Day 20 Raw lasagna

My anemia is back and I have been eating some high iron cooked foods. Mostly lentils. I am also uping my greens like crazy. But I am also using these 30 days to make raw dishes I have been wanting to make but couldn't find the time. Raw Lasagna. This is a little more work than I like to do since I am still making 2 dinners each night. But my husband liked it so I will be making it again.

Lots of soaking for this recipe. The recipe is from Carol Alt's The Raw 50.

Soaking sunflower seeds, cashews and macadamia nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, marinading mushrooms. This lasagna was so yummy, we warmed it up the next day in the dehydrator.

Day 19 The importance of sleep

As someone who has had insomnia in the past, I recognize the importance sleep has in all areas of our health. At first, I thought well I really do not need as much sleep as others. My dad has never slept more than 5 hours a night. I assumed that maybe my sleep pattern was genetic. Maybe it is, but I do need more sleep. I know that my lack of sleep has effected my health in the following ways:
moodiness
hormone imbalance
increased blood pressure
weight loss/gain (plateaus)
headaches
clumsiness
When I began researching the effects of sleep deprivation, I had many more of the symptoms. I now know that SD places me at a greater risk for health problems in the future.
So what am I going to do about this... go to bed. 11 pm weeknights for a few weeks. No matter what I am doing, I am getting in bed at 11pm. I may not fall asleep right away but I need to make this a habit.
Oh and by the way, I had lots of yummy green juice today!!

Day 18 A pretty good day

As soon as I got out of bed yesterday, I wanted to try a couple of new recipes. I made some yummy stuffed mushrooms with basil, pine nuts, cilantro and tomatoes. They turned out great. I did put them in the dehydrator but I preferred them cool. So I turned off the heat and let them set. My husband loved them as well and I think he felt a little guilty eating them thinking that they were like restaurant food and full of fat and junk. No guilt here, these were full of deliciousness and good for me.

Day 17 Getting back into the swing of things

Wow, I really am lame at this blogging thing. I really wanted to blog daily during this 30 day raw experience. But that isn't happening. So I will make the most of the time I do spend on here and share what's going on. In the time I missed blogging, I went out of town for 3 days to visit my parents. While there I totally fell back into my old eating habits. Needless to say, I wasn't even high raw there. It was sort of eye opening. Since I have been home, I have been back to the raw drawing board. I have several new recipes I am trying this week. I went way overboard at the farmer's market this weekend. When I came home from the visit, my first delivery of fresh and organic produce from Natures Garden Delivered was here waiting for me. It looked beautiful. Everything we have eaten so far has been delicious.

Day 16 Yikes!

Day 11 7# gone

I weighed myself this morning and I am less 7#. Wow! I was surprised. I think I weighed myself a few days before starting my 30 days. So let's say in a 2 week time period, I lost weight 7#. This is so encouraging to me.

I also tried a new salad recipe tonight. It is from the Food Network's Barefoot Contessa for Cape Cod Chopped Salad. I made her recipe minus the cheese and bacon.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/cape-cod-chopped-salad-recipe/index.html

This is so good. I am planning to take it to my parents this week.

Day 10

I was away from home for most of the day. It was the first day I didn't prepare my own food. I ordered a salad from a local restaurant. It was OK. I was scrapbooking with a group and there is always chocolate at these gatherings. I refused them all. I have never done that before. There was a huge 3# bag of m/m's on one gals table and I can't believe I was not even tempted.
I came home later that night and had more of my guac. I didn't eat that much that day and I felt good.

Day 9 my new m & m's

Can I just say I look so forward to going to the neighborhood farmer's every week. There is a vendor there who makes and sells raw food to go. I almost always buy a raw breakfast cookie from her which is so yummy. At $4 a cookie, believe me I savor it. Sadly, I had to pass this week due to low funds. I had to use my cash for all my greens for the week. Here's a list of goodies I bought this week. Romaine lettuce, peas, sugar snaps peas, rainbow Swiss chard, beets and broccoli. The peas have not been making it home. I shell the peas in the car and eat them like m & m's. If they do make it home, I have to fight my hubby for them. My teenager tried them raw but decided he liked his cooked. But hey, I am happy he is trying lots of different things.

Day 8 Give me the green juice

Oops. I haven't posted in a few days. Things are going well, I just got busy. I drank lots of green juice today. My favorite right now is still the Clean Sweep. Kale, green grapes, celery, parsley and carrots. It is really yummy. But I went outside my comfort zone and made some Green Lemonade with romaine lettuce, cukes, celery and lemons. It was good as well and made a lot of juice. I ate a salad for dinner and had some of my simple guac on the side. I can't seem to get enough of it.

Day 7 didn't go too well

I had a stumble yesterday. I was looking for something fast to make for the kids and came across a box of organic mac and cheese. Now normally I don't like mac and cheese, unless my mom makes it homemade. I never eat the box stuff. Because once you have had my mom's (who cooks like Paula Deen) you never go back to box. So anyway, I made it for the kids and didn't think too much about it until clean up time. Then I had a bite, then another, then another. I probably ate between 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup of it. I didn't feel too well later. Lots of bloating. So was it worth it. No not really. But I am not beating myself over it. When you start to do that, it gives you a window to quit. I am not ready to quit so onward and upward.

Day 6 Sassy Water

I seem to be eating the same things for the last 2 days. What I am having trouble doing is drinking water. So I found a recipe for Sassy Water. I can jug this no problem. It has to be really cold though. I know room temp is better for you but I love it cold.

Place the following in a pitcher:

med cuke

med lemon

12-15 sprigs of mint

1" of sliced ginger

fill with filtered water over night for everything to infuse

Day 5 and onion bread

So I was so hungry for the sandwich I had last night. My hubby went to the co-op to purchase one, but they were out. SO I made one here. My onion bread really wasn't ready but hey a craving is a craving right? So here's what I put on my bread....

Sunflower seed cheese

romaine lettuce

tomatoes

clover sprouts

broccoli sprouts

Bubbie's pickles

balsamic vinegar

It totally fell apart after I took 2 bites, but it was just what I wanted.

A note about my onion bread. I used the recipe from Cafe Graditude. I did omit the Nama Shoyu and just used salt. I wanted more of a wrap than pieces of bread. I used the food processor to slice the onions, they were a little thick. So next time I will use my mandolin for a thinner sliced onion. It taste great.

Day 4

This post is a little late. I snacked throughout the day on fruit, killed off the rest of the simple guac and had a few raw chocolate macaroons. So for dinner, I was hungry. I went to the local co-op and bought this yummy sandwich. It was so good. I am inspired to make my own today. The onion bread should be ready tomorrow so I might have to buy another sandwich today.

Day 3 craving popcorn

Ok, so last night, I spent the evening in the bathroom. Not really sick, just active. I really think the nuts were getting to me. I did have popcorn. I wonder if it was an actual need or when I am not feeling great a comfort food.
My hubby on the other hand is "cheating" like crazy and craving junk. He is really missing sugar and his soda. He is really trying hard not to give in to his craving for soda.

Day 2 and too many nuts

We had Mexican tonight. It was yummy. My hubby was still a little hungry so he had some of the marinaded mushrooms.

My tummy is a little upset today. I did have a lot of nuts so I will lay off them tomorrow.

Our menu tonight was

Walnut Tacos

Corn Tortilla Chips

Simple Guac

Fruit Cobbler

Day 1 of our 30 day all raw challenge

Well, we have our first day under our belt. My husband loved telling me that it was National Donut Day. I think that is a good a day as any to start new habits.

I have been uncooking all day, prepping meals and making a yummy dessert. I made Ani Phyo's Mango Cobbler but I used peaches, apricots and strawberries. So I guess that makes it more of a fruit cobbler. So yummy.

I made a variation of my Get You Green on Greek Salad.

Now I have Corn Chips in the dehydrator for our chips and guac for tomorrow night. I did have coffee this morning but I not planning on doing that every morning.

Tomorrow it is off to the farmer's market !

Get Your Green on Greek Salad
1 hothouse cucumber
1 red bell pepper,
1 yellow bell pepper
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
1 medium zucchini
1/2 red onion, sliced in half-rounds
1/2 cup raw walnuts roughly chopped
2 avocados cubed
1/4 cup fresh basil chiffonade

For the vinaigrette:
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon whole grainy mustard
1/4 cup good balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Himalayan salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon agave
1/3 cup good olive oil

Directions
Chop all vegetables in large cubes then place the cucumber, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.
For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, Italian seasoning, mustard, vinegar, agave, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables. Add the walnuts, avocado, basil and toss lightly. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature. This dish can enjoyed alone or a top of a bed of baby lettuce greens.

Limping in