Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Cake with Fudge Avocado Frosting Recipe

I baked my first cake in decades today. It's gluten-free and vegan, and I substituted the flour with black beans and sweet potato. Then, substituted the egg with 3 ripe bananas. This cake turned out surprisingly moist and delicious, very much the same as any baked cake! It's frosted with my raw food avocado chocolate frosting. Baked goods don't get any healthier than this! Start with the frosting recipe first so you don't have to wash out the food processor between recipes. Fudge Avocado Frosting (from Ani's Raw Food Desserts, page 49) 1/3 cup pitted Medjool Dates 1/4 cup agave, or your favorite syrup 1/2 cup ripe avocado flesh 1/3 cup cacao powder Place all ingredients into your food processor with the S blade, and process smooth. Scoop into a bowl or container, and set aside. (Skip washing the processor, just use it as is for the cake batter recipe next). Now, prepare to bake your cake by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Black Bean Chocolate Cake 1/2 apple, diced 1/3 cup sweet potato, cooked, peeled (I used Japanese purple sweet potato, they are in season right now) 3 small ripe bananas 2 cups cooked and drained black beans, or one 15oz can, rinsed 1/2 cup cocoa powder, or cacao powder 1/4 cup coconut sugar, or your favorite sweetener, to taste 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract 3 Tablespoons peanut butter (substitute almond butter if you prefer) Start by placing the apple into your food processor with the S blade, process into a puree. Then add the remaining ingredients, and process into a smooth batter. Scoop batter into a loaf pan (this is not enough batter for a bigger pan, though I made [...]

By |January 28th, 2016|Ani’s Raw Food Desserts, Desserts, Gluten Free, Protein, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Cake with Fudge Avocado Frosting Recipe

Avocado Smoothies

My travel to Bali inspired me to use avocados in my desserts. In SE Asia, avocados are used to make creamy avocado smoothies. There they make smoothies by blending milk, sugar, and avocado. Here I make a raw vegan almond nut mylk to use as the base, then add in avocados for the flavor. It's sweetened with dates, a whole food, containing fiber, minerals and vitamins. The ingredients I use are listed below. Adjust quantities to you liking. I also have variations of these recipes in Ani's Raw Food Detox. I'll be teaching this recipe in class this weekend too. Join me at an upcoming Ani's Raw Food Certification Course to learn recipes like this and many many more! Smoothie almonds dates avocado water Chocolate Sauce cacao powder agave syrup, maple syrup, date syrup, or coconut nectar Toppings chocolate sauce goji cacao hemp Guilt-free, and absolutely delicious, good-for-you food! Enjoy. Will keep for at least a day in your fridge.

By |August 14th, 2015|Beauty, Desserts, Drinks, Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Soups, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Avocado Smoothies

2015 Raw Food Courses in Los Angeles, CA

  I'm excited to announce my upcoming Raw Food courses for 2015  in West Los Angeles, California: LEVEL 1 June 13+14, 2015 (early bird special before May 3rd) July 11+12, 2015 August 15+16, 2015 September 19+20, 2015 LEVEL 2 October 16, 17, 18, 2015 LEVEL 3 October 18, 19, 20, 2015 All classes are taught by me, and are hands-on. So, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to learn how to make the tastiest, healthiest, raw, vegan food ever. All recipes are gluten-free and packed full of superfoods! Spaces will fill up quickly! Please book your spot today: https://www.aniphyo.com/certification/ I'm looking forward to seeing you this year in Los Angeles. It's the best culinary tourist city on the Planet with loads of raw restaurants, cafes, businesses, prepared packaged foods, events, products, and more. Come explore, play, and be inspired! xoxo  

Superfood Brownie Recipe

Superfood brownies are the perfect workout food fuel for my climb today. They can stay out of the fridge, and travel well. These brownies are my homemade energy / protein / superfood bar. The following recipe is from Ani's Raw Food Detox. 1 c walnuts 1/4 c cacao powder 1/3 c pitted dates pinch salt Process walnuts, cacao, salt. Then, add dates to bind together. I will sometimes roll the batter into balls, but this time I pressed it into a lined pan and sliced 'bars'. I topped with cacao nibs (for extra energy) and goji berries (for added vitamin C and antioxidants) too. Bon appetit!  

By |May 21st, 2015|Desserts, Fitness, Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Superfood Brownie Recipe

Thailand’s Herb Gardens

Loving the herb garden here at the Ritz Carlton's Reserve at Phulay Bay in beautiful Thailand at Krabi. They grow their own herbs, in addition to super spicy red Thai chilies. We've been using these super fresh herbs in my Raw Food Lifestyle Classes this week. It's paradise here with tons of tropical fresh fruits like tamarind, papaya, jackfruit, and longan. And delicious Thai baby coconuts and cashews too. I think this must be Heaven!  

Ritz-Carlton’s Reserve at Krabi, Thailand

I'm made it safely to Krabi, Thailand where I'm relaxing at the villa now that prep for our 5-day Raw Food Lifestyle Retreat is finished for today. Super excited to be teaching Raw Food Lifestyle classes Wednesday thru Sunday here at the Ritz-Carlton's Phulay Bay resort. I've crafted exclusive Thai-inspired Raw Food, vegan, superfood, gluten-free recipes using local Thai ingredients. Plus, we'll be talking about treading lightly on the Planet, natural beauty, fitness, healthy detox, nutrition, and ways to lower stress while increasing vitality and longevity. If you're in Krabi, please join me here Wednesday thru Sunday!  We're going have tons of FUN!!!!  

March 2015 at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The beautiful Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Phulay Bay has invited me to develop an exclusive 5-day wellness program for their Thailand resort to launch in March 2015. This exclusive retreat will include vegan raw food cooking classes and recipes featuring local ingredients and flavors with a focus on the Home Chef, along with my eco-green living, healthy lifestyle, fitness, natural beauty, and detox philosophy. I will personally be at Phulay Bay teaching classes from March 18th to 22nd, 2015. These classes are complimentary to resort guests. And, guests completing all 5-days will receive a Certificate of Completion equivalent to my Level 1 Home Chef Raw Food Certification Course. So, please book your stay now at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve website, and join me at Phulay Bay! I look forward to seeing you in paradise.  

Giving Thanks Day

I wanted to share 3 of my favorite raw vegan superfood pie recipes for Thanksgiving. All 3 recipes are from Ani's Raw Food Kitchen: All American Apple Pie, Autumn Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Chai Pie. I hope you will enjoy them! Wishing you a very happy holiday celebrating gratitude while counting our blessings. Let's all remember to tell our loved ones and those in our community how much they are appreciated. It's a wonderful time of the year to help those around us, and to give back. Helping others puts my own life into perspective for me. It reminds me to give thanks for the many blessings in my  life. I'm grateful to have my health, my friends and family, clean running hot water, organic produce, a safe comfortable home, and all 10 fingers and toes. On this day of giving thanks, what are you grateful for?

By |November 26th, 2014|Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen, Desserts, Gluten Free, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Giving Thanks Day

Strawberry Superfood Beauty Shake

  Shakes and smoothies help me kick start my day by food fueling my body with nutrients and superfoods that keep me at the top of my game. The blender 'chews' up the food for me, so it's easier to digest, and leaves me with more energy. Plus, on super busy days, it's just easier to for me to blend, rinse out my blender container, and then drink my shake on-the-go or while typing on my keyboard. This recipe is made with antioxidant-rich strawberries (it's strawberry season!); healthy fat and omegas from almond, flax, and hemp; maca and cacao for energy and mood-elevation; buckwheat (a complete branch chain amino acid) for protein; camu camu for vitamin C; MSM for building connective tissue and the collagen in my skin; and sweetened with stevia (my favorite non-glycemic, non-caloric sweetener). Drink up and get your glow on! Strawberry Superfood Beauty Shake 2 cups organic strawberries, fresh or frozen 2 Tablespoons raw almond butter 2 Tablespoons flax meal 1 teaspoon camu camu 1 Tablespoon maca 1 teaspoon MSM 4 drops stevia Blend with about a cup or 2 of filtered water, to desired consistency. Pour into your favorite glass. Serve topped with cacao nibs, hemp seeds, and sprouted + dehydrated buckwheat groats. Enjoy! xo  

By |June 11th, 2014|Desserts, Drinks, Gluten Free, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Strawberry Superfood Beauty Shake

Banana Superfood Chocolate

Superfood Chocolates made at Ani's Raw Food Certification Level 2 yesterday here in Los Angeles, CA.   Filled with banana, and topped with strawberry jam, coconut, and fresh berries. I love our raw food courses because I get to eat the best food on the Planet, while detoxing effortlessly. Thank you to my awesome students for spending another fun weekend with me! (I never make these recipes for myself at home anymore…so it's amazing to get to enjoy them with you all in class!)  

By |April 14th, 2014|Desserts, Food Demos, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Banana Superfood Chocolate