfoodrightnow.com/

Okay, so to tie in my blog title, besides being a werewolf movie that my oldest daughter and I have yet to see, I am referring to my breakfast this morning: I am rather enjoying my juicer! It came this week. Juicing is definitely experimental and time consuming, and definitely worth every effort!!! This morning, I enjoyed freshly squeezed blood oranges for breakfast, all I need is some raw chocolate to make this day (and blog title) complete!

I LOVE getting new kitchen appliance almost as much as a new pair of heels! Jaclyn even commented on our kitchen accessories last night - on my kitchen counter, I have my smoothie maker, this week I have also brought out my food processor, and now there is a juicer. Good thing my new house has a lot of counter space!

And for all of you Ontario Chocoholics, check out my new favorite Canadian Site: Upayanaturals. Customer service is great, and I'm gonna be sampling Raweo Cookies this weekend! If you stop by, let Dennis know I sent you.

Happy Thursday!!!

More Snow and More Greens in the Forecast!

We have been hit with snow storm after snow storm this past week. Last friday we got over a foot of snow; together with school closures for lots of happy kids! This week, wednesday and thursday brought school closures again due to ice and snow storms. My children had school yesterday, but a downed powerline caused the schools to close early due to lack of power.

Its hard to tell by the photo, but this tree is actually covered in a thin layer of ice. After an ice-storm, when the sun shines, it is one of the prettiest sights ever. The whole world looks like glass. I have tried to take pictures of this, but it never turns out as beautiful as the actual sight.

Therefore, this week I have been neglectful of a few things; namely my blog and the mountain climb. I am hoping to get back on track, weather permitting, very soon.

Another thing that I have noticed lately, is that my body is on more of a fruit kick than a veggie kick. After reading "Green for Life" I know that lack of greens in a diet is often where raw foodists and vegans/vegetarians often fail. Therefore, I do listen to my body and eat what I crave, but when my green intake is down, I supplement with my "Raw Greens". I also purchased some for the kids, cause we all know that (most) kids don't eat enough greens!

And guess what, they are even made in my home town, Ancaster, Ontario.

Also, I have committed to March 1, 2008 to start (or at least attempt) a juice feast. It is Global Juice Feast day and there will be a lot of people starting (and I'm sure attempting) a juice feast at that time. Tigerlily and I will be among them. So, between now and then, I have some more research to do, I have to purchase a good juicer, and I have to get prepared (stock up on lots and lots and lots of fruits and veggies)! I am looking forward to it.

Busy weekend in store... lots to do when you are buying and selling your home.

Papaya Boats

This is one of my family's favorite breakfasts lately. It is REALLY simple, and that is key when you are rushing around trying to get four little people out the door (some of which are taller than I am, but I guess children will always be little in their mother's eyes!).

For the kids, I cut the papaya in half, clean it out, fill the cavity with vanilla yogurt and top with a sliced strawberry. For my "raw" creation, I do the same, but instead of vanilla yogurt, I use a cashew based "cream" that is really yummy!

The weather has been pretty nasty in Southern Ontario as of late, so I haven't been too good about my "mountain climbing". I hope to start that routine again today. Funny thing about exercise; you dread it, then you get use to it, then you miss it. I just keep thinking about how great my legs will look in a pair of shorts this summer if I keep that up! :0)

Well, its a new week, with new possibilities and new adventures... I anticipate much excitement around the corner (gee, I sound like a fortune cookie). One of my adventures this week will be to hunt for a "juicer" to help in my next adventure.... if you have any good brand name suggestions, let me know.