Raw Foods!

Turn off the oven, shut off the stove and leave the cover on the grill--we are getting RAW this week at IHCC! Yes, we are cooking (or rather NOT cooking) Raw Foods with Mark Bittman!

What are Raw Foods you ask?

Well according to Wikipedia: "Raw foodism (or rawism) is a lifestyle promoting the consumption of uncooked, unprocessed, and often organic foods as a large percentage of the diet. Raw foodists typically believe that the greater the percentage of raw food in the diet, the greater the health benefits. Depending on the type of lifestyle and results desired, raw food diets may include a selection of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds (including sprouted whole grains), eggs, fish (such as sashimi), meat (such as carpaccio), and nonpasteurized/nonhomogenized dairy products (such as raw milk, raw milk cheese, and raw milk yogurt)."

Not to get too technical--we just thought this is a fun way to make good use of summer's bounty of fresh, natural foods and not have to "cook" this week!

How will YOU get raw?

• Maybe you fancy a big plate of salad, or crudites and a flavorful dip?

• A cold veggie soup from the blender?

• Fresh fruit as a salad, dessert, or maybe a drink?

• Roll up some sushi or slice a little sashimi?

• Get elegant with some carpaccio or a little tartare?

• Perhaps you are feeling shy and just want to dip your toes in and go partially raw with a raw pasta sauce to go on some cooked noodles?

• Heck, you might just want to make your Mark Bittman recipe selection while completely "in the raw"--we are cool with that, just no pictures please! ;-)

However you decide to get raw, just make sure to make and post your Bittman recipe by Sunday, August 1st. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky , below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous raw creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post too, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Raw Foods!* Participants

1. girlichef~ homemade coconut milk 2. Deb In Hawaii--Ethiopian-Style Tomato Salad 3. Pam - Quick Pickled Cucumbers 4. Debbie-Banana Ginger Granita 5. Debbie T - quinoa pasta w/ raw tomato sauce

6. Joanne - Linguine with Raw Tomato Sauce 7. Denny - Traditional Gazpacho 8. Andreas - Ethiopian Tomato Salad 9. Joanna@Go Ahead & Snicker - Heirloom Caprese Salad 10. Lexi (Raita and Chicken Biryanil)

11. Kim-Spiced Melon Balls 12. Sue - Couscous & Consciousness 13. Natashya - White Bean Purée

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July POTLUCK!

Yup, it's that time again!!

Time for  you to pick a dish...any dish!  Okay, any dish...as long as...it's made or adapted from a Mark Bittman recipe, that is.

What will you contribute to the POTLUCK this week?  A light salad...a hearty sandwich...a decadent desert...a refreshing bevvie?? Make whatever your heart desires and bring it along...

Looking forward to the spread!

Make and post your POTLUCK recipe by Sunday, July 25th.  Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky  below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

*Remember that we are cooking from Mark Bittman's recipes - any links that don't include the featured chef will be deleted.*
I Heart Cooking Clubs *July '10 POTLUCK* Participants

1. Beth Anne - Pineapple Ginger Sorbet 2. Deb in Hawaii--Lamb & Bulgur Burgers w/ Avocado-Yogurt Sauce 3. Pam - Salmon Roasted in Butter 4. Alex@A Moderate Life-Creamed Spinach 5. girlichef~ Sopa de Tortilla 6. Kim-Chickpea Sliders

7. Fruit and Nut Bread 8. Carla and Michael-Shrimp Scampi 9. Giovanna - Vegetable Torte 10. Chocolate Bread Pudding 11. Jenny - Roast Chicken with Olive Oil and Garlic 12. Joanna@GoAhead&Snicker-Curried Eggplant with Coconut Milk

13. Andreas - Grilled Tomatoes and Scrambled Eggs 14. Denny - Barley Salad with Cucumber and Yogurt Dressing 15. Natashya - Tropical Granola 16. Debbie--The Friday Friends 17. Julie M.

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Girls Night In!

We've ditched the fellas this week! Not that there is anything wrong with men, after all - we need someone to do car maintenance, yard work, and bug killing... among other things...
Much as we love the furrier sex, it is nice to have a night with just the gals.

But really, who can afford to go out these days? Much better to entertain at home. The food and drinks are better and less expensive. Also, nobody looks at you funny if you laugh too loud or wur your slurds. Just sayin'.

So invite over a favourite gal-pal or two, look up some groovy Mark Bittman recipes, and have yourself a great Girls Night In!

Guys, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you. Whether you are making something for your favourite gal or dropping off some cookies for mom, "just because", this is a great opportunity to spoil the women in your life by helping facilitate their fun night in. These nights on our own only make us love you more, we promise.

Make and post your Girls Night In recipe by Sunday, July 18th. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky , below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

*Remember that we are cooking from Mark Bittman's recipes - any links that don't include the featured chef will be deleted.*

All images above from Google Images, some from MyRecipes.com

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Girls Night In!* Participants

1. Joanne - Baked Zucchini Macaroni and Cheese 2. Beth Anne - spicy grilled shrimp and a tequila sunrise 3. Kim-Chopped Salad 4. Joanna@GoAhead&Snicker-Rst. Eggplant with Yogurt 5. Pam - Rice with Herb Oil

6. Feta & Watermelon Salad @girlichef 7. Deb in Hawaii--Greek-Style Orzo Salad 8. Denny - Baked Eggs Florentine 9. Oven Roasted Salmon 10. Natashya - Raspberry Mousse with Port

11. Maggie - Brownies 12. Pasta with Ham, Peas, and Cream 13. Jenny - Spinach, bacon and sweet potato salad

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Better With Bacon!!

This week at I Heart Cooking Clubs, everything is Better With Bacon!!

That's right! It's time to BRING HOME THE BACON and FRY IT IN THE PAN!

Crispy or chewy, bacon is delicious with pancakes, on cheeseburgers, with pasta, cornbread, or as a topping for salad. Come to think of it....is there anything that bacon isn't good on? Just a little bit of bacon adds so much flavor!

So many options, what sounds good to you? Choose any Mark Bittman recipe containing bacon, from one of his books or online, make it and post by Sunday July 11th, link up your post with Mr. Linky below, and remember to leave a comment so we know you are frying up bacon! It's that easy!


BTW--Don't forget to stop by and check out all the great Picnic Basket treats from last week.

Not sure what a permalink is & how to link up with Mr. Linky? Check out our Welcome post.
I Heart Cooking Clubs Better With Bacon Participants

1. Deb in Hawaii--BLT Salad 2. girlichef~ Pasta w/ BACON & breadcrumbs 3. Tina~ Black Beans w/ BACON & BEER!! 4. Natashya - Grilled Pizzas with Grilled Corn, Arugula, and Bacon 5. Beth Anne - Bacon Waffles

6. Alex@A Moderate Life (guest host girlichef)~ Meatloaf topped w/ BACON 7. Pam - Pasta all'Amatriciana 8. Maggie~Pasta with Bacon,Spinach and Breadcrumbs 9. Carla and Michael@RecipeAddict 10. Carla and Michael@RecipeAddict-Hoppin John

11. Joanne - Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing...and a GIVEAWAY 12. Kim-Pasta with Bacon and Breadcrumbs 13. Andreas - Bacon Bean Burgers 14. Debbie (The Friday Friends) 15. Alex@A Moderate Life-Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

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