Good Evening, I have another section of raw thoughts for you. This one left me speechless. It was a typical, yet unusually quiet Wednesday afternoon. As I sat at my desk running through my task list, I was interrupted by the following words:
"Brittney, you think too much about what you are supposed to be DOING, when I want you to focus on keeping you heart right. If you heart is right, whatever you are doing will honor Me. If you're goal is truly to honor Me, you only have to focus on love and guarding your heart. If you do these things, you can trust Me to take care of the what, when, where and how. Do you think Jesus knew when He woke up everyday who he would heal and where it would happen and how he would do it? NO! He woke up everyday with a perfect, pure heart, steadfastly set on honoring Me. I then put opportunities in front of Him wherever He went. You are trying to be the navigator and the driver- that normally ends in a wreck, or lost. It you will focus on navigating your heart, I will drive you to the correct locations."
Put this in the context of you own life and let God speak to you. He is so willing if only we will listen and set our hearts right before Him.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
The most important ingredient
There are many key ingredients to healthful recipes. I have found certain items are on my staple list. For example, I aim to always have fresh veggies (dark leafy greens and anything other veggie variety), bananas, apples, dates, coconut oil, nuts, cacao powder, beans, quinoa or millet, liquid aminos, chili powder and cumin in my pantry or fridge. I can always throw together a meal and snacks if I have these items. Some weeks, I am the super star planner and have all my meals written on our lovely calendar in the kitchen. Other weeks...I lean on my staple ingredients and creativity to throw together meals.
Whether you are a planner, the creative type, or both like me, you will find keeping staple ingredients in your kitchen will make your life much easier and will greatly aid you in staying on track with your dietary goals. Through trial and error you will find what healthy ingredients you and your family most enjoy. It's OK to not enjoy every fruit and vegetable. There are just some veggies you probably won't like- so move on to another variety. Our Creator has been gracious enough to give us a massive fruit and veggie selection- enjoy His goodness.
As you master your own unique list of staples, make sure you include the most important ingredient- love. This ingredient phenomenon will add flavor to any dish, sweet or savory. This may sound like fantastical, but I firmly believe your food will taste different, and even increase the nutritional value when prepared with love. The alternative is also true. Think about it. As a kid, how many times did you ask your mom to make your sandwich for you? Your reason was always "but mom, it taste better if you make it." Sure, sometimes you might have been using a little manipulation because you didn't want to make the sandwich. However, the sandwich really did taste better when mom made it. Why? I believe it's because she made it with love.
There is something about sitting down to a meal prepared with love no other ingredient can compare with. I believe in picking choice ingredients to feed your self and those you love. Many of my post are in regards to finding, purchasing and making dishes with such ingredients. Love, is indeed the most essential ingredient to feeding those you love the most nutritious, delicious food available.
If you have had a rough day or you are stressed and frazzled; take a few minutes to gather yourself. Get in in a loving frame of mind before you prepare a meal. It makes a difference.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Buying Organic without breaking your budget
While I think it is certainly best to buy local and organic, that's not always possible 100% of the time. On the journey to eating for life and health, everything is a process. This process includes our time and money. I'm sure you have all noticed buying 100% local and organic would greatly increase your food budget if you are currently buying conventionally grown produce from your local grocery store. It is healthy to always move towards buying more organic & local produce. However, on your way there, you may find the following tips helpful.
Techniques I have used in our family process of going organic:
1- Shop around. I shop at a few different grocery stores that carry organic produce. As I shop, I mentally note how much the organic items are. Over a few weeks I did this at all the stores I shopped at. Now I am familiar with what organic things should cost so I don't over spend on an item. Using the same idea- shop the sales. This means I normally shop at two different stores a week.
2- Look for alternate options. Because the nearest large organic foods grocery store is about an hour from us, I have looked for other places to get organic produce for a reasonable price. Do a little research to see what organic farms are near you as well as local co-ops. You might be surprised at what you find. I always try out an co-op before I join, that way I can see how much food is in the box and if it is conducive to our budget.
3- Wash your non organic produce in more than water. The following link has some great suggestions of produce wash that helps draw out impurities and pesticides. How to wash non organic produce the easy way
4- Prioritize what you buy organic. Make the dirty dozen your top priority to always buy organic and the clean fifteen your lowest priority. If your not eating the peel, it's low priority. The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen.
Remember we are all on a journey. Celebrate progress and keep moving forward.
Techniques I have used in our family process of going organic:
1- Shop around. I shop at a few different grocery stores that carry organic produce. As I shop, I mentally note how much the organic items are. Over a few weeks I did this at all the stores I shopped at. Now I am familiar with what organic things should cost so I don't over spend on an item. Using the same idea- shop the sales. This means I normally shop at two different stores a week.
2- Look for alternate options. Because the nearest large organic foods grocery store is about an hour from us, I have looked for other places to get organic produce for a reasonable price. Do a little research to see what organic farms are near you as well as local co-ops. You might be surprised at what you find. I always try out an co-op before I join, that way I can see how much food is in the box and if it is conducive to our budget.
3- Wash your non organic produce in more than water. The following link has some great suggestions of produce wash that helps draw out impurities and pesticides. How to wash non organic produce the easy way
4- Prioritize what you buy organic. Make the dirty dozen your top priority to always buy organic and the clean fifteen your lowest priority. If your not eating the peel, it's low priority. The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen.
Remember we are all on a journey. Celebrate progress and keep moving forward.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday Juice
I made this juice on this beautiful Sunday afternoon when I was feeling a bit sluggish- it perked me right up.
7 Carrots
2 Gala Apples
2 Oranges
small handful parsley
1 inch ginger
Put all ingredients through juicer and enjoy! Makes about 25 ounces.
7 Carrots
2 Gala Apples
2 Oranges
small handful parsley
1 inch ginger
Put all ingredients through juicer and enjoy! Makes about 25 ounces.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Lemonade Dressing
This is my husbands favorite dressing- he says it taste like lemonade, hence, the name. It's my favorite to make because it's a cinch.
Equal parts raw honey, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil. Mix.
I just pout it all in a mason jar because you can shake to mix and then it's already in a storage container. Viola!
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli has grown on me over the last few months... figuratively of course. Maybe my body is craving it, or my taste buds are changing, but I seem to want it quite often which is a new development. Here is my latest broccoli creation. So easy, and so yummy.
1 large head of broccoli
2 T. Lemon Juice
2-3 T. Olive Oil
2 tsp Braggs liquid aminos
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds (not roasted or salted)
Dried Cranberries to taste (I used one sweetened with apple juice- careful not to get once loaded with extra junk)
Chop Broccoli into small florets and put in large bowl. Add Lemon, Olive oil and aminos. Massage liquids into broccoli until it becomes tender. Mix in remaining ingredients and set aside for 10-20 minutes to marinate. Enjoy!
*you'll notice this is a relatively small recipe- you can easily double it.
1 large head of broccoli
2 T. Lemon Juice
2-3 T. Olive Oil
2 tsp Braggs liquid aminos
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds (not roasted or salted)
Dried Cranberries to taste (I used one sweetened with apple juice- careful not to get once loaded with extra junk)
Chop Broccoli into small florets and put in large bowl. Add Lemon, Olive oil and aminos. Massage liquids into broccoli until it becomes tender. Mix in remaining ingredients and set aside for 10-20 minutes to marinate. Enjoy!
*you'll notice this is a relatively small recipe- you can easily double it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Raw Cheese Cake
This is one of my favorite desserts! Before I became high raw, my mom would make my brother and I a cheese cake for every birthday. I didn't have to let go of the tradition of birthday cheesecake! This is a crowd pleaser and has proven the test of my non raw friends taste buds. It's a little pricey to make but worth it especially for special occasions.
CRUST:
3/4 C. walnuts
3/4 C. macadamia Nuts
1/2 C. dates
1/4 C. dried unsweetened coconut flakes
1 pinch sea sale
Process nuts and dates and salt well. Sprinkle coconut on bottom of pan (I use a square pirex or a circle cheesecake pan 8x8 is perfect) this helps keep cheesecake from sticking. Press crust mixture into pan.
FILLING:
2 C. cashews
1/2 C. lemon juice
1/2 C. coconut oil
1/2 C. agave or honey
1 T. vanilla extract
up to 3 T. water to thin if necessary
Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until creamy (except water, only use if needed). Pour filling into pie crust and freeze about an hour to let the cake firm up.
TOPPING:
(I think this topping is best freshly made, so I make it right before serving. If this isn't possible you can alternatively top cheesecake and place back in freezer until ready to serve.)
2 C. frozen organic strawberries (one of the dirty dozen- high priority to buy organic)
1/2 C. dates
Place ingredients in high speed blender. Blend well (if you have a tamper like the one that comes with a vita mix, you will want to use it to assist in the blending).
Recipe inspired by therawtarian.com
CRUST:
3/4 C. walnuts
3/4 C. macadamia Nuts
1/2 C. dates
1/4 C. dried unsweetened coconut flakes
1 pinch sea sale
Process nuts and dates and salt well. Sprinkle coconut on bottom of pan (I use a square pirex or a circle cheesecake pan 8x8 is perfect) this helps keep cheesecake from sticking. Press crust mixture into pan.
FILLING:
2 C. cashews
1/2 C. lemon juice
1/2 C. coconut oil
1/2 C. agave or honey
1 T. vanilla extract
up to 3 T. water to thin if necessary
Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until creamy (except water, only use if needed). Pour filling into pie crust and freeze about an hour to let the cake firm up.
TOPPING:
(I think this topping is best freshly made, so I make it right before serving. If this isn't possible you can alternatively top cheesecake and place back in freezer until ready to serve.)
2 C. frozen organic strawberries (one of the dirty dozen- high priority to buy organic)
1/2 C. dates
Place ingredients in high speed blender. Blend well (if you have a tamper like the one that comes with a vita mix, you will want to use it to assist in the blending).
Recipe inspired by therawtarian.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)