Veg Vivaciously: May 2012

5/29/2012

Strawberry Acai Power Boost Smoothie

Strawberry Acai Power Boost Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

3 cups strawberries

1 tbsp acai powder

1 frozen banana

2 cups coconut milk

Makes about 35 ozs

Put everything in your Vitamix blender and blend into a juicy smoothie perfection!

This is a great smoothie for those of you who need an extra pick-me-up! It's also a great replacement for coffee. Unlike coffee, which has a temporary stimulant (i.e., caffeine- to learn more about avoiding coffee and tea read this), acai has no caffeine, but has natural energy boosting components to it. Not to mention the acai berry is a superfood! It's loaded with antioxidants! Try this smoothie, its like drinking a berry shake for breakfast!

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5/28/2012

Carrot-Aid Cocktail Juice

Carrot-Aid Cocktail Juice

INGREDIENTS

1 lb organic carrots
1 organic lemon (peel cut off - leaving the white outer layer)
1 inch pc of ginger (optional)

Makes about 20 ozs

Put it all in your juicer and juice!

As per the norm...No juicer? No problem! Blend in your Vitamix. Then strain through a nut milk bag or a paint strainer bag...and pour in your storage container. For detailed instructions on making juice in the blender click here.

I'm tellin ya right now, if you do not love all things tart, this is NOT the juice for you! It's light, refreshing, yet slightly tart. It's not over bearingly tart or hard to get down...but you do know what lemons taste like, right? So, uuum...yeah! It has the lemon flavor mixed in with the carrots, which gives it a great crisp sweetness, thats not too sweet and not too "carroty" <----yes that's a word, I know cause I just made it up! *smile*

I hope you enjoy this lil cocktail, as much as I did!

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Copyright © 2011-2012 Veg Vivaciously All Rights Reserved.

Avocado Spring Salad

I was starving today. I woke up around 8:30am, which is sleeping late for me. But I stayed in bed until around noon. Needless to say when I managed to roll myself out of bed, I realized, I hadn't gone grocery shopping or planned my meals for next week! *yikes* Which meant that, I really didn't have much for options to eat RIGHT NOW! ...And the bear in my tummy was growling!!! So I managed to whip up this handy dandy simple salad from left overs in my fridge...

Avocado Spring Salad and Carrot-Aid Juice

INGREDIENTS

5 oz of Organic Spring Salad Mix
1 Avocado
A little NOT-cho cheese /or/ Tahini Salad Dressing
1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
1 tsp hemp seeds (optional)
1 tsp flax seeds (optional)

I literally put salad in bowl, chopped my avocado and then poured my NOT-cho Cheese on top...then I sprinkled a little chia seeds, hemp seeds and flax seeds on top. This added extra protein, amino's and omega 3's!

I was tired and lazy before this salad, now I seriously have a little energy...I think I'll manage to make my way by the pool side with a book, now! I hope you all have a beautiful Memorial Day!

Avocado Spring Salad

TIP:

I usually keep a little seed mix in my pantry. I sprinkle it on fruit and salad very often. It's a great way to get added protein, when you need that extra boost. So here's what I do, I mix 1/4 cup of each: chia seed, hemp seed and flax seed...put them in a container and shake them to mix them up. Then you have a great little sprinkle for your light meals.

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5/27/2012

Loaded Vit C Smoothie

Loaded Vitamin C Smoothie

INGREDIENTS

2 cups strawberries
2 cups pineapple
2 bananas
2 cups orange juice (with a lil pulp)
1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

Makes about 35-40 ozs

Put everything in your Vitamix blender and blend into a juicy smoothie perfection!

This smoothie is light and refreshing. A perfect blend of all the ingredients. No flavor over powers the other...so refreshing on this 90+ degree day!

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5/25/2012

Salad Juice


*Salad Juice*

INGREDIENTS

4 cups organic spinach
7 organic gala apples
1 cup organic dandelion greens
5 oz organic spring lettuce
2 garlic cloves
1 inch ginger
1 tsp spirulina

Makes 40 oz

Juice everything!

No juicer? No problem! Blend in your Vitamix. Then strain through a nut milk bag or a paint strainer bag...and pour in your storage container. For detailed instructions on making juice in the blender click here.

This juice is simply amazing! You barely taste the ginger and garlic. It's almost as faint as if it was in a salad...Hence the name: Salad Juice! (so I have to work on my creative side when it comes to naming dishes *shrugs*)...but seriously, it's sweet and you won't be able to put it down. I was feeling a lil bit under the weather this week, tired, fatigued, just exhausted...this juice gave me the pick me up I needed...try it! It will whip you up too! *smile*

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5/24/2012

Pineapple Carrot Juice

Someone told me that I wouldn't be able to juice pineapples in my new juicer (the Omega 8006)...I proved them wrong! Here's what I did, I juiced a lil pineapple, then a lil carrot, then a lil pineapple, then a lil carrot...I did the carrots after the pineapple so that any pulp that would try to stick, would be pushed out and turned into juice from the carrot and boy oh boy did my idea work...here's the whole recipe...

Pineapple Carrot Juice

INGREDIENTS

1 organic pineapple (skin removed)
1 1/2 lbs of organic carrots

Makes 32 oz

Put it all in your juicer and juice!

This juice is a sweet pineapple tasting carrot juice! I really can't describe it...you just have to try it!

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Copyright © 2011-2012 Veg Vivaciously All Rights Reserved.

5/18/2012

Green Citrus Juice

I'm still in that "new kind of love" with my new juicer! I'm just juicing anything. Folks that know me better be careful coming over, otherwise you might get juiced too! ha ha ha ha (just kidding)...

But seriously, its like I'm falling in love with juice all over again. I had to share this morning's juice with you, even though its a total food combining "NO! No!"... For those of you who are new to this blog and my posts, I'm always ranting about how we should be careful about food combing. You can read here to learn why. So, I broke my own rule... *lightly smacks hand*

Green Citrus Juice

INGREDIENTS

3 cups organic kale
1 large organic grapefruit
2 large organic oranges
1 large cucumber
3 pieces of celery
1 strawberry (why one strawberry? I simply wanted to see if my juicer would juice a strawberry...LOL!)

Makes about 32 ozs

Juice everything! No juicer? No problem! Blend in your Vitamix. Then strain through a nut milk bag or a paint strainer bag...and pour in your storage container. For detailed instructions on making juice in the blender click here.

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5/17/2012

RAW Carrot Coconut Protein Bars

RAW Carrot Coconut Protein Bars

Everyone always asks me, "what do I do with juice pulp?", well I don't throw it out! Nothing goes to waste in this veg household! Not even that good organic juice pulp. I just love it! I mean how could you throw it out? It's so pretty! It screams freeze me! Save me! Fill your body with all my nutrients! I mean look at it!

Not to mention, its only finely chopped veggies, right? When your juicer crushes your veggies and pulls the juices from them, it spits out the finely chopped particles that it couldn't juice. That doesn't mean that it pulled the nutrients from it, it simply means these are the pieces the juicer missed. The pieces the juicer got, well... you drank it! No need to throw this stuff out...

So you've seen the RAW Veggie burgers I made from pulp, but now let me share this nice treat with ya.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut shavings
2-3 cups carrot pulp (to your taste)
2 cups yellow raisins (presoaked in water to soften)
1/2 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1 - 1 1/2 cup raw organic honey /or/ raw organic carmel sauce
1-2 tbsps cinnamon
1 dash of allspice

Making the Carrot Coconut Protein Bars

Put the carrot pulp and the shredded coconut in a bowl.
Throw in your chia and hemp seeds along with your cinnamon and allspice.
Stir and mix thoroughly.
Add your raw honey or raw caramel sauce (this will help it stick)
Stir in with a spoon. I started out this way, but then eventually used my hands. This helped me to determine, how much to add in to make it stick. Please feel free to add more or less to your liking. I used honey, in this recipe, but if you use the caramel recipe, you may need to add more.
Add the raisins by hand.
Then take your pan and put coconut shavings at the bottom (this is optional, I do it to help it from sticking to the pan).
Put your mixture in the pan and pat down until solid, sticking together and even.
Again another option: Put coconut shavings on top. I do this only to help it "look pretty". But its not mandatory.
I also lightly cut it prior to it setting.
Put it in the fridge for an hour or two to set...then eat it!

Right before setting in the fridge

By the way, if you're wondering where the protein is in the bar read about chia and hemp seeds below...you'll be surprised how powerful those two little seeds are and how high in protein they are. Check this out...

Chia Seeds: The chia seed is a "superfood" that has twice the protein of any other seed or grain and five times the calcium of milk. They contain boron which is a trace mineral that helps with the absorption of calcium. The essential fatty acids, Omega 3 and Omega 6 are also present in the seeds., which is why there was no oil needed in these bars. Here is a list of the greatness that is wrapped up in each of these little tiny seeds:

As I mentioned, Chia has a very good ratio of omega-3 oil to omega-6 oil; with 20-30% protein, 35% oil, 25% fiber. Gluten-free and very low-sodium. Hemp Powder: Hemp contains protein that provides a host of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to survive. It is rich in the antioxidant zinc and the electrolyte magnesium. It also contains some potassium which is lost in sweat and iron which your body uses to carry oxygen in the blood. Hemp protein provides 20 amino acids -- the building blocks of protein -- including the 10 essential amino acids that your body can't produce itself. Also, studies show that the hemp seed contains 37% protein, 43% fiber, no net carbs. It also comes with the benefit of 9% beneficial fats (omega-3,-6, and -9 plus GLA), chlorophyll, vitamin E and iron. I was hesitant about using this product, when I first started implementing superfoods into my diet, because of its origin; However, hemp has managed to turn into one of my favorite all natural protein supplements because unlike whey it digests immediately, and does not turn into fat. Oh and by the way, although this seed does come from the cannabis plant, it does not have the same effect as the actual plant...so have no worries, this is not a hallucinagen and is completely legal.

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5/16/2012

Simple RAW Mac ~N~ Cheese

By the time you all see this post, my house will be fresh out of Mac ~N~ Cheese! Yes, it's just that good!

Utensils:

Cheese shredder
Potato Peeler

It might also help to get:

Zucchini 1, 2 or more... (however much pasta you intend to make)
A pinch of celtic sea salt
Mac ~N~ Cheese Sauce
RAW Taco Meat (optional)

Take your potato peeler and peel the green outer layer from the zucchini. Then proceed to shredding it. It will look like little fine pieces of shredded zucchini, like so...

I probably should have done a close up of the shredded zucchini to show you how it looks close up. It's not curled, but its still in thick small pieces and can mimic an uncurled macaroni noodle.

Now, I realize this sounds crazy but sprinkle a little pinch of celtic sea salt on your pasta and massage it in. It doesn't need to be a deep tissue massage, just make sure the salt gets all around. *smile*

Next...add your Mac ~N~ Cheese Sauce. Now you have a simple raw mac and cheese...

Again, I realize I should have gotten a close up to show you this and how gorgeous it is up close...I know...I know...I have to do better...but I'm getting there! But you see how you have Mac ~N~ Cheese now? mmmmm but wait! stop nibbling!!!! Now you have a couple of options

Option 1: If you want it to look and taste like "baked" mac and cheese, simply add some of that RAW Taco Meat, you remember we made that some time ago when we made raw taco's? Well don't worry, it won't turn this into a taco, but if you lightly sprinkle a tad bit on the top it will give it a "crust like" appearance and taste.

AND/OR

Option 2: Sit it in the dehydrator for about 20-30 mins to "un-bake" it. Doing this will help the cheese and pasta come together nicely like "real" mac and cheese and you're not baking the nutrients out. If you don't have a dehydrator, simply leave it on your counter at room temperature for an hour or longer if your zucchini was not at room temperature when shredding.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

TIP: If you prefer a more traditional style noodle, you can always spiralize the zucchini with a spirulizer and then cut it into small pieces. It's not the perfect macaroni noodle look, but its a little closer than the shredded zucchini. I've tried them both and guess what? They both taste the same. *smile*

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5/15/2012

Raw Mac~N~Cheese Sauce

I wanted "comfort" food and thought why not make what I love RAW!!! (I actually growled and said RAWWWWRRRR when I typed that! *smile*) So I made some magnificent mac and cheese. I'm posting this cheese sauce separately, because, I realize many are not raw, some just like the cheese recipe's for dips, sauces and to put over normal pasta, and others are lactose intolerant...we all have our individual reason's for not using dairy, some may even still eat dairy but like to switch up...whatever life path you have, I respect it...just enjoy the cheese! LOL

Raw Mac ~N~ Cheese Sauce

INGREDIENTS

1 cup raw cashews (presoaked)
1/2 red pepper
1 tsp celtic sea salt
juice from 1/2 lemon
2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp onion flakes
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp parsley
1 tsp basil
1 tsp braggs liquid aminos (optional)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4-1/2 cup water (as needed)

Put everything in your Vitamix blender and blend! Now you have a Raw Mac ~N~ Cheese sauce that tastes "real".

TIP:

Add the water sparingly, you can make this sauce as thin or thick as you like. Just remember, when refrigerated, it will thicken up.

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5/14/2012

Fresh ~ N ~ Fruity Salad

I'm beginning to make a large fruit salad at the beginning of the week. I love taking this to work for breakfast. It always goes great with a nice fruit smoothie...or even as a mid morning snack.

Fresh ~N~ Fruity Salad

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs Strawberries
5 Kiwis
4 Bananas
3 Mangos
about a half cup of goji berries (dried)
3 tbsp shredded coconut

Chop your fruit to the size of your liking, put it in a bowl and mix together. This is great for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, dessert, or as a topping over raw ice cream.

TIP:

For an added treat, take some fresh squeezed orange juice and sprinkle over the fruit salad. It will provide a nice juice for the fruit and spread the acid so the banana's don't brown quickly.
If you're worried about putting the "dried" goji berries in with the soft fruit...don't be! They will soften from the pineapple and strawberry juices and will be just like they were not ever dried at all! Try it! You'll love it!

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5/29/2012

Strawberry Acai Power Boost Smoothie

5/28/2012

Carrot-Aid Cocktail Juice

Avocado Spring Salad

5/27/2012

Loaded Vit C Smoothie

5/25/2012

Salad Juice

5/24/2012

Pineapple Carrot Juice

5/18/2012

Green Citrus Juice

5/17/2012

RAW Carrot Coconut Protein Bars

5/16/2012

Simple RAW Mac ~N~ Cheese

5/15/2012

Raw Mac~N~Cheese Sauce

5/14/2012

Fresh ~ N ~ Fruity Salad