B7DRC February 2014 - Day 5: A delicious raw burger that's easy to make with only 5 ingredients!? No way!

TGIF!!! It’s Day 5 of Brad’s 7 Day Raw Challenge and I am feeling well rested and full of energy! Let’s get right into today’s eats.

Early Morning

I started the morning off with a warm, apple cider vinegar with raw honey. It helped with the sore throat I’m still dealing with.

Juice

I’m low on produce so I had to be a bit creative. Grapefruit. Pineapple. Leftover coconut water. Sounds refreshing, sweet and juicy! Yumm!

Citrus Coconut Cooler

By Beth Mickens

• 1 pink grapefruit
• 1 heaping cup of pineapple
• ¼ cup coconut water

1. Juice. Drink. Enjoy.

Lunch

I saw this burger recipe last night, recognized how easy it was to make, even better, realized I had all of the 5 ingredients needed and decided I was definitely going to make these. And this morning I did just that. All it took was a few pulses in the food processors, a little molding, a few hours in the dehydrator and by lunchtime I had the best tasting, raw burger salad I have ever tasted. Ever. Even better than the frozen, vegan burgers I used to whip up. Way better. 

These burgers are bursting with tons of spice and flavor. It’s amazing how just a few ingredients could make such an amazing meal. These burgers have the best texture; dry and crispy on the outside, moist and chewy on the inside with a nice crunch to every bite. You can’t tell these are even raw! Yes, they are THAT good. All you need are a few ingredients so go get ‘em and make these..NOW!

Raw Jicama Burgers with Cumin, Coriander, Dill and Lemon

By Emily from This Rawesome Vegan Life

Makes 4 burgers

Burgers

• 1 cup jicama
• ¼ cup white onion
• ½ lemon, juiced
• 1 cup walnuts or pecans
• Fresh dill, cumin, coriander, chili, salt and pepper

Salad

• Mixed greens
• 1 green onion, sliced
• Lots of tomatoes
• ½ avocado
• Any other veggies you prefer
• Favorite dressing

1. In a food processor, process the jicama, onion, lemon juice and as spices to taste. Pour into a small bowl.
2. Add the walnuts into the food processor and process til a thick paste is created. Pour into the bowl with the veggie mix.
3. Mix together with your hands until well combined. Season to taste.
4. Using a large cookie mold or just your hands, mold into 4, ½ inch burgers.
5. Dehydrate at 145 degrees for 1 hour, then reduce to 115 degrees for 3 hours or until the burgers are dry and crisp on the outside and hold together well.
6. Use as desired.

For the salad: On a plate add the mixed greens, onion, tomatoes, avocado and other preferred veggies. Top with 2 burgers and serve with favorite dressing.

Enjoy!

For the rest of the evening I nibbled on pineapple and more caramel chocolates!

End of Day 5! Happy Friday!!

*Beth*

CHALLENGER'S RECIPES

Raw Taco's

By Nick Lassonde

 

Taco Meat

• 2 cups sprouted quinoa
• 2 heaping tsp of walnuts
• Cumin Powder
• Coriander Powder
• Paprika 
• Turmeric

1. Process in a food processor until well combined

For the Tacos/Nachos

1. Spread onto romaine/raw chips with salsa and guacamole

Raw Brownies

By Deliciousyella.com and Lucia Morrison

•  2 cups medjool dates
• 1 cup pecans
• 2-3 Tbsp raw cacao
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup

1. Process in a food processor till well combined.
2. Spread out onto a baking sheet
3. Refrigerate for 3 hours
4. Slice and enjoy!

Italian Seasoned Pulp Crackers

By Nick Lassonde

• 3 cups juice pulp
• 3 heaping tsp unsweetened almond pulp
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 tomato
• 1 handful of fresh parsley
• 3 heaping tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 heaping tsp garlic powder
• 2 heaping tsp onion powder
• 1 heaping tsp dry oregano
• 1 heaping tsp dry basil

1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor. You may need to add water while processing. 
2. Spread onto a dehydrator sheet and score to desired size/shape.
3. Dehydrate for 24 hours.

 

B7DRC February 2014: Day 1 - A Blueberry Green Tea Juice to start your challenge off right with tons of energy!

Welcome to Day of Brad’s 7 Day Raw Challenge for February 2014! Another month almost gone right before my eyes! Whew!

This week I won’t be completing the challenge 100%. My dad’s birthday is this Friday and we’re celebrating at his favorite Korean BBQ restaurant where vegan, let alone raw food, is minimal. Since it’s my dad’s birthday I decided to let this one slide. J

For this month’s challenge I’m focusing on two things: morning juices or juice like drinks and dill. I’ve learned over the past few months that my body loves a good awakening via a yummy juice as opposed to something heavier like a smoothie, raw cereal or even fruit. However, juicing right now is a bit hard to do with the lack of cheap, available produce as well as time. So I have reduced my juicing to the two days a week I work from home…for now. So what do I use instead? That’s where the juice-like drinks come in! Drinks that are similar to juice in caloric content, nutrition and satisfaction. Yumm!

And dill. I am a huge dill fan! Ask me why and I honestly wouldn’t know. There’s just something about the aroma and flavor that’s comforting. It’s very springy, earthy and outdoorsy. Get it? Yeah me neither. Anyways I bought a bunch – a HUGE bunch – and figured to ensure it doesn’t go to waste, why not have dill as my featured ingredient for lunch this week! Sounds fun!

So let’s get started! Here’s Monday’s eats!

Upon Waking

Warm water, fresh lemon juice and some sweet raw honey! Hello Monday!

Juice

Today’s green juice recipe comes from The Grounded Nutrition. Every few months they hold a 10-Day Vibrant Living Cleanse that I absolutely love! The recipes are clean, vegan, mostly raw and oh so nourishing. Definitely check them out!

This juice came from the very first cleanse I participated in. I remembered it very well and went back to look for the recipe so I could use it in this week’s challenge. It’s super easy to whip together in the morning when you’re in need of a quick energy boost right before you head out the door! It’s slightly sweet, light and refreshing!

WARNING: You may encounter blue teeth specked with blueberry bits so check the mirror often. Also, beware of pits in your dates! I swore I checked them but then blended a bit right into my drink. I spent the morning sipping pit pieces…yuck!

Blueberry Green Tea

By The Grounded Nutrition

Makes 16 ounces

• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 cups green tea or 1 tsp of matcha green powder to 2 cups of water
• ¼ cup pitted dates, soaked overnight
• ¼ cup ice cubes
• 1 cup greens (spinach)

1. In a high-speed blender at the dates, green tea and greens. Blend til smooth.
2. Add the blueberries and ice and blend till the ice has broken down and your juice is a bit frosty.
3. Serve immediately.

I think this could use a little lemon punch next time J

Smoothie time!!

Me love smoothies! They seriously need to make a smoothie monster. Just sayin’. I’m currently in love with this amazing tropical blend my FullyRaw Kristina! Using only the juice from the oranges, this yummy smoothie packs a powerful, citrus punch that’s also juicy sweet and a bit earthy thanks to the greens and cilantro. If you’re not a cilantro fan then no worries. Leave it out! This smoothie is just as great without it!

Tropical Breeze Smoothie

Adapted from FullyRaw Kristina

Makes 16 ounces

• 2 large leaves of red leaf lettuce or preferred greens (like kale!)
• 1 large juicy naval orange, peeled
• ½ heaping cup frozen pineapple (or fresh!)
• ½ scant cup, mango
• 1 small handful of cilantro

1. In a high speed blender add all of the ingredients and blend on high until smooth.
2. Serve with a few sprinkles of shredded coconut on top!

Lunch

Since this week is ALL about dill, the very first meal that came to mind was chicken salad! I know, not very veg OR raw is it!? Don’t kill me yet! I can explain. My very first job was at a café that made almost on a daily basis, fresh chicken salad with loads of dried dill. You could smell it in the back when it was being made and up front as we used it to prepare salads or sandwiches with it. Dill was never really a part of my life until then, so you can see why when I think dill I think chicken salad. Whew.

So in honor of my very first job, I decided to make a “No-Chicken” Kale Salad. I used all the ingredients and flavors found in your typical chicken salad and turned it into this amazing raw, massaged kale salad. It’s flavorful, fresh and super filling! Let me know if it fits the bill!

“No-Chicken” kale Salad

By Beth Mickens

Serves 1 

• 3-4 cups of shredded kale
• 2 small stalks of celery, chopped
• ½ cup red grapes, sliced in half
• 1 green onion, sliced
• ½  ripe avocado
• 1-2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
• ½ lemon, juiced
• Pinch of sea salt
• Pepper

1. In a large bowl add the kale, set aside. Feel free to pre-massage your kale with a pinch of EVOO and salt or you can use the avocado dressing as a massager. Whatever works for you J I do both!
2. In a small bowl add the avocado, lemon juice and dill. Mash til well combined and you have a thick sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add your avocado sauce to your kale and massage well til wilted and/or toss to coat.  
4. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to combine.
5. Serve with a sprinkle of hearty hemp seeds!

Dessert

I made these raw cake batter truffles which I mixed with cacao nibs. They’re okay but not my cup of tea...I'm a chocolate gal. So I'm making some yummy chocolate treat tonight!

“Dinner”

I nibbled my way, as usual, through dinner and finished it with a warm herbal, detox tea.

CHALLENGERS RECIPES

Energy Juice

By Ang Roberts

• Beets
• Carrots
• Apple
• Orange
• Lemon

Green Smoothie

By Ang Roberts

• 2 cups kale
• 1 cup water
• 1 frozen banana
• 3 mandarins, peeled
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds

Joel's Green Juice

By Lucia Morrison

• 1 cucumber
• 4 celery stalks
• 2 Granny Smith apples
• 1/2 inch ginger root
• 8 leaves of kale
• 1/2 lemon

Pineapple Mint Sorbet

By Nick Lassonde

1. Simple blend in a high speed blender frozen pineapple with mint extract or fresh mint leaves! Yumm!

Sprouted Buckwheat

By Kristin Lassonde





1. Rinse buckwheat several times until water is clear.
2. Soak rinsed buckwheat covered for about an hour.
3. Drain and set in a colander covered in a dark area to sprout.
4. Set an alarm to rinse and drain once every 4-8 hours.
5. After a few dats or when desired length is achieved, eat your sprouts!
6. Can be dehydrated as well!

B7DRC - November 2013: Day 3: Raw Caprese Tapas

I think Christmas Fever officially hit me this morning. I pulled out the Christmas CDs and I have been belting out songs like no one’s listening...because no one is listening! Don’t want to damage any ears :) 

With the Christmas Fever comes the anxiety. What to buy, what to cook, which cookies to make out of the list of 1,000,000, and worse, what if I gain weight? This time of year can mean overindulgence but proper planning and a routine workout can save you from holiday bloat and the continuous need for a New Year resolution solely focused on weight loss. Keep up with your healthy habits and come January 1^st you’ll be glowing with pride knowing you made it past the holiday’s bloat free. As for your resolution, it can finally be one that doesn’t involve fasting or excessive exercise.

Need a healthy quick start? Participate in Brad’s Challenge in December and you’ll be all prepped for healthy eating greatness!

So who’s ready for Day 3? It’s gorgeous outside and I’m feeling energized!

Early Morning + 16 oz water

Yummy a warm lemon tea!!

Juice +16 oz water

Almost forgot to post my juice! Another wonderful recipe by Sunwarrior and another keeper!

Celery Citrus Cooler

by Sunwarrior

Makes 8 oz

•  2 stalks of celery
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1/2 apple
• 1 large handful of parsley
• 1/2 lemon, peeled

Breakfast + 16 oz water

I saw this smoothie on Simple Green Smoothie’s site the other day and it immediately made my mouth water. The combination of beets, berries, fruits and almond milk made me think awesome pink milkshake that needed to be made asap. And so I did. I, of course, switched out the non-raw for raw ingredients and added 1 Tbsp of cacao since it tasted a tad too sweet for me. 

Overall delicious. The texture may throw some people off since it is a tad gritty and crunchy due to the pear, beets and berries seeds. I’m okay with texture as long as it tastes fabulous and this one definitely did!

Berry Beet Smoothie

Adapted from Simple Green Smoothies

Makes 16 ounces

• 1 handful of bok choy
• ½ cup raw almond milk
• ½ cup water
• ½ large ripe pear
• ½ banana
• ¼ cup frozen berries
• 1 heaping ¼ cup of raw shredded beets
• 1 Tbsp of raw almond butter
• 1 Tbsp of cacao (optional)

Blend, sip and enjoy!

Late Lunch + 16 oz water

This flavorful raw caprese tapas is inspired by Sunwarrior’s Warrior Way Challenge caprese salad as part of this week’s menu. The cheese is made from a blend of soaked sunflower seeds, garlic, lemon juice and salt. I thinly sliced a kohlrabi to serve as my “bread” and topped the cheese off with a simple salsa made with tomatoes, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper and tiny splash of balsamic. I topped each tapa with a sprinkle of green onions for a flavor boost.

The kohlrabi and salsa is both fresh and crisp while the cheese is fragrant, robust and creamy. A wonderful light dinner! Not sure if this can count as a “pauper” dinner do you? I mean light yes, but the dish is rich in flavor!

Raw Caprese Tapas

Adapted from Sunwarrior

Makes 1-2 servings

Raw Sunflower Cheese

• 1 cup sunflower seeds soaked overnight, rinsed and drained
• 1 garlic clove, mashed
• ½ lemon juiced (about 1-2 Tbsp)
• 1-2 Tbsp of cold-pressed olive oil
• ½ Tbsp raw honey or agave
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Blend in a high-speed blender til creamy and smooth.

Tomato Basil Salsa

• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (preferably cherry or grape)
• 2-3 leaves of basil, sliced
• 1 tsp of cold-pressed olive oil
• Splash of balsamic
• Salt and pepper

1. Toss all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Set aside.

To assemble:

• 1 small kohlrabi, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 green onion, sliced

1. Spread about 1-2 tsp of cheese onto one slice of kohlrabi.
2. Top with 1 tbsp of salsa.
3. Sprinkle with green onions
4. Serve immediately.

Dessert +16 oz water

I have been waiting 3 days to cut into this dessert! I finally made Healthy. Happy. Life. Blogger Kathy’s Raw Chocolate Almond Butter Cup Pie and am I GLAD I did! As you may know, I’m a nut butter addict. Add chocolate and I am in trouble. BIG trouble. Like a whole jar of Justin’s Chocolate Almond Butter in 3 days trouble. So when I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it. I knew it would be perfection on a platter and mmmm is it! Chocolaty nutty buttery goodness with a blend of sweet and salty that will make any woman swoon. One bite and I literally leaped. It was foodgasmic. 

Here is the recipe. I quartered the recipe to fit into my mini pie pan which also required a few adjustments in order to get the consistency and flavor down for the chocolate layer. I have no doubt that if the recipe is used as is that it will be perfect. I always have to be difficult J Maybe that’s because I know if I make an entire pie of this I would eat the entire pie which is no good for my figure haha!

Now time to go meditate that pie off :)

*Beth*

B7DRC - October Edition: Leftover Friiiiiidaaayy!

It’s FRIIIIDDDAY! Yes I am in a super pumped mood and I don’t think anything can put me down…except for maybe forgetting my after-lunch treat at home!  Yep. My goo goo cluster is at home in the freezer at this moment and I’m sad to have to finish my lunch without a sweet treat. Yes, I have a sweet tooth and I am quite OK with that. :) Didn’t ruin my day but I am pretty bummed at the moment…but…the day will go on! 

Since it is Friday that also means it’s leftover Friday! Every Friday I go through my fridge and eat whatever is leftover or needs to go before the weekend. This gives me an idea of what I need to purchase at the farmer’s market and store for the weekend. Plus it makes eating fun and easy!

So wanna know what I made? 

Early Morning:

Super sour lemon tea! Pucker up!

Breakfast:

As I glanced at the fruit in my fridge, I spotted an orange and immediately remembered of a Chocolate Orange Beet Smoothie that Lisa from Raw at $10 a Day posted not too long ago. The smoothie sounded and looked absolutely delicious so I figured, yep making that.

I had to modify the recipe according to what I had, but the final product was no doubt equally as tasty. Creamy, chocolaty, sweet and still nutritious! Now, the original recipe is intended for dessert but hey it’s Friday and I’m living life so today it’s dessert first!

Here is the original recipe and below, my modified version.

Chocolate Orange Smoothie

Adapted from Lisa Viger, Raw on $10 a Day (or Less!)

Makes 16 ounces

• 1 cup greens (I used romaine)
• 1 orange, juiced and zested
• 1 cup raw almond milk
• 1 ½ large bananas (or 2 mall ones), frozen
• 2 Tbsp cacao powder
• 1 scoop of raw protein powder
• 2 Tbsp of hemp seeds
• Pinch of salt

1. Place all in a blender and blend away until smooth and creamy!
2. Sip and enjoy!

Lunch:

Lunch is leftovers with an oddly tasty dressing I randomly whipped up.

Leftover Friday Salad with a Tangy Mystery Dressing

By Beth Mickens

• Romaine
• Mixed Greens
• Tomatoes
• Carrots
• Green Peppers
• Avocado
• Mushrooms
• Green Onions
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• ½ Tbsp hemp oil
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 tbsp Honey, to sweeten

1. For the dressing, add to a personal blender lemon juice, hemp oil, nutritional years, salt, pepper and a ½ of the honey to start. Blend on high til well blended. Season and sweeten to taste.
2. Add all your leftover veggies into a bowl or onto a plate and top with dressing!

Super easy!!

Snack:

I had prepped and planned to enjoy a delicious banana vanilla chia pudding except when I got home it was warm from sitting in my bag and well, it was just no longer appetizing. Scanning my fridge I noticed leftover granola all alone waiting to be eaten. Cereal did sound kind of good and I WAS hungry. So into a bowl it went along with a splash of raw almond milk. Mmm. Yep, that was satisfying and I have the food baby to prove it.

Dinner:

No dinner tonight. Instead lots of cold water and one too many goo goo clusters. I think I'm in need of a sugar cleanse...

Happy Friday peeps!!! Enjoy your ***CHILLY*** weekend!

*Beth*