Showing posts with label raw food recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raw food recipes. Show all posts

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Raw Food Recipe : Brownie Bites & Update



Oh Dear Blog:
My apologies for neglecting you since this summer. Truth is, I have been doing more living, and less time on-line and bloggin’.
Wow! I had no idea that Zavi being mobile would need so much of my time to the point that I wouldn’t even have time to give you a quick update. So here it is. The Update and of course a lovely recipe just in time for the Holidays. Chewy-fudgy-Brownie bites!

Zavier is now a year young! We celebrated by going to Au Lac Restaurant in Fountain Valley Ca.
What an amazing little man he is! At about 1o-ish months he began taking his first steps! Since then he has been helping me with things like sweeping, mopping the floor with his favorite fruit and of course reorganizing the lower cupboards and drawers in each room. He absolutely loves the access to clean water found in the toilet and thinks the stick with the brush is a fabulous tool to bless things around the house.
If he can reach the baskets of seasonal fruits in the kitchen pantry shelves, he will pick out the perfect juicy one (persimmons this time of year) and have an elaborate ceremony all over the kitchen tile floor and himself. He really knows how it’s done and with such passion!
We purchased a high chair off of craigslist.org which was a brilliant purchase I must say! It is an Eddie Bower all wood high chair with a clever second table design for quick clean up without having to remove the child from the chair. Because we dine at a low to the ground table (similar to a large coffee table) with cushions around it I at first did not see the point of getting a tall chair for him to look down on us while we eat. We have a routine now that Zavi seems to be a huge fan of. We place him in his wooden throne and feed him the green smoothie while we stand near him and sip ours. This way we can all be together enjoying our meal at relatively the same eye level, connecting. When we take time to connect through the eyes or through close conversation with Zavi I have noticed makes a big difference in how he acts and behaves. Zavi sits calmly and talks to us (in his language) and feels “included” which is important.
Not only does Zavi sit still while we feed him his green smoothie every morning; it gives us a few moments of uninterrupted time to clean up after his reorganizing adventures and fresh fruit sacrifices.
Now onto the food. There is one recipe in particular I want to share today because I have given it out at least five times in the past two weeks for treat ideas friends can take to Holiday gatherings.
Brownies are one of the simplest recipes and are incredibly decadent!

Fudge Brownies / bites Serves however many are closest to the plate
2 c walnuts
2 c packed of medjool dates pitted
Pinch of pink salt
½ tsp cinnamon (more if you wish)
1/2c -3/4 c cacao powder ( the more you use, the more chocolaty it will be)


Step 1: In an emergency Must-Need-Brownie-Now situation you may omit this soaking the walnuts step. There may be a slight bitter flavor because of the walnuts not being sprouted, but it will still be delicious.
Two days before brownie time, place walnuts in water and soak 6-8 hrs. Rinse well then place in dehydrator and dry at 118° until all moisture is removed. Apx 1 full day.
Ding so will get rid of the “bitter taste” or tannins walnuts have when not sprouted.
Step 2: Place all ingredients into food processor and pulse several times until brownie consistency is reached.
Step 3: Using a small ice cream scoop or TB measurer, form brownies into fun shapes. You may also gently press the brownie mix into a lasagna pan or round torte pan and cut into desired brownie sizes/ shapes.
Place these brownies on a decorative platter and watch them disappear!
Recipe variation: You may press this into a pie pan as chocolate crust!

Enjoy!
Melissa Mango

For 112 more recipes, nab a copy of Melissa’s Ebook here!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Raw Food Recipe: Momma's Oat Meal



Good Morning lovely Momma’s! Today is a cloudy, rainy day in Watsonville California so I’ve decided to make something warming for breakfast.
Oats are sustaining for those who have a long morning like most Mommas, or for super active folks in need of slow burning fuel.
Need to increase breast milk production? This recipe is perfect!
They say oats help prevent cardiovascular disease. I wonder if this is because the people at risk are no longer frying up bacon and eggs in the morning; instead reaching or a bowl of oat meal? Hmmm Maybe the studies show a decrease in disease in people because they are no longer eating the foods that cause the dis-ease.
Anyway, I prefer my oats raw and whole as opposed to the steel cut flat versions found in the fancy packages. I find that they are less “sticky” in the body compared to cooked oats and they don’t leave me feeling sleepy as long as I enjoy them sprouted and raw.
Below is the perfect recipe for a delicious breakfast that warms the heart, prevents cardiovascular issues and boost abundant breast milk production!

Momma’s Oat Meal Raw Style
Serves 3-5 Hot Mommas

4 c soaked whole oat kernels
(soak 2 1/2c for 24-48 hrs) They will almost double in size.
2 c Fresh Thai coconut water
¼ tsp sea salt or pink salt
5TB agave nectar or 3-4 T Raw Honey
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
½ c black raisins folded in last
Step1: In a blender, blend all ingredients except for raisins at medium speed till texture is relatively smooth!
If mixture seems watery, you need to blend a little more. The measurments are perfect! Trust me. =)

Step 2: Once meal is the perfect texture, place in bowls, or in large container for storing then fold in black raisins.
Step 2: Before serving, garnish with walnut pieces, a sprinkle of coconut palm sugar and or fresh banana slices

Kitchen Tip: Preparing a batch of this delicious meal ever few days will help save time when you need a quick breakfast. Portion this out into smaller easy to grab and go containers for yourself or your little ones. Love porridge should last 3 days.
Be aware that this may ferment rather quickly if left out on the counter, so keep refrigerated!

Photo: HorrorShirts.com

Love! \m/ \m/ Melissa Mango

Sunday, February 7, 2010

doing RAW on a budget!

Two dollars for a few apples and eighteen dollars for a jar of almond butter sounds crazy to the average shopper not yet converted to raw. The price of organic produce and raw snacks can be obnoxious and even put a damper on your excitement into raw foods. Yet there is hope! When I first started purchasing foods for my raw food exciteo-prep, my grocery bill tripled which is scary for someone who already doesn’t have a lot of money to eat or set on fire. When I first began playing with raw recipes, I purchased all sorts of expensive foods and in quantities that were even wasteful.

Anything in the produce isle does cost more indeed yet try to look at your food from a new perspective. Instead of viewing your food in how high you can pile it on your plate, put the value in the nutrition and life force it brings to your body. When you are used to buying five, toxic, greasy burgers for the price of two organic raw apples, it can be difficult to see the value at first. By buying foods that do not clog your colon, make your butt bulge, skin erupt, or age you pre-maturely, the fresh raw foods are priceless! The cleaner foods you eat now, the less mess you need to clean up in the body later. What food have better value? Huge plate of processed man made cheap chow or apples straight from Eve’s flawless hands?
Have fun: Go ahead and buy all the fresh foods you wish to experiment with! Help yourself to the snackie-snacks offered in the raw food section. In the beginning of your raw food journey, there will be much to taste, enjoy and savor. Eventually there will come a point when you find balance and narrow it down to the nutritional and most delicious essentials, thinning your grocery bill back down to a more realistic expense.

Smoothe transition: Once our bodies get used to eating nutrient-dense food, our bodies run much more efficiently and need less food in portion and weight. For example the size of salad I ate when I first became raw was Gi-normous compared to the present. Back then, I ate what most families shared at the dinner table for holiday. Today, realizing that what I eat is far more nutritionally sound; I eat much less. My body is also cleaner (detoxified), there for utilizing what fuel (food) I do put in. I get much more out of my food because it is alive and organic and my body was able to utilize all that was consumed. Not to mention like mine, your body too will become more efficient as a result of being cleaner from years of sticking with the raw food program.

My transition and tailoring of food was gradual, so it was much easier on my psyche! Psychologically, you may feel that you need more food to be satisfied and that is okey. Just be aware that sometimes we eat more than we truly need.
Be reali-istic: By making major changes with foods or portions too quick, we can put a damper on the whole point and cause an internal conflict; even discontent. Do what feel best and that you can stick to constantly and make gently upgrades as you gain more momentum. Remember what your health goals are, the reasons for making the change and take pride in that you are doing better every day. Strive for consistency rather than perfection.
Budgeting more conservatively and enjoying the process may take time, so do not hurry to scale down your food for the sake of saving money unless that is comfortable with you. Expect to pay more in the beginning, and know that just like a newly tuned car, your engine will burn much cleaner and waste less. Less is more! Below are ways you can get more!
Get more Tip #1: Start or join a CSA in your local area. Getting fresh produce from local farmers is very economical and beneficial in all ways. Buying produce with friends or forming a co-operative can also help keep your costs minimal. Farmer’s markets are a great place for inexpensive produce as well.
Top secret Get more tip #1.5: When I first began eating raw foods, I would visit my local co-op’s composting bin in the back of the store for produce they were tossing out. Most of the produce was just fine just not perfect enough for the average shopper! I found pounds of juice able produce that equals pitchers of fresh juice that equals nutrients! Find out who is in charge in the produce department; make them a magnificent raw dessert and presto! You have a friend on your side and your in! They will set aside all kinds of delicious foods their store would normally toss out or let you know when the best dumpster diving time.
Get more tip #2: When I lived in Arizona, a friend of mine would walk the neighborhood scouting out trees with fresh oranges, grapefruit, lemons, olives, pomegranate, and persimmons even large gardens! I would knock on the door and offer to rake their lawn or do some yard work in exchange for fresh fruits. Ten times out of ten, they would say..”naw..just help yourself!” There are plenty of fresh, free foods growing in your neighborhood if you just look! There are even wild greens that you can snack on such as dandelion, malva, lambs quarters, persaline, and mint . You will never starve! Just have to think outside of the store!


Just recently I was surfin’ the net and found a fun site to be inspired by! Here is a woman who is proving you can eat fresh prepared raw food for $10. A day or less! Take a look!
She is not chewing on celery sticks for dinner. She has full on recipes and pics too!
http://rawon10.blogspot.com/


I will do this same experiment for a week using my own recipes and get back to all of you on the results!


\m/ \m/ Melissa Mango






Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Raw Food Recipe: Miso-Lemon Vinnie

What’s the secret to eating more salad by the truck loads? A tasty dressin’ ya’ll! I eat way more beautiful alkalizing greens when I have a nice light dressing to kiss the leafy lettuces with. This dressing is easy to whip up and stores well in the fridge even if you are flying solo in your household. Why buy some shwaggy dressing when you can make your own so easily? Enjoy!


Raw Food Recipe: Miso-Lemon Vinnie Yields 1 ½ c

½ c pure water
½ c cold pressed olive oil
3 medium garlic cloves minced fine (thru press)
2 TB mellow light miso
2 TB lemon juice
1/3 tsp pink salt
1/3 tsp course black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Gently blend on low low low or Wisk all ingredients well. Place in glass bottle and store in fridge.
Shake well before serving. Dressing will keep for 7 days.

Kitchen tip: I recommend saving a previously used glass dressing bottle or buying a nifty-decorative bottle from a second hand store to keep your home made dressings in. By keeping your dressing easily accessable and in a inspiring container, you make it fun and easy to enjoy salad and more salad! Yes please!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Raw Food Recipe: Omega La la latte'

They may be tiny, but they are mighty MIGHTY! : Flax and Hemp! While it’s not technically a grain, the flax seed has a similar vitamin and mineral profile to grains, while the amount of fiber and antioxidants in flax leaves grains in the dust. Additionally, flax seed is very low in carbohydrates, making it ideal for people who limit their intake of starches and sugars. And its combination of healthy fat and high fiber content make it a great food for weight loss and maintenance -- I have found that flax seed has been a key to feeling satisfied after healthier and lighter meals.
Hulled hemp seeds have an ideal balance of Omega 3 and 6 for sustainable human health, it has a full amino acid spectrum meaning it provides complete protein, and it has a massive trace mineral content - truly one of nature's superfoods at 33% protein.
Flax and hemp are both rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which aid in development of the baby's brain and nervous system as well as mother's well being. Omega-3 fatty acids are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are indispensable for human growth and development, yet are not synthesized by humans. These must be obtained from the diet, specifically from either fish or flaxseed oil. However, a "standard American diet" is severely deficient in these critical nutrients.
This deficiency in omega-3 intake is compounded by the fact that after a woman's first pregnancy, her maternal stores become depleted, rarely returning to pre-pregnancy levels. Subsequent pregnancies continue this depletion.

This frothy warm beverage I came up with in hopes to get in large amounts of nutrients without sacrificing flah-vah! Often I am not hungry for a meal, yet a power packed drink is just the thing my body needs to keep up with the demands of breastfeeding! Enjoy!

Omega La-LA Latte' serves 1 momma
1 bag of Decaffeinated Good Earth Herbal Tea. (Sweet & Spicy)
1 1/2 TB Morning Jing powder by Shaman Shack
3 big and juicy medjool dates pitted
1/2-1 TB golden flax seeds
2 TB Hulled hemp seeds
1 tsp vanilla extract
tiny pinch of pink salt

Step 1: Steep tea bag in 2cups of hot water for 5 minutes, pour tea into blender.
Step 2: Grin flax seeds in coffee grinder.
Step 3: Place all ingredients into blender and blend for 30 seconds.

Recipe Note: The flax in this recipe will thicken the drink. if you are weirded out by thicker drinks, just use 1/2 TB flax seeds. Also, be sure to grind them fresh for optimla nutrition!

Pour in your favorite cup and enjoy! I like to drink my hot beverages in this snazzy coffee cup that is NOT paper! This fantastic cup is ceramic with a flexie lid and can be used again and again and again!
Enjoy 112 raw vegan recipe in Melissa's E-book HERE

Morning Jing: Get the best protein powder out there with Ho sho Wu and other super foods HERE
















Babies know best!