Raw Vegan Lasagne Bites

These would be a great addition to a party or a yummy fresh summer lunch!

Pictures were taken at a fun food photo shoot with Aly Carroll of Aly Carroll Photography http://alycarrollblog.com/. Check her out! She does it all with photography; engagement, weddings, seniors, portrait, food, and more! :)

RAW VEGAN LASAGNE BITES

INGREDIENTS:

Raw Cashew Ricotta:
1 cup cashews (soaked in water for at least an hour - water discarded after)
1 1/2 Tablespoon Italian Spices
2 Tablespoon lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Process: Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor, blend until the consistency of ricotta cheese. Chill.

Basil Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil
3 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup pine nuts
salt and pepper to taste

Process: Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor, blend until smooth. Chill.

Layers:
2 Zucchini (washed and sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices - the long way)
1 Handful of spinach
Sun-dried tomatoes - dried if packed in oil

Process: Cut the zucchini slices into thirds. Place them on a serving plate. Spread a layer of cashew ricotta, then pesto, then spinach then a sun-dried tomato. Add another slice of zucchini, then a spread of cashew ricotta, then a dollop of pesto. Repeat until all zucchini is gone. Makes roughly 12 lasagne bites. Add a fun skewer to the top to keep all the layers together. Warning: they are a little messy to eat, so make sure to serve with plates and a fork to get all the goodness that might fall out of the layers.

 ♥ E

2 Ingredient Mango Sorbet

Hello Miami!

What better to eat in Miami than fresh mango sorbet?

This is so easy and sooooo satisfying. :)

Ingredients:

3 fresh mangos-peeled and seed taken out (or 2 1/2 cups frozen mango, thawed)
2 Tbl lemon juice

Process: Put mango and lemon juice in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Place in a flat freezer safe container. Freeze until ready to eat. Take out and let thaw for about 2 minutes and scoop out.

I topped mine with a little cayenne pepper. Super delicious mix of sweet and spicy.

 ♥ E

Jalapeno, Cilantro Hummus with a Hint of Lemon

Mmm hummus... Need I say more?

This is slightly spicy, so adjust the jalapeno to your taste! :) 

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (I use cooked from dry but canned work as well, drain if canned)
1/2 medium sized jalapeno
1 bunch cilantro (leaves only)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice
Fresh cracked salt and pepper to taste


Process:
Throw it all in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy.

Serve with fresh cut veggies or wholesome crackers.
This hummus would also make an awesome topping to a summer sandwich!

Enjoy!

 ♥ E

Happy Birthday to ME! Raw Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake!

So I have been having a LOT of trouble lately with allergies and not knowing what I am allergic to food wise... Hopefully my test comes back soon!
So I decided to make a birthday treat that I knew I could have and not feel sick after! :)

I give you RAW Chocolate Raspberry "Cheese"cake!

INGREDIENTS

Crust:
1 1/3 cup raw pecan halves
1/2 cup raw cocao powder
1/4 cup raw honey (can use agave or maple syrup)

Filling:
2 cups raw cashews (soaked in water for at least 2 hours and drained)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbl coconut oil
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1/4 cup honey (can use agave or maple syrup)


Process:
Blend pecans until fine. Some small chunks are ok and give the crust a nice texture. In a bowl, mix ground pecans, cacao, and honey until well combined. Smush into the bottom of a glass pie dish so the bottom is evenly coated. Place all ingredients for the filling in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour over crust and freeze for at least 2 hours . ENJOY!!! :)

 ♥ E

Raw Carrot Cake Balls with Pineapple Cashew Cream

Happy Easter everyone!! I love Easter! I love celebrating and thanking God for the sacrificial gift of His son on the cross in payment for the sins of all man, mine included. I love that the sun is shining and spring is in the air, and I love being with my family.

We have some serious allergies in this family, plus a vegan (that's me)! Allergies include eggs, dairy, wheat, corn, yeast, citrus, soy, peanuts, and about 35 other things! I wanted to make something sweet, Easter-y and allergy friendly. I give you: Raw Carrot Cake Balls with Pineapple Cashew Cream.

Raw Carrot Cake Balls 

Ingredients:
2 Cups dried dates - pitted
3 Tbl coconut oil (softened - I just put it in a glass cup and set it on the hot oven for 3-4 mins)
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (look for this in the bulk section)

Process:
 Throw dates and coconut oil in the food processor. Blend until fairly smooth. Put in a medium bowl and add shredded carrots and cinnamon. Take around 2 tsp of mixture and roll into a ball. Gently roll the ball in shredded coconut to coat. Refrigerate.

Pineapple Cashew Cream

Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashews (soaked in water for 1 hr or more- if more, refrigerate)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
2 Tbl pineapple juice

Process:
Put all ingredients in the blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. If it is hard to blend, add a little bit (1 tsp) of pineapple juice at a time until it blends. refrigerate for at least one hour before serving to help become more solid.

Serve cake balls with cashew cream on the side.

Enjoy!

 ♥ E

Raw Vegan Tiramisu Mousse

This was just a, "Hmm what am I going to do with the next few minutes--I feel like making something," spur of the moment creation.

Ok so there are a few things you should know about me...
1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Coffee....
2) Dark chocolate has a special place in my heart.
3) I am in love with coconut milk.. Especially the kind from a can. SO GOOD.
4) Tiramisu is one of my all time fave things and is rarely done well when made vegan.

So here is a little spin on the traditional tiramisu.

                                                p.s. there is no sugar in here. Get excited.


Ingredients:
1 can full fat coconut milk that has been chilled overnight (seriously the reduced fat stuff will not work and this is the good fat. :) )
9 dried dates (pitted and cut in half)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 packets of Stevia in the raw
1 Tbl espresso powder (mixed with 1tsp warm- hot water)
3 Tbl cocoa powder (I like to use dark cocoa powder)

 Process:
Scoop your coconut milk out into a bowl. Just the super thick white part, save the watery bit for a smoothie or an after workout drink. Take half of the thick coconut milk and put it into a blender or food processor (I used my magic bullet). To the coconut milk in the blender, add: the dates, 1 tsp of the vanilla, 1 packet of stevia, the mixed espresso powder, and the cocoa powder. Blend until smooth. While that is blending, take the other half of the coconut milk and put it in the bowl of your mixer, add 1 tsp vanilla and 1 stevia packet. With the whisk attachment, whisk until medium stiff to stiff peaks form. Take a ramekin (I used a fairly large ramekin, so it just made one. If you have smaller ones you can make 2-3 depending on the ramekin size) and pour in the chocolate espresso mix. It will be fairly bitter - just like real tiramisu. Tap the ramekin lightly on the table so the mixture levels out. Finally, spoon the whipped coconut milk on top. Smooth out with the back of a spoon or rubber spatula.  Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate until set. About 2 hours.

--This is a slightly bitter treat, yet the coconut milk is very light and sweet. If you prefer the chocolate espresso part to be sweeter, either add more dates or stevia!

I am literally in food heaven, you guys... ENJOY! :)

 ♥ E