(Brisa Starr)
Here’s a recipe that’s raw, vegan, and paleo, which by nature makes it soy free and gluten free, so I think pretty much everyone can enjoy some of this.
[Read more…] about Vanilla Chai Peach Cobbler (Raw Vegan Recipe, Gluten Free, Paleo)
Have you ever heard of Juli Novotny or her company, Kookie Karma? Kookie Karma is a company with healthy snack options that are great for raw foodies, vegan foodies, and gluten-free foodies.
“Kookie Karma snacks and kookies are all handmade in our very own gluten-free commercial kitchen. We strive to offer you the freshest, best tasting raw and holistic snack products that we can. To do so we like to make everything fresh each week.
Kookie Karma was created in Santa Monica, CA by Juli Novotny in 2004 {she was only 24 at the time}. Juli has since worked hard to not only sell her products wholesale to West Coast markets and directly to consumers but to also educate people on the importance of including raw superfoods in and removing processed sugar/ flour/ dairy from their otherwise normal diet & lifestyle.”
You can imagine my excitement when they offered to send me some of their snacks to try. I eat a mostly raw diet, but I keep some room for cooked vegan foods when the time comes (you read about my french toast adventure here). When my package of samples arrived, I was like a kid in a candy store. I might have had my raw food planned for the day already, but that plan went out the door as I tore into cookie (or should I say, “kookie”) after cookie. I mean, how can compare each one to the other unless I try them all!? Right?! :) I can’t remember how many they sent me… maybe 5? Two cooked and the rest raw. I didn’t eat them all by myself though. I had Greg there to help me sample them.
Kookie Karma has a number of products ranging from crackers (“krackers”) to cookies (“kookies”) to granola (“krunchies”) to kale chips (“krackers”). Many of the products are raw, but they also offer some low-glycemic, gluten-free cookies that are cooked vegan. And, not all of the ingredients are organic in some of the products, but many of them are. My samples included cookies (both raw and cooked varieties) as well as granolas.
Turns out, I prefer the cooked cookies over the raw cookies. I like the Chocolate Chip and Choco-lot Holistic Cookies. They are dense, sweet, and satisfying. I like that they have a little extra protein in them, too. I’m not a protein freak or anything, but as a breastfeeding mama, I like to increase my protein a bit. My husband appreciated the extra protein in them, too, since he’s very active with strength training and building his body. I’m excited about these cookies because there are times that I just want a cooked cookie, ya know? Until now, I would occasionally indulge in one of ABC’s (Alternative Baking Company) Cranberry Orange vegan cookies. Now that I’ve had Juli Novotny’s holistic Chocolate Chip and Choco-lot Kookies, which are a healthier option than ABCs cookies, I am happier.
How about the other cookies? I enjoyed the raw cookies (they didn’t send me all the raw flavors), but I found the raw cookies to be less sweet. Nothing wrong with that. However, when I want a cookie, it’s usually because I want something sweet so I’ll stick to their cooked cookies. ;) They offer a beautiful selection of raw cookies though.
The granolas (“krunchies”) were very good. In particular, I really enjoyed the Goji Lime. The flavor is fresh and light. I love the pistachios in it. I heard on Dr. Oz recently that eating a serving of pistachios with your food reduces the glycemic index of the food you’re eating at the time. Sounds good to me!
After I polished off my samples, I knew I needed some stocked in my kitchen for snacking. So, I ordered a case of the Chocolate Chip (cooked) Kookies, Choco Lot (cooked) Kookies, and Goji Lime (raw) Krunchies.
When they arrived yesterday… well, I had my raw food planned for the day, but hello(!) cookies arrived. I had one of each. :)
If you’d like to order some for yourself… Kookie Karma
Have you tried Kookie Karma foods? What do you think? The cooked cookies have xylitol in them, what are you thoughts on that?
Update 7/24/13: I’ve made this recipe into a 2.0 version that is paleo friendly.
Here it is! My 4-Ingredient Magic Dressing! I have been dressing my salads with this almost daily for about a month. It’s magical because it’ll make everyone love any salad you put in front of them if it’s dressed with this. My whole family goes crazy over it.
Get ready to really love salad.
4-Ingredient Magic Dressing 2.0 (Raw Vegan Paleo Gluten Free Soy Free)
Recipe by Kristen Suzanne of KristensRaw.com
Yield 2/3 cup
1/4 cup raw cashew butter
1/4 cup filtered water
2 tablespoons coconut vinegar*
1 1/2 tablespoons tamari (gluten-free, reduced sodium) or coconut aminos
Place the ingredients in a bowl or mug and mash it together with a fork. (Or blend it.)
Now, to make the perfect salad, put all of the salad ingredients in one big bowl. Pour the dressing on top and then toss the salad until the dressing coats it all. I usually use this one recipe to cover a salad that serves two really big portions. The salad we’ve been making the most with this is: romaine lettuce (my favorite), orange, raisins, red bell pepper, cucumber, and sprouts. (Carrot and tomato sometimes make an appearance, too.)
* I have made this with fresh lime juice, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar – all very delicious, but my favorite is the coconut vinegar.
This delicious cobbler recipe is available in both my print book and ebook, Kristen Suzanne’s EASY Raw Vegan Desserts (but I’m also sharing it with you here). It’s a delightful recipe with a punch of flavors that keep playing in your mouth, well after you’ve swallowed a bite. *I’ve edited the recipe online to use raw honey vs agave because we don’t eat agave anymore.
I chose strawberries for this cobbler because it’s summer and they’re in season. And, buying organic food in season is just one of many ways to buy organic on a budget.
Strawberries have som nice health benefits:
You’ll also see that I’ve included prunes in the recipe. I like using prunes because they have a wonderful, soft texture and they’re not as sweet as most other dried fruits. And, they’re full of antioxidants.
Summer Strawberry Cobbler
Kristen Suzanne of Kristen’s Raw
Yield one 8×8 glass-baking dish
The Crumble
2 cups raw pecans or walnuts
3/4 cup dried coconut, shredded & unsweetened
1 teaspoon fresh organic orange zest
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2/3 cup currants
1/3 cup pitted prunes, chopped
The Strawberry Filling
25 oz fresh organic strawberries, destemmed (or use frozen and thaw them)
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
8 soft dates, pitted
2 tablespoons raw honey (or maple syrup if vegan)
The Crumble
Place the nuts, coconut, orange zest, cinnamon, and salt in a food processor, fitted with the S-blade, and process until coarsely ground. Add the currants and prunes, and process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs and holds together when gently pressed between two fingers. Set aside.
The Filling
Take about 15-16 ounces (approximately two-thirds) of the strawberries, chop them and set aside in a large bowl. Then, place the rest of the strawberries along with the orange juice, dates, and agave in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into the bowl with the chopped strawberries and stir.
The Assembly
Pour half of the crumble in the bottom of the glass-baking dish and give it a firm but gentle press. Spread the strawberry filling on top. Sprinkle the remaining cobbler crumble on top of the strawberry filling, allowing some of the beautiful strawberry filling to show through. Serve at room temperature, or warm in a dehydrator for up to an hour at 130 degrees for extra deliciousness. Covered, Summer Strawberry Cobbler will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator.