Five years and counting

For once, I'm not referring to my 5-year-old at home. This time, I'm blogging about the NaturalZing potluck I went to in Mount Airy last night. The popular raw food source (don't forget to vote for them in the Veggie Awards in the category of online vegan store) was celebrating its 5-year anniversary, as well as its final event of the summer.

I'm so happy I was able to make it, especially since I wasn't sure if I'd feel like going right after my vacation (I was actually scheduled to leave the beach yesterday, but we decided to beat the traffic a day earlier). Lucky me, I made it to the Friday night farmers market to pick up some farm fresh peaches as my contribution to the feast. They may not be as exciting as some of the other dishes, but they made for a nice palate cleanser in between samplings.

Just check out this spread:
I see coleslaw, a spicy okra dish Jeff (owner of NaturalZing, as well as an amazing raw chef) made that was delish, marinated cucumbers, romaine scoops of pate, fresh raw corn on the cob, Jeff's famous sauerkraut, a variety of veggies and olives, and some lovely garden greens to help lighten up our plates.

There also was an avocado mayo-based coleslaw, as well as a simple but wonderful cucumber/avocado/cilantro salad, a hot (in taste, not temp) curry dish, and who could forget Blaq Berry's yummy apple cinnamon cereal crisps with almond milk? Not me, for sure. Someone needs to help her package and sell this one.

Hey, something is missing in this pic. What happened to the gazpacho? It was so good that we must have eaten, or perhaps drank it all. Everyone was carrying around a compostable cup of this fiery soup/drink.

Speaking of drinking, we also washed down some of this fare with either some raw chocolate "milk," or one of these tasty beverages.

I don't know how we all found room for dessert. As an appetizer, there were whole cacao bean brownies, marked "adult only" (I'm still not quite sure what that meant) and various truffles. There were even some raw candy bar bites (I hope Jeff put away a couple for his wife Helen, who is expecting their second child; congrats you two).

On the lighter side, guests nibbled on ripe strawberries, juicy blackberries, fresh watermelon wedges and my local peaches. But, then there was pie, starting with a almost cobbler style peach one containing a secret ingredient. We had a lot of fun trying to guess what nearly destroyed the whole thing. Thank goodness it turned out rather tasty.

My buddy Rawbin proudly showed off her dragon fruit cream pie, before we all devoured it. The brightly colored concoction she created herself, surprisingly survived the lengthy trip in an unairconditioned (I think I just made up that word myself) vehicle. Don't worry; she did have it in a cooler, which probably explains the little dent in one side. Its flavor held its own against Jeff's peach and chocolate pie offerings.

Here he is cutting into the peach one. Something tells me this fuzzy fruit is in season.

Jeff is a rawsome pie maker. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on one of the older NaturalZing catalogs, you can recreate one of his masterpieces in your raw kitchen.

Being the sly guy that he is (we all find him very entertaining), he cleverly disguised one of the company's past brochures as an uncookbook. One side gave away a few of his pie recipes, but if you flipped it over, there was the catalog. By displaying both sides at last year's Green Festival, many were tricked into picking up twice as many handouts (one to pass along to a friend). I think I may have fell for it, too. I'm so embarrassed.

In the future, he hopes to put together some mini uncookbooks to sell on his site. At the March event, we had discussed teaming up to make this happen. We'll see how it goes.

As scrumptious as his peach pie is, his chocolate one really takes the cake (oops, I meant to take a picture of this girl's shirt that said "90% raw, 10% cake." Ha ha; gotta love it). I missed getting a pic of the whole thing, but maybe you can find it on my dessert plate.

If not, don't fret. Even better was this coconut-based chocolate mint n'ice cream (my term for raw nondairy "ice cream"). Yummy!

After all that eating, we had to go outside for some fresh air and fun. We joked around with some crazy shots (Nic took this one herself; she's the one slightly cut off at the bottom). Blaq Berry and Rawbin were also nice enough to let me help recreate this Raw Fu pose (How did I get my fingers to bend back like that?).

"Patience young grasshopper." Hey, we actually found one in the garden. I'd show you more of the scenery, but Rawbin beat me to it in one of her past posts about NaturalZing and Spirit Bliss Farm. Check it out.

We were like little kids, running around on the farm. Nic taught us some kind of workout routine, while Blaq Berry and I toned our arms, legs and abs on the swing set (it's amazing how this childhood activity hits so many muscles on your body; I need to do this more often).

Later in the evening, Jeff scared us half to death by leading a walk through the darkness to the edge of the property, where Nic had heard an usual animal call. Could it have been a fox? I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out. To add to the spookiness, we found ourselves dodging some swooping bats (okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a little, but they were flying above our heads).

As a sweet treat after our trek, Jeff showed us the raspberries growing in the yard. I got the honors of sampling one that was ripe and ready for picking.

Then, we moved onto the blackberries. It was so dark that we needed to use our cameras for light. Some of us took random shots to help locate the berries. Look! I think Nic found one :-)

At the end of the night, we went inside to retrieve our dishes and fill them with products to take home. Jeff gave me some Artisana Raw Coconut Butter (a favorite of mine; he was out of it the last time I tried to order) and a new flavor of Lydia's Organics raw cereal (I hope to review it on this site or We Like It Raw soon). We were also given the opportunity to purchase some products, like these olives, chia seeds and some bars.

To make sure we had the energy to get home, we also got to sample some Live Liquid Marine Phytoplankton. Try it for yourself and see how long you can keep it under your tongue. I double dare you :-)

Farm fresh wherever I go

I haven't posted in a week. Why so long? Well, I've been on vacation.

When you're a raw foodie, the thought of traveling away from home can sometimes be stressful, but it doesn't have to be that way. Vacations are meant for relaxing, so try taking that approach to your diet while you're gone.

In the past, I've spent a lot of time making raw crackers, cookies, granola, etc. in preparation for the trip (which I also have to pack up for transport and make sure I consume them during my stay away from home). I've also planned menus in advance that are difficult to stick to, especially when spontaneity takes control (you never know what food you'll find when you get there or where you'll be when hunger strikes).

This year I decided to change things up a bit by packing light. Knowing that I'd have to share kitchen space with the extended fam (my parents, sister, her friends, grandfather, my hubby and son, etc.; my other sister and her group had their own kitchen), the first thing I packed was some green powder (I was never going to have room for all those greens I usually consume, and I'd have to wait until everyone was awake before using the blender), along with a fistful of various raw bars (Larabars, Raw Revolution, Organic Food Bars, etc.). I also brought some goji berries, raw nuts and some pre-made seasoning packets (I mix together my own combinations in little snack-size bags, so I don't have to bring the whole spice cabinet).

Otherwise, I like to rely on whatever comes my way, whether it be from the nearby grocery store, restaurant or preferably from a roadside stand/farmers market. Can you believe the majority of my meals on vacation this year involved local produce?

First of all, I hit up the farmers market by my house the night prior to departure in search of a last supper and some snacks for the road. Then, on the way to our destination, I stopped at Pop Pop's Peaches for more fresh fruits and veggies for the trip. In addition to the peaches (like I would've passed those up), I also purchased some cantaloupe (for breakfast the next morning), cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, strawberries, blueberries (aren't they beautiful?) and more.

To keep the local eats coming all week, I also learned about a farmers market at the beach. To my surprise, it was open Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, so of course, I went twice. I found out about it on the Internet, so I highly recommend searching out the markets in the area you'll be traveling to next.

I returned home yesterday, just in time to hit up the market by my house again. I actually found some Southern Maryland grown figs (my personal fav), as well as some more items to restock the fridge. I plan on going to the NaturalZing potluck tonight. I think these peaches (pictured at the top with the figs) will be a nice contribution to the spread.

*Since posting this entry, I've linked it to the Farmer's Market Report, where others have shared their farmers market experiences. Check it out :-)

Making my raw voice heard

Happy 8-8-08 everyone! How did I start my day? Well, I voted for my favorite VegNews annual Veggie Awards nominees (as well as adding some raw write-in votes). I encourage the rest of you raw foodies to do the same.

Some of the raw nominees included Java Green in the favorite restaurant category (it has some new raw items on its menu), Eat in the Raw Parma in the faux cheese category, Ani Phyo for favorite cookbook (although I typed in Kristen Suzanne - Good luck girlie girl; I have my fingers crossed for you) and We Like It Raw for favorite veg blog.

Off the top of my head, I also recall casting a few typed-in votes, such as Gnosis Chocolate in non other than the vegan chocolate bar category, Kookie Karma for favorite vegan cookie, Give It To Me Raw as a favorite veg forum, NaturalZing as a favorite online vegan store, and Pure Food and Wine's raw ice cream in the nondairy ice cream category, of course (haven't actually had it myself, but I've replicated it with my trusty Raw Food Real World book).

Let's see how many raw winners we can have a hand in selecting. Get out there and vote :-)

Cleaning out the fridge ...

... and the freezer, too. Not being one to let anything go to waste, I occasionally find myself creating menus out of what happens to be left in my raw kitchen. As you can see, today was one of those days.

My son, who is usually on an apple kick, has slowed down a bit since I purchased a large bag of the crisp delights (not local like the majority of my produce, but who's perfect).

Lucky for me, I found this recipe, which I "rawified" for lunch today. I'd give you a link, but unfortunately, this issue is not posted online yet. This probably explains the fall theme.

Okay, so it's not fall yet, but it seems to be closer than ever. Jacob starts school in a little more than a week, and Vegetarian Times has already sent out its September 2008 issue to its subscribers. Although it is a predominately cooked magazine, I still have fun making raw versions of the dishes inside. I do the same thing with my copy of VegNews (congrats Kristen on your winning recipes!).

Now back to today's gem, I rawified Cafe Flora's Candy-Apple Coupes, which was featured in the Vegetarian Times September issue. It's simply a vegan apple ice cream with a tofu base, topped with a macadamia praline crumble and surrounded by a candy apple sauce. Now that will make up for the sundae I didn't get Tuesday.

To make my raw version in a hurry (as always, it was a last-minute decision/craving), I mixed together some leftover chopped raw macadamia nuts (nice and crumbling from the bottom of the bag), with some sea salt and grade B maple syrup (if I had planned in advance, I would've dehydrated this topping a bit to make it more like the cooked version or purchased these), and set them aside while I made the n'ice cream.

The main reason I make so many banana-based versions is because my freezer is always stocked full of frozen bananas. Most of the time, we are like monkeys in this household. I never know how many to buy to keep up with the three banana-eaters (myself included), so I always end up buying too much (I gotta supply the demand). The really ripe ones end up in the freezer.

I replaced the tofu with banana (duh, but you can also use coconut or another favorite base), the peanut butter with raw almond butter, the turbinado sugar with a small drizzle of agave, the applesauce with peeled and chopped apple chunks, and I eliminated the soymilk altogether. I kept the cinnamon and vanilla bean seeds the same. Delicious!

After whipping the ingredients into n'ice cream (using my handy mini food processor), I scooped it out into a ramekin, which I had lined with my macadamia/maple mixture. Then, I placed it into the freezer to firm, while I made the candied apple sauce (diced apple, lemon juice, maple syrup, agave, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt).

An hour and a half later, I removed the frozen treat from the freezer, popped it out onto a plate and circled it in sauce, which I also drizzled over the top. As it began to melt, I quickly grabbed my camera to take a pic.

It was yummy, like this simple treat Rawbin gave me the other day. Don't be fooled by the blueberries in the background; this tart is actually filled with a dragon fruit filling. Yum!

Speaking of Rawbin, I didn't get a chance to tell you about the end of our excursion. It was getting late at Java Green, and we still needed to take Dea shopping at Whole Foods as promised (that was okay with me; I love checking out other WF locations).

So, we said our goodbyes to Nic and D.J., and set out on our way. Of course, we kept losing each other in the store, as each one of us was either hunting down an item from Dea's list or just taking a moment to explore the store.

For instance, I found a display of raw food items, and while perusing the salad bar, discovered some raw kale salad. I could really go for some of that right now. I guess it will have to wait until I restock my fridge.

But, back to the story, we did find each other in the end. We almost made it through the checkout without Dea's kombucha exploding, but hey, it added to the excitement of the day.

Then, we rolled everything into the elevator (where I snapped a blurry photo of the store's local support; Rawbin got a much clearer pic in her photo bucket), dodged the other vehicles in the parking garage, packed up the car and drove to where Dea was staying. We helped her bring up the groceries and hugged her goodbye (I feel like I've known her forever).

Now, for the answer to the dinner question, I was 45 minutes late, but better late than never. It was worth having the opportunity to meet a new friend :-)

The business luncheon crashers

I have to confess on behave of my two accomplices. Dea (dealivinglotus), Rawbin and yours truly crashed a raw business deal yesterday and enjoyed every last delicious moment of it. Being bad never tasted so good :-)

We didn't actually plan on imposing; the opportunity just sort of fell into our laps (or in this case, onto our table, into our hot little hands, through our lips, over our gums ... look out tummy, here it comes).

Okay, now I really need to explain. Let's back up a bit. Rawbin and I met up with Dea (who is visiting from Italy) at Java Green yesterday for lunch. We were excited to check out some of D.J.'s raw additions to his menu.

Dea did a little sampling with the raw salad trio and raw bread sticks. If I remember correctly, she selected the kale salad (which was really quite attractive for a kale salad), a cucumber radish combination and a cold kimchi soup. She washed it all down with a spicy green juice and fresh coconut water (the coconut was cracked open right before serving; you can't get much fresher than that).

Rawbin also quenched her thirst with a spicy green juice and young thai coconut, which contained a hefty serving of coconut meat (she shared some of it with me. Yum!). As for her order, she had kimchi, marinated mushrooms, some kind of seaweed salad and sliced avocado.

I had hoped to get either a raw sundae or milkshake (I had the green tea one in mind). Oh, who am I kidding? I would've ordered the sundae as a meal and the shake as my beverage.

Unfortunately, there was no raw ice cream that day (bummer), so I opted for a spinach and flax salad, and a raw virgin pina colada instead. Some higher power must have known what was about to happen next (I needed to save some room).

Nic from NaturalZing joined our lunch date with her spicy green juice (feeling a little left out, I thought to myself, "hey, why didn't I order that?"). I was impressed with how content she was with her juice, not yet craving a solid meal this early in the day (it was around 12:30 or quite possibly 1 p.m. by that time). I, on the other hand, was ready to dig in.

After the lunch rush, D.J. also pulled up a chair to visit, as well as discuss some things with Nic. Here's where the business luncheon came to us. I guess we weren't being so naughty after all (but it's much more fun when you pretend you're in the wrong).

As part of Java Green's new raw side of things, D.J. was meeting with Nic to purchase some convenient raw snacks to sell at the cafe and ingredients for making the raw dishes on the menu. He already had some items from the Raw Makery (he was nice enough to let us try a couple cookies on the house), but was looking to expand his offerings.

The best part about this meeting was the taste-testing. Nic brought a nice selection of products for D.J. to sample as part of the decision making process. And, since he wasn't about to polish off all that merchandise himself, he shared the love, passing the now open packages around the table to anyone willing to take a bite (or two, or three).

We were like an instant focus group, all lending our opinions and wanting to be heard. Some favorite items included the Gone Nuts maple walnuts and the Wild Bars, of which I was already a fan (thanks Jeff from NaturalZing for introducing these high-quality on-the-go snacks to me). Don't be surprised if you find them soon at Java Green.

Speaking of Java Green, we also threw out some ideas for new raw menu items, while D.J. discussed the possibility of opening an entirely raw location in the future. I've got my fingers crossed for that one.

What better way to celebrate than with this Gnosis Chocolate bar, also sold at Java Green. Vanessa, the creator of this treat, really did a good job with this one. Although it started to melt in the warm weather, we managed to savor its supercharged flavors, having an excuse to finish off the whole thing (like it was going to make it home okay in the summer heat).

Yikes, I'm starting to lose track of the length of this post, just as I did with the time yesterday. Who would've thought we'd stay at Java Green for three hours? And, we still needed to run to Whole Foods before calling it a day. Did I make it to our usual Tuesday dinner at Matthew's mom and dad's house? Stay tuned to find out :-)

Crash and burn

Not long after completing my last post, I made a major error that almost made it my final entry.

You see, I'm not as knowledgeable about computers as my hubby (well duh, he does that stuff for a living). So, while surfing the Web, I accidentally picked up a virus, and to top it all off, I made it worse by trying to fix the situation by myself (he was not home at the time).

I quickly found that I was no match for this bug, so I called my man for some help. He talked me through the first couple steps, but left the rest for when he got home.

Unfortunately, by this time, the wormy parasite had dug its way through most of our files and embedded itself deep within the system. We were in danger of losing everything, including photo/video memories (like the ones you see on this blog).

Matthew did his best to back up as much as he could onto an external hard drive, before it was lost for good (I've been telling him we should have done that a long time ago). Then, he wiped out that pest, along with everything in its path, and started out from scratch.

After the havoc I caused, I'm surprised I'm allowed back on the computer again. I'll just have to be more careful in the future.

For your photo viewing pleasure, I posted a few salvaged pics. They're all salads, despite the fact that they are all missing one ingredient.

Now, most people think a salad by definition has to have lettuce, but none of these use the familiar leafy greens as a base. They were all made during my eat local week, when I was having trouble finding greens at the local farmers market and roadside stands (okay, so I cheated a bit to keep my green smoothies).

First up, is the fresh parsley-based Mediterranean Tabouli from Matt Amsden's Rawvolution. I added some cucumber and mint to the original recipe of parsley (of course), cherry tomatoes, onion, hemp seeds (you can sub sesame seeds or ground cauliflower), lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and sea salt.

Next is a simple salad, using sprouts in place of the traditional lettuce. It also has carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and corn.

Lastly, one of my favorite dishes for highlighting local produce is a mix of chopped zucchini, yellow squash, green pepper, heirloom tomatoes, corn kernels, fresh basil, garlic, oregano, balsamic vinegar, EVOO, sea salt and pepper. It's so easy and delicious, too.

As always, enjoy!