You’re doing it, Peter!
April 17, 2011 § 11 Comments
Hello friends!
Welcome to my blog. The one that’s been hanging out in the back of my head for the past few years. It’s going to be all about food. Food that I make, bake, and buy. Or just dream about.
I was partially inspired to finally make it happen by some recent diet changes and also by a conversation I had last week. I was telling a friend all about how, on Sundays, I like to prep food to have for easy, healthy lunches throughout the week. I mentioned I often make a pot of quinoa and she said, “See, I just WISH I knew how to make that kind of stuff!” It was a sweet and honest moment and it really inspired me.
We all come from different backgrounds, different palates, and different capabilities in the kitchen. What may be old hat to me could very well be intimidating to someone else. Personally, I’ve never felt too intimidated by just getting in there and experimenting. The past few years have taken me on an interesting journey with food (another subject for another time). I’ve fallen in love with healthy vegan food, holistic medicine, and the idea that our diets can help make the planet a better place. I am by no means an expert in any of these areas but I’m so very excited to begin documenting what I learn. I can only hope it helps people feel empowered to take charge of their health and to get excited about new food options. Which is why I REALLY hope people comment, ask questions and start new conversations!
Since this is my very first post, I will begin with a recipe for the smoothie that usually begins my day. Despite it’s bright green color, it tastes delicious and puts me on the right track, physically and mentally.
A Smoothie for All Seasons
1 cup almond milk
1 frozen banana
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I’m on a Sun Warrior kick, thanks to the amazing Gina)
2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
2 teaspoons raw maca powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 giant handfuls raw spinach
(optional add-ins: flax oil, probiotic powder, chia seeds, etc)
Put everything into a blender and blend until smooth. Hence, the name.
I love smoothies for breakfast because they are so adaptable. Not into chocolate? Skip the cacao. Have an overabundance of frozen mango? Well, first, you’re weird and second, throw it in! Really, smoothies are so customizable as long you’ve got liquid and something freezy. I think you get the gist.
xoxo
A HIT AT PARTIES 
Love your blog – you are off to a great start! I am thinking about adding a protein powder to my oatmeal and want to avoid dairy/whey. Would you recommend soy? Why do you use almond milk vs. soy?
Hi Becky!
Thank you so much for your comment & questions!
I think adding a protein powder to oatmeal is a great idea. I use Sun Warrior because it tastes really good, is completely raw, and has a really good consistency. For me, that means it disappears easily into the food I mix it into. I like soy protein, too, and Whole Foods has an affordable one. If memory serves, around 20 grams of soy protein a day can help fight cholesterol. The one thing I try and do is just to read ingredients. You don’t want something overly processed with a bunch of stuff you can’t pronounce.
I use almond milk partially because I just think it tastes so yummy and is just as affordable as soy. Also, I do try and watch my soy intake. There’s some controversy as to it’s effects on the body & honestly, I just don’t know enough yet. I’ll try and cover that at some point here! For now, I guess I’d rather have my soy in other forms…like tofu, etc.
PS Stay tuned for a post on RAW oatmeal! Sounds super weird but is, in fact, super good!
try using like 5 dates with a bannana and almond milk + the vanilla, its the best
Yum! I haven’t really experimented with dates in my smoothies yet but I want to. I have an Ani Phyo book that I really need to experiment with more. Would love to hear your fave raw recipes sometime!
Hey! I’m so proud of you for doing this! I was smiling the whole time I read your first post. Can’t wait to see where it goes! Plus it’s cool because I just sort of got into doing smoothies, even though my blender is like two hundred years old. Seriously, it is a colonial-era blender, it is made out of hand-blown glass and maple, with buttons carved from soapstone! I want to get this crazy 3 horsepower one (that is a lot for a blender) that Jason Wrobel recommended to me. My blender is so old it cannot remotely handle frozen strawberries, but still I try. I had some real good somothies (spelling unintentional, but left for humor) while I was in LA, such as one with almond milk and strawberries and almonds and I think bananas and probably protein powder or something. There were really ground-up almonds in there! Which gave it a nice taste, as well as a nice “crunch!” Okay I’m being dumb but seriously great job on doing this blog, I think it is a great idea! Also I love the title of this post. Love you!
Thanks, Jus! I love that you’re making somothies! Ahhhhhh that makes me so happy!!!!!! Was it a Vitamix blender that he recommended?? I want one SO BAD UGH. I’m afraid to do certain things in my blender because I don’t want to break it. I imagine your colonial blender is even scarier!!
ps I’m so glad somebody got the title!
Oh, here is the “recipe” for the smoothie I’ve been making:
1 banana (non-frozen, but frozen would be better, thanks for the tip)
a handful of raw almonds
six or seven frozen strawberries
four ice cubes
an amount of milk I deem correct (either coconut milk or 1% cow milk)
Okay now that I look at that it seems grossly unhealthy compared with what you were making. Maybe it is less of a smoothie and more of a “milkshake.” Speaking of which, I did actually have a legit question: I had heard (from David Wolfe, I think) that protein is naturally abundant in a vegan diet–that things like spinach, etc. have more than enough protein to sustain us, so is adding powders to a smoothie necessary? Anyway, we should talk soon, I have to tell you about my raw/vegan adventures in LA!
I would love to hear about your adventures! We should go to Chaco Canyon Cafe soon! Your smoothie sounds good. I love the idea of almonds in there for texture. Sometimes I put oatmeal in to make it thicker and get more fiber. I soak it first though. So much to discuss! I’m excited for this blog!
I use protein powders just sort of as a back-up because I’m not always the most balanced with my eating. The one I use is raw, sprouted from brown rice, and is good quality so I don’t feel like I’m putting anything bad in there.
Can’t wait to read more!
Thanks, Mama! I love you!