A lovely weekend!

What a great weekend this was.

Friday night we had dinner at Cafe Samana with Brian and Megan. I think Megan and I will be great foodie friends! Then Megan and I headed to Whole Foods for a raw food class with Denise of Raw Intentions. Great tasting do-able recipes and always a new tidbit to learn.

Saturday morning we headed to the Farmer's Market and to Natural Farms to pick up our co-op share.  I love pictures of fruit and vegetables. The colors are amazing. This is a picture of my "pharmacy!"

I picked up Mom and we headed out for a delightful afternoon. We went to lunch at Dilly Deli and Mom loved the activity of the area, checked out the Gadget Company, a stop at Mecca Coffee for gadgets, and then Stitches for buttons and a new pattern.

Then . . . yes! time to play in the kitchen!

I love my new Matthew Kenney book, Everyday Raw Express, and picked his Zucchini and Avocado Tartar to be my first creation.

This is a nice combination of ingredients and makes a nice presentation when put in a tube so it is plated like a round column. And it tastes great. Thanks MK for another great recipe!

This basil is just beautiful and makes my kitchen smell great. Pretty as a picture!

Next, Watermelon Mango Soup.  This is one of my weekend favorites.

Great summer raw soup. Anything with watermelon in it is good to me! I just love watermelon any way I can get it! So this soup is already on my favorite list. Thanks Denise!

A red cabbage in the refrigerator was jumping out of it's skin just asking to become a slaw.  So how could I not??

Simple easy slaw with red cabbage, carrots, and red peppers. Slaw goes with anything!! Which brings me to the next picture, my dinner!

What a great meal to end a great day!!!

Of course the weekend wouldn't be complete without at least one dessert. But two. . . whewhooo! Both are courtesy of  Raw Intention classes at Whole Foods.

First up, Chocolate Mint Ice Cream. OMG . . . need I say more?

This is my second time to make this.  Last time I just left the whole batch in a bowl in the freezer.  It was so rock hard that I actually broke a knife trying to dish it out! So this time after making it in the ice cream maker, I put the remaining ice cream in a muffin pan, froze it, then removed the individual servings onto a plate to store in the freezer. This is very rich and a small serving is more than enough. I loved it with a fresh strawberry. This is a dessert worthy for company.

And lastly, I made a Chocolate Chia Pudding. It is like a chocolate tapioca. Chia gels when added to liquid and has a wonderful consistency. Chia seeds are amazing. They are a nutritional powerhouse with a lengthy list of benefits: Omega 3, fiber, antioxidant and rich in essential fatty acids. Click this link for the real scoop on chia seeds.  I love them. I put them in smoothies, make a "cereal" out of them, crackers, and now chocolate pudding!

Man I love raw food . . .

And, RAWking in the kitchen!

Thank you goes to . . .

my husband for getting me a juicer for my birthday.

Smoothies are my first love, but there is nothing like a smooth, refreshing juice over ice, to get "my juices" flowing. Sometimes I make juice to add to my smoothies, but no matter what, there is green liquid in my diet EVERYDAY.

I love how all this turns into

this!

So what is the difference between juice and a smoothie?

The fiber.

Penni Shelton, of Raw Food Rehab, explains it well in her booklet, Living on Liquids:

Although there is no real nourishment in the fiber of fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber serves a very useful and much needed purpose. Soluble and insoluble fiber both act as an intestinal broom. Without fiber, the colon, and the body as a whole, cannot maintain a healthy condition. So, throughout our lives it is imperative that we eat a balanced diet of raw fruits and vegetables, preferably organic whenever possible.

However, when it comes to creating a space of cleansing, healing, hydrating, alkalizing and rebuilding---juicing has a very important role.  Solid food requires many hours of digestion before its nutrients become available to the cells and tissues of the body.  The removal of the fiber in juice extraction enables this liquid elixir to be very quickly digested and assimilated, sometimes in a matter of minutes, with minimum effort or exertion on the digestive system. The body is optimally supported and strengthened to do the deeper work of cleansing and repairing.  Juices extracted from fresh raw vegetables and fruits are the means by which we can furnish all the cells and tissues of the body with the essential nutrients and living enzymes they need in a manner that is most accessible. 

Thanks Penni for making that sound so simple!

Watermelon, lime, pineapple, ginger, celery, cucumber, spinach, kale and mixed salad greens made an amazing juice for today.  I was very thankful for this juice because it gave me the energy to

go school shopping with a six year old, who really didn't care much about what he got, but had a great time having fun from strangling the Old Navy boy to climbing poles! Riley is an experience!

Thank you too, to Denise of Raw Intentions for the fabulous recipes she shared recently, that we enjoyed this weekend.

Chocolate Mint Ice Cream

Banana Nut Bread Ice Cream,

and of course both of these are made from raw, plant based natural foods, with no sugar or cream!

I will end this post with a thank you to my RAWking friends,

and you know who you are,

who endlessly inspire, motivate, encourage and amaze me regularly.

I am forever grateful to know you!

Things do happen in threes!

I have been researching exercise options.  I know myself pretty well after all these years. I am a fair weather walker, I don't do club memberships, and home equipment ultimately collects clothes instead of bodies! So, without a huge investment, and for lots of reasons, I decided on a Rebounder.  They are gaining popularity in many parts of the country and Europe. It came on Friday.

I set it up to check it out Friday night and watched the video that came with it. I was all set to jump all over it come Saturday morning!

1:00 am Saturday morning I got up to go the bathroom and walked right into it in the dark! I knew I should have moved it upstairs! I broke my toe. So I won't be jumping for a while.

Could this be a sign?

Maybe I am not meant to exercise?????

OK, so that's one.

Out with the old ...

in with the new!

Thursday we had a new dishwasher and refrigerator delivered. Very exciting, especially when it is a great deal.  The old refrigerator was on it's way to a new home before the new one was even installed. Yes, we were ready!

A few snags: they forgot the mounting brackets for the dishwasher, the water line was damaged to the refrigerator, they could not get the refrigerator to begin cooling, (ultimately they did) and the pantry draw control didn't work.

Hmmmmm . . . an omen?  On Friday my husband went back to the store after we decided we didn't want to keep this "lemon" (even though the fix was promised) and ordered a new one - an upgrade model, but at the same price. The repair man came out and mounted the dishwasher, fixed the water line to the refrigerator, so we would at least have water and ice until Tuesday when the new one would be delivered.

The new dishwasher is amazing - so quiet we had to open it to make sure it was working.  We love it.

Now comes number two of the three: On Saturday morning with toe and foot throbbing I went to the new refrigerator - that the repairman had fixed the night before - for ice. No ice. No water.  The door unit was not functioning at all. But there were plenty of cold frozen items to put on my foot because everything, yes, everything, was frozen! Not just in the freezer, but the refrigerator too! Lettuce, spinach, red peppers, fruit, coconut juice, leftovers . . . everything! Needless to say I was not a happy camper!

As I write this on Sunday, everything is still frozen! But after a visit back to the appliance store yesterday to discuss this issue, I feel much better. A double upgrade to what we purchased, at the scratch and dent price, and it will be delivered on Monday instead of Tuesday. They were great. The new refrigerator will be great too!

Number three on Saturday was very upsetting and disturbing for me. Fr. Jack, my pastor and boss, called to say we had been vandalized on Friday night. He forwarded pictures of the graffiti that had been sprayed all over the brick of our church. It was just sickening. I will never understand the minds of those who can do such a thing. The guys at TRC were able to erase it all, and our security will now patrol even more to keep an eye out for the hoodlums.

Saturday was a bit overwhelming, but all's well that ends well, and it did.

Will I exercise? You bet I will.  I can't wait to bounce away on my rebounder.

Will my food defrost? Definitely. And I know I will love my new refrigerator!

An Amazing Year

A year ago this month my life changed. 


The last twelve months have been an experience I never could have imagined: renewed health, new friends, a new lifestyle, and I am inspired daily by what God has given me.

Monica, Matthew, me and Katherine

This weekend was a wonderful end to an amazing year. It began with a trip to Matthew Kenney OKC for a four course meal with my two dear friends. Check out my album for pictures of the evening. The event launched his new book, Everyday Raw Express. It is filled with wonderful recipes that I can't wait to make. Today I picked one that took no time at all and I had all the ingredients just waiting to be put together: carrots, yellow and red cherry tomatoes and basil. Using a spiralizer, the carrots almost look like orange spaghetti. The dressing for this salad is so good I could drink it!!

Recipe from Everyday Raw Express

 Saturday I got my first produce bag from Natural Farms food co-op. I am very impressed with the quantity and quality, and loved their store. The cucumbers and mango just had to join each other in the same bowl and a wonderful salad was born in my kitchen. Cucumbers, mango, and red peppers, dressed with a mixture of pineapple juice, honey, oil, peach balsamic vinegar, salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper. After being refrigerated a few hours it was fabulous!

Saturday also found us at Hahn Appliance looking for a new dishwasher. They were having an amazing sale and not only did we get a new dishwasher, we got a refrigerator too. It is the kind with the two upper french doors and the freezer draw on the bottom. Way more room for fruits and veggies! I can't wait for it's arrival on Thursday!

We ended the day with Mass and a lovely dinner with friends we have not seen in some time. It was such a nice day the heat wasn't even a factor (could I be getting use to this 100 degree plus weather??)

Today was a great day too. A leisurely start on the patio, time with my Mom, and even some playtime in the kitchen.

And so, this amazing year ends and a new one begins. I am so grateful to the people who have made a difference in my life this last year: Dr. Malloy for opening the door, myself for having the courage to pass through it, and all I have met along the way who truly have inspired and changed me. Life is good, it is sooooooooo good. I thank God for the gifts he has blessed me with this year.

In honor of my one year anniversary I made a purchase to help me bounce right into my second year. 

 I can't wait for it to arrive! 

More on that soon!

The Bacon is Ready

I can hear you now, "Kathy eat bacon???" Well, this bacon is just amazing, and it didn't come from a pig. It is from eggplant. A great marinade, sliced eggplant, a dehydrator, and bacon happens!

This is after approximately 48 hours at 105 degrees in the dehydrator.

And lots of snacking as it dehydrated!

It looks like bacon, doesn't it!

With some veggies and hummus it was outstanding!

I think this batch won't last long! 

Farmer's Market here I come for more eggplant!

Hello my blog. I have missed you!

Time has just flown by these last two months. I am glad things are slowing down and I can get to the simple things I enjoy.

Today started out with Mass. A perfect beginning. A quick stop at Whole Foods and home by ten.  By eleven, outside watering and chores were done and I was free to play in the kitchen! Actually the big task was to clean the refrigerator.

So all the things I bought at the Farmer's market were just staring at me. I cut up the watermelon and after eating a good amount of it, I stored it for eating and juicing.  Did you know the rind is actually very good for us?

Next came the eggplant. Spelled bacon to me.  Slice, marinate and in the dehydrator it went. It is a recipe from Matthew Kenney's book, Everyday Raw. (great link!)

Friday, the 29th, is his book signing party at his restaurant, Matthew Kenney OKC, and I am looking forward to the road trip with Monica and Katherine Rose. His new book is called, Everyday Raw Express.




Here's a few pictures to show you what came next.  I call it my Sweet Summer Slaw! See how cleaning out the refrigerator can be so delicious!

Shredded red cabbage, green cabbage, zucchini, and carrots. Raisins and chopped pineapple. 

Great colors. Dressing: pineapple juice, honey, peach balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Lunch: Stacked Sweet Summer Slaw ready to eat! Delicious!

The best part of playing in the kitchen was making a fantastic recipe by Raw Intentions called Brownie Banana Split. Denise does a class at Whole Foods regularly and this is one of the items she made last Friday.  It is an amazing dessert. Thanks Denise. You are amazing too!

In a little tart pan, the brownie is ready to get dressed.

First comes the sweet creme.

Here are all the toppings: pineapple, strawberries, banana and walnuts.

So pretty!

We had dessert for dinner!!!

Of course, after all that creativity, comes this:

Wish I had someone to clean up after me!

It is all cleaned up now.  

I really enjoyed my day.  

And it feels good to blog again.  

Now I am going to do something else I haven't done in a long time, knit!

RAWking in the kitchen is good for me!

Celebrations Galore!

I have had so very much going in my life these last few weeks. In addition to some major yard projects, work, daily routines, and lots of festivities I am ready for a little bit of down time.

In a ten day period, we celebrated:

• my husband's birthday, 
• our 41st wedding anniversary,
• attended the Reception and Awards ceremony for the Tulsa graduates of St. Gregory's University,
• Baccalaureate Mass in Shawnee,
• my husband's graduation from St. Gregory's
• and Mother's Day!

All were amazing events but without a doubt, the highlight was graduation.  I am just so proud of my husband for all of his accomplishments. To work full time, volunteer at the Air and Space Museum, Chair the Park and Recreation Board of our town, and graduate TOP in his class, is just remarkable.

This picture was taken during his valedictorian speech, and it was used for the press release of the graduation on St. Gregory's University's website and was also in the Shawnee News Star. 

My grandson videoed his speech, and while the video isn't perfect, the audio is, and I am so grateful to have a copy of it.  I have uploaded it to YouTube for our friends and family that could not attend, to hear it.  I thought it was perfect.

After graduation we spent some time with Brother George in his studio having our portraits made. We have so many great pictures I don't know how we will ever decide what to pick!  It was really fun.  Then we headed to Oklahoma City for a celebration dinner at 105degrees. This is probably my most favorite restaurant. From appetizers to dessert, it was fabulous!

May 7th was certainly a very special day in the Desruisseau family!