Simple Raw and Natural

It's still cold here.  It didn't warm up as much as expected today.  I ventured out to Walgreens to pick up a photo order, Company's Coming to check out the sale, and to Walmart for a daypack and groceries. I have plans to be more active in the new year.  Today I called two people at Ouachita Mountain Hikers to let them know I plan to start hiking with them.  I mailed in my $5.00 annual dues today. The Ouachita Mountain Hikers hike on Thursdays and Saturdays.  The Saturday hikes are easier hikes that are 4-6 miles long.  The Thursday hikes are more difficult hikes on forest trails that are 8-12 miles long. I bought the daypack today at Walmart to use on the hikes.  It will hold my stuff...my food, water, camera, phone, layers, etc.  This little daypack was $8.88, and I think it will work just fine. My new daypack. Tomorrow there is a 4 mile hike at Lake Ouachita State Park.  The state parks are hosting an event called "First Day H...

We had Christmas with Molly, Ken, Zac, Braeden and Ashlyn at our house on December 22.    It was a special time to give and receive from each other.  We had to watch our son and his family open their gifts in California via Skype.  Skype is a blessing when you can't be with each other. Ashlyn liked her bike. Braeden liked his television. Zac liked his iphone. Ashlyn liked her Ugg boots. This is what it looked like when we got through. Christmas Eve was warm, and you hardly needed a sweater, but look what happened early on Christmas morning.  They are calling it Mistlesnow.  It is the first time snow has fallen here on Christmas Day since 1926.  It snowed until it was 15" deep.  I have been hibernating ever since. This is the view from my bedroom window. I made snow ice cream using almond milk.  Here is the recipe for snow ice cream. Snow Ice Cream 1 gallon snow 1 cup palm sugar or other suga...

Yesterday was our raw food group meeting and potluck at my house.  Even though it is so close to the holidays, we had ten people show up.  This group is always encouraging.  Even though no one is perfect in the raw food lifestyle, they understand the principles and they love the food.  The food was really good yesterday. Jennifer and Erika.  Jennifer is studying at the Integrative Institute of Nutrition.  Letizia and Gabrielle Karl and Travis We have decided to make a group study of  12 Steps to Raw by Victoria Boutenko.  Here is Becky checking out a copy of the book. Jerry is giving his approval of the veggie cocktail which was made of juiced beets, carrots, and celery. Linda, Janis and Becky Letizia made her first raw food dish to bring to the potluck.  She made a ranch dip from nuts and served it with a veggie tray. I made a Chia Seed Pudding for the potluck which uses almond milk.  With the al...

It is not my practice to count calories or fat grams.  My mentor, Dr. John Fielder, does not count calories, and it is not necessary with the lifestyle he teaches and practices.  That being said, I have decided to count calories and fat grams for a time, just to get a handle on what I am eating. Too many nuts and seeds result in low energy and weight gain.  But on the other hand it's important to consume enough calories.  The cells feed on glucose so lots of natural sugars are important.   The only fat I ate yesterday was in the Goody Balls.  The Goody Balls are half dried fruits and half seeds and almonds.  The Goody Ball Recipe contains a total of 769 fat grams.  Based on a yield of 175 Goody Balls, this equates to about 4.4 fat grams per Goody Ball.  Terrific!  Based on those numbers my total fat intake yesterday was about 30 grams. Lunch was green smoothie (about three glasses full)  and an apple. Dinner was raw veg...

If you are interested in improving your health and lifestyle then a raw food group is a great way to learn more about raw foods and healthy living.  Our raw food group meets at my house the third Wednesday of every month.  These people are always interesting and interested.  We bring potluck where we share our favorite raw food recipes, and we encourage each other to live as healthy as we know how. Those that can't bring a raw food dish for one reason or another pay $5.00.  Good people and good food.  What a combination! Here are some pictures from our last raw foods potluck. Serving lunch buffet style. Me and our new holistic doctor, Dr. Russ. Visiting around the table. There is always plenty to talk about. Linda and me. Pam and Letizia The ones of us that come to the raw food group are at various levels of raw, but we all agree that raw foods are good for our health and they taste good. Here are three of the re...

Hot Springs Village is being forced to add flouride to the drinking water even though many are opposed to having medications added to the water whether you need it or want it or not.  Our state legislature mandated that all towns with over 5000 population must add flouride.  We hope this can be over-turned in some way.  If not, then we will have to find a way to remove the fluoride.  Fluoride is a poison.  If you don't believe it, read the back of your toothpaste package.  I searched Dollar General last week to find a toothpaste that did not have flouride added.  They had only one.  So this is what I bought. Orajel makes a toothpaste that does not have fluoride added. The back of the tube states the following:  You'll love having your child brush with Orajel Training Toothpaste because it helps clean teeth with a special ingredient.  Best of all, it's fluoride-free so it's safe if swallowed when u...

Last week my friend, Karen Hall, visited with us for eight days.  I met Karen last year at The Clohesy River Health Farm in Australia when I was interning with Dr. Fielder.  She spent a month at the farm detoxing and learning from Dr. Fielder.  Now she is traveling around the world doing all sorts of interesting things.  She recently completed Matthew Kenney's Raw Food Chef course in Oklahoma City. While she was here visiting with us we went to church, toured Hot Springs Bath House Row, visited the Clinton Library, prepared more dishes than I can remember, and hosted a raw food potluck/dinner party for 19 people. This is a lovely fall juice made with beets, apples, sweet potato and ginger. Here I am trying my hand at making a sushi roll. Karen Hall and me at the raw food potluck. We made zucchini spaghetti with Red Pepper Marinara, Pistachio Pesto, and Cashew Cheese Filling. Here is the recipe for the spaghetti toppings: Red Pepper Marninara...

The recipe for the goody balls appears in The Farm Recipe Book from the Clohesy River Health Farm.  This recipe is a staple in my diet.   It keeps for weeks outside of the refrigerator. Here are the ingredients.  Most of them I purchase from Nuts.Com...sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds, raisins, sultanas, currants, dates, and peaches. 500 grams of sesame seeds Grind the sesame seeds in the food processor. Pour the ground seeds into a large container.  I use this blue plastic tub. 500 grams of sunflower seeds Grind the sunflower seeds in the food processor. Grind the seeds fine. Pour into the blue tub with the sesame seeds. 250 grams of almonds. Organic pepitas (pumpkin seeds) 250 grams of pumpkin seeds Grind the almonds and pepitas in the food processor. Grind them fine. Add to blue tub.  That is the last of the see...