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Author Archives: rawgirl
How to Make Vegan Spicy Curry Hummus :)
Hummus is one of the very few things not raw, that I still incorporate in my diet. I cook my chickpeas in a slow cooker, which heats on low around 170 degrees, so no, this not a raw hummus, but suitable for vegans, non-100% raw fooders, and fabulous people who love hummus as much as I do. If you still buy hummus in the store, be weary of the preservatives and possible industrial materials that could be lurking in your whipped concoction which may have a pasty consistency. The mission to make my own hummus started when I really went raw and became so sensitive to things that I would have immediate allergic reactions after eating something “toxic.” Store bought hummus always made me sneeze, immediately after! I make all kinds of hummus, but this is one of my favorite kinds, because I enjoy spicy dishes.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n5gAUpYNvc]
Ingredients:
16 oz/1 lb bag of chickpeas, pre-soaked and then cooked, 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil, 3 Tablespoons of yellow curry, 1 tablespoon of paprika, 2 tablespoons sea salt, red pepper to suit your pepper tolerance, dash of cumin , juice of 3 organic lemons
Put all in high speed blender and blend until a creamy, thick consistency. Pour into bowl and sprinkle the top with thyme, red pepper, and any other seasonings you like. Keeps in fridge, use for wraps, salads, or as a dip. Enjoy!
The copyright of this recipe is owned by Esosa Edosomwan (AKA Chef Eazy E.) Permission to republish this recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
How to Create Vision Boards: Dreams Put Down on Paper
We artists have a tendency to get lost in our art sometimes. We are so good at creating, and finding inspiration, and can get so caught up in our work that when we finally awake from our hibernating haze we realize the rest our lives have fallen to pieces. Bills aren’t paid, relationships are on the fritz, or we simply haven’t had the time to do our hair. As artists, and when I say artists I mean everyone because everyone is creative, we forget somehow that our creative power that brings us such success in professional lives can also be wielded to create success in all areas of our lives. Vision Boarding is a tool I began using years ago to begin using my imagination actively in my life.
I first bought a notebook and cut our images of magazines, and collected inspiring images of role models and quotes I loved and compiled them into a “dream diary” of sorts, where I was allowed to envision myself already living the life of my dreams. I found myself doing it regularly, and sometimes forgetting about it, only to find one day when I opened my journal that I was living into the life I had envisioned. This is a powerful tool that is a great companion for general goal setting and new years resolutions. It’s an active way of tuning your subconscious to the frequency of the life you want to be living.
If you are the type who likes to compartmentalize you can create a vision board for every area of your life: Spiritual, financial, relationships, career, travel etc. Or you can be free form like I am and just start to gather images as the ideas come to you. There’s no wrong way to do it. I used to cut and paste from magazines and paste the poster up on my wall. Now I opt for a slightly lazier method of grabbing images from the internet, and creating a collage which I post on my computer as a screen saver. This way, I am programming myself daily to focus on my goals, because as soon as I turn on my computer, it’s right in my face. Give it a try, you’ll be surprised to see what doors open when you put your creative imagination to work!
How To Create a Vision Board:
1. Write down a list of goals or dreams in all areas of your life. This can include: health, travel, relationships, spiritual life, money, career etc.
2. Get specific. For example: I want to live in a condo is not as specific as I want to live in a 2 BR condo in a Georgetown elevator building, laundry and full gym in the building, with a great view of the water, and walking distance from a yoga studio. This is not time to be polite or compromise like you are sometimes with waiters and ignore what you want and later regret it as you pick out the olives that you hate from your salad. I have noticed, when spending time with really dynamic, energetic people, renown artists and business men/women alike…they never settle. They ask for what they want and don’t faintly wish that it will be delivered, they demand and expect that it will. The universe is giving you a menu for your life, if you don’t tell it that you don’t like fourth floor walk-ups and prefer an open kitchen, you may just have to be grateful for the fact that your quads are getting toned from all that stair climbing. The key point here is ASK for exactly what you want, don’t SETTLE.
3. Find or Create Images and Build your Collage. In this age of computer wizardry, we have the opportunity to photoshop ourselves into any scene we like. If you can’t go to that extent, then you can make copies of photos or yourself and paste yourself into a scene from a magazine. Be creative, and try to make sure you include your own image in as many of your images as possible.
4. Follow up. Make sure you make your visions more concrete by doing some research. For example: do you want to study fly fishing and you have this fantastic image of someone doing it on your board? Then do some research just for fun on where you could study and how much it would cost. The universe can deliver so much easier when you get as specific as possible and when you prove that this dream isn’t just a passing fancy. You must be committed, interested, and dedicated to hold onto the vision until it becomes a reality in your life.
Anti-Aging SHE-RO #4
I actually don’t know exactly how old Lillian Butler is, but I know for a fact that for her age she looks incredible. The first photo on the left is of her at the age of 46, after adopting a raw diet! Below is a recent image of her and her husband.
When I first embarked on the idea of going raw, I took Lillian’s intro to raw crash course, which was extremely informative and gave me the tools to dive in.
Apparently, Lillian was a vegetarian for 10 years, but was not experiencing optimal health. After some time of incorporating more into her diet she decided to go raw, and sweetly enough, her husband Eddie Robinson (whose skin also glows like a light bulb!) joined her in beginning a new lifestyle. Together they opened a really lovely raw restaurant in the Bronx, Raw Soul, which also offers catering, meal delivery, and chef training. They have a wide range of INCREDIBLE desserts, and the regular courses are yummy as well.
For more info about Raw Soul, visit www.rawsoul.com
Lillian Butler & her husband Eddie Robinson
Battle of the Internal Parasites: Knock Them Out Before They Take You Down
Today is Day 1 of another battle with parasites, and I am REALLY not happy about it. To commemorate, I wrote an in depth article on parasites, which you can access via the link below.
“What are parasites?” you mumble. They are annoying, disgusting, creepy worm like organisms, some visible to the human eye and some not, that can set up shop in the human body and pimp you out like a common prostitute. That would make, according to statistics, the majority of people in the world hookers. That’s right, you may think that your constant cravings for dessert and bread is completely normal, but you might be marching to the drum of the parasites inside you that thrive on sweets and carbs. Not to mention the fact that they prevent your body from absorbing nutrients from the foods you eat. “Oh that’s crazy,” your thinking. “There’s no way there’s any kind of worms inside of me.” If you had that thought it may just be the parasites talking!
A few years ago, I was introduced to the idea of parasites from a fellow yogi. He had just completed a parasite cleanse and said that it changed his life. I was telling him I was going raw, but having a problem with craving sweets and cutting out bread. He told me to do a parasite cleanse, but I forgot all about it until the veggie really hit the fan. I started breaking out, acne, rashes, felt tired all the time, and had the chills. Ran into another vegan friend who told me she battled with parasites for a year, and used to have the same exact symptoms I had. I know now that it was a combination of nutritional deficiency (mostly B12) and parasites.
My first battle with them began, and I got real gangsta. I consumed only things they didn’t like. Tons of greens, garlic, cayenne, apple cider vinegar, anything that I heard would kill them. Long story short without any stomach churning details, they exist. You won’t believe it, until you see what may come out of you. Anyway, this first bout, I arose, three months later, the victor. I was strutting like Ali leaving the ring. Got my groove back, my energy, and clear skin.
So how did this relapse happen again? Well there are a variety of ways to contract parasites including: drinking contaminated water, sexual contact (including kissing), hygiene, pets etc. On my end, I haven’t been as gangsta about protecting myself on the dating front as I could be, and although I am crazy about clean water, I remember an incident recently where the source was questionable. It could have been either or none of these things. But I will say this, the next time I go out and have a fabulous time, and the night is winding down and mood is just right, when Mr. Right leans in for a kiss, I will have to stop him like a true diva and ask “Have you done a parasite cleanse?” If he shakes his head no, I will have to whisper, “Well, then call me in two weeks,” and catwalk away. I wish I was kidding, but at least I know my health is worth the wait.
Read my Suite 101 Article on Parasites here:
http://nutrition.suite101.com/article.cfm/internal-parasites
The Vegan Debate: Some Raw Advocates Admit They Are Not Completely Vegan
I found this very interesting article posted today via The Fresh Network, based in the UK, who publish a magazine entitled Get Fresh! highlighting raw foods and holistic nutrition. Apparently some raw food advocates have admitted to consuming animal products or have started to openly promote them! This is very interesting to me, because often when I attend raw food conferences and workshops, I notice some speakers who look, well, frankly ill, if you ask me. Then there are those who actually look exceptionally healthy. My whole thing is, if you aren’t walking the walk, please don’t talk the talk. I tend to ignore the recommendations of someone who doesn’t look like their own advice is working for them.
Everyone’s body is different yes, but the results people have received from incorporating raw foods into their diets is REAL. From healing terminal diseases to shedding pounds, common sense tells us that it has to be a good thing to completely eliminate or avoid as much man-made food in our diets as possible. Now, the issue of 100% raw or not I think is a separate matter which every person has to decide for themselves. I tried 100% and now I’m pretty much 90% because I still eat cooked quinoa, make my own hummus with cooked chickpeas (vegan of course), and very occasionally in winter have lentil soup.
For me raw was a natural extension of my long-term veganism. I can’t comprehend ever going from raw to animal products? That just sounds crazy to me. In the end, each person must do what works for them, and hopefully people can learn to find a personal balance of discipline for the sake of optimal health, without clinging to their diet like it’s a religion.
What I love about the debate presented in this article is that most of the experts interviewed stress that supplementation on the vegan diet is key for long-term success. Not just B12, but also Vitamin D, and other trace minerals. I learned quickly after diving into the raw diet, that mineral deficiencies are very real, and now have transitioned into being more optimally raw by making sure I am taking all the necessary supplements my body needs to function properly.
To read the full article:
http://fresh-network.typepad.com/fresh_network_blog/2010/01/the-rise-of-raw-but-not-vegan.html#more
Divinely Delicious Raw Green Goddess Yogurt
Mostly due to the fact that I heart spirulina, I created this quick raw recipe that can be used as an early morning pre or post-gym meal or dessert. For those of you who cringed at the thought of green yogurt, it’s green of course because of the spirulina, and a great way to get a nice dose of nutrition and dessert in one meal. The spirulina tends to boost my energy (even more—scary), so I try not to eat this too late in the evening.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ1zfdZyDCY]
Ingredients: (makes 2 servings)
2 ripe organic bananas, diced pineapple, 3 dates, 6 pitted & dried prunes (preservative free), purified water, 1 tablespoon of spirulina powder
Put all in high speed blender, add a little water and blend until a creamy, thick consistency. (Make sure not to add so much water that it beomes runny, unless you want to drink it as a juice, which is also good. I messed up in the video and had to add more dates) Pour into bowl and sprinkle with diced fruit and or shredded coconut. Enjoy!
The copyright of this recipe is owned by Esosa Edosomwan (AKA Chef Eazy E.) Permission to republish this recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Natural Beauty Highlight: Dele Ogundiran
Photo By Smash Photo LB (http://smashphotolb.com)
True appreciation of beauty, whether in the form of self-acceptance or celebrating the incredible traits of others, can be hard to come by. All too often, women have an issue with other women that are attractive, but at the end of the day the solution and the problem begins with the person you look at everyday in the mirror when you wake up. There will always be playa-haters, naysayers, and drama queens, but thankfully, there will also always be goddesses, princesses, and true Queens who know their worth and have no problem celebrating yours. I decided to start a highlight of truly beautiful women who are attractive on the outside, but their character, spiritual life, or just personalities put them in the realm of radiating true beauty. California-based actress, writer, and producer Dele Ogundiran was one of the first women that came to mind, and she was gracious enough to let me interview her.
What do you believe defines true beauty? Natural beauty is innate. It can’t be bought, it can’t be plastered on, nipped or tucked on or in. Natural beauty just is. Like God. It just is. It comes from inside a person.
What kind of skin care regimen do you have? I don’t necessarily have a regimen, but when I wear makeup I remove it with a cleanser. Cleanser of choice: Revita Lift Cream Cleaser. I wash my face (as with the rest of me) with ivory soap. Its my absolute favorite soap to bathe with. I use a loofa sponge. That is the extend of my skin care regimen… oh… when I get a pimple… I always squeeze it to remove the oily buildup and then wash the area and apply peroxide. Peroxide tends to seal my skin, like a small wound. In about a week or so my skin us usually back to a pre-pimple state.
What are staples in your diet? If you are a vegan or have any other dietary constraint, how did you transition into that? I am not a vegan. Growing up I ate all kinds of meat except pork. Then again, there was a period of time in junior high school when I used to get a hero sandwich, made with ham. Outside of this period, I ate all types of meat. Thankfully, 99% of the time I ate a nutritiously balanced home cooked meal. I didn’t have a lot of sweets (cookies, candy, etc.) in my diet as I grew up. I went about 5-6 years without eating any meat or chicken. I only ate fish. I started adding meat/chicken back into my diet about 2 years ago. Presently, staples in my diet: pineapples, steel-cut oatmeal, almond milk, plantains (usually boiled with black eye peas), collard greens, a tomato based peppered stew (a Nigerian dish), okra (had lots of in growing up), yucca, mixed vegetables, sweet potato, blue potatoes, whole grain rice, black eye peas, zucchini, squash, chicken (for about a week and a half a month), salmon (for about a week during the month. I usually take a week off eating any type of flesh during the month.
What kind of exercise regimen do you have? (laughing) I don’t exercise. Okay that’s not funny, because I should. But I don’t.
How important is your spiritual life & do you think that has anything to do with your natural beauty? My spiritual life, my relationship with God is very important to me. I think it has everything to do with my natural beauty. Prayerfully, that which radiates from within me (from the way I think of myself, my perspective on God, my relationship with him, and his gifts (which includes other people and things) manifests as “natural beauty”.
What is your favorite physical or character trait about yourself that you appreciate most?
Favorite Physical Quality: My skin color
Favorite Character Trait: I am industrious
Photo By Smash Photo LB (http://smashphotolb.com)
For more information about Dele and her work as an actress, visit her website: www.dele.biz
The Challenge Zone: Are You LIVING or Just Getting By?
Yesterday I was inspired on my morning drive into Georgetown, by Steve Harvey, the comedian, who signed off his daily radio show with a powerful message: “Never, ever think you have arrived,” he said forcefully. “When you believe you have arrived, you’ve reached a dangerous place, because you stop growing.” He then emphasized that there are different “zones” one can inhabit. The Challenge Zone, the Comfort Zone, and the Coasting Zone.
People in the Challenge Zone, are men and women with visions, who continue to strive for their dreams, attack new obstacles, and have the faith to step out and take action in spite of fear. We all know too well, the Comfort Zone, this is where you go day to day doing only what you’ve already done and fully know you are capable of. No risks, no surprises. The last zone, the Coasting Zone, is where a lot of people live, and don’t even realize it. People in this zone, don’t even do what they know that they can do or have done in the past. This is the zone, where you gave up or didn’t follow through even through you knew you had talent or an exciting prospect, but you convinced yourself it was too hard to try and have settled comfortably into giving the bare minimum.
This conversation was incredibly powerful to me, because I have seen it at work in my life. It is astounding that when I do something that scares the living crap out of me, it always leads to greater and greater success. Success is most definitely NOT a destination, it is more like a dynamic evolution. Nothing about true success is static…yes, positive habits can be formed to make success a way of life, but at the end of the day true success is being willing to truly live your life on the edge. That means taking risks, jumping full-fledged into your passions, having the grace to be a beginner again and again, and harnessing the power of a vision.
What zone are you living in?
Tropical Green Sunrise Smoothie
Since spirulina is my new supplement fetish, I have experimented with several morning smoothie combinations. This particular combination is divine, especially if you love tropical fruits like I do.
Ingredients:
1 Thai Coconut (will use meat and water, also can just use plain filtered water), 1/4 pineapple, 2 ripe bananas, 1 kiwi, 1/2 mango, 1 Tablespoon Spirulina
Break open your Thai coconut using a butcher knife. (If you have never done this, you may want to get help, but it’s worth the struggle.) Pour coconut water into a glass. Scoop out coconut meat and put in blender. Add in all your ingredients including the Spirulina, and pour coconut water into blender to get the fruits blending. You will probably only use about half of the glass of coconut water to blend, the rest you can drink and enjoy. Blend until smooth and drink up!
The copyright of this recipe is owned by Esosa Edosomwan (AKA Chef Eazy E.) Permission to republish this recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Releasing from Restrictions of Role-Play
One of the things I do, is act, or role-play, so it may seem strange to take advice from me on breaking free from what I love to do the most. When I say role-play, I mean in the context of our daily lives. This includes our many faces as mother, sister, brother, friend, lover, or co-worker. We have those faces, and then we have the faces given to us by society or designated by our professions. For instance, the statement, “I am an actress.” Some other people may say, “I am an African American actress.” People are thrilled by statements like these that include our daily descriptors of race, profession, and gender and are expected to limit the scope of a person.
You know those annoying, sometimes banal conversations you have during late night networking parties: “Oh, so what do you do?” You take a long sip of your cocktail before choosing to answer. “Oh, I am a lawyer.” The interrogator almost sighs with relief, because now he or she knows which box you fit in.
When it comes to ethnicity, I am an interesting case study. Depending on the day, I actually might find it entertaining to watch someone struggle with where I am from. I’ve heard everything: “Somalia, Ethiopia, South of India?” I shake my head to indicate, no. “Then it must be Eritrea? Rwanda? Jamaica?” I shake my head again, and the inquisitor is completely baffled. I have learned to stop telling the truth, because it’s not what they want to hear. They don’t want to know that I love that I could be from any of those places. What they are dying for me to tell them is some cockaninny story about me growing up in a one room hut in Ethiopia, but I usually just let them struggle. When I do tell them the truth, after being egged on way too long for a definitive answer, that I am neither Ethiopian, nor did I grow up in a shack, they are almost offended that I would utter such nonsense. As if I somehow did something deeply wrong, by shattering their accurate perception of who I am. All I can do is shake my head, and walk away.
Getting back to creativity…It’s amazing that we do this to ourselves or allow others to do this to us, to minimize our entire essence into one title or label. Of course we do it because it creates a sense of order, and because if we said “Oh, I am an actress, who makes films, writes screenplays and also enjoys writing non-fiction and poetry from time to time, designing clothes, belly dancing, and occasionally I sing and write music?” People might think we were crazy, scatter-brained, or may be so overwhelmed that they excuse themselves because it was TMI (too much information). Although, I do reply the typical “What do you do?” question with a label most times to avoid the judgemental glare of some stranger, I never restrict my creative expression based on a label given to me by my profession, my peers, my family, or whoever. I know you are proud of what you do, but do you really believe that you should cling so tightly to your personal or professional label at the expense of gifts that fall outside your prescribed “box”? I dare say, no.
Think about it. Perhaps it’ll feel scary, or you may seem crazy to others, but stretching the boundaries of your own idea of who you are and what you are meant to do in this life, may just save your life. You may find yourself stumbling into new realms a novice, but this time away from your claimed “identity” leaves you so inspired that it revitalizes your daily work and provides a new sense of freedom. Each moment builds upon the last and the last, just as each new experience builds upon the latter. It’s not up to you to make sense of why you are a lawyer who is also very skilled at juggling. It is also not your business to avoid juggling, and be jealous of all the jugglers you meet. It is just, simply, your God-given duty to juggle if it brings you pleasure, and share that gift with others.