Today is the second last official day of our Vitamix Recipe Center celebration, and I couldn’t end the month without introducing you to the incredible woman behind many of the Vitamix Recipes: Vitamix Head Chef and Nutrition Coordinator, Bev Shaffer. Bev has become a dear friend of mine after we worked together on the Vitamix Videos. I fell in love with her instantly, and realized we were kindred spirits. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE her. Not only is she an extraordinary chef, she is an amazing human being, with a quick wit and hilarious sense of humour that always has me bending over with laughter. She, and the phenomenal Vitamix food stylist, Betty Karslake helped me enormously with the Vitamix shoots, making my job SO much easier, and more... Keep Reading

If you are a Vitamix subscriber you would have received the email blast that went out yesterday officially announcing the fabulous NEW Vitamix website, marking the beginning of a new generation of blending at the Vitamix Corporation. If you haven't checked out the new world order, do yourself a favour and spend some time on this sleek new site. There is a fabulous new Recipe Center with GORGEOUS food photography; Vitamix Spotlight, where well known chefs such as Alex Guarnaschelli talk about their experience with Vitamix; and wonderful new shopping area where you can check out everything Vitamix has to offer! If you don't have their special spatula to ensure you can scrape out every last bit of your yummies.  I am really proud to be... Keep Reading

Sauces and purees are LIFESAVERS when you are vegan and vegetarian. They are fantastic for adding delicious flavour to grains and vegetables, as well as tossing through pasta, and spreading on pizza, sandwiches, and wraps. Vitamix makes creating a variety of different blends SO easy. As I mention in my Vitamix Purees video, you can make silky smooth purees or thicker sauces with the Vitamix depending on your preference.  I enjoy super smooth blends for some recipes, and then at other times prefer some texture like with this marinara sauce, where a rustic consistency is brilliant. This recipe is a fantastic blank canvas for all kinds of flavourful inspiration. It is delicious as it is, or you can add in some more vegetables like... Keep Reading

It is DAY 30 of "Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur" and I have deliberately saved this lovely lady to last! Not only because we are nearing the end of August and moving into the California Food Literacy Month of September that she successfully lobbied for; but also because she is one of my very favourite food bloggers in the world! I speak of my friend, the FABULOUS Amber Stott, founder of California Food Literacy Center, and blogger extraodinaire at Awake at the Whisk. If you don't know Amber, well, you are just missing out on one of the most incredible women on the planet. Literally. I first met Amber at IFBC in 2011. I fell in love with her there, stayed in touch, and then hung out a whole lot more at BlogHer Food 2012 in Seattle... Keep Reading

It is DAY 26 of "Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur" and I am utterly thrilled to be featuring the wonderful Marie-Claire Hermans from Ravishing Raw. Marie-Claire is a raw food chef, author, and coach in Belgium, Europe and is a wonderful contributor for this Excalibur event because she specializes in making raw food look and taste like cooked food! This is especially helpful for raw food beginners who are craving cooked foods during their transitional period.  You can also purchase the RAVISHING JUICE FAST, eBook, where Marie-Claire guides people through a cleansing juice fast for 3 weeks with thorough information to remove all toxins and rejuvenate your body safely. This fabulous eBook comes with a recipe for every day through the... Keep Reading

It is DAY 24 of "Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur" and if you think eating raw foods is expensive, the gorgeous Brandi Rollins from Raw Foods on a Budget will change your mind. This lady certainly knows how to stretch a dollar in a healthy way. I just LOVE Brandi's philosophy, "In every budget is the opportunity to experience limitation or abundance. The choice is ours."  Brandi is passionate about educating people about live raw whole foods, and offering practical strategies that make this lifestyle a manageable reality for average familes. She has written several books on affordable whole foods living, and thriving on raw foods in cold climates. Brandi’s most recent book, RAW FOODS ON A BUDGET, is a winner of the 2012 Independent... Keep Reading

It is DAY 21 of "Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur" and I have invited my wonderful friend, the GORGEOUS Eva Rawposa from Uncooking 101, to the party. Those of you who have been following me for a while will remember Eva from our trough swap last year, where I featured her amazing Raw Virgin “Better-Than-Tequila” Margarita Mocktail, Raw Vegan “Better-Than-Ranch” Salad Dressing, and her delicious Raw Brazil Nut Chocolate Milkshake. If you are new to this blog, let me introduce you to one of the most incredible people in the raw foods world.  Uncooking101 is a GORGEOUS raw foods site that was created by Eva Rawposa and her delightful business partner, Venita Hale. Eva is a raw chef and vegan health educator, who is passionate about... Keep Reading

It is DAY 19 of "Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur" and the lovely Lauren Felts from The Holy Kale brings her delicious raw vegan burgers and caprese salad to our Excalibur Dehydrator Giveaway party. I connected with this wonderful lady on Twitter and immediately fell in love with her website. For starters, how good is that name, "The Holy Kale?" LOVE it! I just HAD to have her be part of this event.  Lauren Felts is a certified nutritionist and owner of the health and wellness website, The Holy Kale. As an advocate for inspiring others on their quest for health, Lauren specializes in holistic nutrition, cleansing, toxin-free living, and utilizing superfoods for beauty by addressing not only the body, but also the mind and soul. Lauren... Keep Reading

It is DAY 10 of "Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur" and today we are celebrating our Excalibur Dehydrator Giveaway in style with the lovely Veronica Grace from Low Fat Vegan Chef. I LOVE Veronica's website, because you can find delicious raw vegan recipes, and cooked vegan recipes, so there's something for everyone. She also has such a  beautiful, natural, straight-forward style and simplicity that makes her healthy tasty recipes accessible to anyone. Check out the videos on her You Tube channel and you will see what I mean. You feel like you are standing in Veronica's kitchen with her and cooking together. So who is Veronica Grace? Veronica is a self taught home chef and food enthusiast who focuses on promoting an oil free and low fat... Keep Reading

It is DAY 7 of Raw Food Recipes with Excalibur, and I am just tickled piggy pink to share the phenomenal Penni Shelton with you. If you don't know this wonderful lady, get ready to be acquainted with one of the most beloved and generous people in the raw foods community. I first met this raven-haired RAWkstar beauty and ball of fire during Ani Phyo's raw food class at Matthew Kenny OKC. She was sitting next to me, and we spent the entire class laughing and eating our way through the rawlicious treats on offer. Penni had so much passion, energy, wit, and good humour as she photographed and documented every single moment of the class so that she could share it with her online community, Raw Food Rehab, that I decided on the spot that "I... Keep Reading