Raw Vegan Recipe: Chocolate Ice Cream (with Chocolate Sauce)

Today is my mum's birthday, and her favorite food is ice cream, so of course I had to make her some. I personally didn't eat any, after just completing a 5 day smoothie challenge, but hopefully she'll save me some, though I wouldn't count on it :P

Chocolate Ice Cream

10-15 medjool dates

1T unhulled tahini

1T sunflower/cashew butter (either)

2T honey

1 banana

1/3c coconut butter

3c water or whatever milk is on hand (preferably not cow's though haha)

1/4c cacao powder

(I know what you're thinking, "Tahini + Dessert?!" Bear with me here)

Blend the dates in the milk/water. If you don't have a great blender (like me) add water gradually, so it will sort of be like a paste.

Melt the coconut butter, tahini, sunflower butter. I boil the kettle and put the water in a big bowl and the ingredients in a smaller bowl. Continue to add the milk and/or water.

Finally mix all the ingredients together in the blender. (Or if you have a good blender you could have done this in the beginning). The right texture shouldn't be too thin, and should be more on the creamy side.

Freeze, or put in the ice cream maker. If you freeze it, take it out of the freezer first for 10 minutes before you eat it so it will be softer.

Note: I always make this recipe for me and my mum's taste, and we don't like things to be so sweet. If you think it needs more honey, dates, bananas, or anything else ADD THEM. Also, these are estimates, I hardly ever follow recipes and just add till things are 'good enough'.

I also don't have an exact recipe with the sauce, I used honey (even though I'd been warned against it, though it worked this time), cacao butter, and cacao powder.

Peace,

Felic x

Day 5 of Green Smoothie Challenge

Laaast day of the 5 day Green Smoothie challenge. My last smoothie was kiwi, kale, and another herb (whose name I forgot). My favorite smoothie of the week was definitely day 1, with strawberries. I love berries so much :D

Day 4 of Green Smoothie Challenge

Turned out my last day of sleeping meant I was all perky today. I had no detox symptoms today, and on the contrary I actually felt amazing, so that was great. I continued with study, and went on a short walk around the neighborhood.

Aro Valley

Day 3 of Green Smoothie Challenge

Today I had a purple green smoothie. I got a picture of it too.

Silverbeet, Orange, Parsley, Banana

Today was definitely the worst day as far as detox goes, I was shivering all day, and it didn't help that it was icy cold outside, luckily for me I didn't have to leave the house. Also, I felt really tired, not weak and starving, but literally like all I wanted to do was sleep - so I did. Normally I don't like sleeping during the day, but luckily for me I didn't have to go to school and I'd got a lot of work completed before that so I could afford to take the day off.

Day 2 of Green Smoothie Challange

Today I had a spinach, raspberry, and banana smoothie, which unfortunately I didn't take a picture of. It was very nice too, I love raspberries!

I had a lot more study to do today. It's criminal the amount of work they pile on the fragile children of my age. Once again the green smoothie aided me through, and my concentration was clear. My skin is also looking rather nice right now. Last night I had a bit of a headache and a bit of pain in my stomach, but in the morning it was all gone, so I guess it was toxins.

Pretty much feelin' great!

Day 1 of Green Smoothie Challenge

Even though New Zealand is the sort of country which feels like it is isolated and alone and left out from everyone else's activities, we have something that I'm pretty confident not many other countries have! We have a company that makes green juices and green smoothies called Green Juice Inc., based in Wellington (where I happen to live right now!)

I was so amazed when I heard this that me and my mum contacted them and ordered some smoothies straight away, and then went the next day to pick them up. And we got to personally meet the owner, which was great too. It's funny, because when I buy raw food I usually contact the owner of the company and end up meeting them - you can't say that for all food companies out there!

I am a strong believer in green smoothies and juices, I mean, what could possibly be better medicine than a fresh juice or smoothie? The problem I find with juicing is going through so much produce, and sometimes it can be hard to source new and exciting ingredients for green smoothies, so they can get a bit samey, or if you use the same ingredients over and over again like I read here.

But with Green Juice Inc., they use different ingredients everyday. Janelle, the owner, showed us a sheet of paper with all the different combinations she was using, and many of them were definitely ones I wouldn't use. I guess my knowledge of green smoothies is not very extended.

She also has a sort of package deal called the 'Green Smoothie Challenge'. Five days of Green Smoothies. Yes please. So that's what I'm doing. Todays smoothie was Strawberry, Orange Pear, Silverbeet, and mint.

So far I feel amazing. I had a huge energy burst, not to mention I felt really happy too. I was also doing a lot of urgent last minute study (kids, don't procrastinate) and I actually feel it really helped me concentrate. And it really filled me up, so much! It was delicious, in other words.

Mothers' Day Cake

A cake for my mum. (Coconut Butter donated by Pure Wellbeing)

I just want to thank my mum for everything. She has sacrificed so much for me, listened to me, always given me hugs when I needed them, and supported me in all my ridiculous and crazy ideas. When I went raw she followed me, even though she didn't need to, but she did it anyway. Life hasn't been perfect, and neither have I, but she loves me and I love her <3

Us in 2006

Raw Vegan Ice Cream Bars

Back in the 'old days' (and I mean the real old days) me and my mum would often have choc bars, which I think are normally called Ice Cream Bars. They are ice creams, with chocolate coating.

I got the recipe from Nina, who runs the blog called Veggie Wedgie. I really admire her recipes, photography, and just her in general. My try wasn't exactly perfect. I didn't want to use agave, so instead I used Raw Manuka Honey, NEXT TIME I would definitely use liquid honey. The chocolate coating was all lumpy! But apart from the funny bumps all over the shell it was absolutely delicious. Also, it was my first time ever using Cacao Butter, so if anyone has any tips about it they would be hugely appreciated, cos I had no idea what I was doing...

I definitely want to try it again, and get it perfect this time :D