RAWMACITAS

Another Day, Another Green Juice!

2012-01-26T10:00:00.001-08:00

Fresh Spicy Juice

2011-11-14T09:52:00.000-08:00

All organic!
Spinach, parsley, kale, carrot, red bell pepper, lemon, lime, green apple, ginger

Chocolate Malty Meal - Raw Breakfast Cereal

2011-10-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Thick meat from one coconut (thin meat will create a smoothie)

1/2 cup to 1 cup raw fresh-pressed cane juice depending on consistency desired

One heaping tablespoon raw cacao

One tablespoon raw hemp seeds (gives it a buttery taste)

Blend on low
Serves 2

Reminiscent of childhood hot breakfast cereal that mom would make... Tastes exactly like it!

Persimmon Season

2011-10-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

... is finally here!

Cilantro Cashew Dip & Curly Kale

2011-10-04T09:39:00.001-07:00

Use my cashew cheese recipe as a base. Add cilantro, peppers, onions, garlic, a little cumin, and a bit of either raw cacao or carob.

Seed Porridge

2011-09-26T08:20:00.001-07:00

A spoonful of each of the following:
White chia seeds
Black chia seeds
Buckwheat hulls
Sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds
Hemp seeds
Cinnamon

Soaked for ten minutes with your choice of raw milk.
I used a blend of young coconut meat, fresh coconut water and raw cane juice from www.sugarcanejuice.org

Shown here with organic peppermint Tulsi tea.

Kale - Apple - Beet

2011-09-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Organic Seasonal Salad

2011-09-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

Rainbow chard, yellow heirloom tomato, red flame grapes, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, kelp, dill, olive oil and lemon juice.

Raw Chocolate Covered Banana Smoothie

2011-09-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

Water and meat from one young coconut
One banana
8 oz. Raw Cane Juice, see www.sugarcanejuice.org
Three heaping teaspoons raw cacao powder
Two tablespoons chia seeds, soaked in water

Carob Avocado Creme Smoothie

2011-09-05T13:51:00.001-07:00

Avocado
Carob
Coconut water
Raw Cane SuperJuice sugarcane juice
Cinnamon
Ice
Billy's Infinity Greens

Musical Figs

2011-09-02T17:35:00.001-07:00

Figs from my music partner's back yard. Check out our songs at www.myspace.com/fallenfruit and follow us on twitter @FallenFruities.

Curry Noodles

2011-09-02T10:58:00.001-07:00

Curry Sauce:
Soaked sunflower seeds
Lemon juice
Water
Sea salt
Curry powder
Hot peppers
Dill
Nutritional yeast

Sauce served over spiralized yellow squash and a mixed greens with cucumber salad.

Late night snack: Raw Pasta

2011-08-31T23:01:00.000-07:00

Spiralized zucchini linguini topped with spicy garlic sunflower seed cheese and side salad of baby romaine and cucumber sprinkled with sesame and hemp seeds with dressing of fig balsamic, olive oil and lemon juice. Garnished with spiralized carrot and blueberries.

Raw Tacos from Sage Organic Bistro in Echo Park

2011-08-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Organic Red Flame Grapes

2011-08-29T12:54:00.000-07:00

From Summer Harvest Farm at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market. Local! A delicious and moisture-rich source of vitamin C.

Banana Creme Pie Smoothie

2011-08-16T09:02:00.001-07:00

1 small organic banana
4 brazil nuts
1 tsp. carob
1 tsp. raw coconut butter
1/4 cup raw sugarcane juice (may substitute with a teaspoon or two of raw honey or raw agave)
Water

Serves 1

Whipped California Mango Smoothie

2011-08-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

Fresh, grown in California(!!!) mango blended with carob and cinnamon in a base of CocoSoSmooth (coconut flesh, coconut water and raw sugarcane juice) from Raw Cane SuperJuice

Summer Smoothie

2011-07-22T11:34:00.001-07:00

Banana, orange, strawberries, lettuce, raw coconut butter, carob, cinnamon and agave

Onion Dip

2011-06-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Another Smoothie

2011-06-07T09:00:00.001-07:00

Pitted cherries, frozen strawberries, a banana, a peeled orange, fresh raw cane juice and water

Today's Smoothie

2011-06-06T11:42:00.000-07:00

Fresh young coconut, banana, frozen strawberries, a peeled orange, fresh raw cane juice and vanilla

Strawberry Parfait Smoothie

2011-06-03T15:42:00.001-07:00

Frozen strawberries, frozen bananas, fresh young coconut and fresh raw sugarcane juice from the lovely people at Raw Cane SuperJuice in Hollywood, CA.
www.sugarcanejuice.org

Carob Spinach Smoothie

2011-04-15T10:44:00.000-07:00

Two to three cups packed spinach leaves
Half large banana
One orange, peeled
Two tbs. or more carob
Two tbs. Raw coconut butter
Hint of vanilla
Your choice of sweetener like raw agave or stevia
I used one cup of Ginger Lime Raw Cane juice from Raw Cane SuperJuice

Dessert!

2011-04-09T21:41:00.001-07:00

I blended one avocado with carob powder, raw coconut butter, raw agave, raw cane juice, vanilla, pistachios and sea salt to make a delicious mousse. However, I was unable to take a photo because this was just too good. I inhaled it before I had the chance.

Sent from my iPhone

Strawberry Ginger Smoothie

2011-04-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Two frozen bananas
Small tray of strawberries
Juice of one orange
Juice of one blood orange
Juice of half a lime
Freshly juiced ginger, to taste
Fresh pressed raw sugar cane juice from Raw Cane SuperJuice, 8 oz.
www.sugarcanejuice.org

Today's Green Juice

2011-03-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

One bunch dinosaur kale, five carrots, two apples, 1 Meyer lemon, a little celery, a bit of lettuce and lots of ginger!

Oh Hell Yeah

2011-03-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

Coconut water
Coconut flesh
Banana
Raw almond butter
Raw agave

Broccoli & Cheese

2011-03-25T14:19:00.000-07:00

An easy snack for one person. One and one half cup of soaked cashews blended with juice of one large lemon, nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper, half a jalapeño, garlic, onion and sea salt.

Liquid Cleanse Summary - and "What I ate when I stopped drinking my food"

2011-03-23T12:11:00.000-07:00

By the afternoon on day five of my liquids-only cleanse I decided it was time to break it. I started by slowing chewing an organic pink lady apple. It took me over twenty minutes to eat the whole thing. I noticed I was paying attention to making each bite turn into applesauce before swallowing it.
I hastily made plans at the new Cafe Gratitude location on Larchmont just south of Melrose in Los Angeles. I met up with a couple of friends and I hesitantly ordered a glass of cabernet. I know, I know… probably not the best decision. But, honestly, I love wine and I wasn't going to pretend I didn't want to have a glass. I savored every drop and didn't guzzle it down like I usually do!
The three of us shared a caesar salad. It was definitely delicious. I noticed that, though I was eager to get some solid food in my system, I was eating slowly. Shoveling down a huge plate food is something a lot of us in the food business have trained ourselves to do when working in a busy kitchen. I felt like I re-learned how to eat yesterday. I really needed that.
I tried to play it safe and ordered a spicy coconut curry soup. Though I was disappointed with the large size of the of the avocado and sprouts just tossed onto what appeared to be a spicy green smoothie in a bowl, I enjoyed the taste. I wish their kitchen staff would have cut the ingredients to fit onto a soup spoon. It makes a soup so much more edible when you don't have to use your fingers to eat it.
For dessert, which I felt I deserved, I ordered the chocolate hazelnut mousse pie along with a Sauvignon Blanc. (Again, just because I eat raw food doesn't mean I'm perfect.) Yum! If only the pie had been drizzled with a caramel date sauce and covered in raspberries!

Benefits noted on day four were:
- less puffy and swollen hands
- the tremor in my left thumb has magically gone away
- my bad skin (from too much caffeine over the last few months) is finally starting to clear up
- feeling more rested in the morning
- having more energy during the day
- feeling naturally sleepy before bed
- less anxious
- more sound sleep
- extreme joyousness

Post-cleanse benefits:
- appreciation for savoring a meal and chewing it slowly
- desire to choose more liquids that digest easily
- desire to drink less alcohol while with friends and instead sleep better
- being able to notice how I feel after ingesting certain things like heavy raw foods and/or alcohol
- able to get back into the swing of my raw foods lifestyle (now that I don't make cooked vegan food all day everyday in a restaurant)
- I spent a lot less money while juicing and drinking smoothies!

Today's breakfast:
Homemade Kombucha and a Green Smoothie consisting of: banana, orange, coconut butter, agave, carob and Billy's Infinity Greens

Day FOUR(!) of Spring Cleaning

2011-03-21T21:19:00.000-07:00

Breakfast: smoothie shown above. Same as yesterday (see previous post) only with teaspoon of cinnamon added.

Snack: ginger tea, homemade kombucha

Lunch: cheated a little bit with the Aztec Maca Shake from Euphoria Loves Rawvolution in Santa Monica. Ingredients: cacao, maca, coconut meat, coconut water & mesquite

Dinner: green juice shown below
1 bunch kale
5 carrots
1 cup bean sprouts
sprig of basil
1/4 lemon
2 apples
4 stalks of celery
2 tbs. fresh ginger

Bedtime snack: senna tea

After non-stop peeing for the first three days I finally got back to normal today. I must have had quite a bit of water weight built up because I am 5 lbs. lighter today than I was the day I started this liquids-only cleanse.
Benefits I have also encountered besides losing the water weight have been:

less puffy and swollen hands
the tremor in my left thumb has magically gone away
my bad skin (from too much caffeine over the last few months) is finally starting to clear up
feeling more rested in the morning
having more energy during the day
feeling naturally sleepy before bed
less anxious
more sound sleep
extreme joyousness

These benefits can be maintained by choosing a low-fat, low-sodium raw vegan diet after my cleanse. I plan to return to about 90% raw while continuing to break for weekly avocado rolls and sake at my neighborhood sushi joint.

Day Three of Spring Cleaning

2011-03-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

Experienced a wet, windy and rainy farmers' market in Hollywood followed by a day of reading under a blanket! Okay, I also watched a little Portlandia...

Breakfast smoothie (see above):
1 banana
2 whole oranges, sans peel
2 tbs. coconut butter
1 tbs. raw agave
2 lettuce leaves
water

Various teas, a little homemade kombucha and also a smoothie from the farmers' market were consumed here and there.

Dinner juice (see below):
3 apples
1 bunch kale
5 medium carrots
2 stalks celery
2 little nubs of ginger (totally could have used more)

Day Two of Spring Cleaning Super Moon Funtime

2011-03-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

Another day, another green juice for dinner… Tonight it's apple/carrot/kale/celery!

With the Super Moon nowhere in sight this evening, thanks to an overcast Los Angeles sky, my exhaustion almost prevents me from tying this entry. I started my day with a 40-minute run. I then made my way over to the Silverlake Farmers' Market with my good friend, DJ Brazilia. I picked up more kale, apples and some celery for my juice cleanse.

I also stopped at one of my favorite stands, Raw Cane SuperJuice, and picked up an Alkalizer Tonic. It's fresh raw cane juice, lime juice and chlorophyll and is basically a dark green limeade that isn't bad for you. It's not refined sugar and has a low glycemic index meaning it won't spike your blood sugar. Read about the tasty benefits and their other amazing products on their website: www.sugarcanejuice.org/
I'll be visiting with them tomorrow at the Hollywood Farmers' Market from 10AM until 1PM! Stop by!

See this article about the difference between raw cane sugar and refined sugars.

TODAY'S INTAKE
Breakfast: Raw Cane SuperJuice Alkalizer Tonic
Snack: tulsi tea
Lunch: fresh squeezed orange juice blended with blueberries and strawberries
Late afternoon: I had to bottle three batches of my homemade kombucha… had a bit of that, too!
Dinner: GREEN SUPER MOONJUICE! (See first photo… hahaha)
Bedtime snack: senna tea

Day One of Spring Cleaning

2011-03-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

I started the day with a glass of homemade kombucha followed by an hour-long run in the beautiful California sun.
I felt really great but got a little hungry around 4:30pm. I had a large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice blended with strawberries. Yummy yum!
After my late lunch I took a bike ride up to the store to buy kale, apples and carrots for my green juice dinner.
I'll be juicing, blending and drinking various detox and senna teas over the next few days.

My goal of this "cleanse" is to feel lighter after months of what I believe to be too much cooked food and definitely too much alcohol consumption. I plan to do this for at least three to five days but may go for a whole week if it feels good.

I will be blogging more frequently and, as always, you can follow me on twitter @aprylelectra and @rawmacitas.

Spinach Dip!

2011-03-17T12:18:00.000-07:00

Cashew based and slightly spicy. This was delicious with crudités as a pre-dinner snack.

Today's Smoothie

2011-03-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

One medium banana, one large orange peeled, five strawberries and filtered water blended.

Chocoberry Smoothie

2011-03-15T11:46:00.000-07:00

Blended banana, oranges, strawberries, spinach, coconut butter, agave nectar, cinnamon, carob, and water.

Papaya Orange Smoothie

2011-01-31T12:49:00.000-08:00

2 small papayas
2 oranges, peeled
1/2 banana
1 tbsp. coconut butter
1 tsp. agave nectar
1 cup water

Serves two or one really excited person.

Jalapeño Cashew Cheese Over Bananas

2011-01-26T09:10:00.000-08:00

Breakfast with detox tea and kombucha.

Jalapeno Cheese Portobella Burgers

2010-12-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

Raw Chocolate Pudding

2010-11-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

Frozen bananas, coconut butter, raw cacao powder and agave nectar.

Cashew Cheese Collard Wraps with Kalamata Olives and Onion Sprouts

2010-11-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

Farmers' Market Salad with Guava

2010-11-04T14:08:00.000-07:00

Kale, cucumber, broccoli, and carrots from the farmers' market topped with yellow strawberry guava from the back yard and fresh squeezed lime juice.

Green Smoothie

2010-10-24T12:27:00.000-07:00

One banana, quarter of an avocado, some garlic, a handful of mixed baby greens, water.

Blend.

Yum!

Portabella Burger with Cashew Pepper Jack Cheese

2010-10-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Portabella cap marinated in olive oil and balsamic vinegar and topped with green onions, dehydrated for about 30 hours at 105 degrees. Topped with Cashew Pepper Jack Cheese and dehydrated for about 6 hours. Topped with avocado, raspberries (for a ketchup taste) and sprouts. Wrapped in a piece of romaine lettuce.

Raw Oatmeal with Cashew Milk

2010-10-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

This raw vegan oatmeal is quick and inexpensive to make.

Oatmeal
Take 1/2 cup oat groats per serving, soaked in water overnight. Rinse and drain. Sprinkle on a little nutmeg, and about 1/2 a teaspoon each of cinnamon and carob. Drizzle raw agave nectar and stir.

Cashew Milk
Grab a small handful of cashews per serving (may also be soaked overnight, if you choose) and blend with about a cup of water and a teaspoon or more of raw agave nectar. *You may use a soaked medjool date in place of the agave.
Pour milk through a mesh strainer into a small pitcher or directly over oatmeal.
Leftover cashew cream in blender may also be poured over oatmeal or saved for use in a raw dessert recipe.

Additions

Raisins
Diced Apple
Banana
Walnuts
Pecans
Goji Berries
Raw Chocolate Chunks

Italian Spiced Pizza Cheese

2010-10-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

See this posting for a raw cheese tutorial!

Raw Stir Fry with Jicama

2010-09-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

This stir un-fry was made pepper-free by request.

Bean sprouts, bok choy, carrots, celery, cabbage, mushrooms, diced jicama, thinly sliced red onion, cashews. *Various bell peppers can be added.
Marinated in a dressing of sesame oil, wheat-free tamari, orange juice and sesame seeds. *Cayenne pepper can be added to the dressing for some kick.
Garnished with orange slices.
All organic.
Can be dehydrated for warmth and a more intense flavor.

Raw Vegan Tortellini

2010-09-25T01:49:00.000-07:00

Peppers!

2010-09-23T13:05:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Peppers are so beautiful!

Warm Portobello Steaks

2010-09-13T11:25:00.001-07:00

Portobello caps drizzled in organic cold pressed olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, green onion and a bit of sea salt.
Dehydrated at 105 degrees for at least 24 hours.

Organic Red Grapes & Raspberries From The Backyard

2010-09-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

Organic Mediterranean Salad

2010-08-26T13:55:00.001-07:00

Baby romaine, red grape cherry tomatoes, cucumber and avocado topped with nutritional yeast, dulse, kelp and hemp seeds. Tossed with a dressing of olive oil, raw apple cider vinegar, balsamic and Braggs liquid aminos.

SALADS!

2010-08-25T09:52:00.001-07:00

Undressed spinach salad with tomatoes and yellow and orange bell peppers.

Mixed green and tomatoes with creamy garlic dressing and cashews.

Pico de gallo.

Spinach and avocado topped with balsamic, olive oil and nutritional yeast.

Spinach, cucumber, tomatoes, mushrooms with yellow, red and orange bell peppers. Topped with olive oil, lemon juice, raw apple cider vinegar and nutritional yeast.

Spicy Pepper Jack

2010-08-03T15:19:00.000-07:00

Cashew cheese flavored with jalapeño, red pepper, black pepper and cilantro.

See below for a raw cheese tutorial!

What about the mangos?

2010-08-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

The mango is absolutely delicious. In fact, it is my favorite food.
This juicy, sweet fruit hydrates while providing fiber and energizing sugars making mangos the perfect breakfast food to get you moving in multiple ways.
Mangos are high is vitamins A, C, E and K but also deliver a little B6 and red blood cell forming folate! Mangos are rich in minerals like potassium and copper with a splash of calcium and magnesium. Mangos even provide a tiny bit of protein, omega-3 and omega-6.

If you ate 2 or 3 mangos for one meal you get a lot of fiber, more than enough beta-carotene and vitamin C along with almost enough vitamin A for the entire day.

Domestic mangos from Florida (usually the Tommy Atkins variety) are available May through September. Eat up and enjoy the rest of your Summer!

How To: A Raw "Cheese" Tutorial

2010-07-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Hi Apryl!
Just wondering if I could steal your knowledge. What's a great recipe for raw "cheese" ? I was messing around with some ideas but my attempts didn't turn out very well!
Thanks for any help you can give. I love eating raw--it's just hard to get the hang of!
:)
Dani

Hey, Dani!

I often get this question from many people looking for an easy snack.
Raw cheeses have a nut base. I usually raw cashews or pine nuts. I always make a base and then choose extra ingredients depending on the type of cheese I want. The size of organic lemons and the taste of different sea salts vary so always taste as you go!
I usually prefer a little more sea salt and extra hot peppers.
Use a high speed blender (I use a Vitamix) for a creamy sauce consistency or use a food processor for a chunky cheese.

Raw Cheese Base:

1.5 cups raw cashews and/or pine nuts that have been soaked for at least one hour for softening
1/2 tsp sea salt
juice of one organic lemon
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
Use more or less of any of the above ingredients.

Flavor your cheese with things like:

garlic
hot peppers
cilantro
parsley
basil
juice of an orange or a lime
cumin
carrots

Experiment with different blends of different herbs and spices depending on what you're serving with the cheese. Red and orange bell peppers help create a nacho-type cheese that is great with things like broccoli, cauliflower, raw crackers, cucumber slices, etc. Cheeses can be poured over different veggies and dehydrated. Jalapeno cheese is surprisingly good served over banana slices. Chunkier cheeses are great for filling collard leaves for wraps or grape leaves for dolmas. Wraps are some of my favorite things to make because it's so easy to adjust the flavor depending on the ingredients. For example, with a cilantro cheese I like olives and avocados in my wraps.

Some people add a tiny amount of raw apple cider vinegar or rejuvelac. Rejuvelac is a stinky, fermented wheat berry drink. I, personally, could never drink it because I just don't like the taste. It does, however, add a nice flavor to cheeses if you're willing to experiment with the soaking and sprouting efforts. Every once in a while I'll make just a little bit of rejuvelac if I'm making a larger batch of cheese to share with others.

Good luck! As always, I'm here to answer any questions you have along the way in your raw food journey.
<3<3<3,
Apryl

Gorgeous Chopped Green Salad

2010-07-29T23:46:00.001-07:00

Collard, kale, cabbage, onions, garlic and celery! All organic!

Choosing healthy foods now called a mental disorder!

2010-07-29T14:04:00.000-07:00

Many of us in the raw foods community know the term "Orthorexia" very well. Here's a great article and my best response to the controversy with a tune by the lovely Kirsty MacColl.
-Apryl

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com

(NaturalNews) In its never-ending attempt to fabricate "mental disorders" out of every human activity, the psychiatric industry is now pushing the most ridiculous disease they've invented yet: Healthy eating disorder.

This is no joke: If you focus on eating healthy foods, you're "mentally diseased" and probably need some sort of chemical treatment involving powerful psychotropic drugs. The Guardian newspaper reports, "Fixation with healthy eating can be sign of serious psychological disorder" and goes on to claim this "disease" is called orthorexia nervosa -- which is basically just Latin for "nervous about correct eating."

But they can't just called it "nervous healthy eating disorder" because that doesn't sound like they know what they're talking about. So they translate it into Latin where it sounds smart (even though it isn't). That's where most disease names come from: Doctors just describe the symptoms they see with a name like osteoporosis (which means "bones with holes in them").

Getting back to this fabricated "orthorexia" disease, the Guardian goes on to report, "Orthorexics commonly have rigid rules around eating. Refusing to touch sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soya, corn and dairy foods is just the start of their diet restrictions. Any foods that have come into contact with pesticides, herbicides or contain artificial additives are also out."

Wait a second. So attempting to avoid chemicals, dairy, soy and sugar now makes you a mental health patient? Yep. According to these experts. If you actually take special care to avoid pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified ingredients like soy and sugar, there's something wrong with you.

But did you notice that eating junk food is assumed to be "normal?" If you eat processed junk foods laced with synthetic chemicals, that's okay with them. The mental patients are the ones who choose organic, natural foods, apparently.

What is "normal" when it comes to foods?
I told you this was coming. Years ago, I warned NaturalNews readers that an attempt might soon be under way to outlaw broccoli because of its anti-cancer phytonutrients. This mental health assault on health-conscious consumers is part of that agenda. It's an effort to marginalize healthy eaters by declaring them to be mentally unstable and therefore justify carting them off to mental institutions where they will be injected with psychiatric drugs and fed institutional food that's all processed, dead and full of toxic chemicals.

The Guardian even goes to the ridiculous extreme of saying, "The obsession about which foods are "good" and which are "bad" means orthorexics can end up malnourished."

Follow the non-logic on this, if you can: Eating "good" foods will cause malnutrition! Eating bad foods, I suppose, is assumed to provide all the nutrients you need. That's about as crazy a statement on nutrition as I've ever read. No wonder people are so diseased today: The mainstream media is telling them that eating health food is a mental disorder that will cause malnutrition!

Shut up and swallow your Soylent Green
It's just like I reported years ago: You're not supposed to question your food, folks. Sit down, shut up, dig in and chow down. Stop thinking about what you're eating and just do what you're told by the mainstream media and its processed food advertisers. Questioning the health properties of your junk food is a mental disorder, didn't you know? And if you "obsess" over foods (by doing such things as reading the ingredients labels, for example), then you're weird. Maybe even sick.

That's the message they're broadcasting now. Junk food eaters are "normal" and "sane" and "nourished." But health food eaters are diseased, abnormal and malnourished.

But why, you ask, would they attack healthy eaters? People like Dr. Gabriel Cousens can tell you why: Because increased mental and spiritual awareness is only possible while on a diet of living, natural foods.

Eating junk foods keeps you dumbed down and easy to control, you see. It literally messes with your mind, numbing your senses with MSG, aspartame and yeast extract. People who subsist on junk foods are docile and quickly lose the ability to think for themselves. They go along with whatever they're told by the TV or those in apparent positions of authority, never questioning their actions or what's really happening in the world around them.

In contrast to that, people who eat health-enhancing natural foods -- with all the medicinal nutrients still intact -- begin to awaken their minds and spirits. Over time, they begin to question the reality around them and they pursue more enlightened explorations of topics like community, nature, ethics, philosophy and the big picture of things that are happening in the world. They become "aware" and can start to see the very fabric of the Matrix, so to speak.

This, of course, is a huge danger to those who run our consumption-based society because consumption depends on ignorance combined with suggestibility. For people to keep blindly buying foods, medicines, health insurance and consumer goods, they need to have their higher brain functions switched off. Processed junk foods laced with toxic chemicals just happens to achieve that rather nicely. Why do you think dead, processed foods remain the default meals in public schools, hospitals and prisons? It's because dead foods turn off higher levels of awareness and keep people focused on whatever distractions you can feed their brains: Television, violence, fear, sports, sex and so on.

But living as a zombie is, in one way quite "normal" in society today because so many people are doing it. But that doesn't make it normal in my book: The real "normal" is an empowered, healthy, awakened person nourished with living foods and operating as a sovereign citizen in a free world. Eating living foods is like taking the red pill because over time it opens up a whole new perspective on the fabric of reality. It sets you free to think for yourself.

But eating processed junk foods is like taking the blue pill because it keeps you trapped in a fabricated reality where your life experiences are fabricated by consumer product companies who hijack your senses with designer chemicals (like MSG) that fool your brain into thinking you're eating real food.

If you want to be alive, aware and in control of your own life, eat more healthy living foods. But don't expect to be popular with mainstream mental health "experts" or dieticians -- they're all being programmed to consider you to be "crazy" because you don't follow their mainstream diets of dead foods laced with synthetic chemicals.

But you and I know the truth here: We are the normal ones. The junk food eaters are the real mental patients, and the only way to wake them up to the real world is to start feeding them living foods.

Some people are ready to take the red pill, and others aren't. All you can do is show them the door. They must open it themselves.

In the mean time, try to avoid the mental health agents who are trying to label you as having a mental disorder just because you pay attention to what you put in your body. There's nothing wrong with avoiding sugar, soy, MSG, aspartame, HFCS and other toxic chemicals in the food supply. In fact, your very life depends on it.

My response to the L.A. Times article on a raw food raid.

2010-07-29T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'm not much for words unless I'm writing a song but I felt the need to respond to this L.A. Times article.
Read about the raw dairy raid in Los Angeles, CA here.

If people really want to eat raw dairy they should be able to. Pasteurization kills a lot of nutrients and enzymes and heat can change the chemical structure of the food. Personally, I'm not a big fan of dairy in any form. However, it does make me angry that the government has a ruling over what foods people can and cannot eat or have access to. The government and corporations are taking over our "organic" foods. How do we even know what we're getting unless we have contact with our growers and farmers? I believe people need to reconnect with their food and where it comes from. Real food has no nutrition label and no packaging. Knowledge is power.
Let's free ourselves from "healthcare" by prevention of disease. We need to take back our health and nourish our living bodies.

Garlic Herb Cheese Dip

2010-07-26T11:17:00.001-07:00

Served with dinosaur kale, grape tomatoes and Cerignola olives.

Cheese dip made with raw cashews, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, raw apple cider vinegar, sea salt, garlic, cilantro, cayenne and ground black pepper.

Raw Vegan Dolmas & Hummus

2010-07-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

Rinsed grape leaves.

A very lemony-garlic flavored pine nut/cashew filling with a hint of cilantro.

Grape leaf with filling.

Some finished dolmas.

Delicious hummus!

Cream of Tomato Soup

2010-07-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

Topped with fresh basil.

Almond Chocolate Coconut Thumbprints

2010-06-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

These taste like a gooey candy bar!

Blueberry Pie Smoothie

2010-06-18T13:11:00.001-07:00

2 small frozen organic bananas
2/3 cup frozen organic blueberries
1 heaping tbsp raw organic coconut butter
1 medjool date
1 tsp organic vanilla
1 tsp organic raw agave
Pumpkin Pie Spice
About 1 cup filtered water

Watermelon Gazpacho

2010-05-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Guacamole & Bell Pepper Pico de Gallo

2010-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Mmm... Spicy Thai!

2010-05-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Zucchini noodles in a Thai mushroom "peanut" sauce with peppers, onions and carrots.

Jicama Fries

2010-05-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Jicama seasoned with paprika, chili powder, cumin, sea salt and olive oil. For a crispy crunch, put in dehydrator at 100 or 105 degrees overnight.

Herbed Pizza Cheese

2010-05-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

A pine nut and cashew based cheese perfect to pair with marinara for raw dehydrated pizza crusts and veggie toppings.

Crazy good raw organic marinara!

2010-05-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

Soaked sun-dried tomatoes blended with Roma tomatoes, deglet dates, carrots, green onions, plenty of garlic and cold-pressed olive oil.

Seasoned with black pepper, basil, rosemary and sea salt.

Stirred but not fried...

2010-05-25T20:07:00.000-07:00

Raw stir fry shown here pre-dehydration. Baby bok choy, crimini mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, red, yellow and orange bell peppers, bean sprouts and cashews. Sweet and salty sauce of freshly squeezed orange juice, raw agave nectar and wheat-free tamari.

Simple Party Salad

2010-05-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Organic mixed greens, bell peppers, tomatoes, green onions and fresh dill topped with olive oil, black pepper, garlic and Shiraz wine.

Garlic Almond Cheese Stuffed Poblano Peppers

2010-05-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

With organic red avocado, tomatoes and basil on top of Swiss chard. All ingredients from the Hollywood farmers' market.

Rawgirl Scout Cookies

2010-05-13T15:57:00.001-07:00

These taste just like Samoas!

Red Pepper Sprouted Garbanzo Hummus

2010-05-11T23:20:00.000-07:00

Topped with kalamata olives, pine nuts and parsley.

Curried Jicama Fries

2010-05-11T23:19:00.000-07:00

Golden Beet Rawvioli

2010-05-11T23:18:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

2010-05-11T23:17:00.000-07:00

Curry Ginger Nori Crackers

2010-04-27T11:39:00.001-07:00

Coconut Bliss Smoothie

2010-04-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

2 bananas, half bag of frozen blueberries and a couple scoops of Dark
Chocolate Coconut Bliss ice cream

Pine Nut Pesto Jicama Fries

2010-04-25T10:43:00.001-07:00

Purple Kale Salad

2010-04-13T16:58:00.001-07:00

With cucumbers, carrots, green onions, curly parsley and minced garlic.

Chocolate Macaroons

2010-04-09T15:20:00.001-07:00

Made by Nicole Brenny

Today's Mock Tuna Stuffed Peppers

2010-04-06T19:14:00.000-07:00

Creamy Ginger Carrot Soup

2010-03-30T23:34:00.000-07:00

With floating shiitake mushrooms, green onions and cilantro.

Raw Stir Fry

2010-03-18T09:58:00.001-07:00

Not fried, dehydrated!

Tastes like an Orange Julius!

2010-03-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

2 frozen bananas
Juice of 5 naval oranges
3 medjool dates
A tablespoon or more of coconut butter

All raw and organic.

Today's Smoothie

2010-02-20T13:36:00.001-08:00

Banana, blueberries, fresh grapefruit juice, coconut butter, vanilla,
agave

Toona Salad with Celery Sticks

2010-02-20T13:34:00.001-08:00

Toona Stuffed Bell Peppers

2010-02-20T13:31:00.001-08:00

Fresh Chunky Salsa

2010-02-20T13:30:00.002-08:00

Purple Kale Salad with Radishes and Green Onions

2010-02-20T13:30:00.001-08:00

Chopped Dino Kale Salad

2010-02-20T13:29:00.001-08:00

Mediterranean Pizza

2010-02-20T13:28:00.001-08:00

LifeFood Organic

2010-02-15T15:32:00.001-08:00

At LifeFood Organic in Hollywood I got the Award Winning Chili and
their Chocolate Almond Nut Milk!
Delicious raw lunch!
Oh my goodness deliciousness is an understatement!!!

Valentine's Day Chocolates!

2010-02-15T10:50:00.001-08:00

Click here to go to the official website for Ojai Chocolat.

I was lucky enough to meet the wonderful Mimi from Ojai Chocolat at the Ojai Farmers Market on Valentine's Day morning. I was picking up some ingredients for a dinner for six people when I stumbled upon her raw chocolate stand. WOW! She was super nice and fed me lots of samples. I just loved the contents of this box. These six raw chocolates contained walnuts and had a creamy center. Super deliciousness. You can order Ojai Chocolat products at www.chilihot-chocolat.com! Well worth it!

Hey, it's Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T22:31:00.001-08:00

Yum!

2010-02-14T22:28:00.001-08:00

Rawvioli Treats with Tomato slices

2010-02-14T22:26:00.001-08:00

Delicious Beet and Cheese Rawvioli Snacks with Sage

2010-02-14T22:24:00.001-08:00