Raw For The Holidays 3rd Edition

At the beginning of the 2009 holiday season, the first edition of Raw For the Holidays, a collection of festive and delicious recipes & photos, was released. Written by me and members of our original Raw Food Rehab community, the ebook was created with love as a survive guide for raw food enthusiasts who needed help making it through the holidays.

Although the book was quite fabulous after last year's expansion, I decided that this year's collection should be revised yet once again to make it even more comprehensive and appealing!

Thanks to the tireless work of my amazing editor, Raw For The Holidays 3rd Edition, has been totally re-organized with a new table of contents that includes user-friendly categories, new menu suggestions, easier instructions and a glossary of terms and techniques. This year we are offering over 30 new recipes (over 130 recipes in all) and70 full color photographs. Here is a list of just some of the celebratory occasions we cover in Raw For The Holidays:

An Autumn Fireside Dinner

All Hallow's Eve Events (Kid-Friendly & Adult Menus)

Football Chili Party

Date Night Dinner

Thanksgiving

Shabbat Dinner

Hanukkah Brunch

Holiday Open House

Christmas Eve Meal

Christmas Dinner

New Year's Eve Hors d'oeuvres Party

New Year's Brunch

New Year's Raw Resolution Cleanse

Rescue Me from the Holidays - a Restorative Day Menu

Not only will the purchase of this digital book be a tremendous support and help to you in all of your holiday and celebratory meal planning, but it is also a much appreciated way in which to support the operational costs of this website and to assist us in raising funds so that we can continue to expand our offerings back into this amazing community.

It would also be great if you would like to help us promote this raw holiday survival guide online through your blogs, on Facebook and through direct email to friends who you think might enjoy this collection of recipes. This collaborative effort was only possible because of the power of community. I am so proud and very eager to get in the kitchen and start un-cooking for the holidays! Raw For The Holidays is available now for just $20 through PayPal. Once I receive notification of your payment, I send the ebook directly to your Inbox. You will normally receive the book in a very short amount of time, however, please allow up to 10 hours for delivery (if an order comes through after I go to bed, I will send it first thing when I wake up!) I know this incredible collection of recipes and beautiful photos will be a treasure to you as you continue on your path towards optimum health this holiday season!

Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier - A Book You Should Read

In case you haven’t heard about Brendan Brazier, he is a professional Ironman triathlete and the best-selling author of diet and fitness bibles Thrive and Thrive Fitness. He is also the formulator of Vega, an award-winning line of superfood health and sports nutritional products. I also have features on Brendan in both theFitness Room and the Culinary Center at Raw Food Rehab.

I am so stoked about his newly released book, Thrive Foods! One of the things I found most impressive while reading is the detail regarding his research and high focus on nutrient-dense, plant-based foods. After having worked with some of the best minds in the nutrition world, as well as some of the leading environmental advocates, Brendan has developed an appreciation of the two different perspectives, which have rarely converged to my knowledge. In Thrive Foods, you'll be guided through the “Nutrient-to-Resource Ratio,” a new concept that shows how sustainable food choices can help reduce our environmental impact.

And being the food lover that I am, I was blown away by the 200 earth-friendly and easy to make recipes. They are not all exclusively raw, although many are, and you'll be impressed with the delicious plant-based, nutrient dense offering from some of today's top sustainable celebrity chefs. Recipe contributors include some names you might recognize, like - Julie Morris, Matthew Kenney, Chad Sarno (owner of London's upscale raw restaurant Saf) and vegan chef Tal Ronnen (the cef who prepared meals for Oprah's 21-day vegan cleanse). There are also many recipes from Brendan's favorite restaurants, like Beets Living Foods Cafe in Austin, Blossoming Lotus in Portland,Karyn's in Chicago and Pure Food & Wine in New York.

Thrive Foods makes it feasible and possible for anyone to start eating healthier and reducing their carbon footprint. And I think it is especially helpful in families like mine who eat a blended diet of both raw and cooked foods. I am always looking for delicious ways to prepare enticing foods for my husband, but my main goal is to keep him healthy. I can already tell you that this book will be one of my regular go-to resources!

Also - I am going to be giving away a couple of copies of Thrive next week during ourSeptember Roll Call - so be sure to watch for that next Thursday. And check out all the other cool stuff Brendan's got going for you:

Enter Brendan's Thrive at the Emmy’s Facebook contest for a chance to win a trip for two to Los Angeles and meet Brendan at the Alive! Green Expo Lounge

Click Here for those details!

Visit Brendan’s Facebook fan page and receive a free PDF download of the intro and of 3 recipes, click here.

Read the book and write a review for a chance to get an exclusive 3-piece sample kit for our Vega Sport Nutritional System.

Visit the Vega Facebook Fan Page Here.

If you are on Twitter - follow Brendan & Vega here.

Also visit the Vega webisite by clicking here.

Liquids Only with Dara Dubinet

For the past several weeks, my dear friend Dara Dubinet has been filming her very first DVD. If you don't know Dara, you need to get acquainted: Celebrity raw food chef, feng shui aficionado, specialist in the art of living a beautiful life and poster child for the raw food diet! Subscribe to her informative and lively You Tube channel and follow Dara on Facebook and at Raw Food Rehab.

In Dara's beautifully produced and very soon to be released DVD - LIQUIDS ONLY, she explains the benefits of a liquid-only diet and gives you a hands-on lesson in making four of her favorite, healthy and delicious liquid recipes. Check out the gorgeous trailer:

You can pre-order and DVD & it will ship late next week!

BUY IT HERE!

Ready to Get Juicy?

In the above video, I am sharing with you details and available resources for aw Food Rehab's upcoming Living on Liquids 30 Day Program. We'll be kicking off the juicy fun next Wednesday, August 17th and it will continue through Thursday, September 15th.

Now is a wonderful time to come join us for RFR's current 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative - RAW RESULTS. By joining us in The Vault now, not only will you have access to all of the digital materials, support videos filmed by Dara Dubinet & I, the weekly focus pdf's, an awesome book study w/ Susan Bradbury and incredible community support, but you'll also be able to plug into the Living on Liquids Community Forum. This will be THE place to discuss all things juicy and to get your individual questions answered. This forum will be moderated by Dara, Debi Farley, Susan Bradbury and I. We also have a number of other members who have a wealth of juice feasting experience who will be able to share from their experiences as well.

Join the RAW RESULTS Vault NOW - Click Here

The following list offers additional resources and topics of interest that may also be helpful for you:

My ebook - Real Juice Daily

JuiceFeasting.com

Dave's 3rd Annual International Day of Juice Feasting

Check out Raw food Rehab's Tool Shed & our Liquid Lounge

Hoping you'll join us as we Get the Glow by Getting our Juice On!!

Beat the Heat (on the News!!)

This morning I was invited to appear on my local CBS affiliate KOTV - The News on 6 for their morning show - Six in the Morning. Click here to view the clip. We are currently in the midst of the hottest summer on record, so in an effort to beat the heat, they asked me to share some "no-cook" recipes featuring local ingredients. As you can imagine - that was right up my alley and here is what I made:

Peaches & Crème Smoothie

Simple and delicious, this recipe is at its best when

fresh local peaches are in season. If using fresh

peaches, simply add crushed ice to your blender.

1 small bag frozen organic peaches

1 young Thai coconut, meat & water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons raw honey

Put all ingredients into a blender and

combine until smooth and creamy.

Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad

3 ears fresh corn, kernels cut from the cob

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

1 small red bell pepper, diced

1/4 cup diced red onion

1–2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 lime, juiced

1/2 lemon, juiced

Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Butter lettuce leaves

Combine all ingredients and serve on butter lettuce leaves.

Raw Zucchini Pasta with Fresh Marinara

2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 small Vidalia onion

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked; reserve liquid

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic (or more if desired)

3 dates, soaked and pitted

1 sprig fresh basil

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

2 zucchini or yellow squash

Pitted black olives

Put all ingredients in a food processor or blender, except zucchini

and olives. Blend until marinara mixture reaches the

desired consistency. Add the reserved liquid from the sun dried

tomatoes as needed to blend.

Use a spiral slicer, julienne peeler or vegetable

peeler to create zucchini noodles. Combine noodles

with marinara sauce and top with olives for a tasty

Italian dinner.

Support Your Local Farmer's Market Today

Farmers markets are an important part of our communities and help farms thrive. You can help spread the word!

If you find your local farmers market to be a great source of fresh, organic and locally grown foods, make sure to vote in America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest and let the world know why you love your local market.

Farmers markets are an asset to our communities and deserve our support. You can help your favorite farmers market gain the recognition it deserves and ensure that it and others like it continue to thrive. Voting Starts today at noon Eastern Time!

America's farmers markets are great places to get fresh and healthy food that's grown close to home by our local farmers and ranchers. They also support local farms and ranches and make our communities better places to live.

It's pretty simple: if we don't have farms, we're not going to have food. All of us count on America's farms and ranches to provide fresh, healthy and local food—but our farms and ranches are rapidly disappearing.

Did you know that we don’t produce enough fresh fruits and vegetables for everyone to eat a balanced and nutritious diet? In fact, it is estimated that we need another 13 million acres of farmland growing fruits and vegetables in this country just for Americans to meet the minimum daily requirement of fruits and vegetables set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Thank you for supporting your local farmers market and for making a difference in the future of our food! Spread the Word!

Average Joe on the Raw

One of the projects that has been keeping me joyously busy lately is:

AVERAGE JOE ON THE RAW is the inspirational story of my friend Seth's journey into the depths of his true self. Here is the synopsis in Seth's words:

"At 30 years old, I looked in the mirror and saw complacency. I saw a man settling into normalcy, settling into being average. At first glance, my initial thought was to just accept it. “it’s just part of the process, just part of aging and life. Get over it.”

So, at a crossroads in my life, I could just fall in line with the rest of the people on the assembly line of commonplace. Just waiting in line to see which disease will be handed to me, and which medications modern medicine will enslave me to………Or…….

I could take the path less traveled. I could make a push at my limitless potential. I could try to reset my intelligently designed body to heal itself! That is crazy enough, it just might work! So, this film is my 60 day journey into finding my limitless me. What kind of an effect can eating raw, clean foods and working out consistently have on my mental, physical, medical, emotional, spiritual, and relational life? We will see as I am an AVERAGE JOE ON THE RAW!"

As co-producer of this film, I can promise you that you are going to be in for a tremendous treat with this fascinating, entertaining and inspiring documentary. The cast of characters who will be appearing in the film will blow you away. I believe this film will have far reaching impact way beyond the niche of the raw, vegan world. It is going to be a wonderful tool for you to use to help inspire, educate and interest friends and family about their health and their future. I want to encourage you to visit the film's website, view the trailer and sign up for their newsletter so you can have insider access to some really sweet bonuses like:

• Additional behind the scenes footage not viewable anywhere else
• Awesome recipes from Russell James, me, Dara Dubinet, and many more
• Updates on the progress of the film
• Amazing workout vids from Paul Risse (can't wait for you to meet Paul - AMAZING)
• Challenges and contests for great coupons from really great companies to help you on your raw journey
• and so much more

Also, make sure you pre-order your copy of Average Joe on the Raw now and save 33% off the list price of 24.99! If you are a blogger or have a website - please sign up for the affiliate program so you can profitably help support spreading the word!

I'm so excited about this project and am looking forward to sharing more details with you in the days and weeks ahead!

Real Food & More Wisdom

Although we talk an awful lot about food, specifically raw food, here at Raw Food Rehab, I am also very passionate about helping you to find real food for your heart and soul. My friend, Brian Johnson of Philosopher's Notes, dishes up some of the best, most digestible fare which will help you to become a better you in less time than you can imagine.

For years I've been a seeker of truth, wisdom and personal development, but I really appreciate when I can get the highlights and bullet points first and then, when I have more time, I can go deeper. That is exactly what Brian has put together with his Philosopher's Notes - he's taken 200 of the top personal growth books… ever - and condensed them down into mini-CliffsNotes™ style summaries that offer you more wisdom in a lot less time.

From nutrition and love to positive psychology, old school and modern classics, Philopsopher's Notes enables you to tap into the wisdom that matters and that can help to radically transform your life.

When you sign up with PN, you'll get high-quality MP3's which allow you to get your wisdom on no matter what you’re doing. Whether you’re driving, walking/running, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, riding your bike, preparing a meal, cleaning the house or simply relaxing, each 20-minute makes personal growth more convenient than ever. The technology that went into Brian's MP3s is unbeatable, and well, just plain cool. When uploaded to an iPod or iPhone you’ll be able to see the cover and a synopsis of each note with just a finger click.

You'll also get a 6 page pdf file of the most transformational Big Ideas from each of the books. Beautiful to look at and powerful to use, these mini-CliffsNotes™ of personal growth will inspire and empower you to live your deepest truths. I have printed mine and have them in a binder so that the wisdom is available anytime in a user-friendly tool that works well for me.

Another cool thing is the totally free resource is Philosopher's Notes TV on You Tube. Brian has put together little 10 minute clips of him sharing some of the Big Ideas from many of the books on video. You can subscribe through iTunes and download them as podcast to your computer or iPod/iPhone. Just another raw to rock the wisdom in a way that might work well for you. Here is one of my very favorite video clips from Jack Canfield's awesome book The Success Principles - I hope you'll listen to it in its entirety because the part where he shares about 99% vs 100% has really transformed how I am successfully transforming a couple of areas in my life in which I had been struggling :

I can honestly tell you that this resource has be truly transformational for me over the past year, but more specifically in the last month, because I finally got Brian's MP3's loaded into my cell phone. So I have Brian Johnson talking in my ear everyday now. I am finding that as I listen to and begin to apply all of these ideas diligently, patiently, persistently, and playfully - my life is daily becoming more of what I want it to be and I find that I am feeling more and more empowered to BE THE CHANGE in this world.

I can't encourage you enough to go check out what has been created over at Philosopher's Notes and I hope that while you're there you'll check out all of the other super cool things Brian and his goddess Alexandra have created to help support you along your journey towards the most abundant, vibrant life ever!

The Marvelous Mimi Kirk

Click here to read more about Mimi and to sign in for your chance to win a copy of her beautifully done new book - LIVE RAW!

Foodie Friday Goes Thai

Spicy Thai Coconut Wraps with Pickled Carrots by Esther F. Gorden (aka Esther Francis)
From Go FRESH May-June Recipe Supplement, page 31

Serves 2 – 3

Butter lettuce
Lime wedges
1 cup chopped mushrooms (Cremini, Shiitake, white button, or a mix)
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon tamari (nama shoyu or coconut aminos)
½ cup chopped jicama
Pinch (generous) sea salt

In a small bowl, combine mushrooms, lime juice and tamari. In another bowl, combine jicama and salt. Marinate both for ½ hour. Gently squeeze the jicama in a paper towel to remove moisture, then place on a non-stick dehydrator sheet.
Drain off excess marinade from mushrooms and place on same non-stick sheet. Dehydrate at 115 degrees F for ½ - 1 hour.

In a medium bowl combine:
1 teaspoon grated ginger root
1 tablespoon lime juice
Zest of 1 small lime
1 shallot, chopped
2-3 teaspoons tamari (nama shoyu or coconut aminos)
2 teaspoons raw agave nectar or coconut nectar
1/3 cup dry shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
¼ cup coarsely chopped cashews (I forgot to add these - but they were still delicious!)
½ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
½ -1 green chili (jalapeño or Serrano), very finely minced

When the jicama and mushrooms have finished dehydrating, add to the above mix. Stir well to combine. Taste and adjust salt, sweet and heat. Let rest for ½ - 1 hour to develop maximum flavor. Fill Butter lettuce leaves with about 2-3 tablespoons of the filling and top with Pickled Carrots. Garnish with lime wedges.

For the pickled carrots:
1 large carrot, scrubbed and cut into matchsticks (julienne)
2 tablespoons rice vinegar or coconut vinegar
1 tablespoon raw agave or coconut nectar
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
Pinch (generous) crushed red pepper flakes, optional

Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut carrot into fine strips. Transfer to a non-metallic bowl and add rest of ingredients. Stir. Let rest at room temperature for ½ - 1 hour.
Thai Basil Smart Cocktail
2 1/2 ounces coconut water (fresh or from the bottle/can)
1 1/2 ounces Fresh Basil-Lemongrass Syrup, recipe follows
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 juicy lime)
Very thin slice lime or spear of a fresh lemongrass frond, for garnish
Kombucha or Sparkling water, optional

Fill a cocktail shaker or small pitcher with ice. Add the coconut water, basil-lemongrass syrup, and lime juice. Cover and shake vigorously, or stir, until combined and chilled, about 30 seconds. (In general, by the time the shaker mists up the drink is ready.) Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and top with kombucha or sparkling water if you prefer a fizzy drink. Garnish with lime on the rim or a lemongrass spear in the drink. Serve.

Basil-Lemongrass Syrup
2 stalks fresh lemongrass, smashed
1 small handful fresh basil
2 cups water
1/2 cup coconut nectar or raw agave nectar

Place the lemongrass, basil and water in a covered glass container in the sun all day or for at least 4 hours until the water has become fully infused with flavor. Strain and stir in the sweetener of choice to create the syrup. If you are in a hurry and are not 100% raw, you can do this on the stove by bringing the lemongrass, basil and water to boil on the stove. Reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture, cool, then add the sweetener. Cover and refrigerate for up to a week.

Thai Basil Ice Cream
3 young Thai coconuts, meat & water extracted and separated
1 handful fresh basil (I used the basil from the infusion)
1/3 cup basil-lemongrass syrup (add more sweetener if you desire a sweeter ice cream)
1 lime, juiced and zested
small pinch Himalayan sea salt, optional

Add all the meat and 1/3 cup of the coconut water with the basil, basil-lemongrass syrup, lime juice, zest and sea salt to a blender. Process ingredients until smooth and creamy, adding additional coconut water only as needed to blend. Pour the liquid mixture into an ice cream freezer, processing as per manufacturers instructions.

If you don't have an ice cream maker, pour the ice cream base into ice cube trays and freeze. Place the frozen cubes into a food processor and blend until smooth or push the cubes through a homogenizing juicer that has been fitted with a blank plate.

And reminding you that it is not too late to join Raw Food Rehab's current Total Health & Wellness Initiative - Go FRESH. To learn more about the objectives of our Initiatives, click here.

To join us for Go FRESH in The Vault, click here.

To purchase the Go FRESH digital materials only, click here.

Easter Weekend Special!!

I have been receiving emails from a number of people who read my blog or who are members at Raw Food Rehab that they would like to complete their library to include the entire collection of all of the digital materials that have been published during RFR's past 3 Health & Wellness Initiatives. I've decided that this weekend is a perfect time to offer an Easter/Spring special price on these books! This is the first time I've ever offered a special price, so you have 48 hours to order! (sale ends this Sunday, April 26th at midnight PST).

Revealing Your Inner Rawk Star was the first digital series, written for last summer's 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative. There is within each one of us a vibrant inner persona, which is the true essence of who we really are! This collection is filled with education, inspiration, encouragement and tips to assist YOU as you bring out your own INNER RAWK STAR!

The amazing recipes found within this set of ebooks are geared towards lighter, warmer weather eating, so this book series is especially helpful during the spring, summer and for those who are living in warmer climates. (List Price $33)

Click Here to order Revealing Your Inner Rawk Star for the limited time special price of $25

The Falling Into Raw Digital Collection was written specifically for last autumn's 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative. This particular collection is geared towards the autumn and holiday, so within the pages you'll find much support for your journey with raw food education, nearly 80 new seasonally inspired recipes, shopping lists, beautiful and enticing color photographs and additional support material. A great deal of love and effort went into the creation of this digital collection, so we trust that this will be a source of tangible support for you on your healthy journey. (List Price $33)

Click Here to order Falling Into Raw for the limited time special price of $25

The Resolve to Evolve Digital Collection is our third grouping of eBooks which was specifically written for the 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative that began on January 1st of 2011. This collection offers education on the raw food lifestyle, goal setting, vision creation, winter eating strategies, and a 3 part comprehensive recipe collection which includes plant based, raw food along with some healthy cooked vegan offerings for those individuals who are transitioning into raw or who find maintaining a 100% raw food diet too challenging during the cold winter months. There are added recipes/photo supplements for each month - January, February & March, so it is the largest collection of the 3. (List Price $33)

Click Here to order Resolve to Evolve for the limited time special price of $25

To order all 3 Digital Collections for $75

CLICK HERE

How Are YOU Going FRESH?

As some of you already know, I'm on the board of my local farmer's market. I am very passionate about organic, sustainable, bio-dynamic & LOCAL Food! I feel so very blessed to have a market like the Cherry Street Farmer's Market in my home city and today was opening day! I know this ain't Portland, Seattle, LA or NYC - but I have to say - we've got it goin' on in Tulsa, OK! To check out what's happening in the local food scene in your area, go to www.localharvest.net

I was also surprised and delighted to run into one of the members from Raw Food Rehab at the market today. Isabel Pepper and her handsome son recognized me from the website and introduced themselves. Please go friend request Isabel at RFR and linger over her fabulous raw food photography, much of which you'll recognize from the main feature at RFR - Week One Go FRESH slide show. It was such a wonderful surprise to meet one of my awesome peeps and her family in real life!

Next I'm off to the Brookside Herb Fair to see if I can score on some basil plants and nasturtiums. I started a nice little edible garden in my front yard just last spring, and last year's rosemary, thyme, wild strawberries, garlic chives, lemon verbena, sage and MINT are already showing impressive signs of new growth! I really had no idea they would make it through the winter : ) So I am really happy and looking forward to getting my hands dirty in the garden later this afternoon.

Tomorrow I will be going to a Tulsa Driller's baseball game w/ my hubby. We have this amazing new baseball stadium for our home team and Gordon has been itching to go get his baseball fix on. I think it will be great fun.

So I would love to hear what you are up to this weekend. Tell me what you are doing to Go FRESH in your neck o' the woods in the comments below!