See These Ice Cubes, See These (raw) Ice Creams?

Ok, so I'm not Snoop Dogg, nor have I ever claimed to be, but I can drop some things if they're hot (ie, coffee, a potato, a skillet, even sunglasses, if they've been sitting in my car too long).  When it does get hot enough in my car, it makes me think that it's time to make something cold, like...Cinnamon Cashew Ice Cream!  No ice cream maker needed.

If you've never tried a RAW ice cream before, because you've turned your nose up to it or because Cold Stone is right around the corner, let me tell you...you are missing out!  This completely raw and vegan is so rich, creamy, sweet and sure to satisfy your summer cravings.  Why?  It's cashew based.  Trust me, I am not posting this for health reasons, although I could.  You'll see!

Ice Cream Base:
1 c. cashews (raw, not roasted and salted)
1 1/2 c. water or raw almond milk (or an even mix of both)
1/3 c. raw agave
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/3 c. raisins (This gives the ice cream a rich, buttery flavor)
1 tsp. organic vanilla
1 Tbsp. raw coconut oil

Directions:

1. Take all the above ingredients and blend in blender for a couple of min. or until smooth.
2. Now, you have a perfectly good vanilla ice cream base. At this point stir in: 1/2 tsp. cinnamon & your choice of the following (you may add up to a 1/4 cup total): carob chips, dk chocolate chips, raw nuts, raisins, fresh or dehydrated fruit.
3. Add the mixture to a glass pan/bowl (or ice cube trays) and freeze up to 2 hrs. in freezer, checking periodically until firm yet creamy enough to eat.  Makes 4 servings, but if you're like me, it's only 1 :)

All base ingredients are added to blender

After all base ingredients are blened

Pour into glass dish after the extras have been added, then place in freezer.

 The end product!

Finally- A Healthy Fritter!

For those of you that love the good old-fashioned Middle Eastern Falafel (like me), I've got a great, healthy alternative to this naughty deep fried fritter.  This recipe requires a food dehydrator, but if you don't have one, you can set your oven at the lowest temp. (usually 175 degrees) and keep the oven door cracked open a bit and bake 1 hr. each side (this is not considered RAW, however, if you take the oven route).

Falafels taste great with tahini sauce, which is simply a sesame seed based dip.  Below, you'll find my extremely satisfying and healthy version of falafel and tahini sauce.  You won't miss the deep fryer!

FALAFEL:

2 portobello mushroom caps - cubed
2 medium carrots - peeled and sliced
1/2 small onion - diced
1 garlic clove - sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
3/4 cup raw almonds
3/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup chopped parsley or cilantro
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds

Mix together the mushrooms, carrots, onion, garlic, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Spread on Teflex-lined dehydrator trays and dehydrate at 115F for 1 hour. After dehydration, pulse the mixture in a food processor to achieve small pieces. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
In a food processor, grind the nuts and sunflower seeds to a crumbly texture. Add the ground nuts, cilantro, cumin and lemon juice to the mushroom-vegetable mixture and mix thoroughly, seasoning with salt and pepper. Form into spheres, and roll each one in a mix of ground flaxseeds and sesame seeds. Dehydrate on a screen-lined tray for 2 hours before serving.  Makes about a dozen.

TAHINI SAUCE:

1 cup raw sesame tahini
1 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sea salt

Mix all the ingredients until smooth.

A Fit and Delicious Summer Dessert: sRAWberry Cheesecake

Since July is finally here, I thought it would be fitting to share one of my favorite summer treats!  It's a twist on a strawberry cheesecake, but it is 100% raw and vegan (there is NO cream cheese in this & NO CREAM CHEESE = HAPPY TUMMY).  The end result?  A sweet, creamy and tart pie that tastes almost like a strawberry shortcake.  It's that good!  Plus, it's packed with protein, fiber, and vitamin C!  Try it out and tell me what you think... 

Mila’s stRAWberry Cheesecake

Ingredients for the crust:

1 c. almonds or dehydrated almond pulp

1 c. pecans or walnuts

¼ c. ground flaxseeds

½ tsp. vanilla

Ingredients for the “cheese” filling:

3 c. cashews

1 c. dates or figs, soaked for 10 min. in water

½ c. fresh lemon juice

¼ c. almond milk

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp sea salt

Ingredients for the topping:

2 c.  strawberries

1 c. pitted dates or figs, soaked for 10 min. in water

¼ c. almond milk

Directions:

For crust:  Place all nuts in processor and pulse til finely chopped.  Add dates, flaxseeds, salt, and vanilla and process til mixture forms a ball.  Turn out onto a 8” pie pan and press mixture into a crust.

For filling:  Drain dates and place into processor.  Add cashews , lemon juice, milk, vanilla and sea salt.  Process til completely smooth and creamy, adding 1 tsp. water at a time, if necessary, to thin mixture to desired consistency.  Pour into crust.

For topping:  Place strawberries, dates, and milk in processor and blend til smooth.  Pour over filling.

Freeze cheesecake for 2 hours until firm.  Remove from freezer and place in refrigerator until you’re ready to eat it.

Hey, I got a little "Secret" to accelerate your weight loss...

It's called Changing Your Mind!  Want to know how?  First you need to understand the Law of Attraction (LOA).  For those of you whom have read or seen The Secret by Rhonda Byrne will already know what I am referring to, but if you have not read the book, here's a short breakdown...

LOA simply states that we create our own realities.  As much as we attract the things we want, unfortunately, we also attract the things we don't want.  For the sake of this blog I am going to address solely how we can apply LOA to losing weight.
Like most people wanting to shed several pounds, it is so easy to get into the mindset that we just don't look they way we want or we can't eat this or that or it's going to take X amount of months to achieve that certain goal.  You can seriously achieve your weight loss goals much quicker if you start THINKING THIN.  Here's how...
Eat, act and live as if you are already thin and fit.  Seriously!  How would you picture a thin and fit person eating?  A little bit slower, savoring each bite?  How would they look and act on a daily basis?  What is their lifestyle like; do they workout regularly? Walk with a little more pep?  Live as if you already are.  Keep a positive focus, daily, on how you think about your life, what you think is possible for yourself and keep these good thoughts and the actions you take on the forefront of your mind.  It will change your habits, keep you inspired, but don't allow yourself to regress.

Look, if you focus your energy on losing 40 pounds, you will continually attract back having to lose 40 pounds.  Delete that from your thoughts.  It is why "diets" just don't work.  The typical "diets" that most people go on are self-sabotaging.  Why?  Because we focus on deprivation.  By LOA, you attract thoughts or images of foods that you can NOT eat.  Turn this around!  Instead, imagine all the amazing and fulfilling foods that you CAN indulge in.  For instance, I can eat all the creamy avocados, juicy mangoes, sweet agave nectar, etc. that I can stomach because this bountiful earth has created them for me! 
By the Law of Attraction, we can obtain our weight loss goals easier because we are attracting these positive changes into our lives.  What we put out into the universe with our energy we will attract back like a magnet.  The mind is really that powerful!

Salad Party In My Mouth!

During a 6 mile walk this past weekend, my awesome friend, Kathy J., and I swung by the Meridian Township Farmers' Market in Okemos, MI.  We were really just checking out the scene and killing time, and we stumbled upon a booth with these very tempting hot sauce samples.  Being the spice connoisseur that I am, I couldn't resist.  After all, they were free samples!

The woman running the booth was Kathy Sansonetti of Sansonetti Foods www.sansonettifoods.com.  Her and her husband are from Holly, MI and make the most amazing and zesty homemade sauces, from Michigan Cherry BBQ to Jamaican Jerk.  We must have sampled all of her recipes (thanks for putting up with us, Kathy S.)!  So, thinking of how I would incorporate some of Sansonetti's mustards into my hearty salads and quinoa, I bought the Roasted Red Pepper Mustard and the Spicy Curry Mustard.  They both add incredible kick to anything that requires it!

Today, I used Sansonetti Roasted Red Pepper Mustard as a creamy and tangy dressing in my salad.  Here's what I just ate for lunch:

Red Pepper & Grapefruit Cabbage Salad:

• 1 c. mixed raw cabbage or coleslaw mix
• 1/4 c. chopped grapefruit
• 1/4 c. chopped red pepper
• handful of shredded carrots
• 1 tsp. chopped green onion

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Dressing: 

(mix the following together in a sm. bowl and drizzle on top of salad)

• 2 Tbsp. Sansonetti Roasted Red Pepper Mustard
• 1 tsp. Bragg's Amino Acids

Homemade Vanilla Almond Milk

Did I mention that my middle name is Lactose-Intolerant?  Well, it is.  I know, strange name, especially for a girl, but my parents really had no choice in the matter.  I've been picked on and tormented about my middle name for YEARS.  When I finally came to my senses and realized what dairy was doing to my tummy, I put a halt to it.  Worked like a charm!  I said "bye bye!" to cheese, cow's milk and anything with dairy in it (pizza, cream-based soups, Alfredo, ice cream, etc) and have not for one moment regretted my decision!  Can't say that I even miss those foods.

Give up that cow's milk!  Cow's milk was made for baby cows and human milk was made for baby humans.  I know it may be difficult finding human breast milk in your local market, so I'm really leaving you with no choice here:) You also might be thinking, "Hey, I'm gonna stick with my store bought almond or soy milk."  Don't do it!  Did you check those labels?  I won't name names, but most of the popular almond milk brands use chemical additives and natural flavoring in their recipes.  "Natural flavoring" isn't as innocent as it sounds.  In fact, it's worse than "artificial flavoring"!  If you are striving for optimum health on a cellular level (like me), you don't want to put that poison in your system.  More on that at a later date. 

The benefits of all natural, raw almond milk:

• Rich in potassium, copper, magnesium, and iron
• Contains a lg. amount of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that destroys free radicals; a harmful compounds in the body that damage DNA and cause cell death (Vitamin E = glowing skin!)
• Hormone free
• High in protein and omega fatty acids
• Free of cholesterol and saturated fat
• Completely additive and preservative free and you know where it came from!

My daily morning routine consists of my homemade raw granola topped with this FitLicious homemade Almond Milk.  You can substitute it in recipes that requires milk or cream and even add it to your morning coffee or latte.

So I challenge you, if you have never thought of making your own milk, give this recipe a go.  There are no almond teets to milk, all you really need is a blender and a strainer.


Vanilla Almond Milk (yields 3 cups)
1 cup almonds, soaked 8-12 hours beforehand if it’s possible
4 cups water
6 dates or 1/4 cup raw agave
1 tsp pure vanilla extract (or the contents of a vanilla bean)
Procedure:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend for 1-2 min.
Strain the milk into a lg. bowl, collecting the almond pulp (I use a mesh strainer or you could use cheesecloth). Transfer milk into an air tight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

First Call to Order: Clean Your Kitchen!

Okay, now that you've decided to get on the right path to a healthier lifestyle, you must, MUST, take the horse by the reigns and CLEAN UP!  This can be an emotional experience for a lot of people.  I know it was for my parents on Day 1 when I went through their cupboards.  My advice- take a deep breath and just do it!  Reading labels is so important when buying groceries and most of us don't even think of doing it, especially if you think you are buying what's deemed "healthy" by society.  The Standard American Diet is just that, SAD.  Do not live according to our government's standards in diet.  It is a trap (possibly even a conspiracy) that will keep you from that FitLicious body you've been dying for!

Step 1:  Open your cupboards.  Throw out (or donate) all of the processed foods in your cabinets and refrigerator/freezer.  Not sure what to look for on labels?  Anything (including soda and juice) that has the following ingredients or labels you should toss:  enriched flour, high fructose corn syrup, sugar-free, natural flavor, from-concentrate, additives, preservatives, and food dye/coloring are just a few to get you started.  If you can think of more, please chime in!  What I tell myself is "If God didn't plant it, it's not food".  And I'm pretty sure God didn't plant "sugar-free".

Step 2:  Gather and destroy poor literature.  If you can donate or recycle them, please do, but seriously, don't hang on to food magazines, cookbooks, and old recipes that are unhealthy for you.  Sorry, Paula Deen.  It's best to start fresh and not not let these old loves haunt and tempt you.

Step 3:  Take out a pen.   Start a new grocery list, since you now have almost nothing left to eat in the house!  Choose organic whenever possible and avoid meat and dairy for optimum digestion.  Here's a guide to get you started.  You will soon notice that you will only be shopping in the produce section from now on and you will be turning lots of heads, too!  Really, really. 

 Grocery Shopping Guide 

Produce:

Veggies

❑ Cucumber
❑ Romaine lettuce
❑ Mushrooms
❑ Green beans
❑ Asparagus
❑ Broccoli
❑ Squash
❑ Turnip
❑ Spinach
❑ Onions
❑ Garlic
❑ Celery
❑ Sweet Potatoes
❑ Sprouts
❑ Zucchini (baby squash)
❑ Tomatoes

Fruits

❑ Fresh berries (blueberries, blackberries,
raspberries, strawberries)
❑ Apples
❑ Bananas
❑ Pears
❑ Avocados
❑ Un-sweetened dried fruit (apricots,
cranberries, raisins,figs)

Dry Goods

❑ Brown rice
❑ Oats
❑ Quinoa
❑ Bulgur
❑ Millet
❑ Sea salt
❑ Sugar substitute (Agave nectar, stevia)
❑ Other whole-grain flours (amaranth, spelt)
❑ Spices (cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon)

Nuts, Seeds, Snacks
❑ Unsalted, unroasted (Raw) almonds, cashews, walnuts
❑ Unsalted, unroasted (Raw) sunflower seeds
❑ All-natural nut & seed butters (almond,
cashew, peanut, tahini)
❑ Flaxseed
❑ Extra-virgin olive, cold-pressed
❑ Raw Granola (I make a great variety, email if you want a fresh batch made for you!)

Misc.

❑ Apple cider vinegar
❑ Vanilla, best quality