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She Says: Raw Cooking is Easy as Cake
I hit the substitute teacher jackpot today: afternoon assembly. It wasn’t even a safety assembly. No no, it was a laser light show for Black History Month. Try to picture MLK and Rosa Parks created by lasers and dancing to the music of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and,The Jonas Brothers (wait, what?).
Because I was working from 8 to 6 and planned to go to the gym after, I knew I needed good afternoon snacks. First, I had a new combination: plain yogurt + ricotta cheese + honey + muesli. As a ricotta lover, I thought this was awesome. It was a little sweet from the honey and dates in the muesli, a little tangy from the yogurt, thick from the ricotta and chewy from the muesli. Excellent snack. This was Organic Swiss Muesli I got from Wildtime Foods and was slightly sweet from the dates and crunchy from the walnuts and almonds. It was my first muesli and I am definitely a fan. It serves the same function as granola, but with less fat and sugar. 
When we get products to sample, we try to be honest and thorough in our reviews. Luckily, I’ve never gotten anything that I could not stand. I do, however, have to tell you that I tried the Cinnamon Nut, Divinely Organic and Vanilla Macadamia Nut granola samples from Wildtime Farms and I didn’t really like them. I was a little disappointed because the Aunt Maple’s Crunchy Granola and their Lowfat Plain Granola were really good. These flavors weren’t bad, but they had very little flavor or substance. I usually prefer my granola to be a little crisp and clumpy and this was very lose and almost crumb like. I am thinking of using the rest in baking, but I really wouldn’t eat it alone and I wouldn’t buy it myself.
Moving on to less awkward things, I also had a piece of the birthday cake I made yesterday *the front piece). Cake in a box and frosting in a tub are yummy. Not in a homemade cake way, but in a classic kind of way. I chose Yellow Cake w/ Chocolate Frosting – the best combo!
Obviously, this wasn’t the healthiest snack. I need to work on my self-restraint asap. At the gym, I was pretty tired so I just did a little elliptical and came home. A little is better than nothing, right?
Raw Sweet Corn and Cashew Chowder
When I got home I made a dinner suitable for my Raw Challenge: Raw Sweet Corn and Cashew Chowder. When Shannon sent me this recipe, I knew I needed to make it. I love corn! I love cashews! I love cilantro. I love soup!
Alright, anyone who thinks they cannot cook should really try a raw recipe. So far, they’ve been really simple and merely require assembly. This took about 15 minutes and produced a wonderous bowl of chilled soup. I followed the recipe, but also added cilantro to the soup mixture instead of just on top. It came out little chunky because I don’t have a blender, but it was good and very filling. I imagine this would be awesome in the summer with a nice salad (and crusty bread).
Totally Off Topic Question: Someone in my life is pregnant. What are your favorite baby names – boy and girl, please. It might be important to know the last name is one syllable.
I hate giving free products bad reviews….I always feel super guilty! I can’t believe your dinner tonight is raw! It looks so good! Hmmm baby names- let me think about it! My sister is preggers and she’d scream if I told anyone the name so I have to tell you any name but that one haha..
First things first: I love your blog!
Secondly: Yellow cake with chocolate frosting is the best combination ever. I am so totally with you! I’m glad you indulged a bit- even if just for all the yellow/chocolate lovers of the world:)
Oh wow, love it all. I actually have never tried museli before!
I’d probably just skip the cake and go straight for the tub o’ frosting!
As for names, Abigail is my favourite girl one, and Hayden for a boy.
Thanks for sharing the raw food recipes! Very intriguing.
My taste in names is pretty traditional. Veronica and Samuel top my list right now!
That soup looks so good! I’m going to try it out!
ooh, glad you tried and enjoyed
i am totally going to make it… hopefully sooner rather than later! i actually think that issue of food and wine had 6 or 7 of her raw recipes in that issue, and they’re online.
baby names? mmm, haven’t thought too much about that one!
Sounds like a sweet assembly! Was it weird to eat corn soup cold??
My favorites are Zoey or Zoe for a girl and Trevor for a boy!
Well… I like Fabiana and Funquita. Any takers? Haha, living it up like it’s 1995!
That soup looks delectable!
My fav boy name: Leo
My fav girl name: Isabelle
Yellow cake and chocolate frosting is an awesome combo. I’m still searching for the best recipe for both.
No need to be shy Heather..CONGRATS!!! haha…..joking. That assembly sounds fantastic, I would love to hear the Jo Bro’s role in Black History though.
Ain’t nothing wrong with a piece of cake as a snack – no need to feel guilty.
The soup sounds really good – without the cilantro
mixing yogurt with ricotta?? I got to try that! i’m a ricotta lover too! (now that I remember, i haven’t had it for a long time, thanks for reminding me!
)
that soup looks great!
Baby Names:
Emma
Taylor (boy or girl)
Jackson
Hannah
Well my baby cousins names are Jamison (girl) and Reid (boy) – I always thought they were adorable names! They call the girl Jami for short.
Also, I never thought to mix ricotta with yogurt! Now I must do this. What brand/type of ricotta do you use?
Dori: It was 1% fat in the store’s generic brand.
yellow cake with chocolate icing IS the best cake combo!!
I’m not too creative in the name department, but there’s a girl in one of my classes named “Porter” and I think it’s kind of cool…congrats to the future parents!
Fabulous eats!!
Hooray for the site working again!!
It’s fixed !!!!!!
That looks like a great idea for soup! That would be a delicious ingredient combo, raw or not.
And you’re right, sometimes cake from a box is just really good, in its own kind of way. Nom nom nom…
Laser light show of MLK and Rosa Parks? Wow… school has changed a bit.
Oh my goodness, laser light shows. Did you, uh, smell anything suspicious coming from the teachers’ lounge?
I’ve kind of been liking Genevieve recently… I don’t know if that’s such a “modern” name, per se, but it’s so pretty!
[...] when Mark came back from the studio last night he had some Raw Corn & Cashew Chowder. He loved it and commented on its miraculous creaminess, but raised a good point that is quite [...]
Oooh, interesting question. I’ve always loved the names Eleanor or Greta for a girl (and I plan on using one or the other, if I have a baby and it’s a girl), and I like solid male names like Joseph and William.
Heather – I was going to email you, but since I’m here… do you have a good cheesecake recipe? I’ve never made one – and need to do so for a party tomorrow night. I’m debating if I need to make it today or tomorrow… or when… Can you email me?
hmmmmm… for girl names???
I love the name Daniella, it will be what i am naming my child if its a girl.. (the boyfriend has no say in this one)- i also like the name Tegan.. its original!
for a boy? that is tough!!! i LOVE the new classic names like Trey, or Peyton.. i like Anthony.. its one of my fav boy names.. this is tough!
if we have a boy next go around we have to name the baby David (i get no say in this one.. thats my dads name and also the boys brothers name)
mmm that chowder looks good, too bad im allergic to cashews! my favorite girl name is madeline and my favorite boy name is neil. babies are so fun!
The chowder looks great!
i’m a teacher and we had that assembly too! it was hilarious!!
My favorite girls names are Kira (because I secretly wish my name was that instead of Kirsten) and Via (pronounced vee-a not vya) and boys name Xavier and Jackson
i want some cake!
and that chowder sounds yummy. but i bet it’d be even better heated, HAAA.
one of the moms at the nursery school where i worked last year named her new baby polly, and i thought that was so cute! and a little boy was atticus — loved that one, too!
That cake looks delicious! But I have to say, the corn and cashew chowder looks equally yummy. I love corn and cashews, too!
Favorite baby names:
Madison for a girl and Jack for a boy