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

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.

Easy Raw Thanksgiving Recipes

So for this year's thanksgiving, we are going to my parent's house like we do every year. I figured, if I wanted to have some dessert and healthy side dishes I better step in. I've decided to be responsible for making the apple pie and cranberry sauce. I am NOT talking about the buttery, floury, sugary filled apple pie, that feels like you have just consumed a brick after dinner. I'm talking about an even tastier, healthier, raw apple pie that doesn't make you feel guilty even after your third slice!

So the recipe is super easy and can be put together in a pinch. No need for your oven or long wait time for the apples to get just right. Just get out your food processor and you are good to go!

Yummy Raw Apple Pie!

As for the cranberry sauce, since I prefer not indulging in cranberry sauce that is held together by who knows what to create some jellow looking glob, I decided to find a recipe that could provide some great nutrition to my body without giving me the sugar spike and crash. I am so excited to try this really yummy looking recipe on Angelic Monkey's blog.

Raw Cranberry Sauce (recipe from Angelic Monkey blog)

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!

The Plentiful Pistachio

Pistachios are loaded with protein, fiber, and iron, have a long shelf life, and are great for some easy energy on the go! Here are some nutritional facts that might leave you going back for another handful.

Potassium Chloride

Great for balancing your blood chemistry especially for those who drink a lot of caffeine. May even reduce irregular heartbeat, kidney problems, fatigue, and weakness.

Phosphorus

Pistachios are high in phosphorus, which helps us bream down proteins in amino acids necessary for hormone production. Great for our bodies making us of Vitamin B. If your phosphorus is low, it could cause glucose intolerance and lead to diabetes, so eat up and protect yourself!

Magnesium

Need some help stabilizing your sugar highs and lows? Magnesium is great for that by helping us regulate our blood sugar levels. Can also promote normal blood pressure!

Calcium

Pistachios provide almost half as much of calcium as cow's milk. Most of us have a dairy sensitivity we may not even know about and pistachios can be a great dairy alternative.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is great for improving eyesight and fighting viral infections. A small amount is found in pistachios. Swee potatoes and carrots have a higher Vitamin A content, but when you are tired of those orange and yellow fruits and veggies, go for the pistachios instead!

Watermelon

One of summer's thirst quenching juicy fruits with many healing qualities. A natural anti inflammatory aiding in the relief of arthritis and asthma. A great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and lycopene. This pink beauty is loaded with antioxidants helping neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are in our bodies and can cause a great deal of damage. They have the ability to oxidize cholesterol, making it stick to our blood vessel walls, risking heart attack or stroke. Free radicals can increase inflammation occurring in arthritis and can lead to joint damage. Watermelon provides us with magnesium and potassium, as well as B1 and B6 which are great for energy.

For the most antioxidants, choose the fully ripened watermelon. The color and quality of the flesh is a good sign of ripeness. A nice deep color absent of white streaks. Eat as is, puree it for soup, add to smoothies, salads, or even try it on the grill.

Watermelon Smoothie

3 Parts Watermelon

1 Part Coconut Water

Blend!

Miso Favorite

I found this miso in my local health food store. I was really excited because it contained no gluten and no soy. This is a very versatile miso and if refrigerated, it will stay good for an unlimited amount of time. If you don not see it in your local health food store, want to learn more about these products, and order this product online, you can just go to the companies site directly for ordering and more recipes:

www.southrivermiso.com