Raw eating and whats new in my pantry...

Ive been on a Raw food journey since the beginning of the new year. I was looking for a way to combat some of the side effects of my lymes disease and my OVER active lifestyle. Frankly, it felt like my body was failing me. My joints aches all the time, I could barely bend over and touch my toes. It was bad. I reached into my collection of cook books for some answers and was drawn to and pulled out Raw Food Essentials by Ani Phyo. She also wrote Ani's Raw Food Kitchen. After reading for a while, bringing the book with me to work so I could get everything I needed, I was ready to get started.

I wasn't interested in dropping a ton of money on food at the time, so I decided to start slow, and start adding raw dishes to cooked meals so I could slowly build my raw inventory at home. (the joys of staying on budget!) So I started with raw Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews, Buckwheat groats, and Raw Agave.

After looking through the book and at a lot of the recipes I figured out that with these few items and with what I already had in my fridge and pantry I could make MANY of the things in the book!

Now.. I do NOT have a vitamix. And many of these recipes suggest that you use a high speed blender. I have simply had to modify some of the dishes to work in my food processor. If in a few months I am still on this raw path, I may make the investment. But honestly, I haven't felt like I have needed one yet.

My dehydrator has been essential though. I don't have an expensive dehydrator. Just a cheap older model from Fleet Farm. When I blow this one up, I will get a higher end NSF stainless model. (that way I can bring it to work with me and make treats to sell at the shop!!)

The first thing I made is what I eat for breakfast pretty much every day. Buckwheat Crispy cereal:

1 pound sprouted buckwheat groats, then dehydrated
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/3 cup flax seed
1/4 cup chia seed
1 cup raisins (or any dehydrated fruit)

I put it into a jar and shake until it is all combines. And really.. I don't measure ANYTHING.. If I am feeling like more coconut I put more in.. Or raisins. Or if I am out of something I don't sweat it. I improvise!! ahhh.. the spice of life!!

I usually top with a bit of coconut creamer and water and a squirt of agave. I have also mixed fresh squeezed juice with it and that is DELICIOUS!

stir it up, let sit for a few minutes and then enjoy! I also like to cut up fresh fruit to add! I can't wait for berries to be in season!! That will make it even more LOVELY!