Make it Monday

Durian "pasta" sauce

Steven and I went to Wing Yip in Manchester today for some frozen durian. We buy it in a packet, but today they had whole frozen durian (5.55/kg) and fresh durian (10.89/kg). 

Steven had the idea to make a pasta sauce as he said durian tastes cheesy anyway. The result was amazing!

Recipe is here

I recommend this recipe. Although we used lemon instead of lime, I think perhaps it would have been better without lemon, but it was still an amazing taste sensation.

I hope you all get to try this one day!

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Frickin' sweet lookin' raw pizza

This recipe is super easy, but it's not very quick. When I watched the video on the weekend I was salivating. This is one of the reasons why I would invest in a dehydrator, but right now it's something that I am going to have to dream about...

The only downside to the video is the amount of plugging he does for retreats and other people's pages. If you know how to make courgette noodles you can skip about 3 minutes!

It is worth the watch even if you don't intend to make it because it shows how simple it is to be creative in the kitchen with raw food recipes (even if you have to spend money on a dehydrator!)

This is the result...

...I am drooling all over the keyboard! If you have a dehydrator then please let me borrow it! Alternatively I'll come to your house and make a few to share :)

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Lettuce

People often state I must get bored eating the same fruit and vegetables all the time. Well actually I don't. They may see a banana and think it's boring, but I see a banana and my imagination runs wild imagining things like smoothies, ice cream, yogurt etc. 

So today I am going to show you what I do with lettuce. I find greens the dullest veg to eat, but it doesn't mean I am bored of eating it :) it's packed with so much goodness that it's essential for it to be on our plates at least 3 times a week.

Keeping it simple

Just chop it up and toss with your usual salad ingredients.

Shred it

This is how I've made it tonight. I have some great kitchen tools and this was the first time I actually used the food processor for it's great chopping ability.

Shredded using Chef Tony's food processor

Mixed in with courgette spaghetti, celery, cucumber, tomato, pepper and lemon juice

Taco style

This has to be my favourite way of eating lettuce. It's definitely a great way to let out your creative side, playing around with the sauces and toppings, and presentation on the plate.

Mini bites on little gem lettuce

Each bite is just so satisfying, this is romaine lettuce

Smoothie

Lettuce goes great with banana smoothies. I have never tried it with anything else and probably never will unless it is highly recommended.

Alone

There is no rule for having to eat lettuce with other vegetables or fruit, so if you just want it as it is then go for it! 

I only have one warning for lettuce...check your teeth after you've finished because there's always a stray piece that has managed to get wedged between two of them!

Enjoy eating your salad!

Jennifer x

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Make it Monday

Encouragement

I am here to offer encouragement today. I want you to make one change this Monday.

Have you been wanting to go 100% raw or try raw? New to veganism and feeling lost? Perhaps you want to change your personality because you feel low or negative.

I am encouraging you to make just one change. It's rare for a person to change their entire life overnight, but if we don't make subtle changes over time we never make it to our goal.

So if you want to be 100% raw, but are still struggling to cut cooked foods, I suggest you speak to Steven. He's experienced in this area.

If you're new to veganism I suggest that you read as much as you can and watch videos. Then make an informed change in your life regarding it.

I cut out meat, then dairy, then shampoo and anything tested on animals, now I've been doing oil pulling and brushing with bicarb and drinking distilled water. I'm constantly making these small changes daily, weekly and monthly. Once you start you cannot help but to keep making them for an even better, cleaner way of living.

So for Make it Monday, consider what you'd like to change and do it!

Jennifer x

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Make it Monday

Smoothie

I watched a video yesterday that was in response to seeing a long term high-carb low-fat (was raw but now promotes cooked) vegan pouring sugar onto "cardboard" cereal and topped with soy milk. The message in the response was something I had not considered and I am taking on board.

I admit that I am a person who often does not try to see something from every angle and this has caused naivety and ignorance in the past. I will do my best in the future to look at everything objectively and from every possible angle.

The videos I am referring can be watched them here and here.

So with the message that Hannah delivers I am taking things back to basic.

Are you new to raw foods? New to a vegan diet? Finding your current food routine boring and want to switch it up a bit?

Well today I want to give you all some smoothie ideas and I want to make it as simple and as cheap as possible. The excuse that fruit is too expensive or it is unsustainable is nonsense and I will not accept it!

The base for these smoothies is simple, ripe bananas.

Make sure they are spotted, soft but not squidgy and easy to peel.

Depending on what you're adding to your smoothie I recommend using as many bananas that will provide you with 90% of the calories you require from this meal. Want a 1000 cal smoothie, then you will need just over 1kg bananas and then you can make up the rest of the cals with some of the following.

Berries

I love my berry smoothies. Raspberry, blueberry, strawberry and blackberry. I'm sure there are more, but these are the most common ones I buy. I buy frozen berries in winter and fresh berries in summer. I use about 100g mixed berries in my banana smoothies and this is quite affordable.

Dates

If you are using dates, my recommendation is to go 50/50 with the calories, so for 1000cal you'll need just under 600g bananas and 200g dates.

Mango

Personally I tend to only add one or two mangoes to my smoothies because I am not a lover for prepping this fruit. I like it when they are juicy enough to just squish and then suck!

Persimmon with a hint of cinnamon

A perfect combination if you have any left over juicy persimmons. Most people have cinnamon in their cupboard so just add a half or full teaspoon depending on your taste for cinnamon.

Spinach/lettuce

Always a winner to make banana smoothies green. You can have this at any time of the day and sometimes I would have it for breakfast and then again for dinner. I find that if you are too busy to make a salad in the evening then adding lettuce or spinach to your smoothie is a great alternative.

Home made almond milk

This is to make your smoothie creamy and fatty. It's a real treat and delicious to drink. Read my post from last year for the instructions on how to make it. Probably not on the cheaper side of things, but if you want to try something new then I recommend it.

I hope that you are able to enjoy your smoothies. There are so many more different combinations that you can try with other fruit as the staple, but I find bananas are the most versatile fruit and combine well with others (I wouldn't use melon though). I can get organic bananas for £4 - £8 a box for 18kg. It is the most reliable fruit and the best staple around. 

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Fruit art

If you love art and you love fruit AND you are patient, then this could be something fun for you to try! It's definitely something I'd love to have a go at and now I have plenty of time on my hands I may try it.

For beginners, this is something so simple that we should all be able to make, an apple swan.

For the extremely creative and patient person you could try sculpting the Eiffel Tower out of a parsnip!

Watching this man create these delicious pieces of art is wonderful. I would want to preserve the food though and not eat it!

So, are you going to give it a try?!

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Persimmon pudding

I've mentioned my love of persimmon pudding before and no doubt I've told you how to make it, but wow, if you've not tried it you're missing out.

I had it for breakfast this morning, which has been my best meal all day (lunch and snacks have been bananas).

All you need to make it is some persimmons (Sharon fruit), cinnamon and a blender.
Cut the fruit in half, scoop out the flesh, add 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon and blend.
Super easy, super quick and super yummy!

This is where I keep my fruit at work :)

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Make a simple salad

After breaking my resolution to be raw and binging on cooked starches for nearly 2 weeks I was very fortunate last week to spend time with a wonderful person who has helped to get me back on track and no doubt will support me trying to break my cycle. 

As I am living with two carnists who eat a lot of processed foods it's really easy for me to get my hands on something bad (like bread) so I am going to keep my food simple and spend as little time in the kitchen as possible!

That leads me to this simple salad.

Prepared by Steven this salad is so simple (well perhaps not the sauce, but the sauce was really a bonus).

1 head of iceberg lettuce

1 head of celery

1 cucumber

5-10 tomatoes - I guess it depends how much you like tomatoes

Half a lemon squeezed

Shred all ingredients using a mandolin and top with lemon juice. It was so tasty.

I am going to be keeping my salads really simple from now on. I will add peppers and mushrooms as and when I please and I've been told to limit my use of spring onion and herbs, so they will be on my plate every now and then.

I just want to say how great it feels to have someone make some food for me :) 

I hope you're all keeping it healthy.

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

I forgot that I actually made something last week! I am here to show you what to do with your empty watermelon shell. 

So, when I have left over fruit I don't know what to do with it. I was talking about bird feeders for some reason and then I just thought about filling the empty watermelon with some left over food. My dad told me to attach some string and here is the result.

Now, I do not think that the birds have enjoyed my selection, but it is the thought that counts. If you are into wildlife and know a bit about what they will eat then I am sure you will fill the shells with something they will enjoy. I just had fun squishing it in.

Have you ever made a bird feeder or do you give your fruit scraps to the birds?

I'd love some tips on what to do with my food waste. The council stopped the composting bin collection and my dad does not want to compost in his garden, so I tend to put a lot of waste in the general waste bin :/ I feel bad for that.

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Welcome to Make it Monday and this is my 100th post! 

As 2013 is coming to an end I want to focus on reflection. I am sure we have all had some of the best days of our lives in 2013, but also perhaps some of the worst. I've been around a lot of people who have lost a family member this year, which is always a heart breaking event. I have also experienced a wedding too, a new start for a young couple to tackle life together. 

Whatever the experience, we should now do a couple of things.

1. Write down your memories of both good and bad things that happened to you this year. It is best to either write it on small pieces of paper, or tear the paper so you have one memory on a strip.

2. In your "bad memories" pile you should reread what you have written and forgive (I am not saying forget, but if we continue to hold grudges or beat ourselves up about it then we will never be able to fully learn from it). It may seem impossible depending on what it is, but we really need to let go of what we consider bad.

3. In your "good memories" pile you should reread what you have written over and over, be thankful for these good times.

4. Get one jar/pot/container. Label it good memories. Fill it up with all of your good memories.

5. If you have a safe place to do this then the next step is to burn your bad memories. Alternatively, shred or cut up your paper and dispose of it immediately. Your bad memories are now gone.

Taken from this blog as mine is a work in progress ;)

It is important to do this soon, before we get into 2014 as we should now have our goals for the coming year we do not want to have our past knocking us or holding us back. 

Remember the compliments. Remember the smiles, the laughter, the hugs, the gatherings with friends and/or family. Remember that you make your own happiness and if you are not happy right now, then you need to start working on it straight away. 

I cannot stress enough how scary it is that time goes by so quickly, so make sure you use each second wisely.

I hope you find time to make your memory jar and that you rid yourself of the bad times you cannot change.

Sleep well and much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Hello!!! It is Make it Monday and I am so excited to show off my hard work!

My Auntie gave her old dining set to my dad this year and he wanted to change the fabric on the chairs to match our newly decorated kitchen/dining room. I bought the fabric in summer and thought my dad was going to do the rest...well months past and nothing happened so I decided to step up and put my crafty skills to good use.

I present to you, the reupholstering of the dining chairs...

Faaaaabulous darling ;)

I love getting crafty and if I could make this my living I would seriously consider it. Even though it hurt my wrist and wore away some skin on my hands, it is definitely a rewarding job!

Have you done any reupholstering before? I'd love to see your crafts!

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Welcome to another Make it Monday

I am going to share something I attempted that was not exactly as I expected, but you should all see it because my epic fail may just be your greatest creation!

So, let me start by sharing the recipe with you (that I modified due to ingredients). It is by Loving it Raw and these raw vegan burgers look so amazing, sort of sticky like some Chinese food.

Well the recipe calls for beetroot and although I went to a massive superstore, two smaller supermarkets and my local farm shop, not one establishment had fresh beetroot so I used parsnip instead to give it a festive edge.

Here's my version

I think perhaps there was too much grated carrot and not enough sauce. They just fell apart so easily on the fork, although in hindsight a tightly wrapped lettuce leaf may have worked well.

I probably won't try these again for a while unless I get a craving and the shops get some fresh beetroot. If you attempt this, please let me know!

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Happy Make it Monday!

So, you all know by now I am crafty. I like to sew (when I can be bothered) and I wanted to share my Christmas crafts with you. I made these in 2011 and I remember the frustration!!

I was going to make 25, but 12 was enough!!

I got annoyed when sewing these as they were rather fiddly on the sewing machine!

I should have stuffed it properly but this was my attempt at a gingerbread house!

The template for the scotty dog is courtesy of Jenny B Harris. An amazing designer and lots of free crafts on her blog. I recommend you check it out. 

I made the template for the house myself based on lots of google searches! 

Also, the stocking was just a basic template off a google search and I decided that the trimming would complete the look!

I'd love to see what you make or have made in the past :) I find that I enjoy myself when I'm getting crafty, even though I get frustrated, annoyed and angry. It fulfills the creative desires within me.

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Hello Make it Monday fans!

So, what have I made this week? Well, not a lot. It really is just food that I make, but I am hoping to get some crafting back in at some point and as it is December it means we are into the Christmas month, so what better way to start the first Monday off than to share some Christmas crafts!!

Check out this cute beaded tree decoration. Now, the lazy people can purchase a kit if they wish (link in the caption), but to be honest it looks so easy to get the materials yourself and follow the picture...

Purchase here

The website says crafts for kids, but come on adults will love making these too, just look at their cute little faces and the bright colours!!

Find a description of how to make here

For a more complicated (looking at least) project, check out the link below for some gorgeous craft ideas

Find this beauty and others here

And finally, no house would be complete without...

A gingerbread man!!!! Find the free pattern here

I hope you all get crafty this Christmas and I would love to see your creations!

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Welcome back to another Make it Monday!

So today I had a very over powering craving for vegan pizza. Now said pizza is not raw and is covered with vegan cheese that is high in fat and not really my aim for my body. I want to remain high carb low fat.

After having a few discussions (knowing that I really shouldn't eat the pizza) I decided that I would make an EPIC raw vegan pizza instead...and this is what I made.

I had to get the planning right first...and I do not think that nutritional yeast is raw, but heck I have certain exceptions. 

So, I made a few layers of courgette and some dill
Blended all the sauce ingredients
Topped with some veg
Then added loads of salad because this was not healthy enough...
Finished off with the "cheese" dressing

Et voilà! Raw pizza...

My disappointments were

1. WhyTF did I use clingfilm?
2. I need to make the base with either thicker layers or a different vegetable as I'd hoped that I would have been able to pick it up like a traditional pizza
3. Aww man...it took me a long time to prepare and a much shorter time to eat!
4. Poop, I was not careful enough with the mandolin.

My amazing feelings are

1. So glad I made this and didn't go waste my money and raw streak on a vegan oily/fatty pizza
2. My belly thanks me
3. I feel well and truly satisfied
4. Look at my beautiful creation! I should be a chef ;)

If you want to know my recipe let me know. I should start putting these all together and publish a book ;) haha jump on the band wagon.

I hope you feed your cells the best that they deserve!

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

OH MY FRUIT it is Make it Monday!!!

Today I made the most delicious, in fact orgasmic, sauce for my cucumber noodles. I am in heaven...I do not want to wash the taste from my mouth ever, in fact it even tastes better than any sweet fruit (although I do love a juicy persimmon)!

I did not take photos as I was busy devouring it, but here is what I used.

• 6 plum tomatoes
• 5 sun dried tomatoes, soaked
• 2 spring onion
• 2 stalks thin celery
• 1 small red pepper
• 1 garlic clove (chopped if you do not own a vitamix)
• 4-5 leaves of basil (I would have added more but my plants are slightly sad because I neglected them)

Mix until fully blended and pour all over your salad/noodles/spaghetti or just eat as a soup.

It really is a taste bud sensation and I recommend this for all of your dressings - I can never get fed up of tomato dressings :D

Make it Monday's are becoming more about food, yet I still have Tasty Tuesday. What do you think about having 2 potential recipe days next to each other? I suppose I could have Monday as my own recipes and Tuesday as other fabulous fellow raw foodies recipes...let me know becasue I do not really make anything other than food nowadays! I suppose it should motivate me to do something crafty...hmmm 

Your comments are appreciated :)

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Welcome to Make it Monday!

I am feeling more like Make it to Tuesday, I am feeling awful right now. 

So I won't be posting anything other than what I have already made!

The flickering light is a battery operated candle. I love it.

Much love 

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Make it Monday is back around!

So what can I tempt you to make today/this week/in the future?

Well, I am not going to post something we can physically make, I am suggesting that we Make it happen on Monday! 

What do I mean?! Firstly, we can use this day to get a particular task done that keeps getting put off (laundry, ironing, making the inspiration board from last week). We can set a goal to do a specific task every Monday, mine is to do legs day at the gym. Or we can simply plan to use this day to do something for ourselves, i.e. Make it (relaxation) happen on Monday!

What are you waiting for?! Go and make it happen today! Let me know what you plan on doing :)

Vicky, I think it was you who said you want to make jewellery from Tamarind seeds...well I've been saving them for you so you'll have to contribute to Make it Monday when you make some!!

Much love

Jennifer x

Make it Monday

Welcome to Make it Monday!

What better way to start off the week than to make your own inspiration board. The general idea of an inspiration board is to fill it with your wishes, goals and wants or fill it with motivational quotes and images or simply anything that makes you feel good.

We are all unique and have our own ideals in life, so do not be afraid to do something different. Do not be self critical and think what you do may be wrong, because this is personal to yourself, your dreams and your goals. Make it fit in with your life :)

Depending on your living situation you may want to just take a plain wall and plaster it with images, if you cannot take over a wall perhaps you may want some cork boards, or you can get a large piece of paper and do many collages and stick it on the wall like a poster.

This is my inspiration board - it will be changing constantly, what inspires us today may not tomorrow, do not be scared to start all over again :)
I painted the canvas at the top in 2009 and it finally got hung this weekend! :P

As you can see above, I only have two small cork boards. However, I may expand and tack things to the walls either side. It's so fun printing images and looking at everything together.

I hope you all have fun creating something unique :)

Much love

Jennifer x