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Newsletter August 2012
With the arrival of August, we're heading into what are ruefully known as 'the dog days of summer.' With most of the country sweltering, I thought this would be a great month to focus on staying cool with quick and easy raw food meals and snacks. And like all raw food recipes, they require no cooking whatsoever. You'll have it made in the shade with fresh ideas taken from my just-released book Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People Revised
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In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening
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 I loved August when I was a child because we were able to spend so much more time outdoors, especially the golden hours before nightfall. With the sun visible until almost 9pm and the temperatures more moderate than during the day, August evenings are the perfect time to dine outdoors, whether it's at a park, on the beach, or on the fire escape of your urban 'castle.' Appetizers are the easier of all. Cut up some vegetables, call them 'crudites,' (the French chef-y term for 'cut up vegetables'), and serve them with Mock Sour Cream and Chive Dip which features soaked cashews instead of dairy products. A cold soup (see the story on Cream of Cucumber Soup below) and a sandwich make a wonderful main course. Light eaters can choose one or the other while people with a hearty appetite can have both. Tomato Sandwiches are easily made by using tomatoes instead of bread, and putting a layer of protein-rich pate in between. They're easy to eat and fun for the kiddies. |
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Cool As A Cucumber
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The most delicious summertime dishes are simple ones that allow the bright fresh flavors of seasonal produce to shine. That certainly fits the description of raw food! Plus, raw food prep doesn't require that you stand over a hot stove or heat up your living space by turning on the oven. I love eating soup year round. It's filling, satisfying, and even hydrating! And when the weather is warm, one of my favorite meals is Cream of Cucumber Soup. I've never met a cucumber I didn't like. The different varieties include stout and stubby pickling cucumbers, English types, and the common, but uncommonly delicious long and slender 'slicing' cucumber that you find in every supermarket. Use whichever variety you can find...or can find on sale. To look for a ripe, fresh cucumber, rely on your senses. Look for firm, dark green ones with no wrinkles or spongy spots. And when it comes to cucumbers, smaller is better than bigger. Regardless of the variety, smaller cucumbers contain fewer and tinier seeds. By the way, the skins contain vitamin A, so try to buy un-waxed cucumbers. Cucumbers that have been waxed (mostly for appearances sake) need to be peeled and you lose all the vitamin goodness. Cream of Cucumber Soup has a delicate color, but a bold flavor supplied by garlic and minced herbs. Avocado provides dairy-free creaminess to the recipe and your blender does all the work. Serve it chilled, and you'll find it especially refreshing. Get the recipe here. |
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The Color of Cool
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 Kids think green smoothies are cool because they're sweet...and because they're green. Green is one of those colors that children are drawn to, and the more vibrant the green the better. Think acid green Jell-o, for example, Lifesavers, or Kool-aid. Unfortunately, the green hue in these kid magnets is almost always artificial, and certainly not healthful. But a green smoothie is green naturally...and extremely nourishing. A green smoothie recipe such as a Pineapple Green Smoothie helps you get a lot of bitter greens (they're the most nutritious ones) into your kids without compromising sweet flavor. And the color? A kid-pleasing pale leafy green. While kids love the color of green drinks, adults think green smoothies are cool because they're healthy. But grown up palates may be drawn to a more savory flavor, even at breakfast. I know I am. So one of my favorite green smoothies and a recipe I whip up several times a week is my Non-Sweet Green Smoothie. It's just loads of green with a little bit of apple and lemon to 'modulate' the taste. I love it and I hope you will, too. Get the Pineapple Green Smoothie recipe here. Get the Non-Sweet Green Smoothie recipe here. |
That's it for now. Remember, even when I'm on the road, I'm always connected to the Internet. So be sure to visit learnrawfood.com often to see what's new and what's happening!
See you then!
Jennifer Cornbleet
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Talk Live with Jenny
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 Chicago is known for its blustery winters, but it's a wonderful place to be in the summer time. That's one reason my publisher and I agreed that my promotional tour for the new, expanded Raw Food Made Easy for 1 or 2 People Revised should kick off there in August. I'll be doing six free demonstrations in total and if you live in the Chicagoland area, I really hope you can join me. The presentation is loaded with time-saving tips and ideas for making mouthwatering meals and snacks with delicious all-natural fruits and vegetables. And to ensure a sweet ending to the event, everyone who attends will enjoy samples of my delicious Tropical Fruit Tart. You can get all the details here.If Chicago isn't on your vacation itinerary, we can still have an opportunity to talk one-on-one if you're one of the next ten people to review my book on Amazon.com. If you are, I'll call you personally for a good old-fashioned chat. The subject? Anything you like! The first step to being a winner is to post your review. The second step -- and this is critical - is to inform me via email which of the reviews you've posted. Then I can contact you in return and set a time for us to chat. Thanks in advance for your comments! |
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