Weekend/Monday Recap!

I hope everyone had a nice weekend and wonderful Monday!


As I mentioned, Saturday night I went to Pure Food & Wine with my mother in law and future sister in law. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of our food. We ordered the tasting menu and split everything into threes so it wasn't very pretty! I can tell you that it was the best meal I have had there yet! Everything so wonderful! My mother in law is even talking about eating high raw and buying both of Sarma's cookbooks!


I did take some pictures from the ferry. We took the ferry in from my mother in laws (the shore), it was so lovely and enjoyable. We sat on top, and even though our hair was a mess afterwards, it was worth it!
Still in New Jersey I snapped this picture.

A view of the skyline. It was really magnificent to be up top enjoying the cool breeze from the water and beautiful sites.

Sunday night for dinner I made brown rice pasta with tomato sauce and vegetables. The veggies I used were zucchini, eggplant, the pepper from my garden, fresh basil and tomatoes.

For dessert I had a Go Fudge Raw Brownie I picked up at Whole Foods. It had cacao nibs on top and was really decadent and delicious. Perfect for the chocolate craving I had been having.

Here is a picture of it out of the wrapper. It was small but so rich and filling. Perfect portion!

Last night T felt like some ice cream so I whipped up some of Gena's Raw Banana Soft Serve, she wasn't lying this recipe does change your life! I don't think I will buy ice cream ever again! :) So much healthier too! I've told everyone I know about this, I know they are going to be changed too! T loved it as well! Next time I am going to add some raw cacao nibs or some raw shredded coconut, yum!

Finally, I wanted to let you all know that I saw a Homeopathic doctor/Chiropractor yesterday and I really feel I am on the right path for healing. He is getting to the root of the problem. I am not comfortable talking about it here, but there have been some issues in my life that may have started my Crohn's and when I forgive and learn to deal with that stress, I can start the healing process. Hopefully one day I won't have Crohn's anymore! I will keep praying and thinking positive!

Finally my reviews!

Sorry to keep anyone waiting! I know I said I would be back with a review but I became really busy and had no time! With the summer here, I am finding it harder to sit inside on the computer (although the sun has not shined much at all!)

Anyway, the other night I made a yummy raw soup. I got the urge after reading Gena's soup post. Here I blended, broccoli, celery, avocado, lemon, olive oil, water and spices. I am always sceptic about raw soups and I admit I am not totally sold, but this came out really creamy and rich!
I also made Hippie Loaf from The Happy Herbivore. I didn't have quinoa so I used millet instead. It was very tasty but didn't seem to stay in one piece! T and I didn't care though, we enjoyed it a lot! I will definitely be making this recipe again!

Our first baby has been born, a pepper from our garden!! Isn't she beautiful?! We are going to enjoy her one night this weekend! :)

Okay, the moment you've been waiting for my reviews! At the health food store this week I noticed some new raw crackers. I am a huge fan of raw crackers, but never make my own (hello, LAZY), anyway, I usually stick to the Livin Spoonful brand because they are my favorite. But this week I decided to give these a whirl. Mauk Family Farms makes them and they had 3 different flavors. I couldn't pick one so tried out all 3! The one on the left is made with pumpkin seeds and is probably my favorite. The one on the right reminded me of a sesame bagel, yum and the third one isn't pictured, because T and I got hungry before I took a pic, it was a breakfast crust. Filled with goji berries and seeds it had a sweet taste that was a nice change from the other savory flavors. No strange ingredients here, that's what I like!

The next review is for Zukay Horseradish Dill Relish. I think Zukay products are great, and I especially love the fact that they are filled with probiotics, which is great my Crohn's! I have met the owners on a few occasions and they are really wonderful, easy to talk too people. I wish them nothing but the best with there fabulous line of raw goodies. This though was my least favorite of all the products they make. Maybe I am not a relish fan, but I couldn't bring myself to eat more of it. I have been throwing it in salads so I couldn't taste it as much. Don't take my word for it, if you are a relish fan, this might be your healthy answer! I hope to try some of the salad dressings next! The Weekly Gab:

*I hope everyone signed up for The Raw Mom Summit, a free Podcast with some of the greatest leaders in the raw food community! It's really amazing, I hope no one missed out!

*Earthmother, who writes one of my favorite blogs, has written a wonderful post reflecting on her relationship with food. This is a must read! Check it out here!

*My thoughts and prayers go out to Farrah Fawcett and Micheal Jackson and there families, so sad.

*If you aren't signed up for Crazy Sexy Life Newsletters: The Daily Juice and The Weekly Tune-up, I suggest you get your heinie over HERE and do it! So many exciting new things are being added everyday. You don't have to be a member of CSL to enjoy it!
*Saturday night I will be at Pure Food & Wine with my mother in law and future sister in law, can't wait! I will try to take pictures, but I don't want to look to creepy in front of them! :)

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Weekend Eats

Hi Everyone!


I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Happy Summer! Still rainy here, with the sun peeking through when it wants.


This is Ginger playing peek-a-boo on Friday. She cracks me up!
Lori from Passion For Natural was kind enough to send me some raw chocolate truffles and oatmeal raisin cookies! They were really delicious! T and I scarfed down the truffles in the car on the way to Whole Foods on Friday. We couldn't resist, so rich and decadent! Check out her site, she really has amazing products!

When we got home from Whole Foods our appetites were looking for more, so I made some brown rice pasta with olives, cherry tomatoes, fresh peas, and HUGE cannellini beans (that's what I call them!).

Saturday we had to pick up a Vegan Carrot Cake for Father's Day at my in laws. The Whole Foods was a further away and it was a bite of a ride. When we got there it was lunch time. I filled a small container with some raw vegan slaw.

I also had a fruit salad which had mango, blueberries, papaya, kiwi and pineapple in it. So fresh, I am loving fruit as the weather gets warmer and warmer!

For dinner Saturday night we picked some of our zucchini flowers from the garden. T stuffed his with ricotta and cooked them and I stuffed mine with cashew cheese and ate them raw with some cooked marinara on the side. I also had a huge kale salad and I added some cashew cheese to it.

For a special Saturday night treat while we watched a movie (Taken, was intense and scary, not my kind of movie), we had some cherries! Oh how I missed cherries all Winter long!

Sunday morning I made myself a watermelon smoothie. I used watermelon, lemon juice and mint. It was so refreshing and filling perfect for after my yoga session!

At the farmer's market near my family (and in laws) there is a raw food stand. I picked myself up a slice of raw tiramisu. This taste IDENTICAL to the real thing. Un-real. I think we are going to have to make the trip on Sunday mornings more often! :)

Have a nice week everyone! I got a few new raw products at the health food store over the weekend. I will give a review in my next post!

The Sun Will Come Out.. Tomorrow?

Hi all, sorry for the lack of posting this week. I've been pretty busy! So now you get a super post!

Lots of juice to fill this post, stay with me..

This was: Romaine, Celery, Apple, Lemon.

This one is Zucchini, Apple, Lemon, Kale Stems.
The weather has been pretty nasty here lately. June is never this rainy and gross, I am missing the sun terribly! So I turned to comfort food. This is Lentil, Chickpea, Spinach soup. Yum! Feels like Fall with this meal!

I had bought some raw bread over the weekend and I decided to make myself a raw sandwich for lunch. This has raw kraut, avocado, lettuce, sprouts, tomato, Parma, and mustard. This definitely hit the spot!

Here's a look at it right before I chowed down!

Another juice: Apple, Celery, Dandelion, and Lemon. I crave green juice when I don't have it. It has become a daily fixture in my diet!

Last night for dinner I made a Dandelion Greens Salad, I added sprouts, fresh raw corn, cherry tomato, avocado, Parma, and oil cured olives. I love a big kale or dandelion salad for dinner, keeps me content all night!

The Weekly Gab:

*I wish I was attending, but I can not, but this event is going on in NY on June 27th. Click the picture for more details!

*The CSL Shop is officially opened for business! Please support the awesome community by purchasing your needed items from them! I know when I FINALLY get my Vitamix, I am definitely getting it there!
*My mother in law decided against the spa trip (right now). She wanted to stay somewhere that was a little more luxury and the price just wasn't working. So instead us gals are going to eat at Pure Food and Wine next weekend! Yay!

*Check out this contest for some yummy raw bars from Earthlings Organics!

*T and I watched 'The Beautiful Truth' yesterday, you MUST see this. Very important documentary on The Gerson Theory and cancer. We have the answer at our finger tips..believe me..WATCH IT! :) P.S. We got it from Netflix, add it to yours!

1 Year Blogiversary! Juice, Dessert, Pink Stuff and Din!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

I just noticed I missed my 1 year Blogiversary!! It was a few days ago! :( Sorry!

My mother in law came up with the idea of her, myself and my sister in law going on a 3 day spa vacation! We are looking to go within the next few weeks. Somewhere in NY or PA. Please let me know if you have any suggestions!

On Friday I made this delicious juice: celery, dandelion, kale stems, lemon, apple.

Friday night I made Key lime Kream Bars from Ani Phyo's Raw Food Desserts! This was so rich and creamy! T said it needed a crunch (he wanted it to be like actual key lime pie) so I added some Rawnola from Earthling Organics to crunch it up!
I didn't take any weekend pictures, I was so busy I just forgot! But here's a juice from today: apple, lemon, lime, cilantro, romaine. Fresh and perfect for Summer (which is fast approaching)! I always try to remember to give Ginger some of my juice pulp at dinner time and today she gobbled it down! I guess she is a cilantro fan!

I have never been a huge watermelon fan. T loves the stuff, eats a whole one by himself in one day, me, I've never gone for it. I am more of a strawberry, mango, grapefruit kind of girl. But for some reason, this season, I can't get enough of the pink stuff! I ate this whole plate today for lunch! T has some competition! ;)

Tonight I made a big salad with fresh shelled peas, sprouts, avocado, oil cured olives, cherry tomatoes, and raw kraut. On the side I had a Sunshine Burger Breakfast Pattie on a romaine leaf with tomato, avocado, mustard and sprouts and some grilled eggplant. Another taste change this season, I've never been a huge eggplant fan, I only liked it slathered in sauce, Italian style. Now I love it grilled with sea salt, sauteed or baked. I wonder what's going on with my taste buds?

Well, I've got to go get my second workout of the day in. My steroid weight loss has stalled major and it's time to kick it into high gear. I am doing Jillian Michael's Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism and WOW it is H-A-R-D! I consider myself to be advanced when it comes to workout DVDs (I've been doing them for about 7 years now), but this one really challenges me! I rented it on Netflix, I don't think I am ever giving it back! ;)

Co-op goods, Garden Update, and Fun News!

Happy Friday!

This week I got my co-op box and it was busting with goodies! Here's what I got: apples, cilantro, dandelion greens, lettuce, peas, spinach, blueberries, corn, eggplant, tomatoes, yellow squash, carrots, celery, peaches, and bananas. I am going to be juicing up a storm next week! Expect lots of juicy posts! Last night for dinner, I put some of those greens to use! I made a massaged kale and dandelion green salad with olives, cherry tomatoes, sprouts and avocado. I didn't think I would like the dandelion greens, but they were really yummy! Earlier this week I got a lovely package from Earthling Organics, Rawnola! This stuff is delicious! They sent me 6 bags!! I will need to pace myself with this stuff, it's so tempting! I love how it's lower in sugar then most Rawnolas and it tastes good on it's own or with nut milk. I had it for lunch a few times this week (I can't give up my green smoothie or green juice in the morning), it's a nice filling treat! Thanks, Jacob!
I saw this recipe for Eggplant Chickpea Salad on Hangry Pants and I had to make it. It came out delicious! I love this recipe and millet is my new favorite grain! I had to post another garden update because it has been growing MAD! Look at this post from May 28th. I can not believe the growth! I am getting so excited!! The zucchini flowers are really tempting, they are my absolute favorite! Here's the other side. Just look at those tomato plants! WOW-E!

The Weekly Gab:

*I am so excited to tell you all that I am now an administrator on Crazy Sexy Life, and I will also be helping out with some "behind the scenes" stuff going on with Kris and Crazy Sexy Wellness. Sign up for the newsletters that I am helping with here!

*Check out Nimli for some really cute eco-friendly and organic clothing! It's a little to pricey for me right now, but if you can afford it, go for it!

*Do you know about Vegetarian Star? It's the coolest site that spotlights veggie celebs doing veggie things!

*For reviews on organic makeup and beauty products check out Organic Beauty View, I am hooked on this blog!

*Don't forget Earthling Organics for yummy raw treats!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Tomorrow I am having a "girls day" with my mother in law and future sister in law. The boys are going on a fishing trip for the day..boo! :) We will be getting pedicures and dinner! Can't wait!

My time to speak..

First of all, let me start by saying I am not talking about any blogs in particular, just the comments that are being made.

I really did not want to have to put another "rant" post out in the blog world, but I think it's time someone stands up for the raw foodiest that are being torn apart on many blogs. I understand why people are getting defensive over the soy controversy, but I don't understand why people are taking these posts and turning them into an all out bashing on raw foodies. I read many raw blogs and have yet to come across one that says you HAVE TO stop eating soy. If someone puts their own opinion on soy out there then that's their own right, if you don't like it, don't read it and don't comment. But instead people are going to the blogs that defend soy and ripping apart the raw community. The whole thing is being pinned on everyone who eats raw. Raw foodiest are being called pompous, "holier than thou", arrogant, and snobs. I have come across many people who eat raw and have yet to see one who carries this persona.

I think it’s pathetic for anyone to insult another person in a comment because of what they eat or believe in. I have never made anyone feel uncomfortable for their choices. Sorry if you feel that way.


We are all vegans isn’t that the most important thing?

Please do NOT comment on my blog if it’s going to be negative towards any diet or person. Feel free not to read or comment on my blog at all, if you think I am being “holier than thou.”

Thanks!

Sorry if I offended anyone, that was not the point of this post.

Trying to win me a VITAMIX!

Happy Monday everyone!

Last week, Bitt had asked if I ever eat dessert. The truth is, I eat it, I just never make it! I am more of a meal type of cook, I never bake either! On Friday night I made myself a special treat: Durian Ice Cream! I watched this video and I was inspired. It came out really well, T HATES Durian and was not a fan of the way the house smelled after I made this!

As many of you know, I have a really horrible old blender that is on it's way out. It smokes now and the motor smells like it's burning almost every time I use it. I was so thrilled when I saw this contest to win a Vitamix, I HAD TO ENTER! The rules are you have to make something with lime and coconut or make one of her recipes. Most of her recipes are not vegan or raw so I went for the first option. On Saturday morning I whipped up this delicious smoothie:

Lauren's Lime in the Coconut Smoothie

1 Thai coconut (meat and water)

1 lime juiced

2 frozen bananas

1 tablespoon of coconut butter (or oil)

1 tablespoon of raw coconut flakes

Mix all together in blender and enjoy!

After I took this picture I added wheat grass powder, sorry I couldn't resist, I needed my greens!

Saturday T and I drove out to our favorite health food store for some lunch. I got a green juice (parsley, kale, lemon, spinach and apple) and a double shot of wheat grass. Talk about energy!

On Saturday night I made Gena's high raw potato salad along side a big salad with all my normal fixings! The potato salad did not disappoint! It was very tasty and I even saved some to have on Sunday with dinner. Another winning recipe from Gena! YUM! P.S. Happy Birthday again, girl!

On Sunday we went to a closer health food store for a juice, wheat grass and a raw bar. I have never had Lydia's Organics products and this bar was pretty good! I wanted to buy some of the granola but it was a little pricey for me!

T and I were planning on going to NY yesterday to take a long walk in Central Park, but we over slept! Opps! We have to leave our house (in order not to hit massive traffic) by 9:30 AM and that was when we woke up! But, I can't complain because we had a wonderful late Saturday night with my future sis in law (who reads my blog now!) and brother in law. Maybe next weekend! Have a lovely Monday everyone! Here's to a positive shiny week!

A Friday Full of Food and Info!

Yay Friday! It's about time! :)

Earlier this week I made a delicious smoothie. I had some kiwis from my co-op box a couple of weeks ago that were hard as rocks.. after I saw this post from Earthmother, I ran to check if they had ripened yet, finally, soft kiwi! I couldn't resist throwing them in my morning smoothie! This was kiwi, banana, peach, apricot, coconut water, bee pollen and green powder.
This was some brown rice pasta with tomato sauce and raw broccoli thrown in. I hadn't had pasta in almost 2 weeks, I was going through withdrawal! :)

I made some strong juices this week. This one was radish greens, apple, lemon, kale stems and broccoli stems. WOW, talk about potent! I am getting stronger by the day!

Last night I had some raw corn with avocado spread on (like butter, only better), some grilled asparagus (which OBVIOUSLY T overcooked) and a big kale salad with avocado, sun dried tomatoes, sprouts, radishes and cherry tomatoes. If you haven't had corn raw, you are missing out! It tastes exactly the same as when it's cooked (only not warm) and it has a nice crisp to it. Fresh and delicious, the perfect summer treat!

Here's my weekly news:

*Check out THIS post from Vegan on Stage. She reviews the same brand (Gluten Free Gourmet) of yummy gluten free/vegan treats I did a few weeks back. I just loved Julia's treats! Check out her Etsy site and help support her small company!

*I saw THIS video on the MTV movie awards and I couldn't stop laughing. So adorable!

*Want to see Ani Phyo make 2 delicious cookies from her new cookbook: Ani's Raw Food Desserts? Check out this video!

*Are you looking to cleanse but aren't sure you can make it the whole week or longer? Try Meghan's 3 day Green Smoothie Cleanse! It's starts June 7th, sign up now!

*Here's a great article on the sun. I am always worried about getting to much or to little sun. This article made me feel much better when getting my dose of Vitamin D!

*What do you feed your dog? I am curious to what other vegans/vegetarians/raw foodies feed their dogs? Ginger needs a change in her diet and I'm not sure what to give her.

*I wanted to give you all a steroid update! I finished last week and I am feeling great again. No more head fuzz, fatigue, bloating, skin break outs. I feel almost normal and I've already lost 3 of the 15 pounds I gained! Whoohoo! I am on my way back people! :)

That's all for this week! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!