RAW CARROT BUCKWHEAT GRANOLA

 

One of the best things to do to continue on your raw food journey is to be sure to have the foods you want to eat on hand.  I love making raw granola so I can have it handy to take to work or have around the house for a healthy treat whenever I feel that urge to snack.

 

I love Fragrant Vanilla Cake!  My inspiration came from her Carrot Cake Granola.  Oh my! Sooo delicious.  You have to try it!  Follow Amy  for all her deliciously raw sweet treats!

 

RAW CARROT BUCKWHEAT GRANOLA

 

2 cups raw buckwheat

3 cups carrots, shredded

1-1/2 cups coconut flakes

1 cup raw  pecans, soaked for 6 hours and drained

1 cup raw almonds, soaked for 6 hours and drained, loosely chopped

1/3 cups raw agave or honey

1/4 cup raw coconut butter

1 ripe banana

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup filtered water

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons cardamom

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted to a liquid

 

Soak the buckwheat for 30 minutes and rinse very well.  The buckwheat will have a slimy coating.  Rinse it off the best you can and drain.

 

Put the buckwheat, coconut flakes and nuts in a large blow and set aside.

 

In a food processor, combine the agave or honey, coconut butter, banana, sea salt, vanilla, water, spices, coconut oil and 1 cup of the shredded carrots.  Process until smooth.  Pour the mixture over the granola and add the remaining carrots.  Mix with your hands and then spread  out onto your dehydrator sheets.  Dehydrate for about 12 hours or until crispy.  Store in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. 

 

Enjoy!  It's like eating your favorite carrot cake but even better!

 

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw granola recipe?  We'd love to hear what it is. Please share in the comments below. Links are welcome!


TROPICAL CHOPPED SALAD WITH PINAPPLES AND AVOCADOS

 

 

I am really loving this salad right now.  I know, I know, I say this with almost everything that I post.  But, his is one of my really one of my favorite salads right now.  It's sweet and savory... what a great combination and super easy to boot!  It's perfect for this really hot weather we are having right now.

 

 

TROPICAL CHOPPED SALAD WITH PINEAPPLES AND AVOCADOS

 

Equal amounts of:

Chopped and jicama

Chopped pineapple

Chopped spinach

Chopped tomatoes

Chopped avocado

 

About half the amount of chopped red onion and chopped cilantro

 

Lots of lemon juice and sea salt to taste

 

Toss everything together in a bowl and its ready to serve.  So easy and delicious. 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Join the discussion!

 

Do you have a favorite tropical salad recipe? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below.   Links are welcome.

 

 

 

 



FAVORITES LIST: PARTY FOOD IDEAS

 

 

Before I went raw vegan I loved the idea of putting together really cute dessert tables for baby showers or dinner parties.  I think Amy Atlas is amazing in this regard!  She is amazing!  What inspiration.  I love the fact that she has a fruit and veggie table idea posted on her blog.  You can easily switch out items to make it raw vegan.  What gorgeous photos!

 

I would use a cashew cream recipe to top these water melon cups.

 

Switch out the mozzarella with vegan cheese or melon balls.

 

What a gorgeous table!

 

 

 

Here are some more really cute fruit and veggie serving ideas I found on Pinterest.   These are not from vegan or raw food blogs, but I love getting ideas from many sources, tweak them slightly to make them my own. 

 

 

 

Fruit Shots via Sweet and Savory Eats

 

 

Summer Party Fruit Pops via The Kitchn

 

 

Rubix Cube Fruit Salad via missflosochic.over-blog.com on Pinterest

 

 

Enjoy!

 

ON SIMPLE GREEN SMOOTHIES: MANGO AND PINEAPPLE GREEN SMOOTHIE BOWL

 

Happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a nice weekend!  Finally back in the swing of things.  If you missed it, I was over on Simple Green Smoothies on Friday with my Mango and Pineapple Green Smoothie Bowl.  Have a fabulous week!

 

 

 

RAW JICAMA TACOS WITH SPICY CASHEW CHEESE

 

 

I think this has become one of my favorite raw meals for the moment!  My husband and I are taco fans and wow!  This dish is super refreshing and delicious.  This recipe was inspired by Gluten Free Cat. I saw this Raw Jicama Tacos with  Spicy Cashew Cheese recipe on Facebook and just fell in love with the idea.  Once I tasted it, I was sold.  It will be one of my go-to recipes, especially this summer.  Thank you Gluten Free Cat!

 

If you haven't tried jicama yet, I really encourage you to do so.  It's a refreshing and crisp and has a mild flavor that adapts to its surroundings.  It's a root vegetable native to Mexico and Central America and often is simply eaten peeled with a dash of salt, chili powder and some lime juice.  There are definitely many other ways to eat it and these raw tacos is one of them.  Check out these facts about jicama.

 

I also love this spicy cashew cheese recipe because there is no fermentation time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

 

RAW JICAMA TACOS WITH SPICY CASHEW CHEESE

 

1 jicama, cut into round slices

Spicy Cashew Cheese - recipe below

Slice tomatoes

Micro greens

Baby spinach or your favorite leafy greens sliced thin

Gucacamole

 

 

Slice the jicama in thin round slices using your mandoline.  Soak them in lemon juice, if you have time, overnight.  Or, for at least 30 minute.  This will help soften the jicama if you cannot slice it thin enough and gives it flexibility.  Prepare all your other ingredients. 

 

 

SPICY CASHEW CHEESE

1 cup cashews soaked for at least 2 hours, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

2-3 slices of jalepeno pepper

1 clove of garlic

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 cup water - use a little more if needed

 

 

For the spicy cashew cheese, blend all the ingredients together in a high speed blender scrapping down the sides making sure that its all blended well smooth or to your desired consistency.  It is now ready to serve.  Makes about 1 cup.

 

To assemble the tacos place a few jicama shells together folded and fill with your ingredients and serve with limes.  The lime juice just adds that extra kick and zest.  And there you have it.

 

Bon appetite!

 

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw taco recipe?  We'd love to hear what it is. Please share in the comments below. Links are welcome!

 

 

RAW JAM

 

I absolutely love this recipe.  Three ingredients blended in a few minutes and voila!  I was recently asked by a reader and friends about finding a good recipe for raw jam and so here it is.  I took it to a party and it was really a hit!  Use it with your favorite PB&J dish (or AB&J - Almond Butter :) ) Or, as we did, make some raw vanilla whipped cream and eat it atop your favorite cracker or bread with the jam - its oooooh so good!  And don't forget my Fig Jam when fig season comes around... which is just around the corner.  I can't wait.

 

One thing to remember though when you make raw jam is that is fresh, so it will not last as long as regular jam.  Make them in small batches... it a treat that you're whole family will love.

 

RAW JAM

 

1 cup organic blueberries or strawberries

1/2 teaspoon psyllium husk powder*

1 teaspoon raw agave or raw honey

 

Blend all the ingredients together to the desired consistency.  Transfer the mixture to an air tight jar or container and let it chill for 15 minutes.  Voila, you now have your jam!  I love this jam.  It tastes so fresh you can't go wrong.

 

If you want it just a tad firmer, then use 3/4 teaspoon psyllium husk.

 

To learn more about psyllium husk check out this link.  The psyllium husk powder asks as a thickening agent.  Only a small amount is needed.  I have also seen raw jam made with chia seeds.  I haven't personally tried using chia seeds yet, but I can definitely see how that may work too.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw spread?  We'd love to hear what if is. Please share in the comments below. Links are welcome!

 



RAW BANANA CREAM PIE

 

Seriously you guys... its super delicious.  There's nothing like raw desserts for me.  The freshness and flavor you get with raw desserts is like no other.  Once your tastes buds adapt to it, you may not be able to take as much the artificial sweetness from other sugary desserts.

 

I especially love the raw crust with the creamiess of the pie.  The combination is fabulous.  I hope you enjoy it too.

 

 

For the Crust

 

1 cup macadamia nuts

1 cup dried, shredded coconut

10 medjool dates, room tempurature, pitted

 

Put the macadamia nuts and coconut into the food processor and process until it resembles crumbs. Then add in the dates and process until the dates are well combined.  The stickiness of the dates will kick in and it will hold together. 

 

 

For the Filling

 

1-1/2 cup cashews, soaked 8-12 hours, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup raw agave or liquid sweetener of choice

1/2 cup coconut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup coconut water from a young Thai coconut or coconut milk

1 cup packed coconut meat from a young Thai coconut

2-3 medium bananas, sliced (approximately 3 cups)

1 lemon, juice of

1-2 bananas sliced and dipped in lemon juice for garnish

 

Place all the ingredients except the bananas and lemon juice into a high speed blender. Blend until smooth. You will need to use the plunger or spoon and a little patience to get the mixture moving but it's well worth the effort... Transfer the mixture into a bowl.

 

Slice the 2-3 bananas and toss them with the lemon juice and drain, then fold them into the banana cream mixture.

 

 

To assemble, place the entire crust mixture in your favorite pie pan and press it down evenly all around.  Then, pour the cream mixture on top and spread evenly with a spatula and finally layer with thinly sliced bananas to garnish.  Chill for 1-2 hours and serve.   

 

Enjoy!





Join the discussion!
Do you have a favorite raw pie or cake recipe? We'd love to hear what if is. Please share in the comments below. Links are welcome!