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    INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES OF THE YEAR



    "Maintaining order rather than correcting disorder is the ultimate principle of wisdom. To cure disease after it has appeared is like digging a well when one already feels thirsty or forging weapons after the war has already begun." -The NEI JING


    Present Moment Reminder: "The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I am." (Oneness With All Life) -Eckhart Tolle




    "Today our culture is obsessed with knowledge. We are bombarded with information through TV, the Internet and so on. But knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom can't be taught. It has to be learned. It has to be felt" -Maximo Morales


    An affirmation that should be at the top of your list: " I'm willing to see only my magnificence." - Louise L. Hay





    "To start thinking outside the box, remove the box." -Deepak Chopra

    "As long as there is a doubt, you cannot find the way." -yogi tea knows best


    When I was a little girl I used to be able to fly, sort of. I would skip and then jump -- and stay in the air longer than I should have been able to. I never thought of it as weird until I was twenty or so, when I showed off my skill for a few people and saw their jaws drop. As soon as I registered that it was so out of norm, I stopped being able to do it. I always think about that on Halloween, as I had started to wonder if "witches on broom sticks" referred to women, like myself, who could "stay in the air too long." – Marianne Williamson




    "I've learned so much from my mistakes, I'm thinking of making a few more" :)


    "You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day - unless you're too busy; then you should sit for an hour." - Old Zen adage


    "Apologising doesn't always mean you are wrong. It just means you value your relationships more than your ego". -Will Smith





    "Stress is a fearful reaction to life's constant changes, an excuse we often use for not taking responsibility for our own feelings... Next time you feel stressed, ask 'what is scaring me?'... Do not give a little word a lot of power."- Louise L. Hay



    "When you choose to only live in the past, you are subconsciously building blocks against growth & happiness in the future. When you choose to only live for 'later', your lack of gratitude towards 'now' will never see a future that's ever good enough for you. The only moment you ever live is this moment." -Tanya Alekseeva




    "If you want safety, go to prison. If you want a fulfilled life, you've got to step up."


    "If your definition of success has little or no LOVE in it, get another definition"- Robert Holden, Ph.D


    "Gratitude and Love are two most powerful words in the universe. Even the water structure changes to purity when you utter those two words." -Tanya Alekseeva


    "We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." – Dr. Seuss



    "There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love." -Washington Irving






    "On this Easter day... forgive someone. Tell someone you love them. Do something silly. Smile like you mean it. Make your own chocolate. And then share it with all your neighbours." - Tanya Alekseeva


    “The defining factor for success is never resources; it’s resourcefulness.”-Anthony Robbins

    "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." -Dalai Lama




    "There is more pain from holding on to the thought of pain than there is in the situation itself. If you let the world strike you, it will do so less cruelly than your own imagination." -Lester Levenson


    "Most people consume an abundance of highly processed foods that acidify the body. As a result, they are affixed with health problems ranging from minor skin irritations, chronic fatigue, back pain, and depression to arthritis, ulcers, and osteoporosis. to enjoy optimum health, the body needs balanced quantities of alkaline and acid substances"- Christopher Vasey




    "Those who think they have no time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have to find time for illness"- Edward Stanley, The Conduct of Life



    "If you don't go to the toilet for a while, you become constipated, moody, grumpy and in pain. But that's just the body. Your mind needs an offload too! This has a sexy name- brain dump. So brain dump on paper any problems you are facing. Then all of a sudden, as they are vividly in front of you... solutions appear." - Tanya Alekseeva





    "Health is something we do for ourselves, not something that is done to us; a journey rather than a destination; a dynamic, holistic, and purposeful way of living." -Dr. Elliott Dacher







    Worrying... It's like a rocking chair- it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere; it's like walking around with an open umbrella incase it rains; it's like adding poison to your own food incase you get run over by a bus first. Sound ridiculous? But isn't that exactly what we are doing?... poisoning ourselves?


    "Never regret anything. You can't change or undo what happened, but you can control how you deal with it in the present moment and use your experience to shape the future". - Tanya Alekseeva





    "Always give 100% in everything you do in life. (apart from perhaps- giving blood)"

    "Did you know that the word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent'?"


    "You may think the grass is greener on the other side, but if you took the time to water your own grass, it could be just was green."




    "Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." - Nathaniel Hawthorne


    'You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.' -C.S. Lewis


    "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them." -Mark Twain





    "Act as though and it shall be. The seed you sow today will not produce crop till tomorrow. For this reason, your identity does not lie in your current results. This is not who you are. Your current results are who you were." – James A. Ray



    "Don't let the commercialisation of Valentine's Day let you believe you don't have something others do. Remember LOVE is where you came from, why are you still looking for it?" - Tanya Alekseeva






    "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." -Bhajan


    "Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands, and then eat just one of those pieces." -Judith Viorst



    "For every emotion you experience the opposite emotion is repressed, because believe it or not, we are not here for happiness, which is a mask, we are not here for sadness, which is a mask, we are here for gratitude and love, which is the truth. When you have gratitude and love, you also become certain and present, and experience the four greatest healers on the planet, I call them the four cardinal pillars of healing."



    "the mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is opened"


    "The enzymes contained in raw food actually aid in the digestion of that same food when it is chewed. One can live many years on a cooked food diet, but eventually this will cause cellular enzyme exhaustion which lays the foundation for a weak immune system and ultimately disease.” -Dr. Humbart Santillo




    "It is not what happens to you that counts as much as how you perceive it. You can either be a victim of your history or a master of your destiny just by changing your perspective. One of the greatest discoveries in human nature is that you change your life by changing your perspectives and attitudes of mind."


    "I decided that having a squeaky clean kitchen is actually dangerous... every time I put everything away and shine every last corner, it inspires me to get all the ingredients back out and start creating recipes until four hours pass by in a flash. Yep that happens often." -Tanya Alekseeva





    "When you feel your ugliest, someone else will give up anything to look the way you do... 

    When you feel stupid, someone else will give up anything to take on your mistake instead of theirs... 

    While you tease and pass judgement, someone else will give up anything just to be able to see... 

    When you feel like a failure, someone else will give up anything to have the life you live... 

    When you are grateful and know how to count your blessings, you create an energy field around you, which improves the lives of everyone that comes near it... near you." 

    - Tanya Alekseeva





    Photo credits: the images have been credited where possible , if no original source is stated- this photo has either been forwarded to me or it's gone viral on the net with no link to its source. If you are the owner or know where it came from, please comment below and I'll be more than happy to link the photo back to your site.


    FROM SPICY ICELAND TO SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

    Last week I welcomed my fifth digital baby into the world, called 'Nourished- Comforting Raw Foods for Winter'. This project was dear to my heart, as I was born and raised in Russia, until I was eleven and we immigrated to a different climate on the opposite side of the world. 
    Now, years later and having completed a near 360 degree turn- back to the white winter, which tends to have magnetic powers over me- I am in the UK. And loving it! But as I dive deeper into the ever evolving world of nutrition, I realise how real of an issue it is for the majority of the population to stay healthy when it's cold outside.
    These days, imports from all around the world ensure that our supermarket shelves don't look too dissimilar week in and week out, so most people won't even be able to answer which foods belong to which season. We become disconnected with nature and no wonder illnesses snake their way into our homes.
    I created every single one of the 39 recipes in Nourished especially for those living in cold winter climates. You will find out what vegetables, fruits and nuts grow naturally at the beginning of winter and which grow at the end; you'll get a whole collection of my top tips to keep yourself warm, while staying raw; and best of all- you will be pleasantly surprised that most of the recipes are not only prepared with seasonal produce, they are warming too (see a sample recipe below). All while being 100% raw, nutritious, flavourful, satisfying and free from gluten, wheat, soy, dairy or anything made in a lab. 
    That's right Winter- now let's see what you've got to say about that!
    And just as I release this Winter eBook on Thursday, I suppose it only makes sense to celebrate in Iceland on Friday. Surely.
    Oh my, what a country Iceland is. We were caught in a snow storm for the larger part of our trip and even that didn't stop us from discussing a speedy return to the land of the oldest known geysers, renewable geothermal and hydropower energy sources, and the clearest waters on earth.
    I'll be uploading more photos (including our visit to Glo, a raw food cafe in Reykjavik), here on Facebook, but for now you can view some highlights below...











    We got back to a balmy [in comparison] London in the evening and all I felt like was something warm, comforting, creamy and nourishing. Good thing I usually keep soaked almonds on hand by keeping them in the fridge in water (change the water every three days and they will keep for a month), so the best option presented itself. And it so happened to be right out of my brand new eBook Nourished...

    SPICED HOT CHOCOLATE

    1 cup almonds, soaked overnight
    4 cups pure water (2 cups cold, 2 cups hot)
    ½ cup pitted dates
    ¼ avocado
    2 tbsp raw cacao powder
    1 tbsp manuka honey/agave nectar
    ¾ tsp cayenne pepper
     
    Rinse the nuts, drain and blend with 2 cups cold water.
    Strain the liquid through a nut bag/cheese cloth/stocking to remove the pulp.
    Pour the strained milk back into blender and add the rest of ingredients including the hot water, blend on high. 
    Enjoy immediately.





    Do you like this recipe? How about another 38 warming, hearty and healthy raw food recipes for winter? In my brand new eBook 'Nourished', you will find only the healthiest, enzyme rich and nutrient dense ingredients, which I specifically combined to support you and your immune system during the cold months of the year. Check out what you will find>>


    KALE- THE KING OF THE CROPS (plus kale chips recipe) by Sarah Best



    [A guest post by Sarah Best]
    If there’s one vegetable that is off the charts when it comes to nutrient density, it’s kale. It contains more antioxidants than any other vegetable, sitting at the top of the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity) scale (which rates foods according to antioxidant content).
    Kale also leads the vegetable kingdom when it comes to calcium and iron content, and is an abundant source of vitamins A, C, K, and the B vitamins.
    Research suggests that kale’s army of beneficial phytonutrients can lower cholesterol, protect against cancer and support the body’s systems of detoxification. Kale also has anti-inflammatory properties.
    Of course, to fully benefit from this wealth of nutrients you must eat your kale raw.
    Not everyone finds kale palatable in juices, smoothies or salads, but I’ve yet to come across anyone who doesn’t love kale chips.
    Needless to say, there is no deep frying involved.
    You simply make a “sauce” to massage into the kale then you put the mixture in a dehydrator – a raw kitchen prop which heats food at very low temperatures so as to preserve nutrients (which are easily damaged and destroyed at even the lowest conventional cooking temperatures).
    Prepare to be amazed at how crunchy the kale goes, thanks to the nut-based coating which takes on that texture when dried.
    You’ll also be amazed at how cheesy these kale chips taste – it’s the nutritional yeast that achieves this flavour.
    Conventional crisps/chips contain little in the way of nutrition. Instead they give you toxic acrylamides – formed when the starch in the potatoes is heated to high temperatures – plus toxic refined salt and toxic heated oils (often trans fat laden ones).
    Do kale chips have any downsides?
    Two: they’re as messy to make as it is challenging not to eat the whole batch straight out of the dehydrator.
    Ingredients
    • 200g curly leaf kale (if not ready chopped, you’ll need to slice it into vaguely crisp-sized pieces, removing the stalks)
    • 100g raw cashews
    • 1 large red bell pepper
    • Juice of one lemon
    • 25g-50g nutritional yeast
    • 1cm piece of red chilli
    • Himalayan crystal salt or Celtic sea salt to taste
    1. Chop the red pepper into small pieces and add to a blender with the lemon juice. Blend until smooth.
    2. Add the cashews, red chilli and 1/2 teapsoon salt and again blend until smooth.
    3. Add the nutritional yeast and blend again. Doing it in stages like this helps you to get the smooth consistency you need without over-heating it.
    4. Put the kale in a large bowl then pour the blended mixture over it and massage it in until all the leaves are coated.
    5. Place it on dehydrator trays with Paraflexx sheets and dehydrate at 110 degrees. After two hours peel off the Paraflexx sheets and place the chips-in-progress on mesh sheets.
    6. By the time they have been in for eight hours they should be seriously crunchy. If they aren’t, just leave them in until they are! Taste, and if they’re not salty enough, sprinkle some over and then enjoy!
    Try these and you’ll swear that kale was put on the planet all those eons ago so that in the 21st century creative raw chef genius types could identify its true destiny as a crunchy savoury snack.


    Sarah Best is a health writer and coach. Check out her blog at www.sarahbesthealth.com for articles on real food, juicing, detox, eco beauty and all things holistic.

    NOURISHED - Comforting Raw Foods for Winter

    As it gets colder outside and we shift a gear towards hibernation, our body starts to ask for more warming, grounding and comforting foods.
     
    I have created my brand new downloadable book with the intention to give your body that rest and nourishment, which Mother Nature longs to shower you with, when temperatures drop.
    This is 'Nourished- Comforting Raw Foods for Winter'...
    WHAT TO EXPECT:
    * 71 full colour page eBook with stunning photography
    * A collection of 39 carefully selected recipes for winter
    * Drinks, Breakfasts, Sauces, Sides, Snacks, Meals and Desserts
    * Only the healthiest, enzyme rich and nutrient dense raw ingredients to every recipe
    * A list of my top tips to eat and stay raw when it's cold
    * A guide to local and seasonal produce
    * Easy to follow instructions, including selected step-by-step images
    * A full glossary list with suggestions of where to shop for your superfoods
    Here are the glorious recipes you will find inside:
    Nut/Seed Milk  ◈  Green Vitamin C Smoothie  ◈  Spiced Hot Chocolate  ◈  ‘Beet It’ this Winter Smoothie  ◈  Ginger Heathers  ◈  Pecan Pie Smoothie  ◈  Apple & Cinnamon Chia Pudding  ◈  Crunchy Granola Clusters  ◈  Veggie Crisps & Chews  ◈  Long-Keep Ketchup  ◈  Ranch Dressing  ◈  Warming Avocado Fries  ◈  Tanya’s Onion Bread  ◈  Sweet & Tangy Cabbage Salad  ◈  Pesto Courgette Crispies  ◈  Aubergine/ Eggplant Bacon  ◈  Crunchy Croutons  ◈  Creamy Mash  ◈  Cheesy Kale Chips  ◈  Cream of Mushroom Soup  ◈  Butternut Squash Soup  ◈  British Savoury Pie  ◈  Curried Winter Sun Burgers  ◈  Hearty Kale salad  ◈  Root Veggie Satay Noodles  ◈  The Fastest Disappearing Stuffed Mushrooms  ◈  Raw Vegan Chili  ◈  Creamy 'Never Miss Meat’ Strogonov  ◈  Thai Curry Noodles  ◈  ‘Roasted’ Veggies  ◈  Indian Curry in a Hurry  ◈  Spinach & Cheese Quiche  ◈  Frozen Chocolate Acorns  ◈  King of Pumpkin Pie  ◈  Dense Chocolate Mousse  ◈  Traditional Apple Crumble  ◈  Carrot Cakes & Cream-Cheese Icing  ◈  Honey Pear & Walnut Cake  ◈  Lucuma Custard Cream 
    Would you like instant access to all the recipes, tips and tricks for your healthiest winter ever?
     Download your own copy in seconds for just £15 (approx US$24) 

    THE BEST VEGE DIPPING PLATTER THIS CHRISTMAS


    If I had to choose a single thing to bow to my American brothers and sisters for, it will no doubt be your unfaltering devotion towards a Thursday of every November you call 'Thanksgiving'.

    What a wonderful Christmas-like tradition to celebrate with everyone you love, which is all about your presence and never about your presents. 

    Since the majority of my readers are indeed from the USA, over the last few years of blogging- I have learned to leave the Christmassy announcements until after Thanksgiving. No way am I about to interrupt your day of gratitude, but I'm also glad it's happening no closer to Christmas, than it already is, as I can no longer contain my festive spirit and am too excited to share the very first Christmas recipe of 2012... just minutes after Thanksgiving day is officially finito :)

    Here's a super gorge, festive and healthy vege platter, which I believe is a must-be-cetrepiece to any Christmas table, party or event...


    Vege Christmas Tree with a Cheesy Dip

    For the tree
    Choose vegetables, that could look like green tree branches. You can have celery sticks, green beans (like mine), sugar snap peas, green bell pepper strips, courgette pieces, etc. Assemble by constructing the bottom layer first and moving upwards.
    You can cut the star out of virtually anything, such as a carrot, melon, yellow bell pepper, sweet potato, etc.
    The tree decorations could include anything from radishes cut into halves (like mine), sliced carrots, red bell peppers, blueberries, etc.
    For the cheesy dip
    3/4 cup pinenuts
    3/4 cup macadamia
    6 sundried tomato halves, soaked if they are too dry
    juice of 1 lemon
    3 tbsp liquid aminos
    2 garlic cloves
    1/3 chilli with seeds, or more to taste
    water as needed
    Put all the dip ingredients into a high speed blender, starting with about 1/3 cup of water and adding more if required. Use a tamper to assist the blending process.
    Scoop out into a separate dipping bowl to serve with your vege tree platter.
    WARNING: This dip is very addictive! :))




    If you think this idea is fun and the recipe is delicious, wait till you see my Christmas collection of 33 gorgeous drinks, meals, sides and desserts in Festive-The Best Raw Food Christmas Recipes. They are all in this eBook, available for instant download and enjoyment after purchase, here>>