RAW Pesto Pasta

This raw pasta dish turned out surprisingly good and easy.

We invested in this spiraler online. My husband bought it on Amazon after researching reviews. 

You can use zucchini or yellow squash and spiral about 2-3 of them depending on their size. You can also use a mandoline slicer or a veggie peeler. I actually like the size and texture of using the veggie peeler but it takes longer.

In the blender I added an avocado (avocados add body, nutrition, and can help make a raw dish more filling), a cup of sun dried tomatoes, a large bunch of basil, 2 cloves garlic, 2-3 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

In a separate bowl I chopped 1/2 an onion (fine chop is better) and 3 roma tomatoes.

Then I added them and the pesto the past an tossed until well coated.

If you like sprinkle on some nutritional yeast. Dinners ready!

Banana Bread Flax Crackers

You will need: 4 ripe bananas 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/8 tsp vanilla or 1 vanilla bean 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1 2/3 c pitted dates, or 15 dates 1 14 oz bag of flax seeds (or 2 1/3 c.) Makes 4 1/2 trays Blend all ingredients together until smooth except for the flax crackers. Then in a separate bowl add the banana mixture to the flax crackers and mix well. Add about 1/4 of the mixture, or using a spatula take a couple of scoops onto a tray and spread evenly with the spatula. Once well spread, gently score the crackers into the size you would like your crackers to be. Place into the dehydrator and set timer for 10 hours on 105 degrees. After 4 hours they should be ready to flip. Simply flip onto a clean tray with no liner, peel off liner, and put back into the dehydrator for the remaining time. We usually let it go over night, Your crackers will be ready in the morning! Enjoy with a breakfast smoothie. YUM!

In The Kitchen: Must Have Tools

There are a few essentials to have in the kitchen if you are going to be preparing alot of your own food, and eating raw. 

My Favorites are:

#1. A Vitamix.

These are spendy. But let me tell you, it makes life so much easier. It helps with all your raw desserts, nut butters, flours, grinding, salad dressings, daily smoothies, and the list goes on. Before we bought this we went through 3 Cuisinarts in one year. And in 5 years the Vitamix hasnt let us down. Even if it does it has a 7 year warranty. 
Another option, Ebay has some great deals on used ones.

#2 A Juicer.

We love the Jack LaLanne juicer. It has a wide mouth which makes a huge difference in juicing, and so far it had held up. Ours is about 6 years old and still does the job. Costco has the best deal for these, I believe they are $90 there.

#3 The Excalibur.

We asked around and did research before we purchased a dehydrator and this one got great reviews and were adding ours..we love it. So simple, tons of room. We got the 9 tray and seldom fill it completely up. were usually at 5 trays so I could see the 5 tray being practical, although I would love to start getting it maxed out. Its just a matter of time between prep, and baby. We got ours on Amazon.com.

So those are my 3 favorite items aside from the basic essentials. These make a big difference in time and ease for our whole food / raw food prep.

Bountiful Basket for This Week

I think this is such a great deal. We received a box full of organic produce for $25. If you don't opt for the organic its only $15 but I think its well worth the upgrade. Its so nice to wash everything as soon as I get it in the house and put it away cleaned for convenience later. I immediately made us a nice dinner salad using the iceberg, endive, green onion, nectarines, carrots and broccoli. I made a dressing of sesame oil, soy sauce, olive oil, garlic, and agave. 

Chop up and use the broccoli stem too, its very tasty and nutritious. Also, keep the root end of the green onions to plant. Since these are organic I like replant seeds or cuttings for my garden, and of course compost what we dont use.

On Saturday night we utilized some of our basket to make veggie wraps!
The swiss chard leaves are perfect for wraps. I also used carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, green onions, cabbage (that I already had) and made a tahini sauce.

Tahini Sauce:
1/2 c sesame seeds
1/2 c water
1 clove garlic
juice of half a lemon
1/2 a red bell pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Then I added a spoon full of beans that I was making from the crock pot.

They were delicious!

An Organic U-Pick Garden in CA

If we go to SBP next year I would love to stop here.
Classic Organic
U-Pick Garden

DIY Baby Gift

We got this as a baby shower gift and I just loved and appreciated this DIY gift. How creative and thoughtful it was to get a gorgeously illustrated book (by Tyler Florence called Start Fresh on recipes for your baby and great information for starting them out), some canning jars with some custom made labels, chalkboard stickers and chalk. All packed it into an adorable 

wire basket with a big burlap bow!

Sale on Avocados

I saw this in the Food City add and had to post it. Avocados 5 for $1. Probably small but still a good deal. Friday and Saturday only and a limit of 10 per visit.

GARDEN THYME (corny I know ;) )

In the heat of August things could be looking better. Those pesky squash bugs are destroying my pumpkin vines. I've been reading up on natural ways to get rid of them. Neem oil is one of them and I've sprayed the vines heavily with the 1/2 tsp to 1 qt mixture 3 times in the last 4 days and they're still in there. I'm finding tons of bugs, eggs,  and babies. I also read to plant marigolds all around. There is a natural chemical the flowers and roots produce that the bugs don't like, plus they're pretty, attract pollinators, and are edible. When I went to the Nursary they said I can't plant those for another three weeks until it cools down. I guess I'll just keep squashing and spraying till then.  I also read garlic chives and nasturtium's will keep squash bugs away. I will keep that in mind for next time and look heavily into combination or companion gardening.

Squash bugs. They have been squashed!

Squash bug eggs.

My watermelon is covered, but some of the leaves are yellowing. I haven't figured out why yet.

FEED THE BABY: Steamed Pumpkin

Steamed Pumpkin

This little pumpkin came from our garden. What better thing to feed to your baby than organic, fresh, homegrown vegetables. I think so. And it is so simple.

 Start with a fresh pumpkin.

 Cut it in half and remove the seeds. I keep them to replant later.

 I made my own steamer. A rack in a basic pan with about an inch of water in the bottom but if you have a steam rack or steam basket use that. Turn on Med-High heat until squash is soft. About 20-30 mins.

I used an immersion blender and added a little water and blended till smooth.

Baby Likes it!

RAWvolution: Raw Food Cuisine

I found this to be a really good book by Matt Amsden. I picked it up at a yard sale for $2! Tons of great and do-able recipes that taste and look great. Check out his website for more inspiration. He even has a service that delivers raw meals right to your door. Of course learning yourself is the best and more budget friendly way to go. This is a great book to have in your library.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-STzXUgKX4

Bountiful Basket

I ordered my Organic Basket today from Bountiful Baskets. Check in on Friday to see what I get and what is on the meal plan.

LETS VEG: Garden Bruschetta

My Recipe featured on Little Little This That Blog.

Check it out for the recipe.

I gifted it. 

Wine, Pane Bianco Bread, and bought a jar and chalkboard stickers at World Market. (LOVE World Market!!!)

Thrifty Tips:

It is essential that you keep your refrigerator cleaned out! How many times have you gone through it weeks after purchasing that interesting vegetable only to find that you completely forgot about it since it was buried in the depths of your refrigerator? Not anymore. Think of how much waste and money can be avoided if every purchase is utilized.

Tips to prevent waste and help keep food costs down:

* Clean your refrigerator weekly.

*Any items unused and you are not going to any time soon, chop up and freeze-either fruit or vegetable. Keep this in mind too if you have grown it. 

* Plan your Friday meal as clean-out-the-refrigerator-night. More on that later.

* Dont over buy. It is so easy to do. Perhaps only buy for 3 days worth of meals and snacks, you will probably find you still have enough for a fourth day.

*Meal Plan. Buy only what you need unless...

*there is a SALE. I have found it is amazing to buy tons of tomatoes, squash, bell peppers, or other produce when there is an amazing sale on them, especially right now in the late summer when harvesting is at its peak. You will find great competitive prices even if you have to travel to a few stores, it will be worth it. I promise you will love pulling out a bunch of already prepped (cleaned and cut to size) food from the freezer, throwing it together with your stir fried rice for an easy, inexpensive and healthy meal.

*Buy in Bulk. search internet prices for certain items. I hope to keep an updated guide of where to purchase specialty items for less and better quality. See my buying guide.

*Take advantage of any co-ops in your area. Even the upgraded organic basket we get is a great deal. As soon as you get it, plan out a few meals around the contents. Utilize everything. We use Bountiful Baskets and for the most part we are pleased with what we get, and they are available in many areas. 

* Grow a garden.

Do you have any good money saving ideas? We'd love to hear them.

Trip to Leppin Ranch - Winslow, AZ

Fresh produce. 
In a neighborhood right off the first exit from I-40 of of Papago Blvd. you will find Leppin Ranch. Check out the photos of our visit this July. If you are in the neighborhood August 25 stop in for their Grand Opening. See their website for more info and events. 

http://www.leppinranchevents.com/

Owner Paula and her Son

Gorgeous herb garden

Dont forget to grab a dozen or two of her fresh blue eggs. I LOVE blue eggs!!

Tuscan Melon

Kale

On site market. Call first for availability. Cant wait for the live music on the patio!

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