Raw Food with Alvina

Christmas is a time when we think of family get-togethers and abundance. It is memory lane for most of us, enjoying friends, memorable times and good comfort, traditional foods. But the weeks after the holidays are usually weight gains, health problems from too many sweets and food.

Today white sugar, white flour, dairy products, trans and saturated fats, refined cars and excess calories are on the “no-no” list … and with the holiday times it feels as if the cakes, cookies and candies will become obsolete. And we begin to feel deprived and panic stricken. After all, it is a long-time tradition.

One answer is to make some raw food desserts and take them to get-togethers and family meals. Use nuts, dried fruits, and avocados instead of white flour and white sugar. They have a lot of flavor, looks and are good for you. Oh yes … and they are easy to put together. Jenny Cornbleet has a book out called Raw Food Made Easy For 1 or 2 People. In it there are desserts – cakes, cookies, fruit crisps, pies, tarts, puddings, mousses, shakes, and ice cream recipes all raw – for holidays and all meals. Guess what? They taste better than their sugar laden counterparts.

One recipe is for a “Flour-less Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce” which calls for 1 ½ cups raw walnuts, dash of salt, 8 pitted Medjool dates, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa or carob powder, ½ tsp vanilla extract, and 2 tsp water. For the raspberry sauce you use 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries (thaw and drain if frozen) with ¼ cup pitted Medjooy dates, soaked for 30 minutes and drained. Place the walnuts and salt in a food processor with the S blade and process until finely ground. Add dates, cocoa powder, and vanilla … process until mixture becomes sticky. Add water and process briefly. Transfer to a serving plate and form a 5 inch round cake. Place the raspberries and dates in a blender and mix until smooth, pouring over the cake just before serving.

You do not have to give up all your comfort foods, just find a healthier recipe for it. You will find the dessert to be much tastier. But should you choose to nibble on a few old foods, do so in moderation, do not go overboard, and remember to wait and let your stomach digest properly before the next meal.

I was looking for a new variation to the regular tomato basil salad and I hit the mother load.  It is like a party on my tongue.  I wish I took pictures before I devoured it…I’ll surely make it again and I’ll make sure to post pics then.  Ok here’s the recipe:

For more awesome recipes like this check out : The blog which was created by Ali and Tom of Whole Life Nutrition in Bellingham, Washington. They offer the latest information on Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease along with fabulous gluten-free recipes using whole foods.

I recently stumbled across a recipe for Summer Sweet Corn Salad.  I was excited when I saw the picture, it looked tantalizing.  Then, I read the ingredients and immediately my mouth started to water.  I rushed out immediately to find the ingredients.  I couldn’t find every ingredient but found great substitutes.  As I prepared the salad it was so hard to keep from sampling.   So came the moment of truth.  As a fork full of salad approached my mouth I could feel my checks burst with anticipation.  And the combination of flavors made my eyes roll back.  OMG!  This salad is so delicious.  If you are looking for a recipe to wake up your palate rush over and pick it up now!  Check out raw magick….because this Summer Sweet Corn Salad was definitely like magic in my mouth!

The recipe is :

Pie crust:
2 cups Almonds blend in food processor
Add 2 cups soaked dates blend again
press pie crust into pie pan

Chocolate Mousse
1 cup raw almond milk ( to make milk blend 1 cup soaked almonds 1 cup water *use the water you soaked the almonds in * blend in blender. The take a nylon bag or a pair of new knee high panty hose and pour milk trough hose into bowl. Then squeeze all the milk out of the pulp* BOOm you have raw almond milk EASY!)
1 avocado
2/3 cup sun dried raisins
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/4 cup carob powder
1/4 cup raw almond butter

BLEND all of the above

spread onto crust
add berries
freeze one hour then serve YUMMY!
Store in fridge

Raw Cacao (chocolate) is 20% higher in antioxidants than processed chocolate , and much higher than even red wine or green tea! High in magnesium & potassium = HEART HEALTHY * Brain Power * Relaxes Muscles * help menstrual cramps! It even helps decrease depression & anxiety & STRESS and increases pleasure ….

This really is a DREAM PIE!