Planning Meals

Hello Every one,

Happy October first !! The rain has stopped for a moment in the afternoon and this time I can go out without a rain coat.

I go out of my way to make Raw foods interesting and fun. A favorite song will inspire me to prepare a dish. This weekend coming, I was thinking of preparing a few meals with Pineapple and using the tittle from the new Fall show "Hawaii Five O". Eating healthy does not have to be boring. Bland tasting foods are not allowed in my kitchen. My first rule and only rule is "KEEP IT SIMPLE". I always keep in mind the food combination when planning meals. I look for recipes with similar ingredients. This makes the grocery shopping easier and quicker. Honestly, I don't have the time to hunt all over the city area looking for one thing. The good thing is - Raw foods will last for several days and I can plan meals to add along with the previous meals.
My favorite recipes are now my guidelines . I feel comfortable now adjusting flavors and creating dishes of my own. My best creations came from making mistakes and experimenting with food combinations.
Some people choose to start their transition by adding Raw or Living foods to what they eat daily. When I began my transition, I allowed myself two weeks to make the change from cooked foods to Raw Foods. For the first week, I added a Raw Sandwich or soup for lunch , then for the second week I added Raw dishes for dinner. By the end to the two week period, I started my Raw lifestyle 100% . I knew if I kept eating cooked foods I would never get off of them. I see cooked foods as an addiction and need to stay clear of them.


Every morning I start out with my liquid minerals. This stuff taste better when added with Orange Juice. This morning I decided to hold my nose and take it straight. Ever since I changed to Raw Foods the solid vitamins don't absorb in my system anymore. The pills upset my stomach. Liquid vitamins and minerals do well for me. Go on-line to http://tjclarkco.com and read and view the products from this company. Getting proper nutritional supplements is essential.



My Breakfast meal recipe comes from "Raw Foods Made Easy" by Jennifer Cornbleet

PAPAYA LIME SOUP
1 small ripe papaya
1/2 ripe mango, chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 strawberries

Cut the Papaya in half lengthwise and remove the seeds with a spoon. Place in a blender and process until smooth. Enjoy the orange color !!


For Lunch the Corn Chowder recipe comes from"Living on Live Food" by Alissa Cohen.
The Zucchini Hummus recipe comes from "Raw Foods Made Easy "by Jennifer Cornbleet.

CORN CHOWDER
2 1/2 cups of Almond milk
5 ears of corn
1 small avocado
1 teaspoon sea salt

In a blender or vita-mix, blend all but 1/2 ear of corn until smooth and creamy.
Stir in the remaining 1/2 ear of corn.

ZUCCHINI HUMMUS
1 zucchini, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons raw tahini
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic (1 clove)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt

Place all the ingredients in a food processor fitted with the S blade and process until smooth. Zucchini Hummus will keep for five days.

For my dinner, I prepared these two side vegetables dishes for the week. Both of these come from the "Raw Foods Made Easy" by Jennifer Cornbleet. I still have a serving left of the Corn Chowder to finish.

CARROTS WITH PARSLEY AND WALNUTS

2 carrots, grated
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, unsoaked
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss well. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator . This will last for three days. Enjoy!


SWISS CHARD WITH PINE NUTS AND RAISINS

4 Swiss chard leaves, stems removed
1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon raw pine nuts
1 tablespoon of golden raisins , soaked 10 minutes and drained
dash of black peeper

Stack 2 of the chard leaves with the stem end facing you. Fold in half lengthwise and roll tightly like a cigar. Slice crosswise into thin strips. Chop the leaves into smaller pieces. Repeat with the other two leave. Place the ingredients in a mixing bowl , toss well. Let this marinate for 10 minutes, then store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Before serving, allow the dish to get room temperature. Enjoy!


Planning my fall wardrobe has been fun. Continuing with my Fall favorite triad color combination (Olive green, mustard yellows and all shades of dark reds ) has made it easy for me to get dressed. I can play with my choice of secondary colors like purples, pinks and neutrals browns- like this snake print skirt. "Believe it or not" it only takes me 10 to 20 minutes to get dressed.
I confess that I am a neat freak when it comes to my closet. I can not see the point in standing in front of my closet trying to figure out what to wear for an hour or two.
(I know what is in my closet).

silk shirt,denim Cami, skirt - Goodwill's Thrift store
shoes - Born
vintage necklace - www.satincrystals.com
copper bracelet- street vendor
leather bag- Chelsae Street Market

Thank you for reading
peace and light to you

Artificial Sweeteners

Hello Everyone,

Note: Those of you who are diabetic depend on Artificial sweeteners. If you are deciding to eat Raw Foods find out more information before making that decision.

I walked by the famous coffee spot today and observed the people working on their computers , talking on their cell phones or meeting a friend. I got a glance of woman sitting near the window opening those cute little packets of the well known artificial sweetener. I counted five packets being poured into the coffee or tea she was drinking. In the past, this coffee spot was my place to hang out and meet up with people. There was one incident when two of my friends were conversing at a table and one of them began to open one of these cute packets of artificial sweeteners . The two of us had our mouths wide opened because she kept opening one after the other. We counted seven of the packets. We couldn't believe what we saw. We both tried to tell her that honey or Agave syrup would be a healthier choice , but our efforts were meet with an argument and plenty of resistance. She got angry at us and accused us of being controlling and trying to take away her comfort. This person was not a diabetic. She was overweight and trying to compensate by cutting out her white sugar .
Artificial sweeteners are as bad as refined sugar. Actually they are worse. It is like taking toxic chemicals . They are dangerous acid forming chemicals that the body doesn't need!. Natural sugars are very balanced with the nutritional value of minerals,vitamins, enzymes and fiber. Once the natural sugar is processed the nutritional value is isolated from the living plant and it becomes a drug. White sugar is very addictive.
When I was eating white sugar products regularly I began to suffer from the early signs of bladder infection. I was way too young to start having this problem. This was one of the many reasons why I am off white sugar. I use Raw honey and Agave syrup.

Here is a simple Fruit Jelly you can make.
I cup of blueberries or strawberries or raspberries ( or use any combination or all three)
2 cups of filtered water
1/4 cup Agave nectar
2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons of psyllium powder

In a blender , blend well until smooth. Then set aside.
Enjoy!


Here are a few pictures of a sunny day.

jacket/pants - thrifted
leopard top- self made
shoes- Born
leather bag- Chelsea flea market
leopard sunnies- hot in hollywood

picture credit - Angie M.

Thank you for reading
peace and light to you

Green Body

Hello Every one

I love the Fall season especially Indian Summer. I can wear my clothes comfortably without breaking into a sweat. Great weather for layering in light fabrics.
One of the many reasons I went Raw was the inspiring testimonies of individuals who healed themselves eating Raw Foods. Our bodies have this extraordinary ability to repair and heal itself. I believe when all bodily functions are maintained within a healthy balance the body can heal any disease. By drinking green smoothies we support the healing process. A healthy balance supports the glands of the endocrine system( the Thyroid ) and the hormones that are released in the body that influence almost every organ and function in the body. When this is out of balance disease could start. On the path of Keeping the body green, Here is a green soup for you to try. This recipe came from the "Raw Food Made Easy" By Jennifer Cornbleet. Enjoy!


SPINACH APPLE SOUP
2 cups spinach leaves , tightly packed
1/2 apple, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup water, plus 1/4 cup water to thin, if necessary
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
dash of salt
1/2 ripe avocado, chopped

Place the spinach, apple, water, lemon juice and salt in a blender and process until smooth. Add the Avocado and process until smooth. Add the remaining 1/4 cup water to thin, if necessary, and blend briefly . Serve immediately. For a chilled soup refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.


Note : BE WARNED ! When you are starting out with Raw Foods, you are not going to like every dish prepared. This is why it is wise to try different dishes to find your taste or flavor. There are different Raw Food styles prepared. The main three flavors are : American, Indian and Italian. Remember to be patient and don't get discouraged. Keep tasting and experimenting.

pants/jacket/bag - trifted
blouse - H&M
sandals - born
flower in hair - self-made

Thank You for reading.
peace and light to you.

Touch of gold and Salad Dressing

Hello Every one

This is the last day of Summer. Bye Bye Summer .
Honestly, I'm not a big fan of black and white . I feel like I'm saying to the world - "Look at me , I'm afraid to wear color". It has been hard to find black and white garments with subtle designs or prints. Like the combo I'm wearing . The white shirt has a flower design sewn in gold thread and the skirt has a copper square pattern. (which is hard to see in this photo) The skirt is from the 70's and it was floor length last winter. It became short for the summer. The sandals are John Fluevog.

The Necklace was handed down to me from my mother . I Always admired the four small diamonds in the center as a little girl. The necklace transformed her into an elegant and sophisticated queen going out in the evening. Now it is mine. No way could I leave it to its original beauty. I found some sterling silver barrels to add on to it. I made it more Indie.

The gold and silver bracelet is from the early 40's. It belonged to my great aunt. My great uncle gave it to her as a wedding gift. It stretches like an accordion an fits perfectly on my wrist. One of my favorite pieces .

.
Flashback! A few years ago, I was not crazy about salads . A big toss salad was served mainly with a pasta dish. At other times , when I was dieting . Experts have said - "The more you chew your food the less you will feel hungry ". (It didn't work for me) With that huge plate of Salad , I always joked about looking for my pet rabbit to finish the left overs. When it came to salad dressings , The blue cheese was the only one that I liked . I felt so guilty if I finished 1/2 of a bottle. The extra fat and sugar wasn't helping me in weight loss. Flashforward ! Now I love sampling fresh made recipes for my salads. Here are a few you can make fresh and guilt free.
The whole section can be found in the "Living on Live Food" by Alissa Cohen.

FRENCH DRESSING

1/4 cup flax oil
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground yellow mustard seed
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Blend all ingredients in a blender


CREAMY ITALIAN HERB DRESSING

2 cups olive oil
1 cup basil
1/4 cup parsley
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons onion
2 scallions
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black peeper

Blend all ingredients in a blender.


RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE

1 1/4 cups raspberries
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
sea and pepper to taste

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth

Enjoy !

Peace and light to you
Thank You for reading

Autum Begins with Curried Yam Bisque

Hello Everyone

This Hearty winter soup comes from the book "Living on Live Food" by Alissa Cohen.
It is needed for a rainy damp day like today.

CURRIED YAM BISQUE

1 cup of yam
1 1/2 cups cashew milk (cashews and water with honey or date to sweeten)
1/2 cup green apple
1 teaspoon mint
1 teaspoon curry (or less)

Blend all in blender or Vita-Mix
Enjoy!

Note: Raw Foods are very flavor-able. The taste of the food comes to life and the spices enhances the food. When cooking, heat is applied to foods the spices become the main flavor and the taste of the food becomes hidden. For example, I remember cooking and adding two whole bulbs of garlic just to taste the flavor of garlic. In Raw Foods one clove of garlic does the trick.


I was asked the question, "So what is that diet you're on again"?
Those two little words -'That diet"phrase is part of our way of eating. In the past I couldn't go a week without mentioning "that diet". I'm glad it is finally out of my vocabulary. I only associated "that diet" word with "sacrifice". It meant giving up all that was pleasantly delicious in my life and suffer for a few weeks for a specific weight goal. Then when I achieved that specific weight goal, I stopped by celebrating with the pleasantly delicious foods and hoped I wouldn't gain more weight than before. I couldn't see the vicious cycle.
Living this Lifestyle is a wonderful "gift". It is not "sacrificial". I'm very satisfied ! I have gained appreciation for the health that was returned to me. I never want to stop.

denim skirt/jacket - thifted
crochet hat - Anthropologie
scarf- Ayssia
boots - born
bag - Chelsea flea market
bamboo earrings - vintage

Thank you for reading
peace and light to you

Vegetable Stew

Hello Every One

Friend of mine sent me this Recipe for a Vegetable Stew. I was looking for a new Raw Soup to make this evening. The weather is getting cooler and soups are right in season. I'll serve this with a simple salad of romaine lettuce, chopped kale, red onion sliced thinly, pitted black olives , olive oil and a dash of salt. On the side - Raw flax seed crackers.

VEGETABLE STEW(This serves 8 people)

1 chopped eggplant
2 cups chopped yellow squash
2 cups diced tomatoes
2 cups chopped spinach
2 quarts filtered hot water
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tablespoons mild curry powder
2 tablespoons nama shoyu
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 cup lime juice
sea salt to taste
Agave nectar to taste

In a large bowl or crock, place chopped vegetables . Add water and seasonings . Mix well. Taste Adjust Flavors.
Enjoy!!!

NOTE: Raw Foods are foods prepared without cooking, but they are sometimes sprouted, marinated , fermented, and blended to make them more digestible. They are dehydrated below 118F. This is why they are considered a Living Food. The benefits are the many active vitamins, enzymes, minerals, antioxidants that are not destroyed.




Here is my 40's inspired outfit.
pink shirt - thifteddress - "Made in America" outletbelt - Mandees
cotton fishnets - Meow
sandals - John Fluevog
earrings/scarf - vintage

Thank you for being open and reading my blog
peace and light to you.

Human Sanctuary

Hello Everyone

Living in the city is challenging at times. Every day I make time for "Human Sanctuary"on that "to do list". I give myself 5 to 20 minutes to do absolutely nothing. Here I am 'chillin' on a park bench .


Earlier in the week I Walked ten blocks to my neighborhood farmer's market. Amazing how shopping for fresh vegetables can bring peace and relaxation to the mind . The market appears as an oasis in the middle of a city block. I feel fortunate to be able to take a quick break from "Modern Living" . "Modern Living" has created a throwaway nation. Every time we buy any produced that is packaged,we are throwing the package away. I bring my own bags to the market to reduce the plastic bag waste. We don't realize the large amount of trash our plastic creates. We wastes more and more. "Modern Living" has placed us in disharmony with nature.
One benefit for me when I went Raw.......was not making excuses for the extra trash I was contributing . I am more aware of what is happening in the environment.
My kitchen has transformed into a healthy clean arena . I was playing around with the veggies. I call this vegetable sculpture " My kitchen looks like a framer's Market"

Two nights ago I used yellow squash and the pretty Eggplant in the center to make Vegetable stew. The texture was perfect. The taste was sweet and spicy. The curry flavor left me warm inside. This stew will definitely be on my Winter Soup/stew list for those cold winter nights. Today I'll use the Zucchini to make a Mock Rice Pilaf . The Basil at the bottom has been washed and placed in the a sealed container that protects the herb from freezer burn. The collard greens underneath became Marinated greens.

These Recipes comes from the "Raw Food Made Easy" by Jennifer Cornbleet. I'm glad this book is small in size . It doesn't take up much space on my Kitchen Shelf.

MOCK RICE PILAF

1 cup peeled and grated zucchini
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons of Marinara Sauce
1 tablespoon chopped raw pine nuts
2 teaspoons dark or golden raisin, soaked 10 minutes and drained
1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley or dill weed

Place the zucchini and salt in a mixing bowl, toss and let rest for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the liquid with your hands and discard. Add the Marinara sauce . pine nuts . raisins and parsley to the zucchini and toss gently. Serve immediately.

MARINARA SAUCE

1 ripe tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked or oil-packed
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon mince fresh basil, or 1 teaspoon dried teaspoon crushed garlic (1 clove)
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash of pepper - optional
dash of cayenne

place all the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.

Enjoy!

Here is more of my "Human Sanctuary " outfit.


silk blouse - James Coviello
long denim skirt - thirfted
wool sweater /scarf - ?
sandals - john fluevog
silver bracelet - gift


I would like to acknowledge those of you who are participating in Yom Kippur. This is one of the holiest days for the Jewish People.

Thank you for reading my blog.
peace and light to you.

The Heart Determines Everything

Hello Everyone

What a beautiful Sunday !! Hope you all got some quality relaxation. We are in the middle of September and Only three more month left before 2011 . WOW ! Can you believe it. This is a picture of me looking up towards the New Year. This year's theme for me was - "living in the moment". Easy to say yet hard at times to apply. The more I practiced this concept in daily life , I realized that Life at each moment involves the body, the mind , the self and the environment. Another way of saying this is - Life at each moment means the condition and strength of one's heart.
It is the heart that will determine everything. We all need to be reminded that The heart is the very spiritual core of human life. The purpose of the heart is to cultivate a path of virtue and happiness that transforms the present into a bright future. Sounds to good to be true. Think about the Micheal Jackson song " Man in the Mirror" The more I work on what makes me happy , I am able to bring that to the people around me and my environment. For anything to change, I must start with me .

Long coat sweater- midnight velvet

Blouse - vintage Skirt /bag - thrifted

M.J. shoes - John Fluevog

When I was eating cooked foods , Every Sunday I made Salmon Croquettes . After going Raw I avoided preparing the Raw food version of Mock Salmon Pate/Croquettes because I held on to my belief that it was going to taste awful. Finally I overcame my stubbornness and prepared the dish. It taste close to the real thing . I found a few other ways Raw Food Chefs prepared this dish. Below the pictures are two sites that have different versions .
Mock Salmon is the new Tradition on Sunday's. This time I topped it with chopped Pistachio's .
The meal is Marinated Greens, simple salad and Mock Salmon Croquettes .






Sites: www.rawfreedomcommunity.com
www.living-foods.com



Thank you for reading
peace and light to you

Green Apple and Parsley

Hello Every one

How to make Green Juice picture attractive. Sorry Readers, I don't know.

This Green Apple and Parsley Drink has a unique taste . If you want to explore a unique taste. You will never forget this one . It is very easy to juice . I had a little problem with the ingredients in my "Living Well /Montel ' machine . The pulp remains in the juice . The texture was thick and I had to pour the mixture into my blender and add water to it. Taste very interesting.


GREEN APPLE AND PARSLEY

4 green apples
1/2 bunch of parsley

juice all ingredients through a juicer.

NOTE:

Parsley- History records that parsley was fed to the chariot horses in the days of the Roman Empire because it was believed that it would make them speedy. (first recorded illegal drug use in an Olympic event)
Parsley is a well known blood purifier. That's why so many use it in juicing . It is also good for stimulating the bowel. It has an alkaline ash which is great for balancing the PH level . Parsley is high in iron and rich in copper and manganese. You can use dried Parsley as a tea to work as a diuretic. Good for kidney conditions.

Apples- Apples are a alkaline food. They are an eliminative food and contain pectin. Pectin has the ability to take up excess water in the intestines and make a soft bulk that acts as a mild stimulant. Apples have an abundant supply of vitamin G , this is the 'appetite vitamin' which promotes digestion and growth.




Had my morning juice to get my energy flowing . Then I met up with my heartmate to check out the artistic vibe in the neighborhood. Here I am standing outside of the Harriet Tubman Museum . The white building behind me. It was closed that day.


Here is my favorite top I wore all this summer. I purchased the top while visiting Amsterdam . The place is know for its small unique boutique shops and Danish Designers . I feel in love with this Orange print tank. The flower print reminded me of a medieval flower garden or the huge tapestries I've seen at the MET. It has the most exquisite detail.... Real turquoise,copper metal and beads sewn right in the material. The designer had a whole line of skirts , jackets , tops and pants in this print. The others color were Burgundy , yellow and teal. I could only afford one top.

I added a Dragon chain necklace from - www.sblades.com

Thank you for reading.