Drums please...

Okay, I know it's Tuesday..and I missed a couple of days.  Am I really supposed to write every day?  I guess that's the idea right?  It sounds like it would be so simple to do, but somehow I haven't found the time.  I need to schedule it in.  

So, the crackers turned out awesome!  They took longer than I thought, probably about 15 hours to get really crispy.  The flavor is pretty strong, they have bell peppers in them and I can totally taste that!  When you are working with raw foods (and even dehydrating)  the flavors are much more powerful than when you cook something...cooking kind of kills them off.  We ate some of the crackers (or chips, depending on how you cut them) with hummus last night, and it was a great combo.  I will make them again, and will also try different flavors as well as a plain corn chip.  It's pretty cool to think that these have the texture of being cooked, without having been cooked.  Does that make sense?  

Corn chips and hummus!

 Now for item number 2, which was actually our breakfast on Sunday morning...Strawberry crisp with cashew cream.  This was a HUGE hit, and I think we could have eaten about 2 lbs. of strawberries prepared this way!  Very simple...the topping is dates, raw oats, and cinnamon (with a little honey or agave for sticking)   , put on top of cut strawberries.  The cashew cream is raw cashews, coconut oil, vanilla (I used some vanilla bean) and water.  Trust me, if you make anything, make this.  The cashew cream is awesome, just mix it in a blender until it's smooth, then refrigerate for a little bit.  You can keep any extra in the freezer.  This could be made with any fruit you have handy..and so good for you!  JB and Katina agreed that they felt like they were eating something very decadent, but without the terrible feeling after!  Seriously, try it.

Strawberry crisp with cashew cream!  

So that's the beginning of my week...I have a few ideas I'm throwing around so on my day off tomorrow I should be PRETTY busy in the kitchen.  I have always loved cooking, and really the preparation of food.  The problem with actually cooking is the wait involved..mostly waiting for it to cook..and somehow when cooking a big meal, I'm not even hungry by the time it's ready.  With raw foods, it's like instant gratification!  Aside from the dehydrating portions..you can eat most things right away (which I love)..but obviously the better part is how I feel afterwards..or how I don't feel.  It's all in how you look at it.  

I've found that over the last year, if I eat a big meal  (meat, veggies, bread etc..)  I am wiped out afterwards.  I guess my body is putting so much energy into digesting that food..there's no energy left for me!  The nap after a Thanksgiving meal?  Yes, it's fun, but actually not healthy.  My body just performs better with raw/living foods.  I'm not saying I'm 100% raw, or that I'll EVER be 100% raw.  Believe me..there are lots of foods that cannot be replaced and that I couldn't possibly "give up" ..seafood to name one..and bacon..(sorry, I really love bacon)  .but if we can get to 75% or 80%..I'd say that's better than most people, and our bodies will thank us!   

Until tomorrow..