BEST tried and true recipes

[Sunshine9]

I realize this is a common topic, but searching the archives I didn't find exactly what I am looking for. In a few months I am going to be a raw food chef for some people, and while I know what *I* love, I don't trust my raw taste-buds compared to a cooked palate. I have some great italian staples, but I don't yet have signature dishes that incorporate other flavors. I'm open to anything, and this will be more of a gourmet event.

So everything... soups, salad, appetizers, entrees, desserts-- ALL suggestions welcomed! What is YOUR favorite recipe? What is your mothers favorite thing you make? Your husband? Your SAD neighbor? What do the kids request? I would love all the input you got!

T H A N K Y O U
*~Sunshine~*

[life-in-me]

Yesterday I had a 4th of July picnic at my house. I made an amazingly good zucchini lasagna which I thought was the best thing I've ever made and I thought tasted soooo good! I was so disappointed when it got a luke warm reception from my SAD relatives. Some of them wouldn't even try it even though it looked beautiful. So I have the same question as you... how do you prepare raw food for SAD people who have taste buds that are so different from your own?! Do people have to first be motivated for a health reason to go raw and change their taste buds and THEN be able to enjoy the flavor of a raw food dish?! I haven't been raw long enough to have tried a wide variety of dishes on non-raw people so I hope someone can answer this! I'm frustrated! :(

[fiddler]

Unfortunately, SAD eater's taste buds are attracted (perverted) more to the high fat, processed sugar foods on July 4th ( Midwest -- i.e. Hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, cake, ice cream)

FWIW, people's taste buds vary greatly. After following a low-fat raw vegan diet for awhile, I wouldn't have even tried the lasagna either. Instead, I would've opted for some fresh whole fruit. At my 4th of July party I had a half of a watermelon during the afternoon followed by a salad (head of romaine lettuce) topped with dressing (blended tomatoes, red pepper, celery, walnuts).

Its been my personal experience that mimicking SAD dishes just doesn't win over SAD eaters. If you want to try some fancy gourmet (nut-heavy) raw dishes that's cool, but you may also want to provide some simple, ripe, fresh, organic, raw, whole foods as well. For example, depending on what's in season, prepare some fresh pineapple, cherries, watermelon, bananas, tomatoes, cukes, salads.

Just my $.02

[vgloveforlife]

On the 4th I made Alissa's lentil cups. I made the recipie and instead of putting it in lettuce leaves I just stirred in the Mrs Ackerlys dressing recipe and everyone loved it A LOT!

I also love the spinach dip from her cookbook. It is so creamy.

The Cashew Cheese from "Raw" is amazing! I made a few variations.

3 cups cashews soaked for 10-12 hrs
1/4 cup rejuvelac
1/2 tsp salt

Process cashews. Stir in rejuvelac & salt. Shape into a round mound and leave in a warm place for 12 hours.

Sprinkle nutritional yeast, lemon juice and minced onions on the top

Refrigerate 24 hrs.

It is simply amazing with the Tacos from "Raw". I make these into crackers instead and put a slice of cashew cheese on top. I've given that to people and they are just stunned at how good it is!

Tacos:
3 cups flaxseeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
3 cups water
1 cup rejuvelac
2 Tbs. minced onions
2 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp. chilli powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 cup nama shoyu
2 Tbs. poppy seeds

Combine seeds and water and refrigerate 10-12 hrs until liquid is absorbed. Drain off. Add all ingredients except poppy seeds and blend about 5 mintues until it is smooth. Add poppy seeds and process.
Spred 1/8 thick onto drying sheet. Dehydrate until crisp.

[Linda1970]

Yesterday I had a 4th of July picnic at my house. I made an amazingly good zucchini lasagna which I thought was the best thing I've ever made and I thought tasted soooo good! I was so disappointed when it got a luke warm reception from my SAD relatives. Some of them wouldn't even try it even though it looked beautiful. So I have the same question as you... how do you prepare raw food for SAD people who have taste buds that are so different from your own?! Do people have to first be motivated for a health reason to go raw and change their taste buds and THEN be able to enjoy the flavor of a raw food dish?! I haven't been raw long enough to have tried a wide variety of dishes on non-raw people so I hope someone can answer this! I'm frustrated! :(

I know exactly what you mean. THis happened to me and I got very frustrated. I'm also pretty new to raw (a few months) so I don't know the answer yet.

[m_pizzano]

I made the date nut torte from Alissa's book the day before and my cousin's loved it! I think it's easier with desserts. But I also made the BBQ chicken fingers (also from Alissa's book) for my boyfriend yesterday and at first he didn't want to try it but then he did and couldn't keep his hands off of them! He said it really tasted like BBQ and told me that I was playing with his mind. :) It was really funny.

[Nenyath]

The one thing I have found my family, friends and especially my mate to love is a sort of chocolate torte.

For the crust you chop together dates and walnuts, just a little more dates than nuts. When it sticks you can put it into some sort of bowl or plate or whatever. The filling is made out of a really ripe avocado, honey and either carob or cacao or both. I use cacao as I can only get roasted carob :(
You can use strawberries or some other fruit for garnishing but it tastes and looks great without also. My mate keep requesting it :rolleyes:

Also you can serve salad, but make it a really good salad. I find that most people find salads extremely boring because they usually get the typical iceberg, tomatoes, cukes and such. I think it should be possible to find some good ideas for that in here..

Maybe you could try the "I need some more foodpicks" thread, both pictures and recipes, I love that one!!

Good luck!!

Fly forever free..

[Cinnamon]

I've found that raw desserts almost always go over great with SAD eaters or those curious about raw, but I've had very little luck with main dishes. I think the taste buds are just not evolved enough for a lot of people eating cooked foods to enjoy, that changes with time of course but I just stick with desserts now because I was so disappointed at the lack of enthusiasm from others about foods I thought were great!

So the favorites are-Date Nut Torte, Black Forrest Cake (I use the middle layer as a pudding), Fudge Balls, banana ice cream, and most any other dessert. These listed are all from Alissa's book and I make them over and over again!

[mindelicious]

I have found that if you make dishes that are similiar to SAD items, not trying to be them or replicate a taste/texture, then you may find success with SAD eaters.
When you set a dish in front of someone (SAD) and say lasagna--they say where is the lasagna noodles??this isn't lasagna!!I'm not eating this thing!! The boyfriend didn't want to eat the BBQ Chicken fingers at first--gaurenteed it was the name you called it throwing him off.

If you have a dehydrated bread down--you could do bruschetta

Crackers, guac, salsa--perfect
The spinach dip was a great suggetion

Try the KFC coleslaw recipe--it is a recipe that is what it is, the main ingredient--cabbage is not trying to be anything but cabbage. Not very gourmet--it is all about presentation, cut thicker strips of cabbage roll some coleslaw in and drizzle with extra dressing!

Try pesto stuffed mushrooms, again not trying to be anything to crazy but accentuating the main ingredient.

Again if you can do a pizza crust, make a great sauce, dehydrate, then throw on some "sauteed" onions, mushrooms, fresh herbs, raw olives--if you have them, dehyrate again--it doesnt have to be about the cheese--but about the lovely veggies.

Vanessa Sherwood had an Asian Noodle salad on greenchef.tv--would be great--I am sure it is in one of her cookbooks.

I have tried this and it is great--Sweet Potato Soufflé with Pecan Topping--this is more of a fall thing but just another example of using the ingredients as what they are. http://rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6884&highlight=sweet+potato+pecan

Tropical Smoothies to drink--mango banana

Pies are going to be perfect, a crust and a sweet fruity filling, simple.


Just try to stay away from slapping a plate in front of a SAD and saying here this is a burger (veggie burger), french fries (shoe string jicama), and mac & cheese (coconuct & nut cheese concocotion) --probably not going over very well.

[mindelicious]

How about sweet potato chips & mango salsa

Alissa's Avocado Chutney

Alissa's Strawberry Crepes!!

Experiment with this: http://www.fromsadtoraw.com/Recipes/VeggieMarinade.htm

Chocolate covered raisins/currants/strawberries/bananas!!!!!!!!!!!!


????????Oh can I help?????

[light food]

One thing you could do to find out what is popular is to compare recipe books and find the recipes that are repeated in most of the books. Gespacho is very popular, that's a mexican dish so you can add variety to your Italian dishes, as is banana ice cream and almond milk. If you are making banana ice cream proffesionally I would make it with frozen strawberries as well and then pop it back in the freezer because I think it melts too fast otherwise.

[Sunshine9]

thank you for all these suggestions!! I appreciate it so much!

Fiddler- I get what you're saying, and would probably make similar choices myself, but I'm being paid money to prepare food for these people so they want a bit more than just fruit haha :)

I think I'll give the crepes a try and play around with some more desserts. Perfect crackers and dips.

Any more recipes? I know you all have some... ;)