Average Joe on the Raw

One of the projects that has been keeping me joyously busy lately is:

AVERAGE JOE ON THE RAW is the inspirational story of my friend Seth's journey into the depths of his true self. Here is the synopsis in Seth's words:

"At 30 years old, I looked in the mirror and saw complacency. I saw a man settling into normalcy, settling into being average. At first glance, my initial thought was to just accept it. “it’s just part of the process, just part of aging and life. Get over it.”

So, at a crossroads in my life, I could just fall in line with the rest of the people on the assembly line of commonplace. Just waiting in line to see which disease will be handed to me, and which medications modern medicine will enslave me to………Or…….

I could take the path less traveled. I could make a push at my limitless potential. I could try to reset my intelligently designed body to heal itself! That is crazy enough, it just might work! So, this film is my 60 day journey into finding my limitless me. What kind of an effect can eating raw, clean foods and working out consistently have on my mental, physical, medical, emotional, spiritual, and relational life? We will see as I am an AVERAGE JOE ON THE RAW!"

As co-producer of this film, I can promise you that you are going to be in for a tremendous treat with this fascinating, entertaining and inspiring documentary. The cast of characters who will be appearing in the film will blow you away. I believe this film will have far reaching impact way beyond the niche of the raw, vegan world. It is going to be a wonderful tool for you to use to help inspire, educate and interest friends and family about their health and their future. I want to encourage you to visit the film's website, view the trailer and sign up for their newsletter so you can have insider access to some really sweet bonuses like:

• Additional behind the scenes footage not viewable anywhere else
• Awesome recipes from Russell James, me, Dara Dubinet, and many more
• Updates on the progress of the film
• Amazing workout vids from Paul Risse (can't wait for you to meet Paul - AMAZING)
• Challenges and contests for great coupons from really great companies to help you on your raw journey
• and so much more

Also, make sure you pre-order your copy of Average Joe on the Raw now and save 33% off the list price of 24.99! If you are a blogger or have a website - please sign up for the affiliate program so you can profitably help support spreading the word!

I'm so excited about this project and am looking forward to sharing more details with you in the days and weeks ahead!

Real Food & More Wisdom

Although we talk an awful lot about food, specifically raw food, here at Raw Food Rehab, I am also very passionate about helping you to find real food for your heart and soul. My friend, Brian Johnson of Philosopher's Notes, dishes up some of the best, most digestible fare which will help you to become a better you in less time than you can imagine.

For years I've been a seeker of truth, wisdom and personal development, but I really appreciate when I can get the highlights and bullet points first and then, when I have more time, I can go deeper. That is exactly what Brian has put together with his Philosopher's Notes - he's taken 200 of the top personal growth books… ever - and condensed them down into mini-CliffsNotes™ style summaries that offer you more wisdom in a lot less time.

From nutrition and love to positive psychology, old school and modern classics, Philopsopher's Notes enables you to tap into the wisdom that matters and that can help to radically transform your life.

When you sign up with PN, you'll get high-quality MP3's which allow you to get your wisdom on no matter what you’re doing. Whether you’re driving, walking/running, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, riding your bike, preparing a meal, cleaning the house or simply relaxing, each 20-minute makes personal growth more convenient than ever. The technology that went into Brian's MP3s is unbeatable, and well, just plain cool. When uploaded to an iPod or iPhone you’ll be able to see the cover and a synopsis of each note with just a finger click.

You'll also get a 6 page pdf file of the most transformational Big Ideas from each of the books. Beautiful to look at and powerful to use, these mini-CliffsNotes™ of personal growth will inspire and empower you to live your deepest truths. I have printed mine and have them in a binder so that the wisdom is available anytime in a user-friendly tool that works well for me.

Another cool thing is the totally free resource is Philosopher's Notes TV on You Tube. Brian has put together little 10 minute clips of him sharing some of the Big Ideas from many of the books on video. You can subscribe through iTunes and download them as podcast to your computer or iPod/iPhone. Just another raw to rock the wisdom in a way that might work well for you. Here is one of my very favorite video clips from Jack Canfield's awesome book The Success Principles - I hope you'll listen to it in its entirety because the part where he shares about 99% vs 100% has really transformed how I am successfully transforming a couple of areas in my life in which I had been struggling :

I can honestly tell you that this resource has be truly transformational for me over the past year, but more specifically in the last month, because I finally got Brian's MP3's loaded into my cell phone. So I have Brian Johnson talking in my ear everyday now. I am finding that as I listen to and begin to apply all of these ideas diligently, patiently, persistently, and playfully - my life is daily becoming more of what I want it to be and I find that I am feeling more and more empowered to BE THE CHANGE in this world.

I can't encourage you enough to go check out what has been created over at Philosopher's Notes and I hope that while you're there you'll check out all of the other super cool things Brian and his goddess Alexandra have created to help support you along your journey towards the most abundant, vibrant life ever!

The Marvelous Mimi Kirk

Click here to read more about Mimi and to sign in for your chance to win a copy of her beautifully done new book - LIVE RAW!

Foodie Friday Goes Thai

Spicy Thai Coconut Wraps with Pickled Carrots by Esther F. Gorden (aka Esther Francis)
From Go FRESH May-June Recipe Supplement, page 31

Serves 2 – 3

Butter lettuce
Lime wedges
1 cup chopped mushrooms (Cremini, Shiitake, white button, or a mix)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon tamari (nama shoyu or coconut aminos)
½ cup chopped jicama
Pinch (generous) sea salt

In a small bowl, combine mushrooms, lime juice and tamari. In another bowl, combine jicama and salt. Marinate both for ½ hour. Gently squeeze the jicama in a paper towel to remove moisture, then place on a non-stick dehydrator sheet.
Drain off excess marinade from mushrooms and place on same non-stick sheet. Dehydrate at 115 degrees F for ½ - 1 hour.

In a medium bowl combine:
1 teaspoon grated ginger root
1 tablespoon lime juice
Zest of 1 small lime
1 shallot, chopped
2-3 teaspoons tamari (nama shoyu or coconut aminos)
2 teaspoons raw agave nectar or coconut nectar
1/3 cup dry shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
¼ cup coarsely chopped cashews (I forgot to add these - but they were still delicious!)
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
½ -1 green chili (jalapeño or Serrano), very finely minced

When the jicama and mushrooms have finished dehydrating, add to the above mix. Stir well to combine. Taste and adjust salt, sweet and heat. Let rest for ½ - 1 hour to develop maximum flavor. Fill Butter lettuce leaves with about 2-3 tablespoons of the filling and top with Pickled Carrots. Garnish with lime wedges.

For the pickled carrots:
1 large carrot, scrubbed and cut into matchsticks (julienne)
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or coconut vinegar
1 tablespoon raw agave or coconut nectar
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
Pinch (generous) crushed red pepper flakes, optional

Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut carrot into fine strips. Transfer to a non-metallic bowl and add rest of ingredients. Stir. Let rest at room temperature for ½ - 1 hour.
Thai Basil Smart Cocktail
2 1/2 ounces coconut water (fresh or from the bottle/can)
1 1/2 ounces Fresh Basil-Lemongrass Syrup, recipe follows
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 juicy lime)
Very thin slice lime or spear of a fresh lemongrass frond, for garnish
Kombucha or Sparkling water, optional

Fill a cocktail shaker or small pitcher with ice. Add the coconut water, basil-lemongrass syrup, and lime juice. Cover and shake vigorously, or stir, until combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, by the time the shaker mists up the drink is ready.) Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with kombucha or sparkling water if you prefer a fizzy drink. Garnish with lime on the rim or a lemongrass spear in the drink. Serve.

Basil-Lemongrass Syrup
2 stalks fresh lemongrass, smashed
1 small handful fresh basil
2 cups water
1/2 cup coconut nectar or raw agave nectar

Place the lemongrass, basil and water in a covered glass container in the sun all day or for at least 4 hours until the water has become fully infused with flavor. Strain and stir in the sweetener of choice to create the syrup. If you are in a hurry and are not 100% raw, you can do this on the stove by bringing the lemongrass, basil and water to boil on the stove. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture, cool, then add the sweetener. Cover and refrigerate for up to a week.

Thai Basil Ice Cream
3 young Thai coconuts, meat & water extracted and separated
1 handful fresh basil (I used the basil from the infusion)
1/3 cup basil-lemongrass syrup (add more sweetener if you desire a sweeter ice cream)
1 lime, juiced and zested
small pinch Himalayan sea salt, optional

Add all the meat and 1/3 cup of the coconut water with the basil, basil-lemongrass syrup, lime juice, zest and sea salt to a blender. Process ingredients until smooth and creamy, adding additional coconut water only as needed to blend. Pour the liquid mixture into an ice cream freezer, processing as per manufacturers instructions.

If you don't have an ice cream maker, pour the ice cream base into ice cube trays and freeze. Place the frozen cubes into a food processor and blend until smooth or push the cubes through a homogenizing juicer that has been fitted with a blank plate.

And reminding you that it is not too late to join Raw Food Rehab's current Total Health & Wellness Initiative - Go FRESH. To learn more about the objectives of our Initiatives, click here.

To join us for Go FRESH in The Vault, click here.

To purchase the Go FRESH digital materials only, click here.