Raw is easy, it really is!

[Janet Carol Ryan]

I have a lovely friend, she is my bookkeeper/organizer angel who has helped this artistic/right brained multi-talented and curious person (that would be me) tame the paper tiger, and keep the records straight through the years.

This lovely friend has noticed the blessings and benefits of my raw foods lifestyle -

and since she's known me for many years she has also seen the lighter/leaner/more energetic ME emerge in the past 2 years.

So, my dear friend asked if I would support her in adding more raw food items into her meals, and teach her how to prepare them.

I said YES.

Of course.

That was before i received her LONG LIST of foods she must avoid (oh) like nuts and seeds, and bananas and avocados, and the list went on and on.

And it includes so many of my 'go to' items for making raw-delicious and delectable meals.

She seemed a little sheepish when she sent the e-mail the the LONG LIST of foods to avoid. 

and I said (not to be daunted), 'no worries' a challenge is just an adventure in disguise!

then I said, ooh I like that, let's adopt that as our club motto :-)

then I set about meeting the challenge/adventure. I came to visit the Kitchen here in RFR, and I went on the 'net for nutless recipes (although most folks substitute with seeds, chia, sesame, sunflower - these were in the no-no list)

and I came up with 3 lovely dipping sauces - 1 slightly sweet (Ayn Julos Apple Curry - yummers!); I spicy (my own creation of sundried tomato/chipotle) and 1 slightly tart (an amazing no tahini zucchini hummus)

we made these together and sat down to our dipping sauce lunch with a large mound of jicama sticks.

Oh my!! oh my!! oooooooo my!  it was all so delicious and EASY and my friend went home with a smile on her face, a handful of recipes to try on her own.

and I felt very, very, very pleased with myself :~)))

p.s. it's not a very pretty picture and doesn't convey the enjoyment we experienced, but you know I just had to share a photo

[Supermom]

Perhaps she will be able to add back some of the no-no list items as time goes on. In the meantime, you are so beautifully supportive to find ideas for real food to fit where she is at!

[Janet Carol Ryan]

well, actually her no-no list did include so many items that they are too numerous to mention, and they are among my faithful friends - like you know.... cucumber, celery, avocado, bell peppers..... yikes! It made the challenge even more of an adventure, and my victory even greater = tee hee ;-))

[Supermom]

I love that you accepted the challenge and came up with some gems! Luckily her list didn't seem to count out fruits and vegetables themselves!  Perhaps recipes by Kristina Carillo-Bucarum  of FullyRaw.com will help with more ideas. She demonstrates 80/10/10 percentage recipes using simply fruits and veggies.

[Janet Carol Ryan]

Gisele - this is a recipe that I found in our RFR Kitchen as follows:

it is delicious - i used less of the recommended amount of vinegar and it was still a bit tart

so go according to your taste

No Tahini Hummus (from Tulip Smile RFR)

has no avocado, no sesame, no nuts, no tahini, no sprouted grains

 1 zucchini

1 small bunch of parsley, if available

Juice of 1 lemon

4 Tbsp mild vinegar

1 Tbsp minced ginger

¼ cup cold pressed organic extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons sea salt, 2 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoons paprika

[Gisele Landry]

Would love to look at your no tahini hummus if you care to share the recipe.  First no bean hummus, now no tahini - I am curious what is left that makes it hummus. LOL  LOL

Reminds me of the fad that went around in the 60's for no apple apple pie - made with Ritz crackers. Anybody remember them? It surprisingly tasted like apple pie. Now I want the apple and hold the crackers and the pie crust. LOL

[Janet Carol Ryan]

thank you for the love ~ it's so sweet that we get to share this path with each other - we who have committed to a way of eating and a way of life that is different from the 'norm'. When I post a message like this and receive the love and affirmation flowing back to me, well it is DELICIOUS!

and speaking of delicious - here is the sundried tomato chipotle recipe (I will also post in the kitchen).

Sundried Tomato Chipotle Sauce

several (4-6) sundried tomatoes soaked ahead of time

1 ripe tomato

handful of basil

a few cashews (for my friend who is avoiding nuts I substituted zucchini to add a bit of 'body')

drizzle or more of olive oil

dash or more of chipotle powder

whiiiirrrrrr in the Vitamix and ENJOY!

this might need a little water (but just a little)
and you can use it as a dipping sauce with jicama or zucchini rounds

or you can thin in out and pour over veggies and make a wrap - whatever delights you. 

[Stacy Daniels]

Great motto, great attitude!  and those dipping sauces sound fantastic!  you are such a good friend!

[djd]

Well done!

[DaisyHair]

What a wonderful friend you are.  I know that must have been quite a challenge.  It's rewarding though having your friend interested in Raw.  All three sound very good, especially the sundried tomato - chipotle!  YUM!

[Bette Bliss Shaw]

That is wonderful Janet! I am so happy you are helping her and adapting to her needs. That is a huge attribute of being an amazing coach!