Smoothie Recipes

PBfit Review: Healthy and Delicious for the Whole Family

October 4, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Delicious PBfit – All Natural, Vegan, and Gluten-Free

While I’m normally the class clown, I want to be somewhat serious for a minute.

I guess that’s somewhat of a benefit to being the person who’s never serious, when you ARE serious, people know it’s… well… serious.

Think back to when you were in grade school. If you’re a parent or grandparent, odds are you have trouble thinking of overweight kids or even teachers. I can, honestly, remember the names of the overweight kids because they were so few.

Today, sadly, things are much, much different. You cannot go to the store, it seems, without seeing precious children who are already dealing with weight as an issue – at an age when they’re only “issue” should be homework or keeping their little brother from snitching on them!

I don’t have to tell you how unhealthy and dangerous carrying extra weight is. I won’t insult your intelligence with any diabetes statistics. You know that there is an epidemic in our country – with children and adults. An epidemic that HAS to be confronted head-on with better nutrition.

Chocolate PBfit Smoothie with Apple and Banana

The problem is… kids have incredible appetites! They’re growing and busier than any self-respecting Type A bee, so that’s only natural. Starving them is most certainly NOT the answer. Fun activities and healthy food are the answers needed and, fortunately, healthy food couldn’t be easier.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, too. It’s delicious! In fact, eating healthy is so delicious – and makes you feel so much better – that the entire family will benefit.

PBfit is one of my family’s newest obsessions and it will surely become one of your family’s as well. With 87% less fat than traditional peanut butter and 1/3 the calories, all natural PBfit makes meals and snacks healthier and even more delicious than ever.

You simply mix a little water with the PBfit mixture and… badabing!… delicious and creamy peanut butter. You only make the amount you need for the moment, so it’s always fresh and fantastic. If you want to add a little chopped peanuts or even a mashed banana, have at it. While the options are endless, it’s never better than when it is in its simplest form – good old fashioned peanut butter.

Chocolate PBfit Peanut Butter

It’s wonderful spread on bread, toast, or English muffins (with or without banana slices – YUM!) but I actually prefer dipping apple slices into the peanut butter. I also love making smoothies with the traditional PBfit as well as the Chocolate PBfit (it makes outstanding peanut butter, too… very reminiscent of Nutella).

When making your favorite smoothie, simply toss in some PBfit for extra protein and flavor. It is absolutely perfect in chocolate and banana smoothies. I usually throw an apple in, too, for good measure.

After all, an apple a day and all that…

There are a lot of excellent sounding PBfit recipes on the official website. I’m slowly but surely going to workmy way through each of them. Seriously, this is outstanding – you are going to love each of these – Chocolate PBfit, Organic PBfit, and the Original PBfit.

Kids will get a huge kick out of “making” their own peanut butter and you’ll never have to let them know how much healthier it is for them. Heck, even I get a kick out of “making” my own peanut butter and my qualification for “kid” expired quite a while back!

Each of the three varieties is IDEAL for smoothies and even milkshakes. They smoothly incorporate into the other ingredients – seemingly even better than traditional peanut butter does. I’ve actually been surprised just how smooth and creamy my smoothies are.

Below is a recipe from PBfit that’s a perfect example of the options when it comes to smoothies.

PBfit & Jelly Smoothie

1 cup frozen blue berries
4 tbsp pbfit
1 scoop vanilla protein
1 tsp low carb sweetener, monk fruit
3/4 cup milk of choice
*** optional, 1 tsp goji berry powder for color added nutrients

Blend and enjoy!

Find more recipes, nutrition information, and a lot more on PBfit.com.

PBfit sent me the samples in the picture above in exchange for telling my readers about their product. They also graciously shared the PBfit & Jelly Smoothie recipe and picture with us. The raving words and opinions are all my own, of course (as are the rest of the pictures). I was blown away by PBfit – I honestly had no idea how delicious it would be, for one thing, or how many different ways it could be used for another.

You can find PBfit in most grocery stores as well as on Amazon. I hope you’ll check it out – you and your family will absolutely love this!

Raspberry Gradient Smoothie: Paleo, Vegan, Colorful, and Delicious

February 20, 2017 By Joi Sigers

As I said in my 350 Vegan Recipes review, I am crazy about the Desert Sunrise smoothie… all of the recipes I’ve tried from the book have been great, in fact.

One of my favorite things to do with recipes is (after trying them as is) to take them for spins around the block to see what else we can get into. Since raspberries are a particular obsession of mine, I knew this particular spin around the block would involve these outrageously beautiful berries.

I love Deb Roussou’s idea of using aloe vera juice and sparkling water in smoothies – then adding juice at the end. It makes for a gorgeous smoothie that’s also downright delicious.

I’ve been a smoothie fanatic for years, now, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be one for life. The tricky thing about smoothies is that they’re like another personal reason for getting out of bed in the morning – SALADS. They are only “healthy” if you, literally, make them healthy. Throw in too many bad or borderline bad ingredients and you’ve defeated your healthy purpose and shot yourself in the foot.

If you are accustomed to sweetening your smoothies to the point that they taste like milkshakes, I’d love to propose that you put down the sugar and step away. Some green smoothies or other vegetable-based smoothies DO need a little honey but fruit-based smoothies are perfectly sweet, as is. Your tastebuds will adjust to the difference and you will soon (very soon) prefer the ability to actually taste the fruit and healthy ingredients as opposed to just automatically thinking, “Sweeeeeeet.”

The smoothie recipe below is paleo, vegan (and, of course, therefore gluten-free and vegetarian).

All smoothies don’t have to have milk, alternative milks, or yogurt in them. Experiment and always try to keep your smoothies as natural and organic as possible.

This is the Grape Juice and Sparkling Water I Use

Raspberry Gradient Smoothie (based on Desert Sunrise, 350 Best Vegan Recipes.)

1-1/4 cups frozen raspberries
1/2 cup aloe vera juice
1 cup ice
2 TBS chia seeds, soaked in a little water for two minutes
1 cup sparkling water
1/2 cup grape juice

Combine the ingredients and pour into 2 glasses. Top each with 1/4 cup grape juice.

The pictures in the post were before I stirred the smoothie together – something you’ll want to do to distribute the juice throughout the drink. I just had to take a picture because it looked so darn pretty!

Experiment with juices and frozen fruit in this smoothie – make it your own and give it a name. All smoothies should have names, after all.

The recipe in 350 Best Vegan Recipes called for fresh peaches (instead of raspberries), chopped dates (instead of chia seeds), and pomegranate juice (instead of grape juice).

350 Best Vegan Recipes: Great Cookbook for ANYONE, Vegan or Not

February 20, 2017 By Joi Sigers

One of the cookbooks I’m currently getting the most use out of is Deb Roussou’s 350 Best Vegan Recipes.

Am I a vegan? No.

Am I a vegetarian? No.

Am I a vegan half the time? No.

Am I vegetarian half the time? Not so much.

And yet… this is a cookbook that I use regularly for recipes, ideas, and inspiration for my own recipes.

The last part of that, “inspiration for my own recipes” is probably the number one way I use cookbooks. While I almost always make it the way the recipe states first, I do love to take a great recipe for a joy ride and see what wonderful other sights we can see.

I’ll be posting a recipe in a few minutes that’s actually based on one of the smoothie recipes in 350 Best Vegan Recipes. The original “Desert Sunrise” is delicious, as are the other variations I’ve tried. Adding aloe vera juice and sparkling water makes for some out-of-this-world smoothies. As soon as I post the recipe, I’ll come back here and link to it right about here.

Some of the recipes in this cookbook:

Pan-Fried Onion and Potato Hash Browns
Basic Pizza Dough
Quick Cherry Tomato and Pesto Pizza
Manicotti Florentine
Orecchiette Pasta with Eggplant Garlic Sauce
Roasted Red Pepper and Chipotle Dip
Ranch Dressing
Fragrant Rice-Stuffed Peppers
French Onion Soup with Croutons
Lemon Cucumber Tabbouleh
Stacked Green Chile Enchiladas
An a lot more – 350 in all.. and more when you “tinker” with the recipes and create new ones.

While this is not a “gluten-free” cookbook, substitutions are always possible and it’s usually as simple as replacing a regular pasta with a gluten-free pasta. Easy peasy.

350 Best Vegan Recipes is perfect for anyone’s cookbook collection, because even if you aren’t a vegan or vegetarian and even if you (like me) have zero intention of becoming one (my love for burgers and fish are simply too strong), the healthy, creative, and delicious recipes will add both flavor and nutrition to your meals.

If you ARE a vegan or vegetarian… you’d better go ahead and order this book today because you will love it with all your vegetarian heart.

Raspberry Bliss Smoothie Made Extra Fast (and Tasty) with SlimFast

July 22, 2016 By Joi Sigers

Raspberry Bliss Smoothie - with SlimFast Smoothie and Chia Seeds

As I’ve said before, I am beyond obsessed with raspberries, strawberries, and chia seeds. They don’t just float my boat – they power it, steer it, wash it, own it… At least my obsessions are healthy ones. Although the whole strawberry sundae addiction might raise a few question marks.

As you’d imagine, I try to work the thrillsome threesome into my life as often as possible. My Applesauce Raspberry Parfait recipe is a quick way to get my raspberry and chia seed fix, as is a smoothie I have on a regular basis – my beloved Raspberry Bliss Smoothie. It is, of course, just as delicious with other berries – strawberries, blueberries, blackberries… just use whichever berry is your own personal obsession.

This smoothie all begins with a cold bottle of SlimFast – if you have to/choose to eat gluten free, be sure you check the front of the bottle or case for the magic words GLUTEN FREE. You can experiment with the flavors, but I usually go with Vanilla (unless Strawberries are the star of the day, then I go with Strawberry).

Pour the cold SlimFast into your blender and add:

1 Cup Frozen Raspberries
2 TBS (or however much you want) Chia Seeds

Blend until you have a beautiful smoothie staring you in the face.

{Health Benefits of Raspberries Below}

Health Benefits of Raspberries

Given the rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrient mixture found in raspberries, it’s not surprising to see studies showing raspberry benefits in cancer prevention. Chronic excessive oxidative stress and chronic excessive inflammation can combine to trigger the development of cancer cells in a variety of human tissue. By providing a rich supply of antioxidants, raspberries can help lower risk of oxidative stress, and providing a rich supply of anti-inflammatory nutrients, raspberries can help lower the risk of excessive inflammation. When combined, these results mean decreased risk of cancer formation. In animal studies to date, the cancer types most closely examined in relationship to raspberry intake are cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, esophagus, and prostate. – WHFoods.com (Click the following link to read more about the health benefits of raspberries!)

As you can see in the picture above, I use The Raw Food World Organic Chia Seeds – you can find them for a great price on Amazon. Naturally, any Chia Seeds you have will be awesome. You could even leave them out if you wanted to… though I’m not sure why you’d do that. They’re healthy, delicious, and… let’s face it.. fun to eat.

You could also throw in a little flaxseed for extra nutrition. It doesn’t alter the flavor and, although I didn’t this particular time, I often do sprinkle at least a tablespoon in.

Review: Harmless Harvest Coconut Water: Pretty (and Delicious!) in Pink

June 17, 2016 By Joi Sigers

Raspberry, Peach, and Coconut Water Smoothie (Recipe Below)I’ve been obsessed with all things coconut for as long as I can remember. In fact, I remember when I was a little girl my mom would have to buy two bags of coconut when she was making a coconut cake – one for the cake and one for me.

I can still taste the coconut as I retrieved it from the bag! One little handful after the next.

So it’s no wonder that coconut water is one of my favorite things in the history of favorite things. Not only is coconut water insanely delicious, it’s healthy. One of the healthiest things it does for you, of course, is it keeps you from reaching for soft drinks!

It’s also excellent for upset stomachs. Whenever I’ve accidentally digested gluten or wheat, coconut water comes to my rescue. I can’t explain WHY but it makes my gluten-ed up stomach pain much better.

Not surprisingly, I’ve found ways to work coconut water into my daily life. Harmless Coconut Water makes this as easy as it gets – Not only is their coconut water fresh and delicious, the bottles are designed in a “hand friendly” way that makes them ideal for carrying on walks or hikes.

I love when drink companies think things through.

Actually, they’ve thought a lot of things through at Harmless Harvest. It’s as though the phrase, “Doing things the right way” was invented for them.

Harmless Harvest envisions a world where nutritious, clean, organic and healthy food and beverages are the standard rather than the exception; where all people involved in creating the product are treated with fairness; and the planet is treated harmlessly. – Read more of the Harmless Harvest Story…

Harmlessly.

{Review Continued Below….}

Harmless Coconut WaterWhen you buy a bottle of Harmless Coconut Water, you might find that the water is actually pink. It’s completely natural and, if you ask me, pretty cool. What can I say? It wears it well.

Since I am nowhere near a scientist and couldn’t sound remotely scientific if I were paid to, I’ll let Harmless Harvest explain the “Pretty in Pink” phenomenon: Coconut water contains naturally occurring variations in levels of antioxidants, such as polyphenols, that can turn pink. All of our coconut water is clear when bottled; however some bottles turn pink with time when the antioxidants interact with light. Darker pinks are usually associated with a higher expression of PPO (polyphenol oxidase), one of the many active enzymes in our water. A higher PPO count can be due to the particular crop, season, etc. Read More…

Harmless Coconut Water: Oh So Pretty in PinkObviously, a coconut fiend like me is going to love her coconut water straight from the bottle – I’m so hardcore like that – but my favorite way to enjoy Harmless Coconut Water is actually in smoothies. It has a more intense, nutty flavor than other coconut waters on the market which makes it perfect for smoothies.

When it comes to smoothies, part of the fun is choosing your own fruits and “extras,” but the recipe below is my go-to smoothie recipe of the moment. Sometimes I’m a little more heavy-handed with the frozen raspberries than the peaches and other times I flip it and go nuts with the peaches.

Chia Seeds are one of my favorite “extras” for smoothies. They’re delicious, very nutritious, and… let’s face it… they look mah-ve-lous.

Harmless Harvest Coconut Water and frozen pineapple (as you’d imagine) also make knock-out smoothies. While I’m deathly allergic to them, personally, I’d imagine that mangoes would also rock in a Harmless Coconut Water smoothie.

Raspberry, Peach, and Coconut Water Smoothie

16 oz Bottle Harmless Harvest Coconut Water
1 TBS Raw Honey
2/3 Cup Soy Milk or Coconut Milk
2 TBS Chia Seeds
8 Frozen Peach Segments
1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries

Blend. Get Comfortable. Enjoy!

I will be experimenting with a lot more Harmless Coconut Water Smoothies and will post the recipes on Get Cooking. It’s that time of year when I just can’t get enough smoothies and Harmless Harvest Coconut Water has opened up a whole new world of possibilities.

Look for Harmless Coconut Water in your grocery store. I’ve found them at Meijer’s and Kroger. They are found in the refrigerated section, hanging out with other delicious and healthy food. See the Locator page for more information.

Connect with Harmless Harvest:

Raspberry, Peach, and Coconut Water Smoothie: Beautiful!

I was sent coupons to try Harmless Coconut Water in exchange for telling you all about them. The review, recipe, opinions, and photos are straight from me.

Cascade Ice: Deliciously Brilliant Way to Wean Your Kids (and Yourself!) Off Soft Drinks

August 18, 2014 By Joi Sigers

I was recently sent a bright, colorful, beautiful quintet of Cascade Ice beverages to review on Get Cooking. You can see the beauties above.

I honestly… legitimately… positively cannot tell you which one is my favorite. Each time I thought I had a winner, I’d try the next one and… BOOM! We’d have a tie. It wasn’t long before the “two way tie” grew to a “five way tie.”

They are each absolutely perfect, absolutely delicious, and absolutely calorie free.

One of my daughters, Brittany, has been trying to give up soft drinks and diet soft drinks. The great taste and convenience of Cascade Ice is actually help to make the goal a reality.

These refreshing, zero calorie drinks can help your own kids (as well as you!) either cut back on or give up soft drinks and other calorie-heavy drinks. They’re perfect for school lunches, taking to the office, and after school snacks.

Below are a favorite recipes for whipping up fast, extra-special after school treats.

Back-to-School Berry Blast: To create, mix 1 cup of apple slices, ¾ cup of Greek yogurt, ½ cup of soy or almond milk, a handful of fresh berries and 4oz of Cascade Ice Huckleberry Blackberry in a blender. Blend until smooth and top with a few more fresh berries.
Apple Fizzies: So delicious and fun to make! Just pour 6oz of Cascade Ice McIntosh Apple over ice, add in sliced apples and sprinkle in some cinnamon. For the perfect after-school combo, serve the extra apple slices with a tablespoon of peanut butter!
Watermelon Slushie: Watermelon is oh-so-delicious, and ripe for the pickin’ this fall. In a blender, combine a few handfuls of ice, several seedless watermelon chunks and 8oz of Cascade Ice Blueberry Watermelon.Then, pour in 6oz of club soda. Blend to desired consistency and enjoy!

Cascade Ice drinks are available in stores across the country.

Find more information and recipes at Cascade Ice.

Macho Mango Green Smoothie Recipe

October 23, 2012 By Joi Sigers

To make a long story short, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Smoothies is the first Green Smoothies book you should buy. Not only are the green smoothie recipes outstanding, the nutritional information and advice are absolutely priceless.

I wrote a The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Smoothies review on another website, if you want to check that out. Whether you’re new to green smoothies, an old pro, or have never touched a green smoothie to your lips – this book is a must read.

The recipe below is from page 145 of the book. It’s called Macho Mango Smoothie and if you love mangoes, this will become a green smoothie recipe you use over and over again.

The author says you can substitute 1/2 cup pistachios for hemp seeds for a totally different flavor.

If you’re concerned about finding hemp seeds, or other green smoothie seeds such as Chia Seeds (a personal favorite!), rest easy. Most grocery stores have Health Food sections which carry ingredients you’ll see in green smoothie recipes. When you read the health benefits of these seeds, you’ll kick yourself for not introducing yourself to them sooner.

I make my hemp seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds pull double duty. I use them in my homemade granola bars for extra crunch, flavor, and nutritional benefit. I also find myself eating chia seeds right from the bag. They’re crunchy, delicious, fun to eat, and give a boost of energy.

If you’re concerned that your grocery store might not have the seeds you need, look for a Vitamin store or health food store. OR, you can take my approach and simply buy them online. Beneath the recipe are lists of common seeds and ingredients in green smoothies, along with links to the products.

A final word about ingredients for green smoothies: Don’t let unfamiliar ingredients scare you off. Some of my favorite green smoothie ingredients are spinach, sunflower seeds, bananas, cucumbers, apples, and pineapple. You don’t HAVE to have chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed, etc. However, they are so incredibly healthy and delicious I know you’ll want to get to know them better.

Macho Mango Green Smoothie

Recipe Type: Green Smoothie

Cuisine: Healthy

Author: Bo Rinaldi, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Smoothies

This smoothie may taste fruity and floral, and it may be creamy and silky, but it still packs a macho amount of nutrition! – Bo Rinaldi

Ingredients

3 dried apricots
1-1/2 cups chopped mango
1/3 cup hemp seeds
3 cups fresh spinach
2 TBS fresh lemon juice
1-1/2 cups water (including soaking water)

Instructions

Soak apricots in water to cover for at least 1 hour. Drain, retaining soak water.
In a high-speed blender, combine mango, hemp seeds, soaked apricots, spinach, lemon juice, and water.
Blend until completely smooth.

What about blenders?

Personally, I use the Nutri Bullet (show to the right). It’s available online as well as in most department stores. It’s handy for making and drinking in the same container – I also like the recipes and nutritional information included with the system.

However, a well-made blender can most definitely make wonderful smoothies. Just be sure to really process thick greens like kale thoroughly – otherwise you’ll be chewing your smoothie, which is a major turnoff!

Seeds and Ingredients for Green Smoothies:

Kelapo Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe

June 27, 2011 By Joi Sigers

As I promised in my Kelapo Virgin Coconut Oil Review, here’s a wonderful smoothie recipe!

Kelapo Apple Pie Smoothie Recipe

1 cup lowfat vanilla frozen yogurt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 ts ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
4-5 ice cubes
1 TBSP Kelapo Virgin Coconut Oil

Place all ingredients in blender and process until smooth and creamy.

Yield: 1 Serving (I doubled mine and the results were still exceptional)

Recipe Courtesy of Kelapo Virgin Coconut Oil

Colorful Summertime Smoothie Recipe

June 3, 2011 By Joi Sigers

Somewhere along the line, this coffee and tea aficionado has become equally obsessed with smoothies. Whether I buy them or make them, I find that drinking them is an other-worldly experience. I love trying different fruit, yogurt, and flavoring combinations – the results are always delicious. I guess I can blame my great love of smoothies (and I’ll admit it, shakes) for a recent mishap in the kitchen… I burned my blender up!

So, yeah, I’m in the market for a new blender! KRUPS recently sent me a few healthy, delicious-sounding recipes to post on the food blog, so I’m pretty sure I’ll consider them when I make my next purchase – which will have to be right away because their Summertime Detox Smoothie sounds amazing. I’m on board for anything that calls for raspberries and I’ve found that Almond Milk is excellent in smoothies. Click the following link for a delicious Vanilla Almond Milk Smoothie Recipe.

I’ll post the other recipes separately.

The KRUPS Motor Technik Blender is a powerful yet quiet device with five speeds and six powerful blades to create a variety of different types of textures. A 1,000-watt electronic motor controls the system, and it has an illuminated touch-pad control panel. It also features a 60-ounce borosilicate glass jar with a locking lid and removable measuring cap.

Whether making smoothies, high-protein hummus or fat-free sorbets, this blender has multiple capabilities to suit everyone’s dietary needs.

Below is a healthy smoothie recipe from KRUPS to enjoy using the Motor Technik Blender.

Summertime Detox Smoothie Recipe from KRUPS

12 ounces Acai Juice
6 ounces almond milk
1 Tbsp soy creamer
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 banana (frozen)
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1 Tbsp Whole Ground Flaxseed Meal
1 cup coconut water ice cubes
1 Tbsp Macro Greens powder
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1-3 dashes cayenne powder

Combine all ingredients in blender, and blend until smooth.

I’ll feature the other recipes they passed along in another post. Watch for them, they are absolute things of beauty: Pineapple Sorbet, Mediterranean Hummus, and Fresh Salsa Verde! Don’t worry, they’ll be right behind this post – and i just made a second pot of coffee, so the ole girl’s moving pretty fast.

Why Aren’t You Eating Your Food in the Raw?

March 30, 2011 By Joi Sigers

The last book I wrote about, The Everything Mediterranean Diet Book, was one of two books I recently received to review on Get Cooking. The other is a book that has completely fascinated me, The Everything Raw Food Recipe Book (Everything Series). What’s more, it has opened up a whole new way of looking at food – something I wouldn’t have thought possible after this many years in the kitchen.

I would say how many years in the kitchen but who wants to get depressed on a Wednesday? We’ll save that for a Monday.

Increased energy. Clear, glowing skin. Decreased risk of cancer. Reads like a self help guru’s dream come true. These are only a few of the benefits of a raw foods diet; some studies have even shown that this diet can actually slow down the aging process! Whether you’re looking to go completely raw or just incorporate some raw aspects into your diet, this book is your one-stop guide to a health lifestyle.

In The Everything Raw Food Recipe Book (Everything Series), you’ll find the information you’ll need to begin your love affair with raw foods. If you’re like me, you probably think of a raw food diet as consisting of apples, corn on the cob, and cauliflower – all piled on a plate that someone stands proudly behind and says, “Look! I made this just for you!”

A diet consisting of raw foods includes more foods, food combinations, and recipes than I ever imagined. Lots more than a plate with an apple, corn on the cob, and cauliflower not that there’s anything wrong with any of the three!).

In addition to detailed explanations of why this diet is so extraordinarily healthy, you’ll find the tools of the trade you’ll need if you’re really serious about taking up this type of eating (even if only incorporating raw foods into the food you regularly eat), and 300 recipes.

The recipes include:

Cherry Pomegranate Smoothie
Curry and Pumpkin Seed Crackers
Banana Vanilla Ice Cream with Blueberry Sauce
Raw Vegetable Lasagna
Pad Thai with Almond Sauce
Spicy Coleslaw with Cashew Mayonnaise
Fresh Vegetable Soup
Marinated Zucchini Strips
Cool Cucumber Salad Dressing
Peach Cream Crepes
Cinnamon Oatmeal
Tortillas
Zucchini Hummus
Garbanzo Bean Hummus
New Orleans Beans and Rice
Spinach Pie

And many, many more

I admit, although I’m intrigued with the recipes, the concept, and the healthy side effects of eating a raw food diet – I couldn’t even consider devoting myself to eating this way exclusively. The great thing is, the authors completely understand that! This book doesn’t try to convince you to take up a certain way of eating or try to convince you to leave behind your favorite foods. It simply presents a colorful, fresh, and flavorful new option. After all variety is the spice of life and, when it comes to such a healthy option – it isn’t just the spice of life, it’s the enhancement of life!

From Page 5: Reduced Risk of Cancer and Heart Disease

The following research bears out the benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables:

Researchers at Harvard Medical School tracked the health of more than 22,000 physicians. The study found those who ate at least 2-1/2 servings of vegetables a day lowered their risk of heart disease by almost 25 percent.
At the University of California, Berkeley, researchers found that a high intake of fruits and vegetables also reduces the risk of cancer on average by 50 percent.
A recent study on diabetes at the University of North Carolina reported that a vegan diet rich in vegetables reduces diabetes indicators.
In Stockholm at a Swedish university hospital, researchers found that a vegan diet also increases immune protection against arthritis.

The following is one of the great smoothie recipes in the book.

Vanilla Almond Milk Smoothie Recipe (page 22)

2 cups Almond Milk
2 cups pear, chopped with peel on
1 cup banana, sliced
1/2 cup cherries, pitted and chopped
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 vanilla bean, or 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add the almond milk, pears,banana, cherries, and nutmeg to the blender. Blend until smooth.
Cut the vanilla bean open. Scoop out the inside pulp from the bean and add to blender. Discard the vanilla bean pod. Blend again to incorporate vanilla for another 20 seconds.

Learn more about The Everything Raw Food Recipe Book (Everything Series) by clicking the link or check your local bookstore. Fascinating. Positively fascinating.