The One Month RAW Challenge

[Nance]

Millet . . . does anyone have recipes (raw) using millet . . . it is a very light grain, and sprouted, mixed with cauliflower crumbles, a little flax oil, and a bit of almond/carrot pate . . . I think that would make an awesome 'sushi rice'.
Oh, brother (sisters!) I have been reading Alissa's book again . . . I am really ready to EAT RAW!! I will have many questions, I am sure glad you guys are here!!

[mtmouse]

Hmmm. I've never sprouted millet, but you may be right! Of course, now that I've married the almond-ginger nori rolls, I no longer feel the need of rice in my sushi!

[TeePee]

HI everyone!! I guess I've been MIA for a few days. Haven't even had time to turn on computer between birth of sister's fourth baby and school ending for summer. SO MUCH WORK!! I can finally breathe a sigh a relief!!!

I intend on spending the summer cleansing (it is sooo much easier to do the SWF at 8 am and be home than to do it at 5 am and hope it is "done" by the time I leave for work!!!) and refining my raw food recipes!!!

I am starting tomorrow morning. Today I will gather my MC supplies and clean out the fridge!!! I have been trying to use up the last produce left in the house. I am down to Roma tomatoes and 2 avocados, a cucumber. Guess what I'm eating today!!!

I don't know how long I will cleanse. I have done about 6 or 7 in the last 2 years. All of them, except one were to letter and 10 days each. The one exception was I think 12. I really would love to do an extended cleanse this time. I seemed to me that the last one in January (before I went raw) my body was really ready to end. Of course, I was teaching and the holidays were in full swing, so I hope my body lets me go past that this time, since I'm off for summer. My boyfriend's vacation is scheduled for the last week in July and first week in August. I think we are going away, so I am going to try to go long enough to break back in and get some raw time in too. So maybe 3 weeks as I look at the calendar. We'll see!

I know I will be checking in on this board because it is full of such awesome inspiring people, but maybe I'll see some of you on the master cleanse board!!!

Enjoy this beautiful day!!

[Res]

Just checking in. I'm at work but wanted to say "hi" to everyone. This is my favorite thread and I always enjoy reading about how and what everyone is doing. Sorry this is quick.

Love,
~Res

[mtmouse]

My Vita-Mix is here! I'll be picking it up this afternoon. Woo-hoo!!!

[HealthyBiz]

Just jumping in to say I LOVE http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/love014.gif my month-new Vitamix. It is so much fun to use. And when I was out of town last week and packed my Oesterizer blender (which is now my travel blender), the lumpy Green Smoothies it made no longer seemed as good as the smooth blend of the Vitamix. I wish all of you with new Vitamix blenders as much fun as I'm having! I'm glad someone else bought the grain (dry) grinder. Mine's still in the box, but soon.... I'll be able to compare notes.

About Raw Pizza. I too freeze the crusts. Think I probably got the idea from one of you. But I freeze the crusts with the nut cheez and tomato sauce on top, maybe a few thin onion slices and basil if I have it. When I defrost them, I always load up the tops with extra fresh veggies and basil - that makes them really quick and easy to make. This is definitely one of my favorite raw foods. Cranberry scones are up there, too. Oh, my crusts are made with sprouted rice. Really yummy.

[mtmouse]

Hi HealthyBiz!

That's interesting that you freeze your pizzas with the toppings! Glad to know that works.

And nowhere in any of my materials on sprouting does it mention sprouting rice. Sounds fantastic! How long do you soak/sprout it? Do you use any special kind of rice?

[mookie47]

Hello all! I am back from my herbal conference (which was great!) and got to watch allisa cohen's dvd! It is very inspiring and makes really delicious recipes look really easy. She shows you how to prepare about 10 -20different things. I have her recipe book too which goes along with it. Anyway, I highly reccommend it for people like me who are more "visual". So today was all raw (except for coffee which I'm not yet ready to part with) and very delicious. I love that I don't have to keep track of anything. I can eat as much as and when I want. what a relief compared to other diets. I just put a test cookie in the dehydrator and we will see how that turns out. Who knows, maybe I'll have it for breakfast

[Nance]

Oh, boy today was the monthly buyer's club co-op order and I got some GOOOOOOOD stuff. Dates, buncha nuts, more maple, a case of dried tomatoes, nori, shoyu, last two not raw, a handy Pantry sprouter, and other stuff. I went to grocery store for the grapefruit and oranges . . . got a Good Seasons cruet to make homemade salad dressing . . . I won't be eating that for a few days, but whipped up my Spirulina dressing . . . talk about singing to me!

OK, I am going to be veggie juiceing after the transition (MAYBE a salad in there) until July 7 . . . then I will dive into Alissa Cohen's recipes !

Oh, man, I got sunburn, and chigger-bit after a day at the lake the other day . . . and not enough water . . . . felt like I have been fighting a cold, and the weight loss abrubtly stopped. . . . but . . . if all goes well it will be about 30 lbs off since last May 7. I feel great!!

[Sim]

Hi kids~
Just wanted to update my favorite people on the planet (well, on THIS planet, anyway ) I'm leaving for Ireland on Friday and I'm so busy I probably won't have time to write until I get back BUT I wanted to tell you all that there IS life after a second 41-day cleanse...but it's a little stranger than I thought it would be. I'm downright underweight and EVERYONE is freaked out, no matter how much I reassure them. I'm not letting it get to me because the first day I was really able to eat, I ate too much to please "my peeps" and I felt ill. I swore I'd never do that again! Anyway, all is well but the naturopath gave me a not-so-good report: she said I'm deficient in protein, iron, my electrolytes are terribly low and I've compromised my five immune markers...poor cell wall integrity, she said. She also said I've "cannibalized" my body...Now, my dears, I am not being negative at all because you know what? I feel great, except for just a touch of brain fuzz, which I think is due to too little sleep more than anything I'm eating or not eating. So the real question is: whom do you trust? The blood results are real but the way I feel is real too. So I've decided to accommodate those people in my life who are worried by taking B12 and electrolytes, Biotin, and a vegetable enzyme for digestion. And some essential oils because she also said the total cholesterol is way low, which causes the brain fuzz. (I didn't tell her I felt that fuzz, but in our discussion she said lack of cholesterol causes brain fog...I thought that was interesting...hmmmm)...so bottom line: I'm seeking optimal health. Perhaps the combination of cleansing, raw, and a naturopath's periodical analysis of my blood will yield the best results. But I"m willing to examine each thing independently. The cleanse remains, but I won't be doing any more 40 cleanses in the near future. The Raw remains (it was strongly recommended that I add cooked legumes...I'm having a hard time with that suggestions, but we'll see...), and the naturopath? We'll see. I'm all for letting "medicine be my food and food be my medicine" but until I know enough, I might have to rely on the knowledge of a well-respected ND.
I haven't opened my Vitamix yet, not with vacation on the horizon BUT it's waiting for me...I just didn't want my kids to have fun making piña coladas in it while I'm in Ireland!
I have made Alissa's bagels...very good BUT the magic wands from Gabriel Cousens, with a little tweaking, remind me incredibly of Slim Jims in texture and saltiness, yet they only have 2 teaspoons of salt in the whole batch (15 wands). Anyone want that recipe?

Magic Wands- from Gabriel Cousens' Rainbow Green and Live-Food Cuisine
1½ cups pine nuts, unsoaked
1 C walnuts, soaked
3/4 cup water
¼ cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Celtic salt (Cousens' original recipe says 2 Tablespoons; almost inedibly salty!!!)
2 tsps. ground ginger
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. white pepper
15 raw nori sheets

Combine all ingredients in Vitamix or food processor (I used my Cuisinart) and mix until creamy. Spread 2-3 tablespoons of mixture onto each sheet of nori and roll up into wands. Dehydrate at 100º for 36 hours. (Now, those are my tweaked instructions. Cousens says: "Spread 2-3 tablespoons of mixture onto each sheet of nori and allow to dehydrate for 1½ hours at 145º, then roll each sheet of nori up and continue to dehydrate for another 2 hours." Well, girls, that just didn't work for me at all, neither did the 2 tablespoons of salt. The edges of the nori dried out so I couldn't roll them into wands and the nori got soggy before it had a chance to dry...it just didn't work for me. But my tweaked instructions have had beautiful results. Do what you will!) These wands may be served warm or, if desired as travel food, fully dehydrated and stored in sealed baggies for a convenient snack.

Slim Jims. You know how when you bit into them, the fat felt all greasy and salty? Well...the nuts do the same thing! Only these magic wands are good for you!!!

Please be well, everyone. And please remember that even though I"m experimenting with this naturpathic doctor's recommendations, my heart says cleansing and raw are the right way to go. Those two things are the unconditional factors that remain in my life because they are stabilizing and healthy behaviors. As a relatively sane person who has never been into fads or cultish behavior, that is a very strong statement. Be happy and well and I expect to see tons of posts when I return! All my love to all of you, Sim