Happy Soon-to-be-Winter!

Happy Halloween as well! Another sign that winter is a-comin'! :-)

First and foremost, I wanted to extend a huge heartfelt THANKS to Linda Pruitt, Laura Peer and everyone who did their good work to put that Mama Rama Full Moon Tea Party together which happened this past Friday. It was a really nice turnout and from what I heard, people really enjoyed their raw food treats! I made two kinds of milk shakes: a Mint Chocolate Chip milkshake using VitaMineral Green, cacao nibs and lecithin to name a few ingredients and a Creamsicle milkshake. I had a fantabulous almond/hazelnut mint superfudge and I made a chocolate pudding pie. People were blown away the most from the pie, I think, although I received raves about everything. Hard to imagine it's just made from bananas, avocados and cacao powder. I have the recipe for the pudding here in case you are curious: http://www.vt-fiddle.com/community.php

I almost didn't go on Friday at the last minute, I have to be honest. I was preparing for it all day and got home to organize for the night and checked my emails, as is part of my routine. I received an email that was very upsetting. WIth my job as a graphic & web designer, I often become friends with the people with whom I work. I have been maintaining a website for an advocacy group for a few years now: www.pugwash.org and I also did a website the director's wife a few years ago. Well, I totally fell in love with this vivacious and feisty woman. She's the kind of person you just *have* to meet. So we made plans to meet a couple years back and each year I go down to DC to have dinner and catch a show with the both of them as well as with one of my oldest friends who also lives in the DC area. They are some of my favorite people. (I think I have a lot of favorite people!) Anyway, my email on Friday told me that she's in the hospital and just found out she has cancer. The prognosis doesn't look good, from what I understand, and I'm keeping her and her family in my thoughts and prayers. This would be a good time to send out that really neat website called crazysexycancer - what a great name. I think it's awesome to try to change the stigma associated with dis-eases. here's the link: http://www.crazysexycancer.com - My friend Donna told me about this. This crazy sexy cancer woman is from Brooklyn and I enjoy her website a lot. If I had cable TV, I'd watch the documentary. This is what her little blurb says on her blog: "In 2003 I was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer, I thought my life was over, I had no idea it was just getting started! Check out my film and pass my book along to someone who needs it. It's a do-it-yourself, golden tool kit for turning sh!@t into organic champagne!" - she hasn't lost her NY edginess! that's great. I'm so glad, though, that I wiped my tears and went to the Full Moon Tea Party. It's so great to see the local businesses that are mostly, if not all, women-run and to see that so many people are doing so many good things around here. I saw lots of families and babies which is for me, great medicine. I'll keep you posted about my friend. Please send her good thoughts and energy.

Thank you.

upcoming raw food haps

see my complete calendar here

I continue to make deliveries to L.A.C.E. in Barre and the Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier each week. Expect RAW goodies as per usual in the grab-and-go sections. Here's a WONDERFUL email that I received about my raw food at the coop (I've been getting a lot of these and I'm so grateful for them):

"I have read Alissa Cohen's book and took the raw for 30 days challenge. I loved the way I felt, and the way I slept, and how my skin felt and etcetera, not to mention how wonderful it was to be contributing to the planet in such a way. I gradually went back to cooked food and etcetera, mainly because I was burned out from all of the prep. I had just said a prayer the night before last to help me get back on track w/ my eating. I walked into Hunger Mtn Coop and found your prepared meals and got a huge smile on my face! Thank you! What a wonderful treat to be able to enjoy the raw food w/out having to prepare it myself!!! I don't know if you share your recipes or not, but I loved the chili..."

Still writing on my blog. Feel free to post your comments. http://lindasblog.vt-fiddle.com/

Matt is painting the floor - has the tinted primer on the majority of the floor. We're still plugging away on the house and hope to have an opening date planned because we are certainly getting lots of questions about it! Would love to hear from local vendors. It's a small place but I want to fill it with things that I love - one of them being raw food of course... Will keep you posted.

there is talk of having a thanksgiving recipe class in early november in or around Essex Junction. If you have interest, please email me and let me know. I'd like to set up a menu of what you could make for the day and of course we eat what we make so you can have a thanksgiving meal before your thanksgiving meal! Email me what dates/times work for you from now until thanksgiving.

on Wednesday, November 14th, I'm scheduled to do a 1-hour workshop from 6-7pm at the Hunger Mountain Coop. I'm doing Tapenade Stuffed Mushrooms - MMM-mmm... Again, something to get your tastebuds humming for the holidays.

Some interesting things to read about this week:

Holly sent me this link. Did you know that there are fruit and veggies of the month? Really, it's just a nice way to learn about different veggies.

• For all of my raw food classes (including Alissa's) I offer a free NUT MILK/SPROUTING BAG to Hunger Mountain Coop members. So mention that when you register for classes and I'll hook you up.

• I also have Alissa's Living on Live Food book here for sale and it is also for sale at Hunger Mountain Coop. 

raw food recipe of the week

Ingredients:

• 1 banana per person (but even if all 4 of us are having the smoothie, I don't go over 3 bananas - it's not necessary - 2 is really more than adequate)
• 1 cup frozen mango (or 1 fresh mango.  Or 1 cup frozen blueberries or cherries or fresh peaches - anything - pineapple - it's all good)
• 1 heaping Tbsp VitaMineral Green
• 1 rounded tsp bee pollen
• 1 Tbsp raw cacao nibs (love that morning buzz, what can I say)
• 4-5 cups water
• 1-2 tsp raw agave (if the kids are having a smoothie with us)

Preparation:

Blend in the VitaMix and serve. I like this less thick so that's why I add all the water. You can adjust the water to your taste.

Sometimes I'll add things like coconut butter or cacao butter but only occasionally. Of course I just made Mint Chocolate Chip milk shakes (all raw vegan) this friday and used the VitaMineral Green. So it's pretty versatile. I also add it to raw pies - it's makes the lovely green color that we associate with these treats. 

TIP: you can also add a tsp or so to the green smoothie you are already making - it just adds more greens and probiotics to the mix. I feel like I'm giving the kids their vitamins with this stuff so it's all good to me. You don't have to add the bee pollen and the cacao nibs either. These are all suggestions. 

I don't do coffee anymore. This is my morning brew now. I put it in a big coffee mug and sip and enjoy it. (I LOVE IT) This fills me up until about 2pm. (So it has turned into the bagel and coffee that used to sit in my gut for hours when I lived in  NJ!)

Of course I sell the cacao nibs, powder and the bee pollen as well. From really great raw sources. Please call me or email me if you'd like to have some for yourself.

Sending you many blessings,
Linda