Excellent Raw Potato Salad

Last night after doing a Kenpo X workout (which is one of my favorites) we needed to eat dinner. I was tooling through some of my raw recipes and found these awesome Raw Potato Salad and Dressing recipes that I've got to share. After you try them, let me know what you think. Or, if you've got a recipe for potato salad - PLEASE SHARE!

Potato Salad

2C diced jicama
1/4C diced yellow pepper
1/4C diced celery
1T minced fresh rosemary (I'm not a fan so I used dill)
2T minced green olives
1/4 avocado, mashed (I used 1/2 avocado)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced (I diced mine)
parsley sprig

In a bowl, combine all ingredients except parsley sprigs, and set aside. If not eating right away, put in a container and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, pour Potato Salad Dressing over salad and toss until well combined. Divide salad between two serving plates and garnish with parsley. SERVES 2 - we had leftovers which is perfect, I'll need something for lunch today.

Potato Salad Dressing

2T tahini
1/4t ground cumin
1 1/2T lemon juice
2T water
2t fresh parsley
1/4t nama shoyu
1/4t agave
sea salt and chili powder to taste

Blend all ingredients in a Vita-Mix or blender until smooth. It will be thick but once it's combined with the jicama, it will thin out.

Eating Raw

Eating raw for me can be challenging. Fresh fruits and veggies are easy enough to come by but I need variety or I get bored easily. I also need to have dessert every once in a while - I've got a huge sweet tooth!

I subscribe to Purely Delicious, a raw food lifestyle magazine. It comes quarterly and in it are wonderful articles about living raw, organic and as green as you can imagine. This issue, Spring 2010 has a few dessert recipes that I'm going to try. One of them I'm trying tonight. Here's the recipe;

Banana Caramel Cake
This cake is best described as "ooey gooey and downright fabulous!" ...I'll be the judge of that!

Fudge Cake
3C dry walnuts
2/3C raw cacao powder
1/4t sea salt
1 1/2C Medjool dates, pitted

Caramel Sauce
1/4C agave nectar
3/4C macadamia nuts
1 1/2T vanilla powder or liquid
4T almond milk
3T yacon syrup
4T cacao butter
1/8t salt

Filling
3C bananas, sliced

Combine the walnuts, cacao powder and salt in the food processor and process until mixed. Avoid over processing. Add the dates and pulse until mixed well. Pour one-half of mixture into a 8x8 dish and press lightly then add a layer of sliced bananas and set aside. To make the caramel sauce, blend all sauce ingredients in high-speed blender until smooth. Pour one half of the sauce over the bananas. Place in the freezer for 20 minutes. Remove from freezer and add the remaining cake mixture. Next, add another layer of sliced bananas and frost the top and sides. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours until firm. Enjoy!

I'll let you know how it goes. But to me, it sounds like heaven!

And on a side note, my husband and I did the p90x workout for shoulders and arms yesterday and after that we did the AbX workout. OMG, I never realized how out of shape my core is...I was grunting like some of the men do when lifting really heavy weights. It wasn't pretty but I survived another workout and I'm very proud of myself and my honey. Life is always better when you go through the tough stuff with someone you love, don't you agree?

Getting Into Shape

I can't believe I've finally done it! I've become a Beachbody coach and have started the P90X exercise workout. The P90X program is a 90 day program and we're on day 3 of week 3. It's kicking my butt and my husband's butt but we're thrilled to start the program.

I've always enjoyed working out and have tried for years to stay in shape. These past few years, I've just let everything go. I was still eating fairly healthy (sure, I love the occasional chocolate bar or a Heath Blizzard) but knew I should be working out more.

A friend mentioned Beachbody so I checked it out and now, I'm hooked! This blog will be about my adventure with getting into shape, the exercise program and my diet. I'll keep you posted on the ups and downs. I'll let you know how I'm feeling, if I'm sore, if I am sleeping any better (yep, that has been an issue of mine as well) and if I'm seeing results. I'll also keep you posted on my husband's results.

Come back every day and join me in my adventure to health and fitness!