[calynde]

Hi Mamas,<br><br>
Time to get our thread all caught up! I don't know about where you are, but our farmer's markets are already starting to burst at the seams...finally! It makes the whole raw thing so much easier and so much more fun. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love"><br><br>
a few recipes:<br><br>
flax crackers and paella here:<br><a href="http://www.freshtopia.tv" target="_blank">http://www.freshtopia.tv</a><br><br>
Summer Mojo Madness and Vietnamese Roasted Bananas here (scroll down):<br><a href="http://gliving.tv/shows/category/greenchefs/" target="_blank">http://gliving.tv/shows/category/greenchefs/</a><br><br>
Maple Walnut Cereal<br><a href="http://goneraw.com/recipes/543-Maple-Walnut-Cereal" target="_blank">http://goneraw.com/recipes/543-Maple-Walnut-Cereal</a><br><br>
Guilt-Free Desserts<br>
(cherry almond cookies, lemon pudding, blueberry pie etc) here:<br><a href="http://www.learnrawfood.com/guiltfreedesserts.htm" target="_blank">http://www.learnrawfood.com/guiltfreedesserts.htm</a><br><br>
Enjoy!

 

[eco_mama]

We joined our 1st CSA this year and it starts this month. I can't wait! Hopefully it'll help me to get back on the RAW track. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">: It just sucks because we don't have a dehydrator good blender or anything yet and it's a PITA to even get any good nuts or seeds for us right now and I feel like in order to really *make* anything...I need all of those things! And it's getting old just eating the saaame ooold veggies the saaame ooold way.<br><br>
I need inspiration!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/help.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="help">:

 

[kallyn]

Can you guys help me raw-i-fy my smoothies? I'm not a huge fan of smoothies in general, but I do enjoy to blend together strawberries, blueberries, coconut milk, stevia, and a raw egg yolk. What is a good raw substitute for the creaminess of the coconut milk? I can't eat a lot of sugar, so bananas are out.

 

[kallyn]

I am constantly intrigued by the idea of raw foods. I read about it all the time. But in practice, I don't generally like eating it. There are very few exceptions to this. I just love me the heck out of some cooked food. Here are the only raw things I've tried to far that I've actually enjoyed:<br><br>
*kale-apple salad: <a href="http://freshtopia.net/vlog/?p=97" target="_blank">http://freshtopia.net/vlog/?p=97</a><br>
*daikon with sesame-ginger-miso sauce: <a href="http://freshtopia.net/vlog/?p=69" target="_blank">http://freshtopia.net/vlog/?p=69</a><br>
*and I love to take a raw fennel bulb, slice it really thinly in my food processor, and toss it together with the fronds and some evoo/ume plum vinegar dressing<br><br>
Besides fruit/veg crudites and regular green salad, that is about it on the raw food front for me. I have an occasional semi-raw smoothie (see the post right above this one), but it's not all the time or anything. How can I get myself to like this stuff? Normally my favorite foods are the kind that have to cook all day!

 

[rzberrymom]

DH and I were raw before we had DD (26 months), and now we're trying to get back into it. This is one of our new favorites (from goneraw.com). I add cumin, garlic and extra chili powder to this.<br><br><b>Spanish Rice</b><br><br>
Ingredients<br><br>
* 1 head cauliflower, grated in a food procesor<br>
* 4 green onions, diced<br>
* 2 tomatoes, diced<br>
* 1 orange bell pepper, diced<br>
* 1 jalapeno pepper, diced<br>
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice<br>
* ¼ cup cilantro, diced<br>
* 1 avocado, mashed<br>
* 1 teaspoon chili powder<br>
* 1 teaspoon paprika<br>
* ½ tablespoon sea salt<br>
* ¼ cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil<br><br>
Preparation<br><br>
Mix together well and serve.

 

[eco_mama]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>rzberrymom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8003647"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">DH and I were raw before we had DD (26 months), and now we're trying to get back into it. This is one of our new favorites (from goneraw.com). I add cumin, garlic and extra chili powder to this.<br><br><b>Spanish Rice</b><br><br>
Ingredients<br><br>
* 1 head cauliflower, grated in a food procesor<br>
* 4 green onions, diced<br>
* 2 tomatoes, diced<br>
* 1 orange bell pepper, diced<br>
* 1 jalapeno pepper, diced<br>
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice<br>
* ¼ cup cilantro, diced<br>
* 1 avocado, mashed<br>
* 1 teaspoon chili powder<br>
* 1 teaspoon paprika<br>
* ½ tablespoon sea salt<br>
* ¼ cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil<br><br>
Preparation<br><br>
Mix together well and serve.</div>
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ohh, this looks like something i can actually do. and it sounds yummy. and that kale salad sounds good too.

 

[stayathomecristi]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lurk.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lurk">:

 

[Panserbjorne]

Sorry I'm late! How are everyone's raw endeavors going?

 

[Panserbjorne]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kallyn</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8003041"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Can you guys help me raw-i-fy my smoothies? I'm not a huge fan of smoothies in general, but I do enjoy to blend together strawberries, blueberries, coconut milk, stevia, and a raw egg yolk. What is a good raw substitute for the creaminess of the coconut milk? I can't eat a lot of sugar, so bananas are out.</div>
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<br>
avacados may work quite well, as will nut butters (raw almond butter can make anything creamy!) However, I would buy a case of young coconuts and blend the water and meat together as a smoothie base. SO good for you and wonderfully yummy. I blend in large batches and thaw in ice cube trays for easy daily use.

 

[stayathomecristi]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>firefaery</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8030879"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Sorry I'm late! How are everyone's raw endeavors going?</div>
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Well, since you asked....<br><br>
Yesterday was my first day. I think I may have been to ambitious and after eating raw all day yesterday, felt really sick last night (nauseous). Is that normal? I ended up eating cooked food for dinner and I felt better. Is this a sign that my body is really messed up? Should I introduce more raw foods slowly? I ate a LOT of raw almonds, so I'm thinking that may play into it. I'll go easier on them today.

 

[kallyn]

Raw nuts can do a number on your tummy if you eat a lot of them, especially if you didn't soak them. Hope you feel better!

 

[stayathomecristi]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kallyn</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8032460"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Raw nuts can do a number on your tummy if you eat a lot of them, especially if you didn't soak them. Hope you feel better!</div>
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<br>
Well...I made almond butter yesterday morning and those almonds had been soaked, but the others were not. I do feel better today, but have cut back on the raw stuff. I think I need to do about 50% and work my way up. It's just that all of those recipes look so yummy!

 

[kavitha]

hello, today is dd's b-day party and we are having all raw foods.....mosty familiar things, a green salad with guacamole, a melon salad, and then raw "meatballs" with pineapple-ginger sauce and raw pizza with pesto, sun-dried tomato and olives--then raw carrot cake and strawberry shortcake....<br><br>
i am excited--a friend is catering---and glad dh is open to trying it out with so many friends and fam....<br><br>
personallly, doing ok--can't wait to try that paella recipe!...and the young coocnut idea--freezing in ice cubes, great idea....

 

[tboroson]

Hey all - I'm here! Day 19 if the 30 day raw foods challenge, though I was doing a large portion of raw prior to that as well. My goal for the challenge was 90-95% raw, and I've been meeting that average with no trouble! Woo-hoo! I was doing around 70% prior to the challenge. I'm omni-raw, fwiw. I felt absolutely awesome when I went to the 70% raw level, but really don't feel any different now that I've increased that. So after the challenge, I think I'll probably drop back down to 70-80%l - I'm just dying for small tastes of the food I cook for the rest of the family. I've gotten more creative with raw fish since doing this, so I think I can do 80% more easily than before <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Has anybody here any experience with <a href="http://www.dryit.com" target="_blank">these</a> dehydrators? I saw them lauded in a MaryJane's Farm book and looked at them. I was disturbed by the fact that they're plywood - that stuff offgasses something fierce. But, I suppose if it was properly sealed... but then, the sealant could off-gas, too. They don't address these questions on the site. Does anybody have one, to tell me how they're actually finished?<br><br>
I also wonder how effective the convection is for heating the box evenly. The reason for a fan in other dehydrators isn't that the heat doesn't convect upward, it's that it doesn't do so efficiently enough to heat all levels evenly. Is this truly engineered efficiently enough to provide for that? I'd hate to waste my bottom level because it heats to 140, and the top level because it's so cool that it goes moldy before drying, just to get 100-105 in the middle levels. But, the fans in other dehydrators are such energy hogs - I couldn't believe how much power mine used when I plugged it into a Kill-a-Watt <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">: So, if this truly works without a fan, I'm intrigued.

 

[stayathomecristi]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>kavitha</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8040817"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">hello, today is dd's b-day party and we are having all raw foods.....mosty familiar things, a green salad with guacamole, a melon salad, and then raw "meatballs" with pineapple-ginger sauce and raw pizza with pesto, sun-dried tomato and olives--then raw carrot cake and strawberry shortcake....<br><br>
i am excited--a friend is catering---and glad dh is open to trying it out with so many friends and fam....<br><br>
personallly, doing ok--can't wait to try that paella recipe!...and the young coocnut idea--freezing in ice cubes, great idea....</div>
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Kavitha--do you have any of those recipes to share? The "meatballs" sound good to me!

 

[rzberrymom]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>tboroson</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8040843"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I was doing around 70% prior to the challenge. I'm omni-raw, fwiw. I felt absolutely awesome when I went to the 70% raw level, but really don't feel any different now that I've increased that.</div>
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This is really interesting to me. I've been at about 75% raw for quite a while but haven't been 100% raw in 2 years. But then in the last week, I went back up to 100% raw and I'm amazed at how much better I feel! I feel like a different person going back to 100% raw!<br><br>
I would love to be *almost* 100% raw in the long-term (I really miss cheese!) But yesterday I was out with friends and had a few cooked snacks--I felt awful last night and terribly hungry and sluggish this morning. I couldn't believe what a difference there was.<br><br>
Has anyone else felt a big difference going up to 100%?

 

[maryeb]

[Has anyone else felt a big difference going up to 100%?[/QUOTE]<br><br>
I really have. I was eating about 75% before, and it has been a month exactly and I just feel awesome. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Much better than before even, and I thought I felt great then too. But this is different. I do not wake up tired anymore, although in the first couple weeks of being 100% I did. I think though, that I've figured out what I need much better than in the beginning. And my excema has finally gone away...it was still around on my 75% raw way of life. HTH<br><br>
Don't have much interesting planned for today, we ate the carrot pecan burgers yesterday wrapped up in a collard leave. I love those. Tomorrow I think I'll make some "taco meat", really looking forward to that! And definitely going to the farmers market. They are so loaded now with yummy fruits and finally basil. I love making my pesto! Mary

 

[Panserbjorne]

I honestly notice a reallly big difference going 100%, however I'm not crazy about it. I'm also not 100% every day, as occassionally I'll still do roasted veggies or fish. However, when I have been 100% I wasn't too concerned about EVERYTHING being raw.<br><br>
Some people won't do supplements that aren't raw, or some of hte larabars aren't 100% and I took a b vitamin that wasn't "raw" and occasionally ate one of the non-raw larabars. I still considered myself 100% in that time.<br><br>
The big difference is in evergy level. At 100% I need far less sleep than at 90-95% I am trying to avoid labels that stress me out so I have a feeling that I will be completely raw over the summer, but I'll still be "high raw" with many 100% days. Does that make sense? I'm not going to flip our if I can't get a young coconut and have to use coconut milk for something. AFter being 100% and stressing about that little aspect of it for almost a year I'm just going to relax and eat well.

 

[stayathomecristi]

Where can you buy young coconuts and are they easier to crack than "old" ones? I love the ice cube tray idea and all that yummy coconut meat and milk!

 

[Panserbjorne]

asian markets will almost always have them-and they are easier crack for sure.