Monday, April 30th, 2012

Green Smoothie Time (Raw Vegan Recipe and Video!)

by Kristen in raw recipe, video

Made a quick smoothie with sunflower sprouts from the farmers market and other goodies. Enjoy the show :)

Spring Power Applesauce (Raw Vegan Recipe)

by Kristen in raw food, raw recipe, vegan

I made an incredible (exclusive) recipe for One Green Planet (one of my favorite sources for plant based loving).

It’s Spring Power Applesauce. Get the recipe here!

Raw Vegan Yogurt – Super EASY! (Video, Recipe)

by Kristen in raw food, raw recipe, video

Now that I can find ORGANIC young thai coconut meat and water in the freezer department of Whole Foods, I’m a yogurt makin’ fool. I can’t imagine my refrigerator without it. Sooooo good. How can I describe it? Hmmm… ummmm… perfect creamy sublime deliciousness. How does that sound? It’s lightly sweet from the coconut, thick, decadent, very nourishing. Total comfort food. Do I have your interest yet?

Ingredients for raw vegan yogurt minus probiotics that I add (vanilla drops optional)

My 90-Day Clean Raw Food Mission – Kristen Suzanne’s Raw Reboot™ – Update #3

by Kristen in Kristen Suzanne, Kristen's Raw, raw food, raw lifestyle, raw reboot, raw recipe

Ethereal Goddessness

Ahhhhh what can I say? I’m blissing out with my new life. I’m transforming and staying focused yet opened. Everything is awesome. Wonderful. Feeeeeeeling beautiful inside and out. I’m making changes like never before in my life and it’s exciting me beyond measure. I’m stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually. I feel like the there’s healthy pruning going on inside my head… especially with TV cleanse I wrote about in post #1 that’s slowly taking shape.

Don’t you love this picture? It was the card I selected from a deck back in the fall when I started thinking about the need for a transformation, knowing things needed to change in my life. I had it set aside until I noticed it this week! How friggin’ perfect, eh?

By the way, I’ve been getting awesome feedback and questions in the comments of both posts (#1 and #2) so far… be sure to check them out as I’ve answered questions, etc.

OK! Things I’m working on and noticing the past few days…

Read More »

Cinnamon Brownies (Video. Raw, Vegan, EASY!)

by Kristen in cacao brownie, cacao foods, raw food, raw recipe, recipe, video

I recently shared with you a list I keep for ideas of easy raw foods to keep me inspired and to show me that I have tons of options. On that list is raw brownies because they always satisfy and they’re mega easy to make. With that… I share my latest recipe with you for Cinnamon Brownies (update… I just added a video below showing how I make them!).

I like cinnamon in them because cinnamon helps with blood sugar. I like using sprouted and dehydrated sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds because they have tons of great nutrition. The walnuts I’ve been using lately? Well, I was supremely blessed by my friend in Europe who sent me freshly cracked walnuts from her grandmom’s garden! She also soaked and dehydrated them for me. Can you imagine how fresh and delicious they are? I’m in love with them.

Confession: I ate 7 of these in one day.

Cinnamon Brownies

Yield one 8×8 glass baking dish (12 to 16 brownies)

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup raw walnuts
Pinch Himalayan crystal salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon (or more)
1/2 cup raw chocolate powder
12 to 15 soft medjool dates, pitted

Using a food processor, fitted with the “S” blade, grind the seeds, walnuts, salt, cinnamon, and chocolate powder to a coarse grind. Add the dates. Process until it starts to stick together. Press into an 8×8 glass baking dish. Enjoy!

Awesome Smoothie of the Week – Refreshing Cucumber Apple Smooth Smoothie

by Kristen in raw recipe

Mmmm this is a keeper. I’ve been making it quite a lot lately. It’s without protein powder… shocker coming from me, right? It’s smooth, creamy, light, refreshing, and delish. The recipe below is for a big batch! Almost 2 quarts. I like making a big batch because I share it with Greg and Kamea as well (there’s my sweet darling slurping up hers below). You can make it and share it, or make it and split the batch so you have two smoothies to enjoy throughout your glorious day, or simply halve the recipe.

The goods on this baby? Hydrating and loaded with nutrients. Nuff’ said. Read More »

Mesquite Red Bell Pepper Dip – Raw Vegan Recipe

by Kristen in raw food, raw recipe

I’m a fan of veggies and dip, so it’s no surprise that I’m always creating new ones. While looking for new ways to use my mesquite powder (other than my delicious Mesquite Cacao Banana Shake), I developed this delicious recipe. The subtle mesquite-ness is fun and unique.

Mesquite Red Bell Pepper Dip

Yield 2 1/2 cups

1 1/2 cups raw cashews
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes plus soaking water
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large clove garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon mesquite powder
3/4 teaspoon Himalayan crystal salt

Place the cashews in a medium bowl and add enough water to cover them by about an inch. Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl and add enough water to just cover. Let the cashews and sun-dried tomatoes soak for up to an hour. Strain the cashews, rinse them, and put them in a blender. Add the sun dried tomatoes and their soaking water, along with the rest of the ingredients to the blender, and blend until creamy.

Serving suggestions:

For raw fooders, use as a dip with vegetable crudite. Raw broccoli and cauliflower never tasted so good. I also routinely serve this alongside big (whole) romaine lettuce leaves. This is excellent served as the spread in your next collard green wrap sandwich, too.
For people eating cooked foods, spread on veggie burgers, toast, or serve with pita chips

Awesome Smoothie of the Week – Raw Vegan

by Kristen in avocado, raw food, raw recipe

This recipe is delectable. I took a vacation from my usual protein-powder-filled and superfood-loaded smoothie staple to switch it up. And, boy, is it amazing. This gorgeous recipe is light with flavors of apple, pear, and vanilla, yet satiating, creamy, and loaded with nutrition from the avocado. And, the ice sets it all off perfectly.

Damn. This is goooooood.

Creamy Goddess Goodness

(Don’t let the title deter you awesome dudes out there from making this… Greg loved it!)

Yield 1 to 2 servings

1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 cup (or more) filtered water
1 cup (or so) ice
1 cup (or so) spinach
1 pear, cored
1 apple, cored
splash vanilla extract
splash fresh lemon or lime juice
4 to 6 turns of the black pepper mill
dash himalayan crystal salt

Give it a whirl in your blender. Voila! Creamy Goddess Goodness!

Chocolate Almond ANYTIME Pudding – Raw Vegan Recipe Two Ways

by Kristen in raw chocolate, raw food, raw recipe

I’ve been eating a lot of raw vegan chocolate pudding lately. What can I say though… it’s awesome, super easy to make, choc-full of nutrients(!), and can be eaten ANYTIME of the day. Yes, you heard that right… ANYTIME of the day. Why not? With uber healthy ingredients like fresh raw almond milk and almond butter, avocado, and raw chocolate (plus protein powder if you make variation #2 below), it’s a stellar addition to your day. In fact, I’ve had it for breakfast before training at the gym to keep me fueled (see the variation recipe below with extra protein added), I’ve had it as a snack, and I’ve had it for dessert. Love love love it!

Chocolate Almond ANYTIME Pudding

Yield 4 servings

Recipe by Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com

filtered water for soaking dates
4 soft Medjool dates, pitted (without pits, it’s about 3 ounces worth)
1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 cup raw almond milk*
1/4 cup raw almond butter (I make my own – cheaper!)
1/2 cup raw chocolate powder
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
pinch himalayan crystal salt
2 tablespoons chopped almonds, for sprinkling on top just before serving**

Place your pitted dates in a bowl and add enough filtered water to reach the top of the dates. Let them soak like this for up to an hour. Strain off the water and put the dates in to your blender. Add the remaining ingredients to your blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Store leftovers in an airtight, glass container in your refrigerator for up to three days. This recipe also freezes wonderfully!

* If you don’t have this on hand, you could use any raw (or non-raw) plant-based milk.

** I also love having this pudding with sliced banana added on top. Soooo good!

Variation #2: Chocolate Almond ANYTIME Pudding (with protein!)

Yield 4 servings

Recipe by Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com

filtered water for soaking dates
4 soft Medjool dates, pitted (without pits, it’s about 3 ounces worth)
1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 1/2 cups raw almond milk
1/4 cup raw almond butter (I make my own – cheaper!)
1/2 cup raw chocolate powder
2 serving scoops of raw protein powder*
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
pinch himalayan crystal salt
2 tablespoons chopped almonds, for sprinkling on top just before serving

Place your pitted dates in a bowl and add enough filtered water to reach the top of the dates. Let them soak like this for up to an hour. Strain off the water and put the dates in to your blender. Add the remaining ingredients to your blender and blend until creamy and smooth. Store leftovers in an airtight, glass container in your refrigerator for up to three days. This recipe also freezes wonderfully!

*I make mine with Sun Warrior’s chocolate protein powder, but I suspect it’s also awesome with Vega’s Choc-A-Lot Shake & Go!

Got Salad? Make these EASY Awesome Raw Vegan Dressings!

by Kristen in raw food, raw recipe

I recently created a couple of dressings, with nutritional powerhouses Garlic and Ginger, that have become staples in our house. I’m fond of saying that garlic is a king when it comes to nutrient dense seasoning and flavoring, and ginger is his queen. You just can’t go wrong with them because they’re amazing at punching up flavor, and they’re both loaded with important nutrients.

The two dressings below are very similar except for one ingredient – ginger. I tested them with my usual testing panel and both dressings pass with flying colors. My mom went to Whole Foods today to stock up on the ingredients so she can make these every week – my step-dad licks the blender container clean every time I make it. They’re easy, delicious, and they go with pretty much everything. We enjoy them dressing any salad, especially salads with romaine lettuce. They’re also fabulous on steamed broccoli and as a dip for other veggies. Got vegan pizza? Dip it in one of these… toast is great slathered with it too. I even love making a bowl filled with black beans and fresh raw produce topped with either one of these. YUM YUM!!!

Garlic Almond Dressing

Yield approximately 2 cups

1/2 cup water*
2/3 cup raw almond butter, gently packed (I make my own)
3 tablespoons raw coconut nectar (or raw agave nectar or maple syrup-not raw)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons tamari (I use reduced sodium)
3 cloves garlic

Blend everything until smooth and enjoy!!! Trust me, you will enjoy it!!!

* If you use the dressing immediately after making it, the consistency is good. Once it’s been stored in the refrigerator, it thickens up so you might want to add a bit of water at this point and shake it up. Or, just use it in the thickened state and toss your salad really well to cover everything… the water from the salad ingredients will thin it out a bit.

For a fabulous variation of this dressing with even more nutritional punch, make my Garlic Ginger Almond Dressing – Simply follow the same dressing recipe above, but add 1 teaspoon of freshly grated and packed ginger. Yowza Yumminess!