dates !!

[Shininjatti]

Does anyone have good dessert recipes that don't use dates?? I really don't like the flavor but it seems they're used to often....is it just for the sweetness?

[VeganVixen]

have you tried the b.p. ice cream?
"Butter pecan ice cream...A couple of frozen bananas, a generous dollop of raw honey, vanilla extract, a big pinch of salt. Toss it all in the food processor and process until smooth (add a tiny bit of warm water to help blend if needed.) Then add the pecans and pulse chop them, not finely ground if you like chunks in your ice cream like I do. That's it. It's divine."

[Shininjatti]

thats it...i hope theres more in alyssas book...cuz i cant stay on this any longer otherwise

[asil]

You don't like dates? This is madness. :)

Now that I've recovered from the shock, let's see ... I think they're used in recipes not just for the sweetness, but for the bulk and stickiness. What about a combo of some other dried, then soaked fruit + honey? Raisins, dried cherries, figs, etc, depending on what flavors you want. There's also stevia, but that adds no bulk or stickiness.

I'm not really a fan of super-sweet raw desserts, although I do like dessert :). To reduce the syicky sweetness of some desserts, I often use sliced bananas, pressed into a pan and chilled, as a substitute for raw pie crusts and cake bases (those recipes are often date-based).

Are you looking for the flavorless sweetness of white sugar? Because I'm afraid that doesn't really exist in nature. But maybe as time goes on, your sweet tooth will moderate and this won't be an issue.

Hope some of this helps.

[tracyinfo]

Shininjatti, I have substituted raisins for dates, with lots of success.

[Shininjatti]

i don't like fruitiness in my desserts...i mean don't get me wrong, i love fruit, whole fruit...but not mixed with anything...i guess this diet wasn't cut out for me or i'm not gonna be able to be that creative huh? i bought Julianos raw...and he uses dates in everything so i was really dissapointed
so i guess i can't omit it for the stickiness huh...dun like raisins either

[VeganVixen]

Actually -Juliano has completely stopped using dates!!! and carrots and bannans -he now uses figs in lue of dates...

[asil]

i don't like fruitiness in my desserts...i mean don't get me wrong, i love fruit, whole fruit...but not mixed with anything...i guess this diet wasn't cut out for me or i'm not gonna be able to be that creative huh? i bought Julianos raw...and he uses dates in everything so i was really dissapointed
so i guess i can't omit it for the stickiness huh...dun like raisins either

Do you mean that if you can't have desserts, you can't stay on raw? Even if other sweets like very sweet fruits are plentifully available? If you're serious about this, lots of experienced people here can help you get through this. Because to me, the need for pies, cakes, ice cream, and other such things should not be a deal breaker. But maybe I misunderstood.

Also, a few years ago, I decided to really watch my blood sugar, since two people in my family lost eyes to diabetes. I was a serious white flour/sugar junkie. I ate baguettes, cookies, cake, pie, bagels, rice, potatoes, or some such nutritionally empty food every day. But I just cut them all out. After a fairly short time, those foods ceased to have a strong pull on me. After two years I had zero interest in them. Now sweet, starchy things actually taste like sweet glue to me -- they don't even seem like food.

My point is, all tastes are aquired. And you can actively change your tastes, if you want to.

Good luck.

[rawpriestess]

I'm not sure exactly what you are saying.

I am hearing that you want desserts, that are sweat, but you don't want to use dates or raisins.

NO problem, you can use, carrotts, apples, bananas, figs, apricots (dried) or any fruit dried will be really sweet,

If you are saying that you don't want to use any fruit, you can use honey.

If you are saying you don't want to use Honey because it is a bee product, and not vegan, you can use maple syrup, although it is not raw, or you can use agave necter, which is raw, and vegan.

If you don't want something too sticky you can use stevia, which comes in fresh leaf form, white powder, or brown or white liquid drops, and is low on the glycemic index.

You can also use mesquit pod meal which is very sweet, and low on the glycemic index also.

KNOW that you can use alot of different things to bring out sweetness in dishes.

I hate raisins in anything, but I love raisins mixed with other things to make cakes and pies.

experiment, that is what I did. Try 1/4 of a recipe with honey, and a quarter with dates, and 1/4 with stevia, and 1/4 with your own recipes.

But, don't let one item in a recipe ruin the entire recipe for you.

Be creative, and if you want to make something, but don't know how to change it, type it up here, and ask us, we'll come up with 100 different ways to change it and make it taste great.

I bet there isn't one person on this board, that hasn't changed a recipe to suit their particular tastes.

"If a person truly wants to do something, they find a way.
If a person truly doesn't want to do something, they find an excuse."
Which person are you?

[VeganVixen]

do you like figs ,like I said Juliano uses them now instead of dates in his recipes

[wildflower]

How about raw granola. When I dehydrated my first recipe I realized I liked it better raw. It's not too sweet and may be just what you want...



4 C. raw oats 2 C. raisins (optional) I omitted
1/2C. honey 1 tsp. Vanilla or maple extract
1/3C. Raw sunflower seeds 1/2 C. pecan meal
1/3 C. Raw pumpkin seeds 1 C. shredded raw coconut
1 C. chopped almonds (I omitted) juice and pulp of 1 large apple

Place all dry ingredients in large bowl. Combine honey, flavoring, and apple pulp. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Can dehydrate until desired texture; or eat raw.

[Shininjatti]

this raw granola recipe looks purrfect!!!!

Thanks!

[VeganVixen]

glad you found something!!! luv the pic!!!

[msmia]

Why doesn't Juliano use these foods anymore?
What's the deal?
-Maria

[VeganVixen]

he says theyre a "double bonded" sugar or something ~I think its a bit crazy

[Shininjatti]

thanks vixin!

[vegangelist]

he says theyre a "double bonded" sugar or something ~I think its a bit crazy


i heard (at least for bananas) that it is b/c they are hybridized. he also doesn't use young coconuts either.

as for the date/raisin issue. i agree on the fig comment. use dried figs (same consistency as dates and raisins) that have been SLIGHTLY rehydrated...that should wind up being about the same consistency at that point. also, what about currants (tho i know it is a stronger flavor) or dried apricots.

i too am in shock about this :) dates, i can at least relate to...b/c i have been there myself (not anymore tho)...but, raisins? how sad....they have feelings too you know :(

;)

kristi

[Shininjatti]

they have feelings???

[vegangelist]

it was just veggie humor :)

kristi

[Shininjatti]

oh okay sorry...but yeah i just think raisins, dates...all of it is sooo sweet...but i've figured some ways around it now...thanks to everyone!