This week 2/20/10

While I just may be the worst blogger in the history of blogging, it is a small comfort to think blogging hasn't been around all that long, so to be the worst, well, there's plenty of time for that to be a lot worse than it is now!

To redeem myself, I thought I'd post my family's weekly menu here instead of sending it out in a newsletter format. That way those who might be interested can come here to read it. It also serves as an archive since each edition has recipes. They wouldn't have to be repeated each time they appear that way either. See how methodical I am!

I have my doubts that the e-mails actually get read based on my own expertise at hitting the delete button. I feel seriously guilty each time I do it since I know how much effort goes into my own mailings, but I don't have time to read all the mail that crosses my path, and I seriously doubt anyone else does either. So we selectively choose which things we open and take the time to consider.

Of course the next step in this logical sequence is wondering what criteria the average reader uses to make this determination. It has to be something we are seriously interested in. Hopefully we can fill that criteria for at least some of the people we meet weekly that ask us about the raw vegan lifestyle.

This week's menu (week of 2/20/10) (Please keep in mind that we tend to have our heavier meal in the middle of the day. Many of you will want to switch lunch and dinner if this is not your practice.)

Saturday dinner: "rice" pudding (no rice! Just mix sweet cashew creme with shredded apples and raisins.)

Sunday breakfast: we actually don't eat breakfast on Sunday usually as we head out to church pretty early. We usually grab some bananas as we head out the door if we are hungry. They are good car food.

Sunday lunch: We decided that since we don't have breakfast on Sunday, we'd like a fruit lunch, so we're going to slice up pineapple and serve it with sliced bananas and orange wedges.

Sunday dinner: corny chips, guacamole, and tomato salsa

Monday breakfast: bananas dipped in buckwheaties

Monday lunch: (one of our favorites) avocado boats stuffed with elotes con crema atop ensalada

Monday dinner: collard wraps with sprouted garbanzo bean hummus and cucumber strips

Tuesday breakfast: Hawaiian granola with almond mylk

Tuesday lunch: super nachos - bed of salad greens topped with unfried no-beans, tomato salsa, and crema

Tuesday dinner: broccoli cheese soup, Alicia crackers

Wednesday breakfast: banana mambo - sliced bananas topped with honey almond butter and raisins; smoosh it all together. I also like to sprinkle some sunnies on top.

Wednesday lunch: mashed no-taters, marinated mushrooms, and "braised" spinach (wilt spinach with a little salt, lemon juice, and olive oil)

Wednesday dinner: sweet kale salad - 1 head of kale washed and thinly sliced; 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup honey, 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/2 cup raisins, 2 tablespoons pine nuts

Thursday breakfast: pina colada from Raw Food Real World by Kenney & Melngailis - 1 cup coconut meat, 1 1/2 cup coconut water, 3 cups diced pineapple, 3 tablespoons agave nectar, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, squeeze of lime juice, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, pinch of sea salt; puree all in the blender.

Thursday lunch: Viva la Verde salad (greens, shredded celery, shredded carrots, raisins, ball-park sunnies, dulse, diced tomato and cucumber if desired) ranch dressing

Thursday dinner: cauliflower soup - 2 cups cauliflower florets, 2 - 3 cups water, 1/2 cups nut of choice, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, sea salt to taste; all blended til thick and smooth and a little warm; serve with Alicia crackers

Friday breakfast: banana smoothie - 2 cups rejuvelac, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup agave nectar, 1 quart frozen bananas, handful of whatever greens are leftover for the week; blend well

Friday lunch: chili mac - chili con crema served over shredded zucchini

Friday dinner: sammies - everyday bread spread with avo mayo and topped with sliced avocado, sliced tomato, and a few pea shoots

desserts for the week:

chocolate cheesecake
pumpkin pie
apple crisp

snacks:

ball park sunnies
soul dates
zucchini chips (good with ranch dip too)
carrots with ranch dip
celery sticks with honey almond butter
apple wedges with honey almond butter
banana bark
corny chips with tomato salsa

Well, that's all folks. Until next week!