Almonds and dates and cherries- oh my!

I am yumaliciously concocting some recipes lately.  And today's is a Cherry Smoothie- 100% raw, 100% good for you, and packed with protein!

If you've ever been around me, you know I have a killer sweet tooth.  I LOVE sugar.  Unfortunately sugar doesn't love me back.  But wait, Natural Sugar (found in fruit, known as fructose) is ok for you!  WOOHOO!  

I made the most delicious almond milk today.  It's thick and creamy and sweet and perfect for what I was using it for.  How do you make that?  Oh so simple grasshopper.

1c. almonds (soaked overnight in water- enough to swell up and break the enzyme inhibitors, so you can actually digest the proteins!)

about 4 cups of water (give or take.  mine tends to be a little thick, so I have to use more water to remind myself, I"m not making cream.)

10 dates (I use small ones so that's why so many) without the pit.  (optional- and can do less or more)
1/2 t. vanilla extract OR 1 t. vanilla powder.

blend in a blender.  High power/speed is great (I have a Vitamix) but it's not a requirement.  Blend until totally mixed.  strain in a nut bag if you're lucky enough to have one, or a strainer lined with muslin cloth.  If you do that, unbleached is best.

You can even save the pulp.

Anyhoo- on to the real recipe.

1 c. almond milk (more or less)

handful of frozen cherries.  (if you can buy organic, great!  If not, you can always pit and freeze your own.  If THAT's not possible, hey- fruit is better than a milkshake...)
5-10 more dates

Blend all of that (may need to add more water or more almond milk) in your blender until totally creamy!  enjoy and hope it's yum for you!  Yes, you can add greens to this.  Yes, you can even run this through your ice cream maker -according to MFR's instructions. (wow, that looks a little wrong....  sorry!) In fact, I might make some of that and take some pictures.  You can even drink this after a workout because of the digestible protein will help rebuild your muscles.  Yeah, buddy!  Enjoy!  Want to see it?  I knew you would.




Raw food is awesome-sauce for your body!


Lastly:  I made this recipe myself.  If you see something similar, please know I didn't jack someone else's recipes, this is just what I came up with by experimentation.

Wanting to do so much.

Hey Y'all.

So this past week has been very horrible for my family.  We lost a baby that I was carrying on the 23rd.  We're grieving so much, but it's made me reevaluate some things.  What if it was my fault by the crap foods that I had been eating?

Yeah, I just had an order from nuts.com come in (about a month ago) and I'm working on some new raw recipes.  My goal is to record some new videos making raw foods, and have a kids segment and stuff.  I really REALLY want to do this, but we'll see how much I'm able to do with my being in school and homeschooling (which will be a little easier considering it'll be summer!)


So good news:  I am looking forward to coming up with some new recipes and getting healthier. :)

Be blessed!
Heather

I NEVER update this.

Yeah.  I suck at blogging.

BUT to my credit, I'm a SUPER busy homeschooling mom of 5, back in school for my Bachelor of Science degree!  I want to be sure that I get this down.


you ready?


I'm expecting #6!  I just had Nate in 2011, and the twins Elli and Abi came in 2012 and now in 2013, we're expecting again!  I'm "due" (I seriously have issues with that word- my baby isn't a library book!) Jan 1, 2014.   And I feel PHENOMENAL!  That makes me 6 weeks pregnant right now.

I only feel nauseous when I'm smelling cooking meat.  Which the husband won't give up right now, but as of right now, I'm not eating anything but raw.

I am so excited about this.  It's not an experiment.  I really want to have a 100% raw vegan pregnancy!  I feel so great right now, and want to continue it.

So this (hopefully) will be updated every so often (ideally once a week; more if I remember something important) and will do my best to remember between school and kids and being a wife.

Here's a note:  I will not be giving up honey.  There are too many proven health benefits with it, so I won't technically be 100% vegan, but for all intents and purposes, I'm raw vegan for this pregnancy and beyond!

Be blessed!
Heather!

Day 3. suuuuuuuuuck!

Holy shiz, this is hard!

I am the one who does the cooking in my home.  Luckily, my 8 year old daughter asked if she could help today.  For the family I made scalloped potatoes, meatloaf (pathetic little meatloaf!  it was tiny!!) and fried cabbage.  Zoe did the cabbage.

Anyway, it is SO frigging hard to smell the wonderful aromas of a food that you're used to eating when you're in-taking nothing but juice.  I'm on day 3, so this is one of the "hardest" days.  yeah.  sure as flip is!

I started this journey at 161, after my water fast and upping my juice fast/feast I started on Monday instead of Tuesday like I wanted.  I haven't had much of a detox, except a headache but that's gone.  I'm feeling rather sorry for myself though.  instead of focusing on what I can eat, I find myself focusing on what I can't.

The twins:  they are nursing more often.  I am going to watch them very closely to be sure that they're ok- I'm certain they are, I'm just more vigilant now.

STARVING!

So stats:
day 1- weight:  261.4
           sugar level:  didn't take, honestly forgot.
            size:  22/24ish  IDK, I haven't truly checked.  I really only have a few outfits that fit me, so I tend to wear them over and over.

day 2- weight:  259.6
            sugar level:  96 (2 hours after eating)
            size:  no change.

day 3- weight:  257.4
           sugar level:  85
           size:  no change.


So, that's where I am.  I'm going to be uploading a new video and I'll attach it in a little while.  blessings!