Blog has now been moved

Just to let you know that my blog has now been moved to rawbydesign.co.uk/blog

This will also be used as temporary website for Raw by Design until I have the main website up and running soon. I have been working frantically away these last couple of days to get at least some information of the Interior Design Services I can offer you to help you maintain a raw diet successfully.

Thank you for continuing to read up on Raw by Design and I hope you continue to stay around longer.

Best wishes

Susanna x

Interior Design Show - Birmingham

Yesterday, my friend Jo took me down to the Interior Design Show at the NEC in Birmingham. A 4-day event, held every year at the NEC until 24th January, focused towards domestic interiors. Although I have been to many interior design shows, I had not been to this one for some time. I was a little bit disappointed in the range of furniture. There were a few really good quality classic pieces of furniture on show, but for new ideas there were only a few companies that stood out for me. Saying that though, if you are planning to re-decorate your house then this place is worth a visit. All in all it was a good day out. Below are a few things that stood out for me:

The Johnny Egg stand. Johnny really puts a ‘twist’ into his furniture. His ‘twisted’ black set of draws finished in a glossy black glass finish. Each draw spins independently giving the object character. When you open the draws the draws are lined with a shocking pink-flocked material. A real contrast to the surround. This is a functional piece of sculpture and stands beautifully on it’s own merits. Other pieces of his work included flocked chandelier lighting, flocked furniture and mirrored coffee table. I absolutely loved his range.

The Snood lighting collection is a new concept in transforming downlighters. These funky little lights fix easily onto the face of the downlighters with a magnet. Each set includes four stunning pairs of mini shades and chandeliers. For more information on these contact Aimbry at www.aimbry.co.uk


For carpets, Flor by Heuga do a fantastic range of carpets suitable for domestic projects. This company provides one of the best environmental policies in the carpet world. They are part of Interface Flor who provides commercial flooring and I have used many times in the past. This is one company I would highly recommend if you were thinking about putting some new carpet in your house.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to each and one of you. I hope 2009 brings a lot of good health, happiness and wellbeing.

I have returned back from Scotland from my annual visit seeing family and friends in Aberdeenshire. For a change, it seems to be slightly less colder up there than it is down here in Telford. It is sooo cold in my house at the moment I can feel icicles forming on my nose. It was so good to catch up with everyone and to see my niece and nephews who seem to grow up so incredibly fast. I don’t see enough of them.

A new year is definitely a good time to reflect and make new commitments and resolutions. Many people right now are making some kind of commitment towards their health and fitness and our TV’s are now full of adverts promoting this. Most of us binge at Christmas then spend months afterwards trying to get rid of the excess flab. It is one big yoyo. Have you made any resolutions for this year?

At the beginning of this fabulous year I intend to up my raw diet again with more greens and sprouts to gain more energy. I have slipped these last few months but I’m determined to get back on track with a higher raw diet. As well as improving my raw diet I intend to get the business off the ground and help make raw food more mainstream. I think if raw food was far more recognisable and understood more I reckon there would be a lot less of constant binging we set ourselves yearly.

So with that in mind I thought I would give a little bit on an update of where I am with Raw by Design. I’m currently setting up a temporary web site for you go to which will give you a whole load of information and details of what I offer, along with some exciting free-bees to give away. Although, I have been faced with a number of technical problems (some things never seem to be straightforward in the computer world)! I have a brilliant graphic designer Greg, from Verso Communications, working on the logo at the moment and I hope this will be ready in the not too distant future.

Just as a recap of what I will be offering very soon. I will be offering an Interior Design service based around the raw food diet. This is an exclusive service offering professional support in the home and commercially. The former suits those wanting to refurbish their kitchen to fit this lifestyle. The later is for restaurant/café and retail owners who want to introduce raw food on their menu or open up their own exclusive raw food café or shop. More details of this will be revealed when the web site has been launched.

Raw Christmas?

Christmas is just round the corner and I can feel the excitement in the air (along with a few last minute panic’s). I’ve sent my Christmas cards, made Russell James’ Chocolate and Orange Tavoletta to take up to my family, wrapped the presents and I’m almost ready to go home to Scotland in a few days time. Can’t wait!

I noticed there is a lot of raw talk about what to eat on Christmas day. Christmas to me it is about enjoying my time with my family and friends. I don’t often see my family so this time is always a little bit special to us all.

I’ve been a vegetarian for pretty much 20 years. Something I remember my parents saying I was going though a ‘fad’ or ‘phase’. Even now I still get comments about my eating habits! Which is fine, I wouldn’t expect anything less from them. I became interested in raw food for the last 2 years, quite a concept for my parents to get their head around. Although this has been a bit more difficult to adapt to and I have gone through periods where I’ve been 100% raw and other times only 80%. So realistically I still only consider myself as a vegetarian. Something I will strive to improve in 2009. I know the higher my diet is raw the better I feel. This business I am creating (Raw by Design) is to help towards getting raw food more recognised, acceptable and easily accessible in this country. Making it much easier for everyone to stay on that high raw diet. Wouldn’t it be great to be able to go any restaurant and not only get a vegetarian option but also a RAW option too! Wow what a vision.

I don’t know exactly what I will be eating on Christmas day. It will most likely be cooked. I tend to eat all the veggies and roast potatoes made on the day. I want to keep it simple and not make things awkward. Next year maybe very different. But I will be taking up my blender to make plenty green smoothes, sauces and dressings over the Christmas break.

You too have to decide what is right for you. If you decided to eat raw then wow that’s great, good for you. If you decide to eat the same Christmas dinner with everyone else then that’s good too. You don’t want to feel like your sticking out like a sore thumb if you don’t feel comfortable to so. What ever you do, don’t get hung up about it. You have to do what is right for you.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

BBC Salford

Well, Christmas is truly here and Christmas parties are in full swing. Last Thursday I had a surprise call from my previous boss, William Dunne, from iDEA, inviting me to their Christmas day out literally the next day. I couldn’t refuse. It was so nice to be remembered and to be surrounded by so many familiar faces. It felt like I hadn’t been away. In true iDEA spirit, they held a special Christmas event and this year it was a trip to Manchester to look around the new BBC buildings in Salford. This is a job iDEA have been heavily involved in for many years now. The day then progressed into a leisurely walk around the German market in the city centre, finishing with a slap up meal – although this meal was not raw! Ooopps!

Now, only ever seeing the new BBC buildings on plans and in a CAD format, it was very exciting to see the three buildings well on their way through construction. Although still a long way from completion, it was a great privilege to get a sneak preview of how these buildings are being developed and the huge organisation needed to keep a job like this running. It is one of the biggest jobs I have seen at this stage. The site has been set up with a changing area, huge temporary office, security barriers, walkways and boot wash. The guys working on site are some of the friendliest and politest bunch of workers I’ve met, with plenty of friendly hello’s and door opening for us ladies, despite how we looked in our hard hats, fluorescent coats and muddy wellies.

We spent an hour touring around the site guided by one of the site managers from Bovis Lend Lease – the construction management team. We were taken around to some of the areas where a few of the BBC departments will be transferred to such as Sport, Five Live, Children’s and the Blue Peter garden. It was a fantastic insight to see how some of the spaces are forming and developing. This will be a truly amazing place to visit when completed in 2011.

Thank you iDEA for such a great day out.

Raw Chocolate

Wow, I can’t believe it is the 1st of December already and Christmas day is only a few weeks away. I decided last Friday, instead of buying Christmas cards this year I would make my own and spent most of yesterday sticking, gluing and sewing little things onto cards. A perfect activity whilst stuck in front of the Telly.

Right now, in the supermarkets we are constantly bombarded with offers, on sweets, chocolate snacks and drinks and every year I get sucked into buying a huge family tin of quality streets, roses or celebrations to bring back home to my family in Scotland as a ‘treat’. But this year I want to do something slightly different. Instead of buying a huge tin of processed chocolate full of so much rubbish, I will be making my own raw chocolate cake to bring back (I think there is ‘make your own’ theme developing here)!!! I want to be able to bring back a chocolate cake that has been made from natural ingredients without the dairy, additives and refined sugar and tasting a whole lot better than the commercial stuff – Now that is what I call a treat! Chocolate is one addiction I don’t think I could ever do without. Although raw chocolate is seen as a much healthier and more nutritious option to standard chocolates it still should be used for those special occasions. There is currently a lot of talk going on in the raw world debating on how healthy raw cacao really is. Even in its natural state cacao contains some chemicals such as caffeine and this may not be good for us, especially if consumed in large quantities. But between the two, I’d far rather eat raw chocolate than processed chocolate any day.

I have made Russell James’ Marbled Chocolate and Orange Tavoletta several times (although I have to confess I haven’t bothered with the marbling). This cake has gone down a treat so many times and has been a real winner between my friends and family. It is so easy to make if you have a good blender like a Vitamix or Blendtec. I’m not sure how long this cake lasts for but I made this cake on the 1st of November and I still have some left in the fridge and it still tastes great.

If you’re not planning to make your own raw cake you can buy raw chocolate over the Internet for a Christmas present or even just for your own indulgence. Raw chocolate is a real talking topic if you give it to someone who may not have had this before, especially if they love their chocolate. I have listed down a few places where you can buy raw chocolate:

Shazzie: The queen of raw chocolate and author of Naked Chocolate written with David Wolfe. This book is an excellent Christmas present for someone who wants to know more about raw chocolate. Shazzie also has a brought out her Christmas Love raw chocolate.

Conscious Chocolate: I came across this chocolate whilst visiting Red Sugar in Edinburgh. This stuff is soooooooo good and probably my favourite chocolate bar on the market is the ‘Best Ever Essential Orange’. It is so smooth and just melts in the mouth. They currently have a specially range out for Christmas

True Love Organics Ltd: These people really know how to package up their chocolate. A perfect Christmas present for someone you love!


The Raw Chocolate Shop: A great Internet shop offering chocolate from some of the main raw chocolate manufacturers including Shazzie, Conscious Chocolate and True Love Organics.

Until next time

Susanna

Busy Bee

I have been incredibly busy here at my desk setting up Raw by Design, soon to be launched in January next year – I just can’t wait. I have been developing some really exciting stuff to give to you and hopefully this will be ready soon. Setting up this business has not been an easy task and its been a huge learning curve, especially juggling it with another part time job as a University lecturer, which I have to confess has been a whole lot of fun. Right now the students have handed in their first assignments and I have been busy marking all their work.

Just a little bit of insight to what Raw by Design will be offering - this will be a unique interior design service based around the raw food diet. This is an exclusive service offering professional support in the home and within commercial food outlets. The former suits those wanting to refurbish their kitchen to fit this lifestyle. The later is for restaurant and café owners who want to introduce raw food on their menu or open up their own exclusive raw food outlet. Further details will be revealed in the near future.

I’m currently talking to a graphic designer who I hope will be helping me put together the branding and website for Raw by Design. Will keep you posted on this. This is one area I cannot wait to see developed.

For the time being I thought I would share with you my Cabbage and Sweet-corn salad with Sundried Tomato and Sweet Pepper Dressing just to wet your appetite. The cabbage is inexpensive and is widely available throughout the year. It is full of Vitamin C and K, includes the vital Omega 3 fatty acids, Folic Acid, Calcium, Vitamin B1 and 2, Vitamin A, Protein, Magnesium and importantly very low in calories.











Cabbage and Carrot Salad
1 white cabbage
1 sweet red pepper
2 medium-large carrots
1 sweet corn cob
1 cup of green peas or green beans finely chopped
3-4 spring onions finely sliced
10 olives (or more) with stones removed and chopped.

1. Roughly chop the white cabbage and carrots to a size that will fit in through the top mouth of a food processor. Using the shredding disk in the food processor, shred together the white cabbage and carrots. If you do not have a shedder you can either grate the cabbage and carrots using a hand held grater or finely chop the cabbage.

2. Carefully remove the sweet corn kernels from the cob using a knife. This can be done, by holding the cob upright on its end on a plate or in a bowl. Holding the cob steady, use a sharp knife and strip away the kernels by making long downward strokes down on the cob. This separates the kernels from the cob. This can be a bit tricky at first as the corncob may slip. You may want to place a clean tea towel between the end of the corncob and work surface. Some kernels may go flying all over the place and might get a bit messy – all part of the fun.

3. Place the shredded cabbage and carrots in a large bowl and mix in the corn kernels and remaining ingredients. Mix well and serve onto a plate with the dressing.

Note: This salad can be served with the Sundried Tomato and Sweet Pepper dressing below or with another favourite dressing of your choice.











Sundried Tomato and Sweet Pepper Dressing
2 x courgettes
½ cup of fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons of flaxseed oil
4 tablespoons of agave nectar
10 soaked sundried tomatoes
½ sweet pepper chopped
2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning
2 teaspoons of onion power
1 teaspoon of salt
1 small clove of garlic

1. Peel the outer skin of the courgettes using a peeler. Roughly chop courgettes and place in a high-powered blender.

2. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add a little water if the consistency is too thick. It should have a consistency like a smooth creamy dressing.

3. Place in a dish and decorate with either a sprinkling of chilli or tomato powder and basil leaves. Serve with salad.

Enjoy!