The Hippie House

I knew I was coming in to a culinary arts program, but what I didn’t know is that I would be walking in to a whole new world, community, family that would touch my heart and change my every thought completely.  The people I have met, from the moment I checked into the Inn have blown me away with the brilliant positive light they all glow with. People from all over the world, Australia, London, Rotterdam, Russia, Canada, and Korea.  Everyone with a different but intense and motivating story of why they are here, either their health depended on the life style change  or they are interested  in following their passion for good food with goodness in it. The place we are staying at is an old two story house till retaining its grandma charm from the gray colored carpets to the flower patterned wallpaper and has been transformed into an Inn

with ten rooms and one kitchen. There are 12 of us living at the Inn and there is never a dull moment. We start our day at 7am with multiple blenders and dehydrators going at once, everyone in the kitchen making green smoothies or creating snacks.  Along with the deafening sound of the machinery are the debates over the nutritional benefit of soaking or not soaking almonds; or if garlic is toxin or a tonic. The kitchen is small but with patience and a little understanding of the raw food inner workings we all manage to get something to eat, along with helping each other out by swapping produce or bartering for dates. When we gather in the kitchen all the different pieces of a full community shine through. We feed and support each other with zero judgment. Everyone is left to eat and “cook” how he/she would like but we are all there for each other to answer questions and find a solution even If we use a little help from Google to do it. Usually when you go to a group of people, school, party, sleep away camp, whatever gathering you may be at you will have an internal pull towards a particular group of people, or a person which is how we get our typical stereotypes of the popular group, nerds, jocks ect. I came into the house expecting cliques to form, and worried about which group would accept me, but that is not what happened at all. I did have that internal pull but not to a group or even to a person, but to everyone in the house. I could not tell you who my favorite person is, I could not tell you who I get along with most, and I won’t even call this a family because even in families there is a black sheep. That just is not the case in this fantastic group of brilliant individuals who, every day remind me that being her is right.

Once upon a Dream

So I figure I should actually have a post with a Disney Princess reference...

I am beginning to understand why Snow White ate a random apple from a scary lady in the middle of a sketchy forest, because she figured it would taste good. Doesn't mean it was going to be good for her (sleeping curse) but she said "it LOOKS delicious". I totally get that now, I could be reaching just a bit, but maybe it was a metaphor for how we ALL eat. It looks good, sounds good, seems harmless, but then later we pay the price. Snow White had a Prince who came to her rescue with a sweet kiss (awe) my "Prince" how ever is not so much a who but a how, if that makes sense?

What has saved me from my "curse" of lack of motivation, weight gain, chronic joint pain, migraines, mood swings, debilitating period cramps and even the occasional depression, was as simple as removing Gluten. Which is a huge thanks to my mom and dad who kept pushing me untill I finally saw the light (thank you guys!)  In two weeks I could sleep better with out agonizing knee pain. I was able to get out of bed on the first try and not feel so sleepy all day. It is such a miracle in my eyes how much my life has changed because my whole body feels better that at times I don't even believe it, and I am the one going through it all. But I promise you, at least for ME it has worked and I will never let myself get back to that point. I will never again say yes to my poison apple which is Gluten. So be gone sketchy Creepy old Lady, you will tempt me no more!

Cooking to clean your system

There are a few things i want to blog about today, but knowing me i will only get through one topic. i finished my full week of just RAW food and passed with flying colors. i was not hungry and i was not sick, a few times my organs were tender but that is just the toxins being released from all the bad stuff i had eaten trying to get out of my system. i loved it i felt lighter and more alive. When i was younger my mom made my family do a raw food detox at least once a month. i didnt really know what for then but i know now and i will be keeping up with it. The day right after my Raw week i went to my in laws for fajitas, and i LOVE me some steak so naturally i had just a plate of fajita meat with the beans, no tortilla because i have been very good about being strictly Gluten Free. The next day i did not feel good, its my own fault i should not have gone from Raw food to fajita meat the next day, so now i am trying to get back on track, and what i have noticed is i am reaching for more Raw foods  now on my own. i feel better when i eat better. i still have not reached my goal weight but, i do feel lighter.

i was craving a way to put all my yummy veggie together and eat them at once, so i looked for ways to make some sort of bread... and i found one. it is absolutely delicious and you can edit the formula to make it sweet bread or thinner to make a pizza crust. i have already made it three times.
The Rawtarian

Feel good Foods

I went shopping at Whole Foods with my mom yesterday to get some things for a recipe i will post next blog, and i came across something really interesting while i was in the snack bar isle looking for my absolute favorite treat the KIND snack bars. i looked on the shelf above me and saw something i hadnt seen before (mostly because i have blinders on when i shop so i dont over spend) a granola bar called Kutoa, but that wasnt even the most interesting part about this treat. What is said on the box and wrapper is what caught my attention the most. "buy a bar, feed a child." So naturally i grabbed one and began reading. Every bar you buy, send a nutrition pack to a hungry child. The nutrition packs that WFP delivers are packed with the vitamins, minerals and micronutrients essential for maintaining bodily functions, growth, immunity, productivity and prevention of mortality among vulnerable populations. They are delivered to children between the ages of 6 and 59 months and effectively alleviate malnutrition and the diseases that coincide.

That wasnt even the best part, right next to the Kutoa bars was another box with a pleasant message Two Degrees Food's box said "for every bar you buy we donate a meal to a hungry child". Their mission is to empower you, the consumer, to help feed 200 million hungry children through just Two Degrees of separation. After all, in today's world, none of us are that far away. Instead of grabbing just any snack, you can go for one that feeds your hunger and helps do the same for another.

Other foods that give back:
Specially Foods

Rishi Tea

Savannah Bee company

KIND snacks

Do Goodie Brownies

Numi Tea

Hippie in the kitchen

Growing up in a Latin family and traveling all over the world food has been one of the biggest influences in my life. i may not remember where exactly we were or who it was with but i remember the aroma and tastes of the meal, the warm or cooling sensation as the food traveled to my tummy and filled me with a yummy joy. My mother and grandmother always instilled a sense of pride in the food we prepared, being careful not to cook anything in a bad mood so we don't feed anyone negative energy. Every house my family has lived in has always been very warm, open, and friendly, no one comes in with out being ask if they are hungry or thirsty, and even if they are neither a drink and meal is brought to them anyways. Not matter how your day goes a good meal and a smile can change everything.

For years i have wanted to cook but i feared that if i finally let my little secret be known then no one would take me seriously. What kind of life will cooking provide for me, its not a real job. i figured it was best for me to just keep my passion for food under wraps and continue to look for something else to do. Wasn't till my mom came to visit and flat out said i needed to go for it that i let myself believe in me. So now i am working on going to a Raw Food culinary school and i am so excited i cant stop thinking about it, but because i am a little superstitious i will stop talking about it for now.

This is what i have been up to this week, busy busy busy. My mom has pretty much dared me to eat nothing but raw food this week so i am having fun finding different ways to eat my fruits and veggies.

 Raw veggie sushi. i marinated the carrots in apple cider vinegar, red chili flakes and honey to give it a bit of an Asian kick, and some extra flavor so i wouldnt have to use soy sauce. 

(Right:) the beginnings of raw creme brulee. Cashews, pine nuts, honey, vanilla, lemon juice, and coconut oil. it turned out the way it was supposed to but, it still ended up tasting like cashews. So i am going to stay away from sweet treats made of nuts and stick to more fruit based items. But over all not too bad.

(Above:) the finished product of my Raw creme brulee. looks good and tastes good 

Actions speak louder then words

i am not going to get into it because i dont know enough about the details, (i tend act on my hippy instincts and just promote free love for all) but this whole Chick-fil-a thing has got me thinking. i want to make sure that at least 90% if not all of the things i use, wear, eat, and do to reflect how i feel in my heart and promote health and happiness through out the world. i already buy most (if finances let me) groceries and cleaning products at Whole Foods, which supports local farmers and small family owned companies, i have even found some of my favorite items there that i dont think i could live with out. So now i would like to start buying all organic Eco-friendly, clothing such as organic cotton, hemp, soy, or bamboo. The Natural Clothing Company says "the conventional cotton is one of the most toxic crops on Earth, using insecticides which might cause cancer, skin problems, and deprive soil of life."   i know most of the items wont be very fancy or as fashionable (not that i have ever wont best dressed) but i will wear my new earth healthy threads with pride knowing that i can help sustain a family or villages simply by buying products that are focused on changes for good. i know i am just one person but that is all it takes to at least start. For the rest of my life i will be needing to buy clothes, so why not buy some that will not only clothe me, but will help others at the same time leaving No One Without. For my first tiny mark of change i bought a tank from Threads For Thought.

Clothing for a causes

Sseko's

Kayu

silver lining

Things have calmed down a tiny bit in the trauma department, and by calm down i mean my cousin is once again heavily sedated. as long as she is feeling little to no pain it eases my heart and I'm sure brings my uncle the tiniest sense of peace.

i blogged a few weeks ago about my parents being in the country (they live in Romania at the moment i don't know if i mentioned that) my father and littlest sister are getting ready to head back tomorrow and i thought i should update on my diet that my mom has been so helpful with... i honestly could not be happier! in 3weeks i have lost 5lbs, and its not just the weight i am delighted with but i have lost 3 inches around my middle i can finally SEE the difference. i did not get a gym membership i am not "working my ass off" and i am not on any pills or juices or weird serums. All i am doing is using the My fitness pall app on my phone (get it! its amazing! My Fitness Pal) to restrict my calorie intake to between 800-1000 calories a day. i am eating only one cooked meal with an animal protein (i love meat, good hormone free meat is SO good for your body) a day so most of the foods i eat are raw, such as salads and veggies with humus. Nothing fancy just enough to not be hungry, which i haven't been hungry. I have COMPLETELY removed all addicting foods such as bread, sugar, dairy, caffeine and alcohol. i have not in anyway touched wine, beer, or liquor in three weeks, not only do i feel fantastic but it has helped my getting healthy process tremendously. i cant believe i didn't know that the key to wight loss was all in getting rid of the sauce. i was eating healthy and running but i was still having drinks on the weekend which was 2 steps forward and 12 steps back. So my tip to everyone trying to get healthy, in shape, and loose weight. Keep moving and stop drinking.


In the middle of all the family chaos i wanted to cook, cooking brings me a little harmony so i made some raw brownies with raspberry sauce. Very simple, it also takes a cup of dates but i threw the bag away before taking the picture. So you dump all ingredients into a food processor, smoosh into a baking dish, then let it set in the fridge for a few hrs. All i did for the raspberry sauce was process fresh raspberries with some agave and pour on top. it looks like meatloaf but i promise they are brownies.

Never focused

Seriously I am the worst blogger ever, I really hope I don't have any devoted readers because I just can't seem to focus on keeping on track with this thing. Which is ironic because I always have so much to say.

I can't remember where I left off so I will just tell you what is going on now. last weekend I went on a family reunion coast trip with my family in law, I'm sure in reading the word in law most people cringe a little well don't worry because I happen to be one very lucky girl who has found the family in law of her dreams. They are fun, loving, supportive and very accepting. My fiancé is a very successful person who has accomplished all of his goals before the age of 25 and I am well, slacking a bit in the motivation department, so for my in laws to still love me as sweetly as they do really is a blessing.

Yes I did say coast trip, yes that does mean bikinis and no I did not meat my weight loss goal, big shocker. I was a little self conscious but nothing a few beers can't fix. For the most part I avoided gluten by bringing my own sprouted corn tortillas for sandwiches, I also brought a bunch of mason jars full of detox and green tea too keep my metabolism up. The good thing about trips especially coast trips is that you tend to keep active. Even. Simple game of catch phrase kept me on my feet, an laughing till I hurt.

My parents had arrived from Romania (where then live for now) a few days before we left for the coast, so my mom along with her natural dieting was waiting for me when I got home. My mother is one of the smartest people I know when it comes to eating/cooking/living healthy. If there was every anything wrong with my sisters and I she would turn to herbs to solve the problem and it always worked. Growing up lots of people have given my family grieve for our unique ways of eating, but my mom has yet to be wrong. So now that she is here I am on a very very strict diet of only organic, healthy foods. No sugars no gluten or bread type products, no dairy, and limiting the amount of food I eat. Basically getting rid of all addiction foods as my dad likes to put it.

Americans in general tend to over eat, the portions that are served as huge. For example one of my favorite meals is a #2 at McDonalds which is TWO cheese burgers fries and drink, then the big Mac is two burgers on top of each other. We all just stuff our faces till we can't eat thinking the feeling of being full Is the sign of stopping, when really we should stop way before feeling full. With in three days of eating only heathy foods I have seen the difference in how much I can eat now.

If anyone lives in the Dallas Tx area and is interested in seeing what the Raw food movement is all about check this place out. Formally know as Bliss now known as Be Raw. DELICIOUS

i guess i never learn

I have three other blogs that i have stopped writing, i have four books i started writing, i am 24 and still in community college (nothing against community college i LOVE my school). So you would think i would have learned that finishing things is not my talent, but for some reason i checked my blog today and saw that i have had 301 views and that made me feel like i should at least keep trying.

Like i said a few weeks? ago i have been trying very hard to get in shape. I am finally on a good path where i am eating 80% raw and 20% "normal" but still healthy food. Using the % sign makes me seem like i know what i am talking about, basically i eat more none cooked food then things like meat.  i feel great, i feel brand new, but the food is not the only thing i have changed i also have been very consistent with my workouts. i do at least 20mins of cardio every day. i really really love Jillian Michaels: Banish fat, boost metabolism, she is an inspiration and makes me want to push through the circuit. i have even thought about looking for a kickboxing class to start taking, it is invigorating especially as a woman to feel like you can kick butt while working hard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ593Z7MKs8

i have been living this healthy life style for about 5 solid weeks now, every monday-ish i take a picture of my progress and other then the typical bloating from being a woman (womp womp) i haven't really seen any changes, but my fiances says he does. i also haven't lost any weight, but i feel lighter, i feel better, till i look down at the rolling hills on my mid section. so i am focusing most of my energy on that part and the cottage cheese factory on the back of my thighs. i guess i cant really complain because my sleeping patterns are better and my mood is great, so for now i think ill stay on this path.

My nanny family is out of town this week which means i am on the couch this week right? wrong. i am choosing to spend my free week working out hard, and pumping my body full of healthy and organic foods....
today i made up a recipe for gluten free, flour free CoOkIeS.

Batter: in a food processor i put in pecans, walnuts, and chia seeds
Sweetener: raw agave, vanilla, cinnamon, and s dash of all spice
Fruit: dried cranberries and dries blueberries
Two Eggs just to add a little fluff to them.

i processed all the nuts and powder items then in a bowl i missed the fruit an eggs, it really does turn into a nice batter. scooped it onto a cookie sheet and baked them for 15ish mins at 375.