I need an amazing dessert!

[TreeAdams]

My husband is making me a raw treat with the kids for my birthday. He asked me to pull out a recipe and leave the kitchen. Any suggestions on something that will be fairly simple (he's never prepared raw before and isn't a wiz in the kitchen in general) but delicious at the same time???

[Sharon in Colorado]

Here's a great, simple idea.

Cut various fruit into bite sized pieces and skewer them, like a fruit shishkabob.

Berries, bananas, pear, apple, pineapple, anything.

Then make a nice fudge sauce out of

1/4 cup raw carob or organic cocoa (cooked) powder
1/4 cup honey or agave to taste
a splash of vanilla extract
and a big tablespoon of almond butter

Mix well in a bowl with a spoon. That is your dipping sauce.

Measurements are approximate out of my head. Keep stirring around and adding this or that until you get the texture you want.

[eachpeachpearplum]

OK this recipe alone is worth buying the book; :eek:

Living Cuisine by Renee Loux Underkoffler

Choconot Mousse Pie with Vanilla Cream Frosting

Page 415 - this is a pie; please use glass pie plate if possible; this pie freezes very well for an ice cream type pie!

This may seem daunting :eek: to a husband and kids but it is actually really really easy! Have your husband read through first as some steps he may want to do before like soaking the nuts - or maybe you can do this for him!

Please also note her crusts are hands down THE best I have EVER tasted, they make great granola or just to eat on its own ect. . .

The recipe:

1 pie crust
3 ripe bananas

Choconot Mousse Filling:

1 1/4 c. pitted dates
1 1/2 T. vanilla extract
2-4 T. maple syrup
1 T. cold pressed coconut butter
3 avocados
2/3-3/4 c. raw carob powder
1/4 c. cocoa powder (or 4 additional T. carob - I used the cocoa)

Vanilla Cream Frosting:
THIS CAN BE DONE THE DAY BEFORE; COVER AND CHILL UNTIL READY TO USE. :rolleyes:

1 c. cashews
4-6 soft dated, pitted
1 T. maple syrup or honey or agave
1T. coconut butter
1T. vanilla extract

For the Garnish: (Please do this as it really helps with the richness)

1pt. raspberries and/or strawberries(sliced)


1) To prepare pie crust - recipe below: (kids can do this) Slice bananas & layer on the bottom of the crust.

2) To prepare the Choconot Mousse: Soak the dates in 1 1/2 c. water for 30 min to soften, then drain but keep soak water. (husband do this perhaps earlier so you & kids dont have to wait for it)
In food processor, blend dates, vanilla & coconut butter into smooth paste; you may need to a few drops of the date soak water here to loosen it a bit.
Cut avocados in half & remove pit putting flesh into food processor with date mixture and process till smooth.
Then add 2/3 c. carob & all cocoa again blending until smooth - taking lid off and scraping down sides a few times.
Spread mousse evenly over banana slices.

3) To Make Vanilla Cream Frosting: Soak cashew in 1 1/2 c. water for 1hr. drain & rinse. Soak dates in 1/2 c. water until very soft 1-2hr. Drain keep soak liquid.
In a blender, blend cashews, dates maple syrup, coconut butter and vanilla. Add date soak water 2 t. at a time as needed to blend smooth, you dont want it too thick! Spread evenly over mousse!

4) For Garnish: Layer berries decorativly on the frosting!

Almond-Vanilla Crumble Crust
THIS CAN BE DONE THE DAY BEFORE; COVER AND CHILL UNTIL READY TO USE. :rolleyes:

2 c. almonds
1 1/2 c. soaked almonds (put in water overnight, drain in the a.m - that's it)
1/2c. dry almonds
4-6 soft dates pitted (NOT soaked)
1 T. maple syrup, honey or agave
1 T. Vanilla
1T. Almond extract
2 t. cinnamon
pinch salt

Soak 1 1/2 cups of the almonds in 3 c. water overnight, drain & rinse. Spread almonds on dry towel & blot dry.
In food processor, chop the remaining 1/2 c. dry almonds into a fine meal. Set aside.
Chop the soaked almonds into a fine meal. Cut or break the dates into pieces. If the dates are very dry or firm, soak them for 5 min to soften. Add date pieces, maple syrup, vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon & salt to the chopped soaked almonds & chop until well mixed. It may be nessasary to scrape the sides of the food processor w/ a rubber spatula & then continue to chop.
Add the dry almond meal & chop until well mixed. This will help to dry the dough into nice crumbly consistancy.
Thedough should be crumbly but sticky enough to hold shape when pressed. Press dough evenly into pie plate or a torte pan. It is best to press the dough to the sides of the plate or pan first then press into the bottom for even depth.

WHEW!!!
Hey those fruit kababs DO look a little less time consuming though. If your DH & kids are not up to making this then please make it for yourself :p

All the best,
EPPP

[Sharon in Colorado]

EPPP I totally agree with you about this book Living Cuisine. It is fantastic. I made the carrot cake with lemon frosting for my raw food service and it got rave reviews.

The only down side is, no pictures and everything is soaked, like the cashews and dates, which IMO doesn't always need to be soaked. However when I made that lemon frosting, instead of dates I used honey to sweeten and it was marvelous. I actually had a few licks and I'm fasting and it was very difficult to stop "licking".

I also made the buckwheat walnut crust for a quiche, and that was also very well-received.

[TreeAdams]

I'm going to leave both recipes for my family and let them choose... I'll make the other one on my own. Sounds like a great recipe book! I'll let you know how they do. :D

[eachpeachpearplum]

I'm going to leave both recipes for my family and let them choose... I'll make the other one on my own. Sounds like a great recipe book! I'll let you know how they do. :D


Hey please take a picture; we all look forward to knowing how it went! :p

[Sharon in Colorado]

I'm going to leave both recipes for my family and let them choose... I'll make the other one on my own. Sounds like a great recipe book! I'll let you know how they do. :D

I could almost see your hubby's thoughts as he sees them:

"OH! this one is so easy, but she won't be very impressed at my lack of effort"

"Oooh...that sounds marvelous but will I screw it up?"

:D

[eachpeachpearplum]

I could almost see your hubby's thoughts as he sees them:

"OH! this one is so easy, but she won't be very impressed at my lack of effort"

"Oooh...that sounds marvelous but will I screw it up?"

:D

Ditto! Talk about both end of the spectrum! Hey I think they ahould make BOTH!!! :eek:

[Nancy from Portland]

Sharon in Colorado,

Your recipe for fruit with chocolate sauce sounds great. I am wondering why you didn't suggest raw chocolate powder instead of the cooked one? You can get raw chocolate powder from www.rawfood.com. It is spendy, but worth it if you want great chocolate taste (and great nutrition too as high in magnesium). Please keep the recipes coming!

[ArcticMist]

I love Living Cuisine. That book is what started me on raw food. Plus my friend actually being raw LOL.

The pie is well worth the book..and a really good thing to make. My kids loved it!

[Sharon in Colorado]

Sharon in Colorado,

Your recipe for fruit with chocolate sauce sounds great. I am wondering why you didn't suggest raw chocolate powder instead of the cooked one? You can get raw chocolate powder from www.rawfood.com. It is spendy, but worth it if you want great chocolate taste (and great nutrition too as high in magnesium). Please keep the recipes coming!

If you have it you can use it however there are doubts that it's truly raw (there have been several discussions on here about it), and it goes through a process much like cocoa does, plus as you say, it is very expensive, so some people don't think it is a big deal to use it on occassion.

I don't see it as being any more nutritious than your everyday fresh foods. :)