I'm a juicer

So, as a part of my "health & all that jazz" journey, I've started juicing
I bought a cheap, $30 juicer on amazon- not wanting to splurge in case I didn't enjoy the juice
But now I'm kicking myself, and already have an eye on an upgrade
I've been juicing pretty much every day since I started my raw/vegan ish kick
And I'm hooked.
I actually find myself craving the juice!!!
What I have (from The Raw Detox Diet):
1 bunch of celery
5-6 Kale leaves
Ginger (about an inch or so)
A lemon or two
2 apples or other fruit (pear/plum/peach)
Occasionally a carrot stick or two
Delicious and nutritious!

The girls like to help me juice

But they aren't so into actually drinking the juice with me.....

I also recently watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead on netflix
Super inspirational- check it out!

I've tried a few other juice connoctions, but I really like this juice
The lemon + the apples really make it not taste like I'm just drinking leaves
The celery makes a lot of juice, so I like that as well

Will check back and let you know if I discover any other juices, and let me know if you have any favs!

sprouted lentils

One of the thing Raw Foodist are really into is sprouting foods. I have to admit, when I first started looking into the raw food thing, this part really scared me! It looked waaaaay too complicated. But the idea is that, when the grains are sprouting, they are starting to digest themselves, therefore making it easier on the human body to digest. Make sense? Kinda, not really, I know. I thought the same thing. But my friend Patty (she's my Raw food partner in crime these days) told me it was really easy to do lentils, and I should just give it a try. So I did.

First- soak a cup of lentils over night.  Be sure to at least double the water- those lentils will get big!!!

The next morning, drain and rinse the lentils.  I then laid them out on a towel covering a baking pan, covered it with another towel, and stuck it in a "dark place" ie. under my dining room table.  I kept it there until that night, where I rinsed them then re-laid them out.  The next morning I noticed some little baby sprouts!!!!  I let them sit another day and that night I put them in mason jars and in the fridge.  So yummy to snack on and in my salads!  And so good for you! (and for some reason I cannot understand, they are less calories this way than when cooked)

I tried to sprout some quinoa but they smelled funky. Guess thats part of the process, but wasn't a fan so not going to try that again.  Anyways, if you're thinking of sprouting, give lentils a try. So easy and so yummy!!!

Sweet Treats

One of my biggest concerns whenever starting a new style of eating (which sadly, has been too many times) is what kind of "treats" I would be able to get. I have a HUGE sweet tooth. I need me my treats!

So I was really worried about what kinds of treats are available in any kind of "RAW" diet- luckily, they are plentiful!  My friend Patty emailed me with a link to Likes Veggies & Yoga and the problem was solved!

Averie has some amazing recipes that are vegan, high or all Raw, gluten free, etc.  Then she busts out these totally gluten-full, white sugar, not so good for you (but she explains why in one of her posts) desserts as well, and those look just as yummy!

The desserts I have made so far:

Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip balls.  I have made these seriously a bazillion times. I LOVE them
And she has a whole section of raw vegan "balls." I have made them with cacao nibs and my dairy free soy free choco chips. All were delish
Marshmellow stuffed Rice Krispie Bars.  I used my marshmallows and my chocolate chips, but still used butter, so it wasn't 100% vegan, but they were sooooo so good. Steve's favorite- making it again for him for his upcoming bday :)
Microwave Chocolate Peanut Butter and Oat snack bar. Vegan, and Girls approved :)
Raw Vegan Peanut Butter Cups. Off the chain
Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars. I think these are my favorite bars I've made (another post on that, later)
Raw Vegan Chia Seed Pudding (you know I love me some chia!)
Raw Vegan Cheese Cake. Not exactly, but close enough for me!
Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse. To DIE for.

To name a few. And I have actually LOST weight eating all those deliciousnesses. (I'm aware that I just made that word up).  Goes to show that good food is good for you, no matter the calories or the fat.  Girlfriend needs to make a cookbook. I'd be the first to buy it!

I've done a bunch of Averie's other recipes as well- I've taken a liking to her blog, and her. Probably because she's in SD and likes yoga and has a little girl and likes photography, so we share a lot of common interests!  But her blog is really easy to get lost in, she's constantly linking up to her old posts and recipes.  Go check her out!