Lemonade for a hot day!

I do not know what the temperature is in your neck of the woods - but over here in North Cali. it is 104 degrees on my deck! So.... I thought I would share with you a great drink for those hot days as well as a great way to get rid of nasty toxins in your body (so drink these on the not so hot days as well!).

Juice one lemon (in Juicer)

A squeeze of raw honey

Water to taste.

Other things I like to throw in the juicer with the lemon (pick one or use any combination - heck...use them all for added benefit!):

a slim slice of ginger

a carton of raspberries

an entire cantalope (peeled)

slices of watermelon (peeled)

a carton of blueberries

Ceasar Wrap

1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped spinach
1 to 2 teaspoons (you decided) of Marie's Ceasar Dressing
a sprinkle of parmesian cheese.
Mix

Place on top of a heated tortilla shell
(optional)
sprinkle some grilled salmon on top
sprinkle some fresh salsa on top

Roll up and eat.

Not raw... but on the healthy side of cooked.

Green Smoothie

Here is a great addition to my day. I thank myself every time I make it!
1 bunch of Kale - wash, cut, and spin in a salad spinner. Have ready in the refrigerator at all times for a healthy drink!!
In a Vita-mix:One big handful of chopped Kale (the flowery nature of this plant - one big handful should take up about 3/4 of your blender) One handful of chopped spinach (lays on top of the Kale like it is barely there) One ripe banana,

1 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup apple juice (or my favorite; in a separate container I mix up a frozen Dole juice (Orange, peach, mango) and use 1/2 cup of this juice instead - it really cuts the green taste - great for beginners) BLEND until you no longer see dark green flakes. ADD WATER AS NEEDED if you want it to be thin and watery.
If you have a smaller blender - just place the Kale and spinach in first with 1/2 cup water and blend. Blend again (about two 8 oz glasses) Just note - the reason I use Apple or Dole juice is because…getting healthy doesn’t mean we should completely deprive ourselves of good taste. After being on the SAD (standard American Diet) for so long 'good taste' has been altered. We need to slowly alter our taste buds to enjoy the vegetables that no longer taste good to us. This process (of altering taste buds) usually takes about 3 weeks of eating/drinking the food we would prefer to like (such as veggies and vegetable drinks). By using juices when we first start out on this healthy journey, we increase our chances of making this smoothie again tomorrow and again the next day. Let us plan to succeed. Making changes that will promote more good changes tomorrow. Also, a good note: I rinse my blender immediately with hot water. I place my blender in the dishwasher ever now and then, but all it really needs is a good rinse in hot water so it will be clean and ready to use again later. If I do not rinse immediately - then my blender sits next to the sink dirty or in the dishwasher waiting for the next load. What a waste - when I might want another smoothie later in the day. Making things easy for myself has increased my chances of doing it again!

If you need more nutrition information on kale - try this link: http://health.learninginfo.org/nutrition-facts/kale.htm

Crumble Recipe

This is my favorite recipe for starting people out on healthy raw foods.
Crumble
*all raw nuts and seeds do not needed to be soaked and/or sprouted…however, if they are - it turns out great and the recipe will be LOADED with great enzymes!!
Place in food processor¾ cup raw* almonds½ cup oat meal¼ cup raw* cashews¼ cup dried blueberries1/8 cup raw* sunflower seeds¼ cup fresh ground flax seeds (either color)¼ cup pumpkin seeds½ cup all natural grated coconut8 to 10 Medjool Dates (pitted)8 to 10 Apricots ( buy the apricots that are brown– orange ones have added sulfur dioxide NOT GOOD >grin<) Mix ingredients until crumbly in appearance.Place in a Ziploc bag in refrigerator until hungry.Can add any ingredients to this…and it turns out fine. I have made without the blueberries, coconut, pumpkin seed, and sunflower seeds…and it was still good.Main ingredients are :almonds, cashews, dates, and apricots.

Breakfast
Place in a bowl:¼ cup uncooked Quaker oats (or special ordered raw oats)1 sliced ripe banana2 to 4 Tbsp Crumble on top.Add: ½ to 1 cup soymilk

Strawberry Cobbler Crumble
4 or 5 fresh or thawed strawberries – slice and mash in bowlAdd 3 or 4 teaspoons of Crumble on top.

Peanut Butter Balls
Place 6 to 8 teaspoons of Crumble in a bowlAdd a heaping teaspoon of all natural peanut butter.Mix and squish together with a spoon until it all starts to stick together.May add a bit more peanut butter to get it to stick – but don’t add too much.Just enough so you can form balls.May coat balls with crushed cereal of your choice or ground oatmeal.
Yogurt CrumblePlace a serving of any kind of yogurt in a bowlSprinkle Crumble on top.

Applesauce Crumble
Place a serving of applesauce in a bowlSprinkle Crumble on top.