5-24-08 Raw Eggplant Ravioli

5-24-08 Raw Eggplant Ravioli
Originally uploaded by darnlucky

I got adventurous today, and broke out the Ronco dehydrator again. I have been eyeing the raw eggplant ravioli recipe over at Vegan Menu: Raw Eggplant Ravioli Recipe

So, this morning I got up and made my own version of it with what I had in the house. I am so envious of the mandoline that tofu666 uses! I had to cut my eggplant down in circumfrence to make it work with my (ahem, cheap ass!) mandoline. So, my ravioli were not as big and lucious as they could have been. But the flavor? Wonderful!

Also, I made a really simple orange pepper sauce to top it off with instead of the alfredo, since I knew that Basil would like the pepper sauce more. I served it over julienned carrots with a little sprinkling of spinach on top for garnish.

Overall, I think it's a great raw meal, and one that I want to try again. Next time I will use two pieces of my small eggplant to make one ravioli, so that they can be a little more formidable. Oh, and I misread the recipe and used the juice of one entire lemon in the marinade which made my ravioli kind of tangy. I actually really liked that, and don't think I'd change it the next time I make this dish.

Mmm. Mmm. Good. I scarfed it down in a nano second.

Fat Straws

One of the things that I demand of my green smoothies is that they past the straw test. You know the one. The smoothie has to be thick enough to support a straw stuck strategically in at a perfect angle without touching the side of the glass. This morning's smoothie passed with flying colors. A handful of almonds, two handfuls of spinach, and tons of pineapple, both fresh and frozen. And while I am not promoting any sort of criminal activity on this website, I will give you a tip on the three places that have the best and fattest straws that just happen to be out in convenient little dispensers for the entire world to enjoy. Moe's Southwest Grill ("Welcome to Moe's!") has extra long red fat straws like the one you see pictured here. Starbucks provides deliciously fat green extra long straws, perfect for frozen treats. And, of course, McDonald's (dear God, don't eat the food, just grab a straw!) is famous for its fat red and white striped straws, which might not be as long as the others but are still worth noting.

In the interest of not being a greedy pig, I do recommend rinsing out your fat straw and reusing it until you inevitably bend it, chew it, or wear a hole into one side. But if you happen to be near one of the three fine businesses listed above, you may want to stockpile a straw or two. After you've purchased something, and thus establish your inalienable right to pillage the condiment bins, of course. I'm just saying.

The Breakfast Cakes

Remember yesterday how I didn't have a picture of Ani's Coconut Breakfast Cakes with the orange syrup? Well, here they are. I forgot that I had another serving of them in the fridge for this morning's breakfast. The recipe makes 4 good sized pancakes, and I can scarf two down for breakfast. Actually, today I had them for brunch, and added a few dried cranberries on top. Delish!

Also, the very sweet (and might I add quite HUNKY!) Joel Ohdner has a new eBook available on his website at http://www.joelsfood.com/. I was lucky enough to get a little sneak peek of it. Let me tell you, there are some desserts in that eBook that will make you smack your granny and tell her to get out of the kitchen! You definitely want to bookmark his site and pick up a copy of the eBook.

Puppetji

5-20-08 Raw Food Survivor :)

5-20-08 Raw Food Survivor :)
Originally uploaded by darnlucky

Wow, I just made the Coconut Breakfast Cakes with Orange Vanilla Syrup out of Ani Phyo's Ani's Raw Kitchen. I really meant to stop and take a picture, but that would have meant putting the fork down long enough to pick up the camera. Wasn't going to happen! Sweet, delicious, and very filling. The perfect thing for a white knuckler who woke up really hungry.

5-19-08 Lunch

5-19-08 Lunch
Originally uploaded by darnlucky

Oh, yeah, you know you want some of that delicious orange pepper flax seed dressing I whipped up. Note to self, do not like snow peas raw. Way too bitter.

Day 24 of 100 Day Raw Food Challenge: Jicama Fries

Today I make Ray's Jicama Fries from www.GoneRaw.com and they are delicious!

Props to recipe creator Ray from GoneRaw. Here is a link directly to the recipe. Ray's Jicama Fries

There is something funky going on with my video camera! My theory? Demon possession!

UPDATE! I have been informed that it is pronounced Hick-a-ma, and not the redneck Southern way that I repeatedly say it in this video! Forgive the Bunny. She is a HICK as in Jicama! OMG, HOW EMBARASSING!

Day 8 of 100 Day Raw Food Challenge: Sunflower Power Balls

I'm on day 8 of my Raw Food Challenge. Spend the weekend in Atlanta, and had dinner at the Flying Biscuit Cafe. Then came home on Sunday and made sunflower power balls out of the Rawsome Cookbook. Delicious!

Raw Food Diet Observation

I've noticed that over the past few days, everytime I am preparing something to eat, I look at the food and feel like, "Ew. I don't want this. This doesn't look appetizing to me." But then when I start eating, that feeling goes away. The food I've been eating is delicious! I just need to get used to the fact that my life isn't going to be filled with smells that linger throughout the house after the meal is long gone. And that a salad is sometimes going to be the reality of my dinner.

I'm a very creative cook, and I know that I can make meals that look great and taste great. I've even learned a little trick over the last week that is helping me out. When I decide what I'm going to eat, I let it sit out on the counter for a while before preparing it, so that everything I'm eating isn't cold. I even set my guacamole in the window so that the sun would hit it and warm it up a little. It made me feel like I was eating something rich and warm.

I know I'm losing weight. I can feel it in my face. I'm proud of myself for making it through the first week! 92 glasses of carrot juice on the wall...

Raw Almond Hummus

Raw Almond Hummus
Originally uploaded by darnlucky

Raw Almond Hummus
1 Cup Soaked Raw Almonds
1/4 Cup Chopped Parsley
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 TBS of Garlic
1/3 Cup Tahini
Sea Salt to Taste

The raw almond hummus turned out to be yummy, and plenty left for my after work snack attack. As you can see, I had lunch at my desk today.

I try not to eat in front of the TV or in front of the computer, so that I don't zone out and wind up eating an entire bag of Doritos. But hey, I'm not eating Doritos! And much to my surprise, last night I even turned down a Diet Coke. I was just about to pour myself a big glass when I thought, "I've eaten nothing but good healthy food all day? Am I really going to wash it all down with a big giant glass of Diet Chemicals?"

That is not to say that my will against the Diet Coke will last for another 96 days. But last night, there was a small victory.

Day 4 of 100 Day Raw Food Challenge- Hummus

I kind of freak out about how long 100 Days really is, and then I make hummus. (Video: 2 minutes)

Day 3 of Raw Food Challenge: Why Soak Your Nuts?

An explanation of why you should soak your raw nuts before eating them.

Juiced

Juiced
Originally uploaded by darnlucky

I'm on Day 3 of my 100 Day Raw Food Challenge, and this morning when Basil left the house, I heard him singing, "97 glasses of wheatgrass on the wall...".

Yesterday was a much better day as far as cravings were concerned. I made guacamole for lunch, and saved some for my after work snack. It was the perfect thing to get me through wind down time without me wanting to go binge on the leftover hamburger that Basil and Beckett had for dinner.

I wasn't tempted to have a burger at dinnertime because I made my famous & amazing kick ass rosemary salad dressing that I have to share with you because OH MY GOD it will change your life. A salad is only as good as the dressing you put on it, my dear.

Beth's Most Amazing Rosemary Dressing
2 TBS Italian Parsley, chopped into tiny tiny pieces
2 TBS Fresh Rosemary chopped into tiny tiny pieces
4 TBS Olive Oil
4 TBS Red Wine Vinegar
4 TBS Rice VInegar
Sea Salt and Pepper to Taste

Combine all ingredients in sealed container, and shake shake shake until blended. Pour over salad, and toss.

This dressing is the same one I use on the Pear Salad over at Lazy Day Gourmet. So, don't think that it can only be used on savory salads. The dressing itself is very savory, but when you throw in pears or apples, it's a flavor sensation.
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I feel like there are a few things that I need to admit up front about my raw food challenge. Like, first of all, I'm not giving up my morning coffee with milk. But I promise to chase it with carrot juice! And I am not investing in a dehydrator or any kitchen equipment that I don't already own. So, I suspect I'll be dipping my quacamole with Wasa crisps instead of raw flax seed crackers on occasion.

I am on a mission to feel better, and am using raw foods as part of that prescription. I am not pretending to be a raw food expert or purist. But, man, am I eating a lot of Bunny food!

Oh, and P.S. I have nothing against dehydrators, and if somebody loaned me one (hint hint, mother!) I would try making crackers and dried stuff, but otherwise, I'm okay without one.

Lunch For Two

Corn & Cucumber Salad
Corn
Gourmet Cucumbers
Red Pepper
Carrots
Olive Oil
Rice Vinegar
Dijon Mustard

Served with side of cucumbers and a Fuji apple.

Starting this 100 Day Raw Food Challenge is interesting in many ways for me. First of all, I have never done anything like this before. And I've never been actually excited about making such a drastic change in my life. I'm hoping to learn more about myself during the next 100 days. And about my relationship with food.

Since I've never eaten this way before, I'm totally clueless about how much food I will actually eat in any given day. So, I'm planning to start out with smaller more frequent trips to the market for fresh goodies. Today for lunch, I used two ears of corn, half a red pepper, one and a half cucumbers, some baby carrots, and an apple to make lunch for myself and Basil.

It's about an hour after lunch, and I'm feeling kind of hungry, so I am noshing on a handful of fruit and nut trail mix that Basil brought home over the weekend.

My main objective is to eat enough to keep me full, so as to not actually slow my metabolism DOWN by making my body think it's going into starvation mode. That might be tricky this week, since my body is used to hamburgers, ice cream, and a steady stream of junk food.

Tonight I am going to whip up some curried cashews, and have a giant leafy green salad. And will stave off hunger with carrots and celery, and of course my beloved cucumbers. Man, I might have to invest in some beano until my system gets used to this! :)

I wonder what this will do for my nightly heartburn. Hmmmm...