Make it Monday

Welcome to the second Make it Monday!

I said I would share my raw lasagne recipe today, but it's not just a Make it sort of post, it's a Tasty one so stay tuned for the recipe tomorrow.

Today I want to rave about home made nut milk. In particular hazelnut milk. I made it after I got home from work and I have to say I cannot believe how easy it was to make and just how tasty it was to drink!

It is so easy all I used to make it were hazelnuts and water!

Some websites I have browsed for recipes suggested dates to sweeten it up, but I don't think it needs it, especially if you use it in a smoothie like I did.

5 bananas and 300ml nut milk (had a drink before I thought to take the picture!!)

So here's what you will need to make your own nut milk

• A bowl
• A colander
• A blender
• A nut milk bag 
• A jug/funnel
• A sealed jar
• Nuts - I used all of the hazelnuts I had so I didn't measure them. I just used the logic that for however many cups of nuts use double the amount of water :)
• Water
• Patience
• A little frustration/anger for squeezing

Here's what you need to do

• Place your nuts into a bowl and soak overnight. This is where you need your patience. I waited almost 24 hours before I made the milk. 
• Drain the water - use a colander/sieve/whatever method you use (some people use pan lids positioned in a way that lets the water drain but the food stay in!!)
• I rinsed them a few times, optional I guess but I suggest it.
• Put the nuts into your blender, add double the amount of water.
• Blend, blend and blend some more until it looks milky and you are happy with the consistency. I didn't need to add any additional water in.
• Place the nut milk bag into the bowl and then add the contents of the blender into a bag.
• Allow to drain and then prepare for some squeezing!! This is where you can relieve some stress!!
• Place your milk into the jug and put into your jar or funnel it straight into your jar.
• Put the pulp into a sealed container for another recipe.
• Wash up!

How easy was that?!?! 

It should last a few days in the fridge, but when you blend it with ripe bananas for a smoothie it won't last that long!

Here's the website I was inspired by.

Here's a great recipe for nut pulp hummus that I intend to make

Here's a website to make raw tahini to go into the hummus

If you make your own milk please tell me what your favourite nut is, if you've ever used your nut pulp please share what you do with that too.

I hope you have enjoyed learning how to make nut milk and I encourage you to check back tomorrow for my very unmeasured but very tasty raw vegan lasagne!!

Much love

Jennifer x

Sweaty Saturday

It's the weekend and today is Sweaty Saturday.

The purpose of Sweaty Saturday is to share with you some exercise related information. This week I am sharing a video I find fun to do - exercise for me has to be fun in order for me to want to do it again, unless I am getting serious results! 

A few years ago I was at a gym that offered free classes and the instructor gained his certificate in Tabata, which was the start of my love for this way of exercising. Well I tend to get very distracted at the gym if I am exercising alone, I must admit I can appreciate the body of a well defined man, so I need to do exercises to keep my focus and this video is great for that. I did actually do this at the gym, I used the free WiFi and had it playing on my phone. Home exercise for me is quite difficult to complete, as I said I get distracted!

The video is from FitnessBlender on YouTube and this channel contains a lot of other workouts like kettlebells, abs, fat burning, etc too so check it out! 

I hope you enjoy getting sweaty this Saturday. Once you have worked up a sweat, don't forget to fuel your body with the best foods - fruit and vegetables! Eat clean to look lean and be 100% raw ;)

Much love

Jennifer x

Fun Friday

Welcome to Fun Friday!

As I live in the UK, today is drawing to a close but I had lots of fun today because I made my first raw vegan lasagna! I plan on posting a recipe on Make it Monday so stay tuned for that (a lot of my food prep is mainly throw it in and see how it turns out so it won't be a professional recipe!!).

Me and my raw lasagna

So let's get down to Fun Friday with some entertainment from Megan Elizabeth!

Megan is a breath of fresh air. I love her videos, I love her mannerisms, I love that she can be so honest and show her emotions on YouTube for the world to see. I am sharing this video with you today because it is entertaining, amusing, lighthearted, i.e. FUN and I like the music! PS the original video is here but I prefer to watch Megan more!

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Don't forget to check out Megan's channel regularly and keep coming back to my blog!! ;)

Much love

Jennifer x

Think Thursday

Welcome to Think Thursday!

The point of today is to think about something and hopefully learn and grow from it.

So today I want to try and link back to Make it Monday, where I provided a simple recipe for home made deodorant. I want everyone to think about what they are putting on their skin, be it deodorant, perfume, body lotion, shower gel, even soap when you wash your hands after going to the toilet! 

I've read on many raw food blogs "if you cannot eat it, why would you want to put it on your skin?" Our skin is our largest organ and yet most of us are unaware of what we are putting on it. This blog by two beautiful sisters Julia and Libby provides a lot more information about how what we put on our skin is just as important as the food we eat.

"It takes 26 seconds for chemicals to enter our blood stream from products we are placing on our skin."

Until I read this about 8 months ago, it never crossed my mind. I also never thought that eating animal products had an effect on my hormones either but that is a subject for another blog! I found it difficult to stop using products immediately but the only products I use now are Dr Bronner's Liquid Soap, bicarbonate of soda (for shampoo and in deodorant), Chandrika soap (their website appears to have been hacked so I'll link it when they're back!), coconut oil (slather it on!) and I will spray my perfumes but only on my clothes. With regards to toothpaste, well fluoride free is the best way to go, I will eventually transition to a toothpaste suitable for raw vegans.

Dr Bronner's Liquid Soaps

So, I want to to think about how much you consider what your beauty products contain. Do you just slap it on without any thought? Do you buy products that are organic? Do you buy products that have not been tested on animals? Do you ever read the labels and think "well I cannot pronounce that so it must not be very good for my skin"?

I hope you consider these things and let me know your opinions.

Join me tomorrow for Fun Friday!

Much love

Jennifer x

Wishful Wednesday

Hello everyone, welcome to Wishful Wednesday!

I have debated the title of this day of the week because of the whole meaning of wishes and the argument that if we work hard we shouldn't need to wish, etc but I like to wish in a creative way in order to open my mind to new ideas and it's just another fun way to pass the time and set new goals!

So without further ado I am going to share with you a wish I have had for a while now and I have every intention of making it a reality.

Great blog with more information about the northern lights

I have always wished for an opportunity to see the northern lights with my own eyes. I believe it is such a beautiful phenomenon that everyone should seek out once in their life. I have not made any plans to be amazed by the sights, but it will definitely appear on my travel plans within the next few years. I would absolutely love it if you could share your experiences of the northern lights with me, learning from other people is something I value very much so I welcome your input.

Please also share your wishes with me, it could be something you've thought of for a while or something you just thought of right now! It would be great to hear from my audience :)

Tomorrow is Think Thursday, so be prepared for some contemplation!

Much love

Jennifer x

Tasty Tuesday

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday!

"Mmmmmmmmmm...." is what you will be saying once you see this tasty recipe. 

I absolutely LOVE FullyRawKristina and her videos are just inspiring and delightful to watch so today I am going to dedicate Tasty Tuesday to one of her recipe videos she shares with the World on YouTube.

As we are now leaving summer in UK so I want to get this one in first, it's her Fat-Free Raw Vegan Banana Ice Cream Floats! I know a lot of people tend to stay away from ice cream in winter, but I think banana ice cream is great all year round! 

If you have never tried banana ice cream it is super duper simple. 

1. Just peel your ripe bananas and chop them up (I do this but Kristina doesn't)
2. Stick them in a freezer bag and then straight into your freezer
3. In a few hours (I normally freeze them and leave them for weeks!) get them out whilst doing a happy dance, defrost for up to an hour
4. Put them into your blender/food processor and simply mix until it's like Mr Whippy! 
5. You can add berries to give it colour and extra flavour and top it off with berries too to make it look pretty.
6. Enjoy!

Yummy banana ice cream with strawberries mixed in

If you have never seen Kristina's channel before I recommend you spend some time watching her videos, she is just beautiful and shows how amazing you can look and feel on a raw food lifestyle.

Kristina's Facebook

Kristina's Instagram

Kristina's Pinterest

Kristina's YouTube

Eventually I will aim to share what I eat, but for now I will share what I enjoy watching and I hope that I introduce you all to new people along the way.

I hope you will join me tomorrow. 

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Happy Make it Monday everyone!

Today I am going to tell you how to make your own deodorant. This is by far the best combination and I hope that you stop using sprays with toxic chemicals in immediately and go buy yourself these ingredients!

What you will need:

• Coconut oil (preferably organic)
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Tea tree oil
• Tea spoon
• Plastic container

Now all you need to do is mix equal amounts of coconut oil and bicarbonate of soda, say 1 tea spoon of each, into your plastic container and add a few drops of tea tree oil, mix it up into a paste and voila! You just made your own deodorant, no harsh chemicals for your skin and you won't smell bad at all. Just apply a small amount with your finger tips and you will be surprised how long this lasts!

 

Please bear in mind that you will sweat and sweating is good for you, else why are we designed to do it?! 

I hope you will join me tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday. I will update this post with photos so keep checking back!

Much love

Jennifer x