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Friday, July 8, 2011

Recipe: Citrus Summer Berry Dressing

What you will need for this recipe:

1-2 cups 250-500ml of your favorite berry I would recommend a tart berry like the Raspberry, Blueberry or Blackberry.
1 Coconut this will be your fat aspect and the water can be used to thin the dressing if necessary.
2-3 Tblspns 30-45ml or Apple Cider Vinegar recommend Braggs
1 lime
1 bunch of Mint 125ml or one of those small containers works
Sea Salt to your taste maybe 10ml or 2 teaspoons
Black pepper fresh cracked same as salt
Cayenne Pepper for Real Heat (optional)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional)
1 Tblspn Honey for a little sweetness(optional)

Rinse the berries and place in blender, cut the coconut top off drain the water into a bowl or pitcher and remove the meat add to blender, add the remaining ingredients and blend the mixture until it is nice and smooth if too thick to blend thin with some of the coconut water MMM.  You can always run the dressing through a mesh basket to remove a lot of the seeds or get rid of some of the leftover chunks.  Mint is awesome when added to berries it just makes them POP.
I have used this dressing many times and is always a winner enjoy.  If you cannot find fresh coconut you could always buy a can of coconut milk kind of against the processed food aspect but the coconut really makes this yummy.  If you do not like the taste of coconut or simply do not want the added fats omit it the dressing works fine without this aspect I would recommend adding the olive oil in its place still a very healthy fat.

God Bless and Peace be with you.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Simple Raw Food Recipe: Bok Choy Wrap.

I made this last night for a simple yet yummy experiment.  Really all you need is a head of Bok CHoy more if your feeding more then yourself. The ingredients used to make some raw salsa either the recipe found below this post or another your choice.

Take the Leaf of the bok choy and cut off the hearty stem and set the top leaf aside do this for all the Bok Choy save the stems for a another meal works great with some romaine in a salad.  After you have done this wash the leaves of the Bok Choy and pat dry and set to the side. 

Make the salsa when this is completed just simply spoon the salsa into the middle of the leaf onto the Bokchoy and roll up like a wrap and enjoy.  You could always add more veggies in reality the slasa already has peppers, onions, and tomatoes so you really do not need it told you it was simple.  Leftovers can always be used the following day as a salad topping use the leftover Bok Choy stems and a head of romaine and some extra veggies like cucumbers, tomato and maybe a pepper toss it all together and voila you have another raw dinner.

These wraps can be kind of messy so make sure you use a plate while eating.  If your a gourmet raw person some raw nut cheese would make these go BOOM!

Raw Salsa MMMM

What you will need to make this yummy salsa:

4-6 tomatoes or more if small romas
2 limes
1/4 of a red onion or 50ml
1 bunch of cilantro
2 jalapenos or more this gives it a nice kick
1Tblspoon cumin
2 tspns paprika
Sea Salt & Fresh cracked pepper for added flavour
1 red pepper
"Garlic optional it can overpower many ingredients remember store bought salsa is cooked this is raw."

First off wash all veggies, cut and juice limes, cut tomatoes in pieces so it is easier for food processor
take stems off of cilantro, cut and deseed the jalapeno and red pepper.

Once this is done start piling stuff into food processor first the tomatoes followed by the pepper, and the jalapenos, juice of the lime, the cilantro and the spices, pulse a few times to break the food down and then run until you have the consistency you want be it rough or a fine salsa.  You can use right away with some cucumber or zuccini chips or maybe in a wrap with some other veggies and a piece of romaine or bok choy.

With salsa you can make many varieties just simply change the main part of it and keep the rest the same for instance if you would like a tropical fruit salsa omit the tomatoes for mango or papaya or both.  If you want a spicier salsa well that is easy consider using habanero peppers or simply a good sprinkling of cayenne or crushed chili flakes or just another jalapeno.  Remember one important thing salsa's flavours will enhance more as it sits as the juices and oils will combine and breakdown so the salsa may not be too hot right now but it could be quite smokin the next day.


Salsa is very versatile it can be used on its own for main dishes, as a condiment, as a dressing for a salad, and many others the sky is the limit.  This is probably one of the best transition foods when starting a rawfood lifestyle.  Enjoy.

P.S. If you do not have a food processor you can do this all by hand it just takes longer.

I made this last night for my Bok Choy wraps and then had leftovers today which was like wow in flavour.   Added a touch of curry and some more cumin and paprika for a little different flavour and used as a topping for my salad well it also was the dressing MMM.

With simple changes like that you can have a mexican dish turn into a dish with some indian flare.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Too Much Salt: Stop Damaging your Bones.

I have done alot of reading over my life and in the last few months have come across many articles on Bone density and Bone related health issues like Osteoporosis.  One of the sources I read cleary did a study on the aspects of  Salt on bone density.   If this simple flavour enhancer has already been linked to increased heart attack risk, high blood pressure, stroke, cancers, and other issues then why be surprised that it would be linked to bone health.   What else should we be concerning ourselves with prior to consuming this poison.  Well in the tests they performed they were clearly able to link the intake of salt to loss of bone density.  Also through other tests these professionals completed they found more evidence that woman who ingested more salt then average greatly increased there risk of developing Osteoporosis and other joint/bone issues earlier in life.  We generally relate to bone issues to woman more then men but us men are also at risk.  So the next time you are pouring the salt on your food consider that other then increasing your risk of heart attack or high blood pressure issues, that your also damaging the skeletal structure for your whole body.  Salt if your going to use it at all try using nutrient and mineral rich sea salts but in general many foods we eat have natural sodium and do not even need added salt take celery for instance.

Two of the other products associated to bone loss are caffiene and pop. Here is a link talking more on this and giving you some professional reassurances that what I'm saying is all fact.  Also included in this link is some information on foods you should stay away from and other aspects of lifestyle that would help you from getting osteoporosis or living with the condition.  http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/living-with-osteoporosis-7/diet-dangers
P.S. Calcium deficiencies are a major cause of bone issues so remember to get your calcium be it through foods or supplements.
God Bless and Peace.

Raw Tea Cream Recipe: Healthy NON-Animal by-product Tea/Coffee Cream

What you will need:
1Ltr of Almond Milk: Fresh made video below desribing how to make, or store bought unsweetened.
1 vanilla Bean
2 tblspoons of  your choice of these sweeteners. 
Remember Stevia is quite potent you may only need 1 tablespoon.
I would recommend blending all ingredients first this will help to spread the vanilla bean more throughly and as well as incorporate the sweetener into the mix.
If you are diabetic Splenda is fine or just do not use a sweetener.


After blending place in a sealable jar that can be shaken and refrigerate use at your convience if using fresh almond milk use within 5 days.

If you indulge in some good tea once in awhile if not daily why not have some delicious protein rich
flavouring to add to it.  This would also work fine in coffee if you indulge in some caffiene once in awhile.  Almonds and vanilla they are made to compliment each other so why not do this.  I would recommend only the vanilla bean for this the flavour of vanilla extract isn't that great when compared to the bean.

God Bless and Peace.

Here is a how too video on making fresh almond milk.  The usual formula is 1 part almonds to 3 parts water for those of you that like some direction or if your a first timer.

Salad Dressing Recipe: The Easiest Dressing for a Salad.

Well I have tried many concoctions over the last few months as eating raw you consume quite a bit of salad.  Over this time period I have tried citrus, berry, tropical fruit, herbs and veggies for dressings.  Though they all turned out great I would have to say the easiest one by far was simply squeezing an orange over my salad with some cracked pepper and some sea salt and that was all.  I bet you are all saying what well except for the raw food folk that know that this tastes great.  Oranges just seem to amplify the taste of the veggies to a whole other level.  The next time your stuck for a dressing and are tired of the processed junk rotting away in your fridge if you got a couple of oranges squeeze these all over your salad with a little spice and sea salt and toss it up you will be like man so easy but so tasty. 
Really some of the simple ideas you may think of end up being some of the tastiest well that is what I have come across.  You do not need to eat gourmet raw to be raw all the time.  Raw foodies will tell you that this is one of the best reasons to become a raw foodists simply the meals you can make are simple but very yummy and most of the hard work can be done in a blender or food processor.

God Bless and peace.

Amazing Avocado Salad Dressing Yummy

2 Avocados peeled and de-seeded.
Juice of 2 limes
1 bunch of Basil or 1 Tblspn dried
sea salt and cayenne pepper for taste, could use cracked black pepper if cayenne is too hot.
or even a small wedge of jalapeno would also work.
1/2 cup water to help blend.
Throw all of the ingredients in blender and liquefy into creamy decadence.
 
Just another simple recipe RAW IS SIMPLE.  I tried this concoction on a salad I made the other day just experimenting and wow what can I say it was great the natural healthy creamy avocados and the zing of the lime just compliment each other so well and the basil just kicked it up another notch by giving it that sweet herbal taste that basil is so good at accomplishing.  Add the heat of the cayenne and the savory flavour of some sea salt and your tastes buds are sent into raw heaven.  Put this on top of a fresh spinach and veggie salad concoction and you will be the hit at your next dinner party or just at the next family meal.

P.S.  This is a oil and vinegar free dressing the avocados give you the creamy texture as well as your healthy fats and the citrus has your zing covered. 

In place of basil you could use other herbs you may like for instance dill, oregano, marjoram.  I used basil because I was preparing a salad with tons of tomatoes and well basil and tomato need I say more. 
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Green Smoothie Recipe: Fruit Smoothie Extreme

Take 2 Bananas
1 cup blueberries
5-6 Strawberries
2 cups Almond Milk unsweetened container one is fine fresh is best.
2 cups of spinach
For some extra protein and fiber 1-2 tablespoons of Chia or Hemp seeds "optional"
1 cup ice to make it colder
place all ingredients in blender and enjoy.
Depending on your blender I just blend until it is smooth I do not have an ultra expensive Vitamix just an old Oster 10speed it does the job.

This will be one of the best tasting smoothies you can imagine.  I know your saying what spinach but trust me with all of the other fruit and the almond milk you will not even know it is in there and with the blueberries it will be more purple then green.  P.S. this is also a great option for a snack for kids.  I would say this would be the best breakfast anyone could put in there body.

P.S.  Use organic produce if you can if not do not fret at least your still getting the nutrients from all the raw foods.

Remember smoothies and juices are easier to digest then solid foods, easy to make, and taste great, its summer pull the blender out and get blending.  Truly though my blender never gets put away.

Peace and God Bless.