Dressing up the Greens

I'm always fanatically looking for new salad dressings to add to my repertoire, especially since I try to make greens a big thing in my lifestyle. Often I like just the simple, like a drizzle of olive or flax oil with some course sea salt and a squirt of fresh lemon...but sometimes, especially when I'm feeling really hungry, I like something more complex.

I was at a potluck yesterday and one of my friends, Lydia, brought a salad with the most lovely dressing...I liked it so much I asked her to send it to me so I could publish it on my blog. She's really into raw food and running too, so she's very inspring for me to chat with.

So here's the lovely recipe she dreamed up...

Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

3 Tbsp White Balsamic Vinegar

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2 Tbsp Flax Seed Oil (you could also use/mix coconut and olive oil)

1/2 Lemon, juiced

1 tsp Lemon zest

1 tsp Tahini (I bet you could use Dijon mustard for a similar effect if you don't have Tahini)

1 Tbsp Raw Honey or Pure Maple Syrup

2 Tbsp Poppy Seeds

1/2 to 3/4 cup H2O

Dash of Sea Salt

Thoroughly blend garlic w/ balsamic vinegar. Add remaining ingredients. Add more honey, lemon, or vinegar to taste. If you find it entirely too tart, you could add a drop of liquid stevia. Note: given an hour, the dressing will cure moderately. Store in fridge.

And if you have any lovely, simple recipes you love to splash your salads with...drop a note in the comment box and tell me about it.

And I'm sorry I haven't been posting regularly for a while...it's not that I've been lazy, we've been having a crazy winter (with computer problems) and I've been longing to be more regular with the blogging...so I'm trying. :)

Keeping Accountable

I always used to have the idea that 3 meals a day and no snacking was the best idea for me...because, by my logic, I thought that by the time we'd eat our meals I'd be really hungry and ready to eat, so then I'd enjoy the food more.

Nope. Doesn't work for me anymore (and I wonder if it actually did). I've discovered what works best for me is small meals and snacks...about 2-3 snacks a day. Before, because I was so ravenously hungry I'd eat more than I would normally and not feel as nice...but now because I've had a snack a couple hours before, I'm not starved...therefore I eat the right amount of food at meal times.

This way I keep my metabolism revved all day, I feel good always, I'm never so weak I'm about to tip over, and it keeps my energy levels better.

I also like to keep myself accountable for how much water or herbal tea I drink, how much exercise I do, and what kind of foods I eat. I print out lists for myself off the computer (like the example below) and try to make sure by the end of the day I've eaten lots of healthy, raw foods, drank 8-10 glasses of water, and done something physical.

Here's today's (of what I've done so far):

Breakfast~ 1 glass of Ani Phyo's Cacao Banana Smoothie (check out her new site) *sniffles* today I ran out of my raw cacao nibs...sigh...I love that stuff

Snack~ None today

Lunch~ 1/2 cup steel-cut oats with cinnamon,1 tsp. raw honey, and 1 TB. grape nuts

Snack~ organic baby carrots

Dinner~ (not exactly sure yet, but I know there will be some delish Caesar salad)

Water~ OOOO (two green tea)

Fitness~ ran 4 miles

You can print out something similar to this on your own PC and then fill out what you've drank, eaten, or exercised during the day. I like making stuff like this fun with colored pencils and doodles...I'm the kind of person that needs to keep myself accountable to eat healthy and if you are too, then do something similar to this. I'm sort of an "organized" person so I even keep checklists of foods that I try to eat every day so I cover my grounds nutritionally (such as lots of leafy greens, a fruit or green smoothie, get my EFA's through raw oils like olive oil or avocado, ect).

Have fun!

Lately I've been more structured with my running...altho' I'm very much a novice, I feel like I'm getting a little better, even looking forward to it a bit more.

I guess in all honesty, I don't really like running...but I do love the feeling afterwards...it's so amazing...like a clean energy burning through you and I usually have a lot more energy for the rest of the day. I like to run in the morning, when I first get up and my stomach is empty. Afterwards, I've been experimenting with green smoothies and protein shakes for recovery and re-hydrating my body. It's amazing how detoxing vigorous exercise really is...afterwards, I sweat like crazy and get that pink glow all over, and I usually have a little bit of phlegm to get rid of. It's odd too, sometimes after a run all my dead skin on my lips just comes off by itself.

This morning I ran 3 miles on the treadmill and then I fueled my body for the rest of the day with this:

I call it...

Runner's Smoothie (ain't I original??? I try, lol)

1 tsp. maca (help get your adrenals back on track)

1 aloe vera leaf (gel)

1 tsp. raw honey

2 leaves of kale (stemmed)

3 oz. spinach

1/2 navel orange

1 banana (froz.)

1 tsp. raw coconut oil

Blend this all up with a little water and some ice cubes. When it's whirled up, top with bee pollen and raw cacao nibs for maxium energy!

If any of you guys are into running, I want your biggest tips...post them in the comment box below. I especially love info with running raw, which I'm really excited about right now. Tell me your secrets.

Absence makes the heart grow...fonder?

Well, maybe not in the case of blogging...but this time, I actually have a really good reason for not having done a post in a while.

Our family is currently recording a new CD and now that my sister Lizzy is married, I am helping with the producing and recording. It's been very stretching for me, but fun at the same time, since I really love music. We have one more set of recording to do in a few weeks, but for the moment we're done.

As soon as our first set of recording was finished, we headed down to the states for a funeral of a very dear friend of ours, who we've known all our lives pretty much. It was so special to be there, he was an amazing man who passionately loved the Lord. His family was amazing, even rejoicing with smiles at his funeral, simply because they know that their Dad is with Jesus. I've never seen a family like that! He has nine children and all of them are such incredible people with such limitless hope.

Anyway recording and going to that special funeral occupied about 3 weeks of my time, where I simply didn't even have a minute to post...but now I'm back and excited to try and post more regularly.

While we were recording, a few of us here had colds (all year I don't think I had a cold and then...OF COURSE...had to have one when I needed to record my voice!) and so I tried everything I could possibly do to get healthier. I ate up to ten cloves of garlic a day, I drank 2 oz. of organic Noni juice a day, took vitamins, ate a lot of oranges and grapefruit...and even went on a one day Master Cleanse. And you know what? I got slowly better, but not fast enough...but God was so good. I prayed to Him and asked that if He would just heal my voice long enough to record that would be fine. And that's exactly what He did. I'd go to record with a stuffed nose and when I started to sing, it didn't even sound like I had a cold.


Lately, I've been starting to fall in love with raw foods all over again...and I'm stoked about getting more of it in my life.

Little Goals...Big Changes

I, among millions of others I'm sure, have written out my New Year's Resolutions tonight. But this year, I was a lot more specific than I'm usually. Really, I think that's so valuable. Instead of writing down the usual resolve like "I'm going to be more fit this year", I would write something more like this "I'm going to master my Intermediate Pilate's DVD by the end of this year". When you write down EXACTLY what you want to do, it's so much easier to carry out.

I broke down pretty much ALL my goals into very doable aspirations and I'm really hyped about carrying them out as much as I can.

Sometimes, I think, people that have such big aspirations often forget how to bring them to pass, which would be with small choices. I think of my Dad...he's such a lover of hot chocolate and iced tea, but now he's pretty much given them up entirely. Now he drinks 2-4 mugs of green tea a day. Truly, little changes make a big difference.

Here's some of my new year's goals for 2009...

Healthwise:

• I'm challenging myself to an entire year without refined sugar...this is big for me, because whether or not I'm a health nut or not, there are a few bad foods I often find room for, like frozen yogurt (usually very sugary) or the standard chocolate bars...but NO! This year, I'm getting full of gumption and I'm going to forsake it, except for organic or very dark chocolate bars (because my quality of life would decrease dramatically without it, lol)

• I'm going to replace my body products (like lotions, makeup, and nail polish) with more natural versions. Pretty near all my stuff already is very natural, but I want to step it up a bit more, especially with my makeup. I also want to learn more how to make my own products and creams (I'm aching to own the new "Green Beauty Guide" book ...Shannonmarie wrote a great review on it, even getting an interview with the author, check it out).

• I want to work toward a more super-healthy, energy-charged diet...eating WAY more leafy greens and fruits than I do already.

Spiritually:

• I’m going to be more “in the moment” with Jesus, always with Him in everything, depending and trusting in Him. He alone is wise and good…so when I can't see His hand, I’m going trust His heart.

• I’m going to spend more time with the Lord…with my Bible, prayer notebook, fun pencils, and my tea. I want to know His heart better, deep down. I want Him to share everything with Him.

• I’m going to love challenges and not let them beat me. I can do anything with God’s help. That doesn't leave much room for doubt or failure.

So what are you New Year's dreams and goals? Little and big? Comment below and tell me. Just writing something down can help make those goals much more attainable. Start small and see what happens.

Pineapple Dreams

Despite the fact that the weather is acting like it's the dead of winter here, I'm finding that I'm craving a lot of "summery", light, and fruity drinks. I've been pretty consistent with my exercise lately, which I like to do as soon as wake up. After an hour or so of exercise, I'm very much ready for something refreshing. Maybe it's because I'm all sweaty and hot that I crave the cold, fruity drinks.

Here's one of my favorites...the famous Pina Colada, redone, raw style! Keep in mind my measurements are just a guideline for you, add whatever you wish, and dabble to your heart's content.

Aloha Pineapple Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 not-frozen banana

1/4 quarter of a ripe pineapple

2 mandarin oranges

3 T. shredded, unsweetened coconut (or skip this in the blending and add for a topping after)

1 tsp. raw coconut oil

1/2 c. ice

And have fresh coconut water (from a young coconut) for the liquid base. This tastes amazing. If you like it thicker, add some more banana, a frozen peach or nectarine, or half of an apple or pear. Add some coconut extract for a bit more of a coconut flare if you like. And as usual, I love topping my smoothies with bee pollen.

Right now I'm impatiently waiting another pineapple to ripen. Oh, I simply adore the flavour of the exotic pineapple!

I can't believe how quickly Christmas is coming up...only a few days really...I'm so stoked about the holidays...my sister and her new husband are coming down for it and I know we'll have a splendid time.

I just wanted to thank you all so much for the comments you left on my last post. They meant A LOT to me, and were SO encouraging, each and every one!!! I'm very grateful for loving people, whom I haven't even met, who truly care about one another. Thank you!

Life means more...

A couple days ago my family and I were in a car accident...we were on our way to do a concert, so we had our trailer hooked up to our van.

We hit black ice, and our van and trailer went out of control, going 103 kms and we slid across 3 lanes and a median and landed backwards on the other side of the ditch. It was the wildest, most frightening ride of my life, especially since I didn't have my seatbelt on (I always will now). Our van stayed upright, which was an absolute miracle, but our trailer came off the hitch and flipped. The angels were sure working overtime, but I don't think any of us have ever been so scared. Everything happened so quickly and suddenly thoughts like "Is this when I die?" come racing through your head. The police, ambulance, and fire fighters were all there, and all of them could not believe we hadn't rolled going at such a speed. It could have been our last day on this earth, as well as others, as the highway was so busy, but there was only about a 5 second break when we crossed the meridian over to the other 2 (oncoming traffic) lanes when no one was there. God kept the traffic away for those few seconds...just enough for us to cross.

I feel like I can look at life a bit differently now...as soon as our van came to a halt and we looked around to see if everyone was alright, tears filled my eyes...I looked over at my family and thought to myself, "Why do I sweat the small stuff, why don't I just love instead?"

Life is short, so short. I feel like I know that better now and I want to make my life count even more than I did before...a brush with death gives you a new perspective...but oh, how much better it would be, if I could realize that without an accident! God kept me and my family safe, so He has purposes for us to live here a while longer...and I want to love Him back and love my family more because of it.

Just love...some things really just don't matter.