NUTTY COCONUT CRANBERRY BARS



 

 

Many of you know that we love homemade bars here at A Simply Raw Life, this time though, I wanted to try one that was slightly different. I was inpsired by these bars I saw on Ascension Kitchen.  These looked so good and they turned out to be more versitile than I thought. Thanks Lauren!  Super delicious... Check it out...



NUTTY COCONUT CRANBERRY BARS

 

Note:  Remember that it's is preferrable to soak the almonds and cashews first and then dehydrated until they are dry to activatge your nuts and seeds, which give you added nutritional benefits.  Of course, if you don't have time or do not have a dehyrator, this recipe still works just as fine.

1 cup of raw almonds
½ cup of shredded coconut
1 cup of cashews
½ cup of dried cranberries
¼ cup of hemp seeds
¼ cup of chia seeds
¼ cup of coconut butter
¼ cup of raw honey
4 tablespoons of coconut oil
4 Medjool dates
pinch of sea salt
Zest of one lemon

 

In the food processor, chop up the almonds for a quick second to chop them into smaller pieces.  Add the coconut, cashews and chopped a little more for a few seconds.  Transfer the mixture into a large bowl.  Add the hemp and chia seeds.

 

In the food processor add the coconut butter, honey, coconut oil, dates, salt and lemon.  Mix together unitl well combined into a nice paste.  Now combine this mixture to the dry mixure and and fold it in with your hands combining it well.

 

Press the mixture well into a 8" x 8" baking dish that is lined with parchment paper and chill in the freezer for 1 hour.  Now it's ready to be cut and eaten!  Makes about 10 bars.

 

Store the remaining bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

 



I also have used these bars as grawnola and crumbled it on top of a smoothie bowl, ice cream, and fruit.  In the photo above, I topped it on my Chocolate Almond Milk Ice Cream.  So delicious!

Enjoy!

Join the discussion!

If you have a favorite dairy free ice cream recipe, feel free to share it in the comments below. Links are welcome!

 



RAW BERRY CREAM TARTS

 

Wow!  I am finally back from being away a week.  First to Alt Design Summit in Salt Lake City, which was super fabulous.  I learned so much and was really inspired.  I can't wait to be able to implement what we learned.  Then I headed over to Las Vegas for a trade show for my "other" job.  Phew!  So good to be home. 

 

I made this recipe before I left and am finally posting it.  Thank you all for your patience.  This is the second recipe I made using the Raw Cashew Cheese.  It was super, super delicious and light.  If you like berries, then you will love this!  I made it for some friends who are neither raw nor vegan and they loved it.  They loved the natural flavor, lightness and sweetness it had.

 

 



I was inspired by jarOhoney, one of my favorite blogs to visit and be inspired by.  My crust is slightly different as you do not have to dehydrate it.  I love how this came out and I don't feel guilty eating it!

 

RAW BERRY CREAM TARTS

 

Makes about 20 mini-tarts

For the raw crust

 

1 cup whole raw organic whole hazelnuts

Water for soaking

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup shredded organic coconut

8 dates, pitted

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon raw honey or raw organic agave

20 mini paper baking cups

 

For the raw berry cream topping

 

1/2 cup whole fresh organic blueberries

1-1/2 cups whole fresh organic blackberries

1 tablespoon  raw honey or raw organic agave

1 cup room temperature raw cashew cheese - click HERE for the recipe

 

instagram of my mini crusts

 

instagram of my berry cream



Directions

 

In a large mixing bowl, soak your hazelnuts cool water for 14 hours and then drain and dry the hazelnuts well.  In your food processor pulse your hazelnuts into a fine meal. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, dates, vanilla, and honey or agave and blend well.

 

Line your mini cupcake pan with the baking cups and spoon in about 2 teaspoons of the crust mixture in each and gently press evenly to the top of the baking cups.  It will be about 1/4 inch thick, just like you do with a pie tin, etc. Put them in the freezer for about 1 hour.

 

In your food processor, puree 1/2 cup blueberries and 1/2 cup blackberries until smooth, stir in the agave syrup.  This turns into a really nice fruit sauce.  I definitely want to use to top other yummy desserts or breakfasts!  Add the fruit sauce to the cashew cheese and blend well until smooth-this is now your filling. Spoon in the filling on top of the crust to over-fill the crusted cups. Garnish with remaining fresh fruit and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve - about 3 hours. 

 

Store the remaining desserts in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

 

Enjoy!

 



 



 

 

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite Raw or Vegan Berry recipe? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below.

 

Or, let me know what other raw desserts you would like to see. 

 

Links are welcome.

 



MOSTLY RAW FOOD CHALLENGE UPDATE

 

 

 

10 DAY FOOD CHALLENGE UPDATE

 

Well, we are going on our 8th day and wow! The support we have during this mostly raw food challenge is amazing!  The support we have on Instagram is fabulous and I love the fact that we are getting such great food ideas from each other too.  It really helps to keep us going!  Here are some of ASRL's Instagram pics.  If you are instagram, follow us or simply look up the hashtag #asimplyrawlifefoodchallenge and see what everyone is up to.

 

Have a great week!

 

 



RAW NUTELLA (CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD)

 

 



I only know one or two people who have never tasted Nutella, which is strange because you would think everyone must have tasted Nutella once in their life! It's nostalgic to me.  Growing up, I loved the taste of spreading it on toast, eating it with fruit or just taking a spoonful to into my mouth.  Who doesn't like Nutella, really?  When I starting eating more plant based and more raw, I had a ton of friends ask me to figure out a raw Nutella recipe.  Well, here's a great start.  I got my inspiration from Fragrant Vanilla Cake.  Amy is so good at transforming our old favorite desserts into fabulous raw creations!  This recipe is not as super creamy as the original Nutella, but let me tell you, its super chocolatey good for sure.

 

RAW NUTELLA (CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT SPREAD)

1 cup raw hazelnuts
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup almond milk

Blend the hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground.  Add the sea salt, agave, cinnamon, and Vanilla and process utnil its combined well.  While the motor is running, add the almond milk slowly to make it smooth, for 1-2 minutes or more.  Blend it until is very smoooth.  Store in an air tight jar in the refrigerator and enjoy!

What do you like eating your raw nutella with?



Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite raw chocolate spread recipe? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below. Links are welcome.



RAW ENERGY BAR WITH DATES AND APRICOTS

 

 

I really wish these bars would last longer when I make them.  Seriously,  they seem to disappear so quickly and probably so because I love giving these to friends to try.  So far, my first energy bar post has been the most popular.  You can find that recipe HERE. 

 

What I love about this recipe is that you can literally use any of your favorite nuts, dried fruits or even oatmeal and switch the recipe up to keep it interesting.  And this recipe is what we like to call super simple.

 



 

Here's the recipe...

 

RAW ENERGY BARS WITH DATE AND APRICOTS

Ingredients:

 

16 oz pitted dates
1 cup dried apricots

3/4 cup pepitas

3/4 cup cashews

1/4 cup macadamia nuts - optional
3 table spoons chia seeds

 

Note: You can also add 1/2 cup dried shredded coconut, which I think I am going to do next time.

Blend the dates and the apricots in the food processor until blended. It will be very, very sticky. Transfer it into a blow and then mix in all the other ingredients. Wet your hands slightly and knead and fold the ingredients togehter by hand. It will be tough but if you knead and fold it will eventually all be mixed togeher.

Tip, don't put in too many dry ingredients, it will make it more difficult to fold, mold and stick together.

Press the ball of ingredients into a wax paper lined 9" x 13" baking pan. Chill for 1 hour in the freezer and then cut into bars. I like to store these in the refrigerator, it keeps them at a nice firm consistency.

Voila!  I know you will love these and make them as much as I do.

Join the discussion!

Do you have a favorite energy or granola bar recipe? We would love to hear what it is! Share it in the comments below. Links are welcome.

 



RAW VEGAN: MEXICAN SEASONED VEGGIE MEAT

  

 

Obviously, we like tacos over here, so I was very happy when I found this recipe from Judita Wignall in her book Going Raw.  This tastes so good and very much like taco meat that you won't even know the difference.  I love Brazil nuts too so, this recipe is a winner!  My husband couldn't get enough!

 

We wrapped this and all the fixings into a large rainbow chard leaf to complete our raw wrap.  So delicious! 

 

rainbow chard

soak and process the brazil nuts

 

mix the brazil nuts and veggies together

 



 

Here's the recipe...

 

RAW VEGAN MEXICAN SEASONED VEGGIE MEAT

INGREDIENTS:

 

2 cups brazil nuts, unsoaked

4 cups finely diced zucchini

1-1/2 cups  minched white or cremini mushrooms

1/2 cup minced onion

1/2 cup minced celery

1/4 cup mexican chilli powder, you can add up to 1/2 cup to add more flavor depending on your taste

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon sea salt, less if you are using salted chilli powder

2 clove garlic minced

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

 

Julienne your favorite veggies to include into the wrap.  I used yellow bell pepper, carrors, tomatoes, guacamole, pea shoots and cucumbers.  You can also add shredded cabbage, spinach or romane lettuce. 

 

For the veggie meat, place the brazil nuts into a food processor and grind into a flour.  In a large bowl, combine the brazil nut flour with the zucchini, mushrooms, onion, celery, chili powder, lemon juice, salt, garlic, and cayenne.  Spread the mixture into 2 dehydrator trays lined with non stick sheets and dry at 110 degrees for 1-1/2 hours.  Transfer to mesh dehydrator sheets for another hour.  Do no over dry.  Fill your tacos or wrap and serve!

 

If you save your meat for later and want to warm it up, place the the meat in the dehydrator for 30-60 minutes at 145 degrees before assesmbling.

 

Enjoy!

 



 

 



DETOX + BEAUTY WATER

Refreshing Beauty Water

Written by contibutor Britney Manuel of Btanjerine and A Simply Raw Life.



So as many of you know I am a Pinterest junkie, and amidst my pinning I’ve pinned this recipe for "sassy water" ummmm....several times let’s just say.  So when I saw it the other day for the umpteenth time I decided, “I need to make this!”  To my surprise the blog was in Russian, but you can scroll down until you see some letters you recognize.  You can check it out here.

Let’s admit it, sometimes its hard to drink as much water as one should.  But this snazzier take on a necessary beverage is like a little black dress for your water.  I found it made it easier and more enjoyable to drink my daily allotment of water.  

This water is a great detoxifier and some of the health benefits include:

• Ginger aids in digestion and can reduce your risk of constipation.

• Lemon works as a natural diuretic and promotes a healthy pH balance. 

• Cucumbers contain erepsin, an enzyme that helps your body digest protein and also supports the health of your kidneys due to their diuretic properties. 

• Chemicals in mint leaves also support digestion. .

For more info on this "sassy water" check out this article here.  It also supports having a flat belly, and i am all for that!

So here are the deets!

 

DETOX BEAUTY WATER

BITS & PIECES

1 cucumber (peeled + thinly sliced)

1 lemon (peeled + thinly sliced)

1 tsp ginger  (finely chopped)

10 mint leaves

THE PROCESS

Add sliced cucumber, sliced lemon, chopped ginger, and mint leaves to a pitcher.  Add 2 liters of water.  Let it seep for a few hours or overnight et voila!  Refreshing beauty water!

**NOTE: I don’t add the lemon peel because if it seeps for too long in the water it starts to taste bitter.  Also  after I drank all the water,  I refilled the pitcher and let it seep another night.  So I got 2 uses out of it.  Of course the flavor is not as strong as the first batch.

BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES + BALSAMIC DRESSING OVER VEGGIES

Blackstrap Molasses + Balsamic Dressing

Written by contibutor Britney Manuel of Btanjerine and A Simply Raw Life.

Spent a wonderful weekend in one of my favorite cities... Ventura California with one of my favorite people JMP.  Her sister was down, and did I mention she is a fabulous cook?  Well she whipped us some tasty creations including this ditty, a balsamic + blackstrap molasses dressing.  We were on the verge of drinking it, it was so good!  Shout out to Tiff! WOOT WOOT!!!  

Blackstrap molasses is wonderfully good for the body.  I first heard of it when I was in the throws of morning sickness.  At the time though the taste was so repulsive that I think that the only thing it helped was me sprint to the bathroom!  This time was a much better experience.  

SOME FACTS

• Blackstrap molasses is a great source for iron (which is why pregnant women are urged to take it).
• Blackstrap molasses in comparison to red meat, a well known source of iron, blackstrap molasses provides more iron for less calories and is totally fat-free.
• Iron is an integral component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs to all body cells, and is also part of key enzyme systems for energy production and metabolism.
• Blackstrap molasses is a very good source of calcium. Calcium, one of the most important minerals in the body, is involved in a variety of physiological activities essential to life, including the ability of the heart and other muscles to contract, blood clotting, the conduction of nerve impulses to and from the brain, regulation of enzyme activity, and cell membrane function. 
• Calcium is needed to form and maintain strong bones and teeth during youth and adolescence, and to help prevent the loss of bone that can occur during menopause and as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Calcium binds to and removes toxins from the colon, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer
• And because it is involved in nerve conduction, may help prevent migraine attacks. 

I was really impressed by what I found out about this rich dense molasses.  I am going to try adding it to my smoothies.  If you are so inclined, pop on over to the article I found on the topic here. 

 

 

 

BLACKSTRAP MOLASSES + BALSAMIC DRESSING

THE BITS

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup blackstrap molasses

juice of 2 lemons

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/2 cup olive oil

pepper to taste

6 garlic cloves finely chopped

1/4 cup maple syrup (optional)

THE PROCESS

Pour the lemon juice is a bowl.  Next add the olive oil. Useful tip #101, after pouring the oil in a measuring cup try to get the oil to coat the measuring cup before pouring it into the bowl.  This will ensure that the following ingredients you measure wont stick to the measuring cup because the oil will ease everything out.  Brilliant huh?  Next add all other ingredients and use a whisk to combine.  

Keep in an airtight container for about a month.  But it won’t last that long believe me.  This dressing tastes exquisite over roasted vegetables, on a salad, or over pot stickers.  It can be used as a dip for bread, and I’m thinking about making it to go over a pineapple ginger rice combo, but it really can go over anything you fancy.

Makes 2 cups.

**NOTES:  When I had it the first time it didn't have maple syrup, but I instantly thought it would really be a nice addition.

So the only thing holding this recipe up from being completely raw is the mustard.  I found a link to a recipe that looks really good on homemade raw dijon mustard.  I have not tried it as of yet, but this is the link here. 

Roasted Veggies with Blackstrap Molasses + Balsamic Dressing

Roasted Veggies

4 carrots

4 potatoes

2 beets

1 cup Blackstrap molasses + Balsamic Dressing 

Throughly wash all veggies, peel, and cut into bite size chunks and place in a bowl.  Pour blackstrap molasses dressing over veggies and mix.  Marinate veggies in dressing for 30 minutes to infuse flavors.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper,  and pour veggies and dressing on the sheet.

Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.  Flip over after 30 minutes.

Veggies are done when they are tender.  Drizzle more dressing on top before serving.

Makes approximately 6 servings as a side dish

 

RAW: MANNA BREAD FRENCH TOAST WITH MAPLE SYRUP



 

Ok, I have to admit, even though I love eating raw,  sometimes I do miss eating some of those comfort foods I use to eat. Just the thought of it.  Not always, but occasionally.  You can imagine how happy I was when I came across this idea of using your favorite sprouted bread for french toast.  I saw this recipe in Raw Food Real World.  You soak it the milk mixture and then dehydrate it.  Perfect.  This is what you would call a clean french toast.  It's not all buttery and rich like the french toast you would make with brioche and eggs.  But as Matthew Kenney put it, "...eating that kind isnot even remotely appealing anymore and would just make me feel gross. To me, this is a really tasty indulgence that is (of course) good for you!  It's a nice thing to make for a cold weather brunch."  I second that.  This really is a tasty breakfast with no guilt.

 

My husband I really love Manna Bread.  It may seem a bit dense to some people because they do not use any levening agents and they use sprouted whole grains, but if you dehydrate it or toast it, it really lightes it up.  Manna Bread is a cake-like, sprounted bread, yeast free and vegan organic.  Its free of salt, no oils, no sweeteners, no leavening agents.  It is Organic Certified and Kosher Certified.  For more information about their sprouted bread, click HERE.  We get our favorite flavors Banana Walnut Hemp and Fig Fennel Flax at our local Whole Foods Store in the freezer section.

 

The ingredients for this Manna Bread are:  sprouted organic wheat kernels, filtered water, organic black mission figs, organic oat flour, organic flax seeds, organic flax seeds, organic fennel seeds, organic poppy seeds, organic pumpkin seeds, organic sunflower seeds, organic sesame seeds.  So delicious!

 

 

 

MANNA BREAD FRENCH TOAST WITH MAPLE SYRUP

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

1 loaf of Fig Fennel Flax Manna Bread, cut into 1/2 slices

3 cups of almond milk

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Place the bread slices into a shallow baking dish.  In a medium bowl, wisk together the nut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  Pour over the bread slices to cover.  Move the pieces of bread around to make  sure they are being soaked on all side.  The bread does get a little fragile so handle with care.  Allow the bread to soad for 30 minutes on each side.

 

 

 

Let the milk drain off each slice and transfer the soaked bread to your lined dehydrator tray and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 4-6 hours or until the tops are dry.  Flip them over onto the dehydrator screen and dehydrate further for approximately 4 more hours or until dry and slightly crisp on both sides.

 

If you make these ahead of time and refrigerate them, return them to the dehydrator for about an hour before serving, to warm them through to recrisp.

 

Top with your favorite fruite and or nuts and drizzle with maple syrup.

 

So delicious.

 

Enjoy!

 



 

 



RAW: DATE PASTE + A SNACK WITH APPLES & MACADAMIA NUTS

 

 

 

What I love about the recipes we share on A Simply Raw Life is that they are, for the most part, simple and easy to make.  We hope this makes it just that much easier for you to take that next step to adding more plant based and non processed foods into your diet.    If you are new to eating a plant based diet, raw foods, or even vegan, we hope that you enjoy these easy recipes.  Please feel free to email me or post a note as to what kind of recipes you would like to see on the blog and I will do my best to work those in.  What I have found is that I have not lost taste or satisfaction in the foods I eat after making this transition.  There are so many flavors and tastes to enjoy!

 

Here's a really quick basic recipe that can be an easy staple to keep in your refrigerator.   If you like my fig jam recipe, or you keep other sweet spreads in your refrigerator, this is a perfect natural addition.  If you are trying to eat more raw and unprocessed foods, why not make your own spread or sweet treat at home?  Spread it on fruit, toast, or crackers.   Here's how to make it and also a simple snack I made using it.

 

 

 

This recipe yields roughly 2 cups of Date Paste. If you think this may be too much then you can freeze half of the batch, or just make a half batch.

DATE PASTE

 

INGREDIENTS:

40 medjood dates, soaked in warm water until your dates are soft and tender.

2 table spoons of water.

Soak the dates in warm water until they are soft and tender and drain.  Remove the seeds by hand.  Put all the dates in a food processor with 2 table spoons of water and blend until smooth.  Depending on how large your food processor is, you may need to stop processing in intervals to scrape down the sides to remove it all  and process some more.  Don't be discouraged.  It's worth it.

Puree your Dates until they have become a thick whipped and creamy texture. Place your date paste in an air tight container and store in the fridge or freezer.

 

So easy!

I cut up some apples, spread on some of the date paste and sprinkled it with some chopped macadamia nuts.  Super delicious.



Bon Appetit!



 

Helpful Hint:

 

You can make your Date Paste in bulk. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Store your Date Paste in a ziplock baggy, laying it flat in your freezer. Freezing it flat will enable you to break off a small or large piece as you need it. This is a great way to get your kitchen raw food ready. The more advanced preparation and planning you do, the better you will eat.

Check out the health benefits from eating dates HERE.

 

Enjoy!!