Moving Forward

Buddha Blessings - Beet of my Heart Green Smoothie, recipe below

Life truly takes us on an exciting journey with twists and turns abound.  My life, so far, has been filled with many of them - from good to bad to WTF... and everything in between.  And now, another one begins.

This is going to be an exciting journey!  One that I've been waiting to happen for many years, but just didn't know exactly what it was going to be.  Let me briefly explain...

For many years I worked in the corporate and medical world, then ended up horribly sick with CFIDS and could no longer work, let alone function at home.  Food, holistic medicine, Mark, family and my own perseverance (aka: never give up) is what got me well - even though it sneaks up on me sometimes.  Out of that sickness I discovered a talent I didn't know I had, which ended up as my successful metalwork career for the past 7 plus years.  I've had other medical blows and other crappy things happen in my journey, with the most recent one of early breast cancer (1 1/2 years cancer-free this month!) .  With each one of the blows, I eventually got back up, became stronger and continued on with life. Hence my nickname Rocki - as in Rocky Balboa which one of my docs had tagged me with years ago.

Moving forward.  The past few years I've told Mark how I wish I could do something more profound with my life that would help others in some way or another.  I had no idea what I wanted to do, but something that was close to heart.  He suggested for me to take the same nutritional class that he took as he loved it and said I would too.  While I thought about it, no bells went off.  Another thing to mention is that due to my wrists and arm issues, metalworking is not going to be a lifelong career for me. 

Sometimes when you stop looking for something, it appears right before your eyes.

It's going on two years since I became a raw foodist/raw vegan and I cannot express enough I very much I LOVE eating a clean diet and creating recipes.  My head spins sometimes with thoughts of what to make next!  I think I actually eat, sleep and dream it.  Mark sure isn't complaining, especially since he's my official recipe taster.  Well, so are our friends at SKW (his office).

I've always enjoyed learning about healthy eating and treating food as medicine. I have several books that I've read cover to cover, more than once and cannot seem to get enough knowledge.  In fact, my dad is the same way - not a raw vegan, but he sure loves his raw veggies!  We used to talk for hours on end about nutrition, healing with food, etc.  Now we share recipes too.

Okay, so let me get to my next journey in this life that I'm going on or else I'll just keep writing and writing about how much I love my raw vegan life!  Two things that I'm extremely passionate about and are close to my heart (besides family of course) is my Buddhist path and my raw vegan healthy lifestyle.  Well, this could not be any more perfect for me as I'm now enrolled in the Body Mind Institute to get my Raw Nutrition Certificate!  After that, I'm going to take a course to become a Raw Vegan Chef!  After that, I don't know.  I'm leaving the door wide open.

To manage my class and studio time, I'm going to work only part-time in the studio as that is the only way I can achieve my goal.  Yes, I do actually have a goal in mind as to where I want to be in a couple years and with perseverance, I will get there.

Moving forward.

Peace and love,
Rocki

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Here's the smoothie recipe that is in the picture with Buddha:

Beet of my Heart Green Smoothie
2 handfuls baby spinach
1 small beet
2 bananas
1 cup strawberries
1 cup hemp milk (or milk of choice - adjust as needed)
1 Tbs flax meal (optional)
1 Tbs maca powder (optional)
1 Tbs raw vegan protein powder (optional)
optional ice if you like a cold smoothie like I do :)

Blend, pour, be thankful for the little things, and enjoy.

Goji Berry Green Smoothie - Raw Vegan Recipe

Raw Vegan Smoothie

I've been having so much fun creating a variety of smoothies lately.  Many of them are ones I've been making for a long time, but never thought to layer them or be so creative!

This one is my antioxidant rich Goji Grape Green Smoothie, garnished with coconut shreds, blueberries and pomegranate.  The Goji Berry (also known as the Wolfberry), are delightfully tasty little berries known in Asia for over 2,000 years as one of the most nutrient rich foods on earth. This superfood is packed with protein, antioxidants and over 20 vitamins and minerals.  You can add them to smoothies, oatmeal, salads, brownies, a variety of recipes... the options are endless!  They make a quickie out of the bag snack too. 

Let's get to my recipe.  Oh and just to note that I use a Vitamix so the texture may be different if you are using a standard blender.  But no worries, it will be delicious just the same!

Goji Berry Green Smoothie

Purple layer: 
1 handful of grapes (about 1 cup)
1 large frozen banana
1/2 cup blueberries
1 heaping Tbs goji berries
1/2 cup coconut water (adjust as needed)

Blend, pour into large measuring cup and set aside in fridge while you make the green layer.

Green layer

1 large handful kale
1 large handful spinach
1 large frozen banana
1 Tbs flax meal (or seed, I grind my own)
2 Tbs protein powder (I use Sunwarrior's Warrior Blend Raw Vegan Protein)
1 tsp Matcha green tea powder
Coconut water - enough to blend.

Layer as you wish and top with garnish or not.  Or, pour both mixtures into a large glass (or 2 small) and swirl together or blend all of the ingredients together and enjoy!  I've done all 3 and it is delicious either way.

Peace,
Rocki

Raw Vegan Smoothies

Good Morning Smoothie - raw, vegan and gluten-free

I'm getting a bit more creative with my raw vegan food and am having a blast!  I have several to blog about, but will do a few at a time. 

Have to say that my little creations are just a drop in the bucket compared to what I've seen on Instagram - amazing and inspiring to say the least.  Speaking of Instagram, I'm becoming more active on my page and as I told Mark... "there's no stopping me now!" You can find me at Raw_Rocki.

Let's get right to the quickie recipes.  Above is my Good Morning Smoothie! I'm simply going to give the basics for this one because you really can't go wrong with smoothies.  So let your taste be your guide, experiment and have fun!

Good Morning Smoothie!

Bottom layer: banana, mango, pineapple, coconut water, flax meal and warrior blend protein powder - natural flavor

Top layer: baby spinach, matcha green tea powder and coconut water
- you can add a banana with this part for a thicker consistency

Guilt-Free Chocolate Shake - raw, vegan and gluten-free

You can't say no to a healthy chocolate shake in the middle of the afternoon, can you?  No way!  Especially since it is raw, vegan, gluten-free and nutritious with no processed sugar.  Say it with me: "GUILT-FREE!"

Guilt-Free Chocolate Shake

Step 1:
2 very ripe frozen bananas
1 cup pure coconut water
1 Tbs protein powder
1 Tbs hemp seeds
vanilla bean or 1 tsp vanilla
1 cup ice

Blend the above.  Pour half or more of this vanilla mixture into a tall glass and leave the rest in the blender. 

Step 2:
Add 1 Tbs or more of cacao powder to the remaining mixture in the blender and blend briefly until combined.  Pour slowly on top of the vanilla mixture.  I garnished mine with coconut and cacao nibs, but you can garnish any way you want or not.

Note: if you do not have very ripe bananas and/or like it more on the sweeter side, simply add sweetener of choice in Step 1.

I'll post more of my raw vegan smoothies soon.  Enjoy!

Peace,
Rocki

Peachy Matcha Mango Smoothie

Raw Vegan Smoothie with Matcha Green Tea Powder

Last weekend we discovered Matcha Green Tea Powder.  The cost is a bit expensive for our liking, but that certainly outweighs the many health benefits of it.  Plus, with how we eat and live it is quite doable.  While there are plenty of online places to buy matcha, with an abundance of information like Got Matcha, we bought our first one at Sprouts, the Organic Ceremonial Grade.

 

In my mind I was comparing this type of tea to other green teas that give an instant energy boost and make you jittery, so I was a little concerned as the only caffeine I drink is my morning cup of coffee.  However, since making our first of several green smoothies with it, this has not been the case.  I must say that we are very pleased with this new addition to our daily diet.

 

Here is one of my new matcha green tea powder recipes.  I noted the options in case you want or need to change it up.

 

Peachy Matcha Mango Smoothie
1 1/2 cups pure coconut water (or plain water, or milk of choice)
2 good handfuls fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup frozen mango (or fresh)
1/2 cup frozen peaches (or fresh)
1 frozen banana cut into chunks
1 tsp Matcha Green Tea Powder
1 Date (optional)
1 TBS Hemp Seed (optional)
1 TBS Flax Meal (optional)
ice - if using fresh fruit
extra water as needed - this makes a thick smoothie so depends on what your blender can handle.

Put all ingredients into vitamix/blender and blend away until smooth and creamy. You may need to add some extra water if it gets too thick. This makes one very large glassful for a very filling breakfast.

Another note of the many benefits is the wonderful calming effect.  That is because of the amino acid L-Theanines.  "Over a thousand years ago, matcha came to Japan as an aid to meditation practice. During long hours of sitting, monks would drink matcha to remain alert yet calm."

Calm like our golden Buddha

Peace,
Rocki

Purple Elixir Smoothie

Raw Vegan Green Smoothie: Purple Elixir

When I was a little kid I used to pick the fruit off of our neighbors overhanging pomegranate tree, with permission.  My dad would then cut it open for me and I would sit in the backyard, in the dirt, wearing my army hat as usual, with my toy army men and shovel (I was and sort of still a tomboy), while trying to pick out the little fruit pieces one by one.  My hands would turn a lovely shade of red, which turned my dirt into colorful mud.

The pomegranate is considered a superfood and is much easier to drink it than pick out the fruit pieces, at least in my experience.  It promotes heart health, is a good source of vitamins and is rich in antioxidants, more than other fruit juices, just to name a few.  So it was a no brainer to include 100% pomegranate juice to my green smoothie. 

Raw Rocki's Purple Elixir Smoothie

Along with the healthy pomegranate juice I added blueberries to this smoothie, which I'm sure most of you know is chock full of nutritional benefits as well.  Combined with all the other ingredients, this is one tasty and healthy green smoothie. 

Seriously, this is yumminess at its best!

Purple Elixir - Raw Vegan Green Smoothie
Makes 1 very large tumbler size smoothie (or you can share, if you want)

1 cup pure pomegranate juice (no sugar added)
1/2 cup water
3 oz fresh spinach (around 4 cups semi-loosely packed)
1 cup frozen blueberries (or fresh)
1 large frozen banana cut into chunks
1 rounded Tbs hemp seeds
1 rounded Tbs flax meal 
optional medjool date (if you want it sweeter, but tastes great without)
extra water as needed

Put all ingredients in order, except the extra water, into your Vitamix/blender and blend until you have a smoothie.  The extra water is used if it is too thick and you want to thin it down, just start with a little at a time.  Also, if you don't have a Vitamix you may need to add extra water, depending on how well your blender handles all the ingredients.

One thing about green smoothies, or smoothies in general, is you really can't go wrong. Well... I have actually once, but we won't go there, lol!  So if you don't have all the ingredients on hand, such as the hemp seed, simply have fun and experiment!

Peace,
Rocki

Tropical Green Julius - Raw Vegan Smoothie

Tropical Green Julius - Raw Vegan Smoothie

Our breakfast each day is a green smoothie.  Once I discovered that practically anything goes, I started creating my own recipes...and I'm on a roll.  I should have taken a picture of all my scratch paper and notes of all my raw vegan recipes so far... they are growing fast and I really need to type them up.

Anyway, I made this one the other day and it took me back to when my dad would occasionally treat us to an Orange Julius.  Except this one is much healthier.

Ingredients to make this yummy smoothie

All of this yumminess is what you need to make my Tropical Green Julius with. 

Fills up the blender to the top

My Vitamix blender is my best friend.  Well, actually Mark is my BFF, but the Vitamix is second.  It holds all the fresh raw ingredients and turns them into a freakishly delicious smoothie.

my healthy morning green breakfast

As you can see, this recipe makes a healthy amount.  I drink all of this myself and it fuels me until lunch.  Mark makes his green smoothies each morning at work as he has blender there (a Ninja) and I pack his ingredients each day for him, along with his raw lunch.

Hope you enjoy this recipe or alter it to fit your likes. For instance you can use fresh or frozen fruit, but I indicated what I used below.

Tropical Green Julius - Raw Vegan Smoothie
Makes about 3 1/2 cups

1/2 cup water
3 oz fresh spinach (around 4 cups semi-loosely packed)
1 cup frozen pineapple
1/3 cup fresh blueberries
1 tangelo or orange (I was out of oranges that day)
1 large frozen banana cut into chunks
3/4 tsp organic vanilla
1 rounded Tbs hemp seeds
1 rounded Tbs flax meal
optional: 1/2 cup ice
extra water if needed

Put all ingredients in order, except the extra water, into the blender and blend until you have a smoothie.  The extra water is used if it is too thick and you want to thin it down.

Note: if you want, you could omit the 1/2 cup water and replace the fresh orange with 1 cup orange juice.

Now it's time for me to make my morning smoothie.  Not sure what I'll make today, but I'm sure it will be green...and delicious!

Peace,
Rocki

Healthy Chocolate Smoothie - The Raw Vegan Way

Raw Vegan "Chocolate" Smoothie

Each morning Mark & I have a big green smoothie for breakfast that fills us up until lunch.  It is a very satisfying, delicious, healthy and nutritious way to start our day.  We LOVE our green smoothies!

Sometimes I need my chocolate fix. So for an afternoon snack I'll make my Raw "Chocolate" Smoothie, which is made with raw organic cacao powder.  A healthy superfood that is filled with antioxidants and an abundance of magnesium and iron. And yes, it is gluten-free too.

Here's what you need to make this satisfying and guilt-free smoothie.  This makes 1 very large smoothie to hold you over until dinner - or you can share... if you want:

1 1/4 cup water
2 big handfuls fresh baby spinach (3 oz.)
1 Tbsp cacao powder
1 Tbsp Hemp Hearts/Seeds
1 Date, stone removed (I use Medjool)
*1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (no sugar added)
*1 frozen banana

Place all ingredients in order into a high power blender (I use a Vitamix - awesomely powerful machine!) and blend on high until you have a yummy smoothie consistency.  In the Vitamix, that's about 30-45 seconds. More water *may* need to be added, but you'll have to be the judge while blending.

*Note: if you don't have frozen berries or banana, fresh is perfectly fine.  Just add about 1 cup of ice for the last ingredient to help give it a thick consistency.  Also, if you don't have Hemp heart seeds, either omit or replace them with ground flaxmeal.

Okay, now pour this delicious dark chocolately mixture into a big tall glass (well, unless you're sharing), stick a straw in it and take a sip.  Isn't that awesome?!  You wouldn't even know it is a healthy green drink! 

Now, sit back and enjoy the rest of this yummy smoothie until you make that noise with the straw like you did as a kid and was told not to do.  I do.

Peace,
Rocki