Friday, September 16, 2011

Sugar Cookies and Brownies.......

I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so having something Raw to munch on hand is a must. I find that if i do not keep ready made snacks in the cupboard then I will eat anything, which is not a good thing.

I find that somethings the combinations of some Raw Recipes yields a result that is nothing like the real thing it was meant to resemble and sometimes an ingredient will over power the whole dish. I created this batter to have a very mild taste to it. This way you can manipulate it to your tastes. Add some chopped dried fruit or cacao nibs, or I like I dis some Cacao powered for an out of this world brownie.

Raw Sugar Cookie Batter
2 cups Raw Soaked Cashews
2 TBS water
1 cup frozen Dates
1 tsp Vanilla

Using frozen dates keeps them from gumming up your food processor or blender. toss your frozen dates in the blender/food processor and whirl until chopped finely. In your food processor add your cashews, water, and pulse until chopped finely. Add your dates and vanilla and run your food processor until you have a well combined paste that is smooth and well combined.

Now you can stop here and put teaspoonfulls on your dehydrator tray and call it a day. These make a great mild sugar cookie like bites.

BROWNIES-
Or you can add 1/4 cup of cacao powder and whirl it up to make the best Raw Brownies you have ever tasted. Once dehydrated they even get crunchy edges like brownies. just spread about 1/2 inch think on your dehydrator tray. dehydrate until firm enough to cut, cut into squares an then dehydrate over night. you will want to keep these in the fridge because they are ooey gooey in the middle.

Or maybe some dried coconut, dried bananas, and dried pineapple for a pina colada flavor.... The sky is the limit.


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Raw Cheese

Ok I admit I am a cheese-aholic. I find nothing better than warm gooey melted cheese. but lets get really its not good for me, or anyone for that matter. But i still needed a good raw substitute for my raw pizzas etc. So today I made a nice savory cheese that I think will fill the bill for anything. This cheese is a bit firmer than the ones I have tried in the past, which makes it sliceable. you can add ingredients and take away them to change the flavors. I did mine with a bit of garlic, because I love the stuff! You can make yours with out for a more mozzarella or cream cheese type.

Raw Cheese

1 Cup Soaked Cashes or Macadamia Nuts
1/4 Cup filtered water
3 TBS of Kambucha (Plain not flavored unless you want a fruity cheese.
3 TBS Olive oil
Juice from 1/2 lime
1/4-1/2 tSP salt to taste.
Optional 1/4 TSP garlic Powder
1/4 Cup Irish Moss Gel ( you can buy this or make you own by following this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lGEl_HBtPs )

Add everything except your olive oil, kumbucha, and water to your blender. Turn your blender on low and slowly add your water, kumbucha, and then olive oil. you may find you need a bit more to get it to blend depending on your blender. I use a Oster beehive, so I don't have the power that those using a Blendtec or Vitamix dose. Once your done blending this put it in a container that has a little olive oil rubbed on the inside and refrigerate until firm.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Un-cooking day...

Today I filled my dehydrator with raw chocolate cookies, Faux Cheeze Its crackers. It works so much better if I have easy snack foods to grab when a craving or those late night hunger pains hit.

I also played with Irish moss today. Wow that stuff thickens up like crazy! I am a big fan of gummy bears so this is tonights project to figure out! ;)

Friday, September 9, 2011

Back....

I don't know how many are actually reading my blog, but in July I lost my pregnancy. i do no think this was Raw related, well because I had stopped eating Raw.

Interestingly I am preggo again. we were not trying and had actually decided on permanent birth control when we found out. I am determined to be completely raw this pregnancy and at 4+ weeks pregnant I start a new.

Today was a blissfull day. Yesterday i drove up to Flagstaff, AZ to visit my brother. On the way home we decided to drive through Sedona, its my favorite place ever! Sedona has a huge Raw Food community and I was lucky enough to stop by The Chocolate Tree Cafe http://www.chocolatreecafe.com/! It is really neat and had apple trees with organic apples growing in the front.
I picked up a yummy green smoothie and some Irish Moss. Its nasty looking stuff and makes me want to gag from the look of it, but its supposed to be great for deserts.