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.