Sigh.....

I wish I could say that I took the pictures, but I can't tell a lie. I swiped them from her site, Kristen's Raw. But its for a wonderful cause.

Halfway through the Body Enlightenment System, I was surfing the web, looking for new and exciting recipe ideas, when I came across a a Raw Chef that I'd never heard of before. Well, I must admit that the pictures were a wonderful hook to get me to look further (he says as he blushes and ducks the sharp objects heading his way from across the room). I couldn't find any pictures of this chef from her days as a bodybuilder, but I did discover that Kristen was a graduate of the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Fort Bragg, California. Now I was really excited.

Sure you say. Look at her! Sorry to disappoint you, but this is the man who is not afraid to admit that while other boys were running outside playing football, and chasing the neighborhood girls, I was glued to the TV watching Graham Kerr, "The Galloping Gourmet". I found the Westinghouse Cookbook more fulfilling that looking at copies of National Geographic behind the summer house. Yes, being an Associate Chef from a school that I would love to attend is exciting, and will get me to look further!

So, despite not being able to find out more about the bodybuilding background (OK, I'm not perfect!), I pulled out the old piece of plastic and downloaded her six e-books.... My heart be still.

Now normally I've tried to make at least one of the recipes before I talk about a book, but I also read a recipe book like I do a novel by Frank Herbert, Tolstoy, or Thich Nhat Hanh. To read a book, one must put oneself in the author's place. You must listen to the author's voice as they share their experiences.

You can do the same with a recipe book, and Kristen Suzanne's recipes are a symphony to enjoy! She has branched out and uses what many would consider non traditional ingredients. How many have used rosewater in a raw recipe, or any recipe? I have, and it is so good!

Her recipes are as simple, and sinful as "Almond Butter and Sweet Berry Jam on Chocolate Bread". There's Mexican Lasagna, and Bananas Foster, just to name a few! Oh, my heart be still!

I am ashamed that I have yet to make any of her recipes. I've been busy, and have stuck to the tried and true things like my Spicy Mango Salad. It is time to kick the old to the side, and strike out on a wonderful journey through Kristen's recipe books! I plan to wallow, and be like the lobster in Annie Hall. Just cover me with Peppermint Chocolate Mousse instead of butter please!

OH BOTHER! Do I start with the dessert book, or the entrees book? Maybe a nice salad, or a smoothie. No! Soup and a side dish!

I'm tired of trying to pick out a single book. ITS BUFFET TIME!

Just make sure you check out all of Kristen's recipe books at Kristen's Raw! She proves that a way to a person's heart is through their stomach.

Be good, hop to her site, and just maybe I'll publish one of Kristen's recipes in the next couple of days to try for yourself...if you're lucky! Yeah, maybe the Peppermint Chocolate Mousse! (its no Mickey Mouse Mousse either!)