not fallen off the face of the earth...

have i really skipped all april and some of may
without blogging??
see what happens when you don't own a computer
:(

i am here
and getting my class plans together
to teach the summer classes on raw food.

the exciting weekend (next weekend)
will include a trip to a b&b that caters to rawness
yip yip yippee!
i will be doing a photo shoot
and sending the pics to a magazine
and just maybe they will be printing an article on
this b&b with .... my photos!! ;)
so, even tho i did not replace my broken laptop yet
i did replace my broken camera just in time!
(funny how everything goes kaput at the same time)

i took my new camera to texas and visited my grandkids
and of course took hundreds of photos. (had to test it out)

ahhh
i had spent the previous 6 weeks power sewing & smocking
for the little ones, and that's how i was able to
completely leave off blogging altogether.


this week's project is to build a couple of
colloidal silver generators
i spent yesterday hunting down the parts i will need
and now i must wait for the silver wire to arrive by post.

on the food front-
i have been adding a small scoop of chia seed
to my green smoothies, instead of nuts.
it's good!
it makes them more satisfying and filling
and i can go longer between meals without
the extra fat & calories.

so that's it in a nutshell
hope you have all been well!
xoxo
snowdrop

healing balm

in continuation of my calendula blog
i got my mountain rose herbal order yesterday afternoon
ripped open the box (everything looks so good!)
and gathered everything i needed to make a healing balm.

the first thing i did was strain the soaking calendula petals
(1 oz petals in a pint glass jar covered with good olive oil,
capped and shaken daily for 2 weeks)
i netted 1-3/4 c golden oil

then i powdered some beeswax in my coffee grinder
and weighed out 1/2 oz on my digital scale
i put this powder in my 1 c saucepan
along with 3/4c calendula oil
and set it on my woodstove to slowly melt

once it was melted and stirred
i poured it into little blue glass jars
labeled them and let them cool.
the balm became semi-soft, semi-hard
perfect for a finger dip and spreads
perfectly on warm skin



i got the measurements from
the herbal medicine-maker's handbook



what a treasure this book is, with all the how-to's
i actually bought my copy in a very small bookstore
along the way on an anniversary trip to old forge ny
it was a book i hadn't seen and was more modernized than
my "back to eden" book that i had been using for 20+ years now.

another very good herb book!

i then made a lotion also for the sweet little baby
with the excema that is making his little 4 month old life difficult.
this i made from an strong tea of healing and cooling herbs, oils and vitamins
along with some of the healing balm i had just completed.
when i gave the balm & lotion to the mommy
i did mention that it is not cortisone and herbs take longer to
take effect, but, being the ingredients were all organic
and well researched, it is SAFE
and even if he licked some
he would come to no harm.


i am now about to make some super-fatted soap for the same use.

when i was cleaning up i rubbed the remnants from the mini
food processor onto my hands and face. it absorbed well.
and i was ultra-delighted at how soft and smooth and young
the skin felt immediately!
thinking i may make another batch just for me! :)

oh, & by the way-
beeswax does not seem to come off in the dishwasher
so you'll have to hand wash to clean up well. :)

i will let you know if this helps the wee one.

till next time, stay well!
xoxo
snowdrop

85:100 overcoming food imprint

85:100 overcoming food imprint

such an interesting 2 videos that the boutenko family has made available
i especially enjoyed watching the pre-schoolers
learning to like foods that at home they refused to eat.


Valya’s award-winning documentary, “Overcoming the Food Imprint” contains such an important message about helping children eat healthfully, that she decided to make two large sections of it available for free on Youtube.

This short film explores the reasons why children are often resistant to eating healthfully. Victoria explains that the food imprint is the first and most important imprint we learn because it is natures way of teaching us survival skills.

You will also learn about what can be done to inspire children to make healthful choices. In part 2 there are some wonderful tips on how to practically approach eating well in the home.

50:100 green smoothies

50:100 green smoothies

half way to 100!!

just because they are soooo good:


karen knowler a raw food coach



phillip mccluskey who lost over 200 #'s on raw food



sergei demonstates how to make a green smoothie

green up your lives a little!
xo
snowdrop

46:100 enzymes

46:100 enzymes
when you heat food above a certain temp (generally around 118+)
the poor little enzymes begin to perish by the droves.

The enzymes in raw foods are destroyed by heat

Most raw food, like our bodies, is very perishable. When raw foods are exposed to temperatures above 118 degrees, they start to rapidly break down, just as our bodies would if we had a fever that high. One of the constituents of foods which can break down are enzymes. Enzymes help us digest our food. Enzymes are proteins though, and they have a very specific 3-dimensional structure in space. Once they are heated much above 118 degrees, this structure can change.

Once enzymes are exposed to heat, they are no longer able to provide the function for which they were designed. Cooked foods contribute to chronic illness, because their enzyme content is damaged and thus requires us to make our own enzymes to process the food. The digestion of cooked food uses valuable metabolic enzymes in order to help digest your food. Digestion of cooked food demands much more energy than the digestion of raw food. In general, raw food is so much more easily digested that it passes through the digestive tract in 1/2 to 1/3 of the time it takes for cooked food.

Eating enzyme-dead foods places a burden on your pancreas and other organs and overworks them, which eventually exhausts these organs. Many people gradually impair their pancreas and progressively lose the ability to digest their food after a lifetime of ingesting processed foods.

The following digestive enzyme supplements aid digestion:

• AMYLASE works to breakdown carbohydrates i.e. starches, sugars
• BROMELAIN taken from pineapple plant, helps break down proteins
• HCL hydrochloric acid stimulates pancreatic secretion, activates pepsin and sterilizes the stomach from bacteria and parasites
• LACTASE needed to break down lactose found in milk products
• LIPASE works to break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol
• OX BILE improves fat digestion, stimulates bile flow, aids gallbladder
• PANCREATIN contains protease, amylase, and lipase, functions in the intestine and in the blood
• PAPAIN extracted from papaya fruit, aids in protein digestion
• PEPSIN breaks down proteins, function depends on availability of HCL
• PROTEASE works to breakdown protein into amino

enzymes are what will help you digest your food and that gives you energy to do other things.
(ever tired after eating a big meal?



that's you working hard to digest)
by adding more raw foods with enzymes intact-
you take a load off the digestion process thereby
making you feel more energetic right away.
i have done many raw food chef certification classes
and just raw food classes every one every time
walks out of my kitchen marveling at how good they feel
and even though they ate a lot of food with all the tastings-
they were not 'stuffed'

The food enzyme theory in a nutshell

• That the enzymes present in raw foods are of significant help in digesting the foods themselves once they are put into the human digestive system.

• That cooking destroys these "food enzymes," forcing the body to produce more of its own digestive enzymes than would otherwise be necessary to digest the food.

• That the body has a finite lifetime "enzyme potential" for manufacturing digestive enzymes, which is important for preserving health and longevity; and a portion of which is unrecoverably "used up" in producing otherwise unnecessary digestive enzymes each time cooked foods are eaten.

• That enzymes in raw food also carry the "life force," which can be transferred to the body, enhancing vitality and longevity; and that the body must use up some of its own "life force"/"enzyme potential" to compensate whenever cooked foods (that have no life force/live enzymes) are eaten.

(the in depth chemistry & biology of enzymes can be found here)

but just because you are eating raw food- don't forget the little enzyme
i remember reading of Clent Manech's amazing raw food transformation
and was reminded of it this morning by my rfr friend jodi
and wanted to share one of the points he made about the enzyme supplements:

find a broad spectrum formula/enzyme-active. take them to help take the load off of the liver. enzymes help soak up the poisons stored in the fat cells rapidly dumping in the blood stream as you lose weight. it's part of detox.food enzymes are also essential when eating cooked food. cooking kills the natural enzymes. taking a supplement will help your food digest easier and help your colon to pass the food.

think it will help you?
look what raw food (especially green smoothies) and enzymes did for him:


at 400.6 starting weight


then after 20 short weeks at 273.4 pounds


From 401 down to 176 pounds in
12 months. Lost 225 pounds.
No diabetes. No fatty liver.
No medications.


he is just one of many many people who have turned around
their lives and have been able to really begin living fully again.
wow is all i can say! remember living foods are best!
(no, not live chickens etc...-by now i hope you know i mean vegan foods)
:)

if you are not doing it already-
try adding green smoothies and enzymes to your 100 day challenge
(well in 4 days we can call it the 50 day challenge if you haven't begun yet)

have a lovely day all-
xo
snowdrop

33:100 darth garlic

33:100
on my weekly shopping excursion i came across
something brand new to me.

black garlic

so i bought it ($$) and figured i would eat one head
and plant the other (it's garlic planting time here.)
should've had my glasses on.
blind i am without them, the older i get the more mr. magoo. :(
so long story short- it is fermented for 1 month (totally unplantable)
but fermented is good, no? fermented is ok in raw-world.
so i took a pic for you- it comes from korea (hence the $$)

it feels to the touch like roasted garlic. i have yet to taste it.
but it's a new discovery to me and if it's any good
i will search the seed catalogs to find it to plant myself.
i have a book on fermenting, so i'll figure it out.

then i made a quick dinner

zucchini in cream sauce (some cashew sour cream from the fridge)
some D roasted mushrooms, garlic, fresh peas, red pepper...
and something i have been working on this week
raw vegan salmon. it tastes so much like fish i did a double take.
i am not completely satisfied with the texture but think i can adjust it.
i have been thinking about the better lox choice
and do have a smoked lox for bagels in my book "raw delights"
but this may just replace that recipe. stay tuned :)

my week on really intensely raw has not only shown in my 5# weight loss
yaay!
but also in my loose jeans
and that my constant headaches have been cut in half.
:)
i have more stamina
and have been in a better mood.
and except for that one night of crazy cravings
i have been able to do this without going nuts. :)
...i know that the addition of more greens
would have allayed the cravings, and i am keeping all full
of green smoothie, and as soon as my baby wheatgrass is tall enough..
wheatgrass juice.

so off i go now to clean the kitchen
type some proposals and iron some laundry.
have a good rest of the day all
xoxo
snowdrop

FAQ's ABOUT RAW FOODS

Here are some common questions asked about raw foods and answers!

1. What are raw and living foods?

You will find many definitions of this term, but from my teaching and understanding, raw and living foods are God's natural foods for mankind. Foods such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains that have not been heated beyond 112 (some say 118) degrees are considered still living. Live and raw foods are mainly superior to cooked because when food is cooked it is denatured and the body identifies it as a foreign matter...something toxic, that need be attacked and cleaned out - not to mention cooked food loses many vital nutrients. But raw, living foods are full of nutrients that are easily assimilated by the body. Dead, processed and refined foods create the foundation for disease within the body.

2. Where do you get your protein?

This is probably one of THE most often asked questions to vegans and raw vegans. Protein does not create protein in the body, amino acids do. We get a great source of amino acids from green leafy vegetables! Also, even if we did need sources of protein to get protein, it's not only found in our beloved fruits and vegetables, but great sources are nuts (especially almonds) and seeds. Plant-based protein may not be as abundant as animal-based, but our bodies cannot properly assimilate animal protein as it can plant-based protein. Animal protein is difficult for us to digest because it creates a very acidic environment (which causes disease) but plant foods are alkaline. Our bodies therefore rob our bones of calcium in order to help break down the protein from animal sources. So, in essence, animal protein is not superior to plant-based protein!

3. Where do you get your calcium?

Once again, we have been told untruths when it comes to how much of a particular nutrient we need AND the best source of it. But first, I'd like you to consider two things: a.) Humans are the only species that drinks milk beyond weaning and... b.) Humans are the only species that drinks milk from other species! A woman produces milk for her HUMAN babies...cows produce milk for their CALVES...goats produce milk for their KIDS (not OUR kids or us!) Contrary to popular belief, milk is not a necessary aspect of the human diet. Think about this, we get our calcium from the cow (her milk)...but where does SHE get calcium and/or protein from? In normal/natural situations, they get it from the grass that they eat! So, where should WE get our calcium from? Well, we're not designed to eat grass, but we can eat green leafy vegetables such as lettuce (the darker the better), kale, collards, etc. Also, various nuts and seeds (especially sesame seeds) are very high in calcium! To learn more about why milk should be eliminated from your diet, visit http://notmilk.com.

4. So all you eat are fruits and veggies? Don't you get bored eating that way?

Eating raw foods...TRULY eating raw and living foods is all about adapting to eating food the way nature intended...whole, fresh fruits and veggies. But we all know that for the vast majority, it would be difficult and near impossible to switch from a diet of eating cooked, processed, sugar-laden food to a strict diet of ONLY whole fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds and sprouted grains. Therefore, some very clever individuals took those base ingredients coupled with spices, natural mineral-rich sea salt, and other natural condiments and created living foods recipes that oftentimes can mimic or come darned close to cooked meals! There is the ability for you to have pizza, crackers, sprouted flat breads, cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, ethinic foods, sushi and more! So, is eating raw boring? No WAY! This is why you should allow me to show you how to make raw goodies so you can see how much variety you can have in your diet and still be eating healthy, healing foods!

5. Is eating raw more expensive than eating cooked food?

It really depends on the spending habits while eating cooked foods. If you're accustomed to buying cheaper foods i.e. Raman Noodles, canned goods, boxed mac and cheese (the store brand), large bags of wing dings and that sort of thing, then yes, in the beginning eating raw will seem more costly. But if you were one who purchased the best cuts of meat, name brand foods, or even large amounts of frozen cuisine dinners and such (or even if you are a cooked food eating vegetarian/vegan buying all the soy analogues) then switching to raw may not be that much of a difference monetarily. Either way, look at it this way; when you eat a diet HIGH in raw foods or exclusively raw foods, then you will begin to no longer need medications, doctor's visits, and other things you spend money on currently. Not only that but over time, you may find you eat much less once your body gets accustomed to eating raw, your stomach shrinks, and you are properly assimilating the nutrients of your food. After all, isn't your health and well-being WORTH it? But there are ways to cut the grocery bill down and save money if you're on a tight budget or fixed income. I'd be more than happy to help you with that if you would like to set up a consultation!

6. Aren't some vegetables better for you when they're cooked?

There are some vegetables that are harder to digest and assimilate raw but the answer isn't necessarily to cook them because while cooking (and this could mean lightly steaming) does make it easier to digest and assimilate the nutrients, cooking also kills the nutrients and enzymes. There are basically some vegetables that are really not optimal human foods for example, broccoli and cauliflower. But we are accustomed to eating them either because we've been told they're healthy and good for us or because we really DO like them. So, if you want to eat those cruciferous vegetables, then it's best to marinate them and warm/soften them in the dehydrator as the lower temperature won't render them useless by destroying the vital nutrients!

7. How do I get started NOW?

One of the best ways for anyone to get started with healthier eating no matter what your current diet is, is to start each day with a green smoothie! Now, before you turn up your nose, green smoothies aren't greens and other veggies blended. Green smoothies are fruit smoothies blended with water (no milk please) and greens, usually in the form of kale, baby spinach or even lettuce! They are delicious but when first starting out, you may need to add a small amount of greens and then work your way up! But they are nutritious and energizing and just drinking one to two green smoothies daily may result in some great health benefits for you!

have you lost weight, dear?

no. i have always looked this good.
:) oh, hahahahahhahaaa!!
nothing is farther from the truth!
but this was my conversation this morning with my dh,
who hasn't seen me since i left for my family reunion.

i have just gotten back from a flurry of activity with little time home
in the past couple of months.
we went to france for a couple of weeks for a wedding in the country
at a beautiful chateau.

what a lovely place!
but now i am back home
and it is the time to get serious with what i am doing to be healthy
happy and in better shape than last year.
i have already unpacked and done all the laundry.
so out comes the pen & paper to make a battle plan to achieve
the goals i have set out.

to begin with i have blended a nice little kick-off green smoothie for this morning.
i wandered out to my garden (terribly neglected for weeks!!)
and found a beautiful large kale & collard leaf, a hand full of parsley,
pulled a few weeds...
and came in to make the green drink.
i filled my ktec with the 2 green leaves minus the stalk (didn't want a thick drink today)
the parsley (diuretic qualities)
a thumb size piece of peeled fresh ginger (zoom metabolism)
a banana for sweetness,
a peeled lime (burn fat burn!)
water and ice....
i liked it- but not sweet at all- verry puckery!
so i added a few drops of stevia to make it palatable.
yum!
now the grocery list needs to be made
the to do list
and then i can come back and clean the house,

humming & singing like snow white :)
and wait for a repairman 12-4pm

yes, this is the time to get things back together in my house and life.
& enjoy the rest of the summer.

so what is new with you all?
xo
snowdrop