raw vegan double chocolate cheesecake with fresh berries

thick, creamy, rich, fresh...everything you'd want a cheesecake to be and more, because it is so healthy for you too! this is a perfect recipe to make for any first-timer to raw dessert making. it's simple, quick, and you really can't mess it up! & everyone is sure to love it!

this recipe is raw, vegan, paleo, grain free, refined sugar free, and organic! buy the highest quality, organic ingredients whenever possible!

crust:
1 c almonds
1/2 c walnuts
1 c soft, pitted dates
1/3 c cacao powder
1 t vanilla extract
1/8 t sea salt
drizzle of water as needed, for the "dough" to come together

-add all ingredients to a food processor and process until everything comes together well. you may need a bit of water, you may not. press evenly into the bottom and up sides of a 9' springform pan or pie pan and set in freezer while making the filling.

filling:
2 c raw cashews, soaked overnight
2/3 c pure maple syrup (grade b) or raw honey or brown rice syrup
1/2 c water
2/3 c cacao powder
1 T vanilla extract
1/4 t sea salt
1/3 c coconut oil
1/4 c softened coconut butter

-add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend a few times, until very smooth and creamy. option to stir in 2 T cacao nibs or healthy chocolate chip, then pour into crust smoothing over evenly. set back in freezer overnight, then top with fresh berries, more chocolate, slice, and serve! stores best in fridge up to a week or freezer for several weeks.

raw strawberries & cream grainless granola

i swear i will never get tired of granola...i love inventing new ways to make it. i probably have a hundred different recipes for granola on here all of which are delicious! ranging from nut-free to grain-free to sugar-free...this recipe happens to include all three! if you have never tried sprouted watermelon seeds...you definitely should. they taste amazing. i buy them organic, raw & sprouted online with a little sea salt added. they are high in protein and so easily digested! the perfect addition to this "granola" or trail mix snack.
threw together this recipe in 5 minutes...literally. no planning required!

how to:
2 c large coconut flakes
1 c raw sprouted watermelon seeds
1 c freeze dried strawberries

-mix together in a large bowl

blend:
1/4 c cashew butter
1/4 c coconut butter
2 T coconut oil
1 t vanilla
10-20 drops liquid stevia
1/2 t sea salt

-pour over dry ingredients and mix well with a wooden spoon until everything is evenly coated. set in freezer for an hour and serve with your favorite yogurt/homemade nut milk, or take as a snack on the go! *keeps best in fridge or freezer*

***note: I've made so many variations of this recipe...adding chocolate protein and subbing freeze dried strawberries with freeze dried raspberries is also amazingly tasty. add any spices you like or switch out the watermelon seeds with sunflower seeds or raw cashews. oh, and subbing the cashew butter with raw macadamia nut butter makes for a heavenly breakfast experience (:

watermelon saltwater taffy

truly the best, most amazing candy on earth. and it is straight from the earth! mother nature knows what she's doing guys...i pretty much could live off this stuff. 

how to:

1 seedless watermelon (firm is best as opposed to soggy)
1 to 2 T flaked sea salt

-slice watermelon into strips 1/3 inch thick, and 2 to 2-1/2 inches wide. (you can also dehydrate the extra odd shaped pieces to roll up with other odd shaped pieces when dry) remove watermelon rind.
-lay out on dehydrator trays and lightly sprinkle with sea salt 

-dehydrate for 24-48 hours at 115F. time will vary depending on thickness. you may need to pull out a few pieces early that get done sooner. check on watermelon every 8 to 12 hours, flip pieces over half way through.
-when all the watermelon “jerky” is dry, roll up the jerky in taffy sized pieces and garnish with extra sea salt, to taste. 

-option to wrap in rectangle pieces of parchment paper and twist the ends, or just store in a plastic bag.

***this “candy” is the chewiest and most taffy like when enjoyed at room temp. i store it in the fridge though, because i also enjoy it chilled!

happy food: maple roasted sweet potatoes, brussels, garlic, & figs with rosemary and sage + toasted pine nuts

easy easy and the BEST appetizer ever. or entree. my hubs gobbled this up.

how to:
slice up:
2 large sweet potato, cut into large chunks
2 c Brussels sprouts, ends cut off and sliced in half
5 juicy figs, sliced
1 bulb garlic, peeled

-add all to a parchment lined baking sheet & sprinkle with fresh or dried sage & rosemary, then salt & pepper to taste. drizzle generously with pure maple syrup and melted coconut oil. sprinkle with pine nuts.
-bake @400 for 20 min. stir, bake another 15 & broil for 5 more minutes or so until edges are crispy and brown.

detoxifying lemon, cranberry & sea buckthorn chilled elixir

my favorite refreshing poolside drink as of late. it is so detoxifying, purifying and energizing...plus it tastes amazing!

-2 c RO water (or any pure, filtered or spring water)
-1/2 c fresh lemon juice (cleanses the liver and improves digestion)
-1 c pure cranberry juice (packed with flavonoids, enzymes, and organic acids which have an emulsifying effect on stubborn fat deposits in the lymphatic system. especially effective for cellulite!)
-1/2 c sea buckthorn juice (amazing for the skin! vitamins, flavonoids, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants, you name it! has an impressive array of every essential fatty acid. contains omega 3, 6 & 9 as well as the rare omega-7 which help tremendously with inflammation)
-1/4 c fresh ginger juice (warming and strengthening for the digestive system)
-2 T apple cider vinegar (feeds probiotics in the gut. helps dissolve blockages in lymph, improves fat metabolism, lowers cholesterol and decreases fat storage. also amazing skin detoxifier)
-1 T cinnamon (belly fat burner and blood sugar controller)
-2 t msm powder (improves skin health and complexion, necessary for collagen production, improves flexibility & joints, detoxifies the body, strengthens hair and nails, increases energy, accelerates healing, anti-inflammatory)
-stevia or raw honey to taste 
3 drops grapefruit oil (diuretic, fat melter, stimulant, antiseptic, lymphatic mover, disinfectant..to name a few)
3 drops geranium oil (amazing for women's health and healing)
pinch of cayenne (warming, detoxifying, blood cleanser)

-add everything to a large mason jar and shake it up well. you may need to adjust certain ingredients to your liking. store in fridge. sip in the morning, sip at night, sip at work, sip by the pool, you're going to love it!

*be sure to buy all ingredients organic when possible! a lot of the hard to find ingredients, like sea buckthorn juice, i buy online...mostly at amazon.com!

blue coconut smoothie

blue majik is truly magic. if you haven't tried it yet, i recommend getting some! it makes any and all foods beautiful! this smoothie was quick, easy, fresh, and delicious. 

coconut flesh and water from 2 young Thai coconuts
1 c ice
2 T raw cashew butter
2 T plain collagen protein (optional)
pinch of vanilla bean powder
pinch of sea salt
stevia or raw honey to taste

-blend. pour half into a glass and add 1 t blue majik powder (you can buy it online) to the rest. stir to combine and pour into glass. drink immediately.

raw rainbow carrot soup with herbed cashew cream

why rainbow carrots? simple! more colors, more nutrients! but of course, plain orange carrots work lovely too (:

soup:
4 c rainbow carrots, chopped
1 bunch green onion, ends cut off
1 c homemade unsweetened almond milk
2 c bone broth
large handful of sprouts (optional) 
juice of 3 lemons
2 t turmeric
s + p to taste

-add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until very smooth & creamy. chill.

herbed cashew cheese:
1/2 c raw cashews, soaked
1/2 c water
mixed dried or fresh herbs of choice (hint: anything with dill tastes amazing!)
1/4 t garlic powder
s + p to taste

-same instructions as above. blend up! pour over chilled soup and enjoy! best with some raw flax crackers-yum.

white chocolate strawberry-rhubarb probiotic soft-serve ice cream with oils of geranium & rose

a mouthful! 
I imagine I'll be eating this in heaven. it's dairy free, so healthy and so easy. no ice cream maker required. I added probiotic capsules cause it's never a bad idea to throw them into healthy treats like this!
now let's talk about the health benefits of geranium oil cause I'm really loving it right now:
this oil is incredible for your skin and hair. add a drop to your moisturizer for a smoothing effect, or apply a few drops to your shampoo or conditioner bottle, or make your own deep hair conditioner. diffuse aromatically for a calming effect, helps skin blemishes, naturally repels insects, and much more. i am a sucker for the smell. i want to wear it all the time! so why not eat it? it gives this ice cream the most delicious floral notes and will make your house smell amazing while you're making it!

ice cream:
in a medium saucepan add:
11/2 c sliced rhubarb
11/2 c sliced strawberries
1/4 c pure maple syrup
1/4 c dried rose petals
-bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes.

in a high-speed blender add:
1 c cashews (soaked overnight)
1/3 c cacao butter
3/4 c hot water
1/3 c pure maple syrup (or raw honey. you can do this to taste depending on how sweet you like it)
5 drops geranium essential oil
2 drops rose essential oil
3 capsules probiotic (opened)
punch of sea salt
-blend on high until very smooth. add strawberry/rhubarb mixture and pulse a few times. pour into a container and set in freezer. stir every 1/2 hour until almost frozen. once it's completely frozen, remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving. 

scoop, savor.

gut healing & energizing blue majik peppermint white chocolate squares

filled with superfoods, adaptogenic herbs and all the nutrients to maintain a healthy gut, these chocolate squares are the perfect treat, snack, or pre-workout fuel. easy to make and last ages in the freezer!

1/3 c gently melted raw cacao butter
1/4 c raw coconut butter
3 T raw cashew butter
stevia or raw honey to taste
11/2 t blue majik powder
2 T collagen powder
2 t medicinal mushroom powder (i use a brand from longevity warehouse), optionalpinch of sea salt
10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil (depending on the brand and strength)

-add all ingredients to a blender and blend until very smooth. line a glass baking dish with parchment paper and spread mixture evenly into bottom. sprinkle with coconut shreds and set in freezer until firm. remove, slice, eat!