Vegan Chocolate Coconut Pudding

Who doesn’t love chocolate pudding??? I’m not sure, but if you know someone, they need to be re-schooled in the ways of chocolate, creamy decadence. This vegan version is loaded with healthy fats, tons of flavor and zero-guilt. Spoon into some cute little cups and top with raspberries or cherries for an extra delicious indulgence.

INGREDIENTS

• meat from 2 young thai coconuts
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 cup coconut water from thai coconut
• 5 tablespoons raw cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• pinch sea salt

Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until creamy smooth. If too thick, add more coconut water. Dish into dessert cups and store in the refrigerator.

Salted Vegan Cardamom Caramel Sauce

We all love caramel sauce, er…well, at least I do, but I NEVER eat it because it’s loaded with refined sugar and dairy and it makes me loopy. Really!

SO, I just had to share my favorite vegan caramel sauce with you — two ways! One is plain and one has a dash of cacao for a little extra richness…as if it needs it. It’s super simple to make and all you need is a high-powered blender.

Drizzle this caramel sauce over fruit or coconut ice cream. Dreamy and Delish!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup medjool dates, pitted and soaked for 20 minutes
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk (more if needed for thinner texture)
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
• Optional: 1 tablespoon cacao powder

Place all ingredients in a high-powered blender and blend until creamy smooth. Add more almond milk if too thick. Store in refrigerator in a squeeze bottle for up to two weeks.

Raw Vegan Brownies with Goji Berries and Cacao Icing

Valentines day is right around the corner, and what a better way to celebrate with some homemade vegan brownie for your sweetie. Who wants store bought chocolate in a red, foil heart anyway? Not me!

You can lose with these healthy, delectable treats that are high in protein, fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants. What?? Yes, that’s right. Skip the guilt and dive right in.

BROWNIE INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups raw walnuts
• 1/2 cup raw hemp seeds
• 1-1/4 cup pitted dates (I like medjool)
• 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao nibs
• 1/4 cup goji berries, soaked for 10 minutes and drained

CACAO ICING INGREDIENTS

• 2 ripe avocados
• 5 tablespoons cacao powder
• 5 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• pinch sea salt

Cauliflower Cilantro Smash & Simple Mushroom Gravy

Cancer-fighter and versatile, Cauliflower outshines the white potato in this healthy version of the favorite traditional, blood-sugar spiking, weight gaining mashed potatoes.  Yes, we all love mash potatoes, but give these a try topped with my simple and savory mushroom gravy and you will not feel like you are missing out at all!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium size head of cauliflower, cut into florets
• 1 can white beans, drained & rinsed
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut creamer or almond milk
• Handful cilantro
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

Steam cauliflower in a steamer basket until tender, approximately 5-7 minutes or so. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté garlic until soft and golden brown. Combine garlic, cauliflower, cilantro and beans in food processor fitted with the S-blade and puree until smooth. Add coconut creamer or almond milk and sea salt, and puree again until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the processor cup as needed. Serve warm with Mushroom gravy.

MUSHROOM GRAVY

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons brown rice flour
• 1 yellow onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, mince
• 3 cups sliced cremini mushrooms or any other kind you like
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh herbs of choice
• 1-1/4 cups veggie broth
• 2 tablespoons Bragg’s Aminos

In a saucepan heat oil over medium heat and whish in brown rice flour to make a roux (thick paste.) Add onion and garlic and stir to coat. Saute until translucent, stirring constantly. Add mushrooms and sauté for about 5-minutes more, or until they start to release juices. Add remaining ingredients and let gravy simmer for about 5 minutes, letting it thicken, but being careful not to burn.

Strawberry Coconut Fruit Pops

We all love a delicious Summertime treat! These low-glycemic fruit pops are delicious, healthy and great to help you cool off in the summer heat. Use any berries that are in season or peaches would be good too!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pint strawberries, hulled
• 1 cup coconut milk, full fat
• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons xylitol or maple syrup
• juice of 1/4 lemon

Place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until combined. Pour into Popsicle molds and place in freezer until frozen.

Raw Kale and Apple Salad w/Avocado Lime Dressing

This salad is great for a BBQ, Potluck or Summer party. The avocado lime dressing adds the perfect creamy finish with a little garlicky touch. Don’t forget to de-stem and massage your kale!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 head curly kale, de-stemmed and torn into small pieces
• 1 green apple, diced
• ½ avocado, diced
• ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup pine nuts

Place all ingredients into a large bowl and toss with dressing.

AVOCADO LIME DRESSING

• 1/2 ripe avocado
• juice of 2 limes
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove

Blend all ingredients together into a blender until smooth and creamy.

Rawmesan Crusted Zucchini Chips

I love me some zucchini and it’s in full force here in Santa Barbara right now. These zucchini chips are to die for. I just decided to throw them together, so the measurements may not be exact, so feel free to play with what you add to them. You will need a dehydrator for best results, otherwise bake in the oven at 450 degrees for about 25-30 minutes until crisp. Be warned, they will shrink!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 large zucchini, sliced into 1/4″ rounds
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup raw hemp seeds
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Place sliced zucchini in a large bowl and toss with olive oil to coat. Place remaining ingredients in a blender or coffee grinder and process into a powder. Sprinkle “cheese” powder over zucchini and toss around to coat slices evenly. Place on dehydrator screens in a single layer. Dehydrate overnight at 113 degrees or until crisp.

Karma Shamrock Shake

Raw Vegan Black Forest Cheesecake

Cherries and Chocolate are one of my all-time favorite combinations. Juicy, ripe, sweet cherries paired with creamy chocolate will make this amazing raw cheesecake a go-to recipe anytime you need to make a special treat. It’s perfect to take to a V-day party or make for your sweetie.

CRUST INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup brazil nuts or macadamia nuts
• 2/3 cup raw, unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 tablespoon cacao powder
• pinch sea salt
• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons raw cacao nibs

Process the nuts, coconut, cacao powder and sea salt together in a food processor into crumbs. Add maple syrup, vanilla and cacao nibs and process until mixture begins to stick together. If not sticky enough add extra maple syrup (start with 2 tablespoons.) Scrape out mixture into a 9″ spring form pan and press evenly and firmly into the bottom of the pan using your fingers. Set aside

FILLING INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup cashews, soaked 4 hours
• 1 cup macadamia nuts, soaked 4 hours
• 1/4 cup melted cacao butter
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/8 teaspoon tamari or Bragg’s aminos
• 1 cup raw cacao powder
• 1 – 10 oz. bag frozen cherries, thawed

Delicious Creamy Golden Milk