Raw Cheesecake and an Easy Meal

Raw Black Forrest Dulce de leche Cheesecake

This came together so well and easily... a date/walnut crust, cherry cashew filling, caramel layer and topped with cacao sauce... So good!

This was a super simple collard/rice noodle bowl. I used brown rice noodles.

As my regular readers know, I don't use recipes... so here is a fast guess:

1 t toasted sesame oil
1 onion
2 T minced ginger
3 cloves garlic, pressed
a huge bunch collards washed and chopped
2 oz rice noodles
water to cover
braggs
siracha
1 chipotle pepper in adobo (canned) chopped
2 T Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing
Toasted Sesame Seeds
4 oz baked light tofu (this came out of my freezer)
cilantro
lime juice

Comes in around 400 calories for a huge bowl and is VERY satisfying.

I have been such a slacker when it comes to weight loss. I'm not sure why I can't seem to find it in me to just DO IT! ???

Must Swim. I think it's just a matter of getting into the right exercise habits... AND... laying off the huge sandwiches at my job! Yeah.. that's the ticket.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...

Raw Cheese Enchilada roll ups

Raw 'cheese' enchilada

I've been craving raw foods lately which is strange given our freezing cold temperatures in New Hampshire.

First of all, I really appreciate the emails and comments about my food both here and on my work blog... and as far as recipes go, I don't use them so unless I take the time to measure and write down what I make, it is virtually impossible for me to post a recipe...

So, onto the raw enchiladas.. I was looking through my fridge and it is pretty bare.. I wanted a salad, but unfortunately my arugula turned and I had to compost it.. I had collard greens and sun dried tomatoes and macadamia nuts.. chipotles, limes, cilantro, avocado.. hmmmm ..

I made a fast cheese out of the nuts which will keep for several days..

Here's an approximation:

2 c nuts
2 dates
1 chipotle pepper
juice of 2 limes
cilantro
dijon mustard
onion powder
garlic powder
water for mixing
salt/pepper

I wrapped 2 T of the cheese in a large collard green and topped it with sun dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes and 1/8 of an avocado.. and rolled it up.

I garnished it with salsa and defrosted frozen corn (But it broke when I rolled it up and the pic sucked)..

I had two of these for lunch and am totally satisfied. The chipotle and red pepper flakes are warming me from the inside out.

I wish I had the ingredients for a fresh pico de gallo and cashew lime sour cream, that would have made this dish perfect.. but it was still pretty good.

Yesterday, I made a kick ass Raw Cream of Mushroom Soup for work.. it was a last minute thing and I never took a pic of it for the work blog.. but it was delicious and sold out. I love that we serve our raw soups warm.. I let a small amount sit on the stove and warm up.. (only for 2 hours for food safety)..

I will be taking one of my raw cheesecakes to Thanksgiving this year. I'm excited to see what people think of it. I'll definitely post a pic..

I'm excited to announce that Tracy has an E-book out! (you can also buy a printed copy).. I just downloaded it and you should too! She is the Seitan Queen!

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup and a Raw Dessert

It sure is chilly, so spicy soup is in order. This little bowl of deliciousness came together in less than 30 minutes and warmed me up big time.

Spicy Sweet Potato, Red Lentil and Cranberry Soup:

1 T coconut oil
2 t curry powder
1 T fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic
1 onion
1/4 c red lentils
2 sweet potatoes, medium chop
1/2 t chipotle pepper in adobo (from the can)
4 c veggie stock or water and bouillon
salt/pepper
lime juice
cilantro
cranberry sauce


I made a bunch of cranberry-apple sauce. I used stevia to sweeten it and spiced it up with cinnamon, nutmeg and lime juice. I used 2 packages of cranberries and 5 apples and have a bunch in the freezer. I'll pull some of it out for Thanksgiving.
This is a sneak peak of a Raw Brownie Cheesecake topped with caramel and chocolate sauces. We will be serving it tomorrow at work. It is decadent and delicious and 100% raw!

Raw Chili Goodness...

This is a Raw Chili I made for work... I am excited about it because it's a raw soup that I actually like! I was not a big fan of most raw foods I made, but this is very satisfying. It is topped with a cashew/lime sour cream. If I was making this at home, I would have added so many more hot peppers! I am still very addicted to hot foods. Sometimes it's hard to tame my palate and cook for the masses. Maybe I just like the high that spicy food produces?
Speaking of spicy foods... WOWZA!! This dish was wicked hot and good. My son and I ate it with kleenex in hand. Eggplant and lite tofu was cooked in my cast iron (with cooking spray) along with onions, garlic and chilies and veggie stock... hoisin sauce rounded out the meal along with a tiny bit of toasted sesame oil, siracha and toasted sesame seeds. I chopped a head of cilatnro and tossed it all with brown rice fettuccini. Delicious!

I have made versions of this dish in the past for cooking classes. I usually roast the eggplant (which is VERY GOOD)...

Several weeks ago, I was in MA for my sons NESBA competition...(his FINAL competetion as he is a SENIOR .. oh my god how time flies.. ) and we went out for dinner during a down time. Chinese. I had the Spicy Eggplant.. and the flavor was really good, but it was just swimming in an ocean of oil. No need for that! I was re-inspired to created a quick version on the stovetop and it came together beautifully.

Both A and I enjoyed it and I think it cleared my sinuses so well that the cold I've been fighting decided to leave!

I love to use food as medicine.

Cilantro is one of my favorite things and I will often put an entire head into a dish... the funny thing about cilantro is that I DESPISED it my entire life... if I even smelled it, I freaked out because it was so offensive.. but when I was pregnant with my first son, I began to crave it and have loved it ever since. For the record, he loves it too... (as does my younger son)...

Time for a change!

I made the above Raw Cheesecake for work.... the filling was infused slightly with spiced cranberry coulis which also topped it. I love making Raw Cheesecake! The possibilities are endless...

Old pic, but representing a new dish... I've been busy and staying away from wheat, so brown rice rotini it is. I am eating it about once a week which satisfies my pasta craving.. (also, I don't really like the pasta in the same way I liked the wheat pasta)..homemade marinara sauce and fresh herbs are delicious. My sauce contains a lot of spice... so it's not your typical marinara.
I cooked a cup of black beans and used them in two dieshes... the first was a quinoa/black beans stuffed pepper on a bed or raw pico de gallo, topped with chipotle quacamole and tofu sour cream.
I turned the rest of the black beans into this chipotle lime soup.

Both of these dishes made two portions and the other portion is in the freezer for a quick meal.

I am so thrilled with the election of President Obama! I feel like our country has shifted and that things will change for the better. This is a new world we are living in.... how fabulous!