One of my goals this year is to try to make more raw food meals. Like raw lasagna, pasta, etc. I don't have a dehydrator yet, that's down the road. When you think of it though, just eating a salad, it's all uncooked, that fruit and those nuts, raw! I guess again it goes back to whole foods.
Also I think in the summer, at least for me, eating more raw foods will make more sense because of the heat, who likes feeling weighed down by a warm and heavy meal. blah!
Regarding the vinegar I mentioned up above. There is this great little olive oil place in Los Olivos, CA called Global Gardens. The olive trees are located throughout the local area. The owner and the employees are very warm, friendly and informative. They do olive oil and vinegar tastings, which is pretty cool! They also have an awesome walnut oil that is so rich and buttery and they have some great tasting spreads and dips. All of their products are pesticide free and mostly organic. You can also join their club and 4 times a year get a different bottle of olive oil, vinegar and a spread, spices, etc. Last time I received(picture above, cat not included) an olive oil, vinegar, a spice mixture and a trail mix using the spice mixture they sent. So if you are a cook it's a great club to join and try different olive oils and vinegars. The bottles everything comes in are also very nice looking. They make great gifts as well. Also if you join the club and happen to have any type of issue they are so quick to resolve the problem. Check out the website clicking here. Let me know if you try them out and what you think!
Also I think in the summer, at least for me, eating more raw foods will make more sense because of the heat, who likes feeling weighed down by a warm and heavy meal. blah!
I usually eat Kale cooked or juiced. At our local health food store, New Frontiers, they have a great deli area with some of the tastiest salads. I tried their raw kale salad and it was sweet and delicious! Now I'm hooked and tried to make one like theirs. I chopped up kale, added cranberries, raw sunflower seeds, carrot pulp, lemon zest. For the dressing I used a
Green Apple Ginger Golden Balsamic Vinegar(see down below for more info on this), agave and sesame seed oil, just a tad. Poured it over and wallah! A light, tangy-sweet salad with a crunch.
Served right along with my kale salad are some Carrot Falafals from Choosing Raw . Now they aren't like the authentic falafals but these are so good! I didn't make the tahini sauce because I didn't have time but I will be making these again and again. I used the oven set at 175 with the door open like Gina mentioned if you don't have a dehydrator.
Green Apple Ginger Golden Balsamic Vinegar(see down below for more info on this), agave and sesame seed oil, just a tad. Poured it over and wallah! A light, tangy-sweet salad with a crunch.
Served right along with my kale salad are some Carrot Falafals from Choosing Raw . Now they aren't like the authentic falafals but these are so good! I didn't make the tahini sauce because I didn't have time but I will be making these again and again. I used the oven set at 175 with the door open like Gina mentioned if you don't have a dehydrator. Regarding the vinegar I mentioned up above. There is this great little olive oil place in Los Olivos, CA called Global Gardens. The olive trees are located throughout the local area. The owner and the employees are very warm, friendly and informative. They do olive oil and vinegar tastings, which is pretty cool! They also have an awesome walnut oil that is so rich and buttery and they have some great tasting spreads and dips. All of their products are pesticide free and mostly organic. You can also join their club and 4 times a year get a different bottle of olive oil, vinegar and a spread, spices, etc. Last time I received(picture above, cat not included) an olive oil, vinegar, a spice mixture and a trail mix using the spice mixture they sent. So if you are a cook it's a great club to join and try different olive oils and vinegars. The bottles everything comes in are also very nice looking. They make great gifts as well. Also if you join the club and happen to have any type of issue they are so quick to resolve the problem. Check out the website clicking here. Let me know if you try them out and what you think!
now I will be honest with you... I have no plans on ever eating raw as it affects m health but I do respect raw foodism. I am curious though about the 175 degree oven setting with the door open that you used to make these falafels. What is the highest temperature allowed for raw food?
ReplyDeleteYum yum yum yum!!! As you know, I love kale salads (having one for din tonight!). I have been meaning to make that falafel, putting it on the menu for next week! :) Great meals!!
ReplyDeleteMy acupuncturist had me eating all cooked and "warm" foods a few months back, I did it for about 2 months, now I am back to high raw and I feel better then ever!! :)
I'm hooked on raw kale too. Once I ran outta time to make kale chips, so I just ate them raw with ketchup. Now I'm too lazy to ever cook them again. They're just as good raw ;)
ReplyDeleteCaribbeanvegan: Regarding raw food, I just thought it would be nice to rotate in some raw "meals" every so often besides a salad. Also as far as how high the temperature is "allowed" I think it's up to 118. Having the oven at 175 with the door open isn't truly 175 but anyways the falafal was great tasting.
ReplyDeleteI have no clue where Los Olivos is, but i love olive oil and that looks awesome, so funny with your cat in the background. i must try carrot falafels! kale is so great, i'm obsessed with kale chips (though they're pretty much the antithesis of raw!)
ReplyDeleteJoLynn, we must be on the same wavelength! i've had a raw kale salad 2 days in a row now - and the one you enjoyed looks sooo super delicious! i love that you tossed some cranberries in there. mmmmmmm! once our pantry challenge is over i'm totally grabbing some - our store has them unsweetened and in bulk. w00t! my kale salads have been with olive oil, sea salt, avocado, lemon juice, red onion, tomatoes, and pine nuts - i need to try your combination out, too! i'm also digging the carrot falafels - they're so pretty!
ReplyDeletei'm going to check out Global Gardens as well - their products sound awesome and i like the sound of their business practice. :)