Hungry Norie's Raw Nik-Naks 2

It's been already a few month passed since I got my dehydrator. And two month gone by without my cakes. Have I been enjoying it? Yes, I would say so. Creating and making raw nik-naks are fun, it's much different from baking cakes/pastries. It's easy, no much mess, takes long time to dehydrate, still, much healthier option. Now my cupboard are full of nuts, seeds, buckwheat and my home made nik-naks. I got rid of sugars, wheat, or naughty ingredients, I have some  gluten free products left though.

Like I said in my previous blogs, my dehydrator haven't really stopped. Apart from this week, I got enough to last me a few weeks, so, I'm planning to make some sugar-free vegan "Rocky Road" this week. 

My favo nik-naks so far is: Muesli and raspberry cookies. They were delicious. They didn't last and perfect as breakfast-on-the-go. What was in it? 
Gluten-free muesli( I use Rude health and cheated), desiccated coconuts, extra nuts, seeds and dried fruits, date syrup and freeze dried raspberries. Soak them over night and make into small patties, press lightly and dehydrate. I often too much water/home made nut milk in, and mixture gets too wet. Ended up spreading on to the sheet, cut into either squares or bars. So, better start off little liquid. I made this with rye grain, soaked over night, combined with soaked desiccated coconuts, dried fruits and nuts mixture, and coarse oats. I blitzed rye, it started sticky as gluten comes out. If you are OK with rye, recommend to try this. If you don't have dehydrater, bake it at 170℃ for 20mins or so.

Last week, I made peanut butter flavor. It wasn't too bad. I added some my protein mix, babao powder and hemp. It's power nik-naks!

Doesn't look very appetizing but they taste really nice and moist inside.
I have been trying out all sorts of flaxeed crackers. I did look up on web, what sort of things people were making. All look very nice and my turn now to make crackers.

I made both thin ones for dips. I grind flaxeeds first and soaked. Added seaweed, nutritional yeast, tamari, spices and hemp. 2nd picture, I think I added pureed sun-dried tomatoes and smoked paprika and garlic etc. Basically, I shoved with whatever I had in my cupboard, not too much ingredients on each crackers though. Cut them a half way through, leave to dry till crunchy and curled. I liked them curled, dip and scoop out easy and can put lots on them!

Then I made some dips with soaked cashew nuts. I made like when I make hummus but I didn't add tahini( I didn't have it in my fridge) and it was delicious.

At moment, I take my nik-naks and lunch box (for work) with me all the time. To be honest, I'm happy doing that, if I have even little bit, helps to even out my blood sugar level so that I don't have to crave and stuff myself with cakes and sugary products. 

I lost weight (was that poo? ☺) since stopped eating wheat/sugar/dairy (mainly cakes) completely. But I don't think I lose anymore. I feel it's my healthy weight and feel very stable.

I'm going to Japan in November, wondering already what to eat....Too much temptation! 

Sweet potato juice

Sweet potato and carrot juice

I always wondered what it was like to juice sweet potato. This potato is full of goodness inside, sometimes just want to eat them raw. I grate them, make coleslaw, shove them on my salad and eat. But till recently, I'd never juiced the potato. Strictly speaking, they are not potato, they are yam family. In Japan, we eat Edos and yams raw. Simply grate them, and put soy sauce(again!), shove it on hot sticky rice or make posh dish. And very popular. So, why not? Why not juice sweet potato???

I did look it up on Internet if there were people who juice it, and here there was, raw people were doing so. They are still alive and well, more like really well, so, secret to be well is....be a raw vegan???
Well, I think it suits to some people to be well this way. This world is catered for everyone with various diets to fit in.

I have been abstinence from cake for....two months now. This is the longest I've ever done without cakes/pastries. Instead? What have I been eating? I've been eating my home made raw nik-naks and Sweet potato juice!

Sweet potato has full of nutrients (I did my home work!), excellent source of vitamin A (beta-carotene, more than carrots!), Quercetin, Chlorogenic Acid, also good source of  Vitamin C, Clacium, Iron, Potassium, Fibre, Copper, Folate Acid, and rare low fat source of Vitamin E. Moreover, they are fab & effective source of immune-boosting carotenoids for fighting cancer. Sounds perfect doesn't it?

That was why I'd love to consume the vegetable raw, take the whole nutrients to full power!. Having say that, I must say, same as kabocha squash, I love to roast vegetables, fantastic flavor, always enjoy the texture and make such a lovely dish. These days I eat about 80%-20% raw and cooked, for me it works. Sometimes 70%-30%, as long as more than 50% of my food contains raw each day, I feel my body's a happy bunny. 

Norie's sweet potato juice:
1x med sized sweet potato
2-3 med sized carrots
small ginger
this is my basic, and depends on what I have in my fridge, I add:
1/4 fennel
1x celery
handful of parsley
spinach to make into green juice....

This particular one, I made with fennel, and celery. 
Oh, one more thing, I always peel the skin first before juice the sweet potato.

Enjoy!