A SIMPLY RAW LIFE HAS A NEW HOME!

Well, A Simply Raw Life has made a small move in order to be able to grow a little more as a blog.

We hope you join us over at our new home.

You can click HERE.

Or, just type in www.asimplyrawlife.org.

 We'll continue to share our simple and tasty creations, bringing you a tastier take on natural foods one bite at a time.

Thank you so much for your love and support!

xox

BREAKFAST: RAW OAT GROATS OATMEAL WITH SPROUTED BUCKWHEAT AND NECTARINES

Finally got my hands on some oat groats (raw and unprocessed form of oats) and I am loving it.  Personally I am not a fan of cooked oatmeal, so this is a great hearty breakfast that I am loving.  Life has been so busy this past month, I really need some easy quick go to recipes.  Of course, I still make my smoothies too on most days  ;)

Eating these delicious grains are easy.  Soaking is the most important.  Soak the oat groats 8-10 hours or overnight, rinse and drain.  For the buckwheat, soak them for 30 min to 2 hours and rinse thoroughly.  They will have a slimy kind of residue.  This is normal, just rinse thoroughly and leave in your strainer overnight covered to get a little sprout out of them.  Now they are ready to eat.

(You can also just soak your oat groats in your favorite milk in the refrigerator overnight to get them ready to eat as well.)

RAW OAT GROATS OATMEAL WITH SPROUTED BUCKWHEAT AND NECTARINES

2 tablespoons soaked oat groats
2 tablespoons sprouted buckwheat
2 tablespoons raw slivered almonds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
1 nectarine sliced, or your own favorite fruit
Optional, chopped dates or raisins do give it a little more sweetness
Almond milk

Add all the ingredients to your favorite cereal bowl and enjoy!  Yup, no guilt eating this breakfast.

Enjoy!

RAW THUMB PRINT COOKIES WITH STRAWBERRY JAM

There's just something delightful about these little bite size thumbprint cookies.  The cashews in this cookie almost give it that buttery-ness that you crave in shortbread cookies.  The balance for the cookie dough with the sweet raw fresh jam is just delicious.   Give it a try and change up your jam easily.  I definitely want to try figs on top of these cookies!

RAW THUMBPRINT COOKIES WITH STRAWBERRY JAM

For the jam

1 cup organic strawberries

1/2 teaspoon psyllium husk powder*

1 teaspoon raw agave or raw honey

Blend all the ingredients together to the desired consistency.  Transfer the mixture to an air tight jar or container and let it chill for 15 minutes.  Voila, you now have your jam!  I love this jam.  It tastes so fresh you can't go wrong.

If you want it just a tad firmer, then use 3/4 teaspoon psyllium husk.

*To learn more about psyllium husk check out this link.  The psyllium husk powder asks as a thickening agent.  Only a small amount is needed.  

For the cookie
1 cup raw cashews 1/2 cup raw almonds 1 cup dates 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean 2 tablespoons maple syrup or agave

Process the nuts in your food processor until finely chopped.  Add in the dates and process until the ingredients are mixed well and it starts to get moist from the dates.  Add in the vanilla and maple syrup or agave and process to combine.  Shape the dough into 1" diameter cookie dough balls, place on wax or parchment paper lined tray and press the center down with your thumb.  Spoon the desired amount of jam on top of each cookie and then place them in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes. 

Now they are ready to eat with along with your favorite tea!

Enjoy!    

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw cookie?  We'd love to hear what it is. Please share in the comments below. Links are welcome!

MANGO CREAMSICLES OVER ON FAMILY SPONGE

Take a look what's happening over at Family Sponge today.  Our Britney has shared her Mango Creamsicle recipe which is sure to be a hit with the kiddos!  

Happy Friday!

SUMMER JUICE BLEND: WATERMELON, GRAPES, BLUEBERRIES AND LEMON

Here's another refreshingly delicious juice blend.  I can't get enough!  Add the power of raw fruits and vegetables to your diet by juicing, you will feel it from the inside out. I love adding grapes to this juice blend because the restorative power of grapes is phenomenal, and they are known for cleansing the liver and removing uric acid from the body.  It also protects the blood vessels and the heart.  It's super refreshing and delicious.  Who doesn't like watermelon in the summertime?!?

SUMMER JUICE BLEND: WATERMELON, GRAPES, BLUEBERRIES AND LEMON

1/2 a watermelon
1/2 to 1 pound grapes
1 cup blueberries
1 lemon, juice of

Juice all the fruits together, except the lemon.  Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the juice blend and stir.  It is now ready to serve.

Enjoy!

FOOD DOCUMENTARIES

For the past few weeks I had been feeling stagnant, slightly overwhelmed with life.  Kind of unmotivated and at a plateau... A little too much cooked food and some junk crept in - did I ever tell you that chips are my weakness?  Well, I needed a reboot - big time.  I mean summer is hear and we are headed to the pool and beach.  Ugh.  So I got motivated and did a 3 day juice cleanse to jump start (check out my favorite green juice recipe) , watched 4+ food documentaries before that and I am feeling fabulous... I am back on my game! Woot woot!  I love too that I have my raw and vegan foodie friends for support too - you know who you are!

I highly recommend watching these four documentaries if you have not already.  It really motivates you to continue on your plant based food journey.  And it reminds you why you started it in the first place.  And if you haven't, why you should, or at least add more of it into your life. They aren't necessarily promoting vegetarianism, veganism or raw foodism, but really just educating us on the nutritional value of adding more plant based foods into your life.

Modifying what I eat and my eating habits really has changed my life and the life of so many others.  And only for the better.  These documentaries are streaming on Netflix.  Come on, just click on the link and view it now... what are you waiting for?

Let me know what you think!

xFelicia

HUNGRY FOR CHANGE

FOOD MATTERS

FORKS OVER KNIVES

FAT SICK AND NEARLY DEAD

ZUCCHINI PASTA WITH AVOCADO MISO DRESSING

If you tried my Kelp Noodles with Avocado Miso Dressing, then you are sure to love this one as well.   This dish is very flavorful it really is satisfying on so many levels.  I love how the red and orange of the tomatoes and orange bell peppers stand out against the green.   I am making it again tonight for me an my hubby.

ZUCCHINI PASTA 

For the noodles and garnish
3 zucchini peeled and sliced noodle thin
2 cups of spinach shredded or chopped thin
Diced tomatoes and orange bell pepper
Sesame seeds

AVOCADO MISO DRESSING

For the dressing
1 medium ripe avocado
2 tablespoons miso
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon, juice of
1 clove garlic
(If you do not want to use miso, you can leave it out and substitute it with some sea salt to taste.)

For the dressing, add all the ingredients for the dressing into the food processor and process until mixed smooth.

Put the zucchini noodles and spinach in a medium bowl and add the dressing little by little  to your desired amount and massage and toss by hand to coat the noodles.

Plate the noodles and then garnish with the tomatoes, orange bell pepper and sesame ~ and then eat with chopsticks if you so desire.   Super, super tasty.

Bon Appetit!

THE BEST GREEN JUICE BLEND!

One of my husbands new goals is to add more green juice to his life.  Work and stress has been getting to him and he needs a jump start!  This green juice blend is so awesome.  So flavorful and not bitter or sweet.  The perfect combination.  I hope you enjoy it too.  Give it a try.

THE BEST GREEN JUICE BLEND

1 bunch kale
1 bunch celery
1 bunch parsley
2 inch piece of ginger
2 apples
1/2 a pineapple
juice from 2 lemons
Optional - 1 cucumber

All fruits and vegetables should be organic.

Juice everything together and squeeze the lemon juice in after and enjoy!  So refreshing!

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite green juice recipe? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below. Links are welcome.

MINI PLUM TARTELETTES

OK, yes, I have recycled the raw chocolate cookie dough recipe yet again.  But can you blame me?  It's just too good. I wanted to show that you could make a fabulous fruit tartelette with it.  Next time maybe with some coconut cream. Yum!  Super simple and so delicious!

PLUM TARTELETTES

For the crust:
1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup dates
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons raw agave or honey

Process the nuts in your food processor until finely chopped.  Add in the dates and process until the ingredients are mixed well and it starts to get moist from the dates.  Add in the cacao powder and agave or honey and process to combined.

Press into mini cupcake / muffin tray lined with mini cupcake liners.  Press dough firmly into the paper / tin firmly and refrigerate for 1 hour for freeze for 10-15 minutes. 


For the fruit topping:
Fresh  ripe plums sliced
Shredded coconut to sprinkle on top

After the tartelettes have chilled, top each crust with the plum slices and garnish with shredded coconut.  Now its ready to serve!

You can use many other fruits for the topping, such as strawberries and raspberries... The options are endless.

Enjoy!

GREEN MACHINE SUPER FOOD SMOOTHIE

Oh my, I ran out of spinach to use in my smoothie this morning so I ended up adding Vitamineral Green to it and WOW! Delish!  Just what I needed to get me going this morning.

There are those days or when you've fallen off the band wagon and splurged a little, feeling the consequences...  That was me the past few days - splurging here and there, but now I am back on the wagon. The super foods drink has got me going!

GREEN MACHINE SUPER FOOD SMOOTHIE

3/4 cup frozen mango
1/2 - 3/4 cup frozen pineapple
2 large dates (or 3 small dates)
1-1/2 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon vitamineral green - I got mine at Whole Foods
1 table spoon hemp seeds
Topped with raw sweet cacao nibs

Blend all the ingredients except the cacao nibs together in a high speed blender, pour into your favorite smoothie cup, top with cacao nibs and sip.

Enjoy!

RAW DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE DOUGH TARTELETTES

I really can't describe how good these are!  So decadently delicious, and seriously I don't feel guilty eating them.  I love having simple recipes I can use just by changing them up a little bit and voila a whole new dish!  Here I took my Raw Chocolate Cookie Dough Bites and made them into mini tartelettes with my raw chocolate frosting from these Raw Brownies on top.  Divine. You HAVE to make these!  Enough said!

RAW DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE DOUGH TARTELETTES

1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup dates
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons raw agave or honey

Process the nuts in your food processor until finely chopped.  Add in the dates and process until the ingredients are mixed well and it starts to get moist from the dates.  Add in the cacao powder and agave or honey and process to combined.

Press into mini cupcake / muffin tray lined with mini cupcake liners.  Press dough firmly into the paper / tin firmly and refrigerate.  Now make your frosting.

RAW CHOCOLATE FROSTING

1/4 cup maple syrup or agave nectar
1/8 cup coconut oil, warmed to liquid
1/3 cup raw cacao powder

Wisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.  Top each tartelette with a dollop of  chocolate frosting and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Now they are ready to eat.  Be careful.  You may end up eating, 2, or 3, or even 4... ha!

Store in an airtight container in the frig.

Enjoy!

SWEET AND SAVORY SUMMER SALAD

Here's one of my favorite summer salads or should I say, more of a treat.  I love to make different versions of this wonderful dish which can accompany any light summer time meal.  Serve it as a snack or a side salad, you choose, it usually gets devoured in minutes anyways... :)  Enjoy!

SWEET AND SAVORY SUMMER SALAD

Equal amounts of
Watermelon
Pineapple
Cucumber
Avocado
Heirloom tomatoes
Daikon radish
Orange bell pepper
Yellow squash
1 Lemon,  juice of
Sea salt to taste
Chili powder

Chop all the vegetables into cubes or strips and place in groups on your favorite plate.  Squeeze the lemon juice on top, sprinkle with sea salt and chili powder to taste.  Voila!  Super tasty!

Bon Appetit!

Join the discussion!

What is your favorite summer salad? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below. 

 

 

 

A LITTLE DIY PROJECT FOR MY GARDEN

Just wanted to share a little side project in our back yard. (It's not about food or a recipe but truly another love of mine.)  I've been enjoying my back yard this year with nurturing a garden, playing with my son and having back yard parties with this wonderful weather we are having. 

I love how this easy cinder block planter we put together. You can get these cinder blocks at Home Depot for $1.09 each and the caps for the blocks are just as inexpensive.  

I was inspired by my visit to Dwell on Design last year - their out door living section was A-mazing!  Check out this LINK too for more cinder block garden ideas.

Have a fabulous week everyone!

RAW SWEET POTATO CHIPS WITH GARLIC ROSEMARY AIOLI DIP

I don't know about you, but one of my junk food weakness is eating chips.  Love chips... the savory and saltiness of chips.  I admit it.  So, anytime I can make a healthier version of chips, I am all over it.  These sweet potato chips are delicious and super easy to make, and the garlic aioli dip is divine!  The combination is superb!  - I need make another batch pronto!!

RAW SWEET POTATO CHIPS

3-4 Organic sweet potatoes, peel on, sliced on a mandoline
Sea salt - optional

Wash, dry, then slice your sweet potato and lay evenly and unlayered on your dehydrator tray.   If you'd like, you can sprinkle a little sea salt on top before you turn on the dehydrator.  Dehydrate at 115 degrees for 15-20 hours depending on how thick you cut them.  You can dehydrate them until they are to your desired crispness.  Store in an airtight container. 

GARLIC ROSEMARY AIOLI DIP

1 cup raw cashews, soaked 2 hours or more, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup water

1 lemon, juice of

1 clove garlic

1 tablespoon chopped rosemary

1/2 teaspoon paprika

chilli powder to garnish

Sea salt to taste

 

In your high speed blender, puree the cashews, water, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary and paprika until smooth.  Add more water if you need to in order to get the creamy consistency desired.  Season to taste with salt.  Transfer the dip into a bowl or covered container.  Store in the frig for up to a week.

So tasty!  Bon appetit!!

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw chip or dip recipe? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below.

CURRENTLY SIPPING ON: BLUEBERRY PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE WITH SPINACH

Currently sipping on this delicious and refreshing smoothie.  Hope your day is fabulous!

BLUEBERRY PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE WITH SPINACH

1-1/2 cup almond milk

2 cups spinach

3/4 cup frozen pineapples

3/4 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

 

Blend all the ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth.

 

Optional - top with shredded coconut and hemp seeds.

 

Sip and Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

RAW CHOCOLATE COOKIE DOUGH BITES

I love no cook simple raw desserts.  There's something so satisfying about them.  This is a recipe that literally could be tweaked so many different ways to give you many, many delicious treats.

I took my Raw Cranberry + Sweet Cacao Nibs Icebox Cookie dough recipe and just changed it up a bit.  It almost tasted like you are savoring some chocolate truffles or something.  I hope you love them just as much as I do.

RAW CHOCOALTE COOKIE DOUGH BITES

1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw almonds
1 cup dates
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons raw agave or honey
Shredded coconut for coating

Process the nuts in your food processor until finely chopped.  Add in the dates and process until the ingredients are mixed well and it starts to get moist from the dates.  Add in the cacao powder and agave or honey and process to combined.  Roll the dough into bite size rounds and roll the balls in a plate of coconut shavings to coat.  Chill for about 1 hour in an airtight container and they are ready to serve!  So simple!

You can get creative and use other delicious goodies to coat your cookie dough bites.  Yum!

Bon appetit!

RAW HAND ROLLS

I am bringing my Asian roots back to the fore with this dish... You won't believe how simple it is really.  I remember the days growing up where we would make hand rolls for dinner, so delicious!  I love the flavors that come out in this simple hand roll. 

This can also be a great dinner party food idea, which I have done several times.  You can make a hand roll bar ~ lay out all the ingredients separately and the guests could build their own rolls.  If you want to make it vegan, just add rice - super delicious, tasty and fun for your guests.

You can buy your nori (seaweed sheets) from many supermarkets.  This time I just grabbed an already cut pack from Trader Joe's.  And great thing about this is that you can really use any type of vegetable to suit your taste buds.  Here's what I used...

RAW HAND ROLLS

For the wraps
Nori (seaweed) sheets cut into squares
Cucumbers, julienned
Red bell peppers, julienned
Daikon radish, julienned
Red onion, julienned
Yellow squash, julienned
Avocado slices or guacamole
Micro greens
Sesame seeds

For the sauce
Equal parts soy sauce or (Bragg's Liquid Aminos) and fresh lemon juice or rice vinegar.
Sesame seeds to garnish
Wasabi, optional


Cut your nori into squares and lay them out on your plate or cutting board.  Add in your ingredients as shown at a diagonal and then fold over like a taco to eat. 

Dip into the sauce and enjoy!

Join the discussion!

What's your favorite Asian inspired raw dish?   Feel free to share it in the comments below. Links are welcome!

THIS MORNING'S SIMPLE GREEN SMOOTHIE

 

This morning's quick breakfast... A simple green smoothie topped

with hemp seeds and sprouted buckwheat granola.

 

SIMPLE GREEN SMOOTHIE

 

1 cup almond milk

2 cups spinach

1 cup frozen mango

3/4 cup frozen pineapples

 

Blend all the ingredients in a high speed blender until

smooth.

 

Sip and Enjoy!

 

For more of the foods I eat, follow me on Instagram! :)

 

 

 

KELP NOODLES WITH AVOCADO MISO DRESSING

If you are like me you are always looking for new recipes to keep your taste buds satisfied.  I am always looking for new ideas to incorporate in to my raw and vegan diet.  I came across a lovely recipe which used soba noodles with an avocado miso dressing over at A House in the Hills.  Such a lovely site. 

I have been dying to use the kelp noodles I bought from Whole Foods, so I thought, what a lovely way to use these noodles.  All you have to do is rinse the noodles and they are ready to use.  The dressing is super easy to make and extremely tasty.  Definitely try this recipe.  You will love it!

KELP NOODLES WITH AVOCADO MISA DRESSING

For the salad
1 package kelp noodles, rinsed
2 cups (or more if desired) shredded kale
1/2 cup chopped or shredded carrots
1/2 cup chopped radish
1/2 cup shredded red cabbage, optional

For the dressing
1 medium ripe avocado
2 tablespoons miso
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon, juice of
1 clove garlic

Toss all the ingredients for the salad into a medium bowl.  Then add all the ingredients for the dressing into the food processor and process until mixed smooth.  Pour the dressing onto the salad mixture and combine well.  (I used my hands to mix the dressing into the salad.)  And there you have it.  Super, super tasty. 

Enjoy!

 

Join the discussion!

What's your favorite recipe using kelp noodles?   Feel free to share it in the comments below. Links are welcome!

KIDS PICK: (RAWVEGAN) FUDGESICLES!

 

 

Summer is upon us and boy does my son like anything that is frozen and sweet like ice cream.  As most moms are, I am always trying to make my own healthier version of my son's favorite foods.  I made this Chocolate Almond Milk Ice Cream not to long ago and the fact that my son loved it, made me so happy.  

 

His favorite after "school" snack for the past year and half happens to be popsicles.  So, I've made him several different varieties, but recently I made these "fudgesicles" for him and he love them too!    (Do you all remember Fudgesicles?  Do they still make those?  I don't even know...)   Ridiculously simple, I love it.  Sometimes, I will even try to sneak some spinach into it. - Shhhhhh!  Just take the Chocolate Almond Milk Ice Cream recipe and pour it into the popsicle mold and freeze.  Voila!

 

 

RAWVEGAN FUDGESICLES

 

 

1 cup almond milk

2 frozen bananas (freeze in small pieces)

1 heaping tablespoon of raw cacao powder

1 tablespoon raw honey or agave

 

DIRECTIONS

 

Blend all of the ingredients together in a high speed blender.  The consistency should be thicker than a smoothie.   Pour the mixture into your favorite popsicle molds and freeze.

Enjoy!

 

 

Join the discussion!

What's your child's favorite raw or vegan after school snack?   Feel free to share it in the comments below. Links are welcome!

 

 

FAVORITES LIST: MORE PARTY FOOD IDEAS



Pineapple Strawberry Parfait via The Global Girl

 

Don't you just love Pinterest? 

I was browsing around looking for ideas for the weekend. 

It's going to be a nice one!

 

Here are some gorgeous food ideas I came across.

Be safe and enjoy some relaxation!

 



Avocado Cucumber Watermelon Salad via Ambitious Kitchen





Watermelon on a Stick via Skinny Taste



Citrus Radish Avocado Platter via LunchBox.com

 

Veggie Shots and Fruit Chasers via Meatless 101

FARM TO TABLE: EASY CHOPPED SALAD WITH PURPLE BEANS, BROCCOLI, CARROTS AND TAHINI DRESSING

 
This is the second year my sister and her sister-in-law Jean-Marie (who are both contributors on this blog) coordinated our annual Seedling Swap this year.  I LOVE this annual swap.  Last year my garden didn't do so well.  I didn't plan the location of my garden well.  I am happy to report, however, that this year, my garden is doing pretty well.

The basics for a seedling swap is to send out seeds to all the participants to plant and grow at their homes.  And when the seedlings are ready, we all get together to swap them. A gardening party! Each person is in charge of about two varieties of seedlings.   Check out our seedling swap blog HERE. 

friends at the seedling swap

seedlings to be traded

my seedling stash

 My sister got the seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and you can find them at www.rareseeds.com.  They are fabulous!  They have an amazing selection of unusual vegetables and fruit seeds.  All of their seeds are non-hybrid, non-GMO, non-treated and non-patented.    If you are going to grow  your own garden, definitely check them out.

This year I decided to do a potted garden on my patio, so that I remember to pay more attention to it and nurture it.  So far so good.  I had my first harvest of purple beans yesterday.

my patio garden early on

my little gardener watering our tomatoes

harvested purple beans

the gorgeous color of the purple beans... apologize for the blurriness

The color of these beans are amazing.  I decided to make a simple salad with it -   A super simple chopped salad with purple beans, broccoli and carrots topped with a simple tahini dressing.  So delicious!

 

EASY CHOPPED SALAD WITH PURPLE BEANS, BROCCOLI AND CARROTS

Equal amounts of:
Chopped purple beans (if you don't have purple beans you can use green beans or haricot verts)
Chopped broccoli
Chopped carrots
Optional chopped jicama and chopped red or golden beets
Handful of sliced almonds

TAHINI DRESSING

1/4 cup tahini
1 tablespoon white miso
1-1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
pinch of red pepper flakes
1/3 cup water
chopped cilantro optional
dash of tamari or soy sauce optional

Wisk all the indgredients for the dressing in a mason jar or bowl.

Toss all the ingredients except the almonds for the salad together in a medium bowl.  Plate the salad and then top with the almonds and dress as desired.

Voila!


Here are some snap shots of  my gal pal's gardens post seedling swap...  Happy gardening!

my sister's garden

more of my garden basil and tomatillos

garden of my friend Deniz

garden of my friend Britney

 Also, check out Britney's blog post about gardening with her daughter on Family Sponge.  Click HERE to go to the blog post.

Happy Wednesday!