It has been crazy around here! The cookbook is in its final stages, and should be released in less than two weeks! I have been pouring all of my energy into the final stages, which has meant the blog has been a little quieter. But that will change tomorrow. All of the recipes and photos will be in the hands of the layout department, and the editor will be hard at work, so I can get back to work, here!

Lately, I have been enjoying Brazil nuts. They have a mild flavor that makes a beautiful nut milk, they can be substituted for almonds in many recipes, and they are on the less expensive side. Nutritionally speaking, they have a high selenium content which qualifies them as a “complete” protein. The fat in nuts are monounsaturated, or the “good” fat that is heart healthy. They also have copper, niacin, magnesium, fiber, and vitamin E.

Here is one of my favorite combinations, a cacao and banana smoothie made with Brazil nut milk.

For another great Brazil nut recipe, click here: Doughnut Holes

The temp here dipped below zero again last night. Seriously, isn’t spring supposed to be coming? Aren’t we supposed to be warming up just a little? I built a big fire in the fireplace and settled down with the pups. What was I missing? A big mug of hot chocolate. I have a great raw food recipe for warm cacao here, but it was getting late and I knew if I drank anything with cacao this late, it could interfere with my sleep.

Hazelnut milk to the rescue! Served with a touch of raw honey and cinnamon, and warmed slightly, it was the perfect before bed nightcap.

More health benefits of cinnamon are becoming known every day. It is a source of magnesium, fiber, calcium and iron. Studies have shown that cinnamon has anti-clotting benefits, can reduce your LDL Cholesterol, help regulate blood sugar and provide relief for arthritis. It is a spice worth looking into.

Our holiday raw food recipe quest continues with dairy free, healthy “eggnog”. Christmas has always been magical for me. Every room of our home was decorated with beautiful garlands and Christmas cheer. My mother turned into the Christmas Angel and our home was stunning with it’s magical transformation. Along with the decorations, came the food and drinks. Tom & Jerry’s (made with vanilla for me), eggnog, dozens of different cookies. Christmas wasn’t just a holiday, it was a month long event.

I have continued this tradition for my family. Boxes of decorations and ornaments make their way out of storage and our home begins it’s own transformation. Pine garlands, lights, and wreaths on every door, inside and out. As the decorating starts, I find myself craving the traditional holiday beverages. But the traditional recipes are not exactly healthy. Milk, cream, sugar and eggs. Sounds divine but not for my heart or my waist. So, with the inspiration from my friend, Joanna from Fresh Blessings, I give you the raw food, healthy version of eggnog. Dairy free, sweetened with dates, a little agave, and loaded with healthy ingredients and nutrients. I have served this to my non-raw friends and they love it. Toast the holidays to health with this wonderful beverage.

One of my favorite winter treats that I used to drink every day is Hot Chocolate. I used to make it with whole milk and sugar, often topping it with a huge dollop of whipped cream. Makes me shudder just to think about it! I still enjoy my favorite drink, but now I reap the benefits of this raw food recipe of the healthier version. Made from almond milk, cacao and agave, it is delicious and healthy. I keep the heat under 116 degrees, so I can maintain all the wonderful nutrients. It is warm and very satisfying!

Turn on the TV, pick up a magazine or newspaper and you can’t help but read something about how unhealthy our eating habits have become. More and more people are recognizing that a diet of processed, highly sugared foods are much less than ideal. Adding more veggies and fruits is the number one suggestion for improving our diet!

As we transition to a healthier diet, one of the goals should be to make sure you eat your “good foods” first. The theory being that if you start with the cupcakes, you will fill yourself up and never get around to the healthy foods, depriving your body of the needed nutrients, setting up conditions that can allow weight gain and disease to occur. The easiest way to add those fruits and veggies are green drinks and fruit smoothies.

I drink one for breakfast every morning! I get a great boost with nutrients that energize me. I also get a good start on my servings of fruit or veggies, making sure that those good nutrients are coursing through my blood stream! Recently, I ran out of smoothy ingredients for a couple of days. I noticed a huge difference in energy level, mental clarity and attitude.

Today’s raw food recipe is a great mixture of spinach, carrots, cucumbers and a few more ingredients to make it especially tasty and refreshing!

You are looking at a very easy way to incorporate one of the the most overlooked, necessary elements of our diet, greens. Quick, simple and packed with nutrition, green drinks are a quick way to incorporate more raw into your diet. Drink your spinach. I do almost every morning.

Preparing this drink in class is always fun. I love the look on people’s faces, as I toss two huge handfuls of spinach into the vitamix.  We are going to drink that? Add a banana, a few dates and some cacao and you have a delicious, very nutritious drink that amazes everyone.

Spinach is very low in calories but packs a nutritional punch. It is a rich source of calcium, iron, and even protein. It’s amino acid score is 119 indicating a good source of complete protein. In fact, spinach is almost half protein!

The addition of Cacao provides more amazing benefits. Cacao is so loaded with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals, and provides many benefits. It is a form of raw chocolate so if you are sensitive to chocolate use in moderation.

Whip this up for breakfast, lunch or when ever you need a bit of a boost. Just don’t tell people what is in it!

Cacao Smoothie Green Drink

Watermelon is one of my favorite summer foods. I try to create as many raw food recipes with it as I can. Especially when they are local. Refreshing, filling and a lovely summertime dessert with it’s slightly sweet flavor! The pink, greatly hydrated flesh of the watermelon is very nutrient packed. It is the perfect alternative for summer energy drinks that are packed with processed sugar and chemicals.

Watermelon is packed with antioxidants. A great source of vitamin C and also A (from it’s beta carotene) it is also rich in B6, B1 and magnesium which are needed for energy production. It has almost a 90% water content and is considered to be more nutritious than other fruits.

Watermelon is also a great source of lycopene, which is a potent carotene antioxidant. These antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which can cause much damage to us. It contains higher amounts of lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable including tomatoes. In fact, it has 40% more lycopene than tomatoes!

Watermelon is rich in electrolytes sodium and potassium and has a cooling effect on the body. It is no wonder that we find ourselves reaching for a piece on those hot summer days! Who knew it was biological?

Watermelon is fat free but great for energy production. It is also more effective that carrots for protection against macular degeneration.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy watermelon (besides just attacking it with a fork) is to make watermelon lemonade. It is a great way to concentrate all of the wonderful nutritious elements into a great, refreshing summer time drink.

The lemons add another health factor with their ability to be a powerful antibacterial.

Green drinks are an important part of my raw food recipe collection.  They are quick to make, and delicious to drink.

Many people believe that greens are one of the most important elements of our diets. Greens are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and nutrients. Carrot tops actually are much more nutritious than the root end, or the carrot! Greens are not vegetables so, those of you that are concerned with food combining, the same rules don’t apply. You can mix fruit and greens to create a refreshing, tasty drink. And did you know that according to Victoria Boutenko in her book, “Green for Life”, greens are the primary food group that match human nutritional needs most completely.

We all know that spinach is good for you. And Kale is a superfood. How much spinach and kale have you had today? If you are like me, a better question would have been, how much have you had in the last month? Now, in just less than 5 minutes, I can whip up a nutritional cocktail that benefits my body in amazing ways.

The main ingredients in my green drinks are the greens. I use 3 cups of greens. Usually, spinach, red romaine, kale, or what ever other green I am feeling like experimenting with. To that, I add a handful of grapes and a handful of what ever fruit I have on hand. The following are a few of my favorite recipes.