Yesterday evening I wanted some raw vegan curry in a hurry, so I made the Vegetable Korma Masala from "Practically Raw" by Amber Shea of the Almost Vegan Chef blog (right now her last name is "Ford," but she'll be a "Crawley" very soon; congrats on her upcoming nuptials). I mentioned getting her book in a recent post, where I reminded myself to take a picture of the next recipe I made from it (as you can see, I remembered to grab my camera this time).
I love the title and the concept, and if you read how Amber came up with it, you'll understand why. Here's the quote from her book:
"As a linguist, I love the double entendre of of 'practically,' and both definitions fit my philosophy perfectly. First, 'practically raw' means 'almost raw,' representing my belief in substituting non-raw ingredients or using non-raw cooking techniques when desired or warranted. It means 'raw' does not have to be an all-or-nothing affair," she says.
She goes on to mention that being practical also allows for some flexibility. You don't have to follow these recipes exactly, and she even offers idea for substitutions, as well as cooked options.
The best part is that many of these recipes can be made quickly, and if the original raw version takes longer than you have time, she gives you ideas on how to speed up the process, which could mean substituting a pre-made ingredient or cooking instead of dehydrating it.
Luckily, I had a couple hours before dinner to make the raw version of this curry dish, although she does tell you how to make a cooked version, too. I didn't have time to make the Naansense Bread, but I did serve it with some lettuce leaves (so good to use as wraps) and her Cauliflower "Rice" Pilaf.
I also decided to cool things off with her refreshing Mango Lassi, that I changed up a bit, due to the fact I only had a very small amount of mango in the house. To make up for the lack of mango, I added in a few pineapple chunks and some carrot. It turned out so delicious and perfect with this simply scrumptious meal.
Anyway, I just wanted to share what I made from Amber's book with you. I highly recommend it :-)
*****
On another note, I recently received this month's LovingEco Beauty Bag in the mail (here's what was in it last month, in case you missed it). Here's a quick snapshot of all I got.
First of all, it came in this cute striped Baggu bag (you can see the shape of it pictured on the tag) that folds up to fit neatly into a tiny pouch (which could also work as a mini matching wallet in the bag), great for shopping. It's filled with generous samples and full-size products, including Dr. Hauschka Soothing Mask, Exhuberence is Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Facial Serum, One Love Organics Brand New Day Scrub and Masque, Pangea Organics Facial Toner in Argentinean Tangerine and Thyme, Hamadi Organics Ginger Soymilk Hair Wash and EO Products Hand Sanitizer Spray in Peppermint.
I can't believe I got all of this for $15.95 plus shipping (I think shipping was $4.95). The LovingEco site lists it as having a $107 value, and that's no joke. The Baggu alone is $7, and then it is filled with luxurious products, my two favorites being the Pangea Organics Toner and the Exhuberence brightening serum.
Of course, you already know I'm a big fan of Pangea Organics, so it's no surprise how happy I am to get this toner (I usually buy the one for combination skin, but this is great for the more humid months). It's the 1.8 fl. oz. size that sells for $12 on the Pangea website.
Now between the bag and the toner, I've already got my money's worth, but my favorite product in the bag more than exceeded my expectations. The Exuberance is Beauty Vitamin C Facial Serum works beautifully with the Pangea Organics products, is cruelty-free, vegan and natural, and the 1 fl. oz. glass bottle of it I received sells for $64 on the Exuberence is Beauty website (this really is good stuff), but LovingEco has it for $44.80 for a very limited time (these sales usually only last a week, and I think this is the last day or two that it's offered). If you want to try it at that price, you'll really have to hurry (ha ha, just tying it in with the curry).
Happy Friday everybody! :-)
Every month I can't wait for my Eco Emi box to arrive. Yesterday, I ran right out to the mailbox, as soon as our mail carrier drove away. I just knew my Eco Emi would be there waiting for me.
Sure enough it was, and Hayden and I immediately set up the camera to tape our reactions. It seems to be a trend to share what's inside the box on video and post it asap. I try my best not to peek at those posted before me (although it is tempting).
If you missed them, here's a link to my January Eco Emi post (with follow-up DIY bracelet and earrings), as well as a link to my February Eco Emi post (with Q&A, followed by another DIY bracelet). And below is what Hayden and I received this month in both video form and text (Christine's descriptions, quoted from the enclosed card, and then my thoughts).
Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner by Greenbody Greenplanet: "Nourish, protect, hydrate and rejuvenate your hair naturally! Revitalize Shampoo gently cleanses and nourishes your hair without stripping naturally needed oils, while the revitalize conditioner uses sunflower oil, which holds on to moisture, softening the hair and preventing breakage."
OMG! I'm such a fan of this line of shampoos and conditioners (they are toxin-free, silicone-free, alcohol-free, cruelty-free, vegan and biodegradable). Last month, I received the Energy shampoo and conditioner from the same line in my Eco Emi box. I liked it so much that Christine from Eco Emi sent me full-size bottles of this month's Revitalizing shampoo and conditioner, along with the Dr. Robin for Kids products she gave me to review. They are natural, vegan and work wonders on my fine, (as in thin; my hair hasn't been considered the other definition of "fine" in years) damaged hair (due to too much heat styling). I totally recommend these.
Vegan Mineral Eye Shadows & Vegan Gel Eyeliner by The All Natural Face: "This is a great company that offers not only super clean and vegan ingredients, but also has more colors available in their products than I have ever seen! Enclosed are four very different eye shadows in Coral, Purple Sunset, Peach Ice, Warm Honey, Olive U and Rose Gold. These shadows work well with a day or evening look. The shadows are very pigmented so a little goes a long way. Your gel eyeliner is in the color That Black and comes with a cute brush. This is a smudge-proof formula that will stay on until you wash it off and is great for a soft look or a more sophisticated look."
The eye shadow samples are so cute, but pose quite a challenge to open. I received Coral and Warm Honey, perfect for a sweet and natural look. I always seem to end up with the best colors in my box.
I can't wait to try the gel eyeliner, as I think it is a much healthier alternative to most liquid eyeliners on the market. Black eyeliner looks so good with a nude or even a deep red lip.
Raw Vegan Bars by Bella Bars: "I LOVE Bella Bars. They are delicious raw vegan delights! You will receive either the Cinnamon or Chocolate bar, both are fabulous! The Bella Cinnamon Bar is the perfect blend of sweet and healthy; the dash of cinnamon gives it a bold cozy flavor. The Bella Chocolate Bar is just the right amount of sweet mixed with rich cocoa powder, giving it a hint of chocolate flavor - without the actual chocolate."
Hayden and I had so much fun reviewing these bars when we won them from Amber Shae's Almost Vegan Chef blog. They taste like oatmeal cookies, and are great as is or as our semi-homemade treat. We received a chocolate bar, but I have to admit that both flavors taste almost identical. They are still very good.
Pomegranate Gum by Vitacare: "This unique gum is enriched with essential vitamins + calcium to provide you with maximized results while remaining truly natural. Vitacare's great taste sensation is a perfect balance of cool mint freshness and pomegranate richness. Sweet, fruity and minty! I am addicted to this stuff!"
I'm not really a gum chewer, but I'm curious if it can help clean and strengthen your teeth while on the go. I can't always brush when I'm out and about, but I can easily pop in a piece of gum in a pinch. I have a feeling I'll enjoy the flavor, too, as I've used this line's tasty toothpaste.
Toothbrush by Vitacare: "Time to recycle your old toothbrush and make way for this fabulous unique toothbrush made from 100% biodegradable and recycled materials. make your teeth whiter and your Earth greener with these brushes. You will receive either the soft or medium bristle brush in a lovely purple shade. Be sure to check out their amazing toothpaste and mouthwash!"
I am a very lucky girl, because Christine of Eco Emi also included a full-size Vitacare Acai Toothpaste (it's cruelty-free and doesn't contain fluoride, parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals, SLS, sulfates, nor artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners) and Alcohol-free Cool Mint Mouthwash in with that Dr. Robin shipment. They taste delicious and leave my whole mouth feeling fresh. I also like that they contain vitamins and minerals to help nourish my teeth.
Now I have a toothbrush to complete my Vitacare experience, although Hayden and I are still arguing over who gets to keep it. I guess I'm going to have to buy one for me, so she can use this one.
Lip tints by Badger: "Natural Mineral Color and Shimmer! Over the years, Badger had many requests for totally natural tinted lip balms. They have taken their popular and super moisturizing Cocoa Butter Lip Balm formula and added minerals to create four natural colors packed with certified organic ingredients."
Of course Hayden grabbed this one up right away. I usually let her have the clear lip balms, but she longs to wear the tinted ones. It's just her size, so maybe I'll let her use it for playing dress up. I like the color, too, though. I guess I'll have to buy one for myself.
I'm a fan of the balms, like the After Sun Balm and Sleep Balm. Christine of Eco Emi sent Hayden a Baby Balm, as well, which she loves. It's no surprise that Hayden and I both want this lip tint.
Pear Tree Specialty Liquid Soap by Old Post Road Oils: "This vegan liquid soap is fantastic for washing any part of your body and is perfect for shaving! This is one of the mildest soaps around due to the oils used which were selected because of their fatty acids. They are all soft oils that are very beneficial to the skin and contain great fatty acids. But despite the mildness, it's still a strong, vigorous cleaner. The formula was initially designed for kids with acne, so that it could gently cleanse their faces and lift oils and dirt from their pores without damaging the skin."
This liquid soap reminds me of a cross between Burt's Bees body wash and the old school Neutrogena liquid soap that many of my friends used growing up. It's gentle, yet gets you clean. It's not fancy, but I like it.
Incense by Auromere Ayurvedic: "I light incense on a regular basis. It's a great way to relax and ground yourself. Made from essential oils, fragrant herbs, powders and resins, ranging from the most heavenly floral fragrances to the down-to-Earth woody and herbal scents of the Ayurvedic preparations, each stick is rolled by hand and packaged in 100% handmade, recycled paper. You will get one surprise scent in either Champa, Cinnamon, Coconut, Gardenia, Musk, Myrrh, Vanilla, Parjata from the Flowers & Spice line or Amber, Cedar, Jasmine, Lavender, Lily, Patchouli, Rose or Sandal from the Aromatherapy set."
I haven't used incense in years. Reminds me of my high school and college days. In fact, I think I still have my old incense holder. I received Champa, which smells like a scent I had "back in the day." This should be fun to light and feel young again, especially since I'm turning 36 next month. Ha ha :-)
*****
As usual, I was very happy with everything I received in my Eco Emi box. It is definitely more than worth $15 a month (shipping is free), so I don't see myself canceling it anytime soon. I have paid for all my boxes, and started these review posts just because I wanted to share them with you. The Dr. Robin for Kids products from this past post were sent to me free of charge for review, and Christine of Eco Emi added the full-size shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash and baby balm listed in this post as a thank you for all that I have posted (she's actually a fan of our site; so cool!). She also thought we'd really enjoy the products, which is true. I wouldn't post about them, if I didn't. Thanks Christine :-)
Sorry I haven't been online much lately, but I've had my head stuck in a book, as well as my Kindle. I managed to read the entire "Hunger Games" trilogy and see the movie in only a week. Once I started reading, I just couldn't stop, with the exception of everyday tasks, tending to my kids (I encouraged them to read their own books at the same time; Jacob actually read, while Hayden pretended to do the same) and, of course, to help with the chocolate-covered eggs at church (the inspiration for this personalized chocolate egg cupcake from my last post).
I did finish the last book in time to watch Sunday night's "Cupcake Wars." As usual, I was inspired to put my Rawdorable spin on one of the winning cupcakes, this one being the pistachio basil pesto-filled pistachio cupcake with rose water frosting and rose petal garnish made by Mamie Doyle of Miss Mamie's Cupcakes, Cakes and Such. All that sounds like a mouthful, but so delicious at the same time.
I based my unbaked version of the recipe on how she explained it on the show (I couldn't find her recipe online), right down to the pesto, which she mentioned using pistachios, basil, lemon and milk. Instead of the milk, I used more of my "butterdream" as you'll see in the recipe below:
A Rawdorable Take
on a Pistachio Pesto
& Rose Water Cupcake
*My version of the pistachio basil pesto-filled pistachio cupcake with rose water frosting and rose petal garnish made by Mamie Doyle of Miss Mamie's Cupcakes, Cakes and Such
- 1/8 cup pistachios
- 1/8 cup cashews
- 1/4 cup almond pulp (leftover from making fresh almond milk) and/or almonds
- 1 Tbsp. date paste
- 1/4 tsp. raw organic apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- dash of sea salt
- Pistachio Basil Pesto Filling (using a personal blender such as a Magic Bullet or a Tribest, process 1 Tbsp. pistachios, 2 Tbsp. fresh basil, the zest of half a small lemon, a tiny squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a dash of sea salt; then, mix in 1/2 Tbsp. of "butterdream" by hand)
- *"Butterdream" mixed with rose water, to taste (I added about 1/2 tsp. of rose water to the 2 Tbsp. or so of the frosting I used on this cupcake)
- *a fresh rose petal and basil leaves for garnish
In a mini food processor or blender, grind the pistachios, cashews and almonds/almond pulp into a flour-like consistency, and transfer the "flour" to a bowl.
Next, add the date paste, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and sea salt. Whisk to combine (a whisk helps keep the "batter" fluffier). The batter should be moist, but not so damp that it requires "baking" in a dehydrator (although you could if you desire).
Form the batter into a cupcake shape, leaving a melon ball size valley in the center and a small amount to the side to top it off. Fill the cupcake with the Pistachio Basil Pesto Filling and top it with the excess dough. Carefully blend in the seams.
Frost the cupcake with Rose Water "Butterdream" Icing. Then, garnish with a fresh rose petal and basil leaves. Enjoy!
*****
In the "Cupcakes Wars" episode, Mamie originally dyed the icing on her cupcake blue, which the judges convinced her to change to pink to reflect addition of the rose water (reminds me of the fairies in "Sleeping Beauty" changing Aurora's dress back and forth between blue and pink). Since rose water does not actually color the icing pink, I kept it natural and left my "butterdream" white.
Although my rose petal garnish is not a primrose, the fact that it topped a green cupcake make me think of calling it a Primrose Ever"green" (like Primrose Everdeen, the younger sister of Katniss, who volunteers to be tribute for her in the book) Cupcake.
However, the challenge on the show was more up Effie Trinket's alley (she's the pink-haired lady drawing the names during the reaping scene you've probably seen on t.v.). She'd probably love the fact that it was related to designer shoes, so maybe she'd want a chocolate strawberry stiletto or 24-carrot golden high heel cupcake instead.
The roses also remind me of President Snow, so maybe I should have used a white rose. Anyways, it's funny how this post tied in so well with both the cupcakes and my reading.
Speaking of reading, I've also been enjoying two new cookbooks, "Chloe's Kitchen" by Chloe Coscarelli (first vegan winner of "Cupcake Wars") and "Practically Raw" by Amber Shea of Almost Vegan Chef (winner of last year's Hot Raw Chef Valentine contest). So far, I'm a huge fan of Chloe's Artichoke-Walnut Pesto Crostini (obviously I like pesto), which I serve in lettuce cups, after seeing how the hummus was served at a restaurant Amber posted about (I need to post about her recipes in the future, too, if I remember to photograph them).
Now I'm hungry. Time to wrap up this post. Mmmm :-)
P.S. Remember how I posted my Rawdorable version's of Stephanie Sparkle's winning cupcakes and a Q&A with her? Essential Living Foods has posted her interview from Blythe Raw Live, along with one of her cupcake recipes. Check it out.
Things have been so busy around here lately, but somehow I managed to paint my kitchen and dining area on a whim. If you've seen our last two videos (our Dr. Robin for Kids review and a St. Patrick's Day blender battle), you may have noticed that it is blue now.
I've also been helping with the Easter eggs at my church. Every year, we make personalized chocolate-covered buttercream, peanut butter, coconut and chocolate eggs for sale to the public. My main task is to decorate and pipe the names on them.
Inspired by these chocolate eggs, I decided to make a look-a-like cupcake. This one is chocolate creme-filled, as I had enough leftover purple icing (it's the lavender blueberry "butterdream" from this Rawdorable Take on a Lavender and Orange Cupcake) to pipe a border on it.
At our church, we use a purple border to identify the chocolate eggs, pink for the buttercream, yellow for the peanut butter and blue for the coconut. It takes the guess work out of it for the customers and those packing up the orders.
I always recommend storing leftover "butterdream" in the freezer for later use. I hate wasting things and love having it available for spontaneous cupcake unbaking. Therefore, the remaining chocolate icing from this Dark Cocoa & Cashew Cupcake was just enough to fill today's egg-shaped cupcake (reusable silicone liners are flexible enough to form into an oval, or in this case, an egg).
Once I filled the center of the cupcake, I hid it beneath some more "cake" (like in my old Rawtess cupcake recipe, which is essentially the same recipe I used for today's Easter egg cupcake) and iced it with quick and easy chocolate icing (cocoa powder mixed with pure maple syrup or other liquid sweetener of your choice). Then, I decorated it with some other leftover naturally dyed "butterdream" from my freezer (the colors were made with green tea powder, freeze-dried strawberries and freeze-dried pineapple mixed with turmeric).
In the end, I thought it looked pretty cute, and being free of animal products, that's my "kind" of egg. I'll probably bring it with me today, as I continue to decorate the chocolate eggs at church. Hopefully, I'll be back home in time to watch Blythe Raw Live; I heard that my cupcakes will be included in the Top 7 Healthy Things for Easter this week (Thanks Blythe!). Maybe this will be the episode with Stephanie Sparkles, too :-)
As you know, I occasionally do reviews on this site, mostly because I like something rather than by request. Even when asked, I still try to only post positive reviews; if I'm not pleased with the product, than I won't post about it.
Recently, I've been posting what's in my Eco Emi boxes just to share my excitement. The Q&A with Christine, the founder of Eco Emi, was also my idea and I didn't expect to receive anything as compensation (although she did send me some of my favorite full-size products from the boxes as a thank you after the fact. Thanks Christine! I'll mention more about these products in the future).
To my surprise, Christine has been pleased with our postings, and especially gets a kick out of watching little Hayden join in the fun. She asked my little lady to review these Dr. Robin for Kids products after finding out how happy Hayden was with the line's sunscreen sample in our February Eco Emi box.
I had a feeling Hayden would be interested in the review, and since we (Hayden and I) already knew the products were cruelty-free and Christine-approved (she's very picky about what products she includes in her Eco Emi boxes), we agreed.
Below is Hayden's thoughts on the products.
*****
After fighting over lip stuff with my mommy during our videos (I totally wanted to claim the tinted one in this video), I finally got sent something just for me. I knew right away by the birdie on the bottle.
Mommy let me use it in the bathtub. She said the bottle was a bath wash and shampoo that she let me wash my body with, while she bubbled up my hair (I looked so cute, don't you think?). She kept going on and on about how it was clear and obviously free of dyes and stuff. I liked how it foamed and its smell (if I really sniffed, I could smell it; mommy said it was lavender).
It rinsed off easily, and although I wouldn't stay still enough to keep it out of my face (I was swimming in there, of course), it didn't hurt my eyes.
When I got out of the tub (mommy had a hard time getting me to stop swimming, but it became difficult to paddle once she drained all the water out), I got my hair combed, as usual. I didn't have any knots.
After mommy dried me off with a warm fuzzy towel, she let me help put on some lotion, which also had that same little birdie on it again. It felt really nice; my skin ate it right up.
My mommy said it absorbs well and has cool ingredients like safflower oil, coconut oil, natural rice bran ceramides, organic quinoa (hey, sometimes we eat those little grains) and pomegranate extract (Mmmm ... I like pomegranate).
Too bad it's been cloudy outside (at story time today, the librarian said there was fog outside, as thick as pea soup, whatever that means). I can't wait for it to be sunny, so we can go to the beach and boardwalk. Then, I'll be able to try the sunscreen, too.
Mommy said it is as soft as the moisturizer and not too thick. But, she thinks it should stay on okay. Just "don't be shy ... re-apply!," as she quoted from the back of the box.
Okay mommy, you can take it from here, once I show them this pic of the back of my hair. I don't see any cotton candy there (that's what my mommy calls it when my hair gets all frizzy).
*****
Excellent review Hayden. The two of us really enjoyed these products enough to do a video as well. Since it's not really appropriate to show a video of Hayden getting clean in the bathtub, we opted to give her doll a bath at the kitchen table instead.
I plan on purchasing more of these products in the future, especially the Body Wash & Shampoo. It's like it was made for Hayden's hair.
Thanks Dr. Robin and Christine for sending these products for us to review :-)
There is no denying that "Cupcake Wars" is one of my favorite shows on television. I enjoy watching all the cupcake chaos televised on the Food Network, but especially love sampling the recipes and putting my Rawdorable spin on them. In case you've missed my "Cupcake Wars" related posts, here are some of the links:
On this past Sunday's episode of the show, one cupcake in particular caught my eye to recreate in my special way. It came from the round 1 taste challenge, where the contestants had to make a cupcake incorporating ingredients like cheddar cheese, jalapeno peppers, baked beans and other cowboy fare, as they called it.
While most of the contestants went with a corn cupcake base (one even added in some baked beans), the one I wanted to try most was Johnnie Sue Messler's cheesy pound cake topped with a ring of buttercream and a dollop of strawberry salsa. Since I've had some trouble finding info about the bakeries involved and the recipes (probably because the episode re-airs tonight and no one wants to spoil the surprise for anyone who has yet to watch it), here's what I came up with from memory:
Strawberry Salsa
Kissed Cupcake
*My Rawdorable version of Johnnie Sue Messler's strawberry salsa topped cheesy pound cake from this episode of "Cupcake Wars"
- 1/4 cup cashews
- 1/8 cup coconut flakes
- 1/8 cup almond pulp (leftover from making fresh almond milk) and/or almonds
- 1/2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
- 1 Tbsp. date paste
- 1/4 tsp. raw organic apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
- dash of sea salt
- *"Butterdream" mixed with Punk Rawk Labs Nutmilk Cheese in Plain (macadamia or cashew will do. I used about a 50:50 ratio. You could also use just the butterdream)
- *Strawberry Salsa (stir together 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries, 1 tsp. finely chopped jalapeno pepper, 1/2 tsp. finely chopped shallot or white onion, 1/2 tsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro, 1/2 tsp. date paste and a light squeeze of lime juice)
- *a piece of strawberry cut like a star, some fresh cilantro leaves, a thinly sliced jalapeno pepper ring and a long strip of lime rind for garnish
In a mini food processor or blender, grind the cashews, coconut flakes, almonds/almond pulp and nutritional yeast into a flour-like consistency, and transfer the "flour" to a bowl.
Next, add the date paste, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and sea salt. Whisk to combine (a whisk helps keep the "batter" fluffier). The batter should be moist, but not so damp that it requires "baking" in a dehydrator (although you could if you desire).
Form the batter into a cupcake shape, using a reusable silicone liner (this green one is shaped like a bullfrog, as Hayden thought that's what I meant when I said the cupcakes from this episode were to represent bull riding), small ramekin or tea cup (you can also form the batter into 2 or 3 mini cupcakes). Frost the cupcake(s) with a ring "Butterdream" icing mixed with nutmilk cheese (I piped mine on for a more professional look).
Put a dollop of strawberry salsa in the center of the frosting. Then, garnish with a fresh strawberry star, cilantro, jalapeno pepper ring and long piece of lime zest (I thought it represented the star logo with a lasso). Enjoy!
*****
If you want to know the other cupcake flavors and who wins this episode, tune in to Food Network tonight for the replay :-)
*****
Since publishing this blog post, I received a comment that really made me reconsider which "Cupcake Wars" episodes I decide to highlight on this site. I hate to admit it, but I got so wrapped up in the cupcakes that I didn't stop to think about what the true theme of the episode was this time.
It was about bull riding, something that I don't know much about, nor want to celebrate. I thought it was so cute when Hayden, who also lacks knowledge on the subject, said the episode was about a bull frog. From that point on, I seemed to be oblivious about the true meaning of the event. It's no excuse, though.
From now on, I'll only blog about the episodes where the event is cruelty-free. My apologies to anyone who may have been offended by this post, and thanks to Bitt for bringing it to my attention. Please check out this link that she included in her comment: http://www.sharkonline.org/rodeocrueltybullriding.mv
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Hope you are all wearing your green. I couldn't find my American Apparel baseball tee with the green sleeves to wear today, so I quickly tossed on "MY WHITE T IS GREEN" (that's what it says in green on a white t-shirt) shirt instead, along with my four leaf clover necklace for luck. Oh, and I made sure to wear green underwear, too (TMI! Did I just admit that? I sure did).
When it comes to green food, I never seem to go a day without it, due to green smoothies, salads and just tossing greens into almost anything blended. Even on vacation, I make sure to find a way to get some green in my diet.
Speaking of blending, I'm so excited to say that I won a Tribest personal blender from Living Light Culinary Arts Institute recently (this is the same place that does the Hot Raw Chef contest I entered last summer. Thank you for the blender Living Light). I had been meaning to tell you about it, but hadn't figured out the best way to do it.
I wanted to have fun with it in a blender war with my trusty Magic Bullet blender. I just needed to come up with something simple for their first round of competition. Being that it is St. Patrick's Day, Hayden and I decided to make some fresh green orange juice.
When I was little my mom would dye the orange juice with green food coloring, which freaked me out; I refused to drink it. Who would have thought I'd one day by drinking fresh green orange juice naturally dyed with baby spinach leaves.
I have to admit that this is my first time using the Tribest blender, and that I've never actually blended greens in my Magic Bullet (I use a high-powered blender for that). I put one and a half clementines (peeled and segmented , of course) in both blender containers, along with the same size handful of baby spinach and 1/4 cup of water in each one. Watch our video to see which one won :-)
*****
Okay, so for those of you who can't watch the video, here's what they looked like blended and poured into our glasses. Can you guess which one is which? Hint: I poured the Magic Bullet one into the wider glass for me. I wonder why?
Also, Jacob was playing with his Legos while we were filming today's video. It looks as though he caught a leprechaun. He must have been after those shamrocks on the table.
I purchased the shamrock plant on our latest Trader Joe's shopping trip, when we saw those flowers from my last post. Does anyone know if they are really "cupcake" flowers? I'm still looking for an answer.
Yesterday evening I wanted some raw vegan curry in a hurry, so I made the Vegetable Korma Masala from "Practically Raw" by Amber Shea of the Almost Vegan Chef blog (right now her last name is "Ford," but she'll be a "Crawley" very soon; congrats on her upcoming nuptials). I mentioned getting her book in a recent post, where I reminded myself to take a picture of the next recipe I made from it (as you can see, I remembered to grab my camera this time).
"As a linguist, I love the double entendre of of 'practically,' and both definitions fit my philosophy perfectly. First, 'practically raw' means 'almost raw,' representing my belief in substituting non-raw ingredients or using non-raw cooking techniques when desired or warranted. It means 'raw' does not have to be an all-or-nothing affair," she says.
The best part is that many of these recipes can be made quickly, and if the original raw version takes longer than you have time, she gives you ideas on how to speed up the process, which could mean substituting a pre-made ingredient or cooking instead of dehydrating it.
I also decided to cool things off with her refreshing Mango Lassi, that I changed up a bit, due to the fact I only had a very small amount of mango in the house. To make up for the lack of mango, I added in a few pineapple chunks and some carrot. It turned out so delicious and perfect with this simply scrumptious meal.
First of all, it came in this cute striped Baggu bag (you can see the shape of it pictured on the tag) that folds up to fit neatly into a tiny pouch (which could also work as a mini matching wallet in the bag), great for shopping. It's filled with generous samples and full-size products, including Dr. Hauschka Soothing Mask, Exhuberence is Beauty Vitamin C Brightening Facial Serum, One Love Organics Brand New Day Scrub and Masque, Pangea Organics Facial Toner in Argentinean Tangerine and Thyme, Hamadi Organics Ginger Soymilk Hair Wash and EO Products Hand Sanitizer Spray in Peppermint.
I can't believe I got all of this for $15.95 plus shipping (I think shipping was $4.95). The LovingEco site lists it as having a $107 value, and that's no joke. The Baggu alone is $7, and then it is filled with luxurious products, my two favorites being the Pangea Organics Toner and the Exhuberence brightening serum.
Now between the bag and the toner, I've already got my money's worth, but my favorite product in the bag more than exceeded my expectations. The Exuberance is Beauty Vitamin C Facial Serum works beautifully with the Pangea Organics products, is cruelty-free, vegan and natural, and the 1 fl. oz. glass bottle of it I received sells for $64 on the Exuberence is Beauty website (this really is good stuff), but LovingEco has it for $44.80 for a very limited time (these sales usually only last a week, and I think this is the last day or two that it's offered). If you want to try it at that price, you'll really have to hurry (ha ha, just tying it in with the curry).
