methodology flash cards
silent way
Monday, 13 February, 2012
Sunday, 13 November, 2011
Wednesday, 24 March, 2010
Raw Ambition
I feel like this blog is where my passion lives. I love food. Talking about it, cooking it, creating something magnificent out of it.
The raw or vegan bloggers that I read, are completely 100% enthusiastic about how their diet has fundamentally changed their lives. Now, I'm sure that each person has their reason - be it the curing of some physical ailment, like an allergy, or weight loss, or better digestion. And then there's energy. They all talk about the energy they get, and I do believe it. Even just a few days on a vegan diet, and having incorporated like 300% more veggies into my diet, I already feel more energetic. But, I think that their enthusiasm isn't from that per se - it is from the food itself. Health = Enthusiasm = Joy.
Healthy = Shedding Unhealthy Attachments, and seeking the 'raw'. Being completely pure, honest and real with oneself.
One of the best blogs is Sarma's Raw blog - she is honest and has a great spontaneous, writing style, that is adorable...I love her rants. I read an article last night called 'My Summer Adventure in Juice Fasting' reposted on 'We like it Raw' last night. She put food in perspective for me.
My very favorite part is this:
That last line really shook me up. I've read somewhere (actually a bunch of places now) that to eat food, is to numb your emotions. You cannot eat and feel at the same time...or something like that. If this is true, then I've been hiding from myself for a long long time.
..Sarma goes on with some beautiful insights about fasting, food attachments. I just love her honesty.
But just read the whole article here...
For more soul searching reads, chec out Finding Clarity in a Blender also by Sarma.
The raw or vegan bloggers that I read, are completely 100% enthusiastic about how their diet has fundamentally changed their lives. Now, I'm sure that each person has their reason - be it the curing of some physical ailment, like an allergy, or weight loss, or better digestion. And then there's energy. They all talk about the energy they get, and I do believe it. Even just a few days on a vegan diet, and having incorporated like 300% more veggies into my diet, I already feel more energetic. But, I think that their enthusiasm isn't from that per se - it is from the food itself. Health = Enthusiasm = Joy.
Healthy = Shedding Unhealthy Attachments, and seeking the 'raw'. Being completely pure, honest and real with oneself.
One of the best blogs is Sarma's Raw blog - she is honest and has a great spontaneous, writing style, that is adorable...I love her rants. I read an article last night called 'My Summer Adventure in Juice Fasting' reposted on 'We like it Raw' last night. She put food in perspective for me.
My very favorite part is this:
A wise lady once told me that there is nothing but love and fear. If it’s not love, than anything else (anger, depression, etc.) is just a manifestation of fear. I wasn’t sure what I was afraid of, though I could imagine on some level that facing reality without the insulation of food in one’s belly could seem scary. Or, the insulation of extra pounds. Maybe it’s scary to lose those few extra pounds. Because then what would I obsess over? Maybe it’s my own ambitions that are frightening.
That last line really shook me up. I've read somewhere (actually a bunch of places now) that to eat food, is to numb your emotions. You cannot eat and feel at the same time...or something like that. If this is true, then I've been hiding from myself for a long long time.
..Sarma goes on with some beautiful insights about fasting, food attachments. I just love her honesty.
Overall, I cried a lot throughout the week. Yes, just having no solid food to eat could be reason enough to shed tears, but clearly that wasn’t it, because I felt really good physically, and not hungry. What I felt was an unfamiliar and uncomfortable sense of… sobriety. Like I wanted to reach for a blanket to hide under, but there was no blanket (figuratively). I wondered if this was remotely akin to what a heroin addict feels while in rehab.
It seems very natural that people (and animals) just want to be free, and when we’re ordered around or constrained, it generally induces anxiety and resentment. So where is the happy medium? At thirty-five years old, I should be able to calmly self-regulate what I put in my mouth, right? It’s all up to me, and with so many choices. My brain and my heart had long known that a juice fast would be really good for me. But any time I had imposed on myself a sentence of juice-only at home, I didn’t even last a full day.
There is a tendency for some people (myself apparently one of them) to form addictions and attachments to food (and I’m talking food of the solid, chewable variety). Recognizing this is easier when you put yourself in an environment where there is no food but meanwhile there is ample fresh, organic juice to keep you from going hungry, as well as all sorts of other comforts and nothing to be stressed out about.
But just read the whole article here...
For more soul searching reads, chec out Finding Clarity in a Blender also by Sarma.
Cashew Cheez
Well, I am proud of myself - I finally made something I would normally be horrified to make - Cashew Cheez. I mentioned it briefly in my last post.
Every time I heard of fake 'cheez' I thought - this is definitely something those hippies have gotten wrong! As a cheese lover, the thought of fake, nut-based cheese was just...disgusting. Sorry for how harsh that sounds
But, alas, I assumed 'nut-based' to mean something lumpy, salty and 'nutty' when in fact, that connot be further from the truth.
The cashew cheese was like sweet ricotta. In fact it reminded me of alfredo sauce - an indulgent, rich creamy texture, and it was magnificent!!
I'm incredibly proud of myself, only because i finally tried something completely different and reluctant about, but I was also inspired to create my own recipe - Butternut Squash Alfredo!!
OK ok, I seem to see that combination everywhere now that I made it...hey great minds think alike.
Cashew Ricotta Recipe
2 cups cashews (almost). Soaked overnight
2 lemons
2 garlic cloves
salt, and more salt
basil (or maybe try with sage - I've heard its a killer combination with squash)
dash of truffle oil
water for consistency
ahhh this was so incredible. It tasted like a fluffy, sweet, tangy ricotta!
All I did was add a few broken pieces of basil and some cubed butternut squash, smooshed the squash down. The fibres looked like melted cheddar cheese, so i used this to convince Colin to try. He loved it. Really loved it.
I wasn't 'raw' with it. I threw this mix on top of pasta. However,I cut down my usual pasta portion down by half, and felt incredibly full.
I also had some bread with this. Bad. Bad
Some substitutes: - flax crackers, lentil based breads
Instead if pasta: rice pasta, zuccini pasta, raw wrap or quessadilla
Here is another great recipe:
Amazing asian stuffed peppers
Kale and Bok choy side
This is a great way to use up rice - again I will use brown rice next time!!
Basmati rice pilaf stuffing
sesame sead oil
Carrot
Yam
1 onion
tempura/soy sauce
grated ginger
lemon/lime juice
This was really heavy on the ginger, but that's ok. I love the flavor.
Stuff the mixture into a few brightly colored peppers and bake away for 30 min or so at 300F. I also added some tempura sauce on top of the peppers and around the dish. If I had mushrooms, I would have definitely included them!
When these are out of the oven, make the veggies:
Steam 'fry' veggies - give the veggies a steam.
3 heads of baby bok choy
Head of kale
with tempura sauce
I got hungry while waiting....
The pilaf was great with shredded carrot, cucumber sticks, cilantro and diced thai chilli peppers. YUM!!! I snacked on this while my peppers cooked.
On a side note - I can't believe how delicious bok choy is! The broth from the steaming was so incredible - I think I will do this as a soup next time, add some wonderful meaty mushrooms to it. I am SOLD on bok choy! Kale takes a bit of getting used to though, but not as bad as I anticipated.
Every time I heard of fake 'cheez' I thought - this is definitely something those hippies have gotten wrong! As a cheese lover, the thought of fake, nut-based cheese was just...disgusting. Sorry for how harsh that sounds
But, alas, I assumed 'nut-based' to mean something lumpy, salty and 'nutty' when in fact, that connot be further from the truth.
The cashew cheese was like sweet ricotta. In fact it reminded me of alfredo sauce - an indulgent, rich creamy texture, and it was magnificent!!
I'm incredibly proud of myself, only because i finally tried something completely different and reluctant about, but I was also inspired to create my own recipe - Butternut Squash Alfredo!!
OK ok, I seem to see that combination everywhere now that I made it...hey great minds think alike.
Cashew Ricotta Recipe
2 cups cashews (almost). Soaked overnight
2 lemons
2 garlic cloves
salt, and more salt
basil (or maybe try with sage - I've heard its a killer combination with squash)
dash of truffle oil
water for consistency
ahhh this was so incredible. It tasted like a fluffy, sweet, tangy ricotta!
All I did was add a few broken pieces of basil and some cubed butternut squash, smooshed the squash down. The fibres looked like melted cheddar cheese, so i used this to convince Colin to try. He loved it. Really loved it.
I wasn't 'raw' with it. I threw this mix on top of pasta. However,I cut down my usual pasta portion down by half, and felt incredibly full.
I also had some bread with this. Bad. Bad
Some substitutes: - flax crackers, lentil based breads
Instead if pasta: rice pasta, zuccini pasta, raw wrap or quessadilla
Here is another great recipe:
Amazing asian stuffed peppers
Kale and Bok choy side
This is a great way to use up rice - again I will use brown rice next time!!
Basmati rice pilaf stuffing
sesame sead oil
Carrot
Yam
1 onion
tempura/soy sauce
grated ginger
lemon/lime juice
This was really heavy on the ginger, but that's ok. I love the flavor.
Stuff the mixture into a few brightly colored peppers and bake away for 30 min or so at 300F. I also added some tempura sauce on top of the peppers and around the dish. If I had mushrooms, I would have definitely included them!
When these are out of the oven, make the veggies:
Steam 'fry' veggies - give the veggies a steam.
3 heads of baby bok choy
Head of kale
with tempura sauce
I got hungry while waiting....
The pilaf was great with shredded carrot, cucumber sticks, cilantro and diced thai chilli peppers. YUM!!! I snacked on this while my peppers cooked.
On a side note - I can't believe how delicious bok choy is! The broth from the steaming was so incredible - I think I will do this as a soup next time, add some wonderful meaty mushrooms to it. I am SOLD on bok choy! Kale takes a bit of getting used to though, but not as bad as I anticipated.
Monday, 22 March, 2010
Heart, Soul and Hunger - My new Health Quest begins!
I need an extra dab of motivation to keep me on my health quest - ok maybe an armload full, so I'm blogging about it! I am trying out vegan food, raw food, vegetarian food, and overall wellness in my life. It means more fruit, vegetables, calcium, iron, fresh air, biking and overal de-stressing.
So here's my quest: everyday to document my meals and then improve on it, so my food the next day is healthier than the day before.
New substitutions, better ingredients, more raw and more creative ways to add freshness and health.
I am obsessed with raw food, although, I'll be honest, i haven't prepared that much of it. I don't know why I have been putting it off. I read food blogs constantly and am fascinated by the INCREDIBLE raw recipes out there. Some of my favorite sites right now: Kristen's Raw, Ani Phyo, Oh She Glows, OneLuckyDuck's Sarma Raw Blog, Rawesome, Julie's Raw Ambition.
These are all incredibly beautifuly examples to me of raw food ambition. Each has taken raw cooking to another level that is unique and beautiful to them. I am truly blown away at their creations and their honesty (especially Sarma right now. Thank you thank you for your incredibly honest blog posts!)
So back to my mission - today's food, and how to improve for next time!
Todays food:
6:30am
Oatmeal crisp with apple and pear
- add flax seeds, and make this more substantial - more bulk foods like banana, raw apple, hemp seeds or a nut butter to go with this. Oh she glows gives great advice
6:30 am
latte - bad all around, but its my addiction - if I ever throw coffee, it will be a miracle. I did **think** about having a big blueberry spinach banana smoothie this morning *anticipating my new blender!!! so maybe another time. I could at least use oat or hemp milk though
10am
small cup of tomato soup Pacific Food brand - have raw or fresh soup rather than boxed.
4 mary's crackers - yum - ok nothing wrong here right??
3 Tbs - hummus/cashew cheese spread -I added cashew butter to make it creamier - maybe added fat for no reason?
cucumber slices- excellent - just double the amount, and try carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes and cauliflower as well
Lunch 12:30
Amazing Asian stuffed peppers with kale and bok choy - I had a healthy serving of greens - 3 leaves of kale and some bok choy. Pretty darn good.
Next time use BROWN or WILD RICE or Quinoa!!
Damn - I always catch myself! There is always a way to do it differently. I think lentils would work too, now that I think about it.
1:30
small cup of chilli - vegan chilli. It was incredible!! oh c'mon i don't know how to improve on amazing chilli - i even added chocolat nibs to it. perhaps lentils could have gone in as well...
1:30
1 latte - with milk again. Time to have MATCHA in the afternoon, or another form of green tea (chocolate matcha looks devine to me).
5:30
3 slices white bread - with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
BAD. No excuses. I was hungry and I felt desperate because there is so much of it in the fridge- and someone's gotta eat it!
6:30:
1 cup squash cashew alfredo, with pasta. OK ok the refined, professed white flour here is very bad. Next time rice pasta, white beans (canelloni??) or a whole wheat pasta version - at least!
2 glasses water
8pm
glass of red wine
10:30
stolen bite of a scone....
11pm
chopped tomato with lemon juice, cilantro and basil. Holy cow this is an amazing combination. But it is much too late to eat.
What's up next
marinated mushrooms to go with my cashew cheese
stuffed zucciini
Eggplant Bacon
'Roasted' tomato soup
Anything from Rawmazing....wow!!
Thank you to Sarma, for being an inspiration! I will let you know how tomorrow goes, and post links to all of these great sites where I'm getting my inspiration :)
xo Anna
So here's my quest: everyday to document my meals and then improve on it, so my food the next day is healthier than the day before.
New substitutions, better ingredients, more raw and more creative ways to add freshness and health.
I am obsessed with raw food, although, I'll be honest, i haven't prepared that much of it. I don't know why I have been putting it off. I read food blogs constantly and am fascinated by the INCREDIBLE raw recipes out there. Some of my favorite sites right now: Kristen's Raw, Ani Phyo, Oh She Glows, OneLuckyDuck's Sarma Raw Blog, Rawesome, Julie's Raw Ambition.
These are all incredibly beautifuly examples to me of raw food ambition. Each has taken raw cooking to another level that is unique and beautiful to them. I am truly blown away at their creations and their honesty (especially Sarma right now. Thank you thank you for your incredibly honest blog posts!)
So back to my mission - today's food, and how to improve for next time!
Todays food:
6:30am
Oatmeal crisp with apple and pear
- add flax seeds, and make this more substantial - more bulk foods like banana, raw apple, hemp seeds or a nut butter to go with this. Oh she glows gives great advice
6:30 am
latte - bad all around, but its my addiction - if I ever throw coffee, it will be a miracle. I did **think** about having a big blueberry spinach banana smoothie this morning *anticipating my new blender!!! so maybe another time. I could at least use oat or hemp milk though
10am
small cup of tomato soup Pacific Food brand - have raw or fresh soup rather than boxed.
4 mary's crackers - yum - ok nothing wrong here right??
3 Tbs - hummus/cashew cheese spread -I added cashew butter to make it creamier - maybe added fat for no reason?
cucumber slices- excellent - just double the amount, and try carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes and cauliflower as well
Lunch 12:30
Amazing Asian stuffed peppers with kale and bok choy - I had a healthy serving of greens - 3 leaves of kale and some bok choy. Pretty darn good.
Next time use BROWN or WILD RICE or Quinoa!!
Damn - I always catch myself! There is always a way to do it differently. I think lentils would work too, now that I think about it.
1:30
small cup of chilli - vegan chilli. It was incredible!! oh c'mon i don't know how to improve on amazing chilli - i even added chocolat nibs to it. perhaps lentils could have gone in as well...
1:30
1 latte - with milk again. Time to have MATCHA in the afternoon, or another form of green tea (chocolate matcha looks devine to me).
5:30
3 slices white bread - with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
BAD. No excuses. I was hungry and I felt desperate because there is so much of it in the fridge- and someone's gotta eat it!
6:30:
1 cup squash cashew alfredo, with pasta. OK ok the refined, professed white flour here is very bad. Next time rice pasta, white beans (canelloni??) or a whole wheat pasta version - at least!
2 glasses water
8pm
glass of red wine
10:30
stolen bite of a scone....
11pm
chopped tomato with lemon juice, cilantro and basil. Holy cow this is an amazing combination. But it is much too late to eat.
What's up next
marinated mushrooms to go with my cashew cheese
stuffed zucciini
Eggplant Bacon
'Roasted' tomato soup
Anything from Rawmazing....wow!!
Thank you to Sarma, for being an inspiration! I will let you know how tomorrow goes, and post links to all of these great sites where I'm getting my inspiration :)
xo Anna
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