Your Vegan Moment of Weakness 

You know it will happen eventually. You'll feel sad, or really ravenous or just tired and you are going to want something sweet.

Sometimes an orange just doesn't cut it. I'm talking donut sweet, chocolate cake with chocolate icing sweet. Something that gives you that comforting rush.

I've SEEN the vegan donuts, but seriously, have you read the ingredient list? It might be better for your health to go get a Krispy Kreme donut.

Did you know that sugar improves cognitive function? 

Here's what I do when I need sugar but don't want to abandon my ideology.

Paste of the Gods (but mostly Goddesses) 

Cardamon

Organic dried currants

Cacao powder

Coconut oil 

(Raw Honey- Optional) 

The trick to this is to do it in a mortar and pestle first grinding the fresh spices you  like ( try cinnamon, marcona almonds, chili, whatever will go with the coconut oil flavour that you add later).

Then mush the currants in there. Yeah, it takes some muscle but it also adds to the anticipation. Think of it as an energy spice addition.

When that is all mushed together, add about 2 to 3 times as much cacao powder ( or nibs) as what is now in the bowl. Get it as mixed together as you can - there WILL be chunks, and then add coconut oil to taste. 

What are you waiting for? Go make it!!!

Want to be a wild-eyed raw hippie? Don't read this post....

Image via Wikipedia

My friend Teresa told me recently that every raw foodist she had ever met had been a 'wild-eyed hippie' and she was glad to see that I hadn't become one. Ok, so your average construction worker is not likely to become a raw foodist so there is a certain population that is even willing to consider the concept. More likely in my mind though, is the prominence of fresh fruits available to us and the popularity of juicing.

There is a popular diet theory related to cancer and chronic illnesses which claims that certain foods create acidity or alkalinity in the body with alkalinity being the preferred state (The Acid-Alkaline Food Guide).  Being familiar with this, I realized that when I first was starting out with raw foods, I was eating an acid forming raw foods diet! Lots of fruits, dates, nuts, and more fruits. I was eating very few veggies at all.  It was almost like the solid version of a fruit juice fast. If you've ever been on one, you realize that you can get extremely spacey and weak. 

I think that these 'wild eyed hippies' are well meaning people who have failed to adequately include vegetables, particularly greens in their diets. I have noticed a marked difference when eating chard or kale regularly. Also, I rarely drink fruit (or even vegetable) juice. I believe that my body needs the fiber in food to keep me grounded. A liquid diet is good for a short cleanse but most of my life I have been processing fiber!

Here is a great video from professional raw foodist David Wolfe (found on www.thebestofrawfood.com)

David Wolfe on Greens (and Love)

Enjoy!

Laura's Mango Guacamole

Guacamole from Whole Foods is my favorite fast food. I eat it with a spoon!

This is much better if you have time. Sweet and Fatty and Spicy!

Laura's Mango Guacamole
3 Avocados mashed
1 Ripe Mango cut in small cubes ( not the little 'champagne' ones -use 2 if you have those)
3 Green Onions (finely chopped)
2 cloves Garlic (mashed in Garlic press)
1 Tablespoon Salt
1/2 Cup Cilantro (Chopped)
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1  Jalapeno-seeds removed & finely chopped (or hotter variety of chili if you'd like)

Put everything in a big bowl and mix.
Eat with cut zucchini pieces or wrap it in a piece of lettuce with some diced tomato. It won't last long.

[Thanks to my friend, Laura Moretz for this awesome recipe!]

Enjoy!

Raw Red Pepper Patties

After Fixin's

Before Fixin's

Are you so tired of the labor intensiveness of raw foods?
Make a batch of these and put in the fridge for quick meals.


Raw Red Pepper Patties
1/2 Cup Soaked Sunflower seeds
2 Cup Ground Flaxseeds
1 Large Red Pepper
2 Carrots
1/2 Leek Chopped
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Herbs de Provence


Blend in blender until mushy. Add more flaxseed meal until tacky. Flatten on cutting sheet to about 1/4 inch and cut circles with glasses or whatever's handy. Put on dehydrators sheets and dehydrate until dry but still flexible.
Store in Fridge and eat often.

If this is too much trouble you can get me to make them. Check out my etsy shop.

Enjoy!

'Too Hot to Eat' Smoothie

So light it won't be too much -even in the heat.

Coconut Water
Watermelon slice
1 banana
sprig of fresh mint for garnish

Blend and sip. If it's still too heavy, omit the banana.

I'll be trying some watermelon basil liquification in the next few days. I've heard it's great but I am wary...

Enjoy!

How and Why to keep Chemicals OFF of your Skin....

Our skin is not where we end and the world begins, in fact it is the first layer of us. It is where we reach out to the world from and how the world interacts with us. In this age of plastic, the skin is often viewed as a cellophane wrapper that keeps our guts from spilling into the carpet. We have, as a culture, forgotten that the skin is not only the largest organ but also (gasp!) interacts with the environment outside of us.

Two examples of medical products absorbed through the skin:

1. Progesterone cream that they sell in the store for menopausal women requires only a small amount ( the size of a dime) rubbed into the skin and it is immediately absorbed into the system. 
2. There is a birth control 'vehicle' called The Patch which is basically a band aid with hormones that are absorbed transdermally.

These don't seem so shocking, but experiencing the effect of a small amount of something rubbed on your skin is a very visceral experience. Now imagine that you are slathering your body with some vanilla scented chemical lotion from Rite Aid. What is being absorbed into your system? How much? How quickly?

 With the unprecedented rise of an outrageous number of medical problems, can we justify this carelessness?To complicate the matter, keeping up with the current news on what is acceptable and what is potentially harmful is a full time job (or more.)

Those of us with extreme health issues, besides looking at diet, might want to consider other exposures that can affect the strength of their immune system. The amount of lotions, creams, conditioners, soaps, powders, etc in the typical bathroom is mind boggling. Not only are they a major money drain, but they are loaded with preservatives- so they don't have to be refrigerated. Due to those same preservatives they are often kept and considered usable- for YEARS.

Quick and Dirty Solution:
Part 1: "Exfoliate"

• Anything older than 3 months- Throw out! Would you eat 3 month old vegetables? Ewww!

Part 2: "Renew"

• Castile Soap
• Shampoo once a week (Daily shampooing was a marketing gimmick from Vidal Sassoon!)
• Baking Soda for teeth and facial washing (serious)
• Essential oil and natural non-talc (or baking soda) for deodorant
• Vinegar rinse for the hair

Chemicals are a huge part of our environment, like it or not. Why buy organic foods and then pollute your body with 'personal care products'? If you can do it simply, you'll have more energy for your priorities.

Enjoy!

Ref: 

"no-poo shampoo alternatives" 

Natural Deodorant

No Soak Summer Melange

Easy = Yummy

Handful of Cashews
Sprinkling of Hemp Powder (or Maca)
1 cut bananna
chopped Yellow watermelon
Sprinkling of Goji Berries

Assemble and Consume!

Enjoy!
Karen