There are many treats out there in the raw food world, that are quite enjoyable.  For some it’s chocolate, and others, macaroons.  It is nice to know that we can eat beautiful desserts and chocolates that are filled with refined sugars and hormone injected, puss-filled dairy products.  Sorry folks but it’s the truth.  I won’t go on about that topic!

Today I’m helping out Glen at the Cafe and needed to make some ice cream.  Generally we use a base of Thai young coconuts and cashews, but since we were out of coconuts, I thought to try a little something new.  

Here’s what I came up with:

Coriander-Lime Ice Cream

1c cashews, soaked 2 hours, strained and rinsed

3/4c dark agave nectar

2T coconut oil

1 avocado

1 lime, outer peel removed

1T coriander seed, ground

1t crystal salt, added with good intentions

just less than 1/4  fresh ginger juice

-Blend all ingredients well in a Vita Mix, using tamper to help create smooth creamy consistency  

-Add to ice cream machine and use per manufacturers directions

ENJOY!!

Today, after a frantic morning to try and get things ready, I made in safely to Sat Nam Yoga in Bethel, where I gave a raw prep class.  Today’s class focused on a raw Thanksgiving meal.  We had 12 guests along with studio owner Gaby and her partner Nick, and my beautiful friend Amy came up from NYC to help out.  In attendance where a few raw foodies, but mostly people interested in making some changes to there diet.  

When giving classes, I really try to keep things simple.  I can go crazy and make really gourmet dishes that require dehydration and a few days to prepare, but for me, that misses the point.  My goal is to make others feel comfortable with the recipes so that they can easily repeat once they are in their own kitchen.  

Here is the menu that I prepared:

Cream of Parsnip Soup

Mixed Greens w/ Pomegranite Vinaigrette

candied peacans, spicy sweet potatoes

Wild Rice + Sprouted Quinoa Stuffing

w/ walnut + sage gravy

Green Beans w/ Mustard Aioli

shallots, chopped almonds

Goji-Cranberry Relish

Pearfect Pear Tart

w/ fudgy carob filling

Annmarie of Renegade Health, was kind enough to video tape the class, so once edited, I will post for all of you to view.  If anybody is interested in purchasing the recipes as a whole, please email me at:

Frankfinest@gmail.com

Raw Magic Retreat, Cananda August 2006

Catch A Healthy Habit Cafe, October 2008

With my Irish adventures now behind me, I was looking forward to this past weekends chain of events.  Lots of cool events, parties, and training runs were all happening at once, so of course, I did alot of running around.

With the Bluff 50k, now just a few weeks away, fellow Bimbler’s used this weekend as the last big training run.  Over the last few months, we have been running various sections of the course, which has led to a little series we entitled, “Bite the Bluff”.  Saturday would be a 20 miler for most of the group, while a couple brave souls went out and ran the entire course.  Unfortunately, I had to with drawl from the race because of an upcoming trip, so my day out in nature was more for the joy then for the training.  Just a few months ago I was really looking forward to running the Bluff 50k as well as the StoneCat 50 miler, but things have changed with some job opportunities that came up for me. So training as taken a bit of a landslide, but I still feel I can go out and put on some miles when needed. 

Mayor, Suds, Iggy, Forrest, El Toro, and Bullwinkle

With the sun barely up, we ventured off into the woods.  The chilly weather, although at first was tough to deal with, turned out to be  perfect for running.  I love being out in nature, especially in the fall, in and around New England.  The colors are just so beautiful.  Crisp leaves fall to the earth and leave a crunchy blanket over the sticks and stones.  The air becomes crisp and invigorating, its perfect!

Along the way, we shared great stories, took cool photos, and enjoyed being outside.

Philip McCluskey will be featured on the tv show The Doctors, October 14th.  Click HERE for a sneak preview.  Way to go Philip!

For those of you interested in hearing the best of the best in the world of health, continue on.

Over the last month, co-creator of the Raw Summit has been busy putting together something that’s never been done before.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Raw Summit, it was an online teleseminar event that brought thousands of people together to learn more about raw and living foods.

What Kevin is up to now is even bigger and better…

He’s spent the last month putting together an event called “The Rawkathon.”

This is a collection of candid, one-on-one interviews with 15 of the top raw and living food experts on the planet and it will be broadcast for you to watch or listen to in a few short weeks.

The interviews–from what he’s said–are like no stage presentation or “how-to” DVD you’ve seen before.

Not only do these interviews cover how to stay raw, how to stay motivated, and the best ways to do so–Kevin has also said that they capture the true essence of each expert.  Almost like you were there in the room with them as the interview was being conducted.

So when you’re a part of the event, you get to hear 15 amazing interviews that really have never been created before or likely never again.

As with all of Kevin’s events, to get involved, it’s 100% fr@e.

It costs nothing for you to watch or listen to these interviews.

All you have to do is register now and you’ll be sent information on how you can be a part of raw food history…

To register, click here

Right now the project is set to release on October 19th and only is broadcast for one week, so I wanted to let you know early.

There is an opportunity to get all the interviews in a digital or hardcopy package at a special price with special bonuses, that won’t be up after the event starts.

So please go ahead and register now…

==>Here

Thanks!

Frank Giglio

P.S. In just a few short weeks, this event will be over, so don’t miss the opportunity now!

==> Here

Enjoying fresh wild elderberries!

 Seeing that I have been waking without an alarm around 5 am each morning, I must still be living on Ireland time.  Today I got out early for a run and had to come to grips with the fact that summer is now over and winter is around the corner.  Still in shorts, but wrapped in a warm jacket, I did my best to keep my fingers warm.  I am still running without socks and really enjoying the close feel of the earth below me.  Despite my lack of running while over seas, I felt really strong during my 1 hour loop around Stony Creek.  Maybe it was the fact that I was really cold and just wanted to finish as soon as possible, but what ever the reason, my legs felt strong.  

I am a pretty bummed that i will not be able to run the Bluff 50k this year, but my upcoming travels over the next month, bring a smile to my face.  HallowEden is sure to be an amazing time as I team up with Melissa Mango and company create an amazing feast at Eden Hot Springs.

Yesterday, I pulled the plug on the garden for the 2008 growing season.  It has been a great year for growing and I certainly learned a lot about organic farming.  I did happen to get some garlic into the ground so that I will have a nice harvest come late spring next year.

Also,i have ben loving up the green smoothies!  Prannies teachings of sea weeds has me soaking then blending a handful of dried alaria first before adding any other ingredients.  The smoothie of the week seems to be the following:

blueberries

pear

bee pollen and honey

maca

fruits of the earth powder

fresh chilies

lots of collard greens and swiss chard

Shilajit

cacao nibs

and flax oil

I make this super thick and creamy and eat it by the spoonful nice and slowly.  It has easily been carrying me thru the morning.  

It is well past midnight, and once again I am wide awake, near my bed, and trying to come down from this incredible high that I have felt for the last two weeks.  My trip to Ireland hasn’t been so much of a holiday, sightseeing was minimal and browsing around shops was absent from my time here.  With the exception of a few lazy days, it has been full on for me.  Daylight hours had me harvesting wild seaweeds, horseback riding and visiting the farmer’s markets, while the night brought countless hours prepping food for the workshops.  As busy as I have been, it has been one of the most full filling experiences of my career.  

Fresh Wild Atlantic Dulse!!

Prannie, the Irish Queen of Seaweeds!

Fresh Kombu

Prepping my seaweed bath!

Visiting Ireland, this time around as been quite an experience.  it is very special to be able to visit foreign counties, and experiencing that is so worth while, but for me, I have been able to see things through the eyes of the natives.  Being able to stay and live with the locals has brought me a much deeper view of what it is like to live in this amazing country.  I have found the Irish to be so loving and always trying to make me feel at home and welcome.  

Kate with a BIG chocolate cookie!

Yesterday I gave another all day workshop in the beautiful home of Hans and Gaby, and beautiful couple relocated to Ireland from Germany.  Attached to their home is a great classroom, where they too give classes on many topics ranging from cheese making, cultured foods, preserving, and herbalism.  The classroom was a great place which easily held the group of 21.  With the help of Prannie, Gaby, and Siobhan, the day went off without a hitch.  All the guests seemed to go away with a little inspiration to start adding in more raw fruits and vegetables.

Tonight would be my last presentation of the trip.  In downtown Sligo I gave a short presentation, demo and raw food tasting for some 20+ people.  Once again, I felt I really gave the folks a little food for thought as far as upping their health.  

One reoccuring theme throughout the 4 classes has been green smoothies.  3 out of the 4 classes featured a few different versions of green smoothies and I feel if the guest prepare anything down the road it will be these lovely green drinks.  I noticed people making strange faces as I dropped a bit of dulse, cayenne and dandelion leaves into a blender full of fruit, but when tasted, all seem to smile and say, “wow, this is actually good.”  

I really made a point throughout all the classes to take a very simple approach to the raw lifestyle.  It was never my intent, nor did I ever suggest that one needs to be 100% raw to live a vibrant and healthy lifestyle.  I have found so many people saying to go raw, raw, raw, but when I really look into it, I find it just shouldn’t be the ultimate goal.  Sure, if an individual decides that 100% raw works really well, then right on, but for the most part, it is important to find a happy relationship with the earth and choose to add fresh whole fruits in vegetables as much as possible.

I wrap this trip up totally inspired.  I look forward to bring back so much newly learned info and sharing it with my community.  A few classes at Catch a Healthy Habit and Sat Nam Yoga Center are just around the corner, then air miles stack up with another trip to AZ around Halloween.

More pics here

I am currently residing in Garrison, a small village in Sligo county. This quaint little part of Ireland remains quite after years of struggle. IRA bombing once dismantled the town, and by walking through the other day, seems like it is still in a time of dormancy.

Two days ago, I took the bus from Dublin. With sun sun nearly below the horizon, I stepped out onto the concrete and was greeted with chilly winds and rain. My body instantly went into shock. Two weeks ago, I was basking in the sun of Arizona, now all of a sudden I am freezing. Ill preapred for the weather, mainly because I took more recipe books then clothes, I suffered for the first few day. Yesterday I took a walk to the lake and gail force winds nearly tossed me into the water. Despite the weather, I must say it is quite beautiful up here. It is kind of what you picture Ireland to be, green grasses, sheep in the pastures, and lots of rock structures. Moving along at a brisk pace, I made it home just before the hail came.

A warm cup of tea fired up my bones and once again, the warmth of Siobhan’s home, welcomed me. It has been a mellow few days for me here. I was able to get in a little talk at the Organic Centre.

It was a brief visit but I look forward to heading back today for a full tour. They will also be providing me with the bulk of my veggies for Friday and Saturday’s workshops.

Tonight I meet up with a lady to go on a sea vegetable adventure and also to go horseback riding. I am so pumped for this one. I am sure i’ll freeze up on that horse but it’s all good!

Still trying to figure out details on my possible additional stay here in Dublin. Until I know more, peace.

Unfortunately I can’t use my computer, so the pictures wil have to wait.