Real Food | Living Simply | Natural Health

Raw Tomato, Macadamia Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tart

I catered a lunch to be filmed for InStyle Magazine TV yesterday. As I brought out dessert, the film crew turned the camera on me and the interviewer asked me about the dishes I created. I froze and barely whispered what they were - LOL. It's for Korean TV, so hopefully I'll be dubbed. I made an all-raw lunch of Zucchini with Walnut Basil Pesto; Heirloom Tomato & Herb Salad; Raw Tomato, Macadamia Cheese & Caramelized Onion Tarts; and Blueberry Cobbler with Cashew Whipped Cream. Unfortunately, I only had a chance to take a photo of the Tarts. [caption id="attachment_4191" align="aligncenter" width="461" ...

Giveaway: Big Fat Organic Coconut Chips!

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! Big fat coconut chips! I love 'em because they're so versatile. I can use them in an impromptu trail mix with nuts and goji berries (shreds and flakes are too small to grab by the handful); add them on top of a yummy dessert like coconut cream pie to make it look STUNNING; or pulse them down finer, if I need smaller flakes or even coconut flour in a jiffy. One of my fave quickie desserts is to melt a couple tablespoons of coconut oil, stir in cacao, maca, mesquite and lucuma powder until ...

Wild Foraging in NJ

Hey guys! Here is my photo album of some of the wonderful wild plant foods you can find locally in the NY/NJ area. These were taken during a foraging tour with Wildman Steve Brill in Central Park in early April. I highly recommend going foraging with someone who knows there stuff just to be sure you don't pick something poisonous. The availability changes seasonally so foraging every week can produce new and different edibles. Just make sure you select an area away from traffic and that is not treated with pesticides. Ever since I took the class, I can't walk outside ...

Classic Indian Sweet – Revisited & Raw

I still remember the sweet shops when I lived in India for a month studying Ashtanga - neat rows of tantalizing bite-size treats. The shop owners used to laugh at my pronunciation when I placed an order, but I didn’t care. It was worth the humiliation. Washed down with cool coconut water from a freshly cut coco, it was the perfect end to a hard day of yoga and lounging around steamy Mysore. [caption id="attachment_3718" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption=""Rows of Indian Sweets!""][/caption] For the longest time, I thought about recreating burfi (also spelled ‘barfi’ but that sounds so unappetizing - lol) into a ...

Cloves Cinnamon Cacao – Wow!

I've always heard people proclaim that chocolate is high on the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scale but I could never really find the proof - until now. I found this study from the USDA that compares the ORAC values of food. The top five per 100 grams in descending order are cloves, cinnamon, oregano, tumeric and cocoa powder. So chocolate REALLY is up there! [caption id="attachment_3559" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption=""Top Foods in ORAC Value""][/caption] When ranked by typical serving, a square of unsweetened baking chocolate knocked cloves out of the number one spot (since you wouldn't typically eat 100g of cloves,) followed ...

‘What’s in the Fridge’ Raw Nori Roll

I was looking in my fridge, trying to decide what to make. Cauliflower, mixed greens, sprouts, avocado...yay, raw nori roll!! So I took out my mini food processor and started tossing things in. This recipe makes one roll. The specs aren't too exact, so experiment with what you have - you just can't go wrong. ;) Raw Nori Roll for One [caption id="attachment_3356" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption=""Raw Sushi Roll for One""][/caption] Cauliflower "Rice" half a head of cauliflower 2 diced spring onions 1/4 cup pine nuts 1 tsp tamari sauce juice of 1/2 lemon 1) Pulse cauliflower until rice-like. 2) Add the rest of ingredients and pulse again until combined. 3) Taste ...

Blender Mayo-amazing!

I avoided mayonnaise for the looongest time because I, like millions of Americans fell for the nationwide “fat is bad for you” hoopla pushed by the USDA for decades. Then when I went raw vegan, mayo was definitely a no-no and creaminess was replaced with nuts and avocado. But since reading more and more about nutrition, the work of Weston Price and even some raw food advocates like Dr. Mercola and Dr. Stanley Bass who recommend raw eggs, I’m finding creative ways to add them to my diet and mayo fits the bill nicely! So Why Raw Eggs? "Eggs supply all essential amino ...

Food Review: Askinosie Chocolate

I like to think of myself as somewhat of a chocolat connoisseur. For the longest time, I didn't indulge because I had really bad acne and chocolate aggravated it. It wasn't until years later that I found out that it wasn't the "chocolate" cacao bean itself, it was all the crap other unrecognizable ingredients that went into a typical SAD chocolate bar. After I went high raw and discovered raw cacao, wow! - not only could I eat it, but now it was good for me (in moderation, of course. ;)) Since then I've expanded my repertoire to include high quality ...

Roasted Garlic Goodness

When I last fired up my oven to make a batch of roasted veggies, I decided to try out my new (used) garlic roaster that I got for free. (Thank you Freecycle!) The garlic came out awesome! I mixed some of the garlic paste with my roasted cauliflower instead of roasting crushed garlic WITH the cauliflower. Much better! After squeezing a few cloves directly into my mouth - YUM! - I put what was left of the bulb into a little jar to use with other dishes. (I probably walk around reeking like a big old garlic clove and I don't ...

EcoFriendly Glass Drinking Straws

I just got a new glass straw from Glass Dharma. Love it! :) I chose the 8" smoothie size with green decorative dots. The dots are key, so it doesn't roll off the counter and break. The diameter is a roomy 12mm - perfect for my thick smoothies and elixirs. There are several other drinking straw styles, sizes and colors to chose from. I also got the stainless steel cleaning brush. The brush is tres important. My first glass straw got a bit cloudy after use because it's narrower and I didn't have a good way to clean it well. But ...

Raw Dark Chocolate Walnut Bark Recipe

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to post a little reminder that the Valentine's Day Coconut Giveaway ends tomorrow at 11:59pm. A winner will be drawn via random.org. As I write this, there are only 44 entries so there's a very good chance of winning. And the more you enter, the better your odds! Here is a Valentine's Day recipe that you can make with your coconut oil windfall - Raw Walnut Chocolate Bark. The lucuma powder and stevia sweeteners make it low glycemic. The maca powder adds a malty flavor. Maca is an adaptogen, which means it has the ability to balance ...

Feb 2010: Virgin Coconut Oil Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING. CHECK THE SIDEBAR FOR THE CURRENT GIVEAWAY. Quality coconut oil really does make a difference in food prep. I made a favorite quick dish yesterday - pan seared scallops with arugula sauteed in garlic and coconut oil (picture above) and it came out fabulous! So if you've been following my blog, you know that I decided to review four organic coconut oils. Tropical Traditions ranked the highest overall. To be honest with you, I have tasted some premium coconut oils nearly as good as Tropical Traditions, but what gave them the edge is ...

Raw Christmas Canapes in July

I just made these little raw canapes last weekend for friends. They were really yummy and cute. Rolling them up and tying them with the chive without tearing it - tricky! I had a few casualties which I had to sacrifice and eat ;) but after the first couple, I had an assembly line going. I think soaking the chives in water helps make it more pliable. [caption id="attachment_1834" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Raw Amuse Bouche"][/caption] The recipe is called "Rolled Courgette Ribbons with Sweet Beet Paté" from Russell James Christmas Recipe E-book. I omitted the beetroot juice and agave because I'm trying to ...

Melty Chocolate Chunk Walnut unCookie

Sundays + rain = time to do some unbaking! I was itching for a sweet treat but too lazy to go out, so I started scavenging the cupboards. Cacao, lucuma, almond butter, walnuts, maca - all the makings of a quick yum pot, but I wanted MORE. Something special. A really raw decadent chocolate chip cookie! So I started rifling through my recipes and came across an all-time sure-fire winner - the infamous chocolate chunk walnut cookie from Sweet Gratitude. They came out AMAZING! Now this ain't one of your lickity-split, easy peasy raw recipes. It takes time and a whole ...

Adventures Across Oz – Part 1

Yep I did it. Crossed the continent of Australia from West to East Coast. On the "wrong" side of the road no less. lol. It was easier than I thought. The Nullarbor Plain was the most challenging part - just looooong stretches of desert with a roadhouse every 200k's or so. Luckily some very bored people have created man-made "landmarks" to keep you entertained - like the sneaker tree, the water bottle tree, the shoe tree and yes, the underwear tree. There are wild camels, dingos, wombats and of course, the ever present Aussie kangaroos, living on the Nullarbor. Was hoping to ...

About Me

Why is it so hard to write an ‘About Me’ page? I guess we are all taught to be humble and modest, even to the point of self-deprecation at times. I know that I’ve personally resisted posting an ‘About Me’ in the past partly out of humility and partly out of a desire for privacy.

But today I’ve decided to write a little bit about myself for two reasons. First, while I do believe some humility keeps us from being blinded by our ego or overly self-absorbed, I also think too much is inhibiting and keeps us from being bold and following our truest desires. Secondly, I owe it to my readers to tell you a little bit about my experience and education.

I was born in a small town to off-the-boat immigrants on a cool October morn. Haha – I’ll spare you the details and give you the clif notes.

My real name is Rosemary and Lilla is my alter ego. After graduating college, I dove into a career working for an international publisher. It was a great job at the time that took me to places as far as Singapore, Sweden, Portugal and Germany. I climbed the corporate ladder, got the big office, expense account, townhouse – all the trappings of success that are “supposed to” make you happy, but of course it’s all so fleeting. After 10+ years at the publishing company, I stumbled upon a yoga class and fell in love with it! I went on to get my teaching certification, taught several classes at local studios and eventually opened up my own studio, Yoga Bums in Rutherford, NJ.

I traveled to yoga retreats, workshops and eventually my love for Ashtanga yoga led me to Mysore, India to study with Sri K Pattabhi Jois and Sheshadri. After my stay in India, I wrote the book Ashtanga City: Westerner’s Guide to Mysore to Mysore and set up the website Mysore Ashtanga.

Around this same time, I also began exploring and experimenting with raw foods. I traveled to Puerto Rico to study at the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute and eventually went on to work for a year at one of the premiere raw food centers, the Tree of Life led by Dr. Gabriel Cousens. Shortly thereafter, I went to Kauai to do a work/trade at La Ola Health and Wellness to learn about organic farming and homeopathy.

Next stop – Australia, mate. I lived Down Under for a year in 2009 helping an incredible new start-up, Samudra get off the ground. Samudra is a wonderful place providing yoga classes, a vegetarian cafe, permaculture garden, eco-shop, retreats, events and community. Here, I had the privilege of collaborating with the head chef and working on a variety of projects such as testing new recipes, designing a popular 6-week cooking course, conducting food classes, and setting up their restaurant recipe and costing database.

After being a 100% raw foodist for 5 years, I flirted back and forth with SAD food for a year before finding my way back to a high raw food BUT balanced diet. I now incorporate home-made cultured foods, raw dairy, wild fish and grassfed meats in my diet and minimize gluten. Food and optimal health are a passion of mine and I love to create things from scratch in traditional methods and share it with others. S.O.L.E. food – sustainable, organic, local, ethical!

I’ve experienced much of what I write about firsthand and learned from my mistakes which sometimes is even more valuable than education itself. I’m very happy to have the ability to share what I know with you, but I also want to say that it is up to each individual to educate themselves and decide what is best. I can tell you about my experience, but in the end, you are responsible for you.

In the top right column is my “mind movie.” This is as visual as visualization techniques can get! Visualization is a very powerful method for drawing those things you want into your life and manifesting your dream reality whether it’s relationships, weight loss, money, love, health – sky’s the limit! Take a peek. If you’re interested in making your own mind movie, you can make your own 30-second movie for free or use my coupon code: ldvzoaiq – to save $5 off of an all-access pass at Animoto.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am an affiliate for several of the services and products that I write about. I take my responsibility as an affiliate seriously and only write about services or products that I have used or currently use and recommend. I include links to these products and services which can result in a commission that is credited to this site. If you prefer to go to straight to a website without using my link, please open a new tab and type in the service or product’s main url only. I am happy just to help and hope my blog reaches many and helps in some way.

My Experience

Yoga Works, New York, NY
2002 ISHTA Teacher Training Certification

Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute, Aguada, Puerto Rico
2003 Living Food Lifestyle Total Well-Being Certification

Yoga Bums Studio (currently Shiva Shanti), Rutherford, NJ
Aug 2002 – July 2006 Owner and Sole Proprietor

Ashtanga Intensive Practice, Mysore, India
Jan- Feb 2005 with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and V. Sheshadri

Wrote and published Ashtanga City: Westerner’s Guide to Mysore, 2005

Tree of Life Rejuvenation and Raw Food Center, Patagonia, Arizona
May 2006 – April 2007 Greenhouse Manager

La Ola Health and Wellness, Kilauea, Kauai
May 2007 – July 2007 WWOOF in organic farming and homeopathy

Samudra Yoga and Raw Food Cafe, Dunsborough, Australia
December 2008 – August 2009

NOTE: This entire website is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a medical doctor, a trained nutritionist or a physical trainer and am not responsible for any consequences regarding your use or intended use of any information provided on this site. This website is not intended to be used as medical advice. Always check with your medical professional before making any changes to your diet or exercise regime.

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http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/ Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)

I practiced with Guruji in Encinitas, CA during his 2005 World Tour. I also did a huge yoga post last week and i have a couple pics w/ me and Guruji on it. http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2010/01/yoga-...
If I didnt have a small child I would love love love to go to Mysore. Would love to chat with you for HOURS about it! And I recently made raw PB cups, both vegan white chocolate and dark. We have so much in common!
http://www.HealthySimpleLiving.com/ Kali Lilla

Oh my gosh, if you're ever in NYC area, we need to get together for yoga and
a chai! I wrote a book and blog about Mysore here:
http://www.mysoreashtanga.com
When I get home tonight, I will be reading up on your blog – so much good
fun stuff there!!
safara

Hi Rosemary or Lilla
Thanks for your writing. I wanted to hear more about your Anne Wigmore experience. Are you familar with the Hippocrates Institute?
I embrace you as you are, I believe we all should do that with one another. Food is so essential to our well-being and our culture. Let you find peace and nourishment each day from what you take in.
http://www.bradsrawchips.com Sean McVey

Hey Rosemary,

I have been following your blog for the past month or so now. Thanks for all the great content….I have learned quite a bit.

I see that you review products pretty consistently. I was wondering if I could send you some Brad's Raw Chips and see what you think. Let me know and I'll will get you some of our favorite flavors soon.

And just so you know, our chips are flax seeds, buckwheat groats and mashed up veggies, dehyrated to get the crunch. I think you may really like them! Hope to talk to you soon.
http://fromtitanictoark.blogspot.com/ Andrea

Hi Rosemary – I love your bio – how great to get a glimpse at how your path unfolded away from the corporate world and into a number of passions. Sending big hugs, Andrea
http://www.HealthySimpleLiving.com/ Kali Lilla

Thank you Andrea! I didn't know you had a blog too. On my way to check it
out! xo
Patricia Held

Hi I am wondering if I can talk to you for a story I am writing about montclair-area bloggers. Please let me know if you can be available for ten minutes or so!
http://www.HealthySimpleLiving.com/ Kali Lilla

I would love to! Thank you for contacting me.
Is there a number I can call you at tomorrow or next Tues?
Kindly, Rosemary
ChriS

Hey!

I really like your website! I am starting one myself, but of course with a different twist! I hope that it has brought you lots of joy and excitement! THanks for the model!

Chris
HG

Hello,

Could you please let me know how we can reach you? There is no contact info here.
I want to ask you where exactly do you get mail raw dairy orders? The one on the website is in California and do not ship to NJ. Here is my e-mail address:

I really appreciate your help.
Thanks a lot.
http://www.HealthySimpleLiving.com/ Kali Lilla

I order from Uddermilk.com.