Join Me on Mt Hood in March 2011!

I am very excited to be announcing EXPLORE RAW VITALITY - March 18th & 19th (outside of Portland, OR on Mt. Hood)

Join me, Dave the Raw Food Trucker, Tresa Yung, Thomas & Gabrielle Chavez and many other leading experts, chefs and guides within the raw food movement as we welcome Spring and explore the world of Raw Vitality.

Attend this event and you will:

• learn about resources for true wellness, longevity, and a healthier way of life


• meet the lifestyle experts, healers, doctors, and chefs who can make it work for you


• rejuvenate and heal


• explore your own true nature, naturally


• learn to live in grace

Event Package Includes:

• 3 unforgettably delicious raw gourmet meals prepared by some of the country's best live food chefs


• keynote presentations on Friday night: Dave the Raw Food Trucker and Tresa B.E. Grace


• Living the Compass of Grace workshop with Thomas and Gabrielle Chavez


• an interactive discussion with Penni Shelton, author of Raw Food Cleanse


• special activities including yoga and a live juice bar


• scheduled food demos, mini talks through the event


• health and wellness experts available Friday and Saturday with resources and advice


• access to holistic treatments including acupuncture, reflexology, reiki, sound healing, and naturopathic consultations


• a special group rate for your stay at The Resort at The Mountain of only $89/per double room per night

For all other details, and a 25% early bird booking discount, visit http://www.explorerawvitality.com!

Do You Feel Lucky?

I didn't want any of my beloved blog readership to miss out on the Big Mega Giveaway Extravaganza that's taking place this week over at Raw Food Rehab! Come log in and put your name in the hat!

Foodie Friday - Festive Holiday Drinks

This episode of Foodie Friday features festive & healthy Christmas "cocktail" recipes that will help you feel like kicking up your heels and decking the halls this holiday season (and without a hangover)!

No holiday party is truly complete without a selection of delicious drinks. Holiday libations can and should be fun and festive, but they don't HAVE to contain wine, champagne or spirits. The great thing about choosing to be conscious with your holiday drinking means that no one has to worry about who will be driving home from the party!

Holiday Fruit Punch

(from Raw For The Holidays - pg 59 )

8 oranges

6 apples

1 lemon

1 cup fresh cranberries

1/4 cup - 1 cup coconut nectar (or other sweetener of choice), to taste

1/4+ teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon 5 spice powder

1 large bottle of chilled sparkling mineral water

additional slices of citrus, fresh mint & frozen cranberries for garnish

Either juice or blend & strain the apples, oranges, lemon & cranberries. Pour the juice into the blender, adding the spices and whirl until well combined. Pour the punch into a large pitcher or small punch bowl and add sparkling water. You are looking for a ratio of about 2/3 punch to 1/3 sparkling water. Finish by adding sliced fruit, fresh mint & a few cranberries to serve.

Raspberry Pomegranate Spritzer

2 cups kombucha, coconut kefir or sparkling water

2/3 cup frozen raspberries

2 sprigs fresh mint

3 ounces fresh or bottled pomegranate juice

ice

Combine all ingredients in a small pitcher and pour over ice filled glasses to serve.

Holiday Nog

(raw & eggless)

1 cup soaked almonds (4 - 8 hrs)

1 young coconut (substitute 2 ripe bananas if you don't have a coconut)

5 soft, pitted medjool dates

2 tablespoons coconut nectar (optional)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 -2 heaping tablespoon cashew butter (optional - will make it creamier & add richness of flavor)

1 scant teaspoon rum extract (optional)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

additional water to blend (2 cups if you are using the coconut, 3 cups w/ bananas)

Blend all ingredients and strain. Serve chilled or warm and top with freshly grated nutmeg & a cinnamon stick for a beautiful presentation.

Christmas Cran-tini

3 ounces of fresh pressed or organic bottled cranberry juice

3 ounces fresh orange juice

a few drops of Stevia hazelnut extract

a final splash of kombucha (or organic vodka if you're really on the edge)

Combine the first three ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. strain into a glass and top with kombucha, garnishing with an orange slice & a couple of frozen cranberries.

In addition to these fun drinks, be sure to check out all of the festive goodness in our holiday themed ebook, Raw For The Holidays! In it you'll find drink recipes for:

2 more delicious raw nog variations

Minty Chocolate Cocoa

Chocolatini

Poinsetta

Holi-tini

Toot You Horn Smart Cocktail

and so much more....

If you're looking for party appetizers, both Raw For The Holidays & Falling Into Raw have ou covered! Just a few suggestions:

Cheddar Stuffed Celery w/ Cranberries

Truffle Caper Tapenade

Pecan or Pumpkin Seed Cheese Stuffed Dates

Cucumber Cashew Canapés

Stuffed Mushrooms

BBQ "Meat"balls

Party Kabobs w/ Persimmon Habanero Dipping Sauce

Staying Raw & Sane at the Holidays!

On Thursday, December 9th, I will be joining Blog Talk Radio host, Cher Till for a fantastic internet program on Staying Raw & Sane at the Holidays! During this hour long program, Cher and I are dishing up some great holiday tips for staying raw, keeping it green, reducing stress and sharing recipe ideas. We cover a gamut of topics from dealing with the demands and stresses of the season to how to be prepared and stay on course with your healthy eating goals throughout 2010 and beyond. Please join us for some fun, helpful tips and tricks that will help make your season more Merry & Bright! Click here to learn more details and to find the time the show will be available in your area.

Healthy Shots with Cher is an award winning internet program that brings you the movers, shakers and leaders in raw, vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, as well as Masters in the study of Meditation. Master Life Coach Cher Till is your host and weekly she brings you her expert tools and those of her special guests. This will be a one hour show, with fun and information that will guide you to a balance of physical and mental joy. To learn more about Coach Cher Till go to rawqyourhealth.com

The Living Christmas Tree

Here we are at the beginning of December, which is the biggest celebratory month of the entire year! In today's episode of Foodie Friday, I am sharing with you one of my most favorite and impressive holiday party appetizers, The Living Christmas Tree, which is a perfect centerpiece and healthy conversation starter for any festive occasion. Putting this tree together is also a fun way to get kids involved in helping with your party preparations!

To put together your Living Christmas Tree (page 63 of Raw For The Holidays), you'll need:

One Styrofoam Cone (they come in several sizes, so choose a larger size if you have a larger number of guests) and Toothpicks:

Holiday Themed Mini-Cookie Cutters, if desired:

Lots of Leafy Greens to cover the cone:

Use toothpicks to secure your leafy greens to the cone to create the Christmas Tree Base layer:

Clean, cut and prepare a variety of veggies with which to decorate your tree:

Decorate the Living Christmas Tree as you would a real holiday tree, using toothpicks to secure the veggies in place:

Use the Living Tree as a table decoration or centerpiece at your holiday event:

You can serve a variety of dips as an accompaniment to this veggie tree. I made a variation of the Cashew Cheddar Spread from Falling Into Raw (page 32):

For the Cheddar Spread:
1 cup raw cashews, soaked one hour & drained
1/2 red bell pepper, seeded
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon cashew or tahini butter
1 generous tablespoon nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 scant teaspoon sea salt
water, only as needed to blend

In a food processor or blender combine all ingredients until completely smooth.

I also suggest these dips to serve alongside the tree:

Pumpkin Seed Cheese Dip (Falling Into Raw - page 34)

Chipotle Hummus (Falling Into Raw - page 34)

Smokey Guacamole (Falling Into Raw - page 31)

And be sure to check out the other offerings in our Dips & Nut Pate section in the Raw Food Rehab Kitchen! There is a Live Ranch dip & an amazing walnut pate in that section that are DELISH!

I've Got Sunshine......

Today I took a little road trip to Oklahoma City to meet up with my good friend Sunshine Boatright (raw food autism champion) at 105degrees. Sunshine and her family were passing through on their move cross-country from Atlanta, Georgia to their soon to be new home in Southern California.

It had been just over 2 years since I had seen Sunshine, so I was thrilled to get to hang out with her for a couple of hours, catching up over the most amazing raw & living food lunch! Check out these shots of our feast:



In the order of there appearance:

Shots of Wheatgrass (not shown)
Antiox-C (Orange, Lime, Goji Berries, Black Cherries & Raspberries)
Fork Crushed Avocado w/ Mint, Radish, Lemon, Sea Salt & Corn Chips
House Aged Tree Nut Cheeses w/ Seasonal Fruits & Raw Honey
Arugula Salad w/ Shaved Pear, Sweet Onions, L8 Harvest Vinaigrette&, Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
Heirloom Tomato Lasagna w/ Macadamia Ricotta, Spinach, Pesto & Sun Dried Tomato Marinara
Mediterranean Hummus Wrap in Swiss Chard w/ Zucchini, Kalamata Olives & Sweet Red Pepper (with a side of Kale Chips)
Tiramisu
Gianduja Tasting (a celebration of hazelnuts & chocolate)

The final photo of the raw lasagna was a dish that one of the students at the Academy had put together - doesn't it all look amazing? If you ever have the opportunity to be in Oklahoma City, be sure to visit 105degrees!

The Festival of Lights

Looking for raw food ideas to incorporate into your Chanukkah dinner? Raw chefs Deborah Blank, Kirby Cuke & Raw For the Holidays offer a full menu of delicious gluten & dairy free living food recipes for your celebration which include:

Apple Cakes

Honey Creme Sauce

Spiced Carrots

Applesauce

Sweet Potato Latkes

Sour Cream

Brisket

Jelly Donuts

Chanukah Harry Choc Dipped Macaroons

Raw For The Holidays is a collection of over 100 holiday themed, healthy raw food recipes & 65 full color photos. This work is an expanded collaboration from over 30 contributors, including yours truly. Order your digital copy now, through Paypal for only $15.

The Big Thanksgiving Episode

Thanks for checking out today's Big Thanksgiving Episode! I had such fun putting today's recipes together and filming the details for my weekly raw food segment on Raw Food Rehab. Unfortunately when I went to plug my Flip camera into the USB port of my computer, the plug in snapped off and my video camera is broken beyond repair. I hope you will at least enjoy the photographs and recipes I've put together. I'm wishing you and your family a beautiful, blissful and healthy holiday!

Cinnamon Apple & Rosemary Sweet Potato Chips w/ Maple Vanilla Cream

(inspired by Vegetarian Times - Oct 2010)

For the cinnamon apple chips:

2 medium apples, cored & sliced into 1/4 inch thick rings

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

for rosemary sweet potato chips:

1 large sweet potato

2 tablespoons good quality olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Cut sweet potato into paper thin slices with a mandoline or knife. Place slices in a bowl and gently rub in the olive oil, lemon juice, rosemary & salt.

Lay slices on mesh dehydrator trays without overlapping. Dry for about 6 hours, shifting until chips are fully crisp.

Maple Vanilla Cream

If you don't have a high speed blender, you can grind the cashews in a coffee grinder then place the powder into your blender to combine with the other ingredients until smooth.

1/2 cup cashews, soaked & drained

1 - 2 teaspoons maple syrup or coconut nectar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients on high speed until smooth & creamy, adding a bit of water if necessary to combine.

Sweet Cinnamon Pecans
(courtesy of Kerry Matson/Raw For The Holidays pg 73)

2 tablespoon coconut oil

2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon agave (or other sweetener of choice)
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt
4 cups pecans
1/2 cup dried coconut flakes

Mix together warmed/liquefied coconut oil, agave, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour over pecans and stir to cover nuts well. Pour 1/2 of pecans onto a dehydrator sheet (no Teflex sheet). To the remaining pecans, add a 1/2 cup of dried coconut flakes. Stir well & pour onto another dehydrator sheet.

Dehydrate at 105* for 15-20 hours, or until dry & crispy.

Cranberry Pomegranate Chutney
(from Raw For The Holidays pg 90)

2 cups dried cranberries, roughly chopped
½ cup red apple, cored and chopped
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
¼ cup agave nectar (or raw honey)
1 orange, zested & supremed
1 cup pomegranate seeds

Add cranberries, apple, ginger and agave nectar to a food processor and pulse together until well combined. Add the orange segments, pulsing only until blended in coarsely. Transfer to a medium bowl and add the orange zest and pomegranate seeds, mixing thoroughly. This will keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days.

Savory Mushroom Nut Loaf
(Modified from Raw For The Holidays pg 94)

1 cup raw pecans
1 cup raw walnuts

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup mushrooms
½ cup celery
½ cup sweet yellow onion
1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage or poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1-2 cloves garlic
1 cup carrot pulp
1 stalk celery, finely diced

In a food processor, grind nuts to a coarse meal. Place in a mixing bowl. To the processor bowl, qdd mushrooms, celery, onion, sage, salt, pepper, thyme, and garlic, and continue processing until everything is finely ground. Transfer this into the bowl with the nuts and stir in carrot pulp and diced celery. Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix and combine everything together. Form into a loaf, cake or patties. Dehydrate 4-6 hours, (less time if you are making smaller cakes) until a crust has formed on top and it's nicely warmed.

Pumpkin Spice Bread or Muffins

2 cups fresh or moist carrot pulp

2/3 cup dried sweet almond pulp (left over pulp from making nut milk)

3/4 cup ground golden flax seeds

1/3 cup chopped raisins or cranberries

1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

2 tablespoons coconut nectar or maple syrup

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

2 teaspoons good quality olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl until fully incorporated. Either form the mixture into a loaf shape or press into a plastic wrap lined mini-muffin pan to form shapes. Dehydrate at 105 degrees until dried to your personal liking. The outer crust should be nice and formed, but the interior should still be soft and moist. Note: If you are making a pumpkin loaf, drying time will be much longer.

There are over 100 celebratory recipes and 65 color photos in Raw Food Rehab's Raw For The Holidays ebook. Click here to learn the details.

Big Raw Chili Night

Corn Fritters (from Raw For The Holidays)

3 cups fresh (or frozen & thawed) corn kernels

2/3 cup leek (other variety of yellow or white onion is fine)

1/2 cup dried almond pulp or almond flour

1/3 cup golden flax seeds, ground

drizzle of cold pressed olive oil

drizzle of coconut nectar or maple syrup

pinch of sea salt & fresh cracked pepper

Note - I added a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder & a seeded jalapeño

Blend all ingredients except 1/3cup of corn in a food processor until well combined and smooth. Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop the batter on to lined dehydrator trays and press into the shape of corn fritters. Dry at 115 degrees for 2 hours and flip over, removing the non-stick backing, and place the fritters onto the mesh trays to continue drying until the desired consistency is reached (anywhere from 2 - 4 more hours).

Penni's Rawkin' Raw Chili

for the chili:

4 cups fresh tomatoes,diced

16 oz. white or baby bello mushrooms, chopped

2+cups fresh or frozen corn kernels

2 red bell peppers, seeded & diced

2/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked

1 carrot, grated

1 jalapeño, seeded and diced

1 shallot or small sweet onion, chopped (I substituted 1 teaspoon onion powder)

2 cloves fresh garlic (I used 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder)

2 tablespoon coconut nectar (honey or agave would be fine)

1 - 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon smoked sea salt (regular is fine)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon cacao powder

1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder

generous pinch freshly cracked pepper

for the toppings:

chopped cilantro

red onion, diced,

kalamata olives, chopped

avocado, chopped or sliced

living sour cream

Blend together all of the ingredients, except 2 cups chopped tomato, 2 cups chopped mushroom, cup corn, 1/2 of the red bell pepper, 1/2 the jalapeño and 1/2 the cilantro. Once you have lended the base, add the smooth mixture to a large bowl and add in the remaining chopped ingredients, stirring until well combined. Top the chili with any of the listed ingredients. Serve & Enjoy!

To check out my last post on chili - Raw vs. Cooked Chili Night

What Would Angela Stokes Do (WWASD)?

Yesterday I shared 2 things that have been a big help to me that I learned from David Wolfe. Today I share another little trick I use that has helped me along my raw food journey. This was prompted by a discussion thread that went up right after Halloween in the Vault. In this thread a member, who normally doesn't struggle with sugar cravings, was suddenly perplexed over a couple of sugar related binges she had allowed herself to go on.

Here are tidbits of this member's dilemma:

"I am not really one for sweets usually, but I can tell I have a sugar addiction that needs to be kicked! I took a trip to Montana recently for a reunion and had some beer and wine... then a bit more at home. This past weekend I totally overate at my mom's house for dinner- mostly veggies but also some wine and desserts. Now I have raided some Halloween candy and need help! Ugh!......I feel like I am sabotaging my weight loss goals for some reason. I have about 15 pounds to lose, but I have been in this for weeks now and have not lost anything due to my constant "treating myself" to drinks or dessert or cooked meals. What should I do to kick it once and for all? Tips? Suggestions? Moral support? It feels like when I tell myself I can't have something, that is ALL I WANT! :-P "

Among many of the great responses, here is mine:

"Here is a little game I have played with myself when I find myself slipping into some of the behaviors you speak of.....I pretend that I am Angela Stokes (hopefully you know who she is). Perhaps this is the actress in me, but I literally wake up in the morning and mentally role play. What would Angela Stokes do? I choose to "become Angela" when Penni's brat acts out.

Angela Stokes would NOT eat a candy bar or drink half a bottle of wine. Angela would not be caught in the kitchen noshing on wavy Lays. Angela Stokes goes into the kitchen and blends up a green juice or green smoothie. She lovingly takes the time to move her body and be playful during her day, even if that means some other things don't get done. Angela makes a big, beautiful salad or prepares a quick easy energy soup for lunch/dinner. Angela snacks on kale chips and a piece of fresh fruit. She stays calm and detached when lots of stress and action are happening all around her. Angela knows how to check out and check in to her "happy place."

So WWASD? What would Angela Stokes do? This works to get me back in the game!"

In the video I mention the article that Gwyneth Paltrow shared on her website, Goop, today. Here is the link to the Overcoming Sugar Addiction by Frank Lipman MD. The link to the We Like It Raw podcast I mention in which Dhrumil interviews Dr. Alejandro Junger, partner of Frank Lipman MD, is here.

We would love to hear comments from you today. Anything from role playing to how you've overcome your cravings/addiction to sugar is welcome!

Loving Ourselves & Establishing Real Boundaries

Learning to set specific boundaries has been a very big part of my own evolution and growth along my personal journey towards optimum health and wholeness. Because I have always desired to be a kind, loving and accepting person, I have often found that life and others have often tried to trample, take advantage or abuse my loving intentions and acts of generosity.

It's been a painful and hard road for me (and for those who I have loved) because for the majority of my life I did not understand the importance of setting healthy boundaries for myself and for others. I know that many of us have struggled with this very issue, so even though this post deviates from my usual musings of food, I believe this topic has relevance in many areas of our lives. When we are clear about our needs and set those needs as a priority, we are not being mean, selfish or inconsiderate. It is only when we learn to love ourselves enough to nourish our own spirit and bodies that we are able to be truly generous with our love and compassion for others.

To respect and honor your authentic self, you must set personal boundaries. Your boundaries help define who you are and what you will and will not tolerate in your life. Learning to set boundaries often feels uncomfortable at first, but the process becomes more natural to you as you move into living and honoring your genuine self. You set boundaries with your professional peers, friends and family, emotional boundaries in virtually all aspects of your life, and spiritual boundaries as you embark on your life journey.

Know your personal choice, and when to say yes or no. This is the essence of setting emotional boundaries. For example, if someone demands your time or energy and you do not wish to participate, say "no" and if you choose, explain why. Causing a major confrontation isn't always necessary.

Watch for warning signals that trigger the need for boundaries. Various situations require you to set emotional boundaries. You usually receive warning signals. You may distance yourself from someone who is abrasive. You may prefer not to spend your energy on someone who does not live up to his word. If you notice someone is undermining you or putting you down, you may emotionally need to move completely away from the individual. Don't allow others to take advantage of you, treat you with disregard, or demean you. If you maintain healthy emotional balance, you are taking a giant step on the path to your power. You gain great strength in your emotions and mental health each time you stand up for yourself and protect your emotional well-being.

Decide how to set the boundary. If someone crosses your emotional boundaries, you may choose to address the issue outright and work toward a mutual understanding and solution. Or you may decide to quietly set your boundary through limiting your time with that person or being involved in a particular situation. You might also find removing yourself from a toxic environment is necessary. Take time to define your boundaries and seek a solution that allows you to maintain self-respect and live authentically.

Make healthy boundaries a part of your life. Your spiritual boundaries help define your soul's growth. As you pursue your spiritual journey, you will know your truth in your heart. Love, kindness, generosity, and healthy support for your fellow travelers become part of your life as you experience your inner power, joy and peace. Setting boundaries in your spiritual life includes making time to pray and meditate, getting involved with causes that are dear to your heart, cultivating your divine relationship with God or your Divine Source, and living fully in your truth.

Written with the help of: How to Set Personal Boundaries

Foodie Friday - The Great Pumpkin Episode Part 2

The Great Pumpkin Episode Part 2

Pumpkin Cacao Balls

Inspired by Frank Giglio & Annmarie Gianni)

ingredients:

1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds

2 cups pumpkin, shredded and soaked overnight, drained
1/2 c pecans

1/2 cup soft dates, pitted

1/2 cup dried apricots, quartered

drizzling of maple syrup
3 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

generous pinch sea salt

cacao nibs to coat

First, grind pumpkin seeds & pecans in food processor to fine pieces. Remove and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the pumpkin and all other ingredients and process into small, fine pieces. Add the nuts back into the mix and process a ball stats to form.

Using a teaspoon, collect a bit of the pumpkin mixture and form into balls. Roll in cacao nibs if desired. The balls should either be dehydrated (about 4 - 6 hours) or refrigerate them until they are firm.

Pumpkin Macaroons

ingredients:

1 cup shredded coconut, blended into a fine powder or flour

1/2 cup ground pecans

1/2 cup pumpkin flour (dehydrated pumpkin shreds that have been ground into powder)

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 teaspoons coconut oil (or butter)

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

pinch sea salt

In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients. Use a small cookie dough scoop or your hands and form the macaroons. I recommend dehydrating these for 3 - 4 hours which will make them firm on the outside but still soft and light on the inside. You can also enjoy them as is without dehydration.

I also suggest Harvest Moon Granola (Raw For The Holidays pg 21), beautifully bagged to use as party favors!

Powered Up Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake

ingredients:

2 cups shredded pumpkin, soaked overnight & drained
1 large frozen banana
1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 heaping tablespoon raw nut butter of your choice
2 soaked dates
2 tablespoons raw protein powder
crushed ice, if desired
Top with shredded coconut & freshly grated nutmeg

Blend the first 7 ingredients (add water as needed) in a blender until smooth & creamy. Top coconut & nutmeg to serve.

Pumpkin Soup

ingredients:
2 cups shredded pumpkin, soaked overnight & drained
1 cup fresh apple juice
1/2 cup caramelized onions
1 clove garlic
generous pinch garam masala (or cumin)
pinch of ginger
pinch of sea salt
fresh thyme & more caramelized onions to garnish

Blend all ingredients in a blender until well combined and creamy. Serve with Boho Flax Crackers.

ingredients:
3 cups yellow onions, sliced very thin
1⁄4 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
1⁄4 cup coconut aminos
1/3 cup date paste
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

In a blender or food processor, combine the oil, coconut aminos, date paste and lemon juice until creamy. Combine the thinly sliced onions with the liquid glaze until well coated. Dehydrate on lined dehydrator trays at 115°F for up to 3 hours.

Boho Flax Crackers

(inspired by Charlie Trotter & Roxanne Klein)

2/3 cup pumpkin seeds
2/3 cup flax seeds (golden)
2 - 3 cup water
2 tablespoons coconut aminos
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon onion powder or flakes
1 clove minced garlic

Add the flax seeds to the water, allowing to soak at least 4 hours. In a food processor, combine the soaked seeds, coconut aminos, maple syrup, chili powder, garam marsala, onion powder and garlic.....process until smooth and well combined. Stir in the pumpkin seeds by hand until fully incorporated.

Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, spread the mixture onto a lined dehydrator trays and set the dehydrator at 115 degrees, drying for about 4 hours or until the cracker batter is firm enough to flip over and peel the liner off. Cut into desired shapes; returning the crackers to mesh dehydrator trays and continue to dry until crisp.....about another 8 - 12 hours.

Raw For The Holidays Is Here!

Last year Raw Food Rehab released Raw For The Holidays, a collection of festive and delicious recipes created by the Original Cast of Raw Food Rehab. The book was already fabulous, but I decided that the collection should be expanded and revised to make it even more comprehensive and appealing! This year's newly edited and expanded edition has over 100 recipes and 65 color photographs. Here is a list of occasions we cover in Raw For The Holidays:

The Perfect Autumn Day (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Snack/Dessert) - 8 recipes

Football Watch Party - 9 recipes

All Hallow's Eve - 9 recipes

Thanksgiving (Breakfast, Dinner & Dessert) - 18 recipes

Enchanted Winter Evening for 2 (or more) - 6 recipes

Hanukkah Dinner - 8 recipes

Holiday Sweets & Party Treats - 10 recipes

Christmas Eve - 9 recipes

Christmas Brunch - 11 recipes

Christmas Dinner - 10 recipes

New Year's Eve - 6 recipes

New Year's Day - 7 recipes

I am confident that Raw For The Holidays will be a tremendous support and help to you in all of your holiday and celebratory meal planning. I am so proud and very eager to get in the kitchen and start un-cooking for the holidays! I will also be making some of the recipes that don't have photos on upcoming Foodie Friday episodes!

Raw For The Holidays is available now for just $15 through PayPal. Once I receive notification of your payment, I send the ebook directly to your Inbox. You will normally receive the book in a very short amount of time, however, please allow up to 10 hours for delivery (if an order comes through after I go to bed, I will send it first thing when I wake up!) I know this incredible collection of recipes and beautiful photos will be a treasure to you as you continue on your path towards optimum health this holiday season!

Foodie Friday - The Great Pumpkin Episode Part 1

Pumpkin Cookies with Caramel Icing (Will appear in the newly edited & expanded Raw For the Holidays - available next Friday)

for the cookies:
1 cup almond pulp
1/3 cup ground golden flax seeds
1 heaping cup shredded pumpkin (soaked in water overnight & drained)
2/3 cup date paste
zest of 2 oranges
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
generous pinch sea salt

for the caramel icing: (Falling Into Raw pg 47)
1/4 cup cashews (soaked & drained)
1/4 cup simple nut milk (Falling Into Raw pg 9)
2 tablespoons dark honey or dark agave nectar
2 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons date paste
1 heaping teaspoon coconut oil

In a food processor, combine all the ingredients for the cookies and process until you have a well blended, thick batter. Spread the batter onto a lined dehydrator tray using the back of a spoon or an offset spatula. Place in a 115 degree dehydrator for a couple of hours until the cookie dough is firm enough to flip onto a cutting surface. Peel the teflex dehydrator sheet carefully away from the dough and cut into desired shapes. Place the cookies onto a mesh dehydrator tray and continue to dry until your cookies are firm but still pliable.

In a blender, combine the icing ingredients and process until totally smooth and creamy. Transfer this mixture to a small bowl, cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to ice the cookies.

Chocolate Brownie Fudge Cookies (Falling Into Raw pg 48)

1 cup medjool dates, pitted

1 1/4 cups almond butter (or other nut butter)

1 cup raw cacao powder (substitute carob if desired)

1/3 cup raw honey

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pulse the dates in a food processor until well shopped. Add the almond butter, cacao or carob powder, honey and vanilla extract, processing until smooth. Place this mixture on a teflex dehydrator sheet and cover with a second sheet. You can use parchment paper or heavy duty plastic wrap as well. Using a rolling pin, flatten the dough as though you were rolling out cookie dough, leaving the dough about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick. Peel away the top sheet and cut the brownie into desire shapes. These can be decorated as shown in the video/slideshow or they can easily be enjoyed as is. Store uneaten cookies in the refrigerator.

Creamy Pumpkin Pie with Gingersnap Crust and Vanilla Whipped Cream

(will appear in Raw For the Holidays)

for the crust:

1 cup cashews

1 cup pecans

5 dates, pitted

1-2 tablespoons molasses (optional)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

generous pinch sea salt

for the pie filling:

5 cups shredded pumpkin (soaked overnight & drained)

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup raw agave nectar

1/2 cup coconut butter

1/2 cup young coconut meat (can substitute soaked cashews or macadamia nuts)

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

1 table spoon pysllium husk

for the vanilla whipped cream:

1 cup cashews, soaked 4 + hours & drained

1/2 cup young coconut meat

1/4 cup raw agave nectar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

To make the crust: In a food processor combine the nuts until crumbly. Add the remaining ingredients, processing until well combined and ball forms on the side of your processor. Press this crust dough into the bottom of a spring form type pan, or in a pie plate lined with plastic wrap. This crust can be refrigerated or dehydrated in preparation for the filling. If your crust seems oily or too damp, use napkins or paper towels to soak up the excess.

To make the filling: Add all the filling ingredients into a blender and combine until fully combined and creamy. Pour this mixture into the prepared pie crust and put into the freezer or refrigerator until firm.

To make the whipped cream: Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and process until totally smooth and creamy. Store the cream in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Deliciously Hydrated

I was hoping to bring you a video today, but I finally gave up after the 10th thwarted take. My goal for today was to express to you the importance and benefits of staying hydrated.....and I'm not just talking about drinking water. During our last 11 Week Initiative at Raw Food Rehab, we talked about all of the elements of hydration, so I would like to share those links with you, in case you missed them:

Get Hydrated!

Hydrating with Herbal Teas

Rawk Star Hydration (Foodie Friday)

In addition to drinking plenty of good quality water, staying hydrated with freshly pressed organic fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas, and the water of young thai coconuts are just as beneficial to your health. Whenever I talk about hydration, I have to include chia seeds into the the discussion because they are so amazing. If you haven't read about the impressive nutritional profiles of Thai coconuts or chia seeds, here are two very informative articles for you to absorb:

Chia Seeds - Miracle Food of the Aztecs

Young Thai Coconuts

I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite recipes for hydration.....I hope you'll try these and enjoy!

Chia Chai Smoothie (Revealing Your Inner Rawk Star - pg 11)

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1 chai tea bag, steeped in 1 cup water (cooled)

1/2 + cup sweet vanilla almond milk

1 frozen banana

pinch of cinnamon

pinch of ground ginger

1/2 cup crushed ice

Make the chai tea and allow it to come to room temperature. ut the chia seeds int the tea, allowing them to soak up the tea....usually 15 - 20 minutes....forming a chia chai gel. Easily done at night, this gel will keep well in the refrigerator until your ready to use it. Add the chia chai gel, almond milk, banana, spices and crushed ice to a blender and process until you have a frothy, creamy shake.

Goji Gingerade (Falling Into Raw - page 9)

1/3 cup organic goji berries

32 oz. pure water

1/4 cup raw honey, agave nectar or other sweetener of your choice

1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 lemons, juiced

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

Soak the goji berries in the water for at least 2 hours or overnight. Strain the water into a blender and add the other ingredients, blending only until well combined. You can keep the soaked goji berries in a covered container in your refrigerator to use in smoothies or another recipe. Use them within 24 hours.

Chia Coconut Custard Shake (Raw Food Cleanse - page 56)

1 thai coconut, meat & water

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1/2 cup crushed ice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons raw honey or agave nectar

a generous pinch each of cinnamon & freshly grated nutmeg

Put all ingredients into a high speed blender and combine until smooth and creamy.

Chia Breakfast Pudding (Revealing Your Inner Rawk Star - page 13)

1/4 chia seeds

3/4 cup sweet vanilla almond or hemp milk

scant pinch of sea salt

raw honey, agave nectar and/or fresh berries can be added if desired

In a bowl, combine the chia seeds, almond milk and sea slat. This mixture needs to be stirred every 5 to 10 minutes. Within 20 minutes you will have a breakfast pudding that wil remoind you of tapioca, as the chia seeds plump and fill with milk. This breakfast will totally encourage your inner rawk star to shine throughout the day!

Holy Eureka - I FOUND IT!

After 2 years of asking around and researching, I finally found a natural source for spring water in my area! My friend, JS Ohlander of FindaSpring.com, gave me a heads up that he'd heard about a spring in Broken Arrow, OK, which is just over 30 minutes from my house. So, today I loaded up my water jugs and took a little road trip east to see what I could find. Here's a clip:

The health benefits of spring water have been widely known for centuries. People who understand these benefits or who have experienced health improvements first hand will travel miles to obtain pure, fresh spring water. Natural spring water rises to the land surface naturally. Some health experts feel that this means it is ready to be consumed as opposed to artesian water that is brought to the surface prematurely. Spring water contains antioxidants and is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Spring water is alive and when it comes straight from the ground it has nourishing qualities that are not present in purified water. One thing to be cautious of when drinking spring water is that it could contain contaminants and therefore should be tested before consumption.

Many of you may have heard holistic health educators extolling the virtues of drinking natural spring water. David Wolfe and a number of other raw food enthusiasts drink spring water exclusively. Here is a clip from Daniel Vitalis, the creator of Find A Spring.com, telling you a bit more about the site and how you can help by being a spring water detective in your neck of the woods:

I've talked so much about the importance of true hydration at Raw Food Rehab. It is one of the most foundational and necessary elements when you are working on obtaining optimal health or when focusing on achieving your weight loss goals. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of hydration and to find out how much you should be consuming in water each day, click here.

I am curious to know what your experiences are with finding natural spring water near where you live. Do you know of any sources in your area? Have you checked to see if they are listed on the FindaSpring site? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Raw Talk Tuesday - Cher Till's Life Transformation

Click here to listen to the wav file of today's show (much better sound quality)

Click here for the MP3 file.

Welcome to my very first episode of Raw Talk Tuesday! You are in for big shot of inspiration today as you listen to the 35 minute interview with Dr. Cheryl Till. Many of you may already know of Cher from her Blog Talk Radio Show - Healthy Shots with Cher. Here is a bit of background info on today's special guest:

Dr. Cheryl Till has a very diverse background. She has a Doctorate in the Philosophy of Theology, is an ordained minister, a chef, speaker, trainer, author, coach, and Dr. but, she just likes to be called Cher.

She spent 27 years in the restaurant business, having run multimillion dollar restaurants with over 100 employees in them. Along her journey she sustained an accident at work, which took out both her knees. While recovering, Cher realized working all those long hours in the restaurant business she had lost touch with the core of who she was and why she was put here on this planet.

Three years have gone by since her accident, she has two new knees and a lot of reinventing has taken place. Today Cher teaches people how to accomplish their goals, eat healthier and live a long life. Achieving incredible results from a raw and vegan lifestyle, she has made it her mission to share her love of food with others. Her first e-book, RAWQ YOUR HEALTH with 10 and 10, is only the beginning of her new trademark, and will launch a series of recipe books that are easy, quick and healthy.

Please check out Cher's website here. And then scope out Cher's radio show: HEALTHY SHOTS WITH COACH CHER, which airs on Thursdays from 5-6PM Pacific time on Blog Talk Radio. On her weekly show, Cher interviews guests who are experts in the raw vegan lifestyle, meditation and green living. Her effervescent personality and love of life is contagious everywhere she goes.

The following is an awesome clip that Cher put together to showcase the amazing, mouth watering recipes she shares in her new eBook:

On today's call, Cher is offering a very special exclusive offer to the RFR community (which includes Real Food Tulsa readers). If you order her ebook before this coming Saturday, October 23 by midnight PST, you will get an additional ebook shipped out to your Inbox on November 1st! 30 additional recipes that only require 10 ingredients or less and can be made in 10 minutes! Click here to place your order!

LifeCoach Cher also offers one-on-one and/or group consultations. You can learn all about this by clicking here.

I hope you enjoyed today's very first Raw Talk Tuesday and we'll see you again for another show next Tuesday. Our special guest will be Joan Monarch, mother of Mr. Matt Monarch of the Raw Food World TV Show! You won't want to miss it!

Happy One Year Anniversary, Raw Food Rehab

This weekend I am celebrating my first full year as the Program Director at the Raw Food Rehab Mansion! We kicked off our first public 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative on October 16th of 2009. When we opened our doors, we had 65 original RFR members who worked with me on research for my book, Raw Food Cleanse. Now, a year later, we have reach a guest list of nearly 6,500! I'd say that's cause for CELEBRATION!

If you haven't checked in at Raw Food Rehab yet, we always leave the light on and have someone at the front desk who will see you to your room! Hope to bump into in the halls soon!

Are You Ready to Fall Into Raw?

This Saturday, October 2nd, I'll be kicking off Raw Food Rehab's final 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative for 2010! You can read the guidelines of what our Initiatives objectives are by clicking here. Hundreds of members of Raw Food Rehab will be participating in our 11 Week Initiative - Falling Into Raw and there will be much support happening all over the website and I encourage you to come join us!

This Initiative will run from Saturday, October 2nd through Friday, December 17th.

If you would like additional support, education, recipes, shopping list and journal pages, I want to encourage you to order the Falling Into Raw digital material. For the last month I've been putting a great deal of effort into putting this information together, as I trust that this collection will be a source of tangible support for you during the coming 11 week as we move into the holiday season.

In this set you will receive 3 digital books:
Falling Into Raw - Finding Simplicity & Balance in the Season (the main book)

Falling Into Raw - In The Kitchen (a collection of nearly 80 seasonally inspired raw food recipes)

and Falling Into Raw - The Photos (over 40 beautiful digtial photographs of many of the finished recipes)

Additionally, there are 2 other documents:
The Falling Into Raw Market & Pantry List (a shopping guide) & 11 Week Initiative Journal Pages

For only $33 dollars you will receive all of this material in your email Inbox. It can be ordered via Paypal by clicking here.

I also, hope you'll let me know if you are planning on joining us on this healthy journey!

If you would like to actively participating in the Initiative, I want to make a few suggestions:

Take a Before Photo of Yourself - If you have weight to lose, taking a full length before photo will be both a reality check and a way for you to track your progress visually.

Take Your Beginning Measurements - As we have learned with members in the Vault, when you change your diet to one that is full of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, you often begin to see very real improvements in your body measurements. The SAD diet is very acidic and causes inflammation and water retention, so even if you don't lose a tremendous amount of weight, you may lose your bloated condition!

Plan to Hold Yourself Accountable Weekly - For some of you, this may mean that you weigh yourself once each week to see how you are doing. If you don't weigh yourself, make a note of how your clothes are fitting throughout the 11 Weeks. Journaling is another way to track your progress, and keeping a food journal is a proven tool for success for many people who have struggled with mindless eating in the past.

Stay Plugged Into Support - We have found that when members allow themselves to become isolated and "out-of-the-loop" it is much easier to slip back into old unhealthy lifestyle practices and ways of eating. NEVER allow guilt, shame or feelings of defeat to keep you away from RFR. We understand that these changes do not happen over night for most people and that we are ALL a work in progress.

Come sign in at Raw Food Rehab and let me know HERE if you're planning to participate in our Falling Into Raw Initiative! I'd also love to know some of your thoughts, goals or plans for your upcoming 11 Weeks. I hope to hear from!

Raw Mom - Cooked Dad....Can You Relate?

You Cry When He Fries...

He Shouts When You Sprout...

Sign Up Today for 10 Days of Support, Inspiration, Recipes and Advice from 40 of the Word’s Leading Experts on Raw Food, Nutrition and
Healthy Living!

Your Family Will Never Feud About Food Again!

This event kicks off on October 10, 2010
(10-10-10!)

Dear Inspired Mamas,

Have you ever noticed that most of the so-called “Raw food gurus” out there are either single, have no children or live on a tropical island?

Okay, I get how you can succeed on the raw food diet if you live under a banana tree and have no children begging you to eat all the foods their friends eat!

What about the rest of us
living in the trenches of the “real world?”

What about family dinners with the grandparents...?

What about school lunches and kids who feel their food is “weird?”

What about how difficult it seems to find raw food recipes our kids actually LIKE?

How are we supposed to live this healthy lifestyle without feeling like a FREAK or slaving over the dehydrator at 3:00 in the morning?!

To help answer a few of these questions and bring forth the tools, the support, the inspiration that will help us all lead healthy lives in the face of a deep-fried world, please click here to find out about all the very special guests we’ve invited to this event and to learn the key topics we’ll be featuring.

International Day of Juice Feasting - THIS SUNDAY!

This Sunday, September 12th from Noon to 4 pm PST, a spectacular event will be taking place all over the world. This will be the second annual event to honor of the tremendous work that Dr. Gabriel Cousens and the staff of the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Arizona have contributed to the world in the research and development of healing through the practice of juice feasting.

This event was created and spearheaded by Dave the Raw Food Trucker last year and hundreds of people joined together for this first annual Day of International Juice Feasting in Seattle, Washington. It was a standing room only affair and you can check the video coverage of that out here. I had a number of my Raw Food Rehab Seattle Posse in attendance and I suspect we'll have even more peeps representing in the house for this year's celebration.

This year's event has expanded and it will include special guest speakers who are considered experts in the protocol of juice feasting: Matt Monarch, Angela Stokes-Monarch and Elaina Love are just a few of the featured speakers. Both Dave & Tresa will be there to introduce other amazing speakers whose stories of healing and rejuvenation are sure to inspire and delight you. If you are in the Seattle area, please check out the details, as this year's event will be held at the Laughing Ladies Cafe in Shoreline, Washington. You can get more information on this by visiting the main website that was created specifically for this event.

If you are not in the Seattle area, no problem! Just like last year, this event will be streaming live on UStream.tv Be sure to get signed up there so you can join in with people from all across the globe for this epic event. Click here to get plugged in. This is an awesome feature for those of us who want to support Dave and this event but aren't able to travel to be there in person.

You may want to take it a step further and host your own house party or get together with friends and celebrate health on this particular day. The idea is to drink low glycemic juices or smoothies for as long as you feel you need to. You may want to commit to joining with many of us for this one day of juice feasting or you may want to plan for a longer period of time, either leading up to this date or starting on the 12th. Juice feasting gives your body a chance to rest, heal, recuperate, and get back on track. You can learn more about juice feasting by checking out the information that's up at RFR's Liquid Lounge.

Hope to "see" you this Sunday!

Sunday Evening Candlelight Vigil For Dave

Hello Everyone!

I had the opportunity to speak with both Dave and Tresa at length last night on the phone. I want to share that Dave is absolutely blown away by your comments on yesterday's video. The well wishes, prayers and heart-felt love you all are sharing is just what the doctor ordered! He wanted me to be sure to tell you how much all of this means to him and that he will be following everyone's comments here as we move forward.

The best news that has happened today is that Dave has been officially released from the hospital (after 10 days) and now he can begin the next leg of his deep healing journey!

After last night's call, I came away with a couple of thoughts that I want to share with you. I asked what the most pressing needs were at this time and how we as a community can best support his continued healing, and here is what I came up with:

The first thing is that I feel it would be very beneficial to hold a 24 hour corporate prayer/candlelight vigil in honor of Dave. Dave was extremely touched by this idea and would be so honored by our support to him in this way. The plan is that each one of us who feel lead to do so will pause at dusk this coming Sunday evening (September 5th) and pray and/or send our well wises and healing energy to Dave. I also would ask for each one of you to light a candle, for Dave at that time. I show you the candle I will be burning through the night in the above video.

During this time of prayer and sending up of our intentions, we want to ask for our Creator's perfect will to be done in Dave's life. I personally will be praying for a 100% physical recovery. I propose that we also ask for all of Dave's financial needs to be met over the days and months to come. These really are are the 2 most urgent concerns as I see it.

I hope you will take this idea and run with it. Please promote this time of prayerful support on your blogs, on Facebook, on Twitter or on YouTube. Let's come together as a unified community on Dave's behalf.

Also, if you have an thoughts or creative ideas on how we can fund-raise for Dave at this time, please share your ideas in the comment below. I have a couple of good ones that I have rolling around in my head, but I KNOW as a team we can really hit this ball out of the park.

One small thing I am starting with is that I am donating 100% of the proceeds of any sale of my book Real Juice Daily to Dave's Recovery Fund throughout this Labor Day weekend (now throughout Monday night).

So that's all for today's update. If you have any questions or additional thoughts, we would LOVE to hear from you in the comments. Much love to you all!