Sea Vegetables

This week continues to knock me out. I finally got so frustrated with trying to feed myself, I just went to Trader Joe's to get some ready made items.

If I'm not eating raw, I'm eating whole grains! I'm still eating vegetables and am trying to drink a lot of water. I just have no energy, from physical, mental, and emotional strain. It's 9:10 pm, I seriously considered ditching this post and going to bed. I'm going to end up working about 50 hours this week, then catering a small shoot this weekend (Starting at 5:30 am Saturday & Sunday) then jumping back into a regular week. Plus I'm putting in my two weeks notice on Friday, so that Monday may be painfully awkward!!! I had a horrible dream about the confrontation this morning. It's really stressing me out!

I'm feeling a little guilty about not taking the best care of myself because of all this... but then I have to remind myself that I'm feeling guilty for buying Trader Joe's vegan oatmeal cranberry cookies that are made entirely of fruit and grains then eating them with raw almond butter. So... I'm just not going to worry about it and know that I'm going to get back on the raw next week. Maybe even this weekend actually, I'll be making some big salads for the shoot, and plan on bringing hemp protein smoothies to keep me going. I actually can't wait to eat raw again... it sounds so refreshing!

Because of stress and less than optimal eating habits, my skin hasn't been great lately. I saw a segment on Martha Stewart the benefits eating seaweed has for your skin. I munched on some organic untoasted nori all day today, one of my favorite snacks! I also tried a spirulina, chlorella mask. Just a little spirulina, chlorella, and filtered water mixed to form a thin paste.

Easy being green!

I liked it because I didn't worry about putting it close to my eyes and on my lips (it's just food). I didn't feel any strong affect, but I feel confident that my skin absorbed some of that goodness :)

Our skin is super absorbent, which is why it's best to use chemical free cosmetics, soaps, and lotions. I've also heard that putting sugar on your skin can speed up the forming of wrinkles, keep in out of your homemade scrubs and masks!

One of my favorite natural brands, I just happened to buy the kelp shampoo this month!

Oh! Something raw! Sunday I felt really sick, it may well have been allergies, but it was intense and I wasn't sure. If it was a bug, it was going down! I had a bunch of tea, oranges, vitamin c supplements, and this:

Raw Spicy Garlic Ginger Miso Soup

2 cups filtered water (1 1/2 cups boiled)
2 large cloves garlic
4 tbsp fresh ginger
2 tbsp miso paste
1/2 tsp chili infused sesame oil
1/2 tsp liquid aminos

Blend 1/2 cup water with all other ingredients then add hot water at the end.

This is pretty intense, it was very strong, but exactly what I needed. I felt fine on Monday!

I'm not sure when I'll blog again, I'll let you know how the catering goes! Have a great weekend!!!

New Job, New Apartment, New Health Goals

So much transition! Lots of good stuff, but it's keeping me VERY busy. I'm trying my best to stay on top of everything and not succumb to anxiety. It's all good, just a lot all at once! I found a new job working as a receptionist at an acupuncture clinic! I'll get free acupuncture once a week plus health benefits. I'm so excited to work somewhere with people who share my interests. It's a beautiful calming, healing and peaceful space-exactly what I was hoping for. I don't start for three weeks and to be honest, it's going to be a rough three weeks at my current job! I'm going to make the best of it, it's just become absurdly exhausting. What I'm expected to accomplish in a day is just... comical. In the way that it's really not funny at all. But only three more weeks!!! Jesse's last final of the semester is the same day I start my new job, he has three papers to write and lots of studying. We're both busy and stressed. Almost immediately after I start, we're going to begin looking for a new apartment. We're both excited, but it's one more big thing on the table.

I am also catering a small film shoot for a pre-pilot this weekend. I'm so excited to have the opportunity, but again, added to the pile!

Due to the transitions, planning, and stress my good eating habits have gone out the window. Still a lot of raw food, but not enough greens. It started when I felt so sick for so long, I just couldn't stomach raw veggies and I've had difficulty getting back on track. I know I will, just not right now. I can feel the difference and look forward to re-embracing a diet of mostly fruits and vegetables.

Also... I ate some yogurt. Animal yogurt. My stomach problems lasted for almost two weeks. I'd been eating soy yogurt, but it didn't really help. I couldn't stop thinking about yogurt yogurt. I wasn't craving it exactly, it doesn't sound appealing to me at all but I couldn't get it out of my head. I believe in intuitive eating, and knew that my body probably needed something I wasn't getting. I made about three trips to the grocery store, stared at it, and left empty handed-I just couldn't bring myself to buying it.

Then finally, late Friday night, Jesse and I ran to Whole Foods. The time was right.

It was hard to eat, I ate it with sliced banana and raw coconut oil chocolate. The taste wasn't bad, not great either but while I was eating it, everything came into focus and I felt very clear, like I do when I down a green smoothie. I knew it was right.

So, what does this mean? I don't know. I may start incorporating some yogurt and maybe some raw goat cheese (if I can find a source that's completely humane). I have a raw, unpasteurized milk source from a single cow who gets lots of love. I'm thinking of making my own yogurt, I think that's the only way I could be really comfortable eating it. One happy cow, no packaging, raw. But, maybe not. I'm just going to try to pay extra close attention to my body, how it feels and what it needs. I'm happy to share this experience with Katie from Don't Worry, Be Happy, Be Vegan :). Her last blog post Changes describes a similar transition.

Right now my current health goals are as follows:

-Yoga semi-regularly, I took my first yoga class in two years! I can't wait to go again :)
-Exercise regularly
-Eat 70-100% raw most days
-Eat five servings of raw vegetables daily, three of them begin green
-Eat no refined sugar, and cut down on sugar substitutes and sweet fruit
-When eating cooked food, it should be home prepared, mostly whole grains
-Incorporate some organic yogurt and organic raw goat cheese if necessary and no other animal products
-Continue to get most vitamins and nutrients from natural plant sources

Will I still go to Green Leaves and get their Rock N' Roll Noodles on occasion? Yes. But I like setting a bar for myself to aspire to without being too crazy about it. Moderation is key in all things!

And now, finally, food.

Jesse and I have been loving our Vanilla Almond Butter Banana smoothies. Here are his and hers.

And here is a solo.

It's just a banana, 3-4 tbsp almond butter or to taste, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1-1.5 cups water. Blend and enjoy! Sometimes I add some organic soy lecithin, but it's not necessary.

I always keep a bunch of frozen bananas in the freezer for smoothies and ice cream. Here's the banana carnage left after I prepared another batch to be frozen!

I've been a peanut butter fiend this week. I made a chocolate smoothie (with some greens mixed in) then topped it with peanut butter. Yummmmmmmy.

I finished a meditation class through by The Psychic Institute of Southern California (which I highly recommend if anyone gets the chance!) We all brought food for a mini party on the last day. I decided to bring some interesting chocolates. Almond butter turned into Reeses-like filling by adding nutritional yeast, vanilla, and agave (Averie style) sandwiched between slices of banana and strawberry...

...Then dipped in raw coconut oil chocolate.

They were goooood. Next time I'm making each with more almond butter, thinner slices of fruit.

I hope everyone's doing swimmingly! Let me know your thoughts on yogurt/goat cheese, I'd love to get suggestions and feedback. Peace and Love <3 <3 <3

Tess

Comfort Food

Hey everyone, I've had a really rough week. Every few menstrual cycles, I have one that really kicks my butt! Mine started with a major abdominal contraction that left my stomach sore for days. Combined with cramps, nausea, and bowel irritability (sorry everyone, I know this is fun subject matter!), I've had a lot of trouble eating, and have not had the energy to prepare foods. I stayed raw for the first few days, but was barely eating anything save a smoothie, some soup, a fruit, and if I could, a raw vegetable. I submitted to a dark chocolate craving (probably craving iron) on the third day and incorporated some cooked foods. The past few days I've been doing cooked foods and raw smoothies. I'm still not eating much, not even avocados sound appealing! I bought some Whole Soy & Co's plain soy yogurt to aid in digesting what little I've been eating. I'm at the point that I'm really ready to go back to more raw vegetables, but don't have the energy to buy and prepare them. I'm hoping I'll be feeling better tomorrow, I'm really ready to get back to my life!!!

When I first started feeling crummy, I made the first raw soup that I really liked! I'm still excited about it :) It's a creamy tomato soup, topped off with avocado and Trader Joe's lemon pepper, mmmmmmmmm...

Raw Creamy Tomato Soup

2 medium tomatoes
1 stalk celery
1/4 cup cashew nut milk (or any unsweetened mylk of your choice)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp liquid aminos
salt and pepper to taste

Blend until creamy and smooth, gently heat if desired. Makes one serving.

I also made some cashew milk using 1 cup of cashews and 3 cups of water. I love making nut milk, it always comes out so creamy, frothy, and delightful looking.

I liked the tomato soup so much, I attempted to make another creamy soup, but it was a bit of a failure. I wanted to make a creamy miso soup so I used cashew nut milk as the base then added miso paste, garlic, chili powder, and liquid aminos. That was good, I should have stopped there. Instead I blended in 1/2 an avocado and added wakame seaweed.

No good. It was too creamy and the wakame didn't pair well with it at all. Ah well, better luck next time!

Fortunately I had one more success. I bought some large purple grapes at an Asian market that immediately began to get mushy. I froze whatever I couldn't finish and made a PB&J Smoothie!

PB&J Smoothie
1 cup frozen grapes
3-4 tbsp peanut or almond butter
2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash of salt
1-2 dates if necessary

Blend until smooth!

This was tasty indeed, I'm excited to have another batch of dates left in the freezer! Hopefully I'll have more goodies to share next week! Have a lovely Monday <3

Easter

Before I talk about Easter, I'm going to play some bloggie catch up. Last weekend my brother Kelly came up to visit me! We went to the Hollywood Farmer's Market and shared lots of raw goodies!

I made him banana honey ice cream.

Using just frozen bananas, a little water, and a spoonful of this awesome honey I found at the farmer's market.

Here's Kelly enjoying the ice cream.

And Jesse, also enjoying the ice cream :)

Kelly was brave enough to chug a green smoothie with me. These are cucumber, celery, kale, and spinach. Bottoms up!

I also made him some of my Ginger Almond Sauce over Cabbage 'Noodles'. I've made this recipe probably four times in the past two weeks and enjoyed leftovers for the few days after. It's so tasty, flavorful, and satisfying. I'll post the recipe near a bit later...

Kelly got to enjoy two ice cream treats while he was here. Jesse bought some plums that were really tart. I halved, pitted, and froze them. The next day I blended them up with some honey and water to make this yummy plum sorbet.

It was such a nice visit, we're hoping to go camping together and brings lots of raw meals, sound perfect in the hot dessert.

I reached my goal of eating more greens, mostly in salads like this one with heavenly heirloom tomatoes.

I made a cleansing cucumber grapefruit smoothie.

Close up, it looks like the surface of the moon.

I made this really fantastic chocolate pudding smoothie.

I really should not have finished this whole thing, it was VERY rich... but so delicious. It's made from banana, avocado, cocoa powder, organic soy lecithin, a little honey, and a little almond butter topped with bee pollen, shredded coconut, and raw cacao nibs. Yeah, it was pretty good.

I also made a simple, satisfying, and irresistible smoothie. I was craving almond butter on banana the morning I picked my brother up for the train station but didn't have time to eat and prepare it, so I put it in the blender! It was even better than I could imagine, it tasted a lot like Trader Joe's Banilla protein shakes (which are really good, but loaded with soy). I made another as a treat for Jesse one night, he was excited too! It's roughly 1 banana, 2 tbsp almond butter, and 1/3 cup water (more or less depending on desired thickness).

And now, on to Easter! My mom hosted this year, everything was beautiful inside and out.

Did you know artichokes grow this way? I didn't!

Chocolate eggs for the normies.

Strawberries for me and the normies :)

I ate some of my mom's yummy green salad with strawberry ginger dressing, raw vegetables, fresh fruit, and my Ginger Almond Sauce over cabbage 'noodles' and vegetables.

Here is the salad sans the sauce.

If you decide to make this recipe, I encourage you to add more or less spices depending on your personal taste, I always end up adding more in the end.

Ginger Almond Sauce

1 cup raw almond butter
4 tbsp raw tahini
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos
1-2 large cloves garlic, pressed
2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
approx 4 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp chili powder, made from hot red chilis
1/2 cup water (or more depending on desired thickness)
salt and pepper to taste (you may need more after you mix in the veggies, I always under salt)

Blend or mix all ingredients. This makes enough to cover one head of shredded cabbage, one head of chopped broccoli, a few shredded kale leaves, three diced carrots, and 1/2 red onion.

This is my favorite way to eat it, covered in avocado!

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday, and survived your Mondays!