Simple Pleasures

I spend a lot of time in my happy raw kitchen, but it isn't always making something to eat!

Most raw food meals are actually quite simple, like today's breakfast, a coconut. It was especially enjoyable because I had a beautiful glass straw to drink from.

Such a simple pleasure! A coconut has never tasted so good.

My sweet hubby gifted me with a couple of new books, and a set of Glass Dharma straws for Valentine's Day. It wasn't a surprise, I picked them out..lol!

You may have noticed the pretty little box in the picture above. That is the reason I was in the kitchen today, crafting!

I may want to start carrying one of my lovely new glass straws with me when we go out, to use in place of the disposable plastic ones, so I made a pretty covered box for it.

It is so easy to do.

If you would like to re-purpose any box, here is what you need:

A cardboard box, I used the box the glass straw came in:)
Fusible webbing or fabric glue
Fabric, or an old shirt with a pretty pattern, cotton is best for fusing.
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Iron and ironing board
small buttons or beads
needle and thread

Step 1: Carefully open the box at the seam. For this project, you can cut off the little fold-in tabs(marked with a "X"), because they are not needed. A couple of the following pictures were the first box I made, and they still have the little tabs:) Flatten out the box as much as possible.

Step 2: Cut a piece of fabric and fusible web twice the size of the opened box, and about 1 inch bigger, all around. For this box, the piece was approx 11 inches on all sides. This piece will be cut in half, as you will need one piece of fabric to cover the inside, and one for the outside.

Step 3: Following manufacturers directions, iron fusible web to the back of the fabric. You can use fabric glue to cover the box, if you prefer.

Step 4: Iron or glue fabric to the outside side of the opened box. Trim fabric to a little less than 1/2 an inch all around.


Step 5: Clip into fabric where it has to go into a corner, or around the tab.

Step 6: With the inside of the box up, iron the excess fabric down all around the edge of the box,

Step 7: Cut the remaining fabric slightly smaller than the inside of the box. Save the scraps for step 10. You don't need to cover the inside of the tabs for this project. Iron or glue this fabric to the inside of the opened box.



Step 8: Refold the box making a sharp crease along the lines of the original box shape. Apply hot glue, or other strong glue to the inside edge of the box, and hold for a minute. See which end looks nicest for the top, and glue the other end closed.

Step 9: Add a little button or bead to the top of the open end so you know which end to open:) I sewed it on with strong upholstery thread.

Step 10: Iron on a small piece of saved fabric to the inside of the tab to cover stitches.

That's it! All done:)

I have been using my new straws all week, and I must say...

Glass Dharma straws are so beautiful, I just love them.


I hope you didn't mind my little green craft project today. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you know I absolutely love making craft projects, it's one of my simple pleasures. And of course, my favorite projects are ones that recycle things that might normally be discarded.

I must have made hundreds of recycled projects over the 12 years when I had my daycare. One reason was because I needed to find frugal, aka cheap:) ways to make projects with the little ones.

We made so many recycled projects that one day, one of my little angels arrived with an armful of...ummm...garbage, yelling "Look what my Mom almost threw away!!!" He actually took the stuff out of his garbage pail. Too cute:) Of course we made something out of it, I just don't remember what...haha!

I remembered that story today while making my little fabric covered boxes.

Thanks for visiting my crafty raw kitchen today:)

I would love to know what your simple pleasures are!

BTW, if you want a chance to win an awesome 25 Piece Cutlery and Gadget Pro Set with Wood Block for your kitchen, click this link to visit my girl Pam's blog!

Raw Gingerbread Cookies:)

Happy Monday everyone! I am starting the week off with my last raw vegan holiday cookie of the week!

Raw Gingerbread Cookies:)

2 cups almonds, ground to flour (almonds were soaked/dehydrated)
1/4 to ½ cup flax seeds, ground
2 Tablespoons molasses* or yacon syrup
2 Tablespoons agave
1 teaspoon ginger, ground
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
½ teaspoon allspice, ground
¼ teaspoon cloves, ground
1 T water if needed

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl, adding water if needed. After dough is formed, knead on clean counter for several minutes until smooth.

I have not tried it, but I think you could use ground chia seed in place of the flax seed.

2. Roll out and shape as desired with cutters, cookie stamps, or freehand. I had a sleigh chocolate mold that I used.

3. Dehydrate at 112 degrees for 24 hours. Dough will still be somewhat soft and chewy, yet firm.

4. Cool cookies and decorate as desired.

*Molasses is not a raw ingredient but for the authentic gingerbread flavor it is the best!

I made a icing with cashews, coconut flakes, coconut butter, agave, and water. I used a couple of drops of vegetable color for the red and green icing.

I would love to share another craft idea today. Cinnamon dough ornaments. The recipe is just 2 ingredients, cinnamon and applesauce. I have been making these for years and I just love them!

Simply mix equal amounts of cinnamon and applesauce, and shape dough as desired. You may need a bit more cinnamon if your applesauce is watery. I dust the counter with a little extra cinnamon to prevent sticking.

Poke holes or add hooks before drying.

I use my old cinnamon for the ornaments, or dollar store spices if I don't have any:)

I used my dehydrator to dry them quickly in a few hours, but just let them dry a day or so if you don't have a 'D':)

When dry, decorate with fabric paint "icing", jewels, or rick-rack.

The ornaments last for years and smell so good! Kids love to make them:)

As you can see, these ornaments are not decorated yet, so I better get busy!

Happy Raw Holidays to everyone reading this!!!

Gift Box and Raw 'Eggnog':)

Today I would love to show you how easy it is to create a small gift box from a recycled greeting card. This box is pictured on the top right of the pic above. I made a few boxes today while enjoying that rich and creamy raw eggnog in the pic:)

This is the first of 3 boxes I will be showing you. This box style is courtesy of Mike Lieberman. Please click here for his instructions and video, which I am unable to watch:(

Since there is a chance someone else out there does not have high speed internet, I am posting step by step pics:)

Here is what's needed for this simple "green" project.

A greeting card, scissors and/or x-acto knife, ruler or straight edge, permanent double stick tape, a paper folder or butter knife, and a cutting board. Mike used a card he received, and I have some left over cards from a few years ago.

I have also used copied photos for this project in the past:) Out-dated calendars or plain cardstock work very well, too.

Step 1: Cut greeting card in half on fold line.

Step 2: Using the ruler as a guide, score a 1/2 inch to 1 inch border around all four sides of the front of the card, which will become the top of the box. I use a paper scoring/folding tool, but have also used the dull top side of a butter knife to score.

Step 3: Clip the box corner as shown, and fold away from the picture side on all score lines. Use folding tool or butter knife to make a sharp crease.

Step 4: Place a small square of tape on the(4) clipped flap corners as shown, on the picture side of the card.

Step 5: Fold 2 taped corners in and fold up end to make one end of the box lid.

Step 6: Repeat step 5 with other end of box lid.

Step 7: Trim 1/16th of an inch from length and width of the back of the card. This will be the bottom of the box, and you want it slightly smaller to fit inside the lid. Repeat all other steps as with lid:)

All done!!!


Thanks to Mike Lieberman for posting this idea! This was one day in Mikes incredible 365 Ways to go Green. Check it out for some great green ideas:)

And now, about the yummy raw eggnog (eggnot?) I enjoyed this morning:)

If you have been looking for a delicious and creamy raw holiday 'nog' recipe you may want to give this one a try.

The recipe is from the Executive Chef at Pure Food and Wine, Neal Harden. 

I reduced the recipe by half for 1 serving, and slightly adjusted the ingredients. It was rich, sweet and creamy...so good!

I hope it is OK to post my slightly adapted recipe for 1 serving of nog:)

Raw Holiday Nut Nog

1/2 cup soaked, rinsed almonds, I measured after soaking overnight
1/4 cup pine nuts, I did not soak these:)
1 huge:) pitted medjool date
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1-inch piece whole vanilla bean, pod and seeds
1 teaspoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
about 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground cinnamon
pinch of pink salt
1 cup fresh water, maybe a splash more if nog is too thick

Blend all ingredients until smooth, and strain through nut-milk bag. Serve warm or chilled. I enjoyed it warm today with a cinnamon stick and extra sprinkle of nutmeg:)

I was so happy to come across this wonderful raw 'eggnog' recipe!!! I never thought of using nutritional yeast in a nut milk before:) Thanks again to Sarma and Chef Neal Harden for sharing:)

Please note: I usually do not re post actual recipes from other people, however the links to the recipes have changed several times.  I will try to fix any broken links as I find them. Thank you to those of you who have contacted me about broken links!

NEAL’S HOLIDAY NOG

½ Cup Pine Nuts, soaked & rinsed

1  Cup Almonds, soaked & rinsed

1/8 Cup Agave

½ Vanilla Bean

½ Nutmeg Nut, grated

¼ tsp Cinnamon

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1 ¾ Cup Water

Pinch Himalyan Sea Salt

Combine all ingredients in Vitamix or High Speed Blender and blend until smooth.  Squeeze mixture through nutmilk bag, chill, and serve.

** Neal"s original recipe had a bit of nutritional yeast in it, but since the recipe moved, the nooch is MIA!

This recipe inspired a Raw Eggnog Cake! Check it out here!

More holiday recipes and ideas at Happy Raw Holidays!

Recycle That Paper!

Of course you all know how much I love to create raw foods, but did you know I love to recycle paper?

No...I don't mean bringing paper to the recycling station:) I recycle paper right at home!

Last week, I received a package in the mail. The packing material was brown paper, shown in the picture above. I don't see much brown paper anymore, especially since bringing my own bags when shopping.

Any paper can be recycled, but brown paper is one of my favorites. I would love to show you how easy it is to do. I am making paper castings today for Christmas cards.

The first thing needed for this "green" project is an old, or inexpensive blender. Please do not use your expensive high speed blender for this!!! I have an old cheapo:) blender used just for papermaking now. You probably should not use the blender for making food after making paper in it anyway. I always see blenders at the Goodwill store, for just a few dollars!

Another thing you need is a mold. I will be making cards and decorations with these Christmas cookie molds.

There are some papermaking kits that have a mold included, but I also use chocolate molds, cookie molds and stamps, and my own molds made from clay. Most molds work best if wiped lightly with a cloth with a drop of cooking oil on it.

Other things needed are water, a sponge, a strainer, and a towel.

Onto the fun part!!!

How to Make Paper Castings:
Step 1: Tear paper into blender, 1-2 inch pieces work well.

Step 2: Add warm water to blender, you want 2-3 times more water than paper.

Step 3: Blend!!! Pulp will be very loose.

Step 4: Strain, I have a wire strainer for this. Strained pulp is like wet mashed potatoes.


Step 5: Over-fill mold with wet pulp. Place filled mold on a folded towel.


Step 6: Sponge out water. This will take several times of pressing the wet pulp and wringing sponge out. Press into details of mold. Fill in any open spaces.

Step 7: Allow to dry. This will take a day or two, depending how warm your house is. I haven't tried the dehydrator yet, but I bet that would work! If you still have a microwave, and you are impatient, you can use the defrost setting, 2 minutes at a time till dry. It will pop right out when dry!

Step 8: Your paper casting is ready to use as a tree decoration, or to glue to a card or gift tag. Dried paper castings may also be painted or otherwise embellished with glitter or bows,etc.


I also have a paper making kit to make sheets of paper.

Check out this link for all types of papermaking supplies. Most paper can be recycled and I love adding pressed flowers and other little things like strings, raffia, glitter:) and leaves to my paper.

One of my favorite things to add is dried flower petals from bouquets and flowers I have received over the years.

I use the handmade paper for wrapping small gifts, or making cards or gift tags.

I hope you will try this fun way to recycle your own paper!

I hope to show you how to make cute gift boxes from recycled greeting cards in an upcoming post:)