Raw Food Recipes:
Bananas

Elaina Love's "Give Me Greens!" Sweet Milkshake (p. 146) is a pretty cool milkshake. Really and truly. It's fun and frothy and it's a lighter shade of green.
I was sceptical at first. Almond milk and bananas are tasty goodness, but to toss in Spirulina or Barley Green Powder for good measure? I don't know about that.
Strange? Sure. Delicious? Absolutely! My husband gave me "that" look but he relented after my Adventurous Avery took a swig.

They both enjoyed.

Recipe #16,

Whip the Mister by Shazzie, p. 327

Dear Shazzie,

My son, Bishop, loved your delicious banana ice cream. And I appreciated the fact that it was super easy to prepare; just throw frozen bananas into a food processor to create a creamy dream of a dessert. Also, thank you for the pointer about topping the sweet treat with nuts, carob powder or soft fruit. I choose chopped walnuts. I do wish you would have given me fair warning about the importance of eating this dish immediately, it was a soggy mess after 15 minutes or so out of the freezer. I just have one tiny, itty, bitty question. What does “Whip the Mister” mean?

Sincerely,

Terilynn

Banana Bites by Shazzie, p. 193

Gotta love it. Banana, walnut and raisin. Sweet and simple. And they are just so darn cute.
What’s your favorite sweet and simple treat?

9:10 a.m. green smoothie at work

10 a.m. Mila in water at work

10:23 a.m. Romaine lettuce at work

11:10 a.m. Island Paradise Smoothie (Papaya, pineapple, mango, oranges, bananas) and E3Live shot

12:20 p.m. Romaine leaves at work

1:15 p.m. Linguini Parody, Salad bar fixings with students2:30 p.m. Dream Bar at my desk

3:10 p.m. Green Juice at work5:35 p.m. Lemon tartlet at home with Man on the Raw

6:15 p.m. Glass of wine at home

7:45 p.m. Guacamole, cucumbers and raw coconut curry crackers at Kristina's

8 p.m. glass of wine at Kristina's

for the Complete Book of Raw Food Endeavor:

Banana Tahini Drink, p. 138
Cucumber Number, p. 143
Green Onion Dressing, p. 83
Banana Bites, p. 193
Carrot/Cilantro Dip, p. 271
Caesar Salad, p. 56
Ants in a Canoe, p. 110

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January 5, 2011 — Day 5

12:13 p.m. salad (mixed greens, spinach, romaine, carrots, cucumbers, Dijon, nutritional yeast) at work

3:30 p.m. Kombucha at work

4:20 p.m Coconut Date Logs and Cardamom Cake with Rosewater cream at work

6:30 p.m. Pure Power Bars with Man on the Raw at home

7:15 p.m. Salad (Romaine, cucumber, tomato, avocado, very hot jalapeno) at home with Man on the Raw

January 6, 2011 — Day 6

10:30 a.m. Berries ‘n’ Cream smoothie (almond milk, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, dates); a shot of E3live at work

11:45 a.m. Salad (mixed greens, romaine, carrots, cabbage, cucumber, nutritional yeast, Dijon dressing) at work

3:15 p.m. Apple at work

7:15 p.m. Sweet and Spicy Cabbage with avocado at home with Man on the Raw

Sweet and Spicy Cabbage
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 carrot, grated
1 tablespoon Agave nectar
1-2 teaspoons Chili Garlic Sauce (not raw product), or more depending on how spicy you want it
1-2 teaspoons sea salt
juice of one lemon

2 avocado, peeled and cubed

Toss cabbage, onion, carrot in a bowl. Add agave, chili garlic sauce salt and lemon. Mix well. Let set for 10 minutes.

Serve with avocado cubes.

At the Water Cooler
What is your favorite raw food dessert?
(enter your answers in the comment box)

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10:10 am Choco-Nana (Almond milk, cocoa, bananas and dates) and power bar sample from the Living Light Cafe

11:40 a.m. salad (mixed greens, romaine, cabbage, cucumber, sprouts, carrots, Dijon, nutritional yeast) at work

2:45 p.m. Green juice and dried mango piece at work

7 :15 p.m. Parsley salad with tomato, cucumber, avocado, hemp seeds at home

8:08 p.m. dehydrated or possibly cooked (???) unsweetened banana chips at home talking to my daughter Jordan on Skype

Okay here's a grey area. I might have eaten something cooked but not quite sure. I was munching away on my banana chips thinking they were dehydrated minding my own raw business when Man on the Raw (without missing a beat) said "Those aren't raw. They fry them. What the f***?!?

Are you telling me I just ate something that not only is NOT raw but it's fried??? Great, just great. So now do I feel like a failure because I wasn't techniqually 100% raw or do I just say whatever,

Well, if you know me (and I think you might know a bit), I say "whatever", I'm not going to stress. To me, My Year of Living Raw continues untarnished.

At the Water Cooler
What's your favorite activity to do while you eat dehydrated/fried unsweetened banana chips?

Peaches are a good source of Vitamins A, C and E as well as high in fiber. Fun fact: In Japan and China, brides carry peach blossoms because peaches are a symbol of fertility and of affection.

1 peach, pitted, chopped
1 banana
1 cup young coconut water
1 cup ice cubes
1/4 cup agave nectar

Blend peach, banana, coconut water, and agave nectar until well mixed. Add ice cubes.

Servings: 2

This post is dedicated to my mom. She wants to start drinking Green Smoothies and needed a bit of guidance to the way.So this is for you mom.The genius that is Victoria Boutenko came up with the idea of a green smoothie. In her book "Green for Life," Boutenko discusses the healing potential of this amazingly tasty drink. The theory behind Green Smoothies is to get the nutritious greens (spinach, kale, lettuce, etc.) into your body in the most effective way without compromising your taste buds.The recipe I am providing is pretty basic and it's my favorite. But the possibilities are endless. Do a Google search and you can find numerous recipes, videos, blogs, etc. showcasing the Green Smoothie. Green Smoothie (2 quarts)
2 c spinach2 c water1 c ice2 very ripe banana 2 peaches2 T Agave Nectar, or to taste*Place spinach and water in blender and blend. I like to add the spinach first to make sure all the spinach is thoroughly blended. I'm not fond of green pieces floating in my drink.Add the peaches, banana, Agave Nectar and ice. I add each ingredient at a time, giving them their time in blender spotlight.*Our family doesn't use the Agave too much in the smoothie anymore because the ripe banana provides all the sweetness we like. I was surprised by this because I have a huge sweet tooth.If you drink Green Smoothies on a daily basis, eventually you do without the extra sweetener. Your body will just crave the greens and the rest will be fillers.Here's the Green Smoothie formulaGreens (the leafy stuff) + Your choice of fresh (or frozen) fruit + water + banana + ice = Yummy and very nutritious drink.Green Smoothie News You Can Use:Green Smoothies: An Easy Way to Love Greens
By Victoria Boutenko Green for LifeThe Green Smoothie Experiment, Valerie Winters' blog focuses on her amazing six-month green smoothie journey. A must read!eMaxHealthMom, I hope this helps. Have a green smoothie (daily), live healthy and long.I love you, Terilynn :)

Both my oldest girls are in school now and Labor Day is just around the corner. Summer's almost over folks. Take advantage of the fresh fruits of summer before their gone.

Cream Cheese Dip
1 c cashews, soaked 6-8 hours
1/4 c water
Juice of one lemon
3 T agave nectar
1 t vanilla extract

In a blender, combine ingredients until smooth.

Introducing Taste Tester A (Sous Chef D is in school)
My husband brought fruit kabobs home so I whipped up a nice dip to go with it.

Although, our fruit kabobs were store bought, here are some tips to make your own.

• Choose a variety of colorful fruit.
• Use fruit that's fresh but firm, never over-ripe.
• Wash, peel, and cut the fruit into similar size chunks and drizzle with lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Place 6-7 pieces on each skewer, alternating colors, shapes, and textures.
• Host a build-your-own kabob party. Provide the wooden skewers and fruit and have at it.

The lovely young lady to the left is the chef for this recipe. Dad brought home berries. We've got strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. While I was thinking about what to do with the strawberries (another strawberry cheesecake is out of the question), Raw Chef D. came up with this little number. She doesn't know the measurements (I would guess the honey and agave nectar are about 1 teaspoon a piece) but she does know the flavors. She even went to the garden for the mint garnish. Black and Blue Berry CompoteIngredientsBlueberriesBlackberries1 bananahoney agave nectarmintGently toss the berries, banana, honey and agave nectar. Garnish with mint.

7:48 a.m. 1/2 avocado at home

11:19 a.m. salad in the car on the way to Santa Rosa

2:47 p.m. banana chips (probably NOT RAW, but I was hungry) in the car in Santa Rosa

4:42 p.m. Fruity concoction with coconut water (from Jamba Juice) in the car

This dessert is based on Elvis Presley's Grilled Peanut Butter sandwich. Also my son is a huge peanut butter fan. So I came up with this desert using raw almond butter. And you can't have "peanut" butter without the jam.

BANANA CREAM
1 ripe banana1/2 c cashews, soaked1/8 c agave nectar1/8 t sea salt
Whip ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
CHERRY JAM1/2 c dried cherries, soaked for an hour1/8 t sea salt
Liquefy in blender until syrup consistency.
NUT BUTTER1/2 c raw almond butter1/4 c raw honeypinch of sea salt
Combine ingredients in a bowl.
1 Banana, sliced
To assemble: Put 2 banana slices in the bottom of a parfait glass, place 1 tablespoon nut butter on top then cherry jam and banana cream. Continue to layer until you reach the top and end with bananas. Chill for an hour.

From The Daily Raw Blog archives
2007 Elvis' Banana Nut Butter and Jam Parfait

Judi, from Kansas City, wanted raw recipes for kids to share with moms in her area.
Fresh fruit is always a winner with children. A piece of fruit is the simpliest thing you can give a child and they will be happy for it.

(Avery at 8 months)Bananas, apples, mangos, melons, children more times than not love them all. My youngest daughter Avery loves eating an avocado straight from its skin.

(Avery at 3 years old)All the raw desserts my children loved without fail, especially ice cream made in the blender.

DonavanA green leafy salad is an excellent meal for children. My children eat their greens some of the times. They are more likely to eat salad if they can pick their own from our garden and help with the dressing preparation.

My son Bishop eats mint straight from the ground.

The more you involve children in the preparation of the meal, the more they are likely to eat it, no matter what you prepare. My least "raw" kid, Bishop actually tasted the raw kale he was tearing. He didn't like it but at least he tried it. I don't think it dawned him that kale is one of the ingredients in the smoothies he drinks for breakfast.

(Avery and Bishop tearing kale for kale chips)Below are some recipes from the Daily Raw Blog archives that my children have enjoyed over time.
Donavan's SaladAnts on a LogAnts in a CanoeRaw CandyGuacamoleChocolate Pudding
Fruit KabobsMixed Fruit Ice Cream

Tropical Green SmoothieMakes 2 quarts1 handful of your favorite greens1 cup water1 small pineapple, peeled, cored, diced2 mangos, peeled, diced2 very ripe bananas, peeled2 tablespoons raw agave nectar, or more to taste
Combine greens and water in a blender. Process until greens are liquid. Add remaining ingredients in a blender until well incorporated, working in batches if necessary.
I feel downright embarrassed submerging these grapes in chocolate. They were very sweet and tasty by themselves. No worries, we have about 5 more pounds of them sans chocolate. This recipe really should be called "THE PRE-BREAKFAST TO FEED BISHOP WHEN HE RISES AT 5 IN THE MORNING WANTING A SMOOTHIE AND PROCEEDS TO INTERUPT MY SLUMBER TO GET FED" Grapes. But that title seemed a bit long.

Chocolate-Covered Grapes1 pound seedless grapes1 recipe for Chocolate Sauce

Use scissors to snip the grapes into small bunches, put them on a large platter lined with parchment or wax paper. Place platter in the freezer while you prepare the chocolate glaze.

Chocolate Glaze¼ cup water¼ cup maple syrup (not a raw product)½ cup cocoa powder¼ cup coconut oil (liquid)
Combine ingredients in the blender until well combined. Pour into a bowl. Hold a bunch of grapes by the stem over the bowl of chocolate. Dip the grapes into the bowl of chocolate to coat them completely. Let the excess drip back into the bowl. Arrange the chocolate-covered grapes on the platter; repeat with remaining grapes. Freeze for 30 minutes and serve.

12:28 p.m. large salad at home

2:23 p.m. banana and cantaloupe smoothie at home

6:11 p.m. 1/2 avocado at home

6:20 p.m. bowl of cherries

June flew by. I can't believe it's July (WARNING: subliminal message in italics). June kept me very occupied. I've been busy spending time with the kids, testing recipes,

making a lot of kale chips using kale from our garden, ignoring the kids for a minute to finish the book, testing products, creating recipes, (July 31st is my birthday), trips to the park, going to the movies (went to the midnight showing of Twilight Eclipse last night with my daughters Jordan and Donavan, loved it) having mini break-downs, spending 12 hours in a chair getting my hair braided, (July 31 is my 40th birthday) packing and shipping off clothes for the trip (yeah! NO check-in luggage for us), hung out ALOT with my eldest daughter Jordan, who as watched over 1,000 movies, in her short 19 years.
July is a huge month for me (on July 31th Terilynn would have traveled 40 years around the sun), The kids and I are visiting my mother in California for the first time since she moved there some-15- odd-years-ago. She visits us every Christmas. I am starting raw culinary school, I can't wait to share that experience and I will be flying solo. Six weeks of no man, no kids. I don't know what to think about that yet.

A bit of quiet bliss mixed in with where is my beautiful, chaotic family. And umm, let me think. . . oh.. . yeah a little tiny thing happens at the end of the month but I can't remember what it is at the moment. Maybe it will come to me later.

Nutiva and Xagave Reviews
Over the past month I have been using Nutiva and Xagave products. Both companies generously sent me product to try and I was very happy with the results.

Let's begin with Nutiva. Started in 1999 by author John W. Roulac, Nutiva sells coconut oil and hemp products. I was sent the raw coconut oil, raw coconut chips and hemp protein powder samples to try.

I really enjoyed the coconut oil. I used it in its liquid form, which had a nice coconut smell and the taste is very light.

The coconut chips were surprisingly moist, not dry at all, very tasty. I used them in raw desserts, trail mix and snacked on them right out of the bag.

I am not a protein powder fan, I had a bad experience once with a chalky, clumping powder and I was turned off. If it wasn't for Man on the Raw trying and enjoying Nutiva's Hemp Protein Powder, I would have avoided it. I reluctantly gave powders another shot. There was no clumping, no chalky, not funny aftertaste. It actually tasted pretty good a bit sweet. Overall, I was really pleased with Nutiva's products.

Xagave
If I had to pick a team, it would be for Team Angelina, Team Edward and Team Agave.

Although, I like to explore other raw sweetener options, I enjoy working with and consuming agave nectar, raw or not. I would prefer a raw product but hey, I use maple syrup on occasion without strife.

I don't know about other companies but Xagave states that it's a pure, raw (produced at a temperature less than 118F), low glycemic product so I can only believe they are telling the truth. If you want to know more about Xagave and the raw agave nectar debate, here is a response from Stephen Richards, President of BetterBody Foods & Nutrition (the company that sells Xagave), to Dr. Joseph Mercola's constoversary claim.

The flavor is very sweet so I would recommend not using alot at first. Start with a teaspoon at a time, until you meet your sweetness threshold. The textured was smooth and not a thick syrup consistency which was very nice.

It is a multi-purpose sweetener. The children have used Xagave in their lemonade and Man on the Raw has used Xagave in his coffee with great results.

Nutiva's Raw Coconut Oil
Size: 15 fl oz
Price: $11.87
Ingredients: Raw, organic, unrefined extra-virgin coconut oil
Certified Organic: Yes

Nutiva's Raw Coconut Chips
Size: 8 fl oz
Price: $3
Ingredients: Raw, organic shredded coconut
Certified Organic: Yes

Nutiva's Hemp Protein
Size: 16 oz
Price: $16.99
Ingredients: 100% raw organic hemp protein powder
Certified Organic: Yes

Xagave
Size: 36 fl oz
Price: $15.99
Ingredients: Organic Agave Salmianan Nectar and Inulin derived from Agave Tequilana (12% by volume)
Certified Organic: Yes

Chocolate-Covered Bananas

3 bananas, peeled and halved crosswise (6 pieces)

Skewer the banana halves on 6 popsicle sticks; place on a plate and freeze for 4 hours.

TOPPINGS
½ cup raw coconut chips ( I used Nutiva)
Grind coconut flakes into powder using a coffee grinder or high-speed blender. Set aside.

½ cup raw cacao nibs
Grind cacao nibs into a coarse powder using a coffe gringer or high-speed blender.
Arrange the toppings on a flat plate and set aside.

Chocolate Sauce
½ cup organic cocoa powder
¼ cup raw agave nectar (Xagave)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup coconut oil (liquid) (Nutiva)

Blend ingredients. Pour into a shallow dish or a cup.

Dip each banana popsicle into the chocolate, until it is well-coated.

Roll chocolate-coated banana into the toppings. Transfer the banana to a plate and place in the freezer for an hour or until chocolate hardens.

9:09 a.m. Green Smoothie at work

11:10 a.m. bananas

11:53 a.m. banana chips at work

5:43 p.m. grapes at a friend's bridal shower

5:55 salad at bridal shower

10:54 p.m. coleslaw at home

11:01 a.m. Portobello Pizza and a salad at home

4:54 p.m. Bananas and trail mix at home

8:27 p.m. a piece of Hot Raw Chef winner Amber Shea's blondie at Living Light Inn