Fresh Sweet Green Smoothie

I know it's too cold outside to think about having popsicles or ice cream this time of year. However, if you're craving something sweet and cold this is a great healthy smoothie recipe. You can either drink it or make into popsicles.

2 bananas

1 mango

4 frozen strawberries

1 handful of grapes

1 bunch of spinach leaves or kale to taste

About 1/2 glass of water

Mix all together and enjoy! 

Favorite green juice lemonade

Every morning I get up and make this powerful juice. I feel great and the most important thing is that I don't get sick, I haven't gotten sick in over a year. This recipe is my preventative, aside from all of the fantastic benefits Kale has to offer.

Ingredients
3-4 stalks of Kale
2 Gala apples
1 lemon

You can either make it in a juicer or a powerful blender like the Vitamix. You don't have to peel the lemons or the apples.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of Kale, you can read my post here:
http://livingraw8020.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-do-i-like-kale-so-much.html

Edaname & Grape Tomatoes Salad

I love making this salad, it's quick and easy and healthy. You'll be getting more than one serving.

Ingredients:
2 packages frozen edamame - consider getting organic
2 cups yellow corn on the cob (4 ears)
1/2 cup green onion minced
1 whole red bell pepper, chopped into 1/4" pieces
1 1/2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt
1 pinch white pepper
1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup cilantro, minced

Directions:
Thawed edamame until completely soft.
Cut corn from cob, seed and chop red bell pepper and mix both with the edaname in a mixing bowl.
Add all other ingredients and mix.
Refrigerate for one hour, then serve.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

You can serve it by itself, in a wrap or in a mix of greens.

The Best Vegan Marshmallows. Ever!

A neighbor invited us over for s'mores the other night. Can you believe I have never had a s'more before that night? I was looking forward to it, but all I was thinking about was how much sugar is in a marshmallow? Well imagined how excited I was when my neighbor offered us vegan marshmallows! Can I just tell you they taste just like regular marshmallows. Needless to say I really enjoyed my s'more. I will be getting some for my nice and nephew.

Really, I promise. You don't believe me? Try them for yourself.

Raw vegan sushi. Really?

Yes! It is possible and very delicious. One of my most favorites sites is http://www.rawmazing.com Not only are Susan's recipes delicious, but her pictures are amazing. I swear the pictures alone make me want to make all of these delicious recipes., and I have made a few. So today, guess whose recipe I'm featuring.

The sushi is so easy to make and you can experiment with it too and get creative. Below are the ingredients:

• 2 C Sprouted Kamut
• 1 T Nami Shoyu
• 1 T Toasted Sesame Oil
• Sunflower Sprouts
• 2 Carrots
• 1/2 Cucumber
• 1 Portobello Musthroom, marinated in nami shoyu and olive oil
• Avocado, Sliced
• 2 Seaweed Sheets

1. Marinate the Mushrooms
2. Cut the portabello mushroom into slices about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. 
3. Toss with 2 T of nami shoyu and 2 T oil and let sit for at least 1/2 hour.
4. Process the kamut, nami shoyu and toasted sesame oil  in a food processor until the kamut  starts to break apart. Set aside. Slice carrots and cucumber into match stick pieces, slice the avocado into 1/4 inch pieces. Set aside. Lay your sheet of seaweed on the sushi matt. Spread half the sheet with the kamut mixture. Place the avocado, carrots, cucumber, sunflower sprouts and mushrooms on top of the kamut.

It really is that easy! and you'll end up with Sushi heaven like the picture above.

Btw, If you haven't ordered her "Holiday 2010" Recipe book, get on it! I promise you will not be disappointed. You can get it here on her web site: http://www.rawmazing.com/

Oatmeal, Walnut and Dried Plum Cookies

As you can tell, I'm really liking Alicia Silverstone's book The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet it has some wonderful and healthy recipes. I love making these cookies, they're so guilt free and again so easy to make.

Servings: Makes 10 to 12 cookies

Ingredients:Oatmeal, Walnut and Dried Plum Cookies

• 1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup maple sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup safflower oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. molasses
• 1/4 cup chopped dried plums or other dried fruit
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine the oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the syrup, oil, vanilla extract, and molasses. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Fold in the dried plums and nuts.

Using your hands, roll tablespoon-size scoops of dough into balls. Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheet and press down slightly on the balls to flatten the tops. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a baking rack to cool completely.

For variety, replace the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour, barley flour, spelt flour, or a gluten-free baking mix (choose one that does not include baking soda and baking powder). You can also substitute chocolate chips for the dried fruit and any kind of nuts for the walnuts.

Greek-Style Mini Pizza

Here's another fabulous and easy pizza recipe. Lately I really have been craving pizza but I don't want all of the calories. I found the recipe below, which was created by Biggest Loser Ranch executive chef Cameron Payne. It's easy, delicious and healthy.

Serves 1

   * 1 Orowheat sandwich thin (called Arnold's Sandwich Thins on the east coast)
   * 1 1/2 Tbsp. marinara sauce
   * 1 ounce soy cheese

   * 3 Tbsp. tomato , diced
   * 1/4 cup ground turkey , cooked
   * 3 Tbsp. green olives , sliced
   * 1/2 Ounce Feta cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Using 1 Orowheat sandwich thin, split apart and toast in the oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Ladle on 1 1/2 tablespoons marinara sauce on each pizza. Sprinkle soy cheese. Sprinkle on green onions, tomato, olives, cooked ground turkey and feta cheese. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until pizza crust is crisp and cheese is melted.

Nutritional Information
Per serving: 259 calories, 6g fat, 17g protein, 30g carbohydrates, 5g dietary fiber