RAW Living and Learning

So my new friend on Instagram, Tanya @tannyraw, did a video on this great gadget. We both bought ours at Bed Bath & Beyond. I used one of my $5.00 off coupons and got this gizmo for mighty cheap. You see my original spiralizer broke about a year ago and I have been whining about it and decided to finally replace it with this little guy.  I was thinking how easy it will be to pack it along with my travel blender and juicer when we travel. The first veggie I experimented with was carrot. Just look at the noodles this thing made out of just 1 small carrot!!! I added them to my killer kale salad yesterday and enjoyed this deliciousness for lunch, in the sunshine. The next veggie I experimented with was a green zucchini. I used the "thin" side to create these long, thin noodles. Reserve the small leftover end of zucchini that does not spiralize; this will go in the sauce. Tonight on the dinner menu was Raw Mushroom Marinara Sauce served over a bed of raw z...

So here is a traditional recipe for a Mojito Cocktail that contains alcohol, sugar and club soda; all three of which are not generally consumed on a raw lifestyle. Ingredients in the Mojito Cocktail 6 Mint leaves .75 oz Simple syrup (one part water, one part sugar) .75 oz Fresh lime juice 1.5 oz White rum 1.5 oz Club soda So quite by accident, I came up with a juice that was so sweet and so minty that I called it "My Pineapple Mojito". I've actually never had a real Mojito Coctail before but know that there is loads of mint in them. My version has no alcohol, sugar or club soda. The sweetness comes from the fresh pineapple juice not a simple syrup. And who needs the alcohol or the bubbles of the club soda? The tangy-ness of the pineapple and the refreshing burst of lime and mint are such a taste explosion, nothing else is needed in this one!! Here is what I threw together the other day; give it a try you won't be disappointed. I actually made t...

Today I felt like making the kids raw banana ice kream with some chocolate and strawberry sauce on top! Why not, right??!! A few weeks ago I stocked up on extra bananas, allowed them to get fully ripe, and then froze 2 big bags full; that way we have a stash of frozen naners on hand to make ice kream any time we want!. This ice kream can be made using a high speed blender, food processor,or a YoNanas maker. I have done all three over the years. To start you'll want to soak some dates in water. (reserve the soak water) This will be the sweetener for the sauces. Prepare your sauces before blending the ice kream. (recipes below) The strawberry sauce was pretty basic, just fresh organic strawberries and the dates. The chocolate sauce was made using raw cacao, dates and vanilla. Sorry for the blurry pic. Next step is to place the frozen bananas into your blender or food processor, adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Allow the bananas to soften just a bit at room temp. I usually ...

I have put some pretty unusual ingredients into our daily green smoothies over the years but you'd be surprised at just how delicious it can be. Don't be afraid to try new, strange sounding things when experimenting with foods, life is too short to miss out. I routinely put cauliflower in our smoothie recipes and have never been disappointed. Just read on to learn the benefits of consuming this wonderful veggie and then try my Strawberry Cauliflower Smoothie recipe posted below the article. Cheers! Top 8 Health Benefits of Cauliflower By Dr. Mercola  February 22, 2014  Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous family of vegetables, often overshadowed by its green cousin broccoli. This is one vegetable that deserves a regular rotation in your diet, however, as it contains an impressive array of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other phytochemicals. Adding to cauliflower's appeal is its extreme versatility. You can eat it raw...

Wondering about the nutritional benefits of raw chocolate or raw cacao? Read on to find out if raw chocolate is actually good for you. I can't say it any better than this author so I thought I'd share with you the words of Jennifer Murray. This is an article written by her found on about.com: Nutritional Benefits of Raw Cacao (Raw chocolate) Is chocolate really good for us, or do we just wish that it was? By Jennifer Murray I'll never forget the day my first acupuncturist told me it was good for me to eat chocolate. What a genius she was! So astute, so well educated, and clearly not to be doubted. She believes there is a reason why some people's bodies crave chocolate; that somehow, something in the chocolate helps your body toward it's goal of being balanced. In the years since, there has been a lot of controversy over whether or not she is right. In the raw foods community many people believe in raw cacao, or raw chocolate (not the roasted, processed ...

Yesterday I was really in the mood for some tabouli but of course I don't eat bulger wheat and I had zero mint in the house, so I took what I had on hand and made my version of tabouli, substituting cauliflower for the bulger and parsley for the mint. But since it isn't really much like tabouli I called it Raw Confetti Salad instead, because when I looked at the end result it looked like a party in a bowl!!! And trust me, it tasted like a party in my mouth! You gotta try this easy and nutritious salad for yourself. RAW Confetti Salad (salt-free, oil-free, lowfat) by Elizabeth @rawlivingandlearning.blogspot.com 1/2 a head of raw cauliflower, finely choped in a food processor or by hand 1 large cucumber, finely diced 1/2 of a large organic bell pepper, finely diced 1 T of raw sunflower seeds, soaked for 2 hrs/drain off soak water, chop 2 ripe Roma tomatoes, diced fine 3 Cups fresh parsley, finely chopped juice of 1 orange juice of 1/2 a lemon juice of ...

Today I wanted to share with you an absolutely brilliant way to open a pomegranate. I found this great video over at Chrisbeatcancer.com . This technique is so simple you won't believe it!! I made a Vegan Vanilla Kream to dollop on top of my lovely pomegranate seeds. It was so delicious. Recipe below the video. Enjoy! But before we get to the video, would you just look at the nutrition and protection that pomegranates offer!! Health benefits of Pomegranate (source:  http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/pomegranate.html ) The fruit is moderate in calories; 100 g provides 83 calories, slightly more than that in the apples . It contains no cholesterol or saturated fats. It is rich source of soluble and insoluble dietary fibers, providing about 4 g per 100 g (about 12% of RDA), which aid in smooth digestive and bowel movements. The fruit is suggested by nutritionists in the diet for weight reduction and cholesterol controlling programs. Regular inclusion of fruits in the diets boos...