Grandma's House

Hello RawPeeps/FoodFans/HappyEaters :::

It all started out with an innocent trip to Grandma's house.

I was on day three of a thirty day 100% raw food extravaganza.
And then lil silly me decides to go visit Grandma's house.

What are grandmas famous for???

Home cooked meals. Comfort foods. And cookies. Lord oh lord...
Chocolate chip cookies.

I have been about 90% raw over the past two months. What has
consumed my 10% non-raw, might you ask?

Cookies.

I have zero willpower when it comes to cookies. Especially
chocolate chip cookies.

What, might you ask, does Grandma keep in her freezer, just for
hungry-trying-to-be-100%-raw-grand-daughters? Chocolate chip
cookies.

Have you ever had a chocolate chip cookie frozen? A doughy,
huge, grandma-style extra chocolate chips cookie?

If I could eat one food every day for the rest of my life and it
have no negative effects on the size of my derriere, it would be
chocolate chip cookies.

So, magically, I went back to my old ways at Grandma's house.
Sure, I still had some salads. Even my raw savory veggie stews a
couple of times. I even had smoothies for breakfast. But
somewhere between post lunch and pre dinner, I would secretly
sneak my way into the kitchen for more cookies.

After 5 days of delicious cookie crumbles in the mouth, I have
extracted my self from Grandma's house. It was like a bad
episode of
TaraInTheWillieWonkaChocolateFactoryTurnedGrandma'sHouse.
And now I'm out. And back to my original program.

Thanks for letting me be honest. I figured this was the only way.

And yes, I am human and humans sometimes say they're going
to do one thing for 30 days and then don't.

And now I have the scale (now 3 lbs in 5 days heavier) to point and laugh
and mock me for being so naughty.

I, Tara Cheney, am a sinner.

But I have also forgiven myself. Because someone needs to and
that someone might as well be me.

And now, I shall go back to my salad.

Amen.

Day 2 of 30 of Tara's 100% Low Fat Raw Vegan Par-tay

It's day 2 of my excellent adventure. Today, I describe what I eat in a day on the 80-10-10 diet and show some of the tools I use. Bon apetit!

Love,

TBC

Day 1 of 30 of Tara's 100% Low Fat Raw Vegan Lifestyle

I am ready to go 100% on my low fat raw vegan diet and have decided to post my progress for all the world to see. How's that for accountability?!?

Here's Day One:

Today's lunch with a super yummy, home-made, fruit-based, no oil/sugar/vinegar dressing:

Stay tuned for more!

<3,

TBC

Back in the 208!

So it's been a while... And I'm going to make this short and sweet (literally sweet, with a yummy low fat raw vegan dessert recipe!).

1. I went to Norway, had a fabulous time. Okay, more than fabulous time. And then I came home.

2. So, I'm back in the beautiful beautiful 208 aka Boise, Idaho. And I must say that there's no place like home. Before I began my travels, I was on a "Boise is a Bubble" and "I'm ditching this town!" mentality. I never appreciated the beauty of having friends and family 10 minutes (or the next room) away. Or the simplicity of being able to sit with a friend that you've known for years and speak the same first language with each other. I am so.very.thankful for seeing the world. And I am extra.so.very.thankful that the world has shown me the beauty of home.

3. While in Norway, I became a student of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In March of 2012, I will be a certified holistic health counselor. Just call me "Health Coach" for short. My focus is (surprise!) raw vegan foods!!! I have started my own company: Rawtara and already have three health coaching clients!

And now for the good stuff... I held a raw foods potluck at mi casa on Saturday. Here are the results of this tasty event:

Tara's Cucumber Tomato Date Dill Sliders

Fred's Guacamole

Chris's Tomatoes with Crackers & Garlic from her garden!

Angela's Parsnips, Fruits, & Veggies

Tara's Smoothie Sampler Bar

Tara's Low Fat Raw Vegan Cherry Pie

The spread.

As you can see, raw foods are bright, tasty, and a snap to create!

And now for the grand sweet finale (as promised):

Tara's Low Fat Raw Vegan Cherry Pie

Super yummy & healthy... Easier to make and just as tasty as the real thing! Adapted from the low fat raw vegan Chef Megan Elizabeth (aka my idol!).

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups pitted chopped medjool dates

1/3 cup shredded raw coconut

2 cups frozen cherries (thawed)

4 to 6 extra cherries

Directions:

- Place 1 1/2 cups of chopped dates and only 1/4 cup of coconut in food processor.

- Mix until the dates and coconut are spread evenly throughout.

- Press into the bottom of a 6 to 8 inch wide bowl or pie pan, or into 4 to 6 molds from a cupcake pan, to make the piecrust.

- Blend the 2 cups of thawed cherries until creamy.

- Pour the filling into the crust.

- Freeze for 2-3 hours. Wrap with plastic wrap if freezing overnight.

- When the filling is hard, garnish with a few cherries and the left over coconut.

- Serves 4-6 people.

Thank you so very much for reading and stay tuned for more on the always changing adventures of TBC and Tara's Rawvolution.

With Love,

Tara