Lasagna

Just put this lasagna together the other day. It's very rich so a nice piece on a bed of greens is amazing!

It's always a favorite!!

Ricotta
1 cup raw pine nuts
1 cup raw cashews
1 lemon juiced
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
6 tbsp water

Blend until smooth

Tomato Sauce
3 cups roma tomatoes, soaked
1 1/2 cups raisins

3 cloves garlic

1lemon juiced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Blend

Pesto
2 cup basil
2 tbsp pine nuts
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt

Blend
Toss together and let sit
3 medium zucchini
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp thyme
pinch of salt
Slice zucchini long ways and soak in marinate while preparing other sauces

Spinach leaves
1 red bell pepper, diced small

Blend pasta sauce, nut cheese, pesto and continue to layer with zucchini, spinach leaves, and red bell pepper. Top how you want.

Your ready to eat your lasagna!!

Spinach Green Smoothie

How to make healthy smoothies

Green Smoothie Recipes are a great way to get many nutrients in each day!

We start our day with a green smoothie for the whole family. My 16 year old son asks me if he thinks I'm forgetting to make their smoothies. I know my family is getting their greens and my once non salad eater daughter loves her green smoothies. She has grown to like her salads but there was a time she didn't want to eat her salad and if you can't get your children to drink a green smoothie start with more fruit and blueberries disguise the greens. Then gradually add more greens until they don't question the green look. You want to work up 60% greens and 40% fruit. My children both get a spoon to scrape out every last drop!

I start with any of the following such as apples, pineapple, banana, orange, spinach, sprouts, dandelion greens, kale, chard, flax seeds, hemp seeds, frozen blueberries, and the list goes on. I add a combo of fruits, greens and seeds with enough water to blend into a nice green smoothie. Rotate the types of greens and fruits you use for a variety of nutrients. Green smoothies have significant amounts of protein, calcium, folate, dietary fiber, typtophan, potassium, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, magnesium, potassium, and trytophan. Green smoothies are loaded with chlorophyll rich, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients and live enzymes.

One huge reason my son likes green smoothies is it clears up his complexion within days of drinking them.

Green smoothies are a great way to get in our greens. Remember there is no cholesterol, saturated fat, hydrogenated oils, MSG, GMOs, added hormones, antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, artificial colors, or preservatives.

Green smoothies are a healthy fast food!

Which Dehydrator?

I get the question a lot about which dehydrator do I think is the best and use. Number one for me is the fan in the back of the unit instead of being on the bottom. I have had 10 trays of tomatoes mold with a fan on the bottom of the unit. Usually with a fan motor on the bottom you are using a stackable unit. With a stackable and preparing raw food a stackable would work but it would limited your recipes you make. With the dehydrators that have your trays slide in and out of the unit you can omit every other tray and easily put in a 13 x 9 casserole or bowls of soup just anything you might want warmed up. The stainless steel shelves are strong enough to hold a 13 x 9 raw apple crisp that I just made for my last raw food class/potluck this month.

The D-5 from Home Food Processing is stainless steel so no cracking plastic and it's easy to clean up. I know that plastic has become a issues in the news for drinking out of plastic and seems dehydrating might raise some questions for some people. Made with no BPA's which is nice.

It's quiet.

The D-5 dehydrator has a timer that I love. I have found in using it that I am always up at night making something and I might not want it to dry that long so I can set the time to avoid over drying. Same thing if I won't be home during the day.

The D-5 unit has the 5 trays which still gives you a lot of room to make a whole batch of crackers and most recipes just fine.

Lets talk price:

The D-5 is a reasonable price compared to other dehydrators and to know that I won't have the plastic cracking. It's a investment worth a little more for the quality.

• 800 watt/110V heating Element
• 304 Series, 22 ga Stainless Steel construction- Food grade, Won't rust!
• Five 16 1/4" x 14 1/2" with 3/8" holes
• Outside Dimensions: 18 3/4" D x 16 1/2" W x 9" H
• Temperature Range 90˚ - 150˚ F
• Color coded temperature control

I wouldn't have a dehydrator that didn't have a temperature control because I want to make sure that the enzymes in my raw food are not destroyed.

Did I mention it dehydrates beautiful and this dehydrator is like a cadillac! If you have not seen Home Food Processing's website you can go here to see their dehydrators

http://www.home-food-processing.com/dehydrators.aspx

Trekking Poles

If you have never used trekking poles please give them a try. Trekking poles range from $20 to $250. There are many benefits that I noticed. The very first thing I noticed was that my arms really got a workout and it made it much easier on my IT-band going downhill. I developed a IT-band issue on my left knee going downhill always and trekking poles have given tremendous support to my knees going down hill. You will be amazed how much faster you can climb uphill with a little help from your arms.

You'll also notice you have more stability and balance getting around slippery logs, rocks and stream crossings. Some people ask one pole or two?? I prefer two. It just evens out your body and balance. Here you can see we were hiking in Glacier National Park. All I can say is what a difference and I don't leave home without my trekking poles!!

RAW Apple Crisp

If you have never tried a raw apple pie or crisp make it number one on your list. All I could think of when I thought of a raw apple pie was crunchy. This recipe I will make over and over. It's a keeper for sure!!

This apple crisp is amazing!!

Filling

5 fuji apples, slice into very thin pieces and toss with 3 tablespoons lemon juice

In a food processor blend:

1 apple

20 dates

8 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix into apples.

Topping

In a food processor blend:

1 cup pecans

20 dates

8 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp cinnamon

pinch of salt

Arrange in a 13x9 casserole dish.

Place in dehydrator @ 110 for 4 hours or until warm.