Right off the tracks

Well - started the day well.. test tasted my chocolate dream pie ( last entry) with my morning coffee, had a green smoothie made from lettuce, grapes and water for breaky. Had two apples for morning tea. I then started to get the munchies and dissatisfaction 'thing' happening. My salt and vinegar almonds are still not ready - neither are my soy seed mix - though that didn't stop me scooping a spoon full out and test them out.

drank another coffee, ate another apple, looked in the fridge and groaned.. its organic box day today - so there is nothing fabulous left in there.

I made a fruit salad for lunch but just picked at it. Just feeling bla about everything. The afternoon flew past and I felt rushed taking the kids to gymnastics, our plans changed with the evening and I ended up having to drive in to pick Age up straight from gymnastics - so sinned the worst ever - we went to Mcdonalds on the way. I had a garden salad and a mocha - but that still sucked big time - so got a lean beef burger as well.. and snuck three of the kids chips. I have to admit they were gross - I could taste the fatty oil and so salty. My burger was total bliss and I so wish it wasn't - I wish that it tasted like cardboard and I would swear never to eat one again.... a few hours on now and feeling a bit bloated and gross.

I'm not going to dwell on it - tomorrow is another day.

fruity day

ok so I have a confession from last night - damn it - I didn't make it as a 100% raw day.. I had 2 pieces of the 85% cocoa Lindt chocolate.. and later that night - totally ravenous - so ate a handful of soy chips.

To counter this - this morning I started to soak and make some salt and vinegar almonds ( yummm) and some soysauce nibbles - they will be ready by tomorrow - so photos and recipes then..

can't fault my hormone driven needs though - as mid morning was the time I started to bleed - so yeee ha into the tent.. ( I wish) At least this time its only been two squares of choc.. I know in the past I have eaten a block of dark chocolate...

I had fruit for breaky - took the photo of what I gave the kids - they like it to look pretty.. We had some really nice yar pears in our organic box last week - so eating the last ones today.

Mid morning I had a carrot,celery and apple juice. Kids didn't want any as the carrots weren't very sweet and i didn't put many apples in it.. got to admit it was a bit.... ummm orange....

We went to the Loving Hut for lunch today - kids loved all the food - cheeky monkeys said that the Vietnamese rolls there were nicer than mine ( its true) I tried the raw salad - heavenly salad - a bit over sauced ( lemon juice and olive oil and pepper) for me - but really crunchy and nice. I also had half of Jodis chocolate cheesecake - which again was really good. I am not going to get all unbent about it all - its vegan and preservative free - made from tofu and soy - so not a 'bad' choice.

I had green smoothie for afternoon tea - raspberries, chinese greens, banana and water. kids clambered to share it and thought it was pretty spec...

Dinner was guacamole and dipping sticks and something I called Sunshine Salad - everyone said it was really good - I don't like rockmelon on its own - so ikk didn't eat it.

Sunshine Salad.

5 slices of rockmelon - cut into cubes
handful of long thread coconut ( for 100% raw folk - you can make this by using a special tool and shredding pieces of coconut meat and then drying it.. I am a bit lazy for all that and buy it..I am sure its not 100% raw - but I am not going to get unbent about it.)
1 handful of cashews
1 orange - pith removed, seeded and cut into small pieces.
handful of sesame seeds

toss together and allow time for ingredients to get to know each other and serve with forks to let everyone have a go!!

breaking the 100% today

Ok - so I am starting out a bit topsy turvey today - There is a new cafe just opened and I have decided to break the 100% RAW to go there. Now before you freak out - its a Vegan place - which has had rave reviews since it opened last week. The Loving Hut is gorgeous and I can see it as a favourite hang out. I had the Vietnamese rolls - nearly raw - for starters and a rice dish for mains... and a chocolate NOTcheesecake ( made from a tofu product) which has to be tasted to be believed.

It was really nice - but I am now feeling a bit heavy and yick - even though it was vegan food.... AND its really cheap... so if you are in Brisbane - check it out....


Started this morning off with a green smoothie - made with a mix of lettuce leaves and banana and some fruit salad left overs.. I def think my tastes are changing as this was really nearly too sweet to drink. more greens are needed me thinks..

Mid morning I had a cup of gold - my organic coffee and raw milk - oh I am in heaven... and an apple.

Lunch was a green salady thing - good old left overs - my almond dip from a few days ago was the dressing - to that I added cut up tomato's and spinach leaves. I tossed and left for half an hour to meld the flavours.. pretty yummy.

Afternoon tea was a carrot, apple and celery juice. The kids love helping out making the juice -and Morgan begs for this juice all the time.. He is so good with this.

And dinner - well - that's above.... As Age says - its the best choice for your outcome. Vegan is a step from raw - so even the notcheesecake left me feeling unclogged and lighter than a normal one would have.

I'll be going back there on Tuesday for a girls lunch - but I think will stick with one of their salads..

You can't mix the two

I am not sure if it’s a reaction to my indiscretions yesterday or the fact I have tried to mix cooked and raw food today – but I am feeling pretty flat and gross.

I started the day off with a berry and spinach smoothie. For lunch we had a light salad – I made it a bit fo fun for the kids –making the ingredients into a vege man. THe zuccini and carrots were peeled into long thin strips and made them really fun to eat. The tomatos are a heritage type we get in our organic box - a black tomato - still tastes great -but a bit wierd looking.

I had resisted the boiled sweet potato salad from yesterday – but looking at the huge bowl of it the fridge today , thought I’d revamp it as a side for lunch. Age had fried a lot of onions on the BBQ – so these yummy caramelized offerings went into the salad – as well as a can of mixed lentils and beans. Everyone had eaten the feta cheese out of it – so there wasn’t any of it to be tempted with. I have posted the photo and recipie on another site here.

After a cup of tea for afternoon tea, I didn’t really feel like much – so made the kids dinner and just drank water and nibbled on some carrot sticks I had been cutting up for the kids.

Hope I feel better tomorrow..

Going Green

I know I have been too much fruit - but it just seems to be a much easier thing to eat - no fuss, no hassle. In the past we have made elaborate Raw dinners - the angel hair pastas, soups, ravioli and even a raw pizza.

I am going with what I feel like at the moment - and to be honest can't be bothered with all of that...Its not the whole raw thing - I just get into a funk with preparing food sometimes and wish someone else could do it for a while.

To compensate the lack( relative) of greens, I am going to have green smoothies for each meal in the next few days. I am loving my tomato, sprout, olive and capers salad - so will go with that as well. I am including more greens into the green smoothie to get the content up higher.

I had guests today - so it was a good time to bring out a few of the things I have been making - so we tested the crackers and tomato dip, munched on heaps of the cereal.

From past experience too, I know you just get bored with everything - so need to pep it up a bit.

I made a choc cherry pie I found online and boy is it rich! I really tried hard to stick with what the recipe asked for - but drew the line with the coconut oil. I halved the amount - and boy howdy I reckon you could halve the amount again. Its very overpowering. A friend tasted it - and having had my chocolate mousse before - said that I should stick with my own recipe.

Our wonderful blender has died ( well the blades need replacing) and I am stuck with a ...breville - (argggg) - so the filling wasn't as smooth as I know it could be.

Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake

makes two mini spring form cakes or one 8 inch one.
Crust:
1 cups cashews
4 dates
½ cup raisins
a little apple juice
Filling:
2 cups almonds, soaked 2 – 4 hours, drained
1/3 cup raw agave or yacon syrup
3 dates
¼ cup water
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup raw cocoa powder

Crust directions:
Grind the nuts and add the raisins and juice- process until the mixture sticks together when gently pressed between your fingers. Press into the bottom of your spring form pans. Place in the freezer while you make the filling.

Filling :
blend well all ingredients till smooth. More dates will give it a sweeter taste – so add to your taste. Fresh or frozen cherries can be folded into this as you spoon it into the pan.

Decorate with chopped cherries – or make a cherry sauce by blending with a little water and spoon over before serving... or serve with cashew cream ( soaked cashews blended with a little water and vanilla essence)

No Meat for Me!!

We had a dear friends milestone birthday party this weekend, set in gorgeous Bunya Mountains at an exquisite restaurant. I had made the decision not to stress about being raw that night – and just eat sensibly. First we were served a warm bunya nut gluten free bread with a spicy tomato salsa. Probably the best gluten free bread I have ever had too – soft and really lovely – I only had one slice though. Mains were an alternate drop of chicken or beef – which both looked and smelt divine. I ate the steamed veges – crisp and scrummy and then attacked the beef casserole – but only after a few mouthfuls had to stop. It was the most weird, uncanny feeling – I was hungry – it smelt and looked great – but every mouthful I had my stomach warned me not to as it would throw up any second. I tried a bit of the chicken and although again – it looked incredible and smelt better – it was definite no way. Desert were tiny morsels of a variety of deserts – tiny tiny cheesecake, choc mouuse, sticky date pud, choc mud cake and ice-cream. I had a morsel of each – but then handed it over to the kids. I do have to admit I had about 4 glasses of red wine through the night.

I have done this “raw’ thing a few times but have never been hit like this before. I can’t even say that its an identity shift as I have no issues with killing for meat etc. I just physically couldn’t eat it. Anyways – back on track – I do need to eat more veges as I am blissing out on fruit – but need to just keep trying – and do better everyday.

Fab Salads

The weekend here and we have been booked into camping - its a monthly committment we have made as a family.

We made up some green smoothies and put them in plastic bottles and kept them cool in the plug in esky we have - sadly it only works when the car is on - but its great on long trips - then it just works as a normal esky.

This is a great knock up salad I made and it was totally YUM and good because the ingredients don't go totally manky out of the fridge.

mini tomatos cut in halves
mung beans - good handfuls
capers
olives
sprouts
lucern sprouts
corn - cut off cob
fresh basil just ripped into pieces

get your hands into it and toss it and leave for about half an hour to let flavours infuse.

This is a pici of our "picking box" - it really shows that whatever the parents model - is where the kids are lead. We had guacamole ( a favourite here) and a selection of cut veges and sprouts as well as vege crackers - and I also included some rice crackers and Rice cakes. We let the kids go and it was like watching a swarm of locusts consuming everything in its pathway. I am so proud of them!

Here we are

Well - here we are - about to set out on a journey to health. We have been doing some transitioning foods for a few days now and about to set off into ( hopefully) 100% raw every day - or as close to it as we can.

We all have weight to shed and for our bodies to be reshaped - so out outcomes are not numbers on the scales - but inches off the body parts and detox and cleansing..

here goes!!