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Fast Raw Vegan Cheese Ball

Last Christmas I found and modified the most simple and delicious "Cheese Ball" I have ever had. I could not believe how fast it was to make and how fancy it looked. We simply devoured it with wheat crackers and veggies.

Into the Blender went:
1 1/2 C Cashews
1/2 Lemon, or 2 T Lemon Juice
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 T Nutritional Yeast
Dash of Cayenne Pepper

Pulse Together until the dough forms a ball on top of the blade. It is not wet and you can just dump it out into a bowl and form it together with your hands.
Add Shredded Almonds or other crushed nuts to the outside. It is ready to eat right away, or cover it and store in the fridge. The longer in the fridge the more it will dry out and become crumbly- which becomes and excellent salad topping :)
*It is very versatile and I think I would add crushed Walnuts and Italian spices to the outside next time. 

Natural Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies

My kids absolutely love fresh ground peanut butter! While it is not raw, we still consider it a plant-based food and the kids love to eat cut up gala apples and peanut butter for breakfast and/or snack time.
 We like to buy the fresh ground peanut butter and can even tell the difference between it and Adams "natural" peanut butter. It's just fresher and not oily. I personally only like peanut butter on something such as Celery and peanut butter with raisins, or mixed with something chocolaty. If you want to keep this recipe raw you can omit the PB or go with raw almond butter, which is also great.

Ingredients

Brownie
1 C Raw Almonds
1 1/2 C Pecans
1/2 C Walnuts (plus 1/2 set aside for the top)
1/4 C Organic Cacao Powder
1 C packed and pitted Medjool Dates, about 12-16.
3 Tbsp Raw Honey (opt.)
Dash of sea salt

Middle
1 C fresh ground Peanut Butter

Frosting
1 C Coconut Oil
1/2 C Agave
1/2 C Pure Maple Syrup
1/4 C Cacao Powder
Dash of Sea Salt

1. Add the nuts, cacao, and sea salt to a food processor with the S blade in place. Process until slightly crumbly.
2. Add the dates and honey and process until the mixture starts to stick together.
3. Transfer to a plastic wrap lined 9x13 glass dish and press down mixture with your knuckles until even.
4. Spread the cup of peanut butter on the brownies. If it's too sticky add a little coconut oil to the back of a spoon and continue to spread until even.
5. Make the frosting by adding coconut oil, agave, maple syrup, cacao, and salt to the blender.
Blend on high until all the coconut oil is blended and there are no chunks left.
6. Top the brownies with 1 C of the frosting. Save the remaining in an  airtight container in the fridge.
7. Sprinkle brownies with 1/2 C Walnuts.
8. Freeze until ready to eat. -You can eat them soft, but they are better after an hour or so in the freezer.
9. Take out of the freezer and pull up on your plastic "handles," setting it onto a cutting board.
10. Cut into 1x1 inch squares, serve and enjoy :)

Chocolate Strawberry Superfood Shake

 Adding in Omega 3 fatty acids and almonds give this shake an exceptional nutritious value! The almonds and spinach add protein while the seeds aid in digestion and omega 3's. The cacao is a super food as well.
 This shake has been a new favorite for me since the sourness of normal berry smoothies do not sit well when I am nearing the end of another pregnancy and have SO much heartburn.
*This is great after-workout raw shake as well.

2 C Water
2 C Frozen Strawberries
2 Ripe Bananas
1/2-1 C Packed Spinach
2 T Cacao powder (super food)
1 T Flax Seeds
1 T Chia Seeds
2 T Raw Honey
1-2 C Ice (about 1 tray)

Blend on "Shake" or high until an even and smooth consistency is achieved. I like to put it in a big hospital mug and drink throughout the morning with a straw!

Makes about 6 Cups. Share, drink, or freeze into smoothie pops.