YES IT"S ME AND I AM STILL HERE...

"Where have you been???" I know that is exactly what is going through my head since I sthought about typing this post. Yes, I am still here. Yes, I have been goine for quite a while. Yes, I am back. For real this time. LOL!!! I appreciate and loved all the check in emails from you all via emai, FB, and Twitter. I just wanted to get a quick post out so there is no excuses of chickening out later. I do have to get going BUT expect a rather lengthy post tonight. I have some things to write about y'all.  Be Blessed and be a Blessing to someone else. Much love!!

The Raw Twinkie <3

Whip my hair - My Natural Hair Journey

Hey Family,

I am going to catch you up to speed on what has been going on in my life since I last posted (yes, I know it has been a long time). Let's talk hair shall we? I am on a journey of transitioning to natural hair. It is a fun, informative, and at times creative experience. So far I am nine months post relaxer (soon to be 10 months on June 7th).  I can not remember what my natural hair looked like before this since I was a little kid when I received a relaxer and other forms of chemical processes.

I will be sharing with you some of the product staples I use as well as some new ones to try. I will also share so styles and overall my transition. I love my hair and I am going to enjoy telling you like it T.I.S. when it comes to what works for me. In the meantime here is one of my videos on my thoughts about being natural and over 40.

Love ya,
The Raw Twinkie

Okay, Where have you been?

I know, I know... I have been gone for a VERY long time. I actually have been writing on another blog from time to time and just in general, life happened. There have been so many things that have been going on in my little world but I know for sure that I must keep sharing on this blog. I can't discontinue this. I need this outlet in my life. So with that, let me say that this blog will remain true to sharing awesome Raw food but in addition it will entail what is going on with me. My journey. What I am learning and hope that it will help you also. I aim to have fun and encourage you to do the same.

This journey right here is going to be interesting, well at least I promise you that it will be Raw and truthful.

Much Love,

The Raw Twinkie

Spice up your life!

Just picture a beautiful market full of various aroma's of herbs and spices. Your walking through looking at the beautiful display of incredible colors, and textures that the market has to offer. As you glance over at each sample of spices, you quickly reminisce to the last dish that you used that spice in or you may be a little more daring and conjure up some whimsical recipe in your mind of a spice that you have yet to try but drawn to getting. You smile at the chance to be able to embrace the bounty of the earth and to have the power at the same time to create a little piece of heaven through the yield.

What if you could have that same picture in the luxury of your own home. What if you could have the flavor of the world at your fingertips? Well, you can. Check out Pendery's World of Chilies and Spices. They have been around since the 1800's, s that means they know what they are doing. I know that I love the quality of having spices and herbs that are truly from their place of origin and not growing in someones lab. Pendery's values itself on its incredible products that you can't get anywhere else. A great example of this is their granulated onion, Which has been carefully grown and harvested to be used in some of your most flavorful dishes.Visit their site and see what I am talking about. Interested in other items as well? They also have a wonderful selection of gourmet foods, books, skin balms, and rubs. As a matter of fact, I think I will go over to Pendery's site right now. I need to take a stroll along their (Internet) market and see what other fresh creations I can come up with.

AWESOME RAW Indian Carrot Curry Soup!

Look at that soup... Doesn’t it make you want to snuggle up with a good movie or book by the fireplace? I fell in love with this soup. As a matter of fact, the first time I made this soup I cut the recipe in half and was so disappointed that I didn’t make the full recipe. It brought my taste buds to a new level of enjoyment with the different spices. The sweet yet savory flavor for the red onions, raisins, and cilantro made me so want more. The creaminess of the avocado and the crispness of the carrot gave this soup a very filling yet not heavy undertone. and it packed a powerful punch with the ginger, garlic, and apple cider vinegar. My husband is not a RAW foodist and he thought the soup was very good. My three year old was all over this soup. I had to make another batch (this time the full recipe) and have frozen half of it to have a couple of days from now. This soup is good kept in the refrigerator for about two days, however, I have learned that in my kitchen I make so many different things that I may not get to have this soup again for about four or five days (though I think that this one wont make it that long). LOL! Enjoy and tell me how you like it!

RAW Indian Carrot Curry Soup

(Serves 4-5)

2 carrots (chopped)

1/4 c red onion

1 clove of garlic

3 c tomatoes (diced)

2 avocados (pitted and peeled)

1/2 c fresh cilantro

1/4 c tahini

2 T curry powder

1/2 t freshly ground black pepper

1 t garam masala (spice)

1/2 inch of ginger root (peeled)

juice of 1/2 a lemon

2 t sea salt

3 T sesame oil

2 T apple cider vinegar

3 T agave nectar (or raw sugar)

2 T nutritional yeast

1/2 t fresh green chili (chopped)

4 c hot water (not boiled)

1/3 c raisins (put these in after the soup is blended)

Mix half of the ingredients and half the water at a time in a blender and pour the contents into a large bowl or pot to combine them (this is only done because most blenders are not big enough for the whole recipe). Serve at room temperature or heat on low only until it gets warm because you don't want to lose all the amazing enzymes in this soup! Garnish with tiny cubes of chopped up red onion, shredded carrot, fresh cilantro, raisins and freshly ground black pepper. Serves 4 or 5.

"A few of my favorite Things" Mondays!!

Hello my RAW Vegan, Vegan, and Vegetarian family!!!

It's Monday and a little dreary today. It is not as cold outside as it looks but I still didn't want to venture outside today (other than to go pick the kids up from school). While, I am at home with my three year old and making a salad, I started thinking about some of my favorite things that I am using in my RAW vegan journey as well as some things that I would love to try and have. So, I thought I would share them with you. I will devote Mondays to doing just that.

I am going to kick off this weekly post with an absolute favorite of mine. I absolutely love coconut oil.

When I say love it, I MEAN LOVE IT. I use it in our meals, on our bodies, and in our hair. It is something we use a lot of. First, I always use extra virgin, organic raw coconut oil meaning that is has not been heated over a certain degree or treated in any way. The smell is incredible and it does the job when it comes to our overall needs.

Let me give you some healthy facts about coconut oil:

"The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing,etc.."

www.organicfacts.net

Coconut oil is amazing in smoothies, shakes, salad dressings, desserts, and anything else you can think of. A tablespoon a day is all you need. You must try it and see why I love it so much. Well I am going to make this a short quick post......gotta go order some more coconut oil. ;-)

Here's to taking your health back,

TwinkieR*

RAW NEWS FRIDAY!! "Raw and Uncut" by TwinkieR

RAW NEWS FRIDAY!! "Raw and Uncut"

by TwinkieR

Hello My Vegetarian, Vegan, and RAW Vegan Family!!!

Much love and Blessings to you on this wonderful Friday. It is very rainy here in Arkansas this morning but I am enjoying it. We didnt get much rain in Arizona so for me it is welcomed. I just hope my garden can tolerate it (you know I am a newbie at gardening). My hubby is off today so I am expecting a great day all the way around (Yay, me)! ;-)

Well since it is VeganMoFo, I thought I would devote my Fridays to showing love and support to my family as well as informing people of what is going on in the Raw and Vegan food world. If I miss anything going on, let me know (twitter or FB) and I will make sure to show you some love. I pray that my posts on Friday will give some people encouragement to try some new things to promote their health. PLUS, to have some fun because eating healthier AWESEOME!

Some of this information is a recap of what went on this week as well as upcoming details of some events, products, reviews, and anything that I think should be known.

I want to start off with Jim Carey, his "INCREDIBLE" Dr. Ann Wigmore Raw living foods Lifestyle Home Study program on DVD is back! Now you can have the best of both worlds (online or DVD). Find out more about this great program at http://rawlivingfoods.typepad.com/1/2009/10/ok-you-win-its-back-sometimes-i-get-too-hightech.html .

Congratulations are in order for a beautiful Raw Goddess, Kristen Suzzane of Kristen's Raw http://kristensraw.blogspot.com/ . Kristen is expecting a wonderful bundle of joy. I am so excited for her. Check out her blog, you will be so glad you did! Kristen, Get some rest and enjoy your alone time with hubby because once the little one is here......Raw Energy will be needed! Smooches....

Now for those Rockstars out there, (you know who you are) Philip McCluskey has revamped and relaunched his site "Loving Raw: the Raw food Rockstar Community" http://www.lovingraw.com/ ! I am loving it. Here is a guy that knows how to party Raw style! Philips is also planning a bi-coastal rockstar birthday party(ies) in November. He is looking to celebrate in N.Y. and L.A. Philip, I am looking forward to partying Rawkstar style!

Matt Monarch, The Raw Food World Presents a very special interview with Dr. Gabriel Cousens on his radio program on October 15, 2009, 10 pm Eastern time (7pm Pacific time). I am not going to miss this! Listen in and learn from one of the most knowledgable health experts on the planet. You can check out the details and sign up at http://www.rawspirit.org/radioshow.html .

I also want to give a shout out to the grand opening of the resteraunt/shop/educational facility- 105 Degrees! I so wish I could have attended that event. I know it was absolutely MARVELOUS!! I have seen so many pictures and video's of the celebration and I know that a great time was had by all. I guess I am going to have to take a trip to Oklahoma City (I will blog about that experience when I go) really soon. Man, I am going to book that trip after this blog post. LOL!! In the meantime, check out their site at http://105degrees.com

I am sure that there are many other things that are happening in the Raw Food World but I thought I would give you a taste of what Raw News Friday will be about. If you have something awesome coming up or going on, email, FB, or Twitter me. I am sure the family would love to know what is going on.

Until next Friday...Many RAW Blessings to you! Kisses....

TwinkieR* A.K.A. The Raw Twinkie