Raw Trail Mix & end of the year musings to come...

Yummy! Here is a big batch of my Raw Trail Mix. My husband always keeps a bag in his lunchbox (yes, he has a little cooler that he uses as a lunch box for his carpentry jobs!), I keep some at work for times I work longer than expected and then, of course for skiing and hiking! It has: dehydrated pears, apples and plums(harvested locally by me this fall), soaked and dehydrated pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and brazil nuts, coconut flakes and goji berries.

Two days ago was the 1 year anniversary of me starting this blog to document my journey. It has been rich...so much happens in a single year! My amigos and I are going away again to welcome in the New Year...a cabin in the middle of the frozen wilderness. I will be taking time to reflect on the past year in a nutshell and goals for the next-I look forward to sharing these musings with you early next week. Until then, Happy New Year to you! May your heart be filled with Love and Light!!
XO, Kelly O :)
p.s. Remember New Year's Eve Day is the last day to get your 20% Holiday discount at the Raw Foods Super Store!

Raw Biscotti Recipe

Happy Holidays! I hope your holidays have been filled with lots of quality time with your loved ones and the True Spirit of the Season! My ma-in-law created this recipe in an off-shoot of the one taught to her at the Tree of Life in Patagonia, Arizona. It is delicious and not too rich because you use nut pulp leftover from making nut mylk rather than ground nuts. Enjoy and thanks to Nadine for the yummy recipe and tasters!

Raw Biscotti

3 cups leftover nut pulp
1.5 cups Truly Raw Carob Powder
1/4 raw Cacao Powder
6 dates (soaked in 1/3 cup water and mushed well)
3/4 cup ground coconut
1 cup whole hazelnuts

Knead together, shape like a loaf and Dehydrate. Slice and return to dehydrator until done to your liking. XOXO!!

Raw Food 20% OFF!!

I almost forgot! Matt Monarch is offering an awesome discount, which is valid thru Dec 31! Just click on the Raw Food World Super Store logo above my photo to the right and type HOLIDAY in the coupon code. Enjoy!! Here's the info from Matt:

20% HOLIDAY Coupon Code - on ANY SIZE ORDER!!!

Never, have I seen more orders placed at www.TheRawFoodWorld.com, like this past week since we put the 20% HOLIDAY discount code out.

Only 7 Days Left to take advantage of this 20% HOLIDAY coupon code!!!

Just type in the coupon code - HOLIDAY - to receive 20% off any size order, excluding all appliances until December 31st.

The mark-up on all appliances is minimal and we would actually lose money if this coupon code was used for purchasing appliances. Unfortunately, we will have to refund any orders that contain appliances. However, that being said, if you want to get a rebounder, a slicer, or a Breville Juice Fountain, I will let the coupon code slide for those, as the mark-up is slightly higher on these products.

So please enjoy 20% off all your foods, books, superfoods. 'at-cost' specials, and any of our other non-appliance products.

Attitude of Gratittude and Smoothie tips!

Happy Coming of the Light...aka Winter Solstice!! This is such a special celebration each year, perhaps more so for us so far North! The darker days and deep snow nurture introspectrion, slowing down and family for us. It has been really cold up here lately and downhill skiing in negative temperatures sounds less attractive, so my Love and I have been having long weekends at home, cross country skiing from the house and doing things inside that we are so happy to get done, but get left behind on yummy, sunny days. Winter Solstice represents the Coming of Light, which means if you have a 9 to 5 job (which I don't), you will eventually see sunshine beyond working hours.
Last night, my good friend hosted a gathering at her house to celebrate. We shared good food (I thawed a gallon of apple cider from our tree) , shared poetry, intentions and quotes and topped it off with a "Sweat your Prayers" Ecstatic Dance! So Fun! I brought a quote from the owners of Cafe Gratitude on Abundance. As we gathered to share our words, I looked to see what the quote was on my Yogi Tea bag..."Gratitude is the open door to Abundance."- How incredibly appropriate! I am so grateful to have a loving family, work that is an honor to share with others, land that we can grow food on, and an amazing community to live in! My intention for the coming year is to be in an Attitude of Gratitude!
On the food note, I have been growing extra masses of sprouts since it's the only food we have growing on the property right now besides wild rose hips. I generally use a blend of clover, radish and fenugreek seeds. To add some veggies to my green smoothies (in addition to Spirulina and Vitamineral Greens), I have been adding a big handful of sprouts, a stalk or 2 of celery and a big pinch of ORGANIC ATLANTIC DULSE flakes. Dulse (a seaweed) is a good source of vegetable protein, iron, potassium, magnesium, iodine, chlorophyll, enzymes, Vitamin A, Vitamin B's, and dietary fiber. I also love to sprinkle it on top of my salads and most everything for a yummy savory flavor! Happy Holidays to you each and all!!!

Dome Greenhouse!!

Yahoo!! The Geodesic dome greenhouse is coming together!! It arrived just a few days before my road trip adventure and the guys have been working hard on it. This was what it looked like right when we got back. Isn't it beautiful?!

This is the inside with raised beds filled with top soil...a bit cold(completely frozen) at the moment!

The panels are getting put on quick, as there is snow and negative degree weather on it's way!

This is my love-it was wicked cold this weekend and we even ended up getting snowed in and stuck in our driveway because the wind created big snow drifts!

My love and our neighbors/good amigos who we are creating this project with...

Yahoo! We are so excited to be able to have this dome on our land and elated to begin planting! I will keep you updated! For more info on the domes, check out www.GrowingSpaces.com

Green Smoothies for Kids!

My mom and sister have jumped on the fabulous Green Smoothie train and my nephew loves it! While enjoying our morning ritual green smoothie of frozen berries, banana, Sun Warrior Protein powder, fresh greens, Vitamineral Greens, Organic Kelp and bee pollen, my nephew asks for more and more! The wide mouth mason jars make for fun green mustaches and it is a great reminder that children want to eat what the people they love are eating (plus, it's delicious!!) I feel so grateful that my family is open-minded to healthy living and adopting these beautiful practices in their lives! Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing it back with me!


Isn't he gorgeous?! Instead of the Gerber baby, he could be the Green Smoothie toddler!!

Sacred Commerce Book Review

Among the rest of the eye candy in Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco, Shonna picked up a book written by the owners (Matthew and Terces Engelhart) called Sacred Commerce. I highly recommend this book for any business owner and for any employee or individual who cares to bring more consciousness and remembrance of Oneness into their work life! Their mission is basically no less than transforming the entire planet and they are doing an amazing job, one moment at a time! Here is their mission staement:
"Cafe Gratitude is our expression of a World of Plenty. Our food and people are a celebration of aliveness. We select the finest organic ingredients to honor the Earth and ourselves, as we are one and the same. We support local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and environmentally friendly products. Our food is prepared with love. We invite you to step inside and enjoy being someone who chooses: loving your life, adoring yourself, accepting the world, being generous and grateful everyday, and experiencing being provided for. Have fun and enjoy nourishing yourself."

I love it! Although, I certainly have a mission statement in my mind, I have not actually ever written it down. I am working on that, for both my job and my personal life (although I'm not sure they will be much different...) Care to join me? Now is a perfect time of the year for declaring our mission. The authors recommend going big! Declare a mission statement so big and true, one that at times appears too big to acheive, so big that it is difficult to remain attached to and that lack of attachment opens up doors of possibility as our work space deepens as a Sacred Space. Hallelujah I say!

In bringing Abundance and the World of Plenty into our lives, the Engelharts offer this insight:

"Where we invest our attention, our worship power, becomes our focus, that which we cultivate. As I sow, so shall I reap. Both scarity and abundance are valid points of view. One is no more true or real than the other. They are both states of consciousness. Does an oak tree move you to tears of joy and appreciation, or is it an obstacle that stands in your way? What life do you choose to create with your attention? There is all the evidence necessary to conclude that the world is "going to hell in a hand basket" and that massive ecological breakdown is imminent. There is also ample evidence that humanity is awakening, and that our finest hour is at hand. Which is your world? Your belief makes it so."
Cafe Gratitude LLC estimates that they spend $230, 000 a year (which is about 1/3 of their profits for 2007) "clearing" their employees! As stated in the book, "Clearing is a basic technique for distinguishing how the past is impacting the present and then presenting an opportunity to create something new and shift one's attention to something more empowering." This is how the work day begins everyday at Cafe Gratitude and it is very evident as you enter. We were greeted with genuine smiles, even though the staff was busy. The waitress took time to explain the menu and offer samples of certain items. Everything was joyfully intentional and we savored our time there in exuberant bliss!
As we drove south, we went to Rawvolution, a raw food restauarant in Santa Monica and were shocked by the stark comparison. I have listened to interviews by the owner and thought it was going to be a great place, but must admit that I was disappointed. The overall energy of the place was very low, staff seemed to be plugging through their shift, the presentation was blah and food was mediocre. We thought at least that dessert would be fabulous as raw dessert usually is, but it was yuck! This was of course, our one experience one night and perhaps not a representation of the whole, but it showed me a beautiful example of intention in business and has inspired me to up the ante in my life! Cheers to Abundance and the World of Plenty and a big, special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mama today! I love you, mama! XO, Kelly O
p.s. You can check out the cafe and order the book at www. CafeGratitude.com