Little by Little It's All Coming Together

I had intended to get a little further in my backyard plans, but I had miscalculated the amount of time and energy that sinking a post and painting trellises would take. I have to say that I was remarkably surprised at the little time it actually took to dig the post hole. With a great post digger, it really doesn't take that much time at all.  Thank goodness I was only sinking 2 poles, and with 2 people, it took about an hour.

My garden fence will separate the raised bed vegetable gardens from the grass area. It's kind of like a decorative fence, and once the morning glories grow over it, it will double as a privacy screen.

On Saturday, I must have been at Home Depot for about 3 hours, going back and forth, trying to collect everything on my list. Home Depot is like a candy store for me, because as soon as I walk in the door, I am stimulated to do yet another DIY project, and have a tendency to go off on a 1 hour tangent. This visit would have been no different, had I not had someone there to keep me on track.

I bought the paint, the fencing, post, gravel, concrete, post digger, a couple brushes and some hinges. Well, I had the feeling that the hinges would not work, and when I got home, I confirmed that they would not, so I had to take them back (they were $8 each after all). Luckily, I did have an alternative in mind.

We barely got all the goods in my CRV. Now, if you can imagine 8-foot fencing that is just a little wider than my car is wide - this was a challenge. To top it off, I did not have much in the way of breakfast (just a couple cups of coffee) and anyone who knows me, knows that I tend to get impatient and cranky when things don't go as planned. THIS was one of those days.

As soon as we got the fencing in the car, I heard something heavy drop...it was the can of paint that I just purchased...and it was all over the pavement (the can had openned). Needless to say I was PISSED. But much to my surprise, I held it together, went back into the store and they gave me a new can without charging me. (Home Depot, you are wonderful!!!)

Finally got home and started painting the fence panels and posts. It took about 2 hours. After a day of painting, and a morning of post sinking, this is what my backyard looks like. I realize it's not much, but if you can imagine more greenery around the red, you might get the full idea of what I'm trying to accomplish.

What I've learned these past 3 weekends....Landscaping is nothing but baby steps....

Getting back into the thick of things...

I can't believe it's been over a year since I've posted on this blog! And it will be a year since I moved into my new house! To give you an idea of what I've been up to, I've been working on my front yard (and BOY did it need a lot of work) as far as landscaping. This year, I'm getting back into healthiness and moving one step forward. I'm dedicating my time to my backyard (which needs even MORE work). This is my empty backyard.

My plan is to build raised bed vegetable gardens and juice whatever I pull out of there. I'm so excited! I've been landscaping for the past 2 weekends and hope to be finished by mid-April - just in time for summer! Squash anyone?

Chocolate pudding recipe - RAW and HEALTHY - you can eat it for breakfast!

Ok, so yesterday I did a 15 mile training run, in prep for the Chicago Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon in 2 weeks time. Can I just say that I'M SOOOOO EXCITED!!!

Though I didn't really feel how tired I was yesterday, I definitely felt the training effect today after my yoga workshop. I took a nap, woke up and was so hungry I was out of my mind!

I had made tabouli, which I ate wrapped in seaweed. Good stuff! But then I was craving something sweet, and tea with honey just wasn't cutting it - you know how it goes. So, rather than eating a spoonful of honey, I made pudding! If you LOVE chocolate pudding, YOU'LL LOVE THIS.

NOW, I have to say that the ingredients may sound weird, but it's truly DELISH!

Chocolate Pudding

The only thing you will need is a blender! I did mine in my Bullet!

1 small avocado (when I say small, I use a single serving avocado - about 4 in. long)

scrape out meat from a young coconut (you'll maybe need 1/4 c - but it really depends on how big your avocado is)

1 to 1 1/2 T of REAL maple syrup

1 T (or more depending on your chocolate craving) of raw cocao powder

add coconut water to the consistency you want

BLEND to a smooth consistency

This was sooooo good, I inhaled it! I had none left over to share with my friend.

oh well, maybe next time :-(

Here's to food that makes us healthy and wise!!

Falafel Patties - Another RAW food goodie

Namaste Foodies:

Ok, so I realize that it's so much easier to eat raw during the summer! DUH! Vegies and fruits come into season and are so tasty! Anyway, enough of that.

So, the other day, I got this bright idea to make Falafel - you know - those hummus balls that are either baked or fried. And while I love Falafel like that, I find that I always wind up in that "gaseous" state afterwards. Funny thing is, that when I soak my garbanazo, then eat them after they sprout, I don't wind up feeling like that.

So I made these falafel patties and some spicy guacamole. Can I just say FABULOUS! I was going to bring them to work, but "accidentally" forgot them at my friend's house... Hmmmm, maybe he liked them so much, he didn't remind me to take them when I was heading out the door? You be judge after trying them... WITH the guacamole...

FALAFEL - you will need a dehydrator

1 1/2 c. soaked AND sprouted garbanzo beans

1 c. soaked AND sprouted sunflower seeds

Parsley, Cilantro, Green Onions (I do these to taste, but usually use about a handful or 1/4-1/3 cup each)

1/3-1/2 cup lemon juice (depending on your taste)

1/8 c chopped ginger

Olive oil for moistening

Hot chili oil (optional - can be found in Asian market or the "Oriental Aisle" in most supermarkets)

Tahini or sesame oil - to taste

salt

cumin

BLEND all of this in a blender. I chopped up the beans and seeds in a food processor first, which made blending a little easier. The resulting blended mix should be fairly thick and hold together like a paste.

Spread into patties (about 1/4 to 1/2 thick) on dehydrator trays.

Dehydrate at 90 degrees for overnight or 8 hours, then turn over for another 4 hours.

Enjoy with your favorite salsa or some Guacamole!!

If you need to know how to sprout nuts/seeds, email me!

Healthy Carrot cake recipe (for my fellow RAW foodies)

Namaste Foodies!!

So, I'm not sure if that most of you know, but I got a new doc who is also a kinesiologist. He put me on this detox diet because I had a high level of heavy metals in my system. And then when I told him that I drank tap water, he was aghast! That's where most metals come from...and Brita filters DON'T filter metals.

At any rate, the initial week of this cleanse/detox was murderous. As a rule, I don't usually eat refined/processed carbs, and don't usually have an issue ignoring them. But the day I started this cleanse, BOY was I in Trouble! All I could think about was bread! I could not understand it.

But back to the carrot cake. So, after having stomach issues last Friday/Sat, I decided I was only eating raw for this coming week. As a result, I made a carrot cake. But not just any carrot cake, it's made from raw vegies, nuts and fruits (even the sauce!). I LOVE gourmet raw food!!

To Prep:

You WILL need a juicer, because you need to juice about 1 lb of carrots for the pulp and the juice. This will yield about 1 c of juice and 1 c of pulp.

I soaked about 20 jumbo dates in warm water for 2 hours in prep.

Soak cranberries or raisins (whichever you prefer)

Soak 1 1/2 cups raw walnuts or cashews

The crust:

Chop up about 1/2 of almonds in food processor

pit dates and chop up dates in food processor (they should be soft and plump after soaking)

knead dates and almonds together (it should be like a firm dough) and press into dish/cakepan or pie dish (like you would with pie crust).

The Cake:

These are your wet ingredients

1 cup of pitted dates (pre-soaked)

1/8 c of fresh ginger

1 c fresh coconut meat (from a REAL coconut)

BLEND these items in blender and add carrot juice slowly so that it doesn't get too runny or too dry. It should become a smooth paste.

These are your dry ingredients

Carrot pulp

3/8 c cranberries or raisins

1 c walnuts

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cardamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Toss these in a bowl, then add wet ingredients

Pat this into the dish with crust.

For orange sauce:

Juice 1 cup orange juice

1 Tblspn orange rind

1 Tblspn Lemon rind

1/2 cups of pre-soaked pitted dates

2 Tblspn lemon juice

2 Tblspn cashew or almond butter

BLEND in blender until smooth

For Cream sauce (I LOVE this sauce):

BLEND in blender- 1 1/2 cups pre-soaked walnuts or cashews with 1/2 c fresh squeezed orange juice and 2 Tblspns maple syrup. I also added alcohol free vanilla extract for taste

Please note: you MUST use only fresh ingredients. No substitutions with canned for "shortcuts" or the end result will be bitter and the cake and sauces will taste TERRIBLE.

Bon Appetite!

Visualization

In sports, we talk about VISUALIZATION all the time. In running, we visualize crossing the finish line. In our visual, we not only SEE ourselves in the process of crossing (arms raised, ear-to-ear grin), we also visualize how we FEEL when we cross.

Some of us also do this at different stages of a long distance race. We can visualize ourselves - how we look and feel, at mile 9 of a 1/2 marathon race or at mile 21 of a full marathon race.

In essence, what visualization allows us to do is PRACTICE and create an expectation of how we want to look and feel at different stages.

What if we apply this same principle to our eating habits and lifestyle? Can you visualize what you would do when you see a buttery croissant? Can you imagine how you would react when faced with the decision to choose pasta with alfredo sauce or a California salad with mixed fruit?

Visualizing yourself in these situations, may help you create the individual you want to become - when it comes to your diet.

Here's a recipe to satisfy after a long run...if you run...

Curry Squash Soup

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 1 medium kuri squash (3 lb.), seeded and quartered
• 1 large onion, peeled and quartered
• 2 cloves garlic, halved
• 2 Tbs. canola or olive oil, divided
• 1 large sweet potato, pricked with fork (1 lb.)
• 1 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
• 2 tsp. curry powder
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 Tbs. chopped chives, for garnish

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350˚F. In center of each squash quarter, set 1 onion quarter and 1 garlic half; drizzle with 1 tsp. oil, and season with salt and pepper. Wrap in foil, and place on baking sheet along with potato. Bake 1 hour, or until squash and potato are soft. Cool 20 minutes, or until easy to handle.
2. Heat remaining oil in large stockpot over medium heat. Coarsely chop onion quarters, and add to oil with garlic halves. Sauté 4 to 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Add ginger and curry, and cook 30 seconds, or until fragrant.
3. Scoop squash and sweet potato flesh into pot, cover with 6 cups water, and season with salt and pepper. Cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 30 minutes. Remove from heat, and purée squash mixture in blender or food processor until smooth. Stir in orange juice and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with pinch of chopped chives.

In the beginning...

...there was a chicken, and there was an egg...

Repeat after me....Chicken are friends, NOT FOOD!!

But seriously, about a week ago, after a run, a friend said to me that they were interested in learning about raw food, but they needed some help. Well, I'm here to HELP!!

I was recounting my change to raw to a friend of mine. I was telling him that I don't think I would have made a switch without my yoga guru, who, for 3 weeks, provided me with advice, recipes and, most importantly, a PLAN!

I'm not going to kid you, the transition is HARD work! It's hard because you are fighting yourself! It may be that you might need to come up with a mantra to tell yourself, whenever you are faced with the option of having a bagel versus a banana in the morning.

After reading several books on the topic of Standard American Diet, my mantra was "Processed Food is Poisoning my body". The idea of killing my body with what we have come to know as "food" pushed me over the threshold and helped me REDEFINE what I now know as FOOD. Some of you may know that my definition of JUNK food does not only encapsulate the fast food industry, but anything that comes in a box, a bag or from the center aisles in the supermarket.

One of my friend's mantra was "I gotta burn this bridge".  For example, when came to bagels, he would tell himself that that was a bridge that needed to be burned so that he could move forward and take care of himself and his health.

In both scenarios, the end result was that these sayings, or mantras, helped us make a CONSCIOUS decision to change what we have been doing on auto-pilot.

Does this make sense?

Let me make this clear:

I'm NOT advocating going cold turkey and turning raw in one day. This is a PROCESS. That's why my cleanses run for about 3 weeks. But the idea is, you know exactly where you're starting and you need to define where you want to be after a defined period of time.

Let me know what your plans are...here, or, via email. I welcome your thoughts.

I have some great recipes that might help get the ball rolling. These recipes are NOT all raw, but they are all VEGETARIAN. Email me if you want them.

Lots o' love...smile and grow healthy!