Raw Corn Chowder

I always love making raw soups because they are super fast and almost always come out deeelish. Plus blended foods are so good for you! When it comes to summer one of my favorite treats is fresh corn, there is just nothing like it! This soup was so flavorful and had the most gorgeous color from the cumin and corn combo.

corn soup

Raw Corn Chowder

Around 3 Servings

1 cup fresh corn kernels + 1/4 cup corn kernels, separate
1 clove garlic
2 heaping tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/4 cup onion
1/4 cup cashews
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup red pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lecithin or psyllium (optional to make the soup thicker)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt
Ground pepper to taste
2 cups water

  1. Combine all the ingredients except the separate 1/4 cup of corn in a blender until smooth.
  2. Place the whole corn kernels in a bowl and pour soup over.
  3. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy 🙂

Flatbread Pizza with hummus, green olives, cherry tomatoes and za’atar

This was soooo good! I made the complete recipe for the crust and halved the rest as I knew there was never anyway we would eat all of this deliciousness. But I figured we could use the crusts for other recipes as they are very versatile. I love everything Pure Food and Wine and can’t wait to check out Sarma’s new cookbook, Living Raw Food! But this is recipe is from Raw Food Real World. All their recipes are pretty complicated but I am guessing that 99% of them are amazing! Due to the complexity level and the gourmet heaviness of some of the foods they are not everyday recipes for us. But when we make them we sure love them! I could see this dish being served at a fancy Middle Eastern restaurant or you can make them bit sized and serve them as hor o’dourves!!!! How fun!! So deeelish! I loved the use of Za’atar (a Middle Eastern spice blend of sumac, sesame seeds and the wild Syrian hyssop plant) in this recipe. I had bought some the last time I was in Israel and this was the first time I got to break it out and use it. Ahhhh… 🙂 The crusts were delicious and the hummus was the best raw hummus I have ever had! Such a great recipe! You could always break this recipe down and use just one component when you need it.

Flatbread Pizza with hummus, green olives, cherry tomatoes and za’atar

 pizza close-up

pizza crust on dehydrator sheet

The crust still on the dehyrdrator sheet

For the crusts:
5 cups walnuts, soaked 1 hour or more (I soaked them overnight – when soaking nuts, make sure to rinse well after)
5 cups cubed yellow squash or zucchini
3/4 cup golden flaxseed, finely ground (1 cup ground)
1/2 cup hemp seeds
1/4 to 1/2 cup filtered water
1 tablespoon sea salt

1. Pulse the walnuts in a food processor to chop into tiny pieces (like couscous), but not completely smooth. Transfer the nuts to a large bowl. Add the squash to the same food processor bowl and grind into tiny pieces, but again not completely smooth. Transfer the squash to the bowl with the walnuts. Add the flaxseed, hemp seeds, salt and about 1/4 cup of water, stirring to combine. Add more water until a sticky dough forms – like wet muffin batter. You may need more or less water.

2. Divide the batter between four 14-inch Teflex lined dehydrator trays. Using an offset spatula spread the dough to the edges of the trays. The dough can be a bit gummy and sticky, so it helps to dip the spatula in water as you spread the dough (the excess water will all evaporate in the dehydrator)

3. Dehydrate the flatbread at 115 degrees for 6-8 hours, pr overnight. When the tops are dry, flip over and peel away the Teflex liners. Dehydrate on screens for another 2-4 hours.

4. Once both sides are dry, slide the flatbread onto a large cutting board. With a large chef’s knife, cut into 3×5 rectangles (or whatever size and shape you want). Place them back in the dehydrator trays and dehydrate for another hour or more, as necessary for firm crusts.

hummus

For the hummus:
4 cups cashews, soaked for 2 hours or more (when I woke up I starting soaking them, so around 8 hours)
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 small cloves garlic
1/4 cup sesame tahini
1 teaspoon sea salt
Up to one cup filtered water

In a food processor, add the nuts, lemon juice, garlic, tahini, and salt and process, adding water 1/4 cup at a time until you get the smooth, fluffy consistency of hummus. You may need to add more water, or you may want to add olive oil for a richer hummus – just make sure it has enough stiffness so it will hold the topping on the pizza without running off the sides of the crust

olive tapenade

For Green Olive Tapenade: (You only need a half cup for recipe, so reduce if you want, or make the entire batch to have on hand.)
makes 3 1/2 cups

3 cups putted green olives
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 small handful of parsley (optional) (I used the parsley. I think it added a nice texture and color)
freshly ground pepper

1. Process the olives in a food processor. With the motor running, add the olive oil and lemon juice and process until smooth. Add the parsley (if using) and process to combine. Season with pepper to taste

2. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate. Will keep up to 1-2 weeks.

For serving:
1 pint cherry, teardrop or grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 of a large bulb of fennel or 1/2 of a small bulb, shaved very thin on a mandolin
1/2 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced
1/2 cup Green olive Tapenade
1/2 cup Green olives, pitted and halved
2 tablespoons za’atar seasoning
fennel fronds for garnish

Spread each crust with hummus and top with tomatoes, fennel, cucumber, olive tapenade and olives. Sprinkle with za’atar and top with fennel fronds

pizzas

za'atar from Israel
My Za’atar from Israel

Chia Seed Pudding

Ahhh Chia Seed Pudding!! So good!! Chia seeds have so many wonderful properties that I want to incorporate them into our daily lives. See my post on Chia Seeds: Superfoods.

This recipe was so amazing!! I know I am always making new recipes but this needs to become a staple in my house! We normally just have a juice, smoothies or fruit for breakfast, but on the weekends we like to enjoy a little more. Last weekend we  feasted on the Blueberry Flax Pancakes which were amazing. This was a little less decadent but still so divine!! This can be a dessert, breakast, lunch or dinner. It is pretty much a perfect food!

chia seed pudding

Chia Pudding
1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours – overnight
3 pitted, jumbo Medjool dates soaked for 1 hour in 2 cups of filtered water (Keep soak water for the recipe)
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/2-1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
Several drops of liquid stevia to taste

Soak the cashews for at least 4 hours and rinse. In a Vita-mix or blender combine cashews, dates, their 2 cups of soak water, vanilla, and cinnamon and blend until smooth. In a medium bowl combine this mixture with the chia seeds. Whisk for 1-2 minutes. Let stand in the fridge for 10 minutes and whisk again to prevent clumps. Add the stevia to taste. You can either begin to eat it then or put back in the fridge, covered for 6-8 hours (overnight) and even more of the nutrients will be accessible then.

Strawberry Heaven: RAW Strawberry Shortcake & Avocado and Strawberries with Honey Vinaigrette

I am not sure why but Sunday was all about Strawberries!! They are so juicy and good! Plus having such sweets all day was so much fun 🙂

The Cake recipe was not super difficult but it was time consuming since all the layers have to set in the fridge for a while. But it was well worth it! Oh My Goodness it was good! Thank goodness there is still so much in the fridge 🙂 I am sure there are people out there who think that eating Raw means no dessert. Well I can safely say this cake will prove them wrong! It is also nice to know that although it is dessert, these are still ingredients that are healthy and good for you, but still should not be eaten in excess.

RAW Strawberry Shortcake

top of cake

sede of cake

sliced cake

 RAW Strawberry Shortcake
This is a recipe from Carmella of the sunnyrawkitchen.com Inspired by Cafe Gratitude’s I Am RaptureThis recipe is for a 6″ diameter pan or tub. (I increased this to fit an 8″ spring form pan – so I increased the cake recipe by 1/2)
Cake
3/4 cup well packed dates, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
Pinch salt
1 cup ground almonds or loosely packed left-over pulp from making milk (wet pulp is fine)(I was able to use almond flour which is so perfect for this recipe!!)
1 cup dried coconut
1/2 cup cashews

Whipped Cream
1 cup cashews
1 cup + 2 tablespoons fresh coconut milk (simply blend 1 part dried coconut with 3 parts water in high speed blender)
1/8 – 1/4 cup honey or agave (depending on how sweet you like it – I like it sweet :))
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup coconut butter
1 tablespoon lecithin*

Strawberry Layer and Decoration
1 1/2 cups strawberries, sliced (I used close to 2 1/2 cups with all the decoration on top! I wanted every bite to have tons of strawberries!)

*Lecithin is derived from soybeans and acts as an emulsifier. Look for lecithin (preferably non-GMO), in granules or powdered form, at your local HFS. If using granules, make sure to grind them up in a high speed blender of coffee grinder.

To make the Whipped Cream:
Blend all ingredients except lecithin until smooth. Add lecithin and blend until thoroughly mixed. Set in fridge for about 1 hr.(this is super important)

To make the Cake:
Place dates in food processor and process until a smooth paste forms. You may need to add a little water.
Then add the rest of the ingredients and mix until smooth.

Assembly:
Grease a spring form pan with a little coconut butter or line a large margarine tub with plastic film.
Next form an even layer on the bottom with half of the cake mixture.
Top with 1/2 of the strawberries, followed by some of the whipped cream. Set in fridge for 20 mins.
When firm, form another cake layer. Then top with more strawberries. (Remember to save a few for decoration).
Again top with whipped cream and set in fridge 20-30 mins.
When firm, gently remove cake from the pan or margarine tub and place on serving plate. Decorate with strawberry slices and serve.

Avocado and Strawberries with Honey Vinaigrette

I know I had already made dessert, but this salad was so decadent it felt like dessert for dinner!! The texture and taste of this dish is so delightful! This would be a perfect appetizer for a spring or summer party! It is also so simple you could throw it together in 10 minutes!

Recipe from The Daily Green

strawberry avocado salad

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons raw honey
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1/16 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and cut into wedges
8 ounces strawberries, halved

PREPARATION

  1. Whisk the lemon juice, honey, olive oil, salt, and pepper together.
  2. Arrange the avocados and strawberries on 6 salad plates.
  3. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the fruit salad. Serve immediately.

Cashew “Mock Chicken” Salad and Corn Stuffing

This is really delicious stuffed in a large red pepper 🙂 Sometimes you just want to eat really fun food! This salad was fun to make and even more fun to eat. I cut the pepper in sections and used them as scoopers for the salad. It was divine! The salad reminded me of the cooked vegetarian chopped liver that I enjoy on many Jewish Holidays. This is a great raw version that can be substituted.

stuffed pepper, mock chicken

Cashew “Mock Chicken” Salad

Recipe provided by Purely Delicious Magazine

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
1/4 C sunflower seeds
1 C cashews
1 C of pecans
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
2 green onions, cut into smaller pieces
1/2 sweet apple
1 celery stick, cut into chunks
1 tsp. dried dill
1/4 tsp. curry powder
juice of 1/2 a lemon

Preparation:
Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse chop until everything is chopped medium to fine. Enjoy!

I love colorful food. So along side this gorgeous stuffed red pepper I made this Delicious stuffing or corn salad. I love love love corn. When you eat corn raw your body treats it like a vegetable unlike cooked corn which becomes a starch. Summer corn is so fresh and sweet, I just could not get enough of this amazing salad.

corn stuffing

Corn Stuffing

This inspiration for this salad was based off a recipe from Juliano’s Raw Uncook Book.

2 cups fresh corn off the cob
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1/4 cup minced celery
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/4 -1/3 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced jalapeno
1 teaspoon Celtic Sea salt
1-2 teaspoons agave or other sweetener if desired

Preparation: Combine the above ingredients in a serving bowl. Mix and serve.

Herbin’ Ranch Dip

Herbin’ Ranch Dip
By Kristen Suzanne
Published in her June 2008 Newsletter
Yield 1 1/2 cups
This is the one of the most nutritious, delicious ways to have ranch dip, Raw and Delicious! I love serving this dip at summer picnics with vegetable crudite or as a dressing on your favorite greens*. Just a quick and easy meal with some baby carrots and this dip! SO GOOD!

1/2 cup raw cashews, unsoaked
1/2 cup raw pinenuts, unsoaked
1 zucchini, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin coconut oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon tarragon
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup fresh basil, not packed
1/4 cup fresh dill, not packed
Blend all of the ingredients, except the fresh basil and dill, until creamy and smooth. Pulse in the basil and dill. This will stay fresh for 4-5 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

* To make this as a dressing, simply add more water until you reach the desired consistency.

* This dip also freezes well. I use my foodsaver and freeze little one serving packets of dressing so if I need some on the go, I can just grab a packet and use later that day! So easy!

Raw Mushroom Cream Sushi

I love playing around with different Nori Rolls and wraps. You can really add or subtract from any recipe or just put whatever you have around in and roll it up. So simple and so good!

Adapted from RAW: The Uncook Book by Juliano

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For the Filling:

Mac Cream

  • 1 cup raw macadamia nuts
  • I cup raw cashews
  • 1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup Nama Shoyu or 1 1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon garlic
  • 1/2 tsps peppercorns

Blend all the above ingredients until creamy. Keeps 2 days in the refrerator.

**I only had cashews so I used 2 cups.

For the Sushi:

  • 2 sheets of raw nori
  • 4 fresh horseradish sticks, sliced thin  (I found the horseradish sticks a little harsh. I have grated it before and find that much nicer in the rolls.)
  • 4 carrot sticks
  • 4 cucumber sticks, sliced thin (if organic leave the skin on)
  • 1 cup sliced portobello mushrooms
  • 4 apple slices, sliced thin (I used 6 per roll so every bite had apple 🙂 )
  • lettuce leaves, enough to cover

On a sheet of nori arrange the horseradish, cucumber and carrot sticks, and mushrooms  along the edge of the nori closest to you.

Gently spread the filling on top of the vegetable sticks, being careful not to allow the mixture to touch the nori. Add a layer of apple slices, and lettuce leaves (cover any wet ingredients with leaves so the nori doesn’t get wet).

Fold the bottom of the sheet up and over the filling, and roll the nori tightly using a bamboo mat or your fingers. Wet the top part of the nori sheet with a little water so as to seal the sushi.

If you are cutting…Let the roll sit for about 5 minutes before cutting. Using a sharp knife, cut the nori roll into 5 or 6 equal parts. Use a gentle see-saw motion to make it a perfect smooth cut. Arrange on a plate. If desired, serve with Nama Shoyu, tamari or this dipping sauce in a small bowl.

RAW Brownie Bites with Vanilla Icing

I was telling my husband that I posted the yummy Chocolate Mint Candies and he said I had to let everyone know about His favorite Raw Dessert! It really is so good and super easy! Blissful!!

Raw Brownie Bites with Vanilla Icing

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Vanilla Icing

  • 2 cups Cashews
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 cups Raw Agave
  • 1/4-1/2 cups Water

Brownie Bites

  • 3 cups Pecans
  • 2 Tbsp Nut Butter (almond, cashew, etc.)
  • 1/4 cups Raw Agave
  • 1/4 cups Raw Cacao Powder
  • Dash of Celtic Sea salt

First make the icing so it has time to set in the fridge while you make the brownie bites. Make sure to use a Food Processor and not a Vita-Mix, as much as I love my dear Vita-mix it is not for this dessert 🙂 Blend the cashews till they are a fine texture. Add in the vanilla, agave and 1/4 cup of water. It is best to keep the icing thick, so add in more water as you process but never more than 1/2 a cup. After the icing is well combines fill up a pastry bag or ziplock and set in the fridge.

Once you have the icing in the fridge you can begin on the yummy brownie bites. Blend the pecans in the food processor till they are a fine texture. Add the ut butter, agave, raw cacao powder and salt and process until the mixture forms a ball around the blades. Transfer to a bowl and make sure everything is combined with your hands. This is a really fun part if you want to include your kids. Now form little balls of dough and flatten them to make the brownie bite rounds. They should be no more than 1 1/2″ wide. Once you have all the bites formed take your icing out the fridge and top the bites. If you want to dress them up more you can add cocoa nibs, dried fruit bits or anything else in your imagination.

These can be eaten immediately or set in the fridge to firm up. They will stay great in the fridge for over a week. ENJOY!

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