un-cook

just like every day in provo that hasn't been so hectic i almost forget to eat, tonight i piled vegetables into my blender.  after winter semester took its toll on both my physical health and well-being, i decided that a lifestyle change was in order for at least the summer.  since the beginning of spring semester, i have delved into the world of raw foods.  through the long and sometimes rocky journey that brought me to my daily eating/sleeping/exercising habits, i have come to believe in the healing power of raw and whole foods.  so in order to have a more in-depth healing and recovery stage this summer, i've started dividing my meals into a balance of about 75% raw foods, and 25% cooked...ish.  in the past, i've done spans of a week or so following this general pattern, and this time around has been no different - i already feel more awake and alert, i have more energy, i think more clearly, and i still can't wait to eat!

tonight, while i was whipping up green gazpacho, sabrina asked a question that really made me start thinking.  she asked, "jessi, why don't you try to write a cookbook?"  next, she pointed out that almost every time i cook, i'm making it up myself or changing someone else's recipe enough that it's original anyway.  i love to cook! and this summer i love to... uncook! but really, like sabrina said, my favorite part is making it up as i go, tasting and adding more basil.. tasting and wishing i'd used two less tomatoes... tasting and making everyone around me taste, too!  luckily for me, sabrina has been a good sport so far, tasting all my concoctions and never making a "wow, that's really nasty" face.  this train of thought led me to a new life-resolution.  i've always wanted to write something.  today, i think i found my something.  someday, i'm going to publish a cookbook.  step one: start writing down everything i cook (which is actually a lot harder than it sounds because i improvise so much).  but at least it will be a start! then, maybe in 20..or 30 years..or maybe in 5 (!) you'll be able to go to your local bookstore, find my name, and then you can start tasting, too! 

today's dinner: definitely one i'm going to remember and play around with, of course - it was the best gazpacho i've had in a while!  i ate it with a mini-mexican pizza left over from a couple nights ago: ezekiel tortilla spread with black bean dip (beans, garlic, lime juice, red pepper, yum), red onion, bell pepper, tomato, broccoli, and salsa.

green gazpacho

1 avacodo

1 1/2 cups tomato (ish)

3/4 large cucumber

2 cloves garlic

1 cup water

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil (ish)

1/2 teaspoon + red pepper flakes

blend together, top with chopped broccoli, orange bell pepper, red onion, and guacamole