Saturday Sports

I guess you can't keep the Powell family off of the sports field. On the rare Saturday that Caleb didn't have a game, we still went to the YMCA to watch a few of his friends' games. While there, I bumped into my friend, Rhonda, who had twin girls five months ago. I got to hold the babies and chat with Rhonda for a while out in the fresh air. At one point, I kicked my shoes off and plopped down on a blanket she had spread for her family. Later, with shoes off, I walked on the grass while holding her baby. I felt so relaxed. So peaceful. Holding a calm baby is surely therapeutic. Maybe it's their pure innocence we feel when holding those angels!

Later in the day, back at home, at half-time of the Florida/Georgia football game, Collin and Caleb decided to play football themselves.

Quince joined them. At the time, I was preparing dinner -- more homemade veggie burgers -- and salad -- with Banana/Lemon pie for dessert. While the burgers were dehydrating, I went outside to watch the boys play. I walked up on a throwing competition that started at the side yard next to our neighbor's house and then finished on the cul-de-sac.

My Veggie Cracker Experiment

Earlier today, I said I would post a picture of my veggie cracker experiment. The pulp mixture used to make the veggie burger is what I also used to make the crackers (which probably look more like cookies, huh!). In fact, it was while forming the crackers that I realized I could also try making a few veggie burgers with the same mixture. (When looking at the picture of the crackers, Caleb thought they looked like mini veggie burgers.) :-)

I made 21 crackers. We're now down to about three of them with a few set aside for the raw-food gourmet chef, Connie AKA Raw Oma, for her critique. (Oh no, I'm nervous!) :-)

Another raw-food kitchen memory! :-)

Viola! It's a Veggie Burger!

Yesterday, in my juicer, I made a carrot/apple/parsley juice. Prior to that, I made two glasses of orange/apple juice for my son. I took the pulp from the juices and added a garlic/herb seasoning, flax meal, flax seed and a little sea salt.

Here's one of the creations from the pulp mixture. A veggie burger!

Today's lunch...topped with a tad of Apple Cider Vinegar!

I'm loving these raw food creations! This has just got to be what nature intended.:-)

Stay tuned for a picture of the crackers made from the same mixture.

Another Raw Pie -- Banana/Lemon

Last Sunday, I made a Banana/Lemon raw (no-cooked) pie. Yay, another raw pie victory!Caleb (red shirt) and his friend Christian (blue shirt) loved it.

Here's a slice of their pie talk:

Christian: Caleb, which part do you like the best?

Caleb: I just like it ALL mixed together?

Christian: I like the nuts, but the banana gives it a lot of flavor?

Caleb: I know!

Silence!

Maybe they were meditating on their thoughts about the pie's taste. Perhaps the glare/fuzziness of the picture reflects the "raw pie zone" they were in! :-)

When I made this pie on Collin's birthday, we took it to his parent's house to share with them. Collin thoroughly enjoyed it and said it tasted like "Lemon Meringue pie." Collin's dad told me that I had outdone myself. "It's good! It's good!" his mom said a few times while eating her slice. Caleb asked if a bit more could be added to his plate after his first bite. Initially, he said he didn't want much because he wasn't really hungry.

I got the recipe for this tasty Banana/Lemon Pie from Raising Raw-Vegan Children, one of the raw-vegan e-books available on The Garden Diet.

Here's how I made it!

Crust: In a food chopper, I finely chopped a little over a cup of Raw Spanish Nuts. I also chopped about five pitted dates and mixed that with the nuts in addition to a tablespoon of olive oil, about a tablespoon of honey, and a little cinnamon and nutmeg. After wiping a tad of olive oil on the bottom of the pie dish, I spread the crust.

Filling: In a blender, I blended four bananas, one avocado, the juice of one lemon, about three pitted dates, a touch of honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. I poured that creamy mixture over the pie crust.

Topping: I finely chopped another cup of Spanish Raw Nuts and sprinkled that over the filling.

Since the pie was creamy, I put it in the refridgerator for a little while to allow it to set.

The boys loved it, and so did I.

Raw Pie Experiment

A couple of evenings ago, I did a raw food experiment and made a no-cooked/no-baked, organic Broccoli, Yellow Squash and Apple Pie. It turned out delicious. Since my son really liked it, that was enough for me to know it was truly good.

The above picture shows the completed pie -- with crushed Raw Spanish Nuts and cinnamon sprinkled over the top. The picture to the right shows the pie before the topping was added. (The crust was made from crushed nuts, dates, olive oil, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg.)

The day after experimenting with this tasty pie, I took a slice of it to my friend, Charo, to sample. Here's what she had to say the following day:

"Good morning my RAW VEGAN SISTA! To add to your list of happy customers, please include the Simpson family. Penny, your broccoli, squash, & apple pie was very delicious! I believe little Cara was the biggest fan of all. Her response was, "Can I eat it all?" Still, we all thought it to be very tasty....mmmmmmmmmmmm good. When is the next taste test? The Simpson family is happily standing by!! I'd love to try the banana/lemon pie. I'm putting my order in now!! You go girl!!"

Charo even went as far as listing some possible names for a raw-food cafe that she believes I will someday own/operate.LOL (I guess when she wrote that she wasn't remembering that I have a 'some-timey' kitchen attitude.LOL Sometimes I want to be in the kitchen; sometimes I don't!) :-)

She ended her e-mail with "Hugs & Kissess my sista, Charo"

Well, needless to say, Charo's raw pie review went a long way to helping me have a splendid day!

Penny

Trying to Master A Raw-Food Lifestyle

I'm borrowing a quote from a friend I met in The 7 Days Raw Journey forum.

"The lighter I am, the higher I dwell."

Or, as I say it: "The lighter I feel, the higher I soar."
I'm certainly feeling lighter (in a good way) these days while trying to master a raw-vegan diet. Although I'm still attempting to fine-tune this exciting and healthy way of eating and approaching life, I'm closer than ever before to exclusively eating this way. No cooked food. No dairy products. But, all organic (or as much as I can purchase) live foods! Fruit. Vegetables. Nuts. Grains.

The 7 Days Raw Journey hosted by The Garden Diet has taken me so much closer to my goal of eating the way I believe I was designed to eat and live. This journey starts every Monday. Check it out!

By no means am I missing out on food that falls under the Standard American Diet, also known as "SAD." If I desire some sort of cooked food, there's a raw food recipe for just about any dish I might desire.

Pie, anyone? Check out the Raw Sweet Potato Pie that my new and wonderful raw-vegan friend, Connie, gave me. I met Connie through The 7 Days Raw Journey!