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

I’m a Wellness Lover

celebrating wellness in the sun I’ve been feeling a shift happening over the past few years.... in my mind, body, and spirit. The way I feel in my body has changed, and so have my priorities. The way I dress, apply my makeup, exercise, and even the way I eat have been evolving. I’m less willing now than ever to compromise the things that help to keep me happy like sleep, sun, healthy food, and time with loved ones. Some may define this as a midlife crisis…but not me. As I embark upon the second half of my life, I’m embracing this opportunity to recalibrate myself to be the best I can be. I'm deep diving into wellness, and I’m super excited for what’s the come. My cookbooks have always been about wellness and our eco-lifestyle. They have included themes on beauty, fitness, hormones, detox, eco-fashion, longevity, community, and even money. I’m setting up now to bring you even more tips and ideas around overall wellness and living a healthy lifestyle. I’m looking forward to sharing my wellness journey with you. Thank you for sticking with me! xo

By |December 1st, 2015|Beauty, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Travel|8 Comments

Ani’s Top 5 Holiday Survival Tips

We are 7 days from Thanksgiving and people have been asking me for strategies to make it through the holidays. So, below are my top 5 holiday tips for a simple, guilt-free, and happy holiday. Ani’s 5 Thanksgiving Survival Tips Eat breakfast and don’t skip meals on Thanksgiving because chances are you’ll be super famished and overeat at dinner. Drink lots of water throughout the day. Try starting everyday with a liter of filtered water, adding lemon if you’d like. Start burning excess calories today! Add on an extra 20 minutes of walking daily. Over the next seven days, that will create a deficit of about 500 calories for me at 132lbs. Get outside and do something active before dinner to rev up your metabolism and get your blood pumping. Go on a walk or hike, hit the gym, or do some yoga. At dinner, follow the 80/20 rule. Enjoy all the dishes you’d like, but bulk up on the healthier options like vegetables and salad. Fill 80% of your plate with the healthier stuff, and 20% with the heavier treats you look forward to all year.

By |November 19th, 2015|Beauty, Fitness, Health, LIFESTYLE|Comments Off on Ani’s Top 5 Holiday Survival Tips

Watch the Video of Ani on The Dr. Oz Show

Ani Phyo - Juices to Benefit the Body The Dr Oz Show Syndicated National 11-10-15 2-3 PM 04_28 from Dr. Oz Show on Vimeo.   This segment aired on Tuesday November 10, 2015 on The Dr Oz Show where I was invited to talk-up the benefits of tart cherries, along with all fresh fruits and vegetables. All produce, especially when raw and unheated, provides us with powerful antioxidants to help slow the oxidation, rusting, and aging of our cells....keeping us feeling and looking younger, longer! In addition, antioxidants combat inflammation and pain, and help to combat illnesses like cancer and even Alzheimer's disease. It's easy to power up your defenses by enjoying more fruits and vegetables like cherries. They are delicious. My appearance inspired me to create my e-b00k Ani's Tart Cherry Recipes. You can also sign up for my newsletter to receive a free copy of my Ani's Tart Cherry Elixirs e-book too. Find out more about the beautiful necklace, earrings, and bracelet I'm wearing designed by Los Angeles' own Lisa Kim, metalmythologist. Visit her at her website: LisaKimFineJewelry.

By |November 10th, 2015|Beauty, Featured, Fitness, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, NEWS & EVENTS, NEWS & EVENTS PAGE, PRESS, TV|Comments Off on Watch the Video of Ani on The Dr. Oz Show

Ani’s Raw Food Certification Level 1

My students made me this beautiful stack with marinated mushrooms and onion, sliced tomato, oregano and rosemary marinara, cashew cheeze, and fresh Italian herbs today at my Ani's Raw Food Certification Level 1. I love showing everyone that elegant food need not use many ingredients nor be complicated to make. Each recipe uses a couple ingredients, seriously! And, is really quick to create. The sophistication comes in the plating, presentation, and use of easy to make sauces. One of our students this weekend is a Le Cordon Bleu trained professional chef who's mind was blown by Raw Food's functionality, and fresh flavors! She said "I've been making my food way too complicated!". We all laughed. Get in my belly!!! Yumminess! Our final Level 1 for 2015 is September 19+20th. I'd love to spend the weekend eating the most delicious, nutritious, and inspiring food with you. xoxo https://www.aniphyo.com/certification/

By |August 15th, 2015|Ani's Raw Food Essentials, Beauty, Dressings & Salads, Farmers' Market, Fitness, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Ani’s Raw Food Certification Level 1

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

Superfood Granola Recipe

I've been mixing up a yummy granola with walnuts, almonds, cacao nibs, vanilla bean, coconut, sprouted buckwheat groats, and goji berries. This morning I used it to top raspberries and blueberries with almond mylk for an antioxidant superfood blast. It tasted delicious. What other ingredient should I include in my mix?

By |July 22nd, 2015|Gluten Free, Health, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Superfood Granola Recipe

Give Me Sugar-Free Juice!

My favorite KOA organic juices are now available at Gelson's Markets in SoCal and LA! Yay!! KOA is cold-pressed and made from 12 fresh fruits and vegetables like pomegranate, red sea lettuce, guava, holy basil, heirloom carrots and lemon...and more. It has good-for-you vitamins (9) and minerals (74) like some other cold-pressed juices, but KOA Olakino is sugar-free with zero calories. And, they taste absolutely delicious! Other cold-pressed juices that include fruits of any sort (including apples, pineapple, pear, etc) can contain anywhere from 45g to 65g of sugar per bottle! Whoa!! That's more sugar than 3 donuts. Scary. And, our bodies have the same insulin response, whether the sugar is from juiced fruits or a candy bar. (To learn more about the effects of sugar on our health, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc...watch the documentary "Fed Up"). Incase you're wondering why KOA calls their "juice" Olakino, it's because the FDA's definition of "juice" is a beverage that contains fructose (sugar). Since KOA Olakino contains no sugar and no calories, KOA is charting new territory into a new category all their own called "Olakino", which means "healthy" in Hawaii. Pick up a bottle and tell me which flavor your prefer: Original (mint) or Raspberry. So hard to choose....      

By |May 5th, 2015|Beauty, Farmers' Market, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE|Comments Off on Give Me Sugar-Free Juice!

Mushroom Bulgogi Taco Recipe

I like to make my Mushroom Bulgogi with mushrooms, instead of beef. This is one of my favorite recipes, and perfect to wrap in a leaf or inside a thinly sliced daikon radish... like a taco!! ….Like in the photo above (courtesy of Vegetarian Times Magazine). In addition to this recipe tasting delicious, mushrooms are a super food that boost our immune system while helping us fight illness, disease, and even cancer. Check out the recipe in this month's June 2014 issue,  and on their website: http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/mushroom-bulgogi-filled-daikon-wraps/   Enjoy it! xo

By |June 26th, 2014|Article, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, PRESS, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Mushroom Bulgogi Taco Recipe

Earth Day at Whole Foods Saturday April 25th

Join me at Whole Food Markets in West LA and celebrate Earth Day, and Earth Week! I'll be signing copies of Ani's Raw Food Detox. The event goes from 11am to 2pm tomorrow, Saturday. And the store is located at the corner of Barrington and National Aves. The festival will be held in the parking lot (enter off Barrington Ave). I hope to see you there! xoxo

By |April 25th, 2014|Book Signings, Green Living, Health, NEWS & EVENTS, NEWS & EVENTS PAGE, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Earth Day at Whole Foods Saturday April 25th