Whether you’re new to raw foods, or an old timer, wanting to go all raw or just incorporate more raw, looking to have community or just get recipe ideas, potlucks are a great way to do any or all of those things.

A couple nights ago Stephen and I went down to the Petaluma Raw Foods Potluck hosted by Cecilia Benjumea. Cecilia’s been eating raw, teaching raw food classes and hosting these potlucks for many years. She asked me to come down and be the speaker at the potluck and since I am on my way next week to be a presenter at Raw Spirit Festival, and have had zero public speaking experience in almost a decade, I figured it might be a great opportunity to practice. To be honest, I also thought/assumed it would be a small gathering so it didn’t seem that scary to me. Was I ever wrong! To my surprise, delight, and terror it was a very lively, full and happening event. What a great group of people! Way to go Cecilia, way to go Petaluma! Lovely people (from long term-raw to newest of newbie’s), awesome energy and conversation, and it looked like great food (I was juicing). In the hour I was there before I spoke I think I had to pee 3 times due to nerves, a fact made more embarrassing because I had to ask Cecilia for the bathroom key each time. As the time for me to speak approached I went from relaxed, open-hearted and friendly, to sort of conversationally glitchy with shallow breathing… I assumed I’d speak for 20 or 30 of the 60 minutes allotted, make my apologies for being disappointing, and say goodnight. I was introduced, I took a deep breath and the stage, and I ended up speaking for over 60 minutes (and I could have gone longer). I had 20+ peoples full attention (‘cept for that one right up front that was nodding off…. *wink*) the entire time. It was a wonderful and empowering experience! So I just want to say thank you to everyone who was there for making it such a safe and lovely environment for me to get a little pre-RSF public speaking experience. Thank you so much for your attention and your questions and interest in raw foods, your health, and in each other! I am now more excited than ever to go present in Sedona!

I was asked several times for the recipe for the salad I brought with me to the potluck – so I said I would post it here. Since I was juicing I brought something Stephen and I have all the time, so I wouldn’t feel too much like I was missing out. I’m going to give you amounts here, but know I play with amounts and ingredients all the time – so don’t take my recipe as law.

SHEA’S PETALUMA RAW POTLUCK SALAD RECIPE:
(These amounts are ‘roughly’ for one large salad – it’s all up to your tastes…)
•    romaine lettuce (1/4 – ½ head)
•    cilantro – chopped (1/4 – ½ bunch)
•    carrot – shredded (1 – 2 carrots)
•    beets – shredded  (1/4 – ½ beet)
•    avocado – cubed (1/4 – 1 whole avocado)
•    2T pumpkin seeds
(I use pumpkin seeds that I soak to germinate, lightly sea salt and then dehydrate to crunchiness – or you can use ‘Go Raw’ brand germinated pumpkin seeds – amazing – or plain raw pumpkin seeds)
•    1-2T lecithin powder (I prefer ‘Healthforce Nutritionals’ brand)
•    2T ground flax seed
•    2T (or more) ready to eat wakame (I prefer ‘Pacific Cove’ brand)
•    2T my Super Secret Salad Powder….
(Kidding! It’s equal parts Dulse Flakes, Nutritional Yeast & Raw Wheat Germ – mix up 1-2 cups of each and keep in fridge so it’s ready when you need it)
•    good oil (flax, hemp, Udo’s, pumpkin, etc.)
•    lime juice (at least one limes worth each salad – I usually do 1 ½ -2)
Stir it up really good. That’s it! If you have the salad powder ready, it’s pretty fast.
(I also like to add, but not always, scallions, peas, red bell peppers, etc.)

Tonight we had our first raw food potluck at our house – it was a small and intimate group and I want to thank you all for coming. It was a lovely kick-off, and I’m inspired to grow this event into something as wonderful as Cecilia’s – now that I know it can be done… (My mind now spins with ideas and wanting for a larger space, a kitchen and a comfy room, so if anyone has ideas…. My house is good for now, but I hope to outgrow it.) This will be a monthly event – the first Sunday of the month from here on out – so whether you’re raw, or just raw-curious, whether you’re a friend, a client, a client-to-be, or someone who just found this website and are interested in raw foods or creating a raw community, you are invited. More info on the iRaw page on this blog.

I made the same salad tonight as Friday – we had so much else going on I didn’t want to stress over food… but I did also make raw nut mylk ice cream, so, here’s the recipe for that:

ALMOND /BRAZIL NUT CACAO ICE CREAM:
•    1 qt almond brazil nut mylk
•    ¼ teaspoon sea salt
•    vanilla extract – splash
•    2T cacao powder
•    ¾ cup pitted dates
•    2T lecithin
•    ½ – 1 teaspoon xanthum gum. (Very Important Ingredient – makes the texture perfect!)
Vitamix till blended then add
•    1 – 2 T cacao nibs and blend a few more seconds
Pour into ice cream maker according to your manufacturer’s instructions and Voila! Yummy!
(Remember you can play with all of this! Use more dates or less – or agave honey or maple syrup instead, hazel nuts instead of brazil or not, coconut water for the nut mylk, use the coconut meat of you want – it’s all good!)

So – we’re off Thursday morning for Sedona, and I know I am slammed busy crazy until then – not that I have been Miss Consistent Blogger (HA!), but I can almost guarantee that I won’t be writing again until after my return. Hopefully I’ll be writing next to say what a wonderful time we had, that Suki and I did well with our talk and to post photos!

Hugs!

SheaShayShā