I'm looking for some suggestions. Here is my situation. I have been transitioning to raw for 2 months. THe most success I've had is 6 days, 100% raw. My slip ups occur either in the evenings at home or from eating out in the evenings or on the weekends. My family still eats SAD. They are very supportive, but we eat out a lot. I love fruits, but have difficulty with veggies. I can tolerate a salad if I can find a really good dressing. Prior to raw, I always used ranch. So for eating out, I need a really good salad dressing I can make at home and take with me, since I'm destined to salads at restaurants.

My other difficulty is in the evenings / dinner time when I just want some comfort food and especially crave something warm and salty (like pasta) or munchy like popcorn.

I have gone to a few raw food restaurants and LOVE their creations, but can't seem to find any recipes that I like that well. I have all the equipment, so I'm not opposed to preparing gourmet raw, but so far I haven't prepared anything that I would make again and nothing that compares to what I can buy in a raw food restaurant. Unfortunately, the raw food restaurant I love is 45 minutes away and a bit pricey...so its more of a once in a while treat. Their menu has raw quesadillas, tamales, pizza, enchiladas...all WONDERFUL!!!

I seem to be doing okay in the raw dessert department, but I need some raw supper suggestions.

Any suggestions of where to go for really satisfying recipes of this sort?

Thanks.

heya .. i posted this enormous list of dressings a month ago so i will repost it here.. .ifyou cant find something you like out of it im afraid i will have to call you hopeless .. just teasin !

the dressing dont nessecarly have to go on a *salad* you can toss the veggies in it or use it like a pasta sauce ... be creative !!

Pick through them and if theres things you dont feel fit into your current raw state dont use them ... some stuff is raw , some are oils, salts , spices etc.

lol ive been collecting salad dressings for awhile =p

BALSAMIC BELL PEPPER:
1 bunch basil, stems removed
1 clove garlic
1/2 red onion
1 sweet bell red pepper
1/4 C balsamic
1/4 tsp sea salt
*Puree all ingredients... can add water if needed to thin...

BANANA:
1 ripe banana
1/2 C water
2 Tbl rice vinegar
1 Tbl agave
1 Tbl grainy mustard
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp pepper
*Puree all ingredients till smooth...

AVOCADO TOMATO:
1 large tomato chopped
1/2 cucumber peeled
1 small avocado peeled, pitted
1 tsp fresh oregano or 1/4 dried
*Puree smooth...
**It's easiest to cut avocado in half... remove pit... then spoon out avocado)

CARROT CELERY:
1/2 cucumber peeled
1 C carrot shredded or large handful small carrots
1 celery rib cut in pieces
2 Tbl Braggs
1/4 C ground almonds
*Puree smooth...

CARROT AVOCADO:
1 C carrot juice
1 small avocado peeled, pitted
2 Tbl Braggs
*Blend smooth...

ORANGE MANGO:
1 mango ripe, peeled
1/2 C orange juice
1/2 tsp curry or to taste
1 garlic clove pressed
*Puree smooth...
(Variation: can 1 tsp nama shoyu)

ARTICHOKE: (for those this will work for)
1 Tbl apple cider vinegar
1/4 C water
1 Tbl agave
1 garlic clove
1/2 tsp basil dried
1/2 tsp oregano dried
1/4 tsp white pepper
2 artichoke hearts (water packed drained or frozen thawed drained)
*Puree smooth...

CHILI CILANTRO: (for those this will work for)
1 4oz can green chilis
1/4 C fresh cilanto
1/4 C water
1/4 C fresh lime juice
1-2 garlic cloves pressed
2 tsp raw honey
1/4 tsp pepper or to taste
*Puree smooth...

ZESTY LIME: (for those this will work for)
1 garlic clove
2 Tbl capers
2 Tbl raisins
juice of 1 lime
1 tsp lime zest
1 tsp whole grain mustard
1/2 tsp Stevia or to taste
2-3 Tbl cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
*Puree all ingredients...

BALSAMIC PARSLEY: (for those this will work for)
3/4 C water
1/4 C balsamic vinegar
1-2 Tbl capers
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 Tbl fresh parsley minced
*Blend all ingredients...

SOUTHWESTERN:
1/2 C salsa (any kind you make)
3 Tbl lime juice
1 Tbl white wine vinegar
1 Tbl dijon mustard
1/4 tsp chili powder
*Puree smooth...

CITRUS:
1 orange juiced
2 Tbl lemon juice
1 Tbl balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic pressed
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp Stevia or to taste
*Whisk or shake in jar...

GRAPEFRUIT:
1/2 C grapefruit juice (red)
1 Tbl lemon juice
1 Tbl seasoned rice vinegar
1-2 garlic cloves pressed
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp lemon pepper
*Whisk or shake in jar...

ITALIAN TOMATO BASIL:
5 sundried tomatoes soaked
1 C tomato chopped (about 1 tomato)
1 garlic clove
1/4 C fresh basil chopped
1/4 C water
2 Tbl balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp sea salt
*Puree Smooth...

RASPBERRY:
1 shallot chopped (about 1 Tbl onion)
3/4 C frozen raspberries
1/3 C frozen apple juice concentrate or raw honey
1/4 C raspberry vinegar
1 Tbl dijon mustard
1/8 tsp sea salt
*Puree smooth...

ORIENTAL GINGER:
2 Tbl apple cider vinegar
1/2 tsp Stevia or to taste
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbl nama shoyu
1/2 C pineapple juice
1 tsp ginger grated
*Whisk or shake in jar...

BASIC:
1/4 C red wine vinegar or rice vinegar
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp Stevia or to taste
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 tsp nama shoyu
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/3 C water or veggie juice
*Whisk or shake in jar...
VARIATIONS: (just add to basic recipe)
ITALIAN: 1 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil, 1 tsp tarragon (all dried)... and crushed (can use mortar and pestle or just use back of spoon and bowl)
TARRAGON: 1 1/2 tsp dried tarragon crushed
CUMIN: 1/4 tsp cumin

AVOCADO SPINACH: (from book Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine)
1 large avocado
2 C spinach chopped
1/2 apple
1 tsp cayenne
1 tsp Celtic salt
water for consistency
*Puree all ingredients till smooth and creamy

CREAMY ZUCCHINI: (from book Rainbow Green Live-Food Cuisine)
2 C zucchini chopped
1 Tbl raw apple cider vinegar
1 Tbl olive oil
1 Tbl Italian seasoning
1 tsp Celtic salt
*Puree all ingredients till smooth and creamy

Vizard Dressing
A tangy dressing that, on a salad of fresh spinach, reminded me of
Russian dressing with a twist last night.

1/4 C tomatoes
6 tsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. nama shoyu
2 tsp. agave nectar or honey
1 clove garlic
1/2 C soaked sundried tomatoes
1/4 C olive oil
dash of sea salt
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Blend in food processor until smooth and enjoy on salads or as a dip.
Use less acv to make it thicker for dipping veggies.

Sweet and Sour Onion Dressing
1 med. yellow onion
1 tbsp. honey
1 T celery seed (this is key)
2 tsp. dry mustard
3/4 C apple cider vinegar
3/4 C olive oil

Blend in food processor until smooth and enjoy!

SOY GINGER DRESSING

2 tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tbsp. soy sauce (use nama shoyu or braggs)
4 tsp. oil
1/2 tsp. sugar (use honey or agave)
1/2 tsp. ground ginger (use a little more, if desired)
1 sm. clove garlic, crushed



Ginger sesame dressing
2 cloves garlic -- coarsely chopped
1 T fresh ginger -- coarsely chopped
3 T rice wine vinegar (use apple cider vinegar)
2 T soy sauce (nama shoyu or braggs)
2 t sesame oil
3 t tahini
2 T vegetable oil (use olive/hemp/flax oil)
__________________

Basil Vinaigrette
1/2-1 cup olive oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup Raw honey
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
sea salt to taste
just whisk together in a bowl..and enjoy..


and....

tomato-basil vinaigrette
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic or apple-cider vinegar
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, sliced
1/3 cup pine nuts, chopped
2 tablespoons water
1-2 tsp. honey
whisk together in a bowl and let set in the refrigerator for a few hours.

(I thought of doing this one and blending it all together. The dressing I had was smooth, with no chunks.)

Creamy Mac Ranch Dressing
1/2-1 full cup raw mac. nuts
1/3 cup r. apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
2/3 cup cold-pressed olive oil
1 tsp salt
Italian seasoning to taste
1/2 TBS sage
DIRECTIONS:
Blend the macs. with 1/4-1/2 cup of water (depending on the thickness desired).
Add the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, Italian seasoning, and sage.
Blend thoroughly.

Ranch Dip or Dressing
1 1/2 C cashews or macadamia nuts*
1/2 C water
3 T fresh lemon juice
1-2 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp Celtic Sea salt*
1/2 tsp dried dill (or 1 very small sprig fresh)
1/2 tsp dried basil (or 2 leaves fresh)
1 stalk celery
Mix all ingredients in Vita-Mix or blender until smooth and creamy. Makes 2 cups. If making dressing, use an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of water


avocado mayo:
1 cup pine nuts
1 large avocado
1 tbs. lemon juice
2 tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. Celtic sea salt
1/2 clove garlic
blend and use as mayo, or a dip, there's lots of uses for it, but I use it on lettuce and put tomatoes or other veggies in between, it's the same consistency as may and really yummy

Salad Dressing:
1 pear
small handful of pine nuts
2 cloves of garlic
a shot or two of apple cider vinegar
some olive oil
dash of sea salt
pinch of cayenne
pinch of dried herb
vitamix all ingredients

Thousand Island Dressing
2 red bell peppers
2 tomatoes
1 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. pine nuts, soaked 2 hours
1/2 c. sunflower seeds, soaked 6-8 hours and rinsed
1/2 c. fresh parsley
1/2-1 c. water
4 TBS. lemon juice
1 tsp. sea salt
Blend in blender until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasonings to taste

Caesar Salad Dressing:
makes 1 pint of thick dressing that will keep fresh for a week.
5 tablespoons raw tahini
1/4 cup pinenuts
2 tablespoons tamarind paste (optional)
1 nice clove garlic
2 green onions, or 1/4 cup sweet onion
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup or 3 soft dates, pitted
3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
1-2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
1-2 teaspoons sea salt or to taste
2 tablespoons good olive oil (optional)
fresh water, 2 tablespoons at a time as necessary to blend
In a blender or Vita Mix:
Blend tahini, pinenuts, tamarind, garlic, green onion or minced onion, lemon juice, vinegar, maple syrup or dates, nutritional yeast, black pepper and sea salt, adding oil and fresh water, 2 tablespoons at a time as necessary to blend until very smooth.
Season with sea salt and pepper to taste.
Separate Romaine lettuce leaves and break into pieces. Dollop dressing on, a few tablespoons at a time, and toss with lettuce until well coated, but not drenched. Serve and sprinkle with 'Pinenut Parmesan'

Sun-Seasoned Tapanade
Tapanade is a traditional Mediterranean spread or condiment made from olives and olive oil. This recipe includes the sweet addition of sundried tomatoes for body and savory flavor.
1 cup sundried olives, pitted
1 cup sundried tomatoes, soaked in 2 cups fresh water until soft (5-15 minutes)
2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 cup artichoke hearts, chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon sundried sea salt, or to taste
Soak sundried tomatoes in 2 cups of fresh water until softened (5-15 minutes)
In a blender or food processor: Blend softened sundried tomatoes, pitted olives, olive oil, artichoke hearts and salt until fairly smooth.
Add more oil as necessary to blend.

Dressing/Dip
1 cup almond milk
1 cup extra virgin cold pressed sunflower oil
1 tablespoon onion powder
Add everything to blender except oil & blend while slowly adding the oil. Chill in fridge to thicken up. !

Annette's Favorite Salad Dressing
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup catsup (buy a healthy one)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (raw & unfiltered)
1 tablespoon honey--more or less to taste (raw & unfiltered)
1 teaspoon mustard (buy a good one from the health food store)
1 clove garlic (minced)
Place ingredients in order given into mixing bowl and stir. Then pour into blender and blend well. Chill to blend flavors, or can be used immediately.

Poppy Seed Dressing
4 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 Tablespoon fresh orange juice
1/2 cup soaked almonds
2 Tablespoon green onion
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoon poppy seeds
Place almonds in a bowl, cover with distilled water, and soak overnight. Drain and place all ingredients in blender except poppy seeds. Blend until desired consistency is reached, adding distilled water if needed. Stir poppy seeds in by hand before serving.

Grape Juice and Avocado Dressing
"One of my favorite raw recipes is to make 1 cup of fresh grape juice and put it into a blender with the flesh of one ripe avocado. It makes a wonderful sweet sauce for over strawberries, peaches, nectarines, apples, etc. Just use your imagination.

Darlene’s Favorite Salad Dressing
1/2 avocado, peeled
1 celery stalk
1 tomato
1/4 cup fresh snipped chives
1/4 cup fresh snipped parsley
1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion
1 cup water
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (organic)
2 teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt(or other seasonings)
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Chill. Serves 4 to 6.

Merry's Favorite Salad Dressing
1 avocado (peeled)
1 clove of garlic
Water
Lemon juice or Celtic Sea Salt to taste.
Put avocado and garlic and seasoning in blender with enough water to cover half way. Blend until creamy. Add water if needed to desired consistency.

Chris's Favorite Salad Dressing
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons raw, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons raw organic honey
1 teaspoon garlic powder (or one fresh, finely chopped garlic clove)
1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning
2 teaspoons of Celtic Sea Salt
Pour all ingredients into a salad dressing jar and shake vigorously. We have found it gets better the longer it sits. We refrigerate it and the olive oil thickens somewhat, which makes it cling to the salad better.

Ruth's Favorite Salad Dressing
1 cup flax oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
1 tablespoon basil (or Italian herbs)
1 teaspoon granulated garlic (or fresh garlic)
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
Celtic Sea Salt to taste
Mix with a hand blender or shake in a jar.

Rhonda's Favorite Salad Dressing
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup honey (raw & unfiltered)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon minced sweet onion (or dried onion flakes)
Celtic Sea Salt to taste
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon basil
Mince garlic clove and onion

Richard's Favorite Dressing
One avocado, mashed
Juice of one lemon
One tablespoon flax seed oil
Celtic Sea Salt to suit taste
Dash of the following: cayenne pepper; curry; kelp powder; favorite dried herbs (I use a mix of basil, chervil, tarragon, marjoram and chives). Find an herb mix that you like. Add distilled water to consistency you like--the thin you can use on salads, the thick as a veggie dip or whole grain/rice snack cracker spread.

Avocado Dressing
1 ripe avocado
1 lemon, juiced
Mash the avocado until smooth, add the lemon juice until a creamy consistency is obtained. To Serve: Place leaf lettuce on a plate, spread with avocado mixture, top with raw sweet corn salad.

Tahini Salad Dressing
1/4 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1/2 cup flax, or extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup tahini
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
1/4 cup distilled water
Celtic Sea Salt to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth.

Italian Dressing
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 - 2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard (optional)
1/2 cup distilled water
1 green onion
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
dash cayenne to taste
Place all of the above ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Then stir in: 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (or 1 teaspoon oregano & 1/2 teaspoon basil) Refrigerate till used.

Russian Dressing
1 Avocado
1 small ripe tomatoe
1 tbsp honey or agave
1 tbsp cider vinegar
1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
1 clove garlic, minced
Blend it well in the blender and pour it on your salad

Thousand Island Dressing
2 red bell peppers
2 tomatoes
1 c. celery, chopped
1/2 c. pine nuts, soaked 2 hours
1/2 c. sunflower seeds, soaked 6-8 hours and rinsed
1/2 c. fresh parsley
1/2-1 c. water
4 TBS. lemon juice
1 tsp. sea salt
Blend in blender until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasonings to taste


Salad Dressing:
1 pear
small handful of pine nuts
2 cloves of garlic
a shot or two of apple cider vinegar
some olive oil
dash of sea salt
pinch of cayenne
pinch of dried herb
vitamix all ingredients

Italian Sunflower Dressing
1 cup sunflower seeds*, soaked 6-8 hours and rinsed
¼ c flax oil
¼ c lemon juice
1 T Nama Shoyu
½ t dried basil
½ t dried oregano
½ t dried thyme
In a blender, mix all ingredients until smooth and creamy; adjust seasonings to taste Yesterday 07:38 PM Gosia Simple dressing ideas:

* orange juice and tahini (I simply squeeze the juice on the salad, then pour tahini, and then mix)
* strawberries and tahini, processed
* lemon juice, tahini, water, processed
* as above, but use nuts/seeds (macademias, sunflower, hemp, sesame etc), processed with water, instead of tahini


Ranch Dip or Dressing
1 1/2 C cashews or macadamia nuts (I used a combo of both, mostly macs though)
1/2 C water
3 T fresh lemon juice
1-2 cloves garlic
1-2 tsp Celtic Sea salt
1/2 tsp dried dill (or 1 very small sprig fresh)
1/2 tsp dried basil (or 2 leaves fresh)
1 stalk celery
Mix all ingredients in Vita-Mix or blender until smooth and creamy. Makes 2 cups. If making dressing, use an extra 1/2 to 1 cup of water.

...Jodi, the banana eating buddhist

oh and i find my pasta craving is dulled by simple zuchini and any of the above sauces/dips/dressings

if popcorn is your only vice i wouldnt sweat it too much

...Jodi, the banana eating buddhist

Jgunn - What an incredible list!! I'm adding it to my 'favorites'.


Islandgirl - Boy, can I appreciate what you're going through. These suggestions may or may not be what you need:

1. Once you commit to being 100% raw, don't ever eat cooked again. I have read testimony after testimony, and have had personal experience, that once one indulges in cooked, it's hard to get back on the wagon. If you think you can have just one helping of cooked food, or just one meal of cooked food and then easily get back on raw, you may be deceiving yourself.

2. Don't go out for meals with SAD friends and family until you've overcome the influence that cooked foods has on you. The temptation is too great and often overpowering.

A friend went down to Ann Wigmore's health institute in Puerto Rico for 2 weeks and came back healthy, on fire for raw, and full of recipes and techniques for raw foods. She looked and felt happy, healthy, and beautiful. In due time her SAD daughters wanted to take her out to eat for Mother's Day, which she agreed to. She ended up eating cooked food. After having spent thousands of dollars getting her mind, heart, and body cleaned up at the health institute, she's once again battling and indulging in her cooked food cravings.

I believe we simply have to make a commitment to be raw and stick to it 100% for life. When we set this strong boundary, we eliminate backsliding to cooked foods because we've simply removed it as an option.

3. Evenings are your weakness? You may want to try going to bed early. Eat dinner, brush your teeth, do whatever essential business you have, and hop into bed. Not only do you bypass those evening crravings, you get the added benefit of waking up early and feeling refreshed.

-Smile

Jodi...thank you, thank you, thank you for all the recipes. WOW! You're the greatest! Smile...great suggestions and pretty much what I have decided. I think I can really handle the eating out thing as long as I have a good dressing that I really like. Planning is the key for me. I'm really disciplined in other areas of my life so I know I can do this too...but I need a routine and a rhythm. That's just the way I am and what works best for me. I presently get up at 5am so I'm usually in bed early...no later than 9 anyway. Today was very different for me. I had my normal morning smoothie and then was really hungry at lunch. Previously I was trying to do 80/10/10...just eating fruit and it seemed I was just hungry all day and then ravenous by dinner time. Well today, I made an avocado dip for veggies and then ate some raw carrot cake that I had made. I guess it was the fat, but I was totally full and satisfied and didn't even eat dinner. We'll see what the scale says tomorrow, but it sure was a nice feeling for a change!

islandgirl Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm really
> disciplined in other areas of my life so I know I
> can do this too...

Islandgirl,

I know that you can do this too. You put so much time, attention, focus, inquery and energy toward this, there is no doubt in my mind. You're an inspiration.

Betty

thanks