Sugar Cookies and Brownies.......

I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so having something Raw to munch on hand is a must. I find that if i do not keep ready made snacks in the cupboard then I will eat anything, which is not a good thing.

I find that somethings the combinations of some Raw Recipes yields a result that is nothing like the real thing it was meant to resemble and sometimes an ingredient will over power the whole dish. I created this batter to have a very mild taste to it. This way you can manipulate it to your tastes. Add some chopped dried fruit or cacao nibs, or I like I dis some Cacao powered for an out of this world brownie.

Raw Sugar Cookie Batter
2 cups Raw Soaked Cashews
2 TBS water
1 cup frozen Dates
1 tsp Vanilla

Using frozen dates keeps them from gumming up your food processor or blender. toss your frozen dates in the blender/food processor and whirl until chopped finely. In your food processor add your cashews, water, and pulse until chopped finely. Add your dates and vanilla and run your food processor until you have a well combined paste that is smooth and well combined.

Now you can stop here and put teaspoonfulls on your dehydrator tray and call it a day. These make a great mild sugar cookie like bites.

BROWNIES-
Or you can add 1/4 cup of cacao powder and whirl it up to make the best Raw Brownies you have ever tasted. Once dehydrated they even get crunchy edges like brownies. just spread about 1/2 inch think on your dehydrator tray. dehydrate until firm enough to cut, cut into squares an then dehydrate over night. you will want to keep these in the fridge because they are ooey gooey in the middle.

Or maybe some dried coconut, dried bananas, and dried pineapple for a pina colada flavor.... The sky is the limit.

Raw Cheese

Ok I admit I am a cheese-aholic. I find nothing better than warm gooey melted cheese. but lets get really its not good for me, or anyone for that matter. But i still needed a good raw substitute for my raw pizzas etc. So today I made a nice savory cheese that I think will fill the bill for anything. This cheese is a bit firmer than the ones I have tried in the past, which makes it sliceable. you can add ingredients and take away them to change the flavors. I did mine with a bit of garlic, because I love the stuff! You can make yours with out for a more mozzarella or cream cheese type.

Raw Cheese

1 Cup Soaked Cashes or Macadamia Nuts
1/4 Cup filtered water
3 TBS of Kambucha (Plain not flavored unless you want a fruity cheese.
3 TBS Olive oil
Juice from 1/2 lime
1/4-1/2 tSP salt to taste.
Optional 1/4 TSP garlic Powder
1/4 Cup Irish Moss Gel ( you can buy this or make you own by following this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lGEl_HBtPs )

Add everything except your olive oil, kumbucha, and water to your blender. Turn your blender on low and slowly add your water, kumbucha, and then olive oil. you may find you need a bit more to get it to blend depending on your blender. I use a Oster beehive, so I don't have the power that those using a Blendtec or Vitamix dose. Once your done blending this put it in a container that has a little olive oil rubbed on the inside and refrigerate until firm.

Un-cooking day...

Today I filled my dehydrator with raw chocolate cookies, Faux Cheeze Its crackers. It works so much better if I have easy snack foods to grab when a craving or those late night hunger pains hit.

I also played with Irish moss today. Wow that stuff thickens up like crazy! I am a big fan of gummy bears so this is tonights project to figure out! ;)

Back....

I don't know how many are actually reading my blog, but in July I lost my pregnancy. i do no think this was Raw related, well because I had stopped eating Raw.

Interestingly I am preggo again. we were not trying and had actually decided on permanent birth control when we found out. I am determined to be completely raw this pregnancy and at 4+ weeks pregnant I start a new.

Today was a blissfull day. Yesterday i drove up to Flagstaff, AZ to visit my brother. On the way home we decided to drive through Sedona, its my favorite place ever! Sedona has a huge Raw Food community and I was lucky enough to stop by The Chocolate Tree Cafe http://www.chocolatreecafe.com/! It is really neat and had apple trees with organic apples growing in the front.
I picked up a yummy green smoothie and some Irish Moss. Its nasty looking stuff and makes me want to gag from the look of it, but its supposed to be great for deserts.

Chocolate Milk, umm ahem Mylk

My husband who thought he was helping out brought home a gallon of Chocolate milk, ok it was organic. But come on, really? Bringing home Chocolate milk with a pregnant woman in the house is asking for trouble.

So to cure my newest craving I came up with a chocolate milk recipe. Because I am struggling with my fasting numbers I tried not to make it too sweet. You can add more Agave as needed.

16 Oz purified water
1/4 cup Raw Almonds
1 tsp of Raw Cacao
1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp of Agave

Toss it all in your blender and let it rip! Blend until smooth.

And the results are ... yummy!

Bummer....

Good Grief! Can I not catch a break? Fasting number this morning, 120! This was even after exercising for an hour last night, taking cinnamon before bed and eating a handful of almonds for protein. What a bummer!

The funny thing? For breakfast I had a bowl of fruit, 1 hour later my blood sugar was 129. Just a strange mystery to me. Well heres hoping tomorrow goes better.Off to go take a walk and contemplate my plan of attack! I will beat those fasting numbers I will!javascript:void(0)

Diabetes and Pregnancy

To be honest I fell off the raw wagon and went to eating a SAD diet again. SAD is standard American Diet. I got sick off of eating some sunflower seeds and skipped going back to raw.

As non-pregnant, I remained borderline diabetic. As pregnant I am now fully in trouble. My biggest problem is getting my fasting numbers down. I am averaging between 120 to as high as 147 in the mornings. My daytime numbers are in the "acceptable range" but they are talking about putting me on insulin. This alone scared me into wanting to go back on the Raw diet.

So while I have been doing it half way recently. Today is my first day completely raw again. Wish me luck! I will give you a low down of what i eat on a daily basis to help anyone else who is on a raw journey as well.

My fasting Blood sugar today was 137, my A1C as of Monday was 5.8, Blood Pressure was 123/90

Breakfast today was a Green Smoothie with flax and a handful of walnuts. I am still taking my prenatel vitamins. I know this is controversial to some, but I am unable to afford Organic veggies, so I feel its important. I am also taking 3,000 IU of vitamin D a day.

Lunch was a spinach salad with avacados, garlic, tomatoes, and walnuts.

Dinner another spinach salad with pico de gallo and avacado.

Snacks today were Almonds, Banana with raw almond butter.

I bought some Oputina fruit at the ranch market yesterday that are supposed to be good at lowering blood sugar so I am planning to eat one of those tonight before bed along with some more almonds for protien.

I lost the bet.....

Last night began the drama that ended in complete shock today.

All I wanted to do was go to bed. First I had to make the bed, I hadn't quite put the fresh sheets on the bed and it was getting late. I tromped upstairs to throw the sheets on the bed so I could snuggle in bed and read my book.

Of course my lovely wonderful husband who could care less about clean sheets was plopped in the center of the bed with his laptop.

I whined for him to get up for a moment so his exhausted wife could make the bed.

This started the endless teasing from him. Rather than give up I told him I would make the bed right over top of him if he didn't move.

This is when the first bet came.

"I bet you can't." he grinned at me.

"I will too and I can." I growled at him.

"I'd like to see you try." He laughed.

"I will!!" I grew more and more irate by the moment.

I grabbed the sheets and I made that bed right over top of him! Threw on the pillows and blanket and plopped my self on top of him.

"SEE I TOLD YOU I WOULD!"

The next comment floored me.

"Baby, are you pregnant? Your late and really emotional right now" He got even more of a kick out of this, because this made me even more upset.

Fast Forward to this morning. I can't remember what it was, but I apparently was acting more irrational than I was the night before. My husband kept teasing that I was pregnant and glowing and how proud he was of him self for knocking me up, oh yes I was his little conquest!

This of course led to my next bet.

"I am not pregnant and I will prove it! I bet you a 100 bucks I am not pregnant!" I howled in dismay and I grabbed my purse and zipped out the door in my PJ's to get a pregnancy test.

I was going to prove that man wrong! I raced to the store right when they were opening up, grabbed the first pregnancy test I could find, and marched to the counter.

I was met with a knowing grin of the clerk to which I responded to by rolling my eyes.I grabbed my bag and zipped home.

I rushed through the door and straight to the bathroom with my husband calling after me..

"Honey you don't need that test I already know your pregnant!"

GRRRR!

I was never so happy to pee on a test in my life. I would prove that man wrong.

I set the test on the counter and watched and waited and my pee wicked up that little stick. Pee which is normally so gross had my full attention at that moment.

Then I saw it, one line and then two. WHAT!! HE WAS RIGHT!!! I screamed. I thought he would come running with me screaming, he didn't. I peeked my head out the door to see him laughing.

So he won the bet and here I am.

I am going to stay Raw for my Pregnancy. It will be an interesting journey. There is very little information out there on Raw Pregnancies. Wish me luck!

Blendtec is amazing!

We are now a distributor for Blendtec blenders http://www.blendtec.com?affiliateid=296854 #RAWFoods
. As many of you know i have been on the Raw Foods Diet and have already lost 16 pounds in 19 days and have improved my health greatly. I have signed my company up to be a distributor for Blendtec blenders, http://www.blendtec.com/categories/blenders?affiliateid=296854

Please this is not a sales pitch by any means, so don't run out an buy a blender becasue of me. If you are looking for an amzing blender to start a raw food diet, or even if your not because these blenders can grind wheat in them too! Check them out. They also have wheat grinders and mixers too! If you love the new iPad watch how well it blends in these blenders Don't try this at home~

Addictive Kale Chips

I had a hard time believing that Kale could actually be addictive. I was totally wrong! This is the yummiest thing on the planet. I love experimenting with recipes so here is my version.

Cheesy Raw Kale Chips

1/2 cup filtered water
1/4 cup olive oil
2 TBS Nama Shoyu
2 TBS nutritional Yeast
1/2 TSP Sea Salt
3 TBS Cashew Butter
1 garlic clove
2 bunches of dinosaur Kale

#1 Rinse your Kale in cold water.
#2 Cut the Kale from the Stems and tear into 3 inch pieces and set aside in a bowl.
#4 In a blender combine the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
#5 Put contents of the blender on your kale and massage into the kale with your hands. I then let the bowl rest for about 10 minutes and come back and massage and toss them to coat again.
#5 Spread evenly on your dehydrators trays and dry at 115 until crisp.Times will vary depending on the humidity in your local and your dehydrator, but mine too about 3 hours.
#6 hide them, because even the non-raw food inhabitants will devour these.
#7 Think about tripling the recipe next time so you actually get more than one. ;)

Have fun and remember, Smile it makes people wonder what you've been doing!

Allergic reaction!

I always knew I had a problem with wheat, bu did not realize it was this bad until tonight! My husband brought home pizza and it was calling to me in all its cheesy goodness and I caved and had ONE slice. With in 1 minute my throat was itchy and started to swell! I had to take some benadryl to get it to calm down. Now as my husband says, "Mi Es-Stommochoooooooo It hurts!" Never again! I will not do that to my self again!

Chili Lime Chips

Being a fan of spicy foods I have found that many recipes that I have come across of the whole 5 days I have been eating raw have been somewhat bland. Craving some chips to eat with my raw guacamole, I came up with the these lovelies....

Chili Lime Chips
 2 Medium Zucchini
1 lime
1/2 tsp garlic powder ( I know this may not be totally raw but work with me here)
1/8-1/4 tsp of Cayenne Pepper (more if you like it hot, less if you like it mild)
1/2 tsp of Sea Salt

Slice Zucchini about 1/8 inch or so think. Juice lime into a bowl and then toss zucchini in lime juice until coated and most of the juice is absorbed. Sprinkle on garlic, Cayenne, and sea salt and toss again to coat. Dehydrate in your dehydrator until dried. About 6-8 hours depending on what you use.
Serve with a big bowl of guacamole and your set to watch your favorite game or Fiesta!

Accountability

This blog is well a record of my journey on a Raw foods Diet. Most likely the only way to keep me accountable as I am known to start all sorts of Diets and fail miserably. Hmm there was the Cabbage Soup Diet, that come with being starved and lots of gas! The Atkins Diet, being a former vegetarian this cam e with tons of guilt. Ohh the ever popular grape fruit diet in high school, yes girls lets starve ourselves and eat grapefruit, until one of my friends decided that a bagel only diet would be much better. Yup you guessed where that one ended up. Then those lovely shake diets, ahh those were fun, yes you too can loose weight by drinking sugary shakes. Blech!

So as much fun as diets were I really gave up on my eating habits after having my 6th baby (yes #6) that pregnancy was a high risk one and I ate very carefully. I didn't gain more than 15 pounds and was pretty proud of my self! Of course walking out of the hospital at 220 pounds wasn't exactly a great achievement.

We ended up moving in  with my in-laws for a bit and I started eating what they ate. It was easy and tasted good. White bread, coke, red meat, cookies cakes pies. I mean my mother in law had full blown diabetes and if she was allowed to eat like this so could i right? Wrong.

I started getting sicker and sicker. I have struggled with my Adrenals for several years. To the point collapse and hospitalization sick. Not much fun. I had to take 3 medications ust too keep me going during the day. Keep me going, just to keep me awake. I was grouchy just felt like crap.

About 2 months ago I had a miscarriage and got even sicker afterwards. To the point where I again was in the hospital 3 times. I was diagnosed with diabetes on top of my Addison's. I left the hospital at 7 am the last time sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Once I was home in a late night search I stumbled upon this video and just about died! I looked like a pregnant walrus. Not only am I pretty sure I am not a walrus, I was most definitely not pregnant, in fact my "baby" was over a year old!  I still have a hard time watching this video right nowI was determined than night to figure out a solution.

In my late night google searches I stumbled upon the Raw Foods Diet. I saw before and after pictures of people who not only lost a dramatic amount of weight, but gained back their health. After watching this documentary, Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days I was convinced that the Raw diet was what I needed. Like any sane person with diabetes I gorged my self on all sorts of treats on New Years knowing that I was starting the most restrictive diet of my life. I was out right scared.

Well that was 5 days ago. I have found I love eating raw! I feel so much better, I have no cravings, I no longer need to take my medications, and while I have not weighed my self, I feel like I am loosing weight!

So join me anyone out in cyberspace who wants to watch me through my trials and errors, enjoy a laugh or two, and maybe even cry a little.

So at my start on January 1 2011 I was
5 foot 4 inches tall
235 pounds
I have a blood pressure of 139/90
Mt last Fasting insulin was 120

Lets see what I can change in 30 days!