Gathering at Fatma's & Ansons Soup!

Fatma held a gathering for a group of us to celebrate the holidays a couple of nights ago. Fatma makes incredible ethnic raw food.. not just Indian, ..Middle Eastern, and more.. she blends cuisine styles. Fatma is actually from South Africa but has lived for several years in Arabia and travelled extensively around the world ..I keep telling her she should write a book, but I think she just likes to make and share food with everyone.. which she does well - she even left the party for a few minutes to run a big plate of food to a neighbour and everyone at the party went home with large plates of food.
She made 5 dishes on the table! & there is more not shown in the pic..
Monica made the incredible desserts (she is the best!) on the right of the table: Tiramisu in back - all raw except for some coffee and a bit of sake which she used in her recipe - and Black Forest Cake, which can rival any cooked version.. she is amazing!!
& recognize the little pizza hor d'oeuvres - some with pineapple, some without ; )
I brought a turkey-stuffing pate and cranberry sauce also, not shown.. maybe that recipe tomorrow (I am on a recipe roll)

This is Fatma.. Monica in behind her and Anne to the right - all vetran and very talented raw food chefs!

Mmm.. salads ..Sumac is just sprinkled on the one below..

ok, & now this was incredible - Anson has come up with my new favorite soup recipe.. and he gave me the recipe (sort of, he doesn't measure) to share.. Yay!!

This was really, really, really delicious - & spicy!! (I loved it so much I got to take the rest home and just enjoyed a big bowl.. My whole world stopped as I enjoyed it, no thoughts, no past, no future - time stood still.. yes, that good!

Anson's Soup

2 red peppers - chopped up

1/3 cup chives - chopped

1/3-1/2 cup of hemp seeds

3 average size zucchini's - spiralized and chopped to noodle size

Place veggies and seeds into a 1 gallon mason jar and make the broth.

Broth: I

3 avocado's

2-3 cap fulls of "Sunfire Elixir"

1/3 cup on Nama Shoyu

Sesame Oil (not sure how much)

Garlic-Chili Flax oil from Omega Nutrition (not sure how much)

Cayenne pepper to taste

Salt to taste

Blend together and then add to the mason Jar with chopped veggies and seeds. Stir.

Then take 1 part soup to 1 part boiled water and add ingredients if necessary to adjust the taste. Makes between 1 1/2 to 2 gallons of soup.

Enjoy!!

Festive Pizza!

I decided that the Christmas Eve Tradition should be Pizza.. and it got unanimously agreed, esp after we tasted the pizza!

We went to an awesome gathering last night with lots of creative and delicious raw dishes ..but before posting on that I am going to post the pizza recipe -requested - and Mom is making it right now also, getting it ready for New Years.

And a special thanks to Marie for all the sprouts. we had so many I was juicing sunflower sprouts this morning - Life is Beautiful! Thank you, Thank you!

Pizza Crust

2 c Buckwheat -sprouted (soak 3-4 hours and then strain in metal colander and let sprout for 12-24 hours, rinsing every 6-8 hours)
2 c Flax seeds - soaked in 3 c water overnight in the fridge or for 2-6 hours at room temp.
4 med-lg Carrots
2 Garlic cloves
2 t Salt
1/2 t each of Thyme, Basil, Rosemary and Onion Powder

Blend all ingredients in a food processor - if you have a small one it may have to be done in two batches. Spread the pizza dough out onto teflex sheets and dehydrate for 4-6 hours and then flip onto mesh screen, continue drying for another 6-8 hours until firm.

ps at home I spread the pizza crust out in a square to utilize the most dehydrater space. (Believe it or not - I still only have a small 4 tray Excalibur here!) You can make it in the more traditional round shape - although it has just been brought to my attention that the traditional shape might really be square as thats how they usually make them and sell them, in square slices, in most places in Europe - but I will have to go check that one out for myself - one day soon! ; )

Also - The pizza can be dressed either as a full sheet and then cut after - or scored into smaller sizes and then you can just dress as many slices as you wish.
The problem with scoring before dehydrating the crust is that often the edges will curl up.
It works best to cut it very carefully (with a knife on a cutting board) near the end of its drying time.

Cashew Cheese

2 c Cashews (soaked 3-4 hours)
2 T Nutritional yeast
2 t Salt
1/2 Lemon - juiced
1/2 c Water (or slightly more to blend well and create a fluffy smooth consistency)

Blend all ingredients in the food processor until light and smooth and fluffy.

Tomato Marinara Sauce

2-4 Tomatoes
1 c Sun-dried Tomatoes (soak to soften, then drained)
1/2 Red Pepper
2 T Onion
1 Garlic clove
1 T Olive Oil
1 T Agave
1 T Apple cider Vinegar
1 1/2 t Oregano
1 t Basil
1 t Salt
1/2 t each of Marjoram, Thyme and Cayenne

Process all ingredients together in a food processor until desired consistency.


To Assemble Pizza:
Crusts can be scored and stored in smaller sizes or left in whole sheets and then cut after preparing.
1. Spread Cashew Cheese
2. Spread Pizza Sauce
3. Cut up and layer with favorite toppings, such as: Tomatoes, Red Peppers, Red Onions, Olives, Pineapple (those are my favorite) -Mushrooms sliced and marinated in a bit of Nama Shoyu for about 5 min or so makes a great topping also!
4. Sprinkle Pine Nut Parmesan (below) on top..
5. Put back into the dehydrater at 115 degrees for an hour or two to soften toppings and warm up pizza.
Enjoy!!

Pine Nut Parmesan is amazingly delicious, so easy to make .. & a great topping on salads and pasta. Double the recipe and keep a bottle of this made up and stored in the fridge!

Pine Nut Parmesan

1 c Pine Nuts
1 T Nutritional Yeast
1 t Salt

Pulse-Chop this all together in a food procesor until pine nuts are all broken up and a chinky texture. Very Easy!

Christmas at my new home

Well, here we are.. I'm getting settled into my new home and here are a few Christmas pics to share. I am moving in with James.. it's a very fun and colorful place! ..but a little more crowded than it was. We moved my stuff over on the 23rd, and just had a room built for Kaiya .. so between construction and moving, its more crowded than normal - and with a Christmas tree!!

We had a cozy, fun Christmas party going on here!! ..and it isn't taking long for me to unpack my boxes and get settled.
The rest of the pics are from Christmas morning.. (just waking up!)

Mom always outdoes herself - she sent amazing books: Animal Speaks, and 2 from Cafe Gratitude: I am Grateful and Sweet Gratitude (which I heard is absolutely amazing!) and one on reading auras. Cool!

Mom, this is the pic I was telling you about.

Mom also gave me some beautiful bowls which she had made for me by an amazing east coast artist Ghita. (ps. note the lapis necklace: )

I love Christmas!

note the almond milk freshly made in the bottle next to the tea pot. I think I am going to make almond milk regularly here. It's really easy, especially when you get into the routine of doing it. & much better than cow's milk. !!

Oh, 1 last pic. Check out the chocolates mom made and sent, individually wrapped and made of super superfoods - lacuma, mesquite, fo ti.. (think I need to get the recipe to find out exactly what I am taking! lol) but they are delicious!! Thank you!

Moving Day!

Moving Day! Yes, Dec.23rd and I am moving.. a full on all day event! It was crazy but it finally happened and now I am sitting on just rebuilt furniture and surrounded by boxes.
Thankfully I had fresh pizza crusts ready from the dehydrater and cashews soaking from this morning and whipped up some cashew cheese.. and made guacamole.. a big lettuce and sunflower sprout caesar salad.. we were starving! ..and of course my moving friends were raw except one guy who loves raw food (& hosts the best durian parties in town!)

ok, so boxes to un pack.. and then more to wrap tomorrow morning. I knew this was going to happen and was prepared, almost everything is ready for Christmas.
..so happy to be getting settled in my new home!

~Hugs!~

ps. my New Years resolution is to really get back into blogging.. cause I love it. (& I just have so much still to say! ; )

Color of the Day: Yellow !!

Mmm.. Tropical Fruit Crumble.. where did that recipe go?? Hmmm..

Should be easy to recreate: Bananas, Pineapple, Mango, Papaya.. Crust of Almond, Walnut, Macadamia, Coconut, Lime, Vanilla and Dates... Yummy!!!

Christmas Magic

I am in the full swing of Christmas!! Put a tree up last night, not decorated yet, but the smell is amazing! This was the 1st year I almost went and bought an artificial tree, environmental reasons.. but the jury was out over which is better.. I have not ever had a tree that wasn't real in my livingroom for Christmas.
& I have almost all my Christas shopping done, just a few special gifts for friends to get..
All this glitter and fun amidst construction, renovations being done.. crazy good time over here..
Christmas is a crazy time! Lots of emotions running rampant through the streets..
I wish everyone good cheer, peace and happiness throughout the holiday season..
Let magic reign!

ps Christmas Music Radio Stations 08

December Pot Luck

Another crazy pot luck went on last weekend. There were over 80 people again! It was a little chaotic.. but great, as always. Lots of interesting dishes to try out.. its such a great way to experience many different raw creations and get inspired!!!
I've always loved pot lucks and raw ones are the best - so creative and fun!!
Cheers, Bon Sante!

Ithaca

When you set out for Ithaka
ask that your way be long,
full of adventure, full of instruction.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - do not fear them:
such as these you will never find
as long as your thought is lofty, as long as a rare
emotion touch your spirit and your body.
The Laistrygonians and the Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - you will not meet them
unless you carry them in your soul,
unless your soul raise them up before you.

Ask that your way be long.
At many a Summer dawn to enter
with what gratitude, what joy -
ports seen for the first time;
to stop at Phoenician trading centres,
and to buy good merchandise,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensuous perfumes of every kind,
sensuous perfumes as lavishly as you can;
to visit many Egyptian cities,
to gather stores of knowledge from the learned.

Have Ithaka always in your mind.
Your arrival there is what you are destined for.
But don't in the least hurry the journey.
Better it last for years,
so that when you reach the island you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to give you wealth.
Ithaka gave you a splendid journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She hasn't anything else to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka hasn't deceived you.
So wise you have become, of such experience,
that already you'll have understood what these Ithakas mean.

~Constantine P Cavafy

Looking for Penny

Alana, my friend and co-worker at Rawlicious, has lost her new puppy, which she just got weeks ago. She has asked me to post a notice and pic of her here, just in case.. she is trying everything. She has posted 600 color posters in the hopes of receiving some news about her - Hopefully she will get some soon!

Penny was lost on Sunday December 7th at 2pm. She was last seen at 7pm trying to cross Bloor St. West at High Park Avenue. She was hit by a car, but kept running. She may be injured, and should be in the residential area of High Park Avenue, Pacific Avenue, Quebec Avenue etc. or could be in the park. She was wearing a black jacket with reflective stripes. She has a dappled coat with large apricot coloured patches with a white spot on top of head. She has large floppy ears that are a solid apricot colour. She is very timid and frightens easily.

We are very worried that she is injured and hiding and we need to reach as many people as possible as quickly as we can. It is cold outside and the longer we take, the less likely she is to survive. Please, tell everyone you know, someone could find her. We are completely devestated at her loss. We are offering a cash reward to the person that can bring her home safely.

Her information on her collar/microchip is as follows:
Toronto ID - 111774
PetLynx - AA55279
Microchip - Allflex Boulder brand #982009105462418
Alana can be reached at:vegan_girl88@hotmail.com

This is especially a call for positive thoughts for Penny, and Alana! *Thanks*

Moving Again!

My life is in transition again.. I am moving. I have just broken my lease to move out early and will be vacating my apartment Jan 31.. and possibly even sooner. I was talking to someone yesterday who may need an apt just for the month of January.. so life is, as always, up in the air.
& I am starting to think about packing up my things again.

I have barely even moved in, the mirror by the couch never even got hung up.. many paintings never even made it to the walls.. this has felt a bit like a 'show-room' apartment, not very lived in.I will be very glad to move down closer to the ground.. houses are just more 'homey' and grounding.. I think I will enjoy this a lot more.

So, back to the boxes. I just listed my couches (sofabed) and chair on Craig's List - Craigs list is amazing, and all over the world now! I was just checking out the furniture selection in Vietnam & in Portugal.. cool!! &in Hawaii - I just found a Hawaiian Palm Christmas Tree!!! wonder if the kids would go for that?

Memories of my short & sweet stay on Pacific Ave. A friend of mine is buying my dining room set.. I really like it.. & might get to buy it back in a couple years! ; )

keeping the bookcase behind the dining table and so far the bed & bureau.. so far..

life is strange and fun - it flows in mysterious ways.. and it always keeps us on our toes.

Tippytoes! (ok, I am deleriously tired and slightly overwhelmed right now - 'Night)

just came back to add a PS to this. Just a thought - Its interesting how I used to have so much dark, deep and bold colors in my last place, even black.. and this one is so white-beige.. just like a blank canvass.. like a cleansing.. and now I am feeling like I need color - bold, bright, light, colorful, flowing, translucent, vivid, .. but color: Green, Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Purple.. alive!Mmm, yes, that feels good!

Life is Messy - Play Hard & Have Fun

Excerpt from Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it.

Besides, perfectionism will block inventiveness and playfulness and life force (these are words we are allowed to use in California). Perfectionism means that you try desperately not to leave so much mess to clean up. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived. Clutter is wonderfully fertile ground—you can still discover new treasures under all those piles, clean things up, fix things, get a grip. Tidiness suggests that something is as good as it's going to get. Tidiness makes me think of held breath, of suspended animation.

When I was 21, I had my tonsils removed. I was one of those people who got strep throat every few minutes, and my doctor finally decided that I needed to have my tonsils taken out. For the entire week afterward, swallowing hurt so much that I could barely open my mouth for a straw. I had a prescription for painkillers, though, and when they ran out but the pain hadn't, I called the nurse and said she would need to send another prescription over, and maybe a little mixed grill of drugs because I was also feeling somewhat anxious. But she wouldn't.

I asked to speak to her supervisor. She told me her supervisor was at lunch and that I needed to buy some gum, of all things, and to chew it vigorously—the thought of which made me clutch at my throat. She explained that when we have a wound in our body, the nearby muscles cramp around it to protect it from any more violation and from infection, and that I would need to use these muscles if I wanted them to relax again. So finally my best friend Pammy went out and bought me some gum, and I began to chew it, with great hostility and skepticism. The first bites caused a ripping sensation in the back of my throat, but within minutes all the pain was gone, permanently.

I think that something similar happens with our psychic muscles. They cramp around our wounds—the pain from our childhood, the losses and disappointments of adulthood, the humiliations suffered in both—to keep us from getting hurt in the same place again, to keep foreign substances out. So those wounds never have a chance to heal. Perfectionism is one way our muscles cramp. In some cases we don't even know that the wounds and the cramping are there, but both limit us. They keep us moving in tight, worried ways. They keep us standing back or backing away from life, keep us from experiencing life in a naked and immediate way.

So go ahead and make big scrawls and mistakes. Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend. What people somehow (inadvertently, I'm sure) forgot to mention when we were children was that we need to make messes in order to find out who we are and why we are here.

Vibing Christmas Marketplace

I was busy all day preparing, making and serving great food & didn't take the time to take very many pictures. Above, my co-workers for the day Lyndsay and Angus from Rawlicious.

Below is a pic taken from the Rawlicious kitchen. It was so nice with all the sparkling lights and people and music - fun. Great stuff - gems and beeswax candles, essential oils, superfood chocolate, High vibing chocosol chocolates and drinks, lots of handmade things, clothes, knit & sewn, natural fabrics, homemade music, best kind, raw products, foods, health books, Dvd's, Raw t-shirts, Art!! chakra cards, violet glass - all your ultimate health and reconnection needs!

Aum My Goddess!!! Groovinda is making a long skirt for me to match my beige hemp shirt!!! And the best hemp apron ever, custom made, I got measured - so excited!!!
Love Groovinda, .. & Deepika (Terra Tree) They shared the kitchen with us to make very special tea.

Highlight of my day probably was finding the most special Christmas cards ever. I wondered if Saskia would mind if I bought her out of her home made collection of Christmas cards.. but she was totally ok with it. & I gained a new friend!! : ) She wrote poems in them and coloured and cut out and decorated them, very beautiful - but I only have a few.. which is perfect, only sending out a few special cards this year anyway, keeping it simple.

and I bought one special one from her brother who also gave great Hair-apy treatments!!!
Kids naturally have high vibes which get transferred to us who get our scalps massaged by them.. way cool, fun. Neat Idea - & beautiful enterprising kids!!! Love that!

& when the Marketplace finished and people started clearing out.. the place started getting transformed for the evening.. DJ setting up at the front...

..and meanwhile live music of all types -lots of drumming- from the back..

This is the way Christmas shopping should be done - Community style - & with a party afterwards!

Mystery of Life

This thought on the Mystery of Life is by Osho from his book Courage, the Art of Living Dangerously. I have borrowed this book and want to give it back tomorrow evening - the books owner is hosting of the big reggae party taking place after the marketplace. ..and I am determined to finish it tonight!!


"The whole history of philosophy, religion, science, mathematics has the same root, the same mind -- the same itch. You may scratch yourself one way, somebody else may do it differently, but the itch has to be understood. The itch is the belief that existence is not a mystery. Mind can feel at home only if somehow existence is demystified.
Religion has done it by creating God, the Holy Ghost, the Only Begotten Son; different religions have created different things. These are their ways to cover up a hole that is uncoverable; whatever you do the hole is there. In fact the more you cover it, the more emphatically it is there. Your very effort to cover it shows your fear that somebody is going to see the hole.
The whole history of mind, in different branches, has been doing patchwork to conceal this hole -- particularly in mathematics, because mathematics is purely a mind game. There are mathematicians who think it is not, just as there are theologians who think God is a reality. God is only an idea. And if horses have ideas, their God will be a horse. You can be absolutely certain it will not be a man, because man has been so cruel to horses that man can be conceived only as a devil, not as God. But then every animal will have its own idea of God, just as every human race has its own idea of God.
Ideas are substitutes for where life is mysterious and you find gaps that can not be filled by reality. You fill those gaps with ideas; and at least you start feeling satisfied that life is understood.
Have you ever thought about this word understand? It means standing under you. It is strange that this word has by and by taken a meaning that is far from the original idea: anything that you can make stand under you, that is under your thumb, under your power, under your shoe, you are the master of.
People have been trying to understand life in that same way, so that they could put life also underneath their feet and declare, "We are the masters. Now there is nothing that is not understood by us."
But it is not possible. Whatever you do, life is a mystery and is going to remain a mystery."

Winter Marketplace this Saturday at Toronto Sprouts !!!

I wanted to post the flyer for the Winter Market at Toronto Sprouts .. but can't copy the image, so here are snowmen from an installation in Moscow. ; )

for the flyer click here!

We are busy at Rawlicious getting ready for it - I wil be there again bright & early tomorrow morning - preparing lots of food, nut loaf patties for the Wraps and the dressings and sauces.. and Pizzas! & we are planning on having some warm Miso Noodle Soup in case it is cold out & Tropical Green Smoothies - my favorite!!

& tonight we are home getting books and DVD's ready to bring. We have some of our raw & health books that we have republished to bring and some DVD's. The DVD's are great - I will post a link to them soon how to get them online.

For now, come down to the once a year awesome, high vibe marketplace.. great place to get the BEST gifts!!!

There will be cool yoga clothes from Yogagurl !
Hemp clothing by Groovinda !!
Truffles and chocolate from Fred !!!
More chocolate from Chocosol !!!!
The Fairy's Tonic - Kombucha from Zoey !!!!!
Upaya Naturals - Organic, Raw Vegan Health products !!!!!!
Living Libations - highest vibe essentail oils, cosmetics, Incredible-superfood chocolate bars !!!!!!!
Ruth's Hemp Foods !!!!!!!!
Me to We - Montage Music -& - In the Raw ... !!!!!!!!!
The Best Food Ever !!!!!!!!!!
Nujima Living Foods !!!!!!!!!!!
E3Live !!!!!!!!!!!! (I was saving the 12 exclamations for them ; ) -big fan! )

& so much more - music, jewellery, clothing, artwork.. lots of raw & health stuff

Come Join Us - it's going to be a huge great fun get together!!!

& Ther is a high-vibe Reggae-Groove fest gathering being planned for the evening ! Yes!!!
xo, Hope to see as many of you as possible on Saturday!

Easy Almond Milk

Quick & simple thought - to make Almond Milk the easy way - I was wishing this morning I had soaked almonds last night - I usually have a bottle of them in the fridge.. but didn't today & just when I really wanted them. - Take 1-2 Tablespoons Raw Almond Butter and blend with 1 cup of water - How simple is that - Oh, & I added a huge Medjool date.. because I was really craving the sweetness. So..

Granola + Banana + Almond Milk & Maple Syrup (or Agave) = the Best Breatfast Ever!!

Later - Just got back from the Cacao Loft and Toronto Sprouts, well-stocked up again! Mmm.. alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts, Sunflower sprouts.. soon to be a big sprout salad! with a plate of crackers and guacamole to go with dinner.. the nuts are soaking because I am going to make blueberry pancakes (as soon as I am finished this) so they will be ready to eat, warm from the dehydrator, for breakfast!!

Cancer is a Fungus !!!?!

This is a subject I have been wanting to blog about for awhile now.. I have been hearing several people talking about this lately - of the possibility - that Cancer is a Fungus!

& now Tracy is at Hippocrates and I have just recently heard that Dr Brian Clement is advocating this also. This is huge news!

Watch this interview with Doug Kaufmann of Know the Cause as he interviews Dr. Tullio Simoncini, M.D. who has discovered the cause of cancer. Dr. Simoncini shares information about Fungus/Yeast and Cancer.

Dr. Simoncini's Cancer Therapy website.

Dr Doug Kaufmann's website Know the Cause is filled with more information and shows like this one that inform you about health breakthroughs. He has also written books about fungus and about cancer.

Candida, Yeast and Fungus a Cancer - Baking Soda to Cure