Having spent the last 5-6 months incorporating green juices, the whole foods, increasing my water intake, getting some exercise and a few early nights I'm feeling quite fantastic!
Cameron has been a trooper with this journey. Safe in the knowledge that if he hates something then he's welcome to make a sandwich, he's tried every single new thing that I've put in front of him and we've both been pleasantly surprised by how much of it he has enjoyed - even new textured things with bits, which is kind of a big deal for my boy.
Vegan cheese sauce (with no actual cheese in it) was the thing that really got him on board.
An online friend recommended The Rawtartian site this weekend and I've been drooling over the recipes and notes ever since. Yesterday I had a go at raw chocolate shortbread and it was a success for a few reasons.
Raw shortbread is delicious - a bit like frozen cheesecake.
I had all the ingredients in my cupboards already and despite raw recipes like this looking like they may be a faff or time consuming, if you factor in that there's no cooking time and usually less washing up then it's no longer a big deal.
Possibly the best reason I like them is that they're freezer bars so I froze the entire batch, cut it into portions and the leftover pieces that we didn't eat went back into the freezer which means that whenever either of us fancies a sweet treat they're ready to eat immediately and they'll keep a long time.
Today, I'm thinking I might revisit the site and have a go at the faux mayonnaise based on macadamia nuts.
There is never a dull moment for a food enthusiast.
What's inspiring you in the kitchen at the moment?
The raw chocolate shortbread looks delicious! It's good to get out of your comfort zone and try new foods/ways of cooking.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Natalie - that's exactly it, I'm being nudged gently out of my comfort zone and finding so many wonderful things there.
DeleteI saw Hugh Fearnley Whittinstall in a programme where he had a raw food banquet and was so impressed. Our cookery culture seems very intertwined with cooking everything with heat, it's such a strange and interesting idea to think that we can actually just eat raw food, as it is, with all of the goodness left in. I'm inspired because I've recently registered with a local food link co-op so all the food is delivered weekly, is seasonal and comes from local farmers and allotments (well almost all), I now have a ton of veg to 'do' stuff with and am looking forward to the cookery challenge of actually using it all rather than wasting it. I think it's time that the supermarkets had less a little less power. Raw shortbread sounds lush. Might have to have a go at that. x
ReplyDeleteKay, that sounds like an incredible thing to be a part of! I've definitely got more vegelicious in the last couple of years but I'm yet to find a local scheme that's in line with my desires at a decent budget.
DeleteShortbread looks really yummy. Of course I'm now seeing all the best recipes because my kitchen is being demolished hahaha. Have it bookmarked for after kitchen destruction->construction->completion!
ReplyDeleteA fancy new kitchen - how exciting!
DeleteThat does look so good, I can see where my evening will be going tonight, to drool over the rawtarian site lol I'm glad your enjoying the workshop, I knew you would :-) I really enjoyed the vegan one. Right now, I have recently joined a new raw food online community so I'm finding my feet there. I hope to make raw vegan a large part of my diet, I keep on working to add in the good stuff xx
ReplyDeleteThat's the trick, I think, Becky - just keep adding it in. It seems to be working for me. No restrictions, no guilt - just as much goodness as I can manage (which turns out to be a lot!).
Deleteboy, these look good. Be on the look out for coconut oil on my next supermarket foray - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnd well done you on such a healthy step.
x
Thanks!
DeleteI think it might be a trip to the health food shop for coconut oil, Janice - I haven't seen it in any supermarkets yet. Well worth the money and effort, though.
Thanks for introducing me to that website, I love the recipes they look so simple and easy and a great replacment in my attempts to remove sugar from my life.
ReplyDeleteMel [not signed in]
Hi Mel - I'm glad you found the site useful :o)
DeleteHannah,you've no idea how pleased I am to see your Spring banner! I'm incredibly ready for the season change this year and today has been beautiful here, how about where you are? Excited about trying the shortbread :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm pushing the season a little but I felt like if I declared Spring then it would happen! It's been sunny today so I feel justified ;o)
DeleteI also meant to say that my dad was a raw food vegan for many years, but on a massive heath kick so no sweet stuff at all. It's nice to see the other side of being vegan ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think that there are so many more options now that there may not have been years ago on the sweet stuff. More access to recipes and ingredients with the internet and better stocked food shops - for instance, stevia has been legalised in the UK and it's just one of many ingredients available now that can sweeten without a nasty effect on the body. Having said that - in this recipe most of the sweetness comes from dates and lemon juice.
DeleteThanks for the link. We're vegan but not raw exclusively but I'm alays looking for ways to switch up our tried and true ingredients. Glad you're enjoying trying new things and from one mom to another, good job with getting your little man on board!
ReplyDelete