Raw Marinated Mushrooms

The perfect Raw Vegan Thanksgiving main dish. When I tried this out on my family, my 4 year old said, "It's Turkey Mushrooms!" The flavors are great and there is so much to chew! I was never a mushroom lover, but these changed my mind.

8 oz. Carton of Mushrooms, sliced
3 T Olive Oil
2 T Nama Shoyu
2 tsp. Spike Salt Free Gourmet Natural Seasoning (I got it at Good Earth, it has 37 different herbs)
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

Mix oil, Nama Shoyu, Seasonings, and salt in a big bowl. Add in mushrooms and toss. Let them marinate 20-30 minutes. Then transfer to a dehydrating sheet on parchment paper. Dehydrate 60-90 minutes turning them every 10-20 min. You can dehydrate as long as you want. The longer you dehydrate, the more the flavors soak in. You may want to add more seasoning on the top of them. I would recommend at least doubling  this to serve 6 people.

Raw Peppermint and Nut Chocolate Truffles

These raw "candies" became an instant favorite for my mint-chocolate lovers. The others just loved the dark chocolate/nutty/chewy ones. It was a perfect treat for getting into the holiday mood. Something about the peppermint... :)
Basic Recipe
5 Dates, soaked in enough water to cover until soft, about an hour, or you can chop them up
1/3 C Melted Coconut Oil
3/4 C Raw Cocoa Powder
1/2 C Agave (or pure maple syrup, could do half and half)
1/8 tsp Sea Salt
Mini Muffin Cups
Blend all ingredients on high until smooth. It's okay if there are still little date pieces. Pour into mini muffin cups. I did about 10  half full, and then topped them with chopped almonds, raisins, and walnuts.
For the last 1 C of chocolate I added 1 tsp. of Alcohol free Peppermint Oil and mixed in my left over almonds and walnuts. Think Yummy Raw Peppermint Patties! You can add any varieties of fruits and nuts and they are all delish!

Raw Lasagne Rolls

A delicious blend of rich flavors come together in this dish. I have been searching for a really good marinara for zucchini pasta and had yet to make a Raw Lasagne that I really liked. This just ended up with so many flavors it became a "gourmet" dish for us.
You need:
3 Zucchini, sliced thinly into long strips
1-2 T Lemon Juice
1-2 T Olive Oil
Raw Marinara Sauce
Spinach and Walnut Pesto
Cashew "Cottage Cheese"
Almond and Walnut "Sausage"
The Zucchini:  Thinly slice zucchini setting on a plate, then combine oil and lemon in a small bowl. Dip a pastry brush into lemon mixture and lightly coat the zucchini. After lightly coated set each strip onto a dehydrating tray and begin dehydrating at 118 while you make the sauces.
Marinara Sauce: In the Blender.
1 C Sun dried Tomatoes, soak or chop small
4-5 Sun Dates (Soak or smash in 1/4-1/2 C warm water), pitted
1/4 C Olive Oil
1 small Garlic, pressed
1/4 C Lemon, Juiced
1 tsp dried Parsley
1/2 tsp. dried Oregano
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
Blend all, including date water until smooth. Add more water if needed. It's ok if the tomatoes and dates don't completely blend, it adds texture. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
Rinse out the blender and get ready to make the...
Spinach and Walnut Pesto
3 C Spinach
1/3 C Olive Oil
1/2 C Walnuts
1/8 C Lemon, juiced
1-2 Garlic, pressed
Pulse until a thick sauce is formed, it does not have to be creamed. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
Rinse out the blender and make...
Cashew "Cottage Cheese"
*This recipe makes more "cheese" than the rest of the ingredients. If you don't want a lot, cut recipe in half.
2 C Cashews
1/2 C Water
1 T Nutritional Yeast
1-2 T Lemon, juiced
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
Blend until a cottage cheese texture is achieved, add more water if needed. Again not going for a real creamy sauce on this one. Set aside in a bowl.
Rinse and dry the blender.
Almond and Walnut "Sausage" 
*This is so good! You could add it to Raw Pizza or anywhere you wanted a "meaty" texture or flavor.
1 C Almonds
1 C Walnuts (pecans may work)
1/2 tsp dried Oregano
1/2 tsp dried Parsley
3 T Nama Shoyu
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/8 tsp Black Pepper
Pulse in the blender until the mixture is almost sticking together, add a little water if you want it to be chunkier.
Pour into a bowl.
The Lasagne Rolls:
Turn off the dehydrator and leave the zucchini strips on them. They should be slightly softened by now.
To assemble make a  layer of Marinara, cheese, pesto, topped with "sausage" on one end of the zucchini. Then roll the end with nothing on it over the top and tuck under.
*Or layer on entire slice of zucchini and eat it like a pizza.
*Another option would be to make it into an actual lasagne style and add sliced tomatoes
Eat Right away, or best if dehydrated another 1/2-1 hour. The longer it's dehydrated the softer the zucchini and crunchier the "sausage."
I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Raw Creamy Tomato Basil Soup with Avocado

Looking for a simple Raw Soup? With the weather turning colder I tend to want more warm foods. This soup is easy, creamy, light, delicious and warm.

5 Small Tomatoes, abt. 2 inch.
1 C Raw Cashews
1 1/2-2 C Water
1 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
3 Chopped Tomatoes
2 Avocadoes, chopped
1/2-1 tsp. dried Basil
Place 5 tomatoes, cashews, water, salt and pepper in the blender and blend on high or soup until creamy. Transfer to a pot and add Basil, Chopped Tomatoes, and Chopped Avocados. Stir and heat until warm to the touch, not boiling.
Eat warm. Mmmmm.
Makes about 3 Cups.
*If you want it all creamy just blend in the avocados.

Cutie Pumpkins

This was another fun Halloween idea. I know it's past for this year, but here's for the next year. My kids got these in their lunches and also gave them to their teachers at school.
1 bag of Cuties or Clementines
Plastic wrap
Green Gift Ribbon
Permanent Marker
Scissors
Cut off a 12x12 piece of plastic wrap. Place a cutie in the middle. Tie at the top with ribbon. Cut off the top so only an inch is left. Curl the ribbon with scissors. Draw on a face. Cute Halloween food.

Raw Cocoa Crispy Fudge Balls

This was a combination of recipes that turned out Cocoa Crisp yummy.
Make a batch of Raw Milk Chocolate Fudge (My personal Fave!)
1/3 C Agave
1/2 C Raw Honey
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 C Coconut oil
1/2 C Raw Cocoa Powder
1 1/4 C Cashews
Blend all until there are small cashew pieces. Chill in the freezer. When it is solid enough to spoon out and hold, take a spoonful at a time and roll in soaked and dehydrated Buckwheat.
Chill.

Raw Witch Fingers

2 C Almonds
1 C Walnuts
1/4 C Raw Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
8 pitted Medjool Dates
1 tsp Pure Vanilla
Blend or process until well mixed, add
1/8 C Agave
Blend.
When it starts to clump together, it is done. Take about 1 inch balls and roll it out, pushing in the top and bottom half to form a "bony finger" look. Add a skinless Almond at the end for a fingernail. Use any left over dough to make gravestones or any other spooky shape.
Chill in refrigerator.
*To get the skin off an almond, soak them in very warm water for 20-30+ minutes and they should peel right off.

Witches Brew (Raw Veggie Soup)

For Halloween this year we had a Witches Brew.

8 Small Vine Tomatoes, seeded

1 C Carrots

2 C Celery

1 Zuchinni, ends cut off, cut in 4 pieces

1 Red Bell Pepper

1/2-1 White Onion

1-2 Garlic

1/8 C Lemon

3 C Water

Dash of Cayenne

Salt and Pepper to taste (and any other spices you like)

Blend Veggies with 1 Cup of water on the Soup Button, or High until completely blended. Pour into a pot and add the other 2 Cups of water.You can heat it more on the stove until it is warm to the touch, but not boiling! This is one brew we do not want to boil over.

Add: 

Chopped Avocado and Tomatoes

Chopped Cabbage

Corn (opt)

Any other of your favorite soup ingredients.

Top with Raw Sour Cream and a Avocado Spider :) To make the web, make 3 or 4 for circles with the sour cream, then take a butter knife and draw out from the middle to the side of the pot.

Healthy Hot Chocolate

I've tried a lot of variations of this and like this one best. Great for a cold morning!
2 C Almond Milk
3 T Raw Cocoa
3 T Agave
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
Blend until warm or heat on the stove until warm to touch.