Ani Phyo Lucuma Powder Ice Cream

Lucuma powder is one of my favorite alternative sweeteners. Not only does it taste good with it's mild, buttery, soft, sweet flavor, it's loaded with carotene & antioxidants! Ani Phyo, one of my favorite raw food chefs, makes an amazing raw ice cream out of this stuff. Your going to love it! It's simple, easy, and your friends are going to be amazed that this ice cream is actually healthy for you! Yes, sugar is sugar, but if your going to have it,  you mine as well throw in some nutrition into the mix too!

This stuff was so good that when I went to get some more out of the freezer, I noticed my husband nearly killed the entire thing!. I will definitely be buying more cashews at my next health food store stop : ) Enjoy it! I know we did!

Lucuma Ice Cream by Ani Phyo

ingredients

1/2 cup lucuma powder

1 cup cashews

1 tbsp vanilla powder or extract

1/4 cup yacon syrup or agave

1 cup water

directions

1. Blend, store in container, freeze overnight, serve

Raw Chocolate Nut Cookies

I hope you guys enjoy these! I have been really enjoying making different recipes with coconut lately. If you LOVE coconut butter and chocolate as much as I do, then definitely try these out! YUMMY YUMMY!

Chocolate Nut Cookies
ingredients
1/2 cup coconut butter
2/3 cup agave
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup dried coconut
1/4 cup almonds, chopped

directions
1. Melt coconut butter and agave then stir in cocoa powder and vanilla until well blended
2. Add coconut flakes and almonds
3. Place spoonfuls on plate and refrigerate until hardened. Say YUMMY!!!

Banana Coconut Ice Cream

I made this for my husband tonight and he loved it! I have been playing around with different frozen banana ice cream recipes and this one takes the cake! Try changing up the dried fruit or using cocoa nibs instead! If you love ice cream, you'll love this!

ingredients
3 frozen bananas
1/4 cup dried coconut
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp coconut butter
2 tbsp water

directions
1. throw everything in either the blender or food processor and process until smooth
2. SAY YUMMY!!!

My New Favorite Breakfast Bar

With my schedule these past few weeks, I have desperately needed a breakfast on the go. For years I have been on the hunt for a good breakfast bar that isn't loaded with flour, sugar, additives, and a bunch of other ingredients that will take away my energy rather then give me energy, but have had NO LUCK : (

That all changed about two weeks ago when I was walking through my health food store market in the raw food section and figured I would try a rather pricey yet raw breakfast bar. Let me tell you, it was more then worth it and I am ready to share it!I Of course my requirements were delicious and nutritious but it didn't stop there! This is a one of a kind raw, vegan, organic, most importantly SUPER EASY, breakfast bar that has the potential of leaving you satiated until lunch! It doesn't get much better then that when looking for a breakfast/snack bar on the run.

So here is my new found secret! It's Lydia's Organics! My two favorites are the Spirulina and Cocoa Crunch. YUMMY! You have got to try this for yourself. If you can't find them in your health food store, grab them online at Lydia's online store.

Falling In Love...With Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I love helping people find healthy alternatives for sweets and candies. When I was about 5 or 6 years old, my grandmother owned a candy shop and I decided to be her little helper for the day. For my break, she took me to her friends restaurant upstairs from her shop where I helped her bake chocolate chip cookies for her customers. She let me eat as much of the raw cookie dough as I wanted and I think from then on, I fell in love. In love with the raw cookie dough that was.

So now, over 20 years later, my cookie dough craving still sneaks up on me from time to time. With a bunch of food sensitivities and not being a big fan of those sugar ups and downs, the raw cookie dough I grew up on wasn't an option. So here's to all of us health conscious, food sensitive, cookie dough cravers out there that want a nutritious cookie dough snack without having to sacrifice ANY flavor! Raw cookie dough that is actually nutritious AND delicious??? 


Some of these simple ingredients are oats, cocoa nibs, and cashews. Here's the full recipe!

The Truth About Coconut Oil : How To Use It In Desserts

No I am not talking about the coconut that is found in a Mounds Candy Bar. I am talking about Certified Organic, RAW, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil baby! This stuff has to be my new favorite. Coconut oil comes from the oil extracted from fresh coconut meat. It has gotten such a bad wrap over the years. Reason being, because everyone is concerned about the saturated fat that it contains. BUT, the saturated fat in raw, extra virgin coconut oil is NOT THE SAME as the saturated fat found in hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenation occurs when oil is heated at very high temperatures and the fats in oil turn into  trans fats. This is why you want to make sure that when you are buying coconut oil, you are buying the one that is is labeled, Raw, Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed, Organic if possible, Coconut oil, so that you can take advantage of every single health promoting effect it contains. Look who else might start really enjoying it!


Try this DELICIOUS Chocolate Walnut Truffle Recipe!

What can it do for me?
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid which is known for being antiviral, anti microbial, and anti fungal. It is easily digested and gives us quick sustained energy unlike sugar or many processed foods. Contrary to popular belief, coconut oil actually increases our metabolic rate, burns off more fat, and leads to weight loss. It's incredible for the skin, lips, and hair and absorbs quickly so you are not all oily.

How do I use it?
Replace it for any butter or oil as a spread. Start adding it to your smoothies, raw foods, dehydrated food recipes, infant and baby food, ice cream and baking and sauteing. It has one of the highest smoke points over any other oil.

4 Legged Friend With Shiny Hair, Strong Nails, Healthy Skin...Who and What am I talking about?

Most mornings I struggle to open up the dark container with the pretty colorful label filled with my favorite coconut oil because I always seem to screw the cap on too tight. I am not forcing the lid open for me either, well maybe I have a taste, but it's for my soulmate, best friend, loving, cutie Sharlena. Sharlena is my 5 year old dog that has a great build, a beautiful shiny coat, strong nails for climbing trees (her breed is known to climb trees but she doesn't know how), and moisturized skin. I scoop about a tbsp into her bowl after she finishes her dog food and by the time I finish washing the spoon I used to scoop it in her bowl, I turn around and she has gobbled it all up! She LOVES IT!!!

Sometimes, I just sit there and watch her gobble it up giggling the entire time. I don' t know why I get such a kick out of the fact that I give my dog coconut oil, and she loves it. It's just funny to see how our dogs like superfoods like we do. My dog is very picky. She won't eat everything. She doesn't like sweets, and really likes the healthy stuff. From treating her body well, and listening to her senses, look at how big her smile is! She is so energetic, loves taking long car rides, and feels great that she is shining from the inside out... This might also have to do with the Green Superfoods I have been giving her. More Raw Superfoods for your 4 legged friends!

Chocolate Walnut Truffles

Chocolate Walnut Truffles
I came across this recipe yesterday and these looked delicious! I put my own twist on it. Instead of the agave nectar I added dates to keep this recipe as whole as possible. I didn't heat the coconut oil to keep it raw and more nutritious and you can try using different dried fruits in place of the dates. This is a great snack on the go and an easy start to encorporating coconut oil!

ingredients

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil

1 cup raw walnuts

1/4 cup cocoa powder

3 medjool dates
dash of sea salt

directions

1. Process walnuts in food processor until finely ground, set aside

2. Mix coconut oil, cocoa powder, and dates in food processor

2. Add ground walnuts and process everything.

4. Spoon small portions and roll into balls. Roll balls in cocoa powder

5. Store in fridge or freezer

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls
Recipe inspired by www.loveveggiesandyoga.com
ingredients
2/3 cup cashews

1/3 cup oats

4 medjool dates

1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa nibs
2 tbsp water
Here is where to buy my favorite Cocoa Nibs!

directions

1. Blend oats and cashews into a flour

2. Add dates, vanilla, and water, then blend into dough

3. Stir in cocoa nibs

4. Wet your hands and roll into ball

5. Store in fridge or freezer for an easy to grab snack!

variations

add chopped walnuts or enjoy cookies with a tall glass of my Raw nut milk

Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten/Dairy/Egg Free)

These muffins are delicious!! I found these on this website and decided to play around with the recipe. I like to keep the sugar content in my recipes to a minimum or use whole foods to sweeten it up as much as I can. You can bake these or dehydrate them if you want to keep this a raw recipe. Whatever works for you. I kept these in my refrigerator in a closed container for a week and they stayed nice and fresh! Yummy Yummy!

Banana Nut Muffins (Gluten/Diary/Egg Free)

1/4 cup cashews
1/4 cup flax meal (ground flax seeds)
1 banana
1/3 cup hazelnut meal (ground hazelnuts)
4 dates
2 tbsp agave
1 tsp cinnamon

directions
1. Blend cashews and flax
2. Add remaining ingredients and blend
3. Pour into muffin tins
4. Bake 350 degrees for 20 - 25 min (or dehydrate overnight to keep it a raw recipe)

Goji Grape Rice Zinger

ingredients

1/2 cup cooked brown rice

sliced grapes

goji berries

squeeze of lemon juice

directions

1. mix all together in bowl

2. ZING!

how do I cook brown rice?

1 cup brown rice, 2 cup water, bring to boil, simmer covered for 50 min, let sit covered for 5, uncover, fluff, serve.

Crunchy Cheezy Brown Rice (Dairy/Soy Free)

ingredients

1 cup brown rice cooked

1/2 cup sprouted raw buckwheat

1 tbsp sunflower seeds

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp nutritional brewers yeast

1/8 tsp sea salt

directions

1. add all ingredients in bowl and stir together

2. eat!

how do I cook brown rice?
1 cup brown rice, 2 cup water, bring to boil, simmer covered for 50 min, let sit covered for 5, uncover, fluff, serve.

Chocolate Smoothie Energizer

ingredients

1 banana
1/4 cup soaked pecans
1 tbsp raw cacoa nibs
1 tsp maca powder (optional)
1 cup water
2 ice cubes

directions

1. blend everything in blender
2. top with some cocoa nibs
3. outrageous!!

Banana Berry Brown Rice Breakfast

ingredients

1 cup brown rice cooked

1 banana mashed

sunflower seeds

pistachios

goji berries

directions

1. mix in bowl

2. enjoy!

Sweet Mochi Breakfast Cereal

ingredients

2 - 2 inch mochi squares

3 tbsp goji, mulberry, raisin mix

1 tbsp sesame seeds

1/4 cup cashews

1/2 tbsp coconut oil

1/8 tsp cinnamon

directions

1. follow mochi baking instructions on back of package

2. mix all ingredients in a bowl

3. yummy!

what is mochi?

mochi is a gluten free nutritious baked brown rice treat. It is crunchy on the outside and warm and chewy on the inside. also great when stuffed with nut butters, coconut butter, and/or honey/jam. 

where to buy mochi?

found in most health food stores. Discount Coupon here: www.grainaissance.com/wherefind.html