8 Worst Restaurant "Freebies"

I just read the 8 Worst Restaurant "Freebies" article. Take a look and be amazed a what you find out.

Forks over knives Movie

My husband and I just went to see this movie and it was one of the best! We thoroughly enjoyed the movie and wanted to tell everyone about it. Unfortunately, no one we know was interested in seeing it when we went. We are hoping that they will check the movie out on their own. If you haven't seen it in your area then please go see it as soon as you get the chance.

Vegan Starter Kit - Mercy For Animals

I watched a heart stopping video about the cruel practices at factory farmed animal companies. This link was offered for those who want to explore the vegan/vegetarian way of life. I thought it was well worth sharing.

Vegan Starter Kit - Mercy For Animals

Environmentalism, exercise, and living a balanced existence

Bell Isle Park, 2010

I read an article online about environmentally safe products. The author of this article (L. Lee Scott) wrote a passage that stayed with me this is the passage "Environmentalism means living every part of your life with an awareness of how it affects the environment, and doing what you do while causing the least possible damage - or even while improving the environment." This may seem a bit off the beaten path for my blog however, today it's "Right on the money." As you know from my previous blogs, I am on a "self-organized" 365 day Raw Food and Fitness Fun Daze Craze for the year 2011. The majority of blogging I will do is geared toward the diet portion or balanced eating (as I like to call it). The Fitness portion will include all things fun and filled with exercise, yoga, stretching, swimming, hiking, etc. I have ambitious plans to DO IT ALL! So how does Ms. Scott's passage (above) fit into all of this? Well she talks about being labeled an Environmentalist and how she accepts that title. She speaks about awareness and the environment. These things touch deeply my journey toward a better, more balanced existence within our universe. For me, this is Environmentalism and it is the best way to describe my fitness fun during this 2011 journey.

I just uploaded a video to my you tube channel documenting my very first outdoor fitness journey. It takes place during the month of February and it's friggin' cold outside. My Guru suggested that we get out as soon as the weather permitted so that we can get ourselves adjusted to the outdoor workout and I agreed. It has been cold temperatures here and the place where we do most of our running is on an Island that sits between Windsor (in Canada) and Michigan (in the USA). As you know, temperatures drop the closer you are to any large body of water (I wish I could remember the science behind that....hahaha). When we got in the car to leave for the workout, the temps read approx. 50(+) degrees. By the time we arrived at the Island, it could have easily been 40-ish and lower with the wind chill factor (Br-r-r-r-r-r).

We have been told that the entire (outer perimeter) of the Island is approx. 5.5 - 6.2 miles around. That can go up or down if you jog across the bridge both on and off the island vs. driving across both ways. We, of course, drove across to get to the island. There weren't many people out at all. None of the usuals. We did see one bike rider getting a brisk ride around the island. I made it around the course and was sore for three days after (lol). My pace was slower than normal but I am sure I will get my speed up as we go out each day. When the weather is warmer, I will have more posts and videos so please check back with this blog as well as my You Tube channel.

For now, I have a couple of still shots taken from the video footage (the sound was terrible due to high winds as you will hear in the video). Take a look at the pics and leave some comments if you like. Thanks!

"The Guru Feb. 2011"

Fitness Fun Day inside, Jan. 2011

Official FIRST day outdoor fun, Feb 2011

After the workout! Jan. 2011

Prepare Irish Moss (seamoss)

My sea moss in gel form

I have been finding out so many different things about Irish Moss (sea moss). I have been reading little bits and pieces here and there over the past year or so. I recently needed to prepare some that I ordered online. I made a video of this so please watch it for more understanding of what I am talking about in this blog. My Irish Moss education began almost a full year ago when a good (online) friend of mine did a video and posted it to You Tube. She prepared a drink using this product and I was intrigued about it ever since. Whenever I would hear of it being used in a recipe or read something about it, I would pay close attention and try to understand what it was good for. My own basic understanding is that it is a sea vegetable. I didn't know much more than that until I actually considered making a raw condiment that listed Irish Moss as one of its ingredients.

Sea vegetables are nutritious according to the many online stores that sell it. When you get down to the basics, it would seem that a vegetable of any variety would do a body good. Although, there are some that require more preparation than others. I mean, it's not like a carrot, "pull it out of the ground wipe off the dirt and eat." For Irish Moss you must go through a little more than that . To understand what I mean by this please have a look at my video to see how I prepared Irish Moss for the first time EVER!

In the meantime, do yourself and your body a big favor and read up on Irish Moss. Find out what's good, bad, and/or ugly. Don't forget to consult your medical professional before adding/changing anything relating to your health and well-being. As we all know, too much of a good thing can ultimately be BAD.

Here are some other sea vegetables that I currently consume; not on a regular basis but often enough to mention:

Dulse Flakes
Kelp
Nori Sheets
Wakame
Arame

I did a search on google to find articles that were pretty current and informative. Here's one that I liked and hope you will also. SUPERFOODS: Sea Vegetables, Article by Maria RippoTo learn more about these and other sea veggies do a Google search. Don't forget to site your source so everyone can check out more information published by the author.

A day of Raw #42 - Irish Moss

Sea Moss after soaking for 24hrs.

I just uploaded a short video on Irish Moss. Not because I use it in everything and have tons of knowledge about it but because I DON'T (lol). Recently, I heard of Irish Moss (sea moss) when I was reading a good friends blog about a raw mayonnaise that really taste like the real deal. She mentioned that the recipe was online at the Renegade Health Show site. I took a look at the video done by Ann Marie Gianni and that's when I saw Irish moss for the first time. I ordered from a site online and wanted to post about it. If you or someone you know has recipes and additional knowledge (other than what I can get from google) please leave your comments below this blog page. Thanks and stay tuned for some of my recipes using this sea vegetable.

dried sea moss

sea moss just out of the package ready for soaking

dehydrated sea moss and re-hydrated sea moss

after soaking overnight, sea moss is ready for blending

blended sea moss becomes a liquefied gel ready for use.

Thank you for reading and please don't forget to check out the video.

The end of a 21-day Raw Transformation

I completed the 21 day transformation with the good folks over at live well now on Face Book. I don't know where the time went but I certainly enjoyed every day. Today, I have been getting things ready for the tax accountant and hubby "got my six" on this venture...hahaha We always make fun out of things like this and look forward to miracles to happen.

Anjii B Nov. 2010

I have also been doing some research on improving my internet exposure. I have some great ideas and look forward to sharing them with everyone. I am marinating some cauliflower and hope to have it done in a couple of days. I didn't take any pics yet but will be sure to make them when I finish the first steps. I also made some egg plant from a recipe I heard on the raw food world channel on you tube. For some reason, none of the recipes I have followed from them seem to turn out tasty. I think maybe I need to add some of my own familiar ingredients. The egg plant was bitter and I am not sure why Angela Stokes-Monarch mentioned that it was reminiscent of bacon??? I don't eat bacon and haven't in a very long time. When I ate meat I only ate turkey bacon and this dish didn't taste anything like it. Not even in the ball park. Don't think I will rely on any recipes from them any longer but I will certainly continue searching the you tube videos for more inspirations and raw food guru channels.

That's it from me for now, thanks for reading ....hasta mañana!

Raw Pizza on Sweet Onion crust

Well, I've been having a GREAT time in my Raw food and fitness fun daze craze so far. I am in the last days of my 21 day raw food transformation with the good folks over at Live well now (facebook) and I just received a surprise gift from my sweet and wonderful husband (I LOVE HIM SO MUCH HE'S THE GREATEST HUSBAND IN ALL THE WORLDZZZZ...HAHAHA)

This ebook is available NOW!

Today, I wanted to share a great recipe that I just watched over at the RawFoodMuscle's You Tube channel (Thanks Kathy and Santiago). I will make this in the future but didn't want to wait before I share this with you.

  CLICK THIS LINK TO SEE THE VIDEO THEY MADE

This is the ingredients list that appear at the end of the video:

Raw Onion Herb Pizza

Making Onion Pizza Crust
1-1/2 Large sweet onion, thinly sliced
1/8 cup flax seeds, ground
1/3 cup sunflower seeds, ground
3TBS almond flour
3TBS Nama Shoyu
1/8 cup olive oil
1/8 cup nutritional yeast
1/2 TBS garlic powder
1/2 TBS oregano
1/2 tsp Himalayan salt


I imagine that you could put any topping you would like on your pizza! The crust looks awesome!

Anjii B

Recipe for my RAW NO-MEATballz

I have been trying to get the video for my RAW NO-MEATballz edited and have been unable to complete it so I decided to just post the ingredients of the dish. WARNING: I don't have all the measurements because I was just making this up off the top of my head when I originally started them. In the video you can see how much of everything was used so I will work hard to get it uploaded to my 313HealthyMe You Tube channel.


In the meantime, this is the ingredients list and how I put it together. Enjoy :-)

RAW NO-MEATballz recipe

First set of ingredients

• Sun dried tomatoes
• Red onion
• Jalapeño peppers
• Marinated mushrooms
• Red bell pepper
• Orange bell pepper
• Green bell pepper

Second set of ingredients

• Ginger
• Garlic
• Cheesy sauce
• Almond flour
• Sprouts
• Dill weed
• Ground flax

Spices/seasonings

• Nama shoyu
• My BB-Q seasonings: ¼ tsp ground white pepper, ¼ tsp round thyme, ½ ground clove, ½ garlic powder, ½ sea salt, 1 ½ onion powder, 3 tsp old bay seasonings, 1 TBS Lawry’s seasoned salt

• My Cheesy tasting seasonings: Nutritional yeast, Garlic powder, Lawry’s seasoned salt.

In a large bowl combine the first set of ingredients and mix until everything is well incorporated. Set aside.

In your food processor combine the second set of ingredients. Process until everything is very well combined. The batter should resemble cookie dough.

Empty the contents of your food processor into the bowl with the first set of ingredients. Mix everything well and make sure that everything is well incorporated.

Scoop out teaspoon sized amounts of the batter and place on your dehydrator sheets.

Dehydrate at 105 for 8hours then check them. Depending on your brand of dehydrator you would leave them in longer to get a crunchier batch or remove after 8hrs of dehydrating to get a chewier batch. Keep in mind that if you are going to smother them with sauce as I did, the crunchier they are the better as the sauce will soften them. Enjoy J

A Day of Raw #22

Well, I have to say...

MY NO-MEATballs WERE OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!! 

There is no other way I can put this except to say that this has got to be one of my BEST raw food creations TO DATE!! Now, I'm not saying that I invented the raw meatball, I'm just saying that as long as I have been making raw food dishes for myself (since 2009), I have NOT made as good a dish as this one is.

ALL RAW! NO-MEATballs smothered in gravy on a bed of veggie pasta

I could scarcely put my camera away before I began digging into this RAW wonderment (lol). I actually had plans to use these meatballs in a "mock" pasta dish (spaghetti w/meatballs) but once I saw what my sauce looked like, then tasted it I HAD to develop something a little more creative. Besides, you already saw pics of my "mock-pasta" w/marinara sauce *wink*

My entire meal for this twenty-second day of this 365 day raw journey was the BEST! It was smothered NO-MEATballs on a bed of spiralized yellow squash, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, sweet onions, and carrots. The sauce was a combination of my Green Cheesy sauce and my marinara sauce. Mixed just right they make a "gravy-like" sauce with a wonderful undertone of mild "muenster-like" cheese. That's the best way I can describe the flavors. I mixed only one heaping tablespoon of my Green Cheesy sauce with the marinara. The salad was pretty basic but of course no salad of mine is ever complete without a generous helping of DULCE FLAKES!!!! (lol).

Nice garden salad w/Dulce flakes!

I chopped the last of my romaine lettuce, shredded some carrots, and roughly chopped some tomato. I thinly sliced some red onion and added some raisins. My wonderful dressing was made with EVOO, Nama Shoyu, RAW apple cider vinegar, fresh garlic clove, dried dill weed, dried parsley, and Braggs Sea Kelp seasoning.

Meal #22 - Raw NO-MEATballs w/pasta and veggies, salad

I wanted to eat more just to experience the flavors all over again then I tasted the smoothie.....

TopView: Banana, Stawberry, Orange Smoothie

What a treat that was. More like a desert actually because the flavors were so satisfying. I mean for this time of year in the area that I live none of those fruits are in season. I think that really "blows" because I don't believe I would be able to have any fruit smoothies at all if I organized my raw food journey with the rule that I would ONLY eat what was in season for my area. So my thoughts on that are as follows:

"What's in season for me would be anything that mother nature has allowed to grow on the face of this earth."

My only real reservations to this would be if I had to ONLY eat what was imported and if any animals had to die in order for me to have it (that's extreme, I know, but I believe you get my message). 

My smoothie was delicious and I will make it again during the summer months with FRESH strawberries, oranges and well....bananas are as fresh as they can be expected considering how far they have to travel on a truck in order to arrive in my neighborhood (in an edible manner...hahaha)

Oran-Bana-berry desert smoothie (lol)

What I like about my meals is that I get to name them and I get to re-vamp them anytime I desire. This helps to relieve the inherent boredom that comes along with a restrictive dietary practice. I love my meals and I love creating them...I just gotta spend some time trying to figure out which one I like to do BEST...Hahahaha!

-Anjii B

PS As always, thank you for reading and please feel free to post your comments (positively).

"May the light of a thousand suns gently warm our hearts and soothe the "shivers" of our souls"

- Angelia Buckingham (aka Lyra Lane)

A Day of Raw #21

Last night I had a very nice little salad after returning from the gym (did my 1hr cardio and 30-min abs). I also made some RAW meatballs that taste "LIKE OMG!" I got the idea from the way my RAW maple nuggets looked. I made a very nice smoothie yesterday and drank it throughout the day.

RAW dehydrated NO-meatballs.

Still doing work on my websites and eStore so I haven't been able to create as much of my RAW food fun as before. I would like to make a raw lasagna and pizza so stay tuned to this blog page to see how that developes.

Salad with apple chunks, carrot ribbons, and hemp seeds

I am making another batch of my RAW maple nuggets because everyone in the house liked those bad boy's! This time I make them while everyone is out of the house.

Well that's all from me for now, as always I really appreciate you reading my blog page and hope you will return.

-Anjii B
:-)

A Day of Raw #19

Today I didn't even think about eating until late in the evening. I woke late due to working on my eStore (coming soon). By the time I got myself together I needed to finish a video edit for my BcPrettyGirly.com you tube channel.

Once I finally got things together, I settled on eating a quick snack to hold me over until I could make my RAW meal for the day. I looked in the fridge and remembered some sweet snap peas I had purchased from our local fruit and veggie market. I took them out and rinsed them off. I thought about that very tasty (almost) pad Thai sauce I have created and my green cheesy sauce. Put those next to my peas and it looked something like this...

Sugar sweet Snap-peas with (2) different RAW dipping sauces

If I would have blinked, I would have missed this wonderful raw treat on my plate because I ate it so quickly. I suppose I was a little bit hungry...hahaha. I am feeling as if I should get back in the kitchen right now and whip up some other wonderful meal. If that thought should happen to remain with me for any length of time then I will be sure to come back and post pics for you to see.


Well, that's all from me for now, I will see you guys mañana, adiós


-Anjii B
:-)

A Day of Raw #17 of 365

Today I didn't feel much like preparing anything so I had my favorite tomato soup with some cheesy Kale Chips (leftovers). Earlier in the day I snacked on some crackers with RAW almond butter and banana slices on top. I have wanted to make some veggie wraps with nori sheets. I know just what I want on the inside. I will have carrots, beets, sprouts, and “mock” tuna (sunflower seed pate’). I will wrap them in a nori sheet and serve them with a nice sauce.

Another dish that I have thought about lately is RAW pizza and lasagna. I know that I will get around to making these dishes soon but right now I really don’t want to eat anything. Maybe my body is completely happy and wants nothing more than to slurp on smoothies and cool glasses of filtered water.

I have been finding myself with extra time on my hands. I used to wonder where the time went and now I look for more things to do. There are things that I need to concentrate on that take time and attention but I am not sure that I want to tackle those items yet (lol). So what kind of things do I involve myself in so that I don’t become bored?

I have all kinds of projects some include:

Video editing: The small company my husband and I just recently (within the last couple of years) launched is involved with the development of videos for musc, television, and internet usage. This means that I write lyrics for the music in the video’s, develop the story line, act in (sometimes) and develop the marketing idea for release.

Product/service review: This involves my BcPrettyGirly.com website and is pretty much just a personal passion of mine J I love makeup, hair, nails, and fashion so I have taken this love and created a blog page, website, and you tube video channel. On this channel I review products that I have used or have won through various promotional/marketing campaigns. I also do “Daily Looks” with my own makeup. Which just means that I video tape myself applying my makeup (lol). It’s fun and it gives me a place to keep up with the different looks I create with my makeup.

Music (vocal) arranging: This is another area of concentration that my husband and I have given considerable attention to in our small business. We have developed an extensive repertoire of our musical interests. Our profession catalog includes many different music genre’s such as, Funk, pop, rock, jazz, and instrumental.

Writing/Journaling: I have kept a journal for years and love the idea of it. There are so many different ideas and experiences to write about so I always find time to make a few entries in my journal. For the past few years I have been feeling the urge to write a book. I began jotting down ideas and before I knew it, I was already into my second chapter (lol). I am not in any rush but it’s exciting to know that one day I will have a book to publish.

These are just a few of the things I have that will always keep me busy. Can’t wait for the warm weather so I can get outside in my (urban)garden again J

Thanks for taking time to read my blog page. Please feel free to leave me your comments (add your blog URL’s if you would like). I really enjoy writing these blogs and hope you enjoy reading them.

"Raw Foodie Anjii B"

The Living Vision Blog page...Get ready to drool :-)

Spring Roll Wraps from thelivingvision.com

I saw a pic on a blog page and thought I should try to find the recipe so I can make the. I really love spring rolls and nori rolls and collard rolls...heck just about any kind of roll that allows you to add your favorite flavors and dishes to it. I like to take some of the dishes that I have made in the last couple of days and figure out how to put them into a nori roll or collard wrap. I haven't made any dish with spring rolls (wraps) and am just wondering what it would be like to make them. So wish me luck and come back soon to see the progress.

A day of raw #15

For the first time since I began my 365 day raw food journey, I actually got hungry. This surprises me and I don't really know what to make of it because yesterday I had a very filling meal at the end of my day. Today I started out without my usual tall glass of filtered water. I didn't even have my green smoothie. I guess I kinda set myself up for the hunger then. By the end of the day, I began to feel the hunger. My husband and I had to drive to our daughters college to drop a package off to her so I thought I could wait until we returned before feeling anything. I was fine on the way and it wasn't until we were returning that I began to think about food. Thankfully it was RAW food thoughts but nonetheless, I wanted to eat some. I thought about my Raw tomato soup with bits of chunky veggies and dulce flakes sprinkled on top.

RAW maple nugget treats

I thought about my maple nugget treats and how moist they are on the inside with a slightly crispy/flaky outer covering. I remembered how delicious my RAW salad dressings are and how I wished I had made the RAW HONEY MUSTARD dressing to put on my salad. I couldn't stop thinking about how good the raw meals were gonna taste once I got home. I didn't want any interruptions. I didn't even want to video tape my meal. I just wanted to think about how good it tastes and how good it is for me. I wanted to think about how full I was gonna get without the heartburn or bloated stomach afterward.

RAW carrot bread

Then I remembered the carrot bread! I had just finished making the RAW carrot bread from the Hi-Rawkus website. OMG, I was gonna have the BEST RAW SANDWICH WITH GREEN CHEESY SPREAD there was.

raw carrot bread slices

 I grabbed a couple slices of tomato, shaved some green bell pepper, re hydrated some of my marinated mushrooms, and grabed a couple slices of romaine lettuce from the fridge. I also added two thinly sliced pieces of sandwich cut pickle.Then I thought...."Why stop there?" I quickly pulled out the ingredients for my raw tomato soup and threw them into the vita mix. "BAM!" quick, tasty, and good for you...I had soup and sandwich for my final meal of the day (actually, my ONLY meal of the day).

Raw bread  w/veggies sammy

tomato, romaine lettuce, pickle, red onion, green cheesy spread

stack 'em up and let's EAT!

Then I said to myself..."A nice fruity smoothie would really set this meal off!" So I grabbed some freshly cut pineapple out of the fridge along with the rest of my baby Thai coconut water and approx. 1cup of orange juice (from concentrate....I know, I know).

Banana Berry Smoothie w/baby Thai coconut water

frozen blue berries, banana, pineapple

After I finished blending the smoothie and plating everything, I looked at my kitchen table and thought, ..."There is NO WAY I can eat this without taking at least one picture." So here they are folks!

Day 15 of 365 RAW meal

A day of raw #14

Day #14 RAW meal

I had a GREAT day today and yesterday. I did lots of video editing and recording I even created a few new recipes (woooo-hoooo). My collard greens (yesterdays meal)  looked very tasty but unfortunately (for me) I think I need to get back to the kitchen on those because they were slightly bitter tasting :-(

Day #13 meal...RAW collard bowl

 The good thing is, after I ate a few fork fulls, it was as if I didn't taste the bitter flavors. I mixed some green bell pepper, leeks, and freshly cut tomato on top. I sprinkled a few raw sun flower seeds and dulce flakes all over. Some sea salt and black pepper was added before I ate the bowlful. Anyway, I will be trying new recipes with those soon. I also made a wonderful "mock" red posta with a green cheese sauce. It was so good I think I ate it before I could notice it was gone (hahaha).

"mock" Red Pasta with tomato and green cashew cheese

For my treat/desert, I chopped a very ripe bosc pear and fresh pineapple. Then threw some coconut flakes all over it (Oh the yum of it all). I really liked this treat and will definitely have it again and again.

coconut, pineapple, and pear desert/treat

All in all it was a very good day (both days) and I will be exploring new meals and new drinks in the days ahead. Please stay tuned and come back as often as you wish. Also, I would love to read any comments you might have.


As always, thank you very much for taking the time out of your day to read my posts, I love to write them and look forward to my readers!

-Anjii B.

Collard Greens (RAW)

I have been hearing so much about the raw version of collards that I wanted to give it a try. I was apprehensive in the beginning but now that I have looked at some different recipes I think I have found what I would need in order to make this dish palatable for me.

Collards are one of the varieties of leafy greens that tend to be tough and in need of preparation before serving raw. Due to the thickness of the leaf it is perfect for various raw dishes and delivers a spectacular nutrient benefit.I discovered how to make the greens softer. My method is to break down the cell walls of the vegetable without using heat (which is most often used). I purchased them fresh from my local fruit and vegetable market then washed them thoroughly. I removed the stems and placed the leaves flat, one on top of the other. I put them in a plastic bag and into my freezer. The next day I removed them and let them thaw to room temperature. When this procedure is done the leaves are as if they were cooked (not overdone though). In this stage, you can prepare your collards anyway you wish. I proceeded to do the following.

Raw collards, frozen then thawed. Sliced into strips

To get the flavor I like in collards I would have to use a smoked turkey leg (lol). Since I am doing my 365 Day Raw Food and Fitness Fun Daze Craze for 2011, I am using a 95%  raw foods diet (without flesh foods of anykind) for my nutrition needs. The only other way I know to get flavor without cooking is to marinate. My marinate was easy because I only like certain flavors when it comes to my greens. I used Braggs organic RAW apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and a raw salad dressing I prepared earlier that night (see Day#11 for recipe). I don't have any specific measurements for these flavors because I like to approach my raw meals from the standpoint of my mood and physiological need.

In my RAW collard greens I also use sweet red onions, Leeks, and green bell pepper.

Once I have the flavors in place for marinating the greens I add any extra veggie that I may be craving at that time. In this case it was sweet red onions, leeks, and green bell peppers. I add these into the mix and let them all mingle with one another (lol). This meal is full of healthy enzymes and many other wonderful green benefits.

I cover my collards with plastic wrap to allow them to warm and let them happily blister with flavor.

Once all my ingredients are assembled in one bowl I give them some "alone" time (lol). I let them plan their mission of attack against any harmful agents, pollutants, and other toxic elements that they find when I deliver them (via eating them) to my system (hahaha, when you think of it, you are kinda helping your body fight when you eat RAW).

 The plastic wrap helps keep the warm air circulating while the flavors are releasing and coalescing. I will have pictures of the greens when I plate them with one of my RAW meals so please stay tuned!

As always, thank you for taking a moment and reading my blogs I really do appreciate the attention. Feel free to leave a comment if you like.

A day of raw #12

Today is the 12th day of my 365 day Raw Food and Fitness Fun Daze CrAzE for 2011 and I don't feel like really eating (lol). This isn't because I feel frustrated or starved or anything like that. I don't feel a need to feed (lol) is all. I a previous post I spoke about being driven to think about food while on the S.A.D. (standard american diet) and today marks a very special certainty within me and that is...

OUR MINDS DICTATE OUR NEED TO FEED when there is no hunger or other physiological reason. I don't think anyone really gives this any thought because we are so caught up in the midst of it. If you have ever been on a diet or situated yourself on a program that focussed on redesigning your eating habits, you have probably come to this realization before. I like to think that everyone has the ability to change unwanted habits. Believe me, if there were a way to get a phD just because you have mastered the ability to change unwanted habits, then I would be FIRST in line (lol). It's difficult but NOT impossible.

So let's get on with my RAW meals for today. Well....I had a salad for lunch (the same one pictured in yesterday's meal). For dinner today, I didn't eat a meal. I wasn't hungry and felt completely satisfied due to having had a few snack periods throughout the day. For my breakfast I slept in (lol). Worked late in the studio with my hubby on our music/entertainment projects (we write t.v. commercials, radio jingles, sitcom theme songs, and music for film). The current project has us making cellphone ringtones...hahahha. More on that later.

SNACKS TODAY

I made some absolutely mind blowing Maple coconut-pecan nuggets (Oh the Yum of it all). These were super easy to make but a little time consuming because I actually made it up as I went along (hahaha). I have a video going up on You Tube demonstrating the entire procedure but I must warn you. I use little or no measuring in this video because I have never made them and wasn't following a recipe. I can tell you that I was inspired by the recipe in the book "Raw Food on a Budget" by Brandy Rollins. Her's is called donut holes and when I read it, I thought to myself "Dangit, I don't have all the ingredients to make these." So I thought about it and figured I could make something similar. The rest (as they say) is history...hahaha

Maple coconut-pecan nuggets after dehydrating overnight

The amount I made was only to test them and make sure all the ingredients I wanted gave good flavor. I have the batter in the fridge and will put another dozen in the dehydrator soon.

This is how I presented them to my family..30 minutes later they presented the bowl to me...hahaha

I made a granola treat/cereal after making the nuggets. I make raw granola all the time and the recipe is almost never the same. There are some key ingredients that I like to have but the others are determined by my mood/appetite....hahaha. I love pecans, rasins, and cashews so most of the time those will be present. I eat almonds too (but they are not in my fav's list). In a pinch I will make the granola with almonds as the only nut in the entire batch.

This is my Raw granola. I usually eat it as a snack but it can also be a very filling cereal.

If you look closely you can see that there are 3-tray's filled with granola. I just broke the one large piece into several small pieces to make it easier to eat as a snack or a cereal.

A day of raw #11

Wow! I had to get that out because I have had that type of day. First of all, I woke up to the sound of my cell phone's 8am alarm and had a tall glass of filtered water since I was up. Then I got busy editing some vids and updating some of my blog pages. After that I had an impulse to prep some raw snacks, cereals, and treats....so I did just that. Funny how time flies when you're having fun because by the time I looked up, it was almost 11pm. I had prepared about 5 different snacks, cereals, and treats. All of them were recorded so as soon as I edit (they are all long because I just let the camera record...hahaha) them I will upload them either on my Youtube channel (313HealthyMe) or on my FaceBook page (313HealthyMe)

So what did I prepare for my raw meal today? I had the best tasting "mock" pasta with RAW marinara sauce. It was the most amazing taste I have ever had in this raw dish. I have made it quite a few times in the past and never could get the sauce "just right." Now, I think I have it but then again, my taste changes often (lol).

With that I also had a salad with raw dressing. The salad had some marinated mushrooms, sweet red onions, dulce flakes, chopped leeks and green bell pepper. The greens were a combo of spinach, romaine, and red swiss chard.

The dressing is one of my quick oil and vinegar dressings. In it I used Hemp oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, braggs Raw Organic apple cider vinegar, Herbamare, Braggs Sea Kelp seasonings, and lemon pepper. I love that dressing because it's simple, light, and easy to make quickly (lol). I have another dressing that I sometimes make on the fly and that's my lemon Tahini salad dressing. I also use this with a minor variation (fresh parsley) when I want something to dip my Nori Rolls in.

To wash the meal down today I had a wonderful tropical smoothie. It had papaya, fresh pineapple, and banana. I also added a little bit of pineapple juice to stretch it. My family LOVES the smoothies I make and I can't keep them away...hahahahaha.

That was an amazing day for me not only because of how fast the time flew by but because I have never felt so satisfied when it comes to nutrition and food. It seemed that no matter how often I would eat on the Standard American Diet, I was never satiated. I always snacked in between meals and always had my mind on the next meal. Funny how you never notice these things while they are happening. You know what they say..."Hind sight is always 20/20."

Thanks for reading my blogs and I certainly hope you will come back tomorrow on my day of raw #12.