RAW Living and Learning

One of my little guys requested an Apple Pie Smoothie the other day so that is exactly what I made him! We all have been enjoying my Pumpkin Pie Smoothie recipe and he thought, since I could make up a recipe for that, surely I could make up one for Apple Pie. It was a success!! He was very happy and satisfied. You can use any apple you like for this recipe; he chose Golden Delicious, so that is what I used. Apple Pie Smoothie by Elizabeth @rawlivingandlearning.blogspot.com 4 frozen ripe bananas 1 ripe banana Juice of 1/2 a lemon 2 Golden Delicious, organic apples 4 Medjool dates, remove pits 2 Tbsp raw Hemp Hearts 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice 1/4 tsp Allspice Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender. Garnish smoothies with dried mulberries and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy! +JMJ+ Today I am grateful for the kindness shown to me yesterday. 

Today I surprised the children with a new smoothie recipe. I had made some raw almond butter and wanted use it in a smoothie recipe for them. Having found some extremely fresh Medjool dates the other day at the market, I knew they had to be one of the smoothie ingredients as well. Here is what it looked like: And let me just tell you, it tasted like pure bliss!!!!! This is a must try!!! They will be requesting this smoothie again, or so I was told. Here is my recipe:   Raw Cookie Dough Smoothie by Elizabeth @rawlivingandlearning.blogSpot.com   4 fresh Medjool dates, pitted   4 ripe bananas   6 frozen bananas   1/2 C filtered water   2 Tablespoons of raw almond butter   1 teaspoon of vanilla   Blend all of the ingredients in a high speed blender and ENJOY!!!!     +JMJ+ Today I am grateful that my father had a successful surgery and is home recovering.

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...

The Latest About Cabbage by Dr. Mercola   August 03, 2013 Cabbage doesn’t receive all the fan-fare that other members of the cruciferous vegetable family do, but it should. What is cabbage good for? A better question might be, what isn’t it good for? As one of the most potent medicinal foods available, including cabbage as a regular part of your diet (two or three times a week, or, even better, four or five) may offer many significant health benefits. Cabbage Has Cancer-Preventing Properties The George Mateljan Foundation recently highlighted some of the latest news about cabbage and topping the list was its potential for cancer prevention. 1 Nearly 500 studies have looked into this connection and revealed that cabbage’s anti-cancer powers are likely related to: Antioxidants Cabbage contains powerful antioxidants like vitamins A and C and phytonutrients such as thiocyanates, lutein, zeaxanthin, isothiocyanates and sulforaphane, which stimulate detoxify...

16 oz lemon water 2 oz fresh wheat grass juice Mug of organic coffee with 1 tsp coconut sugar Today was my much needed REST day!! No workout schedule today except for some heavy housework and more Advent decorating. I am one of those people who actually works up a sweat using the vacuum. First meal of the day: I blended a simple fruit soup of bananas, frozen mango and sunflower greens. Looks Like Green Slime but Tastes Divine!! Had a mug of warm lemon water and several glasses of plain water throughout the day.  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We are still in the second week of Advent, Sunday will start week 3. Around here we slowly bring out our decorations and keep building the anticipation as we await for Christmas season to begin. Once we reach Christmas Eve our decorations will be complete and we light everything up and begin our celebration. As I mentioned in a previous posts, hubby wanted to get a live tree this y...

16 oz water fresh wheat grass juice Smoothie/soup:  frozen raspberries and blueberries, bananas, baby spinach,   1 tablespoon of Organic India fiber (forgot to post this previously, I add this to all of my morning smoothies) Work out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1TuhAn6C-g&feature=relmfu Then a cardio burn w/ Jillian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iEhTfXGaLg Lastly I did Fitness Blenders Express Calorie Burn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLiYYpDBWtU After doing these workouts I decided to forgo running tonight. Plus all of my workout clothing was in the wash, so perhaps I'll try it another night. Not to mention I was really tired, I worked out hard today--proud of that and grateful!! Today is the second Sunday of Advent. Christmas is getting closer!! This year my husband decided he wanted a live tree. So this weekend we went looking for one and found a beauty. It smells so good. We will bless it tomorrow and then each day slowly add decoratio...

Yesterday our family celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas, as we do every year on December 6th. Stockings were hung and we lit the Advent Wreath, prayed, displayed our collection of St. Nicholas dolls (that belonged to my mother-in-law) and of course watched the children as they pulled their gifts out from their stockings. Then we re-read the story/bio of St. Nicholas and focused on his giving and loving spirit. It is always a good day for all of us.  A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN O God the Father of mankind, who hast given me these my children, and committed them to my charge to bring them up for Thee, and to prepare them for eternal life: help me with Thy heavenly grace, that I may be able to fulfill this most sacred duty and stewardship. Teach me both, what to give and what to withhold; when to reprove and when to forbear; make me to be gentle, yet firm; considerate and watchful; and deliver me equally from the weakness of indulgence, and the excess of severit...