I just ordered a Vitamix

I really need to try sprouts and spouting in general. Have you sprouted lentils?
We really are fortunate to live here...I sometimes take it for granted. The older I get and the better my diet, the more grateful I become.
 
Kathryn, what is Chia gel used for and where would I find it? Is it first in seed form? The same Chia seeds found on a Chia pet?...deb
 
Babindy, yes Los Gatos is really nice and a bit too la-di-da for me. My DH left there after high school to pursue a degree in music a Fresno State and never left. His parents now live in The Villages in San Jose and kick themselves for selling their home in Los Gatos. :(

I have lived in Clovis (near Fresno) all of my life. We are sure lucky here in CA to enjooy the bounty of fruits and veggies. Just today I noticed that several street side strawberry stands were open! I used to belong to a CSA a couple of years ago before dabbling in raw food.

I might go shopping for my first thai young coconut . Hope I don't chop off my finger.
 
Chia seeds

Hi,

Chia seeds are the same type as used on the chia pets.

http://www.buychiaseed.com
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=chia+seeds

I buy them from both sources Buy Chia Seeds and Mountain Rose Herbals.
I have a vita mix and use these seeds in green drinks all the time. Sometimes I make a gel with them first and add that to the vitamix and sometimes I just add the dry seeds.
I haven't srouted them yet, they do form a gel so that can cause sprouting problems for me. I may try mixing a small percentage of chia seeds with other seeds and try sprouting that way. Like I do with broccoli seeds.

Cindy

dmd said:
Kathryn, what is Chia gel used for and where would I find it? Is it first in seed form? The same Chia seeds found on a Chia pet?...deb
Click to expand...
 
dmd said:
So, my brother called me today (lives in Seattle) and said he watched a 7 part interview with a Dr. Douglas Graham ( raw food author) on Youtube. He said it was VERY interesting. Thought I'd watch tonight. Anyone here know of him?
Click to expand...

I might be confusing him with another raw food guru, but isn't he the one who advocates 80% fruit? (If not, then I am confusing him with someone else). His theories are rather controversial (that much fruit sugar would not be good for everyone).


Two new green drinks I recommend (two more of my inventions!):

Yesterday's workout recovery drink:
1/2 granny smith apple
2 stalks celery (chop to avoid long stringy fibers)
1 sm. frozen banana
1 cup coconut water

This was really yummy, in no need of tweaking, and very pretty (a light green).

Today's morning/lunch drink:
3 leaves lacinato kale (I picked up three kinds of kale at a co-op I visited)
2+ leaves romain (I used the inner leaves, so they are smaller, but about equivalent to a bit over 2 large leaves)
3 stalks chopped celery
1/2 granny smith apple
1 1/2 frozen banana
2 Tbsp. chia gel
1 1/2 cups lemon water (water with lemon squeezed in---I had some of the rest of it before making the green drink)

Again, yummy! A BRIGHT medium-green color, a bit lighter than tulip leaves.


I took part of yesterday's green drink to the French Table with me (a weekly meeting of campus French speakers) in a thermos (so the green wasn't that obvious) and it immediately became the center of attention. I offered a taste to a couple people, but they refused. They seemed to find it very odd in general!
 
dmd said:
Kathryn, what is Chia gel used for and where would I find it? Is it first in seed form? The same Chia seeds found on a Chia pet?...deb
Click to expand...

Chia seed is a highly nutritious seed, with many of the same nutrients as flax, but even better. www.anutra.com as some info, but you can find a lot online elsewhere as well.

You can basicallly use them anywhere you'd use flax. They have a very neutral but slightly nutty flavor.

The gel is made by soaking the seeds in 7-8 times their weight in water. If forms a mucilagenous (sp?) gel. (You can use them without soaking, but you have to make sure to drink enough water with them because they can otherwise absorb other fluids in your intestines and cause dehydration.

Yes, they are the same seeds as used on the chia pet (the gelling quality makes the soaked seed gel stick to the pottery), but DON'T use the chia gel seeds to eat (they have been treated to repel pests, and are NOT edible).

Many online raw-food stores sell them, like http://www.therawfoodworld.com/product_info.php?products_id=1001333 (best prices I've seen so far) or http://www.sunorganicfarm.com/Merch...t_Code=S251&Category_Code=SEE&Product_Count=6 (if you pick some up from Sun Organic Farms, try their dried blueberries as well, the are FABULOUS! They also offer whole, sproutable oats and oat groats--for soaking and making 'oatmeal' cereal--and other sproutables).
 
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This was interesting on the chia. I've never tried it. I've seen it at WF, just never bought it. Thanks for all the info.

kathryn - no takers huh? lol. My sister's response to just me telling her what is in my smoothie? ... "ugh, gack barf" ROFL. I usually only get in one smoothie per day. Do you usually have 2 or more? Yours look really good. Are you liking the coconut water?

dmd - I have sprouted lentils. They sprout nicely. I just don't care for the taste so much. sproutpeople has some nice mixes, but I think you can sprout most lentils you find if they are decent quality. I bought some strawberries from TJ's yesterday. Almost no taste :( As for Newman's - I've found very few things that don't taste good with it. Well, not my smoothie :p

I'm not familiar with Dr. Graham. I have (like kathryn) seen postings about the 80% (also 90-10) fruit on some of the raw boards. Personally I'm not a believer. I also think that much fruit is not for me. My family has a history of diabetes so I'm very carb-shy.

I just realized I forgot to start my wild rice soaking. I love this stuff. Downside is it takes about 3 days to get it 'done'. My favorite recipe for this is: soaked wild rice, fresh Italian parsley, rough chopped zucchini, tomatoes, whatever other veggies I have that will mix well, pepper, sea salt and lemon juice. Much more veggies than rice in my version. It lasts for a couple of days. I took it to a non-raw brunch and got raves.

Smoothie today was pretty boring but tart :p
leafy part of 1 large stalk curly kale
about 2 c chopped napa cabbage
4 small romaine leaves
handful parsley leaves
2c baby spinach
whole lemon w/o rind
4 kumquats and part of mandarinquat
2 fresh strawberries
1 small fresh pineapple spear
scant 1/8 c frozen blueberries
2 T hemp protein powder
1 t spirulina
8oz 1/2 and 1/2 water and coconut water
1/2 persian cucumber
stevia

Mine are the light green kathryn mentions... UNTIL I add the spirulina. Then it becomes a darker green.
 
kathryn said:
I might be confusing him with another raw food guru, but isn't he the one who advocates 80% fruit? (If not, then I am confusing him with someone else). His theories are rather controversial (that much fruit sugar would not be good for everyone).


Two new green drinks I recommend (two more of my inventions!):

Yesterday's workout recovery drink:
1/2 granny smith apple
2 stalks celery (chop to avoid long stringy fibers)
1 sm. frozen banana
1 cup coconut water

This was really yummy, in no need of tweaking, and very pretty (a light green).

Today's morning/lunch drink:
3 leaves lacinato kale (I picked up three kinds of kale at a co-op I visited)
2+ leaves romain (I used the inner leaves, so they are smaller, but about equivalent to a bit over 2 large leaves)
3 stalks chopped celery
1/2 granny smith apple
1 1/2 frozen banana
2 Tbsp. chia gel
1 1/2 cups lemon water (water with lemon squeezed in---I had some of the rest of it before making the green drink)

Again, yummy! A BRIGHT medium-green color, a bit lighter than tulip leaves.


I took part of yesterday's green drink to the French Table with me (a weekly meeting of campus French speakers) in a thermos (so the green wasn't that obvious) and it immediately became the center of attention. I offered a taste to a couple people, but they refused. They seemed to find it very odd in general!
Click to expand...
Funny, the response to your GS...I take mine to work in a theroms and one of myco-workers tasted and fell in love with it! She has taken to bringing me a container of organic spinich, apples and mango's every week so I'll make some for us. She cannot at this time afford a nice blender. She reports that she feels nourished, light and that she is not as constipated on these days.
 
Chia seeds here I come! I am learning allot around here...So kewl. :)

kathryn said:
Chia seed is a highly nutritious seed, with many of the same nutrients as flax, but even better. www.anutra.com as some info, but you can find a lot online elsewhere as well.

You can basicallly use them anywhere you'd use flax. They have a very neutral but slightly nutty flavor.

The gel is made by soaking the seeds in 7-8 times their weight in water. If forms a mucilagenous (sp?) gel. (You can use them without soaking, but you have to make sure to drink enough water with them because they can otherwise absorb other fluids in your intestines and cause dehydration.

Yes, they are the same seeds as used on the chia pet (the gelling quality makes the soaked seed gel stick to the pottery), but DON'T use the chia gel seeds to eat (they have been treated to repel pests, and are NOT edible).

Many online raw-food stores sell them, like http://www.therawfoodworld.com/product_info.php?products_id=1001333 (best prices I've seen so far) or http://www.sunorganicfarm.com/Merch...t_Code=S251&Category_Code=SEE&Product_Count=6 (if you pick some up from Sun Organic Farms, try their dried blueberries as well, the are FABULOUS! They also offer whole, sproutable oats and oat groats--for soaking and making 'oatmeal' cereal--and other sproutables).
Click to expand...

Kathryn! Your smoothies are delightful! Thanks for the infor on Chia seeds...Gosh, who knew? What is your take on coconut oil? Also, is there and inexpensive way to buy coconut water?
 
Hi Cindy! Funny, I ordered 1 gal of coconut oil last year from Mountainroseherbs and I am almost out...use it for night cream and my kids both love it on Ezekiel brand raisin bread instead of margarine.

I guess, I could reorder my oil and some chia seeds too:) Thanks for chirping in!
 
Bindy! I MUST have the recipe and soaking instructions for the wild rice salad..PULEEZE? My DH loves wild rice! Best kind of wild rice to use?

Yep, that Dr. Graham is the author of 80-10-10 diet...80% fruit. Dunno, sounds kind of boring. I love my greens. I have diabetes on both sides of my family, heart disease, cancers ( Dad passed from multiple myoloma :(). So it behooves me to eat in a preventative manner. Trying my best to make things whole and fresh taste yummy has been my mantra. So far so good. My family is on board. My DH and 16yr. old son have beef/chicken once a week and DH is responsible for handling and cooking. I take charge of all sides and smoothies, a fair deal if you ask me. My college age daughter is coming home this week for spring break and asked for two things: Green smoothie cleanse week plus a week with my new Chalene Extreme workouts. She really wants her own vitamix or kick-butt blender for her 21st birthday. We'll see:).
I just want to hang in your kitchen Bindy..sounds like a happy place! ~deb
 
dmd said:
Bindy! I MUST have the recipe and soaking instructions for the wild rice salad..PULEEZE? My DH loves wild rice! Best kind of wild rice to use?

I just want to hang in your kitchen Bindy..sounds like a happy place! ~deb
Click to expand...

lol. DS does NOT hang out here. :p

To do wild rice I rinse it very well first. Then soak it for 8-12 hours in a good amount of water. Throw out the water, soak it for another 24 hours. Throw out the water. You should see some splitting. Let sit for 8-12 hours, rinse, sit for 8-12 hours, etc. Rinse VERY VERY well each time. After about 3 days you will find that it is nice and chewy.

I've used bowls and strainers for the soak/sit cycles. I've also used sprouters and mason jars. Whatever you have should work. I like to mix/toss mine when I pass it. Otherwise it's very low maintenance ;) When 'done' toss it with the other stuff and eat. For me lemon juice is the key with a touch of salt. You could probably use it in any wild rice salad/pilaf recipe. My inspiration recipe is here http://goneraw.com/node/15720 (Looking at it again I see I forgot to mention the onion.)

Enjoy!

forgot to mention: I just buy the bulk wild rice at WF. I suspect just about anything will work. Don't expect tails, I don't get them. Just nice chewy rice.
 
janie1234 said:
Holy moly that thing is expensive! Can't all these super cool recipes work in a regular cuisnart blender?
Click to expand...

I've not found any blender personally that does what the VitaMix does. I suspect the Blendtec is comparable but it's just as expensive I think. Basically the VitaMix pulverizes and blends just about anything wet with the standard blade. If you want super blended and super smooth, this is the tool. I like to watch them in action on Iron Chef :cool:

Perhaps others have different experiences?
 
Hey Babindy~Thanks so much for the recipe and origanl from the site.

Two questions:1) Do I soak in the fridge or room temp covered or uncovered? 2) How about the cumin..yes or no?

Again...thank you!
 
dmd said:
Hey Babindy~Thanks so much for the recipe and origanl from the site.

Two questions:1) Do I soak in the fridge or room temp covered or uncovered? 2) How about the cumin..yes or no?

Again...thank you!
Click to expand...

I do it at room temp, uncovered usually. But you could probably use some kind of screen (like what comes with a sprouter) if you like. Cumin depends. I use a touch from time to time. I'm not a big fan of it so I rarely use a lot. Hope you enjoy it :D
 
My DH complains that cumin smells like, um, BO! Especially when i cook it in foods...whatever. I can't wait to try the recipe. By the way, the GoneRaw.com is neat website. Saw a recipe for thai kelp noodle dish. I have kelp noodles in my fridge. Gonna give that one a try too:). Thanks again~deb
 
Work is interfering with my forum time!!

I could spend an hour on this thread alone! I've been hearing about chia seeds and wanting to know more and voila!

*sighs* But, I better work while I'm at work, so that I can continue to have work to do! Scary times.

Deb, I can't find a way to reply to picture comments but I wanted to thank you very much for your very kind words! :D
 
Suzanne, You are most welcome! Hope you find the right dress:). I personally love the purpelly, eggplanty rich color on you...just my .02. ;)

I agree, this is a fun little thread and that Kathryn is a database on legs. Take care~deb
 
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