Blackberry Syrup - Sugar-Free

8/5/2014 0 Comments

Blackberry Syrup that tastes like pie! It is a homemade sugar-free blackberry syrup made from just water, dates and berries and then blended to smooth perfection! It tastes great on pancakes!

Blackberry Sauce:

2 cups frozen or fresh blackberries
1/2 cups dates
1/3 cup warm water

Directions:

In a medium sized pot or pan simmer 2 cups of frozen blackberries, 1/2 cup of pitted dates and 1/3 cup of warm water. Cooking until dates are soft, it will smell like a pie!!
Allow to cool, blend and set aside in a jar. Use as topping on your cakes! Feel free to double as it's really delicious and others may want extra! :)

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2 Ingredient Banana Berry Blender Ice Cream and Popsicles!

8/4/2014 0 Comments

Summer is here and with it brings sweet treats of ice cold ice cream and popsicles to cool off from the summer heat! On a hot day you may find my eyes gazing towards the ice cream section with memories of refreshing sweet treats in the summer time. I'll check the ingredients and frown but remember I can make my own!

You won't need a lot of fancy equipment, not even an ice cream maker! Just a blender or a food processor and this dessert is a sweet possibility.

The secret? Frozen Bananas! My soul mate introduced me to these gems! I had never thought of freezing bananas and frankly didn't keep them around very much because they ripened so quickly. When I started dating Jerry he said his favorite meal to start the day with was a frozen shake with frozen bananas, mixed berries and protein. It sounded healthy enough, I gave it a try and have been HOOKED every since! At first it was hard on the weekends....no pancakes? Waffles? You really don't want a homemade breakfast? "Nope, just a shake" and soon it became a very healthy habit we continue to follow to this day meaning 99% of the time you'll find frozen banana gems in our freezer.

Simply break the banana into pieces. Opt to add mixed berries using a 1:1 ratio and enjoy a superb treat!

For a fun alternative pour mixture into a Popsicle mold, freeze and enjoy as a summer treat!

Enjoy this incredibly easy, minimalistic, raw, vegan, gluten-free dessert, snack and treat!

Lay back knowing it's made of fresh fruit bursting with:

Vitamin A, B and C
Fiber
Antioxidants

Helping to provide protection from:

Inflammation
Free Radicals
Molecules that can cause damage to cells and organs

Benefits can include:

Heart Health
Aiding in Memory
Lower Blood Pressure

The list goes on but enough jibber jabber let's make one heck of a delicious treat!!!

Ingredients:

2 Frozen Bananas - frozen in chunks
1 cup Frozen Mixed Berries

Directions:

Take 2 frozen bananas and place in a high speed blender or food processor. Process until it creates a smooth, creamy almost whipped ice cream.
Then take 1 cup of mixed berries and pulse in a food processor until finely crumbled.
Add the mixture to the bananas and pulse to combine, avoid over-processing otherwise you may end up with a smoothie! Serve immediately as ice cream with berries on top!
Or pour mixture into a Popsicle mold, freeze and enjoy as a summer fun treat! To get the Popsicle out, I found a dash of warm water and a gentle squeeze did the trick.

It's as easier than pie!

I hope you enjoy this super fun and absolutely delicious treat bound to be enjoyed by all ages any time of the year!

Best wishes for a vibrant healthy and happy week!
Christa

PS - Aren't you loving the sunsets this time of year? Here is a picture from the other night. Not the best shot but look at that SKY!

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Vegan Cream Cheese Filled Tomatoes with Spices and Green Onions!

8/1/2014 0 Comments

Happy Friday and 1st day of August! Are you enjoying your summer? The other day Jerry and I were taking a walk with our hand weights by the ocean, we decided to go for a mid-day walk as opposed to our usual sunset. I desperately wanted to jump in, so we did just that! We set our weights on the sand and went in, clothes and all! We swam, laughed and floated. I especially loved the sensation of floating on my back with the gentle waves lapping beneath my body, I felt one with the waves. :0) It's moments like that, where we truly let our inhibitions go and have fun that I cherish the most. Have you enjoyed such moments?

We recently enjoyed a refreshing NEW moment in our home. I got to see my husband on TV for the first time and he got to BE on TV for the first time! Needless to say, we are having a VERY exciting day! My soul mate and husband Gerald Clark was featured on on a TV segment with TOPIC: UFO! He did sensational, I'm so proud of him!!! Watch this video and show your support for my husband!

Once you're mind has explored new regions, your belly may want to as well! I've been trying to be more innovative in the kitchen and came up with a delicious treat. Tomatoes, Vegan Cream Cheese, Spices and Green Onions come together to create a tantalizing appetizer. Thick, rich, homemade cream cheese made from cashews, stuffed inside a ripe, juicy tomato with a fresh sprinkle of salt, pepper, and an herb and seed blend with green onions on top.

Going to a party? A BBQ? A Picnic? Having friends or family over? Or if you just want a delicious treat then give this recipe a try and create a beautiful appetizer for friends and family! It is surprisingly easy to whip this together!

What comes to mind when I think of this appetizer?

Juicy
Ripe
Fresh
Creamy
Cheesy
Satisfying!
Mouthwatering!
What about you?

Cashew Cream Cheese

2 cups cashews - Soaked for 4 + hours
1 cup filtered water
Salt to taste (opt)

Directions:

Blend Cashews with filtered water until very smooth, place in a open mouthed 1/2 gallon glass jar. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and secure with a rubber band. Cover with a towel and allow to sit in a warm place overnight.
The next day dehydrate the "cheese" at 105 degrees for 6-8 hours until it begins to firm. Since it was so hot outside, we just placed the jar in the sunshine and it worked very nicely. You will have a nice thick, cream cheese like spread.

Tip: Feel free to add a little lime/lemon, apple cider vinegar to add more flavor plus any other seasoning you can dream up.

Now to create the masterpiece!

Vegan Cream Cheese Filled Tomatoes with Spices and Green Onions!

Small Ripe Tomatoes (Grape, Cherry, off the vine etc)
Cashew Cream Cheese
Green onions - diced
Salt and pepper to taste
Opt: Seed and herb mixture: I used my favorite nut and spice blend "DUKKAH" from Trader Joes. It contains a mixture of Almonds, Sesame Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Coriander, Anise Seeds and Kosher Salt and tastes sooooooo good!

Directions:

Take small juicy ripe tomatoes, core the inside and prepare a shallow bed for the cream cheese.
Take a spatula or spoon and fill the center of the tomato with the homemade cashew cream cheese.
Top with salt, pepper and an optional nut and spice blend.
Place Green onions on the side and/or on top.
Wallah! Appetizers that are sure to please not only the eye, but the palette as well.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!

Have a great weekend!
Christa

PS - If you haven't seen it, please watch this short film "Let Food Be Thy Medicine"!

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Blackberry Syrup - Sugar-Free

2 Ingredient Banana Berry Blender Ice Cream and Popsicles!

Vegan Cream Cheese Filled Tomatoes with Spices and Green Onions!

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