Feelin Great Lookin Great

So the cleanse is going great. I have only 6 days left after today, and am kind of sad.....I mean I miss the cooked food, but not to the point that I am really going to change my diet once I finish. One of the best parts of this cleanse is that it a way of re-teaching yourself good eating habits. I mean splurging every once an d a while is not a bad thing....but watching your daily intake amounts, and even more so, what you take in is critical. So here is another salad that I made, that is simple easy and yummy. I used mixed greens, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. I made a balsamic and raspberry vinegar dressing that i added a little salt pepper, and coriander to. It was amazing, the crunch of the rd onion, and the juiciness of the tomatoes really popped in the mouth.

I still have a couple other salads that I made that I need to upload later, all took me less then 15 minutes to make, and were filling and delicious....

Very Special Dinner

Well Friday Night we went out for a very special dinner at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley. It was amazing. The family style dining was a lot of fun, and actually great with a child there. There were plenty if coloring books for Aiden to color in, and a laid back atmosphere that made it easy to relax in. Now the food was amazing. The offer the option of 100% raw vegan as well as other Vegan options. They are very flexible with ingredients that was not pre-made, and use flavors that are out of this world. The first item was an appetizer plate, which unfortunately we devoured before I could even take a picture. Then there were the entrees....

This is there Deep Dish Pizza, that is made on a dehydrated herb dough, with a macadamia nut cheese sauce and marinara sauce and pesto. It was amazing. I know I keep using that word, but I guess after the labor intensive week of preparing these dishes myself it was a nice break to have them made for me while I just sat and enjoyed.

The two dishes above are the Enchilada plate, one is totally raw and vegan (that is the one I had) and the other is vegan but not totally raw (our table mates ordered that and were kind enough to allow me to take pictures). I can not even begin to explain how good these were. It was like biting into a real Enchilada, and sauce was amazing (there goes that darn word again).

And Finally......Deseart....Wow, ok, now I could not believe that all the items below were 100% raw and vegan. They were (here we go again with this word) AMAZING!!! Aiden ate a chocolate Mouse and a piece of the shortcake. I was really amazed at these creations, and now that know they do take out!!! I might be visiting there a couple more times mod week for a break from the kitchen!!!

Well that is all for now....I am ready to star counting down the days to cooked food again, but a least, this has been a great little detour on this cleanse that wont soon forget!!

The Raw Chef Blog » Maca Ice-Cream & Cacao Crackle Sandwiches

Thought I might start posting interesting recipes that I find for raw creations. The Raw Chef Blog has some of the most amazing ideas, but for most you need a dehydrator....but for those that like sweat stuff and think they will have to miss it, your wrong!!

The Raw Chef Blog » Maca Ice-Cream & Cacao Crackle Sandwiches

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Last Nights Dinner

So I went for it and made a raw Fettuccine Alfredo last night. It was actually very good, as long as you did not expect it to actually taste like Fettuccine Alfredo, lol. But it was very filling, and the taste was great, just hard to describe. The recipe said to use 3 cloves of garlic, that was a mistake, so I am adjusting the recipe a little before I post it so that you can actually taste the sun dried tomatoes, and the nuts without them being overpowered by the garlic:

Fettuccini noodles:
3 Zucchinis

Peel skin with vegetable peeler. Discard green skin or use for another recipe.
Use vegetable peeler to make long, flat Fettuccini-type noodles, until you reach center part with seeds. Discard or use for another recipe.

Alfredo Sauce:
1 1/2 cup macadamia nuts (soaked overnight)
1/8 c walnuts (soaked overnight)
1/4 cup cold pressed, first pressed olive oil
2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1-2 very small cloves garlic
2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
water for sauce consistency

Pour sauce over bowl of fettuccini, add dried parsley and serve immediately.

Like a Kid at Christmas!!!

So one of the best things during a cleanse is to order yummy raw treats from any of the links I have posted on the links at the right of the page. Well my treats came yesterday, and it was like a holiday!!! I don't go for the sweat things, but when ever I cleanse I have a need for salty carbs (even though I don't even usually eat carbs), so I order an array of snacks that will satisfy this craving and still keep me on the raw diet. I took some pictures of the items for you to see

Onion Rings & Vegetable Tempura

Sour Cream and Onion Chips & Onion Crisps & Zucchini Tempura



Cilantro Lime Pistachios & Rosemary Garlic Mixed Nuts &
Pitted Spiced Raw Olives

You can also get all kinds of cookies, chocolate, and other sweat treats if you are a big fan of sweet stuff. I ordered this stuff from Raw Guru. I am told that Live-Live has the best raw chocolate ever....but have not tasted it myself, but then I am not a big fan of chocolate on the regular anyway......

Well that's all for now!!

1/3 of the Way Through!!!

Yesterday made day 7 for me and wow, time is really moving!! I am actually having a much easier time this go around then I ever have. The next 2 weeks will breeze by as the pounds drop. I have made a goal for myself to loose another 9 pounds over the next 2 weeks (lost 5 so far)....which is not an unreasonable goal. I realized that I need to cut back on how much I intake, and have seen a big difference in the past 2 days since i made that shift.

Last night I did a repeat of the Papaya salad from last week, but added pumpkin seeds and used a different type of papaya, that was a much deeper orange in color, and had much more melon like flavor. I added an avocado, cause I cant do with out them during a cleanse!! The dressing I made out of balsamic vinegar, 2 limes, a little fresh orange juice, Celtic sea salt, cumin cardamom and pepper. I also cut up the usual blend of peppers and corn to give it a kick, and some crunch. It was filling and great!!

Tonight I am gonna go really raw, and prepare a raw Fettuccine Alfredo. The sauce is made from soaked raw macadamia nuts, and pine nuts that have been soaking since I got home from work last night. The Spaghetti will be made from thinly slices peeled zucchini, which i will do in the Cuisinart to save time and headache. I will be back tonight to post pics!!!

Day Six and Counting

So today went very smoothly, no headache, and I actually was not very hungry at all. I had 2 peaches for breakfast, and a bowl of clear miso and a handful of carrots for lunch. The there was dinner. Wow, I really hit it out the park tonight. I chopped up red and green cabbage, raw corn, a handful of cilantro, 2 yellow chili peppers, a handful of sliced pickled ginger, sesame seed, and green onion. I sprinkled rice topping, which is a mixture of dried veggies and sesame seed over the top for crunch, and used a miso dressing.

I also made some lightly steamed (3-4 minutes only) Broccoli on the side. That is what I prefer about the weight release cleanse as opposed to the full bod detox, as the full body detox in 100% raw, and with the weight release you can do lightly steamed veggies, and miso soup....which makes all the difference. I was thinking that I may do a full body detox in September, when a few of my other friends are planning on cleansing for the first time, but for that I need my dehydrator.....wait till you see the stuff I can make it that!!!

Well thats all for today....

Day Five Dinner Was Da Bomb!!!

Ok, I as tired as I was tonight, I decided I have to make those wraps I have been thinking about since i started this cleanse, so here is my creation:

It is actually very simple. Take 3 small cucumbers, 2 carrots, cut them into thin slices and soak them for about 30 minutes in a mixture of Nami Soy, and rice vinegar. Take 2 avocados and 2 white radishes and slice them thinly. Take a handful of cilantro and 2-3 green onions (depending how big they are, slice them into 2 or three long stalks). You can also add some pickled ginger, if you like the taste (i love it!!!). Once the veggies have soaked, place a quarter of the mixture in the center of a seaweed wrap, pile on half an avocado, one green onion stalk slice, the cilantro, white radish, and a couple pieces of pickled ginger, and wrap it tightly. Use some of the Nami Soy to wet the edge of the seaweed so it will stick. I like wasabi to dip in, cause i like the kick. Slicing them in half is easiest and them enjoy!!

Well that all for today, tomorrow I will do another weigh in, and I expect to be down at least a total of 4-5 pounds since I started. Day six is looking good!!!

Lunch at Work

I know many of you are probably wondering how to deal with being at work and sticking to the raw food thing. With the weight release cleanse, you are allowed lightly steamed veggies as well as Miso soup. This helps out a lot at lunch for me, cause i can use those instant Miso soup packets to help round out my veggie plate. Like i mentioned this morning, I also make sure to have some all veggie "dips", which for today I have a eggplant and red pepper, cilantro lemon garlic, and raw probiotic humus, which I found at Berkeley Bowl, with a nice assortment of baby carrots and tomatoes. You can also make a raw pesto, which I will have later this week, which is great with veggies. If you really miss the carbs, you can get raw chips either from Whole Foods, or online. Well that's all for now, just wanted to give those of you that thought this is too hard to coordinate around a 9-5 a little hope!!!

Day 5 Begins

After a good nights sleep, and lots of water I am feeling much better. I think I may have been dehydrated yesterday, as I spent it sitting in the sun by the pool reading Twilight....and yes, I got sucked in, lol. Just wanted to check in for now and let everyone know I am back to feeling good. I also wanted to talk a little bit about what I do for lunch and snacks since I am at the office. It is actually not as hard as it seems. I bring at least 2 fruits with me for my breakfast, one I eat when I get here and one a couple hours later. I also drink a Raw Organic Kombucha, which I buy at the Berkeley Bowl, I like the ginerade flavor, but it comes in a bunch, so check it out and see which you like.

Since I am allowed Miso soup for lunch (and dinner.....if I get lazy), I buy the instant packets, and make that with some hot water here at work. I also bring a bag of cherry tomatoes, and baby carrots to munch on. I also bring some raw dips, such as cilantro, lemon ginger dip, and an eggplant dip, and maybe a cilantro pesto...that way i can still munch and keep on track.

I did order some snacks from Raw GURU which has great stuff, especially to get rid of those munchy cravings that will kick your a**s as the cleanse goes on. Well that's all for now, I will be back tonight to share my seaweed wraps!!! YUMMY!!!

Day Four and the Headache Returns

Today the headache is back, and is actually worse then before. I am so bothered by it that i have eaten very little today. I will let you know that I got on the scale this morning, and have dropped a pound a day!! So I am right on schedule, just have to focus on my goal, and relax, and get through this dam headache. Nothing great on the menu today, just a lot of fruit and a lot of water, which might be why my head hurts so badly, but hopefully a good nights sleep will take care of it.

Feeling Good.....Day Three and Counting

So Day two was rather uneventful, but I was just too tired last night to get online and write. The headache is now gone, and I am actually feeling a rise in my energy level already. That is one of the things that I have found to be me most satisfying when cleansing, is you have soooo much energy. No caffeine and lots of energy!!! yeah, I am not kidding....its as if the purification of your system is giving you an internal tune up....its great. On to the food. So for lunch today I made an amazing version of guacamole, unfortunately, you cant have chips....unless you buy the raw dehydrated ones (they sell them online and at whole foods, I will post the link to the online ones on the links at the bottom of the page). The only downfall right now is that with my body getting rid of excess toxins...I am breaking out, which I hate, but the good thing is that once this passes, my skin will be so clear and glowing it will be amazing!! So on to the food!!!

So the Guacamole is simple:
2 large avocados
1 green onion
1 ear of fresh corn
handful fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno
1 lime
1-2 tbl. spoons white Miso
Celtic sea salt, pepper and cumin to taste

chop up all ingredients, use a knife to remove the corn kernels, and mix it all together in a big bowl...it is really amazing.

Not sure if I am going to make a big production this evening for dinner, but if I do....I will be back. Other wise, so long till tomorrow.....I a planning in making raw sushi wraps!!!!

Just a Note

I just wanted to point out that I am listing Links at the bottom of the page, one of them is for the cleanse product that we are using. There are several types to choose from on the site. I am doing the weight release cleanse this time, I have also done the Full Body Detox, they are a little different so read the info on both if you choose to use the same products. Here is the link as well:

Full Body Detox

Weight Release

Dinner Day One

Okay, so as day one comes to a close, I am actually feeling pretty good. Dinner was amazing. I made what I call a papaya and pepper salad, which is simply a ripe papaya (you can use mango, but I am allergic), three different peppers, I used pablano, mild green chili and a yellow mildly spicy pepper, fresh raw corn (it is surprisingly good), and 2 big avocados. I put it over a bed of mixed red and dark green lettuce leaves, and finished it off with a lime and fresh orange juice dressing with lots of cumin, pepper, a dash of Celtic sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil. It was amazing!!

Hopefully tomorrow will be easier as far as the headache goes....but I am actually looking forward to it already!!

Day One

This is usually one of the hardest and longest days of cleansing, as you are getting used to a huge shift from your every day favorites, to what you will be focusing on for the next 21 days. I always seem to need at least a week before to get myself mentally ready to begin my cleanse....and then of course there is that last week where you get to eat whatever you want. I spent that time stocking my pantry with the essential raw items that i need to make what I like best, as well finding interesting recipes that would last me through most of the first week. And most important, was my finale meal.....one that I assure you should not be posted on this page, but man.....it was good!!! I will post again later tonight with photos of my Day One creation, so stay tuned.

Oh and yes, the headache has kicked in.....big time!!!