A "Berry" Healthy shake- and the beginning of my journey with raw foods.

In the last few months I have begun to make real effort to make at least 70% of what I eat in any given day raw food.   Some days I accomplish this and more and some days it's likely more like 45-50%.  However I usually am around 70% which is much more than many people.

Now mind you I have eated "healthy" for a long time.  I changed my life and my health completely with changing my diet nearly17 years ago.  But when a friend started sharing her journey with raw foods I realized that I had a ways to go.  First I just started to pay attention to what I was eating and if it was raw or not.  When I did this I realized, wow, I am eating almost all cooked food.  ( not junk, lots of veggies, lots of lean protein, whole grains so on.) However most of it was cooked.  Why is this an issue?  We raw foods have the enzymes in them to help you digest the food itself.   What if you cook it?  Then you don't have those enzymes any more so your body has to use enzymes it creates to digest instead of using the enzymes it creates for other things like repairing your body, and healing and such.  ( at least this is what the info I have read says)

So I started to increase my raw foods.  One of the easiest ways to do this is to make a raw shake in the morning instead of the S.A.D. ( standard American diet) breakfast.  I have discovered many great recipes doing this and most mornings I make something a little different each time.  What I did not know until I read more is it would not just be a great way to get my fruits, but also my veggies....




Berry Good For You Shake



1 small slice of beet
1/2 of medium carrot
1 med sized banana
1 egg
1/2 of a small zucchini
1 small slice off of a purple cabbage
4-6 frozen strawberries
1 handful of frozen black berries.
a pinch or so of stevia to taste
a little purified water ( just enough to make it blend nicely)

Wash and then put all of the above ( minus the egg shell of course) into your blender.  Continue to blend until it is all very very smooth, if you need to add a little water to make that work, do, but use it sparingly so that it does not get too slushy.

Now of course since this is a raw food recipe remember all the fruits and veggies are raw and so is the egg.  Also do your best to use only organic ingredients including for the egg.  This is the best tasting and the best
for you too.

Try it and see if you don't just feel great all day long!  I will post more raw food shakes shortly.

Crepes! Yum!

I love to make a hot breakfast for the family, but often don't have time for something elaborate. This recipe is fast and is always a hit, plus, I can make it ahead of time as well and serve another day.

Crepes-

4 eggs
1.5 cups of milk ( I usually sour with a little lemon or apple cider vinegar)
4 pinches of sea salt
3/4 cup or so of whole grain flour of your choice
--butter or olive oil for the pan


--Optional-
If serving with something sweet add any of the following ( one or more your choice)
Several dashes of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon rum flavoring or almond flavoring.
A little bit of stevia
A little bit of real maple syrup
If serving with something savory-

Several dashes of coriander
Several dashes of chili powder
A couple of pinches of cumin and tumric

To Make-

Heat up a skillet over medium heat while you mix ingredients-

In a mixing bowl mix milk, eggs and any other liquid ingredients you are adding.
Once mixed well add in dry ingredients until everything is smooth ( be sure it is very thin batter) Check skillet to see if it is hot enough by dropping a little tiny bit of water from your fingers, the skillet is the proper heat when the droplets "dance".

Quickly add a little butter to the skillet and then use just under a 1/4 cup measure for a small skillet and a little over a 1/4 cup for a large one, quickly pour batter and immediately lift and rotate skillet so that the batter is very thin and covers the whole skillet. Wait a few moments while the crepe cooks through and then flip over for a moment and cook and then remove to a plate in your oven on warm while your cook the rest or to a waiting plate of a hungry friend, spouse or child. Continue until you have finished all the batter. ( Warning you may have to start over I usually do as everyone wants more)

They are great plain, but usually you will want to fill them with something and roll them up.

Things to serve them with....

yogurt of any sort
fruit of any sort ( soft, so either fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries, or baked fruit like apples)
sour cream
steamed veggies
cheese sauce
cream sauce
syrup
apple sauce
use your imagination!
Also good rolled around sausages ( according to my son, I have not tried so cannot personally endorse)

I like to make these up ahead of time ( although this is hard to do since everyone wants them right off the stove) They make nice snacks and quick lunches and break fasts.

Hope you enjoy as much as we do!