beets, plants, winter blues.

hellurrr

It's a bright Sunday morning, and I improv'ed this drink, and I can most definitely brag that it was a great success. My 13yo brother and mother drank, wait no. CHUGGED it.

-1 raw beet: peeled into thin strips with carrot peeler or cut into small chunks for low grade blenders

-half a banana

-half a golden delicious apple

-3.5 large romaine leaves

-1.5 cup water

-squeeze of lemon juice

It was perfect, I'd suggest using a frozen banana, or adding ice, it was even on the sweet side with the halves of fruit, next time I'd addginger, maybe cilantro and make it more savoury.

Next to the drink in the picture is the main cure for any sadness I may have experienced this winter season. I planted arugula, and these babies just SHOT UP, I will admit, I sang to them and played my french horn to them...so I can't see myself eating them any time soon. They also have made me very happy, it's nice to see green on a gray day!

One last thing is at the bottom of my blog page there is an email you can write to with any questions, comments, etc. rawveganunistudent@gmail.com

crap pic, but this drink was SO VIBRANT. I stained my fingers nicely.

Warming Hearty Winter Recipe #3

SUP.

so this is the greatest breakfast ever.. (high pitched kanye voice, EVA-EVAH, EVA-EVAH!).

-raw buckwheat: soak max 20 minutes, sprout overnight in mason jars

-add chia seeds

-cinnamon

-raisins, goji berries, coconut shavings, etc.

-more cinnamon

-ginger powder

-almond milk

-add in any amount of sprouted buckwheat

-slice bananas, add blueberries (my favourite fruit to add to this)

DEVOUR.

no seriously, you'll want to. It is truly a change from the traditional green breakfast drink, and it never becomes old. I made a chocolate version before, but hadn't thought of eating it, undehydrated. It's still crunchy ish. It's also given me inspiration for an epic raw vegan apple pie recipe! PLUS. Look up the stats for buckwheat nutrition. After they sprout, they're 15% protein! SCORE.

these were covered in an avocado chocolate mix then dehydrated, but same idea, just purer, no added/dehydrated things.

a recent picture of breakfast of 'buckwheaties' and coconut water. BTW. I HAVE FIGURED OUT A FOOLPROOF WAY TO OPEN A COCONUT. I will make a post on this later.

TROPICAL GETAWAY DRINK.

The magic of agriculture, as UN-local, and distant produce may be can really make mornings (and raw vegan winters) a much happier time. For example, yesterday it was legit snow storming outside my window all morning. What did I do? Grabbed a young thai baby coconut from the fridge, HACKED AWAY, and voila, had coconut water for breakfast. This morning wasn't as gloomy, but I still wanted a tropical flavaa flaved breakfast. I blended a little water with all the coconut meat and a cup of pineapples plus a dash of salt and vanilla extract. Blended then added the remaining pineapple chunks on top. It was more like a pudding breakfast, as oppose to a drinkable smoothie. Version two of this breakfast will be coming shortly, I'm thinking PARFAIT BREAKFASTS!

if you like pina coladassss, and getting caught in the rain..

Warming Hearty Winter Recipe #2

my mom's on a rampage! a pleasant one, with lots of innovative uncooking.

olive tapenade

green olives pitted

walnuts

fresh basil

fresh thyme

chili pepper

lemon juice

balsamic vinegar

olive oil

chopped/minced lightly in food processor.

yes, that's real cheese, not mine don't worry.

She also made chocolate macaroons (Sarma's recipe, not shown for obvious reasons. They're all gone), and raw slaw---picture soon to come.

Warming Hearty Winter Recipe #1

Carrot Salad with Ginger-Lime Dressing

Winter Fiesta Burger over a bed of sprouts and romaine "bun"

Today a miracle was born.

In my kitchen.

My mother initiated this improvisatory/un-cooking journey. I'd call it a fiesta. We made the happiest, sunniest, TASTIEST, most EPIC. raw vegan burgers. No dehydrating, or juicing, or blending. The only kitchen tools needed are a grater/food processor that grates, a coffee grinder/blender that turns things into flour and a knife.

1 cup sunflower seeds (lightly, not too fine)

1/2 cup sesame seeds ground finely (we used tan)

1.5T whole sesame seeds unground

3T organic golden flaxseed ground

2 cloves of garlic minced

3 spring onions

3 cups of shredded carrots

2 celery stalks chopped SUPER finely

1/2 cup of parsley chopped

1/4 cup of cilantro chopped

1/2 tsp of golden curry

1/2 tsp of cumin

1/4 tsp of turmeric

one-two pepper dashes

1 whole lemon juiced

1 tsp sea salt

2 generous tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. (Lebanon-in-a-bottle kind..duh)

1/4 tsp of paprika

1.5 T organic balsamic vinegar

Grind the first 4, chop the next 6, add spices, and remainder of ingredients. TASTE TEST. Form into burger shapes, eat right away, or store in fridge for 1 day. You can dehydrate these if you want, but the flavours were just right, we (my mother and i) didn't want to risk it. Yields 16 medium sized burgers, a total time of 1 hr prep, and a cost of less than $10 to feed a family of 4, entirely for lunch including the carrot salad.

BON APPETIT!

Raw in the Winter Time.

Typing this post I realized my fingers were very very cold. This is partially due to the fact that my dad thoroughly enjoys lowering the temperature in the house, Canada's icy reputation, AND my lazy spring break lounging skillz.

For some reason I find it way easier eating raw during winter months than any other time of the year. I'm not sure if this is because of winter break which allows me more recipe testing slash relaxing time, either way I know some people do not find it as easy and that's why I'm here to help! Let this post move you to building and creating your own stash. What I mean is, a giant cupboard/box/shelf/mental space of things you have compiled (recipes or foods) that will make it easier to be raw--things you can have, choose from, and enjoy.

#1: Warming Spices. DO NOT. UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF SPICES.

(I'm sure you've heard this before, but I'll do a quick review.) During winter months, using spices such as ginger, (garlic, horseradish, curry---not my fave), cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg will encourage circulation and blood flow to important parts of your body, keeping you warm. I absolutely love using cinnamon, I sprinkle it everwhere, in fact I leave dust trails of it behind me when I walk. Cayenne pepper and the other more..I'll call them harsher spices are great if you experiment first. Find out what works for you, and what doesn't. Garlic does not work for me, cayenne pepper on the other hand does. Even sprinkling the TINIEST bit in your smoothies will warm you up without overpowering the taste of the drink.

#2: Hot Drinks.

Teas, Apple Cider, Nut milks, water, shpicy soups, etc. Don't be afraid to warm up your liquids, make sure you watch them carefully, and stir on the lowest heat. It's a treat to have on a cold night, or even during the day. My favourite winter drink is made with a simple blender and a few dying apples and results in peel chips (dehydrated), apple sauce (un-strainable pulp), and "cider".

Peel and slice 4 small apples(macintosh..yummay)

1.5 cups water

BLEND.

*use a giant metal strainer/paint strainer/nut milk bag over a small pot and warm it up. This is surprisingly satisfying and perfectly sweet. ADD cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg. THEN CHUG. (kidding...sipping is fine too).

#3: Grains...yes, grains. Did you know these are a part of a balanced raw vegan diet?

Some grains you can experiment with, (soak, sprout, and/or dehydrate) are: quinoa, raw oats, chia seeds, wild rice, buckwheat (FAVE), and millet.

Post your favourite winter drink/recipe or tip below!