Corn Tortillas

[SamuelWilson]

Corn tortillas are right up there with almond milk on the list of things I may consume too much of. I just wanted to get an opinion.

Is eating a large amount, 3 dehydrator tray fulls, of the corn tortillas too much? When you sprinkle celtic sea salt on them, they taste great. I just have a hard time accepting that these are healthy.

I make salsa to dip them in and eat large amounts of the salsa also, but I am not worried about the salsa. It is mainly fresh tomatoes which I know are very healthy. I only use organic tomatoes.

[Jo-anne]

Samuel are you using the recipe in Alissa's book ? or do you have your own recipe ?

p.s. I made the almond milk today, WOW, it was nice, but how long will it keep in the fridge, I made a jug full today but was hoping I could keep it for a couple of days in the fridge.

[SamuelWilson]

Jo-anne, I always mean a recipe from Alissa's book, unless I state otherwise. I probably should mention the recipes are from Alissa's book to clear up any confusion in the future.

The almond milk will be fine in the fridge for a few days, no problem. I usually drink it so fast though that I never encounter that issue. I made "brazil milk' yesterday and I really liked it. I have 3 cups of brazil nuts soaking now to make some more tonight or Saturday morning. I added about half a cup of agave to a half gallon of brazil milk and then I added some pure vanilla bean juice. I took one raw vanilla bean pod and I blended it in a small amount of the brazil milk and then I strained it through a paper towel, as cheese cloth will not filter out all the tiny pieces of vanilla bean pod. You have to use a whole vanilla bean pod because raw vanilla bean pods are not potent like processed vanilla extract you buy at the grocery store. It did not have an over powering vanilla flavor at all even though I used and entire vanilla bean pod. This is the only way I know to get true raw organic vanilla.

[truthseeker]

SamuelWilson, would you be so kind as to share that Almond milk recipe?

[raeannasun]

I've made the corn tortillas twice from Alissa's book and they're so chewy. Is there any way to make them crispy?

[Kris]

SamuelWilson,

I am by no means the authority on raw vegan nutrition, but I wanted to offer a suggestion that might help you with your questions of "Am I eating too much of..."

I think that people in the raw community can be quick to say, "Yes, if it's raw, just eat it!" However, I think most of us can agree that even RAW breads, cookies, crackers, milks, etc. should not form the foundation of our diets, as all raw foods are not created equal. Many of us have adopted this lifestyle because we seek the kind of health that comes from filling one's diet with a variety of fresh, organic if possible, fruits and vegetables. Can almond milk and corn tortillas be a part of a healthy, raw, vegan diet? Certainly! Should they be its foundation? Probably not, although that is of course for you to decide.

In my opinion, the point of being "raw" to put as many fresh fruits and veggies into one's body as possible. If consuming lots of almond milk and tortillas means you have less room for fruits and vegetables, you may want to cut back on the milks/breads and make room for more "foundation foods." But again, this is just my way of thinking about the subject, and we must all find our own way.

[SamuelWilson]

truthseeker, this is my modified almond milk recipe to make about a half gallon of almond milk...

3 C Almonds
9 C Water
1 Vanilla Bean Pod
7 oz raw agave nectar

Ok, let me say before I go any further, you don't need the vanilla or the agave, but I recommend it. It makes it absolutely great. So great, that dairy milk drinkers will rather drink this than dairy milk.

First, you soak the almonds overnight or at least 8 hours. Then you drain off the water and rinse them clean. You then put them in a blender and add 9 cups of water. For ratio purposes, it is 3 cups of water per cup of almonds. When I say 3 cups of water to every cup of almonds, I mean dried almonds measured. In all reality, it ends up being 3 cups of water per 1 1/4 almonds as they expand when they absorb the water.

You may have to blend the almonds and water in 3 different stages as this is a lot of liquid and is too much for some average sized blenders.

I then pour the blended almonds and water through a paint strainer bag. I used to used cheese cloth, but paint strainer bags are much more sturdy and have a finer mesh than most cheese cloth. Plus, when you are squeezing the bag to squeeze out the last bit of almond milk, you can really apply a lot more pressure with out the fear of tearing the bag. With cheese cloth, if you apply to much pressure, it ends up busting and then you have to re-strain it with a new piece of cheese cloth. By using the paint strainer bags, it is just so much better.

Ok, now you should have about 1/2 gallon of pure almond milk. I then add 7 oz of Agave nectar or you be the judge. Be careful because one minute it is not sweet enough, then the next it is too sweet. So add agave in liberal amounts until you get a feel for it.

I then take one vanilla bean pod and blend it with a small amount of the almond milk liquid. I blend it until smooth. You want to use just a small amount of liquid, just enough so you can blend the vanilla bean pod up. I then take that and strain it through a paper towel. A cheese cloth or a paint strainer bag will not work in this situation. I do not like black specks of vanilla bean in my almond milk, this is why I strain it through a paper towel. You must be very gentle as too much pressure will tear the paper towel.

You then add the vanilla liquid to your sweetened almond milk and there you go. This is good stuff.

[SamuelWilson]

SamuelWilson,

However, I think most of us can agree that even RAW breads, cookies, crackers, milks, etc. should not form the foundation of our diets, as all raw foods are not created equal.

In my opinion, the point of being "raw" to put as many fresh fruits and veggies into one's body as possible. If consuming lots of almond milk and tortillas means you have less room for fruits and vegetables, you may want to cut back on the milks/breads and make room for more "foundation foods." But again, this is just my way of thinking about the subject, and we must all find our own way.

Raw almond milk and tortillas are not my staple. I just consume a lot of it and I come to this forum to focus on things that I can improve on.

It may seem like I am living on almond milk and tortillas because that is what my concern is about. For example, this morning, I had a papaya and for lunch I had a mixed salad with some fresh ginger dressing. I do not need to ask people if that is healthy, because it is healthy. That is a no brainer. I focus on areas that need improvement. I just wanted to explain that so that I do not give out the impression of being a "raw food junky" who lives on milk and corn tortillas.

[SamuelWilson]

raeannasun, if you make the recipe exactly as listed, then you just have to let it dehydrate a little longer sometimes. It is important to have a dehydrator with a good fan. I find that it does better if it is in the top tray closest to the fan in my dehydrator. Hopefully your next batch will turn out crispy.

[rawpriestess]

I would like to repeat something that Alissa has said over and over and over again, THERE IS NO RAW JUNK FOOD.

How can you say that eating almond milk and corn tortiallas is unhealthy? it certainly is raw, and vegan, and almonds and corn is not unhealthy.

I just don't get it.

Like Alissa says, you can have date nut torte or banana ice cream for breakfast, raw pizza for lunch, and enchiladas for dinner if you like.

Just eat it, and YES, you CAN eat it if it is raw. So what if it is in a milkshake or a tortilla, and you wrap up all your veggies inside it. what is the difference, between eating a big green salad with corn in it, and red peppers and mushrooms, or wrapping the greens, the red pepper and the mushrooms up in the corn? I mean it is the same food after all.

so, I say, if you like it, and it's raw, then eat it.

Your body will tell you if you are getting too much, it won't want it anymore.

This has happened to me, I used to eat about 10 raw olives every day, now I don't eat that many in a month, I used to drink almond milkshakes by the gallon, now I have maybe 1 cup a month, I used to eat dates like they were going out of style, now I only use them in a recipe, and I use about 1/2 of what it calls for.

so, your tastes will change,this is a process, what works for me, may not work for you, and what you love today, you may not even want tomorrow.

Just enjoy your food, and enjoy your life.

[SamuelWilson]

rawpriestess, I agree with what you said about the almond milk and Alissa's tortillas not being junk food.

However, the reply by Kris may have been misunderstood by some readers. I was just attempting to explain myself to anyone who reads this thread. I don't want readers to think almond milk and tortillas are my staple, when they are not.

[sweetgoddess]

I understand your question Samuel and have one for you. How do you feel physically after eating it? If you feel good, then that is that. Your body knows!

[Jamie]

I have noticed that when I tend to eat more of these dehydrated foods, I lose more weight than if I am just eating mostly fruits/vegies during the day. Maybe that is because my body starts to think that I am starving when not eating as much??

But I have also noticed that when eating to much dehydrated foods, I don't feel quite as energetic as just plain raw fruits/vegies. Not that I feel bad, just not quite as bouncy as when eating mostly fruits.

Maybe this is because when first getting back on raw, my body needs the food to metabolize, i'm not sure. But it seems we should just go with whatever feels the best to our bodies.