Ani Phyo's Custard Tarts Recipe Adventure!

I said I'd do this ... so here it goes!

Here's a recipe from the raw food conversion expert, Ani Phyo that looked worth trying. She shared this recipe on her webpage for free and on the tv show "View from the Bay" which is on her website too. It looked sooo good! I just had to try.

So, today we're visiting family and I thought I'd bring them this obviously decadent dessert to try out. There weren't any problems with the recipe, it was very easy. I used a mini-muffin pan with plastic wrap underneath to form the crust. Used a knife to drop the topping on and used a raspberry on top. The only thing I thought was missing was a mint leaf.

They came out so pretty!

Time to put 'em to the test....

I called in the boys.

My oldest, the bravest when it comes to these new recipes, tried it first.

After a crinkle in his nose, he threw another raspberry in the "chase" it! He said, "It was half ok, it really wanted to be whole ok, but it was just half." He didn't ask for another one.

My youngest, went for it because it looked so good. But, within five or six good chews, ran to the kitchen. Then he ate a handful of raspberries. Well, so much for that opinion.

I liked that it wasn't too sweet, but it was too oily. The fats from all those nuts really coats your pallet. I too ate a handful of raspberries afterwards.

Hubby popped one in and said the same thing I did. As well as, it needed butter, sugar and a mint leaf. He's just not grasped the "raw food" concept yet.

I won't be trying these again. It's one of those recipes that I was encouraged to try, but again it's a conversion-type recipe that looks like one thing, but tastes like another.

Oh, and I did grab a picture this time. They sure are photogenic!

Raw Food Recipes: Failure to Convert?

Why do Raw Food Recipes always try to convert people from hamburgers or lasagna?

It can't work! (ok, I you know I'm talking about myself here)

Your eyes are fooled into thinking you're going to get a beefy, greasy, sloppy Joe right? But, noooooo.... you're about to get a surprise! Not even close to what you thought you'd get.

And take the Lasagna example. Looks like pasta, cheese, meat and sauce. But it's nuts, nuts, nuts with probiotics (to taste like souring cheese), and tomatoes. Eeeeww!

So, why bother trying to convert a meal meant for meat eaters into a raw food diet?

The reasons for me converting to a raw or mostly vegan lifestyle was for health. I want to eat lighter, cleaner, more nutritious, natural foods and get away from the typical western diet. I thought that was the same for all raw or vegans, but I guess not.

So, having a taste (and sometimes a ferocious craving) for those western foods, I certainly don't want to try and make those recipes "look" like the stuff I'm trying to get away from.

I'm actually less worried about how it'll taste (compared to the real thing) as I am worried that it'll trigger old habits and cause me to fall off my wagon!

That being said, I really, REALLY enjoy eating new recipes of new fruits, vegetables and combinations for juicing that I've never had before now. I am slowly replacing my old favorites with new favorites!

Today's lunch, a rice wrapped salad with sprouted beans, zucchini hummus and ginger dressing!

WOW!

There's just no western diet comparison!!!

Too bad I ate it before taking a photo! (Next time)

Well, tomorrow I'm making Ani Phyo's custard tartlettes. I'll try to post a pic before they're all gone!

How I Went Raw ... A Food Addicts' Trail To Rehab

Most people I know who hear that I've gone on a raw food diet are astonished and think I'm a bit extreme to say the least.

Honestly, I didn't think it would last as long as it has either. I got started on the idea around New Years' and kept having days of eating right and then falling off the wagon. It kept happening and I didn't know why. After some heavy reading and watching videos about how metabolism, hormones, organ functions, vitamins and minerals work in the body it made me realize that I'd been having symptoms of withdrawl and was detoxing.

So, I decided to go with what my body was asking for, a full blown detox to stop the cycle of yo yo dieting. I bought a 30 day detox program from herbdoc.com and did it. The first week, colon cleansing and raw foods, juices, etc. Second week, liver and gallbladder detox. This was the hardest but couldn't believe how good I felt after that week. Third week, kidney and bladder detox. Easier but I felt less energetic. Fourth and last, colon again, which was very easy considering three weeks of raw foods a juices. Sounds simplistic, but the daily regimen made it easy to focus and curb any hunger while my stomach was shrinking.

I wasn't hungry after about the third day of the detox process. I changed my evening activities to combat bad habits of munching on things while watching tv. I went into my room to watch tv and the behavior changed. I also drank diluted juices when I felt the urge to eat. That was often in my head, not my stomach.  I also began an exercise program which was much more serious than I've ever done before.

These days, I'm a frequent visitor of the farmer's market and buying new and I'm buying different fruits, veggies and sprouts. I bought a few books and kitchen gadgets to make it easier. I've started my new 'lifestyle' and feel incredible energy, my skin (I had rosacea) is clear, I've lost 18 lbs to date and don't even feel like I'm dieting because I really enjoy this! My family is even learning to eat new and different foods.

The items that I've bought are in the amazon links to the right side of the web page. Search around for the best prices. The juicer I got refurbished from best buy for only $67! So look around!  Always make sure to google for coupon codes or go to the bigcrumbs site and sign up (link to the right of course!) so you get money back for each purchase.

I'm going to keep this up because I love it!

Eco-Transformer? What's That? Video

This definitely belongs on the eco-converts blog!

I'm amazed at this cool umm.... motorcycle, is it? Believe it or not, this started out as another High School Science Fair project has turned into something amazing!

Check it out at http://bpg-motors.com/

Hey Guess What? There Are 'NO LAWS' in Florida this year!

Oh my goodness! What should I do first?!!!!

I was searching for new laws for 2011 and found many news ones, especially in "the western U.S." like California and Oregon.

But look what I found when I searched for laws in Florida 2011:

I'm pretty sure they meant that there are no "new" laws this year.

Have a giggle!

New Year's Re-Resolution: Muffin Top Meltdown

orget all those attempted, and possibly failed, new year's resolutions from last year and begin anew. Hopefully, "trying" to fulfill a resolution is where the problems begin. Don't try to reach a goal, act as if you've already attained it and go from there. I don't believe that if you "believe you can achieve", I believe in "fake it till ya make it!" So, if you don't see any difference in those two statements, pick the one you like better. ;D

It's a cliché for sure, but losing weight and better health overall is one of the big ones. Although, google reports that it was "how old is Dick Clark" as one of the top 10!

My resolution is the same one as last year but this year I'm not going to "try", I'm going to "do"! After having seen the documentary "Crazy, Sexy Cancer" and learning about vitamin B17 from Edward Griffin, I'm getting an education is what's missing and what my body actually needs.

For example. I'm learning more about the synergy of nutrients in foods and how you just can't take a particular vitamin or enzyme out of, let's say an apple, and expect it to work the same way as eating that entire apple, including the seeds. So, eating more whole, raw foods is a big one on my list. It'll be even more important to grow my own since the latest power grab of agra biz now has control of just about everything that goes into our mouths. Until I can get a big enough garden going, I'll just shop at my favorite organic market. Here, it's the Fresh Market in Fort Myers. Even SweetBay's newest store in Cape Coral has a good variety of organic veggies.

I've tried many vegan (not completely raw) recipes this past year and some are really awesome and a few were really nasty! I don't like couscous in bland recipes, but it's good with a spicy Indian dish. I also found out that baking sliced tofu marinated with liquid smoke makes a great grilled panini with other veggies on it.

So, today begins the detox from the holidays and the removal of my new muffin top I've acquired over the last two months!

I think I'll start with this:

Looks good doesn't it?! (I'll let you know)

Books Boxes and Drawers Are Out - Recipes Go Online Now

So, your Aunt Alice is dying to know where you learned to make this fantastic pumpkin roll cake you made and is begging for the recipe! Only one problem... you can't find it. A month later, viola! There it is, stuck to the back of the prime rib recipe you made on the same day!

Has this ever happened to you? Does your recipe box look like it was used as a trash bin? Wrinkled and stained pieces of paper with grandma's writing. Some stuck together and completely illegible? Well, even though those are signs of a well-loved recipe, it sure is irritating when trying to find it! And instead of dealing with "the drawer" I usually end up searching for it online.

Ok, it just dawned on me that I could add my drawer of recipes to my online recipe box this way without ever having to type it in! So, in about five minutes I've added over 20 recipes without doing the data entry myself. Efficiency is in my dna!

About 9 out of 10 times I'm end up at http://www.allrecipes.com/ and search for the title of what I'm looking for. Then, I look for the one with the highest ratings and take a look. If it's anything that's close to what mine looked like, I'll take it! I just add it to my recipe box online and keep it there. How great is that? Oh, and when I actually make a recipe, I look in the comments under it. It's like having a consumer reports for recipes! Tons of reviews from real people making them and posting their 'tweaks' if any, that changed it for the better.

There I go gettin' all giddy about organizing and creating shortcuts again! My family says I'm a little crazy about it, but you know what? They enjoy the feng shui of it as much as I do! ohhmmmmmm

Stop Clicking Ads that pay the advertiser and PAY YOURSELF THAT COMMISSION!

Anyone shopping on the internet for deals has GOT to use this! BigCrumbs gives YOU the money they would normally give to those who place big flashy ads on the web. You can get the affiliate's commission instead! If you know others, of course, you'll refer them too and earn a reward. So share your links, it's a small world and when we help eachother we win!

I've received $33.00 this month with just the Christmas shopping I've done and there's still a month left before Christmas!

Click the link below, register, then shop!

Neat Video About Bottled Water

What IS Bottled Water Anyway?

The subject of water quality has come up several times in the last few weeks and I thought it'd be great to share this video.

From the makers of the famous video "The Story of Stuff" comes another one called "The Story of Bottled Water"

I agree with most of what's in this, except the part about tap water being an overall favorite in taste tests. I personally don't feel that chlorine and fluoride taste good, not to mention the possible health implications.

What I think is most disturbing about bottled water is that these corporations, like coca cola and nestle are actually pumping the water into the bottles from reservoirs in our own back yards and then selling it back to us at 10,000 times the price as our tap water would cost!

Making A Difference: HATCH Film Festival

I wanted to let you know about a new short film award from explore.org and the HATCH Film Festival.

The explore/Hatch Award will be presented to the filmmaker whose short film shows a group or individual hero striving for a better world through selfless acts.

If you or anyone you know has created a film highlighting a cause that inspires others to make a difference, submissions are now open.

The winner will receive a full expense paid trip to HATCHFest where they will have the chance to meet with prominent mentors as well as receive a prize from the explore.org co-founder, Charles Annenberg Weingarten. Submissions are due on March 25th.

Please be aware that the due date is creeping up - view full contest
guidelines and submissions info at the following link:

http://www.hatchasheville.org/explore/index.html

The USDA is DARING us to SPEAK UP against Monsanto!

In its own report, the USDA says that not enough consumers care enough about organic foods for the USDA to block Monsanto's modified alfalfa seeds.

Don't be silent on this one folks, the USDA is considering allowing Monsanto to patent it's GM alfalfa.

Why should you care?

“Alfalfa is one of the major food sources for certified organic animals, not only because of its quality as forage, but because Monsanto's patented genes are already found in 95% of soybeans and 80% of corn. If the USDA lets Monsanto sell its new alfalfa, it will inevitably overtake organic alfalfa crops through the natural pollination process. [3] As a result organic farmers may be feeding their cows genetically modified food.” by ana sofia joanes, fresh, the movie.

That's why!

And there's a lot of other reasons you can read about here at the WORC website before you make your comments.

First visit the WORC website HERE.

Then go to the USDA's comments page HERE

ACT NOW! PLEASE!

It only takes a few minutes. Let's do this NOW and SHARE THIS! It needs more attention, so PLEASE TWEET, FACEBOOK, DIGG, EMAIL and CALL everyone you know! Have them go to the site and share their comments to present to the USDA! There's a SHARE button below this post for quick clicking!

Let's show the USDA that we really DO care!

For those who wish to see mine, here's what I submitted on the USDA's comments page:

-------------------------------------------

RE: Docket No. APHIS-2007-0044

Alfalfa is one of the major food sources for certified organic animals, not only because of its quality as forage, but because Monsanto's patented genes are already found in 95% of soybeans and 80% of corn.

If the USDA lets Monsanto sell its new alfalfa, it will inevitably overtake organic alfalfa crops through the natural pollination process. As a result organic farmers may be feeding their cows genetically modified food which goes against it's regulation of organic certification requirements.

This GM Alfalfa Would Significantly Increase Pesticide Use and Thereby Harm Human Health and the Environment.

1. I hereby request that you don't allow Monsanto non-regulated status.

2. Please extend the deadline for public comments by 30 days.

3. Immediately Release the “Plant Pest Determination” for Comment

Thank you.

Championing The Selfless Acts of Others

I've always been a fan of documentary films because they're full of information that we just aren't getting much of these days. However beneficial for education they may be, they can be very long and sometimes a bit boring. Right?

But I was watching a short segment called "explore" on LinkTV the other night and this was a very different film! The film was entitled "No Child is Born A Terrorist" by filmmaker, storyteller and philanthropist Charles Annenberg Weingarten.

He calls himself an "archivist" who sets out on fact-finding missions to id

entify and document organizations for possible funding grants for these amazing community leaders. As I watched this short (20min) story unfold, I wasn't just being educated about an important issue, I was truly absorbed in the stories of the people and their plight. I really felt connected to them and wish them well. I no longer had wanted to watch what was on next, so I headed over to their website at www.explore.org to see more.

They have many different films, photos and interviews from these missions and they're all on the website to see anytime you want. The films are shorter than most (between 8 and 40 min) and they really connect you to those people and causes across the world. I think this is a great way to educate and inspire our "microwave generation" into action!

Both educational and inspirational, these films cover topics from animal rights, health and human rights, pover

ty, environment and more. The website is also an online community where people share, dialogue, and experience films and photography to bring cultural context to philanthropy. Come join in, I did!

Their main mission is "Championing the selfless acts of others." And it's all made possible from generous funding from the Annenberg Foundation. Explore is able to help these selfless leaders to continue and grow their work.

For the explore team, being able to travel the world and meet these fantastic leaders of change has got to be a great job!

Hey Charlie, do you need an assistant?? My passport is ready!

Here's one of the films I just loved about Wild Dolphins: