It is sniffle season and we all are looking for ways to keep the yuckies away. I love to use food to help my family stay healthy and to get us back on our feet when the household is being raided by a stubborn cold. My go to is a good clean, healing soup. I have a few on my blog that you can try during the allergy and cold season. They taste delicious and just might do the trick to get you and your family back on your feet. The only soup that is purely medicinal is my For Cold Season ~RED soup . A few other tips during the cold season you may want to try:
Vegan Coconut Curry Sweet Potato Soup
Drink plenty of clean fluids, like water, herbal teas and veggie broths.
Get plenty of rest, when your body needs it.
Get a little sunshine, Vitamin D does a body good. Light walks helps get circulation moving and helps removes mucus from the body.
Do a little gentle yoga and deep breathing.
Eat salads everyday.
An apple will keep the doctor away and few oranges. Fuel up with these fruits, because they are loading with vitamin C and fiber.
I have several soup recipes on the blog, so please click on the links below and try them out. Here’s to a speed recovery, so you can Set the Table with Love.
DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot over medium heat put 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil in the pot. Add the onions. Cook for a few minutes and then add garlic and stir.
Season with 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper and stir. Add sweet potatoes, add all the spices.
Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. To help pull out the oils from the spices.
Add 1/4 tsp more salt and pepper and the coconut milk and 1/2 cup low sodium vegetable broth. Then cover.
Bring to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes more.
At the end of 25 minutes, taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Then puree using a blender. Transfer back to the pot, and allow to simmer for 3 minutes to thicken on low heat. Serve in a bowl with cilantro and spicy sautéed chickpeas. Enjoy! Will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days and the freezer for a month.
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Some encounters bring you back home to what your soul is yearning for. This year has done that for me and my family. I have been around people and places that have made me feel like, I was coming home. One of those encounters inspired me to move my culinary creative juices back to Raw Foods. Raw foodism is the dietary practice of eating only uncooked, unprocessed foods. It only includes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Now I AM NOT A RAW FOODIST, VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN, but my diet is about 80% plant based. I believe eating whole foods is better for my body, mind and spirit. So, how did I come back home to raw foods? My best friend. She wanted to take a yoga class one morning and I did have the time, I had so much work to do. I was behind schedule on several projects, I felt run down and just wanted to work and maybe catch a nap in. However, inside of me, my spirit was calling from some release, so I went.
The funny thing is, as we were driving to the studio, it hit me where we were going, to my old yoga studio. The place I learned about the healing beauty of yoga and meditation, ironically another one of my best friends introduced me to this studio, 13 years prior. I got some teacher training here from some the best yoga teachers in the United States. I was very ill during that time, fighting kidney disease and trying to take care of a toddler.
The yoga studio was a place of love and great healing for me. As we walked into the yoga studio, there on her mat was the owner and one of my first yoga teachers. My heart felt so much joy. I felt like I was back HOME. The class was amazing and I felt more energy in my body and spirit, plus so much peace.
My yoga teacher and I caught up and we talked about health issues. She shared with me her journey of healing and it hit me why I was there. Food has been a healing art for me. So of course, my best friend and Creative Marketing Director of my wellness company, mentioned what I had been up to lately with food. My yoga teacher was excited, she had been eating raw to heal, but she runs three businesses and doesn’t have time to prepare the food. She asked me to help her and of course it was my pleasure to say, YES. The yoga studio and her classes brought me so much healing and now I could give back. Life is always trying to bring us home, if we just take the time out to slow down and listen.
Here are three ways you can use my Raw Chocolate Ganache.
Raw Chocolate Ganache: You can use this for many other desserts
Ingredients:
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup cacao powder
1/4 cup coconut oil, pinch of sea salt
Directions:
Using your blender, mix together syrup and coconut oil until well combined. Add in your cacao powder and a pinch of sea salt, and process until smooth – scraping down the sides as needed. Use immediately, or keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a couple weeks. If using the ganache after being refrigerated, simply place the container in warm water for a few minutes to let it soften up a bit, or roll out ganache truffles using a melon scoop. 🙂
Raw Chocolate Ganache Torte with Pistachio Dust and Black Berries
Raw Chocolate Ganache Torte with Pistachio Dust and Black Berries
1/2 cup black cherries, thawed out frozen cherries
3/4 cup Raw Chocolate Ganache
1 tbsp maple syrup
crushed pistachios and a black cherry
Using a blender Blend everything together, using a biscuit cutter, place on a sheet pan with parchment paper . Pour the ganache mixture into the biscuit cutter, almost to the top, leave room to add the pistachios. Add the pistachios and top with a black cherry. Put into the freeze and allow to set over night or for at least 2 hours to get it very firm. When ready to serve, allow to set room temperature for about 2-3 minutes, this will make it easier for you to push the torte out of the biscuit cutter. Gently remove, by pushing up from the bottom with a frosting spreader or the back of a spoon.
Serve and enjoy immediately because the base is made of coconut oil, it must be eaten immediately or kept frozen.
Raw Chocolate Ganache Torte
Pears Dipped in Spicy Raw Chocolate Ganache topped with walnuts and cardamom with a side of cardamom coconut cream
Ingredients:
1 pear cut in half and seeds removed
Raw Chocolate Ganache, in it’s liquid form. if using the ganache after being refrigerated, simply place the container in warm water for a few minutes to let it soften up a bit.
crushed walnuts
whole coconut milk
1 tsp cardamom and a little more to dust over the pears
1 tbs maple syrup
Pears Dipped in Spicy Raw Chocolate Ganache topped with walnuts and cardamom with a side of cardamom coconut cream
Directions:
Super simple. I add a little lemon juice to the pears, so they would not brown. Dipped them into the ganache. I dipped half of the pears here, added crusted walnuts, sprinkled with cardamom, you can also drizzle maple syrup, honey or agave over them for more sweetness. Put the pears into the fridge for an hour or overnight so the ganache can harden on the pears properly. The coconut cream is also super simple.
Open up a can of coconut milk and remove the creamy top part and add to a bowl. Using an electric hand mixer whisk attachment, beat the cream until fluffy and smooth. Add in maple syrup and cardamom. Put whipped cream in the fridge to harden a bit, about 10 minutes. Remove the pears and whipped cream from the fridge. Add whipped cream to the pears and serve immediatley.
NOTE: This ganache has a coconut oil base so it will melt fast, so keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Pears Dipped in Spicy Raw Chocolate Ganache topped with walnuts and cardamom with a side of cardamom coconut cream
Last one, but oh so good. My grandson helped me make these, notice the heavy handed areas of pistachios. Love it.
Raw Chocolate Ganache Bark with Peppermint and Pistachios
Ingredients:
3 tbsp cacao
2½ tbsp raw virgin coconut oil
1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
small pinch sea salt
2 tbsp crushed pistachios
1 crushed soft peppermint stick
Raw Dark Chocolate Ganache Bark with Peppermint and Pistachios
Instructions
Whisk together melted coconut oil, raw cacao and maple syrup in a small bowl until completely smooth.
Add a pinch of sea salt and combine well.
Add nuts and peppermint
Line a cookie sheet with non stick parchment paper.
Pour the chocolate mixture into the lined cookie sheet and spread out evenly using the back of a spoon, spread it thick so you bark doesn’t melt so quickly when eating it. 🙂 Add the goodies on top.
Place the container in the freezer for 30 minutes until the chocolate is completely hard.
Break up the pieces and serve immediately.
Store in the freezer. PSA
Since the base of this bark is coconut oil it will melt at room temperature, so please keep it in the freezer, until ready to serve. Eat immediately.
Today I spent time with my friend Melissa. We both are true southern girls, so we love ourselves some cornbread. I made two versions of this recipe. One vegetarian and one vegan. They both were very delicious. We talked about our childhood, birth order, being girls, southern 🙂 and how much we both love dessert. You know of course I had to have dessert, so I made this Vegan Nice Dream using my Go Raw Apple Cinnamon Sprouted Granola. Now remember to scroll down, that recipe with be at the end of this blog post.
Okay, back to the cornbread. The cornbread is sweet and the beans are spicy, an awesome combination. I topped the beans with cheese, and some cilantro and added fresh tomatoes all around the whole dish. I hope you will share this with your family and enjoy it as much as we girls did. Well till next time. Set the Table with Love.
Talk to you later, YA’LL. 🙂
Southern Girls ~ Vegetarian Gluten Free Stuffed Cornbread with Spicy Mexican Beans a
CORN BREAD RECIPE Vegetarian
Wet Ingredients
2 large eggs, lightly beaten, at room temperature
( For VEGAN VERSION USE ONE FLAX SEED EGG (1 tablespoon ground flax seeds + 2 tablespoons water)
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk
1/2 cup Organic Cane Sugar
1/3 cup Olive oil
Dry Ingredients
1/2 cup Bob’s Mills Tapicoa Flour
1/2 cup Bob’s Mills Sorghum Flour
1/4 cup Bob’s Mills Brown Rice Flour
1 cup Bob’s Mills GF Cornmeal
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
1 tsp Sea Salt
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease cast-iron skillet. Set a side.
2. In a large bowl, beat the wet ingredients with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended.
3. In a separated bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until thoroughly blended. Gradually, with a blender on low speed, add in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until the mixture is thick like cake batter. Spread evenly in the cast-iron pan.
4. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until top is firm and edges are lightly browned.
1 tbsp William Sonoma Apple smoked herb rub ( optional)
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp smoked chilis
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp turmeric
2 tbsp vegetable broth
Sea salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, for garnish
4 campri tomatoes, cut in fours, for garnish
1 cup of grated white cheddar cheese for the vegetarian version as a topping, 1 cup of vegan cheddar cheese for the vegan version as a topping
Directions:
Add olive oil to a deep sauce pan on medium high heat. Add onions and red bell peppers, cook for about 3 minutes. Add beans and stir. Add spices and stir until beans are coated with the spices. Add 1 tbsp of the vegetable broth, turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 4-5 minutes more adding the rest of the vegetable broth. Cook on a low heat for another 7-8 minutes, until beans are a little tender but still have a firmness.
Remove the cornbread from the cask iron pans, by flipping them over into a plate. The bottom part should be face up. Scoop the middle of the cornbread out, about 1 1/2 – 2 inches down. Keeping the bottom in tack. You need to just scoop out enough to allow a space for the beans. Add the hot beans into the hollow of the cornbread. The beans need to be hot to melt the cheese, so if you need to warm them up some, do so. Once they are heated up, add the cheese on top, and the cilantro. Add the quartered tomatoes around the entire dish, if desired.
I am so enjoying using all my Go Raw junk free foods, to create some yummy recipes, savory and sweet. I am on the sweet treats right now. I had my granddaughter over yesterday and we made these yummy little tarts. They make a healthy and delicious treat for kids, quick dessert, yummy break and of course, great for an afternoon snacks. I know you will enjoy them as well.
Go Raw Key Lime Coconut Tarts
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/2 cup Go Raw Apple Cinnamon Sprouted Granola
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tbsp juiced orange
pinch of sea salt
1 tbsp purified water, as needed
Go Raw Key Lime Coconut Tarts
Filling
1 medium Hass avocado, pitted and peeled
1⁄2 cup melted coconut milk
1⁄4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1⁄2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch sea salt
1 tablespoon lime zest
Directions:
To make the crust, add the Go Raw Apple Cinnamon Sprouted Granola, dried cranberries, and sea salt to your food processor. Add the oil and orange juice. Process until the ingredients are mixed and broken down well, and they stick together when you collect a small handful and squeeze. If they are not sticky enough, add a little water to the mixture, a little at a time, until they are sticky .
Oil the mini tart pan, with coconut oil. Take a small ball full of mixture into your hands and press each ball down into the mini tart pan. The recipe will make about 6-8 mini tarts. Place in the freezer to set. Start on your filling.
Blend the filling ingredients together in a high-speed blender or food processor until silky smooth. Remove mini tart crust from the freezer, add the filling into the mini tart crusts, use a spatula or inverted knife to make the top very smooth. Add a piece of Go Raw junk free food Tangy Lime Coconut Crisps as a nice garnish, also sprinkle the lime zest onto each mini tart.
Chill the pie in the freezer for an hour, then transfer it to the fridge and let it set for another 1 hours. Serve chilled.
EXTRA YUM!
If you have more filling left over add it to a bowl, throw on some Go Raw Tangy Lime Coconut Crisps and Apple Cinnamon Sprouted Granola to enjoy this healthy energy snack.
Eat your skincare: Bananas are rich in potassium, vitamin A, B, C and E. Bananas help hydrate and moisturize the skin. They can help fight acne causing germs and also, control oil in the skin. Slather a mushed up banana on your face and allow to set for 10 minutes and thoroughly rinse off and use your cleanser afterwards, serum and moisturizer. This mask will leave your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. Okay, back to the recipe.
RAW Vega One Banana Pudding Breakfast Smoothie in honor of my Granny
I loved Granny’s banana pudding, it was rich, creamy, decadent and just plan delicious. I thought about her this morning and so this is in honor of her. Love you and Miss you Granny.
Here’s the recipe. Enjoy!
1 scoop of Vega One Protein and Green smoothie mix
1 cup non dairy milk
2 bananas
4 ice cubes
4 sliced banana circles for garnished and a dash of cinnamon
1 Belvita cookie or a vanilla wafer
Add all ingredients to your blender, Vitamix or Ninja, except the 4 banana circles, cinnamon and cookie or wafer. Blend until completely mixed. Pour in a glass. Add bananas on top, with a dash of cinnamon and add your cookie or wafer on the side. Enjoy. Hey, don’t forget to Set the Table with Love.
I love to eat. I love food. I love flavorful food. I love the smells of different spices. My best friend Tami laughs at how I cook. I take my spices and I smell them each. I can tell by the smells which spice will pair well with the next to bring out the best in the ingredients the will be adorning.
I started to soup out with wanted to make a Thai Sweet Potato soup. I love Thai food but I am very allergic to lemongrass. Yes, I could eliminated the lemongrass, but I wanted something authentic. So I went with Garam Masala. Garam Masala is broken down as this, garam means (“hot”) and masala means (a mixture of spices) is a blend of ground spices common in North Indian and other South Asian cuisines. It is used as an every day season, just as we use season salt, but healthier. The word garam refers to “heat” in the Ayurvedic, meaning “to heat the body”. These seasonings elevate body temperature. This is one reason why I love Garam Masala, it has healing properties ,because of the spices and herbs to are used to make it. The seasoning recipe can be different just a bit according to the region. In my recipe I used Simply Organic Garam Masala, which includes cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, black pepper and coriander. You could make your own if you like, but this is a very good one that is just enough spice for me.
This soup was made for one or two servings. It’s Vegan and get’s its creaminess from the coconut milk. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have today for lunch.
Vegan Garam Masala Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
Vegan Garam Masala Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
* This is a rough recipe, off the top of my head, LOL. I would suggest adding the vegetable broth and coconut milk a little at a time and blending, if you need more, use more based of your preference of thickness. Enjoy!!
1 large sweet potato, peeled and roughly chopped
1 1/2 cup organic vegetable, maybe more if you like it a little thin
1/2 cup creamy coconut milk ( canned ), you want the creamy part of the coconut milk, not the water
1 tbsp. olive oil or coconut oil ( but melted coconut oil)
1 tbsp. organic maple syrup
1 tbsp. garam masala
1/2 – 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, based on your spicy preference. I used 1/2 tsp.
1/2 tsp. sea salt
coconut milk whipped for garnish and a sprig of mint
Vegan Garam Masala Roasted Sweet Potato Soup
On a cookie sheet place two layers of parchment paper and add the chopped sweet potato. You can add oil and maybe salt, if you like during the cooking process, but I just put my potatoes on the parchment paper and baked on 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until tender.
In a blender, Vitamix or Ninja, add all the ingredients, starting with the potatoes. except the whipped coconut and mint. Blend thoroughly, until all ingredients are smooth. If it’s too thick add more vegetable broth and a little of the coconut milk. Just a little at at time. Blend and add to a pot, warm it up on a medium heat , stir and pour into a bowl.
I added the rest of my coconut milk, some maple syrup and a little sea salt in my Ninja. Blended it all together and you have a nice whipped coconut cream. I drizzled it over my soup making these designs and added a sprig of mint.
