Happy New Year!!!

This year has been amazing for me thus far. Recipe Challenge for March!

Raw Desserts!

As my knowledge and love for Raw and Vegan Cuisine has grown, i have alot of recipe testing these past 2 months. My focus now is RAW desserts. So below i have tried a few concoctions that turned out REALLY good. The final product is still in the adjustment phase, but none the less delicious.

Strawberry Shortcake

Recipe

CRUST: 

6oz Raw Almonds (soaked overnight)

6oz Pitted Dates (medjool) at room temperature

1tsp cinnamon

** Rinse soaked almonds throughly. Add Soaked Almonds, dates and cinnamon to food processor. Process until a  well combine and a crumb/smooth consistence is archived.

***yield 4in round or 5 small 2in rounds

WHIPPED "CREAM"

1 cup RAW cashews (soaked overnight)

2 pitted dates (medjool) at room temp

1tsp vanilla extract

** Rinse soaked cashews throughly. Add cashews, dates and vanilla to a blender or process in food processor until a fluffy creamy consistence is achieved.

ASSEMBLY

Using a dish of choice.  I chose to do individual serving portions.

This dessert can be assemble in layers, ie. (refrigerating in between layers of crust and then cream)if being served as a tart, or assemble all components and enjoy right away, like i did.

1. Press crust mixture into serving dish to form base

2. spoon in or pipe cashew "cream on top crust to make second layer

3. Finish with fresh strawberries.

This dessert was way simple and a delight.

{Featured desserts: Strawberry Shortcake and Carrot cake. Carrot Cake was made using the same crust recipes, with the addition of carrot pulp from juiced carrots and a little more cinnamon. the frosting layer is the exact whipped cashew "cream" as well. I love the fact that these dessert recipes are very simple and interchangeable.

  Pharrell Williams - Happy!

Glad you asked...

 

Pear Applesauce

I used a sweet pear (Bosc) and a tart, crisp apple ( brauburn)
The best way to eat bruised or forgotten about fruit, make applesauce.
This recipe was very easy, I tested with one arm tied behind my back so easy.

Using 2.5 pounds fruit, cut to a uniform size; large diced or slice. This is will make the cooking process a breeze. To the fruit add a cup of apple juice and 2 T med. brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon, cover and let boil over med/low heat. for about 40 mins, or until fruit is fork tender. stirring occasionally. Once fruit has cooked down to the desired consistency; taste and adjust sweet and spice. At this point your pear/applesauce is complete. The final step is to blend mixture to desired texture. You can let mixture cool or proceed with caution, and ladle fruit mixture into food processor and pulse to smooth or slightly chunky texture. 
yield = 4cups

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Simple Strawberry Preserves

2 # strawberries cleaned and quartered
3T Orange Juice
1 c white sugar

Combine washed, stemmed and quartered strawberries and sugar in to 4 qt pot, stir until sugar is incorporated. cook mixture over med/low heat. stirring every 10 mins. for about 40mins. Until strawberries have no shape. Careful pulse mixture with an emersion blender. until desired texture is reached, I chose to have a slight chucky texture. Taste preserves to adjust sweetness, stir in orange juice. let cool completely before storing.
Storage options: Canning, or airtight jars in fridge for about a week, or freeze.
yield 4 cups

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- 

Bill Withers- Use Me