A Front Row Seat to Our Life!: Timbali Bag Give-Away!

A Front Row Seat to Our Life!: Timbali Bag Give-Away!: "As promised; A GIVE-AWAY! Timbali Shoulder Bag~ padded shoulder straps, magnetic snap closure, inside side pocket for essentials (cell pho..."

THE GIRLS LOVE THEIR NORI ROLLS!!!

The girls love to make Nori Rolls.  It is fun and they can put on them anything they like.  This is usually what goes on.  Sometimes we make an almond paste with garlic that is good too.

We use Organic Pacific Nori sheets.  The girls like them plain also and they are a great source of Iodine among other things.

Emma's rolls!!

Anytime I can get the girls in the kitchen, I do.  It is fun for me to have them but helps them to appreciate working with whole foods.

And then a yummy Green Juice Smoothie.  I juice the leafy greens so they are easier for our bodies to digest.
This one is Kale, Wheatgrass, Celery, Apple, Mango, Banana and Spinach.  :)

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU MIX COCONUT OIL AND CACAO POWDER???

 Raw Cacao Powder is another SUPER FOOD

Cacao tops the list in its concentration of the following three minerals (minerals that are deficient in almost everyone): magnesium, chromium, iron

Cacao is the #1 antioxidant content food in the world. That's right. It contains more antioxidants than green tea, acai, red wine, and goji berries COMBINED.

Raw cacao is extraordinarily high in vitamin C. It contains more vitamin C than any other common nut or seed.

Cacao contains phenethylamines and anandamide which stimulate focus, concentration, love, and pleasure.

Cacao is an excellent source of tryptophan and serotonin.

Cacao is a phenomenal source of soluble fiber.

Organic Coconut Oil has so many benefits

We use it in alot of ways.  I put it in the girls hair and skin, we use it for salads, any recipe that calls for oil.  

I use it alot in raw desert recipes.  If you mix the Raw Cacao and the Coconut OIl with some nuts and fruit you have the perfect high energy snack.

And one of the treats they love.  Almonds, Cashews and Organic Raisins

Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup melted coconut oil
1/2 cup cacao or carob powder (I used 3 part cacao/1 part carob)
2 tbs maple syrup (dark organic)
1 tsp organic vanilla extract

Blend until smooth in high speed blender or food processor.

Transfer to a bowl, then add by hand:
A few drops pure almond extract
1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup cashews
1/4 cup almonds, chopped

Spread mixture on plate or pan lined with parchment paper and set in the fridge or freezer. You can score the chocolate with a cookie or pizza cutter after a few minutes or break into pieces once fully set.

Crispy Corn Chips!!!!

The girls like to have anything cruncey.  Of course, I like them to have cruncy veggies and fruit but they also crave chips and crackers.  So, as always, I try and find raw recipes that they can enjoy and share with friends.

One of the recipes that they like is crispy corn chips.  They are very crispy and have either a sweet or savory flavor depending on the spices you add.


I use organic corn and it is so sweet and delicious.  We dont eat alot of corn but this is a flavor the girls love.  We love raw corn, right off the ear.  We have a hard time getting it in the Vitamix because we eat half of it before it goes in for chips. We had just made a batch of Kale chips.  

We eat them plain or with guacamole or hummus.  LOL Pretty much any way!! 


You can make bar b que or any flavor you want.  We just try and experiment and have fun with.  
Here is the recipe:

Raw Corn Chips

• 3 C Corn
• 1/4 Onion
• 1/2 T paprika
• 1/2 t. cayenne
• a pinch or two of Celtic Sea Salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Spread on a teleflex sheet on dehydrator tray. Score the mixture before you start to dehydrate. Dehydrate 12 hours, flip and dehydrate until fully dry and crisp. Break apart at score lines. Makes one sheet. This recipe can easily be doubled.

WHEAT GRASS!!!!! HOW TO GROW AND ENJOY WHEATGRASS

HOW TO GROW AND ENJOY WHEATGRASS


Most of you know how much we love our wheatgrass.  :)  Well growing it is so much better and easier than you can imagine.  I will post directions on how to do it, but you can experiment and find the best way for you.


If Chloe is doing the juicing I have to be careful because she drinks as she juices so I might end up with nothing.  We add the wheatgrass to our juices and to our smoothies. We usually juice 3 times a day.  You can grow it for about  .50 a day.  


You can juice and do shots of wheatgrass by itself also that are yummy or add it to water.  
Below is our Wheatgrass juicer that we won on Raw Food Rehab.  We love it for Spinach and Kale also.  

This is my little Wheatgrass jar.   I usually fill it to the top for two smoothies or two juices.

Health Benefits of Wheatgrass

• Wheatgrass has high amount of antioxidants, and thus helps your body in repairing damaged cells, rejuvenation, and delaying the aging process of skin.
• You can derive the above benefits by directly applying wheatgrass juice on your skin for 10-15 minutes. It gets easily absorbed by the skin, and provides it with many nutrients.
• It is believed that wheatgrass assists in the maintenance of reproductive system in your body. Therefore, one of the wheatgrass health benefits is restoring fertility.
• Drinking juice, extracted from fresh wheatgrass, on a regular basis acts as a skin tonic. It lightens the complexion, cures acne and removes scars from acne and other skin diseases.
• Wheatgrass benefits you by detoxifying your body. It removes toxic metals such as mercury and cadmium from your body.
• It is instantaneously absorbed in the bloodstream and hence acts as a source of immediate energy. Therefore, drinking wheatgrass juice revitalizes your mind and body.
• Wheatgrass picks up 92 out of 102 minerals present in the soil. Since its nutritional value is so high, it prevents you from eating from time to time. This helps you in weight control over time.
• It purifies the blood, which in turn, assists in the cleansing of a number of vital organs like kidney, liver and bladder.
• Wheatgrass can minimize the effect of air pollution on your respiratory system. It is believed to remove the scars from the lungs caused by acids present in the atmosphere.
• Wheatgrass juice when held in mouth for 5-7 minutes helps in the elimination of toothaches and tightening up of gums.
• High amounts of alkaline substances are present in wheatgrass. Thus, its regular consumption will counterbalance the excess of acids produced in your body.
• As per observation, people who take wheatgrass quite often are not only at a lower risk of suffering from dandruff but also from premature graying of hair.
• Health benefits of wheatgrass also include increase in the count of red blood cells and lowering of blood pressure.
• The insoluble fiber present in wheatgrass helps in cleaning your digestive tract. This restores regularity of micturition and defecation.
• Wheatgrass powder benefits is quite popular among body builders. They take it either in the juice or powder form for muscle building. Wheatgrass is an absolute source of proteins and contains 19 out of 20 known amine acids.
• Since it is a very rich source of proteins, it strengthens your immune system. If you take wheatgrass quite often, you are less likely to fall sick.
• Wheatgrass is very rich in chlorophyll, which protects your body from carcinogens quite effectively.

How to grow Wheatgrass: 
From the Raw Food Network Website

Step # 1:  Pre-sprout/Germinating

Organic wheatgrass seeds are recommended for sprouting to ensure the sweetness of your wheatgrass juice and that it will contain the optimum vitamins and minerals that will boost your health.

1. Pre-sprouting is so important to ensure a good crop.  Follow these steps to pre-sprout your wheatgrass seeds to ensure that your crop grows at a much faster rate.
2. Measure out a bowl of seeds.  Amount: estimate enough to fill one layer of seeds on whatever the size of your tray.
3. Rinse the seeds in clean water, drain, then soak the seeds in a container with about 2-3 times of cool water.
4. Soak for about 8-10 hours.
5. After 8-10 hours, drain the water, then soak them again as in #2 above and soak for another 8 hours.
6. After the second set of 8-10 hours, drain the water, then soak them once more the same for another 8-10 hours.
7. Check if it has sprouted roots of at least 1/8 of an inch to 1/4 of an inch.

Step # 2:  Preparing the Tray

Line the bottom of the tray with unbleached paper towels so that the roots do not protrude at the bottom through the holes in the tray. Fill the tray with pre-moistened soil, compost or potting mix to about one and half inch of the tray depth.  Ensure that your soil does not contain artificial fertilizers or chemicals.  Always use organic.

To top

Step # 3:  Planting

1. Lay out the germinated seeds evenly and densely in one layer, on the damp soil in the tray.  Gently impressed the seeds into the soil.
2. Place your tray under indirect sunlight, probably inside your house, near a window and with proper ventilation.  Wheatgrass does not like hot direct sunlight.

Step # 4:  Watering

The young shoots need to be watered at least twice a day to keep them nice and moist.  If the soil gets dry, the young shoots may die off before they root.  To help prevent this, put a sheet of damp newspaper over the tray to keep them moist until they grow to about an inch high.

To water, use a spray bottle, adjusting to light-medium.  When the shoots are above one inch, probably about day 5, reduce watering to once a day in the morning.  But always ensure that the water is just enough to keep the soil damp to the roots.  Avoid over-watering.

In warmer and humid climates, mold may tend to grow in your wheatgrass tray.  This is a common problem but is harmless.  When harvesting, just cut above the affected area, avoiding the mold.  A blowing fan during humid days may help prevent mold-growth.

See tips for preventing mold growth in your wheatgrass sprouting

Step # 5:  Harvesting

When your wheatgrass grows to about 6 inches (about day 9 or 10), it is ready for harvesting.  Use a scissors and cut the wheatgrass just above the seeds.  If there is mold, avoid and cut above it.  You need about a bunch of the grass to make about 1 ounce of shot enough to give you energy for a day.  Cut just prior to juicing to ensure freshness.

A tray the size of 21" x 11" should be able to provide you enough wheatgrass for about 14-18 ounces of juice. 

Note:  You may continue to water the crop to produce a second or third crop though they may not be as tender nor grow as tall.  But you get extra ounces from it.  Otherwise, clean the tray and start a new crop.

Step # 6:  Juice and Enjoy

To juice wheatgrass, you need awheatgrass juicer or a gear juicer.  A centrifugal juicer is not be able to juice wheatgrass, and you may clog up the strainer in the process as it is very fibrous.

Rinse your wheatgrass and juice.  Do not take more than one ounce a day if you are not familiar with drinking juices.  Wheatgrass juice is such a powerful cleanser that it may cause you some healing reactions.

x

 Liquid Chlorophyll 




Chlorophyll is miraculous. It has SO MANY health benefits it makes it a true wonder-food. However, the most marvellous and amazing benefit it gives comes from the fact that its molecular structure is absolutely identical to hemoglobin except for the center atom. In hemoglobin this is iron, whereas in chlorophyll it is magnesium. This means that when ingested, chlorophyll actually helps to do the job of hemoglobin (hemoglobin is so vital to the health of our blood – in fact, blood is approx 75% hemoglobin). It helps to rebuild and replenish our red blood cells, boosting our energy and increasing our wellbeing almost instantly.

Other Benefits of Chlorophyll


• It helps to cleanse your blood
• It assists your body to rid itself of toxins
• It is a natural form of iron and much better on your tummy that ferrous Sulfate
• It cleanses and deodorizes the colon
• It assists in the detoxification of your liver
• It aids in hepatitis- because it cleanses the blood
• It feeds the heart by cleansing the blood
• It may assist in menstrual cramps by allowing the blood to flow
• It assists in the regulation of blood sugar
• It helps to cleanse the lungs making it great for asthma, bronchitis etc
• It helps the body heal wounds more rapidly
• It aids in preventing or diminishing body odor
• It strengthens the immune system making it more resistant to viruses
• It aids in the cleansing of nasal passages- for allergies
• It cleanses the bacteria found in the mouth aiding in better breath
• It keeps mouth sores at bay
• It can be used as a gargle for sore throats
• It helps the gums heal – Gingivitis
• It aids in hemorrhoids
• It aids in stomach ulcers
• It aids in GERD
• It aids in circulation through the body, varicose veins etc.
• It aids the body in lowering inflammation
• It aids in all digestive problems.

WORKING IN THE EARTH

 OUR GARDEN

Rich and I and the girls love to plant things, or sprout things and watch them grow.

One good thing about living in Southern California is that we can garden almost 12 months out of the year.  

This is our fall garden and we started with seedings to give them a better start.  The girls and friends had so much fun planting the little seeds and watching them grow.  

Some of the things planted were: Onions, Kale, Peas, Spinach, Squash, Bell Peppers,  Beets, Carrots, Plus alot more.  We can't wait.  


It is fun to get kids involved in planted.  Anything, just to show them how beautiful the transformation is from seed to plant.  

Having a garden lets us be that much more self sufficient and not so reliant on our suppliers of organic vegetables.  We love supporting our local farmers, but it takes both of us to supply the amount of veggies we consume.  :)   We have 18 rows and they are 7' long.  We are hoping to have 25 rows soon.  


So, I encourage you to go out and dig in the dirt.  It is a freeing experience.  No cell phones, or computers, TV or I pod (well Emma and Chloe listen to theirs).  Just you and the earth.   

Our babies before they were put in the ground.  

MOONIE PIES ARE AWESOME

So a week or so ago I was able to get the recipe for Moonie Pies.  I had been hearing about them for a while.
The girls and I had the ingredients so decided to make them today.  On Fridays we do a half day of school.
The girls love to make any raw recipe and this one was so fun.  Dipping the pie in the chocolate was their favorite part I think.
These are Vanilla Cream inside.  Next time we want to try a mint flavor.
We are putting together some fun sweet recipes for the Holidays.

The girls were eating them before they were dipped.  They love things like this before their dance classes.  It helps give them good energy.

WHAT IS IN YOUR PANTRY???

People ask me what I have in my pantry.  So, I decided to take pictures of some of my raw food favorites.
I have alot of sea vegetables and try and use them everyday.   Here are a few things I have:  Macca Root, cacoa powder and nibs, raw nuts of all kinds, dates, raw honey,  Spirulina, Hemp protein, hemp seeds, Irish Moss, Coconut Oil, Coconut Butter and  all kinds of seeds, sprouting equipment, flax oil, flax seeds, and more....

We try and keep it simple but sometimes it is fun to buy new things and experiment with them.  We also take a D supplement and a B supplement along with kelp tablets.

We have blood work done to make sure our levels are good and adjust to that.

The funnest thing I do for people when I coach is to go in and shop for them and teach them how to use the different products.  To eat healthier you dont have to have any of it though.  Eating healthier and more plant based can be as simple or as intense as you are comfortable.

Raw Mango Cheez Cake

 

The girls love to make and eat the Cheesecakes.
You can add any fruit or nut that you like.  I put raw cocoa in the crust and everyone likes that change.  One fun thing with raw food, you can fix almost anything or make it into something else.
Recipes can be modified to your liking.
We are going to do a raw food desert class before Christmas.  Let me know if you would like to come.



Raw Mango Cheez Cake


We love to think of new flavors for the cheez cakes.
They come out so good and are packed full of nutrients.

The girls love to eat these even for breakfast.  When there is only fruit and nuts and coconuts in them you cant say no.

Mango Cheese Cake

Crust:
2 cup of pecans or almonds, soaked and dried (or dehydrated)
12 soft dates
a dash of salt

Process the ingredients in a food processor until they are crumbly and will hold together. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a spring form pan* and set aside.

Filling:
3 cups cashewssoaked for a few hours
1/2 - 3/4 cup honey or agave
1/2 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup coconut oil (warmed up in dehydrator or in bowl of warm water)
2 " piece of vanilla bean (or 1 tsp pure vanilla)
1/4 cup of water (or maybe a little more)

Blend everything in a high power blender or food processor until smooth. I 

Chia Seed Pudding YUMMY!!!

Chia Seed Pudding

This pudding is so good.  I have shared the benefits of Chia Seeds.  We love this pudding as a desert and for breakfast.
Here is the recipe.  Hope you like it!!!


This recipe says 2-4 servings but I made this amount and it is enough for about 10 servings.  Next time I will half it so that we have more chia seeds for smoothies.  Remember to try and use Organic Chia Seeds if you can.


(Chia Seed) Raw Tapioca Pudding 
1 cup (raw) cashews
3 cups water
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract
pinch celtic sea salt
¼ cup chia seeds

1. Place the cashews and water in a Vita-Mix (or other high speed blender) and blend on high speed until smooth
2. Blend in the agave, vanilla, almond extract and salt
3. Place the chia seeds in a large mason jar (½ gallon size), pour the cashew mixture into the jar and shake well (very well!)
4. Place in the refrigerator overnight
5. Serve

Serves 2-4 people

RAW CUPCAKES~ FUN IN THE KITCHEN WITH MY GIRLS

The girls and I have been wanting to make some raw cupcakes.  We love raw deserts and have fun experimenting with all things sweet.   

We had found a few recipes but the one we decided on was the chocolate and vanilla frosting.

Rich had gotten us some cute silicone forms at BB&B and we wanted to put them to good use.    We had gotten some yummy organic berries so we wanted to use them also.  

The recipe was easy and the girls could actually make them by themselves.  


It is a good way to get the good fats and oils into your diet.  
We made extra frosting so we can make a cake out of our carrot pulp from juicing.  

The Organic Cocoa was not called for in the recipe but we added it because we love chocolate.
We used coconut water and meat from the coconut in the recipe also. 
They were a huge hit and we will be making them again.   
One of the joys of raw foods is getting children active and teaching them how to prepare foods they love.  No hot ovens or stoves to get burned.  Just fun and tasty treats.  

SEA VEGETABLES SUPERFOOD!!!!

Sea Vegetables are a Superfood.    I use them in almost everything.  Even deserts sometimes.  The dulse you can get in a shaker and I use it instead of sea salt most of the time.   


The girls love to make Nori rolls out of almond paste and veggies.  Before they dance it gives them a huge energy boost.  


You dont have to eat raw to enjoy the benefits of Sea Vegetables.  They will go with anything.






Different types of Sea Vegetables

• Kanten – Also known as “Agar Agar” this sea vegetable is clear and often tasteless; it looks much like gelatin but contains no animal product, so it is a good choice for a raw food diet. It is often used for pudding to thicken it or for pies. All you have to do is dissolve it in warm water or other liquid.
• Arame – This is a sweet sea vegetable, which is nice because many sea vegetables are more salty than sweet. It contains plenty of calcium and potassium as well as fiber.
• Kombu – This sea vegetable has lots of calcium, iodine, magnesium and even iron. You need only a small square piece of this sea vegetable to add to your favorite dish.
• Nori – Nori is often the seaweed you see wrapped delicately around sushi. The amount you see wrapped around sushi is about the right amount to use, times the amount of sushi you plan to eat.
• Wakame – This is a softer form of sea vegetable that contains lots of fiber and like bananas, also contains potassium. It does have a sweet flavor so you can add oranges, cranberries and walnuts to the salad for extra flair and flavor.

Benefits



The benefits of eating sea vegetables as part of a healthy diet should be quite obvious. In case you haven't realized their full potential yet, here is a summary of what these amazing ‘vegetables’ of the sea have to offer:

• They are packed full of B vitamins
• They contain chlorophyll which helps restore energy and vitality
• The offer plenty of fiber
• They often contain vitamins C, E and A
• Some contain calcium, magnesium and potassium
• Some offer adequate protein to supplement the diet
• A little often provides a lot of satiety
• There are many to try so you never feel bored with them
• They often spice up traditional dishes for a new and interesting experience
• They are often inexpensive
• They won't go stale because they are dried
• You can take them anywhere