Living tree tasting

Good morning! April is SO close!
I have been sooo busy this week with so many things. I gotta say. April is going to fly by, I can already tell. I love the Spring and Summer. I get so much done and it seems that I am on the go until about 9:00 p.m. I am so excited to see the weather getting up into the 80's this week! The summer clothes are coming out! I am ready.

The Living Tree was so wonderful yet again to send me some amazing products. I just cant tell you enough how great Mr. Schwartz (president of The Living Tree) really is. This is by far my favorite company and my favorite products in the world.This small company knows about raw,living foods. Created in Berkeley, California, a wellspring of the human spirit. Over 21 Nobel Prize winners have taught there.

I have eaten jar after jar of raw almond butter but nothing compares to this one!

Almonds are a premier source of vitamin E. One ounce of almonds (about 23 almonds) contains 35 percent of the Daily Value for vitamin E. Since the National Academy of Sciences increased the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for this important antioxidant in 2001, many Americans aren't getting enough of the essential nutrient.The Almond Board of California continues to invest in research on the impact of antioxidants on chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, revealing some promising results.

In a Nutshell: Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that is essential to overall well-being. Almonds are one of the best food sources of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E, which the National Academies of Sciences has identified as the only type of vitamin E that makes itself available to cells in the circulatory system. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (see chart below) almonds rank strongly among food containing alpha-tocopherol vitamin E, and one ounce of almonds contains 7.4 milligrams or 35 percent of the Daily Value of this nutrient. Now according to the latest research, Vitamin E reduces the risk of lung cancer. Check out the full report here. Also recent research indicates that Vitamin E inhibits prostrate cancer.For more information please click here. They also have 20% of the USRDA of Vitamin B2, and 20% dietary fiber. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats (the "good" kind) and are known to help lower cholesterol.

I LOVE almond butter, especially like this!

Spread almond butter on top of the raw bar recipe that I made last week. Top it with some fresh fruit and you have yourself a power breakfast!

I also got some pecan butter! Pecan butter is the BEST butter to stuff dates with....trust me on this one.

The pecan was the food of Native Americans for millenia. One of the most nutritious of nuts. Pecans are loaded with heart-healthy unsaturated fats and recently published studies show that pecan consumption can help lower cholesterol.

Banana, raw coconut and raw pecan butter. Heaven on earth...

I also got two other products that rocked my world!I received Raw Tahini and Alive Tomato Pesto!

Here is the Tahini up close and personal...This is the most amazing Tahini I have ever tried...I made some alive hummus that was to die for (I have been saying that a lot lately but seriously, it's true every time I say it)...Keep reading to see how to make some of your own!

Living Tree does not grind,rather they slice the sesame seeds,let them rest overnight and then slice again.They invite you to savor the flavor and ponder the texture. Mix tahini with their Living Tree Alive Organic Honey and you have halvah, a Middle Eastern delight!
Made from mechanically hulled sesame seeds of outstanding quality.

Here's the Sun-dried Tomato and Almond Pesto.

Created with sun dried tomatoes, almonds, sesame seeds, basil, thyme, garlic and Living Tree Alive Olive Oil. Delight family and friends with simple and quick hors d'hoeuvres: Swirl this pesto on flax seed crackers or cucumber slices. Great with carrot and celery sticks too. Spoon in some Pesto into a bell pepper for alive stuffed peppers.Contains a dash of curry powder. Tumeric is the spice that gives curry its kick. Its a clinically proven antioxidant. When I first tasted this pesto I knew that it would be perfect on any vegetable, pasta, bread or cracker. However, since I got the tahini too, I had to make some hummus stat. I allowed many to try these products out and they ALL got raving reviews. I swear this hummus was so easy and because of the amazing pesto...It really needed to be put in the blender and served. Check it out. I made three different types of hummus. Black olive Pistachio, Sun-dried tomato and almond and lastly and "Original" hummus. All served with fresh organic veggies. Delightful! Here is my Sun dried Tomato Almond Hummus recipe!

-One can of organic garbanzo beans (I like no salt added)

-Two heaping tablespoons of Living Tree Raw Tahini

-Two tablespoons of Raw Sun-dried Tomato Almond Pesto

-1 lime squeezed to death

Blend and blend and blend.

I pour a little of the water from the garbanzo beans in the dip because I like my hummus spreadable. Depending on how thick you like your hummus you can add water or not.

I love this hummus! Because the pesto is packed full of flavor and amazing olive oil. I didnt have to add anything to the the hummus but the essentials and pesto mix. So easy and oh so good! I have been snacking on hummus and veggies almost every day for lunch. It is GREAT as a dip, on sandwiches (try hummus instead of mayo next time), even as a pasta sauce! Add hummus to your marinara and see what happens. It makes it creamy! No dairy so it would be great for vegans or if you are lactose intolerant. I have even stuffed chicken with a chunky hummus and fresh basil! Hummus can be used for so many things, just use your imagination...I cant wait to make Halvah! I have yet to make it and all you have to do is mix tahini and raw honey together...

I doubt that I even have to say this....I LOVE AND ADORE THE LIVING TREE PRODUCTS. In fact, I dare you to try some out!

Go to their site....NOW!

www.livingtreecommunity.com

I promise you wont be sorry you did.

Mr.Schwartz, thank you a MILLION times, you make my whole month every time I get something from you! I am going to yelp about it ;)

-Heather

Fava's oh my...

GOOD MORNING!!!

This was literally me this morning...ouch! Only I would let you see me like this. Ha! Who gives...

Ok...Prepare yourself for a VERY long post, I have some exciting news! I got a new camera over the weekend. I am still trying to get accustom to using it so bare with me as I learn the ropes of my new toy. My other camera was fine but it wasn't cutting it anymore for me. I needed something light and easy to use so that I didn't have to stand there moving things around to get the "perfect" shot. Photographing food is not easy...You have got to get the perfect shot as soon as possible. You dont want the food to settle too much on the plate. Veggies could go limp, avocado or apples turn brown fast. Basically, it can get ugly, quick. I didn't get a SLR I got a simple point and shoot digital camera. A Nikon CoolPix was the perfect fit for me. It is pretty cool I must admit. When I went into Wolf camera to get the low down on the camera. The guy at the counter picked up on one thing and pretty much sold me on the camera right on the spot. He says to me "The great thing about this camera is it has a FOOD option..." FOOD OPTION? What do you mean!?! I was done at that point. Just ring me up!

I went to Best Buy and got the worst customer service in the world (sorry but you know the saying...for every bad experience a customer endures, they will tell 10 others.) How about 25,000? I walked in that store ready to buy a camera AND a laptop and when I left I was almost in tears and very angry. The girl at the store made me feel plain stupid. You all know by now... I am not a photographer (I have been taking photographs since I was 12 and my first job was in a photo studio but I am not a professional by any means). I don't claim to know what I am doing! I just do what feels natural and looks good to me. That's all. When it comes to gadgets, I am stupid. However, if you walk in a store and are prepared to spend 2000.00, at least make me feel less dumb about the lack of knowledge that I have about cameras, computers or anything else that has a digital brain of it's own!!! Anyway, Wolf camera was awesome and I left there with a smile on my face and the right camera for me.

So with my new friend and some fresh food waiting for me at home I couldnt wait to get started. I had the guy there get it picture ready before I left. I stopped by Earth Fare to get a few last minute additions for my Sunday night meal. I wanted to show you my little ol kitchen...This is where the magic is happening these days (mind you I have only been here a month).

I cried when I moved in and THEN noticed it had a electric, not gas stove...I am going to have to do something about this. I cant deal with an electric stove. I gotta have gas. I am looking into some options to get some gas in my house (I rent so I ain't buyin a gas stove...). Maybe a portable station of sorts? Let me know if you are a freak about cooking with gas and figured out a way to have it instead of electric. I dont want to look like I am going camping though. There isnt enough room in there for something huge. I am making due so who knows...

That was my kitchen then...This is what it looks like now.

That's right folks....yet another Chef Acheson's creations...and the best one yet! You see that thing on the counter top? Well, that is my (half broken by the way) laptop. I have Hugh in the kitchen with me when I am making his dishes so that I can follow along closely. I wish so much that I could tell you the recipe but it looks like you will just have to buy the book when it comes out ;)

I will be giving you details on how to go about doing that when the time gets closer. I may even ask if I could take some pre orders on the blog! We will see.

Remember from a older post where I said that I wanted to make his fava bean recipe and even if I had to order them I was going to make the dish happen? Hugh, being the sweetie that he is literally dropped off a bag of fava's right to me at work. Too bad I wasn't there to thank him :(

THANK YOU! I was like a little kid when I came back from errands and saw them. My boss even said "Heather, your blushing about beans???" I was because I gotta say...you can give me food instead of flowers any day. Hugh's wife is one lucky lady! Even though I am sure she doesn't get vegetables on Valentines...

Have you ever seen a Fava bean? Well, let me tell you. These babies take some work. I mean WORK. It almost took me a hour to get them prepared. You better believe every bite was not taken for granted.

They come in huge pods...once you take the bean out of the pod, THEN you have to take the casing off the bean. When done...you have yourself one of the most amazing beans, in my opinion. Fava beans should be shelled and peeled before eating. The outer peel on the beans, while technically edible, is very woody in texture and detracts from the buttery feel of the inner bean. This is the bean all ready to be blanched. They are very large so you only get a few beans per pod.

I rinsed the beans and sat them aside. The hard part was over! Wait...what am I making???

Sorry, I forgot to tell you!

Fava beans with mint, prosciutto, tomme & brown butter vinaigrette

Now you know. Back to Fava's...They have high concentrations of L-dopa (dopamine), an amino acid that is a neurotransmitter in the brain. Dopamine plays a role in the brain in such activities as memory, energy and sex drive. Dopamine levels decline in brain cells as we age, so who knows what role Fava Beans might play in keeping those levels up. We do know for sure that Fava Beans are low in calories and in fat, with no cholesterol. They’re also high in protein, iron, and fiber, and are good sources of vitamin C, vitamin A, and potassium. So I had no problem what so ever making this recipe. (except Hugh....your killin me on the butter.) I know though....butter is what makes the cooking world go round ;) Something else that I decided was that I am going to do my absolute best to stick to the recipe as much as I can. The whole point of me making his recipes is to give him an idea of what the dish is like to an outsider. I have found myself with other dishes adding this or doing that to it. I am not going to (at least until after I photograph and taste it.) If I fancy something else, then I will add to it. When the fava's were shelled and ready I started making the brown butter vinaigrette.

Thanks to my magic bullet (a single girls best friend) I was able to make a perfect amount (2 servings) for me and another. I decided that I would invite another person to try out this dish and get some input. He will be commenting on this post with his thoughts and I will publish it. (You better Pete!). Anyway, the vinaigrette had mint and olive oil and shallots (and other unnamed ingredients, just to make you wonder...ha!)

I went with red shallots as I like the taste better than the yellow variety. I saved just a tad to toss with my fava's as I blanched them. Once the favas and the vinaigrette was ready it was pretty much time for me to plate the food. I used arugula, prosciutto, tomme, mint and parsley. Together...they became one.

OMG...this was one of the best salad's I have ever had. I haven't had prosciutto in forever so that is why I went with it instead of the country ham. I rolled the prosciutto and they seriously looked like roses on the plate!

This recipe is the perfect start to a meal, lunch, or all by it's self. You know that I can eat...so the salad needed some friends to go along with. I was starving so prepare your self...I really added some weight to this meal!
I made some asparagus, corn and baked sweet potato's to go along with the wonderful salad. Here is the final product.

A meal like this wouldn't be a meal without the perfect wine pairing (in my book ) so this was the wine of the evening that I chose.

I went with one of my favorites! New Age. If you haven't had this wine. Get. It.

I am a red wine lover. I very rarely drink white wine. I do however have a slight obsession with anything fizzy (soda streamer ring a bell?). With that being said, sparkling wines such as prosecco is the perfect adult beverage in my mind. I love a light sparkling wine. This was the perfect wine for this meal. I was going back and forth with going with a red vs a white but I am happy with my decision.

All in all, this meal was fantastic. It was easy and I really enjoyed making it. Thanks to Hugh (and his fava's) I was able to make the best dish yet of his recipes! I cant wait to try the next one. I'll let you all know what will be next.

Lastly, get ready to hear a lot about this other gadget that came into my life recently....The Gruve! I am playing around with it as we speak and should know the in's and out's in a day or two. I will be back with a full review!

See you soon!

-Heather

a zero calorie food made to taste as if it were 2000.

I saw a recipe for Saffron Braised Celery and knew that I had to make it. Hugh....your in trouble though...I am making so much fricken food I cant even eat it all!!! Don't get me wrong, I loved the dishes I have made thus far but usually what I do is make a dish and have it for lunch Monday-Friday or dinners for the week. Your recipes make me so curious that I am finding myself making more than I originally thought I would. My initial plan was to make a dish twice a week. I am on a roll so I am just goin with it ;)

Your in luck though! I have decided that I would share the dishes if I know in advance that I will be making more food and cant possibly eat it all. I will document the comments from the ones that par-take and post them here. That way, my readers get a idea of what it is like AND you get more input ;)

I'm awesome....I know.

Ok guys and gals. This is a great post because your getting a two for one! Something else that I have decided is if there is a way that I can incorporate TWO recipes that have the same items or close I will let you in on the one that I made. This is of course not going to happen every time that I make one of chef Acheson's creations but I will do my best...I am kind of overloading my plate right now (in more ways than one) with cooking all this awesomeness, working, training and breaking shit around my house. I will get into it later but the laptop is on it's way out...I guess a new camera and laptop will be bought this weekend (maybe). Anyway. Enough of that. Lets get to it, shall we.

I saw this recipe for Saffron Braised Celery and honey....it was already made in my mind. So simple and soooo good. I had it alone. Gasp! I know. I should have had it with maybe some chicken and rice but I loved it all by it's self. I did go a little crazy buying celery though so here is when the two for one comes in. First though....Mr.Acheson....Your celery sir. Get the most GREEN celery you can find...

Braise it!

oooohhhhh lala!

I had to add some parsley... I have a confession... I didn't peel the celery, I used some parsley AND I chopped the leafy tops for a little garnish. Ooooppss! It was amazing...You guys need to find the greenest celery that you can because it looses color fast. I was surprised how much it lost it's vibrant color after a few minutes.

So I was left with a ton of celery left...What does a girl do with a bunch of celery....make ants on a log??? Nope.

How about Baked Celery and Pears! I never would have thought to marry the two but you know what I have found...Celery is a diverse veggie....You can add it to almost anything (almost).

To make this, you halve and core Bosc pears and lay them in a bed of sliced celery and pour over everything a lemony, sugary syrup spiked with expensive dessert wine. I used the cheapest dessert wine I could find, it cost $15 for a half bottle, which gave me pain.
You roast the pears until tender, remove them from the oven and place them in a serving dish while you boil down the syrup and celery. When the celery is shiny, sticky, and almost jammy, you take it off the heat, pour it over the pears, and serve.

Next time this is made I will be adding a ton of spices and some fresh herbs. I think that cinnamon sticks would not only look pretty but would be a great addition. Rosemary would be wonderful as well. I have never baked nor braised celery before. Usually I just eat it raw or use it in soups. This dish would be a glorious ice cream topper. Just imagine vanilla bean ice cream with baked pear and celery infused with cinnamon and rosemary (or thyme or heck, both!). I think that this will be made again and better! Try it out and let me know what you think. I enjoyed this novelty dish. The celery tasted only vaguely of celery, mostly it was just achingly sweet. So...if you are not a fan of celery you just may be after tasting this!

I hope you enjoyed this double whammy (god, I just had a flash back of that game show, press your luck) of a post! I really had a a lot of fun with both recipes and I think that I got my celery craving outta the way for a while. Stay tuned people...FAVA beans were hand delivered to my desk and I am going to be making a dish that sounds to die for. (Hugh...I may need a personal trainer after all this tasting) :P

I gotta say. I have only worked with Fava's a couple of times.

Can I tell you a secret?

You see,years a go I worked in the produce section of Earth Fare (two and a half years to be exact). What I would do is order all kinds of interesting produce and then go to the cook book section and find a recipe that looked interesting to me. Back then I had absolutely no idea what I was doing in the kitchen. When I got hired I had no idea about health foods. My food consisted of the Wendy's dollar menu. Well once I worked there for about a week I was determined to be the best (I don't do ANYTHING half ass) produce worker. I had customers asking me all kinds of questions about the produce we sold. "What can I eat that has potassium?" "What is burdock root and what is it good for?" "What the heck is a Dorian fruit!?!" Just tons of questions like that all day and I had no idea. I started researching and reading about the products that we sold but I knew that the best way to really get a idea of what they were all about was to actually try them. Back to what I was saying...I would order things that looked interesting to me. I would get a cook book and find a recipe that grabbed my attention and then take it to the copy room and copy it. Before leaving work I would grab all the items and when I got home the chemistry lab of food would start.

See you Monday!

-Heather

Artisana Heaven.

I am SUPER busy today so I thought that I would re-post what I posted on this day last year....Enjoy! This just so happens to be one of my favorite nut butter companies. I actually made friends with Tristan after chatting via e-mails. Of course I like the dude...He lives in San Francisco! Why wouldn't I like someone from my favorite place ever! Tristan...this one is for you babe!

Are you ready to start the day with a review? Well get ready because I just may be introducing you to your new love...

http://www.premierorganics.org

Taste – Simply put, they taste the best
Unique variety – In addition to our superior Almond Butter and Tahini, we make five unique varieties: Walnut Butter, Pecan Butter, Cashew Butter, and Macadamia/Cashew Butter. Our coconut products include the ever popular Coconut Butter and it's related "Bliss SuperFood Blends... as well as our NEW Extra Virgin Pure Coconut Oil.
Fresh – We hand-select only the finest new-harvest nuts, seeds and coconut for our butters - our almonds and walnuts are the best California has to offer
Quality – All of our nut and seed butters are hand crafted in small batches in Berkeley, CA with careful attention to detail.
Organic – We only use 100% certified Organic nuts, seeds, and coconut meat which means no toxic pesticides, chemicals, or genetically modified organisms. (Certified by the CCOF)
Pure – We don't add any extra ingredients. No salt, sugar, preservatives or artificial flavors - Nothing. Which means that all you get is the clean, fresh taste of nuts and seeds the way nature intended.
Raw – The ingredients which comprise our products are raw, not roasted, and made into butter with a low temperature process. This means that all of the enzymes, proteins and vitamins are intact, in their natural state and fully utilized by the body. Heat destroys these sensitive nutrients.
Powerful – Forget caffeine! Packed with energy-laden nutrients, our nut butters are a great source of sustained energy.
Healthy – Nuts and seeds in the form that we make them - totally raw and organic and processed into butter (purée) - are among the most basic and healthy foods one can eat on the planet, offering to the consumer:
*Non-animal proteins and enzymes
*Vitamins and Minerals
*Essential fatty-acids (including Omega-3, of which Walnut butter has the most)
*Fiber
... All in products more readily digestible than whole nuts...making them truly whole foods.
PEANUT, GLUTEN, and DAIRY FREE
Kosher – All of our products are KSA Kosher certified.
Storage – None of our products need to be refrigerated

Here I am with both the Goji Berry Bliss and Cacao Bliss and I am in heaven! I got in the mail all the babies and these two mommas. I like this picture of all the little jars it shows how small they are. I was so surprised to get them. I seriously was just sitting at home thinking about almond and walnut butter. I have never in my life tasted anything so darn good!!! The Goji Berry Bliss is the best tasting spread ever. I had it on my oatmeal this morning and it was to die for. I catch myself all day dipping my finger into these jars! I love how cute they are! I am enjoying trying out a new one every day.

The Cacao Bliss is my second favorite and I think that this would just about taste good any anything. I would love to make some peanut butter cookies with this jar! Yum!

What makes Premier Organics so special?
They are devoted to making unique, superior, organic products.
They believe in sustainable living; minimizing our collective impact on the Earth; and through our community, supporting the organic and living foods movements, the Earth and her forests.
They support small, Organic, family farms. The farmers from which we buy grow their produce in harmony with the land. They pledge to treat and to compensate their workers fairly.
They endeavor to exceed your expectations for service.
Their goal is to make available to everyone the healthiest, freshest, best-tasting, Organic, all-natural foods while giving something back to the communities they serve.

From the taste to the organization it is a 10! I am in love with these butters and I know that you will be too if you try them out. Please go on-line or a local store that carries these fantastic products and try them out for your self. You wont be sorry you did!

Tristan you really are the best for sending me these jars of goodness. You totally made my whole year! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

Please Please Please if you are in the market for the best raw butters ever visit them at :

http://www.premierorganics.org

I love my readers!!!

Thanks so much for this video testimonial!!!!

I got this via e-mail the other night and it just made my night! Traverse Bay Farms...If you like Cherry Juice go here. THANKS so much for this video! You made my whole night. Andy, you rock!

After getting this and realizing that I have it good I decided....why not just make a breakfast that only the blog world would respect.

RESPECT.

Oh yeah... This my friends is the breakfast of champions...Protein, fat and carbs. P-E-R-F-E-C-T (in my world anyway).This fueled me through the workout from HELL. 4 egg whites (hidden spinach, red onion, garlic and red pepper inside) with aged cheddar cheese atop, sliced strawberries, fig and kiwi along side. I did have a huge mug of 1000 faces coffee to go with, naturally.

After the breakfast that kept me going and going I decided to try something right before the gym today.

GU Chomps utilize GU Energy Gel's proven blend of carbohydrates, amino acids, antioxidants and electrolytes to make a chewable form of GU. Each packet contains 2 servings. Ok, so I am on NO supplements...NONE AT ALL. I don't even take a vitamin.You are talking to someone (ok not talking purse really but reading) who use to literally spend hundred's of dollars a month on supplements. I use to time it to the T when I would pop another pill or drink another shake. Back when I was competing I would even wake up in the middle of the night and eat three egg whites to preserve and gain muscle. It did only one thing...drain my bank account. I took so many different supplements that I had to use a flat tackle box to keep them all with me. HA! It is funny now but I know I looked like a freak back then. I was ripped though...That was what I wanted back then. I wanted to be a body builder/figure competitor. Can you believe that?!? Ha! I just wanted to push the envelope and see just how fit my body would get. Well...2 years of training and absolutely no fun eating I had a 8 pack, veins popping out of my arms and legs and the tightest butt in Georgia. One thing though....It is impossible to keep it up for life. I had no life. My life was training, eating and sleeping. For real. After two long years of hard work I decided that I needed a happy medium, that it wasn't worth it all in the end. I could still be super fit AND not drain my account of funds. I had read about vegan and even raw foodist that were ripped with no help from supplements. I was scared...I didn't know what I would do if I wasn't popping pills, drinking shakes and counting grams of protein (I use to aim for 200 grams of protein a day....gross). I just did it. Cold turkey. Limited my meat intake, completely stopped the Whey Protein, stopped the pills (L-Glutamine (for recovery), CLA and L-Carnatine (amino acids and fat burner), BCAA's (branch chain amino acids), MSN (sleeping aid), Super Pump (to jack me up before getting in the gym), The ultimate meal (a shake with every vitamin under the sun in it), I would actually still have this in my diet if I could afford it. There was more I just cant even remember. If something was new or I read about it having some great results I took it. That was WAAAAAAY back then when I first started and what I found was by a health diet you need nothing. I figure if I need a vitamin or mineral, it should come from my food. Now I just try (TRY) to eat as "clean" as possible and it has proven to give me the results that I want. That and kicking my own butt in the gym ;)

You see, when you go to the gym, make it count. If you are going to be there for 45-60 minutes, get yer ass movin and movin quick. Yes....it sucks. I in no way LOVE to sweat, get my hair messed up, make a total butt of myself running around and have people stare at me. But you know what?!? Who cares? When I go to the gym honestly I just want to get the hell outta there. I want to get in, bust my butt and get out. I don't want to talk to the old dudes there, I don't want to get hit on by gross dudes (I swear all the cute, NORMAL guys are taken) and I don't want to be stared at all day. I would rather blow in, get it done and blow out. At least I can go home and feel like I did something. I am a super busy person...I work a full time job, personal train, blog, volunteer and still find time to be social and play music on occasion. I don't have time to sit on a machine for 20 minutes. Sorry. I work smarter AND harder and that's the way I roll. Ok back to my original thought (sometimes I rant). I tried out this product GU CHOMPS and I have to say....It worked. I got these (I received the gel, chomps and powder) and they really helped with keeping me hydrated. I only ate these because they don't have any harmful chemicals and mainly because electrolyte's are what I need. I sweat. I mean SWEAT. I drink coconut water like it is going out of style and these little guys really did the trick. I didn't even have a whole serving. I only ate half but it was just fine. I didn't feel the energy boost that they claimed but I didn't feel worn out and dry like usual. I think that I am going to continue to try out the others now ;)

So now that is done lets head to lunch shall we?!?

Ahhhhh, another raw plate. I have to say...This weeks raw lunch and dinner has been amazing. I am in love with the way that my body feels after eating a huge plate of raw food. Light but I have enough energy for the whole day and the best part is, I am not starving...Bread almost always makes me hungry. Not so this week. I am not saying that I am going back 100% raw but I am saying that 80% is pretty darn fine with me. I cant wait until I can make smoothies again! Amazing grass...look out!

A very moody picture if I do say so myself ;)

Raw crackers with hummus (made from Living Tree Tahini, raw garbanzo beans, raw alive pistachio pesto, lime and garlic and herbs) with chopped heirloom tomatoes.

with a side of collard wraps.

The pine nuts were a great addition! You see...It is not that I am dieting...This is what my body is asking for. So, I am giving it what it wants. I swear, I craved this meal. I did exactly what I wanted. I wanted a cold plate so to speak and something crunchy but with tons of flavor. Did I mention pink Himalayan salt?!? I love it....I have this duo in the kitchen at all times! This cube of top-quality, hand-harvested rare sea salt that came with its own grater! Ethically collected, this gorgeous natural product comes from a protected source deep within the exotic and remote Himalaya Mountains. Bring it to your table to salt over all sorts of food, especially desserts. Some of the possibilities: edamame, ice cream, caramel, salads, grilled fish, watermelon, chocolate ganache, rice, beans, and raw vegetables. I use it and don't feel bad. I think that the minerals that you get from sea salt and pink salt are beneficial for you if used in moderation. I tell you what...Sea Salt and dark chocolate is one of my favorite things on this planet. OK, I have about 10 things that I can say that about but seriously, this rock is always ready to go in the kitchen and I have used it with just about everything I can think of. A little goes a long way!

Wow, I rambled today. I guess that is what happens when you miss a day. I took yesterday to catch up with all of you. I haven't been able to read any of YOUR blogs and I missed you guys so. I am glad to see that everyone is in the same boat as I am. Ready for spring, kicking it up a notch in the gym to prepare for summer and eating healthier than the heavy winter foods we all love dearly.

On to dinnah....I will get into this more (dont have the time nor the space right now) but I am going to be making a lot of chef Hugh Acheson's creations. I recently got asked to be a taste tester for his upcoming book! One of the things that I can do to help is try out his recipes and give feedback. You all know that I am all about new recipes (and photographing my eats) so this was simple for me to say yes. I wasnt sure what types of recipes would be offered and if I would even like them but so far sooooooo good! I have made two already and this soup was my dinner last night. It was to die for!!! I mean that. I LOVE peanut soup and this version was perfect. I wanted to make this because the weather is slowly warming up and you know that when it does, I tend to go towards cold food. I only wish I would have made this when I was going through my soup craze over the winter...Looking back, damn I ate a lot of soup over the winter. Ok, without further ado...

This soup actually had a avocado salsa. I have to say, the green and orange hues were gorgeous. I added some heat to mine and that is why it is so bright. More crackers were eaten with this. I will admit....multiply this by 2. I couldn't stop.... Oh so good. Expect to read a full post devoted to Hugh and who he is. I am in the process of digging up some info so you guys can get an idea of who he is and his food. I plan on making one of his dishes twice a week. I love the fact that most of his ingredients I have on hand. I am in the process of hunting down some fava beans, even if I have to order some! I am so happy to get to try new recipes and hopefully meet some new people.

OK, one last random thing...I am in the market for a new camera. I am going to bite the bullet and buy a new one (more than likely this weekend). Do you have a recommendation for a all purpose camera? A digital point and shoot with great quality shots? I am not looking for a SLR I want something that I can use everyday. Something fairly small and light. I want something to photograph food of course but for traveling and events as well. What is your favorite brand or camera?

I will be in and out this week but prepare yourselves for some great news that will be blogged about. (Sorry, I have to keep you waiting). I have some amazing, I mean AMAZING products to tell you about and some personal stuff. All I can say is....My dreams are coming true!

Whew! I am off and I will see you tomorrow! Have a great day.

-Heather

Another day, another week.

Wow! The weather was just amazing this past weekend...Yesterday was a little gloomy but Saturday totally made up for it.

Friday was pretty much like any other Friday. I got off work, went to Earth Fare to get some dinner items and then home to have some wine, cook and then pass out on the couch. Yeah....my life is exciting. I don't know why but Fridays are never a good night for me to have enough energy to go out and about. I really wanted to actually go out and do something however after a few phone calls and no luck I gave up.

I did get some amazing products from my most favorite company in the world...The Living Tree out of San Fransisco sent me raw living pecan butter, almond butter, sun dried tomato pesto and tahini (which I will be blogging about it more this week and what I make). I am going to be doing a tasting next week and with these products I will be making some pretty amazing things I feel.

I buzzed right in the kitchen with some extra items I picked up at Earth Fare and started my Friday evening. Of course, you know that a bottle of red was opened and this evening called for Domaine de Bajac 2007. A fine wine for friendly sipping! Smooth on the palate. Pleasant aromas reminiscent of blackberries. This wine was made with Certified Organic Grapes. I loved it! After a glass I was in my element. What I thought was going to be a boring evening turned out to be pretty relaxing and a lot of fun. One thing that you all know I love is getting in the kitchen and playing around with new recipes or just taking the items that I have on hand and try to invent a new dish of sorts. This evening was no exception. That is exactly what I did. Since I knew that my evening would pretty much consist of listening to music, reading, chatting on the phone and maybe a movie, I wanted something light. Lets face it....I wanted to snack. You already know I am famous for "snackfaces" and Friday proved to be the same. I wanted cheeses badly when I was at the store so I went for it. With the products that I had gotten prior and my grocery store run, I was set. The first course....

Simple cheese plate with parm, goat cheese, toasted bread points and red grapes. Nothing fancy...just snacky. I added some raw honey to the cheeses and it was the perfect first course to a very chill evening.

Secondly I had a simple green salad. Yellow beets that looked like neon light s were at the store and I just couldn't help myself. Fresh spinach and strawberry's. Wow, this not only looked good....It tasted amazing. Along side the salad was Roasted Tofu.
2 tablespoons reduced salt soy sauce1 tablespoon canola oil

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1/2 teaspoon chili oil

2 cloves minced garlic

1 tablespoon minced ginger (I used pickled ginger)

1 green onion, just the white part minced

1/4 cup water1 lb extra-firm tofu
Mix all the ingredients except the tofu in a small bowl. Slice the tofu in 1/2″ slices and pat dry. Lay in the bottom of a baking dish in a single layer then pour the marinade over the top. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours or overnight if you can. Half-way through marinating, flip the tofu.
Heat an oven to 400 degrees. Bake the tofu for 30 minutes, then flip the tofu pieces and bake an additional 30 minutes. The marinade will reduce and caramelize on the tofu.
Overall, it was a satisfying and flavorful meal. The vibrant colors made it even more enjoyable — when food is pretty, it does taste better!
The beet green salad might be too simple for some. I liked the simplicity of it and felt the strawberries added a nice balance to the beets and greens. The tofu is fricken’ incredible though — a perfect dish for tofu newbies. Sometimes, the brand of tofu has a lot to do with whether you enjoy a tofu meal. I’ve noticed a great variance in flavor and texture from brand to brand. I used Mori-Nu and like it the best. It’s silky smooth with minimal soybean flavor.

Lastly, (at this point I had about one more glass of wine left) my sweet tooth kicked in. I am one of those....Someone that likes a bite or two of something sweet to end a meal. Stuffed dates and mixed nuts was the perfect ending.
I stuffed these two dates with dried mango and it was awesome. You cant see it but almond butter is in the mix as well. Stuffed dates are so very simple to make and yet taste and look great. All you do is slit the date open, take the seed out and then spread some almond butter (pecan butter is my personal favorite) and then top with a slice of dried mango. These beauties were so sweet and chewy. I could have eaten 10 of them! I got organic dried mango from a company called Koplai and thought that I would try it out along with the dark chocolate covered gogi berries. It was the perfect topper for my dates! Dude....these were gooooood! I loved how they were chewy and the dark chocolate was so very good, you know my philosophy right? Anyone that knows me well has heard me say this time and time again. Three things that a women love....Mango, avocado and dark chocolate. Bring me one of these and I am in love with you ;)

There you have it. My Friday in a nutshell! Sometimes I will admit that I make amazing food, sit down to enjoy it and wish that I had someone to share it with (booohoo). Mostly, it makes me smile. Like a secret event that only I am invited to. I know that one day I will be looking back on my single years and wish that I was back here so I just try to enjoy my quite evenings. Saturday was spent with my mom. We had so much fun. We went shopping all over. It was absolutely beautiful Saturday so it was the perfect day to sit outside and have lunch. I miss my mom already. I hope that she comes back soon for a visit. I really want to get in as much time as possible with her. Sunday was spent doing the usual. Cooking for the week, laundry and getting in the mindset to go back to work.

Which brings me to today! I want to say "HAPPY SPRING" to everyone. It is officially spring people!!! I am so freakin happy! Bring on the warm weather!

Ok I gotta run, I have a million things to do! See you tomorrow.

-Heather

Chocolate covered Friday.

Dude...I am soooo freakin glad it's Friday. I am in one of those moods today where you want to be anywhere but work. It is a half day for me though so I am just counting down until I can get out of here and enjoy this nice weather. It should reach the 70's today and boy oh boy am I excited. I hope to go for a nice run today after work. I still plan on going to the Y to do some weights/intervals but getting some sun is first priority. I feel so much better when I get some much needed rays. My mom is coming to visit tomorrow and so I need to pack in the works outs as best as I can today and tomorrow morning. I started off today with some odd ball things. I couldn't help myself. For some reason Fridays become a free for all lately. I went with what my gut wanted and I am glad that I did ;)

The Raw Bakery™ produces raw, sprouted, super foods. All of our nuts and seeds have gone through the Better-than-Roasted™ process, which means that they have been soaked, sprouted and dehydrated. This process removes digestive inhibitors that are naturally occurring in all nuts, seeds and grains, resulting in a tastier product. The BTR™ process makes our foods easier to digest, which means that your body gets the most nutrition possible from these yummy foods. I have had this baby in my fridge for a few days and knew that it would be sooooo good with my coffee this morning. For some odd reason...I wanted chocolate as soon as I woke up this morning. I dont know why ;)

Blue Mountain Organics is a mission-focused company, founded to demonstrate the holistic and symbiotic relationship between people, food, and environment and between worker and business. We accomplish these goals by bringing to the public the most deliciously raw and pure organic products sourced from the most fair and conscious providers. We commit to working towards a more harmonious and sustainable world. We exist to demonstrate that business is naturally moving beyond being destructive, and even beyond sustainability, to serving as a regenerative force on earth. Click here if you want to see all that Blue Mountain Organics has to offer. They have some pretty amazing eats. I LOVED what I have tried so far...I want more!!! Thank you Serena for being so sweet and sending me Coco Joy! I loved it and now would like to try other products of yours!

After coffee and sweets I was buzzing around the office. I have been under the weather for almost a week now and I just decided this morning. No more. Fake it til you make it. I am faking it but it is working! After a few hours this was had.

12:00 p.m. Chobani peach yogurt with Kaia raw granola....Ummm can you say peach cobbler? Yep. That is what I was thinking the whole time I was eating this. My sweet tooth is out of control today. Just you wait.

After this snackage it was time for the gym. I got my carbs, I got my protein. I got these headbands in the mail too!

Pink and Brown pineapple paisley on VL SIGNATURE buttery soft stretch fabric

Eggplant purple in a super soft rayon / lycra fabric blend. Violet Love is rocking the charts with their stylish couture fashion headbands and inventively patterned tights. They just love breaking the rules, shaking things up a bit, and standing apart from the crowd, and they know you do too! Their fashion headbands can turn up the notch on your little black dress, and our sexy tights and leggings can really get heads turning. Whether you're looking for a stylish low-maintenance hair day, or you need that extra pop of color, Violet Love Headbands and Leggings are the perfect accessory to wrap yourself up in! With hundreds of fashionable prints, and the ultimate in comfort and quality, Violet Love Headbands and Tights are your new best friends. You've seen all the celeb's sporting tights, leggings, headbands and hair accessories that you love, so why let them have all the fun? Be sexy, be stylish, be fashionable, but most of all, be YOU! click HERE to see them all! This company ROCKS! I love that the headband actually fits and stays in place. I always have issues finding headbands that do the trick! This company knows what they are doing for sure! Thank you so very much for surprising me and sending me these two lovely headbands!

I put the eggplant headband on and off to the gym I went. It was a shoulder day so I really pushed it and did 60 minutes of intervals plus shoulders in between. I got off work today early and didn't have to go back so I didn't care how sweaty I got.

When I got home this was consumed promptly. Electrolytes I now know is my friend. I gulped this down and immediately felt better. I think that every ounce of water that was in me was on the gym floor when I left today. This worked it's magic in a matter of minutes! After about 30 minutes my tum tum was like "Jeeze girlfriend, put some fuel in me!" I obeyed the calling.

Raw veggies and hummus. I loved this cool refreshing lunch. I am loving raw foods right now. During the Spring and Summer it is so much easier for me to eat this way.

I have no idea what will be for dinner. It is Friday and I plan to meet up with a friend for dinner somewhere. I will have to wait and see what happens. I hope you all have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend! I will follow-up with you all on Monday morning with the visit that my Mom is paying me. It should be FUN!

See ya!

-Heather