Raw Hazelnut Mocha Cheesecake Bites

I often think we're at war - with desserts. First, we love them, we crave them, we make them, we share them, we delight and ooh and ah over them and then it happens (for me, at least, and I know for many others..)....it's the "wow, I'm sleepy" post-dessert coma. For me, it's even with say two bits of ice cream or a date-rich raw brownie. Yes, I said it. All those raw desserts that we think are good for us in fact may not be so good for SOME of us, and I'm part of that population. Now, for someone coming from a binge of eating Dairy Queen and Ho Ho's, yes, raw desserts are a step up since they actually contain good fats from nuts, seeds, and even the dried dates have minerals and fiber in them that we need. But for some of us, even those dried fruits are too sweet for us. 

So I've created a preverbal white flag that (1) gets us what we want (that sweet goodness) and (2) doesn't put us to sleep. GET OUT, you say! But no, I'm not kidding. It's that good and in fact, it's even safe for people like me who have insulin resistance. Give it a whirl and see what you think. The best part is that these are good for ANYONE, even for those of us who may not need a nap after dessert. Kudos to you, and you should be proud if that's you! But for many of us, that nap, heavy feeling after dessert is a feeling we know all-too well, and well, it jus doesn’t feel good at all.

Oh, and yes, these do take some finesse and time and babysitting and you might say "but I don't have the time SHE has to make these". Let me tell you something, you. I don't have the time either! In fact, I don't have the time NOT to make these, since with one fell swoop (maybe 1/2 hour) I have dessert for the rest of the week. These are filling and rich and you don't need that much, honestly, to make your head spin with delight. Cook once, enjoy for a looooooong time. Promise. 

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup walnuts/brazil nuts mixed (you can also do just walnuts)

2 dates (that’s it!)

two pinches sea salt

2 heaping tablespoons raw cacao powder

1 heaping tablespoon of dandy blend powder (herbal coffee)

2 dropperfulls (you can even do 1.5) of hazelnut liquid stevia

1 tablespoon vanilla and/or hazelnut extract

1 tablespoon water

Creamy filling:

1 cup cashews, soaked, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

1 tsp hazelnut extract (may substitute vanilla extract)

1 dropperfull of hazelnut-flavored liquid stevia

Crust: In a food processor, process crust ingredients until they start to stick together between fingers when pinched. Don’t over process, or it will get oily. You want it just enough so it looks fudgy, but nothing more.  Feel free to use another tablespoon water to get it there. Plop out the dough onto a teflex sheet, wax paper, even a silicone baking liner and press it out using your hands (you can also do this with another wax paper sheet on top and use a mini-rolling pin). You want a uniform thickness, with tight edges. I find that ½ inch is a bit thick but ¼ inch is too thin and it breaks, so aim for somewhere in between. The end product should look like a rectangle.  Pop it in the freezer for about 10 minutes. After that, you may store it in the fridge.

Creamy filling: Combine all ingredients in a vitamix or strong blender until smooth. Pour out into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Cut the crust in two pieces (which will be the top and bottom layer of the cheesecake bites). Place the creamy filling onto one of the layers and spread to the edges. Carefully take the second crust and place it on top. Cut it into squares using a sharp knife. Keep refrigerated and enjoy.

Currant & Tangerine Popsicles

Original post written: 2014

Um, there are no words to describe…I can’t even.

I had the best time this past spring taking an Ayurvedic Cooking course at the Natural Epicurean, and I’ve been implementing what I’ve learned about spices and flavor profiles into my current raw “uncooking”. This is one of those recipes that is so flipping good, there are no words. It’s amazing what happens (whether cooked or uncooked) when you combine whole ingredients with aromatic Indian spices. Flavors bloom.

This blog is pretty short since, well, I’m sitting here eating this gorgeous popsicle trying to come close to what it tastes like (and I have to say, I'm rather distracted), but I think you have to try it to believe me. If you can imagine creamy tangerine sorbet with a hint of anise and cinnamon, then you’re close, but not quite there. A pinch of cardamom for floral and spicy aroma, and tropical coconut for sweetness and freshness. Combined into one, this was an experiment, but one that I know I will repeat many times this summer. 

This is currant season, if you haven’t seen them yet! They come in beautiful reds, blacks and whites, although I used the reds for this recipe. When currants come into season, you have to take full advantage, leap high into the ground with glee, and get as many as you can. They are delicious, eaten raw, like candy, but in this case, we decided to take them over the top. To boot, these are sugar free, low-glycemic, so if you are struggling with insulin resistance, feel free to make these and consider them a delicious treat without the worry.  

It depends on how big your popsicle molds are, but for us, this recipe made about 4. Sad, since I already want more.

About 2 cups currants, blended, strained to leave you about ¾ cup liquid (Discard pulp)

1 cup canned coconut milk (include as much of the solid fat as you can, then top the rest with the remaining coconut liquid)

¼ tsp each: anise, cinnamon, cardamom powders

2 droppers full of stevia

Pinch salt

3 drops Young-Living brand Tangerine Vitality essential oil** 

**This recipe uses only Young Living brand Tangerine Vitality essential oils. Please do not ingest any other oils.  If you don't have this oil, please reach out (I'm happy to answer any questions) or just use 1 tablespoon organic tangerine/orange zest. 

Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth, and pour out into molds. Freeze over night. Enjoy!

The Most Chocolate-y Un-Chocolate Bar

If you read my last chicory coffee post, you saw that I’m taking a break from chocolate. Why would anyone in their right mind to that, you ask? Just as an experiment. I figure, I crave it, I eat the highest quality chocolate, but are there ways around it? Primarily, I’m trying to stay away from caffeine and the very little that I get in these beautiful little nibbles of chocolate here and there sometimes make my ticker, well, tick faster.

I mainly miss the aroma of chocolate. The taste is great, but really, it’s the scent of it. If I could have a chocolate candle burning in the house {without getting a headache from it}, I’d be in heaven. But for now, I must resort to stealth & experimental ninja moves in the kitchen to procure that which I desire most: the most chocolate-y un-chocolate bar.

What, what?  Yes, yes.

The best part? NO sugar. That’s right. It only uses stevia and two little raspberries that are completely optional by the way. It’s like a raw, paleo, low-glycemic, gluten free, cruelty-free, magical, good for you unchocolate bar. The other best part? It uses carob, which is a dreamy substitute that, when used the right way, can fool any palate. 

Carob powder

It’s summer, so lately I’m in the house less and outside of it more, tending to the voracious garden and getting some activities in. Because of this, most of my recipes are quick and no fuss.

I gathered some ingredients together and the first time, it was a FLOP. The chocolate was amazingly good, but 80 degrees in the house made it fall apart on contact. The second time, instead of using coconut oil, I used cacao butter and that fixed everything. Live and learn, and eat as you go, but this is as chocolatel-y an un-chocolate bar can get! 

Cacao butter wafers. 

So what are these secret incredients: 

Carob: it’s the winner when you want to have something chocolate-y.

Salt: in all desserts to bring out the flavors – a pinch of salt.

Cacao butter: keeps it stable, although I still recommend keeping it in the fridge.

Cacao nibs (if you have no issues with caffeine, put them in there as they add a crunch, otherwise don’t include)

Almond butter: keeps it raw and adds some protein.

Raspberries: take it over the top.

Method: 

4 tablespoons carob powder

pinch sea salt

1 tablespoon cacao nibs {optional}

4 tablespoons melted cacao butter {in dehydrator for truly raw, or stovetop in a double boiler}

2 tablespoons raw almond butter

1 dropper full hazelnut or original stevia

2 freeze dried raspberries, optional {I found mine at Trader Joe's}

Combine all ingredients except for raspberries together and smooth. Taste the "batter" and make sure it doesn't need more salt or stevia, per your palate. In a silicone mould {I used a chocolate bar mold but also little ones for surplus}, pinch the raspberries into a powder and sprinkle into the moulds. Pour the chocolate mixture in. Place in fridge for at least 3 hours. Un-mould and enjoy! This makes enough for one chocolate bar and about 5 little mini moulds for the surplus batter, roughly 1 tablespoon each.

Berry Dream Soft Serve Ice Cream

We've started summer a bit early. We've had a long winter, paid our dues through shoveling and although I love the snow and its magical solitude, I really long for dipping my toes in the surf, opening up all the windows in the house and wondering which t-shirt I should wear that day. Those days will come soon, but for now, we're enjoying a little splurge in the sweet tooth department...we all have it, and I personally am confessing to it. With the recent emphasis on low-glycemic foods, however, sweet and healthy don't always get along (until now).

Enter the berry dream soft serve ice cream....

My favorite is to allow a little crunch to it...add in some crushed walnuts or cacao nibs, coconut, what have you...but it's like soft serve with some naughty add ins, except without the belly ache after, no bloating, and all the satisfaction of hunkering down to a nice bowl of chilled goodness.

The BEST part is that it's made literally in under 5 minutes with staples we all have on hand: a can of coconut milk, some frozen berries, and your trusty bottle of stevia. So...your in-laws come over and you want to wow them? This will do the trick (without breaking a sweat).

1 can (chilled) organic coconut milk

1 bag frozen strawberries

1-2 dropper fulls of liquid stevia (non alcohol is best)

In a vitamix or strong blender, combine all ingredients together and blend with the tamper until smooth. Dish out, spoon in hand, and enjoy wholeheartedly. 

Cinnamon Cacao Tonic

Tonics are quite the hit these days, especially in the world of raw foods ~ the primary reason for this is that raw foods are very cooling, and well, sometimes we need a balance in warmth and cool. Tonics are perfect for this since you can add herbs that support immunity, support detox, give you some serious energy, heat up the system (like cayenne adn cinnamon) and offer a sweet delight in the summer that you can feel confident is good for you.

The basic template for tonics are:

some kind of liquid or tea, 

superfoods and superherbs, 

a good fat,

and flavorings of your choice. 

You can add in whatever flavors you'd like - lemon ginger, maca and cinnamon (like ours), chocolate and cayenne, caramel vanilla, the ideas are as endless as your taste buds. But definitely MAKE them, and make them YOURS. While many people sip on starbucks and donuts in our afternoon slump (which by the way, is your body screaming for nutrition and support, not sugar), I'm sipping my cold or hot tonic (dependin on the season), knowing I'm getting what my body needs. Oh, and it's gorgeous to look at and wicked delicious, mind you. 

Again, get your type-A personality out of this one, since you can't go wrong...have fun, enjoy it, and be dazzled by your new favorite tonic beverage! But first, here are a few tips:

1. brew your tea: gynostemma, nettle, even peppermint, chammomile or straight almond milk could work too

2. add in medicinals and herbs: chaga, gynostemma, reishi, maca, etc.

3. add in your good fats: coconut meat, coconut butter or oil, walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, etc.

4. add in your flavors: here we have cacao, cardamom, cinnamon, and english toffee

5. sweeten to taste: I'm always going for low-glycemic (since you don't want to slump again after drinking this) so my choice is stevia, but you can go with raisins, maybe a date or two. But stevia seems to be the hit with me, so aim for that. 

Cinnamon Cacao Tonic:

4 cups boiling water, brewed with 1 tea bag of gymnostemma tea ~ let cool (you'll only need 2 cups of this)

1.5 dropper fulls of liquid english toffee stevia

1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

1 tsp black maca (or regular is good)

pinch cardamom powder

1 tablespoon cacao powder

1/2 tsp vanilla powder

pinch salt

1 tablespoon coconut oil or coconut butter

1/4 cup walnuts

drizzle of almond milk (optional)

ice (optional)

Combine everything except the almond milk in a blender until smooth. This is a super generous portion, so maybe share it with someone you love :) Drizzle in some almond milk at the end and enjoy! ps. you can use any tea, but one bag of gymonstemma tea uses 4 cups of water. I save the remaining two cups and use it for tomorrow's batch.