Charlie Goes Raw

A Quick Pit Stop at Leon's!

2010-02-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

Leon's are a healthy fast-food chain in London serving delicious but healthy foods on the run. I love Leon's and I have been a regular there ever since they first opened in Regent Street a few years back. I have watched them grow with delight as they now have several restaurants dotted around the capital.

I love the fact that all of the food is prepared with love and it has a real home-cooked feel to it. All of the food is very reasonably priced and you can buy filling vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes that will plesase everyone.

I really recommend the 'Original Superfood Salad' as it is filled with alfalfa sprouts and snow peas. I always have mine with an extra serving of brown rice. Their menu is also seasonal, and they do great salads when you're on the run. They also have a nutrition section on their menu so that you can be sure that what you are eating is vegan or vegetarian, gluten-free and has a low glycaemic index.

So, when you are out and about in London or Bluewater, you can eat lunch on the go and feel confident that what you are eating is nutritious, delicious and filled with Leon love!

An Abundance of Apples

2010-02-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Whenever there is an abundance of reduced bargain fruit and vegetables in the supermarkets, I stock up. This week there were Kent apples going so cheaply that I bought enough packets to feed the 5000! I made apple juice from them and I added lots of ginger. I then froze the juice in freezer bags in individual portions. This way I can have freshly squeezed apple juice every day of the working week for the next two weeks.

Batching in this way saves me a lot of time and money. I take advantage of the bargains and it doesn't take me that much longer to juice 5 lots of apples as it does to juice one lot.

Here is how I love to have my apple juice:

1. Green Apple Ice
I simply blend the frozen apple ice in the Vitamix with a couple of handfuls of spinach. The 'ice' will still be very sweet, but you will be strong like Popeye!

2. I like to serve my apple juice with lots of spirulina added. As the apple juice is so sweet I can sneak lots of spirulina to it without changing the taste too much.

3. I use the apple juice as a cordial and dilute it with water, (1 part apple juice to 6 parts water.) This way I stay hydrated with a refreshing apple twist.

Winter Time Green 'Smoothie'

2010-02-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

I love a summer green smoothie made with blended spinach and banana. But during the winter months, I really love to have hot soups. So to make a green smoothie out of it, I use my hot soup as a base, and then blend it with raw spinach or raw watercress in the Vitamix. This way, I still have all of the benefits of the greens, but still have my comforting soup to warm me up on a cold winter's night.... Perfect :)

How to make a divine raw valentines chocolate sauce

2010-02-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

Valentines day is the perfect excuse to indulge yourself and create your very own raw valentines treats. Chocolate, 'theobroma cacao' is truly the food of the gods and raw chocolate sauce is incredibly easy to make. If you have a chocolate fondue set, it is perfect for raw chocolate as the gentle flame ensures that the ingredients are not heated to a high temperature.

Equipment Required

*Chocolate fondue set
*or sauce-pan and hob
*or dehydrator set to 115 degrees Fahrenheit

Ingredients

* 1 cup raw cacao butter or raw coconut butter
* 1/2 cup raw agave nectar or raw honey
* 1 cup raw cacao powder
* 2-3 drops essential oils such as mint or rose (optional)
* 1/2 tsp of vanilla powder or 1 tsp vanilla essence (optional)

Method

* Gently melt all of the ingredients in a chocolate fondue or
* Gently melt the cacao butter in a dehydrator set to 115 degrees Fahrenheit or in a sauce pan over a low heat.
* Stir in the raw agave nectar, cacao powder and the essential oils and vanilla powder (if using) until there are no lumps remaining.
* Taste the sauce and add more sweetener or cacao powder accordingly.

Serving Suggestions

* If you are pressed for time you can gently melt ready-made raw chocolate in a dehydrator or in a pan over a low heat to make chocolate sauce. I recommend melting Shazzie's Naked Chocolates, Conscious Chocolate or Booja Booja.

*You could also add in some maca powder to your sauce. Maca is a superfood reputed to be an an aphrodisiac.

*This recipe creates a deliciously aromatic sauce whose uses are only limited by your own imagination. This chocolate sauce perfect for dipping and spreading, and my favourite way of eating it is to drizzle over berries such as blueberries and strawberries and serve with Booja Booja raw ice-cream.

Create the perfect environment

I think the best way of enjoying this sauce is after (or during!) a relaxing bath. If you would like to see my tips on how you can enjoy a bath-time ritual with raw and natural skin care products, take a look here.

Raw Resources

All of the above ingredients are available to buy online from Detox Your World and The Fresh Network

Charlie's Pick of the Best Raw Valentines Gifts

2010-02-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

There has never been a wider choice of gorgeous raw gift boxes so I am delighted to present to you my pick of the luxurious raw valentines treats which are available online. Be sure to note that as these Valentines treats are extra-special, many are only available to buy online, so it is wise to place your order early.

Live Native have created a very special Valentines Hamper called the Native Desire Hamper which includes some lovely raw chocolate from Mulu, an organic vegan Ylang Ylang candle, as well as a large pot of Love Lube and Fresh Feet for a sensual foot massage!

The Raw Chocolate Shop has created "Little Bags of Love" which are very sweet little Valentines gift bags filled with a selection of delectable raw chocolates including Conscious chocolates and oooh some Booja Booja too. How divine!

Raw Gaia have a gift box called "Bath Time Heaven Gift Set" which is a luxurious gift set, created to give you one of the most pampering bath time experiences ever. You start with a chocolate orange bath, lather up with a sensuous rose geranium soap and finish with a delicious raw chocolate melting in your mouth!

Booja Booja organic raw chocolate raspberry truffles are 'divine chocolate enclosing a soft and sweet raspberry centre. Eight truffles in a cute little box, perfect as a romantic gift for someone special, or all for you!'

Orinoco Coco produce the finest superfood chocolates, truffles and toffees. Their luxury chocolates are all freshly prepared to order, using sumptuous, raw, organic fairly traded cacao products. Their double dipped ganache is 'a special dairy free mini miracle! It's creamy, soft, and has a melt in the mouth centre, wrapped in a shell of Orinoco Coco raw cacao covering.'

Make your own raw chocolates with this gorgeous raw chocolate making kit from Choc Chick. It contains everything you need to make your own raw chocolates and includes two recipes.

Raw Living also has a "Lovely Lovers Cake" which is filled with raw chocolate and high vibration foods such as etherium pink, he shou wu, suma, purple corn. "This heart-shaped raw chocolate cake is made with freshly ground almonds and premium grade vanilla. Coated in a thick layer of hi-lovers chocolate and topped with heaps of goji berries and almonds, like its creator, this cake is pure love magic!"

Charlie's Favourite Kitchen Cupboard Essentials...

2010-02-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

Kitchen cupboard essentials help to see me through the winter, as I can always russle up something warm to go with all of my raw salad vegetables. I love quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat and millet and I feel that they are staples in the transition diet kitchen as they are far easier to digest than wheat found in bread and pasta.

Quinoa is an ancient grain loved by the Aztecs as it is high in protein and mineerals. Unfortunately it is rather more expensive than brown rice, buckwheat and millet, so I like to have it as a treat.

Brown rice is easy to get hold of, and here is my favourite way of serving it:

*I season with Maldon sea salt (This is a pure salt that I use in preference to refined table salt.)

* I love to put Furikake Japanese seasoning on it. This is a blend of black and white sesame seeds and seaweeds, high in minerals.

*I drizzle extra virgin olive oil or cold pressed hemp oil over it.

*I mix in soaked arame, (Japanese seaweed)

I serve with a big salad and a big smile :)

Make-up on the Raw Lifestyle

2010-02-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

I love make-up, and even though I love to follow the raw lifestyle, I will not give up my favourite make-up that makes me look and feel gorgeous. It should not come as a surprise that a lot of the make-up out there is filled with nasty chemicals that really should not be on your skin. Anything put on your skin will be absorbed in to your bloodstream much the same as if you had eaten it!

In my quest for raw beauty, I have now stumbled across several brands of make-up which I believe are far superior to the other chemical filled brands......

1.Bare Escentuals make Bare Minerals which are foundations, bronzers and blushers made out of pure minerals. There are no chemical nasties, so it won't clog your skin.

2.B Never 2 Busy to Be Beautiful is Lush's sister company and all of its products are ethically made and vegan. I feel that its products have proportionately less chemicals than other brands and as an added bonus, they make sparkly make-up suitable for all raw princesses!

3. Jane Iredale again make gorgeous mineral make-up and have an extensive range, from eye colours to blushers all made with integrity.

I hope that you have enjoyed my top tips on make-up on the raw lifestyle. The bonus of eating lots of raw foods is of course, that you will need to wear less make-up to start with!

Charlie's Tea-Time Treats!

2010-02-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

One of the 3 fundamentals of Kate Magic's basics of nutrition is drinking plenty of water and she recommends 3-4 litres per day. During winter, this can be difficult to achieve as I don't feel like drinking as much.

I like to top up my fluid intake by drinking lots of herbal tea. Here are my favourite ways of drinking herbal tea:

* I like to sweeten my drinks with a little agave nectar or raw honey.

* I like to add either some freshly made raw almond mylk or some Rice milk to my drinks to add an extra bit of creaminess to them. As a special treat I use Dr. Martin's Coconut milk in my tea. Coconut milk, nut mylk and rice milk are great alternatives to dairy milk and soya milk and taste delicious.

*I like to add purple corn kernals (in a tea strainer) to my tea. It turns the tea very purple which I love, and it is a superfood too.

*I like to drink Gillian McKeith's Dandelion drink. This is made out of chicory and dandelion, and it is a great substitute for coffee. I like to serve this with extra raw almond mylk and a sprinkle of carob or raw cacao powder.

*I love Red Bush or Rooibus tea...perfect with a little agave nectar:)

Charlie's Rice Pudding Treat!

2010-02-01T14:03:00.000-08:00

Charlie's Raw Treats would not be the same without a winter time treat. I love to make brown rice pudding as a great warming pudding.

Ingredients

*Brown Rice
*Oat milk or rice milk such as Rice Dream
*Vanilla pod
*Cinnamon Sticks
*Mixed dried fruits and nuts

Method

I simply add 1 part brown rice to 3-4 parts of rice milk or oat milk to a pan. I simmer this for at least 45 minutes until the brown rice is soft and tender. I like to add a little quinoa, millet or buckwheat to the pan whilst it is cooking for extra nutrition.

I add a vanilla pod, cinnamon sticks, lemon juice and rind, sultanas and chopped apricots to the pan.

I serve my brown rice pudding with goji berries and cold pressed coconut oil. This way I can be sure to get all of my superfoods in me whilst warming up. Yum!

Charlie's Guide to Winter Transition Soups

2010-02-01T13:55:00.001-08:00

Hot soup is one of my favourite dishes during winter. If add lots of raw vegetable toppings then you can be sure that your transition diet will tide you over until the spring.

Here are two of my favourite soups:

I like to make a hearty lentil soup to warm me up!
I saute chopped onions and garlic in a little oil. Then I add the lentils and cover with water and leave to simmer for 30 minutes. I add low-salt bouillion, paprika, chilli powder as seasoning.

I also make a delicious spinach soup....
I saute chopped onions and garlic in a little oil. I then add chopped sweet potato and enough water to cover and leave to simmer for 20 minutes. I add low-salt bouillion as seasoning. Once the sweet potato is tender I then take my soup off the heat and add a bag of raw spinach to the pan. I use a hand-held blender to blend the spinach in to the soup. This way I get all of the benefits of the raw greens, but at the same time I get the warmth of the sweet potato soup.

Here is how I serve my soup:

When I serve my soup, I like to serve it with lots of raw superfood sprinkles!

*Soaked arame or other soaked sea vegetables

*Cold-pressed hemp oil

*Engevita Yeast Flakes (for extra B vitamins)

*Alfalfa sprouts or other sprouts

..Yum!

Charlie's Winter Breakfast Time Treats

2010-01-31T12:21:00.000-08:00

Winter breakfast time in the raw is sometimes difficult because I never fancy simply fruit or light breakfasts. If I have a cooked breakfast, I ensure to add lots of raw foods or superfoods to it to maintain my vitality throughout winter.

Here are my favourite winter breakfast time treats:

1. Start with your base

This can be a porridge made out of one or more of the following:

*Quinoa
*Oats
*Buckwheat
*Millet
*Brown-rice

Simply cook these grains according to the packet instructions. Instead of using water, I like to use rice milk or oat milk to cook with instead of water as a sweet breakfast treat. I like to ensure that the grains I am using are easy to digest so that I don't get a heavy feeling after eating them.

2. Flavour your porridge

I like to add cinnamon and vanilla and a dash of sea salt. I use a little agave-nectar, raw honey or raw yacon syrup for sweetness.

3. Add raw sprinkles and superfoods to your heart's content:

*Soaked dried fruits such as sultanas, chopped apricots, figs, and dates

*Soaked nuts and seeds such as brazil nuts and sunflower seeds

*Superfoods such as goji berries, cacao nibs, shelled hemp seeds.

*A little melted raw cacao butter or raw coconut oil stirred in to a porridge is divine.

*Love. Serve your breakfast time treat with a generous helping of Love. What a wonderful warming start to the day!

Winter Time Comfort in the Raw

2010-01-31T11:21:00.000-08:00

During the cold, dark winter months it becomes a lot harder to eat solely raw foods, as my body craves something warm and comforting. I listen to my body and ensure that even if I am not eating raw foods, that I eat primarily foods which are health-giving and nourishing. This means that once spring has arrived, I can make the transition back to eating more raw foods easily.

Here are my 5 winter-time favourites:

1. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are delicious grated raw in to salads, but over the winter months, my favourite way of eating them is to bake them in the oven.

I chop them in to chunks and bake them in the oven for 20-25 mins at 180C.
Once they are out of the oven, I drizzle them with cold-pressed hemp oil, agave and himalayan pink salt.

2. Other Root Vegetables

I love baked carrots, swede and parsnips. Simply chop them and bake them using the instructions as per the sweet potato.

3. Spinach & Other Dark Leafy Green Vegetables

I like to chop spinach & kale in to small pieces and drizzle with raw olive oil. These dark green leafy vegetables feel more substantial than other types of lettuces during winter. I like to eat these with baked sweet potatoes and parsnips.

4. Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat & Brown Rice

These grains are excellent alternatives to wheat, and I find them much easier to digest. If you are on a budget, then I find that I can stretch brown rice and millet a lot further than quinoa.

5. Sea Vegetables

I love sea vegetables such as arame as they are very filling and substantial. I always add some arame to my brown rice and soups. Go on try it, you'll be surprised!

How to ensure that your treats are guilt-free indulgences

2010-01-17T09:20:00.001-08:00

If 2010 is the year that you decide to eat more healthily, it can be a mine-field to ensure that the snacks that you consume are actually up-to-scratch. Many so-called treats are not as healthy as what they say they are on the packet.

Here are my top tips for ensuring that your treats are guilt-free and nutritious so that you can kick-start a magical 2010!

1. Always read the labels

Healthy treats should be made out of fruits, nuts, raw cacao, raw carob, raw sweeteners such as agave-nectar and that's it. Unfortunately, many companies use cheap fillers in their snacks such as refined sweeteners so beware! If the ingredients listing is long, they may be using cheap ingredients.

2. Make your own treats (in bulk!)

By making treats in bulk, you put them away in a cupboard so that you always have some on hand for when you need them. Dried fruit and nut treats last a long time and can be stored in a cool and dry place.

3. Make sure the ingredients are fresh and do not contain preservatives

Many high-street health-food stores sell nuts which are old and nearly rancid. Instead, source top quality ingredients from reputable suppliers, and you will be sure to taste the difference.

How to make a gorgeous raw moisturiser

2010-01-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I love to treat myself everyday, so much so that I want to show you how you too can enjoy decadent and guilt-free indulgences. Even if you are detoxing or embarking on any health regime over January you can enjoy little luxuries to get you through the cold and dark winter months.

Believe it or not, raw treats don't have to involve eating! Creating your own beautiful moisturiser is a very simple and fun process and you can be sure that the ingredients are fresh, raw and truly wonderful for your skin. The beauty of this moisturiser is that if you have been on the raw path for some time, then it is likely that you will already have many of these ingredients in your kitchen! This moisturiser is perfect at night time, and for repairing winter-worn skin.

Equipment Required

*A little jar or container
*A small saucepan or dehydrator

1. Choose your base

*Cold pressed coconut oil

This oil is deeply nourishing and I love the Biona brand as it is very economical.

*Raw cacao butter

This is my favourite moisturiser, as it is very rich and indulgent.

Coconut oil and cacao butter are two of my favourites as they can be easily obtained. I like to use equal amounts of both of these, but it will work just as well with one or the other. If you are solely using the raw cacao butter it will create a firmer, harder moisturiser than just using the coconut butter.

2. Gently melt the oils

Gently melt the oils in a wide bottomed pan over a low heat or in the dehydrator. Stir constantly to ensure that the oils don't overheat.

3. Add in beautifying powders and superfoods to your heart's content

Once the oils have melted you can add in a variety of beautifying powders and superfoods to your heart's content. Here are my favourites:

*A few drops of essential oils such as rose to give it a gorgeous smell.

*A little MSM which is known as the beauty mineral, perfect for great skin!

*A little cold pressed hemp oil, for supple smooth skin.

*A little raw honey. This was one of Cleopatra's beauty secrets as it has an abundance of health properties to help nourish and heal the skin.

*If you have an aloe vera plant, you can chop up a leaf and add the gel for extra hydrating and anti-aging benefits.

*A few drops of cold-pressed sweet almond oil. This can be easily purchased in health food stores, but be sure that the oils don't smell rancid.

4. Leave it to set in the fridge

Pour the mixture in to little jars or glass containers and leave to set in the fridge. If you have added lots of different oils and powders, you may wish to stir the contents a couple of times whilst it is setting. This is to ensure that the contents are evenly distributed and the powders don't settle on the bottom.

5. Enjoy your divine treats

The above four step process is my favourite way of creating home-made moisturisers. There are no hard and fast rules for creating raw moisturisers so you can experiment to create your own unique potions. These are great to make as a gift when you are on a budget and of course, they are simply divine as an every day treat!

Fancy some of the hard work done for you?

I love Raw Gaia and Live Native products as they are all raw and absolutely divine. Raw Living now have a beauty range filled with gorgeous superfoods. If you don't mind using non-raw products, I also love Shea Alchemy for its lovely products that contain no-nasties.

Changes for Charlie's Raw Treats

2010-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

2010 has brought some changes to Charlie's Raw Treats namely that I will no longer be making and selling treats online. I am passionate about teaching people how they can enjoy guilt-free raw treats, from gorgeous raw moisturisers to delicous raw cakes and cookies. This year I will be devoting my time to teaching you how you can make your own treats to delight your guests with your decadent raw creations.

What this means is that I will be writing plenty of ebooks and articles so that you can be sure that your raw world is always filled with luxurious little treats of all kinds:) I will also be launching Charlie's Raw Treats Workshops where you can come and learn how to make snacks and raw cakes yourself.

Raw Carob Treats

2010-01-17T08:53:00.000-08:00

I've been snacking on carob pods when I have a sweet craving. Carob pods are the perfect alternative when you don't feel like fruit or dried fruit and nut snacks. Carob tends to be forgotten as it is always over-shadowed by raw cacao. Carob pods are great if you want something to get your teeth into, as you really have to work hard for all of that sweetness.

I also like to use carob powder as it is mild and sweet and it does not have any of the stimulating effects that raw cacao has. It is also far more economical to use than raw cacao. Find out more about raw carob here.

Raw Bath-Time Ritual

2010-01-17T08:46:00.001-08:00

I hope that this year is magical for you in every way! I have kick-started my New Year's Resolutions with a run round the park, and I am feeling energised and excited about the year ahead.

After all of the festivities, over-indulgences of every kind can make January seem rather dull in comparison, as treats are the first thing that to be banned in every New Year's Resolution. Over the coming weeks, I want to show you how you can enjoy decadent and guilt-free indulgences that you can treat yourself to every day. In this issue, I show you how a bath-time ritual with raw and natural skin care products is the perfect little luxury to get you through the cold and dark winter months....Enjoy!

There are many raw treats that can make bath-time rituals luxurious and indulgent. What better way to relax on a cold January evening after all of the frantic festivities? Here are my tips for a relaxing and sensual bath time.....

Set the right atmosphere

Turn down the lights, or light some candles infused with essential oils. Add a few drops of essential oils to your bath water such as lavender or rose. Crabtree & Evelyn also make a relaxing essential oil blend that smells gorgeous and that does not have any harmful chemicals.

A few drops of 'Love Rainbow Essence' can create the perfect atmosphere in an instant. These essences are a new generation of flower and crystal essences and Love Essence strengthens the heart chakra.

Bath Oils & Salts

I love Raw Gaia's 'Raw Chocolate Orange Bath Melt' with sweet orange essential oil. A few drops of cold-pressed sweet almond oil can also soften your bath water. I always add Braham & Murray cold-pressed hemp oil to my bath for extra nutrition that is absorbed through my skin.

A handful of himalayan pink salt or sea salt is perfect for a detoxifying scrub.

Moisturisers

I love to use raw coconut oil, especially the Biona brand as it is very economical and it is also great as a hair mask. However, raw cacao butter is my favourite moisturiser, and I love using it as a massage bar after a bath. It is a very rich and thick moisturiser which makes it perfect for a dark and cold evening. If you're anything like me, you will be tempted to lick it off your skin!

Fancy some of the hard work done for you?

I love Raw Gaia and Live Native products as they are all raw and absolutely divine. If you don't mind using non-raw products, I also love Shea Alchemy for its gorgeous products that contain no-nasties.

Enjoy!

Charlie's mandatory orders are that you enjoy some raw Booja Booja raw chocolate or raw ice-cream in the bath too. I also have Enrique Iglesias playing in the background...aaahh bliss:)

Festive Treats Snack Pack

2009-12-18T01:31:00.000-08:00

It's not too late to put in your orders for a Festive Treats Snack Pack.

The run up to Christmas is always hectic with lots of parties and continuous snacking. To take some of the hard work out of eating healthily this Christmas, I've created a special ‘Festive Treats Pack.’

This pack comes with lots of festive sparkle, and what is more, you’ll get a copy of ‘Charlie’s Raw Festive Treats’ ebook for *free.* Santa must be thinking that he has a helper this year!

What do you get inside this pack?

1. An assortment of 12 of Charlie's Favourite Raw Treats.

These handmade treats are handmade with love with raw and organic ingredients. They are all gluten free, dairy free and refined sugar free. This pack includes my favourite apricot pockets, figgy bites, cashew cookies and lemon pockets.

2. Lots of festive sparkle!

This pack is perfect as a stocking filler or a last minute gift. It is also great as a pick-me-up after all of that Christmas shopping!

3. ‘Charlie’s Raw Festive Treats’ ebook, (worth £4.99)

If you like the treats inside this pack, then you’ll love this ebook which will inspire you to make healthy treats to your heart’s content.

Find out more here

Charlie's Raw Festive Treats

2009-12-11T09:06:00.001-08:00

Charlie's Raw Festive Treats is filled with festive inspiration. In my ebook you will learn how to create a platter of healthy treats that you can snack on throughout the Christmas period....

Learn how to make my "Sweet Festive Nuts" above.

"Creamy No-Egg Nog" made with cashew nuts that tastes so creamy you won't believe there's no dairy in here.

My "Ultimate Raw Christmas Pudding with Cashew Cream" is my favourite recipe in the ebook.

To find out more http://www.charliesrawtreats.co.uk/index_files/CharliesRawFestiveTreats.htm

Charlie's Raw Festive Treats is here!

2009-12-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

I'm really excited to announce that Charlie's Raw Festive Treats is here!

My 28 page ebook is packed with ideas on how to stay healthy during the Christmas period. You’ll discover how to make delicious, home-made festive treats without dairy, wheat and refined sugar that you can indulge yourself without feeling guilty. What is more, these treats are quick and easy to make, giving you the much needed time to sit and enjoy the festive cheer instead of feeling pressured and harried. These healthy snacks and fresh juices will set you up nicely for bringing in a fabulous New Year!

To find out more click here

Putting the finishing touches to Charlie's Raw Festive Treats!

2009-12-03T04:38:00.000-08:00

I'm just putting the finishing touches to Charlie's Raw Festive Treats :) I can't wait for you to read it!

Why the Need for Raw Festive Treats?

2009-11-29T05:50:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that my new ebook, "Charlie's Raw Festive Treats," is nearly finished! But if the festive season is all about indulgence and celebration, why the need for raw festive treats, when to many, a raw Christmas conjures up images of boring raisins and almonds?

The run up to Christmas is always frantic, with lots of parties and continuous snacking. It is during this time that healthy eating tends to go out of the window, as there is little time to eat and prepare proper meals.

If you are trying to fit in to that Little Black Dress in time for Christmas then it can be a minefield to ensure that you stay on track. It doesn’t help that traditional festive food tends to be unhealthy and the sweet foods on offer at parties are filled with refined sugar and worse. The end result is that you feel bloated, tired and irritable and it ends up being a not so festive time. You end up piling on the pounds and bringing the New Year feeling heavy and sluggish. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Charlie’s Raw Festive Treats is about fresh, unprocessed home-made treats that shatter all pre-conceptions that raw food is dull and bland. You will discover how to make truly delicious treats without dairy, wheat, and refined sugar and you can indulge yourself without feeling guilt, fear or shame. What is more, these treats are quick and easy to make, giving you the much needed time to sit and enjoy the festive cheer instead of feeling pressured and harried. Many of these treats are also perfect as gift ideas as they are great for popping in to cellophane bags and used as stocking fillers. So why not give a gift that is healthy and delicious?

Why I Eat Raw Foods

2009-11-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

I am often asked why I eat raw foods, as many people still do not understand what benefits are to be had from eating this way. There are many explanations as to what raw foods are, and many are very scientific. However, the simplest way of thinking about raw foods is that they are unprocessed and are as nature intended. They also have not been heated to a high temperature.

Let’s take the example of a delicious apple. Whilst it is still on the tree, it is nourished by the sun and it slowly ripens up. When you pick the apple, and you enjoy it as it is, all of the nourishment from the sun is imparted in to your body too. But when you cook that apple, you destroy a lot of the life-force and vitamins inside it. It makes sense, then, to eat as much of our food as unprocessed, and natural as possible so that our bodies can benefit from this.

The benefit of eating this ways is that I have so much more energy and vitality. This gives me so much more zest for life. I am able to maintain a healthy weight without worrying about how much I am eating or calorie counting. I am also less likely to get sick.

Many people notice an increase in their energy, weight control, general health improvement, less need for sleep, beautiful skin, younger looks, clearer thinking, and an uplifted mood. These are truly amazing benefits, which all seem too good to be true, but it really does happen and it is completely within your grasp.

If you are thinking about eating more raw, even just by adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, do it, you won't look back!

Charle's Raw Festive Treats

2009-11-15T13:20:00.001-08:00

I have been filled with ideas for my new up-and-coming ebook on Festive Treats which I am delighted to announce will be available at the end of the month. If you're worried that a healthy Christmas means that you have to stick to boring raisins and almonds, then this ebook promises to show you how to indulge healthfully. I can't wait for you to read it!

Ward Off Colds & Flu the Natural Way

2009-11-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

I am a firm believer in simplicity when it comes to my food and drinks because those are the things that I will do over and over. Here's a quick drink that will become a staple over the winter months..

Honey, Lemon & Ginger Tea

- 250 ml mug hot water
- Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 tsp of honey or 1tsp of agave nectar
- 1/4 tsp of freshly grated ginger

Put the ginger, lemon and honey in a mug and pour over the hot water. Leave to brew for a couple of minutes. Drink whilst still hot!

Lemons are really great to keep a stash of in your fridge over the winter, as they are perfect for when you are feeling like you need to be revived. This is a life-saver in damp climates like the UK. The ginger acts as a great as a pick-me-up in the evenings, and this combination is wonderful whenever you feel a bit poorly. This may seem like such a basic recipe, but sometimes we need to be reminded of them every so often :)

Love charlie x

Ask & It is Given!

2009-11-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

I've been curled up on the sofa reading Esther & Jerry Hick's book, "Ask & It is Given." If you are familiar with the book, "The Secret," and the Law of Attraction and you want to take your understanding to a new level, then this is the perfect book for you. It really is a step-by-step guide to creating the life of your dreams.

It is such a wonderful book and I thoroughly recommend it:)

Love charlie x

Raw Juice in Supermarkets??!!

2009-11-15T11:54:00.000-08:00

If you're out and about town, and there's no juice bar in sight, then fear not! Marks & Spencer & Waitrose make unpasteurised juices. They make freshly squeezed orange juice and ruby grapefruit juices.

They are very reasonably priced, and they are the perfect drink when I'm on the run. Although they are not as good as home-made or fresh from a juice-bar, it is certainly the next best thing. They are far superior to pasteurised fruit juices or fruit concentrates filled with sugars.

A 250 ml bottle is just over £1, which is a real bargain :) Now, you need never resort to drinking sugar-filled juices :)

"Baked" Bananas with Cashew Cream

2009-11-15T10:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a yummy recipe that I shared in this week's Charlie's Raw Treats ezine. If you would like to receive delicious raw treats recipes straight to your inbox, you can subscribe on the right-hand side of this page. When you subscribe you will receive a *free* ebook on how to make some wonderful treats yourself. Too good to be true for sure :)

In the mean-time, it's cold and windy outside, giving me the perfect excuse to treat myself to some guilt-free comfort food. My comfort food treats have to be two things; simple to make and satisfying to my sweet tooth!

A wonderful winter warmer, baked bananas with cream sound so much like a treat, you would be forgiven for thinking that they are of the unhealthy kind. I hope that you enjoy the spicy twist to this recipe. This recipe is refined sugar free, wheat-free, dairy-free, preservative free and needs to be hand-made with love:)

Equipment Needed

- Dehydrator (If you don't have a dehydrator, you can always use your normal oven on its lowest setting, but the time required will be a lot shorter, so keep an eye on it.)
- High Speed Blender or Vitamix

Ingredients:

For the bananas:
- 2 bananas
- 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/4 cup of raisins
- pinch of cinammon or
- pinch of mixed spice

For the Cream:
- 1/2 cup of cashews
- 2 apples

Method:

To bake the bananas:

1. Chop the bananas length ways in to thin strips.
2. Dust with cinnamon or mixed spice on both sides before popping them on greaseproof paper inside the dehydrator.
3. Dehydrate for six hours at 115 degrees farenheit until they have softened, and the wonderful aroma of banana is filling your kitchen.
4. Put the raisins, a pinch of cinnamon and the orange juice in a little serving dish and pop them in the dehydrator for at least two hours, or until the raisins are plump and the spices have infused the orange juice.

To make the cashew cream:

5. Blend the apples and cashews in a high speed blender or Vitamix until smooth, and there are no visible signs of the apple remaining.

To assemble:

6. In a serving dish, pour the raisin and orange sauce over the the bananas and serve with cashew cream.

7. Serve warm, straight from the dehydrator.

You could also try freshly ground nutmeg, or cinnamon sticks for a change. If you don't like the spicy orange sauce, this recipe tastes just as good without it. It keeps for several days in a sealed container in the fridge. Lovely comfort food!

Simple Dehydrated Fruit Treats

2009-11-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

Whenever there is an abundance of fruit in my house, I always love to dehydrate some. This week I had so many left-over bananas, apples, mangoes, grapes and plums, and I didn't want them to go to waste.

Here is how I prepared my fruit:
- I cut the bananas length ways in to thin strips
- I made apple rings
- I made thin strips with the mango
- I left the grapes as they were
- I made thin slices with the plums

The thicker the fruit at the start, the softer the result at the end, for example, if you cut thick strips of apple, you will have soft apple rings at the end. Like-wise, if you cut the banana width ways in to thin circles, you will have a very chewy result at the end. You can experiment with the thickness and shape of the fruit until you find something that is right for you.

I then laid all of the fruit on the dehdrator and dehydrated them overnight at 112 degrees farenheit. The result is something very chewy and delicious, and far superior than anything that you can buy in a health food shop. When I dehydrate my own fruit, I can be sure that there are no preservatives in them, and I can also be sure that they have not been heated to a high temperature.

Creating your own dried fruit is a great alternative to fresh fruit during the cold winter months, and it provides a filling snack between meals. Get creative with what fruit you are using. Don't just stick to apples and bananas, why not try sharon fruit, berries, or papaya?

Creating Fruit Leathers

An alternative to this would be to create fruit leathers. Simply place your chopped apples, bananas, mangoes or whatever fruit you are using in a high-speed blender or Vitamix and blend until the mixture is very smooth.

Pour out the mixture on to grease-proof paper and spread until it is 1 cm thick. Dehydrate this over-night until you create a chewy leather. Yum! Again, you can experiment with the thickness of this, depending on whether you want a soft or chewy result.

You can cut these leathers in to thin strips, or shoe-laces. These are a perfect snack for children as they are sweet and contain no refined sugars or nasty ingredients.

Enjoy! Love charlie x

Loving What Your Eating!

2009-10-30T16:09:00.001-07:00

I love what I eat, there is no doubt about. I LOVE IT. I treat myself everyday to the yummiest foods on earth, and I don't feel an ounce of guilt fear or shame eating it.

Loving what your eating is my biggest tip for being slim, vibrant and having a wonderful relationship with food. There is no better way of doing this than making sure that your treats are refined sugar-free, wheat free, dairy-free, and handmade with love. You cannot beat a simple home-made treat.

The Charlie’s Raw Treats philosophy is that you should make your food with Love. This will ensure that your treats not only taste extra delicious, but those who eat them will be blessed with love too.

Sooper Spooky Soup!

2009-10-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

I received Lisa Simpson's Raw Liberty Newsletter this afternoon, and I am squealing with delight. I LOVE IT!

Doesn't this look fab!?!!

Lisa has even made a 'spider' from a black olive with thin strips of nori as legs! I LOVE IT

'Lisa Simpson: Raw Liberty - Raw Food and Lifestyle Coach, publishes "Raw Liberty at Large" - a free bi-weekly eZine for anyone who is ready to look great, feel amazing, and discover how to live harmoniously raw in a cooked food home.'

Sooper Spooky Soup!

This is a thick and creamy soup that will keep you warm on this Autumn evening as you go Trick or Treating.

Blend until smooth:

5 tomatoes

1/2 red pepper

2 carrots

1 avocado

1 clove garlic

2cm red chilli (or more if you like it hot!)

2 dates

1 stick celery

1/4 cup water

Pinch of salt

Pour soup into individual bowls.

To jazz this up for Halloween, create a spider web effect ...

Blend until smooth and creamy:

1 cup cashew nuts soaked for 2 hours

2T lemon juice

1/4c water

Pinch of salt

Put the cashew creme into a squeezy dressing bottle and drizzle concentric circles in the soup. Then using a cocktail stick, draw lines from the centre to the edge of the bowl to resemble a spider's web.

Make a 'spider' from a black olive with thin strips of nori as legs!

Halloween Pumpkin Bites:

This is a good way to use up that pumpkin flesh you scooped out when making pumpkin lanterns with your kids!

1 1/2 c ground pumpkin seeds

2c pumpkin, peeled and chopped

1/2 c sunflower seeds

1c apricots, soaked for 2 hours

1/4 c raisins, soaked for 2 hours

4T agave (or more to taste)

2T cinnamon

Put pumpkin flesh in the food processor and process 'til smooth.

Add ground pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chopped apricots , agave and cinnamon. Process til well mixed.

Stir in raisins.

Roll mixture into walnut sized balls.

Place on dehydrator sheets and flatten slightly with a fork.

Dehydrate at 105 degrees for 8-12 hours."

I am definitely going to try the Sooper Spooky Soup! Sounds Spookilicious x

Creamy Raw Pumpkin Pie!

2009-10-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here is what I'm having for afternoon tea today.... Oh Yes!! :) Raw Pumpkin Pie! It is all the more special because the pumpkin is fresh from the allotment.

The base has almonds, dates, lemon and a bit of ginger
The oh so creamy filling has pumpkin, dates, cashews, cinnamon, and ginger.

It was so creamy, so scrummy and all for me :) (only joking, I did share - well, ok, just a small bit :P)

Above you can see the Apple Cashew Cream that I served it with. The apples are sooo sweet and are also from the allotment, they made a wonderful cream to go with my pie.

The cashew cream is made simply from 2 sweet apples & 1/2 cup of cashews blended in a high-speed blender.

Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free, Gluten & Wheat Free & Always Handmade with Love.

Pumpkinlicious xx

Happy Halloween Everyone :)

2009-10-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

Just a big Happy Halloween from me. Happy Trick or Treating :)

Are you a Raw Bride to Be?

2009-10-24T10:24:00.001-07:00

If so, then you are going to love Denise Duffield Thomas' Raw Brides website She has created the "7 Secrets to the Wedding Day Body of your Dreams", a system which encompasses everything she has learnt, struggled with and overcome to finally break through years of agony and frustration.

Raw Brides offers inspiration, personalised coaching programmes, ebooks and many free resources. What's more, if you subscribe to her weekly ezine, you can get started with her free report, which gives you a plan to implement today.

Denise is such an inspiration, and she looked amazing on her wedding day, no doubt testament to the fact that her system really works.

Love xx

Crumbly Nut Squares

2009-10-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

This recipe epitomises how easy raw treats are to make. The mixture for this one is very crumbly, but the taste is well worth it. It's perfect for a mid-afternoon treat. If you love spicy tastes, then you may wish to add extra cinnamon and coriander, and even cardomom and nutmeg if you are feeling adventurous, but if you are feeding these to children, you may wish to omit the spices altogether.

Makes 10 Squares and keeps for up to two weeks in a cool and dry place or until a Charlie Monster gobbles them all up.

Equipment
· Food Processor
· Greaseproof Paper
· Baking Tray

Ingredients
· 65g Almonds (soaked for at least 8 hours and dehydrated until crispy)
· 65g Brazil nuts
· 65g Raisins
· 65g Dates
· ¼ tsp of cinnamon
· ¼ tsp of ground coriander

Blend in the food processor until the mixture forms a dough. Press out on to a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. Chill until the mixture has firmed up a little, and then score in to squares.

Crumbly, nutty and very moreish:) If this seems too much like hard work, why not let me do all of the hard work for you and buy some of Charlie's Raw Treats?

Spookily Special Halloween Packs

2009-10-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

As Halloween is upon us, I have a Spookily Special treat for you... A Halloween Snack Pack. This pack contains familiar treats but with a spooky twist. To Trick or Treat with Charlie’s Raw Treats, you had better get your gory skates on, because this pack is spooking out on Saturday 31st October.

What’s Inside?
This pack contains a selection of 20 mini treats including Ghostly Bites and Goulish Gremlins. To find out more about the treats and the ingredients, please click here

This pack comes in a Halloween theme, with plenty of Halloween Spookiness!

Happy Halloween!

Apple & Cinammon Flax Bread

2009-10-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling like you need something comforting now that the nights are drawing in, you're in for a real treat today. This recipe is so simple to make, but it has comfort food written all over it. If you're having trouble sticking to a raw diet during the winter months, or you are simply avoiding wheat and gluten, this recipe is great because it is filling and really hits the spot. It is made with flax seeds which are high in fibre and packed with essential fatty acids.

Equipment Needed

- High Speed Blender / Vitamix
- Grinder / Vitamix Dry Jug
- Grease Proof Paper
- Dehydrator (If you don't have a dehydrator, you can always use your normal oven on its lowest setting, but the time required to dehydrate will be a lot shorter, so keep an eye on it.)

Ingredients

- 2 cups of groun golden flax seed
- 4 cups of apple puree (banana and pear puree also work well.)(Note, you need at least 8 apples.)
- 1/2 cup of raisins soaked for 30mins until plump
- 2 tbsp of agave nectar (optional, as the mixture may be sweet enough for you already)
- 1 tsp of ground cinammon

Method

1. Grind the flax seed in the coffee grinder or Vitamix Dry Jug until it forms a powder and then transfer in to a large mixing bowl

2. Blend the apples, pears or bananas until pureed. Measure out 4 cups of puree and add to the mixing bowl.

3. Add the soaked raisins, cinammon and agave to the mixing bowl, and stir until the mixture is well combined

4. Spread the mixture on to a sheet of grease-proof paper, spread until the mixture is 2 cm high

5. Dehydrate at 112 degrees C for 10 hours, until the bread is firm on the outside and soft on the inside.

This recipe keeps for a week in a sealed container in the fridge.

Enjoy as it is, or spread with coconut butter and raw agave nectar for a yummy afternoon tea :)

If you liked the sound of this recipe, then you will love the free fortnightly tips that I send straight to your inbox. Subscribe to Charlie's Raw Treats ezine on the right hand side of this page!

Happy Apple & Cinammon Munchies :)

“How eat ‘junk’ food AND still stay HEALTHY!”

2009-10-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

Just giving you a heads up that my friend Val McKen is running a fab new raw food class called, "Unbaked," where you will learn, “How eat ‘junk’ food AND still stay HEALTHY!”

If this sounds too good to be true, read on...

"NOW BOOKING! Unbaked! Raw Food Class
Saturday 14th November 2009
Time: 11:00 – 14.00
Location: South London

Are you on the raw food path but want something more comforting as winter draws in?

Are you interested in eating raw food but have, up until now, held back because of not wanting to give up your favourite foods?

Do your past and present food favourites include cookies, crackers, cakes, ice cream and pizza?

Whilst you may have given these up to focus on your health, you still miss them. Do you long for someone to show you how you can make and enjoy the ‘comfort’ foods you know and love?

Well look no further - I am ready to show you the way!

In Unbaked! You will learn how make:
Onion bread with spinach dip
Mushroom and Sweetcorn Pizza
Mint choc chip ice cream"

To find out more click here

Gosh Valerie, that mint choc chip ice-cream sounds amazing, just the thing I need to snuggle down with a DVD!!

Love c x

You and Your 'Not-so-Raw' Partner

2009-10-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

If you have not yet subscribed to Lisa Simpson's Raw Liberty ezine, you are really missing out. She is a raw goddess in a cooked home and she has a lot of experience to share. For many of us, when we start eating raw foods, we do so in a house-hold which is still primarily eating cooked foods. Lisa has many tips to share about how to maintain harmony during this period of transition. The article below forms part of her fortnightly "Raw Liberty at Large," her free fortnightly ezine which I thoroughly recommend.

"There are a lucky few who go and stay raw with your partner, but in my experience these lucky people are in the minority. There are far more women, like myself, who find that they are embarking on their raw journey alone, either with or without the support of their partners. So what is the best thing to do in such circumstances?

Firstly, it is important to be very clear about why you decided to chose the raw path. If you are confident and truly believe that this is the right path for you, you are more likely to stay true to yourself, and therefore the opinions of others seem to lessen in importance.

Be open with your partner. It is often the case that your partner may feel threatened by the changes you are making - it may well be outside their comfort zone (My husband thought I'd signed up to some weird cult!). They may feel that you will be out to 'convert them'. It is therefore important to discuss your choices with your partner, explain that it is not about them, but about you and the way raw food makes you feel - healthy and happy. It should not effect your relationship, after all your relationship is about more than just the food you eat, right? Remember this is a personal decision, so don't preach or be judgemental as this is only likely to bring about more negative responses and will make life more challenging in the long run.

Organise your kitchen. There are many areas in your home where you have 'his' and 'hers' areas: wardrobes, towels, toothbrushes...so why not in the kitchen? Give your raw foods a special home, keep them in a separate cupboard and on a separate shelf in the fridge. That way you will be inspired by your foods and not find them pushed out of sight behing the Cornflakes or cheese! Initially my foods were hidden away in a cupboard behind the bin (of all places!!), until I realised the message this suggested not only to me, but also my family, about my feelings around raw - that it was something best kept hidden well out of the way! Once I'd reorganised my kitchen so my 'raw cupboard' was in the heart of the room, everything became so much more aligned, and I felt far more comfortable around my food choices.

Make delicious recipes for your family to try. Usually the recipes that work best are sweet treats such as smothies, or things they recognise as being 'food'! Don't force them to try, and definitely avoid using the old adage 'It's good for you!' as in my experience, for some reason, this can be a definite turn off! My son accidentally dipped his finger in chocolate-avocado pudding when helpfully transferring the mixing bowl to the sink, and without thinking, licked his fingers...'mmm this is nice!' he declared. He hates avocado and would never have tried it if I'd told him!

Let your raw being shine. Lead by example. As you start to see the benefits of raw, looking and feeling more radiant and energised, your partner will surely notice your transformation (unless he is totally blinkered!), and couldn't possibly object, could he? Remember, above all else that your relationship was not based on food. There are so many other sides to your relationship surely - your food choices are there merely to nourish and sustain life, not to be the focal point, the be-all-and-end-all of your relationship."

'Lisa Simpson: Raw Liberty - Raw Food and Lifestyle Coach, publishes "Raw Liberty at Large" - a free bi-weekly eZine for anyone who is ready to look great, feel amazing, and discover how to live harmoniously raw in a cooked food home.'

Burn Those Boats Behind You

2009-10-24T03:55:00.000-07:00

I recently found an article which powerfully sums up a lot of what is happening for me at the moment. The article was written by success coach David Neagle, and I found it incredibly inspiring, I hope that you will enjoy it too.

"Long ago, a warrior was about to set his armies against a powerful foe whose men outnumbered his own. He sailed into the enemy’s country, unloaded the soldiers and equipment and gave the order to burn the ships that had carried them. Addressing his men, he said, “Do you see the boats going up in smoke? That means we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win. We now have no choice. We win, or we perish.”

They won.

In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill uses that story to illustrate his point that every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn their boats behind them and cut off all avenues of retreat. Only by doing so can one be sure of maintaining “a burning desire to win.” That state of mind is essential to success.

Are you willing to burn your boats behind you?

Have you done that?

There was a point in my life when I thought I had, but when I took an honest look, I realized that I was still playing it safe. And I was still losing, still struggling.

There seems to be an automatic defense mechanism in people that as soon as they start thinking about how they can actually break free from where they are and live in abundance and success, every reason in the world why they can’t comes to the surface.

As long as they believe in their reasons, they will stay where they are. They will play it safe. And they will miss the answer that is right in front of them. They just won’t recognize it.

They will be like Henry Ford’s engineers, who insisted for a year that the V8 engine Ford envisioned, with eight cylinders cast in one block, was impossible.

Ford told them to design it anyway and to stay on the job until they had succeeded. At the end of a year, they still said it was impossible, but Ford continued to insist that he wanted it and he was going to have it. Finally, as if by a stroke of magic, the secret was discovered.

Why did it take so long? As the engineers worked, they came up with all of the reasons why they couldn’t produce the engine. They had to exhaust each of those reasons first in order for them finally to tap into the way for it to be done.

And Ford had to stay true to his vision and not give up, no matter how long it took.

Don’t miss the law of the universe reflected in that story: It doesn’t matter what it is that you want, the way to have it is already here. The solution was right there for the engineers; it just took them a year to see it.

What solution is right here for you now? Can you let yourself move toward it?

If you can’t imagine staking everything you have on winning, can you practice with something smaller? Think of it as an experiment to see if this approach works for you. Is there something you want that requires a stretch (like spending 5 days with me at ERS), but that doesn’t threaten your existence? Try burning the boat that would help you retreat from that thing you want.

Now, see what happens."

David Neagle, Million Dollar Income Acceleration Coach, mentors entrepreneurs to quantum leap their current businesses past the 7-Figure income level in just 12 months. David invites you to download—as his GIFT to you—his legendary "Art of Success" 4-hour audio program. This audio series is a tremendously compelling and comprehensive program that demonstrates—once and for all—that Success has nothing to do with "getting" or "achieving", and everything to do with WHO we must BE to manifest our hearts' true desires. For an additional bonus, Text: success to the number: 85800

Its a very thought provoking article, and certainly food for thought.

Have you got your 5 free recipes yet?

2009-10-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

If you subscribe to my fortnightly newsletter filled with fun, tips & treats, I'm giving away a great free gift with it...a little ebook teaching you how to make your own yummy treats!

Here's what Heidi Roberts had to say about it....

"Thank you so much for the email about making raw treats with the 5 recipes i made the crumbly nut squares yesterday and than made the chocolate sweeties today with the kids, i got some Halloween biscuit cutters today and the kids loved them and asked... to have more for breakfast lol am so pleased as i couldn't get them to like other raw chocolate we are making the ready to goji tomorrow can not believe how easy they are all to make :-)

If you have yet to subscribe, you can do so on the right hand side of this page :)

Love & Abundance Charlie x

Large Packs of All Your Favourite Treats!

2009-10-10T08:47:00.001-07:00

Cashew Cookies, Figgy Bites, and Chocolate Superfood Brownies have all been supersized, without the supersized price tag to go with it :)

Now you can stock up on Large Packs of your favourite treats, so there is never a need to go without again. The special offer is available whilst stocks last, so catch it whilst you can!

Going Slow to Go Fast!...

2009-10-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

When I first started out on a healthy diet, I would always get ahead of myself. I would say to myself, "no nuts, no agave nectar, no dried fruits, no treats". It was all green juice and green salad. This would work fine for a couple of days, and I would feel smug at how healthy I was being. Except of course, I was getting ahead of myself. Living on green salad and green juice is great if you have been on the raw path for many years, but alas it's not really doable for a mere mortal like myself.....

Something would happen, I would get stressed, feel tired, or under pressure, and before I knew it I would end up eating something far worse than the nuts and dried fruits that I was trying to avoid. The moral of the story is that if I had of eaten some little treats along the way, maybe I would've avoided the huge swings in my diet....

So, fast-forward to today. I always have a couple of treats on hand so that I never feel deprived, and so that I never resort to eating refined sugar or anything that is going to hugely set me back on my healthy diet. My healthy diet is far more consistent, and I no longer have the huge swings from healthy to unhealthy and back again. In the long-run, I believe that is the best way of making progress.

I recommend that you keep some little treats on hand so that you can consistently maintain a healthy diet and avoid the traps that I fell in so many times! :)

Love charlie x

A lovely pick-me-up for a Saturday afternoon...

2009-10-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

"I ordered a pack of Charlie’s Raw Treats and what a feast that was! Not only were all the treats totally divine (my favourites are the Apricot Pockets and the Chocolate Superfood Brownie) but they were also beautifully packaged and delivered fast and efficiently! So much love, talent and thought have gone into them. Thank you Charlie!"

Rose-Marie Sorokin, Inner Light Yoga & Health Co, Kent

My Lovely Orchid....

2009-10-10T02:30:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I have yet to put up a pic of my lovely orchid...It was in bloom for at least four months and it was a gift from my friend Janice :)

Happy Saturday Morning! x

Simplicity Salad!

2009-10-10T02:27:00.001-07:00

I'm always happiest when I have a simple main course, and then a treat for dessert. I've always been like that, and there is no stopping me now...

Here is a yummy salad I russled up with freshly scraped raw corn-on-the cob, soaked arame and spinach. I also made a dressing out of hemp oil, himalayan pink salt, garlic, and a touch of raw agave...

YUM!

New to Raw Foods?...

2009-10-09T08:40:00.001-07:00

If you are new to raw and you are looking to slowly transition away from cooked foods, and you need some inspiration and recipe ideas to help you on your raw journey, then I have a great blog for you :)

Sustaining Health Holistically

All of the recipes are gluten free, and vegan, and there are plenty of healthy cooked and raw recipes to keep you busy all winter. Sarah Collins is the blogger behind it all and her blog continually inspires me to get busy in the kitchen! I love this blog for its honesty, and for the fact that all of the recipes are perfect for a busy bee like me.

Thank you Sarah x

Large Packs of Superfood Brownies...

2009-10-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am passionate that everyone should be snacking on treats that don't have refined sugar, dairy, or wheat in them, and I want to make my treats as economical as possible so that everyone can enjoy them on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, postage & packing prices hike the cost of my treats up enormously, so to avoid this, I have decided to launch larger packs of my treats :)

The first of my treats to be supersized are my much loved Chocolate Superfood Brownies. These are now available in a large size of 10 Brownies. This means that you can stock up ready for unsuspecting chocolate cravings over the next few weeks. What is more, I am launching this at an unbelievably low price!

To hear what Sarah Collins thinks of my brownies, click here

I couldn't have put it any better myself :)

Check out these yummy packs before they all sell out!

Leslie Kenton's Green Drink....

2009-10-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

I consider Leslie to be the grandmother of raw foods, and I just adore everything she does! She doesn't write or produce a lot these days, so when she does, its extra special.

Here she is telling us about her daily Green Drink.....

http://www.lesliekenton.com/green_power.html

Its a green smoothie with a twist! If you find it difficult to eat a lot of fruit because of digestive or sugar difficulties, this drink should fit the bill. It uses stevia instead of convential sweeteners which is a great alternative to raw agave nectar and raw honey.

Enjoy x

Launch of My New Taster Pack!

2009-10-04T09:46:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have been meaning to try my treats for sometime now, but haven't been able to choose which yummy treats to get started with, I have just the solution for you... my Small Taster Pack!

It contains one each of my delectable little treats, so that you can sample them without having to buy a big pack at once. If you’re new to raw treats then this small taster pack is for you. Five handmade treats, one for every day of the working week. I just know that you’re going to love them!

Here's what it contains:

- 1 Cashew Cookie
- 1 Figgy Bite
- 1 Chocolate Superfood Brownie
- 1 Lemon Pocket
- 1 Apricot Pocket

To find out more, Click here. This pack is such a great deal, and will no doubt be the start of a long lasting love affair with tasty treats...

Happy Sampling x

Raw Food In Borough Market...

2009-10-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

There is now a dedicated raw food area in Borough Market in London Bridge.

Here is what the London Paper had to say about it, "Located just to the west of the main area, the new Jubilee Market will feature only traders who specialise in raw foods, such as juices, vegan delicacies, special salads and even raw chocolate."

I have yet to go, but it sounds amazing. Just what I need on a Saturday morning :)

To find out more about it, click here....

http://www.thelondonpaper.com/going-out/whats-new/borough-market-opens-raw-food-area

Here are 20 Great Reasons to Stock up on Charlie’s Raw Treats….

2009-10-04T03:20:00.000-07:00

Lots of people fall off the raw food wagon because they don't treat themselves enough. My treats come in handy when you least expect, so why not keep some in your fridge ready for when the munchies strike?

Here are 20 Great Reasons to Stock up on Charlie’s Raw Treats….

1. Trying to stick to a healthy diet? With Charlie’s Raw Treats you can reward yourself regularly over the coming month.

2. Crumble them over cereal or yoghurt to add extra scrumptiousness to your breakfast and snacks.

3. Keep them in your desk at work. If your working day needs a bit of perking up then these treats are for you. They are perfect with a cup of tea at 4pm as a little pick-me-up.

4. Pop a couple in your handbag for when you are out-and-about. They travel well.

5. Stuck in traffic? Pop a couple in your car, you don’t want to be caught out with Service Station Food. Need I say more?

6. Great for kids as they are all natural and refined sugar free.

7. Throw them in a lunchbox, they are especially suitable for lunch boxes for kids and adults alike.

8. Keep some in your Gym Bag—they are great as a little boost pre or post workout.

9. Why not try it for breakfast on-the-go instead of eating sugar-filled snack bars?

10. The treats in my snack packs work out at just over £1 each, it’s a bargain. Perfect as a little luxury in these recessionary times.

11. As a special reward why not crumble them over raw ice-cream for a decadent dessert. My Cashew Cookies go amazingly well with Booja Booja Vanilla Ice-cream.. YUM—my favourite!

12. Off to the cinema? Apricot Pockets with their sweet centres will keep you off the pop-corn!

13. Family day-trip? Treat the family to some Figgy Bites and keep a happy brood.

14. Feeling bored? My treats are perfect for when you want something healthy to nibble on without feeling guilty afterwards.

15. Coffee break? Don’t be tempted by the biscuits. Keep some Chocolate Superfood Brownies with you instead.

16. New to raw foods? These treats are great as a transition food to keep you on the raw food wagon.

17. Friends & Family curious about your new diet? Why not show them how delicious raw food can be by delighting them with some Lemon Pockets?

18. Mid-afternoon energy dip? Boost yourself naturally with some of my treats.

19. Craving unhealthy treats? My sweet treats will hit the spot every time and keep you off refined sugars.

20. Off on holiday? Forget plastic airline food and treat yourself above the clouds.

Eating healthily all the time can sometimes seem like such hard work. Why not let me do all of the hard work for you? Here’s some I made earlier...

Learn How to Make Delicious But Healthy Treats!

2009-10-03T15:31:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to announce that my new little e-book is here :) It's called "How To Make Deliciously Healthy Treats," and it contains 5 recipes so that you can make your own wonderful raw creations. It's been a long time in the making because I wanted to be sure that it contained as much information as possible so that you feel ready and able to get cracking immediately in your own kitchen.

What is more, its free if you subscribe to my ezine. If you subscribe to my free fortnightly ezine which is packed with raw recipes and health tips, you will receive this little ebook free. I think that's a great weekend treat, and I'm looking forward to sharing this with you all. You can sign up using the link on the right hand side of the page. Let me know what you think of it :)

Happy Treat Making! Love Charlie x

Why My Treats are Close to My Heart...

2009-10-03T05:54:00.000-07:00

My little snacks are close to my heart because I eat them everyday and I attribute these to why I am able to consistently maintain a healthy diet and be the weight that I want to be. I have a sweet tooth and without my treats I would feel deprived. Just because I follow a healthy diet does not mean that I should give up treats!

I created my range of snacks because I find it difficult to eat healthily whilst I am out of the house. There has been many an occasion when I have been caught out and I ended up eating something that I didn’t really want. When you start eating raw foods which are unprocessed and all natural you begin to realise how little of the food you can actually eat whilst you are out of the house. I used to struggle to consistently prepare a lunch box and to be organised enough to take food with me.

Sometimes I wanted to eat something healthy but have the hard work done for me. After many years, I realised that I would have to create a business to do just that. My treats have done the hard work for you as they are all ready to go. You can be prepared for all occasions, and never be stuck without a snack to tide you over between meals. So at least you know that no matter what, you will never have to eat foods that you don’t want to.

I always carry a few of my treats on me, and nearly every day, there’s a time when I am very glad I’ve got them. Sometimes there’s a Birthday at the office, and I want to feel part of the celebration without filling my body with refined sugar and worse. I snack on a couple of treats and I feel satisfied. Sometimes I’m tired or bored and I just want something to nibble on without feeling guilty afterwards. Sometimes I get delayed and miss a meal and my snacks keep me going. Sometimes I’m just so busy and I don’t have time to prepare a meal, so I want to grab something filling, tasty and healthy.

There are so many useful occasions where Charlie’s Raw Treats come in handy, they will become so much part of your life and you will wonder how you lived without them!

Lots of Love charlie x

Highlights from the Festival of Life

2009-10-02T12:46:00.000-07:00

Below you can see the Rainforest Creations stall..

Below you can see the Inspiral Stall...

And of here are all of the yummy treats that there were available to buy on my stall...

A great day was had by all. I ate durian, young coconut, raw ice-cream and fresh juices all day.. heaven! x

Fabulous New Raw Food Coaching!

2009-10-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

I am delighted that my friend Lisa Simpson has recently launched her new

one to one coaching packages called Raw Liberty For You! I am really excited about this launch, and I thoroughly recommend Lisa's services, so much so that I am considering signing up for some coaching myself. Lisa is a raw goddess in a cooked home and she writes a very informative and inspirational Ezine. Here is what she says about her new coaching....

"The journey to securing Raw Liberty For You! is a truly magical journey of self discovery!

Whether you are new to raw foods; trying to work out how you can incorporate them successfully into your life, whilst still cooking for family and friends, or whether you have made some steps to transform your life and are ready to up your game, create your vision and live the life of your dreams, you will find a coaching package which suits you!

This journey is about finding freedom, success and happiness for you whist maintaining harmony in your cooked food home. I have created three coaching packages specifically with you in mind. Together we can take you from where you are now to where you dream of being; transforming your home and your heart as you discover your true inner being through raw foods and lifestyle. Are you ready to transform your life, to enable you to stay true to yourself and live harmoniously raw in a cooked food home, and find your true inner being through raw food and lifestyle?
If the answer is 'YES!' one to one coaching could be just what you need!

If you're ready to take this step, and commit to setting yourself free to discover your true self, book your FREE 15 minute phone call to find out whether coaching is right for you...

Simply click on the link below to access my online diary:
http://my.timedriver.com/Z6ZMN and let the magic begin!"

"Lisa Simpson from Raw Liberty - Raw Food and Lifestyle Coach, publishes "Raw Liberty at Large" - a free bi-weekly eZine for anyone who is ready to look great, feel amazing, and discover how to live harmoniously raw in a cooked food home.

Lovely Feedback about Charlie's Raw Treats!

2009-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

Here's what Francine Bray from RealFoodUK has to say about my treats...

"Go check her treats out..You'll be so glad you did!! I'm definitely going to be stocking up on these again. I think the All Indulgence Treat Pack is calling my name."

To hear more about what she has to say about my treats, take a look here...

Delicious Hemp Shake!

2009-10-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

Here's how to ensure you get your daily dose of mother nature's most perfect food...Hemp.

This shake is made with hemp protein which up until now, I have shunned because I have not found a way to make it palatable. I'm all about treating myself, and if something does not taste nice, I will not eat it, no matter how healthy it is. Hemp Protein is one of those foods.

Hemp Protein is one of mother nature's most nutritious foods, and it is a great addition to a healthy diet. The maker's of Braham & Murray's Good Oil have created a hemp protein which has a smooth texture & a mild flavour. No mean feat! You can add it to dips, pates, and smoothies to add extra hemp protein power which is perfect for those with busy life-styles.

This is great after a work-out or for a snack on the run. Quick as a flash, it will have you out the door on the double. Serves 2 as a yummy snack or 1 hungry person!

Ingredients

- 1 frozen banana

- 250ml (1 glass) of Nut Milk/ Soya Milk/ Rice Milk

- 1 ½ tbsp of Braham & Murray Hemp Protein

- 1 ½ tbsp of ground flax seed (optional, but makes the shake thicker & adds extra fibre & essential fats)

- ¼ tsp ground cinammon

- 1 tbsp agave nectar ( it may already be sweet enough for you so add this at the end. Agave nectar is a great Low GI sweetener that is an alternative to refined sugar.)

Blend in a High Speed Blender / Smoothie Maker until smooth. Pour in to a tall glass and enjoy :)

Re-Thinking Nuts & Dried Fruits

2009-10-02T06:55:00.001-07:00

The nights are drawing in, and there's a nip in the air. Fruit alone may not be satisfying your hunger pangs between meals. This is where it becomes really important to ensure that you have plenty of healthy treats on hand to tide you over. Keeping a stash of raw nuts and dried fruits in your cupboards, and even in your desk at work is a great way of doing this.

But forget boring raisins & almonds!! Its time to re-discover nuts and dried fruits as they are an excellent way of staving off cravings for unhealthy foods whilst you are out and about.
Here are my favourites:

Nuts
Raw Cashews
Almonds
Brazil Nuts
Coconut Chips
Sunflower Seeds

Dried Fruits
Raisins
Dates
Figs
Apricots
Goji Berries
Mulberries

1. Try mixing a combination of these a various quantities to create a trail mix and pop them in to a tupperware container to carry around with you whilst you are out and about. This should nip any cravings you have for refined sugar in the bud.

2. For those with a bit more time....
I always soak my nuts overnight as this makes them easier to digest. I then pop them in to the dehydrator to crisp up again, this way I always have some on hand for when I need them.

If you have a food processor, why not blend equal quantities of nuts to dried fruits to create more-ish treats. Try using several different nuts and dried fruits, and get creative. Why not try goji berries and dates with almonds and cashews? Blend the mixture until it is well combined, and then shape in to little balls or biscuits. YUM :) There are endless combinations of nuts and fruits, and there are no hard and fast rules, so it will always be scrumptious!

3. The mixture straight from the food processor is a yummy topping to crumble on to cereal or yogurt. You can even crumble on to ice-cream - Booja Booja is my favourite!

4. If all of this is sounding too much like hard work, here is some I made earlier....

Quote of the Day....

2009-10-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a beautiful quote that I came across by Guillaume Apollinaire,

"We took them to the edge and bade them fly. They held on. "Fly!" we said. They held on. We pushed them over the edge. And they flew."

Beautiful x

Veggies from the Allotment!!

2009-09-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

I'm loving the autumn weather, and all of the vegetables that I've been picking from the allotment. Huge bag fulls of apples, spinach, curly kale, courgettes and cucumbers, and tomatoes for pennies. Amazing. Here is some photos of the veg that I have picked this morning (after doing all of the weeding of course). I stocked up for the coming week, and it's all for me :)

These yellow courgettes are my absolute favourites! They are so sweet and crunchy in salads. I just love them.

Here is the lovely colours of the curly kale that I have been using for my green smoothies. The colours are lovely purple, pink, dark green and light green. The green smoothies that it makes are very dark in colour, almost brown, and I do have to add extra mango, or banana to make them palatable, but it is so worth it.

The apples are perfect for my juices...fabulous x

Charlie's Raw Treats Snack Packs.....

2009-09-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics of my much loved Snack Packs...

All my treats are handmade with love, and each pack contains a variety of different treats including Apricot Pockets, Lemon Pockets, Superfood Brownies, Cashew Cookies and Figgy Bites.

To find out more about them, why not take a look at the 3 very special Snack Packs that have been designed for stocking up your cupboards so that you can grab a treat whenever you get the munchies?

Raw Inspiration....

2009-09-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

My ezine is due out very soon. If you have not subscribed to it, here is what you can expect from it. Last issue, I hand-picked a selection of my favourite quotes to inspire.

"When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always be."
- Leonardo da Vinci

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
-Anais Nin

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
-George Bernard Shaw

"One cannot consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
-Hellen Keller

Just beautiful x

A Lovely Testimonial to Get Me Back on Track....

2009-09-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here's what Annie Clay from www.LifeHeal.co.uk had to say about her snack pack...

"Oh Charlie... what can I say? I received my order this morning and feel quite sick now.... hehehehe .... only because I have had to try one of each variety of my order and I am totally stuffed... phew.

Amazingly delicious, beautifully packed - stunning... stuff.

It truly is handmade with Love and a pure pleasure to receive it is too.

Bless you my love, and thank you for your wonderful service."

Getting Focussed Again...!

2009-09-12T09:39:00.001-07:00

Getting back in the swing of my business has been tough, especially after a break of any sorts. When you are feeling unfocussed with anything in your life, even raw, and you need to get back on track again, here are my tips that I recommend to focus you with a laser like beam again. A lot of these tips you may have heard before, certainly these are the tips that my mentor, Karen Knowler recommends, but they work....

1. Re-do your Vision Board.

If you don't have one, or don't know what they are, you must have been hiding under a rock. Re-doing my vision board has powerfully connected me back to what I desire and I love it more than ever. I, like many other people, create a vision board as a one-time event, and then we fail to update it as we grow. I am now making it a habit to keep adding to my vision board on a continuous basis so that it continues to inspire me and so I keep wanting to look at it. I have to admit, I actually have about 6 pages of vision boards! I have one for my business goals, one for my personal goals.... Have fun with it!

2. Create a Scrap Book of Articles / Images which Inspire you

Similar to creating a vision board, my scrap book contains lots of newspaper articles and stories which have impacted me. I love the story behind Willie's World Class Cacao, and I adore BabyCakesNYC. I also love the ladies behind Planet Organic and Coco Rose. Their stories inspire me to move forward, as they too have overcome adversity, and reading it puts me in that place of feeling that anything is possible.

3. Create a Pin Board on to which you can pin up your Goals.

I have to admit, I actually have two pinboards. One in the living room and one in the kitchen. Here's what you need:
- Post-It Notes,
- Blu-Tac or Pinboard Pins
- Black Sharpie.
I simply write down the key words of my goals which I pin on to the pin board. This is really great for keeping me on track, and for reminding me constantly what I want and what I need to do to get there. Deceptively simple but very powerful indeed.

These three tools have really focussed me, and I feel like autumn is going to be my best season yet!

Let me know how you get on...x

Charlie's Raw Treats at the Festival of Life!

2009-09-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

I'm really pleased to announce that I'm going to have a stall at the Festival of Life on 26th September, in Holborn, London. I will of course be selling my scrummy goodies and what is more, they will be selling at a special one day only event price! I will showcasing my raw cakes too, if you had not yet had a chance to try them :)

There will be lots of raw stalls such as Raw Gaia, there selling raw beauty products, raw foods, and even better, I am hoping that the Durian stall will be there again! Do come and say hello! If you read my blog or subscribe to my ezine, I will sneak you a little treat to say thank you:)

I loved the event last year, and who would have thought that I would actually be selling there this year...ahh the power of dreams, and stepping out in faith to make it happen.

Hope to see you there! x

Testing Times Abound....But Charlie's Back!

2009-09-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Those of you who read my blog and subscribe to my newsletter may have noticed my long departure from both recently. Testing times in my personal life have meant that it has been necessary to take break from my business.

Now that autumn is well and truly here, I am feeling ready to get back on track with it all, and I am back with lots of new things planned for Charlie's Raw Treats :)

So, hopefully everyone can forgive me, as it was not an intentional departure, thats for sure, and I have missed Charlie's Raw Treats to bits. Its my baby, and we are attached at the hip :) Stay tuned for lots more blog posts and planned events....

Love charlie x

The 7 Must-Know Steps To Take Your Raw Food Journey To The Stars – And Beyond!

2009-08-02T10:17:00.001-07:00

Have you ever felt dazed and confused over the conflicting opinions raging among the raw food teachers and “gurus” out there? I know I have, and it really doesn’t help us does it?

With so many different approaches, coaches, classes and courses out there, all giving conflicting or confusing advice, even if you really want to step into the raw food world with all the best intentions and will in the world, you end up having no idea where to start!

Karen Knowler, The Raw Food Coach, has been in the raw food community for over 17 years and has seen how crazy it can get. In a previous life Karen used to host many of the world’s leading raw food educators year-after-year in London (she used to run The Fresh Network and created Get Fresh! magazine), but she saw that as much as people became inspired and fascinated by the raw food journey, they also became increasingly confused, lost and... disempowered.

As a result of witnessing this and creating an approach to raw food that was much more fluid, fun and realistic than what was generally being taught, Karen vowed many years ago to put each person back into the driving seat of their own diet and destiny - and that’s what she’s been doing for over a decade.

And now she’s taking it to a whole new level.

Over the past year especially, Karen’s name has become synonymous with a whole new way of approaching raw food that anyone can do. Karen believes passionately that there is not “one way” to do raw food and that by being honest and intuitive around our food choices we can find a way of eating raw that works for us and our life on every level – one that’s juicy, compelling and rewarding for us.

But more than that, Karen has been teaching that raw food is “all about the food and yet nothing about the food” – and as ironic as that sounds, I have to agree, she’s right! Raw food opens us up to so much more than we think food can ever do, but it does for sure, and Karen has a wonderful what of explaining and articulating this than perhaps anyone else in the raw food arena.

Over the past few months Karen has been perfecting all the key facets of the work she’s been sharing for years. She’s preparing to go big with her message and I don’t doubt that she will make it happen.

And what she’s doing this coming Wednesday, before she starts working hard on her forthcoming book, is to share with us – for FREE – her latest discoveries, namely “The 7 Must-Know Steps to Take Your Raw Food Journey to the Stars – And Beyond”

In what promises to be her most compelling free seminar to date (you just need a phone or internet connection to attend), Karen is about to share, for the first time, what these seven steps are, and I for one can’t wait!

On Wednesday August 5th, Karen will reveal what these 7 Steps and much more.

And, while it is an exciting preview of her Raw Transformation Experience LIVE Event happening this August 27-29, 2009 and her brand new life-changing Living Magically on Raw coaching program, she promises you'll also get 3 POTENT ideas that you can use right away to start your journey to “raw heaven” from this FR*EE call.

You can find out all about it and register here. I’ll be there for sure and I hope to hear you on the call.

I can’t wait to hear what she shares!

Charlie's Raw Treats Interviewed by ILOVERAW!

2009-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce the fab interview I did for ILOVERAW. http://www.iloveraw.co.uk . Check out the interview for two extra special child friendly recipes... Superfood Fudge and Cashew & Almond Treats!

ILOVERAW is a very funky website packed with lots of raw recipes, info on raw food & what to feed kids. Well worth a visit :)

Here's What Karen Knowler has to say....

2009-07-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

Karen Knowler says, "Awesome Raw Professionals I am Currently Working With to Help Them Serve *YOU*"

"* Charlie's Raw Treats - http://www.charliesrawtreats.co.uk
If you're in the UK order your yummy raw food cakes and treats from Charlie who really is (for now) a well kept secret!"

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=116103332528

Thank you Karen :)

Miss Eco Glam is loving Charlie's Raw Treats!

2009-07-19T04:04:00.000-07:00

Oooh, I have a lovely link to share with you today. Miss Eco Glam herself, loves my Chocolate Superfood Brownies!

Here is what she had to say...

"The brownies were absolutely delicious... They were sweet and chewy but not sickly and I enjoyed every mouthful.. so why don’t you do what I did and test out a small batch of brownies and see for yourself how amazing they taste!"

Thank you for the lovely feedback Miss Eco Glam! To check out her full review of Charlie's Raw Treats, take a look here... http://blog.missecoglam.com/2009/07/charlies-raw-treats-delivery-service.html

I am sure that you will LOVE her blog too. It is filled with reviews of the best eco friendly, ethical and healthy lifestyle products. Here is what she says,

"I really want to help get Miss Eco Glam out into the world so that all of us ladies can be glamourous, informed and gorgeous, from purely ethical ways!"

Love & Eco Glam Baby x

Raw comfort food.. in a glass!

2009-07-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

"What do you crave when you're feeling cold and miserable?" The lovely Denise from Raw Brides has the solution for all of your cravings....

http://neicey.typepad.com/greenqueen/2009/07/raw-comfort-food-in-a-glass.html

"Sweet but warm and thick." mmm, hope she saved me some! :)

My Superberry Smoothie gets a Green Make-over!

2009-07-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

My love of the superfood smoothie is now infamous. Smoothies are an excellent way of consuming all of my beloved superfoods in a quick and easy way. Lisa Simpson on the other hand, is fast becoming famed for her love of green smoothies. Here is what she says...

"Faced with a mountain of reports and a day in front of the computer, I felt I needed to give my lunchtime smoothie a bit of a boost!"

She supercharged the Superberry Smoothie to give it a double whammy... Superfoods & Greens. I don't think that you can get better than that!! You can take a look at her recipe here...

Lisa Simpson's Raw Liberty Superberry Smoothie

And just in case you are wondering about her reports, she says that, "the mountain of reports is now a molehill!" Testament to the power of the mighty green smoothie indeed!

Superfood Green Loves xxx

What People are Saying About Charlie's Raw Treats!

2009-07-18T04:49:00.000-07:00

I've had some wonderful feedback about Charlie's Raw Treats. Here is what people are saying about them.....

- Denise Thomas of Raw Brides thinks they are the most delicious raw cakes, chocolate and treats ever!
http://neicey.typepad.com/greenqueen/2009/07/the-most-delicious-raw-cakes-chocolate-and-treats-ever.html

- Lisa Simpson of Raw Liberty is loving her treats!
http://rawliberty.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/charlies-raw-treats/

- Karen Knowler, www.TheRawFoodCoach.com in Cambridge, says,
"Charlie’s Raw Treats are not only healthy and delicious but they are perfect for brightening up my day – especially when I’m back-to-back coaching and need something yummy and sustaining between calls. Just receiving a package in the mail makes me smile, but the eating of the contents is even better! Thanks Charlie.”

- Katie in Cambridge loves the Lemon Pockets:
"The lemon pockets should be award winning! Seriously! Such a novel idea and the flavours are unique and taste divine.”

- Agosmar Goncalves in London adores the Lemon Cheesecake!
" I want to tell you that your lemon cheesecake was delicious. I have tried so many raw cakes but nothing like the one I bought from you."

- Jo Woolley http://www.joannewoolley.co.uk in Nottingham is lovin' the Snack Packs...
"Just received my snack pack n loving it! Sampled the lemon pockets which are delicious :)"

I'm getting lots of amazing feedback, let me know what you think of them!

Zinging Ginger Juice!

2009-07-18T04:38:00.000-07:00

With mid-afternoon flagging energy levels, I needed something to zing me to life. I found the perfect juice... Zinging Ginger Juice

- 6 carrots
- 1 chunk of pineapple
- 2 inch of fresh ginger

Juice and then Zing to Life again! I added A LOT of ginger to this juice, so you may wish to only add a little bit. Adding the pineapple gives it a lot of sweetness to off-set all of that ginger!

Zing with Love x

Fruit Bliss Smoothie!

2009-07-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

I love the colour of this smoothie, and the black specks against the yellow base, but more importantly, I love the taste... Here is my fruit bliss smoothie :)

- 1 frozen banana
- 1 large chunk of pineapple
- 2 passionfruits

Blend in the vitamix / high speed blender until smooth. The passionfruit give it a lovely tart flavour to offset the sweetness of the pineapple and banana. This recipe is also wonderful frozen as a sorbet and served in individual ramekins. You can even blend in some fresh coconut meat for a lovely creamy dessert......

Fruit Bliss Love Baby x

Charlie's "Quick as a Flash" Raw Choc Ice-Cream!

2009-07-18T02:52:00.000-07:00

When you run out of Booja Booja on Friday night and there is no chance of a replacement, it may not be the disaster that you think it is.... Here is my "Quick as a Flash" raw choc ice-cream that will satisfy any cravings you have until you can Booja Booja again :)

- 2 frozen Bananas
- 2 heaped tbsp raw cacao powder (this makes for quite a strong flavour, so you may prefer half this amount)
- 1 tbsp raw coconut butter
- 1 tbsp lucuma

Blend in the vitamix / high speed blender until smooth. Any left-overs can be refrozen to make a delicious but quick snack to satisfy any cravings. Smooth, creamy and chocolate bliss!

Enjoy... x

Raw Inspiration from the Humble Coconut

2009-07-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the articles that I wrote for last week's ezine. If you would like fortnightly health tips, raw fun and inspiration delivered to your inbox, you can sign up on the right-hand side of the page!

This week's raw inspiration comes from my love of the coconut. I have loved coconut since I was a child when I remember my dad opening one just so that I could have what little milk and dried meat there was inside. I then shunned them for years, with the misbelief that coconut was "bad" for me. Imagine my delight when I discovered fresh young coconuts that were nothing like the old dried ones that you get in the supermarket, and then I found out that not only were they NOT "bad" for me, that they are in fact some of the best foods ever!

The best coconut I ever had was at the Raw Spirit Festival 2008. These juicy coconuts would crack open to reveal a large glass of coconut water, which in the heat of Phoenix, Arizona was my idea of heaven on earth. Once you had finished drinking the water, you got to eat the succulent flesh inside. Yum! Unfortunately here in the UK, young coconuts are difficult to get hold of but if you are lucky enough to have young coconut meat, I am told that it makes the most decadent of raw ice-creams & creamy cakes!

Instead I use coconut oil, and this has become a staple in my cupboard. There are many new brands popping up, making some fabulous raw coconut oils. Just look for cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil. The most economical brand of coconut oil that I know of is Biona. It works out at roughly £5.50 for 400g which is a bargain!

I use it liberally every day, and I find that it curbs my appetite between meals. It can be used a multitude of ways, by adding a tbsp to smoothies, raw cakes, and even porridge to enrich it with a lovely creaminess. I even use it as a moisturiser! Coconut water is now popping up all over the UK. It full of electrolytes so this drink is the ultimate rehydrator. The two brands that I love are Vita Coco and Dr. Martin's Coconut Water.

There are many secrets to the coconut. Try it, and you will never go without it again!

A Little Tip on How to Make Delicious Raw Treats!

2009-07-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

If you would like to receive 5 free Recipes on "How to Make Delicious But Healthy Treats," there is still time for you to do so for *free*. I'm offering this fabulous little ebook as a gift to you if you buy one of my newly launched Snack Packs. This offer is only available until Wednesday 15th July, that's in 2 days time!

These snack packs are filled with goodies ready for whenever those pesky munchies strike.
If you like the sound of this, find out more on my website http://www.CharliesRawTreats.com

In the meantime, here is a little extract from the ebook... Enjoy x

"Adding That Extra Oomph!

Dried fruits and nuts have a very rich taste, so to off-set the taste it is sometimes nice to add in a little oomph! Here is what I use:

- A little bit of lemon peel

- Spices such as cardamom, cloves, coriander and cinnamon (a mixture of these is great for Christmas treats :)

-Vanilla powder or vanilla extract

Its amazing how something so simple can transform the taste from average to 10/10, but believe me, it does!"

Launch of the New Snack Packs!

2009-07-08T15:52:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining and if you are thinking about going raw, now is the perfect time to do it. If you've been on the raw path for some time, then it's worth remembering that lots of people fall off the wagon because they don't treat themselves enough! So why not let me do the hard work for you, and stock up on some of Charlie's Raw Treats?

In honour of my new look website, and the new direction that my business is taking, I welcome you to the special launch of my new snack packs.These were a huge success at my market stall, so here they are again ready for you to buy online.

There are three very different packs and no doubt there is one especially for you in here:

1. Working Week Treat Pack
2. Celebratory Treat Pack
3. All out Indulgence Pack

These packs give you a saving of over 15% on buying my treats separately. As a special thank you, if you order within the next 7 days, you will receive five fantastic recipes for you to make some delicious raw treats yourself, (value £5). What a great offer!

Charlie's 3 Snack Packs!

1. Working Week Treat Pack

If your working day needs a bit of perking up then this pack is for you. This pack is especially suitable for lunch boxes for kids and adults alike, so why not keep a few in your desk or handbag for when you're out and about and those pesky munchies strike? They are great for after the gym and for keeping in the car. Why not try it for breakfast on-the-go instead of eating sugar-filled snack bars? For a family of four, there is a special treat each every day of the working week.

What's Inside?
This pack contains the following, (total 20 snacks):
- 4 Cashew Cookies
- 4 Figgy Bites
- 4 Chocolate Superfood Brownies
- 4 Lemon Pockets
- 4 Apricot Pockets

Price: Pack £24.99 (inc P&P)

2. Celebratory Treat Pack

This pack is perfect for celebrations of all kinds! If you're planning on having some friends round then this pack is for you. It maybe BBQ weather but that doesn't mean that you should be eating badly. My treats give you something guilt free and delicious to nibble on. Why not invite some friends round and have a raw-taster session? Or how about having a raw potluck and have this celebratory pack to treat your guests? This snack pack is ready to be taken to any summer gathering and is also perfect for a girly get-together. This pack is wrapped with lots of love & sparkle so creating more love and bliss in your life no longer needs an excuse. If you like the sound of this, then why not try this snack pack with lots of yummy goodies?

What's Inside?
This pack contains the following, (total 26 snacks):
- 6 Cashew Cookies
- 6 Figgy Bites
- 6 Chocolate Superfood Brownies
- 4 Lemon Pockets
- 4 Apricot Pockets

Price: Pack £29.99 (inc P&P)

3. All out Indulgence Pack

This indulgent pack will stock up your store cupboard with lots of raw treats so that you can reward yourself regularly over the coming month. These treats work out at just over £1 each and as they are all natural and refined sugar free, it's a bargain. These snacks keep well, so whether you are going to the cinema, going on a family day-trip, or even if you are just feeling bored, they are perfect for when you want something healthy to nibble on. Throw them in a lunchbox, and as a special reward why not crumble and serve with raw ice-cream? Delicious!

What's Inside?
This pack contains the following, (total 36 snacks):
- 8 Cashew Cookies
- 8 Figgy Bites
- 8 Chocolate Superfood Brownies
- 6 Lemon Pockets
- 6 Apricot Pockets

Price: £39.99 (inc P&P)

To find out more about these delicious packs click here!

Hope that you enjoy them, Love Charlie x

Very Berry Superfood Smoothie!

2009-07-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

My next issue of Charlie's Raw Treats Newsletter will be out this Friday. If you want to catch all of the action, you can sign up on the right hand side of the page. In the mean-time, here are some of the delights packed in to my Ezine......enjoy with love x

Superfood Smoothies have become so much part of my daily diet that I am bursting to share the secrets. It is an excellent breakfast, snack or post workout drink, and with all of this beautiful hot weather, smoothies provide an excellent alternative when I don't feel like a meal.

The best part about making smoothies is that you can add in a whole array of superfoods. There has been lots written about Superfoods, and I thoroughly recommend that you take a look at them, otherwise you really will be missing out.

Warning: Superfoods have an extraordinary power to improve your life! They make you look & feel fabulous!

If you want to incorporate smoothies in to your diet on a regular basis, I thoroughly recommend that you set up your kitchen for success. Karen Knowler has written some excellent tips on how to set up your kitchen environment for on-going raw success.

To make my smoothies, I either use a base of fruit, (bananas work well), or a nut or seed mylk. Once I have my base, I then add in superfoods to my heart's content. In less than five minutes I have a delicious drink packed with nutrition.

Equipment Needed: Smoothie Maker or a blender

- 1 frozen banana
- 1 punnet of frozen blackberries
- 1 large glass pure water
- 1 heaped tbsp lucuma
- 1 tbsp raw coconut oil
- 1 tbsp raw agave nectar
- 1/2 tsp camu camu
- 1/2 tsp suma
- 1/2 tsp purple corn extract

Blend in the smoothie maker until smooth. Enjoy whilst making the most of the fabulous weather.

Don't worry if you don't have all of the superfoods to make this recipe. Just one or two will add a lot of zing to your smoothie. Also, a little goes a long way, so they end up being a lot more economical that you think.

I buy my superfods at Detox Your World, Raw Living & The Fresh Network. These wonderful companies stock foods which make you feel fabulous. And if you don't believe me, just try it out for yourself:)

Lovely Luscious Organic!

2009-07-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

I popped in to Luscious Organic today and they have a great selection of raw chocolate & treats. They even stock, "The Living Food Kitchen" raw lemon cheesecake, pumpkin pie & chocolate mousse. I treated myself to the raw lemon cheesecake and it was delicious :)

They were out of stock on "Raw Ecstacy," which I'm told is a raw chocolate bar which is flying off the shelves. I shall have to go back and try! It is a great little store packed with essentials for your raw kitchen cupboard. They do great green juices there too, which is rare for London!

Karen Laryea interviews me on my fave raw foods!

2009-07-04T04:32:00.000-07:00

So all can now be revealed.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGj3AP-_M_g

Karen Laryea of www.Korkoi.com interviewed me on my favourite raw foods. They are my every day staples and I do not know how I would live without them. I bet you can already guess at least one of my favourites :) Check it out on You Tube!

Have a great weekend xx

Sometimes Simplicity is Best!

2009-07-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

I had a great afternoon with Karen Laryea doing a You Tube clip, (all will be revealed later..), but after a hectic week, I wanted something really simple for dinner...

- 3/4 Pack of Sunflower Sprouts
- 1 Pack of Alfalfa Sprouts
- 2 large handfuls of spinach
- 1 clove of crushed garlic
- 1 heaped tsp of raw honey
- 1 heaped tbsp of cold pressed hemp oil, (Braham & Murray's Good Oil is my preferred brand)
- Himalayan Pink Salt (to taste)

I served this with Kamut Pasta & it was delicious (but then my food always is :P)

A Big Batch of Lemon Pockets!

2009-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

I've just made up a large batch of Lemon Pockets! So if you want some, they are ready to go & will be with you by Saturday.....http://bit.ly/14aQzQ

An Ecstatic Evening with Shazzie & Philip!

2009-07-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to go to Shazzie's event on Saturday, and as you can see, a wonderful evening was had by all.......

Arriving at the event for cocktails & raw chocolate...

Shazzie & guest speaker Philip McCluskey....

For starters there was Hemp Bruschetta
On A Bed of Wild Rocket with Portabello Pate, Pesto, Pomodorino Tomatoes & Caramelised Onions....

Here's me enjoying my food...

For the main course there was Pink Aubergine Ravioli
Shaved Fennel Salad & Wilted Asparagus Spears in Avocado Butter

McCluskey Mint Marble Cake
Cacao & Pecan Praline Base with a White Chocolate, Cacao & Mint Swirl Filling and Summer Berry Purée

For me, dessert is always the best bit & it did not disappoint!

Here is a pic of everyone at my table...

After dinner entertainment with Kate Magic Wood on the decks....

Sitting round the fire after dinner....

I have to admit something now, and that was I forgot my camera :( On the plus side, my new friend Shinobu has kindly offered to let me use hers. Thank you Shinobu x

Here is Shinobu herself, with Ms. Shazzle Dazzle... x
What a great event, hope to see you at the next one x

Raw Guide to London!

2009-07-02T07:17:00.001-07:00

Raw Rob of www.FunkyRaw.com has done a fantastic job at putting together a Raw Guide to London.

Raw Food is popping up all over the capital at a very fast past (yay!) so even this guide is beginning to look out of date, but it is certainly very comprehensive.

Check it out & Enjoy!

Raw Rob's Raw Resource Guide to London

Hope this helps! x

My Summer of Raw Food!

2009-07-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here's what I've been munching on this week....

Breakfasts Almond Mylk - I love adding a date and some vanilla powder to mine :)

Mid morning: Large Glass of Freshly Squeezed Juice (apple, celery, carrot, cucumber )

Lunches Green Smoothies- Its too hot & humid to eat a proper meal, so I've been blending up my greens.

Check out Karen Knowler's vids on You Tube for how to make green smoothies & almond mylk.

Snacks: Ripe Juicy Fruit or Charlie's Raw Treats (well they are good!)

Dinner: A big green salad (such as mixed greens, spinach, tomatoes, lots of sea veg, hemp oil, himalayan pink salt, agave, garlic) served with brown rice, wheat-free pasta or buckwheat noodles.

Hope this gives you some inspiration on how to eat more raw! x

Fabulous Mango Custard!

2009-06-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

I have just seen a fabulous recipe for Mango Custard on Lisa Simpson's Raw Liberty Blog. I was lucky to spend a whole week with this gorgeous lady at Karen Knowler's Raw Business Training a couple of weeks ago. This recipe looks divine and is filled with lucuma and banana, two of my favourite things :)

Charlie's talk at Karen Laryea's event on You Tube!

2009-06-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

I cringe when I watch it, but here is the You Tube clip of my talk at Karen Laryea's event, "In Fitness, Health & Wealth."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zub8WlYIpaw

I'm sure I was supposed to do a 10 minute talk, and when I left the event I was pretty sure that I had done just that, so I was very surprised when it turned out that I had only spoken for 1 and 1/2 minutes! It felt like an eternity!

Karen's event was packed with useful info and what I like about her most is that she balances mind body and spirit effortlessly.You can out what Karen does at www.KorKoi.com

Total Raw Food are 40% off This Week!

2009-06-25T11:24:00.000-07:00

Total Raw Food are 40% off until the end of the week, so stock up on your Raw Choc & Superfood Ingredients, I know I will :)

What does Charlie Eat?

2009-06-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

I've had a special request that I should blog more about what I eat. There is never a typical day's menu for me, as I eat a wide variety of foods.

Today I was in a decidedly non-raw mood as I have been rather busy of late....

Breakfast: 2 slices of Terrence Stamp wheat free bread with raw coconut oil & raw honey

Snack: Homemade Raw Icecream made using my special ice-cream recipe

Lunch: Green Smoothie (made with 200g spinach, 1 mango, 1 large chunk of pineapple blended in the Vitamix )

Dinner: Oooh, now we get to the best bit. Here is a recipe I made up this evening,

- I made some Homemade Tomato sauce with lots of red pepper & tomato. (non-raw)

- I let it cool for a bit, then I added Himalayan Pink Salt, 1 tbsp Cold Pressed Hemp Oil, 1 heaped tsp raw Agave nectar, 2 large handfuls of spinach & 1 bowl of Sea Vegetables which had been soaked for 3o mins.

- I served my yummy tomato sauce with King Soba Buckwheat Noodles & Alfalfa Sprouts.

Delicious :)

In Fitness, Health & Wealth - Free Workshop!

2009-06-22T03:45:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, 24th June, at 6pm is Karen Laryea's Free Workshop on "Fitness, Health & Wealth."

The event will be held in London at Westimster Reference Library

"Do you want to double your energy levels and get more done?
Do you want to never feel stresed again?
Do you want to know the secrets to feeling amazing all the time?
Do you want to spend more time being successful?
Are you an achiever who loves to win?
Would you like to be more creative?
Learn how to get naturally high! With so much energy, you'll wonder how you ever coped before!

This fun and interactive FREE workshop is for anyone who understands that the secret to wealth starts with YOU!
If you could do with even higher levels of confidence and self esteem so that you can be even more, then come along.

Amongst other delights, you will also get an opportunity to find out how raw foods can help you raise your game!!
You will learn to stop doing the crap that gets in the way of your success!"

Karen is an amazing lady inside and out and she is one-stop shop for a vital mind & a healthy body. I will be a guest speaker talking about how eating healthily has positively impacted my life. Word has it that there may even be some free tasters for you all to try... Hope to see you there!

You can find more details about it here http://tinyurl.com/ncxxl2

Love charlie xx

A lovely afternoon in Spitalfields Market!

2009-06-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been to Spitalfields Market yet, then you are in for a treat. It is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Raw food Stall Rainforest Creations have a stall there, with loads of raw salads & wraps & burgers.

I bought a tub of Raw Hummus to take-away for my dinner tonight, it is going to be great with some raw crudites. Occasionally they even have young coconuts. I can't think of a better reason to go there every weekend!

Jason Vale's Juice Master Event!

2009-06-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

I was blessed with a ticket to go to the JuiceMaster event. It completely ramped up my desire to Juice every day, and I have even put the GreenStar juicer on my Vision Board !

Special guest was Jay Kordich, the grandfather of Juicing, who at 86 was still as sprightly as a 25 year old. There were loads of free juices available, and I came away with a goody bag with the Juice Master's new snack bar "Juice in a Bar," made out of raw almond butter, dates & green live juices. It is the perfect snack to take with you out & about.

What a fab event! Jason is incredibly energetic & entertaining, and it was a fun day. Thank you Emma x

A Week of Raw Business Training!

2009-06-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

I have just come back from Cambridge where I had an amazing week of Raw Business Training with Karen Knowler. A whole week of training dedicated to the Raw Food world is just what I need to grow Charlie's Raw Treats :) Karen was 100% dedicated to supporting us & giving us the best of her knowledge.

I have learnt so much my head is still buzzing, but I have come away with a clear business plan ready to be put in to action. Watch this Space.....There were 2 other inspiring ladies on the course, Lisa & Denise, and we shared a week of hard work & raw gossip!

To celebrate our success on the course, we all got glammed up for a Thursday night treat. Karen's lovely PA Katie also joined us. Here is a pic of us!

Our treat was none-other than a dinner at Saf, London's Premier Raw Restaurant. We were picked up in a bright pink Limo for a delicious 3 course raw meal. I am blessed indeed :)

A very appropriate colour for me, what do you reckon?

Above we are celebrating new beginnings !

Below you can see my Juice at Saf, the Mastercleanser!

The starters were beautifully presented. Below you can see the starter sharing menu.

Here is the Raw Cheese platter. I loved the raw rye bread!

I wanted to save room for dessert, so I had the Detox Salad for my Main Course.

Below is the Raw Buckwheat Tart that Karen had.

The best bit is coming... the desserts. They were all divine. I made sure I tasted everyone's!

This tart below had a walnut cream.

Green Tea Ice-cream...

What an awesome week! No doubt I'm sure that Lisa & Denise will be Sky-Rocketing up to rock the raw food world. I am looking forwards to blogging about the launch of their businesses. oooh I can't wait.....

Much Love xxx

Business Training Starts Tomorrow :)

2009-06-14T07:25:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I am getting ready for a week of Business Training. My bag is packed already and I am already getting excited.

I don't want to say much more for now, and all will be revealed next week. What I will say is that I'm pretty sure that this is what I need to Sky Rocket up :) Stay tuned, all will be revealed, I promise.......x

Luxurious Pampering with Live Native :)

2009-06-14T05:54:00.000-07:00

I had treated myself to some home pampering this morning, with my face mask, scrub and a DIY facial. This is all in preparation for next week... ( more about that later LOL )

I have been lucky enough to try out some wonderful Live Native products. "An enzyme active living blend made from the freshest, purest and cleanest vegan organic "raw" ingredients available."

For me this range can be summed up as "every-day luxury." The Essential Woman with Frangipani smells divine. I loved this moisturiser and the fact that it is very feminine and left my skin soooo smooth. It was very light, which is unusual for raw skin creams, as it has cold-pressed Aloe Vera. I use it as a serum for every day.

I tried out the Chocolate Mud Mask with With Rhassoul Clay, Spirulina & MSM - the beauty mineral. I looked like the big green monster (sorry no photos, although I was very tempted!) and I really enjoyed splashing about in the bath with this. Did I mention that it is filled with Etherium Gold? My skin and my pores were left superclean :)

Not forgetting the Essential Earth Cleanser... it is a fantastic exfoliator which is perfect for living through a hot & humid London summer. With chamomile and liquorice root, I loved how scrubbed my skin felt afterwards.

This range is like a little luxurious every-day treat and as I am already hooked to treating myself with "Charlie's Raw Treats", this beautiful skin range complements it nicely :)

Issue 7 of my Ezine has just been sent out!

2009-06-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you have not signed up to receive it, then there is still time to do so on the right hand side of the page. This Issue has a very special guest recipe from none other than The Raw Bombshell herself, Dr. Claire Maguire.

As usual, my ezine is packed full of Raw Fun, Health Tips & News from Charlie's World. Enjoy xxx

Order Charlie's Raw Treats Online!

2009-06-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you are starting up your own business and you want a website to sell online with the minimum of fuss; then I thoroughly recommend Big Cartel . If you are selling 5 products or less, then it is free ! You can also get the website up & running within 30 minutes, which is a bonus.

Alas, the day has arrived when I have outgrown Big Cartel :) I am pleased to announce you can now buy direcly through www.CharliesRawTreats.com!

Whenever the munchies strike, and it has to be RAW, why not try Charlie's Raw Treats!