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The weather is ripe for enjoying warm raw soups. My inspiration today was from fall ingredients and the Halloween holiday. I whipped up this delightful and flavorful, raw vegan soup, garnished with black sesame seeds (a wonderful “jing” food – more on jing foods for future posts), and it screamed Halloween! It’s mega easy and only has 8 simple ingredients. Check it out…
Carrot and apple make this a perfect fall season soup.
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I’m pretty gaga for guacamole. What’s not to love? Creamy, fresh, satisfying, vibrant, and with a number of ways to enjoy it – raw by the spoonful, or heck, by the fingerfull, globbed on a vegan burrito (Chipotle, anyone?), or one of my favorites… Guacamole and Toast, anyone?
I’ve been upping the nutrient density of my guacamole though. Enter: organic broccoli. Do you remember not too long ago, when I used my trick of stealthily sneaking organic raw broccoli into a meal that I wrote about here? Broccoli is tres importante for adding tons of cancer fighting power to your life so it makes a very regular appearance in our lives.
Let me tell ya… there was not a hint of raw broccoli flavor in this new guacamole dish (of course, you can’t go wrong when you add some sweetness like mango or apple). So, here’s another recipe, loaded with nutrition to keep my family uber healthy, that I’ll go back to time and again: Mango Love Guacamole.
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This is what I ate and drank on Monday. I titled the blog post “super high” raw because when I eat high raw, it usually means cooked “food” in some form, but on Monday, all the food was raw, except for the Teeccino and the small amount of rice milk I had in my cereal.
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I did it! I went to the other side. I bought a Mac. I’ve been wanting to be in the group with the seemingly “cool” kids for some time now, but I kept putting it off. However, I couldn’t put it off anymore. My productivity is suffering and it’s time to upgrade. My reason for going to the Mac was because I’m a Raw foodie and the symbol for Mac is an apple. Hehehe… JUST KIDDING!
For the past many years, I’ve relied on my trusty Sony Vaio laptop. It’s had some issues but because I bought the extended warranty, I was covered when it acted up. I originally bought a slim laptop (vs. a desktop) because I was working in a corporate setting and I needed this for portability reasons, using in bed when working late, etc. But, it’s small. The screen is small. And, since I’m no longer working in that environment and I’m usually at home, it made sense to get a desktop. Even though my laptop is falling apart, I will still use it for travel so it’s not going into permanent retirement… only semi-retirement.
I’m on cloud nine for a while (a long while I suspect). I can wait until it arrives later this week. I know, I know… it’s only a computer. But, I expect GREAT things from this new addition to our family.
I suspect there will be a learning curve, but I’m not sure how intense. As most of you know, I have a BlackBerry (I frequently use this for email – talk about a life changing device for me!). From what I understand, I need to buy some software in order to back up my BlackBerry on my new iMac. Still need to figure all that stuff out. I’m also curious as to how people like Safari? How are the other programs?
Anyone have any advice or feedback?
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I love hemp foods. Hemp’s amino acid profile dominates with the 8 essential amino acids (10 if you’re elderly or a baby), making it a vegetarian source of “complete” protein! Manitoba Harvest is my favorite source for hemp foods. I use their hemp seeds, butter, protein powder and oil to make delicious raw vegan recipes all the time… including this one. Here’s an easy, delicious and nutritious spread for you and your family (especially kids!). I love serving it with sliced apples. Yum!
CINNAMON DELIGHT HEMP SPREAD
By Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com
Yield 1/2 cup
1/2 cup raw hemp seed butter
2 teaspoons raw agave nectar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
pinch Himalayan crystal salt
Stir all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
Another Great Hemp Recipe:
King Garlic Hemp Dressing
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“Superfoods” is a buzz word in the Raw vegan world, but it’s usually referring to some exotic ingredient such as maca or goji berries. But, what earns the right to be classified as a “superfood?” Does it have to be hard to get? Not at the common store? Full of mystical powers – or at least it makes you feel as such? Or, does it just mean that it’s chock full of awesome compounds including precious antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals?
I came across an article, Top 10 Superfoods for Winter and I wanted to share some of it here. The following list includes some foods you might not have considered “superfoods” in the past if you got caught up in the typical sexy superfood whirlwind we frequently hear about in Raw circles. However, these foods deserve some cheers and should be included.
I was excited upon reading the article that eight of the ten foods listed can easily be consumed Raw. Sa-weet! Here are some bits from the article, along with my own spin on things, including links to recipes of mine featuring some of the superfoods. Enjoy!
Cinnamon
Cinnamon has always been one of my mom’s favorite spices so she has been adding it to her recipes for most of my life. So much so that my brother and I started teasing her about it when we were growing up. Well, well, well… what do ya know? It turns out that mom knows best (sorry, Mom, it took me twenty-some years to come to this realization!). It’s been said that the compounds in cinnamon can help moderate blood sugar, improve capillary function, fight candida and inflammation, improve digestion, and may help reduce blood pressure. Cinnamon rocks the house!
Here is a recipe to get you started adding more cinnamon to your life: Blissed Out Chocolate Runner’s Smoothie.
Pecans
According to the article, “Pecans have shown to significantly lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL. Frequent consumption of nuts is associated with a lowered risk of sudden cardiac death and other coronary heart disease, as well as a lower risk of Type II diabetes in women.”
Here is an easy and delicious cookie recipe that people love love love! Pecan Spice Delight Cookies.
Dark Chocolate
The article also stated that “a Penn State-led review of the available evidence from 66 published studies, supports the view that consuming flavonoid-rich chocolate, in moderation, can be associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. Chocolate that is minimally processed and has the highest cocoa content (which means the darkest chocolate) has the highest level of flavonoids. With dark chocolate, even eating as little as 30 calories per day can have a moderate effect. (But more can make you really happy.)”
I totally agree with the author there! For a truly decadent experience with plenty of Raw vegan chocolate, you gotta make this recipe: Organic Double Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake.
Pomegranate (Juice)
The article mentions consuming pomegranates in the form of juice, but in my opinion, the pomegranate is best experienced in the whole form, i.e. the seeds. I want to feel spoonful after spoonful of juicy seeds burst in my mouth. My ritual of many years is donning a t-shirt that I’m happy to stain with pomegranate juice, as I seed 2-3 pomegranates at a time. I carry my bowl of precious seeds upstairs and I take pleasure in them as I enjoy a long, warm bath. That being said, I do realize the juice is much easier to come by year round.
In the Greek myth of Persephone, the pomegranate is called the fruit of the underworld. This legend tells the story that Persephone was bound to hell because she ate a pomegranate seed(s) from Hades. I don’t know about you, but a pomegranate might just be worth it… to me they’re glamorous and sensuous. Cutting into a pomegranate is like opening a treasure chest…inside you find brilliantly sparkling, sweet-tart flavored ruby-like seeds.
The joy doesn’t stop there though. The pomegranate has anti-inflammatory effects and high levels of anti-oxidants. It offers you potassium, vitamin C and niacin, making this labor intensive fruit worth the effort.
Apples
Apples are awesome. I mean, hello, an apple graces the cover of Twilight! But seriously, apples are filled with antioxidants for helping fight cancer and improve cardiovascular health. But, that’s not all. Apples also contain pectin (a great source of soluble fiber), bone-building boron, and Vitamin C. If you want the most bang for your buck when it comes to selecting which variety of apple you enjoy, consider this – Red Delicious apples are reputed for having the highest levels of anti-oxidants.
Here is a great green smoothie recipe that includes both apples and cinnamon!
Fluffy Green Smoothie
Yield 1 serving
1 1/2 – 2 cups water
2 apples, cored and chopped
2 handfuls spinach
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Blend it up and enjoy!
Blueberries
Blueberries are crazy awesome for you. They’re rich in phytonutrients and shown to be some major brain food from an anti-aging perspective. In fact, they may help keep your memory sharp. The next time you forget where you park your car, eat some extra blueberries. However, there’s more to blueberries than just some brain power… Wild blueberries, in particular, are shown to help improve eyesight by reducing eye strain and improving night vision. Total score – Night Vision! Next time you want your kids (or husband – haha) to eat healthier, give them a bowl of blueberries and tell them it’ll help their night vision. :) I’ll bet they gobble them up without a second thought.
All in all, blueberries rock. They are so good for you. And, I’ve read that you can get these benefits by eating fresh or frozen blueberries (get the “wild” ones if you can). This makes eating blueberries year round much easier.
No recipe here… I just eat them straight up by the bowl!
Prunes
Prunes (dried plums) are not just for shuffle board players. They’re a force to be reckoned with and should be enjoyed by people of all ages. Prunes are loaded with antioxidants (LOTS!), fiber, vitamins A & C, potassium, iron and more.
Updated 2/8: And, check this out… Plums Poised To Give Blueberries Run For The Money.
Although, I typically eat prunes by themselves, here is a delicious dressing recipe with prunes: Creamy Kickin’ Dressing.
Cabbage
According to the article, “A New York Times article in December suggests that cabbage is the most important [vegetable] in the world from the point of view of nutritional benefits and cancer-fighting ability. Cabbage possesses phytochemicals including sulforaphane, which studies suggest protects the body against cancer-causing free radicals, and indoles, which help metabolize estrogens. It’s also an excellent source of vitamins K and C, and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6, folate, manganese and Omega 3 fatty acids.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself! Now, most people associate cabbage recipes with cole slaw. And, it’s definitely a good source for it. However, to concentrate lots of those valuable nutrients in one serving, I also get my cabbage in the form of fresh organic Plant Blood. When I juice it, I include lots of purple cabbage, an apple or two, a carrot or two, and fresh ginger.
So, there you have it. 8 great superfoods for winter (and year round if you ask me!).
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One my favorite green smoothie recipes is simply apples, spinach and cinnamon. I love how the apples make it “fluffy” and the spinach adds a lovely creaminess to it. And, if you use red delicious apples (they’re reported to have the highest levels of phytonutrients) then you get gorgeous little flecks of red swirling around as you drink.
We’re going to a party tonight where I’m certain there won’t be anything for me to eat. No problem though! And, certainly no complaints here. I’m simply going to tote along my Fluffy Green Smoothie to drink. (I love the conversation it starts anyway.)
Today’s Raw Vegan Food (so far):
Heavy Metal Nano Detox
Pine’s Wheat Grass Tablets
My Super Drink (I chug it down)
1 cup water
1-2 T hemp protein powder for protein, essential fatty acids and fiber
1/4 t camu powder (or 1 T Fruits of the Earth) for extra Vitamin C and nutrients
1 T freshly ground milk thistle seeds to cleanse my liver
1 T ground flax or chia seeds for more essential fatty acids to convert to DHA (important for pregnancy)
1 heaping T Vitamineral Green for more power greens
*The list above is pretty much how I’ve been starting every morning lately to help get my body ready for pregnancy.
Girly Sun Tea (alfalfa, nettle, raspberry leaf)
Fluffy Green Smoothie (1 1/2 cups water, 2 apples, 1/2 t cinnamon, 2 big handfuls spinach)
Fluffy Green Protein Smoothie (same as above but I’ve added hemp protein powder and Vitamineral Green)
I will likely have chocolate at some point during the day :)
I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. More...
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