Monday, January 23, 2012

He's gone NUTS... (Day 8)


Dear Diary,

Honestly, I cannot believe how lucky I am… My husband is not only super supportive of this 30 day experiment; but taking control of the kitchen. My goal was to eat ‘raw’ until dinner, as I love to make homemade soups, roast root vegetables, and enjoy the goodness of ‘warmth’ in the winter evenings. Yes, I live on Maui… But I live up a mountain/volcano at 3,500 ft. Therefore, even though I live on an island floating about the Pacific ocean in “paradise” it still gets cold in wintertime in Kula. Needless to say, I my desire for ‘warming foods’ was out weighed by the fact that my husband was doing all the non-cooking! He is so into it… He’s sprouting, soaking, and dehydrating faster than I can say “Julienned Carrots”. Last night we watched the sunset on the beach and snacked on homemade flax, sesame, sunflower seed crackers and hazelnut/almond nut cheese. It was delicious. Tonight we are having the in-laws over for dinner and making Raw Pad Thai w/ Raw “Peanut” Sauce (recipes below). I am realizing how much I really want a mandolin, and I am not talking about the instrument. I can only imagine how much easier that would make some of these recipes. Thankfully I have a great Cuisinart food processor that has chopped, diced, sliced, and pureed many of times. And since I am speaking of appliances and equipment, I’d like to take a moment to truly brag about my Jack     La Lanne Power Juicer. I know there’s been question and discussion of which to buy and why, but serious I could not be happier with this purchase (of $85.00 at Cost Co). I was contemplating a video of ‘how fast’ that thing makes my morning Green Lemonade. Hmmm, maybe a future blog.
Today was one of those days where I was truly ‘tempted’ as we decided to go to La Provance French bakery to get ‘Thank You’ croissants for the in-laws for their babysitting the night before. Standing before the bakery case filled with Tortes, Quiches, Strudels, and Chocolate filled Croissants I thought I just might give in. Who’s idea was this again? Oh yeah, MINE! It was torture… But I stayed strong and dug deep (into my purse) only to discover a Coconut Cream Pie Larabar (ingredients: dates, unsweetened coconut , almonds, cashews, and extra virgin coconut oil. Thank goodness for the ‘snacks’ I still hide amongst my car, diaper bag, and purse!!!  Hmmm, now I am feeling a really strong urge to make Raw Coconut Mousse… Off to the kitchen!
Raw Pad Thai: (4 servings)
3 c red cabbage, shredded
2 large carrots, julienned
1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
1 large zucchini, julienned
3 young coconuts (meat) sliced into long ‘noddles’
½ cup raw cashews
1 cup Raw “Peanut” Sauce
Raw “Peanut” Sauce: (makes 2 cups)
1 cup raw almond butter
2 tbs fresh chopped ginger
½ c water (to thin)
4 tbs fresh lemon juice
¼ c maple syrup
3 tbs Nama Shoyu soy sauce
4 ts sesame oil
2-3 cloves of garlic
½ Serrano chile
*Blend all ingredients in food processor until smooth



Wish me Luck,
Maggie

6 comments:

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  2. Maggie, Maggie, Maggie! I love your posts - Lol! Okay, you make the Raw Pad Thai seem much less intimidating, even though I still don't 'get' the whole young coconut thing. (I don't know if I can even *get* those here.) Thank you for posting that recipe! And, YES! Would you please, please, please(!) post a video of how your juicer works? Honestly, mine is easy enough, and fast enough, but it leaves the pulp awfully wet, much wetter than I remember Becky's did. I feel like I'm wasting too much juice. Please do it!

    Keep up the good work! I love this - and you! MWA!

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    1. *You can always put the 'pulp' back through the juicer!!! : ) Get every last drop out of those Veggies!!! xo

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  3. Ditto, Deborah, I'd LOVE to see the Jack Juicer Demo. I'm going to lose it if I don't find a faster way to make the green lemonade. BTW, I was thrilled at how much easier it was than I thought it'd be to crack young coconut last night but then when the inside was all slimy, I started thinking, hmmmm...maybe this is a rotten young coconut. Still scared to crack them myself so threw mine away and will buy the deli case, pr- cracked ones at Whole Foods until I get braver. Thanks for staying strong. I'm not doing quite as well as you but pretty darn well. All whole foods but gave into my rumbling tummy and had steel cut oats just now rather than more cold fruit. Will do better tomorrow....
    xo,
    Beck

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    1. Think about what you just said, my dear. You 'gave in' and had steel cut oats! Not ice cream, not a salami sandwich, but steel cut oats! Lol! You're doing GREAT!!

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  4. I made the Raw Pad Thai last night (adding chopped jalapeño, green onions, wedges of lime and substituting soba noodles for the coconut). Not only was it one of the best meals I've ever made, it was one of the top 5 miles I've ever enjoyed in my life. AMAZING!!! I just want to eat "peanut" sauce on everything. Hoping to use it in another recipe today or tomorrow...spring rolls????

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