I was always a big fan of tapioca pudding. Loved the texture, the taste, the richness. I still love contrasts. And this pudding is full of them. I wanted an extra rich pudding so I used cashew cream instead of milk. Topped off with fruit and a dash of cinnamon, it hits the spot! Experiment with different fruit, I know I will be!

Chia is packed with nutrients. To read more about the amazing health benefits of chia click here: Chia

When I was a little girl, every Sunday after church my family would go to breakfast at our local pancake restaurant. I still have those Sunday morning pancake cravings but no desire to eat traditional pancakes. For mother’s day, I decided to make create a raw food recipe for my favorite pancakes, banana pecan! They are amazingly filling, and will satisfy the desire for a special Sunday morning breakfast.

I remember when I first started experimenting with raw food recipes, I came across a raw food recipe for “doughnut holes”. That was a few years ago. Today, I decided to revisit the concept and wanting something that really reminded me of a cinnamon doughnut hole, threw together this quick version. Made with Brazil nuts for a base, some oat flour, flaked oats and coconut oil, a quick roll in cinnamon and sucanant gives a great tasting treat.

Brazil nuts are nutrient dense. They are full of protein, copper, niacin, magnesium, fiber, vitamin E and selenium. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that works to neutralize dangerous free radicals. Sucanant is a unrefined sugar cane juice. It is made by heating, so not considered raw, but like maple syrup, is not processed.

Related Posts: Flaked Oats

I have come across a couple of raw cinnamon bun recipes on the web but none seemed close enough to traditional cinnamon buns. What a great challenge. Almond flour, flaked spelt (yup, you heard me right) and ground flax were the perfect medium for these. A bit of time in the dehydrator provided the perfect consistency. Wanting to get away from only using cashews for cream fillings, I also added almonds and raisins. The crowning glory is the maple cashew icing! I wouldn’t suggest having these for breakfast every morning, but for a Sunday brunch, or a weekend treat, they are perfect.

Spelt is a grain that is related to wheat but contains much more protein and less carbohydrates than wheat. It is high in B vitamins, iron and potassium. I got this raw, flaked spelt from Sunrise Flour Mills. You can read more about them here. You can replace it with raw, flaked oats if you wish. But you know me, I like to mix it up a bit!

Need some quick raw food energy to get moving in the morning? Or a fast raw food afternoon pick me up? These bars are the perfect thing for that. Tasty, sweet and made with super healthy ingredients, they not only satisfy your hunger, they provide easily accessible, high nutrient energy to get or keep you going.

Almonds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds make up the bulk of the recipe. With added goji berries, and cacao nibs, these bars really pack a punch.

We know about the benefits of almonds. They are high in protein, zinc and calcium. Almonds are also a great source of vitamin E magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. But did you know that pumpkin seeds are nutritional power houses? Considered a super food, Pumpkin seeds are full of magnesium, which keeps bones strong, promotes healthy heart function and supports your nervous system’s function, B vitamins, and are packed with protein! They are also a good source of iron, zinc and fiber!

Golden flax seeds contain 27 cancer preventing substances while also giving you a good dose of omega 3′s, which are great in the battle against heart disease. Goji berries are high in protein, amino acids and are packed with antioxidants. Cacao nibs are partially ground cacao beans, which are the beans that chocolate comes from. Cacao is full of antioxidants and trace minerals and will give you a little pick me up, too!

What do you get when you put together walnuts, cranberries, oranges and flax seeds? Super healthy raw food crackers that are festive and full of flavor! These beauties are packed with nutrients and are perfect for your raw holiday table. Pair them with the Cranberry Orange Spread and you have a healthy, raw food holiday treat that is great for entertaining or just family snacking.

Walnuts are considered to be one of the healthiest nuts available to us. They are loaded with omega 3′s. More benefits include protection of your cardiovascular system, support of your cognitive function, and immune system. They are anti-inflammatory, and also have many cancer preventing properties.

Cranberries are off the charts with the benefits they provide. Scientific studies have shown that they are good for your heart, full of anti-oxidant, and can help prevent both urinary infection and yeast infections. But did you know that they can help elevate your HDL (good) cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol. They are anti bacterial and also help with oral and gastrointestinal health.

You can serve these crackers to your family and guests, knowing that you are not only providing them with great nutrients, but also tons of flavor!

As promised, your first raw food recipe made with flaked oats. Now that it is November, I find myself wanting a little more than a green drink for breakfast on some days. The perfect solution? Flaked Oats! High in soluble and insoluble fiber, oats are know to reduce blood cholesterol. They can also help regulate blood sugar, aid in digestion and because they contain phytochemicals, they help reduce your cancer risk. Studies have also shown that they also help control blood pressure and are an excellent source of energy giving carbohydrates.

Now that I have found a great source for organic, flaked oats that I can actually use in a raw food recipe, I have put my occasional raw oatmeal back on the menu! This takes a little advanced preparation, and you will be using the dehydrator so plan accordingly. I normally make them right when I get up. They will be ready when you are done showering!

You are looking at a very easy way to incorporate one of the the most overlooked, necessary elements of our diet, greens. Quick, simple and packed with nutrition, green drinks are a quick way to incorporate more raw into your diet. Drink your spinach. I do almost every morning.

Preparing this drink in class is always fun. I love the look on people’s faces, as I toss two huge handfuls of spinach into the vitamix.  We are going to drink that? Add a banana, a few dates and some cacao and you have a delicious, very nutritious drink that amazes everyone.

Spinach is very low in calories but packs a nutritional punch. It is a rich source of calcium, iron, and even protein. It’s amino acid score is 119 indicating a good source of complete protein. In fact, spinach is almost half protein!

The addition of Cacao provides more amazing benefits. Cacao is so loaded with anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals, and provides many benefits. It is a form of raw chocolate so if you are sensitive to chocolate use in moderation.

Whip this up for breakfast, lunch or when ever you need a bit of a boost. Just don’t tell people what is in it!

Cacao Smoothie Green Drink

Sunday mornings have always been a special time for my daughters and I. The luxury of being able to sleep in  and rising to make a big breakfast was the traditional way we celebrated. My girls are now living in Colorado and Sundays seem to beckon to me in a completely different way, but I still find myself craving that day’s  tradition of a special breakfast. With that as my inspiration, I threw together a few things and came up with these yummy blueberry flax pancakes. They do take a couple of hours in the dehydrator so plan ahead just a little.

Many of us are often on the run in the morning. A great way to start the day on your raw food diet is with a green drink. They are quick and very healthy. I love them because I know I have given myself a big dose of much needed greens. It takes some of the pressure off as I try to pack in the nutrients for the day. Still, I am a traditional breakfast lover. As we all know, traditional breakfast is probably the worst way to start off your day. So, how do you replace those cravings and desires with a raw food recipe that loves your body and your body can love? Try the raw versions! Strawberry Crepes are a great alternative to the artery plugging traditional recipe. And this morning, I bring you Tropical Biscotti to enjoy with your morning beverage. With the addition of orange juice and zest, These are bursting with flavor!