Raw Lemon Bars

The following text and images are courtesy of Oatmeal with a Fork. See the full article here. Enjoy! 

Thick Raw Lemon Bars

Lemon bars have always been a favorite dessert of mine.

My mom got me hooked on them as a little girl, and I pine for them whenever I cruise by a bakery display…out of necessity is born a recipe!

This raw version is made up of a chewy, sweet, and slightly tangy bottom layer topped with a rich and creamy layer of lemon-y goodness…the sweetness offsets the lemon enough to keep you from puckering, while still maintaining the citrus flavor that makes these bars so fresh and clean.

Thick Raw Lemon Bars

Prep time- 10 mins

Total time- 10 mins

Author: Lauren Goslin

Serves: 9

Ingredients

• Bottom Layer:
• ¾ c. walnuts
• ¼ c. unsweetened coconut
• 5 soft dates (I used Medjool)
• ¼ t. salt
• 2-3 t. lemon zest
• Top Layer:
• 6 T. coconut oil, softened
• 2 T. maple syrup
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 1 t. lemon zest
• 3-5 drops stevia, to taste
• pinch of turmeric, to enhance yellow ‘lemon’ color, optional

Instructions

1. Process together the ingredients for the bottom layer.
2. Make sure it is well combined, and press it into a small glass dish (I used a 7 x 5 inch Pyrex dish).
3. Place the coconut oil into a small bowl.
4. Beat the oil with a hand mixer until creamy (about 1-2 minutes).
5. Add in the lemon juice, zest, maple syrup, stevia, and turmeric (if using) and mix until combined and a bit fluffy.
6. Spread the top layer onto the bottom layer.
7. Place into the fridge or freezer until set (15-30 minutes)**.
8. Cut and enjoy!

Notes

**If you store your bars in the fridge or freezer for a long period of time, you will need to set them out a bit in advance before consuming them, as they will need time to soften a bit.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 9 Calories: 179 Fat: 16 g Saturated fat: 8.9 g Unsaturated fat: 7.1 g Trans fat: 0 g Carbohydrates: 8.3 g Sugar: 3 g Sodium: 68 mg Fiber: 1.3 g Protein: 2.7 g Cholesterol: 0 mg

Thick, luscious bars….

…and the obligatory bite shot…

I can see myself nibbling on one of these while sipping a cup of tea in the late afternoon…bliss.

Ginger Peach Ice Cream

As these are the “dog days” of summer, I decided to try a new recipe from Nouveau Raw.

Ice cream! And not just regular ice cream, rawtastic vegan ice cream! The following recipe and photos are all courtesy of Nouveau Raw. I left out the fudge because I simply did not have enough time to make it. Enjoy!

Ingredients for the ice cream base:

• 2 cups raw cashews, soaked 2+ hours
• 4 cup frozen peaches, thawed
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp raw cold pressed coconut oil
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp  sea salt
• 1 cup Honey Ginger and Peach Chocolate Fudge (rolled into tiny balls)

Preparation:

1. Be sure to soak your cashews.  This will soften them which in return will help them blend nice and creamy.  After soaking, drain and rinse well.
2. Put all ingredients into the blender and blend for 3-5 minutes. Process till nice and creamy.
3. If you have an ice cream maker, after the mixture is blended, chill for about 1 hour in the freezer and then pour into your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
4. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour into a Tupperware container and place in the freezer.  Be sure to stir it a few times an hour until frozen.
5. You can also pour it into ice-cube trays and freeze.  For serving just pop the ice cubes out and using your blender, blend until it is a soft serve ice cream.
6. It is best to take the ice cream out of the freezer for about 10 minutes ahead of time so it can have a chance to soften.  Did you know that softer ice cream has more flavor than hard, frozen ice cream?  Test it for yourself.

These are made from Honey Ginger and Peach Chocolate Fudge Bars.  I rolled the dough into little balls and froze them while the ice cream was in the machine doing its magic.

After the ice cream was done in the machine, I moved it to a bowl and stirred in the Honey Ginger and Peach Chocolate Fudge balls.

I then transferred it to a glass dish to prepare it to go into the freezer.

Giveaway: Veganist by Kathy Freston

In this nutritional guide, Freston promises the reader 10 incredible changes, both physical and mental when making the conversion to veganism. She discusses topics ranging from moral and ethical treatment of animals, nutritional and health benefits of a plant-based diet, the potential benefits on the world population and health, to a better state of mind.

Simply put, the book is a gathering of data (scientific studies, interviews with doctors, statistics, nutritional information, insider information from the meat industry) and opinion providing evidence for the benefits of a plant-based diet.

If you’re interested in a general overview on the benefits of eating a plant-based diet, this book is perfect.

GIVEAWAY: If you’d like to enter the Giveaway for a copy of Veganist by Kathy Freston simply comment below and a winner will be chosen at random on Sunday, July 8th.

Paul Risse: Small Town Raw, Big City Taste

Fresh, green, delicious, and above all, simple.

I bought Paul Risse’s first ebook this afternoon. Skimming through the recipes and his direct approach to living raw, I find myself reawakened by the ease in which he writes, lives and enjoys all pleasures of life.

I am a cynic from the northeast tramping around Manhattan for the better part of most of my days. While I love raw food, I am turned off by the spirituality of many raw food spokespeople and I know others feel the same. This has caused me to steer clear of many YouTube channels and blogs. I do not share in their divine, otherworldly tendencies. It seems every little snack or juice turns into a transcendental experience.

Paul is one of the few I can listen to without rolling my eyes and fast forwarding to the recipes. Even the spiritual nonsense. It may have to do with how devastatingly handsome he is and my kindergarten crush, especially with his new sexy clean cut hair. Regardless of his charm and good looks, he has sensibility. The man lives in Stephenville, Texas. Enough said.

I digress. The ebook is marvelous and more than worth the $14.99. Recipes are clear, concise and easy to follow. Most do not require exotic ingredients or complex preparation, but are designed after Paul’s simple day-to-day life. They also look incredibly delicious!  My eyes feasted on full page photos of bright colored fruits and luscious entrees.

Paul has a knack for creating tasty meals from the simplest of ingredients. I highly recommend it for any new raw foodie or veteran looking for some fresh ideas.

The ebook may be ordered here.

Evening Radiance Ritual

Bright, clear eyes, vibrant flush of the cheeks, energetic spirit, and a natural, healthy, glow. The essence of radiance.

As my diet has begun to shift in the direction of purer and cleaner, I have also begun to incorporate techniques that promote a natural well-being on the outside focusing on the skin and hair. A clean diet is the first step, free of animal products and processed chemicals. Cleaning out the inside will naturally promote a fresh exterior, but this can be thwarted by layering harsh chemicals and questionable ingredients onto our skin which readily absorbs all we feed it.

In order to speed up the purification process (my New York minute attitude cannot handle much of a wait) the substitution with all-natural bath and beauty products as well as the addition of homeopathic techniques has transformed my daily rituals. Here I will focus on evenings.

As the evening winds down for sleep, I begin my ritual with a steaming mug of chamomile tea and a good book. Sipping for fifteen, twenty, thirty minutes, until I find sleepiness taking over and the urge to conclude my reading. I take my time. Linger and enjoy. Savor the relaxing moment of each evening, because with each rising sun comes another 8-12 hours of tedious work and complex dilemmas.

Next step: Dry brushing. This is something I recently picked up and initially hated. The brush felt course and almost painful against my skin and I did not notice any effects that made the process worthwhile. However, after about a week my skin grew to love the feel of the course bristles and it looked brighter and felt silky soft.

Beyond supple skin, dry brushing promotes circulation of the lymphatic and circulatory systems which work to remove toxins from the body. This can also diminish the appearance of cellulite. This is a wonderful addition to your morning routine as it stimulates the body and wakes you up. Be sure to brush towards the heart, movement can be seen below. I use a natural plant fiber brush I purchased at Whole Foods. Steer clear of synthetic fiber as irritation may ensue.

Direction of brushing

Next Step: Warm shower. After dry brushing, your pores are awake and alive. Keep the shower warm rather than hot. I step into the warm stream and allow the water to course down my back and relax my muscles, washing away the grime and environmental hazards of the day before massaging my body with Dr. Bronner’s Almond Castile Soap, my preferred scent as it is light and sweet. I also occasionally use this as a shampoo as it is wonderful for giving body and thickness though it can occasionally leave the hair feeling dry. I am currently using Nature’s Gate Tee Tree shampoo and conditioner. It is not ideal, but it leaves my hair shiny and feeling silky.

I conclude my shower with a burst of icy water before quickly retreating to the warmth of a fresh towel made from organic bamboo.

Next Step: Hydrate. While my skin is still damp, I apply a generous amount of cold-pressed organic coconut oil from head to toe, even lightly on my face, and allow it to soak in while I brush my teeth with Tom’s of Maine and floss. I even apply a little oil to my eyelashes. This helps to condition them for thicker and healthier lashes. I give my body another good rubdown for optimal absorption before easing between the sheets to escaping reality and slip gently into oblivion.

Images courtesy of Google.

New Year’s Resolutions

I am not usually one for New Year resolutions; however, my recent lifestyle transformations have led me to consider setting goals that I have progressively worked to achieve over the past few months into a concrete idea for the new year. Merely as a means to fully visualize where I see myself now and in the future.

2012 Resolutions

Health:

• 100% Vegan – No excuses, no cutting corners (even for holidays), I can do this
• Try some new recipes and start making tonics
• Workout at least every other day at the gym including cardio, yoga, and weight training
• Do P90X daily (contingent my boyfriend ever getting around to sending me it)

Lifestyle

• Get outside!! Bundle up and enjoy the fresh air and sunlight.
• Go horseback riding at least once a week
• Spend more time playing with my dog and taking her on little adventures
• Read more – I have an enormous stack of books that lay untouched, desperate to please me
• Sleep – try and get a full 7 hours every night

Professional:

• Pass all parts of the CPA exam
• Complete all class requirements for admission to vet school
• Write a baller personal statement for admission to vet school

 

Food Journal Day 18-19

Yesterday and today were about the same. Lots of water in the mornings and a delicious peach, banana and mango smoothie with coconut milk for lunch.

Yesterday I stuck with more water and tea for dinner. I simply was not feeling food. I had an incredible amount of energy and did a lot of at home exercises with dumbbells and my yoga mat.

I woke up today feel light and healthy and a little bit sore. I did go to the gym today for an hour-long yoga class, about 25 minutes of interval training on the treadmill, and a whole bunch of machines working every muscle till they fatigued. I came home to a small cup of butternut squash soup and some sliced tomato with balsamic vinegar. Yum!!

Also, I completely forgot the weigh-in I was supposed to do Monday! I ended up doing it Tuesday and hit 135lbs!! So a 5lbs loss so far despite my little misbehavior around Christmas. Final day of accountability is Saturday. Going to keep up my good habits and weigh in Saturday morning before I consume mass amount of alcohol.

Food Journal Day 16-17

Monday began with a bagel with Earth Balance spread. Not good. It continued with nothing but water till evening when I had a little bit of left over pasta my parents brought home and some tea. Also not good. Definite lack of anything with nutrients or color.

Today was much better. I began with a smoothie. A delicious combination of peaches, banana, spirulina and water. I ran out of my usual coconut milk and found a can of Goya coconut cream. I didn’t use it. NEVER buy this. It is not natural. It is the water from a coconut with enough sugar and crap added to create a sticky and disgustingly sweet syrup. Stay far, far away.

I drank my smoothie around lunch time so I skipped food until evening. My parents and I went out to a local Turkish restaurant. I had a piece of bread with baba ghanoush and a smoked eggplant dish with some spicy rice and roasted tomatoes and peppers.

Goals for tomorrow are to maintain mainly liquids except for a big salad at some point during the day. I feel the need to cleanse after so many grains.

Food Journal Day 14-15

Christmas Eve and Christmas – a time of holiday festivities, traditional meals and lots of pie. I did not even attempt to fight the traditional meals and goings-on of these two days.

Christmas Eve started off well with a smoothie for breakfast, but ended with a late lunch/dinner of pizza. With the house empty of food and most places closed, my parents came home with pizza and I merely fell instep and grabbed a slice. Not the worst thing, but cheese is not on my new vegan kick.

Christmas Day includes two traditional meals. Breakfast is always cottage cheese pancakes with maple whipped cream and baked apples. Delicious. My mom is an amazing cook. No words can describe how delicious these are. I’ll post the recipe. Christmas lunch, which is so late it is basically dinner, consists of salad and antipasto with various meats and cheeses. I stuck to the salad, loading up on tomatoes, olives and cucumbers. Next, a massive piece of lasagna. Luckily, my cousin is a vegetarian so there is always a meat-free lasagna which I enjoyed a small piece of with some garlic bread. Dessert is even better. I had a piece of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum!

While absolutely none of this was in line with my goals, I gave myself some leniency being the holidays and being in a situation in which I cannot prepare a separate meal for myself. Next year, I hope to be more steadfast in my ways and will prepare my own dish to bring along and share. Penni Shelton of Raw Food Rehab has a lovely ebook Raw for the Holidays I have been meaning to buy. Great recipes apparently all based up on classic holiday dishes.

I have also decided to push today’s weigh-in to tomorrow morning.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Food Journal Day 13

School concluded for the semester on Wednesday and work gave employees an 11 day holiday starting today. First full day of freedom. It was beautiful. I slept till 10AM (unheard of!) and took my dog for a two-hour walk/run to the reservoir. Along the way we met two very angry geese, two deer, one of which was eating a huge hunk of pumpkin, and a whole bunch of dogs out for a midday stroll.

Breakfast: Before I left for my walk, I made a quick strawberry and banana smoothie with coconut milk. Delicious and refreshing. It is always great to start the day with fruit.

Lunch: A delicious salad of mixed baby greens and baby kale, chopped cucumber, golden beets and pear, raw pecans (“candied” with a little maple syrup and cinnamon). The dressing was made with a teaspoon of raw honey, about 3 tablespoons of apple sauce, dash of cinnamon, about two tablespoons apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. It came out a little thick so I added a splash of water to thin it out.

Dinner: I made the mistake of not preparing a dinner for myself. Instead I ended up munching a bit. I began with a kiwi before moving on to a few rye Triscuits, all the while making a coconut flan for my family. It can be difficult to make a delicious dessert that I know I should not be eating. I did manage to resist. All except for one little taste test at the end.