Fresh Friday – Raw Stuffed Pepper

 With all the awesome peppers growing in my garden, I simply could not resist on this Fresh Friday to create some home-grown raw stuffed peppers. Oh my, these were DELICIOUS!

An occasional soaking of nuts and seeds can really add some variety to raw dishes. The  nuts in this recipe give these peppers a savory home cooked feel, and yet it is all raw. These are so simple to make. If you are in the mood for a raw meal you should give these a try.

 Raw Stuffed Pepper 

PEPPERS

• 3 bell peppers any color (purple is my favorite)
• 3 carrots
• 1 small bunch baby bok choy (no leaves)
• 1 small purple onion
• 4 ounces of Raw Foodz Japanese Joy salad dressing, or substitute your favorite
• 1 cup raw macadamia nuts
• 1 cup raw pecans

Slice tomatoes, radishes, and sprouts for garnishing

Soak nuts for one hour in warm water. Finely chop nuts using a food processor.

Finely chop carrots, bok choy, and onions one at a time in the food processor. Mix all the ingredients together and stir in salad dressing.

Seed and cut peppers in half. Fill peppers with mixture.

Top with garnishes. Makes 8 portions.  ENJOY!

One of the many reasons why I love a raw diet is the seasonal eating. I can feel the health that this brings to my body. The simplicity of working with these beautiful vegetables is so much fun. I hope you have a fantastic weekend and enjoy some incredibly healthy food.

Enjoying Life Living Right Now Raw

 

Fresh Friday – Sprouting

I love growing things, but this Fresh Friday is not about what is growing in my garden, it’s about what is growing in my kitchen that I am excited to share with you! Ok, I know I said I would probably never soak seeds, but I also said I would never be a raw vegan. I need to be careful with that word NEVER, it seems to come back around and make me look silly.

Once again I have been inspired by the lfrv (low fat raw vegans) that I follow on IG. They have been in this lifestyle successfully for years and they are sprouting seeds. So, I set my reluctance aside and gave it a try, and it is awesome! You must try it. It is so simple, and if you have children they will love watching these grow. Even if you are a carnivore you should try sprouting seeds for your sandwiches. They are fresh, nutritious, and delicious.

Why take the time to sprout? Coming from a lfrv perspective here are few facts that caused me to jump on board:

• 100 times more enzymes
• very high in protein without the cholesterol, fat, and calories from animal products.
• nutritional quality improves
• helpful with digestion and bloating
• alkalizing to your body
• locally grown in your kitchen
• energy contained in these seeds are ignited through soaking & sprouting

I bought a sprouting lid to fit my mason jar, made sure I had organic sprouting seeds, and followed the directions on the package. Look how beautifully this adds to a salad. You should try it!

My salads just became protein packed! Life is pretty awesome when you eat live food! I hope your weekend is extra special as you give thought to your health by making right choices with every meal. You CAN do it!

 Learning More Right Now Raw

Fresh Friday – Buttercup Squash

I love that not only do I get to shop at the local farmers market on this Fresh Friday, but I can step right outside and pick something amazing for our dinner tonight. My choice on this beautiful day is stuffed buttercup squash.

If I’m growing it, we will definitely be eating it. The biggest challenge for me is I have never ever cooked with some of the squashes that are  growing in my garden.

This is how I conquered the little buttercup, I stuffed it with healthy apples. My family would enjoy this recipe better with butternut squash, unfortunately I am not growing those, so buttercup it is! If you are shopping the local farms try this with butternut I know you will love it!

Stuffed Buttercup Squash

SQUASH

• 2 buttercup squash, cut stem off and cut in half
• perfect substitute use butternut squash

STUFFING

• 3 apples cubed
• 1 cup raw pecans
• 3 tablespoons agave
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• pinch allspice

Clean out squash by removing seeds and strings. Mix all the other ingredients together and spoon into squash. Place stuffed squash on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. SERVES: 4 

 To eat this filling raw just omit the butter!

I hope you have an amazing weekend. As the season changes so does our produce, try some new things, spoil yourself and your family!

 Seasonally Eating Right Now Raw

Epic Garden Fail

Harvest time brings about a joyful satisfaction that makes me super excited to start planting again. I am great at growing tomatoes. I’m bringing in a basketful every morning. Growing tomatoes has been worth every bit of work, money, and water.

To be honest my corn was a disappointment. I loved growing corn in my garden, it added charm, and it made me feel like a legit urban farmer, but come harvest time it was weighed in the balance and found wanting!

My organic corn grown without pesticides yielded about six whole ears. I love the idea of growing corn, but the reality is it was not worth the water. (Cali. is in a drought) So, I am throwing in the towel when it comes to being a corn farmer.

Organic corn and non GMO corn products are more expensive, but now I see how the extra money is well worth it! My family consumes 32-40 ears a month when in it’s season. It is amazing to me how the non GMO labels are appearing on many food products like, tortillas, chips, and cereals. This shows that we are making a difference when we choose to buy organic. I love voting with our forks and knives! Keep it up it’s WORKING!!!!!

I am learning so much through my garden, it dictates my dinners, causes me to try new things, and gives me a deep appreciation for what comes out of the earth.

If you feel like you have some failure in your life try removing what failed, learn from it, and plant something new. The best part of failing is learning what doesn’t work! I’ve pulled out plenty of bad choices out of my life, I love what I have learned, and the direction my life is going failure and all! Try planting something awesome in your life!

Failing & Learning Right Now Raw

 

Unexpected Fruit

I am having so much fun with my garden. If only I had started this earlier I could be quite the accomplished gardener! We started this project with a truck load of organic soil, organic plants, and not any knowledge about gardening.

It is going wonderfully, but I was not planning on growing melons by the pool. Out of nowhere, in the rockiest hard soil you can imagine, we have cantaloupe!!!

I know that the seeds are organic because we were composting in the very back of the property, but we soon quit due to the fact that we were clueless of how to manage such an undertaking. Obviously some seeds were deposited into this patch of soil. When we watered the tree, we watered the seeds, and now we have unexpected fruit. Incredibly simple, I love it!

As my husband was putting up a small redneck looking makeshift fence to keep our dog out, I thought about how beautifully these melons are growing in such a difficult place. It reminds me of how in the most difficult times in our lives we can have good come out of us. There is no reason for our circumstances to make us difficult, bitter, or miserable.

I love that we are protecting these  melons, although it looks ugly to have this green mesh surrounding them, it’s more important to safeguard the fruit than to worry about the aesthetics of our yard. I want to care more about what is going on with the inside of me than how I appear outwardly.  I want to protect the good that I have learned through my difficult times, this little unattractive fence is a reminder for me to never forget where I have come from.

Living with sickness is rocky ground, I never want to take for granted the good health I am experiencing now. I am so thankful that God put me on a path of lifestyle change that has healed me from the inside out.

Changing your lifestyle can be as simple as the melons growing in my yard. Start nourishing your body with real food. It is not as hard as you may think to get healthy. Simply start by making the right choice with every meal.  I can not keep quiet about how awesome this life- style is. You CAN do it!

Remembering and Living Right Now Raw

 

 

Fresh Friday – Healthy Pasta Casserole

Fresh Friday for me is as easy as stepping outside! I am patiently waiting for my tomatoes to ripen, but when they turn red I quickly eat them. The cherry tomatoes have become my perfect garden snack these little delicious beauties don’t even make it in the house!

I love cooking for my family because they have changed their lifestyle over to a plant-based diet. This compels me to try to take old family favorite dishes and make them healthier. The first thing I do is omit the meat, then I find certified organic products to replace the unhealthy ingredients that I have cooked with for way too long. It’s a fun challenge and the family is loving it!

Who doesn’t love Italian food? Definitely a family favorite whether it is lasagna or spaghetti, it is enjoyed a lot so it is worth the time to recreate a healthier option. I hope you’re ready because this recipe is easy, healthy and tasty!

Perfect Pasta Casserole 

SAUCE

• make your own tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 cloves fresh minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon agave
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• salt & pepper to taste
• garlic salt to taste

VEGETABLES

• 1 large bell pepper or substitute your favorite veggie
• 2 medium onions
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• garlic salt to taste
• salt& pepper to taste

PASTA

• Delallo organic 100% whole wheat bow tie pasta

CHEESE

• organic mozzarella cheese

BREAD CRUMBS

• 2 slices vegan bread
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• garlic salt to taste

Prepare your tomato sauce and add all seasonings. Cut pepper and onions into thin slices, add seasonings sauté in oil until golden, set aside.

Cook pasta according to package, drain. Stir some tomato sauce in with noodles until nice and moist.

Using a blender put bread in and pulse, remove, add butter & garlic salt.

In whatever baking dish you prefer layer noodles, tomato sauce, veggies, cheese (vegetarian), bread crumbs (vegan). Make two layers, then top with cheese or breadcrumbs depending on your lifestyle. Garnish with marinated black olives. Cook at 375 degrees until bubbly in the center. ENJOY!

I chose bell pepper for this recipe since it was growing in my garden, have fun cooking with any vegetables you love. Have a lovely fresh weekend!

 

Recreating and Living Right Now Raw 

 

Pea Green With Envy

Until this past week, no one has ever asked me to water a garden. My neighbor, who is known for her green thumb, asked me to care for her plants while she was away. I felt honored that she trusted me because I am known to kill plants not grow them.

We have lived in this house for six years, and our only neighborly duty has been to collect their mail. This request must have something to do with my luscious little Garden of Eden that she can see through her fence. Whatever the reason I was happy to do it, but I was a little apprehensive that I might kill something while they were away.

I had never seen her garden, I had only heard of its greatness. I was expecting my little green friend, Envy, to join me as I crossed over the fence to water each day. WOW, her corn is three times the size of mine. Boysenberries line her back fence, her boxes are teeming with peas, tomatoes, peppers, squash, herbs, and she has fruit trees! I almost forgot, she also has a rose garden. I have found that I can grow rose leaves, not roses. UGH! This backyard, to say the least, is impressive!

To my surprise I was not envious! I have learned that the feelings of envy are made by people not things. I am amazed by the abundance of what she is growing in her backyard! This has inspired me to plant more and use every inch of ground if necessary. Mostly I want to plant what I LOVE!

Hands on learning always works best for me. When my kids want to climb better they climb with rock climbers that are better and stronger than them. They quickly improve and become stronger. My neighbor’s garden has taught me plenty. I am looking forward to the new planting season and I will not shy away from garden variety.

The most valuable lesson I learned from this experience is that I am way too happy with what I have to be envious of those who have more!

Contently living right now raw 🙂

 

 

Fresh Friday – First Fruits

This Fresh Friday is so much fun because I am harvesting my first fruits from my garden. I can not believe how quickly these beauties grew. Backyard to table is pretty awesome, you should try it! Now the tricky part is what to make with these nutritious wonders. A family favorite won for the vegetarian family, and we held the cheese for vegan daughter. As for me I simply chopped them up and they made a delicious addition to my evening salad.

Family Favorite 

I hope you try this recipe. Now that zucchini is readily available at the farmers’ markets and overflowing in my backyard we will be enjoying this quite often this summer. It goes nicely with potatoes, add a fresh raw salad on the side.

Eating food that is in season is so good for you. If you are not sure what is in season take a trip to a local farm or farmers’ market. Try to  avoid buying from the grocery store, and fall in love with locally grown food. I am enjoying my right now raw garden of abundance! Have a lovely weekend! Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce, so your barns will be filled with plenty. Prov. 3:9

 

How Green Is My Garden

I love the garden that my family lovingly planted for me. I wanted a garden, but I was intimidated about growing my own vegetables. I requested to start off with one small raised box, that way if I failed the cost would not be so great. That was not the case, I have four 4′ by 8′ boxes filled with plants. So far all alive.

My mornings have changed drastically, no longer is my bed made and room cleaned early, but my first steps are out to the garden. I enjoy watering in the mornings because I wake up with an anticipation to see change!It is more simple than I thought to be an urban gardener. I should not speak too confidently, I only have one tiny tomato. The formula is simple; plant in good soil, nourish with water, and lots of sunshine. It is a similar formula for good health; eat right, drink water, get plenty of sleep. Simple does not mean easy.Knowing the simple formula that eating organic fruits and veggies will make you healthier is great, but eating like this on a regular basis can be difficult. We were created by design and when we follow that design we can have a lean healthy body. When we get off design our bodies suffer inside and out. We were not designed for muffin tops and bulging bellies. Nature itself shows how incredibly beautiful we were created, and sticking with the simple formula of eating right is the best way to gain optimal health.

Backyard gardening is fun. It is rewarding to watch the progress of these plants and to hopefully enjoy the harvest. If you are like me, you might feel intimidated about gardening. I want to encourage you to overcome those fears, and plant something!

The calming, stress relieving satisfaction that accompanies growing your own food is awesome! Getting my hands dirty is therapeutic. There is a balance in nature that is so evidently declared that we can follow if we slow down enough to embrace the simplicity.

Urban gardening is a pretty sweet tool that helps keep me right now raw. The earth is full of Your loving kindness, Lord, teach me Your statues. Psalm 119:64

 

Raw Mom

Mother’s Day has always been a fun day for me, but now that I am an older mom with grown children, I treasure this day all the more! As a young mom with six children getting through the day was a triumph.  It is no longer about getting through the days, it is about cherishing the days!

It’s the blink that gets me, that feeling of how did they grow up so fast? How am I already in this life stage? It seems like it happened as quickly as a blink! This makes me very aware of how fleeting life is. When they all start streaming in the house for a special day it instantly becomes a treat that brings me great joy!

This Mother’s Day was not only about the children coming over, but what they did once they arrived that made this an epic day. They planted me a garden! I have been dreaming of a garden, thanks to a wonderful husband and beautiful children, it’s now a reality and not a dream!

Growing my own vegetables is a prefect way to start my next phase of being right now raw!

  Proverbs 30:8 Feed me with the food that is my portion.