Soulful Sunday

It has felt like the longest week of the year in a really good way.

On Monday I had a clear out and donated items to the local Women's refuge, Tuesday I started studying again and got a project out of the way, Wednesday and Thursday I also studied and did another 4 projects (all of which I have passed with A's), Friday I met up with a friend I've not seen for months and Saturday I went to a potluck in Stoke.

It feels like I have achieved so much and I am so grateful for being unemployed as it has given me time to do the things that I need to do for my future goals. I've been able to focus on myself, eating clean and studying and I am feeling much better about travelling to Thailand.

Getting the results back from my projects has definitely boosted my confidence, which was my wish on Wednesday, so it seems that wish is slowly being fulfilled.

I am also getting there slowly with my cleaning, I have some art supplies that I might donate as I may not have chance to use them before I go travelling. I also need to make a decision about my sewing machine. It's not a big named brand, but it seems a shame to keep it boxed up in storage. I haven't used it since last May. Although I have had it for 13 years and the first 8 years it remained unused! I have some fabric that I want to make into a skirt though so I need to do that soon.

I am on day 31 of being fully raw, so I hope to keep this going. I tend to binge after 30 days, so a suggestion was made yesterday that I trick my brain into thinking I have binged and then pretend that this is actually my first fully raw day. It seems to be working as I haven't had major cravings yet. Although I am sure a certain person can say that my attitude today is a sign that I am likely to snap at any moment. I have said that I do not wish to do another juice cleanse anytime soon so I want to remain fully raw.

I only have two projects left for TEFL and then a final exam. I want to do my best this coming week to finish the projects and then start revising for the final exam. I may have a job interview and I also want to finish reading the book Making a Good Brain Great.

No doubt I'll keep you updated!

Jennifer x

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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

Tasty Tuesday

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday!

I was craving pizza this weekend, thinking that I would need a dehydrator to make it truly satisfying I felt like I would probably never have it. Having watched numerous raw food videos that do not require a dehydrator I knew I could do it, after all I am Miss throw-it-together-and-make-something-amazing ;)

So here is my raw vegan pizza recipe. No photos of the process but it's pretty easy (it is me who made it, I do not make complicated things!)

First one - was delicious!

Ingredients and steps

Pizza base

• Courgettes
• OR shop bought raw crackits
• OR find a recipe and dehydrate your own bases

Slice down the middle of a courgette, then use a mandolin to create thin slices. You will probably have to double or triple layer them if the layers are very thin. The other way is to very carefully slice the courgette with a knife, but the mandolin and using 2 or 3 layers is best...

Tomato sauce

• 2-4 spring onions
• Celery - I used about 1/4 of a stem just because I am not overly fond of it
• 6-8 tomatoes
• Basil

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend away!

Strain excess juice with a sieve.

"Cheese" - it does not taste like cheese, but it is creamy and better than cheese

• Half or even less avocado
• Some courgette
• Splash of water

Place ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy. Add more water to make it more runny if necessary.

Toppings

• Whatever you want!

I used mushrooms, okra, cherry tomatoes and cress. 

To put it all together, start with the tomato sauce, then your toppings and finally add the "cheese". Hold with both hands and get it in your mouth ASAP else it will fall back onto your plate :)

I made 5 pizzas with a courgette base and 1 with a raw crackit - the courgette bases were the best!

Enjoy making these, you'll be making them again I am sure because they were delicious!

Much love

Jennifer x