Simple, simple, simple!! This is a great snack.
dried dated
nuts(any kind you have) coarsely chopped
shredded coconut
seeds(pumpkin or sunflower or both)
-for 4 dates you will need about 1 tsp coconut, 1 tsp nuts, and 1 tsp seeds
-make a lengthwise slit in the dates and remove the pit
-place a little less then a tsp of mixture(coconut, nuts and seed) into the date
-close date around the filling and form into a log or a ball
This is not a complex recipe. In fact I use really whatever I have and I am in the mood for. If I have lots of seeds I my use only seeds and coconut. Maybe I do not feel like coconut- so I leave it out. I have put almond butter in the dates and rolled them in shredded coconut.
-This really is a reminder to be creative and do not forget about the simple recipes!!
Showing posts with label raw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raw. Show all posts
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
raw chocolate brownies
These are really great!! You can spread on a dish or a pyrex glass container or you can roll them into truffles.
1.5 cups raw walnuts
2/3 cup raw cocoa or unsweetened cocoa powder
12 dates soaked in warm water until soft
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp raw honey or more to taste
water if needed to thin batter a little
In a food processor, blend walnuts until very finely chopped. Add dates, vanilla, coconut, cocoa, and honey. Pulse until a fairly smooth mixture forms. If batter is too thick, then add water by the teaspoon until all is mixed well. Enjoy as truffles or as brownies.
-truffles: using a tsp., make balls and refrigerate to harden. You can roll in finely chopped nuts, coconut or cocoa. You also can eat as is!!!
-brownies: spread mixture on a parchment lined plate or pyrex container. Refrigerate until cold and hardened a bit. Remove the parchment paper and cut brownies into any shape you like.
1.5 cups raw walnuts
2/3 cup raw cocoa or unsweetened cocoa powder
12 dates soaked in warm water until soft
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp raw honey or more to taste
water if needed to thin batter a little
In a food processor, blend walnuts until very finely chopped. Add dates, vanilla, coconut, cocoa, and honey. Pulse until a fairly smooth mixture forms. If batter is too thick, then add water by the teaspoon until all is mixed well. Enjoy as truffles or as brownies.
-truffles: using a tsp., make balls and refrigerate to harden. You can roll in finely chopped nuts, coconut or cocoa. You also can eat as is!!!
-brownies: spread mixture on a parchment lined plate or pyrex container. Refrigerate until cold and hardened a bit. Remove the parchment paper and cut brownies into any shape you like.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
popsicles
I am sure by now you all now that I do not give my kids packaged foods. Maybe on occasion, I will give them a store bough coconut milk ice cream sweetened w/ agave syrup, but 99% of the time their treats come right from my kitchen made by mama!! I strive to give them and my husband and myself, as much raw food as possible. So treats are usually raw cookies, raw dairy smoothie, fruit, grain free baked goods(I use almond flour or coconut flour) and stevia or raw honey are the only sweeteners I use.
When the nice weather comes around, I start making popsicles. I found some molds that are BPA free(safer plastic) You can buy them on amazon.com. Tovolo popsicle molds.
You can put just about anything in them. My basic recipe goes like this:
-kefir or yogurt
-blueberries
fill mold 1/2 way w/ blueberries
add in yogurt or kefir
pop top on and freeze
You can do this w/ any type of fruit you like.
I also will blend up a smoothie and fill the molds w/ the mixture.
-raw cream
-raw egg yolk
-kefir, yogurt, or coconut milk
-fruit
-sometimes stevia
-vanilla extract
I always have this on hand during the nice weather months. When the neighborhood friends are getting the ice cream mans ice cream(if you can even call it that) my kids get their ice pops.
When the nice weather comes around, I start making popsicles. I found some molds that are BPA free(safer plastic) You can buy them on amazon.com. Tovolo popsicle molds.
You can put just about anything in them. My basic recipe goes like this:
-kefir or yogurt
-blueberries
fill mold 1/2 way w/ blueberries
add in yogurt or kefir
pop top on and freeze
You can do this w/ any type of fruit you like.
I also will blend up a smoothie and fill the molds w/ the mixture.
-raw cream
-raw egg yolk
-kefir, yogurt, or coconut milk
-fruit
-sometimes stevia
-vanilla extract
I always have this on hand during the nice weather months. When the neighborhood friends are getting the ice cream mans ice cream(if you can even call it that) my kids get their ice pops.
Friday, February 27, 2009
nutrition class: raw foods
Last night, I went to a nutrition class at my chiropractors office. I did learn a lot and I also felt so happy about how many things I do "right" w/ my kids. She was talking about getting the processed food out of the house and all the "nasties"(HFC, MSG, white food) Also how important raw veggies are(I agree and also will add that raw protein and raw fat is as important if not more important because it is more nutrient dense) and how they need to be a big part of our diet. You see, raw foods come w/ enzymes and other wonderful things that heat destroys. We are born w/ a limited supply of enzymes and the SAD(standard American Diet) includes mostly dead foods. We quickly use up our enzyme stores and then all sorts of digestive issues kick in. Every meal should include raw food or the whole meal should be raw. If you are eating a cooked meal, it is soooo important to eat or drink some sort of lacto-fermented food or drink w/ the meal. This helps to add in digestive enzymes, good bacteria, and good yeasts that are essential for digestion and overall health.
Some examples of raw lacto-fermented foods and drinks are:
*kombucha tea(homemade or store bought)my kids favorite!
*water kefir(I am brewing this for the first time right now--I will post about it)
*beet kvass
*dairy ferments(different types of yogurts, kefir, sour cream, buttermilk, cultured butter....)
*veggie ferment(cucumber pickles, sauerkraut, pickled carrots, pickled beets...)
Some examples of raw foods:
*raw red wine vinegar
*raw apple cider vinegar
*raw milk
*raw cream
*raw butter
*raw egg yolk
*raw seeds and nuts
*raw, fermented cod liver oil(as a supplement)
*raw extra virgin olive oil
*raw coconut oil
*raw cacao
*raw honey
*raw veggies and fruits especially tropical ones, they have the highest amount of enzymes
-avocados, kiwis, mangos, bananas, papayas....
Some examples of raw lacto-fermented foods and drinks are:
*kombucha tea(homemade or store bought)my kids favorite!
*water kefir(I am brewing this for the first time right now--I will post about it)
*beet kvass
*dairy ferments(different types of yogurts, kefir, sour cream, buttermilk, cultured butter....)
*veggie ferment(cucumber pickles, sauerkraut, pickled carrots, pickled beets...)
Some examples of raw foods:
*raw red wine vinegar
*raw apple cider vinegar
*raw milk
*raw cream
*raw butter
*raw egg yolk
*raw seeds and nuts
*raw, fermented cod liver oil(as a supplement)
*raw extra virgin olive oil
*raw coconut oil
*raw cacao
*raw honey
*raw veggies and fruits especially tropical ones, they have the highest amount of enzymes
-avocados, kiwis, mangos, bananas, papayas....
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ryans favorite breakfast
*****over easies w/ sprouted toast***** My oldest son has a huge appetite! He can easily have 4 soft boiled egg yolks and 1 egg white. If I make bacon or sausage too, he will eat 2 links or up to 4 pieces of bacon. His favorite breakfast(or lunch) is sprouted english muffin or sprouted toast w/ over easy eggs and a side of sausage or bacon.
I give my kids, my husband and myself raw egg yolks when I can(at least 1 raw a day). So an easy way to eat them raw is to separate the white from the yolk before cooking. In a small frying pan heat a couple of tsps of bacon fat or coconut oil and cook the white over medium low heat until cooked. While the white is cooking toast your bread. When toast is done, smother it w/ butter or coconut oil and carefully spread the raw egg yolk on the toast then place the cooked white on the toast. I use only 1/3 of the white because it contains a protein called avidin which binds to the biotin in the egg yolk and prevents absorption of this vitamin(vitamin H or B7). The egg yolk has an unbelievable amount of nutrition in it and its easily absorbed, especially raw.
I give my kids, my husband and myself raw egg yolks when I can(at least 1 raw a day). So an easy way to eat them raw is to separate the white from the yolk before cooking. In a small frying pan heat a couple of tsps of bacon fat or coconut oil and cook the white over medium low heat until cooked. While the white is cooking toast your bread. When toast is done, smother it w/ butter or coconut oil and carefully spread the raw egg yolk on the toast then place the cooked white on the toast. I use only 1/3 of the white because it contains a protein called avidin which binds to the biotin in the egg yolk and prevents absorption of this vitamin(vitamin H or B7). The egg yolk has an unbelievable amount of nutrition in it and its easily absorbed, especially raw.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
lunch and snacks for kids on the go
It can be so tempting to buy a slice of pizza when out and about or send kids to school w/ packaged foods. For the kids that go to school and have a hot lunch available, this too can be tempting for some. How easy to send kids to school w/ money and let them purchase lunch there? Well get ready for lots of ideas that will give kids nourishing foods to sustain energy and fats to keep their brains functioning properly.
*sandwich roll up-Use sprouted tortillas and fill w/ cheese,meats,nut butter and naturaljelly,cream cheese,hummus,roasted veggies w/ lots of mayo,egg salad ......ANYTHING your kids like. When the tortilla has your chosen filling, roll and cut into slices then wrap in parchment paper and pack in lunch bag.
*hard boiled eggs
*fruit salad or a piece of fruit.(avacados are great and LOADED w/ fat)
*veggie sticks w/ homemade sour cream dip(1 cup sour cream, 1/2 lemon squeezed, 1 tsp grated onion or onion powder,1 tsp salt, pepper, and a clove of crushed garlic)
*nitrate free and organic cold cuts, rolled.
*nuts
*soup(thermos)
*grass fed beef hot dogs(thermos w/ hot water)
*unflavored, cream on top yogurt,w/ maple syrup or honey, or w/ fresh fruit
*smoothie(kefir, yogurt, coconut milk, milk)put in a thermos
*cheese cubes
*raw nut cookies
*sprouted bagel w/ lots of coconut oil and butter
*homemade stew or chile(thermos)
*chopped veggie salad w/ lots of olive oil and lemon juice(cucumbers,tomato,red cabbage,radish, red peppers(these are a few examples- you can do whatever your child likes)
*bean salad
*homemade coconut muffins
*chicken salad
*nut bread(ground nuts, eggs and butter or coconut oil)w/raw honey and butter or coconut oil
*pate and veggie sticks or rice crackers
*any left over in a thermos
*kuku(Persian omelet)or frittata(Italian omelet) sent cold
Fats for kids,about 6 tbsp a day, are an essential part of their nutritional needs. Butter, saturated animal fat, coconut oil, ghee, EVOO, and cold pressed nut and seed oils(in small amounts) are all excellent for kids and adults. Please stay away from soybean oil, canola and other vegetable oils. Most require chemical extraction and deodorizing to mask the rancid oil.
Start your babies young, eating nutritious foods, so they do not become picky eaters and so they get a large variety of vitamins and minerals. Long term breastfeeding and whole food eating is the best gift that you can give to your children. They will be great eaters and healthy and you wont have to spend so much time undoing damage due to poor diet and formula feeding(raw milk or meat based formulas are the exception-tho NOTHING compares to breastmilk)
*sandwich roll up-Use sprouted tortillas and fill w/ cheese,meats,nut butter and naturaljelly,cream cheese,hummus,roasted veggies w/ lots of mayo,egg salad ......ANYTHING your kids like. When the tortilla has your chosen filling, roll and cut into slices then wrap in parchment paper and pack in lunch bag.
*hard boiled eggs
*fruit salad or a piece of fruit.(avacados are great and LOADED w/ fat)
*veggie sticks w/ homemade sour cream dip(1 cup sour cream, 1/2 lemon squeezed, 1 tsp grated onion or onion powder,1 tsp salt, pepper, and a clove of crushed garlic)
*nitrate free and organic cold cuts, rolled.
*nuts
*soup(thermos)
*grass fed beef hot dogs(thermos w/ hot water)
*unflavored, cream on top yogurt,w/ maple syrup or honey, or w/ fresh fruit
*smoothie(kefir, yogurt, coconut milk, milk)put in a thermos
*cheese cubes
*raw nut cookies
*sprouted bagel w/ lots of coconut oil and butter
*homemade stew or chile(thermos)
*chopped veggie salad w/ lots of olive oil and lemon juice(cucumbers,tomato,red cabbage,radish, red peppers(these are a few examples- you can do whatever your child likes)
*bean salad
*homemade coconut muffins
*chicken salad
*nut bread(ground nuts, eggs and butter or coconut oil)w/raw honey and butter or coconut oil
*pate and veggie sticks or rice crackers
*any left over in a thermos
*kuku(Persian omelet)or frittata(Italian omelet) sent cold
Fats for kids,about 6 tbsp a day, are an essential part of their nutritional needs. Butter, saturated animal fat, coconut oil, ghee, EVOO, and cold pressed nut and seed oils(in small amounts) are all excellent for kids and adults. Please stay away from soybean oil, canola and other vegetable oils. Most require chemical extraction and deodorizing to mask the rancid oil.
Start your babies young, eating nutritious foods, so they do not become picky eaters and so they get a large variety of vitamins and minerals. Long term breastfeeding and whole food eating is the best gift that you can give to your children. They will be great eaters and healthy and you wont have to spend so much time undoing damage due to poor diet and formula feeding(raw milk or meat based formulas are the exception-tho NOTHING compares to breastmilk)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
grain free "cereal"
This is a great "cereal" that I make and keep in my fridge for a quick breakfast or snack.
Its made w/ shredded, dried coconut, soaked and dehydrated nuts and seeds, dried fruits and cinnamon.
1/2 cup each: pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
1/2 cup each:macademia nuts,brazil nuts and almonds(you can use any combo of nuts that you like)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup dried fruit(I use prunes, apricots, figs and raisins)
1-2 tsp cinnamon
Either coarsely chop the nuts, seeds, and fruit w/ a knife or in batches, chop the seeds, then the nuts, then the fruit in the food processor. Use the pulse on the processor so you can control the size of the ingredients.
Put all the chopped ingredients into a glass storage container and mix in the cinnamon. Store in the frigde and serve w/ yogurt, kefir, milk or just eat it plain. You could add sweetener if you wanted, too.
Its made w/ shredded, dried coconut, soaked and dehydrated nuts and seeds, dried fruits and cinnamon.
1/2 cup each: pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
1/2 cup each:macademia nuts,brazil nuts and almonds(you can use any combo of nuts that you like)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup dried fruit(I use prunes, apricots, figs and raisins)
1-2 tsp cinnamon
Either coarsely chop the nuts, seeds, and fruit w/ a knife or in batches, chop the seeds, then the nuts, then the fruit in the food processor. Use the pulse on the processor so you can control the size of the ingredients.
Put all the chopped ingredients into a glass storage container and mix in the cinnamon. Store in the frigde and serve w/ yogurt, kefir, milk or just eat it plain. You could add sweetener if you wanted, too.
Friday, February 13, 2009
how to raise kids to LOVE food
*LOVE food yourself!!!! I mean REAL food, made at home w/ love.
*breastfeed for as long as possible!!
*make sure your house always smells like food. The smells from childhood stay w/ you forever.
*do not give grains until after 1 year(even longer is fine too) Babies can not digest grain until they have the enzymes to break them down. They do not develop these enzymes until after 1 year.
*DO NOT give any sweets(even natural)not even a taste until well over 1 year. They will know no different and they will enjoy foods in their natural form.
*do not serve babies bland food. Serve them food the way you season yours.
*revisit foods that baby refuses to eat. Sometimes they just arent in the mood for a particular food. Parents, I think, mistake "just not in the mood" for "I do not like that".
*start babies young w/ unsweetened lacto fermented foods(yogurt, kefir)between 6-8 months and cultured drinks(kombucha,water kefir) over 1year. These foods are chock full of nutrition, enzymes, bacteria and yeast which will keep babies healthy and their digestive tracts filled w/ "the good guys".
A healthy baby, child and grown up loves healthy food.
An unhealthy baby, child and grown up does not love healthy food.
*breastfeed for as long as possible!!
*make sure your house always smells like food. The smells from childhood stay w/ you forever.
*do not give grains until after 1 year(even longer is fine too) Babies can not digest grain until they have the enzymes to break them down. They do not develop these enzymes until after 1 year.
*DO NOT give any sweets(even natural)not even a taste until well over 1 year. They will know no different and they will enjoy foods in their natural form.
*do not serve babies bland food. Serve them food the way you season yours.
*revisit foods that baby refuses to eat. Sometimes they just arent in the mood for a particular food. Parents, I think, mistake "just not in the mood" for "I do not like that".
*start babies young w/ unsweetened lacto fermented foods(yogurt, kefir)between 6-8 months and cultured drinks(kombucha,water kefir) over 1year. These foods are chock full of nutrition, enzymes, bacteria and yeast which will keep babies healthy and their digestive tracts filled w/ "the good guys".
A healthy baby, child and grown up loves healthy food.
An unhealthy baby, child and grown up does not love healthy food.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
raw nut cookies
This is a FAVORITE in my house!
1.5 cups of raw, soaked and dehydrated nuts(I like a combo a macademia, brazil and cashews
1.5 cups of shredded coconut
1.5 cups of dried fruits(I like apricots and prunes--raisins are good too)
1 tsp of vanilla extract
a pinch of sea salt
Place nuts in food processor and chop until fine. Add the rest of the ingredients an process until a ball forms. Transfer mixture to a plate and start making balls. I use a measuring spoon so all the cookies are the same size. With your hand or the bottom of a glass, flatten cookies and dehydrate at 95 degrees for 8 hours.
* if you do not have a dehydrator just place cookies in fridge on a plate in a single layer and cover
leaving the cookies in the ball shape is great too. You can call them truffles!
A note about the kind of cook that I am: I have lots of recipe books and I look for recipes on the net but I do not think I ever followed a recipe exactly as is. I am an emotional cook and an artist at heart so things never are the same in my house. Any of my recipes can, for the most part, be translated into whatever works for you and yours!
1.5 cups of raw, soaked and dehydrated nuts(I like a combo a macademia, brazil and cashews
1.5 cups of shredded coconut
1.5 cups of dried fruits(I like apricots and prunes--raisins are good too)
1 tsp of vanilla extract
a pinch of sea salt
Place nuts in food processor and chop until fine. Add the rest of the ingredients an process until a ball forms. Transfer mixture to a plate and start making balls. I use a measuring spoon so all the cookies are the same size. With your hand or the bottom of a glass, flatten cookies and dehydrate at 95 degrees for 8 hours.
* if you do not have a dehydrator just place cookies in fridge on a plate in a single layer and cover
leaving the cookies in the ball shape is great too. You can call them truffles!
A note about the kind of cook that I am: I have lots of recipe books and I look for recipes on the net but I do not think I ever followed a recipe exactly as is. I am an emotional cook and an artist at heart so things never are the same in my house. Any of my recipes can, for the most part, be translated into whatever works for you and yours!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
the kids favorite smoothie
1 cup kefir
1 raw egg yolk
1/4 cup of raw cream(if I do not have any I use more kefir)
handful of frozen berries
1 tsp of powdered greens
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 drops of stevia or 1 tsp raw honey
Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth!!!
1 raw egg yolk
1/4 cup of raw cream(if I do not have any I use more kefir)
handful of frozen berries
1 tsp of powdered greens
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 drops of stevia or 1 tsp raw honey
Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth!!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
1-2-3 ice cream
This is when I want a quick creamy treat and when I want to get some more raw cream and egg yolks into the family!
1/2 cup raw cream(or pasteurized organic cream-never ultra pasteurized
2 raw egg yolks from pasture raised chickens(or organic free roaming eggs)
1/2-1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp or more raw honey, maple syrup, or if you like stevia
Whip the cream until almost stiff. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and sweetener and whip until smooth(about 1 minute) Put the ice cream in a shallow bowl and put in the freezer for about 1/2 hour. Now enjoy!!!
You could eat it w/out putting in the freezer. Its more like a custard this way and still very delish!!
This is 1 serving size. Just multiply for extra servings.
1/2 cup raw cream(or pasteurized organic cream-never ultra pasteurized
2 raw egg yolks from pasture raised chickens(or organic free roaming eggs)
1/2-1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp or more raw honey, maple syrup, or if you like stevia
Whip the cream until almost stiff. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and sweetener and whip until smooth(about 1 minute) Put the ice cream in a shallow bowl and put in the freezer for about 1/2 hour. Now enjoy!!!
You could eat it w/out putting in the freezer. Its more like a custard this way and still very delish!!
This is 1 serving size. Just multiply for extra servings.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Gourmet on a Budget
It is very expensive to feed a family of four big eaters nourishing foods. To keep costs down, I shop in a few different places, including some internet shopping. Our dairy and eggs come to us from our wonderful farmers in Pennsylvania. They make deliveries every Saturday. Some meats and poultry come from the farmer but mostly I buy from Whole Foods and a local chicken farm. I buy seafood in bulk from vitalchoice.com and some coconut products in bulk on line too. Produce comes from a few different stores. I buy nuts, seeds, frozen berries, fruit jams, rice, and a few other odds and ends at Trader Joes. And yes my kids come w/ me on my shopping journeys and they are involved in the whole process. This is our life of cooking real food from scratch w/ the highest quality ingredients and doing it lovingly and as inexpensively as possible.
These are some things I do to cut down on expenses.
-I buy whole chickens(this is the cheapest way to buy chicken) After I roast the chicken for 1 meal, I immediately cover the bones w/ water and start a stock for another few meals. Any leftover chicken might be turned into chicken salad for the next days lunch or added to quesadillas.
-I use a lot of ground meat.
-I bulk up a meal w/ lots of veggies when I use an expensive cut of beef.
-I cook in bulk and I menu plan. This helps me when I just don't feel like cooking. It saves money on buying garbage food(anything bought outside of my house!!!)
-I make sure every meal has lots of good fat(especially for the kids) It keeps them fuller longer.
-Prepping produce when I bring it home from the store helps having things ready when I need them. This cuts down on waste and also saves me time.(I never buy bagged lettuce or already cut veggies)
-I NEVER buy dry cereals. Not only are they totally unhealthy but they are a waste of money.
-My kids never drink bottled juice. Its nothing but SUGAR, it is a health robber, and a HUGE waste of money. For a treat I will make fresh pressed juice(cut w/ water) Even though it is fresh and has some enzymes that bottle juices are missing, it is still SUGAR and not a health building or supporting product!!!!
These are some things I do to cut down on expenses.
-I buy whole chickens(this is the cheapest way to buy chicken) After I roast the chicken for 1 meal, I immediately cover the bones w/ water and start a stock for another few meals. Any leftover chicken might be turned into chicken salad for the next days lunch or added to quesadillas.
-I use a lot of ground meat.
-I bulk up a meal w/ lots of veggies when I use an expensive cut of beef.
-I cook in bulk and I menu plan. This helps me when I just don't feel like cooking. It saves money on buying garbage food(anything bought outside of my house!!!)
-I make sure every meal has lots of good fat(especially for the kids) It keeps them fuller longer.
-Prepping produce when I bring it home from the store helps having things ready when I need them. This cuts down on waste and also saves me time.(I never buy bagged lettuce or already cut veggies)
-I NEVER buy dry cereals. Not only are they totally unhealthy but they are a waste of money.
-My kids never drink bottled juice. Its nothing but SUGAR, it is a health robber, and a HUGE waste of money. For a treat I will make fresh pressed juice(cut w/ water) Even though it is fresh and has some enzymes that bottle juices are missing, it is still SUGAR and not a health building or supporting product!!!!
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