the issues with gourmet raw

[menat]

Does one spend more money when making gourmet raw foods using a dehydrator, blender or food processor versus eating rustic raw (no electronic manipulation of the food). I am not talking about the buying cost of the equipment, but let's say that you want to make raw desserts, crackers and breads...are you spending more money than usual than eating rustic.

[crystalmoon]

I dont really know what you mean by rustic raw...am assuming you mean eating foods in their natural state, unprocessed except maybe cut up.
I reckon making flax seed breads/crackers is really economical & on days when I cant afford to eat fresh fruit & veggies all day they save me money (if you dont count the cost of my dehydrator to buy). Also grinding nuts makes them go alot further than eating them whole.
Then again eating fresh homemade sprouts is amazingly cheap too.

[EZ rider]

I've heard that term "gourmet raw foods" used before and I'm not sure what kind of food that is ?

[menat]

I am just wondering which will save me money over a period of time. I went to whole foods and a raw oreo cookie was like $4 and the flaxseed crackers was like $9 a bag.

I wanted to know which will be more economical stay rustic (yes, eating the food in it's natural state) but buying raw snack goods once in a while, make my own raw goodies, which will make me buy a blender, dehydrator and I am not sure if I need a food processor as well.

Another question...

If I do buy the Vitamix blender, do certain gourmet raw still require a food processor. Or can the Vitamix blender act like a food processor as well?

[StarFire]

mmmm... maybe a little bit - but I've found over the months that it's become a once in a while treat - or if If someone is coming over and I want to share some raw goodness with them...

so - I haven't really noticed too much of a dent when i do decide to fix somethin gourmet. Mostly cuz the gourmet dish is usually enough to last several meals -- so - I end up buying less for my 'rustic' meals. I think if I only ate gourmet - it might seriously affect my budget though.

When I first went raw - I was indulging in a lot of gourmet meals... then my body said ... okay - that was fun - can we do simple now? :D

I was eating a lot of nut pate's and nut based dishes... now - I'm eating lots of fresh foods... lots of greens and lovin it!

If I could have both a vitamix and a fp - I would be soo happy! I imagine perhaps both are not necessary -- but I would think that a fp would come in hand for coarser chopped things ... doesn't a vitamix really make stuff very creamy??

in the long run - I would rather make my own goodies... TASTE WISE ALONE... nothing premade and available in the hfs has been anywhere close to the taste and freshness of making it myself. It's gotta be more economical in the long run....

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/grin.gif

[StarFire]

I've heard that term "gourmet raw foods" used before and I'm not sure what kind of food that is ?

I think some of the 'fancier' items like some of the more elaborate recipes in Alissas book - like her Calzones....

or many dessert recipes - such as the raspberry chocolate cake, or the banana chocolate cake.... (course those don't take a dehydrator)

special wraps made with coconut milk which can be used to make spring rolls...

anyways... that's what I've always associated with the term gourmet raw foods...

[EZ rider]

that's what I've always associated with the term gourmet raw foods...Sounds RAWlicious. One of these days I will have to try some gourmet. Thanks :)

[Lauriola]

The Vitamix is very versatil. It can be used as food processor (it has 10 points of speed very deffirenciated, AND to variations: low and high) . Comes also with a temper that helps to move the stuff if you need it. This machine is great! I was using a baby food processor until I bougth the Vitamix. And the difference is HUGH as far as the quality of my smoothies and processing nuts and nut's milk.
I prepare one gourmet raw food meal maybe every three days, because it last that long for me.

[menat]

Okay, it is great to know that the VitaMix can be a blender and a food processor at once.

[RawHeaven]

Sounds RAWlicious. One of these days I will have to try some gourmet. Thanks :)

The next time you visit San Francisco, check out Cafe Gratitude for wonderful gourmet raw.

http://www.withthecurrent.com/cafe.html

[RawHeaven]

The Vitamix is very versatil. It can be used as food processor (it has 10 points of speed very deffirenciated, AND to variations: low and high) . Comes also with a temper that helps to move the stuff if you need it. This machine is great! I was using a baby food processor until I bougth the Vitamix. And the difference is HUGH as far as the quality of my smoothies and processing nuts and nut's milk.
I prepare one gourmet raw food meal maybe every three days, because it last that long for me.


Thanks for posting this info because I've been debating whether or not I'm going to purchase a vitamix vs a great food processor. The one I want is 500 bucks, but I know it's worth it and you know what? I'm going to get it! :D