Cravings! Get thee behind me!

[somelikeitraw]

Today marks my fourth month eating raw. I am very nearly 100%, only the odd cooked spice or unknown cooked item (ex: I didn't know nama shoyu was made with cooked soybeans or that agave syrup was heated well over 118 degrees) has made it past my lips. Right now, my tastebuds are craving an In N Out double double, animal style, with fries and a shake. Or at the very least, a homemde cheeseburger with 1000 island dressing on it. My family is not raw but watching my exploration very closely. They continue to have some of the foods my mouth is craving in front of me and it's so tough... I keep reminding myself that health feels so much better than SAD tastes, however, my tastebuds are relentless.

All the posts about the onion rings and all of the other fantastic foods the one can create with the proper equipment are exquiste torture! I don't have a high speed blender or a dehydrator. I do have a food processor and a little magic bullet thing that has trouble fully blending strawberries.

Does anyone have any raw comfort food recipes that are easy on the wallet and can be made without the fancy equipment?
Please, oh please?

[contessa20]

This (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=17016)is probably my favorite burger-type recipe. You can whip it up and eat it as a pate if you don't have a dehydrator or make it into burger patties and use your oven on low with the door open for a couple of hours.

[sport]

You are fighting the battle with cravings but it is because the SAD is not willing to let you go. You are not going to let it win. You are stronger than that.
You decide what goes in to your body.

[The French One]

I know that often, I want to have a sweet taste after my main dish at dinner. So I will have one small piece of chocolate with tea.
When I'm working home (I'm still student), I often wanted to have something to eat, like chips etc, so, almonds, or carrots cut in slices, gave me the feeling of eating something crispy.
Try to find some simple raw refuges than you can use when craving, and then, if you're really craving, stuff yourself of raw food until the idea of eating makes your stomach feel bad. After a few crisis, I can tell you I don't have any particular or regular craving any more.
Good luck!

[raweater]

I have no idea what an "In N Out double double, animal style" is so I can't help with that.

For fries you can cut jicama into fries and toss it with olive oil, paprika or chili powder and sea salt but it's obviosuly not quite like real fries.

For a shake you can put 1.5 cups of water including many ice cubes, 3/4 cup walnuts, honey to taste and then either cacao powder, strawberries, vanilla, or chai spices for the flavor you want. You can also add 1 tbsp coconut oil. Blend on high speed and it's just like a milkshake.

I'm also not 100% raw, I'm about 75% since most agree that even 30-70% raw will give you tons of health benefits and having a cooked thing that's not too unhealthy one a day isn't too bad and makes it easier to stay raw than if I tried to not "cheat" at all, especially since I normally eat 3000-4000 calories a day since I'm physically active so I need to prepare a lot of food each day.

[donnyandcathy]

When I clicked on the link for the best burger recipe this is what came up, could someone please translate =) Not sure what the symbols mean, or
poblano pepper??
Thank you!!!!
Cathy

Mushroom Nut Loaf
1. 2 ½ Portabella Mushrooms
2. 1 C Walnuts
3. ½ C Carrots
4. ½ Red Bell Pepper
5. 1/8th C Parsley
6. ½ C Sun dried Tomatoes
7. 1 inch piece of Poblano Pepper
8. 1 Clove Garlic
9. ½ tsp of Cumin
10. 1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt

[spicyfull]

I have no idea what an "In N Out double double, animal style" is so I can't help with that.


It's a Drive through Burger Place all over So. Calif. There are cars ALWAYS lined up waiting to drive through. There are about 4 or so people working in a small area making burgers. Its called "In and Out".

[GlimR]

RP's Brownies got me thru some rough spots.....all you need is a food processor....dates, walnuts and cacao

1 c. walnuts
1 c. dates (soft, or soak a bit)
1/4 c. cacao powder

Process nuts for a few seconds, add rest and process till it all sticks together and is blended well.....I add a small splash of vanilla and a pinch of sea salt at the start. Press into a pan, chill, cut and eat. You can frost them too if you like. I keep some frosted in the freezer....one of the best and easiest raw treats if you are wanting something sweet.

add ins-
dried cherries
orange zest
handful of raisins
whatever sounds good to you.

[Springtime]

RP's Brownies got me thru some rough spots.....all you need is a food processor....dates, walnuts and cacao


Not true :p

When i made these the first time i didn't even have a hand blender, so i grated the walnuts on the fine side of a box grater. Works great, they turn into flour at an instant.
Dates (if fresh) can be mashed by fingers, so no need for speed there...

[GlimR]

springtime...*LOL* Well...where there's a will there's a way!!:D

[iluvmangos]

When I clicked on the link for the best burger recipe this is what came up, could someone please translate =) Not sure what the symbols mean, or
poblano pepper??
Thank you!!!!
Cathy

Mushroom Nut Loaf
1. 2 ½ Portabella Mushrooms
2. 1 C Walnuts
3. ½ C Carrots
4. ½ Red Bell Pepper
5. 1/8th C Parsley
6. ½ C Sun dried Tomatoes
7. 1 inch piece of Poblano Pepper
8. 1 Clove Garlic
9. ½ tsp of Cumin
10. 1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt

Leave out the A's when you read it. That's weird. I don't know what caused that.

[T-Bird]

My family is not raw but watching my exploration very closely. They continue to have some of the foods my mouth is craving in front of me and it's so tough... I keep reminding myself that health feels so much better than SAD tastes, however, my tastebuds are relentless.

They can make it harder.....yet easier.

Sometimes I think about what my kids are seeing as I go towards being healthier. And I want to make it ALL the way till I am slim, trim, youthful and full of energy.

So that someday - if they have a crisis of health, weight, energy, they can remember.....oh - yeah - mom went from a gothic nightclub diva to being an overweight couch potato in 10 years.....then she totally turned it around, with what??

Oh yeah - growing wheatgrass and making green smoothies and eating raw.

I want to put an indelible blue print for them of the "escape hatch" in their physches. I feel if I CAN make it to glowing vibrant health, it will be a transformation they remember their entire lives, and can follow the blueprint when need be.

[snoops]

What a great reason to keep at it!!

[symeonsam]

Poblano Peppers are a mild pepper that is green, sort of pointed but larger than a jalapino pepper. You can find them in the supermarket or any mexican ethnic market. Just ask your grocer, they will show you.

[Cynthia Z]

One thing that has really helped me through rough cravings is to take raw almond butter and slather it on a banana. It is OHHHHH so good and gives you that rich flavor that settles the cravings. One time I bought some raw cacao powder from the HFS and put that on my banana and almond butter creation--oh boy it hit the spot. Give it a try and cheers to you!!

With thanks,
Cynthia Z

[somelikeitraw]

Thank you so much for all of the great suggestions and encouragement!

The In N Out double double is a double cheeseburger (double meat, double cheese) and animal style means it is smothered with grilled onions.

I don't have a high speed blender and the little thing I do have is challenged by strawberries that are cut in half, so the shake will have to wait.

I am slowly purchasing what I need to make the Mushroom Nut Loaf as my mouth is really wanting something burgerlike. I'm also getting what I need to create a raw 1000 island dressing to go on my notburger :D. Payday is tomorrow but I head out of town for 2 1/2 days tomorrow, so I will be quenching my SAD craving with the juicy alternatives when I get back home.

You people are so incredible and I am very grateful for all of you!

[mousebandit]

OH, I just made the burger thing (I didn't read all the directions, so didn't do the meatloaf) and they are SOOOOOO good! I am a major in-n-out freak (we've driven hours and hours to get a double-double, LOL!) and this is definately going to be a big help to crave my carniverous tooth! Let us know when you get your stuff and try this, tell us what you think.

Is Bill that made this recipe still around? I want more of his recipes!!

Tracey