All Natural Hot Mint Cocoa (Just Say No to Swiss Miss)

HOLA people! This is a great easy recipe I just came up with to WARM YOUR BONES now that it is BRICK cold out. PUT DOWN THE SWISS MISS. Sugar and corn syrup are the first two ingredients in that crap! Here is a recipe that is all natural, quick & easy. And won't turn you into a lard-butt.




Ingredients
-2 heaping tbsp of raw cacao powder (so good for you and full of antioxidants--find at a health food store, I like Navita's Naturals)
-1 large spoonful of almond butter (I prefer raw/natural)
-2 packets of stevia (all natural herbal sweetner)
-1 tbsp of agave nectar (for extra sweetness)
-1/2 tsp of vanilla extract
-1/4 tsp of mint extract

Bring hot water to a boil in your teapot. Pour hot water into thermos with all above ingredients. Place cap on top and shake shake shake until everything (esp the almond butter) is thoroughly mixed. The shaking creates a nice foam at the top too. Remove lid--add whipped cream or marshmellows if you like--and enjoy!

SO freaking good! You could try peanut butter instead of almond butter for extra deliciousness.

Thai Me Up Quinoa

I'm still sick with this dang head cold/sinus infection (thanks, ragweed), so I've continued rummaging through my cabinets for easy-to-make recipes instead of making a trip to the market. I stumbled across this one tonight. Warning: very tasty. And high in protein.

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked quinoa
handful of raw cashews
3 tbsp chopped onion (I prefer red)
handful of fresh basil
1-2 tbsp peanut sauce
2 tbsp cooking oil (I prefer coconut oil)

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and add quinoa. Stir occasionally until fluffy and cooked.

While you're waiting for quinoa: chop the cashews, onion and fresh basil. In a separate pan, saute red onion and cashews in oil. Add peanut sauce and cook for about a minute longer. Add the cooked quinoa to the peanuts/onion/cashew pan and stir, making sure the sauce is even distributed throughout the quinoa. Finally, add the chopped fresh basil. Mix well and serve while it's still hot n' steamy.

Other options:

-Add chunks of broccoli to the peanut mixture (you might need more peanut sauce and oil).
-Add chopped red pepper, cook with onions and cashews.
-Put mixture into cupcake molds and chill for a few hours, then pop them out and serve on top of greens.

Click here to find out why you should switch to cooking with coconut oil.

The Greatest Cereal You Will Ever Eat

Put down the box of over-processed Weetabix, pick up some delicious and nutritious bulk nuts and seeds.

This morning I woke up with a head cold and there was nothing in the house to eat--or so I thought. I felt too sick to run to the market, so I rummaged through the cabinets and came up with the below. This is by far my most favorite breakfast recipe I have ever posted! You can thank me later.

(I eyeball all portions (sorry), but 1 tbsp of each is about right for one serving.)

Cereal Ingredients:

1 tbsp raw cashews
1 tbsp shelled/raw pistachios
1 tbsp raw/unsalted sunflower seeds
1 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds
1 tbsp walnuts
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp flax seeds
1 tbsp dried organic coconut
couple dashes of cinnamon

Almond Milk Ingredients:

1/2 cup water
1 tbsp raw almond butter
1/2 tbsp raw coconut butter
1 tbsp agave nectar
dash of Himalayan sea salt
1/4 tsp Vanilla extract

Directions for cereal:

Put all nuts and seeds on a cutting board and using a chopping knife, cut everything into small pieces. Place in cereal bowl, top with dried coconut and sprinkle as much cinnamon as you like.

Other options: Add raisins, cranberries, fresh banana, fresh berries...ohh la la the possibilities are endless!

You can make a larger batch of cereal by placing all ingredients in a food processor and "pulsing" for a few seconds.

Directions for milk:

I use a water bottle (again, you could use a food processor or blender to make more) and place all ingredients inside, close the top, and shake the heck out of it until everything is mixed and smooth consistency.

Other option: Add raw cacao powder to the mix for a naughty but nutritious chocolate milk morning start.

(Or use whatever dairy/non-dairy milk you prefer.)

Pour milk over cereal (or chill if you like your milk cold). You might want to double this recipe the first few times because you will want more more more!

Enjoy :)

Raw Vegan Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

-2 cups of raw coconut meat from a fresh young coconut (you will likely need the meat from 2 fresh young coconuts)
-splash of fresh coconut water
-1/3 cup of agave
-2 tbsp of maple syrup
-1 tbsp of raw coconut butter
-1/2 cup of raw cacao powder (I prefer Navitas brand--tastes the best)
-1/2 tsp of vanilla extract (optional)
-1/4 tsp of Himalayan crystal salt

Blend all ingredients except the coconut water. Once blended, add enough coconut water to reach the desired pudding consistency (less water for a thicker, creamier pudding).

Recommended: Blend with a high speed blender/vita-mix for extra smooth pudding.

Serve into small dishes and chill. Garnish with a raspberries or fresh mint leaf and enjoy!

Vegan, Raw Ice Cream--believe it!!!

I'm trying to remember life before I had a food processor--and I can't. I think I've blocked it from my memory. I must have been eating only Odwalla bars, starbucks and peppermint patties--and believing if I THINK I'm healthy, I'll be healthy. That's not how it works, yo. There is no shortcut to eating fruits and veggies, but we can prepare them in more fun and delicious ways...LIKE THIS. (you're gonna freak out when you taste this.)

Ingredients for original flavor:

Frozen bananas (about 1 per serving) *Important! Peel them first, then put them in tupperware to freeze. If you don't peel them, you'll have a hell of a time getting the frozen outside off.

Directions to happiness:

Put frozen bananas in your food processor or VitaMix and blend for 3-5 minutes until texture is smooth and creamy--like soft serve! If there are any lumps, keep blending.

For different flavors consider adding:

1) Fresh or frozen strawberries
2) Fresh or frozen blueberries
3) Raw cocoa powder and agave sweetener
4) almond or vanilla extract

Toppings:

1) chopped nuts (I prefer cashews)
2) diced fruit (kiwi, mango, berries etc)
3) chocolate sauce (mix 1 tbsp of raw cocoa and 2 tbsp of agave for a syrup)
4) Butterfingers--oohhh shit, that's not healthy, sorry.

I'm gonna be Pinkberry's newest competitor with this treat. (Has anyone else noticed the chemical-ish aftertaste of PB? Gross.) Why make millions when we can make billions?

Life should not be this sweet!

Surprise Falafel with Sweet Cashew Sauce

I've experimented with raw falafel this weekend and I must say--they are probably the most delicious thing I've made, ever. I call them 'Surprise Falafel' because you will be surprised that these are not fried and actually good for you. I'm not big on measuring, so feel free to explore with your own proportions for the below (or add other veggies/nuts to your liking).

Ingredients:

Falafel:
5 hearty handfuls of sunflower seeds
1-2 cups of green cabbage
handful of pulp from carrot juice
1/4 cup red onion
1/4 cup parsley
1 robust tablespoon turmeric
1 robust tablespoon curry
1 robust tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt*

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until you get a sticky texture and spices are evenly blended throughout. Make small balls with mixture. If you have a dehydrator, dehydrate several hours until outside of balls are slightly crispy. If you don't have a dehydrator, place on a baking sheet and in oven at 150 degrees with the oven door open until outside is slightly crispy.

Sweet Cashew Sauce:
2-3 tablespoons of Raw Cashew butter (I love the one from Artisana)
juice from one lemon
splash of H20
Dash of Himalayan sea salt*

Blend all in food processor until light and whipped. This is an amazing sweet dipping sauce or dressing (if you want to make a falafel salad). The sweet complements the salty, curry flavor of the falafel.

Go get to work! Enjoy!

*I've come across Himalayan sea salt thanks to raw food guru Sarma Melngailis of NYC's Pure Food & Wine. To learn about it and the health benefits visit: http://www.himalayanlivingsalt.com/ I don't use much, if any, salt in my cooking (it makes me feel puffy and retain water and is an appetite stimulant) but when I do, I now use Himalayan sea salt and don't experience the negative side effects I once did with processed/stripped table salt.

Chocomole! (Raw Chocolate Mousse)

This treat will rock your world!

Ingredients:

1 avocado
8 pitted organic dates
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
4 tablespoons of raw cocoa powder
1/2 cup of water


Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth and creamy, like a mousse consistency. You might need to let the processor run for 5 minutes to get the right texture. If consistency is too watery, add a few more dates to make it thicker.

Chocomole is quick, easy and *so* decadent. You won't feel like a lard-ass after eating it either! Promise.