Hey everyone
Gina and I got up this morning and got our workout in even though I had trouble getting out of bed today! I am really happy I went : )
My workout:
10 minute walk up hill
About 20 minutes of upper body lifting (shoulders, back, tri & biceps)
Then back on treadmill to walk up hill
- 10 minutes at 4.0 incline 5
- 10 minutes at 4.0 incline 6
- 8 minutes at 4.0 incline 10
- 2 minute cool down
Overall felt pretty good, just not as energetic as I was the past two mornings…hmmm…maybe because I had no pre-workout snack. Any who, my post-workout meal was simple because I did not know if we were going to be treated with juice or something at 105 degrees academy. I had one granny smith apple and 2 almond seed snack balls.
Just a little bit of protein, calcium, and some EFAs after my workout
Time for class at 105 degrees academy.
Today we learned all about fermented foods. Yay! I was so excited because this is one area of RAW foods that is unfamiliar. Today was filled with a lot of “first” for me. I just love learning new things. Don’t you?
My first time making raw sauerkraut. This has been something I have wanting to make for a very long time now!!!!
This sauerkraut had more than just cabbage, it was filled with Kohlrabi, celery, parsnips, carrot, yellow beets, red cabbage, pear, ginger, and thai chili
It was fun to make and see the salt doing it’s magic!! I cannot wait to eat this in a few days!
Next was my first time making raw tofu.
Throw ingredients into Vita-mix
Blend till cremy and viola!
This recipe was so easy…cashews, coconut meat, irish moss, water and salt…blend and refrigerate….that’s it!!
Lunch we made a green olive dressing over a beautiful salad. I was a happy girl!!!!!
Throw ingredients in and blend till creamy
Now I am not a huge olive person though this I actually like : )
I made myself a huge salad full of arugula, spinach, kale, sprouts, avocado, basil, cilantro, dulse, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast...umm I think that is it : )
It totally hit the spot…
Yep ate it all : )
I even nibbled on some kale chips that were fresh out of the dehydrator…they were unbelievably good that I had to quickly bag them up. I am hoping to save them for the sis but I am not sure if I can.
Yummy Kale Chips
Next first for me was making Kombucha tea….again so excited. I have tried Kombucha about a few years ago, before I was really into raw foods. I just heard about it and knew it was extremely good for the body, so I was like, hey I must drink it. Ya, not so much : ) But now I have a new appreciation for it, so we will see next week!
First step steeping the tea, I chose green tea
Let it sit till water cools down…I write more about this at the end of post.
Next was carrots…first we French sliced them and then mixed them with salt, pepper, and sesame oil
Then into the dehydrator they go….I first for me…never dehydrated carrots before.
Then into another first was making pickled ginger….yep a healthy version : ) So easy to make!
I love ginger!
Then we ended our day preparing some things that we will enjoy tomorrow.
First was Almond-chili dressing
Second was Mango Chutney
These will be used in our spicy vegetable summer rolls with mango tamarind chutney!!
Cannot wait for tomorrow….yum yum!
Now back to Kombucha Tea
Time to add the culture or scoby, aka the mother.
Scoby stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. There are so many benefits of Kombucha tea that it is too long to list so check it out here.
Something that is pretty cool about this the mother is that she will create babies, which you can use to make more tea….cool, huh!!!
I learned a lot today about fermenting. I actually have noticed a theme with fermented foods….you have to plan ahead because you cannot eat them for a few days as they ferment. Well actually this theme of “planning ahead” is common in raw foods….interesting…..all worth it in the end!
Love my raw foods!!
And the last thing we did to end the day was enjoy our Apricot Pistachio Biscotti
They were a tad on the dry side but the flavor was perfect.
I happily enjoyed half despite the crumbling : )
Twin’s Question: Have you fermented foods before? Have you made Kombucha tea?
Oh and please vote for www.pure2raw.com for the best new blog at Foodbuzz. We are very excited about this…sounds like fun!! There are so many interesting categories the results should be a hoot! Make sure you vote for your favorites!
Till next time,
Michelle
The Raw Twin
L&M
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I have never tried fermenting my own food – to be honest I am a little scared. I am very squeamish about ‘old’ food, so even if I got through making it, I may never eat it! Maybe one day I will try and surprise myself.
Ya I have always been scared too, so I am very excited to see how I like it.
great post!! I have so much to comment on!
1. so glad you rolled out of bed to exercise. sometimes my feet feel like lead when that alarm goes off, but i always feel so much better if i get up and start my day with a bang! nothing like a run to wake you up!
2. i love love love raw saurkraut and fresh pickled ginger. The first time i made ‘kraut i was so surprised at how much water is stored in cabbage!! just need to knead that salt in!
3. matthew’s book everyday raw was the first time i had ever seen or heard of raw tofu. i’m really going to have to try that now that you say its so easy!
4. kombucha. I have many friends who swear by the stuff. personally i can’t handle the taste, with the exceptions of some of the ones with additional fruit juice (synergy?) But my friend annabelle is very big on Homebrewing, which is fun because you can experiment with different flavors and teas. Plus its a lot cheaper. She actually has an awesome blog, all about kombucha: http://kombuchafuel.blogspot.com
thanks for sharing all your days at the academy!
hey yes I totally agree about getting a good run in the morning!! Yes I am sooooo excited to try saurkraut. I am glad to hear you like!! Yes please do try raw tofu. I think we will be having it tomorrow so I will let you know how I like it. Thanks for giving me your friend’s blog, I will check in out!! Ya the taste is a little bit too much for me, but I hope I can learn to love it : )
I love fermented foods but really the only thing I know how to make at home is the coconut milk kefir which I’ve mentioned to you that’s on my blog. I wanna read Wild Fermentation but til that happens, I love seeing this on your blog! All the nitty gritty and great pics!
The kale chips look great, what seasonings did you use and how long did you bake/dehydrate them?
And those carrots, I have to say, they are so perfect looking they look like dollie/fake food that my little toddler plays with
Thank you for your sweet and loving comment on my blog today re my mother and hard times I am going thru with that right now. Thank you for telling me that your family didnt get it, but that your sis has come around, despite your dad still not getting it. And here you are at raw culinary school and he’s still not a believer. Ok, so I’m not alone
My prob is that it’s so much more than food with my mom, it’s lifetime of being the black sheep, the raw food is just a part of it. Thank you for your comment, it was really nice 
Great post and great pictures! I LOVE making fermented foods! I don’t know why, but it is interesting for me to make something, have it sit out and… well… rot, then be able to eat it! ha! Anyway, I make my own raw sauerkraut and it’s always so easy and tastey, it surprises me!
Also, this batch (still fermenting as I write!) will be my second batch of Kombucha. I looooooooove the kind you can buy from the stores. My “mother” is still growing and with time, the kombucha will get more flavorful. But my advice is to add fruit juices/flavors to the finished product- like pineapple and ginger, or pomegranate. And maybe a little carbonation… Yum yum!
Thanks! And good luck with your fermented foods!
Yes my first time with fermented foods so I hope I enjoy them as much as you do : ) Thank you for the tip on Kombucha!
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