Articles with the raw Tag
First, I’d like to remind you about TWO contests I currently have running:
- Food Matters DVD Review + Contest. (Contest ends Thursday, August 27th. There are SIX ways to win!!)
- Detox 4 Women (by Natalia Rose) Review + Contest (Contest ends Friday, August 28th. There are SIX ways to win!)
Let’s Talk Chocolate!
You may remember the other day when I posted my chocolate avocado pudding experiment (it turned out delish!) or yesterday when I posted my Chocolate-Vanilla Hemp Bliss Shake recipe.
Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!
I’ve always had a great love for chocolate. Growing up, I’d always lean toward the German Chocolate cake, Snickers candy bar, or even an Almond Joy. Now, after losing over 100 pounds and focusing on a high-raw, whole foods diet, I tend to hold those forms of chocolate a distant memory–other than a rare, rare occasion when I go bonkers and splurge (like on my birthday).
But there’s bound to be a way for a girl to enjoy her chocolate in a healthy way, right? A way other than a tiny square of dark chocolate (which I really don’t like all that much, by the way). I’ve always been more of a milk chocolate gal myself. (See my dilemma here?) 
Enter: Heather’s Gluten-Free Blog
I’ve been a fan of Heather Strang’s blog for a while now. Although I didn’t really intend on being gluten-free, I suppose I am–other than an occasional splurge. My diet basically consists of a foundation of TONS of raw veggies, a little fruit (mostly berries), nuts, seeds, nut butters, organic Oikos Greek yogurt, and sometimes organic farm fresh eggs (from either my farm, or my neighbor’s).
Back to Heather’s blog…
I’m subscribed to Heather’s blog via email and saw this recipe a while back: Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar-Free RAW Chocolate recipe.
I was really excited when I saw it because it looked delicious, seemed totally simple to whip up, and it was HEALTHY! Things got busy, though, and I either had other stuff to do or didn’t have one or other of the ingredients.
The other day I finally ended up with some free time and realized I had ALL the ingredients Heather used for this recipe. Yay!
Note: I made my recipe a little differently than Heather’s.
Getting Things Ready
Ready to Mix
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup organic cocoa powder
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
Heather’s recipe called for a blender or food processor. I don’t have a blender anymore (mine died 
)so I just whipped it up the old-fashioned way. Hey, it works! 
Stirred + Poured
With Chopped Pecans on Top
(I just sprinkled enough to cover the top–I didn’t measure ‘em.)
Heather didn’t add nuts to her chocolate recipe but chocolate isn’t chocolate without nuts, in my opinion.
In the Freezer
(…)
Waiting
(…)
1 1/2 hours later….
Out of the Freezer
Cut in to Pieces
Hands-On Chocolate
We Hated It!
(Like you believe that?!)
Verdict?
Um, I’ll be making this recipe until I’m 100 and can find the ingredients–and hopefully know what they’re for!
Seriously, though, this was delish! It was kind of like fudge, I think. It was soft, but had a firm texture (it doesn’t fall apart!). I can totally see this as something you could make for a Christmas party or some other party or event. In my opinion, it definitely rocks!
And… the reason it left so fast is because I shared it with some folks. I’d say they liked it too, wouldn’t you?
I, of course, tasted the chocolate in its liquid form before it went into the freezer. I’m thinking it would be YUM just like that, drizzled over Gena’s banana soft serve.
Off to freeze me some nanners!
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- 2 books (Coconut Water for Health and Healing
and Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing
by Dr. Bruce Fife
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
I can’t believe this is day 3 of my yoga adventures and I’m still excited about it–I LOVE it!
This morning, I did the video called Yoga for Yummy Abs by Polly from Yoga is Yummy.
I did the cobra pose, too! Fantabulous, people!
I was hesitant to try a different video. I’m trying to be very careful with my (bad) back. But, while I could really feel the yoga poses and stretches burning and using my muscles, it was a good, warm burning and relaxing experience. I’m just madly in love with yoga!
After my date with yoga, I had breakfast:
Blueberry-Kiwi Salad
1 whole kiwi, peeled + sliced
handful frozen blueberries
Yum-O!
I also had some herbal tea and, of course, added a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar to one of my glasses of water.
About mid-morning, I had my daily shot….
E3 Live Brain On
I think the Brain On formula tastes just a little stronger (or a little different) than the original E3 Live I’ve tried but it’s definitely do-able for me. You could always disguise the taste (if it’s too strong–aka green–for you) in a smoothie or juice. I just take a tablespoon straight up. What? I love my greens–and I’m lovin’ how it makes me feel: clear-minded and mentally alert!
Juicy Ingredients!
4 small heirloom organic beets, with leaves (from my garden)
3 organic carrots
2 heirloom organic cucumbers (from my garden)
small apple
2 handfuls spinach
handful Alfalfa sprouts
1-inch piece of ginger
medium heirloom organic bell pepper (from my garden)
1 whole kiwi, peeled
Raw Beauty!
Juice Pulp
(Looks Like Confetti!)
Yummy Juices
Raw Lunch
1 celery stalk, cut up
1 carrot, cut up
shaker cup full of today’s juicy concoction
+ a scoop of berry flavored Amazing Grass SuperFood powder
(To learn more about this berry-licious superfood powder, click on the photo below! )
Snack
I had another carrot and another celery stalk (I was craving carrots and celery today! LOL)
And…. some of the juiciest, most delicious…
Organic Cherries
Dinner
I thought about having my other juice in the place of my dinner but then I had an overwhelming craving for the following spinach-based salad. I absolutely adore baby spinach leaves–they’re my favorite veggie! I love them raw, in juices, in smoothies, in salads… you get my point.
Oh-So-Good Salad
generous handful of baby spinach leaves
heirloom organic cucumber slices (from my garden)
generous handful of fresh blueberries
Manitoba Harvest hemp seeds (Yum!)
2 stalks heirloom organic okra, sliced
Have you ever eaten okra raw? It’s delicious! I’m serious! The above combo is absolutely YUM! What’s your favorite salad combo? Do share!
Coming next: various foods I’ve eaten when breaking other juice fasts I’ve been on, and also why I don’t incorporate vegetable broth into my juice fasting regimen like some juice fasters do.
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. 
Hi, y’all!
I hope you enjoyed my reflections on the 30-day juice fast.
I started my day out with yoga again this morning. I love it!
I took Cindy‘s advice and stuck with the Yoga for Newbies video.
I’m learning about different poses and how (majorly) important breathing is!
This new yoga journey is sooooooooooooooo exciting!
Okay, now for raw eats throughout today:
- handful of heirloom, organic banana peppers (from my garden)
- a green apple
- a not-so-delicious plum
- a handful of organic dark cherries (Yum!)
- a handful of raw, unsalted nuts/seeds
- small handful of grapes
- half of a (big) carrot
(I know that doesn’t really seem like a lot of food, but when I’ve been juice fasting I’m not that hungry once I start eating again.)
I also drank lots of herbal tea with lemon. (I forgot my warm lemon water this morning, though!)
My blender died on me, so no green monsters for a while. And (shame on me!) I didn’t have a raw juice, either! I’m making time tomorrow to juice some raw goodness and absorb all those living enzymes, vitamins, and nutrients my body absolutely loves.
Do you enjoy yoga as part of your exercise routine? What’s your favorite part about yoga: the stretching, the relaxing, the benefits? Do you combine the raw food diet, raw juices, or raw juice fasting with yoga? Who is your favorite yoga instructor? What’s your favorite type of yoga to practice? Tell us all about it!
Coming next: various foods I’ve eaten when breaking other juice fasts I’ve been on, and also why I don’t incorporate vegetable broth into my juice fasting regimen like some juice fasters do.
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Photo Credit:
