Things I Love: Summer Soups

I love soups. In the winter I really enjoy making soups, it is one of my favorite things to do on a cold Sunday. Chilled summer soups are also a favorite of mine. When I was at the gym the other day, I started craving a chilled cucumber soup. I used some ideas from several recipes to concoct my own hybrid version. Mots recipes I found used Greek Yogurt, I ended up using half an avocado to make my soup raw and vegan have a creamy consistently. I will be making this often during the hot summer.

In the mix: one peeled and chopped English cucumber, 1 celery stock chopped, 1/2 avocado, approximately just less then 1/4 cup chopped red onion, one garlic clove, small handful of cilantro, one seeded and de-veined jalapeno, lemon juice and Himalayan salt to taste. All blended until smooth.
I also made some fresh salsa to stir into my soup. One tomato, one garlic clove, 1/4 cup red onion, cilantro and half a jalapeno, lemon juice and Himalayan salt to taste all thrown in my food processor.

Finished soup:

Topped with salsa and chopped cilantro.

I always feel so clean after eating things like this!

Look of the Day: The Good Wife

One of my favorite things about being a wife is doing little things that my make my Husband's day. Yesterday I roasted him a chicken because he really wanted more turkey but Trader Joe's was out of turkey, so I settled for chicken. Today I decided to utilize the leftovers and make him his Mom's Enchilada recipe as a special surprise. I'm not sure who's day it made, me making him happy or him having TONS of Enchilada leftovers.

Here is Sheila's Enchilada Recipe. Click to enlarge





I had enchil-RAW-das.
And I was also not the only blogger that made separate enchilada's for her husband and herself tonight!
In the mix: Romaine "tortilla's", tahini mixed with cilantro, coconut meat, avocado, tomato, sprouts, cumin, chili powder and the ever present hot sauce. I need to research raw hot sauce.
And every girl needs a Jessie Steele Apron while cooking! It's the perfect gift, that is how I received mine!. And it's a great thing to wear when serving Holiday dinners or attending cookie baking parties. We can discuss my apron collection another time.....
Off to perfect my power point! Here's to wishing me good sleeping thoughts tonight!

Look of the Day: Raw Reworking

I whittled away at my finishing touches today and I made a lot of progression. I am so lucky that my partner is a English Major, she did some AMAZING editing for me! I need to get her flowers or something to thank her. I took a break from my work for a quick and healthy lunch with my best friend Vanessa. We recently stumbled across a Raw Food Resturaunt, Planet Raw tucked away in a random shopping center and were very excited to check it out. Plus I needed some BRAIN food to fuel me, and it sure did the trick!

The Menu was amazing, we had a hard time picking our meal but everything we did choose was amazing! We plan on going back next week to try all new things. It was fun going with V because she is new to Raw foods and was ohhing and ahhing over everything, and shocked that NOTHING was cooked!

The amazing menu, filled with fresh, raw and organic choices.

We started our meal with Jalapeno Poppers. Not your average happy hour fare, these were fresh and stuffed with the creamiest cashew "cheese" and the Guac was out of this world! I had 2 pieces, half my flax chip and all of my guac.


We then split the Thai Soup, which was SOO good. It had some sort mushrooms in it that were very flavorful.
We took a break from food for some "blood". I need to figure how to make this at home on with my juicer! We sucked this down and V couldn't believe there was no added sugar.

We were pretty full by this point but we each tried one of the "Toasted Eel Sushi"rolls. It tasted like REAL sushi!! Again, it was amazing! We each took 3 rolls home.
And because I thought it was pertinent that Vanessa try a Raw dessert we ordered one to go (which I just enjoyed tonight). It was a Chocolate mousse atop a chocolate "cookie". In other words, whipped avocado and cashews with some agave and cacao. WOW! We got our $6 worth on that dish for sure. THANK YOU PLanet RAW! We plan to go back next week, with our containers in hand to be refilled!


Dinner was an (almost) Raw inspired meal. Cucumber slices, avacado, carrot sprigs and a dollap of Sriracha (the non raw element) and a sprinkle of Cayenne. YUM! Then I quickly polished off my chocolate mousse.



I was able to feel satisfied and cleanse today. Not much in the fashion department today, too focused on work. I just re-rocked a version of this outfit, this cardi and boots sure are making the rounds!

Monday Morning Detox

After the long Holiday weekend and lots of indulging I decided it was time for a mini detox. I will be eating lots of raw vegetables and fruits today and hitting up the gym to insure I shed some toxins. This morning I started off the day with some nice and healthy liquids. Here are my morning sips, no Holiday Starbucks Brews here.
I started my morning by sipping on young Thai coconut milk.
When my stomach started rumbling I juiced up a meal in a glass. In the mix: Spinach, Romaine, Cucumber, Carrot and an Orange. I also threw in the meat from my Coconut.
Sure is mighty filling! It kind of makes me a bit nauseous when I pound it but I feel so much better after drinking it.
Now I plugging away at tying up all the last mintue strings on my Thesis and research project while sipping on some hot Kombucha Green Tea.