Hi all you fabulous fellow foodies,
In tune with the New Year and all the resolutions swirling about in peoples minds and intention towards their healthiest, best selves in 2019, here are some personal top 5 most loved recipes in each Sweet. Raw. Free. category!
Note: Click the name of any recipe to be taken to its corresponding recipe page!
Continue reading “Throwback: Top 5 Recipes in every category.”
We live in a culture of FOMO. Frequently cramming schedules to overflowing, whether said appointments truly nourish and fulfill us or not, because busyness feels important. Being busy can lend one a sense of feeling worthy.
On a slightly separate though similar thought, rarely is one ever truly alone. Our lives are those in which everywhere and anywhere we go, we are continually surrounded by others. At home, with our family, roommates, friends, or romantic partner. On the bus or train, crowded by people. At work, a continued clustering of others, ever around us. Potentially spending a significant portion of our day on the phone, or communicating and navigating interactions with others in all manner of other modes (whether email, social media, texting, etc). The majority of our time is spent in communication with and around other people.
Anywhere we might go, even if deciding to enjoy such on our own (without bringing along a companion), is still overflowing with others. Whether the library, a restaurant or café, out on a walk, to the park or gym, there will be a plethora of other people abound.
For a significant number of people throughout our culture, aloneness is associated with being a “loser.” As though if one chooses their own company, it must be because there is simply no alternative. That this could never possibly be a preferable choice if one had a truly fulfilled and awesome life. As if ever being surrounded by others is the only ideal, normal, and best way of being. Many people feel depressed at such a thought (as spending time with oneself), distressed, or even afraid to be alone with themselves. As though this indicates a deficit or lacking in us somehow.
In tune with the healthier, “new” you for 2019, here are some of the hottest health reads on which you can count on with leading you towards your healthiest, most glowing, feel awesome self!
There has been significant discussion of shifting knowledge and new research coming to light about what are truly healthful foods for us to be consuming, versus what are more harmful items to be eating. We hear it all, especially certain contradictory messages, from meat as being terrible for our hearts, to then our being encouraged to consume such in abundance. What might be the truth? How can we decipher what is good for us or not? This can be a tough thing to parse out, as the topic of nutrition is such a wide ranging and ever expanding one, with new research coming to light almost weekly on such. For assistance with understanding nutrition, this can be a great introductory read: “Hungry for Change: Ditch the Diets, Conquer the Cravings, and Eat your way to Lifelong Health” by James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch.
With the ever increasing rise of digital technology, as well as administrative and desk jobs having become a primary job type, sitting has become the most common posture in the workplace and the one we tend to adapt for most of our day (studies show most desk workers spend an average of 10 hours per day sitting).
What is so bad about this for our health?
It turns out, a lot.
The human body and skeleton isn’t designed to be sitting, immobile, inactive, and hunched over all day. Its actually designed to stand, move, run, walk, bend, sprint, stretch, essentially to be in action the majority of the time.
The way we have developed in terms of daily use of our bodies (or, not) is in stark contrast to both our optimal health and the ways our bodies are meant to function and move.
Dear Sweet. Raw. Free. Readers, Fellow Foodies, Bakers and Chefs,
I am excited to share with you an expanding of the content on which I will focus here on Sweet. Raw. Free.
Alongside the usual posting of recipes (all of which will continue to fall under one, if not more, of the following: gluten/grain free, sugar free, lactose free, or raw), I will begin posting articles in relation to other realms of health (such as, nutrition, sleep, physical activity, emotional and social health, relational health, and more).
Recipes will be interspersed with articles of this nature, adding to the overall fullness of my offering a blog in favor of the encouragement toward leading your healthiest (and happiest) life.
In the meantime I would love to offer, in the mood of healthier eating and New Years resolutions, a round-up of my favorite recipes for your perusing and sampling pleasure:
Who doesnt love the whipped, light-as-air, though decadent and rich taste of chocolate mousse? Non-chocolate lovers aside, this tends to be a universal crowd pleaser. To me, chocolate mousse is romantic nights in. Its sexy and sensual. Wintery nights holed up by the fire. An extravagant ending to your meal, simple in appearance, though one that wows in taste. Behold, my version of chocolate mousse, though with no added refined sugar.
Super easy to make, tasting indulgent and delicious, though with something like half the usual amount of sugar in traditional chocolate mousse recipes. A sweet treat worth getting psyched about, to be sure.
Happy New Year with this succulent sweet! Chocolate cheesecake continues to rein over all the desserts I have sampled, making it a stedfast favorite. I dont eat it often, for the caloric and sugar bomb it is, but man oh man, is this a tasty treat and one that when I do indulge, I revel over.
This particular version, while not sugar free, is considerably lower in sugar than usual cheesecake versions. Though there is already sugar in the Oreos and bittersweet chocolate, there is no further added sugar in the cake (which most recipes do). Though the crust contains wheat, you can easily make it without.
If you would like an equally enticing though gluten/grain free dessert, eliminate the crust. I promise, it will be just as scrumptious without.
Enjoy this decadent, sinfully sweet dessert, without so much guilt.
Hi all! Happy Holidays! Just in time for New Years and all those health-related resolutions…
For a slightly different posting, I am going to offer a review of an excellent, health-oriented book I read recently. “Wheat Belly: lose the wheat, lose the weight, and find your path back to health” by Dr. William Davis.
With the arrival of the new year and everyone vowing to overhaul their diet and health, this article seemed an ideal topic.
A book on my perpetually growing, never-ending, “to read” list for years that I just now got around to reading. And wow, was this an eye-opening, sobering read indeed.
I used to tout the belief that, while bread wasn’t great for you, it was sugar that was the ultimate evil. Sugar is horrible for your health, that truth still holds, but on reading this, I learned that wheat is the food to avoid at all costs. At least, if you wish to remain disease free, age well, not gain tons of weight over the years (and no, exercise will not keep wheat related weight gain off), nor have neurological issues, diabetes, or heart disease.
I was absolutely flabbergasted to read just how awful wheat is for both our physical and mental well being. It was a bit depressing (because who doesn’t love pasta?), though a mind-blowing, and thus, incredibly important read to say the least.
And further, wheat isn’t one of those things you can just “enjoy in moderation.” Wheat is a food that, anytime even a bit of it enters your system, it wreaks havoc and sets in motion all the damage I will now describe below.
Love recipes you’ve seen or sampled on Sweet. Raw. Free? Are you an impassioned foodie at heart? A health aficionado? Motivated and inspired toward eating and living a healthier life, though not wanting to skimp or sacrifice on taste?
Then the “Sweet. Raw. Free. Cookbook” is the thing for you.
Chock full of eye-catching, vivid photographs, coupled with easy to make, top-notch-in taste recipes, all of which fall under at least one (if not more) of the tiers of gluten/grain free, lactose-free, sugar-free, or raw, this is a lifestyle changing cookbook worth having at home.
The perfect gift for a family member, friend, romantic partner, or colleague who loves food, as well as enjoys topics related to healthier eating. It’s also an ideal item to have on the shelf in your own kitchen at the ready. Whether you are one of those unique types who loves actually reading cookbooks (in which case, we are kindred spirits), or is just looking to shake things up in terms of your weekly menu, all while whipping up food that is scrumptious, though simultaneously great for your health, “Sweet. Raw. Free.” has you covered.
See below for a sneak peak of some of the recipes within…
There are several versions available to suit your preference. A softcover print book, a hardcover version (with or without a dust jacket), as well as an E-Book- which is perfectly portable and thus, can be taken with you easily anywhere.
Here is the link just below for how to get your own copy (you can also find the book by going to Blurb.com and in the top right hand corner, within the search bar, typing “sweet raw free”):
If for some reason, the link above didn’t work, here you go:
Preview or purchase Sweet. Raw. Free. on Blurb.com here.
Have a blast cooking and baking up a plethora of decadent, delectable, healthful, and easy to make dishes, many of which are lovely to look at, and even better to eat.
With warmest regards, gratitude, and wishes,
your fellow foodie,
Brooke
Oreo Pie, coupled with Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Chocolate Cake (so maybe its more of a menage-a-trois) are, in my book, three of the most marvelous and mouthwatering desserts out there. All three are classics. Easy to make. Decadent and satisfying. Out of this world awesome, in terms of their taste.
Behold, my healthy-ish (as in, slightly better for you than the usual) Oreo Pie. However, there is absolutely no difference in taste between this one and the traditional recipe. While it’s of course, loaded with dairy, this one is way lower in sugar than typical versions and can be gluten-free if you choose “gluten-free” chocolate sandwich cookies.
Sugar-free, raw, gluten-free or lactose-free recipes. 