Pizza Party!

We have been making and serving warm pizzas straight from the dehydrator at Rawlicious lately. Here are a few I've made in the last few days.. and I am off to go make more right now.

These are pics of them before dehydrating which softens and the toppings while warming up the pizza. ..







These are two pizzas that Alana made.. love the bottom olive-tomato one!

Osho - Courage - the Joy of Living Dangerously

Intelligence is aliveness, it is spontaneity. It is openness, it is vulnerability. It is impartiality, it is the courage to function without conclusions.

It is courage because when you function out of a conclusion the conclusion protcts you;the conclusion gives you security, safety.

To function without a conclusion is to function in innocence. There is no security; you may go wrong, yo may go astray.

One who is ready to go on the exploration called truth has to be ready to commit many errors, mistakes - has to be ready to risk. One may go astray but that is how one arrives.

Going many many times astray, one learns how not to go astray. ..one comes closer to what is truth.
You were born as a no-mind. Let that sink into your heart as deeply as possible because through that, a door opens. If you were born as a no-mind then the mind is just a social product. It is nothing natural, it is cultivated. It has been put together on top of you. Deep down you are still free, you can get out of it. One can never get out of nature, but one can get out of the artificial any moment one decides to.

Existence precedes thinking. So existence is not a state of mind, it is a state beyond. To be, not to think, is the way to know the fundamental.

And there is a different kind of knowing. It can not be called 'knowledge'. It is more like love, less like knowledge. It is so intimate that the word knowledge is not sufficient to express it. The word love is more adequate, more expressive.

In the history of human consciousness, the first thing that evolved was magic.

Magic had something of the mind and something of the no-mind.Then out of magic grew philosophy. Then out of philosophy grew science. Magic was both no-mind and mind. Philosophy was only mind. And then mind plus experimentation became science.

Thinking can think only about the known - it can chew the already chewed. Thinking can never be original. How can you think about the unknown? Whatsoever you can manage to think will belong to the known. You can think only because you know. At the most, thinking can create new combinations. You can think about a horse who flies in the sky, who is made of gold, but nothing is new. You know birds who fly in the sky, you know gold, you know horses, you combine the three together. At the most thinking can create new combinations, but it can not know the unknown.The unknown remains beyond it. So thinking goes in a circle, goes on knowing the known again and again and again. It goes on chewing the chewed. Thinking is never original.

To come upon reality originally, radically, to come upon reality without any mediator - to come upon reality as if you were the first person to exist - that is liberating. That very newness of it liberates.

Truth is an experience. Not a belief. Truth never comes by studying about it; truth has to be encountered, truth has to be faced.

The prejudiced eye is blind, the heart full of conclusions is dead. Too many a priori assumptions and your intelligence starts losing its sharpness, its beauty, its intensity. It becomes dull.
Dull intelligence is what is called intellect. Your so-called intelligentsia are not really intelligent, they are just intellectual. Intellect is a corpse. You can decorate it- you can decorate it with great pearls, diamonds, emeralds, but still a corpse is a corpse.

To be alive is a totally different matter.

Science means being definite, being absolutely definite, about facts. And if you are very definite about facts, then you can not feel the mysterious - the more definite you are, the more mystery evaporates. Mystery needs a certain vagueness, mystery needs something undefined, undemarcated. Science is factual; mystery is not factual, it is existential.

excerpts from Osho's Courage - The Joy of Living Dangerously

November's Raw Pot Luck Pics

There were over 80 people who attended the Pot Luck on Saturday eve. It was great!!! So many incredible dishes! Here are some pics from it..










& a Durian!! : )

Cherie Soria's Northern Lights Tour 2008

Cherie Soria, Director of the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute will be giving a lecture at Toronto Sprouts on the Raw Food Revolution Diet, covering topics from her new book, on November 25 at Toronto Sprouts.

She will also be giving a 2 day workshop on The Science of Raw Food Nutrition with Drs Rick and Karen Dina on November 22-23 and a one-day intensive workshop on the FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods with Martine Lussier on November 30th, at Toronto Sprouts.
The Living Light Institute is the top Raw Food Chef School in the world, and they will be taking their classes on the road this November. If you have ever wanted to take their classes but were unable to make it down to California, this is a perfect opportunity.

Cherie Soria the founder and director of Living Light Institute will be here for the class.

FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods Intensive - In this introductory workshop, you will attend dozens of superb culinary presentations showing how to create a wide variety of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes! Here is just a sampling of what you will see and taste: appetizers, fruit smoothies, soups, sauces, salad dressings, salads, simple entrees, pates, wraps and rolls, nut milks and luscious non-dairy cheese, crackers and other dehydrated goodies, amazing desserts, sprouting and kitchen gardening. Plus,essential equipment and supplies used in a raw food kitchen, and basic knife skills. FUNdamentals opens the door to a whole new world of fabulous raw organic cuisine...it''s the first step toward a new culinary awakening!

All students must take this course or the two-day FUNdamentals class before attending the Essentials of Raw Culinary Arts and Chef/Instructor training with Living Light.

And this is available at a special tuition price of $325. (This is regularly $475 at the LLI in Ft. Bragg. California, travel and accommodation there would be additional)

Register your spot now, Call Toronto Sprouts at 416-535-3111

Getting Ready for the Pot Luck

The making of the Tropical Fruit Crumble - which was a success, actually better than the Apple Crumble!! 2 huge trays and both were great ..and I made and brought a big jar of Cashew Cream topping and Raspberry sauce. There should always be lots of food at pot lucks! )


The beautiful song that is replaying in my head - Ana Mora Na Cacimba by Baiao de Princesas is not available on YouTube.. so here is a different wild tropical festival video.. ; )

Boi Da Floresta - MA (2a Parte)

Local and Organic.. mostly

Tomorrow there is a raw pot-luck at Toronto Sprouts and I am thinking about what to bring. Alana suggested an Apple Crumble and I haven't made that in a long time.. maybe with some berries in it. But now I am thinking of a Tropical Fruit Crumble and want to experiment with that! & I found these incredible Haitian mangoes, and great tropical fruit.. sometimes I feel a little bad about buying produce from so far away ..but I'd feel worse about buying carrots from China, (thats just crazy!!) at least mangoes don't grow here.. and it'll get my by once in awhile until I can get down there! ; ) Oh & I want to make a Raspberry Sauce and Cashew Cream toppings.. but time. Just a thought but hopefully I have time to make them after work tonight to bring to the pot luck after work tomorrow night - & I'll even get in a few minutes to post pics to you guys! cool.

Now. speaking of local food I went last night to a Local and Organic food event held at the Center for Social Innovation on Spadina - such an awesome space and concept. It's a convergence hub that sparks, connects and supports world changing people and ideas. They provide shared space and services to over 85 social mission groups & acts as a community center for social innovators & helps to launch new entrepreneurial and collaborative projects.
It's an amazing resource in Toronto that I have been hearing quite a bit about lately. Gotta look more into this place.

Some of the things going on and info..

Not Far From The Tree - loved this one!! Where I lived in the beaches there were lots of fruit trees which dropped fruit all over and got squished into sidewalks.. some of us would enjoy some of it, but there was lots!! & this is such a great idea. You can donate the fruit from trees on your property, which will go to shelters and local food banks - you get to keep 1/3 of the fruit and they will leave your yard clean from fallen fruit.
contact info@notfarfromthetree.org to register your fruit tree.

Book Release Party coming up at the Center for Edible Action - Food Activism and Alternative Choices by Sally Miller ISBN- 978 1552662809 on Fri, Nov 14th

Canada's Greenest Fashion and Beauty Events - Fashion Takes Action

Raindance Cosmetics

My Left Breast - Eco-Clean Living Products and After Breast Surgery Services
no website listed contact bridgetleslie@hotmail.com
Peterborough Clinic, 26 Hospital Drive, Suite 107, Peterborough On
ph# 705-876-3333, cel# 868-8534

Toronto Cyclists Union - Safe Streets, A Healthy City, A Vibrant Voice

Karma Co-Op in the Annex. This has been going strong for over 35 years. It's located at 739 Palmerston Ave. It's a great organic market!

Local Food Plus - is an award winning non-profit organization that brings farmers and consumers to the table to share in the benefits of environmentally and socially responsible food production. We are committed to building and fostering local sustainable food systems by certifying farmers and processors and linking them with local purchasers.

Local Food Plus's 10 Guiding Principles:

As part of LFP’s goal of helping to build local sustainable food systems, we have developed a set of overarching principles that guide our work, actions, and standards.

1. Link local food producers and eaters to boost community, health, and environmental benefits.
2. Reduce the distance between farmers and eaters to promote vibrant regional economies.
3. Reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
4. Reduce agriculture pollution by protecting and conserving soil and water resources.
5. Promote safe and fair working conditions for farm workers and viable incomes for farmers.
6. Raise animals in humane conditions without the use of growth stimulating hormones, sub-therapeutic antibiotics, or animal by-products.
7. Conserve and enhance wildlife habitat and ecological diversity.
8. Reduce the use of fossil fuels throughout the entire food chain.
9. Produce crops and raise animals without the use of genetic engineering.
10. Encourage closed-looped systems that conserve and recycle nutrients.

Nautical Voyage

Transformational Breathing - it's what's inside that counts!

I keep forgetting to put on make up lately. Thats a pretty big deal for me.. I have always worn it, used to be a cosmetologist and taught in a modeling agency, long, long time ago, runway, photography, make-up! - always loved make-up. It's fun. & I have always appreciated little old ladies with blue hair and eye shadow and those people who totally over do it, like in the gym, lol and very dramatic people ..but really, to be honest I never used to even go to the corner store without it.. in my 20's, 30's and now I am in my 40's and not just intentionally not wearing it, but forgetting it.. and happy to look in the mirror and see a different, natural reflection. It's ok, better than that, it's good.

But I did color my hair red this morning, just a wash-out, nothing too toxic. I love my natural color, and my greys, I appreciate them.. but this is a fun change.. & temporary

but about the make up..?? Last weekend in Montreal, I left my makeup behind - & just thought "ok, so the universe wants nothing between me & the 'medicine'." Huge healing ceremony.. & I did a fair amount of crying, so no mascara was a good thing! But now, same thing.. I keep forgetting it..and even I went intentionally to go get it this morning and it fell out of the car , hmmm..

but thats just minor external stuff.. what has really been on my mind is Breathing.
I am so, so, so conscious of my breathing lately - & it seems like a very important thing to keep aware of. ..because often if you don't you end up with very shallow breathing.. and when you are more conscious of it your breath becomes deep.. breathing exercises are great..
I watched a video here - a discussion on breathing with Jim Self of Mastering Alchemy and Robert Winn, a breath expert. They talk about natural, circular and pranic breathing.

Respiration = our connection to Spirit

Most people breathe backwards and restrict their diaphragms.. the breath should be first going into the belly, then up into the chest.

Inhaling/Exhaling = yang, masculine, active vs yin, feminine, letting go - breathing is all about life..

We become more conscious and present when we are aware of the breathe. It connects us to our bodies. It allows us to move energy through the body.

Pranic brathing is the connection with the Creator, with all that is, (pranic is a vedic term, which means life force)
You breathe relates to how you live. If you breathe is full and strong you and your life will be full and strong. If it is shallow, jagged, not consistent, you life is likely not grounded and haphazard.

Breath is vibration.. and can connect you to deeper consciousness and awareness. Deep breathing aligns you with the Source and you become more fully yourself and enliven your unique expression of creation.

Robert Winns Spirit in Motion site is about Transformational Breathing and has free Breathing Lessons.

WOW!! - Wild Organic Way Cafe

It was Halloween and my friend & I made the trip to Guelph to eat at WOW - Wild Organic Way Cafe.. I had been wanting to come here for well over a year but it is quite a drive and life has been busy, what else.. But, I am so glad we went.. it was incredible!! Loved the food, the atmosphere, the people.. Corinne is sooo wonderful. & so interesting. We were so hungry when we got there and ordered 3 entrees: the Tacos, the Almond Cheeze Burger plate and the special of the day the Rohwurst, served with sauerkraut and carmelized onions (dehydrated of course!)
I loved the onions and ordered more ..and marinated mushrooms for the cheezeburger.

It was so great.. the pic below only captures a bit of the ambiance.. there were more beautiful mosaic tables behind us and many more beautiful paintings around the place. I loved it so much.. am hoping I can go back for my birthday in a few weeks!!! (I held off on the chocolate cake for that intention! ; )
The Almond Cheeze Burger plate (all entrees came with a beautiful, delicious sprout salad) This was my favorite entree I think (but all good!!):

The Tacos, this was my friends fav - a Corn-Flax Tortilla filled with refried beans (sunflower/sun-dried tomatoes), guacamole and salsa.

The Special of the day - the Rohwurst. We couldn't finish everything so we had this packed up and it was the perfect thing to come down with (grounding) after realy intensive spiritual journeying yesterday - All Saints Day.. had a plan and saved this and bought lots of treats for last night: hemp balls, macaroons, date bars - I can't even tell you how good the hemp balls and date bars are!! Exactly what we needed last night!

Dessert - we ordered their most delicious Lemon Poppyseed Cake - Incredible!!

Mmm... with Yerba Mate and White tea..

It was such a beautiful day and experience!! Much Thanks to Corinne and Shannon and all the staff and people who put the love into the food and made such an experience possible!!! xo, Coming back soon!!