Raw Chocolate Fudge.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!

I had every intention of blogging early today, but it just never happened. Sometimes the days just get away from me. But, late is better than never!!  I feel like valentine's day is all about chocolate and flowers. At least that's what's advertised all over the place. So, in honor of a healthy valentine's day, I just wanted to say, "Do something good for your heart, nutritionally good!" Below a great heart healthy fudge recipe by Shannon Leonne. 

 CHOCOLATE FUDGE BY SHANNON LEONNE

¼ c coconut butter raw, unbleached and organic!

¼ c raw honey

¼ c organic cacao powder, the cacao bean is the actual chocolate bean, only unroasted with tons of antioxidants and love chemicals

½ t vanilla

1 drop pure organic essential oil of peppermint, or orange, or lavender, or cinnamon

Blend away to Chocolate Heaven, freeze for a more solid consistency

 Below is my free hand heart shaped fudge. You could totally use a spatula to flatten the bumps out, but I was in a hurry. I put mine in the freezer and it turned out perfect. I placed my heart on waxed paper so that I could easily remove it once it hardened.

 Turn it over, and here's what it looked like! I had a couple of girlfriends over tonight, and I mentioned that I had great ideas of a strawberry or raspberry drizzle, but that didn't happen either. So, here's the end result and it was quite tasty! The honey gives it the fudge type consistency and the coconut butter allowed it to harden. It tastes like a nice mix of honey and dark chocolate!

Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp from Do Eat Raw App 

Apple crisp

Ingredients:
golden delicious apples 5
pecans 1 cup 
macadamia nuts 1/2 cup 
dates 2/3 cup
raisins, soaked 3 hours 1/2 cup 
agave nectar 2 tablespoons 
lemon, juiced 1/2
vanilla 1 teaspoon 
Himalayan salt pinch of

Description :
Place one unpeeled apple along with the drained raisins, cinnamon (this recipe left out the amount of cinnamon so I just used 2 teaspoons) lemon juice, agave, vanilla and salt in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside. Peel and thinly slice remaining apples and place them in a bowl. Add the pureed mix and toss gently. In a food processor grind finely the pecans and macadamia nuts, then add the dates and continue blending until well mixed. Place the apples in a ceramic dish and top with the pecan mix. Position the pan in the dehydrator at 105° for about 4-5 hours and serve warm. 

I also did not place mine in the dehydrator to warm it. It was a late night impulse make and so we ate it room temperature. This recipe is E approved by the way!

I have found several raw apple pie/crisp recipes, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying more out. Comparison is always a good excuse to try another recipe! (wink)

My dad recently emailed me to tell me he's going to attempt a raw apple pie for Christmas. This is extremely exciting to me (obviously) and look forward to try something made by someone else:) Good luck Dad!!!

A healthier alternative to a conventional cooked apple pie!

Persimmon and Coconut Cream Parfait

 Persimmon and Coconut Cream Parfait by The Sunny Raw Kitchen

Persimmon Layer

4 very ripe persimmon blended until smooth. (leave the skins on)

Persimmon is a fruit that you may have never heard of or maybe just never tasted. I first tried them myself several months ago. My first impression was that they were very unpretentious and mild. When picking them out at the grocery store, especially if you're going to use them right away, you want to make sure they are very soft. They have the feel of a tomato, but you want them to almost feel as if they will smash in your fingers.

Add caption

 Bavarian Cream

2 cups coconut milk

1/2 cup coconut water (add last in case cream isn't thick enough, may omit)

2 tbs orange juice

1/8 tsp Himalayan salt

pinch tumeric for color

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

1/4 cup agave nectar or more to taste

1 tbs lecithin

1 tbs coconut butter

Blend until smooth and refrigerate until cool.

Using a spoon, layer in a nice glass. A taller glass will work better. You can change it up and layer them with bavarian cream first and persimmon first. Top with some coconut flakes and goji berries.

 Of course, the truly raw way to have coconut milk is to make it using a coconut, and mix the meat and water together. However, coconuts aren't the easiest to open so you could always do the "almost raw" way and use a can of organic coconut milk. Just remember that it has been processed. Click here to see how to open a coconut.

 Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

 This little fella was my first attempt. I was in a hurry and didn't put my cream in the refrigerator first.

 My 2nd attempt was slightly better, but using a taller glass would make it much prettier!

Persimmons are a low calorie fruit that originated in China, however are now grown all over. They make a great snack and have a very mild flavor. They contain an abundance of healthy nutrients to help fight diseases. They're rich in phytochemicals and cancer fighting betulinic acids.

Chocolate (Cacao) Coconut Ganache Tart

Chocolate Coconut Ganache Tart

By Susan from Rawmazing! She's amazing and so is this dessert of hers!

These are SO amazing!!

Crust

1 cup dried unsweetened coconut

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup soaked almonds

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pat into two 4 inch tart pans and refrigerate.

 Filling

1/2 cup cacao powder

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup coconut oil

Melt coconut oil over hot water. Whisk together cacao powder, agave nectar, and coconut oil. Pour into tart shells and refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour. Makes 4-6 servings.

Of course if you look at these from Susan's website, hers are much prettier! You need to pour the filling in right away or it starts to solidify from the coconut oil. I learned my lesson. Next time, I'll add the filling quickly so it stays smooth. I am SUPER excited to share these with my hubby! I LOVE them. My mom took one home to my dad, and he loved them too! They will definitely be a staple dessert around here.

You do need to remember that these are still dessert, but a much healthier version that can be consumed with less guilt! Coconut is great for you and cacao is full of antioxidants. They taste guilty, and I like to be fooled in this case!

Coconut oil 
Hair care, skin care, weight control, increased immunity, stress relief, maintaining good cholesterol levels,  diabetes, and bone strength are just a few health benefits of coconut oil. The health benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid. It contains properties such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and soothing. Click here to read more from Kiran Patil at organic facts.

Cacao
Cacao has more antioxidant flavanoids that blueberries, wine, and black and green teas. It would take me forever to tell you why raw cacao is food for you, so I copied this from www.livesuperfoods.com. It will make you want to eat some cacao. I get mine from www.longevitywarehouse.com.

Why Unprocessed Chocolate is Good for You from Livesuperfoods.com

Antioxidants: Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the quantity of antioxidants found in green tea. Health benefits of these antioxidants include:

• Promote cardiovascular health - Help dilate bloods vessels, reduce blood clotting, improve circulation, help regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
• Protect from environmental and metabolic toxins - Help repair and resist damage caused by free radicals, and may reduce risk of certain cancers.

Neurotransmitters: By increasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters in our brains, cacao promotes positive outlook, facilitates rejuvenation and simply helps us feel good.

• Serotonin - Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain; thus acts as an anti-depressant, helps reduce PMS symptoms, and promotes a sense of well-being.
• Endorphins - Cacao stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the “runner’s high” a jogger feels after running several miles.
• Phenylethylamine - Found in chocolate, phenylethylamine is also created within the brain and released when we are in love. Acts as mild mood elevator and anti-depressant, and helps increase focus and alertness.
• Anandamide - Anandamide is known as the “bliss chemical” because it is released by the brain when we are feeling great. Cacao contains both N-acylethanolamines, believed to temporarily increase the levels of anandamide in the brain, and enzyme inhibitors that slow its breakdown. Promotes relaxation, and helps us feel good longer.

Essential Minerals: Cacao beans are rich in a number of essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.

• Magnesium - Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency, present in 80% of Americans, is linked with PMT, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and joint problems.
• Sulfur - Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails and hair, promotes beautiful skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning.

Essential fats: There is a misperception that chocolate is fattening. In truth, the fats in cocoa butter are healthy fats. Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, also found in olive oil, that may raise good cholesterol. Also, substances found in cacao are known to help reduce appetite.

Important note- To fully benefit from chocolate’s wide array of nutrients, eat chocolate that is as close to its natural state as possible. Whole cacao beans and nibs are best. You lose many of the health benefits when you eat commercially produced chocolate.

So, go make a good healthy dessert that tastes like it's bad for you!!

Butternut Squash Cake

Butternut Squash Cake from Do Eat Raw App.

Happy Friday! I thought we would end this week with a dessert recipe. I made it a couple of weeks ago and figured it was time to share! On another note, my mom is coming for a visit this weekend, and she likes raw food, so I'm hoping to enjoy some fun recipes with her this weekend. YAY!! We are starting off tonight with Raw Taco Boats! I no longer have to make a separate meal for my son (almost 2), because he ate 3 of these the last time I made them! Yes, I'm proud!!

Butternut Squash Cake

The Artisana raw coconut butter is to die for! I personally like it by the spoonful!

 Ingredients
3 cups pecans
1 cup dates
1/2 cup raisins
3 cups butternut squash, seeded
3 tablespoons coconut butter
1/2 cup agave nectar
2 tablespoons lecithin
3/4 cup coconut oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon
pinch of sea salt

** Coconut butter and coconut oil are two different things. Coconut butter has the coconut meat added to it, while the oil is just oil.

For the crust:
Blend pecans, dates, and raisins in a food processor until you get a dough like consistency. Press into a spring form pan and chill.

For the filling:
Blend very well the other ingredients until creamy and smooth.

 Pour filing onto crust and place back in fridge for at least 3-4 hours.

So, let me just say first off that my husband actually ate this, and liked it. I also liked it, but it wasn't one of my favorites. Next time, I'm going to use pumpkin for the filling instead. I'm pretty sure I'll eat the whole thing then! The crust was amazing, but raw butternut squash in a dessert will take some getting used to for me. I would tolerate it better in a meal. I can tell you that it's one of the quickest desserts to make though. Very easy.

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites

Let's start the week out with dessert, shall we? This recipe is E (my picky husband) approved!

Raw Cookie Dough from Oh She Glows.

1 3/4 cups ground raw cashews (I soaked mine for about 1 hour prior to grinding)

3/4 cup raw oats ground (I used my raw oat groats)

1/4 cup agave nectar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup coconut oil

Grind cashews and oats in food processor. Hand mix the rest of the ingredients together with the cashews and oats.

Raw Chocolate Chips

2 tablespoon coconut oil

1/2 cup carob powder

1/2 cup cocoa powder

4 tablespoons agave nectar

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix all ingredients in medium sized bowl then roll it out on parchment paper. Place in freezer for 30 minutes. May turn it over at 15 minutes. Once frozen, cut into chips. A pastry slicer or pizza slicer would work.

Mix chips and dough and enjoy!!

You can place the remaining dough balls into the frig on parchment paper. They will get pretty hard.

I actually didn't have the carob powder (you could substitute cocoa powder instead) on hand.  Since I made these by my husband's request, I just used organic chocolate chips. Probably not quite as healthy, but a safer choice since the "picky man" was eating them for the first time. He actually enjoyed them! My guess is that he will eat them for breakfast tomorrow. Bad habit of his!

Out of This Galaxy Chocolate Brownies.

Out of This Galaxy Chocolate Brownies.

Out of This Galaxy Chocolate Brownies  

Recipe from Kristen Suzanne

Makes 12 brownies

2 cups raw pecans

3/4 cup raw macadamia nuts

pinch Himalayan Salt

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup raw cacao powder

2 tablespoons raw agave nectar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoon dried coconut, shredded and unsweetened

1 cup soft dates, pitted and packed

Grind the nuts, salt, and cinnamon in a food processor, fitted with the "S" blade until they are coarsley ground. Add the raw cacao, agave nectar, vanilla, and coconut and process briefly to incorporate. Add teh dates and continue processing until the mixture starts to stick together. Press into an 8X8 baking dish and enjoy!

I keep my dates in the frig, so I just soaked them for about 30 minutes so they were soft. 

Delicious!! Oh yeah, and I should probably tell you that my husband did not pass up trying these!

To Die For Raw Chocolate Pudding!

In case you've been wondering, I am quite aware that I have yet to post a trial of a dessert recipe I have tried.  I'm not an "every day dessert" kind of gal, but I think I want to be after trying this pudding! AHHMazing is all I can say! 

BTW, I found this recipe on Joanne Gero's website (www.vibealive.ca), my new addiction as of late! She is a Naturopathic Doctor (one of my dream jobs) from Canada, and I stumbled upon her website while doing research about raw vegan bodybuilding. She competes on a raw diet, and I think I love her! So, you'll be seeing some super great recipes from her website that I have tried;)

Here's what you will need:

2 avocados

1/2 cup almond milk

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup raw cacao powder 

1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

1/2 cup raw agave nectar

2 Tbs maple syrup (you should be able to find unpasteurized)

1/2 tsp real vanilla

pinch of celtic sea salt

I got this raw cacao for free! Yes, free! I ordered off of David's Wolf's website, the longevity warehouse, and they were sending a free 1lb. bag with every order! It's delicious! And don't forget that agave nectar has a low glycemic index.

 You basically just blend all of the above ingredients together in your food processor. I do have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to attempt this recipe. I have tried raw pudding before and it DID NOT taste good. My poor Dad ate it, but he'll eat just about anything;) I failed along the line somewhere, but I think, I mean I know I redeemed myself with this recipe!!

I really super love avocados! Not what you think of when you think "chocolate pudding," but you will not notice them I  promise. Such a great healthy fat!

Just look at that! It's so creamy!

Here, take a closer look:

 Want some?

 Open wide:

Ok, so now that your mouth is watering, go home and make some of this super healthy and delicious pudding! Besides the taste, the best part is that it's 100% guilt free!

I'm am super excited to tell you that Eric, the picky husband, enjoyed this very much and will be eating it again! I'll convert him yet!!