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Both carob and cacao have a place in a health-conscious kitchen, but they are not the same by any means. Neither in health benefits or taste. Many people believe that the two can be used interchangeably, this just isn’t the case. We have to put carob in its own category because… read more »
Like flax, chia is highly ‘hydrophilic’ which simply means that the seeds absorb water and create a mucilaginous gel. They can hold 9-12 times their weight in water, and they absorb it very rapidly, in under 10 minutes. Just long enough to give you time for you to call your… read more »
I tend to get many questions regarding the confusion around the difference between nut flours and with what some refer to as nut meals. A typical recipe can read as: 1 cup of hazelnut meal or 1 cup of hazelnut flour. They typically mean the same thing. If you are ever in doubt, always reach… read more »
So the burning question might be… Why would I want to make cashew flour? There are many reasons in my book. First of all, cashews are a magical ingredient in the raw food world, regardless of what form you might use them in. But watch out, they have been gaining… read more »
In several of my raw recipes, you will see coconut flour being used. Even as you travel the web of raw recipes, you will see other chefs using it as well. But before you run to the cabinet and measure out the flour, stop and make sure that you know… read more »
You might see some of these phrases in recipes; 1 cup of pecan meal, 1 cup of pecan flour, or in the directions it might read to put the nuts in a food processor and process till the nuts are finely ground or turned into a meal. They are all… read more »
~ raw, gluten-free. dairy-free ~ Many years ago, I gave 80/10/10 by Dr. Douglas Graham a good shot. I won’t go into great details about it, but it stands for; 80% of your food comes from complex carbohydrates, 10% from fat and 10% lean protein. The whole idea of living mainly off… read more »
What would you say to a flour that helps aid in digestion, balance hormones, and improves metabolism? Hemp seeds offer up an excellent 3:1 balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote cardiovascular health. Most diets are too high in omega 6, which can lead to inflammation and dis-ease.… read more »
Strawberry Lemonade Chia Seed Drink ~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, Paleo ~ Blending organic strawberries, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and raw chia seeds together, turned out to be a powerhouse of summertime freshness! Chew Your Drinks The chia seeds add a natural thickness and texture to this drink. Remember to… read more »
Raw cacao, regardless of what form it comes in, is very bitter all on its own. When working with such a pure ingredient, you have to know how to handle it to maximize its flavor.
I am not being endorsed by Medicine Flower, nor have they even approached me to “test” their products for reviews (though I am open to that :). I just happen to love their products. And just like any other product that I mention on this site, I want to share… read more »
I enjoy making healthy, whole food bars. But often they can be hard to shape into a nice compact bar. After experimenting with several techniques, I came across one that I now use regularly. I have talked about using this bar press (the actual name for it is the “spam… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free ~ Coastal crackers are a line of crackers that I have developing over time. I have really been enjoying the whole pairing and matching of ingredients… creating new flavors, at least new to me. Crackers come in a large array of flavors. We have the plain-Janes that provide… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free ~ One day I was traveling through the Portland airport when I all of a sudden had to stop for an ice tea. Have you ever just had something stop you in your tracks? I was parched and darn near spitting dust balls. Traveling has a… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free ~ Creamy, vanilla bean ice cream with thick chunks of Cherry Blossom Fudge… now really… doesn’t that sound delightful? Is eating ice cream a seasonal event for you? I like to ask this question because when I lived in Alaska, we enjoyed ice cream year-round. The… read more »
This body butter is light, fluffy, and glides onto the skin. As you rub it in, it initially feels a little more on the oily side than a lotion. However, I find that it soaks in nicely. Before we get into the ingredients list, I must warn you… you will… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~ I know what your thinking… watermelon? In a cracker? As my sister would say, “IKR?” (I know right?) I will admit, even I scratched my own head when I dreamed up this light, crunchy, sturdy, airy cracker. But I love watermelon and would… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~ There isn’t one ingredient in this recipe that isn’t refreshing and perfect for a warm day. This salsa is pure summer freshness in a bowl. Well, I suppose the jalapeño could really warm things up if mishandled but let’s stay on the positive side… read more »
raw / vegan / gluten-free / nut-free This pie turned out to be full of amazing wonders. First of all, it doesn’t require any baking or dehydration. It is raw, nut-free, vegan, grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free. I could just stop right there and do my “peach happy dance”… but wait there’s… read more »
I love all the amazing things you can do with thick, shapeable, structured Italian cornmeal (polenta). Don’t get me wrong, I love a hearty, satisfying, freshly cooked soft polenta with its porridge-like spirit, but I am never satisfied with leaving a dish as-is, where’s the fun in that? These fries… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free ~ Rum infused raisins, pffft…those are drunken raisins if you ask me! Haha In this recipe you can use real rum, or you can use rum extract, your call. I made one batch with the real stuff, and I had a hard time keeping my husband out… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~ This is a simple salsa that I threw together to top some of my favorite raw crackers with. It’s delicious, refreshing and simple to make. Can’t go wrong with that combo. For this salsa, I used cherry tomatoes basically because that is what I had on… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~ These crackers are crisp and flavorful… and a little on the “seedy side”, if you know what I mean. My inspiration for these crackers came from Mary’s Organic Crackers, which we have purchased in the past. Whenever I post cracker recipes I get asked if a person… read more »
~ raw, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free ~ Making homemade crackers is a project that sounds intimidating to most, but in general, it is one of the easiest things to throw together and then let the dehydrator do its magic. Coconut, tomato, and herbs… all dehydrated to a light, crispy perfection! What we can expect…… read more »
Strawberries n’Cream Fruit Dip raw / vegan / gluten-free This light and refreshing fruit dip pairs wonderfully with any season’s fruit. In fact, this recipe could and can be enjoyed in several ways. #1 – fruit dip. #2 – as a pudding. #3 – freeze it in popsicle molds. #4… read more »