do you soak your nuts for pie crusts

[fruitbat]

im sorry if this is a stupid question but im learning at this raw diet and ive read that you must soak nuts and seeds to help with digestion
do you do this when your making raw pudding crusts as well?
i have been doing this is this right or do you all use unsoaked nuts when making crusts when i make the crust its very soft and fudgy and when ive completed the recipe and put the filing in and cut into it it sort of colapses a bit as its all soft is this what happens with raw desserts or am i doing it wrong
im hoping ill be good at the raw cooking one day like you all are even though im anorexic ive always cooked for my family they dont eat raw and i use to make birthday cakes and desserts and dinners for them and they thought i was really good but i dont cook very much now im trying to learn the art of raw recipes but i still cook for them sometimes as they think i cook the best but i dont eat any of it as you probably guess by me being anorexic but i am trying to eat what i do raw but ive been wondering about the crust thing for a while now so could anyone tell me what you do
thankyou

[flutterfly]

I soak nuts for all my recipes.

[fruitbat]

Thankyou for your help guess ive been doing right :)

[Rawkinlocs]

In a previous thread similar to this topic, I had stated that many of the raw recipe books will actually tell you NOT to soak nuts or seeds for certain recipes. RawPriestess suggested soaking and THEN dehydrating till dry and crunchy, which I agree with and have done myself...but then the thought came to me, "But what about those without a dehydrator?" or what about those times when you're in a clinch and it's a toss-up between whipping up a quick dessert using unsoaked nuts or grabbing something that's already prepared (read processed...cooked food) that's already lying around the house?

I realize that soaking nuts is said to be important because of the enzyme inhibitors and for easier digestion, but then again, we ARE talking about making desserts that are improperly combined foods (nuts with fruit - a big food combining "no-no") It's kinda like saying, if you're gonna play by the rules, play by 'em all...soak the nuts and properly combine your foods. If you're gonna be a little "bad" by improperly combining for the occasional dessert treat in the first place, then make it good and don't worry about the soaking of the nuts if it's making it not-so-palatable (IF the recipe calls for unsoaked or if you're finding that soaking makes a mushy mess of a crust and you DON'T like it, that is).

I guess for me I pick and choose my "battles" with this one. I opt to have the right texture and not a mush crust for my desserts and all other times I consume nuts I will soak them for maximum digestion and nutritional value. But that's just me ;)

[fruitbat]

In a previous thread similar to this topic, I had stated that many of the raw recipe books will actually tell you NOT to soak nuts or seeds for certain recipes. RawPriestess suggested soaking and THEN dehydrating till dry and crunchy, which I agree with and have done myself...but then the thought came to me, "But what about those without a dehydrator?" or what about those times when you're in a clinch and it's a toss-up between whipping up a quick dessert using unsoaked nuts or grabbing something that's already prepared (read processed...cooked food) that's already lying around the house?

I realize that soaking nuts is said to be important because of the enzyme inhibitors and for easier digestion, but then again, we ARE talking about making desserts that are improperly combined foods (nuts with fruit - a big food combining "no-no") It's kinda like saying, if you're gonna play by the rules, play by 'em all...soak the nuts and properly combine your foods. If you're gonna be a little "bad" by improperly combining for the occasional dessert treat in the first place, then make it good and don't worry about the soaking of the nuts if it's making it not-so-palatable (IF the recipe calls for unsoaked or if you're finding that soaking makes a mushy mess of a crust and you DON'T like it, that is).

I guess for me I pick and choose my "battles" with this one. I opt to have the right texture and not a mush crust for my desserts and all other times I consume nuts I will soak them for maximum digestion and nutritional value. But that's just me ;)

Thankyou i think understand what your saying ill try it without soaking next time to see what its like i didnt think you were surposed to mix fruit with nuts and fruit and veg together but when i look on here you all seem to do that sometimes so i get a little confused but i think your saying do it ocassionly only are you? and thats ok and other times keep to the rules of food combining which i try to do as i definatley feel better when i do cause when i dont i get tummy aches and dont feel well
thankyou for your advice hope i get good at this like you all are one day :rolleyes: :)

[Rawkinlocs]

Well, I'll put it this way...

In Alissa's book, she mentions ALL of the rules of eating (proper food combining, soaking, sprouting, etc. BUT, she also mentions that most people who are coming off of the SAD to raw, it would be difficult to remain raw eating mono-meals, etc. So, the recipes and combinations are there for the ease of transitioning from cooked food to raw foods. A lot of people's old favorites are recreated to a raw version, but oftentimes this does lead to improper food combining.

After a while, though, most people's bodies will let them know that, "HEY, need to let up on the nuts" or "HEY, fruit and nuts isn't working anymore"!

So, eventually the person's diet gets fine tuned and they end up no longer wanting or needing those raw meals and desserts to feel full and satiated, but get satisfaction from eating only simple things like straight fruit, salads or veggies or a small handful or two of nuts/seeds.

You really have to begin listening to your own body and eating accordingly for the most part. But in the beginning stages of raw, sometimes these meals and desserts are needed so we won't resort back to other things.

In my previous post, I said once in a while because most people don't and won't prepare rich raw desserts daily...a smoothie or fruit pudding or just fruit may satisfy that sweet tooth.

Now don't get me wrong, some people can and DO go raw from jump without all the recipes and it works for them. But many of us kinda feel we need to have the recipes to help us not feel deprived and it really is okay in the beginning stages to do that as it's WAY better than what most of us used to eat prior to going raw. But again, eventually we should look towards eating more simply as a goal for optimal health and nutrition.

[fruitbat]

i understand what your saying now thankyou and it makes sense to me at last why there is recipes mixing food groups i get there eventually :rolleyes:
thankyou again x :)

[RawTruth]

Cherie -- what an absolutely perfect explanation. It was clear, concise, and accurate. I attended an uncooking class yesterday where the chef didn't come anywhere near that! This seems to be a concept that many people don't get, and I think it does not aid them in the long run. They continue to experience digestive problems and think that it's candida or other woes when really it's continued preparation of dishes that use nuts with fruit ... or foods eaten in wrong order. I've cut and pasted your explanation to send to friends that still think that the "raw gourmet" dishes are permanent replacements for cooked dishes and haven't altered the basic structure of their eating. Is that okay that I took it out of the forum? Thanks!