Raw Therapy

Vegan Burgers - Yummy!

2012-02-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know they are not raw, but they are meatless and they were amazing. I found the recipe in the January/February issue of "Clean Eating." I am slowly working my family into a vegetarian lifestyle and they are doing well.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Dried Green Lentils

6 Cloves Garlic, Minced

3/4 Cup Yellow Onion, Diced

2 Stalks of Celery, Minced

1/4 Cup Leeks, Finely Diced

2 Tbsp Flaxseed, Ground

5 Tsp Dijon Mustard

3 Tbsp Unsalted Tomato Paste

1 Tsp Chile Powder

1 Tsp Turmeric

2 Tsp Cumin

1 Cup Cooked Long-Grain Brown Rice

2 Tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

Cook lentils accordingly. in a large bowl mix garlic, onion, celery, leeks, flaxseed, Dijon, tomato paste and spices. When lentils are done, mash them with the back of a fork, leaving some whole. Add mashed lentils and rice to bowl and mix all ingredients together.

Make into patties. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side in a pan.

Serve with a side salad and topped with diced tomatoes and avocado if desired.

Enjoy!

Simple Broccoli Salad & Raw Nut Cheese

2012-02-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

This is a really easy dish with 4 raw ingredients:

4 Heads of Broccoli

1 Purple Onion

5-6 Baby Mandarin Oranges

Organic White Button Mushrooms (optional)

Raw Dressing - Recipe from Nouveau Raw

You can buy broccoli heads, or heads with stems. I prefer heads with stems as I juice the stems.

Clean and cut into small florets place in bowl. Cut onion in rings, peel and strinkle oranges on salad. I usually put in organic white button mushrooms as well. I was serving guests this weekend and they are not fond of mushrooms. Make dressing or buy a raw dressing of your choice and toss. I find the longer it marinades the softer the broccoli becomes.

I made a variation of a raw cheese from the "I am Grateful " recipe book from Gratitude Cafe.

1 1/2 Cups Soaked Raw Peanuts

1 Tbsp Miso

1 Pinch Sea Salt

1 Tsp Raw Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup Fresh Water

Place raw nuts in food processor with miso, salt, oil and half water. I also added chives. Blend slowly and add water as needed. When a smooth consistency has been achieved, taste. Had in cheese cloth until firm.

You can change the flavour by adding one or more of the following:

Turmeric, cumin, cilantro, parsley, bell or black pepper.

I made a great vegan dish that I will post tomorrow. Meatless Burgers - They were really yummy!

Nutty for You!

2012-02-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

I feel like I have not posted in a while, it has been a busy time! But here I am!

Over the last couple of days we have made Kale Chips - Yes, again. We also made a wonderful Valentines treat and many colourful salads.
Nutty for You!

In a previous post, if you search you will find my recipe for Raw Energy Squares. I used the same recipe, only we shaped them as hearts and topped them with icing.

Icing

4 Big Tsp's of Raw Coconut Oil
6 Tsp's of Coconut Flakes
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Raw Honey

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and spread heart energy nut bar.

Kale Chips
1 Bunch Kale
Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Living Intentions Salad Booster

Remove stems, wash, break into small pieces, toss with olive oil and sea salt. Spread on dehydrator sheet, sprinkle with salad booster. 115 - 12-15 hours.

Salad

Mixed Greens
Cherry Tomatoes
Green Pepper
Kale Chips
Grated Carrot

I like to sprinkle kale chips on my salad. It gives it a bit of crunch.

Raw Wrap & Kale Chips

2012-01-31T12:30:00.000-08:00

So after church on Sunday I stopped as I usually do at Ambrosia! I came across a new item they are carrying by Live Food Bar. Raw Wraps, it is great to make your own, but when time does not permit, these ones are really tasty. The one is the photo below is Sundried Tomato Wrap and it has the following ingredients:

Wrap Ingredients:

Carrots

Flax seed

Sundried Tomatos

Onion

Garlic

Lemon juice

Parsley

Oregano

Sea salt

The contents of my wrap included:

Carrot (cut in small slices lengthwise)

Avocado

Orange Pepper

Cucumber

Cut up ingredients, place in wrap, roll and enjoy. I am in the process of making nut cheese, so I will do another wrap post this week.

What do you like in your Raw Wrap? What is your Favourite kind of Raw Wrap?

As I said I enjoyed it with my favourite Kombucha, which is by Tonica. The Vibrant Berry flavour is my favourite.

Also made some yummy kale chips!! Love, love, love!

My husband is on week 2 of going vegetarian. This is the first step in his journey. He may try to go raw at some point. He is doing very well.

Raw Pizza and Kale Salad

2012-01-28T17:13:00.001-08:00

Love Raw Pizza!

Flax and Almond/Cashew Meal Wrap

1 Cup of Flax Seed (Ground)

1 Tsp Raw Coconut Oil

2 Tsp Raw Apple Sauce

1/2 Cup Almond/Cashew Meal (Ground Nuts)

After you have ground up the Flax Seed and the made the Cashew/Almond meal mix the two together in a bowl. Add the other ingredients until you have a dough like consistency.

Using a rolling pin, roll out into a a flax wrap like circle. Dehydrate for 12 hours, give or take until you have a firm base for your pizza.

Nut Cheese

1 Cup of your favourite nuts

Pinch Sea Salt/Pepper

1 Tsp Lemon Juice

At the last minute I put 1/2 an avocado in. I made enough for this one pizza only.

Pizza Toppings

Cherry Tomatoes

Button Mushrooms(Sliced)

Avocado

Yellow Pepper (Sliced in strips)

Kale Salad

Kale

Red Pepper

Green Onion

Dressing:

2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 Cup Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Pinch of Salt

What do you like on your raw pizza?

Raw & Vegetarian Sushi

2012-01-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

We love Sushi at our house! Raw or Vegetarian, it is always a hit! I really enjoy making it though. Such variety in things that you can add!

This time we made two different versions, raw and vegetarian. The raw version uses all raw ingredients, including raw nori paper, raw rice (made from cashews) and raw contents. The Vegetarian version uses sticky rice, raw nori paper and a combination of raw and vegetarian contents. ie. Sweet potato as a vegetarian cooked item.

Here is the raw nori paper that I use. I find it has a strong taste, but I am getting used to it.

Raw Contents:

Papaya

Avocado

Carrot

Red Pepper

Cucumber

Pea Shoots

Vegetarian

Sweet Potato

Raw Cashew Rice

1 Cup of soaked Cashews ( over night)

3 Cloves of Garlic

3/4 Green Pepper

Pinch Sea Salt

Blend out the cashews in the food processor along with the garlic and a green pepper and a pinch of salt. I really enjoy the raw version.

I decided to try to make on for the children that did not have the raw nori paper and it was a little challenging, but it did turn out. It is a lot more difficult than it looks.

I also made them a version with the raw nori paper.

What is your favourite type of Sushi?

Raw Therapy is Officially 1 Year Old

2012-01-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Raw Therapy!

Photograph Courtesy of: Cupcake Project

Check them out at: www.cupcakeproject.com

I can not believe it has been one year already! Officially one year ago last night, I wrote my first blog post about embarking on a Journey to Regain Optimum Health! I was tired of years of battling IBS and I was about to do something about it. One year ago today, I made my first raw meal!

What a year it has been! And cheers to many more years of Raw Food and Good Health!

For the most part it has been amazing journey. I can honestly say this is a change the you will not regret and a change that you can feel. The first two weeks was the hardest as my body was detoxing, but after the two week hump I was flying high! A natural high. Food has never tasted so good, and my energy levels soared through the roof! Once you try raw and feel the difference when you try to go back to your old ways of eating, you will immediately feel the difference!

This year is going to be an exciting year! My husband has decided to go vegetarian and we have made the decision for our 3 children to go this way as well! They were not big meat eaters anyway so it should not be that hard. Although they are no prepared to go totally raw, I do think it is an amazing step in the right direction. Whole Foods, plant based lifestyle!

What I found has been useful for me is keeping a "Food Journal." Having an extremely sensitive stomach, there are many raw and non-raw items that bother my stomach as well. It has been important for me to journal the foods I eat and any reactions I encounter.

I want to thank everyone who follows my blog, friends and family for all the support. My husband and my children for cheering me on! Keep following! This will be another great year of giveaways, great recipes, guest posts, reviews and much more!

Raw Food Rocks!!!

Raw Muffins!

2012-01-25T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have often heard and seen recipes of raw muffins, but have never ventured there! I decided to try a recipe and I loved it. My daughter loves them. They were very simple to make - the hardest past was having to wait for them to be done.

I found a great recipe on the following blog: http://rawmomhotdogkids.blogspot.com

I made a few small changes to the recipe as I find a large quantity of almonds do not sit well with me, so instead of almond meal, I did a combination almond and cashew meal. I also choose to sweeten with raw honey rather than agave nectar. What a great recipe - Thank you so much RawMomHotDogKids!!

Raw Fruit Muffins

1 Cup Almond Meal

1 Cup Cashew Meal

1 Cup Carrot Pulp

1 Avocado

1 Cup Ground Flax Seeds

1/2 Cup Almond Milk

1/4 Cup Raw Honey

1 Tbsp Raw Coconut Oil

1 Cup Blueberries

Combine all ingredients and scoop into muffin tin and dehydrate for 14-20 hours.

Here are all the ingredients:

Mix it all together!

Place a big scoop in your muffin tins and dehydrate for 14-20 hours!

Yummy! Top with blended fruit!

What is your favourite type of raw muffin?

Simple Salad - Pear, Spinach, Cranberries and Nuts!

2012-01-24T10:02:00.000-08:00

Being a busy, working mom of three, simple is my motto! Jazz up your salad in minutes with nuts, dried fruit and fresh fruit.

Simple dressings can be made in minutes as well. Extra Virgin olive oil, sea salt, raw apple cider vinegar and fresh lemon juice!

What's your simple, signature salad?

Raw Energy Squares

2012-01-21T04:17:00.000-08:00

I have not made any raw energy bars or squares in a while and I was cleaning out my pantry and found a little bit of this and a little bit of that, so I decided to put it all together and make a super yummy raw bar!

Raw Energy Squares

1/4 Cup Natural Walnuts

1/2 Cup Goji Berries

1 Cup Raw Seeds and Sprouts Mixture

1 Cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 Cup Pine Nuts

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds

1 1/2 Cup of Medjool Dates (soaked)

1 Tbsp Raw Coconut Oil

2 Tbsp Raw Honey

1 Cup Raw Shredded Coconut

Here is a series of photo's showing the process:

Here is a bowl with some of the dry ingredients (goji berries and seeds/sprouts mixture) and a bowl of soaking dates. I soaked my dates for a couple hours just to often them up a bit more.

Here is a bowl with the rest of the dry ingredients...All the rest of the nuts, cranberries, coconut etc. Next to it is the blender with the dates, raw coconut oil and honey.

Next you add all the wet ingredients to the dry and mix up the mixture until it is a sticky consistency.

Then press into glass or ceramic baking dish and place in the fridge.

You can cut them into bars or squares. I prefer bars because of the large volume of nuts. I have a hard time breaking down a large amount of nuts at a time. I have also sprinkled this on salads, eaten it with fruit as a snack and you could even mold it into a ball and eat it on raw crackers.

It is super yummy and keeps well.

Green Smoothies - I love Green Smoothies

2012-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

We made a mighty green smoothie this morning! We took a few photo's of the process and I must say, it was so delicious, even the children enjoyed it! Sadly I have misplaced the rubber ring from my good blender, so it is a bit more of a process with this smaller model.

Mighty Green Smoothie

3 Cups of Organic Mixed Greens - Red & Green Swiss Chard, Tat Soi, Arugula & Spinach

2 Cups of Mixed Fruit - Mango, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, Pineapple, Sweet Dark Cherries, Strawberries.

1 1/2 bananas

2 Cups Almond Milk

1 Cup of Spring Water

Place all ingredients in blender and liquify!

My daughter was not entirely fond 0f the smoothie, but my friend Christina and her daughter Katia loved it. Katia was not all that willing to share with her mom!

The Mighty Mushroom & Curry Cashew Spread

2012-01-04T03:30:00.000-08:00

I have always been a fan of mushrooms. My husband will eat them, if I prepare them, but they are not his favourite and if I do not offer him any, he is really NOT upset in anyway! He says, "they are fungus." I love this fungus!

Did you know that mushrooms contain more protein than most other vegetables?

They are also a good source of phosphorus and potassium. "3 button mushrooms will give you enough B12 for the day, which is vital for vegetarians and even more so for vegans, since other plant sources of B12 are limited." - Superfoods, by Michael van Straten & Barbara Driggs.

I made a yummy simple dish last night.

Mushroom & Curry Cashew Spread topped with Green Onion

15 White Organic Button Mushrooms

1 Cup Raw Cashews

10-15 shakes of Curry Powder

Dash of Nutmeg

Dash of Salt

Dash of Black Pepper

1/4 Cup Almond Milk

First I washed my organic white button mushrooms and sliced them as shown. Next is to make the topping, Curry Cashew Spread.

Pulse out Cashews until a Powder. Then add spices and milk and blend in food processor until it is a butter consistency. Drop a small spoon full on the mushrooms which you have arranged on a plate. Top with chopped green onions. Easy, Easy!

Then enjoy!

A New Year, Congratulations You Made It & Back to the Basics

2012-01-03T03:16:00.001-08:00

2011 was a wonderful year of raw! I aim to feel even better this year.

This year, I am going back to the basics. Introducing one food at a time, to really see what bothers me and why. I did not entirely get rid of my stomach problems. Even in the raw world I found many things that I can not successfully eat.

Strawberries

I love strawberries. They are beautiful in colour, taste and texture and can be used for a variety of dishes, from desserts, to salads, smoothies and much more. They are very good for you, working as cleaners and purifiers of the whole system.

They have been known to assist in combating high blood pressure and have been recommended in European Traditional Medicine to assist in the elimination of kidney stones. They are high in iron which is amazing for people who suffer from fatigue or anemia. They are wonderful for the skin, and they help to cleanse and rejuvenate the intestinal flora.

I try to incorporate one cup a day in a smoothy. My children love strawberries! What a wonderful snack. What is your favourite dish with strawberries?

Congratulations to our winner Lola, who will enjoying a free meal at Rawlicious in the GTA.

Free $25.00 Rawlicious Gift Certificate - Giveaway!

2011-12-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

I would have to say one of my favourite raw food restaurants is "Rawlicious," in Yorkville and I am so excited that a new location will be opening in Markham, Ontario in the new year!

If you have never been, please do yourself a favour and check it out.

I am looking forward to doing a review once they open and hosting some great raw food get togethers at the new location. I am so excited that I have decided to giveaway a free $25.00 gift certificate to eat at Rawlicious - redeemable at any location.

I have been so busy preparing for the holidays and I can not believe how time is flying by so fast. Honestly where has the year gone. Another year has come and gone before my eyes. Well this giveaway is a local giveaway, I will be having another one in the new year, so hold on all my out-of-towners, I will be doing something for you as well!

Very simple, in order to be eligible to win:

1) You must follow my blog

2) Tell me have you ever eaten at one of the Rawlicious locations

3) Tell me what you will do with your gift certificate

Giveaway winner will be announced January 1st, 2012.

Raw Food Rawks! Try it, I guarantee you will not be disappointed. It is a change you will feel!

Fruit - What a Yummy Snack

2011-12-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

I love fruit salad. Fast, simple, satisfying! My children love to snack on fruit and so do I. When we go shopping we usually end up buying double of everything or more. 3 bundles of organic bananas, 2 bags of organic apples, big bag of pears, strawberries, blueberries- which do not even last a day, grapes, tangerines, kiwi's! Mangoes when they are on sale we stock up! Naturally sweet and so good for you! Any leftovers from fruit salad can be thrown in a smoothie.

How do you ensure you get your daily recommended amount of fruit?

Stay tuned for our Christmas giveaway!

Tonica and Mushroom Sea/ Veg Pasta with Raw Nacho

2011-12-05T03:52:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy eating the Sea & Veg. noodles from "Make it Raw." I usually end up leaving some for the next day and adding one of my favourite additions to pasta which is organic button mushrooms. I always marinade them for 4 or 5 hours with tamari and a little apple cider vinegar. It gives them a little kick.

Add a little sea salt and then time to toss them in with the Sea & Veg. noodles which also has some shavings of carrot, cabbage, tomato and a few other things. It is really yummy. I love to pair it with the Nacho's from Live Food Bar. Rawmazing! These I could eat with just about anything. I even snack on them alone. So good.

One of my favorite things to drink is "Tonica Kombucha." I have two flavours of preference which is Mango Passion and Vibrant Berry.

For a full list of the Health Benefits of Kombucha, click here.

As we approach the Christmas Season, stay tuned for great free giveaways. Make sure to follow our blog in order to be eligible to be entered!

Blessings!

Raw Lasagna, Sea & Veg Noodles & Kale Chips

2011-11-27T18:01:00.000-08:00

I had a yummy late lunch today. Lasagna Raw-Taliano & Sea & Veg Noodles To Go - "Make it Raw," and I can not forget the kale chips. We made a quick stop at Ambrosia after Church and as always it was so worth it.

The kale chips were by "Live - Organic Food Bar." My favorite flavor is Sour Cream & Hemp. These are honestly the best kale chips ever. I absolutely love them. They actually taste like real sour cream, but they are raw and no dairy. Highly recommend.

Lasagna Raw-Taliano

Zucchini, Sundried Tomato, Basil, Garlic, Onions, Olive Oil, Sea Salt and Cashew. This is really amazing. All the "Make it Raw," products I have tried are fantastic.

Sea & Veg-Noodle to Go

Kelp Noodles, Zucchini, Carrots, Cabbage, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Tomato.

Dressing: Almond Butter, Lemon Juice, Agave, Nama Shoyu, Sea Salt. Again, a great dish. My only wish is that there was a bit more dressing with the Sea & Veg noodles as, I do like my sauce.

I also started my day off with a great smoothie. Almond Milk, Frozen banana, and assorted berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blue berries and black berries. I love the thickness the frozen banana gives a smoothie. Have you tried any of the "Make it Raw, " products? Do you have a favorite raw lasagna recipe or noodle dish?

A great raw day!

Kale, Kale, Kale Salad

2011-11-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

I love Kale and it is so good for you. The next time you go to make a salad, skip the lettuce and try kale. I find it so much more filling and it stays with you longer. I love to pair it with mushrooms and red peppers along with my favourite raw greek dressing.

What difference have you experienced since going raw?

For me, energy would probably be first on my list. Honestly, it is a high. Unexplainable, burst of energy that stays with you. Secondly my skin, glowing. Thirdly food consumption, being fulfilled faster and for longer periods. It has been an amazing journey so far. I would like to kick it into high gear now that winter is here and I would like to be as healthy as I can to fight off the seasonal colds that are lurking around every corner.

All raw = great, high raw = great, 2 out of 3 meals a day raw = great. Increasing your daily intake of raw fruits and vegetables, fresh juices and leafy greens it always great. Do what you can. Some people start slowly, some people full force, cold turkey. Listen to your body and stick with it. I found it hard for the first couple weeks while detoxing, but stick with it, I guarantee you will not be sorry!

Pear, Pepper and Onion Salad

2011-11-10T16:20:00.000-08:00

Simple and satisfying. I really enjoy scallions and green onions with pear. It tastes so good. It gives it some bite. This is a simple salad I had this afternoon. Mixed greens (spinach, swiss chard...etc.) A red pepper and some greens onions, topped off with raw greek dressing and we must not forget the pear!

Slice the pepper and pear in strips and dice the onion. Toss with greens and ready to go.

Pasta, Pasta, Pasta & Pie!

2011-11-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

I feel like I have not posted in forever. It has been 2 weeks, I am going through withdrawal. Work has been so busy and we are also doing the floors at home, so time really has not permitted for much blogging. The children have also been sick, so you do what you can.

I mentioned before I love pasta and I have been making it frequently. My two favorites are sweet potato pasta and zucchini pasta and my favorite sauce these days in a Kale and Oregano pesto. I have blogged on that many times. I have a spiralizer, which I might add is extremely worth investing in. Here are some of my latest creations.

Sweet Potato Pasta with Red Pepper and Organic Button Mushrooms

1 Large Sweet Potato

5 Organic White Button Mushrooms

1/2 Red Pepper

Kale & Oregano Pesto (on an earlier post)

Sea Salt

Peel sweet potato. Using your spiralizer make into noodles. Cut up white button mushrooms and marinade overnight. Directions below. Slice Red Pepper into strips and marinade with mushrooms overnight. Toss with pesto and serve.

I love organic white button mushrooms, I actually really enjoy them marinaded. I usually wash them well, cut them up into slices and marinade them with the sauce (Kale & Oregano Pesto) with a little apple cider vinegar and a little sea salt. I tend to marinade it over night. You can also do with with peppers.

I have also done the same recipe with Zucchini. So all of the directions are the same, except you would substitute the sweet potato for Zucchini.

I love pie and any kind of raw dessert for that matter. I made this for Thanksgiving and tend to make it a lot. It is very simple. It is not overly sweet, but yummy.

Coconut Cream Pie

Pie Base

2 Cups Raw Cashews

2 Tbsp Raw Coconut Oil

1 Cup Soaked Dates

Pulse out raw cashews in the food processor. Soak dates in water until soft. All all ingredients and blend out until a dough like consistency. I always rub raw coconut oil on my pan so it does not stick when I put it in the fridge to set. Press into pie shell.

Inner Pie

3 Cups Raw shredded Coconut - (Upayanaturals.com)

4 Tbsp Raw Coconut Oil

1/4 Cup Almond Milk

1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1 tbsp Raw Honey

Blend all ingredients out in food processor. You may need to add more coconut or milk depending on the consistency after blending.

After you press base into pie shell. Spread in inner pie. Sprinkle with shredded coconut and garnish with fresh fruit. Anything, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries! Please in refrigerator to set.

I would love to hear about what you have been making lately and how you deal with balancing a hectic lifestyle.

I am a full-time working mom with three small children and not enough hours in the day! Life can get pretty hectic sometimes.

Mango, Red Pepper & Cucumber Salad

2011-10-21T03:11:00.000-07:00

I love these simple salads! This is one of the salads that I make on the regular that is very simple - three ingredients and a dressing and I tend to have it, if my stomach is not feeling great or if I do not feel like making a big meal.

1 Mango Sliced

1/2 Cucumber Sliced

1 Red Pepper Sliced

Dressing - Raw Greek

Slice all items and toss with dressing. If you have 5 minutes, you can have this salad.

Do you have a simple signature salad?

100% Raw Thanksgiving - Loved It!

2011-10-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting to post about my amazing raw thanksgiving. It started with more of the idea, could it be done? Sure it could be, but I wanted specifically to have all the "traditional delights," of Thanksgiving.

After a couple days of recipe research and planning, I found that indeed it can be done. I am so happy that I choose this route for the first year ever, as I have been eating raw since January of this year!

I also had the experience of sharing my raw Thanksgiving with my sister-in-law Sasha Campbell from Blyssful Health! Here is what she had to say:
"I can just say that it was amazing. I know because I was able to eat it! My first full raw Thanksgiving meal. Thanks Erin for making it!"

Raw Thanksgiving Menu:

Mashed Potatoes

Raw Marinaded Vegetables

Sweet Potato Casserole

Raw Gravy

Raw Cranberries

Mock Turkey Loaf

Coconut Cream Pie

Snakaroons

Raw Mashed Potatoes
3 Cups cauliflower
1/2 Pine nuts

1/2 Cup fresh thyme

1/4 Cup fresh lemon juice

2 Cloves garlic

Olive oil and sea salt to taste.

Place all ingredients in food processor and blend out until fluffy.

***I got this recipe off Eat Raw Vegan. It was adapted from Raw Food Formula for Health by Paul Nison.

Raw Marinaded Vegetables

1 Cup Organic White Button Mushrooms

1 Cut Organic Red Bell Peppers

1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/2 Cup Kale and Oregano Pesto (On an Earlier Post)

Slice Mushrooms, cut pepper into long strands, mix pesto and vinegar together and pour over vegetables. Let marinade over night.

Sweet Potato Casserole

4 Cups of Sweet Potato (Peeled & Cubed) I actually used the spiralizer and made them noodles.

2 Organic Apples

1 Cup Cashews (Ground)

2 Oranges, juiced

1/2 Cup Dates

1/2 Tsp Cinnamon

1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1/2 Tsp Celtic Sea Salt

1/4 C Raw Honey

This recipe is from In the Raw.

I did substitute cashews for the walnuts they called for, as well I spiralized my sweet potato into noodles before I pureed.

Place 1/2 of the cashews and all of the sweet potato, apples, orange juice, dates, cinnamon, nutmeg in the food processor and blend until puree. In a separate bowl toss the rest of the cashews, salt and honey together. Place puree contents in a shallow dish, sprinkle the cashew honey mixture over the top, like a crumble. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Raw Gravy & Raw Cranberries

Raw Gravy

1/3 Cup Coconut Water

1/3 Cup Water

1 1/2 Cups Chopped Mushrooms

1/4 Cup Tahini

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

2 Tbsp Tamari

1/2 Stalk of Celery

1/4 Carrot

1/4 Onion

1/4 Cup Red Pepper

1/2 Tsp Sea Salt

Put all ingredients in food processor and blend out. I got this recipe from The Sunny Raw Kitchen.

Raw Cranberries

1 cup Cranberries

6 Dates

2 Tbsp Raw Honey

1 Tbsp Raw Coconut Oil

Place all ingredients in the food processor and blend until the desired consistency.

Mock Turkey Loaf

1 Cup Raw Cashews

1 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Cup Brazil Nuts

5 Stalks of Celery

1 Scallion

1 Tsp Sage

1 Cup Cranberries

Honey

In food processor grind cashews, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts until fine. Add celery, scallion and sage. Blend until smooth and form into a loaf. Blend cranberries and honey and spread on loaf.

I used the above Raw Cranberries recipe.

This recipe is from Raw Food Home Recipes, which is adapted from the New Raw Energy by Leslie Kenton.

Coconut Cream Pie

Pie Crust

Cashews

Dates

Raw Coconut Oil

I am bad for measuring. I add and work accordingly until I have a dough like consistency that I can press into a crust.

Pie Filling

2 Cups Certified Organic Shredded Coconut

Upayanaturals has a great one.
1/4 Cup Almond Milk

2 Tbsp Raw Coconut Oil

6 Dates
1-2 Tbsp Raw Honey

Blend all ingredients together, give or take to make a fluffy filling. If you need more Coconut add as needed to desired thickness. Store in the refrigerator. Sprinkle more coconut and cinnamon on top when finished.

Skankaoons

I bought these. They are raw and organic and yummy. They are made by a company called Laughing Giraffe Organics. They come in a few different flavors. I really enjoyed them.

I would love to hear what exciting things you ate for Thanksgiving?
Even if you did not eat 100% raw, what raw delights did you eat?

Start Your Morning off Right - Fresh Juice

2011-10-08T06:18:00.001-07:00

Why not start your morning off right! Upon rising from bed, I do some stretches to wake up...down stairs we go. Water, water, water. I try to drink around a litre before anything else. I love fresh juice. This morning I made one of my favourite juices -BCCA Juice!

Beet, Celery, Carrot and Apple. I skin my apples and core them, and I cut off the beet top and bottom, so that I can use all the pulp to make a yummy salad. Little to no waste - simple and that is my motto. Yummy!

How do you like to start your morning?

BCCA Juice

2 Beets

4 Stalks of Celery

2 Carrots

2 Organic Apples

I am so excited for today. I have prepared a "Raw Thanksgiving." Stay tuned for photo's and recipes. I did some research and found some great 100% raw recipes. Mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, mock turkey Loaf, cranberries, salad, coconut cream pie! I may even make an apple pie!

Raw Pizza and Our Dessert Book Winner!

2011-10-05T03:21:00.000-07:00

Greetings Fellow Raw Food Lovers! Raw Food Rocks - Eat it and Feel the Difference!

Wow, I took a break from the computer for a couple days. Well needed, between work, blogging and other personal interests it can sometimes be all consuming! I had some extra help on Monday my day off, from my fantastic Mom, getting some cleaning done! She is a trooper!

So the winner of Raw Therapy's latest giveaway is......

Grace - from "Grace Under Pressure!" Let me know your mailing address Grace and I will get it out in the mail!

Yesterday I had a great day full of energy. I usually start my morning with a smoothie, frozen banana's and almond milk(chia seeds, hemp Seeds...) I snacked on a lot of fruit yesterday, pineapple, apple, peaches, more banana...I had some marinaded mushrooms and red pepper (marinaded in a variation of Kale and Oregano Raw Pesto) and for supper I had "Raw Pizza."

Raw Pizza Base

Sundried Tomato and Chia Seed Cracker from Live Food Bar

Cashew Cheese

Farmer-Style Cheese from recipe book - I am Grateful

1 1/2 Cups Soaked Cashews

1 Tbsp Miso

1 Pinch Salt

1 Tsp Raw Coconut Oil

1/2 Cup Fresh Water

Place all items in the food processor with half the water, blend slowly. Add more water if necessary. Wrap in cheese cloth to drain and to ripen.

Kale and Oregano Pesto

2 Cups of Kale

1 Cup Oregano Leaves

1/4 cup of Cold Pressed Olive

*If need more or less oil, use accordingly

2 Cloves Garlic

Pinch of Sea Salt

Dash of Lemon

Pizza Toppings

Organic Red Pepper

Organic White Button Mushrooms

I tend to plan all my weeks meals around what I have made on the weekend, just so I do not waste anything. I have been using a lot of kale and oregano pesto as I made a bunch on the weekend. Stay tuned I also made some yummy desserts, and a few different types of Pasta.

What have you been up too? Have you been cleaning, cutting yourself off from the computer?Does the cleaning ever end? What plans do you have for the the fall, or for Thanksgiving Weekend?

Raw for Dessert! Win a Free Raw Dessert Book!

2011-09-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things for me going raw, has been dessert. Not that I am big on desserts anyway, but I do like to have the choice of having something yummy. I have always been restricted on what I can eat for many years, as I can not eat anything with dairy or soy. Eggs tend to bother my stomach as well as wheat among other things, the list goes on and on.

I have come across so many amazing raw desserts. There are many fantastic sites out there and many of my fellow bloggers have made some amazing raw creations.

This weeks blog is all about raw dessert! I want everyone to have the chance to win a great book that I have found useful in my raw journey.

It has many yummy choices...

In order to be entered into the draw you must:

1) Follow my Blog

2) Tell me about your favourite raw dessert

3) Tell me why you decided to go raw!

Let's keep it simple!

Good luck and I can not wait to hear about your favourite recipes and why you choose to go raw!

Blessings! Raw Food Rocks! Raw Therapy - What Nature Intended!

Raw Pasta in 5 Minutes or Less

2011-09-19T16:17:00.001-07:00

I just finished eating the yummiest plate of "Raw Pasta." In my opinion a spiralizer is a great investment. I was able to borrow one from a friend, but after this meal, I will get getting one for sure. The one I used was purchased from Raw Nutrition. It is very inexpensive and is called the Spiral Slicer by Joyce Chen.

This is a very simple recipe. It took 5 minutes in total.

Raw Pasta

1 Organic Carrot

1 Zucchini (from our garden)

1/3 Cup of Raw Local Honey

1 Tsp Balsamic Vinegar

Pinch of Sea Salt

Using the spiralizer on the small noodle setting, spiralize one carrot and one zucchini. Sprinkle with sea salt, toss with the mixture of raw honey and balsamic vinegar. Mix separately the raw honey and balsamic vinegar in another dish before adding the the pasta dish. Enjoy.

Have you ever made raw pasta? If so, what is your favourite raw sauce? What do you like to make your raw noodles out of?

Raw Bruschetta with a twist for the Kids

2011-09-15T18:27:00.001-07:00

We enjoyed a wonderful raw bruschetta, that was one ingredient away from being 100% raw. The kids wanted cheese. I do not eat dairy or soya and I was able to find an alternative for them. It is called "Daiya." It is dairy, soy and gluten free. I was happy I could get them to eat it! If eating it meant Daiya Cheese, Daiya it is.

The base of the bruschetta is a raw bread made by Lydia's Organics. Sunflower Seed Bread - Gluten Free, Raw, Organic and Vegan!

The Bruschetta Mix:

1 1/2 Cups of Cherry Tomatoes from my Garden

1/2 cup Organic Corn

1/2 Cup Daiya Cheese

1 Sweet Italian Green Pepper from my Garden

Seasoning as per your taste ( I used Parsley, sea salt)

1- 2 Tbsp Raw Salad Dressing - Glorious Greek - from Upaya Naturals

It is Raw and certified organic.

Cut pepper up into small pieces. Cut cherry tomatoes into four. Add corn, spices, sea salt and dressing. Sprinkle in Daiya cheese if you wish, leave out for 100% raw dish. Toss and place mixture on your raw bread. Delicious.

Have you made raw bruschetta before? Did it turn out? What did you put on it and what did you use as a base? I would love to hear about it.

Go Go Green Goodness!

2011-09-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling a little tired lately, I know stress always plays a major role in how I feel. My mind sometimes races a mile a minute I am sure. I think it is just getting back into the swing of things with work, the kids in school, balancing home duties, there just does not seem to be enough hours in the day! Today I needed some Go Go Green Goodness. When I got home from work, I picked up the kids and rushed home. I took out my juicer and made a wonderful evening beverage.

It really hit the spot!

Go Go Green Goodness

3 Stalks of Celery

2 Organic Apples

4 Large Handfuls of Spinach

2 Medium Cucumbers

1 Cup of Spring Water

Place all items in the juicer, one at a time, put the water through last to help get all the leftover goodness out. My 6 year old really liked the juice, really did I say that! I even have proof. He actually shared my drink and enjoyed it. He said, "Mom it kind of tastes like salad."

What is your favourite "Go Go Green Goodness?"

Garden Delights - Rawmazing

2011-09-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

We had a fantastic trip to the garden today. Let me share with you some of the photos. I can not explain how rewarding it is, after spending many months weeding, watering, conversing with and taking care of our garden, to enjoy the harvest - RAWMAZING!

Today we were able to pick cabbage - 3 green - 1 purple, carrots, 3 bowls of tomatoes, zucchini, peppers galore, 3 sunburst squash, 2 squash, and a cucumber....our potatoes, did not grow very well, but I have been able to get the family some local ones at the market or even some of the grocery stores carry Ontario grown. It was such an amazing trip! My son was carrying his watermelon, which was a bit early to pick, but the actual plant had dried up from all the heat, so we just decided to pick it. He dropped it and well, then we had to eat it. It was so much fun, my husband and I both had our iphones taking photo's here we were with 3 kids, all eating a piece of watermelon straight from the garden. It was not all that sweet, but it was ripe. Good times. We are drying the seeds, not sure if they will grow next year, but the kids want to try!

Have you or you and your family had any fun garden adventures? I would love to hear about them. Maybe you do not have a garden, but have you had any memorable market adventures?

It was such a fun time, to forget about all the stress and just marvel at the simple things that my kids find so fascinating.

Raw Birthday Treats!

2011-09-10T04:48:00.001-07:00

I celebrated my birthday this week! I did not have a cake like many people, but I did have some fun treats. I am a snacker, so I would prefer a little of this and a little of that.

Here are some yummy raw cookies:

Organic - Handcrafted-Raw

Walnut Raisin Chocolate Chunk

Walnuts

Sunflower Seeds

Raisins

Cacao Nibs

Agave

Coconut Butter

I did not make these, I received them as a gift.

They are from Live Organic Food Bar.

I also received this rawsome chocolate bar! I can not wait to eat this...stay tuned to see what I make with this!

I also love kale chips so no snacking session would be complete without kale chips. I bought some beautiful black kale at Nature's Emporium. I then soaked some raw cashews over night and blended them out in the food processor with a small amount of sea salt, cider vinegar and garlic. I also picked up some great salad boosters at Nature's Emporium that I do not only use on salad but, also on my kale chips.

I picked up two kinds. The company is called "Living Intentions."

"The Original," enhanced with Spirulina, Chorella & Sea Veggies. It is raw, sprouted, gluten free and superfoods. It is made with Organic sprouted pumpkin seeds, organic sprouted sunflower seeds, organic sesame seeds, wild white chia seeds, spirulina, himalayan crystal salt, chlorella, organic dulse, organic kelp, garlic, onion, chilies and organic lemon peel.

"Cheesy Vegan," enhanced with Spirulina, Chorella & Sea Veggies. It is made with Organic sprouted pumpkin seeds, organic sprouted sunflower seeds, organic sesame seeds, wild white chia seeds, spirulina, organic red pepper, himalayan crystal salt, nutritional yeast, chorella, organic dulse, organic kelp, garlic, onion, chilies and organic lemon peel.

What kind of raw birthday treats do you like? Tell me about them! Some people like raw cake, cookies...what is your favourite?

Raw Chocolate Delight

2011-08-26T11:51:00.001-07:00

I picked this raw chocolate delight up at Nature's Emporium - it was so delicious. So rich, full of flavours...they have a great section of dessert and freshly made raw delights!

Raw Chocolate, goji berries, seeds, raw coconut...

What is your favourite raw dessert?

Are you a raw chocolate lover?

Cucumber & Kelp Noodle Pasta with Raw Sunflower Bread

2011-08-24T17:11:00.000-07:00

I made a tasty Cucumber and kelp Noodle Pasta for supper! It was really tasty.When I was at Nature's Emporium the other day, I picked up a pack of Kelp Noodles.

Cucumber & Kelp Noodle Pasta

2 Cups of Kelp Noodles

1 Large Cucumber

1 Carrot Shredded

Sea Salt

Cut cucumber into quarters lengthwise and then cut into small pieces. Shred carrot lengthwise, and toss with noodles in a large bowl. Sprinkle with Sea salt. Add desired amount of sauce and toss.

Pasta Sauce

1 Cup Cashews (Soaked Overnight)

1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Pinch of Sea Salt

2 Green Peppers

2 Cloves of Garlic

Place all ingredients in the food processor and blend out until a smooth consistency. You can add more salt, depending on your preference. On the side I had a piece of Lydia's Organics Sunflower Seed Bread. Gluten Free, Raw, Organic & Vegan.

What is your favourite recipe that includes kelp noodles? Raw Guru gives a nice description of kelp noodles.

"Raw Kelp Noodles are a sea vegetable in the form of an easy to eat raw noodle. Made of only kelp (a sea vegetable), sodium alginate (sodium salt extracted from a brown seaweed), and water. Raw Kelp Noodles are fat-free, gluten-free, and very low in carbohydrates and calories. Their noodle form and neutral taste allow for a variety of uses including salads, stir-fries, broths, and casseroles, while their healthful content provides a rich source of trace minerals including iodine, which kelp is well known for. Their unique texture completes the package, making Raw Kelp Noodles a one-of-a-kind healthful and tasty alternative to pasta and rice noodles. Best of all, no cooking is required. Just rinse and add the noodles to any dish and they are ready to eat!"

Power Sprout Salad

2011-08-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

I went to Nature's Emporium for the first time today. When we drove up, I must have looked like a kid in a candy store. I have never seen a health food store that big in my entire life. Ha - I was pushing the buggy around and all I could say, was wow - this place is dangerous. I got all kinds of things, so stay tuned!

For lunch today I had a Power Sprout Salad! It was amazing.

The Base

Spinach, Arugula, Red & Green Leaf Lettuce

Spouted Certified Organic Seeds

Sunflower, Alfalfa, Clover, Radish, Broccoli, Arugula, Lentils, Mustard, Canola, Quinoa, Fennel

Topping Assorted Legumes

Sprouted Certified Organic Green & Yellow Peas, Chick Peas, Adzuki Beans & Lentils

Dressing

Roasted Red Peppers, Chickpeas, Lemon Juice, Honet, Tahini, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sesame Oil, Sea Salt.

I can not even begin to tell you how good this was. My mouth was having a party with all the flavours - Simply Amazing!

Harvest Time

2011-08-21T05:20:00.000-07:00

Our trip to the garden yesterday was exciting and disappointing at the same time. We have been waiting for our watermelons to grow and have three on the way to being able to eat in the very near future. Yesterday we found out someone took one of our watermelons...Can you believe it. I was stunned to think someone would actually do that. I do not think it was an animal, because of the sheer size and there were no tracks or anything. My son was very disappointed. We have two more growing on a different plant, so hopefully we will get to harvest those ones.

We did manage to get one japanese egg plant, a large green pepper and some cherry tomatoes. I can not believe how different the peppers smell from the ones you get in the store. Growing your own is so much better!

My husband is our of town in New York this week with my camera, so I have decided to take out my old one to see if I can make it work. I managed to get it going this morning, although my shooting options are limited, I will try my best this week.We are heading to Nature's Emporium in Newmarket after Church this morning. I will keep you updated on my trip. Sadly my salad photograph has gone to New York. I will post it when he returns.

What have you been harvesting?

Sushi Time

2011-08-17T17:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, I feel like I have not blogged in forever, it has been sometime. Work has been so busy, summer, the kids, painting - there are just not enough hours in the day. I made a great salad tonight, by the time I got done my favourite place to take photo's did not have enough natural light. I will take one tomorrow morning before work. I will get my garden salad - not your traditional one, up tomorrow.

I did manage to get some sushi made. Simple, is my motto.

Raw Rice

1 Cup of soaked Cashews ( over night)

3 Cloves of Garlic

3/4 Green Pepper

Pinch Sea Salt

Place all ingredients in the food processor and blend out until chunky, rice like consistency.

Sushi Stuffing

1/2 Daikon Radish

1 Organic Carrot

1/2 Cucumber

1 Avocado

1/2 Cup Organic Pea Shoots

Apply rice to the bottom 1/3 of the nori and leave a 1 inch gap at the bottom. Spread the rice out, and lay vegetables of choice on rice. Roll the bottom tight around the ingredients. Wet the top of the nori so that it will stick when you roll it the rest of the way up. Use a sharp knife to cut into sections. Wipe knife between each cut.

I have made this before and we really enjoy it - the entire family!

Do you like making sushi, what do you like to put in your sushi..?

Raw Therapy & Blyssful Health

2011-07-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

Raw Therapy and Blyssful Health enjoyed a wonderful raw meal together over the weekend. It was my niece's birthday, so we traveled to Kitchener to celebrate. I picked up some yummy raw treats on the way to enjoy and Sasha from Blyssful Health made a wonderful raw cheese cake, and a platter with dip and zucchini stars!

We started off with the Zucchini stars and a dip that was so delicious. I am not entirely sure what was in it, but maybe we will be lucky enough to have Sasha let us in on the secret in the comment section.

Next was the main course which consisted of a noodle dish, raw pizza which I might add was amazing and some rawcotta dip!

The Raw Pizza I bought it from a company called "Make it Raw."
Ingredients: Flax, cashews, sun-dried tomatoes, spices, herbs, sea salt and topped with assorted vegetables. 100% raw.

The Noodle Dish, I bought from the same company. It was called, "Sea & Veg - Noodles to Go."
Ingredients: Kelp noodles, zucchini, carrots, cabbage, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, tomato. Dressing: Almond butter, lemon juice, agave, nama shoyu, sea salt. My only complaint, is they could have given more dressing. 100% raw.

They have a fantastic website with a recipe section check it out.
They have recipes for: Summer Citrus Avocado Parfait, Beet and Parsnip Noodle in a Pesto Cream Sauce, Wild Oregano Grapefruit Vinaigrette, Cream Sauce, Strawberry Cucumber Soup, Cheesecake Topped with Mixed Berries,Chocolate Truffles..yummy!

Next was desert. We had two items, raw cheese cake and a pastry I guess you would call it, with goji berries and coconut. I was happy and my belly was full.

It was a wonderful meal and I was happy to enjoy it with another raw food lover! Have you shared a raw meal with anyone lately, tell me about it? What did you eat?

Our Garden is Growing

2011-07-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

We went to the garden today. Must have looked like crazy people. It has not rained here for a couple weeks and there is no rain in the forecast this week either. My two boys and I, a wagon, a green bin full of water, a cooler full of water and several containers - all to water the garden at the community garden. We must be doing something right though, things are growing!

Our garden is growing! Peas, Spinach, squash, tomatoes, cabbage (green and purple), brussel sprouts, Italian sweet peppers, peppers, onions, cucumber, egg plant. watermelons. Oh and our strawberry plant - sadley no strawberries though. Keep in mind we put our garden in a little late, so our harvest will be a little later as well.

Fruity Cucumber Boats

2011-07-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Cucumber Boats, yes that is what I can make. I was sitting here thinking I want to make something simple, satisfying, refreshing and something I can add mango too, seeing as I love mango! Cucumber boats - love it, so easy and so much fun! The kids loved it!

Raw Therapy Fruity Cucumber Boats

1 Small Cucumbers

1 Mango

1/2 Red Bell Pepper

2 kiwi

1 Peach

Start by taking a small knife and cutting a small lengthwise strip off the top of the cucumber. Then take your knife and run it around the edge in a large oval shape. Then take your spoon and dig out the insides. You can cut up the insides into small cubes and place them in a separate bowl. Do this to both cucumbers. Next skin your mango and cut into small cubes. Cut your red pepper into lengthwise stripes and then into small cubes as well. Skin your kiwi's and peach the same way and cut them into small cubes.

Place all cut up fruits and vegetables in the bowl where you placed the cucumber scrapings. Mix well. I did not add any sauce to the mixture as I love to experience all the natural flavors.

Lastly fill up your boats! Easy and refreshing! I made enough that I could put the leftovers into a bowl and use as a fruity mango salsa!

Yummy - enjoy!

Strawberry Festival Market

2011-07-02T14:25:00.001-07:00

I love the "Strawberry Festival" in Stouffville. It only happens once a year, but it is a great little festival with local farmers, artisans, local businesses and lots of food, family and fun! The weather has been amazing - no rain so far, only blue skies and sunshine! Here are a few photo's from the farmers market this morning!

Do you enjoy going to your local farmers market?

Yummy Summer Salad

2011-06-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

Raw Therapy Yummy Summer Salad

2 Baby Cucumbers

2 Mangoes (Sliced)

1 1/2 Cups Fresh Strawberries

1 Green Pepper

Dressing - your choice, I did not use dressing!

Nice combination! Sweet and Crunchy!

Garden Update

2011-06-27T14:19:00.000-07:00

These are some updated photographs from the garden! I love how tiny seeds can grow so quickly. More to come! How is your garden growing?

Stuffed Tomatoes, Mock Tuna and Fruit

2011-06-20T08:34:00.001-07:00

I decided to try make mock tuna. I really enjoyed it. I got a great recipe off The Rawtarian. She actually has two different recipes to choose from. I made a simple dish with the Mock tuna, stuffing some tomatoes and cutting up some cucumber and sprinkling with sea salt! Yum! To go with this a big plate of fresh fruit.

Mock Tuna - The Rawtarian Style
2 Cups Sunflower Seeds (Soaked)
1 Clove Garlic (I put 2)
1 Tsp Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tsp Thyme
1/2 Tsp Sea Sale
Some cut up celery, onions, parsley, raw pickles and apple.

Strawberries, Raspberries, Pear and Nectarine:

What do you love about summer the most? What do you enjoy eating most that is available in the summer!

Community Garden & Mango Salad Dressing

2011-06-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

We were so blessed this year to be able to take part in a community garden! We actually have been blessed with being a part of two gardens. The kids and I went to the garden this evening to do some weeding. I took a couple photographs so you can enjoy the progress with us. It is so exciting. I love watching a tiny seed grow into something so amazing.

Nature is truly amazing - God is good!

We have a bit of everything growing on our plot. My middle son picked most of what we planted so we have anything from strawberries, purple cabbage, egg plant, carrots, onions, potatoes to squash and cucumbers which I am sure will take over the entire garden and tomatoes - just to name a few, we have one of everything. Documenting the progress will be great fun. I can not wait until harvest time in the fall - we want to have a feast. We have a communal plot at the garden as well for the larger items. It is so funny to see to the west trucks and pills of sand for building homes, a sales centre to the south, tress to the north, homes to the east and then our amazing community garden.

Our watering station at the garden. Take your watering can and fill it up and water away!

Here is our garden sign to identify our plot!

The mango salad dressing is a lead into my lunch! Have you made your own salad dressing with any fruits. I actually bought this one, but let me tell you I will be making this one in the future. It was made with Mangoes and hot spices, what a kick to my afternoon salad!

Did you plant a garden this year - have you been documenting it's progress? What exciting things did you plant and if you have children how did you get them involved?

Morning Smoothie & Afternoon Cashew Spinach Dip

2011-06-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

RT - Cashew Spinach Dip

2 Cups Organic Spinach

1/2 Cup Cashews

2 Tbsp Sundried Tomatoes

1/4 Cup of Glorious Greek - Raw Salad Dressing

(You can add more depending on your preference)

Place all ingredients in the food processor and pulse until a dip like consistency. enjoy with Raw crackers.

It is so refreshing to start off your day with a fruit smoothie! I am back to work and I find it a bit hard to balance things lately. I am trying my best though.

Here is a quick and easy smoothie to power your morning!

Raw Therapy Everything Smoothie

1 Cup Organic Orange Juice

1 Cup of Spring Water

2 Cups of Mixed Frozen Fruit

(Grapes, Peaches, Strawberries, melon, mango)

Place all ingredients in the blender and liquify - Enjoy!

Here is a quick dip that is sure to make your mouth water for more - my 17 month old daughter wanted to eat it by the spoon full.

Vegetables for Snacking!

2011-05-31T18:41:00.000-07:00

It has been so warm here and I am not complaining! I am loving it! I am back to work part-time and all of my other time seems to be occupied by my three little blessings; out for stroller rides, out to the water park, kicking the ball around the yard! We have a summer rule - once summer comes no more television. The kids are okay with this rule, so they do not even ask!

I have been finding little time to prepare fancy raw dishes, but I am keeping it simple and incorporating as many vegetables into my diet as possible. Here are two easy dishes.

Raw Therapy Carrot Salad

2 Organic Carrots

1 Cup Organic Corn

2 Stalks Organic Celery

2 Green Onions

Pinch of Sea Salt

Raw Dressing of your choice.

I have made a cashew cheese dressing before and a olive oil, balsamic dressing.

Shred the carrot with the mandolin, small julienne setting. Dice the celery and onions. Toss in a bowl with one cup of organic corn. Add dressing of choice.

When it is hot I never feel like eating a big meal, I always enjoy snacking and so do the kids. I always find myself making platters of food: vegetables, fruits, nut cheeses! I find they respond well to the variety.

When it is really warm outside what do you enjoy snacking on? What are your plans for the summer? Do you do a summer television or computer detox?

Raw Therapy Giveway - Seeds, Seeds, Seeds

2011-05-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

Photo from:Darpan Magazine http://www.darpanmagazine.com/2011/03/grow-an-indoor-herb-garden/

This the season for planting! Let's grow and harvest what nature intended to fuel our bodies. I have three different choices for the winner to choose from:

1) Chef's Salad Bouquet - Edible Flower Garden Feast for the eyes -- pleasing to the palate. Herbs with edible flowers to add to salads, omelettes, desserts, and drinks. They can even be candied. Borage, Calendula, Heartsease, Nasturtium, Citrus Marigold.

2) Home Medicine Chest - Healing Herb Garden Here’s to good health, naturally! Cayenne, Comfrey, Valerian and Calendula.

3) Windowsill Garden Five of the best herb varieties for your indoor herb gardens. Specially chosen for growing in pots or windowboxes. Contains Spicy Globe Basil, Fernleaf Dill, Greek Oregano, Grolau Chives, Italian Parsley.

In order to qualify, follow three quick and easy steps.

1) Follow me
2) Add me to your Blog roll
3) Add a comment about what you enjoy planting/growing the most.

P.S. Get someone to follow my blog and you will be entered twice! This giveaway will end on May 30th!

Pasta for Two

2011-05-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

As you can see I love my zucchini pasta. I had the pleasure of making it for my Mother who is down visiting. This time I added organic white button mushrooms, onions, tomato, red bell pepper and chives. It was so tasty! You can put any kind of sauce on it depending on your preference.

Stay tuned Raw therapy will be having a celebration giveaway! Details will be posted tomorrow evening!

Rawkin Raw Plate

2011-05-17T15:35:00.001-07:00

This was a yummy raw plate that I had at my son and nieces birthday party. Mango and red bell pepper salad, avocado, spinach salad with tomato, cucumber and avocado with a balsamic vinegar dressing. At the back you will see the famous zucchini pasta!

What a colorful and delightful dish! The mango salad was so yummy, although I have not figured out how to make a dressing that tastes like sweet chili. Any ideas?

Do you have any summer dishes that you love to make? While everyone is barbecuing in the summer what are you making?

Zucchini Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes & Bell Peppers

2011-05-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

This was a really tasty pasta. It is very simple and quick.

Raw Therapy Zucchini Pasta
1 Zucchini
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
Small Handful of Sundried Tomatoes
10 Strands of Clives
Raw Dressing of Choice - There are tons of recipes out there!

Shred the zucchini with a mandolin, cut up your bell pepper and dehydrate until soft consistancy. I use a pair of scissors to cut up my chives in small pieces. Toss in a small handful of sundried tomatoes and mix. Top with your favorite dressing!

Yummy!

Sweet Potato and Carrot Juice & Salad

2011-05-04T10:43:00.000-07:00

I love sweet potato juice. If you have never tried to juice a sweet potato I highly recommend it. David Wolfe says, "It tastes like strawberry quick." It is sweet and tastes pretty much the same as the great taste of cooked sweet potato, but with more nutritional value intact. I usually juice it alone, this time I decided to juice it with some carrots.

Sweet potatoes are rich Vitamin A (betacarotene) and it is a good source of Vitamin C. Both are powerful antioxidants that work to remove free radicals. Free radicals are chemicals that damage the bodies cells.

It was a busy day, so a quick salad was all I had time for. I added for a change Upland Cress which is the dark green herb you see in the photograph. It has a spicy, peppery taste, reminiscent of watercress, but a bit more pungent. It is rich in Vitamin A, C, Iron and Calcium.

This is mixed with lettuce, organic button mushrooms and some dehydrated red pepper.

Fast and Yummy!

Have you ever had sweet potato juice? What do you mix with yours?

Raw Pizza-Mushrooms, Red Pepper,Spinach and Cashew Cheese

2011-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

I love raw pizza. This is a very simple pizza that took me around 10 minutes in total to make.

RT Cashew Nut Cheese Base

1 Cup Raw Cashews

1/2 Red Pepper

Handful of Chives

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Sea Salt

Pizza Toppings

Organic Spinach Shredded

Red Pepper

Organic White Button Mushrooms

Pizza Base

Radical Rosemary and Onions Raw Crackers

Do you like raw pizza, what do you put on your pizza? Have you ever made a raw pizza base?

A Trip to Ambrosia

2011-05-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

We stopped at Ambrosia to pick up a few things we were out of.

Spicy Red Cabbage Buckwheat Crackers Sunza Terra Tree

Kale Chips

Sundried Tomato and Chia Seed Crackers

Radical Rosemary and Onion Crackers from Live Food Bar

Chia Seeds

Green Beaver - Green Apple Toothpaste for the kids

Kombucha

I have never had this brand of Kombucha before, but it was really good. I would recommend this product. Smooth taste - not strong at all. This particular flavor Multi-Green has Klamath Mountainblue-green algae, spirulina and chlorella. The price is not bad either. At ambrosia natural foods a 480ml bottle runs around $4.19.

The first thing I made when we came in was a big batch of Chia Seed pudding. I originally found this recipe of Vegan Family Style and I made a few tweaks for my liking.

Chia Seed Pudding

1/2 Cup Chia Seeds

2 Cups Almond Milk

3 Dashes Cinnamon

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Tsp Agave Nectar

Oh, yes and my kale chips. They don't ever last very long.

What is your favorite flavor of kale chips. Has anyone ever made kale chips with dill or a spicy flavor?

David Wolfe - A Spring of Knowledge

2011-05-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

I had an entire Saturday to myself. I started the day off with bible study in the morning, then out for lunch at a great raw food restaurant in Yorkville called Rawlicious and then an evening with my sister-in-law Sasha and the amazing David Wolfe!

For those of you who do not know who David Wolfe is one of the world's top authorities on natural health! He was speaking on both Friday and Saturday evening at Downward Dog Studio, downtown Toronto. What a great day.

My lunch was amazing. I had a "Lean Green Drink," with kale, spinach, and cucumber and Raw Pad Thai. It was so good! The restaurant is really cute, a little pricey, but it was worth it. You can not put a price on good food!

We were able to get a photograph with David and I was surprised to hear that he has a farm in Nipassing, near North bay. I myself am a northern girl growing up 2 1/2 hours north of North Bay. He was so laid back. The evening was scheduled to run from 5-8 pm, but we ended up starting a little after 5 pm and going until 10:30 pm. What an informative presentation, I took tons of notes, and was pleasantly surprised by his witty sense of humor. He is really comical.

At half time I had the pleasure of speaking with David. He is so knowledgeable and was willing to give advice and he encouraged us to stay and listen to other peoples questions, never rushing, just listening. He is extremely patient. The evening was well worth it. I got my money worth and more.

The flow of the evening overlapped and many topics covered directly are connected in relationship to one another. Here are a few things he touched on:

Tissue Cleansing

Raw Food Lifestyle - He touched on what vitamins are required to be healthy on this diet. Essential components such as D3, B12, Omega-3, K2, Silica...

Superherbs: Passion Flower, Reishi Mushrooms, Horsetail Tea, Nettles...

Supplements - He shared with us some items that he currently takes, out of his "Doctor's Bag."

Hormones: Progesterone, Testosterone, Estrogen (Bad)

Grounding: Circadian Rhythms

Superfoods: Marine Phytoplankton, Spirulina, Chlorella, Cacao, Maca, Bee Pollen, Pine Pollen...

Fermented Foods

Spring Water: Which I might add, he did say, "that Ontario has some of the best spring water in the world."

Autoimmune Disorders: He touched on things readily growing that are anti-cancer (i.e.) Red Cover, Sheep Soral...

Radio Active Frequency - Wi-Fi Pollution, Electromagnetic Fields...

There were some great vendors there as well. With a bit of persuasion, I treated myself and someone spoiled me as well.

Grounding Flip Flops

Sacred Chocolate - Flavor India Sunset - Very Yummy! Got this for my family to try - husband and kids are sold.

Yes, this is an empty chocolate wrapper and it was amazing!

Giddy Yoyo - Raw Chocolate - Mint Flavor. This was amazing!

This too is empty, they were so yummy! Highly recommend.

Fairy's Tonic - Spicy Peach Kombucha. The great thing about this product is it is made in Toronto. Canada's Kombucha! Organic, Raw, Local!

What can I say - the chocolate was amazing! Both the flavors were so good. I am glad I do not have to give up my love for chocolate! The kombucha was really good as well. My husband was not fond of it, for him it was the smell, but to me, I loved it! These are products I would defiantly encourage you to try!

I am looking forward to the next time David comes into town to speak. I would encourage everyone, if you have the chance - Go! You will not regret it!

Guest Post-Rawkinmom

2011-05-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to say that Raw Therapy has a wonderful guest post by Rawkinmom! What an amazing woman - honestly! Her family is very blessed to have someone who cares so much about them. I have been following Samantha for sometime and find that her posts are so informative.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a mother of 2 kids ages 8 and 5. I homeschool them both and love every minute of it!! I have been married for 13 years to the man of my dreams. I have a teaching degree, but I haven't taught in a classroom since my daughter was born. My family loves the beach, bike rides, nature hikes, and just being outdoors.

How did you become interested in raw food?

I first started learning about raw foods when I was searching one night about diets. I came across a blog where a girl had said she ate an entire banana-coconut cream pie for dinner but that it was okay because it was raw!!! LOL -I remember thinking, "wow-that's how I want to eat too!" I grew up eating junk food and would have rather eaten chocolate chip cookies or pie over a meal any day! My search has continued since that moment!!! I have yet to eat an entire raw pie though!!!!

What sparked the idea to start your company "Color Wheel meals"?

Well, at one point I decided to start a blog and my desire was to share with people why fruit and veggies are so good for you. I wanted to list the nutritional profiles of fruits/veggies and all of the benefits each one had. My blog rarely had visitors and the ones that came were friends. I decided that I needed to try other ways to get people excited about eating healthy so I started doing demos at farmers markets and home demonstrations to groups of moms showing how to make green smoothies, juices, and nut mylks. One night I laid in bed thinking about creating a cool name for myself and what I do and it just came to me...Color Wheel Meals...I jumped out of bed and googled the name to see if anyone had come up with anything similar and I couldn't find anything!! So, I decided to keep it!!! :) It has been a great way for me to inspire and teach other moms easy ways to incorporate healthy foods into their families lives!!

What advice would you offer families who would like to make a shift away from processed foods to more natural unprocessed foods?

I always say that health is a journey and not a destination....to take it slow and change one step at a time. People are always more successful with something if they take baby steps rather than become overwhelmed and end up quitting altogether. My suggestion is to focus on cutting one bad item from your diet at a time and replace it with one healthy item. If you do this once a week than in 1 year you will have essentially made 104 steps in the right direction!! 52 bad items taken out and 52 good items taken in....but doing this over a period of time doesn't seem so daunting!!

Common mainstream birthday party foods are pizza, cake, pop and chips, what are some natural healthy alternatives?

I always offer a huge salad bar, fruit trays, and sometimes smoothies too whenever we have parties-unfortunately we also have cooked foods as well...but my extended family has come to look forward to my salad bars and fruit trays!! One year it was New Years Day and we had my husbands family over to celebrate his birthday (he is a New Years Eve baby) and I made green smoothies for everyone to bring in the New Year....everyone loved it and even asked for more!! When we get invited to holiday celebrations and birthdays I am always the salad girl!!! :) I bring some for me and enough to share!!!

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?

Apples with nut butters, trail mixes, chocolate smoothies, kale chips, wow...I could go on and on!!!

How can parents get their children interested in natural foods when the media pumps out messages promoting junk food, such as skittles, "taste the rainbow"?

I am a huge advocator for educating your children. My kids understand what makes Skittles their bright colors and we have discussions about things like how crayons are dyed and how they look just the color of most candies. We have done experiments where we have placed colored candies into water and watch the dye color the water and what is left is white candies that don't look very tasty anymore! My kids do understand that candy is made from sugar and dyes but do they still want some of the stuff? OF COURSE!!! When grandmas sneak it to them or send them home with a bag I just smile and tuck it away....most of the time my kids forget about it or I can bribe them with a healthier treat instead....but my kids have tasted the Skittles rainbow before and unfortunately they LIKE it!!! LOL This is a battle within me too. I do not want my kids to grow up and feel so deprived that they go crazy and end up going in the complete opposite direction of what I was going for. SO, I do let them indulge in stuff like this once in awhile....I can hear the cringes....I know....but most of the time within a few bites my kids tummies hurt and they don't finish anyways. My goal is that they would never eat any processed foods at all....but like I said earlier its a journey and not a destination.....we are never perfect and I am okay with that. :)

What advice would you give new parents about developing healthy eating habits for their children?

I would tell them that the younger they start the better chance they have for success!! Start with homemade baby food, then graduate to smoothies, juices, nut mylks, and fresh fruits/veggies. If they acquire a taste when they are young then you won't have to fight with them later to try their veggies or greens!! They will just LOVE it from the start!!!

Thank you so much Rawkinmom for sharing - keep up the great work!

Please check out her blog http://rawkinmom.wordpress.com

60 Minute Massage - It was Amazing!

2011-04-28T17:08:00.000-07:00

A great friend of mine got me a gift certificate for a 60 minute massage at a wonderful place called Maternity Wellness Ltd. I am NOT pregnant if you are wondering, they do not only do maternity massage, but also massage in general as well as acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathic, and homeopathic care. I will be going back for sure. My RMT's name was Rebecca and she was amazing.

I tend to carry all of my stress and tension in my shoulders. I honestly think today was one of the first times I have been that relaxed for that length of time. After my massage Rebecca took the time to show me some simple stretches and breathing techniques that I can do to be proactive in taking care of my problem area. She was very resourceful and a friendly individual who made my experience relaxing and enjoyable. Thanks Rebecca!

While I was having my massage I got to thinking, in my experience as mother's we tend to look after everyone else before we look after ourselves. It is so important that we take time to look after ourselves. It is important that we have me time to relax and escape for our own health and sanity. I am already looking into a spa day at the Scandinave Spa - Blue Mountain. It is not a far drive from me, maybe 1 to 1 1/2 hours and they price is so right. On Wednesday's for $36, you can have access to the Scandinavian Baths. They are s0 relaxing and well worth the drive.

What are you doing to take time for yourself? How do you enjoy spending a me day? When is the last time you took time out to get a relaxing massage?

Cauliflower for Breakfast?

2011-04-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

I started out with the idea of making cauliflower couscous. I was trying to think of what ingredients I wanted to put in my couscous. What about a fruity couscous? So, into the fridge I went. Apple and pineapple, that could work. So I cut my cauliflower in half and placed it in the food processor and pulsed it out.

I diced the apple and pineapple into small cubes and mixed it in with the pulsed out cauliflower. This reminds me of something. I think my couscous looks like a cereal dish. Into the pantry I went, where is the cinnamon, a drizzle of raw yacon syrup and a bit of almond milk. This was so good. My husband could not believe when I told him that it was made with cauliflower.

I have never had cauliflower for breakfast - there is always a first time for everything!

Raw Therapy Cauliflower Oatmeal
1/2 Cauliflower
1/2 Cup Diced Pineapple
1 Organic Apple
Cinnamon
Raw Yacon Syrup
Almond Milk

Place cauliflower in food processor and pulse out until couscous consistency and set aside in a bowl. Dice pineapple and apple into small cubes, mix with cauliflower. Season with cinnamon and syrup. You can add almond milk if you wish or leave it out, I have eaten it both ways.

Don't forget to stay tuned for our guest post and our 20 weeks raw contest! Coming soon!

What is oddest breakfast recipe you have ever made? Do you eat vegetables for breakfast?

An All Raw Easter Dinner -Kale Salad, Tuna, Falafel Wraps

2011-04-25T08:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a wonderful day! First of all He has Risen - Amen and secondly I was able to enjoy an amazing raw dinner and I did not even have to make it. After attending and being a part of celebratory service yesterday we ventured out to spend the day with my brother and sister-in-law. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my sister-in-law had prepared a yummy raw supper for me. Love you Sasha! Please check out her amazing blog Blyssful Health.

Here is a taste of what I was able to enjoy!

Kale Salad

This was so yummy! Kale, tomatoes, cucumber a wonderful sauce.

(Raw) Mock Tuna and Celery

This was a great dish. I had to laugh though, she asked me if I wanted to tuna? I looked at her with this dumb founded look on my face, inside pondering why is she asking me if I want tuna - she knows I don't eat tuna? I looked at her and asked what kind of tuna? She said raw tuna - raw tuna? Ha - oh, not tuna, but tuna made with...what a sigh of relief.

Click over to Blyssful Health to see recipe details.

Falafel & Hummus Wrap with Mediterranean “Roasted” Vegetables

The wraps were made from Green Pepper, Zucchini and Cucumber. They were stuffed with greens, red pepper, raw falafel and macadamia nut cheese! They were AMAZING!
Click the above link for recipe details.

I do not have the recipes, but I will be contacting Sasha as I want to make these for myself. The falafel was so yummy, a big hit with me. I will then update the posting with the recipes! I would like you to enjoy what I was able to enjoy!

What did you eat for Easter? Did you make any exciting raw creations? Stay tuned we will be having a wonderful guest blog as well as a contest to celebrate my 20 weeks of full raw - coming soon!

Corn, Avocado and Red Pepper Salad & Stuffed Red Bell Pepper

2011-04-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

This was probably one of my favorite salads. Simple and really yummy!

Raw Therapy Summer Salad

1 Avocado

1/2 Red Bell Pepper

3/4 Cup of Organic Corn

1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Pinch of Sea Salt

Cut up bell pepper and avocado in small pieces, toss with corn and dressing. A 10 minute salad you will enjoy!

I really like this recipe as I have found over the last 19 weeks, I have had to work very hard to eat enough calories to maintain my current weight. I am actually trying to put on weight. I try to eat an avocado a day for this reason. Have you or do you know of anyone who has had a similar experience with eating a totally raw diet? If so, what did they do besides incorporating a few non raw items back into their diet to compensate?

Food for Thought:

"When an avocado is ripe it is almost a complete food. It supplies potassium, vitamin A and E, some B and C vitamins, and a little protein and starch along with avocado oil, which is mainly a monounsaturated fat. Avocados are a particularly rich source of skin protective antioxidants, especially vitamin E. Together with heart protective monounsaturated oil and the other nutrients they contain, they neutralize damaging free radicals. This makes them good for the heart, circulation, and anti-aging."

Reference: Superfoods - Nutrient Dense Food to Protect your Health

I love bell peppers, red, orange and yellow. They are great to cut up on a salad, eat dipped in dip or my favorite these days is eating them stuffed. This is such an easy recipe. I am back to work part-time, so this is an easy recipe that I can take to work for lunch.

Raw Therapy Stuffed Red Bell Pepper

1/2 Cucumber

1/2 Red Bell Pepper

1/2 Cup Cheesy Cashew Cheese

2 Stalks of Organic Celery

Sprinkle of Sea Salt

Sprinkle of Cinnamon

Food for thought:

"Bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C. The red and yellow ones contain four times the amount of vitamin C as oranges, and a serving of green peppers supplies 100 milligrams of vitamin C - over three times the recommended daily allowance."

Reference: Superfoods - Nutrient Dense Food to Protect your Health

What is your favorite recipe to make with peppers?

Delicious Purple Cabbage Boats

2011-04-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

I love it when you look in the fridge and think what can I possibly make with the random things I have?
Some of my best recipes have come about this way.

This time I had 1/4 of a head of purple cabbage leftover. I got to thinking, if you can make lettuce boats, why can you not make cabbage boats!

I have been eating these for the last couple days. The longer they marinade the better they taste.

In order to make this recipe you will need to make your favorite raw salsa. I will share a simple raw salsa recipe, but you can substitute it for your own if you like.

Raw Therapy Delicious Purple Cabbage Boats
1/2 Head of Purple Cabbage
3 Green Onions
7 White Button Mushrooms

Cut the 1/2 head of purple cabbage in 1/2. Peel leaf layers from 1/4 and set aside for your cabbage boats. The other 1/4 pieces chop it up into small pieces. (You may want to use less, depending on your preference.) Cut the other ingredients in small pieces as shown in the above photo. Mix all ingredients and set aside in bowl.

Raw Salsa Recipe
Juice of one Lime
1 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Clove of Garlic
1 1/2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes
2 Green Onions
1/2 Cup Green Pepper and Red Pepper

Mince garlic, cut cherry tomatoes into four. Chop onions, green and red peppers into small pieces. Mix with all other ingredients. Mix the contents of both bowls together and let marinade for 1/2 hour. The longer it marinades the better it tastes.

Arrange your boats on a plate and using a spoon, fill the boats with the marinaded stuffing. I also topped it (after I took the photograph) with some leftover cashew orange cheese.

Food for thought: Cabbage has many benefits.
"The uniqueness of cabbage in cancer prevention is due to the three different types of nutrient richness found in this widely enjoyed food.

The three types are:
(1) antioxidant richness
(2) anti-inflammatory richness
(3) richness in glucosinolates."

These and many more benefits are outlined at WHfoods.

Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin C, a good source of vitamin A.

What is your favorite cabbage recipe?

Realistically Raw - Simple & Satisfying!

2011-04-16T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today was a long day. I had many plans of making some fantastic recipes, but ended up sitting in the emergency room at the hospital as my husband ended up needing his tonsils drained. None the less, I did want to make sometime simple and satisfying, (which is my motto) and I did manage to make something for both my Mom and I.

There are two versions, one entirely raw and one that is 1 ingredient away from being 100% raw.

Orange Cheesy Cashew Cheese
1 Cup Cashews
(soaked 4-6 Hours)
1/2 Lemon Juiced
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
1 Orange Bell Pepper

Place all ingredients in the blender, blend until creamy.

Here is the finished cashew cheese with some sliced mushrooms that will be used in the next recipe.

Ingredients for the wraps.
Cucumber cut in slices and romaine lettuce.
I also used the sliced mushrooms above and the cashew cheese. The celery is for celery and cheese, see below.

This is the 100% Raw version. I used romaine lettuce to wrap the sliced cucumber, mushrooms and lettuce. I kept it together with some of the cashew cheese.

Here is the one ingredient away from being completely raw and that is the organic rice paper. If I could find a raw substitute I would be very happy. I have heard and looked up some recipes of people making their own with young thai coconut and the meat, blending it out and spreading it on a teflex sheet, but it is something apparently you need to wrap and eat right away!

I love celery and cheese. Seeing as I do not and can not eat cheese, this orange cheesy cashew cheese is an amazing substitute and it is so easy to make.

My kids like it as well! Very tasty!

What do you use to wrap your wraps? What are your favorite items to put in a wrap?

Fruity Smoothie Popsicles for the Kids (Or the Adults)

2011-04-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today the weather was not in our favor so we decided we should make something yummy to snack on. For a child, what is better than a popsicle. My son has been asking for sometime if we could make some homemade popsicles, so today was the day. We first gathered up all our ingredients and decided to make two different kinds.

After much deliberation we decided to make some Banana Berry Blast's and a Divine Orange Popsicles.

Raspberries, Blueberries, Strawberries and Blackberries.

Berries such as blueberries, raspberries and especially strawberries are a great source of vitamin C and soluble fiber. They are packed with antioxidant power as well!

Small Orange Segments.

Oranges are a wonderful source of vitamin C.

Mango Chunks

Mangoes are so good for you! They are sweet and rich in amino acids, rich in both vitamin C and E, flavonoids, beta carotene, niacin, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium.

Green Grapes

Grapes are a rich source of vitamin A, C, B6 and folate, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium.

Organic Bananas

Bananas are rich in potassium and iron and they are high in fiber.

Orange Juice and Almond Milk

Raw Therapy Divine Orange Popsicle

1/2 Cup Orange Segments

1 Cup Mango Chunks

1 Cup Orange Juice

Place all items into the blender, blend until smooth and place in popsicle molds. Have the kids help with the process and this is a popsicle that can be enjoyed by any age!

Raw Therapy Banana Berry Blast

1 Cup Mixed Berries

1 Banana

1/2 Cup Green Grapes

1 Cup Almond Milk

Place all items in the blender and blend until smooth and place into popsicle molds. It takes around three hours for them to be ready for enjoying!

And the finished product!

It is great to get children involved in the process. If you have the time to make homemade popsicles and treats for your children, it is well worth it. It is a learning experience for them in more than one way. They get to choose what ingredients they would like, which gives them a sense of accomplishment. You can talk about fruits and/ or vegetables during the process and their nutritional value, as well you can control what goes into what your children are eating!

Have you made homemade popsicles for your kids or for yourself, which combinations did you children like best! I know my personal favorite is one, I call Raw Therapy Cucumber Delight. I will post photo and recipe for this popsicles in the coming days!