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

Felic eats a Raw Italian Feast

My beautiful friend Meredith A.K.A. Padmapani Little Sky asked me to try some of her recipes from her new eBook 'Raw Italian Feast'.

They all looked SOOO good! I had a difficult time choosing just a few! Her eBook at a glance is exquisite. I have always loved her photographs, and her recipes are always exceptional. The great thing was that when I was looking through the eBook, I realized that I wouldn't actually need to buy too many ingredients, we already had a lot of them, which is always a fantastic bonus :D

So I planned a Raw Italian Feast with:

Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms

Al Dente Zucchini Pasta, with Mama Meat-less Meat Sauce

Pizzelle Ice Cream

The first item on the menu was the entrée of Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms.

Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms with Zesty Italian Cheese

These are so incredibly easy to make, and the taste... oh the taste. I was trying to figure out why they were so amazing when I was eating them. Was it the soft warm mushroom, the savory cream... or the crumbled sausage on top. I couldn't figure it out. In the end I concluded that it was 'all of it'. Three completely different textures harmonize perfectly, and this is coming from someone who used to hate mushrooms - I am now converted!

I could see these being the hit of a party as well. They are so unsuspecting... but when you take that first bite, you will never look back.

Fresh outta the dehydrator!

The next item on the menu was the Al Dente Zucchini Pasta, with Mama Meat-less Meat Sauce.

Al Dente Zucchini Pasta, with Mama Meat-less Meat Sauce

I really love these recipes, because I find them SO EASY to prepare! This took me something like half an hour to make, and I have got to say, the taste was sensational. I followed Meredith's serving suggestion, and I served with some Zesty Italian Cheese on top. As well as looking impressive, this was also very filling.

Me becoming impatient and deciding to start eating

Whether you are new to raw or a seasoned pro, you have to taste this ice cream. It is completely indescribable - I can't even find words to explain the taste. Pure indulgence. I have tasted quite a few different ice creams in my time (raw and non raw) and I can actually say that this is the best ice cream in the whole wide world. Yes. I wasn't paid to say that, either, but I have to admit, I was gasping in shock as I ate it, it is that amazing. You will not be disappointed.

Pizzelle Ice Cream A.K.A The Best Ice Cream in the World

I am so impressed! I have truly had a feast, and the great thing is, these recipes are so easy (even for me with my terrible kitchen skills) with ingredients that don't cost the earth. They are so versatile that if you are missing one ingredient, it can often be very easily substituted. I am so eager to continue this feast and finish all the recipes in the book, and it is a possibility, because a lot of the recipes re-use other recipes in the book, verrry clever.

So what are you waiting for! If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the eBook which is only USD$11.11 (make a wish, haha), click here.

Raspberries Part 1

We have plenty of raspberries at the moment. So I thought I would do a two part post of some desserts that I will spontaneously make. Yes, no recipes, I will 'wing it' as the cool kids say.

Raspberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Base:
2c Walnuts/Cashews/Macadamia nuts
8 Medjool Dates
1T melted Coconut Oil
1t Vanilla Essence
1T Water (or more)

(Optional: 1/4c Cacao Powder)

What I did first was process the nuts till they became crumbly, then processed everything else. You reach the right consistency when you can press the dough into a ball and it will hold.

Transfer into a pie dish (or whatever those things are called...) and put in the freezer while you make the cheese part.

I had leftover, so I made some Brownies.

Filling:
2c Cashews (I soaked mine overnight because when I soak them they get bigger, therefore I get more cashew for my dollar!)

1.5c Water
2+c Raspberries (Mine are frozen because we freeze ours after picking, but who cares right.) I would suggest more, depending on how red you want the filling to be!
1/2 c melted Coconut Oil
1/2 Honey (or you could use Agave, but I like to use raw organic Honey)

Blend it all!

Pour the filling into the pie crust, and put it back in the freezer for about 2 hours. Then it should be ready to serve.

YUM.

And in a few days, there will be Raspberry Ice Cream. That's right, RASPBERRY ICE CREAM.

Raw Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Mousse

This is just so damn tasty.

Ingredients:
10 Dates
1/2 Avocado
1 tbsp Organic Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp Raw Organic Honey
1/4c Raw Organic Cacao Powder
1/2c Filtered Water


Method:
Blend all the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy, then serve.

If you want to use it as a cake topping I suggest putting it in the fridge for a few hours to set.

Raw Recipe: Cream o' Buckwheat

My favorite breakfast. Yes, that's how good it is. I first saw a similar version on The Renegade Health Show, and then adapted it. It's simple, quick, and delicious.

Cream o' Buckwheat ~ Serves 1-2

Ingredients:

1/2c Sprouted Buckwheat (or soaked for a few hours)

1/3c Filtered Water

2 Boysenberries

2 Bananas

Method:

Rinse Buckwheat and try to get as much of that 'slime stuff' off as possible.

Blend everything, and enjoy :D

Raw Recipe: Sooshi + Rice/Pâté

This was the first time I've ever attempted to make Raw Vegan Sushi! The first roll wasn't so good, the second (which was the one I photographed) was a lot better, and actually looked edible! The third, which I should have photographed, was even better.
It does take a bit of practice, but you get there in the end!

For the Rice/Pâté: (I used a basic recipe)
3c Sunflower Seeds (sprouted)
1c Lemon Juice
1/4c Liquid Aminos (or Tamari, Nama Shoyu)
Chopped Garlic

Tip: DON'T add extra water, I added a tiny bit, and as a result, it became a bit too watery!

Next get your 'inside the sushi' ingredients; mine were Avocado, Refried Beans, and Carrots.

I suggest you use two layers of Nori, because the pâté is quite wet, you don't want the Nori to get wet and rip. (Heaven Forbid!)

Lay the Nori down on a bamboo mat, (if you have one) and spread the pâté from the bottom up to about halfway.

Then add the carrots onto the pâté, I julienned mine. (For the un-enlightened, it means cut into thin strips). Add the avocado, or any other ingredients you have!

I sealed the sushi with a bit of the pâté, and then lay the sushi on top of the sealed part.

I then put my sushi roll in the fridge to set a bit, I found it made it easier to cut.




DON'T think this was my first attempt, because it took me ages to get it right. Luckily with a bit of patience, I managed to make a sushi that could be picked up without everything falling out!

I'll add pictures to the post later of the steps, my instructions might seem a bit confusing, sorry. :)

Raw Recipe: Cocoa Pops

I love many things. I love Chocolate, being a Raw Vegan, and eating Breakfast.

Result?

Raw Vegan Cocoa Pops

Ingredients:
10 Dates (soaked for at least 20 minutes)
1/2 Avocado
1 tbsp Organic Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp Raw Organic Honey
1/4c Raw Organic Cacao Powder
2-3c Sprouted Buckwheat

Method: Combine all the ingredients EXCEPT the Sprouted Buckwheat and blend!

Transfer to a mixing bowl, and mix the fudgey chocolate sauce and the Sprouted Buckwheat together.

This is your chance to add delicious morsels of nutritious goodness! I added a handful of raisins... If you have Raw Cacao Nibs add them, we would, but we can't find ANYWHERE that sells them. You should have something that looks like this.



I then dehydrated it over night, so it would be ready for breakfast. I don't know how long it took, 6 hours maybe?

Mmmm...

I suggest you whip up some of your favorite milk to go with it, whether it be almond, walnut, cashew, there are so many options! Or just eat it without milk, it's pretty darn tasty anyhow!

If you want it really sweet add more dates or honey. If you want the buckwheat to be the star, add more buckwheat. You have the power!

Anyway, I have some Kale Chips in the dehydrator overnight, they're going to be for my lunch tomorrow. I've heard that they are the best things on the planet, and judging by the smell, I believe it!

I tried to do a juice fast/feast today. It went alright, except for my Cocoa Pops at breakfast! And I forgot to eat lunch... Ok, maybe not so good after all. But I was trying to do French Homework! (I know right, homework in the holidays?) Anyway, here is my juice that I had for dinner. All the greens were from our garden as well. My mum suggested I put the picture up to show that I do eat some non-chocolate stuff...!



I whipped up some of my Strawberry Sorbet as well, and put it in little ice cube trays. I figured that I'd rather my family eat these as snacks, as opposed to non-raw-vegan chocolate biscuits (and yes, even though I am 15, I share a very active role in un-cooking and menu planning).

I am the first to volunteer to be the strawberry's cheerleader

"Oh how I feel dainty eating my strawberry-on-a-stick."

Today my mum also made us a glass house! I helped with about 2% of the backbreaking labour. LOL, No, instead I was being a 15 year old house wife in the kitchen.

Peace, and Raw Food, (because Peace is caused by Raw Food)
Felic Pear x

Raw Recipe: Noritos

I got this AMAZING recipe from the beautiful people at the raw seed.

We tried this, and it quickly became a Raw Staple in our house. Great to take to school in my lunch. If you're a Raw Vegan teenager (like myself), you can take these to school and not be worried about anyone giving you funny looks (like, 'what are you eating?') ya know, the ones you usually get when you bring the lettuce leaves and celery...

Raw Vegan Noritos

Ingredients:
1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked 6 hours - overnight. (The raw seed suggest using cashews, but here in New Zealand they are really expensive, so we use other seeds)
1/4 cup diced onion (red or sweet yellow)
2 tbsp. honey
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon ground cumin (optional, my mum hates cumin, so we don't use it)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoons sea salt
1 red bell pepper, or green. Depends on the colour you want.(Seeds and stem removed)
1 garlic clove
1 lemon - juice only
5 sheets of RAW nori

Method:
Blend everything EXCEPT the nori. Until smooth. Unless you like having chunkier texture...

Spread out to the edges of the nori sheets and put in the dehydrator for a couple of hours.

When it's dry to the touch (but not too dry), get some kitchen scissors and cut into shapes. Because I love triangles and triangle shaped foods, that's what I do.

And VOILA!



And what makes these taste even better? A recipe for a delicious Sour Cream to go with them! Stay tuned!

Anyway, you should go to the raw seed. They rok. (Intended typo).

Raw Recipe: Stylishly Strawberried Sorbet

So this is like the yummest thang ever to eat, like seriously.

When I was last in Sydney I ate something similiar to this, and when my mum bought some strawberries a few days ago, I instantly attempted to replicate it!

It is so simple, and basic, in fact, it's a crime to use the word 'recipe', since it has only 3 ingredients.

So with no further procrastination, let us introduce them.

Ingredients:
1 & 1/2 cups of Frozen Organic Strawberries
1/2 cup of Water (filter it if you want)
1 tbsp of Honey

Enough for 2 small glasses, or if you're greedy (like myself) 1 big glass.

Method: (Well, there isn't one, really)
Put the ingrediants in a blender, and blend! You may want to add more water, but only a tablespoon at a time. There is no way you want it to be runny, that would just ruin the moment completely.

When it is the 'right' texture (you will know, trust me), add it to the glass(es), add a strawberry on top if you want to add artistic flair, maybe sprinkle on some Goji Berries, and VOILA.



Because we live in the world of Orthorexic Obsession, I thought I'd add the Nutrition Info, so you can feel even better about eating this instead of the giant chocolate cake that you were going to eat.

Serving Size: 1/2 large cup

Amount Per Serving

Calories 64

Total Fat 0g

Sodium 0mg

Total Carbohydrate 16.97g

Dietary Fiber 2.2g

Sugars 12.26g

Protein 1.18g

I don't really like to think of food as a bunch of Nutrients with fancy names, but it's nice to know that what you're eating isn't going to give you heart disease, which is commonly understood when eating something that tastes good. But Raw-Vegan isn't like that!

Despite the fact it is the middle of winter, it is still possibly the nicest thing ever, but seriously guys, conserve your strawberries, they are few and far between, so unless you win the lottery every day, I suggest you eat this only once a week.

I'm so happy we managed to find some Organic Strawberries. I added them to my raw-vegan Breakfast (Cream o' Buckwheat), and it gave it an almost 'fluffy' texture.

I'd just like to add that ALL the recipes I post on here will be Raw-Vegan, because being a Raw-Vegan is the Shizz.