Tuesday 15 November 2011

Mauiwaui

Hey Rawkers! 

Ok.  So for the next few weeks, I'm living on the gorgeous island of Maui, Hawaii.  I've been here since late October, and I will be here until December 19th.  Paradise!  It's "winter" here so it's slightly cooler than when I was here in April, but it's still flip-flops and sundresses weather, so I'm happy.

There's no way I could ever stay this length of time if it weren't for my gracious hosts putting me up (or is that putting up with me? lol)  I am over here jamming (I sing) with an excellent, original rock & blues band, and I'm staying in the other vocalist's home, along with the bass player.  We get together a couple times per week and jam anywhere from 4-6 hours, and the time flies.  These songs are so beautiful and fun and rockin'!

this is at the home studio where the band rehearses ... pure heaven

These are some good people!  One of the band members, the drummer, is a clean-livin', smoothie-swillin', mostly-raw foodist, so we have much to discuss and really enjoy hanging out.  I feel I can learn a lot from this guy, as he is very spiritual and has had some big life experiences to draw from.  He is married to a beautiful woman who had me at Hello.  You know when you just click?  Both these people do that for me.  Anyway, he took me to Mana Foods in Paia on Friday, and said he'll take me again, as he goes a couple times a week.  Mana Foods is a health food paradise.  I couldn't wait to return to it ever since I discovered it back in April.  Paia in general is a wonderful hippy town, I just love spending time there.

I'm having a lot of fun hookin' up another band member, the singer/guitarist, with raw foods.  He has been a surfer and all around athlete all his life and has dipped into a bit of a 'convenience foods' habit and wants to tune it all up again, so he's feeling ready for a change.   I told him I'd help in any way I can, so the other day, I picked up a food processor at the Maui Costco (who knew?)    I went 'home' and made the raw vegan brownies (of course.) Well, I wish I had recorded his reaction upon tasting them, it was over the top positive; he was so cute!   I am so happy to report that on the strength of those brownies, he is SOLD  on raw and want to try more. :)

So today, I went to Napili Market (and paid way too much) for ingredients to make a strawberry swirl shortcake and yep...another pan of dem brownies.  (There was much dismay upon discovering we ate them all!) 

I also picked up the ingredients for zugetti with marinara. This was after much consideration, as I was going through all the recipes on this blog and wanted whatever I made to grab him like the brownies did.  Ok, well, maybe nothing else quite has that grip, lol, but something really tasty and really simple.  Simple is good right now, cuz all I'm working with here is a food processor, and when I told him I could make him a meal using only that, he was so surprised and couldn't wait.  So I had this feeling that it'd better be good.  First I thought dips like eggless egg salad and hummous...but didn't have dehydrated crackers, and Napili Market didn't have Ezekiel tortillas (always my next best).  So I settled on the marinara.

I used a vegetable peeler to peel two large zucchinis and I plated the noodles onto a bed of spinach, and topped it with marinara.  I sliced avocado as garnish and WALLA!  Dinner! 

I should have learned from his reaction to the brownies, to record any forthcoming reaction, because man, this dude is so satisfying to uncook for!!  He's soooo excited and turned on by this way of eating!  The marinara, and his reaction, did not disappoint!!  :)  I didn't get a photo of the dinner, and gawd knows you've all seen the brownies, so here is the Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake...which looks completely different than when I first tried it.  I really have to look closely at this recipe, and re-read it a lot to understand where it's taking me, and I think last time, I skimmed it instead, 'cuz I ended up putting the topping in the filling, lol.  See how different it looked? (Same great taste, though!  Haha!)  It's the second photo down once the link takes you to the Desserts page.

He's eating some of this as I type this.  The bass player can't get enough of these AND the brownies.  Everybody's rawkin' and ravin' around here; it is WONDERFUL to be turnin' these guys onto this lifestyle.  It's so good for me, too, as I find it inspiring for myself, as well. 

PS:  Check out this mutant avocado that was on the dining table today!!!

  Yay,
xo
Rawkin'

13 comments:

ZOMBIEDAWN said...

I'll take that avocado....now. I'm glad you're posting and doing well. I'm juice fasting at the moment but I can't wait to come off it and do either your zugetti or raw falafels! Yay for Hawaii!

Rawkin' said...

Hey Dawn, ya, you need an avocado!! A juice fast is a challenging thing to do. Is it going well? And yeah, yay for hawaii :) xoxo Rawkin'

ZOMBIEDAWN said...

I did 8 days and I'm ready for some raw entrees! But I'll ease into it! I've ordered my spiralizer so I think it's spagetti for Thanksgiving! Haha!

Rawkin' said...

Hey way to go, 8 days!! Smart to ease in...and good choice :)

xo
Rawkin'

Raw Antonia said...

I've just discovered your blog and i must admit that it's amazing, very inspirational. And now, a rather "serious question" lingers in my mind...I've found that most raw foodists have gone through some upsetting past experiences related to eating and lifestyle (either their diets were making them unhealthy, or depressed or overweight) and that many were able to regain control of their lives through raw foods. Question is, how do you introduce someone who is healthy and balanced overall on an omnivorous, cooked diet to the raw food diet, since they have no inner motivation to really change their lifestyle? Is it even possible? Should anyone even try?

Rawkin' said...

Hi Raw Antonia,
Thank you for your comments about my blog! I'm so glad you are enjoying it.

As to your question, my first thought is this: If that person is someone other than yourself, then no, I wouldn't try to change their eating habits that they are perfectly happy with. I think living the example (for instance my ex saw me do this on my own, as my own project, and a couple months into it, he wanted in because he saw the amazing changes in my health and appearance. He was inspired. Had I told him to change, I think I would have been met with resistance.

If you are referring to yourself, maybe reading more about it (blogs and books) and looking at online galleries of raw foodists' before and after photos...that really spoke to me.

It's not for everyone, but those who it's right for, are in for the healing and energy of their lives.

I don't know if that helps, but it's my truth. :)

xo
Rawkin'

ZOMBIEDAWN said...

Ditto..... I know that I tend to go back and forth in the raw food lifestyle, but I know absolutely that I've never felt better in my life than when I eat this way! Everyone around me is inspired by how I feel and act.... That's really all you can do. EXAMPLE! Btw, Rawkin, I finally got my spiralizer and dehydrator and I think I'm in trouble! I'm loving the crackers and zucchini noodles! Oh, and cashew cheese! I really should pace myself! Tonight I'm making a curry cracker and I can't wait for the results! Thanks so much!

Rawkin' said...

Yay, Zombiedawn!! How awesome are YOU?? Keep on rawkin' & rollin'!!!! and lemme know how these turn out!
You are so right about never feeling better in your life than on raw... I need this "reminder" right now... my host and I have fallen down the 12 steps, lol... all good...the ins and outs of raw...climbing back on today... you inspired me. xo Rawkin'

Rawkin' said...

Yay, Zombiedawn!! How awesome are YOU?? Keep on rawkin' & rollin'!!!! and lemme know how these turn out!
You are so right about never feeling better in your life than on raw... I need this "reminder" right now... my host and I have fallen down the 12 steps, lol... all good...the ins and outs of raw...climbing back on today... you inspired me. xo Rawkin'

ZOMBIEDAWN said...

Lol, the cracker recipe isn't one I'll recreate..... But,eh live and learn! How have you been doing?

Rawkin' said...

Hey Zombiedawn,
LOL what happened? Just not your cup o' tea?

Me...I'm doing awesome these days! Not with food, though, lol. Am indulging in Hawaii, with my eye on a cleanse upon my return. (Hyeah!!) Am doing some things right, but always room for improvement. Before I left for this trip, I loaned out my raw food equipment to several friends. Note to Self...get that stuff back! ;)
Keep in touch!
xo
Rawkin'

ZOMBIEDAWN said...

Oh my gawd...were they awful! I suffered through it though, slathering each nasty cracker with nut cheese, avocado or pico de gallo just so I could get through the batch. I hate waste, lol! But last night, I made a heavenly cracker with just squash and corn plus some spices. YUM! And last night I had zuke alfredo which I'm thinking of recreating right now, though it's only 9:30 am.

Loaning out your equipment?! MY friends would play the "possession is nine tenths of the law" card! Haha! Good luck getting it back and enjoy Hawaii any way you want!

Rawkin' said...

Hey ZombieDawn...please forgive my lack of visiting my own site these days!! Your comment has been languishing among the others for too long and it's time I straighten up and fligh right, as the song says. Wow you DO hate waste, to eat through a batch of hateful crackers!! haha pinch n' gulp. Yikes. And yeah, wish me luck getting my stuff back, lol! I'm sure they've all grown attached to it! Lucky I love 'em. xo
Rawkin'

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