Faster than takeout

One of the reasons I haven't posted as many current food pics lately is due to my lack of patience. When I get a pregnancy craving, I have to fill it asap.

For example, the other night Matthew and Jacob took a special daddy and son trip to the movies to see "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" on the big screen. This left Hayden and I at home alone (she's still in my tummy, of course) to think about what we might like for dinner.

I don't know what prompted it, but I just suddenly had to have some takeout. Unfortunately, I couldn't wait for it to arrive, much less take the time to order it. Besides, I knew I should opt for something healthier, especially since I would be sharing it with my unborn child.

So, to the refrigerator, I darted and dashed,
to see what I could put together right there in a flash.
Lucky me, I had broccoli slaw, some carrot and radish.
What a perfect base for a quick and simple dish?

As for the dressing, I used cashew butter, Bragg's Liquid Aminos, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, agave nectar, ginger, garlic, fresh ground pepper and cayenne (so much for the rhyming). I basically grabbed anything I could get my hands on.

The results were quite tasty with a sprinkling of sesame. Mission accomplished, as in these photos you can see :-)

Tropical breeze

Or in this case, tropical mac nut freeze. That's the cooling effect I've craved in these warming temps. Being pregnant, it feels at least 10 degrees warmer than usual.

Yesterday was no exception, so I quickly whipped up this yummy treat. It's just a blend of raw macadamia nuts and frozen tropical fruit (I used a combo of pineapple, mango, peach, cantaloupe and kiwi).

I was so eager to indulge in this chilly concoction that I nearly forgot to take this pic. After a couple of bites, I was able to hold back long enough to capture its creamy texture before it melted entirely.

It was a race to the finish, as I did my best to polish it off while it was still somewhat frozen. But don't worry about me; I still enjoyed every last satisfying bite :-)

Walk with me, talk with me

Like father, like son; Matthew and Jacob sure are a lot alike, especially since Matthew is still a big kid at heart. For his birthday, he got a set of Transformer walkie talkies, perfect for playing with Jacob.

I have to admit that even I have been entertained, watching and listening to the two of them sending crazy messages back in forth. And, when Matthew decides to take a break, he lets Hayden get in on the action by placing his walkie talkie on my tummy.

Hayden generally responds with some noticeable movements and kicks. I'm not quite sure if she is trying to communicate back or just doing her best to attempt knocking the darn thing off of her.

At first, Jacob was unaware as to who he was talking to, until Matthew's fake baby voice (he tries to pretend he is Hayden) gave it away. When he did figure it out, he went on and on about everything he knows and what he plans on teaching his little sister. He even taught her how to spell her name.

Something tells me Hayden is going to have a lot of fun hanging out with the boys (referring to her dad and big brother). I think they'll have a good time, too.

Happy Father's Day!

Scrunch & Munch

I'm not referring to the Crunch 'n Munch I used to eat from a box (I'm sure some of you tried the stuff as a child), although this could also be described with those words. I'm talking about the simple salad I love to make, while actually having fun in the process.

This is something I was inspired to do after eating countless salads out and about. I've always enjoyed going to places that allow you to personalize your bowl of goodness with a wealth of fresh ingredients from which to choose.

I love watching the person at the counter toss each tasty decision into a bowl, drizzle it with my choice of dressing (I tend to opt for oil and vinegar) and then scrunch it into a perfectly coated masterpiece. As a result, each bite is packed with flavor.

The best part is recreating the experience at home, since you get to do both the scrunching and the munching (hence the name). Essentially, you get to play with your food using your best culinary tools: your hands, of course.

You can use any ingredients you like, but my favorite combination (one I used to get at a particular salad location) includes mixed greens, carrots, cucumber, radishes, celery, tomato, avocado, peas and walnuts. For a quick dressing, I also add apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, EVOO, dijon mustard, agave, sea salt and pepper. Don't worry about combining them first, since it will all get mixed in during the scrunching.

Okay, now it's your turn. Go scrunch and munch :-)

*On a side note, I just wanted to wish my hubby a happy birthday.
I love you, Matthew!

I'm a proud mama

Before you jump to conclusions, I have not had my second baby yet. She is still tucked safely inside my growing belly.

Instead, I'm referring to my first baby (he'll always be my baby, no matter how old he gets), I gave birth to 6 1/2 years ago.

As I've mentioned before, I'm trying to make this summer special for my son, since it will be his last as an only child. To start, he is enrolled in golf camp this week, and being the proud mama I am, I thought I'd share a few shots of his swing.

First, he carefully places the ball. Then, he lines up his shot. Be careful not to blink. Oops, I missed the swing, but I did snap a pic of his follow through.

Good job Jacob. You're going to be a wonderful big brother :-)

Berry cuke

One of my favorite things to make with summer produce from my local farmers market is a simple cucumber and tomato salad. I've been looking forward to these since the end of the season last year.

Can you imagine my excitement when I found farm fresh cukes at the market Friday night? And, although there weren't any tomatoes for sale yet, I was able to pick up some yummy strawberries as a sweet substitute.

(Strawberries are an excellent source of folic acid, which is important for pregnant women and those who are planning a pregnancy. This may explain my strong cravings for them.)

Have you tried this delicious combination? In-season local cucumbers and strawberries tossed in just a splash or so of balsamic vinegar. When the ingredients are this fresh, you don't need anything else (although basil is a tasty addition).

Unfortunately, I won't be treating myself to this combo for long, as I was informed these would be the last of the strawberries at the market this year. I guess I just have to enjoy them while they last.

An almond in the raw

Raw Revolution Organic Live Food Bar that is. It's always such a treat to find a full chunk of a real live ingredient inside my pulverized (as opposed to highly processed) portable snack. On this occasion, I actually uncovered more than one. Yum!

They're like little diamonds in the roughage, something important to include in everyone's diet (especially when you're pregnant like me). I'm finding these bars to be very convenient lately, since I've been less likely to whip one of these up myself.

The best part is that I can find them at my local grocery store, so I don't have to travel far to get one (or more). I guess I no longer can use lack of time as an excuse not to add more raw to my diet.

Speaking of time, I've been using mine to get a few extra posts in before summer vacation. Jacob's last day of kindergarten is tomorrow, so don't expect me to make this a habit. However, I still plan on providing updates when I get the chance.

She is what I eat

Although I haven't been 100 percent raw during this pregnancy, I still have found it important to eat healthy. Whatever I decide to put in my body at this time has a profound effect on my unborn baby's health and future food choices.

For instance, I've heard that women who eat their fruits and veggies while pregnant are more likely to give birth to children who'll also have a taste for yummy produce. While the thought of eating these things turned my stomach in the first and second trimesters, I continued to consume my fair share for the sake of the baby.

I think it is important to eat all colors of the rainbow, so I've been making salads with a full spectrum of vegetables. Some of them are cooked, but I'm happy to report that most of them are raw.

Bright colors are enticing, especially on a green background. In an effort to boast my green consumption, I've been adding greens to my puddings and anywhere else I can sneak them in. The results look a little sludgy, but are easily perked up with a few fruity dots of color.

These puddings sometimes remind me of something I might feed my baby when she's ready for solid foods. I can tell she likes them, because she responds with happy movements (unlike when she tries to beat up my insides after I use too much wasabi on my veggie sushi rolls). I hope to make her baby food myself (something I hate to admit I did not have time to do when Jacob was a baby). Wish me luck :-)

Doughnut Detox

Okay, so now that National Doughnut Day is over, it's time to get back on track. It felt good to start the day with some yoga and a green smoothie breakfast.

Yes, you read that right; my first meal today was a green smoothie, and although I'm still pregnant, it really hit the spot. Yum!

In the first month or so of my pregnancy, I drank them every morning, as usual, wondering why they didn't taste good anymore. Could I have had my fill of blended green fuel?

Well, after an extended break from my standard breakfast, I am happy to report that I've fallen back in love with this a.m. treat. I'm going to really need these in the hot summer mornings to come.

With that in mind, I want to thank Stephanie, who commented on my last post about the green smoothie in the photo next to the raw donuts.

I have to admit that it was only an old pic from my former files (today's pic is also a file photo, but I figured once you've seen one green smoothie, you've seen them all. It also reminded me of the cartoons Jacob and I watch on Saturday mornings) and that I did not consume one with my donuts yesterday. I considered it a subtle hint that I should try one again today. Thanks Stephanie :-)

It's National Doughnut Day!

When I got on my MSN homepage this a.m., I was surprised to find out that today is National Doughnut Day. Now, that doesn't mean you have to run out to one of the many baked locations on their list to take part in the festivities. Instead, here are some blasts from this blog's past to get your celebration on raw style :-)

Holiday Hangover
(how Ani Phyo rawifies a donut hole) (12-26-07)

A "Splash" of Creativity
(the recipes) (2-3-08)

The Cider Donuts Rule (10-9-08)

Georgie Porgie, puddin', but no pie

I'm having a baby girl,
So there's no reason to cry,
I already have a boy with which to play,
hope his little sister won't scare him away.

(That was to be read to the tune of the "Georgie Porgie" nursery rhyme, as I've been feeling a tad bit "porgie" myself)

Okay, now I'm being cashew cheesy. Still on my raw pudding kick (if I took the time to make a shell, I guess I could've had a pie), I whipped up my modified version of Brendan Brazier's original Chocolate Recovery Pudding from his "Thrive" book. I just swap out the hemp oil for raw coconut butter and the tofu for avocado (as well as adding a little spice with some cinnamon and vanilla).

I guess you could call this my fertility pudding, since I ate quite a bit of it prior to conceiving my baby girl. I've heard that avocados make you fertile, and now I am living proof. Please eat this dish with caution, unless, like myself, you are planning for a little one in your future :-)