I'm Dreaming of a Raw Christmas!

Sorry I have been gone so long, but I caught a cold and just haven't felt like posting (or much else, for that matter).

Bob and I had a lovely Christmas Dinner for just the two of us. It was not as extravagant as we had originally planned, due to me getting sick and not being able to help out in the kitchen, but it was still great. I'm sure that we will be trying out the dessert recipes that we had to cut from the celebration at a future date.

We are going to go clockwise around the plate and I will tell you what we had for dinner. First up will be some of the recipes that we got from Raw Food, Right Now's Raw Christmas Recipe Menu e-book. We are starting at the bottom of the plate with Meaty Nut Loaf and Marinara Sauce, a piece of Macadamia White Cheddar Cheese Ball, and Mango Cranberry Chutney. Then Bob made Hot and Sour Asian Slaw and Rawcoroni Salad. Everything was delish!!! Seriously, these are all keepers!!!

Raw Food, Right Now Christmas Recipes!

Have you heard the news??? Heidi and Justin have done it again!!! They have just released their brand spankin' new Raw Food, Right Now's Raw Christmas Recipe Menu e-book!!! Now, it is true that I have not actually tasted any of these recipes... YET. But rest assured, that will be changing soon!!! Once Bob looks over these recipes, there will be a mad dash to the market to stock up on ingredients!!!

The first thing I have to tell you is that I have had their Raw Thanksgiving Recipes and they are absolutely wonderful... so I have no doubt that these will also be outstanding.

Now I could tell you all about the recipes that are included in this book, but the fact is... Justin and Heidi have a page all set up for you to read all about it!!!

Click here to view more details

Don't be surprised to see a post with these recipes made up for our Holiday Feast in about a week!!!

Are you still trying to decide if you want to buy this bounty of goodness??? Well just cast your eyes below at the Raw Chocolate Coins!!! Are you salivating, yet?

Green Smoothie 3-Day Challenge

Are you ready for a challenge? It's a good one!!!

On Dec. 17th, Bob and I are going to embark on a three day adventure of nothing but green smoothies!!! The program that we are going to be following is The Raw Divas' Green Smoothie Queen 3-Day Challenge. For a mere $19.95 you will get a beautiful Green Smoothie Jug (like those pictured above) plus 2 FREE PASSES to the Green Smoothie Queen 3-Day Challenge!!! Bob and I each bought a jug so we each got to invite a friend along for the experience!

The jugs are really great! My favorite smoothie jug has always been my glass "canning jar" mug. However, I couldn't take it with me if I was on the go. These Diva Jugs are made out of Nalgene and hold a generous 4 cups of liquid. The attached screw top lid makes it easy to pack it up for a road trip, too. Besides that, all those lovely words all over the side are bound to put a smile on your face!!! [grin]

Do you have to buy a jug to take the challenge? No! The program will only cost you $5.00 without the jug. If you get some friends and family to sign up with you, it will only be $4.00 apiece for 5 or more people!!! Go ahead, ask your siblings, co-workers, Uncle Donnie, your chiropractor or whoever to join you for just three days. You will all feel better and look better for the upcoming holiday season! All that is needed is a blender and a good place to buy fruits and veggies... the recipes will be provided!

For more info, or to sign up just clickity-click HERE. You will instantly be directed to a page that should answer all of your questions. Go ahead... click on it and read all about the program!!! Hurry though, sign-ups for the program will be ending very soon!!!

And if you do decide to take the challenge, please leave me a comment or drop me an e-mail and let me know!!!

PLEASE NOTE: The above special offer is no longer in effect. It has been replaced by THIS offer. And you can still buy the jugs seperately, HERE.

Dinner for Two

Not a turkey in site (other than Bob), and no cooking was involved. In fact, this was the easiest Thanksgiving that Bob and I have ever had. Very laid back, and everything came together beautifully!!! A lot of the dishes could be made ahead of time. I don't have the same aversion to food prep that I do with cooking, so this year I actually made a few of the dishes, myself.

What did we have? Going clockwise around the plate, there was Raw Cranberry Relish, Raw Walnut Pecan Stuffing with Raw Gravy, Raw Waldorf Salad, Spinach Casserole and smack dab in the middle is Raw Deviled Eggless "Eggs" Spread! It was all delicious!!! To drink we had Basil Lemonade with basil frozen in the icecubes.

The lemonade was based on Terilynn's of The Daily Raw Cafe's recipe for Basil Limeade. We used lemons and filled the glass about half full of the basil lemonade mixture and then filled it with club soda for a sparkling drink. We LOVE this drink, with either lemons or limes!

Jackie Graff of Sprout Raw Food is the creator of the recipe for the Spinach Casserole. We've used it for a few years for different occasions! Although it is featured in one of her recipe books, she also just sent the recipe out in her newsletter. I'm sorry, I don't have a link to the actual recipe.

The rest of the meal came straight out of Raw Food, Right Now!'s Raw Thanksgiving Recipes ebook! I can't say enough about how great these recipes turned out! Not sure you want to buy it? Well, just remember that it has the Bob and Keely seal of approval!!! [grin]

Salad Days

Why has the term "salad days" taken on such a negative connotation? It is usually used to refer to those lean times before you have all the "gravy". I am assuming that this is a reference to only being able to afford a salad on a restaurant menu. However, I think that salads can be a glorious thing filled with all sorts of goodies! Nothing to "look down your nose at", for sure.

Today, I am eating nothing but salads!!! They are filled with all sorts of good things and just might make those people who think you only eat salad when you have no money to take a second look! So go ahead... declare your own Salad Daze!!! [grin]

On the Road...Raw

Bob and I are often asked what we do when we go on the road. We are on the road about three days almost every week. The places we stay (lately the Residence Inn in Boardman, Ohio) have kitchens which feature a full sized refrigerator. We don't use the stove or microwave (unless the call of the free popcorn is too great... but that is extremely rare). But the fridge is a great thing!

We have two options, we can either shlep all the ingredients to the hotel and drag our blender along to make it all into smoothies, or we can make it all ahead (and by we, I mean me) and just take the finished product.

Now before you start preaching to me about the hazards of plastic leaching into my food, let me just say...I know. However, glass is not an option when we are packing for a trip, due to possible breakage and thus meal loss. We have replaced the bowls with nalgene, so that is much better, and we will eventually get smoothie containers made out of the same substance.

I make a breakfast whole fruit smoothie for each of us for the day we leave. Then there is a green smoothie for lunch and a dinner sized salad for that evening. The dinner salad features raw seeds and nuts, or avocado... this week we had both. We have lunch sized salads for the second day, too. I try to vary some of the ingredients in the dinner and lunch salads just for variety, and I have different dressings in each. Both salads are made from a variety of salad greens and spinach. Then they are dressed up with cubed red, yellow and orange bell peppers, grape tomatoes, shredded carrot, broccoli slaw, green beans, sometimes mushrooms, and sprouts of some sort. Finally, on the day we leave we have a green smoothie ready for us to drink in the car for our lunch as we wheel our way home!!! We also have a grocery store right down the street in case we feel the need to get some raw veggies or such to snack on. However, I always pack and usually end up taking back home, a couple of raw snack bars of some sort.

Generally we treat ourselves the second night and go out to the local vegan restaurant, The Flaming Ice Cube Cafe, for dinner. On the second and third day we get our breakfast from the hotel. They have a full breakfast bar and it always includes at least three varieties of fresh fruit. They also have a fruit salad, usually made with varieties of melon.

During the day on the one full day that we are in the hotel, while Bob is slaving away holding hearings, I am taking full advantage of the hotel "down time"! I exercise in the pool for at least one hour, then I hop over into the hot tub for 15 to 20 minutes and just soak my tired muscles and joints. After I relax on a lounge chair for around a half hour (so I'm dry enough to put my sweats on over my suit) I head up to the room for a shower and shampoo to rid myself of the evil pool chemicals. [grin] Then I generally do something girly like give myself a manicure and put myself together so I look nice when we go out that night. I spend any free time and travel time knitting scarves and hats for this year's Christmas presents!!!

Satsuma Smoothie

I got a great deal on a 5 pound box of Satsuma Mandarin Oranges, yesterday. I try to stay away from a lot of citrus, but I wanted to come up with something that featured these little jewels! This is probably one of those recipes that will put the folks in cooler climates running for the blankets, but keep it for the summer, or enjoy it while soaking in the tub! [grin]

Satsuma Smoothie
(makes about 6 cups)

10 Mandarin Oranges - juiced
1 banana
16 oz. bag of Frozen Fruit for Smoothies (strawberry, mango & pineapple blend)

Blend the mandarin juice and half of the frozen fruit blend until smooth. Add remaining frozen fruit and blend until completely smooth. You may need to add a bit of water to get that all blended. Finally blend in the banana.

NOTE: If you want a special occasion super sweet smoothie, make as above but add one tablespoon of agave nectar and serve in fancy glasses, garnished with mandarin slices.

Cran-Apple Smoothie

How can you have a Cran-Apple Smoothie if you have no cranberries!!! I had been all set to make this smoothie today. I had gotten dried cranberries a week or so ago, and then just yesterday I went out and got three Honey Crisp Apples. I was really looking forward to making something new, as with all the hustle and bustle around here, I had just been making the same things or using someone else's recipes. I had my apples peeled, and blended. I reached for the cranberries. No cranberries. I was NOT amused. Either they were used in another recipe and not replaced, or someone snacked on them. [sigh] So... because I was all ready to blog about my newest smoothie I threw in a couple of handfuls of Goji berries! Yum!!!

Cran-Apple Smoothie

3 apples
apple juice - enough to blend apples
1 or 2 handfuls of dried cranberries

Blend the apples and juice until smooth, then throw in your cranberries and blend to chop them up a bit. If you have no cranberries... goji berries will do! [grin]

Minty Pear Sensation

I originally made the recipe with one each of three pears, Bartlett, Red Anjou and Brown Asian. The Asian Pear had a crisp texture and a pleasant, almost spicy flavor. The Bartlett was a fine example of a pear. Good pear flavor and juiciness. The Red Anjou was a bit of a disappointment to me. Though, by far, the prettiest of the pears... it's flavor was rather bland for me, and it was not at all sweet. Therefore the below recipe replaces the Red Anjou with a second Bartlett (or use a Red Bartlett). You could also try replacing one of the pears with two Seckel Pears which are very sweet.

Minty Pear Sensation
(makes about 4 cups)

2 Bartlett Pears
1 Brown Asian Pear
2 or 3 sprigs of mint
enough Apple (or Pear) Juice to blend
1 T light Raw Agave Nectar*

Whip up everything except the Agave Nectar in the blender. Do a little taste test. If the pears were sweet enough for you, go to the next step. If it tastes like it needs a little something, add the Agave and blend again. Place in dessert bowls and chill in refrigerator for at least one hour. Decorate with additional mint leaves if desired.

NOTE: I initially made this up as a smoothie, but I put a small dessert bowl of it in the fridge to see what would happen and Bob and I agree it makes a really refreshing little dessert. If you do want a smoothie, though, just add more liquid.

Harvest Sauce and Smoothie

Raw Apple-Pear Sauce
(makes about 4 cups)

2 Jonagold Apples - peeled & cored
4 Seckel Pears - peeled & cored
1 cup apple juice or cider
1 large handful of Dried Cranberries

Slice the apples and pears and place in your blender along with just enough liquid to blend and process. Add the cranberries and blend until the mixture starts to turn pink with red flakes. Chill in fridge. When ready to serve, spoon into pretty dishes and garnish with dried cranberries. (As the apples and pears oxidize they will turn to regular applesauce color.)



Harvest Smoothie
(makes a little more than a quart)

Make the Raw Apple-Pear Sauce recipe, but add more liquid to make it thinner. Also add a handful of your favorite mixed fall greens to make a nutritious smoothie. You can garnish this with your dried cranberries, too. It is especially nice if you stir those cranberries into your smoothie. By the time you get to the bottom of your drink, the cranberries will have reconstituted in the liquid and you have a little post drink snack!


NOTES: Jonagold Apples are a firm and slightly tart apple. Seckel Pears are small very sweet pears. In fact, they taste a lot like the canned pears that are packed in light syrup, but they are raw and have no added sweeteners! Great snack for children, too!

My First Subscriber!

Wow!!! I got a message today that someone has actually subscribed to my blog!!! I'm so excited that I have recipe block. Furthermore, I don't even recognize the e-mail address, so it is not my hubby just humoring me. [grin] Well, whoever you are, and anyone else that is reading... Welcome! And please go ahead and vote on the poll right over there, under my profile. Also, feel free to leave me a comment and introduce yourself! I'll try to get another recipe posted in a day or two.

BBC Smoothie

I just made the best smoothie for my breakfast!!! This is what happens when you get up in the morning and look around, only to find that the only fresh fruit you have left in the house would not make a good smoothie. What then? Hit the freezer!!!

BBC Smoothie
(Banana, Blueberry and Cherry)

2 cups apple juice
1 fresh or frozen banana
1 cup frozen Blueberries
1 cup frozen Dark Sweet Cherries

Blend it all thoroughly and you will be rewarded by a nice, thick, deep purple smoothie!

I'm sure that this would taste great with greens, but the color would be atrocious!!!

Sweet Summer Smoothie

Sweet Summer Smoothie
4 bananas
2 cups frozen strawberries
1 cup white seedless grapes
1/2 cup raw apple juice

Blend it all up and enjoy while sitting in the sun!

NOTE: I originally posted this recipe on my other site. You can access the original comments from here3 comments, but you can only post new comments from this blog.

Raw Corn & Tomato Jamboree

Lately, every time I went past a display of corn on the cob in the market, I wanted to dive right in and make a meal of it right there! However, self composure and Bob restrained me from making a spectacle of myself. The urge persisted. Yesterday I ran across a recipe which I decided to RAWvolutionize. I decided to cut the recipe in half, which was good, because there were only four ears of corn left in the store! We made it last night, and it is a definite keeper! Bob and I each tasted it last night, but saved it for our lunch today. I personally think that it has better flavor right after you make it. The tomatoes tend to lose their juice which waters down the sauce, if made the day ahead. So if you want a refreshing late summer salad, give this a try!

Raw Corn & Tomato Jamboree
serves 4 as featured salad

8 ears of corn, husked and cut from cob
8 plum tomatoes, diced into 1/4" cubes
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced white and tender green parts
1/4 cup packed chopped fresh herbs. I used basil, tarragon, and cilantro.
herb sprig (I used dill) for garnish
arugula

Mustard Vinaigrette:
3 tablespoons cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Make the mustard vinaigrette: In a jar, combine the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Cover and shake to blend well; set aside. (Or stick it all in a Magic Bullet and blend!)

In a large bowl, add the corn, tomatoes, scallions, and chopped herbs and toss to mix well. Add the dressing and toss again. Spoon mixture over a bed of arugula on individual plates and garnish with herb sprigs. Serve at room temperature.

NOTE: I originally posted this recipe on my other site. You can access the original comments from here3 comments, but you can only post new comments for this post on this blog.

I'm a Raw Diva!

Oh dear gods... what is she up to NOW?!?!?

Well, my dears, for the last several weeks Bob and I have been eating nothing but fresh raw foods. First there was The 7 Day Diva Detox. I felt really good about the program, and I loved the lovely Divas, Tera and Amy, who put it all together. Bob and I were having fun (he was the only male diva... so yeah, he was lovin' it), so we decided to continue on with The Body Enlightenment System (BES) . The BES is a 30 day program meant to free you of cravings and break bad food habits. It works! I prefer fresh fruits and veggies to any processed foods, now!

Last night we graduated from BES. Turned our tassels and threw our mortarboards in the air!

So what did I have today, now that I don't have a menu guiding me? Pizza? Pasta? Chocolate? (Well, maybe if there had been some chocolate in the house, but no.) I had a green smoothie!!! And before I had hung up from my graduation call last night, I had signed up for The Sisterhood Gold program. I'll be getting monthly menus from The Raw Divas. Now we may not follow every menu to the letter. There will be days when we go out with friends and choose to eat cooked foods, but for the most part... we are now RAW!!! Okay, I still want chocolate once in a while, and I will eat chocolate once in a while. But... it is going to be good chocolate and not some dime store bar that has been on the shelf for six months. [grin]

Don't worry about me jumping up on a soapbox and sprouting (just a little raw humor there) off at the mouth that you need to eat raw if you want to have better health. I'll leave that all up to Bob on his blog!!! [grin] However, I may post a picture of something that I made, or a recipe I think you would enjoy once in a while on this blog. I just wanted to let you know where I am at. I still consider myself a strict vegetarian, but I will probably be about 80 to 90% raw. Bob will be closer to 100% and he will be strictly vegan, I believe. This is new to me, but not to him. I do feel better, and best of all... a fellow Tai Chi student said to one of the other students in class that Bob and my skin just glowed!!! I liked that!!!

Manana Smoothie
2 ripe mangoes
2 bananas
several handfuls of spinach (or you may prefer another salad green)

Mix these all up in the blender until dreamy creamy! If you prefer a thinner smoothie, just add some water to the desired thickness. You can chill this or drink it right down. I know some of you are thinking, "YUK! She put spinach in a perfectly good fruit smoothie". Trust me when I tell you... you will not taste the spinach!!! Now some of the other greens have very distinctive tastes, so go with what you like. I personally hate Kale and can not tolerate it in my smoothies, but there are those who will put the whole bunch in there. You can also just add a handful of greens, and gradually increase the amount you add. This is a great energy boosting smoothie for the first thing in the morning... or any time! Yeah, Baby!!!

NOTE: I originally posted this message in my other blog. You can access the original comments from here2 comments, but you can only post new comments on this blog.