Day 12 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: COCONUT CHEESCAKE ON CHOCOLATE CRUST

Going raw is by far the best, the simplest and most nonrestrictive diet I have ever been on. The reason I say this is because I don't feel restricted at all, whereas on other diets I have felt the need to sneak things I wasn't suppose to be eating from time to time. At the end you find yourself back to square one trying another new diet in search for the one where you won't feel that need to binge. Isn't this what yo-yo dieting is all about? When humans feel the need to fight or resist something, the more they feel they need to give in to that temptation or situation. Restriction is a very frustrating feeling. on the raw diet, I don't feel any restriction whatsoever. I feel like I'm eating what I'm suppose to be eating because my body is not craving anything I used to like before, even white chocolate, can you believe that? even white chocolate.

I admit the first few days can be very daring because your body is undergoing this new change and your taste buds have to learn a whole new experience. I used to look at the behaviors of some raw fooders and think they were a little you know what, lol, but now I understand where that passion comes from. It is a passion for life. I've never felt more alive. When I was a vegan I thought I had reached the pinnacle of healthy living (no offense to vegan, veganism is awesome much better than the Standard American Diet) but then I've taken it one step further to being raw and vegan and it is an ethereal experience. I feel like my body is at peace with itself. There is no bickering from brain to stomach, lol or from liver to gut. All my insides are in harmony, no one is nagging their 'neighbor' , they are all brothers and sisters in unity working to provide the best for me. I feel like a queen. I do.

Well, so many people have asked for my coconut cheesecake recipe so here it is.:

Crust:

2 cups of walnuts, soaked and rinsed

1/2 cup raw cacao beans (ground)

1 tbsp agave nectar or raw honey

sprinkle of salt

Process nuts and cacao in food processor with 'S' blade until crumbly and then add salt and agave or honey till it starts to stick together. Press into a pie plate and keep aside.

Filling:

2 cups raw macadamia nuts, rinsed

1/2 cup raw shredded coconut meat (just the white part)

juice of 1.5 oranges

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup raw honey or agave nectar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

dash of salt

Blend everything except shredded coconut until mixture is creamy. If you don't really want to chew on the coconut then blend all together, if not, after mixture is creamy just mix the shredded coconut into it. Spread mixture over crust and freeze for about 2 hours or more if you prefer. serve with blue berry syrup if you choose.

Blueberry syrup:

2 handfuls of fresh blueberries

2 Tbsp of agave nectar

dash of salt

Blend till it's liquefied.

Enjoy!

Day 11 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: G'RAW'NOLA AND ALMOND MILK

Good day folks. I am feeling super today. Woke up bright and early and went for a 20 minute jog. I made myself a great smoothie (from one of the ones below) and then Nina and I made some fresh almond milk and g'raw'nola. Don't forget to scroll all the way down to view our slide show with some of our delicious recipes. I must start by giving you the recipe of my breakfast.

G'raw'nola and Almond Milk:

1 cup almonds (soaked over night)

4 pitted dates

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups f water

Mesh bag or cheese cloth

Blend all the ingredients together till mixture is milky. Strain using a mesh bag or cheese cloth. You will have to milk it like you're milking a cow to get all the almond milk out. Save almond pulp for another recipe later.

For G'raw'nola:

1/2 cup almonds (soaked, dried))

1/2 cup walnuts (soaked overnight and dried)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (Soaked and dried)

1 cup dark raisins

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/4 golden raisins

sprinkle of salt

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Chop in a food processor with 'S' blade till coarse. I like chunks of nuts but you can choose your own consistency. Add almond milk to it and some blueberries or sliced bananas and devour.

Yummy!

Day 10 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: FYR'S MOCK 'CHICKEN' SALAD

It's a wonderful, wonderful life! If you were feeling as good as I am today, you'd be singing that song too. My cravings are gone, cravings for processed foods and cooked foods. When I get hungry and I'm in a grocery store, I don't feel the need to grab a 'nutritious' (even that!) bar and munch as I walk in our out of the store. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! My brain is still trying to wrap itself around the idea that I don't want anything except raw-vegan, live foods. I wake up every morning with a sprint to my feet and don't feel that tired I-just-want-ten-more-minutes-to-sleep effect. When I open my eyes, I am wide awake and ready to tackle the day.

Today I made a delicious green smoothie for breakfast and I can't wait to show and tell you about my very filling lunch. But first, here is my green smoothie recipe:

Strawberry-banana-kale smoothie:

3 ripe baby bananas

1 handful of fresh strawberries

4-5 kale leaves

Juice from 1 orange (freshly squeezed)

1 Tbsp flax seed

1.5 to 2 cups of water

Now, to my delicious lunch which left me full and completely satisfied. Here is the recipe:

My Stuffed Red Bell Pepper: (as pictured above)

1 large red bell pepper (cut open and seeded and set aside)

1/2 cup walnuts

1 tsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1/2 tsp fresh garlic, minced

1 tsp fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 medium size onion, chopped or sliced

1/2 small green pepper

salt to taste

sprinkle of black pepper

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp lemon, freshly squezed

1/2 medium size avocado

Blend everything except red bell pepper in a food processor. Add more salt or some cayenne to taste. Scoop filling and pour into 'cup' of large bell pepper. Enjoy.

Day 9 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: Fresh Garden Salad with raw apple cider vinegar/xtra virgin olive oil for dressing.

I think the world just gained another rawfoodist! I can not believe what is going on in my mind and in my body. How is it possible that I have lost all cravings for cooked food? I feel full and completely satiated on this diet. I figured there is only one reason for that: I am giving my body just what it needs and hence I don't feel the need to want to eat every minute of the day. That is the only logical explanation of my obvious conversion. Everything I put into my mouth completely satisfies me. I feel light and full of energy. This morning I did 46 minutes of Taebo : www.billyblanks.com . My shake for the day was the shake I made on day 1. Please scroll down to see recipe.

I have a whole new perspective about life and eating. I am definitely eating to live and my stomach is no longer the boss of me. Who would have thought this could turn out to be so much fun? not even I. but it is and I hope you can learn to introduce more raw foods into their diets, it makes a whole lot of sense.

Anyway today has been a very busy day. I had to catch up with a lot of work, editing and replying to emails. I found another great site that I'd like to share with you: http://www.therawtable.com/ there is so much to learn and many options and I am dying to try them all. Have a blessed day everyone...

~B.

Day 8 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: Chocolate banana pie

Today I found another reason to love my husband more. Let me tell you a story. six years ago on my 24Th birthday, when I was 5 months pregnant with our daughter, Nina, Rick took me out to one of Atlanta's best, Kava restaurant, to celebrate. After the exquisite fine dinning and great service from the staff we were off to the house where I couldn't wait to open up my birthday gift. Well, I am embarrassed to tell you I was a tad disappointed--even though I didn't show it-- with my gift because it was an expensive Cuisinart food processor. I was hoping for something you know, more romantic and definitely less expensive. But then he told me "Well, this is for when the baby comes and you can make it all these great homemade food." I did use it for Nina's food. She ate only homemade pureed baby food and I was glad then that I had it.

Little did I know that six years later I would find the other dual compartment of that food processor hidden beneath the kitchen shelf and yes, it had the 'S' blade my raw desert asked for. It had been hidden away all that time! It was a great birthday present after all and it took me six years to really appreciate it fully because today, Nina and I made our very first raw desert and boy is it TO-DIE-FOR Delicious, rich and very filling or as Nina said "Mama, this is delicious and nutritious". I love you, Rick and thank you for the best birthday gift ever. It was a great investment after all.

Today is day 8 and as you can tell, I am on top of the world. I wish I had tried this raw food lifestyle many years ago. What a way to live, what great abundance there is in living foods and how blessed I am to have the opportunity to eat all these wonders of nature.

Today's smoothie was my awesome Kale-Panana smoothie. Scroll down to Day 3 to get the recipe.

Here's our Chocolate banana pie recipe:

Ingredients for crust:

1 cup walnuts, soaked for 2 hours, rinsed and dried

1 cup almond, soaked overnight, then rinsed and dried

1/2 raisins or pitted dates (I used raisins, I LOVE raisins)

1/2 cup agave nectar or raw honey

sprinkle of salt

Chop nuts in a food processor with an 'S' blade. Then add remaining ingredients and process to thick and sticky dough. Press dough into 9-10" pie pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling.

Ingredients for Filling:

4 ripe bananas

3 ripe Haas avocados (seeded)

3 Tbsp carob powder

5 Tbsp 100% pure cacao powder

sprinkle of salt

1/2 cup agave nectar or raw honey

1 tsp vanilla extract

Cut banana into thin, round slices and layer on top of crust (cover crust completely with banana slices.)

Add the rest of the ingredients into a food processor with 'S' blade and process till smooth. Then pour filling over banana layer and partially freeze or refrigerate. You now have yourself a guilt-free, delicious and nutritious desert!

~B

Day 7 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: MY CuCuMbER Smoothie

Rise and shine, rise and shine! Hello world, I hope you are feeling just as wonderful this woman typing these words, lol. I feel FABULOUS :-)
Today is a great day for a great cucumber smoothie don't you think? I am amazed that I don't feel hungry at all. Did you know that when you're feeling hungry 90% of the times you are just really thirsty and that a glass of fresh water with slices of lemon would do the trick? Talking of water, I think it is fair to say many of us take water for granted. What I mean is if you're not loving your water and hydrating your body, you are taking water for granted. Someone once told me that they went a week without drinking water because they don't like water. Some people feel the need to add powdered, sugar-packed substances to their water to give it a zest.

Think about those who would do anything just for a glass of water to quench their thirst. For many of them that would be a great breakfast, lunch or supper. They definitely don't take water for granted, they value it like the air they breathe. So when next you shy away from water, think about those children who have none--your gratitude will multiply. You can enhance your water in a healthy way by adding some slices of lemons, oranges or even slices of your favorite fruits. If that is not enough add a dash of stevia (www.sweetleaf.com)to sweeten it.
Before we delve into how important your poop is, here is my cucumber smoothie recipe.

Bernice's cucumber Smoothie

2 bananas
2 golden brown Asian pears (you can use any other type of pears you have)
2 cucumbers
2 kale leaves
2 cups of water

This smoothie is thick and slightly gritty, you will definitely enjoy it even if you're not a cucumber lover.

Did you know your stool can tell you all you need to know about your health? People who are healthy generally don't have offensive smelling stools or gas. When your stool has an offensive smell it usually means your food was not properly or completely digested and so it putrefied and fermented in in your gut. Putrefied and fermented food emits poisonous and very corrosive gases which erode the lining of your stomach and intestines. These gases are strong enough to eat through concrete pipes, think about the damage they do to you. The solution to this is proper food combining. The two common problems with stools are either constipation (compact stools) or diarrhea.

Diarrhea is the body's way of eliminating toxins from the body, so don't try to suppress it with medications unless it is severe. All you need is lots of rest, water and fresh fruit juices.

Constipation is a sign of eating improperly. Your diet may be too low in fiber, water and/or you're eating too many fatty and starchy foods. You can reverse this by doing just the opposite.

The colon is a great health indicator, a clean colon makes a happy person and an unclean colon is breeding ground for disease. Again, like water, do not take your colon for granted. Don't take your health for granted make it your personal business to see that you're doing the best to live an abundant life free of illness and disease.

Arrivederci!

~B

Day 6 (30-Day Green Smoothie Challenge)

ZUCCHINI-LINGUINE Photo from site listed Below.

I will introduce you to many sites with great recipes like this one:

http://goneraw.com/recipe/zucchini-linguine-basil-pesto


Wao! I am on day 6 already and feeling as light as air. I feel full yet I don't feel that heaviness you feel when you're on the SAD (Standard American Diet). I had a 20 minutes walk today with my God. I always meditate when I walk or jog, I have on my earpiece and I listen to "Worship Together" I love listening to "Above All", keeps me focused and keeps my mind at peace. You can choose which ever way you want to stay focused, I find that this helps me most. I drank lots of water yesterday and my pee has no color, well sometimes a barely noticeable yellow hue and definitely no odor (sorry if I am grossing you out but I am just being truthful. That is what my daily diary entry is all about; the changes in my body when I'm on raw food).

I find that I've become more patient and I smile more, it's less about me and more about others, I watch them, listen and make them comfy. It is great to hear someone say "You've brightened up my day" or "There's something about you that shines." I heard this compliments before i started the 30-day journey but it's always nice to hear them again and again knowing there's something really 'shining' inside me (my insides, lol more precisely, my colon :-)).

This is what I made for smoothie today:

2 bananas
5 kale leaves
2 handfuls red seedless grapes
1.5 cups of water

You can always freeze your fruits a few minutes before you blend them, that way you get the cold, frothy smoothie you like.

I have a lot of cleaning to do today so I must say tata but I will be back tomorrow with some great insights about what your poop says about your health.