~ Raw Asparagus ~

Asparagus was something I never considered before because I had no idea what to do with it before. I have tried it today and to my surprise it is also another delicious raw treat . I first let it sit in olive oil, sea salt, half a tsp of agave and lemon juice overnight. This allowed it to soften and give it the some extra flavour.

I garnished the asparagus with sliced almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and some red bell pepper.

Asparagus was always known for its ability to burn fat which was always intriguing, but never ate it because I was afraid of it.

Now I consider it a wonderful meal which makes me feel very nourished. Bring on the fat burning !! (:

~ Pumpkin Seed Salad ~

I usually use sunflower or hemp seeds on my salads and tonight I used pumpkin seeds. Before I began eating raw I ate these seeds often because I knew they were considered to be one of the top seeds for containing "Essential Fatty Acids."

This type of fat is what we need to keep us young and healthy. It helps fight of inflammatory issues. I have dealt with many health issues over the years and have found them to be very helpful. Even though this is true you need to have a lot of alkaline foods in your diet to make it possible for the nutrients to be delivered to your cells. An acidic body cannot really benefit from omega three on it's oun. It has been my personal experience that the combination of living foods which include EFA's help to give the BEST results for reversing health issues.

I either use avocados or olive oil in my salad and tonight I used my homemade salad dressing which of course has olive oil in it.

Salad Recipe :

Iceberg lettuce

red cabbage

green cabbage

radishes

carrots

zucchini
cucumber
pumpkin seeds

Italian parsley

~ Bennett Hill Rosato ~

The other day my Father gave us a bottle of his wine as a little Christmas present. This wine was made last year from his vineyard, Bennett Hill Vineyard. Back in September, I did a post on harvest time picking the red grapes. It is a lot of work, but so worth it to be out getting all that fresh air and exercise. I only wish I had gotten some grape leaves and plan to get some for next year. I also plan to make some sort of raw food dish that will be new and fun.




I am not a wine drinker, but I do enjoy the red grapes because the flavour is out of this world. As I pick the grapes I put one or two in my mouth and the taste is so sweet but at the same time has a tartness. It stays in your mouth for the longest time. Red grapes are full of wonderful anti-oxidants that our bodies need to fight free radical damage. I try not to eat too much fruit, but I really enjoy these grapes. I wait all year to taste them, just like I wait for blueberry picking.

I just bought some global grapes to decorate my table because harvest time has past unfortunately.

You can check out my previous post from September to take a look at Bennett Hill Vineyard.

I had a few sips and let my husband enjoy this wine. I made up a huge batch of kale wheat grass juice which made me feel great.

~ Salmon on Red Watercress Salad ~

The Wild Salmon was such a nice treat over a new salad I made with red watercress. The watercress is very spicy in taste and to take the edge off I added some home made salad dressing. I garnished the dish with lots of clover sprouts and avocados.

I love to chop a bell pepper in half and eat it as is or stuff it with something like a pate or sprouted quinoa.

I squeezed some lemon on the avocado to preserve it as I was waiting for my hubby to get home. Avocados turn brown quickly as the air hits it.

Recipe:

red watercress

yellow bell pepper
clover sprouts
avocado
carrots Juliane style
sliced lemon
minced onion

** Wild Salmon **

There is a lot of controversy on whether or not fish is alright to eat as a raw foodist. I would say personally it depends on the individual. Some can live totally without and others need a little from time to time. I haven't had fish for a couple of years and really enjoyed it tonight. I would have it again, but only once in a while.

~ My Mini Raspberry Cheesecakes ~

My family really liked these, but they did not stay solid after being out of the freezer. They are rich, creamy and so delicious. Most Raw Cheesecakes use a nut(cashews) base instead of dairy and these nuts are pre-soaked which makes them alive nuts. Cashews are great for making desserts and also salad dressings.

My family likes to eat sugar like most do, so I have been working on healthier alternatives. I live eating mostly green, but I also indulge in a raw desserts as well.

I loved the color of these small cheesecakes. They are so rich I can only eat a few bites. For some people mixing nuts and fruit together can be a disastrous combination. Nuts, fruits and sugar together just aren't the best idea if you are dealing with health issues. If you are in good health enjoying a little cheesecake can be fun.

Recipe

Crust:

2 cups almonds

1/2 cup dates

pinch of sea salt

Filling:

3 cups cashews soaked

1+1/2 cups raspberry juice

1/4 cup agave

pinch of sea salt

3 tbs lecithin

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup coconut oil

Raspberry Sauce

2 cups raspberries

1 tsp psyllium

Process all the ingredients except the coconut oil and lecithin

Add those last two ingredients after everything else is blended well

Pour filling in cheesecake pan and let set for 15 min then add raspberry sauce on top.

Let the cheesecake chill in the freezer overnight to allow it to set.

Enjoy!!

~ Lavender Infused Tea~

Lavender tea is one of my most favorites lately. I had been given some culinary lavender by a friend of mine this past summer to try. The smell is so intoxicating and the flavour is so sweet. It gives you a sense of tranquility to sip on a cup in the evening just before bed. I am uncertain right now if tea infusions are considered raw, but all the essence of the lavender blossoms has been infused and I can feel the benefits.

Herbal teas, infusions and cocktails will be part of what I will offer to the public because it is a passion of mine. I love to create new recipes that involve a mixture of different colors and textures which will enhance health and enjoyment. A big part of loving food has to do with how it appears in presentation and the smell.

I used my grandmothers mug I inherited for my tea. It has a place where you can put dried herbs to make tea from scratch. The lavender blossoms were so small I had to use cheesecloth as well.

I put about two tablespoons of culinary lavender in the cheesecloth then poured hot water over the blossoms.

You can see the steam in this picture as it was very hot!!

After letting it stand for about twenty minutes I checked and the tea had a slight lavender color. What a beautiful cup of tea this was. The taste was heavenly and I felt very relaxed afterwards.

I am going to be working on different herbal teas as time goes on. I have been studying all the different herbs and their health benefits. It is so exciting to be able to see an herb and know what it is. All of the foods from the earth was placed here for nourishment as well as medicine. It is so interesting because most of us were brought up to eat what was called food either from a can or box.

~ Terri's Real Fruit Cup ~

Real Fruit cup:
1 pear
1 peach
10 scoops of watermelon
10 scoops of honey due melon
10 cherries
cantalope shell
Parsley as garnish...

Fruit is another great food packed with nutrients and enzymes. Fruit however is filled with sugar and should only be eaten once in a while . The raw green food is the best choice for optimal health. If you want a treat occasionally fruit is a very nice option. If you suffer with candida and or any other illness avoiding all sugars is necessary to overcome yeast issues. You need a diet that consists of raw/greens foods for a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks and then you can begin to incorporate some fruit. Having a diet which is 80 % alkaline and 20 % acidic will give you the best health. Fruit, even though it is wonderful, is considered acidic due to its sugar content. Once you have established a foundation of greens in your diet through juices and smoothies you can begin fruit. Fruit, nuts and grains should only always be 20 % of your diet to reverse any degenerative illness. Make Green food your best friend !!

~ Blueberries ~

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Much of blueberries health benefits comes from antioxidants called anthocyanidins, which can neutralize free radical cell damage and help provide protection from the effects of oxidative stress, which underlies the common disorders associated with aging. They're low in calories and a high fiber food that has been proven to help boost your immunity and detoxify your body. Blueberries are a source of Vitamin C and Vitamin K.


I prefer to eat blueberries by themselves raw. Mostly everything I eat now is raw and I find mixing fruit with other foods just takes away from the enjoyment of the experience, especially blueberries...

Fruit is packed full of cancer fighting properties, but I eat berries only accasioally because of it's sugar content. The fruit I choose to eat once in a while would be a berry of some sort. Raspberries,strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are the best choices out of all fruit if you are sugar sensitive.