Xmas recipes

Here are the Christmas recipes I particularly liked - didn't make a note of the link to the website where I found them I'm afraid.

Cranberry Sauce by RoseLee Calabro
2 C fresh cranberries
1 orange
1 apple
1 C dates
water for consistency

Process cranberries, orange, apple and dates in a blender and serve.

Parsnip-Avocado Soup
This cold and creamy dish is a lot like gazpacho but made with parsnips and avocados which are both a very healthy substitutes for the traditional holiday meal.
1 large parsnip, grated (unless using a K-tec or Vitamix then you can just cut it up)
1/2 water or celery juice
1 large stalk peeled celery, cut up
1/4 avocado
2 teaspoons flaxseed oil
squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

In a blender blend parsnip and liquid until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, blend until smooth.


Stuffing

From the Sprout Café in Atlanta, this tastes just like traditional turkey stuffing to me. I top this with marinara sauce to give it a bit more moisture.

2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
2 Tablespoons fresh sage
2 Tablespoons rosemary
2 Tablespoons fresh thyme
2 cups walnuts, soaked 12 hours and drained
2 cups almonds, soaked 12 hours and drained
1 Tablespoon organic unpasteurized white miso
1 large onion, chopped very fine
6 stalks celery, chopped fine
1 cup parsley sprigs (as garnish)
1 cup cranberries (as garnish)

1. Place garlic in a food processor and process well.
2. Add sage, rosemary, and thyme, processing well.
3. Add walnuts, almonds, and miso, one at a time and process well.
4. Remove to a bowl and stir in onion and celery.
5. Place on a sheet of Teflex and form into an oval loaf shape. Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 6 hours.
6. Remove and turn loaf over, removing the Teflex sheet from the bottom. Dehydrate for 4 to 6 hours more.
7. Garnish with parsley and cranberries
- by Alissa Cohen

My first raw Christmas

The thought of having a 'raw Christmas' did not phase me in the slightest. This was my first Christmas as a raw vegan. Last year, I had a plate of turkey with all the omnivorous trimmings (well, it was put in front of me but I barely touched it, being dosed up on anti-biotics and pain-killers for a nasty bladder infection.)

This year that has all changed. This is probably one of the most stressful run-ups to Christmas I've had in a long time, and I have not been ill with anything this winter. (I was ill over Christmas 2006 but not 2007) I can't prove it, but I'd say it was down to raw food.

I will put my Christmas recipes in a separate post. I found them all on the internet and liked the look of them. The sweet potato dish and the 'mock turkey' were, unfortunately, not very nice. I didn't expect avocado, almonds and parsley to make anything like turkey, but hoped it would be nicer than it turned out. Never mind. As my first raw Christmas, I was pretty pleased. The stuffing was amazing. It would have been better straight out of the dehydrator after about 4 hours on each side, but I went out and overdehydrated it, and it was made 2 days in advance so not as great on the day. Will do that again next year for sure and time it better. Cranberry sauce, Kate Magic's Hi-Cake (from 'Raw Magic') goji-fudge (another of Kate's), Christmas Puddings and Cashew Sauce (again, Kate's, from 'Eat Smart Eat Raw') were all outstanding.

Here are some photos. (I didn't take any of the Christmas puds and sauce, or my jar of cranberry sauce! I am out of the habit! New Year's resolution is to get back into it of course.)







Hi-Cake. It was awesome



My dehydrator taking pride of place on the hob. My housemates all went home for the holidays and I had the kitchen to myself. I spread my food prep over 3 days! It took some careful forward planning, (more than a 'normal' Christmas dinner I don't know, but I expect so)

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The sage and onion stuffing, with celery and walnuts. Not the best picture, but you can see where I have been nibbling from the edges!!

I went to my sister's on Boxing Day for a few days. Being organized to take food over was a pain - I ended up taking far too much! Was better than not having enough. I usually like to do a batch of buckwheat bread (an adaptation of Russel James's recipe) to take with me when I travel as it is very convenient to make sandwiches and they are a good filling supplement to any veg or salad items you might be able to get your hands on when travelling. The cake also came. Majority liked it.

My Christmas presents were a spiralizer, a mandolin, a salad spinner and two raw food hampers very thoughtfully put together by my mum and sister! I was very spoiled. I have got pretty much all the gadgets now (apart from a vita-mix - I will get one one day). Makes me think how far I've come since I discovered raw food a year and a half ago. I feel I got there properly with it after about 9 months but I still feel the journey is continuing...

Here is a picture of the food hampers!!

A long overdue post

Well, I have a lot to update!

I think the fact that I haven't written on here for so long speaks for itself! My school placement was crazy. I got really quite stressed out about it whilst being unmotivated to try and improve the situation at the same time. My food situation was an early breakfast of sunflower seeds, avocado, hemp seeds, etc. a salad of some kind for lunch, and more salad for dinner, followed by porridge. Did not feel I was eating properly at all. Towards the end I was having porridge as a filler when I got in from school before dinner as well as I was pretty hungry by this time. Happily this situation has now changed - I will explain more later.

I treated myself to a Raw Dinner Party with Kate Magic at Manna the end of November, which was awesome. Met some really nice people - it was so good to share experiences, tips, ideas, etc. with other people - the food was FANTASTIC - by far some of the best raw food I've ever had (perhaps not surprising since I have not had much 'gourmet' raw food in my time as a raw vegan! Nevertheless, the selection of curry dishes were amazing and just like the familiar sag aloo, the sag with cauliflower dish, and a tomatoey one I think, only sooo much nicer!) And of course the talk with Kate afterwards warmed my heart and reminded me again of all the reasons I love being raw. Kate has this ability to make you feel so incredibly lucky to be alive.

That is all for now - I will post about my first raw Christmas very soon!!

Concentration and alertness

I feel like my concentration is not good at the moment. Maybe I am being too hard on myself as there is so much to try and take in/remember/do on teaching placement. But I do feel I am not as on the ball as I once was and I don't like it! Started on the B12 supplements a few weeks ago but don't always remember to take them. Need to increase water intake as well. Oh, and get some more sleep too.

Nothing much to report

I had the rest of the soup for lunch with some more hemp seeds sprinkled on top and it really is more filling than it seems once you've let it go down! A lot of people were curious what it was but again no negative comments or questions which lead me to talk about my diet, which is so refreshing. Not that I expect this but I am usually on guard. Anyway, still no time for green juicing! I am literally working until late at night every night and so can't bring myself to get out of bed any earlier in the morning to make it!! I need to get into school even earlier tomorrow as well. So not much to report really, am just trying to keep in the habit of blogging!!

Really need to start thinking about Christmas menus though! My dad said we would talk about it and make sure there was something I could eat. And he volunteered this suggesting as well which I was really pleased about. I don't even realise it half the time but I do always expect to have to 'make do' when really it would not be unreasonable for people to try and include me. We are also going to Marracech in January and my Dad has rang them and told them I am a vegetarian and is now worried that he needs to call back and tell them I am in fact a vegan. I said I really didn't envisage any problems, as I am more than happy to just go with it and I always manage to find something, but did voice a concern that when you say 'vegetarian' this is usually taken as a cue to roll out the cheese!! So almost better to say nothing and then you might at least get some unadulterated vegetables.
Anyway I am sure it will be fine!

Kate's green soup

I got out Kate Magic's 'Raw Magic' book for the first time in ages the other night. I decided that tonight I would make this soup as a starter. (It was pretty filling too) Something I've never made before and it was very nice. It is called 'Jonny's luminous soup' in the book. My housemates said it was an awesome colour and looked really tasty. I also had 'cheeky chilli' last night (also in Raw Magic) which is one of my favourites.

Incidently, I am going to Manna in Brighton on Saturday 28th November to a 'dinner party' event with Kate Magic!! I am really looking forward to it as it has been ages since I've gone to any raw event. Will be great to connect with some raw people again! Anyone who is reading this and is coming along - be sure and look out for me! Can't wait to get some of Kate's wonderful life-loving vibes in my direction!!

Tired....

I am so tired this week. Haven't had time for green juice any morning this week and am feeling the difference. (So tonight I decided to make one when I got instead!) I'm also starting to think the dark and the cold are beginning to affect me too. School is such hard work because there is so much to take in!! I am just starting to get my head around it all but am really nervous about teaching my first lesson to the whole class on my own. I need something to really boost my confidence.

A few things I haven't mentioned. A while ago I took my blog address and personal information about being a raw vegan off my facebook page. Why? Because I began to wonder whether people would judge me as being a bit strange. When I think back to my old perceptions of what a vegan was, it was someone a bit fanatical about animal rights. I wonder if it would put men off me as well. How will they take me to dinner at their parent's house? What about going out for dinner? At the moment I have no way of telling whether this would be the case but it has occured to me. Some teachers in the staff room today said how lovely my food looked and asked if I was a vegetarian. I said yes. I didn't say I was a vegan in case they thought this was a bad thing, or in case they judge me on it. Vegetarianism seems to be 'ok' somehow!

The good news is I am going to a dinner party/talk with Kate Magic in Brighton in a few weeks time.

Can't wait for the weekend to have a break. Off to do some lesson planning...

comment

Hi Bo, thanks for getting in touch! and thanks for your lovely message : ) I don't seem to be able to put comments on my own blog so am having to write an entry in reply. I wrote down everyone's email addresses before we left but unfortunately couldn't find them when i got back home, which is why I haven't been in touch with anyone! Would you put your address in another comment for me? Anyway hope you're well! Amy x

Observations on healing

On signing in to write this entry I found a comment on last night's entry from a new follower, so was very happy about that! This has motivated me to keep the blogging up! : )

Just wanted to note down a little observation before I forget - two weeks ago I got a massive bruise on my leg from hitting it on the corner of a desk - I have been amazed at how quickly and neatly it is healing! It has not once gone that nasty yellow colour but it is just shrinking, presumably around the actual point of impact, leaving nice new coloured skin around it. Wow! Could it be the power of all these green juices I have been having (up to two a day last week) and all that chlorophyll being so similar to something in your blood... need to read up more about this!

Also, I don't know whether anyone has noticed but that is a microwave and a george foreman grill in the background on the picture of my new blender! I have moved out now and so no longer use 'my raw kitchen' from my parents' house. Will have to do a post on my new kitchen soon. Even though I am sharing a kitchen with one cooked vegetarian and three cooked omnivores (sounds so funny calling them that) the arrangement is just as good for me as it was before! I have never believed my diet would cause me any serious practical difficulties in living in a cooked food world, and this continues to be the case. In fact I am sure that this belief is the reason I have no problems!

Woke up really late today (Sunday) so I obviously did need more sleep. Off to make a green juice now : )

Orange chocolate avocado pudding

Might seem like an obvious combination but I have never put orange in my choco-aco pudding before. I just did. Magic.

1 avocado
1 medium banana
cacao powder
carob powder
desert spoon agave
fresh orange juice

I love my salad dressing of:
Umeboshe plum paste
Ginger
Garlic
Lemon juice
tiny bit of olive oil

Had it tonight on green beans, brocoli (chopped very small), sliced mushrooms and grated courgette. Mushrooms soften a very crunchy salad like this and grated courgette is also lovely and soft and very filling too.

I got a new hand-held grater today and used it on the ginger, but unfortunately a lot of the ginger got stuck on the grater! I also got some new mixing bowls!!

Realising the importance of getting enough sleep today. Raw is great for energy and I have needed less sleep since going raw, but sleep is still necessary!

I have been thinking about what I will make for my first raw Christmas. Last year I was ill with a water infection and for the first time in my life I took one look at my dinner and just didn't want it! Perhaps not the best memory of my last conventional Christmas dinner... U have spotted some whole raw cranberries in the supermarket today but they are so expensive! They have also got whole shell-on nuts now so I bought a mixed bag plus a nut cracker today. So I am starting to think Christmas will be a great time for raw food!

Right I'm off to make a chocolate avocado pudding for desert!

The last month in pictures

Lillies and 'ornamental cabbages' from my sister for my birthday!!; the gourmet raw dish my mum went to much trouble to make for my birthday - it meant the world - ; banana, pineapple and strawberry smoothies made with my new blender; the new blender/food processor I got for my birthday! It is fantastic - I was a very lucky girl!

Return to the blog

So much has been going on with me and raw food and I just haven't been blogging! It has made me realise how much of my life is based on habit - I have got out of the habit of writing entries and I really want to get back into it!! So here goes.

Last time I wrote, I said that I was being tempted back towards cooked food. My intake of it has certainly increased, but in a way I am comfortable with. Typical day now is large green juice followed by a bowl of sunflower seeds, avocado and hemp seeds, salad of some description for lunch, quite often have a bowl of porridge with cacao powder in it in the afternoon, raw veg meal in the evening usually with avocado, followed by a large bowl of porridge with banana or cacao powder before bed. I do find the oats very comforting before bed and they don't make me feel sluggish in the afternoon either. Am eating far fewer sprouts now too and hardly any fruit and no raisins. This way I don't get any symptoms, even when I have acidic food including tamari, miso, apple cider vinegar and tomatoes. It is definitely the fruit that is the problem.

I have been thinking about the reasons why I want cooked food. One is for comfort and warmth - I tend to eat porridge when I am already feeling sleepy, (and it tends to keep me in this state.) Another reason is to feel fuller, as I have been eating far fewer sprouted seeds and legumes. I have also had rice and vegan dahl at my parents' house a few times recently. This is definitely an emotional desire to share dinner with my family. I haven't found that cooked food has stifled my emotions as is so frequently written about on the raw scene; rather, this return to more cooked has coincided with being more aware of my emotions now than ever. I am so much happier now than I used to be and like to express this too, telling people, especially those who have helped me get to where I am. I am pretty high on gratitude at the moment and it feels fantastic!! Am also grateful to the people who told me moving out would be a bad idea, using my diet as part of the reason, saying I was so well set up as I was and it wouldn't work in shared kitchen with cooked meat eaters! On the contrary, in the new house it is not a problem at all. I am grateful to these people because it has increased my trust in my own convictions.

I have noticed that my concentration and focus hasn't been great recently and I wonder if this is part of the cumulative effect of raw food on my consciousness. (I have been getting the angel card 'focus' frequently too.) I am not so worried about how things turn out anymore, and increasingly want to just live in the moment. I have started taking B12 supplements in case this has anything to do with it.

Not come up with any more recipes recently but my favourite thing to whip up is still lentil pate! Sprouted lentils, half an avocado (optional) lemon juice, garlic (optional) half a red or white onion, olive oil and tamari, small tomato (optional). Magic with carrot sticks.

So all in all pretty positive still! It's like raw food is such a normal part of my life now that I can put the extra energy and love it gives me back into other areas of my life, rather than purely back into raw food as an end in itself. (I am absolutely loving my teaching course and can't wait to start my first placement on Monday!!) In sum, this is probably why I haven't been blogging so much. Now I have made this realisation, I realise I would like to blog again so I can continue documenting my journey in the hope that it will inspire others!!

Observations

A few things I forgot to mention on Saturday:

1.Working really hard and having lots of late nights, etc. doesn't make me as tired as it used to! I seem to be able to just keep going and going.

2.I have realised I am so much calmer about everything generally and much less inclined to let things get to me or wind me up. I can let things go much more easily (this is especially true since I have moved house)

As I said, I have been feeling quite hungry and feeling like I'm probably not eating enough ... I bought some brown rice, some rye bread with quinoa and amaranth in (random additions I know) and some sweet potatoes for roasting yesterday. I thought if I am eating porridge I might as well have this in the evenings too/instead.

Today, the new issue of 'Get Fresh' arrived!! Do you think this is a sign..?! (Of course I have no time to read it, but may work my way through a paragraph at a time if I am lucky.)

Tonight when I came in from work I had some raw food instead of porridge, then had porridge purely out of habit, although after the raw food, it really was not what I wanted. I think I just need some raw stodge instead. Have got my raw oat groats out - why have these been sitting at the back of my cupboard for ages? Don't see why I can't make raw porridge and have it slightly warmed. And I am all set to make bread tomorrow (wheatberries already sprouting, buckwheat and flax seeds at the ready), and some lentil, mushroom and walnut burgers, (both Chris's recipes!).

I really don't want to turn back to rice and potatoes!!! I am a raw vegan!!!!

I don't need to say it's been way too long since my last entry! I feel like I have started a completely new life which has taken up all my time, but I am still raw!! A lot has changed in my life and it is all for the better. They say that raw makes you realise your needs, what you can't tolerate, etc. and I have definitely experienced this. Whether it is entirely down to eating raw, who can say, but it has happened and I am so thankful.

Unfortunately with being so busy with uni and slowly settling into my new home I have not been feeding myself as well as I was, green juice and jogging have both gone out the window, and cooked porridge and raisins have been a daily feature of my diet, due to feeling still hungry after not having made myself a decent dinner. Looking back at photos from The Gower and Vienna, I look very skinny as well which I don't like. I can't see it in the mirror, only in photos, which is strange.

So that is an update of where I am at. Here is a photo of a decent curry dinner I made myself tonight to mark the beginning of eating more calories!



It is a red pepper, courgette, mushroom, red onion and lentil curry.

Here are a few other photos I have taken and not got round to loading on...!

I was in awe of sunflower seeds which go green and purple when sprouted - the best colours in the world. Second is the first lentil pate I made with my new hand blender ... oh yeh the hand blender - I got a bargain one and it is fantastic!