Gluten-free Banana Bread Pancakes

Oh, it was a lazy weekend. The kind where you sleep for the better half of the morning, and the major event of the day is boiling the kettle to make tea. Read a paragraph of some book, then pass out again. Stare out the window. Consider going for a walk; have a nap instead.

So far, 2012 has been ram-jammed with all sorts of excitement, and I guess I just need to catch my breath. I seldom slow down enough to let two days pass without doing anything of real "consequence", but boy when I do, I become the queen of Sloth Ville. Luckily for you, the lazy sometimes leads to crazy-yum kitchen creations.

The one thing the sloth queen did accomplish this weekend, was making pancakes. And not just any pancakes, but Banana Bread Pancakes. Hilariously, they started off as a desire to make the Coziest Banana Bread (since it was the coziest of weekends), but I was totally too lazy for that. Having to get out a cutting board and knife? Daunting. I let the food processor do the chopping and mixing. 

My lethargy led me to making walnut flour, instead of chopping the nuts by hand and leaving them chunky – turns out that was the best idea ever. I have never worked with walnut flour before, but it lends the most delectable nutty taste to the final product, like a walnut whisper wrapped in a warm oat-y hug. And as walnuts are best friends with banana, their complimentary flavours give high-fives all the way from your tongue to your tummy. There’s a lot of love going on in one lazy little pancake.

The bonus is, these babies are gluten-free, which can be a nice change from the typical, wheat-centric breakfasts we all gravitate towards. Yes, they contain oats, but if you purchase gluten-free oats you’ll be guaranteed that you are getting a product that is safe even if you are Celiac.

Gluten-free Gospel 

Gluten-free diets have become uber-trendy in the past couple years as celebrities have plugged the lifestyle as a savior for their overall health and wellness. But why would someone go gluten free if they didn’t have to? Good question. Does it seem like cool-kid train has left the station heading towards the Promised Land, while you’re still standing on the platform? It’s okay; I think you’re cool. But here’s the low-down on gluten-free eating in case you want to buy a ticket for later. 

What is Gluten?

Gluten is the natural protein found in many grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, and spelt. Despite recent uproar and confusion, gluten is not bad for you. Some people however, have an autoimmune form of gluten intolerance known as Celiac disease and cannot digest it. Celiac disease affects nearly 3 million Americans, and those affected must avoid all foods and food products that even come into contact with gluten-containing grains. 

Are oats gluten-free?

Short answer, yes. Oats are inherently gluten-free, but are very often grown with or processed in facilities that also handle wheat and/or other gluten-containing grains. Because oats become contaminated with gluten in this way, they are often not safe for Celiacs. However, some companies have developed dedicated processing facilities for oats only, making them safe for those who cannot tolerate any gluten whatsoever. These companies include: Bob's Red Mill, Cream Hill Estates, GF Harvest, Avena Foods, Legacy Valley (Montana Monster Munchies), and Gifts of Nature.

Click here for a discussion on oats in the gluten-free diet or visit Health Canada's website for an extensive technical review on the safety of oats in the GF diet.


Should you go gluten-free?

Many people who are not affected by Celiac disease are making the switch to a gluten-free diet, claiming that it helps them lose weight, gain energy, improve concentration etc. Of course there can be something to that as we are all very different and react to foods in very different ways - some people find that eliminating gluten, or even just wheat makes them feel dramatically better than they did before. Great! But as we all search in vain for the "miracle diet" that will make us feel amazing, look our best, and allow us to take over the world, we must remember that there isn't one right answer. We have to take time to listen to ourselves, and give our own bodies a real chance to tell us what is best for us. Even if your best friend gives up gluten and feels incredible, it may not necessarily be the right choice for you.

Often the reason many people do shed a few pounds and generally ‘feel better’ eating foods without gluten, is not the avoidance of gluten itself, but the fact that they are making healthier food choices. We all know what happens when we polish off the breadbasket at lunch; we feel sluggish, foggy, tired and often bloated. It’s not a coincidence – what do you think will happen when you down a loaf of white flour? 

Conversely, when you choose a gluten-free diet, your horizons are forced to expand just a little, and suddenly quinoa, amaranth, and millet make their way into your dinner. You choose fruits and veggie snacks instead of cookies and crackers. Breakfast becomes smoothies instead of cereal. Variety comes into play, and that is what makes the difference! More freshness! More produce! Less dead, nutrition-less, life-sucking white bread. Just sayin’.  

But let me be clear about another thing: wheat is not the enemy! Whole wheat is good for you. So are rye, and barley, and spelt and kamut. These grains contain gluten, yes, and are also full of protein, fiber, phytochemicals, B vitamins, folate, calcium, selenium, iron, and zinc. When prepared properly and eaten in their whole, unprocessed forms, they have many benefits. 

The problem is many of us eat wheat three times a day, often in its over-processed forms (boxed cereal, sandwich bread, pasta…), which has been stripped of most of its valuable nutrition. It’s not necessarily the wheat, it’s the way we process and consume it.   

If you want to give gluten-free eating a shot, go ahead. Perhaps you do have an insensitivity lurking around, and eliminating gluten will certainly shed some light on it. Or, perhaps you want to cut back on the wheat and introduce new and exciting foods to your diet; experiment with the amazingly diverse seeds, nuts, and grains that are on the market for you to explore. Sometimes imposing a few limitations on oneself forces creativity, which can be a very good thing when it comes to what we eat. PB&J sandwich again? We can do better than that!

Why do I create gluten-free recipes on My New Roots?

For the same reason I try to make as many of the dishes vegan, sugar-free, soy-free etc. - so that everyone can make them. I want to create all-inclusive meals that all people can enjoy, even if they’ve chosen a particular diet or they have some kind of allergy or insensitivity. And I feel it’s important for others to know that eating with ‘restrictions’ is not all that restrictive. 

Besides, you have that raw lacto-vegetarian coming over for dinner next week and you need something yummy to serve them, right? I shall deliver. 

Gluten-free Banana Bread Pancakes

Serves 2

Dry ingredients:

1/3 cup walnuts

2/3 cup rolled oats (certified gluten-free oats if you have a sensitivity)

1 tsp. baking soda

pinch sea salt

Wet ingredients:

1 very ripe banana

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. olive oil

2/3 cup nut milk 

2 tsp. maple syrup

For garnish:

maple syrup

1 banana, sliced

a handful of walnuts, chopped

extra-dark chocolate, grated (for a special treat!)

Directions:

1. In a food processor, pulse walnuts until they resemble a sand-textured powder (do not over process – you’ll end up with walnut butter!). Remove walnut ‘flour’, add oats and pulse until you get a shaggy flour. Place walnut and oats flours in a large bowl. Add baking soda, sea salt and stir to combine. 

2. Add all wet ingredients to the food processor and blend to combine. 

3. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until the two come together. Let batter sit for 30 minutes at room temperature. 

4. Heat a little coconut oil (or ghee) in a skillet and drop in 3 large spoonfuls of batter (you are after three, 8 cm / 3 inch sized pancakes). Spread slightly with the back of the spoon to even out the batter. Turn heat down to low. Let cook on the underside until the topside is opaque, which will take more time than a regular pancake. Check to see if the bottom has browned, and if so, flip over to cook the other side. Cook until the underside is crispy and brown (although the middle is a little moist, this is okay).

5. Put pancake on a baking sheet in a warm oven, and cover with some foil while you make more (this will also give them time to firm up a little in the middle). Serve with pure maple syrup, fresh banana slices, chopped walnuts, and grated dark chocolate for a special treat - they are banana bread pancakes after all. 

I really liked these pancakes, and I am not ashamed to admit I ate the whole plate you see in the photo (what? – they’re little!) I will mention however, that these are not your diner-style fluffy white pillow pancakes. They are rich, nutty, and quite moist due to the banana holding everything together. The middle is not going to be a sponge, but almost like a just under-done cookie. Once the syrup goes on, who cares anyway? And, I did discover that these pancakes make really great snacks later on in the day. Once they cool down, they firm up substantially and are kind of nice to eat with your hands (hey, can we please remember how lazy I was? I didn’t want to wash another plate.)

If anyone wants to get lazy next weekend and make up a batch, feel free to experiment and get back to me with results. I love hearing what you do to change up and even improve my recipes!

Sending love from my lazy bones,

Sarah B.

ps - fun stuff in case you've missed it:

The Weekender Magazine - I somehow made it on cover. Nuttiness.

Interview at Hello Giggles.

Yes, I am on Twitter now. You can follow me and stuff. 

Holiday Reader Recipe Challenge Winner: Cranberry Pear Tart

Hallelujah! We have a winner! Congratulations to Megan B. and her incredible Cranberry & Pear Tart!

I have to say, this was not an easy decision my friends. And of all things to win this challenge, a dessert?! Yes, I too am shocked. Entries upon entries poured in with sweet potatoes, butternut squash, Hokkaido pumpkins, and I was seduced by a tart? But I was. And I am. And so shall you too, because this pastry totally gives it. 

I think I will start off by saying a few words about this process, which was kind of like a dream come true. I ask for awesome, and everyone steps up to the plate. But I can’t quite believe the culinary prowess so many of you possess, of which you have never had the decency of sharing? C’mon people. I think the majority of you should consider starting your own food blogs because you’ve clearly been holding out on us all. Not fair. 

Anyway, so the teasing went on as the recipes poured in, and I became a very hungry girl indeed. After begrudgingly eliminating the dishes that I wasn’t going to prepare (I wanted to eat everything), I set my focus on a select few that I knew had crazy-delish potential. Therefore, I will take this opportunity to give due shout outs to the following: Solstice Squash, Nut-Crackin’ Apple Salad, Stuffed Pumpkin, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Kale Pesto, and Quinoa Cabbage Rolls – you know who you are. 

And now I know you are all thinking again: Sarah, seriously. A tart? The answer is still a resounding yes.  

This dessert is amazing. Let’s forget for a moment that it is vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free, and just focus on the delectable elements that combine to create perfection. 

First of all, fresh cranberries – where have you been all my life? I have only ever seen pictures of you on the bottles of fake neon juice, and urinary tract prevention supplements at the health food store. The closest I’ve come to you is craisins, which are a sad, sweetened excuse for a cranberry indeed. Fresh cranberries are oh so tart and vibrant, bursting with bright juices and tangy goodness. You are my new best friend and can't wait to play with you more. 

Then we need to talk about the crust, which I was totally skeptical of. After removing the dough from the food processor, it was wet. Like, really wet. And I could not begin to understand how it would cook under all that filling. Somehow this crazy mélange turns from healthy goop into flaky gorgeousness that it not full of lard and sugar. I would highly recommend you tucking this crust recipe alone into your back pocket for the next time you need a pie base – it is officially my new go-to. 

The filling is a caramel-like mix of brown rice syrup, coconut oil, and chia seeds. The original recipe called for flax, but I find that flax seeds can sometimes give off that classic, Omega-3 'fishy' flavour that I just don’t dig. I made the switch to chia seeds because they really are tasteless. I soaked them in pear juice instead of water for a little extra sweetness, but you could use apple juice or any other unsweetened juice you like. 

On to looks - the tart is undeniably gorgeous. I could not stop photographing it. She worked those angles and made serious love to the camera. Although aesthetics were not a must in this challenge, I have to say that the glistening tops of those bright red berries completely begged me to capture them. And how unhealthy does it look? Very. No one dives into the mysterious bowl of brown mush on the Christmas buffet table. No matter how delicious it may be, we all know the prettiest dish gets eaten first. And this is the prettiest and the healthiest. Consider your meatball-lovin’ uncle fooled.      

Whew. Enough talking. Here is the recipe.
Blessings to you, Megan!

Cranberry & Pear Tart

Serves 10 

Ingredients:

For the crust:

1 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if possible)

1/2 cup pecans, chopped (I used walnuts)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1 tsp. vanilla (I used 1 vanilla bean, scraped)

1/2 tsp. salt

75 g whole grain flour (I used buckwheat flour)

For the filling:

2 pears, sliced thin

2 cups fresh cranberries

1/2 cup brown rice syrup 

2 Tbsp. ground flax (I used whole chia seeds)

6 Tbsp. water or pear juice 

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

1 tsp. vanilla (I used 1 vanilla bean, scraped)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. cardamom

zest of 1 organic lemon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 

2. Combine all of the crust ingredients in a food processor and pulse to mix. Grease a 9” tart pan with a little coconut oil and press crust evenly along the bottom of the pan. Place pear slices in a layer on top of the crust. 

3. For the filling, combine the flax or chia with the water or juice and set aside until a gel forms. Mix the cranberries with remaining ingredients and stir until well combined. Add the gel and fold to mix. Pour filling on top of crust and pear layer and spread evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Allow tart cool completely before removing from tart pan (approx.1 hour, or place in the fridge). 

4. Slice and serve with an optional dollop of cashew cream, sheep’s milk yogurt (pictured), crème fraîche, or ice cream. 

Afterthought: a drizzle of melted, dark chocolate. Ugh.

Overall, I’d say this challenge was a great success. A challenge – yes. I really had a hard time deciding between which unbelievably delicious dish to choose. 

As a thank you to everyone who participated, and even those that did not, please check out My New Roots on December 25th for a very special Christmas gift from Sarah B. to all of you! I want to spread some love, but that is all I will say for now. You’ll have to return to see what I’ve hidden for you under the imaginary tree. 

Until then everyone, have a spectacular and delicious holiday. And please make Megan’s tart. And visit her blog: meggsalad.com

Love and cranberries, Sarah B. 

Black Bean Chocolate Chili Cherry Cookies

So I’ve seen all the black bean brownies making their merry way around the food blogs, but I still haven’t come across a recipe that, despite the use of legumes, is all that virtuous. Yeah, throw some veggies into a batter of processed sugar and white flour! Hows about I deep-fry an apple? Or bacon-wrap some alfalfa sprouts? Um, no. This is precisely why I have not boarded that train.

If you’ve been around the My New Roots block, you’ll see I am a fan of baking with beans, as seen here and here. But never have I trumped myself to such an extent. I mean, these cookies take the cake, for sure.

Chocolate Chili Cherry Cookies are moist, rich, fudgy and filling, with just a tickle of spice that is oh-so unexpected and palette-warming-ly welcomed.  

I added dried cherries to one batch because I had some on hand. This was also incredible. Optional, yet incredible. If you’re a purist, I’d stick with the giant, dark chunks of bitter chocolate heaven. Those who like sweet-sour burst will dig the fruit addition. Walnuts would also be amazing. 

Basically, add whatever the heck you have in that pantry and you can’t lose. Maybe even deep-fried apple. 

Black beans – a superfood? Really?

Although they may appear humble, black beans are holding a major secret – they are loaded with a rare combination of both protein and fiber. Unheard of! 

Did you know that a one-cup serving of black beans contains 14 grams of protein – the same amount as a 2 oz. serving of a meat like chicken or a fish like salmon? And the 15 grams of fiber from that same one-cup serving is the equivalent of eating 3 cups of broccoli, 4 cups of Brussels sprouts, or 15 plums? 

You won't find this magical protein-fiber combination in fruit, vegetables, grains, meats, dairy products, nuts and seeds, or seafood. Not even close. And this explains why black beans are so incredibly good for your digestive tract, the blood sugar regulatory system and the cardiovascular system. 

And if that weren’t enough, the skin of black beans contains a high amount of phytonutrients, called anthocyanins. To refresh your memory, anthocyanins are responsible for the deep reds, blues, purples, and magenta colours also found in blueberries, grapes and açaí, all of which we know to be powerful antioxidant-rich foods. These compounds decrease the risk of heart disease and cancer. They may also aid in the prevention of macular degeneration by protecting the eyes from free radical damage, increasing circulation and stabilizing collagen structures (which hold tissues together).

Talk about your underestimated legume! Protein, fiber, and powerful antioxidants – all wrapped up into a tasty little nugget for you to make dessert with. I mean, does it get any better? I think not. 

You seriously will not believe how tasty these are. I am still in shock. Every time I take a bite I run around my kitchen in tiny circles, like a short-circuiting robot on flavour overdrive. It is a sight. 

The fact that there are black beans in these cookies will completely fade from memory upon the first bite, which literally melts in your mouth. Children will be fooled, friends and relatives baffled. The bottom line is, they taste incredible in their own right. Then you mention they are made with beans and you become a healthy-cookie magician.  

And did I mention how easy they are to make?! You just put everything in the food processor – not even a bowl to clean. 

This recipe only makes about nine large cookies, which judging by their unbelievable richness should be plenty to satisfy your cocoa cravings for a couple days. However, if you’ve got a crowd on your hands, double up the ingredients for a bigger batch. Or be foolish, eat the whole first round in a sitting (Sarah B….) and be forced to make more first thing the next morning because you were too gluttonous to even photograph them. Ahem. 

Moving on.

Black Bean Chocolate Chili Cherry Cookies

Makes nine 3” cookies

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups black beans, very soft (or one 15 oz. can)

2 Tbsp. coconut oil (or ghee)

1/3 cup organic cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. coarse sea salt, plus more for sprinkling

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/3 cup maple syrup (or honey, agave)

2 Tbsp. chia seeds (or use 2 Tbsp. ground flax seeds OR 2 eggs)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate (80% or higher)

1/4 cup chopped dried cherries (optional, or use dried cranberries)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Mix chia seeds, maple syrup, and vanilla in a bowl and set aside. If using eggs, skip this step.

3. Place drained and well-rinsed beans, coconut oil, cocoa, salt and cayenne in a food processor and blend until well combined. Add maple syrup and chia mixture (or eggs) and pulse to incorporate. The batter will be quite liquid-y, but still hold together.  Remove blade from the food processor and add chopped chocolate and cherries. Fold to incorporate. 

4. Spoon cookie batter onto lined baking sheet. Using the back of the spoon, flatten top of cookies slightly, as they will not spread when baking. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt (important!). Bake for 15 minutes until the edges are browning. Cool and eat. Store in the fridge.

Update: The armless wonder-husband is doing much better. These cookies definitely boosted morale around the house. Dare I even say motivated him to awkwardly lift a hand to his mouth? 

Raw Salted Caramel Apple Dip

Is it just me, or is salted caramel the new chipotle mayo? Although I would like to think I stay away from food fads, this Raw Salted Caramel Apple Dip would qualify as trendy. After seeing recipes pop up on so many food blogs, and restaurants featuring salted caramel in all kinds of desserts, I suppose I have been slowly brainwashed into believing this sauce is more than just a condiment, but a totally obsession-worthy miracle food.    

I gave up, or I gave in. But trying to get to the heart of the hooplah did not lead me down the path of refined sugar, butter, and cream. Of course not. In fact, the inherently unhealthy nature of salted caramel sauce inspired me to create something that is in fact, a wholesome indulgence. My Salted Caramel is totally raw, made of little more than fruit and nuts, and tastes so sinfully good you may find your fingers a suitable substitute for apples slices.

Now, don’t let the name fool you: Raw Salted Caramel Apple Dip is so much more than it suggests. For breakfast, this is a delicious spread on toast topped with bananas, it makes an incredible cake frosting, and can even be used to sweeten up a smoothie. However, the very best alternative purpose I’ve found for Raw Salted Caramel is to use it as a raw tart filling. Simply make this crust recipe, fill the tart shells with Raw Salted Caramel and top with thinly sliced apples and a dusting of cinnamon. This was a brain wave at work recently, and the tarts were enormously popular. Such a simple, yet elegant autumn dessert that really takes advantage of the beautiful fruits in season. Pears would also be lovely.

If you have kids, this is a great thing to have on hand in the fridge for snack time. For one, all the ingredients are pronounceable, it isn’t full of processed sugars, and it will actually get them to eat more fruit. Or try veggies – Raw Salted Caramel is even good on celery, seriously!


Raw Salted Caramel Apple Dip
Makes 2 cups

Ingredients:
2 cups pitted Medjool dates
¼ cup raw nut or seed butter (almond, cashew, sesame tahini, sunflower)
4 tsp. fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. sea salt (or more to taste)
1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
soaking water as needed

Directions:
1. Soak dates for at least 4 hours in water.
2. Drain dates, reserving the soak water.
3. Add dates to a food processor along with all other ingredients, except for soaking water. Blend on high until dates are smooth. Add soaking water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached (for a sauce to pour or drizzle, add more water).
4. Store in an airtight glass container in the fridge for up to a week.

Happy Birthday to Me! Pumpkin Spice Cake with Coconut Vanilla Icing and Roasted Hazelnuts

I know what you’re thinking, but it’s my birthday. And this year, I just felt like doing something crazy – like making a gigantic, over-the-top, totally indulgent cake…that’s healthy. You know it, I’m wild.

This wouldn’t be My New Roots if I poured a whole whack of sugar in the batter, or iced the cake with margarine. I am happy to report that this spectacular, beauty queen delight is sugar-free, dairy-free, and even made with whole grains. The cake itself is vegan, and the icing could easily follow suit (but I was just gifted with raw honey from a bee-keeping friend and of course had to use it!). Did I mention it’s delicious? I guess that was obvious.

I'll try to make this post short and sweet, unlike this cake, which is anything but vertically challenged, and pleasantly un-saccharine. I don’t know about you, but I am not a fan of those grocery store desserts plastered in thick, white frosting that you can practically feel digging holes into your tooth enamel. This cake is eats more like a guiltless afternoon snack (or breakfast?), despite its indulgent appearance.



A couple notes: Feel free to use canned pumpkin if you are pressed for time, but of course I’m voting for the freshly roasted, homemade variety. Also, searching for canned pumpkin in a country where they don’t even celebrate Thanksgiving, I have discovered, is a very huge waste of time.
I used Hokkaido pumpkins, which seem to be very popular in Denmark (go figure). Hokkaidos are relatively small, very sweet, creamy, and the best part is you can eat the rind, which is where all the good stuff is. If you cannot find this variety, any small pie pumpkin will work. Select one that has a deep colour and is heavy for its size, as the larger they grow the stringier and tough their flesh becomes. And although I am usually up for creative food saving / repurposing, I would not recommend using your post-Halloween jack-o’-lantern pumpkin for the cake, as your neighborhood squirrel potentially used it as a motel room, which is cute but gross.

Roasting a pumpkin is disappointingly easy. Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy bits, place the halves face down on a lined cookie sheet, and bake until soft (30-60 minutes depending on the size of the pumpkin). I used two small Hokkaidos and had a little leftover for soup. If you can’t find pie pumpkins, sweet potatoes would be amazing, as would most winter squashes.

The icing recipe for this cake was adapted from the one I used on the Best Friends Banana Carrot Cake, here. If you are a vegan, use that recipe instead, but triple the amounts. I prefer this new method and combination, as it is a lot lighter tasting and simpler to make.

Okay, one last thing, I promise. The crowning glory of this cake is by far the roasted hazelnuts. Bake them right after the cake has come out of the oven (or during if you have enough space). They really add a delicious flavour and texture to the cake as a whole, and of course are stunning.



Pumpkin Spice Birthday Cake with Coconut Vanilla Icing and Roasted Hazelnuts
Serves 10-12
Dry Ingredients:
2 cups whole spelt flour
1 cup light spelt
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cardamom
½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
½ tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. sea salt
2 Tbsp. chia seeds

Wet Ingredients:
1 ½ cups pumpkin puree (homemade, or canned)
1 cup date syrup (or maple syrup, honey)
6 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large, ripe banana
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Directions:
1. Roast pumpkin halves in a 400°F oven until soft (30-60 minutes, depending on size). Let cool and scoop out flesh into a food processor. Blend until smooth and measure out 1½ cups. Set the rest aside. Reduce oven heat to 350°F.
2. Put 1½ cups of pumpkin puree back into food processor and add remaining wet ingredients, except for apple cider vinegar. Blend until well combined.
3. Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry mix and stir to combine. When mixed, add apple cider vinegar and whisk quickly to incorporate.
5. Pour batter into two 8” spring form cake pans. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean (keep oven on). Let cool completely before icing.
6. Place 1 cup of shelled hazelnuts on a cookie sheet, place in 350°F oven and bake for 10-20 minutes until the skins are dry and cracking (they will also smell delicious). Let cool slightly and remove skins by rubbing the hazelnuts together.

Coconut Vanilla Icing with Roasted Hazelnuts
Ingredients:
3 cans of coconut milk
1 vanilla bean, scraped
¼ cup creamed honey (not liquid honey)
1 cup roasted hazelnuts

Directions:
1. Place cans of coconut milk in the fridge for at least 4 hours to cool and separate. Open cans and scoop out just the top cream layer, leaving the liquid portion (save for soup or stew!). Place in a bowl and whisk together with the honey.
2. Slice vanilla bean down the center lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Fold into the coconut cream and honey mixture. Place icing in the fridge to set.
3. Chop roasted hazelnuts.



Cake Assembly
1. When the cake is completely cool, remove from pans. Slice the rounded top edge off of one of the cakes (this will ensure that the subsequent layer will sit flat). Then slice both cakes in half so you have four layers.
2. Place one of the four layers on a cake stand or plate and cover with about ¼ of the icing, followed by a generous helping of the roasted hazelnuts. Add the next layers, repeating the icing and hazelnut procedure until you’ve used all four layers. Top the cake with hazelnuts. Serve. Devour. I love you too.

Plum Yummy Galette

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you will be very familiar with my food-foraging obsession. Free, organic produce I can pick myself? What’s not to love? So it will come as no surprise that at the family reunion this past weekend, my attention was often diverted from meeting another extended-family cousin to more “important” things, like picking plums. Oops.

It was epic, I tell ya. There was not one, but three plum varieties: red Victorias, purple Belle de Louvains and even golden Mirabelles. Talk about hitting the stone fruit jackpot! They were so juicy, ripe, sweet, and literally falling off the trees. I shoved about as many in my mouth as I felt appropriate, and tucked the rest into my bag for later use in the kitchen. I felt a galette coming on.

And what exactly is a galette you ask? That would be a rather intimidating name for a delightfully unintimidating and foolproof tart that requires nothing more than a rolling pin and a baking sheet. No fancy pans or tart tins. Let’s throw the terms “rustic” and “free form” in there to drive the point home. Trust me, anyone can make a galette. You will also appreciate the not-getting-the-hands-dirty food processor method, which makes dough total child’s play.



Plum Dandy
Plums aren’t just a pretty face – they are loaded with good-for-you stuff too. One of the few purple foods (think anthocyanins, friends!), plums are low in calories, but high in vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, B2, B3, and B6. They also contain good doses of minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorous.
Plums help lower blood cholesterol levels, relieve constipation due to their fiber content, and eliminate parasites from the body. They contain benzoic acid, which is useful in the treatment of liver disease, blood poisoning, and kidney disorders. [1]
One slightly odd, but perhaps useful thing to note about plums is that the pits contain amygdalin, a compound that is converted into cyanide in the stomach. Crazy. Let’s continue to act like normal people and just eat the plum skin and flesh, okay? Great.



The flavours of this tart are familiar yet surprising. For the crust I used rolled oats, ground into a meal, and rye flour for extra flavour and colour. I like when baked goods have a little substance to them – I find even light spelt can just be too paste-y in the mouth. Know what I mean? Poppy seeds give the crust a nice little crunch and unexpected taste. I also threw some fresh thyme leaves into the plum mix to pair a savory herbal note with the sweet fruit – a favorite move of mine. This of course, is totally optional, but I think you’ll agree, it’s delicious.

If plums are not in season where you are, pick any kind of fruit you can get your hands on. The galette does not discriminate – it loves to curl its crust up around anything from spring berries to winter apples. The only thing I can think of that would be a little weird is a banana galette (but of course upon googling this, Martha Stewart has a recipe for this very thing). The point is, choose what is local and in season and you’ll never go wrong.
Oh yeah, this tart is also vegan and sugar-free – not too many galettes can make that claim considering they are classically made with lots of butter and sugar.  The only thing that kind of challenges the vegan side of things, is the awesome organic sheep milk yogurt I served as an accompaniment, which really makes this dessert a ‘wowee’. Something about the sour-sweet combo with dairy that the Danes just love…I think they’re actually starting to influence me! Good heavens.
Vegans, pass on the yogurt. It will still be amazing.



Plum Yummy Galette
Serves 4 to 6

Plum filling:
2 cups sliced plums (choose a variety!)
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. rye flour
1/3 vanilla bean pod, scraped, or 1 tsp. vanilla extract
zest of one organic lemon
½ tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves, or ½ tsp. dried (optional)

Crust:
1 cup rolled oats
½ cup rye flour
1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1/3 tsp. sea salt
scant ½ cup coconut oil, very cold
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
¼ cup ice water

Directions:
1. In a food processor pulse the rolled until they are finely ground and resemble flour. Add rye flour, poppy seeds, and sea salt; pulse everything to combine.  Add cold coconut oil and pulse until the mix has a sandy consistency. Add maple syrup, pulse, then slowly dribble in the water one tablespoon at a time just until the dough comes together (you may not need to use all the water – I only used 2 tablespoons). Do not over process.
2. Empty the food processor onto a piece of plastic wrap, knead until it barely comes together. Roughly form a disc. Wrap with plastic film and place in refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
3. While the dough is chilling, make the filling. Pit and slice the plums, then place in a bowl with flour, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon zest, and thyme. Gently toss to coat. Set aside.
4. Remove the dough from the fridge, unwrap it, and place on a large piece of parchment paper. Roll out the dough as circularly as possible, to about 1/8 inch thickness. (At this point you can use a knife to cut the dough in a circle, but as you can see from mine, I just left the edges ragged 'cause I dig it.) Preheat oven to 375°F.
5. Place plums in a ring formation or in rows, overlapping them slightly. Fold the edges up around the fruit in a shape you like. Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and crispy. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before slicing it up.

Wait – did you just ask if this tart was acceptable to eat for breakfast? Obviously! What do you think I ate Monday morning?
Happy baking everyone!

[1] Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Dietary Wellness. New York, NY: Penguin, 2003.

Sultry Summer Peaches & Cream

If there were only one word to describe this summer in Ontario, it would be sultry. Hot, steamy, sticky, sweltering…somehow miss the mark on how deliciously febrile this weather truly is, and how it makes my body, from my blood to my bones, just ooze into a state of total surrender. Luscious relaxation. You know that kind of heat? Yea, it’s what I live for.

Gorgeous weather aside; I am pretty thrilled to be in Ontario right now because the peaches in this province are out-of-this-world delicious. Perhaps a product of such concentrated heat, they are bursting with sweet, ripe juices and all around lusciousness. No wonder then, that when introduced to just a little heat and warming spice, they too surrender into a complete state of succulent slump, not unlike myself. Totally sultry.

The idea for this dessert came from my good friend Elana, who every year makes up a big batch of stewed peaches and spices, with a swirl of coconut milk and a couple shots of rum. Oh yes. We eat our bowls of sultry sweetness giggling through mouthfuls of total indulgence, and always going back for seconds (and often thirds). She calls this dish “sexy peaches” because they really are that good. Even though my version skips the alcohol, it still delivers uncompromising flavour and unadulterated pleasure. Oh my.

Yum, yum Potassium! 
Potassium is that essential mineral that for some reason is always equated with bananas. Although this is not at all incorrect, there are plenty of other good fruit and vegetable sources of potassium, including peaches. Hooray!

Potassium is part of the electrolyte family of minerals, alongside sodium and chloride. Working closely together, these electrolyte minerals actually conduct electricity when dissolved in water! Naturally, potassium plays a key role in maintaining proper heart function, transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contraction – operations that require electrical communication. The frequency and degree to which our muscles contract, and the degree to which our nerves become excitable, both depend heavily on the presence of potassium in the right amount.

Because of the tight balance between potassium and sodium, it is important to consume these minerals in the right amounts. In our often salt-laden diets, we consume nearly twice the amount of sodium than potassium, throwing this balance out of whack and increasing the need for our forgotten mineral friend. Luckily, this is an easy fix. Lighten up on refined and packaged foods, as these almost always carry mother loads of sodium (check the labels!). Instead munch on whole, unprocessed goodies like fruits and veggies, which contain an abundance of potassium that is easily used by the body.



This dessert is a total breeze to make, however very impressive and satisfying. I think the warming spice blend successfully compliments the sweet, peachy goodness without being overwhelming. The blueberries, although optional, add amusing punctuation marks throughout the dish, and when crushed release an exquisite swirl of magenta juice. The coconut ice cream is an absolute must, especially if it’s new to you. It’s totally vegan, free of crazy additives, unpronounceable ingredients, and tastes incredible. My favorite brand is Coconut Bliss. Alternatively, you could use canned coconut milk, but keep it in the fridge before serving to ensure it’s cold – the temperature contrast is key.



Sultry Summer Peaches & Cream
Serves 4 
Ingredients:
4 – 5 ripe peaches
½ cup wild blueberries (optional)
½ cup water
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
¼ tsp. ground cardamom
2 whole cloves
½ vanilla bean, seeds scraped (reserve empty bean pod)
pinch sea salt

coconut ice cream to serve

Directions:
1. Wash and pit the peaches, then slice into wedges.
2. Add the peaches and remaining ingredients (including the empty vanilla bean pod) to a saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
3. Let cool slightly. Ladle peaches into bowls and add a scoop of coconut ice cream. Serve immediately.

Now that you’re all hot and bothered, go grab some peaches and take it to the next level. You heard me.

Totally Baked: Hemp Protein Granola Bars

First off, no. You won’t get high.
I promise that no matter how many Hemp Protein Granola Bars you scarf down, the only thing you’ll be feeling is really, really full (and happy, of course).

Unbeknownst to many people, hemp is one of the oldest and most versatile crops in the world, and has been cultivated for centuries. The question on everyone’s mind is undoubtedly, what is the difference between edible hemp and smoke-able hemp?
Industrial hemp, the kind grown for seeds, oils, fibers, etc, is known as Cannabis Sativa L. Cannabis cultivated for medicinal or recreational use, on the other hand, is known as Cannabis Indica (more commonly referred to as "marijuana"). This variety is bred specifically for its flowers, and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol - the psychoactive substance that produces the "high").
Hemp grown industrially is heavily regulated (by Health Canada) and is required to have less than a 0.03% THC content. This is different from marijuana, which often has 7 to 20% (or more) THC present. Comparing hemp to marijuana is really like comparing a Brussels sprout to a rutabaga - they may belong to the same family, but they're completely different!



High on Health
Hemp is available in many edible forms these days, all derived from the hulled seeds, and often referred to as “hemp hearts”. You can of course eat them in this state, which I like the best, but dried and pulverized seeds are sold as protein powder. You can even find hemp seed butter (so delicious), and hemp oil. No matter how you gobble it up, hemp is a vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, trans fat-free, cholesterol free, and THC-free (I promise!) whole food that delivers an incredible amount of nutrition! Hemp is usually very safe even for those unable to tolerate nuts, gluten, lactose, and sugar, so we can all get totally baked!

Protein - Hemp protein is totally remarkable, as it is complete (meaning it contains all 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential ones), something not so easy to find in plant-based protein, making it an ideal choice for vegetarians and vegans. The protein in hemp is also highly digestible and easily absorbed by the body. Especially perfect for post-workout recovery, hemp is a good source of branch-chained amino acids, needed for repair and growth of lean body tissue.

Essential Fatty Acids - Hemp provides the essential fatty acids (EFAs) omega-3 and omega-6 in an ideal 3:1 ratio. Hemp is also one of the few sources of the hard-to-get gamma linolenic acid (GLA), another important source of omega-6 EFAs. All these essential fats are found abundantly in hemp and are great sources of energy. Essential fats found in hemp may reduce food cravings and inflammation and improve circulation.

Fiber - Hemp is a good source of healthy carbohydrates and dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble. In one serving of hemp protein powder (2 tablespoons or 30 grams) you’ll be receiving 8 g of fiber! That’s almost one-third of the total daily requirement of 30 g (but feel free to get more, of course!). The fiber in hemp stabilizes blood sugar, and ensures regularity, won’t cause bloating, gas or bad breath (unlike other types of protein supplements).

Vitamins and Minerals – Hemp is delivers a solid dose of vitamins A, B1, B3, B5, D, and E. Hemp is also a good source of iron, containing 2 to 3 mg. Hemp protein provides 48 percent of the recommended daily value of magnesium at 100 to 200 mg per serving. It even boasts trace minerals, and chlorophyll (which you will all remember from Green Dream Chlorella Cream, right?)

Earth Lover
In addition to being unbelievably healthy, hemp is also a healthy choice for the planet. Hemp is a sustainable crop, takes a low toll on the soil, can be grown in a variety of environments the world over, and can be replanted time and time again. Hemp fibers are among the strongest and most durable of any plant, making them perfect for clothing and paper products (did you know the US Constitution was written on hemp paper? Totally true.) Look for clothes made from hemp fiber instead of cotton, which requires substantially less (if any) pesticides during cultivation.



Who’s got the munchies?
Hemp has a gourmet nutty flavour that blends easily into smoothies and baked goods. I love putting the hulled seeds into my morning power shake for extra Omega fats and protein. It lends an amazing creaminess and richness and gives me energy for hours and hours. Baking with the protein powder is also a breeze, as you can pretty much substitute it for flour in small amounts (try ¼ cup at a time). This will increase the protein, fiber, and healthy fats in all of your cakes, cookies and bars and no one will even notice! In fact, this recipe started off as just a granola bar, but because I had some hemp protein powder in my pantry…voila! An even better version of this already awesome treat was born.

In lieu of my travels back to Canada for summer holidays (I am actually on the plane as I write this), I actually whipped up these protein bars to get me through the long trip across the Atlantic. Airport and plane food be damned, this tasty little snack is most certainly keeping my fork out of the freaky mini-meal in front of me (how DO they manage to make fruit salad taste like a science experiment every single time?). In fact, I will be so bold as to say that these are the must-have snack for summer - delicious, filling, packed with whole foods. Best of all, Hemp Protein Granola Bars are perfect for road trips, picnics in the park, days at the beach, forest hikes, or lazing in hammock with a frosty glass of lemonade. They even freeze beautifully, so make a double batch, cut them up and pop in the freezer for smart snacking all summer long – just take them out half and hour before munching! So easy.



Hemp Protein Granola Bars
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped (or any other nut)
1 cup dates, chopped (or any other dried fruit)
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup hemp protein powder
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
3 ripe bananas
1/4 cup sunflower oil (or coconut, olive, walnut…)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 Tbsp. maple syrup
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
6 Tbsp. water

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a small bowl, mix the chia seeds and water together. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients.
4. In a food processor or blender, mix bananas, oil, vanilla, and maple syrup (you can also just mash everything together with a fork). Add chia gel and pulse to mix. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
5. Spread the batter evenly into a baking pan (mine was 9" x 11"), and smooth out the top with the back of a spatula. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. Let cool completely, store in airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for longer shelf life. You can also freeze these – take one out half an hour before you want a perfect snack!

I am a huge hemp lover and I am not afraid to admit it! Once you try these granola bars, I know you’ll be just as hooked as I am…c’mon…everybody’s doing it.

Green Dream Chlorella Cream

Okay, Sarah B. has got another superfood obsession on her hands and she needs you to get on the bandwagon so she doesn’t seem so insane (perhaps not talking in third person would also remedy this).

What is it this time? It’s chlorella. Yup, I’m mowing down on the pond scum. Have I sunk to a new low? Nope, I’ve reached a new high in fact, all thanks to some very green algae and no fear.

I find that most people are pretty freaked out when it comes to green things. Kale, spinach, wheatgrass juice - perhaps it’s because that colour signals “healthy”, and healthy sometimes don’t taste so good. Not that I completely disagree with ya’ll, but I think once you know how to get the green stuff down your gullet without gagging, it really ain’t so bad. How am I possibly going to convince you to eat algae? Well, I would like to think that making green things taste good is one of my fortés, and the crazy fool inside me just needs the challenge. Here we go.

What the deuce is Chlorella?
Chlorella is a single-celled, water-grown green alga that contains the highest chlorophyll level per ounce of any plant. Who cares? Well, you should.
Chlorophyll is that stuff that helps plants convert energy from the sun – think of it like “vegetation blood”, as it acts nearly the same way inside us, (and for those science geeks out there, it is molecularly structured nearly the same way as hemoglobin too! Ooh! The only difference between the chlorophyll and hemoglobin molecules is the central atom – chlorophyll’s is magnesium, while hemoglobin’s is iron. Isn’t that just incredible?! Ahem.) The benefits of consuming chlorophyll-rich foods are numerous, including slowing cellular damage caused by radiation, aiding wound healing by stimulating new cell growth, building blood, reversing the mutagenic activity of some cancer-causing compounds, neutralizing toxins such as pesticides, fighting infection, improving liver function, and it even helps eliminate mouth and body odors. Yum.

Besides being ram-jammed with good, green powers chlorella has the special distinction of containing all of the amino acids, which of course includes all of the 9 essential ones – incredible! We know that this is a very groovy thing for vegans and vegetarians because the proper balance of all the essential amino acids in the diet is required to build complete proteins in our body. FYI - by weight, chlorella is 58-60% highly-digestible protein. And while we’re on the good-for-the-vegetarians-kick, chlorella contains more B12 than liver. Liver. Boo-ya. It has the rest of the B-vitamins covered as well, along with a sizeable amount of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and rare trace minerals.

On the whole, chlorella strengthens the immune system, promotes bowel health, helps to detoxify the body, cleanses the blood stream, liver, and kidneys, alleviates peptic ulcers, increases oxygen to your body's cells and brain, promotes proper growth in children, fights infection, helps raise the pH of your body to a more alkaline state, promotes the production of friendly flora in your gastrointestinal tract, and even helps to counteract the fatigue and mood swings associated with PMS and perimenopause. Good news for everyone.

Chlorella is a wonderful whole food supplement to take during fasts and cleanses, as it is incredibly detoxifying. Chlorella acts as a solid support because it is so nutrient-dense without saddling the body with a lot of material to metabolize. Add it to your routine during your next juice feast!



Where can I get Green?
Chlorella is available at health food stores and natural food shops, as well as online. It is sold in tablet form, and as a powder that looks like green cocaine, and well, costs about the same (you’re after the powder if you want to make the Chlorella Cream). Yes, chlorella is relatively expensive, but think of it as extra life insurance. And maybe instead of buying yet another pair of fancy shoes, you splurge on a special treat that actually gives you something in return, besides blisters.
With chlorella, a little goes a long way. Even adding a teaspoon to a big ol’ smoothie will do you worlds of good. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but it lasts a very long time, and in my opinion, it’s worth every penny.

And how does it taste?
Darn, I knew you were going to ask that.
Ever gone down to the bottom of a lake and taken a huge mouthful of sludge? You have? Weirdo.
That’s pretty much what chlorella tastes like. But remember how I said I have a talent for making yucky green things taste good? Trust me on this one. Even your kids will be begging you for the chlorella cream, promise.



Green Dream Chlorella Cream
There really isn’t a “recipe” for this per se, but here is the basic mix that I throw together. I would start with just a teaspoon of chlorella, taste, and work your way up to your flavour tolerance. You will get used to it (gasp! Maybe even like it!) over time, but start slow and build your taste for it. Your body will tell you when you’re ready to up the ante.

Ingredients:
½ cup raw liquid honey (vegans use maple syrup)
1-3 tsp. chlorella
2-4 Tbsp. raw tahini

Directions:
1. Place honey in a bowl and whisk in chlorella until thoroughly combined.
2. Add the tahini, one tablespoon at a time and whisk. You can add as much tahini as you like, but I find the cream tends to become quite solid if I put in too much (plus it will depend on how runny your tahini is). I like to drizzle this stuff after all, not roll it into balls (but that could be another great snack…)
3. Store chlorella cream in the fridge, either in a squeeze bottle for optimal drizzle action, or in a glass jar.

You don’t have to use raw honey and raw tahini in this recipe, but it does make a difference on the health end of things. If cost and/or availability is an issue, just use whatever you have to get the green in ya! No more excuses!

How to use Green Dream Chlorella Cream
Right now my favorite breakfast is a large fruit salad drizzled with chlorella cream, some raw granola for crunch and maybe some nut milk if I have any on hand (speaking of which, the nut milk video is coming soon!!!). Be careful, this combo is crazy-addictive!

Chlorella cream is a wonderful addition to smoothies.

For a totally boss afternoon snack, try spreading chlorella cream on a rice cake, top with banana, some hemp seeds, goji berries…whatever!

How about a delectable dessert drizzled with Green Dream Chlorella Cream? Raw Brownie? Peachy Keen Raw Cobbler? Raw Cashew Dreamcake?

I swear you could pour chlorella cream all over a compost heap and I would probably dive in. Embarrassing? Maybe.
I have no shame.

Please experiment and tell me what YOU love to eat with your Green Dream Chlorella Cream. The possibilities are endless!

Do you get why I am so stoked about this stuff?! Its like a frickin’ miracle food! Wait, it is a miracle food, and I get to stuff my face with it. So let’s get a show of hands from those who have the guts to stand up to green food and say: yes! I will try you out because I love my body and my body definitely loves you! It’s not that scary, just a silly little mental hurdle to throw yourself over. And once you’re over, oh my friends…the grass is greener for a reason.

And the next time someone calls you pond scum, just tell them you take it as a compliment.

Source: Balch, Phyllis A. Prescription for Dietary Wellness. New York, NY: Penguin, 2003.

Simple Strawbery Cake with Grilled Rhubarb Vanilla Sauce

Let me start off by saying that I don’t really “get” rhubarb. Perhaps it’s that I find the typical uses for it rather predictable, or that more often than not it’s accompanied by massive amounts of white sugar to offset the natural sourness. What is the point of trying to disguise the flavour of a vegetable (yes, it’s a vegetable) just so it’s palatable? Why make rhubarb something it’s not?

This got me to thinking about a few things. First, I needed to get over my rhubarb trepidation and lack of inspiration. I was not about to go make jam for heaven’s sake. And I needed to come up with a unique way to cook the stuff, because rhubarb has been stewed on the stove, drowning in sugar, for centuries. Knowing I was heading to the cottage for the weekend, thoughts of bonfires and grilling everything edible began to percolate. Ah-ha! Grilled rhubarb? Is that even possible? Well, I’d never heard of it before, but that hasn’t stopped me from making anything before – in fact, it is pure motivation.
I ignored the skeptical looks from fellow family barbequers and set my rhubarb on the grill, waiting for something interesting to happen. As the heat got to working on the bright ruby stalks, I could tell they were beginning to break down on the inside (which is good, because they are rather woody plants). After a few mere minutes, the thin stalks were ready to come off the fire, lightly charred and limp. The taste was still sour, but more complex with the added smokiness. And once paired with the honey and vanilla – divine. An afterthought was the addition of freshly grated ginger. Someone get on that!



Rhubarb Rocks…your digestion!
Rhubarb is a high-fiber food, which means that it is a digestion super star.
Fiber is exclusively a plant nutrient, as plants need fiber for structural support. Animals have bones and muscles instead, so fiber is not a significant part of their composition. Increasing our dietary intake of plants in comparison to animal-based foods means an increase in our fiber intake. Makes sense, right? Countries with the most food processing and highest percentage of animal food intake (think North America in general) have the lowest consumption of dietary fiber – as little as 10-15 grams per day, whereas some African countries put us to shame with daily intakes as high as 75-100 grams! Low-fiber diets are associated with constipation, gastrointestinal disorders, diverticulosis, and colon cancer, while a high-fiber diet may very well prevent these problems.

So much of our nourishment depends on the healthy passage of food through our digestive tract. Without fiber it is impossible for digestion to take place in a balanced way. With imbalanced digestion comes the risk of poor nutrient absorption, and along with that comes compromised metabolism and inadequate health protection. The risk of most chronic diseases is lowest when whole plant foods, like a simple serving of rhubarb, are plentiful in the diet. Ideally, one should aim for at least 35 grams a day, and with a healthy, whole-foods diet, this is an easy goal to reach.
The combination of grilled rhubarb, along with the whole-grain spelt flour and oats in the cake, make this dessert a fiber-rich treat that you can feel good about.



Picking rhubarb in the garden, or the store
Look for stalks that are sturdy and strong, much like celery. Avoid limp, wilting or browning stalks.
Finding rhubarb that has been picked from the field instead of chopped is the best, as it keeps the longest (you will know it’s been chopped if the ends are blunt). The darker and deeper red coloured stalks are the sweetest.
Rhubarb will keep in the fridge, wrapped, for a couple days.
Whatever you do, do NOT eat the leaves of the rhubarb plant! Although beautiful, green, and oh-so-tempting, they are extremely high in oxalic acid, which is poisonous at such elevated levels.



The strawberry-rhubarb combo is a pretty classic one, yes, but I did want to stick to something seasonal. Plus, the strawberries in the cake work to offset, and compliment, the sourness of the rhubarb. Sweet. If you find the taste of the rhubarb too tangy (I like it that way), add more honey.
And if you are so inclined, I highly suggest tossing a few pieces of the cake on the grill too – it toasts up nicely and the slight crunchiness of the crust is another lovely contrast to the soft rhubarb and pudding-like interior of the cake itself.

Simple Strawberry Cake
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups whole spelt flour (or other whole grain flour)
½ cup + 3 Tbsp. rolled oats
½ tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. baking soda
zest of one lemon
1 cup strawberries, chopped
½ cup nut milk (or other milk to suit you)
1 cup applesauce
3 Tbsp. ghee or coconut oil (melted)
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
1 Tbsp. chia seeds

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a cake pan with parchment paper.
2. Whisk milk, applesauce, oil, honey and chia seeds in a bowl and set aside.
3. Combine all other dry ingredients, except for strawberries, and add to wet mix.
4. Fold in strawberries in as few strokes as possible.
5. Pour the batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with 3 Tbsp. rolled oats. Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Let cake cool completely before removing it from the pan.
7. If you are making Grilled Rhubarb with Vanilla Honey Sauce to accompany the cake, place portions of the cake on the grill right before serving. Plate cake and spoon sauce on top.

Grilled Rhubarb with Vanilla Honey Sauce
Ingredients:
8 stalks (give or take) of fresh rhubarb
4 Tbsp. raw honey
1 Tbsp. water
1 vanilla bean

Directions:
1. Preheat grill (or make a nice bonfire).
2. Wash rhubarb well and rim off tough ends. Place on the grill and cook for a few minutes, then flip each stalk after the underside begins to char.
3. Cook until the stalk is soft to the touch, it should be rather limp when you pick it up. The cooking time will likely vary according to the thickness of each stalk. Cook accordingly, watching that the thin ones do not burn!
4. While rhubarb is on the grill, prepare the sauce. Pour honey into a large bowl and whisk in water to thin. Slice a whole vanilla bean down the center, then using the tip of a knife, scrape along each half to remove the seeds. Place seeds in the bowl with the honey and whisk to combine.
5. When all the rhubarb is finished grilling, chop stalks into bite-sized chunks. Toss with honey and vanilla sauce. Serve over cake.

Source: Haas, Elson M. Staying Healthy with Nutrition. Berkley, CA: Wiley, 2006.

The Raw Brownie

Um, so, I am about to change your life. Ready?
The Raw Brownie.

I guess I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I am now working as a chef in the premier raw food restaurant in Copenhagen. Yes, I still have my other restaurant job and I still love “cooking”, but it was time to immerse myself in something new to learn more and deepen my understanding of how food can come together. Boy, am I getting an education! Having absolutely no training in raw-food preparation, the learning curve is somewhat steep. Trying to bring out the flavours in food without using heat can be a serious challenge, but the ride is fun, I must admit.

It seems the one area I am not confused about or having any difficulty with is the dessert menu. Nope, I am pretty clear and confident when it comes to raw sweets. It could be because they seem to whip up so quickly and easily with remarkably few ingredients, that they taste beyond incredible, but the kicker is that they are healthy. I get such a kick seeing the look of total ecstasy and complete shock cross someone’s face right after they’ve taken their first bite of a raw cheesecake. Ha! Fooled you again! It’s also fun to make raw desserts for people because I feel that they are a very good way to introduce more raw foods into the diet – they truly open up one’s mind to new possibilities. Convincing in their lusciousness and ability to boost one’s energy (instead of sitting like a brick in the stomach), I like to call them “the gateway food” of the raw world!

The Raw Brownie is no exception. In fact, we have a staple version on our café menu because customers come back time after time to gobble them up. And then sometimes they skip dinner.

You will be totally surprised at how incredibly rich and satisfying these are, with a complex flavour that remarkably, comes from only five ingredients. That being said, those five ingredients should be of the best quality you can find, as the true taste of each of them shines through in a big way.



Medjool Dates - I should certainly mention that we are total date snobs over at our restaurant, using only the best ones we can find – Medjool dates. A cornerstone ingredient in many raw desserts are dates, often of the Medjool persuasion, because they are incredibly sweet, tender, exceptionally large, and versatile. Medjool dates can replace sugar or honey, they taste like caramel, and unlike agave nectar, which is also popular in raw desserts, these have a deeper, more complex flavour. I find adding agave to anything just makes it taste sweet and kind of flat, whereas Medjools are rich and layered.

From a health standpoint, Medjool dates (and dates in general) are a good source of fiber and contain high levels of potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese. Yes, they do contain a significant amount of fruit sugar, but this makes them an excellent alternative for those wanting to cut back on simple-sugar desserts and confections.

To select the best Medjool dates, look for ones that are organically grown and not treated with sulfur, which some companies add to preserve their colour (you can read more about that here). Medjools tend to have wrinkly skin, but should still be quite dense and soft to the touch. Medjools will sometimes form a white powder film in the skin--the natural sugars coming to the surface, which does not affect the flavor. I find Medjools so rich and satisfying, just half of one (no joke) will surely satisfy my sweet tooth. I often carry a couple in my purse just in case – they will go into combat with low blood sugar any day!

Cacao – I have already tooted this horn extensively (here), but to sum up raw cacao is one of the best sources of magnesium found in nature, in addition to containing high amounts calcium, zinc, iron, copper, sulfur, and potassium. Cacao contains many chemicals that enhance physical and mental well-being, including alkaloids, proteins, magnesium, beta-carotene, leucine, linoleic acid, lipase, lysine, and some neurotransmitters such as dopamine and anandamide. Holy cow – superfood!



Walnuts – Walnuts are my friend because I think they are the most delicious, vegetarian way of getting Omega-3 essential fatty acids. Why are they essential? Because your body can’t make them, they must come from the food we eat. I’d also like to think they’re essential because Omega-3s reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of heart attack and stroke, boost the immune system, control viral infections, improve brain function, and relieve symptoms of inflammatory condition such as arthritis. No biggie.

Almonds – High in essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, almonds also are a very good source of healthy, monounsaturated fats and vitamin E. Almonds also containt two important trace minerals, manganese and copper - essential cofactors of a key oxidative enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase disarms free radicals! Nice one!



Yes, I could go on and on about the amazing health benefits of The Raw Brownie (can you believe you just saw the words health and brownie in the same sentence? You’re welcome.), but what really gets me is the outstanding flavour and consistency. They are light and cakey when you first bite into them, and then somehow melt and get all gooey, like a good brownie should! I have tried several raw brownies in my day, and I often find them too dense and heavy. These on the other hand are actually incredibly cakey thanks to the walnuts. In this recipe walnuts sort of act as the flour, and the secret is to grind them up until they are light and fluffy. So amazing! Then you throw in the heavenly cacao powder and caramel-ly dates to create this rich, dark, chocolate bomb that knocks your socks off!
All this adds up to one important question: why would I ever eat a baked brownie again? I mean, what’s the point?
Why would you?

Because there are so few ingredients in this recipe, I would highly, highly recommend purchasing top-quality and organic if possible. The flavour of each element plays a strong role in the final outcome, so they all need to be the best you can find. If you are worried about cost, cut the recipe in half - these bad boys will still turn out amazing.

The Raw Brownie
Ingredients:
2 cups whole walnuts
2 ½ cups Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup raw cacao
1 cup raw unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
¼ tsp. sea salt

Directions:
1. Place walnuts in food processor and blend on high until the nuts are finely ground.
2. Add the cacao and salt. Pulse to combine.
3. Add the dates one at a time through the feed tube of the food processor while it is running. What you should end up with is a mix that appears rather like cake crumbs, but that when pressed, will easily stick together (if the mixture does not hold together well, add more dates).
4. In a large bowl (or the pan you plan on putting the brownies in), combine the walnut-cacao mix with the chopped almonds. Press into a lined cake pan or mold. Place in freezer or fridge until ready to serve (it is also easier to cut these when they are very cold). Store in an airtight container.

So that’s it. I just changed your life. Go and make The Raw Brownie and maybe get back to me to let me know how it turned out…but just so we got things straight, do not send me any marriage proposals, I am already taken.
Flowers will do just fine, thank you.

Guest Photographer: Erik Sellgren

Everybody Loves the Sunshine Citrus Salad

Hello beautiful!
That is what my breakfast said this morning. No, I am not crazy, maybe just a little starved for some fresh-food attention.
I really had trouble coming up with a post this week because we are in such a time of change! Is it winter? Is it spring? The weather is constantly contradicting itself, and my palette is hungry for something new and juicy. Just when I really didn’t think I could make another dish with root vegetables, I got this email from a friend:
Have you given tribute to citrus this winter on your blog? It took me until this year to get how much mother earth loves us, such that she sends us little delicious sweet suns in the darkest hour of winter, filled with vitamin C and all the rest of it to strengthen our bodies, enliven us, zest us through these rainy days. What a world we live in. So blessed. 

Um, totally! That was exactly the high-vibe reminder I needed. And my heart leapt at the thought of a juicy-bright breakfast with a superfluity of sunshine colours. I was so inspired in fact, that my walk to the market to buy every type of citrus fruit in sight, also yielded another bright idea: a sweet sexy syrup to drizzle across the top of all those slices of light. How do you like them apples…err…oranges?

This syrup in fact, a Ginger-Bay-Lime Syrup, must have been a sun-drenched induced daydream because it sounds a little crazy, but tastes like eating the light in a clear summer sky. Bright and bursting with energy, the bay leaf offsets the sweetness of the maple syrup, while the ginger adds a surprise kick at the finish line. The lime leaves of course compliment the citrus flavours in the salad itself, plus add a warm familiar mellowness that I can’t quite describe. Oh I could seriously pour this stuff all over everything for the rest of my winter days and feel quite satisfied, I believe. Sigh.
What was I talking about? Right. Citrus.



Nutritious Citrus
All citrus fruits are veritable goldmines of nutrition goodness. Let me count the ways…
Well, we know about the vitamin C thing. Just one orange, for example, contains about 65 mg – the daily recommended intake for this important nutrient. But there are so many other wonderful benefits of citrus fruits! Did you also know that they are high in potassium and other minerals, as well as being a good source of the soluble fiber pectin?

The other groovy thing about citrus? It fights grease. Have you ever been out to one of those barbeque chicken or rib restaurants where they give you a little bowl of lemon water at the end of your meal to clean your sticky and grease-saturated fingers? (a distant memory, but yes, I recall…) Well, as it turns out citrus acts as a cleanser the very same way inside the body, aiding in the digestion and utilization of fat! How cool is that?!

Here are some more fun little tidbits about individual citrus fruits…
Grapefruits
– consuming them burns as many calories as they contain, therefore an excellent choice for those trying to lose weight.
– helps in digestion and utilization of foods.
– one grapefruit contains about 75 mg vitamin C
– high potassium content
– red grapefruit is a good source of lycopene; a phytonutrient with anti-tumor properties.

Oranges
– delicious enjoyed as juice, one glass contains about 125 mg of vitamin C
– high potassium content
– high calcium content
– out of all the citrus fruits, oranges contain the most vitamin A (as beta-carotene), which may help us fight infections by supporting the immune system.
– oranges contain a flavanoid called herperidin, which has been shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol in animal studies, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Lemons
– excellent detoxifier, cleanser, purifier, and rejuvenator; especially in the liver.
– lemon water stimulates gastric juices when drunk 20 – 30 minutes prior to eating.
– good source of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous
– contains a compound called limonoid, which has been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.



Get yourself to the shops quick and pick up some of your fav fruits before they are out of season! And perhaps get into some of the lesser-known citrus that is sure to please. Ever tried a kumquat? How about a minneola, or pummelo? Meyer lemon? All kinds of yum, I tell ya. Especially bathed in this syrup-from-heaven.

Finish the whole salad off with a good couple grinds of cracked black pepper (no, I am not insane, trust me…), and a sprinkling of the nuts or seeds you have on hand. I used some pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted in a dry skillet to bring out their nutty-ness, which added a whole other awesome dimension of flavour to this dish. Almonds would be a nice fit too, or walnuts. Toasted sesame seeds? Sheesh, that’s a good idea. Guess I’ll have to try that tomorrow. Oh darn.
You could even push things further with some chopped fresh herbs. Mint is the obvious choice and would be delish, but since I am not so into obvious, I would go with something like tarragon or flat-leaf parsley. Does it ever stop?!



Everybody Loves the Sunshine Citrus Salad
Ingredients:
- a lovely selection of citrus fruits: navel oranges, blood oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, meyer lemons, mandarins, minneolas, pummelos, kumquats, clementines…
- Ginger-Bay-Lime Syrup (recipe to follow)
- freshly ground black pepper
- nuts or seeds for garnish

Directions:
1. Prepare syrup.
2. While the syrup is cooling down, slice up the citrus fruits – slice off the rind on the top and bottom, then slice down the sides. Slice the fruit horizontally to make “discs”. (This is just one way to slice citrus, of course. Do it however you like!)
3. Arrange sliced fruit on a platter, pour cooled syrup over top. Add freshly cracked black pepper and garnish with nuts or seeds.


Ginger-Bay-Lime Syrup
Ingredients:
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup water
a few slices fresh ginger
3 kaffir lime leaves
1 bay leaf

Directions:
Put all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let syrup steep and cool down. Store leftovers in a glass container in the fridge for up to seven days. Makes about 4 servings.

I hope you all enjoy this uncomplicated dish as much as I do. It’s amazing how something so simple can be so breathtakingly tasty. Oh how the succulence goes on and on…

Chocolate Fudge and Self Love

Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m not so down with the big V-day (did you notice I flat-out ignored it the last two years here on the blog?) It’s not that I am anti-romance in any way – I love getting flowers. Yea, bring ‘em on! – it’s just that I don’t see the need to have a designated day to share love. It puts pressure on people in relationships to be more awesome than they already are, and it makes single people feel left out. Boo, I say!
Here’s an idea: instead of a fake holiday where we feel obligated to buy junk for people we have a crush on, how about we celebrate ourselves? How rad we are? How beautiful, inspired, giving, and glowing? A justified, well-deserved day of self love and appreciation of our beings, for just being, well, us.

I asked my girlfriend, expert self-lover and culinary genius, Kelly, to come up with a way to say “I love you self” in the form of chocolate. Truth be told, I have tasted her insanely delectable freezer fudge many-a-time, and we both think it’s the best way to give ourselves a little gift (albeit a healthy one!) now and then. Without further ado, I give you Kelly, love, and chocolate…

* * *

Love and Chocolate....*sigh* two things that we should never be without. Even if you are in a relationship with someone else, we should always be striving to bring more self love (and chocolate) into our lives. When you begin the conscious journey to health, you are giving yourself a BIG dose of awesome self love. Taking care of your mind and body temple is for me, an answer to one of life’s great mysteries. What could you do with more love in your life?

Now, what would you do without chocolate? Never mind... don't answer that question. I put myself in that position one time, and it wasn't pretty. When you are trying to do better for your beautiful body, you need to be prepared. Running to the store in your slippers to get a fix is no longer an option. You are a healthy diva now! You must plan ahead.

This is my recovery plan. Yes, I used to be a chocoholic. Well, okay...I am still a chocoholic, but my standards are higher now. I won't allow myself to be used by some cheap, shiny-wrapper-drug-store run-of-the-mill candy now. Oh no my friend. I've got my secret stash of chocolate fudge in the freezer just for my self-lovin’ self. And this stash has a big secret! It's WHOLE AND HEALTHY!
I went there. I said it, this stuff is healthy. Let's examine this closer so you can get really excited for healthy chocolate!



Sarah was talking about coconut oil in a recent post so I will say no more, but if you haven't seen it already, you might want to (healthy cheesecake!?!) This is the base of our creamy fudge.

Mmm Mmm Mmmaple Syrup
The other superstar in this mix is maple syrup. I am lucky enough to live in Canada, the land where maple syrup comes out of our kitchen taps (not really), but we do have most of the world's syrup producing sugar maple trees here. This is the good stuff that helps the tree last through the long winters. The tree will store starch in its roots that is slowly converted into sugar over the season. In the spring, the sugar water rises out of the roots and into the trunk and branches. This is where people come in, tap into the trunk and collect the clear thin liquid to boil down to a beautiful amber syrup.
Calorie for calorie, it is the same as plain white sugar...ouch...but it redeems itself by being amazingly high in manganese and zinc! Manganese is an enzyme activator that helps you maintain normal blood sugar levels and helps your body synthesize fatty acids and cholesterol. And let's give the bees a break, because it also has 10 times the amount of calcium that honey does. Hug a maple tree!



On to the recipe. I'm going to tell you exactly how I make it and I hope you will be able to replicate the results. It’s not a science, there are just a few things you need to be sure of.
I always use my favorite ceramic bowl, and you must pre-chill it. This is so that when you are mixing the oil and the syrup, the oil does not separate. You will only have separation troubles if you are like me and you use a hand mixer (friction brings the heat that melts the oil). This can be mixed by hand (which Sarah B. does), but it is more difficult to get a uniform texture. I would never complain about lumpy fudge but some people might (Sarah B. has slightly lumpy fudge, doesn't complain about it).

Self-love Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup of buttery coconut oil (not solid, and not liquid)
1/2 cup raw cashew butter (cashew works best for a neutral flavour, but feel free to use anything! Almond, hazelnut etc.)
1 cup maple syrup (really depends on how sweet you like it, maple can be strong and overpowering at times)
½ - ¾ cup raw cacao powder (If you love dark and bitter chocolate, you can add more)
pinch of good quality sea salt, or more... because salt + chocolate is awesome!
optional: spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, chili, cayenne…

Raw Twist: If you're eating raw these days, use raw honey or agave in place of the maple syrup.

Directions:
1. Mix your coconut oil and cashew butter in cooled bowl on low setting, being careful not to over mix (the oil will appear soapy if you have over mixed).
2. Pour in maple syrup and mix again, then finally add the cacao powder and salt and mix to perfection.
3. Once it looks good and uniform, spoon into silicone candy or muffins cups (or silicone ice cube trays work too) and throw in the freezer. The coconut oil will harden almost immediately, but it will stay soft and smooth with the addition of the other ingredients. You will never have to defrost it, just peel away the silicone mould and enjoy!

Tip: If you find it difficult to spoon the fudge into the cups evenly, warm it up slightly after you've mixed it together by placing the bowl double-boiler style, over a pot of water heating on the stove. Keep a close eye on the fudge and wait just until it's liquid enough to pour into the moulds.

Once you have tried it this way, experiment a little bit... dipped strawberries, nuts and seeds (flax seeds are a great addition) dried cherries, mint extract...did I mention that this stuff hardens when cooled?? Frozen banana split with hard choco shell! I have yet to find something this is not awesome with, so please experiment with whatever you LOVE!

The best thing about this chocolate is that when you use whole, natural ingredients, your body knows when it has had enough. I can almost promise you, you will not be able to overeat this stuff. You will feel satisfied and happy that you managed to please your inner chocoholic and your healthy diva all in one. Now please do yourself a favour, show yourself some big love and go make this because you are fantastic!
Love + Chocolate, Kelly

* * *

Sarah B. here. This is seriously one of my favorite chocolate recipes because you can just make a batch and keep it squirreled away in the freezer for when you really need a hit. Hey, it happens. And when it does, like Kelly said, you're prepared. Or when you're guests come over, you'll always have a little piece of rich-cool-melty-fudgegasm (yup, said it) to share with them too.
Happy self-lovin' ya'll.

xo, Sarah B.

Raw Cashew Dreamcake

Holy Mother of Pete. Why haven’t I done this before?
I’m talking about raw cheesecake, and I suppose the reasons I haven’t made one yet now seem like silly excuses. I feel like a frickin’ kitchen magician, people. Join me.

Now, I am not pretending I came up with this brilliant idea – I bet making cheesecake out of nuts has been around as long as vegans have tried making meat out of gluten. I ate more than my fair share of these in California, as raw is all the rage, and there must have been a nut-based cheesecake on every heaven-sent menu my hungry gaze graced. What a mouthful. Needless to say, I was inspired, and a bit more than curious to see if I too could play magician in my own kitchen and turn cashews into cream. Check.

Now onto the flavouring. The rad thing about this dessert, besides its short ingredient list, is its versatility. I chose to make a vanilla/raspberry combo, but please don’t let that stop you from experimenting! If you like blueberries, use ‘em. If you’re a chocolate lover, throw in a few heaping tablespoons of raw cacao (oh yea, that’s the next one). How about trying something more exotic like mango and goji berries? The sky is the limit and your tummy is growling, I can hear it from here. Just remember to use the lemon juice with whatever flavour you decide on – it’s crucial to have the extra liquid for blending, and it gives that tangy “cheesecake” taste you’re after. Yay.



This is one dessert that is seriously hard to mess up. The only snafu is that you need a pretty powerful machine to pulverize the cashews, even after they’ve been soaking overnight. I tried using a food processor and it worked, but the cream wasn’t totally silky smooth, as with my Vita-Mix. I think a good blender with various speeds and settings would do the trick - jack it up to maximum power and see what happens.
Regardless, the filling is delectable, even if not velvety soft.

Cheesecake? Good for me?
Um, yeah. Not as in an eat-for-breakfast-everyday kind of way, but to replace your animal-fat heavy, sugar-laden, digestion-halting regular cheesecake? Absolutely.
Here’s the deal: this cheesecake is raw, meaning that all the powerful vitamins, minerals, and enzymes present in the whole foods you use to make the cake remain in tact. Instead of an atom bomb of empty calories in your belly, you actually have a handful of fruit, nuts, and raw honey swimming around, and your taste buds are none the wiser. Ha! Fooled you again…

The Skinny on Coconut Fat
I get a lot of questions about coconut oil, as it is high in fat and people still seem to be terrified of this. To clear things up, coconut oil does contain saturated fat, but lucky for us, it comes in the form of medium-chain triglycerides (or MCTs). This type of fat differs from the types of fat we normally consume from both plant and animal sources, which are long-chain triglycerides (or LCTs). Without getting too technical, MCTs are easily digested, absorbed, and utilized in the body because their molecules are smaller than those from LCTs. This means that unlike other fats, they require less energy and fewer enzymes to break them down for digestion. They are an excellent choice of fat for active people and athletes as MCTs digest immediately to produce energy and stimulate metabolism. They are also ideal for those who suffer from digestive disorders and are often given in hospitals to provide nourishment for critically ill people who have trouble digesting fat.



Raw Cashew Dreamcake
Ingredients:
Crust:
1/2 cup raw almonds (pecan or walnuts will also work)
1/2 cup soft Medjool dates
¼ tsp. sea salt

Filling:
1 ½ cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 5 hours, overnight is best
juice of 2 lemons
the seeds of 1 whole vanilla bean (or 1 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract)
1/3 cup raw coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup raw honey (solid or liquid.)(Vegans use agave nectar.)
1 cup raspberries (thaw completely if using frozen)

Directions:
1. Place nuts and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse to chop until they are to your desired fineness (process a finer crust longer than a chunky one). Test the crust by spooning out a small amount of mixture and rolling it in your hands. If the ingredients hold together, your crust is perfect. Scoop out crust mixture in a 7” spring-form pan (if you don’t have a spring-form pan, use a pie plate lined with saran wrap), and press firmly, making sure that the edges are well packed and that the base is relatively even throughout. Rinse food processor well.
2. Warm coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan on low heat until liquid. Whisk to combine.
3. In the most powerful food processor / blender you own (you decide which one has the most torque) place all filling ingredients (except raspberries) and blend on high until very smooth (this make take a couple minutes so be patient). If you have a Vita-Mix, absolutely use it.
4. Pour about 2/3 (just eyeball it, you can’t make a mistake!) of the mixture out onto the crust and smooth with a spatula. Add the raspberries to the remaining filling and blend on high until smooth. Pour onto the first layer of filling. Place in freezer until solid.
5. To serve, remove from freezer 30 minutes prior to eating. Run a smooth, sharp knife under hot water and cut into slices. Serve on its own, or with fresh fruit. Store leftovers in the freezer (what leftovers?).