How’ve ya been?

I know some of you may already do this but I thought I’d share one of my tips with you: freezing bananas.

Bananas are yummy – but they don’t last long! If you don’t gobble ‘em up quickly, they will get all dark and mushy. Lots of folks from the old days (and I’m sure these days, too!) consider those old, blackened bananas the best-ever for baking old-fashioned banana bread or muffins.

Some of you may throw those old bananas away.

I try to eat or freeze my bananas before they get in bad shape – ‘cause I hate to waste food!

It’s easy and doesn’t take long to freeze your bananas for future use.

Just slice or break into chunks.

Lay flat, not touching, in bags or containers.

Store in the freezer ’till ya need ‘em!

This way, you’ll have pretty bananas when you need ‘em for smoothies or some other goodness. They’re also great to just nibble on as-is!

Have you ever frozen your bananas? Do you eat them too fast? Do they ruin on you? Will you be taking advantage of this tip? Do tell!

And…

Don’t forget to enter my SWEET GIVEAWAY!!!!

There will be FOUR winners!!!

Hi, everyone! How are y’all? Have you been getting your daily smoothies in? Or raw juices? How about healthy Omega 3? Protein? Nut butter? Green tea?

Have I got the smoothie for you!

I love smoothies, as you know, and I love changing things up and trying new concoctions. I love the various nutrients, vitamins, and goodies I get when I drink a smoothie. And I love how they’re thick, creamy, delicious, and filling – can’t beat a smoothie for a quick, nutritious snack or meal!

Well, maybe Greek yogurt, but… Today I’m talking smoothies.

Right? Right!

Here’s a photo of the finished PB Free NuttZo-Banana Smoothie. It was decadent, let me tell ya! Yum!

Bubbly Banana!

PF NuttZo = YUMILICIOUS!!!!

Cutesy, Useful Bowl/Cup Covers

I’ve been using bowl/cup covers for a while now. As pictured above, these covers resemble a shower cap and have elastic so they fit tightly over your bowl, cup, or glass. Each package comes with one that is big enough to cover a plate! I love that one.

But there’s also a few that are for small bowls, cups, or glasses.

I use them ALL the time. They’re washable and reusable and one of the ways I count myself an eco-friendly kind of gal.

Do you use them? Have you ever heard of them?

I ended up drinking my entire smoothie at once but should you want to make a double batch or just end up with way more than you want to drink at once, these bowl/cup covers are magic! Cover your cup or glass with one that’s size-appropriate and seal the goodness in until the next day.

Saving a smoothie in the fridge “for hard times” is a great way to make sure you have something filling and nutritious that you can grab when you’re on your way out the door or it’s just one of those chaotic days that absorb all your time and energy.

And… now for the recipe!

PF NuttZo-Banana Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cold banana, peeled and broken into chunks
• 4 ice cubes
• 3/4 cup tea (I used black/green mixture.)
• 2 TBSP PF NuttZo (details HERE)

Directions:

Add ingredients to blender.

In this order, if you have the buttons on your blender:

1. crush ice
2. blend
3. liquify

It makes for a YUM-O smoothie, in my opinion.

Watch out for upcoming, in-depth reviews of NuttZo AND PF NuttZo – I’m LOVING ‘em!

Have you had your smoothie today? What about NuttZo? Have you ever tried it? It’s addictive, I tell you – there’s NOTHING like it! Talk to me, people!

Sorry to make ya wait so long today for this recipe. I tweeted about drinking a black smoothie this morning and a lot of you were really intrigued. Thanks for the interest! I hope it lives up to your expectations.

I’m a HUGE fan of blackstrap molasses (did you guess that as one of the “black” ingredients??)! Not everyone likes blackstrap molasses – or has even tried it – but if you love black licorice, I just know you’ll love blackstrap molasses! It reminds me of black licorice for some reason. I especially notice a distinct black licorice flavor when I add two tablespoons to water – or to my smoothies.

Believe it or not, I’m actually NOT a fan of blackberries (the other black ingredient). I always choose a different berry (blueberries are my all-time favorite!) but this recipe (title and all) popped in to my head – and I just had to try it!

The main reason I don’t care for blackberries (not even cobbler!) is because of the little seeds that get in my teeth. It’s annoying, I think.

I should’ve blended a few more minutes because I did have some seed action happening in my smoothie – that’ was my fault, though.

Lovin’ my Simple Elegance GlassDharma straw!

And I’m really sad that my photos don’t do my black smoothie justice. For one, it was a dark, rainy day and two, I don’t have a fancy shmancy camera – or photography skills! LOL So please forgive me and I hope you can tell just how dark the smoothie is….

Remember my Blueberry Blackstrap Bomb? I thought some of y’all might guess blackstrap molasses as one of the ingredients for this one – but you didn’t!

It. Was. Delish!

But it wasn’t today’s Black Smoothie!

I still plan on writing an in-depth post on blackstrap molasses, it’s health benefits, and why I drink it all the time. But here’s a snippet of information for you:

“Blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of manganese and copper. It is a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. In addition, blackstrap molasses is a good source of vitamin B6 and selenium.” – WH Foods

And this tidbit of information might give you the boost you need to gobble up some blackberries….

“Blackberries are notable for their high nutritional contents of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid – a B vitamin, and the essential mineral, manganese.

Blackberries rank highly among fruits for antioxidant strength, particularly due to their dense contents of polyphenolic compounds, such as ellagic acid, tannins, ellagitannins, quercetin, gallic acid, anthocyanins and cyanidins.

Blackberries have an ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of 5347 per 100 grams, including them among the top-ranked ORAC fruits. Another report using a different assay for assessing antioxidant strength placed blackberry at the top of more than 1000 antioxidant foods consumed in the United States.” – Wikipedia

Black Grass Smoothie Recipe

(Serves one)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 4 ice cubes
• 1 scoop Amazing Grass wheat grass
• 2 Tablespoons blackstrap molasses
• 1 cup frozen blackberries

Directions:

Toss above ingredients in to your blender and blend ‘em up until you have a rich, smooth consistency. Enjoy!

 

Note:

If you love black licorice, this is the smoothie for you!

Hated it!

I LOVE the Simple Elegance (aka Shorty) glass straw for my smoothies in these short glass jars – perfect combo! And they’re available in package deals in my Raw Shop!

Oh. My. Gosh. My black smoothie was SO good and I’m SO glad I followed my crazy brainstorm and made it! It was rich and creamy and smooth and delicious – AND it was also energizing and very fun to drink!

What about you: Do you love blackstrap molasses? Hate it? Ever tried it? Does it remind you of black licorice? What about blackberries? Do you love ‘em or hate ‘em? And do you try new smoothie (or other) recipes? Or do you stick to your old, tried-and-true concoctions? Do you like black licorice? Did you eat it as a kid? I did – and have always loved it!

Did you miss my review of Aurorae’s Yoga Sport Sweat Towel? You can read it HERE.

References:

Wikipedia: Blackberry

WH Foods: Blackstrap Molasses

Wow. The days are just flyin’ by, aren’t they?! Gosh, they are for me!

I’ve been super busy outside, gardening and doing other outside chores. Things are really coming along in the garden. I’ll have to update on the progress soon.

But today, I just had to share my grass-inspired juice/smoothie concoction with you. I have been really tired lately (organic gardening is exhausting!) and I woke up yesterday with a sore throat. Definitely not good when there’s SO much to do!

So, yesterday I hit myself with some Vitamin B and C and drank plenty of liquids and paced myself. Today I felt like wheat grass would provide just the extra oomph I needed. And while I was watering the garden this morning, I spied the rainbow chard. It called my name, I’m positive!

I plucked a few leaves and ran back in the house, excited for the raw creation that was being born in my head!

It didn’t take long to throw the ingredients in the blender and whip up a glass of….

“Rainbow Grass”

That’s right: Rainbow Grass!

Note the glass straw lookin’ so elegant and eco-friendly? Those beautiful babies are now available in my Raw Shop! Go ahead, check ‘em out. I’ll wait.

Of course, I chose the (fun!) title of this drink based on the (rainbow) chard and the wheat grass.

Freshly Picked (Rainbow) Chard

Size of my (small) hand…

And the runt…

Amazing (Wheat) Grass!

(Check out my wheat grass post HERE.)

In My Oster Blender

(Also in my Raw Shop!)

See the herbal tea in the bottom of the blender?

Ready to Consume = Yum!

Playing Photographer!

Rainbow Grass Juice-Smoothie Concoction Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 (frozen) banana
• 1 scoop Amazing Grass Wheat Grass powder
• 1 cup herbal tea
• 5 1/2 Rainbow Chard leaves (5 the size of my hand, 1 half that size) Freshly picked from my garden right before going in to this recipe!
• 4 ice cubes

 

Directions:

Toss above ingredients in to your blender and give it a few whirls until everything is blended nicely. Serves one big appetite or two smaller ones.

 

Note:

This drink is actually more like a juice consistency, but still has a (runny) smoothie volume to it. If you like your smoothies super thick, cut back on the herbal tea (or liquid of your choice). I personally prefer my smoothies on the thicker side, but this was so super delicious and energizing, I’ll definitely recreate it again – and soon!

Grassy Goodness

About the Recipe

I urge you to try my Rainbow Grass recipe – even if you are terribly afraid of green juices/smoothies! What is so RAWsome about this drink, I discovered, is that I tasted the fresh deliciousness of the rainbow chard, the “greenness” of the wheat grass (definitely NOT overpowering, though!) and the sweetness – and creaminess – of the frozen banana. The herbal tea allows you to get in some antioxidants and herbal tea benefits, which is great for those who aren’t really “tea” people. I could go on and on about this drink, but I’ll have to trust y’all to try it for yourselves – or just take my word for it!

Hated it!

Burning Questions I have for you:

1. Have you ever tried wheat grass? Do you love Amazing Grass as much as I do? I even added wheat grass and other Amazing Grass products on my last 30-day juice fast. I’ve done a LOT of juice fasting and several 30-day ones (plus a 52-day juice fast) and I could really, really tell the difference in how I felt by adding the Amazing Grass powders. I love ‘em!

2. What about those glass straws – aren’t they something?! I really do love the Beautiful Bends most. It’s just like drinking from a bendable straw when I was a kid – only now it’s an eco-friendly habit and no plastic is wasted or harming the environment! And I’m SO excited that I can offer them to you in my Raw Shop!

3. Will you try this juice-smoothie concoction of mine or is it too “green” for you? Are you someone who is willing to try new things or do you cringe at the thought of something crossing your lips that you’re not accustomed to?

4. And how is May going for you? Can you believe Mother’s Day is this weekend? I have a wonderful mother to celebrate with. I hope you do, too! And if you don’t, I’d share mine if I could!!!

Fill me in! I miss chatting with you all!!!

Last day to enter my giveaway!!!

This is another eco-friendly giveaway with a super cool, fun, green prize! Winner will be announced tomorrow.

Click HERE to enter!!

For those of you who celebrated, I hope you had a blessed Easter holiday – I most certainly did!

Remember a while back, when I shared the news with you about my new partnership with OpenSky? No? Okay, here’s an excerpt from that post:

Why I HEART OpenSky

I quickly fell in love with OpenSky and what they’re doing. What exactly are they doing, you ask?

OpenSky is bringing old-fashioned charm to Internet shopping. They are creating harmony for bloggers, readers, shoppers, and merchants. They are opening the door to a warm, inviting shopping experience; one that will be memorable, enjoyable — and so fun that you’ll want to do it again and again!

I am super excited to announce that I’ve teamed up with OpenSky to host a giveaway! Details are at the end of this post, but don’t skip the middle; there’s some good stuff – including a free recipe for my latest raw, vegan smoothie concoction: The Cabbage Patch! It’s smooth, clean, and delish. Perfect for a warm Spring day!

I will share the prize with you, though: a 12-speed Oster Blender! Eeeek! If you love smoothies, raw chocolate pudding, banana soft serve, raw crackers, raw nut milks, etc., you’ll love the Oster Blender. Why Oster? Well, my Oster Blender (which happens to be 10-speed) was a gift from one of my favorite people in the whole world – one of my aunts. She passed her (very) gently used blender on to me when she found out mine had burnt up. I was elated! Seriously, I was in smoothie withdrawal!

12-Speed Oster Blender

At first, I thought the Oster Blender might not be a very good one. Honestly, I had my doubts regarding its ability to whip up thick, creamy smoothies – or whatever else I concocted.

I was wrong to doubt!

My Oster Blender does a fantabulous job of chomping ice until it’s smooth and blending ingredients beautifully. I’ve yet to be disappointed – and I use it a lot.  It’s super easy to clean, fun to use, and I highly recommend it – especially if you love smoothies and raw creations as much as I do!

Some things I’ve made in my Oster include:

Raw Flax Crackers

Chocolate-Banana Avocado Pudding

Pearadise Smoothie 

Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie

Happy Hemp Smoothie

Raw Cashew Milk (!!!)

Voila: Raw Cashew Milk

What’d I do with my fresh cashew milk? Make a smoothie, of course!

Banana + cabbage, anyone?

Enter: The Cabbage Patch

See the hint of green color??

Cabbage Patch Smoothie

Cabbage Patch Smoothie Recipe

Serves one

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashew milk (1/2 cup cashews + 1 cup water, blended – and not strained)

1 cup cabbage, chopped

1 banana, frozen chunks

4 ice cubes

 

Directions:

Add ingredients to your blender and process until well blended. Enjoy!

 

Note:

My cashew milk was freshly made so it wasn’t cold enough for my preferences. Although the frozen banana did cool off the smoothie, I felt it needed to be colder, so I added the ice cubes.

 

OpenSky Oster Blender Giveaway Rules!!

This giveaway is different than any I’ve ever hosted – and I’m SO excited!!! You don’t have to leave a gazillion comments or flood social media to qualify for this contest (although I won’t complain if you do! )

There’s only one required entry. It’s super easy to enter and you’ll be on your way. When you enter, you’ll automatically receive a….

10% discount coupon code!!

The coupon code can be used for anything in my shop – but remember to use it quickly as it EXPIRES FRIDAY!!!

ONE winner will be selected randomly within 48 hours and notified (via email) immediately. You can enter for your 10% coupon code until Wednesday, April 14th.

CLICK HERE for a chance to win your own 12-Speed Oster Blender (valued at $35!!!) and get your 10% discount coupon. Have fun!

And look at the fancy schmancy page OpenSky created for us!!!

Don’t forget to have a look around my OpenSky shop once you’re entered. New products are in the works, so check back often to see if your favorite product has been added. If you don’t see it, let me know and I’ll work with OpenSky to try and get it for you!

And a HUGE thank you to OpenSky + Oster for this RAWsome opportunity!!!!

Do you have an Oster Blender? What do you use it most for? Smoothies? Banana soft serve? Chocolate-avocado pudding? Have you ever used cabbage in your smoothie? Did you like it? I love it myself. Of course, I love cabbage (raw or cooked) – and it’s so good for us! Now, go get yourself entered for that FREE Oster Blender!!!

If you’re a first-time visitor, you may have missed my recent delivery of packages and upcoming reviews, Sunday fun and news or ShimmerOrganics. You might also enjoy A Package and a Story – this one is dear to my heart…  Be sure to check ‘em out!

Note: E3Live sent me samples, but I have not been paid to write this review. The thoughts I share in this post are my honest opinions.

Why E3Live?

As most of you know, I talked quite a bit about E3Live during my 30-day juice fast (and some afterward).

It wasn’t my intentions to “up and stop mentioning this fantabulous product” – I’ve just had a lot going on and got swamped with all the incoming packages and other freelance projects I’m obligated to.

There’s actually a story about me and E3Live….

A few years ago, I met a raw foodist. I was fascinated by this man. His skin was pure perfection. His hair was dark and shiny and luscious. His eyes were clear and bright. Totally amazing.

And, no, not that kind of fascination – he was married! I’m talking about just being mesmerized by the overall picture of perfect health. I still can’t get over it!

We talked about how he’d lost a significant amount of weight and improved his health dramatically, and how I’d done the same. While I was a LOT healthier than I used to be, I still didn’t have that pristine appearance he did, and I still wasn’t as healthy as I wanted to be. The difference? You’re thinking it was the raw food, right? Nope. I had been a 100% raw foodist off and on and was high-raw, even then. So, while raw food plays a HUGE role in my health improving, there was something more.

So… what was the difference in our health journeys? E3Live. Yep. That’s it. He was a dedicated E3Live customer; I wasn’t. Actually, I’d never heard of it until he introduced me to it that day.

There was another difference in us, though: He was able to spend money that I didn’t have. He was a successful business man and I was climbing my way out of financial ruins (due to barely surviving domestic violence and enduring so many health issues I wasn’t able to work).

And THAT’S why I was sooooooooooooo very honored to have the opportunity to receive samples of E3Live and BrainOn – what a blessing!

Now, on to the review of E3Live (BrainOn review will be next)….

About the Company

E3Live was founded in 1991, by President Michael Saiber. Dr. Ann Wigmore introduced him to the raw lifestyle over 30 years ago — he’s 67, but certainly doesn’t look it! (See, I’m telling you… it’s that LOOK of pristine health!)

President

Michael enjoys a variety of exercises. He’s huge on health and fitness, is a lecturer, and has a genuine heart for helping people – particularly those suffering from chronic illness and birth defects. He thrives on consuming the blue-green algae he’s so passionate about, and is known for truly “walking the talk.”

In a world filled with deceit and people who don’t practice what they preach, I’d say that’s quite the honorable man who lives what he says he does!

CEO, Owner

Tamera has over 20 years of business management experience and has had the amazing opportunity to work closely with Dr. Brian Clement (of Hippocrates Health Institute), Dr. Gabriel Cousens, and Dr. Fred Bisci, and others.

She also lectures and is the creator of some of the best-selling green health products out there. Well-known doctors and clinics use Tamera’s formulas. (How awesome is that?!)

Oh, and Tamera is 46 – and radiantly beautiful!

E3Live’s blue-green algae is harvested from Klamath Lake in Oregon:

“Upper Klamath Lake is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The lake receives an average 300 days of sunlight per year which provides a perfect growing environment for the world’s richest strain of wild AFA blue-green algae, scientifically known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. The alkaline lake water provides more than 60 times the nutrients needed for the algae to grow to its full potential each year. Under the right conditions, AFA algae can reproduce every 20 minutes, which provides a plentiful abundance of this organic, high life-force, miracle super food.”– www.E3Live.com

From my research and my experience with E3Live’s customer service, I have found them to be passionate and kind people who strive to not only represent themselves in a professional manner and create quality products, but they genuinely care about us wholeheartedly!

Read it out for yourself:

“Thanks to you, over $250,000 worth of products have been donated to clients and patients of our clients. The recipients of these donations have serious illnesses rendering their financial condition unable to purchase anything not covered by medical insurance. By supporting our products, you can help us continue this effort.” – www.E3Live.com

E3Live was mentioned in People Magazine!

E3Live

This blue-green algae is overflowing with goodies for our bodies to gobble up!

I love that the company is so dedicated to quality:

“We are very critical and selective when it comes to harvesting, filtering, testing and formulating all our products. Our harvesting and purity testing is of utmost importance to us. We not only meet, but exceed quality and safety standards for harvesting processes.”– www.E3Live.com

Pros

The pros of E3Live are endless, really. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and all sorts of healthy goodies our bodies are crying out for.

From E3Live’s website:

1. Increase endurance and stamina
2. Lift and balance mood to reduce stress
3. Increase mental focus and concentration
4. Balance blood-sugar levels
5. Speed up recovery time
6. Restore overall biochemical balance ⁽¹⁾
7. Enjoy long-lasting energy boost ⁽²⁾
8. Grow healthier skin, nails and hair
9. Truly enhance overall well-being

That’s a LOT of pros!!

(1) Dr. Gabriel Cousens, Director, Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center
(2) Dr. Fred Bisci, nationally renowned health lecturer

Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids!

For Pets!

The caring people at www.E3Live.com didn’t forget – you can share the benefits with your furry friends!

E3Live is fantabulous for your PETS!! Pet lovers, I know you’re happy right now!!

Cons

The only cons I can find that you might not see as “Pros” are three things:

1. The price. Now, while I absolutely believe in this product and have seen for myself how taking it daily enhanced my health, energized me, and just made me “feel better,” I do absolutely understand that $150 isn’t pocket change. And, honestly, I couldn’t have enjoyed its benefits if I hadn’t received samples to review. However, you DO get 5 bottles for that price. Because of having to make special shipping arrangements, the company has found that shipping 5 bottles in each box results in the best freshness and transport success.
2. The taste. I’m personally used to the wonderful “green” taste health products often have. I’ve chugged potent herbal tonics, teas, and all sorts of concoctions. So, some of you may not like the taste. But the good news is… you can disguise it by tossing a serving into a smoothie or other recipe and enjoy its health benefits while your taste buds enjoy something yummy!
3. The preparation. I freelance, so I’m at home, but I can understand someone who works outside the home a gazillion hours a week being afraid they might not have time to thaw and prepare the upcoming week’s servings. To ease your conscience, I’m sharing directions below to show you this isn’t really a con – you just might think it is…

How to Thaw E3Live Products

You don’t have to be nervous about how to thaw and consume E3Live. It only takes a few minutes to prepare your servings for the week.

1. Simply take your bottle out of the freezer.
2. Pop it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.
3. Then pour 7 tablespoons of the melted liquid into a small jar or container with a lid.
4. Put your bottle back in the freezer, and your small jar in the fridge for easy access during the week.
5. That’s it!

See, I told you it’s easy!

How to Take E3Live

I personally just take a tablespoon straight up, but I’ve also added it to my green juice (as shown above) – especially during my 30-day juice fast.

You can also add it to smoothies or other recipes (think: raw fudge, etc.)

The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination and ingredients!

Verdict/Grade?

I’m sure after reading all this, you know I’m going to give E3Live an A+ grade. I have to, ya know? With such dedicated, caring people striving to help make the world a healthier place, only the highest grade applies. I give them extra points for donating their products to the less fortunate, who’d never be able to afford them. That speaks loudly of their character and what their business is all about. That, to me, shows they care more about us than they do about sales.

Thank you, E3Live, for being generous with samples – and with your heart!!

Have you ever taken E3Live supplements? What did you think of the taste? What kind of results did you have? Would you like to try it, but don’t have the extra money to? Stay tuned…

The Surprise?

After my review of BrainOn, E3Live is sponsoring a contest so one lucky winner can be rich with FIVE bottles of their awesome, blue-green algae (3 bottles of the original formula; 2 of BrainOn + a shaker cup—over a $200.oo value!!!). Get ready!!!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)  You can also use the code hwj (small J as in JUICE) for a 15% discount on your order, if you can’t wait. And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring!

Fun Treats for Fall

Nathalie, at Raw Foods Witch, recently shared a new raw recipe video: How to Make a Festive Raw Pumpkin Pie Recipe. I love Nathalie. She’s fun, creative, informative, and I just adore her enthusiasm for raw living!

Cindy, from A Sparkle A Day, made us readers drool with her version of a healthy pancake. If you aren’t 100% raw/vegan, I’d definitely recommend you give this a try. I haven’t yet, but I will!

Love Veggies & Yoga? Averie sure does! This gal is RAWkin the blogosphere with her creative raw recipes. She has a passion for raw, vegan living and shares all sorts of recipes and tips–with pizzazz! One of her creations I’m lookin’ forward to making myself: Raw, Vegan Apple Crumble! Of course, Averie’s recipe archive is exploding over there, so dig through and find yourself some stuff to eat!

Mysti, of Life’s Approbations, shared her original recipe: Fall Perfection Pumpkin Muffins. This one isn’t raw or vegan, but is made with healthy ingredients! If you’re looking for a raw recipe from this gal, she offers that too at her new site, Dining Family: Sweet, Smooth and Cold! (And you’ll find a real little pumpkin at the end of that recipe!) UPDATED TO ADD: “Egg can be substituted out with 1/4 c applesauce and 1/8 tsp baking soda,” says Mysti. She wanted to share that for vegan readers. Thank you, Mysti!!!

I love pumpkin seeds, so Katy Joy’s recipe (from Raw People), sounds like a delicious treat. I’d like to make it sometime. Have you ever had Pumpkin Spice Milk?

And, here’s one of my recipes–that I haven’t enjoyed in quite a while!

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

Ingredients:

• a container of organic, Greek yogurt (I love Oikos, but you could use raw, nut based yogurt)
• about 1/4 to 1/2 can of organic pumpkin (or raw)
• pumpkin pie spice

Stir pumpkin into your yogurt and sprinkle on as much pumpkin pie spice as you’d like.

Optional Toppings:

• trail mix
• granola
• raisins
• cranberries
• cookies
• raw pumpkin seeds (or nuts)

Do you have any favorite Fall recipes? Do you stay 100% raw in the Fall and Winter seasons, regardless, or do you stray and enjoy some warm (or other non-raw) comfort foods? Have you ever had the recipes I mentioned today? Do you plan on trying any of them? Hope you enjoy your weekend! Can you believe we’re half-way through October??!!

Want to REALLY enhance your recipes?? Enter the contest for NuttZo over at An Apple A Day blog! Hurry, contest ends soon!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  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’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring–and don’t forget to check out my chocolate ice cubes!

Blended Blessings

I’ve mentioned a few times that my blender keeled over on me. It was sad. I was sad. But a new blender wasn’t in the budget so I’ve been a pouting, smoothie-less Raw Juice Girl for a while now. Pathetic, I know. LOL

I was on a real roll having awesome smoothies for breakfast, but I made due with substitutes:

• Green (Hemp) Overnight Breakfast Cookie
• Green Steel-Cut Oats
• Chocolate Hemp Shake
• Cashew Cookie LARABAR

Delicious, yes. A green smoothie? No!

So, imagine my out-of-this-world delight when my aunt donated her blender she never uses! Oh, believe me, I tried (and tried) to promote the health benefits of smoothies and convince her that she needed to keep her blender–she insisted on giving it to me anyway, reassuring me she never uses it and didn’t plan on it anytime soon….

Enter: the Osterizer 10-speed Blender

I took pictures of my blending adventures this morning, so you could enjoy the experience with me!

And, my goodness, this thing is a LOT more powerful than I thought it would be. It gobbled up the ice cubes like there was no tomorrow! Seriously! Eeeek! Bring on the smoothies, people!

Osterizer Blender

10 Speeds!

Sassafras Root Tea

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70

Chocolate Ice Cubes!

Green Hemp Smoothie

Wanna Taste?

YUM-O!!!!

Happy Hemp Smoothie

• 4 tablespoons of Hemp Pro 70 (from www.manitobaharvest.com)
• 1 cup Sassafras root tea (you could totally use Hemp Bliss milk instead)
• 1 banana
• 2 chocolate ice cubes
• 2 water ice cubes
• Freshly ground flax seeds (a little less than a tablespoon)
• A drizzle of agave syrup

And that’s what I had for breakfast this morning. Ah, a green smoothie. I can’t tell you how happy my mouth–and my tummy–were as I chugged that gorgeous, bubbly, hemp-ish, thick smoothie down. YUM!!!

I did forget one thing, though: spinach! Yikes!!! Sheesh, guess I’ll have to make another one.

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  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’ll also be making a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

Navitas Naturals has outdone themselves with their new organic green stevia powder. I was honored when they sent an 8 ounce bag for me to try. For years I’ve tried different brands of stevia. I’ve bought green powders before and just wasn’t pleased at all. I’ve tried the liquid and the packets.

I always have a little heart tugging action going on when I use a stevia packet, because it is processed. The stevia leaf is green, so using white stevia powder makes me wonder sometimes if I really should be consuming it–although I still know in my heart it’s better than the other (unhealthy) options out there. Decisions, decisions.

Worried about how Navitas Naturals processes their stevia? Here’s what they say on their site:

Source and Processing

Navitas Naturals Stevia is made from the whole leaves of the stevia herb. Once the leaves are collected, they are dried and milled into a fine powder at low temperatures to protect the nutrients of the plant. Our Stevia is 100% organic, vegan, kosher, gluten-free and raw.

Anyway, I’ve really been using this Navitas Naturals organic green stevia powder a lot–and I LOVE it! Why? It’s sweet and delicious, but it doesn’t seem to have that aftertaste some stevia brands have. It may be my imagination, but I’m almost positive I actually FEEL better after I have some herbal tea sweetened with it!

When I started writing this post, I had only used it to sweeten my herbal tea. I don’t really sweeten my smoothies and I tend to put a little raw honey in my (steel-cut) oats, but I decided to try something new and so this morning I added some to my steel-cut oats. The result: YUM-O! Other ingredients included raw, unsweetened coconut, almonds, cinnamon, and hemp protein powder. My oats were already green and with the added organic green stevia powder, they were sweetened beautifully and made a delicious bowl of healthy goodness! I’ll definitely be adding Navitas Naturals organic green stevia powder to my steel-cut oats from now on!

Organic Green Stevia Powder

This 8 ounce bag is priced at $11.99 (USD) on the site. I totally believe (with all my heart!) that it’s a great investment. Keep in mind that you only use a SMALL amount to sweeten your drinks or foods, so it will last longer than you think. Besides, you wouldn’t think twice about dropping that amount of money on a couple of lattes, would you?

From the Navitas Naturals website:

“The Power of Stevia

Stevia’s leaves contain glycosides, which taste very sweet to the tongue, but contain no sugar, no calories, and no carbohydrates. Therefore, despite its sweetness, stevia does not have a GI (Glycemic Index) nor does it effect the body’s insulin levels. Stevia has also been shown to aid the pancreas and improve digestion. Excellent for those with diabetes, intolerances to sugar, seeking weight control, or simply avoiding cavities, the stevia herb can be an ideal natural sweetener.”

How can you use this sweet green powder?

• in smoothies
• in oats
• in place of other sweeteners in desserts
• in anything you’d sweeten

Thoughts

One thing you may not like about it is the fact that when you add it to your tea, it kind of floats around and isn’t very pretty to look at. This doesn’t bother me at all. I love its taste and I just stir as I drink. There are ways you can try to prevent this from happening. If you’re making a single serving of tea, add the stevia powder to your tea ball and then pour the water in your cup. Once it’s finished steeping, you can remove the tea ball (which has the loose tea leaves + green stevia powder inside) and then you’re left with just tea. You can drink it hot or cold. If you’re like me and you grab some pre-made herbal tea and then want to sweeten it, just overlook the green powder floating around and enjoy. It really is delicious!

Click here to buy your own organic green stevia powder!

Organic Green Stevia Powder

Stirred In

Upcoming Contests Sponsored by These Fabulous Companies

• 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
• Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
• 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.

Powdered vitamins are a wonderful way to add even more nutrients to your smoothies or juices. I know I’ve written a lot about smoothies as I am building this site. (Really, you’re getting the juices from the veggies and fruits once you blend them up.) But there will be tons of information and recipes for raw juices (juiced in the juicing machine) soon. They’re a huge part of my life. I’m also pulling my thoughts together for an ebook with smoothie and juice recipes, tips, and health benefits. Feel free to comment and give feedback as to what you’d like to see included in the ebook.

I simply adore using my creativity to throw together tasty smoothies. This morning I was in the mood for blueberries and I didn’t want this one to be really thick. If you like your smoothies to have the consistency of a milkshake, you’ll want to add less liquid. For this one, I added a whole cup of herbal tea. You’d probably only want to add 1/2 to 3/4 cup or so. Just add a little at a time, stopping for taste tests, until you get it just right for you. In fact, the cup of tea made this smoothie a little too “runny” for me, so I added about 2 tablespoons of raw, unsweetened coconut and blended it just a little more. That thickened it up right away!

Blueberry-Banana Smoothie Recipe:

• 1 cup blueberries, frozen
• 1 banana, ripe
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
• 2 tablespoons raw, unsweetened coconut
• 1 scoop All One powdered vitamin
• 1/2 to 1 cup herbal tea or almond milk for liquid
• Few ice cubes (I only used half of the ice shown in the photo)

This recipe is overflowing with health benefits! The ground flax seeds and raw, unsweetened coconut are loaded with fiber which help promote a healthy bowel. Having healthy bowel movements has been known to help prevent cancer and disease. Blueberries are small treasures bursting at the seams with antioxidants and they’ve been known to improve eyesight and fight cancer as well. You get tons of omegas from the ground flax seeds–a nutrient a lot of people are deficient in. Omegas help your hair, skin, and eyes. Have dry, itchy skin? Dry eyes? Unhealthy hair? Add the ground flax seeds to your smoothies! I try to get in as many as I can each day. That’s why I love incorporating the ground flax into my smoothies, steel cut oats, and any other ways I can think up.

It turned out to be a sweet beauty with just the right consistency I was going after and really filled me up. I love the “full feeling” I get from smoothies. It helps me not want to splurge on treats that are just empty calories and have no health benefits.

So, do you like your smoothies really thick or a sort of runny? Did you realize how many health benefits are in foods like raw, unsweetened coconut and ground flax seeds? Are you someone who has been living on donuts for breakfast but want to feel energized, healthy, and ready for the day–instead of bloated, groggy, constipated, and sleepy before you even start your day? Join in the comments!

And keep your eyes open. In the future I’ll be selling an ebook on this topic (at a fair price).

Here’s to life, health, and healing with (raw) juices!