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

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

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

Mushroom “Bul Go Gi” Recipe

    Please join me for lunch today! This Korean inspired recipe is from Ani's Raw Food Asia. It's my vegan, gluten-free, and raw version of Korean BBQ, made with marinated shiitake, crimini, and wood mushrooms. I call it Mushroom "Bul Go Gi" (page 186). Use your favorite green leaf, like romaine or red leaf lettuce as the wrap. Then, top with cucumber, carrot, thinly sliced garlic, and my delicious Gochujang Sauce (page 225) made with unpasteurized miso (for living enzymes), sesame oil, and chili powder, to taste. Add a sweetener syrup like agave or coconut nectar too to balance out the spice, salt, savory, and sweet. Super yummy on a rainy day here in LA (thank goodness, we need the rain!). Mushoom "Bul Go Gi" Lettuce Wraps BulGoGi 4 cups sliced mushrooms 2 T tamari 1 T toasted sesame oil 1/2 T minced garlic 1/2 cup Asian pear, microplanes or pureed in food processor Fillings 1 clove thinly sliced mushroom 1 Korean or jalaeno pepper, sliced 1 cup julienned cucumber 1 cup julienned carrot Wrappers 8 red lettuce leaves, or more Toss together all BulGoGi ingredients in one bowl. Set aside to marinate for 15 minutes, until softened. Prepare fillings, and set aside. Squeeze excess marinade from mushrooms, and place into each lettuce leaf. Top with fillings. Drizzle with Gochujang Sauce, below. Serve and enjoy! Gochujang Sauce 2 1/2 T unpasturied miso, any color 2 T toasted sesame oil 1/4 cup agave syrup or coconut nectar 1/2 teas chile powder, or cayenne, to taste Whisk to mix well. One last tip: I just moved my car out of my garage and onto the street so it will be 'washed' clean by the rain! Conserving water during our [...]

By |May 14th, 2015|Beauty, Farmers' Market, Gluten Free, Green Living, Health, LIFESTYLE, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Mushroom “Bul Go Gi” Recipe

Thai Green Mango Salad

The freshest tropical salad recipe at Phulay Bay in Krabi, Thailand made with romaine lettuce, shredded green mango, toasted coconut, roasted cashews, and sliced red onion. I left out the pomelo, but that would be yummy to include too. Superfood, vegan, gluten free, and organic salad made with all local and seasonal ingredients that are great for detox and boosting overall wellness. Enjoy with a Thai baby coconut....Delicious!

By |April 2nd, 2015|Beauty, Dressings & Salads, Green Living, Health, RECIPES, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Thai Green Mango Salad

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

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

A Warm Green Salad Recipe

I've been playing with fire! I'm enjoying lightly sautéing fresh vegetables and then tossing them hot into a big salad bowl full of fresh greens. Today, I cooked up some garlic in coconut oil with halved cherry tomatoes and chopped broccoli. I added it to a big bowl of chopped up romaine, spinach, arugula, and mixed it all up to allow the cooked veggies to wilt the greens. I finished it off with capers and artichoke hearts. No dressing needed, as the capers and artichokes add saltiness and pickled tartness, while the garlic adds pungency. Give it a try, this salad is to live for! And yes, I do still consider this salad a vegan raw food…. Warm Green Salad 3 cloves garlic, chopped, to taste 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1 cup baby broccoli, chopped 1 Tablespoon coconut oil 2 cup romaine, chopped 1 cup spinach 1 cup arugula 3 Tablespoons capers 1/2 cup artichoke hearts Warm up your pan on medium heat, add coconut oil and garlic. Sauté until soft. Add tomatoes and broccoli. Lightly cook, to desired consistency. Place romaine, spinach, and arugula into a large mixing bowl. Top with cooked vegetables and toss to mix well, wilting your greens. Add capers and artichokes, and toss to mix well. Serve and enjoy!

By |June 17th, 2014|Dressings & Salads, Gluten Free, Main Dishes, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on A Warm Green Salad Recipe

Roasted Sunchoke Recipe

Have you tried sunchokes yet, aka Jerusalem artichoke? They are the tuber of the sunflower plant, and available at our local farmers' markets here in Los Angeles. As with all tubers, they are full of minerals and vitamins and help boost our immune system in the wintertime. When eaten fresh and raw, sunchokes have a light crisp, similar to water chestnut. And are delicious sliced and served as a 'chip' with dips like guacamole and hummus. I tried roasting sunchokes in my friend's convection oven, tossed in a splash of olive oil. The texture was similar to a sweet potato, starchy and delicious. A warming comfort food on a cold winter day. Enjoy this vegan, gluten-free, superfood recipe: Roasted Sunchokes 2 pounds sunchokes, scrubbed 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Toss together the sunchokes and oil in a large bowl. Spread on baking tray and roast for 20 minutes, or until tender and golden brown.  

By |December 19th, 2013|Gluten Free, RECIPES, Snacks & Side Dishes, Super Foods, Superfood, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Foods|Comments Off on Roasted Sunchoke Recipe