Half a Dozen Posts in One!

Happy Monday!

Wow, large weekend.  I bought a new uncook book, made a wonderful recipe, we went to see Steve Earle at the Orpheum, ran into folks, we booked some gigs, we recorded more videos, we saw friends at an open mic night, and made new ones... can't complain about a damn thing!  :)

This big blog post will catch you up on all of it!
To start off, I'll show you my new live cuisine recipe book: 

There was a recipe in there that caught my eye right away...Vegetable Stew...one, it didn't have any nuts, which is a raw wonder when it comes to raw cookbooks...and two, it just looked like a great variety of hearty vegetables.

It was such a tasty recipe, it did not disappoint!  Both of us just loved it and gobbled it down!  Sure is pretty, too, heh?  I substituted the sweet potatoes with beets and it was still awesome!

Here is the recipe: 

Vegetable Stew...yield:  3-4 servings

This meal will help you to maintain a raw diet during cold winters.

2-4 zucchinis, cut into bite-size pieces

1 sweet potato, chopped into small chunks or shredded

1 cup green peas, preferably sprouted (Rawkin' note:  I bought frozen organic peas)

1 red bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces

6-8 button mushrooms, chopped

2 cups tomatoes, chopped

4 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

2 Tablespoons chopped onion

1-2 teaspoons raw olive oil or hemp oil

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)

2 garlic cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt

Dash of cayenne

Put the zucchinis, sweet potato (or beet) peas, bell pepper, and mushrooms in a large mixing bowl.

Briefly pulse the tomatoes in a high-powered blender (or food processor). 

Add the cilantro, onion, oil, garlic, optional lemon juice, cumin, salt, and cayenne to the tomato puree, and pulse until combined but still chunky. 

Pour into the bowl with the vegetables and mix well. 

Let rest for 2-4 hours before serving (at room temp or in the refrigerator, depending on the climate)

NOTE:  If you prefer a more warming stew, add extra cayenne and dehydrate the stew at 105 - 108 degrees F for 1 - 2 hours.  Optional - Garnish with fresh cilantro and parsley  and serve.

This recipe will live out its life in the MY FAVORITE RECIPES section under 'Raw for the Rest of Us' because it's rare (in my world) to have a filling meal without needing a dehydrator.

This stew sated us all evening as we scurried downtown to the Steve Earle concert.  This was such a lovely sign of abundance in our lives, as a friend went to Vegas and couldn't use his tickets and gave them to us!

We accepted this generosity, and I tucked the ticketmaster envelope in my purse and didn't look at it until we pulled it out for the door person.  She said, Door 3.  Only then did we take a look at our seating...and we were floored to see that we were seated in the 2nd row!!  hahaha!  Score!!  :D  We had a clear view of him from 30 feet away.  We enjoyed the show so much.  He is a straight shootin' guy, and we've been fans for years and it was a pleasure to see him live (and up close!)  I took this photo with my iphone.

During intermission, we ran into the fellow who books the Vancouver City Limits showcases and got to chatting, and the next day he called us and we booked a gig for Feb. 12 at the Rowing Club in Stanley Park!  Yehaaa!

Then on Sunday, we recorded some more music videos of our songs...

Sunday night, we went and sang some songs at an open mic we like to go to, and met up with some friends and had a great time.  We ate salad before we left the house, but we were there a long time, and I got very hungry...and the pub food wafting by was not helping!  But we managed to avoid it and when I got home, I ate an orange and that was fine!  I think all the romance and fantasy that goes into food happens during hunger...but really, as soon as you sate your hunger, it doesn't care what actually made it ok.  You know what I mean?  And I always am wayyyyyy grateful that I opted for the better food.

Oh, and at the open mic, someone just about fell over when I told them my age (46) *bats eyelashes* and someone else complimented me on my...and I quote, lol... "amazing skin!"  (Thanks, RAW!!!!)

I got home and found an email for another gig in early March!  Yeah, Baby! 

Life is sweet and delicious!

Oh speaking of which, here is the 'whole family' enjoying wheatgrass...me with scary morning hair, Steve with his lucky horseshoe and empty wheatgrass shot, Ruby the cat wishing she had opposable thumbs, Gracie looking sweetly hopeful at the "harvest"...

and finally, Gracie in a wheatgrass frenzy!

xo

Rawkin'

PS things that make me happy and grateful:

The day I went ATVing for the first time.  JOY!!!!!!!!!  This was pre-raw, in 2001.  Happy, happy day!  I still get joyful when I look at this picture!  Steve says that's the happiest he's ever seen me, and wants to get me one!  I love that guy!!!

Another thing I ADORE that makes me happy...seeing beauty grow anywhere!