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)