Raw Vegan PISTACHIO DATE CLUSTERS

With only 8 ingredients, no oven and 15 minutes you can make these amazing raw vegan pistachios date clusters. They are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, raw, and only naturally-sweetened. Also, they’re delicious.

INGREDIENTS:
Date Caramel

2 cups pitted dates
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup warm water
¼ cup + 2 tbsp raw shelled pistachios
1 tsp sea salt

Coating

¼ cup + 2 tbsp unsweetened cacao powder
2 tbsp cup coconut oil, liquid
1 tbsp maple syrup/agave/raw honey
2 tbsp crushed raw shelled pistachios, for topping.

INSTRUCTIONS:

-In a food processor, combine dates, warm water, ¼ cup and 2 tbsp pistachios, sea salt, and vanilla until a paste forms.
-Transfer paste to a foil-lined small 4×4 dish or square Tupperware. Spread evenly, cover, and freeze for 10 minutes.
-Meanwhile, combined cacao powder, liquid coconut oil, and maple syrup in a medium bowl with a whisk until homogenous.
-Remove pan from freezer and cut into squares. Dip each date square into the chocolate coating and sprinkle with remaining pistachios.
-Place each square on a lined baking sheet and return to freezer for 15 minutes.

Store in refrigerator.

And enjoy!!!

Superfood Hot Chocolate

Not only are we using raw cacao powder not to be confused with cocoa powder which is processed. We also added ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and coconut oil, which are all immune boosting and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Which makes this hot chocolate a superfood. Drink up and enjoy. But first let’s talk about the health benefits of these raw and plant based ingredients.

Cacao: Contains high amounts of magnesium and high levels of flavonoids, an antioxidant responsible for decreasing inflammation and ridding the body of free-radicals. If possible, buy raw cacao powder instead processed cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is heated to high temperatures, which destroys some of its healing qualities.

Ginger: A reliever to GI upset, but also a potent anti-inflammatory. Gingerols, a substance found in ginger is responsible for decreasing pain and inflammation in people suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cinnamon: Similar to ginger, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. Some studies even suggest that cinnamon helps with insulin resistance.

Turmeric: A very potent anti-inflammatory agent due to curcurmin, the compound that gives turmeric its bright yellow color. In addition to decreasing inflammation and pain in those suffering from arthritis, turmeric protects cells from oxidative stress.

Coconut Oil: Contains lauric acid, which may fight off bacteria, fungus and viruses. Also, a good source of medium chain triglycerides that contain anti-aging properties.

Ingredients:

2 cups of milk of your choice (hemp, soy, almond, etc.)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons cacao powder (or cocoa powder if you don’t have cacao!)
2-3 tablespoons maple syrup (adjust according to your taste)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
pinch sea salt

Instructions:

-Warm all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, whisking occasionally.
-Transfer to a blender and pulse until frothy.
-Top with coconut, soy or rice whip for fun!

Enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE FRESH VEGAN MOZZARELLA CHEESE PIZZA

11219619_843199265787221_4645949295925907202_nHOW TO MAKE FRESH VEGAN MOZZARELLA CHEESE PIZZA

THIS RECIPE IS :
Dairy Free Kid-Friendly Vegan
from One Green Planet

INGREDIENTS
1/4 C. raw cashews (soaked in water for several hours and then drained IF you don’t have a high powered blender)
1 C. hot water
2 T. + 1 t. tapioca starch
1 T. extra virgin olive oil (optional)
1 small garlic clove, minced
3/4 t. sea salt
1 t. fresh lemon juice
For the dough

This crust contains gluten, but you can use gluten-free ingredients.

2 C. organic all purpose flour
1 C. organic whole wheat flour
2 1/4 t. active dry yeast (1 packet)
1 cup warm water
2 t. sea salt
1 t. agave
1 T. extra virgin olive oil (optional)
For the pizza sauce

one 14 ounce can crushed tomatoes
3 cloves minced garlic
1/2 t. dried thyme
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. dried basil
1 T. extra virgin olive oil (optional)
1 t. agave
sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

PREPARATION
Blend all ingredients together in a high speed blender until completely smooth, about 1 minute.
Pour into a small saucepan and cook, stirring constantly over medium high heat. After a couple of minutes the mixture will start to look weird, like it’s curdling or separating. This is totally normal, reduce heat to medium and KEEP stirring so you don’t burn the cheese to the bottom of the pot.
Keep cooking and stirring til really thick (about 2-3 more minutes) and the mixture becomes like a cohesive mass of melted dairy cheese and stretches like in the photo below.
Remove from heat and let cool a bit while you assemble the pizzas.

For the dough

Combine all ingredients and knead for 10 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 60 minutes until doubled. While the dough is rising, make the pizza sauce and the fresh mozzarella cheese.
For the pizza sauce and to assemble the pizza

Saute the garlic in a little vegetable broth or the olive oil in a small saucepan for a minute or two on medium heat. Add all the other ingredients. Reduce heat to low and let simmer while you make the Mozzarella Cheese.

Assembly: Your dough should be nearly ready now, so when it hits 60 minutes or is doubled, punch it down and divide it into four pieces. Preheat the oven to 500°. Roll out the dough on a floured surface as thin or thick as you like. We opted for thicker pizzas this round. Spread each pizza with 1/4 of the pizza sauce. Top with fresh tomato slices, dollops of the fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil leaves like shown in the photo below

Bake individual pizzas for 10-12 minutes on a baking sheet until cheese and the crusts are nicely browned. Note: there is a very fine line between nicely browned and burnt here, so please, watch your pizzas carefully. Sprinkle pizzas with a bit of additional chopped fresh basil once out of the oven if desired.

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