First all, a shout out to everyone who has been leaving positive comments and reassuring words, like on my last post about chia pets, I mean chia seeds. Everyone’s support and reading along is sooo important to me, so thank you for your support! Let me know if there’s anything you want to see more of. More yoga? More food? More chocolate?…mmm, that sounds good to me.
Onto the Eats…
Do you ever have a moment where you realize you had better mix it up a little bit and get outta a food rut? Not that I was feeling in a rut, just a really solid groove, one that needed a little shake-up. So, I shook.
Unfortunately after I decided to shake it up, I realized I was dangerously low on spices and seasonings. Necessity is the mother of invention, I tell ya. I looked in the pantry and saw about 1 cup of raw almonds. And then, off the top of my head, Raw Sweet ‘n Tangy Chicken-Less Chicken Salad was born.
Raw Sweet ‘n Tangy Chicken-Less Chicken Salad:
*1 c raw almonds (I soaked them for oh about a half hour. Don’t call the nut soaking police on me. It all worked out.)
*2 Tbsp Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
*2 Tbsp O.J.
*2 Tbsp Agave
*1/2 inch fresh ginger
*Pepper to taste
*Vita-Mix or Food Process it to smoothness of your liking. I like some texture, you can see that here.
*Then, I threw in 1/8th cup of each: carrots, orange peppers, & zucchini (but you coulda used any veggie that was calling out to you from the bottom of your veggie drawer)
*Blend a smidge more
Done!
Scooped the mixture into romaine boats on a bed of greens & garnished.
Drizzled Scott’s with some balsamic and oil dressing from TJ’s & garnished with a few pepper pieces.
The little nutty pate would have been excellent wrapped in collards Gena style or in rice paper wrappers or on some Mary’s Crackers hors dourves style. Kinda along this theme of Angela’s Veggie Pizza Crackers. The possiblities are endless, really. Gena also has lots of nut pates in this post if you want even more nutty inspiration.
Enjoy….I did.
Scott’s verdict: Babe, I am really impressed with your creation!!
Lest you think that it was all health food and vegan chicken salad for this rabbit, you are sorely mistaken. I dug out plenty ‘o spoonfuls of the Chocolate Love I made yesterday.
This morning I went for a quick run around my N-hood at 9am. Honk Count: 2. Whistle Count: 1. Leaning and trying to talk to me outta the car window Count: 2.
Of course any runner knows how much we love to have “our zone” broken with such heart-warming gestures like honking and whistling. Seriously guys, whistling? Honking? Oh yeah, I forgot, that’s the way to a woman’s heart, just honk at her. Classy. Can I get your number now that I am so flattered. Grrrr….
But when I returned my True Classy Little Lady was waiting for me with a big smile and hug. Makes up for all the Loooz-ers I encounter on my urban runs. Anyone else go through this while you’re trying to work out? What’s your working out pet peeve?
Oh, and please tell me what the recipe that you pulled outta your arse that actually worked and got high praise is? (Bonus points for fast n easy, raw, and vegan!)
:)
Averie
Tip of the Day: My friend RawJuiceGirl is having TWO giveaways at once! First, she is having the Food Matters DVD GiveAway that I already mentioned yesterday but now she is also having a Natalia Rose DVD GiveAway. Go check that shizzle out pronto!
P.S. Stay tuned for my next Yoga-heavy post!
I have never tasted a chicken salad as delish as this chickenless salad! Made it for lunch today…omg. Thanks for the recipe!
SweetLeaf stevia's new sweetener packets are AMAZING – you've got to give it a try!
Hello again :) I've been away, so just catching up again!
I think it was Natalia Rose that said that the fresher the coconut butter the more mild it was – even unrefined will slide into rancidity and thus more coconut-y. I have used grapeseed oil before and found it was pretty neutral. At the moment though, I'm trying to go very light on all oils and sticking to smooshing avocado through my salads as a dressing.
I must also say that how lucky you are to get to run through Balboa! Such a beautiful area. I ♥ your city :)
yea to much stevia = grossness
How does the celery and raisin taste in your green smoothie?? I need to branch out more!
The granola looks awesome!!
I've never put raisins in my smoothie before. I will have to try.. thanks for the tip!
Thank you for the Green Monster shout out! Yours looks fabulous…I'm so drooling over the vita mix too :)
i just can't get in to stevia..something about it weirds me out
oh to have a place like balboa park to run.. so jealous!!!
I love the Stevia in the RAW… I don't notice any aftertaste…and I've been using it more and more.
and I totally sat and did your butterfly pose last night… ahhhhhhhh so nice!
I should go do a back bend… I used to be able to do back hand springs and the like.
yeah
I should try it!
Nancy-thanks for coming out of stealth mode and commenting! Glad you've been enjoying the blog! I totally appreciate the tip about NOW. I have also heard their chocolate stevia is good. Maybe worth a try.
Heather-Thanks for the NuNatural info. I know that what lots of people use, but you're right, I'd prefer not to add dairy carriers and other random stuff. The less stuff, the better. I am going to google for Stevia in the Raw.
Good info on grapeseed oil. The girls I know on some food allergy boards swear by it but yes, I did know it wasn't the greatest oil profile for O 6's to 3's but that's where stinky Udo comes in, right :)
Shannon-welcome and hi. Yes, please do some yoga, it will totally help to balance a shredded runner's body. And you may even wanna run less after you do yoga, just ask Heather :) Vita-Mix single best thing I have ever bought for the kitchen hands down, BTW.
I am glad to everyone that I can be an inspiration with my yoga. I love to do all kinds of drop backs, handstands, and upside down stuff. It didnt used to be that way. In 2000, I didnt even know what down dog was. And over the past decade, I have honed my practice. But it's not like I spend hours a day at it, I have a 2 yr old. But there have been times I've gone to Mexico or Costa Rica for a month or more and just practiced in the jungle. It's all about finding time within your current life constraints and realities.
I love you all, thanks for inspiring ME!!!
I can't wait 'til the day I can do a full backbend! I'm no where near there yet but I am growing in my yoga love and flexibility. Can't wait to see what you have for us tomorrow:)
Wow, i need a vitamix :) just popped over to your site and love the looks of that pie you made the other day! you've got one cutie pat-ooty (i have no idea how that's spelled) in skylar as well :) i just started going to some yoga classes, and i'm really enjoying it so far! you're totally right about the good stretching… running has gone and done my left side too tight. hopefully this will help
Your green monster sound delicious as does your granola. However, I'm totally envious of your backbend. I used to go straight back when I was younger, but I haven't tried it in years. Thanks for the inspiration!
My current stevia of choice is the NuNatural brand. However, I really want to try Stevia in the Raw as I've heard it's nothing but stevia. NuNaturals adds maltodextrin as a carrier.
I used to use grapeseed oil all the time, but it's high in Omega 6's. Make sure you're getting in a good dose of Omega 3's to balance it out. Maybe sub some flax or Udo's oil every once in a while.
Hi Avery! Found your blog a couple of weeks ago, and I love it. I love yoga, too. But, Holy Freakin' Cow, GIRL! I couldn't come close to the poses you get in! Very nice. Maybe I'll get there some day, but I'm not holding my breath. ha ha.
I wanted to comment on your question about stevia brands. I've been using NOW for quite some time – years. It's the best one that I came across. Neither myself nor my husband detect an aftertaste. My mom said she does, but she finds a bad taste with anything that's health. ha ha.
I get mine on Netrition.com. They have the best price that I've come across. I'll usually get 6 – 8 bottles at a time. Good luck.
Have a great day!
Nancy