Last week I mentioned meeting Raw Foodie Mimi Kirk. It was at a party in her honor celebrating the launch of her new recipe book, Live RAW Around The World.
Mimi is a very youthful, vibrant, free-spirited, energetic, dynamic, beautiful 75 year-old on a mission to tell the world that you can age without getting old. In her two books, the first was Live RAW, she narrates her own story of reversing “age-related diseases,” and gives her formula for living well, along with recipes for living food and generative meals.
Raw Pasta Checca from Mimi Kirk’s first Recipe book, Live Raw
Mimi generously gave me permission to give you this recipe below for a summer pasta she served at her book launch and later demonstrated during her talk on “living raw.”
Raw Zucchini Pasta al Pesto from Live Raw Around the World
Zucchini Pasta with Creamy Pesto Puttanesca
3 large Zucchini, peeled optionally (I like to striate the peel for color)
1 c Basil Leaves
1/2 c Walnuts (due to a family allergy to walnuts, I use sunflower seeds)
2 T EVOO
1 large clove Garlic
1/2 c Parsley Leaves
1/8 t dried Chili flakes
Himalayan Salt
Fresh ground Black Pepper
2 T Capers, crushed in garlic press
1 T Capers, whole
1/2 c Olives, raw if possible
1/4 Lemon for juice
Parsley for garnish
Run the zucchini through a spiralizer if you have one, or use a potato peeler, slicing the long way, for more of a “fettuccini” noodle. Put the zucchini strips in a large bowl and massage with a little lemon and olive oil. Let rest for 10-15 minutes while you make the pesto. Then massage again to soften. Pour off any liquid.
Place the basil, nuts (or seeds), salt and pepper in a food processor and pulse. Drizzle in olive oil while the blender is running. Stop, scrape the sides and taste. Adjust seasoning to your liking. Add more olive oil to make the pesto creamy. Smooth, thick, and pourable is what you are looking for. Add chili flakes and stir. Remove pesto from the processor ad a squeeze of lemon. Toss the pesto with the Zucchini pasta, capers and olives. Serve with a garnish of parsley.
Summer Cleanse! Photo by Shannon Jones
Summer is a great time to clean up with a five day raw diet. If you are ready to cool, soothe and purify, I invite you to join us for my new Ayurvedic Summer Cleanse.
Also, if you would like to learn Ayurveda, and you are or could be in San Diego in late September, I invite you to join my husband and me for a weekend Immersion into Ayurveda.
And one more thing ~ Mimi also gave me permission to give away her new book to 5 fabulous Food: A Love Story followers. If you would like a book, please enter a comment below. Names will be randomly chosen on Monday, and mailed to you next week.
Raw Pizza from Mimi Kirk
Thank you, thanks to Mimi, thanks to all the teachers of true health and wellness, and thanks to the principle of love that is in all of nature’s true foods.
Namaste!
~
Post Script: Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic comments. It is touching and so inspiring to see so many people dedicated to healthy living and a healthy world. Thank you for that dedication! Winners have been chosen: Congratulations to Jamie, Tommy, Mary, Samuel and “Anonymous!”
This looks simply amazing. I never thought of treating zucchini the way you treat kale for kale salad. Genius! Would love another raw cookbook, I only have one at present.
I would love to win a book and put it to good use. Tommy Flanagan 🙂
I don’t see where to enter to win a free book
Hi Lori, You just did! Thanks ~
This looks amazing and wow…she looks amazing! I don’t have any raw cookbooks yet…I should check this one out.
Mimi Kirk is truly amazing, and her book is full of creative recipes that anyone would enjoy. Thanks, Britt.
This recipe came through at a perfect time (as most of your wise advice does :-)! I have been thinking about going raw for a few days to see if it will help w/ my energy & immune issues. I haven’t done it because I have felt it would take more energy (than I have) to prepare all of the raw dishes. But, this recipe is so simple! I have every ingredient either growing in our garden or in my fridge! Excited to make it tonight! Yummy, yummy, yummy! Xoxoxo!
Happy to hear it, Gina! Hope it helps!
The pictures are beautifully enticing…. I am making the zucchini pasta for dinner tonight… Yum!
Buon Appetito, Carolyn!
Thanks Laura for being wonderful and sharing inspiring people with us! Great timing on the cleanse, too. I’m excited that you decided to offer it…. blessings!
I am just getting started with raw foods and find that I feel so much healthier when I eat this type of diet. A cookbook would be a huge help on this new path. The raw foods we prepared and ate at Laura’s Summer Cooking Class were outstanding. I am anxious to experiment with more recipes.
Thank you, Linda, as always! I am so grateful for you.
I am working on a talk for physicians about Ayurveda, and this email popped up! So inspirational! I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing this find!
Melanie
Oh! Can I come?
Possibly at the same time today I was recommending you to someone asking me for “my favorite doctor in San Diego.”
The world is a better place because of you, Melanie. Thanks.
🙂
Looks absolutely delicious! I would love one of her books to learn more. There is a place called ‘Thr Hippocrates Institute’ here in Florida, not far from me which I was just checking out, that teaches all about raw foods and raw living. Was thinking about taking one of their courses:) thanks for continuing to blog Laura, I love reading and trying your creation. Xoxox
I have heard of the Hippocratic Institute. Will be curious to hear how you like it, Jamie-ji. Meanwhile, we love you and wish you every happiness in Fla. XO
Yum! Looks delicious, thanks for sharing!
Yum! Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing.
My 14 year daughter has been making the most beautiful raw food recipies from Mimi’sfirst book.
Mimi is such a wonderful inspiration for anyone looking to adopt the raw lifestyle. She’s so vibrant! I would love a copy of her new book to help guide me in adopting this way of healthy eating so I can improve my own vibrancy and health.
Here’s a joke; Why do people in Oklahoma lock their cars in the summer? So someone won’t “gift” them with zucchini. If you are from the Midwest this joke is Funny! I’m glad to find a new recipe that uses this vegetable raw.
Dani, I love that – even though I am from the midwest and don’t remember such a bounty of zucchini. For us, in the northern Great Lakes region it was corn and tomatoes… Thank you!
I have her first book and would love to have this one. She certainly is a great example of the living foods lifestyle.;
Wow, what an amazing & inspiring lady – I’d love to check out the book. And I’ll definitely be trying out that ‘pasta’ recipe!
I love how abundant and giving our mother is! She packages everything up in beauty and nourishes us with what we need, when we need it!!!! jai Ma
Jai Ma! Jai Ananda!
Beautiful! The recipes sound so fresh and delicious and she looks amazing!!!
Thank you for the raw food inspiration Laura! I’m going to try your pistachio truffles too. Mimi looks as vital as the sunflowers she holds. You’re both so radiant!
Mimi IS radiant, and inspiring ~ and so are you, Sally!
I’ve been following this fabulous lady’s raw vegan-advocacy for a number of years now; count me in! : )
Done. Thanks!
Looks so delicious!
Learning more everyday! Thanks Mimi! 🙂
Would love to have her book:)
This looks incredible and I am going to have my husband make this! Mimi has inspired us so much with her incredible recipes, her natural glow, her energy and how beautiful inside and out she is! I actually have both of her books but I WOULD LOVE to give this to someone I have in mind that can’t afford to buy much ( a 19 year old cousin of mine going to college and works to buy her own groceries) and she would be more than grateful to receive this book because she eats only raw.
I adore Mimi and her innovative diet. Her story and journey of becoming a raw flooding inspires me to make the change! Winning her cook book would make the transition much easier. Namaste!
Yum and beautiful! Would this work out ok leaving out the olive oil?
Just starting this lifestyle change at 51. Would love to win one of her books.
I would love her new book as I love her last book!
I have Mimi’s last Raw Food book and its awesome, my daily bible! 🙂
Mimi Kirk is the reason I decided to go raw!!! She is beautiful inside and out and has truly been an inspiration to me!!!
Mimi is so inspiring and this pasta recipe looks amazing!! I would love to win a copy of her new cookbook!
Would love to have her new book, have her first one. I need to change, completely, my way of eating and I am open totally to this, it is just dealing with the overwhelming grief of the loss of our sons tragic death has me down so badly, and I know eating healthier is the way to heal quicker but it’s just trying to figure it all out right now, thinking Mimi’s book would help a lot, wish I was rich for a day I would attend one of her events.
You won! Can you send me your address, please? Congratulations.
Would love to have her new book, have her first one. I need to change, completely, my way of eating and I am open totally to this, it is just dealing with the overwhelming grief of the loss of our sons tragic death has me down so badly, and I know eating healthier is the way to heal quicker but it’s just trying to figure it all out right now, thinking Mimi’s book would help a lot, wish I was rich for a day I would attend one of her events.
I’ve been so inspired by Mimi the past two months. I dabbled in raw foods for about a year, but have been eating 95% raw for the past three months. I’m feeling so wonderful. Thank you for sharing your beauty… I’m feeling excited to browse your blog and website.
This recipe looks delightful! I would love to win Mimi’s new book. She is quite an inspiring woman 🙂
I love Mimi Kirk’s philosophy on life and food. Such an inspiration!
Mimi Kirk is truly inspirational. I love her philosophy and love for raw food
Love Mimi & Her influence in the world. Big inspiration to me.
Lets keep the truth easy to access. Thank You for all You are doing.
I find Mimi not only stunning but a kind, loving and giving woman who is changing how people view veganism and modern living. Bless you Mimi
“What do you lov?” it says… Well, I’d love to get my hands on this book by Mimi Kirk! And if I don’t get this chance, well, keep on inspiring people around the world Mimi!
I would love to learn how to eat raw. I have been following Mimi’s blog for a while and love fresh fruits and veggies, but haven’t made a complete switch yet. Would bs wonderful to win her book 🙂
Mimi and I share the same taste buds.
I love her work with food!
For the love of Raw
Tammy
I would love to have her new book, thanks for the generous offer. I loved your blog I’m subscribing 😉
I would love to have this new book 🙂
I love healthy raw food.
Thanks Mimi for the fabulous recipe and thanks for being such a shining example of healthy living.
Planning on making the zucchini and pesto pasta tonight! Thank you for the recipe.
would love the book and a chance to go raw
Wow, the book looks fantastic, loving the photos of all those sprouts and the vibrancy of the flower salads.
I find Mimi to be such an amazing inspiration! As an individual working diligently to live well with an Auto-immune disease, I have been actually vegan or raw for more than 20 years. This life choice has made a significant difference to my daily symptoms. I would absolutely love Mimi’s new cookbook…I need some new recipes!
Very interesting in reading this!
wonderful recipes looks so beautiful yummmmm. thank you mimi.
Love how inspirational Mimi Kirk is and would adore a copy of her book here in Australia!!! 🙂
I love this blog. The photos of food are just beautiful as are your words of wisdom. The recipes I’ve created here are delicious, and I can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing!
This looks awesome!! Go Mimi!! Going to try this today. Thank you:)
I would really enjoy winning Mimi book she is so amazing.I hope I look like her when I’m 75…now 52:)
Love Mimi’s work. Such an inspiration 🙂
Would love to win……………….Mimi is so amazing and she responded to my email and post so quickly when I couldn’t find an ingredient……slowly transforming….my lifestyle towards living raw………..would love to win the book it would help me so much……great post….<3
I really love to learn raw. I am living in a mountain and traditionally eating raw food but not yet living raw. I was wondering how the book is and I really hope my dream come true to have the book here in Indonesia. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the contest, Laura. I’d love to enter it and win Mimi’s new cookbook. When I bought her first raw book, the very next day, I ran into her walking down the street in San Francisco. She told me that she was here to celebrate her 74th birthday with her kids. So, here’s my entree for the second raw book.
I’d love to get a raw cookbook – having all the implements, such as a spiral slicer, would be helpful too. Yummy looking recipe.
Wonderful! Im a big fan of Mimi Kirk…she introduced to me to an array of culinary wonders 🙂 I love how much is possible even in a raw diet. Fingers crossed for the book…!
Wow I’m going to have to try that recipe. Yummy
I LOVE raw pasta!! I enjoy making it with raw diakon raddish, coconut cream and a HEAP of herbs!!!
I would love another raw foods cookbook! Like you I only have one, and its Mimi’s of course!
Hi Mary, Did you see my email? You won! Please reply so we can send you the book. Congrats!
Many thanks for inspiring me with what you do, namaste
Love Mimi’s recipes. Would love to own her new book. The pizza looks delicious!
Looks absolutely, mouth watering, eye’s to stomach, wanting more!!!
Penny Markle
What an awesome prize! Mimi gives us all hope for aging beautifully.
Just finished a 28 day juice fast after turning 60. Big change for me! Raw food is the next big challenge. Would love to have Mimi’s new book!
Congratulations!
This recipe looks terrific. Would love to be entered in the drawing for the new book. Thanks so much!
Have been following Mimi the last few years. I absolutely adore her outlook on life and her amazing delicious recipes.
I’ve been mostly raw for 6 months and love all the wonderful ways it’s changed my life. Thank you for posting this recipe!
Awesome I ave been wanting to read her book for a long time
Mimi is so inspiring, would love to have her new book. International flavors hurray!
I love Mimi’s first book beautifully balanced in content with fantastic pictures, written from the heart and truly encouraging and simple to follow for anyone on a journey towards better health. It is my favourite book in the kitchen, needless to say I would love a copy of her new book!
I love anything Mimi does- she’s such an inspiration for living in the most healthy way possible! She is living proof of the benefit of good nutrition- I would love to win this book and try the recipes that have made her look so good!!
Mimi is a true inspiration. Her recipes are always creative and delicious. I look forward to trying the zucchini pasta recipe. Thank you.
Looking forward to the raw cleanse, so sad that we are many miles away now though. Would love to learn more about eating and preparing raw foods. The book looks amazing as does Mimi, that must be your trick also Laura!
I have just ordered mimi’s first book and can’t wait for it to arrive. I am so excited she has another one out. I am so excited to start this journey into raw food. X
Recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Mimi is such an inspiration! I would love to add this book to my collection! Love your blog, too! 🙂
Laura – looking forward to this week’s cleanse and trying some new recipes!
Marcelle
Is it too late to enter the contest to win the book? I hope not. Please put my name in the hat as well. Thank you.
We may still have one more book as the final winner has yet to come forward. Stay tuned – I’ll update in my next post. Thanks Cynthia!
I would love to try a book!
Please include me!
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What a wonderful book! Would love to receive one. Love raw and Mimi is the absolute role model for the raw food diet.