NIFTY to the extreme.

Just found this item online, called Seedballz. They are a special mixture of herbs and quality humus. Plant them in pots, or in the backyard and you have an herb garden just like that! I know, not food related but for people in dorms or rooms keeping a few of these make the place look nicer and keep for a tastier meal.

http://www.catchingfireflies.com/products/-seedballz-herb-mix-seedballs-mix-%2AON-SALE%2A.html

they're on sale now at the website posted above.

New Raw Vegan Website! With Recipes!

http://www.justgreenerrecipes.com/cranberry%20maple%20granola

That's my favourite recipe so far, I can't wait to try them all. Also, how are all my student friends doing, packing your lunches?? I hope so!

don't forget to make your lunches beautiful, and add some grains too!

QUESTION TIME.

Spirulina or E3 Live?

Also in terms of minerals from seaweeds like dulse, nori, hijiki, kelp, arame, kombu, and wakame. Would you choose one over the other, or eat all of them?

YUHMMM.

disgusting juices will actually change your life.

i repeat, disgusting juices will change your life.

let me explain. This past week I have made approximately 3 and a half disgusting juices, and not on purpose. I was just experimenting because I was a) bored and b) peckish, so instead of eating something wrong I just kept whipping out the blender. The first juice was a giant FAIL, mostly green with less fruit than my usual green smoothies. It had tons of romaine, cilantro, a few strawberries, and one peach. It was absolutely disgusting but I shoved my little dharma straw in there, closed my eyes and drank it.

The second unappealing beverage had the same kind of ingredients but with a carrot, gross. Today's disgusting juice however made me realize something I HAD to share with all of you. It had a big handful of cilantro, and parsley and huge amounts of spinach, a squeeze of lime juice and 2 cups of water. My realization after drinking this juice was that all three of these juices as unpleasant to the mouth as they were provided me with a different sense of satisfaction. They halted cravings in their tracks, and helped me stay full for hours.

One of the reasons this is huge for me is because I realized the parallel between a non-vegan converting to veganism. In the beginning people are usually told to go ahead and have those processed soy products, and meat substitutes when the true base to your diet should be raw produce. The same is when anyone converts to raw veganism, in the transition phase one of the things people are attracted to are the green smoothies that TASTE sweet but have greens in them, as well as the gourmet snacks. I think the lesson to learn is that the more raw you eat you have to balance out the greens with the sweets. If you find yourself always reaching for a banana or an apple, go for a red pepper, or a few leaves of romaine and some cherry tomatoes. ALSO. don't be afraid to rummage through your fridge and go crazy with your blender, either way whatever you make will be good for you!

Here's the other half disgusting juice recipe, it looks gross, but tastes epic..so it's only half gross!

-2-3 pieces small watermelon chunks

-one banana small

-handful spinach

-a big handful of blueberries

-ICE ICE BABY.

Lemon Coconut Mousse and Green Juice.

Breakfast: mango + spinach + 2 cups water + banana

Dessert Experimentation: My goal was to make some sort of tart with the coconut filling, but it changed forms after I chilled it. The picture taken was right after I blended it, it was less dense so I felt it had taken on a yogurt-y, creamy texture. HOWEVER, after refrigerating it, it was like a heavenly little mousse that just melted in my mouth. It took two seconds to make, so try it and see how you like it, I'm sure with the refrigerated version it would make a perfect tart centre.

-meat from 1 coconut

-juice from half a lemon

-some lemon rind

-1T agave nectar

-vanilla extract, two drops

-a little coconut water to blend

-two teaspoons coconut oil

chill or eat over fruit as is.

*ALSO, this time I did not cut my finger while opening this beaut!

lemon thyme as garnish, enhanced the existing lemon flavours.

HOME FOR GOOD.

I'm back from Ottawa and here to stay in Toronto for the rest of the school year. This morning was smoothie paradise with delicious ontario peaches!

-four ripened ontario peaches

-1 ripe banana

-3 ice cubes

-2 cups water

-2 big handfuls of spinach

-2 drops of vanilla extract

BLEND. and drink. It has the greatest after taste of peach and with 2 cups of water tastes more like a sweet juice than a thick green smoothie. Tip: If you have an old blender blend the water and spinach first so it's finer in texture and then add fruits one by one.

BEST 2.5 DAYS OF MY LIFE.

SOOO. My happiness levels are soaring hrough the roof even though I'm slightly exhausted, and I have to wake up in a few hours for work. I just want to share this story because it shows how easy it is to get people to just TRY the raw food diet. EX out diet. make that lifestyle.

I was up in cottage country near Westport in Kingston for 2.5 days it was absolutely gorgeous, even though it rained it was just nature everywhere. I was reunited with a couple that my family has known for a while, where the woman was my kindergarten teacher. I used their blender to make green smoothies and after having to chew my leaves for the past few months, let me tell ya. It was a treat and a half. It was so funny to make these, I would serve mine in a tall glass, next to it place a smaller glass and next to that place a shot glass. AND they loved it.

Here's three pieces of advice if you are starting the raw food diet. Mimi Kirk was right when she said, you need to find the motivation that just clicks with you. You know you want to eat this way, but there has to be something about the diet that puts you in the right mindset.

1) Find a few good recipes you feel you could eat or include regularly and start incorporating them at your own speed into your daily diet. (**key: green smoothies, salad rolls, gazpacho)

2) Take a step back before diving in and do your research, and ask questions.

3) ALWAYS. ALWAYS. have an emergency, back up, back up, crisis snack box. Fill it with nori sheets, flax crackers, fruits, dried fruit belts, raw bread, sprouted buckwheat, nuts, seeds, juices, and water. You'll feel better and won't give in to temptation when you start feeling like your stomach is eating itself. Omm..nomm..nom..om?

Actually what the view from the dock looked like in the morning, but with rain.