Nama Shoyu, Spring Rolls with an Amazing Dipping Sauce, the Market and Kevin Giannis online Health Seminar

I had a couple delicious spring rolls yesterday - I had just finished making cookies (raw, chocolate) at the Cacao Loft - Chocosol Headquarters and took a walk up Yonge St. to go to Noah's (health food store) & get some more Nama Shoyu (see empty bottle in background next picture). Nama Shoyu is the only raw unpasteurized, enzyme & lactobacillus rich, soy sauce and it is amazing that only one company makes it - Oshawa.

"From the village of Godspring, high in the mountains of Japan, comes a shoyu that is truly a living food. This village historically has made shoyu for the emperor of Japan using a careful process that requires a great deal of patience. Made from mountain spring water and aged for four years in cedar casks, the production of this healing food is truly a labor of love, which may explain why high-quality artisan shoyu is now so difficult to find. We are excited to offer this full-bodied shoyu, high in B12. It is the only unpasteurized and organic variety available." ~http://www.celticseasalt.com/OSHAWA_NAMA_SHOYU_P442.cfm

Noah's didn't have it. It's not so easy to find..but worth the treasure hunt to get it.
And I stopped in at the Green Mango and got what I thought were raw spring rolls. My brother & I had a long discussion about if rice wrappers were raw or not, and after looking it up last night I have decided that they probably are not.. but they were really good (& they could be). ..& so I tried to copy it in a very 'raw-style' way last night.. by blending & dehydrating ground & soaked chia and young coconut meat & water.. I probably shouldn't mention it cause it wasn't a huge success. They taste great but they came out too dry this morning - out of the dehydrator & crumbled when I tried rolling veggies up in them, even after wetting them to rehydrate.. O well, but this is how sometimes great ideas are born.

But I made a great dipping sauce! I love to experiment with sauces and tried recreating the amazing dipping sauce that came with the spring rolls - really the best part.. they had this amazing distinctive taste.. that made you want to keep dipping, you could drink this stuff!
The secret ingredient was surprisingly caraway - which is a spice I rarely use..but it worked so well in this. Probably not exactly like theirs, but it tasted amazing &..
This is not the most simple recipe, tamarind is a bit of work... but always so worth it.. one of the most amazing flavours.. Here's my recipe:

Spring Rolls

Unless you come up with a raw rice paper analogy-alternative ( & if you do please tell me!!!) use a vegetable leaf as the wrap, like romaine, or collard or even iceburg would work. Then finely slice or grate on mandolin or spiralize some veggies: carrots, cucumber, daikon radish, zucchini - and sliced celery or green onions, and sprouts are good in them. (I used beets, just cause I had them prepared.. Wrap a wonderful assortment of veggies & finely sliced or grated ginger and a few mint leaves are amazing in there also, in your leaf.

Spring Roll Sauce

1 c tamarind paste - Take 1/4 block of tamarind and soak in 1 c water to soften then mash through strainer- more instructions from a previous post & most excellent recipe here)
1/2 c agave
2 T nama shoyu
2 T olive oil
1 t grated ginger
1 t salt
3/4 t caraway
1/2 t ground coriander seed
small sprinkle of anise and garlic powder

Pour some into a little bowl, dipspring rolls in and enjoy. It's sooo good!

Oh..I went to the market today - had to meet a friend to trade the next Anastasia book with (she's almost caught upwith me) Hey, & another friend there, Duane, had the new book just out Book 8.1 - The New Civilization. cool! I'm still into Book 7, and its on hold for a bit..trying to stay focused. my own thing..sorting through piles of recipes that I have experimented with and written over the past few years.. Thankfully I have them almost all in one place! ..and that I have kept records and written them down. There are some bursts of brilliancy and inspiration in there. ; )
Markets have the best shopping ever, premade raw organic salads and check the date on the cider - it was fresh pressed just hours ago from local apples- cool!!! & local greens, raw pesto, hot chocolatl drinks, up the vibe!! local greens, best honey, To sprouts, wonderful friends.. going to the market is soul food too!

Oh, & I listened to Mike Adams last night.. was interesting and I will post some about it tomorrow.. already started listening to Byron Katie now as I type this- multitasking.. have to go pay attention.. will post more on this tomorrow.
These online health seminars are from Kevin Gianni's 'The Healthiest Year of Your Life' - each night he has an hour long podcast available for 24 hours.
The one tonight with Byron Katie, is available till 8pm tomorrow evening, available here:

& coming up (note links for free access):
Feb 4th - Jon Barron
Feb 5th - Dr. Richard DiCenso
Feb 6th - Nomi Shannon
Feb 7th - Jim Katsoulis
Feb 10th - Jill Fleming
Feb 11th - Craig Pepin-Donat

& back to sorting through recipes... adios amidos, buenos noches!

The Best Decadently Healthy Junk-Food Day Ever! ..Keeping Busy

This is my glass of OJ - blood oranges- delicious! that I had Sunday morning.. that was the only morning I haven't been doing my new morning routine .. was just in one of those moods.

& I was indulging in cashews sprinkled with sesame oil& salt.. and lots of Hot Choc- Rawket Raw Tehate! The totally amazing decadent drink, my favorite!!!

Thats funny, that my junk-food day is fresh squeezed orange juice and raw nuts, chocolate etc!! This lifestyle is definitely a win-win situation!

I realized I haven't been here as much lately, but I will be again. Still busy and focused
Whats up? Lots ! I am cleaning out my house getting it ready to fix up, plaster, paint.. will be selling it this spring.
Went yesterday morning to FoodShare, checking out their commercial kitchen to rent to make our raw bread, getting ideas. They have a huge mixer! would love to try that. but we have other kitchens to check out, fun! ..formulating plans, spent this afternoon going through more old raw & health books, really fascinating.
& of course lots of reading & writing..
Tomorrow I am going to Chocosol - The Cacao Loft - to make Raw Chocolate Cookies.
Oh & I have just gained access to the JuiceFeasting site for 30 days so will explore and post on that soon also. cool!

~Hugs~ Have a beautiful day!! xo

An Incredible Morning Routine!

I have this new morning routine that has really been working for me.. Today was the 4th day doing this ..but I think this is a keeper!
I was inspired by my Moms smoothie recipe that I posted a few days ago.. but this isn't a smoothie because I have just not felt like eating much in the mornings lately.
So this is what I have been doing..

An Incredible Morning Routine!

1st thing in the morning I get a tall glass of water with phytoplankton mixed into it.
Drink and take a digestive enzyme and then drink another glass of water...

Then I get my morning going.. shower and wake up, do my thing..
and about a 1/2 - an hour later

I get another glass of water and add (aprox. measurements):
1/2 t MSM
1/2 t Maca
1/4 t una de gato (cat's claw - open 500g capsule)
1/4 t fo-ti
1 Host Defense (medicinal mushrooms) cap opened and poured in - can substitute 1/4 t powdered Reishi
1/2 lemon - juiced
1 T agave
a dash of cayenne

stir and drink
it will settle a bit if it sits around so keep the spoon handy..

It actually tastes quite good. However, the Fo-Ti is the strongest tasting herb and if it is left out it will taste better..but its one of those really, really incredible herbs for you .. & well, it's a decision.

I find that when I do this I usually don't feel like eating till noon..which is a really good thing these days because I have been staying up and eating later than usual a lot lately.

This is a real, clear headed, vibrant energy concoction!
Enjoy ..a votre sante!

Rawket Raw Tejate - another Chocosol Experience

I loved this pic mainly because of the red painted bowls to the left, which are the same bowls they use to serve hot chocolate drinks at Chocosol. (I use ceramic bowls at home - there is something very special and almost ceremonious about drinking hot chocolate out of special bowls)
This is a pic of traditional Tejate, which is indigenous to Oaxaca, Mexico.

I didn't bring my camera today, Kaiya had it, she's working on an art project with it. (pic from here) Too bad because even though I was only there for a couple hours this morning, it was a totally happening place. Scott & Maria were in full-action making their Raw coconut cakes. (totally amazing! - I got a little cup of 'to die for' icing before I left, I love it so much, I eat the icing last when I eat their cakes!) Mathieu was there, Micheal was there and Ruben showed up shortly after me with a selection of great music cd's and his drums, which after making the Tehate he sat in the corner and played on to the music.

Well, it was a special day at Chocosol because, thanks esp. to my newly Raw friend.. we needed a 100% raw hot chocolate to help overcome a coffee addiction.. and also just because its an amazing thing to have. Tejate is my favorite of the hot choc flavours and Michael said that he thought it could be done.. and so.. today- Rawket Raw Tehate was born! : ) (I am totally honoured!)

To the right is Mamey seed. Mamey is a close relation to the Sapote fruit. I was surprised how large the seeds were. And the flavour ..I was trying to distinguish it, then realized its like an amaretto-almond flavour. Michael told me that we can only sense about 500 different flavour variations with our tongues and there are over 20,000, and probably way, way more flavours out there. So we relate flavours to each other.

But we had a dilemma today ..whether to roast the seed for the flavour or not. I decided to -lightly- roast the seeds and Rosita de cacao, just as little as possible.. because its a very small portion of the ingredients and big on the flavour. Next time we are going to plan ahead and dehydrate the seeds and husks of the flowers for 24 hours and the flowers themselves for 12 hours. so it's pure, pure raw..Yes!

We used raw cacao and agave.. and it turned out amazing!

This is a pic of the rosita de cacao. I grinded these and the Mamey seeds by hand- twice, fine grind.. and then mixed it with the Raw Cacao - which was an amazing flavour -I got a lesson on fermented Cacao beans, muy interesante! Then we ground this all together 2 more times till it was a silky smooth texture. Next we sweetened this most deliciously flavoured luscious chocolate with agave.. and then it was ready to put into molds.

I was only there for about 2 hours, till noon. Next week I am planning on going back Wed. am to make my raw chocolate cookies.

& on the way home..I got to see one of my favorite musicians - King Achilla Orru -playing at Bloor and Yonge. Yes!! Seriously High-vibe music. Soul food. ..& I talked to him, hes coming out with a new cd in a few months.. Which is great, I have almost worn out the old one I have of his!

Smoothie routine

Wow. It was cold in Ottawa! ..But we had a great meeting and good progress was taken toward the upcoming film festival. Lots of planning going on.. yes.

Now, heres my challenge. One person that I am coaching is more raw then I am! ..determined to be 100% for at least a month to test this. So, I am inspired.. and putting away those 80%+ treats (mainly truffles and chocolate) that I like to indulge in. Chocosol makes a few pure raw chocolate varieties - raw vanilla and Sawako snow - going to try both those as an (almost) hot chocolate for us.

Another issue is that we discovered that Vega protein powder, which I had suggested, is not completely raw..a friend of Brendan's told me he thought about 80-90% raw. So for an alternative smoothie idea I called my Mom, who drinks a lot of smoothies and has quite a smoothie routine down.
I usually just have greens and fruit and maybe some flax seeds in mine.
Here's what she drinks in hers.
She has 2 favorite combos, a morning one and an afternoon one.

Morning

Greens – e.g. spinach/parsley/baby greens

Fruit- banana/mango/apple/berries

Goji berries

Hemp protein powder (or hemp seeds)

Coconut oil

Maca

Ground flax &/or chia seeds

Cacao

Lemon

Honey

dash cayenne

(bee pollen)

taken with Digestive enzymes

Afternoon:

Greens

Fruit

Pumpkin seeds

Black sesame seeds

There are so many smoothie combinations.
Creating an incredible smoothie combination for your first meal of the day can be a perfect way to get lots of greens and superfoods in. That way it feels like your nutritional intake is covered and anything else you have during the day is just bonus.

Road Trip - Raw Film Festival plans underway

Mi-San and I are off on another road trip.. we're heading out early, early tomorrow morning.
We are driving to Ottawa to plan and scout around for a good location for the Raw Film Festival which is coming up from LA in September. We are also going to be meeting with Natasha & Mark of Simply Raw. The film festival will coincide with the Simply Raw Festival they hold in September. Last year the Festival was a huge success drawing thousands of people.

I just added a few great links into the previous post - Raw Pot Luck Pics
check out:
Mark & Chantelle's site - Living Nutrition
Tamara's site - Beyond Beliefs
& Fred's (KKOhm Truffles) site - Food Not Candy

k, back to work...
Have a spectacular, beautiful and adventurous weekend!!! Much Love!

Raw Thoughts on a Rainy Day

Free 60 page Raw e-book from Australia's Raw Food Community.

It takes courage to be healthy! It takes courage to experience the freedom
that comes with this autonomy. It takes guts to choose something authentic
over disapproval and to choose it time and time again. Have the courage to
accept the responsibility for your own choice. Have the courage to be the
very unique person you really are! We are always willing to pay someone to
give us our health.
We must instead, as Health Seekers, learn to do it for ourselves!!

Dr. Herbert M. Shelton

One of the great aspects of going raw is that soon you will notice that even though you have more energy and can get more done.. you feel calmer.

Raw foodists experience a real love of life.

You will notice a deep peace and happiness about them.

Different foods create different thoughts.

Article on electro-magnetic fields in foods and people by Dr Brian Clement - from Karen Knowler

Wild Animals know the Power of Raw

"The wild geese do not intend to cast their reflection;
the water has no mind to retain their image."

-Zen proverb

Keep it simple and stay close to nature.

Notes on Dishes from the Pot Luck

Pic from Garry's blog- If in doubt, Travel
This is Garry's 3rd year organizing monthly pot lucks here in Toronto. Thank you, Garry!

Notes - ingredient lists from some of the dishes at the potluck:

Guacamole – avocados, tomatoes, onions, garlic, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, chili powder, pepper and salt

Seaweed Salad – Arame, cucumber, red pepper, bean sprouts. Dressing: olive and sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, nama shoyu, ginger, cayenne

Salad - Greens, seaweed, sprouts, walnuts. Garlic-Ginger dressing

Spinach - Zucchini Raw Lasagna – Thin slices of zucchini layered with

Sauce: Tomato, sun-dried tomato, basil, oregano, salt, olive oil, garlic, ¼ hot pepper, 2 small dates.

+ Cheese: pine nuts, garlic, salt

Tamara’s Smoothie – Kale, ginger, strawberries, coconut, chia seeds, cacao. goji berries, agave and water

Fruit Platter – Papaya, Jackfruit, Pineapple, Mangosteen, Asia pear

Beet Salad – Yellow and red beets, carrots, parsnip, currents, olive oil, apple cider vinegar

Sushi – cauliflower, tahihi, avocado, tomato, lemon juice, processed together + broccoli and alfalfa sprouts + (soy?) sauce

Coconut-Date Cookies – Dates, cranberries, fresh coconut, goji berries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, maca, salba seeds, water.

Salad – Buckwheat sprouts, red pepper, cucumber, cauliflower, parsley, kale, soaked walnuts, dried cherries.

Salad - Sprouts, tomatoes, parsley, basil, ginger, lemon juice (no salt or oil)

Cookies - Raw almonds and sunflower seeds (soaked) cinnamon, apples, honey, cacao

Chocolate Cookies- Dates, coconut, oats, cacao, almond butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, salt

Raw Hummus – Chickpeas (sprouted), sun-dried tomatos, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, cayenne.

Salad - Beet, kale, red pepper, green onion, hemp seed. Dressing: olive oil, nama shoyu, tahini, apple cider vinegar, garlic, basil and oregano

Black Forest Cake – Almonds, Cashews, Agave, Cacao,coconut butter, cherries.

Banana Chocolate Cream Pie – Bananas, avocado, dates, cacao, almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts

Pear Pecan Salad with Poppy seed Dressing – red leaf lettuce, bosc pears, pecans. Dressing: olive oil, nama shoyu, apple cider vinegar, agave, red onion, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, cayenne.

Dressing - Red miso, tahini, orange, lemon, ginger, garlic, green onion.

Beet Salad – Beets, leeks, avocado, lemon juice.

Mexican Bean Dip- Brazil nuts, brown lentils (sprouted), chipotle, lemon, orange, garlic, miso, ginger, chia seeds, nama shoyu, fresh cilantro and salt

Raw Sweet Potato and Beet Chips – potatoes, beets, olive oil, salt

Spicy Cinnamon KKOhm Truffles – raw cacaobeans, cold pressed cacao butter, coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon bark, chili peppers.

Raw Pot Luck Pics

Fred of KKOhm Truffles- Food not Candy!

Mark, Chantelle and Ezra of Living Nutrition

Tamara of Beyond Beliefs and my friend Bridgitte

Japanese acupuncture treatments, Chocolatada tonight & upcoming raw events

Hi! I had an interesting morning, I had a Japanese acupuncture treatment this morning (Christmas present from Mom! yay!!) ..and I am now feeling sleepy. I was told this would happen - it's the body healing.

I hope I am feeling more awake a little later, I would love to go to the New Moon Chocolatada tonight. DJ Carambola is great ..and I would love to hear the Harbour Sharks, a chocolate friend of mine is in the band. I think I should try to make it!

I had all kinds of treatments today, got the works.. I went once 2 years ago and I was in really good shape and I don't remember him doing nearly as many things to me. He remembered me when I called him on the phone "Oh, yes, you're the healthy one" : ) (yes!) ..and this time when I got there and we talked he asked what I am doing??!! My energy was pretty clear (esp. considering all the changes in life etc, they often show up) .. I told him just raw foods. He was skeptical, You know, he says I don't believe in that.. but you're doing something right. Chinese medicine says that everything should be cooked. Thats what he said last time.. "Just keep doing whatever it is that you are doing." He chalked it up to my genes at one point, said you must have very good genes..but I know that I have rejuvenated and that I became much clearer and healthier when I went raw.. why else would I be doing this? It's really quite phenomenal. I don't think most people realize that this level of feeling and being is attainable or even exists. Oh, and he told me I should be a healer, that I would make a great healer. I love that. One day, way in the future, maybe. You never know..

I still have needles in my back, they can stay in for a couple days. They are small, but I can feel them. Japanese needles are smaller than Chinese ones. He also did:

Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy in which the dried herb "mugwort" (artemisia vulgaris) is burned near the surface of the skin in order to trigger natural healing responses in the body. The use of moxibustion predates acupuncture, with records of the practice dating back many centuries B.C.

In Japan, scientists have found that the infrared radiation from burning mugwort is very similar to the natural infrared radiation in the human body. The result is that the heat from moxibustion penetrates deeply into the body, giving a warming effect which lasts for several days after the treatment. This kind of stimulation, at specific points on the body, can dramatically boost the immune system and trigger other profound effects, which include a reduction in blood coagulation time and an increase in adrenal activity.

Cupping - In China, archaeologists have found evidence of cupping dating back to 1,000 B.C. And, the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, describes the systematic use of cupping by the early Egyptians, as far back as 1,550 B.C.

Typically, cups are round vessels, 1" to 3" in diameter, and are applied to the body with vacuum suction. The vacuum is created either by means of heating the air inside the cup or by a mechanical pump. The result is that the cup creates an area of low pressure, causing the blood to gather under the cup near the surface of the body. Through this process, the circulation is dramatically increased around and below the surface of the skin where the cups are applied.

and other therapies. He used a vibrational machine which is commonly used by osteopaths - he held it down along my spinal cord and I could feel my whole body vibrating, very cool!

It was very fascinating! I love going to see him.. he's always amazed at how healthy I am. & that feels great. As I left he said "Ok, see you again in 2 years." Nice!

Oh, and also.. Coming up!

Tomorrow evening is the monthly raw potluck! It will be held again at Toronto Sprouts and starts at 7. I will be there for sure. Thats always lots of fun.

& on Monday evening I am helping Erika with her raw workshop - Fasting, Juicing and Youthing, also being held at Toronto Sprouts. Details at her website - Power of Raw.

"The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes from within the souls of people when they realize that their relationship... Their oneness with the universe & all its powers, & when they realize that at the center of the universe, dwells the Great Spirit, & that this center is really everywhere... For, It is within each of us."
-Black Elk

info & pics on Moxi & Cupping from here

Utrecht Aphorisms

"There is nothing supernatural about it, and besides it is inexpensive.You need no M.D.'s prescription and nothing from beyond the clouds. All that is required is your determination and your willpower; you have your own body right here to experiment with, and you have nothing to lose, but Health to gain. Is there anything easier? But you have to do it yourself. No one else can do it for you. My only task is to convince you of this beyond all measure of doubt, and you have the means by which to approach the status of a truly healthy man." ~William Utrecht from Be Your Own Doctor, 1921

Selected Aphorisms and Rules of Correct Eating by William Utrecht from Be Your Own Doctor

Food of today is flesh of tomorrow. What we are is the result of what we have eaten.

When it comes to food, please nobody! You alone will have to suffer if you make a garbage can of your stomach, not the one you were kind enough to accommodate.

The ideal diet is the mono-diet, or the eating of one kind of food only at one meal. This will at once eliminate over-eating. The more you mix the less health; the less you mix, the more health.

Whenever you eat anything that impairs digestion, or anything that clogs your digestive tract, or anything that constipates, you impair your general health, you eat yourself sick.

Whenever you eat anything that improves digestion, or anything that cleanses the digestion tract, or anything that is easily digested, you improve your general health, you eat yourself well.

Eat mostly fruits etc. that are in season, and grow in your section of the country.They are first of all more conducive to health, and besides cheaper. (this is nothing new)

There is no true hunger in the morning. Habit alone causes a fictitious desire for food.

We feel drowsy after a heavy meal of meat, while an apple, an orange, a bunch of grapes, a banana, berries, etc., will immediately refresh us.

As Nature cures al disease by fasting, it must be that wrong eating is the cause of it.

We do not lose health in one night, nor is it possible to regain it in one night.

Distilled water is dead matter. The best live water is that taken from a running brook, which has been purified by the sun.

Whenever digestion is disturbed, sleep is more or less restless. Fatigue and loss of sleep lower the vitality. Fatigue is only another name for toxic infection.

Certain causes determine certain effects. This holds true in regards to food. Bacteria live on dirt and filth. They would starve to death in a clean body.

Good sleep, like good digestion must be earned.

A disease prevented is better than a disease cured.Disease is not a local disorder, it is a constitutional condition.

Aterhov and the Raw Pioneers

I am reading an interesting article Keepin' it Raw by Riaz Dini..

"Arshavir Hovannessian, known as Aterhov, is considered by many the father of the raw food movement. In his book Raw Eating, published in 1960, he wrote,

"By giving up cooked foods and poisonous drugs, thousands of sensible people all over the world have cured themselves of their long-standing illnesses and are now able to enjoy a carefree life of health and happiness..."

Aterhov's book was the main influence for Nature's First Law.

David Wolfe from an article-interview with Bob Avery here

'Q: What advantages do you feel you have you acquired from the all-raw vegan diet?

A: Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins' mentor says, "For every disciplined effort in life, there is a multiple reward." A 100% raw-diet gives me a superior capacity to perform in everything I do. It has liberated my natural self and got me on track to achieving all my goals and desires. And it will do this for everyone who commits to The Raw-Food Diet. Because The Raw-Food Diet is the natural way of living, it brings everything to pass: health, happiness, wealth, freedom, love, and success.'

I have a friend who just ordered lots of old Raw Food Books. It is so fascinating to read the wisdom found in these books! Many of our present day raw leaders and gurus have gotten their information directly from these books. I was having a field day today looking through them.. just touched the surface, but what a goldmine!

wallpaper pic from Vitbup's Weblog

More Raw Videos

Raw Foods On E! Entertainment

However, I don't agree with the dietician at the end - shes saying its good to have a balance of raw & cooked. O Well, The rest of the video was great.

& Next up - Dessert. Ani Phyo making a raw Apple Pie
Ani's Raw Food Kitchen - ABC Channel 7 appearance

Scenic Dreams