I was inspired by Matthew Kenney’s pumpkin pie from his book Everyday Raw. I felt it best to use a recipe by someone who actually knows what they are doing.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raw cashews that have been soaked in water for 4-6 hours
• 1/2 cup agave nectar (we buy it here)
• 1/4 cup yacon root syrup
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup carrot juice
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• Vanilla powder to your taste

Preparation:

Blend all ingredients in a blender until very smooth. You can eat this filling as a pudding, (which I like better) or you can pop it into the freezer for 24 hours. I used a mini muffin tray as a mold.

Enjoy!

If you think that fresh fruit for breakfast might be a bit too light for you, or if you feel especially hungry one day, this raw food recipe is guaranteed to fill you up and it tastes delicious. Actually, that’s the best muesli I’ve ever tried, even before my raw food life.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, sliced into rings
• 1 apple, cubed
• ½ handful brazil nuts, sliced into small pieces
• 1 handful almonds or other type of nuts, whole or sliced
• 1 handful dates, fresh or dried, chopped into small pieces
• 1 handful of raisins (presoaked)
• 1 handful of prunes
• 1 handful of goji berries
• 1 handful of coconut chips
• Almond milk (How to make almond milk?)

Preparation:

1. Prepare all ingredients as above
2. Mix all ingredients well
3. Pour on milk
4. Top with prunes/strawberries/blueberries and coconut chips

Enjoy!

Years ago, there was a dessert that I would occasionally treat myself to. It involved a brownie, a scoop of ice cream, a little cast iron skillet, hot fudge and a hot caramel sauce. The brownie and the caramel sauce were heated in the oven until sizzling. It was topped with the ice cream and hot fudge. What made this dessert so special was the combination of hot and cold, and the opposing textures of smooth and crunchy. Why is this being discussed before a recipe for a salad? Opposing textures apply to all food. They creates a more interesting mouth feel and are a simple way to add complexity. This quick and easy salad uses opposing textures and flavors. The result is divine.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe Avocados
• 2 ripe Mangoes
• 2 – 3 cups chopped Broccoli
• 1/2 cup chopped Red Onion
• 3/4 cup raisins
• Sea salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients. Chill and serve!

Enjoy!

If you have no idea what a raw food recipe would look like or just want something easy and yummy to try, here is one to get started. It’s traditional Spanish Gazpacho, which is a wonderful cold soup full of fresh Mediterranean vegetables. You can enjoy it room temperature or chilled.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 5 ripe tomatoes
• 1/2 cucumber, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of filtered water
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• 1 avocado, diced (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of sea salt (True sea salt benefits)

Preparation:

Blend together all ingredients except parsley and avocado until smooth (about 30 seconds). Gently stir in avocado, parsley and slice of lemon.
If possible, chill for at least two hours to let the flavors mingle. Serve chilled or room temperature.

Enjoy!

This fabulous black eyed beans salad is ideal addition to raw food salads’ list.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• black-eye beans, soaked overnight in cold water
• sliced carrot
• beansprouts
• sliced red pepper
• sliced cabbage
• 1 teaspoon of cold pressed hemp oil
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

Preparation:

Very simple – mix all vegetables together in a bowl, add sea salt, lemon juice and season with oil.

Enjoy!

Let me share my early breakfast recipe with you! Energy Kick Smoothie is made out of bananas, strawberries and ginger. Ginger adds a bright kick to this creamy and full of energy smoothie. Definitely better wake-up call than coffee. I am not even talking about health benefits.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup filtered water
• 2 bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
• 6 fresh or frozen strawberries, rinsed and hulled if fresh
• 1-inch knob fresh ginger, peeled
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar, turbinado sugar, or honey (optional)

Preparation:

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Best with delicious 1000% raw berry cheeky nakd bar.

Enjoy!

UPDATE: For interested UK visitors only. Nakd bars can be found at Tesco or even cheaper at Amazon). Not sure if those bars can be bought anywhere else.

As you may already know, human beings should not drink milk from a cow. It’s that simple. So many illnesses and afflictions in children (and adults for that matter) could be cured if they would just cut out milk and milk products. There are tons of doctors, organizations, websites, etc…that will tell you the same thing, so you can do your own research. Almond milk is a delicious alternative to cow’s milk. Once you make your own…you’ll never go back! It’s so creamy and delicious. Perfect for dipping raw cookies, making smoothies, or drink it plain. Yum!

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Soaked Almonds
• 3 Cups of filtered water
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Preparation:

In a blender, at medium, then high speed, blend soaked almonds and water until smooth. Pour through a strainer (or use a special nut bag) to separate pulp. Pour liquid back in the the blender and blend in vanilla extract and bean (if using) and sweetener until smooth.

Enjoy!

This raw dates sweets are looking awesome and tasting very delicious as well, very easy to make and can be presented to guests at any time!

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of soaked fresh dates
• 10-15 soaked and peeled hazelnuts
• 4 tablespoons of desiccated coconut

Preparation:

Blend dates and desiccated coconut for 1 minute. Mix all ingredients in a big bowl until they come together in a paste, but maintain some good texture. Roll into balls and then roll in coconut until they are covered.

Enjoy!

Raw Mango Lassi is a very nourishing and refreshing raw food smoothie, which is favoured by everyone especially during the summer. It is very easy and quick to make.

Preparation time: 2 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1 medium mango
• 2 tablespoons of frozen buckthorn
• 150ml/5fl oz filtered water

Preparation:

Put banana, mango, buckthorn into a blender and blend for 1 minutes, then pour into individual glasses, add some ice cubes and serve. Can sprinkle with a little cardamom.

Enjoy!

These Cashew Snow Balls make an attractive addition to a cookie assortment raw food dessert tray or a holiday cookie swap. And remember: there’s no need to tell your guests they’re healthy – just let them enjoy!

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of blended cashew nuts
• 3 tablespoons of raw honey
• 1 teaspoon of raw vanilla extract
• Desiccated coconut for rolling in

Preparation:

Mix all ingredients apart from the coconut in a big bowl until they come together in a paste, but maintain some good texture. Roll into balls and then roll in coconut until they are covered.

Enjoy!