Good Girl Gone Raw

My mom, sister and youngest brother all recently adopted a raw vegan diet (except for my bro, who still eats some ice cream and smoked fish occasionally. Only the essentials! :) They look so great -- especially my mom (hello glow!) -- I'm doing a 30 day raw fest. There's so many creative "raw people" out there now, I've had such a fun, informative time reading their books and trying new recipes. I'm on day 2 of complete raw-ness. My favorite parts are the green smoothies and decadent desserts--who knew, right? If you're new to green smoothies, try using spinach. The flavor is virtually non-existent in the finished product. I like other greens in the mix too, like kale. For making up your own, try 60% fruit to 40% greens to start with...and I think adding a "creamy" fruit, like bananas and/or mangoes, is essential for best flavor. Try it, you'll like it!

Green Smoothie

several handfuls of spinach
1 fozen banana
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 1/2 cup frozen papaya chunks
Agave, maple syrup, or stevia extract to taste

liquid to blend (I like using water and homemade almond milk)

2 T ground flax seed, if desired

Blend, peeps.

Another yummy thing from today:

Pink Lady and Pineapple Salad

You can use any crisp apple, but Pink Lady apples are very special in this. I love their sweet/tart, almost rhubarb-y flavor.

2 apples, small dice

2 cups pineapple, small dice

2 T minced mint

2 T minced cilantro

one or two green onions, minced

1 jalapeno, ribs and seeds removed, and minced

pinch salt

juice (and zest, if they're organic) of two limes

Toss everything together in a glass or ceramic bowl. Chill for 1 hr before serving.