The Beauty of L.A.

There is actually a raw restaurant, that makes raw food to go, right around the corner from my apartment. I like when things get easier. :-) So far, I have tried 5 of their dishes and all have been good. It is great to know I can pick up raw anytime I am feeling lazy, or genuinely too tired, to prepare something on my own.

I think by January I should have this new food thing down....then I will start my training again. For now - the few push-ups, knee squats, lunges, etc, I can get in during the day will have to suffice.

I have also successfully made ice cream with my new blender - no need for an ice cream maker. It is delicious - much less calories than regular ice cream (although not really "light") - and it is Raw and creamy and yummy. It is a perfect alternative to buying ice cream at the store when the sweet tooth calls....plus the raw restaurant has a Raw Apple Torte which is amazing as well....

All this food talk...making me hungry! I look forward to focusing on my training again.

Terri

You Get What You Pay For

I tried the celery root and apple soup again, this time with my new blender. What a difference. With the old blender - mush. With the new blender - creamy goodness. Compare the two pictures. I really like this soup too. It is extremely filling - but does make a mess in the kitchen as you have to chop, blend, strain, blend again. It was worth it though. :-)

Terri

RAW "Spaghetti"

I got a fancy blender and a fancy spiral slicer - and both turn out to be worth every penny. :-) At least my first impressions are good. I made spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. The spaghetti is actually zucchini and squash, spiraled nicely and with very little effort in my new slicer. The marinara sauce is pretty much the same (tomatoes, basil, bell pepper, olive oil, garlic, etc) - only not cooked. And the meatballs are walnuts, garlic, olive oil, etc chopped and meshed together. That is spaghetti raw - and I like it!

I was surprised at how fast it was to make. I didn't time myself - but it seemed like I was just getting started when the meal was ready. It's weird. It's like you are prepping everything to cook - but instead of cooking it, you eat it. :-) When I get better at it - this meal will probably be faster to make than bringing water to boil to make real pasta. That makes me happy because I envisioned going raw as having to slave over a blender all day long. I am sure some recipes will be involved - but this one was quick and easy.

I still need to learn how to season - or not to season. The flavor is too much. I am use to how things taste cooked. The same food raw has such a different flavor and texture.... And I am full. It almost feels like I ate real pasta. Yeah for raw spaghetti!!

Afterwards, I tried ice cream again (made from dates, almonds, water, agave nectar to sweeten, and a little vanilla). I was hoping I could blend it to get ice cream-ish feel, but this recipe is really for an ice cream maker - which I will probably buy - at some point. :-) My blender is excellent for making green smoothies though - hopefully I will get to make that this weekend.

I am happy I am liking raw food so far. Being full and satisfied after eating vegetables?? Who knew. I suppose the walnuts in the "meatballs" helps with the fullness. But still - I was expecting to have to grab something else after dinner... :-)

Score one for raw.

Terri

My First Raw Meal

Well, I created my first raw meal (following a recipe - mostly) - a celery root and apple "soup" mixed with black truffle and olive oils, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and coconut butter. It does taste better than it looks....however...

My blender is horrible! The raw food books said a good blender is key, and now I know they were not lying. My blender couldn't even touch the celery root - I had to juice it first in my juicer, and then try to blend the left over pulp and juice together - and the blender couldn't even handle that! So I ended up using a hand mixer, flinging stuff all over my kitchen, and ending up with mush instead of soup. But oh well, it is still edible...however....

Raw foods have incredible flavor, almost too much. The books said this, but I didn't really believe them on this point either. They said don't add a lot of extra seasoning like you have to with cooked foods. I added extra salt, pepper, coconut butter, and lemon "just in case". Every bite is like a little kick to the tongue!

I am happy though to have found a healthy way to "cook". I will definitely need a better blender....and will have to rethink how I season...but I think this won't be so bad. One raw meal a day for now.

Love,
Terri

Leaving on that midnight train to Georgia....

Well, more like the 6AM flight out of LAX to ATL.... :-) I will be in Atlanta for the Thanksgiving holiday from tomorrow until Sat. Woohoo!

Terri

Moz here we come...

Hi Dad,

That property preservation company sounds interesting. What would it do? Help people stay in their homes, or help them to sell?? Sorry you lost your walking buddies, but like you said, the treadmill is good for picking up the pace (and also for adding inclines).

I am excited about climbing Kili with you as well. :-) Glad you want to come to Mozambique too. I really want to do a lot of things - but I think it will come down to how much vacation I can get. And that will be determined on whether the lady I replaced while she is on maternity leaves comes back to work or not. If she does come back, I could probably squeak out 2 1/2 weeks (because some of those days are technically holidays). If she does not come back, I will likely have to fight for the 2 weeks to be able to climb Kilimanjaro....although I am sure my boss would give me at least those two weeks since some of the days are holidays and we are closed anyways. That lady said she would be coming back around Jan or Feb....so I will have to wait and see.

It's an issue because I am alone in my department. So if nobody is there, the work doesn't get done.

I really wanted to do a safari, but I don't think I could get enough vacation no matter what to do that and visit my friends in Mozambique....maybe we can do a one day safari in Mozambique with them at some point. :-) Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world...they could probably use the tourist dollars.

Anyways, do you have any special requests? Things you want to see/do?

I will be ready too to climb Kilimanjaro, one way or another! I am going to stick with the gym for now. That is where the skinny people hang out. :-)

Cool pics of the Cuthbert sign and go-cart/ hunting vehicle. :-) Maybe I should start taking random pics of Los Angeles.

I can bring some of the RAW FOOD books home with me on Christmas. It is mostly just recipes. The idea is that cooking kills enzymes, so if you eat mostly raw foods you are getting the most nutrients possible. Plus raw foods are naturally low in calories and/or contain only the healthy fats. So it is just healthier. It is a whole new way of "cooking" though. No need for pots, pans, or an oven. You use a blender, food processor, dehydrator, and a cutting board. None of which I have....well, besides the cutting board. We will see....I am going to start slow, one raw meal a day. :-) I am not sure about websites...but if you google Raw Foods I am sure lots will come out. I started reading some of the theories behind it but it is so simple, people have to use effort to explain it in complicated terms. So I stopped with the theories and am now just looking through the recipes to see what would be practical and yummy.

Have a good one!

Terri

What else do you want to do?

Terri

How many days do you have for this trip? What about the Safari excursion? What else is there to do? If we plan it ahead of time, I can make the time.

I'm walking on the treat mill everyday now. It's not the same as walking with David and Bobby. But it's a better workout because the pace is quicker. I'm trying to get Sissy to walk with me but it's hard because our schedules are so different. I think once a week I will walk outside.

I'm also trying to keep busy and active in the shop at night. Sonny and I are modifying a EZGo Golf Cart for a Hunting Cart for him. This is the first Golf Cart I have done. I put on a lift kit, head/tail lights, carry bed. I got to put new black vinyl on the seats and install a new controller and wiring and it will be done. It's got a Camo paint job. You can learn anything from the Internet. I googled 'camo paint job' and found a guy who posted instruction and photos on how to use pinestraw to get the camo effect paint job. And it worked great!

So by walking everyday, trying to keep busy and watching my weight, I will be ready to take on Mt. Kilimanjaro.