Showing posts with label raw food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raw food. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Birthday Yummies

I come from a family that believes in shameless celebrating when it comes to our birthdays. In fact, we've been known to celebrate a full month when we can get away with it. Really, isn't life supposed to be one big party anyway?

I could not wait to whip up some raw goodies to share for my birthday and started working early in the week to prepare a few treats for everyone to try. Everything was delicious and I thought it all turned out beautifully. Unfortunately only my mom and cousin would even try the raw goodies. (This is what happens when you have a party with your family because my friends would have left nothing. Not a crumb. Yes, beloved family, I'm talking about you and I love you anyway.) So my lesson from this is to no longer tell anyone that anything that I've made is raw. In fact, I'm just not going to claim anything and watch what happens next time. Hehehehehe. Yes, I am that evil!

Now for the eye candy:

Here is a plate of raw chocolate goodies that I whipped up. Seriously, this was the highlight for me.





First I made little chocolate tarts. This is my own recipe that I'm still working on. They were wonderful, but I haven't quite tweaked it just yet to perfection.





Next I made Heather Paces MoonPie's except I made them into bite sized pieces. I can not stress to you how wonderful this recipe is. Go to sweetlyraw.com for her book. I even made the peace crane decorations for a festive flare!




Now for the cake. Once again I used one of Heather's recipes. This one from Just Desserts. This is the strawberry lime mousse cake. Fantastic! It is very crisp and delightful and quite the show stopper topped with all those lucious strawberries.



I'm still enjoying the leftovers and grateful that I didn't make the other two raw cakes that I had planned as well. I'd have to invite everyone over to help eat it all!

Happy day, oh Happy DAY!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Salad Dressing




I had several requests for the three salad dressings that I made for Sunday's potluck. I told everyone at the meetup what I put into each one, but I've had several more people to ask that didn't make the potluck so I decided that I would just blog about it and that way everyone would have the recipes. I am terrible about not writing down recipes so this is a great opportunity to just get it done. Most of my recipes are pretty much made up on the spot. All 3 of these recipes probably have origins somewhere from one of my recipe books, but I tend to remember what I like and just throw something together and then taste it until I get it just right.

Mango Vinegarette:
- juice of 2 lemons
- 2 mangoes
- 1/4 cup Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 TBS agave nectar or honey

Curry:
- 1 roma tomato
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper
- 1 TBS curry
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup EVOO
- 2 tsp lemon juice

Sweet Black Sesame:
- 1/4 c black tahini or just black sesame seeds
- 1/4 c agave nectar
- 2TBS chickpea miso
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water
Blend in a high speed blender if you use the sesame seeds.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Manuka Honey!

I met Bobbie Moore, president of The Wild Bee at the Wild Foods Weekend and learned lots of wonderful information about Manuka honey. Bobbie is such an incredible source of information and is very passionate about educating individuals on the benefits of raw Manuka honey, true organics and the welfare of bees. For more information visit: www.thewildbee.com.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Cafe 118



During a recent trip to Florida we decided to stop by Cafe 118 Degrees in Winter Park for a love raw meal. I always try to visit any raw restaurant I can when traveling. Anyway, I put together a short video of our delicious raw meal for your enjoyment and inspiration. Everything was so wonderful!

Happy Healthy Day!

OK - for some reason blogspot has been very tempermental lately so here is the link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/user/infusionoflife#p/a/u/0/fvOhYBcRtZI

If anyone has any suggestions as to why my videos no longer upload, please let me know. I may need to search out a new blog resourse. Thank you!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Chickweed Pesto

Here I am goofing off rolling around in a bed of chickweed and then doing a recipe demo of chickweed pesto. The end of the video explains a little about chickweed aka the little starlady. Yes, I made up the recipe on the spot. I just kind of work that way. Chickweed pesto recipe: 1 cup chickweed, 1/2 cup fresh basil, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan sea salt, 1/4 cup of EVOO and 1/2 cup pinenuts or sunflower seeds. The pinenuts are better!

I had difficulties uploading this video so after several attempts I have just decided to post the link to my youtube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/infusionoflife

Just look for the video titled Chickweed Pesto!

Have a happy healthy day and I love you!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Apple Pie Green Smoothie

Today I made an Apple Pie Green Smoothie. Watch my camera man's reaction after he tastes this delicious concoction.

Have a happy healthy day!

I love you!


Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Who says raw snacks can't be easy and fun?




I was in the mood for a little snack, but really didn't want to take the time to whip up anything too fancy like a cake or pie. I needed something NOW. So I made this plate of goodies to share. Very quick & easy. Most importantly, it was delicious!

First I made the banana sandwich cookies which are nothing but banana slices with raw almond butter sandwiched between the slices. That's easy enough and always a crowd pleaser.

Next I got creative with some leftovers and made pear "fries" and Strawberry Raspberry "Ketchup". To make the "ketchup" I blended one large handful of strawberries, about 1/3 cup raspberries, 1/3 cup young coconut meat, 4 brazil nuts and a squirt of agave nectar. It was delicious, but I imagine that you could get creative & make any kind of fruity sauce using some red berries and it would be wonderful. I was just using up leftovers and had no idea that it would turn out so delicious. Asian pear slices were used for the "fries."

I must warn you that this is a great snack and I have had to make it repeatedly upon request for several days now.

Monday, February 15, 2010


After months of watching videos and reading up on spring water,I finally had the opportunity to gather fresh spring water this past weekend! I found this spring located on findaspring.com. I was so excited to be in the area that I had to go at the first opportunity.

It seems that there was quite a following for Mt. Vernon Springs in the days before the Great Depression. At one point this healing spring hosted a hotel for individuals to come and use the spring waters for health benefits. I plan on doing further research on this spring and will be adding my findings here as soon as I can.

I found the spring to be very well maintained and easy to locate and the water was fantastic. I became obsessed at soon as I tasted it and believe it to be well worth the journey. There were papers posted with the findings of recent testing on that spring waters that deemed them as safe drinking waters so I did not worry about testing them myself as I have met other individuals that have gathered here previously. Also, I found out that many locals also regularly consume from this spring as well.



Health and Beauty are regular hot spots for avid spring water drinkers. Delicious!


This is a flyer posted from the old hotel. There is a bit of a glare, but you can still read it. I found this to be so fascinating!



This is the bridge that joined the hotel and the springs. It is the only thing remaining other than the springs themselves, which are in a shelter and have a couple of picnic tables close by.

More information on Mt Vernon Springs can be found at: http://www.fomvs.org/

I realize now that gathering spring water has become a new obsession for me. I spent the rest of the weekend researching more springs that I plan on visiting and sharing information about. It seems that my hometown is very close to several spings. A few of them were well known for their medicinal and healing waters and even shipped out bottled spring water from the springs back in their thriving days. The Great Depression really took its toll on these health destinations and now they are not very well known anymore. Hotels closed, burned down, etc. It seems that to only a few, all this information was lost. I seek to change that and I would like to thank Daniel Vitalis for his endless research and education on locating springs and the benefits of drinking pure water. Spending time with these glorious waters resonates deep within me and I know that I will be doing this for years to come.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Going Bananas



I read this post that was shared by my friend Lowanna. I would love to know who originally posted this information so that I can give credit for their information.
I love you. Now go eat a banana!


Professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his
class about bananas. He said the expression "going bananas"
is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting..
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same
way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose, glucose
combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained &
substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one
fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It
can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses &
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND
amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after
eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of
protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax,
improve your mood & generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains
regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production
of hemoglobin in the blood & so helps in cases of anemia..

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in
potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.
So much so, the US Food & Drug Administration has just allowed the
banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability
to reduce the risk of blood pressure & stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school
(England) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas
at breakfast, break, & lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.
Research has shown that the potassium-packed
fruit can assist learning
by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem
witout resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach
&, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar
levels, while the milk soothes & re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you
suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep
blood sugar levels up & avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing
the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find
it amazingly successful at reducing swelling & irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in
Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like
chocolate & chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers
found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The
report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to
control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods
every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture & smoothness. It is the only raw
fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It
also neutralizes over-acidity & reduces irritation by coating
the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a
"cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical & emotional temperature of
expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat
bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers
because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up
smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium
& magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the
effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the
heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain & regulates your body's
water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby
reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with
the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in The New England
Journal of Medicine,
eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of
death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to
kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin & place it on the wart,
with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with
a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When
you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate,
three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A, iron, &
twice the other vitamins & minerals. It is also rich in potassium & is
one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that
well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS
PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!
I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE
of the banana skin, & rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth.
Amazing fruit!!!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Pomegranate Cranberry Salad & Pumpkin Pie




I thought I'd share a few of the Thanksgiving goodies that I whipped up this year. Actually, these were my favorite two, the absolute best being the raw pumpkin pie! I can not stress enough how wonderful this pie really is. It is the best pumpkin pie recipe I've ever had. Better than anything I ever ate cooked and I only wish I could take credit for the recipe. However, I can't, but I can give a darn good review and if you want to try it out, I can tell you where the recipe is! (I never publish recipes that are not my own out of respect for the creator - just my little quirk.) This pie is so creamy and so fulfilling that you will never, and I mean NEVER want to use another recipe for punmpkin pie again. It is perfect to prepare for your non-raw friends. Trust me, they will never know the difference. I've done it many times. It's simply amazing. For more information on this recipe contact the creator, Jackie Graff or Gideon Graff at http://www.sproutrawfood.org/. I am not sure which of their recipe books this creation will be found in, but trust me you will love it!





I've never been a big fan of cranberry anything when it comes to the seasonal salads. Especially not the canned jellied stuff. I remember that I always passed it up as a child. This year I decided to tackle the cranberry salad for myself and put my own spin on it. It turned out much better than I expected. In fact, I loved it and wanted to share the recipe.

Pomegranate Cranberry Salad
- 1 & a half cups of fresh chopped cranberries
- 1 cup of pomegranate seeds
- 1 orange peeled & chopped
- 6 apricots chopped
- agave or honey to taste


Very simple with layers of flavor. I used a local raw honey that trully made this dish. The tartness of the cranberries marries well with the pomegranate, but the true rockstar of this dish was the apricots. I added them on a whim and I'm so glad I did.


Enjoy!

Persimmon Pudding!


Ok, I obviously made this recipe awhile back based on the picture - Halloween! However, I really wanted to share this delicious recipe before all the persimmons are gone! Bare with me because nothing will be exact because I tend to not measure when I'm creating in the kitchen. I just taste and play. If you are willing to experiment I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised. This is just such a yummy treat.
I used:
- about a cup of persimmon puree
- the meat of 2 young Thai coconuts
- and about 1/2 cup of either coconut water or brazil nut milk - I've done it both ways
- about a half to one teaspoon each of cinnamon, tumeric and ginger (1 inch of fresh ginger root)
- 1 Tbs of agave nectar
I topped off the pudding with hemp seeds for an very seasonal & delicious treat.
Sorry that this is so breif and not very informative but I've been promising to share this for awhile so it's kinda a quick treat. Feel free to experiment and enjoy!
I love you!

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