Monday, June 30, 2008

Raw Strawberry Pie



I've seen recipes for raw fruit pies before and have been verrrrrrry curious. To me, the raw food thing is the way to go. After reading, The Good Life by Helen and Scott Nearing, I'm even more convinced. (I believe everyone should read that book.) It just makes sense to keep foods whole and natural. Over processing and cooking more than light heat or steam just drain the nutrients out of our food. Besides, less prep in the kitchen is always a good thing, right? So, when I saw two recipes in the same day for raw strawberry pie, I decided to be adventurous! Since we didn't have as many strawberries as I thought we did, I supplemented with some sweet cherries. You could really play around with this recipe. Hope you'll try a raw fruit pie this summer.

The Ingredients:
2 lbs. fresh strawberries, tops removed, quartered
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice (about ½ of a lemon)
1/2 cup dark-brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
½ cup brown sugar
2 cups raw almonds ***You could use 1 cup walnuts instead of 2 cups almonds for a combo.
1 ¾ cups pitted dates
**Optional: Cut some of the sugar and stir in some REAL maple syrup.

In a bowl, combine strawberries, lemon juice, vanilla and brown sugar. Mix well, and let sit while you make the crust. Place almonds in a blender or food processor and pulse on high until they resemble bread crumbs, about 1 minute. Empty into an oiled 9" pie plate. Put dates in blender with 1 tsp of water and pulse on high until well chopped, about 30 seconds (it's okay if they're a little clumpy). Combine almonds and dates until they hold together, then press evenly onto bottom and sides of pie plate to form crust. Using your hands or a slotted spoon, pile berries into the crust, discarding any remaining liquid. Refrigerate for 2 hours and serve.


***The other raw pie recipe I found used the same crust as above but the filling was just the strawberries tossed with maple syrup and chilled. Good and easy!




Saturday, June 28, 2008

The Good Earth



It is our Saturday morning ritual to head over to the farmer's market in St. George to buy our weekly produce. I never cease to be in awe of the fruits and vegetables there. It's funny, but I feel like a kid in a candy store. I can feel my adrenaline rise as we get out of the car and begin to walk towards all the yummy goodness. I only wish I would remember to bring enough money to take everything I'd like home with me. These gorgeous strawberries were calling our name. Recently, I have come across two interesting recipes for "no bake" strawberry pie. I like this idea because in this heat and humidity, I can't even think about turning on the oven.
Girl cub, being a child of ritual, has to have at least two glasses of the yummy iced herbal tea at Rabbit's Run. Then she's over to the empenada stand for her second lunch. Daddy joined us today, which was nice. I got to roam around and take photos of all the beauty, so I was happy. I try to be realistic about my purchases, taking home only what we will actually eat. Today's bag was filled with dark green and lovely spinach (my absolute favorite thing to eat in this whole world...), beets, the reddest most enormous radishes, a pound of sweet cherries, a quart of strawberries, and a new one for us...a quart of sugar snap peas which I was eating raw out of the bag. Yes, they are that good. There is nothing in a supermarket that comes close to any of this.
I am so happy the market is back again for all of us to enjoy.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

On List Making, Etc.


I was too lazy to find a better film still from Closely Observed Trains, my all-time favorite film. I love the fact that it was released the same year I was born, 1966. When I first saw this film actually aired on pbs late one Saturday night, I was speechless. It has just left it's mark on me. I can't really say anything else about it. It's one of those things, I guess.

For lack of energy to do anything more productive this evening, I composed a list of my 10 favorite films. The fact that I am fickle and noncommital probably has something to do why I am now feeling guilty for putting such a list in black and white. I suppose they are my favorites though, and I can't change that.


I live for film as much as I live for my books. They were my air before J. was born. They are still vital to my existence. I carry each of these films around with me. I met pieces of my soul upon first viewing. I never get tired of watching them. That is why they are my favorites. As I read over the list, I think aloud, "maybe I have revealed too much about myself." It may sound strange, but those films and what I love about them, define me and the person I am, the "undefineable" others may not see. Oh, I'm rambling again. I am too tired to be writing, but I'm entertained.

Here is my other list...those films that I thought about putting on the first, because I love them, too. They are my close seconds: Annie Hall (Probably should have been top 10. I love it so.)

Mary Poppins, The Graduate, Rosemary's Baby, Belle de jour (Bunuel, je 'tiem...), Star Wars, The Apartment, Xanadu, Earth Girls are Easy, Cry Baby, In the Mood for Love, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and last but not least, an odd pick...but such and impact on my heart, Jesus of Montreal.

Yep, that just about covers it. I'm sure I've missed a couple of others...already thinking about Les Triplettes de Belleville. Okay, nighty-night.