Happy Birthday!!!

 So, after looking over my blog I have noticed a few things, first off: my blogging amount is seriously lacking. Second, I mostly have posted about pointless things. Third, most of my posts have had to do with birthdays. Well. . . Oh well! Here is another one for you! 

So, Prince Charming recently turned the big 18! And I knew from the moment I opened my own present (the juicer), that getting him a gift equally amazing and thoughtful was going to be a challenge. So after weeks of trying to find the perfect gift, I was relieved when he told me all he wanted was a cake. Now, don't be fooled, he specifically asked for a vegan cake, wait! He asked for a RAW vegan cake. Holly-Shmolly! (For those of you who are not aware, a raw vegan is someone who does not eat anything that is cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit. So. . . In short, this was going to be a challenge.) 

So I began my Google search for recipes that I could tweak and make my own; I looked and looked. . . And finally settled with a Lemon Blackberry Cheesecake (Minus the Cheese). Sounds good right? 

And it was! It turned out perfect and was exceptionally tasteful. However: Let it be known that you will be in the kitchen for a awhile, and you may need more than one food processor. :) 


I adapted this recipe from a recipe I found online, (but actually can't find anymore!) so let's be aware that I was not the first maker of this cake, it was some other creative genius. Nevertheless, here is the recipes and instructions for how to make the cake. Have fun! 

Lemon Blackberry Cheesecake 

Ingredients: 

Cake:

2 1/2 cups raw cashews (preferably soaked overnight)

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp lemon zest

1/3 cup plus 3 Tbsp agave nectar

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp coconut oil (warmed to liquid)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract and seeds from half a vanilla bean (other half reserved for topping)

2 Tbsp organic dried lavender flowers

1 cup fresh organic blackberries

Blackberry puree:

1/4 cup blackberries

1 Tbsp agave nectar

Cream Topping:
1/2 cup raw cashew pieces (preferably soaked overnight)
1/2 cup coconut water

3/4 cup fresh young coconut meat* (or additional soaked cashews if not available)
2 tablespoons agave syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla and seeds of half a vanilla bean (the other half of the one you used for the filling)
1/4 cup coconut oil (warmed to liquid)

The Process: 

To prepare the crust, spray a 6 inch spring form pan with nonstick spray.  Process hazelnuts and sea salt in a food processor until the hazelnuts are fine crumbs, then add the dates and process until the mixture holds together when squeezed between your fingers. Firmly press crust into the bottom of prepared pan. Set aside.

To make filling, drain cashews and combine them with lemon juice, and zest, agave nectar, coconut oil, sea salt and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Remove the filling from the food processor, stir in lavender and divide evenly between 2 bowls. Place half back into the food processor and add 1 cup blackberries. Puree until smooth and scrape back in the bowl. For the blackberry puree, using an immersion blender (or you can rinse out the food processor) combine the 1/4 cup blackberries and 1 Tbsp agave nectar and puree until smooth. Drop the filling alternating between the vanilla and blackberry in about 3 tbspful amounts over crust in pan, until all is used up, sort of in a checkerboard fashion. Tap on the counter to level (keeping pan level).  Drop some of the puree in teaspoonful amounts over the top of the cake (reserving some for serving) and swirl with a knife to create marbling. Place in the freezer until it is set, 6 hours about.  After that store in the fridge until ready to top. 

To make topping, drain cashews and blend all ingredients until smooth in a food processor, and set in the freezer about 30 minutes until a frosting consistency. Place in a pastry bag and pipe decoratively on top of the cheesecake.  Store in the fridge when not enjoying.

Crossing the Bridge

Well, I finally did it. I crossed the bridge and am now an adult, and yes, if you care to know I do feel old! The Dancing Queen song doesn't even apply to me anymore because I am not seventeen! UGH! However, one good thing did come out of today, Prince Charming got me a present. A present that is the king of all presents out there. . . He got me a juicer! 

TADAHH!!! 

Needless to say, girls: I know jewelry is pretty and sparkly but we're going for practicality here. A new promise ring or something you can make delicious apple carrot juice with? Hm? Point made! 

Morning Glory

I am an unusual teenager, or well, I am in my book. In the morning instead of grueling and dreading waking up; the moment my alarm goes off I am up and wide awake. I think I got it from my Dad, the inability to sleep in, even on weekends, because my Mom can easily sleep in till noon or later. Of course, it would be nice to sleep in one or two days to catch up on some sleep. But I also feel that why waste your time sleeping when you could be awake and active? In Dean Karznases's book "Ultramarthon Man" he talks about how on average, we sleep a total of 26 years in our life time, that's like 1/3 of your life! Fruitful thought, yes?

Nevertheless, it is a lot easier to wake up in the morning with the question of "What yummy breakfast am I going to make myself today?"

Here is one of my many favorite morning meals, Sie's BIG Breakfast Bowl (adapted from Rip's Big Breakfast Bowl from the book Engine 2 Diet.) The ingredients vary from bowl to bowl but the one pictured above has the following:

Sie's BIG Breakfast Bowl

Ingredients: 

1 Ripe Banana (Half of it mashed and half sliced)
2 Barbara's Wheat Hockey Pucks (a.k.a. Barbara's Shredded Wheat)
1/3 Cup of Rolled Oats
1 Tsp. of Ground Flax
1 Cup of Misc. Fruit (Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries.)

Enjoy! 

Dar

After two hours of ruthless drilling he still manages to make me smile.

This blog is primarily about my life lessons and experiences throughout life, right? Well the short answer is "yes." However, I often fail to mention the importance of dependence during your life, or my life. For instance, take a professional athlete. . . Hope Solo in this case. Hope Solo is an extremely talented athlete on her own and has worked her dairy-air off to get to where she is today. But. . . Think about her parents and how hard they have worked and encouraged her through life. Better yet, think of the personal trainers, the coaches, and the teammates that she spends her time with. All of those people are essential for athletes; they are also often referred to as a "team."

I have many marvelous and extraordinary people on my team, not to mention the people that were on my team in the past who were equally so. . . I have my parents and family, who by far are the base of my life. I have my trainer and workout partner: "Carpino" as well as my teachers and academic tutors. I also have my tennis coaches: "Bill", "Roberto", and Dar. These people help me through my day each and ever day. They have mentored me, inspired me, and taught me things that I will never ever forget. You could say that, in a way, they have molded me into the person I am today, which is something that I am very proud of.

However, to be honest, one of the most influential people I have worked with over the years has been one of my coaches: Dar. And I just wanted to take a few minutes and dedicate this post to him and all of the valuable life lessons he has given to me over the years. In fact, I just happened to write my college essay about him. . . And well, here it is. . . 

Dar

         
Whenever I described him my words followed a subconscious template; the man with the thick mustache who iswearing fluorescently flamboyant colors. Everyone knew his name and many of myyoung successors had “hit” with him at the same time and place as I had inyears past. He was a fantastic coach; there was no denying that fact. He lovedtennis and the kids he worked with almost as much.

            His repetitiveness could befuriously annoying at times; he was a man who could make any player exhaustedboth mentally and physically, especially me. Usually when I played tennis I wasthe grinder; the person who got every shot back and wore people down in everyway. However, when Dar and I hit, he was the one grinding me; getting everyshot and tearing my lungs to pieces. He would work me till I had nothing left.

            But then again, strangely, I lookedforward to my hits with Dar because it was the feeling afterward that made itall seem right. It was much like the feeling the “runner’s high,” where yourendorphins sing beautiful songs because you are too tired to be anything buthappy. It was great, that moment of losing yourself, like being on top of atall snowy mountain looking down over all of the beautiful things you haveaccomplished.

            These weren’t the only things thatDar allowed me to accomplish either. In his own unique way he taught me how tonever give up, to fight with everything I had, because in all truth, my futuredid really depend on it. He taught me that it didn’t matter if you werevertically challenged, or if you thought you were to slow, or you didn’t hithard enough; whatever you had within yourself was enough to conquer almostanything.

            He taught me that I had enough ofeverything to be the best I could be and that as long as I went with my gutfeeling, that every shot would land inside the court. 

Being Aware

To start off I suppose I should go about explaining what "spirit week" is at my high school. Typically, our spirit week takes place once every couple months, usually corresponding with beginning of every sport season; Winter, Fall, or Spring. This Fall our student officers decided to theme our spirit week around the idea of raising awareness of breast cancer; in other words: this week is pink week. Every day is labeled as a different theme such as, twin day, or deck-out day, with the idea of wearing some form of pink everyday. Granted, wearing pink is obviously very difficult for one gender in particular so not everyone participates. But the idea is still present.

However, this being said today in one of my classes me teacher posed us with the question of: "What are all you guys wearing pink for?" Of course, numerous students raised their hands and began to explain what this week was about. He listened thoughtfully but obviously was not convinced by any of their explanations. His next question was a little more offensive, and later went on to accuse us of not doing enough to contribute to the cause. This of course, ruffled many peoples feathers and made a few people huff and puff.Goodness, it made me huff and puff.

Nevertheless, he made his point near the end of the class period when he admitted to us that he wanted to people to get upset; that he wanted to see the frustration and the passion that fueled our arguments. He wanted us to be upset because he claimed: "that was what truly raised awareness."

Although I was upset, and although it took me a few days to get over my stubbornness, I must admit that I agree readily with my teachers comment. The passion is what drives the train, the emotion behind someones words are what you often remember; rather than their the actual words. And this is true for many things, not just raising awareness! This all being said, I want to advocate the importance of being emotional (not to emotional though, you know how us girls can get a little nuh-huh...) and being passionate about what you stand for. For instance, look at me, I am standing up for inner beauty and the pure feeling of being loved because whether we see it or not. . . We all are beautiful.  

A Night in the Hollywood Light

Here is documentation that, YES, I actually did attend a high school dance. It was. . . Fun? But, I have to give all the credit to Prince Charming who swept me off my feet with a Vegan banquet, drove me accident-free to the ball, and counted the stars with me, knowing that we're one in a million. (We literally did count the stars. Constellations are fun!)

The Love of Fall

I must admit, I'm a hot weather girl. You know, the high 90's to 100's? But the one great thing about it not being so bloomin' hot is the color! Can I just get one of each of these please?!