It's that time of year again. We just moved into a new, bigger place so I am pretty excited that we actually have the space for a real tree and visible decorations. I am a sucker for those big bulb lights, call me old-fashioned.
I brought this up because at this time of year, as I am sure it happens to many others, I am conflicted with my finances. Luckily, we have a fun Christmas Eve planned. We are taking the kids to the snow, which other than stockings I don't feel that the kids need much else. However, I am nostalgic of the time when I was a kid and how great it felt to have at least 1 present to open.
I am torn because I have limited financial resources to pay my bills, buy enough raw food for myself on top of normal groceries, AND pay for Christmas. Eat healthy food or buy Christmas gifts for my kids? It's obvious that my kids are to come first so it's been difficult when buying raw groceries... I am pretty much buying the bare minimum; Food I know my kids will eat and food that I know I will eat outside of work salads.
I have been sick with the flu for over a week now so my raw food intake has decreased because I have been too tired from work to get groceries, besides being poor, etc. I used leftover veggies in the fridge and made a hot stew. Being sick in the cold really made it hard to want to do anything, so some warm stew really hit the spot. Potatoes, some squash, carrots, onions and garlic with vegetable broth and garlic tomato sauce. Raiding the pantry rules.
This is what our fruit bowl looked like the other day. Yeah, pathetic. That's why I took a picture of it, haha!
BUT, I did luck out, I stashed some strawberries in the freezer a few weeks ago so I scored big time and made a raw smoothie. I made some cheaters almond milk (1 TB raw almond butter to 1 cup water) for this smoothie and threw in some maca powder, and raw agave. Simple and cheap and Melody loved it.
I am on WIC and with my checks I can get a choice of dried peas, beans or lentils. I had a package of lentils in the cupboard so I decided to try one of the raw salad recipes I found in a book. I didn't have all the ingredients and at the top of my head I can't remember what they were but what I did have I created this simple salad that doesn't cost a fortune.
Lentils soaked in water for a few hours, drain and put in large bowl
Chop up as much cucumber as you like
Chop up as much tomato as you like
Chop up as much onion as you like
Splash of raw apple cider vinegar
Splash of lemon juice
Sea salt to taste
A couple tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil (This recipe calls for both olive oil and Udo's Choice oil, which I have both but it is still good with just olive oil so don't worry about the expensive Udo's)
Mix all together and let sit in fridge for a few hours so that lentils can soak up onion flavor.
I really like this salad because it is filling and savory so I don't leave the table feeling unfulfilled. I also like this because I get the lentils for free and everything else I can buy or get at my work for cheap (Tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon, olive oil...).
Now to the best part of my post. My last entry I talked about the raw vegan sushi that I wanted to try and I did it! One of the dishes that made me feel very proud and it wasn't that hard. I was a little timid when trying to roll the sushi when I don't own any sushi tools, but it came out just fine. I actually made this 3 more times. This is a recipe that I will keep because like the lentil salad, the ingredients are pretty much the same. One bag of Nori has enough sheets to last me 2 weeks. Other than cucumbers, avocados, and tomatoes (which I can get at work), the only thing else I have to buy are sprouts. Again, cheap simple yummy.
I hope everyone has a great holiday.
To conclude this post here is a recipe for a raw dessert I found and being that it is the Christmas season I have been prone to looking up a lot of raw sweets. So you might be seeing some more sweet posts.
Carrot Fairy Cakes with Lemon Frosting. Bee's Knees Kitchen
Carrot Fairy Cakes:
1 1/2 c Carrot Pulp, from juiced carrots 1/2 c Almond Meal 1/3 c Coconut Flour 1/3 c Walnuts, chopped 1/3 c Raisins, chopped 1 tsp Lemons Zest 1 tsp White Stevia Powder 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice or 1/2 Cinnamon + 1/2 Nutmeg 2 pinches Vanilla powder Add all the ingredients in a bowl and massage together to blend. Shape into 1-2 tbsp size balls and lightly press into the fairy cake molds. Set in the fridge until ready to frost.
Lemon Frosting:
1/4 c Cashews 1/3 c Lemon Juice 2 1/2 tbsp Coconut Oil, melted 1 tbls Agave Nectar 1/2 tsp White Stevia In a personal blender, process the cashews into a flour. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend for a few seconds. The frosting should have the consistency of yogurt. Using a teaspoon, spoon the frosting over the top of each fairy cake and smooth over the sides with the spoon. Place in the fridge until ready to eat.
Makes 1 1/2 dozen fairy cakes
Goodnight everyone!
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