Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for - FAMILIES and FRIENDS are on top of my list. REAL FOOD (as my grandkids like to call it) is high on the list too. Here I am teaching my grandkids how to make REAL apple juice and a REAL pumpkin pie! Every time I go in the kitchen - Will wants to see what I am doing and always wants to help.

He thinks that making apple juice is easy!

He is a pro at cutting up the apples and using my Champion Juicer. I didn't know it could be so easy for a 5 yr old!

Rachel is 10 and she is always eager to help too!

Then there is Matt. At 3 years old - he likes to be cute, funny and right in the middle of the action. Today is no different!
Now it's time to make a RAW PUMPKIN PIE! Will is now making the pie crust. This is 2 c. almonds and 1 c. walnuts or pecans with 1 c. unsweetened shredded coconut. Put them all in the Vita Mix and whirl until it is ground fine and turns into a dough like pie crust. You don't have to add any water or anything to this.


See - it just pats out just like a regular pie crust - only easier!

Now for the yummy part. I soaked 20 dates overnight. I peeled and cut up 2 large sweet potatoes and put the drained dates and the cut up sweet potatoes in the vita mix. I used about 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice and a little agave nectar. It actually pureed the sweet potatoes and it seems all cooked! It even surprised me!I forgot to take a picture of this next step. I soaked 2 c of cashews in water overnight and drained them. I put the cashews in my VitaMix with some agave nectar, vanilla and some of the soaked date water. This whirled to be creamy and smooth. I then mixed THIS cashew mixture with the pureed sweet potato mixture. This is what we got! TWO DELICIOUS raw pies. I dehydrated it for about 6 hours and put it in the refrigerator.
Now it's time for PIE!

This was the best pie ever! Thank you Rachel Talley for the recipe and the explanation. I would have never attempted this but she promised me that I would L O V E it.
She was right......again!

Applesauce and cranberry sauce

I got this recipe from a friend. I wanted to try it out. YUM!!!!
I cut up 2 apples and 2 pears and pureed dates in water in my Vita Mix.

I put them all together in my food processor. Viola - applesauce!
It was outstanding - tart - and super tasty.

Then someone recommended cranberry sauce. Well - Thanksgiving is almost here so I wanted to try it before my company comes! (no brainer) I used 2 cups fresh cranberries, 1 cup raisins, 1/2 c ground flax and a touch of agave nectar. I made it in my vita mix.

It was super tart as soon as I made it - but sitting overnight - and well - it was the best cranberry sauce I ever had. Even Jacob LOVED it. You will too if you like cranberries!


I want to make some raw bars for a boutique coming up. I used soaked almonds and dates.
I haven't had treats in a long time so this was really sweet. I dehydrated them for about
6 hours so they weren't so wet - and they are definitely a treat for grandkids. They don't call me "Grandma Cookies" for nothing.

Veteran's Day Celebration

Today is not about food (although we are in a restaurant). I really wanted to say thank you to my twin brother, Jim, for all he is doing in Iraq to keep us safe here in the USA since this week is Veteran's Day. He is here visiting us for a couple of days....then back to the war. Thanks Jim for your dedication and your committment for the cause of Freedom. By the way, the beautiful lady next to me is my 80 yr. young mother. We are going to also celebrate her 80th birthday soon!

I had to include my side-kick, Jan, my sister.
She is my best friend and keeps things "arollin" in this family!

Fajita Veggies

Jacob wanted something with salsa. So I made this up - and put the homemade salsa in it.
I call it Fajita Veggies.

Fajita Veggies

Red bell pepper
3 very big fresh tomatoes
Zucchini
Celery
Cumin
Salsa - homemade.
Serve with avocado.

(side note - Joey put black olives in his - they aren't raw - but he said that his bowl was better than mine. Go figure)

ASIAN SALAD

Here is a different flavored salad. It looks like similar ingredients like the other days, but it has a completely different taste than the others. I went to the Asian Market and purchase a spice there - called Bull Head Barbecue Powder. It added a nice punch! It has garlic, chili powder, coconut powder and dry shrimp. Go figure. We liked it.

ASIAN SALAD
Broccoli
Bok Choy (this made it fabulous)
Celery
Red bell peppers
garlic, ginger, sea salt if you want.

You could put like an olive oil, lemon dressing on this also. We like it a little more spicey.
I also put raisins on mine the next day and actually liked it better with the raisins.

It would be great with a homemade flax cracker. But I didn't have time to do that.

Cauliflower - and more of it please!

The first time I made this salad, my son, Joey said - "mom - I want more cauliflower!" So - voila I used more cauliflower.......like I used the whole head! Is THAT enough, Joey?

CAULIFLOWER SALAD
cauliflower - the whole head
cabbage - about 1/4 head
green onions
red and orange bell peppers
raisins
honey mustard dressing
(vegannaise, honey & mustard)

This big bowl fed 3 of us. Jim LOVED it. Jacob grabbed 2 bowls full before leaving for baseball and Joey is still eating! Way to go Joey!

Try it ... you'll like it!