Raw Oatmeal!!!

Looks like warm, cooked oatmeal, doesn't it?

This has been one of my favorite meals lately...

Raw oatmeal!

What is Raw Oatmeal?

Raw oat groats soaked in water overnight in the fridge then placed in the food processor with dates/agave and cinnamon, or applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon and raisins then topped with raw almonds and served cold.

Seriously, this stuff is filling and keeps me full for HOURS!!! The other day I had it as my second meal (around 10:30 AM) and was not hungry until about 4:00 PM.

Seriously GOOD food. Allan even likes it. :)

I am working on a Cacao Bliss inspired raw oatmeal, recipe, too.

I'm still here!

Good Evening!!!

I am still here and eating clean. If you follow me on Twitter, you saw that I am keeping my eats clean and getting in my workouts, but have been BUSY! It's crazy how our life gets completely out of control in the summer and to top it off, I have been working longer, more packed hours at work. So, by the time I get home, workout and get supper on the table I am down for the count!

We had a really nice weekend at home with some decent weather for a change. We were even able to spend Sunday at my parent's pool.

Allan and I just picked this up on Sunday at Best Buy and have been playing it every night!!!

My favorite games so far are jet skiing and wake boarding.

I would love to check out this game for the Wii:

Does anyone have it? What do you think?

Sweet dreams!

The Rav4 Has Arrived!

Last night after work we received a call from the car dealership that the Toyota Rav4 that we ordered a month ago arrived! We picked it up last night in Golden Valley and could not be happier with our decision! I will try to post a pic of the black beauty later on tonight!

I'm sorry that I have not posted my eats for a few weeks. I have been staying Cooler 2 strict while integrating some raw foods and eliminating dairy and wheat flour. I found that dairy and wheat flour (even WW) tend to give me belly bloat, so I am trying to limit them as much as possible.

Here are my eats for the day:

Meal 1 - egg whites + chicken sausage + cinn raising sprouted wheat toast

Meal 2 - raw cashew coconut pudding + raspberries (from the farmer's market)

Meal 3 - chicken artichoke spinach pesto w/ brown rice penne + kale + raw orange miso dressing

Meal 4 - banana + raw almond butter (homemade)

Meal 5 - chicken burger + turkey bacon + butter crunch lettuce + green/yellow/purple beans

Last week I went to the Farmer's Market twice to pick up fresh produce and plan on going twice again this week to pick up any additional produce that we need to supplement our CSA share. The weather in MN is finally cooperating and the farmers have been able to start cranking out produce. I read last week that because of the cold and dry Spring/Summer that we have had, several farmers are over 2 weeks behind schedule on their crops. It's nice to see the weather warming up and the rain today to help them out!

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Hello bloggers!

I hope that you had a nice weekend and are off to a great start on the week!!! We had a fun and event-filled weekend. It was one of our first weekends at home this summer and it was nice to be able to enjoy ourselves around Minneapolis instead of constantly being out of town!

On Friday, Allan and I kept it low key and enjoyed pizza and a red box. We rented Marley and Me, because we had been told that it was a good, uplifting movie and we were in the mood for something lighthearted. I thought that overall the movie was good and it definitely portrayed a more realistic viewpoint on marriage, pets, and kids. Although, I didn't think that it was as good as others had made it out to be... Although, I may be a bit biased, because I am a cat person, not a dog person. It's not that I don't like dogs, I do refer to Mr. Piggie as a puppy because sometimes he acts like a puppy, I just prefer cats. I just don't understand the licking, doggy breath and jumping - so not my style. I prefer this fuzzy lover.

Unfortunately, he prefers to lay on the Wii Fit Balance Board,

as opposed to standing on it and exercising. Oh well...

On Saturday night we celebrated my dear friend, Laura's, birthday at The Sample Room and the NE Palace. Good food was ate. Interesting conversations were had. And Karaoke was enjoyed.

Sunday afternoon was spent on Fountain Lake in Albert Lea celebrating my Aunt Becky's birthday with my mom's side of the family. We visited, went boating and ate.

I have been working on a recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Hummus for my cookbook and brought along the latest version of the recipe for taste testing. The response was positive and I think that this version is ready to go! Overall, it was a beautifully sunny day and I even drove the boat!

It's hard to believe that the summer is already half over. Phew! That was fast! Enjoy the beauty of the season while it is here!!!

Galia Melon

During the summer months, the produce section at the grocery store and the local farmers markets are brimming with interesting produce. I am completely intrigued by unique produce and the Galia melon did NOT disappoint.

Out of the varying types of melons in the produce section, I choose the Galia because it was the most fragrant. The smell alone made me want to sink my teeth into it right then and there. :) Also, the skin of the Galia is completely different than most melons, it appears to have little veins running through it that seemed penetrate into the melon.

I was expecting the flesh of the Galia to be yellow or orange and was surprised to cut it open and find this:

The flesh is GREEN!!!

The taste of the melon was familiar, yet different; sweet and watery, yet complex.

The best way to describe it is if a Cantaloupe and Honeydew were iMated you would get the Galia.

By the way, visit Gina's blog because she is giving away a copy of Sarma Melngailis' new book. I looked at it briefly the other day at Barnes and Noble and would really like to buy a copy.

Steamed Kabocha Squash

Have you tried Kabocha squash yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

I have heard that Kabocha can be a little difficult to come by, but here in Minneapolis, I have seen them in all of the local grocery stores, not just specialty grocers. If you have a difficult time finding one, visit your local Asian market and they will be sure to have one.

Kabocha can be enjoyed in a number of ways: baked, steamed, sauteed, grilled, etc. I chose to cut my squash into bit size chunks, skin and all, and lightly steam it.


It kind of looks like an acorn squash on the inside and it has a distinctly sweet smell.


Allan and I enjoyed our Kabocha drizled with ABU and cinnamon. I was a little wary at eating the squash skin and all, but it actually added a nice chewy mouthfeel to the soft squash. We both really liked Kabocha's unique texture, as it is more "meaty" and not stringy like other squash. It almost reminded me of eating a sweet potato. I also loved the slightly sweet taste that melted in your mouth.

Here is my plate:

And this is Allan's plate:

Sodium Nitrites and Nitrates

This article on sodium nitrites and nitrates comes at no surprise to me. I have avoided cured meats for quite some time now, but I think that it is important to point out, because not many people realize the wide array of foods that are laced with this very toxic ingredient!

Eat This...

Not That...

Holiday Weekend

I hope that you had an amazing long weekend filled with joy, loved ones, and yummy clean eats!

Allan and I spent the long weekend at his parent's cabin near Pine River, MN, near the Brainerd Lakes area of MN. We had a great time "roughing it" - the cabin has electricity but no running water, which is always an adjustment for me, as I am quite partial to running water. :)

Over the weekend we golfed, shopped, saw Public Enemies, watched a parade, swam in Leech Lake with Miss Laura and her family, had a bonfire, and played games. No fireworks, though, which was alright with me. Allan and I will go to fireworks during the Minneapolis Aquatennial later this summer. It was really nice to get away for a few days! However, it feels good to be home.

What did you do this weekend? I hope that you enjoyed yourself.

Clean Cosmetics Pocket Guide

In the past I have discussed my viewpoint on the health and beauty industry and about ensuring that you are using products that are safe, nontoxic and non-carcinogenic. I found this handy pocket guide to choosing clean health and beauty items.

Instead of printing out these guides and having to ensure that they are in my wallet/purse/etc., I visit the websites on my cell phone and download the PDFs directly to my phone's hard drive for reference no matter where I am.

In the past I have posted similar pocket guides including a safe seafood selector and the shopper's guide to pesticides (dirty dozen vs. clean 15).

Also, for parents out there, you can download the Parent's Buying Guide that details how to shop for your little ones.

Phantom Fat

This is a really interesting article about people who loose a great deal of weight and still see themselves as their heavier self rather than their REAL thin self.

Sometimes I feel this way - I am shocked when I look in the mirror and nit-pick at my problem areas. I am working on improving my self image and seeing myself in a realistic light. I am not a fitness model. I don't want to be a fitness model.

I want to be healthy and fit and I am.

I want to be a good example for others and I am.

I want to be able to run up a flight of stairs and not be winded and I can.

I want to go on long walks with my husband and I do.

I want to bike with my husband across town and we do.

I want to wear a bikini and not feel self-conscious and I will.

I want my future children to be proud of me and they will.

I want to be proud of myself and I am.