Raw Food Recipes: Inspiration

by Susan on September 1, 2010

I am having a hard time believing that it is September 1st. Waking up to a beautiful, refreshing breeze, I am reminded of my childhood. I was one of those kids. The one that couldn’t wait for school to start in the fall. Armed with my new pencils, fresh paper and a few new outfits to boot, I was always filled with excited anticipation. There was so much to learn about and I couldn’t wait to get started!

Last night I was asked how I got started with raw food and creating raw food recipes. I realized it was the same curiosity that I have carried since childhood, that set me on this path. I was introduced to raw food at a time in my life when I desperately needed a change. Something about raw food resonated in me and the journey began.

When I teach classes, I often tell the story about my first raw meal. I saw a TV show were the chef made a raw meal. It consisted of zucchini noodles and pureed tomatoes with some spices as the sauce. Excited to try this new food, I made the dish for my daughters and I. One bite and all three of us deemed it not edible. That was my first experience with a raw food recipe.

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Raw Food Recipe: OMG Pecan Bars

by Susan on August 30, 2010

I love creating raw food recipes. Most of my inspiration comes from my own cravings and recipes that I used to make. When my girls were little, I snagged a recipe for turtle bars from a great restaurant in Santa Fe. It quickly became one of our favorites. Later, a recipe from The Barefoot Contessa for pecan bars became an obsession. But with 2 lbs of butter, tons of sugar and cream, it is completely off of my list. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about it once in a while. Like last night as I was falling asleep. And this morning, when I woke up.

Using elements from both recipes (pecan bars and a ganache) this recipe came together beautifully. A tasty crust made from cashews and almonds (that resembles more of a short bread crust than a raw food recipe crust), filling from raw honey and coconut butter and a layer of pecans and ganache. All I could say when I tasted them was…Oh my gosh. What is really amazing about these bars is that no one would ever guess that they are raw. Made from healthy ingredients and no dehydrator required, these simple bars will impress everyone you make them for! And they are gluten free to boot! Note: these are very sweet. A little bit goes a long way.

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Pesto and other Basil Tricks

August 27, 2010
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Walnut Basil Pesto “Cream” Sauce with Veggies Traditional pesto is made from basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. We can still use the basil, olive oil and garlic, but since pine nuts have become insanely expensive lately, and Parmesan cheese doesn’t fit the bill for a raw food recipe, I decided to [...]

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Basil and Raw Food, Expanded

August 25, 2010
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As promised from yesterday, here is another great raw food recipe for you! (Note..we haven’t done the pesto, yet). This is a very quick and delicious way to use the Basil Walnut-Cashew spread from yesterday and turn it into a refreshing, satisfying dinner tonight! A little additional  Basil Oil, and some filtered water thins the [...]

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Basil and Raw Food

August 24, 2010
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It has been a very hot, wet summer in the Minneapolis area. Because of this, the growth of everything green has been amazing. Walking out the back door, I feel like I am walking into a jungle. I gave up on the weeds weeks ago. One of the benefits of all of this rain and [...]

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10 Great Reasons to Eat Raw Food

August 20, 2010
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Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves why. Why we need to exercise, why we need to work on our diet. Why we need to incorporate more healthy, raw foods into our diet. Here are a few of my favorites: 1. When you start incorporating more raw foods into your diet, you are automatically starting [...]

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Marinated Kale Salad

August 17, 2010
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After writing yesterday’s post on the amazing nutritional benefits of kale, I woke up this morning possessed with the thought of creating a new raw food recipe for a marinated kale salad. I love avocados and since tomatoes are in full season here, they had to be incorporated. For color and another burst of powerhouse [...]

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Raw Food Friend: Kale

August 16, 2010
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I have been in Boulder, Colorado for the last few days helping my daughter move into her new digs. As far as college “homes” go, she found a great house to share with some girlfriends. It has been an exhausting few days. We rented a truck packed up all her stuff, drove 6 miles and [...]

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Rawmazing Upcoming Dessert Class

August 11, 2010
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If you are in the Minneapolis area, or have a friend in the Minneapolis area, I am offering a raw food dessert basics class on Saturday, August 21 st from 9am to 11am. More information and registration can be found here: Rawmazing Dessert Class. This class will be held at the Lakewinds Natural Food Store’s [...]

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Whats for Dinner?

August 9, 2010
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Looking for a great raw food dinner menu that is perfect for a summer evening?  Corn and zucchini,  plentiful and extremely compatible, are abundant right now. With  just a little prep time,  you can serve your family or friends this delicious dinner…100% raw food! Starting your prep early in the day, a few simple steps, [...]

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