Raw Vegan Doughnut Holes a.k.a. "Tim Bits"

Hey Loves!

I haven't been able to shake the craving for something cinnamon-ny and sweet lately.  The other day after my lady friends and I took their kids tobogganing, we went for tea and hot chocolate at Tim Hortons' (for my international pals, Tim Hortons is the most popular coffee shop chain in Canada, founded by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, Tim Horton).  As I ordered a large peppermint tea at the counter, my gaze turned to the racks of freshly made doughnuts, in particular the doughnut holes (in Canada, we call them "Tim Bits") and I felt my mouth begin to salivate.  I rushed home and whipped up a batch of sweet, dense, spiced little gems that were as good as any Tim Bits, and maybe even better, as they were free of white flour, white sugar and a whole host of mystery chemicals.  Oh and did I mention, they're raw?

 

Raw Vegan "Tim Bits"

Ingredients:

- 1 1/2 cups raw flaked oats

- 2 cups raw Brazil nuts

- 1/3 cup coconut oil

- 1/2 tsp nutmeg

- 1/3 cup maple syrup (it's not raw, so you can sub it our for 1/4 cup raw agave if you're serious about the raw-someness!)

- 1/4 cup coconut sugar

- 1 tbsp cinnamon

In your trusty food processor, pulse the oats until they are very fine, almost a flour-like consistency.  Add the Brazil nuts and process until ground.  Add the coconut oil, nutmeg and maple syrup or agave and pulse until the mixture comes together.  

Refrigerate for one hour.  While the mixture is 'chilling out' (pardon the pun), stir together the coconut sugar and cinnamon.

Roll into bite sized (or two-bite sized) balls, and roll in the coconut sugar/cinnamon mixture. 

Refrigerate for another hour and then devour!  Store these babies in the freezer or refrigerator.

XOXO

V.V.       

Endive Salad with Oranges and Olives

T.G.I.F. Honey Buns!!!

(Just saying that made me want a cinnamon bun all of a sudden...)

Eating salad when it's this cold outside seems like a strange thing to do (why eat salad when you could eat a hot steaming bowl of soup?!) but amidst all the warm, saucy, slow-cooked comfort foods of Winter, your body can crave something light, refreshing, and raw.  Belgian endive is a sturdy leafed member of the chicory family that has a nice crunch and a bitter-sweet finish.  Don't let its pale colour fool you, Belgian endive is packed with folate and vitamins A and K.  Paired with sweet cara cara naval oranges and briny green olives, this salad is Wintery and satisfying, without making you feel heavy.  

Endive Salad with Oranges and Olives
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard 
- S&P
- 3 - 4 Belgian endives
- 3 cara cara oranges (pink fleshed naval oranges), or blood oranges or regular naval oranges, rind and pith cut off with a very sharp paring knife
- 2 pale inner ribs of celery and the leaves, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup green olives (or sun dried black olives), pitted and sliced into slivers
- a handful of Italian parsley, chopped

For the dressing, whisk together the vinegar, Dijon mustard and olive oil vigorously until emulsified.  Season with S&P.

Using a sharp knife, cut the orange segments free from their membranes.  This technique is a little tricky and takes practice, if you would rather not 'supreme' the oranges, just turn them on their sides, slice them into 1/2" thick slices and then quarter each slice.  

Slice each endive in half lengthwise and remove the tough core.  Slice the endive halves into 1/2" thick slices and place in a large bowl with the celery, orange segments, olives and parsley.  

Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the dressing over the salad and toss.  Add just enough dressing to coat the salad, not too much, or it will get soggy and wet!  

Divide onto four serving plates or eat right out of the bowl!

XOXO
 V.V.    

Raw Vegan "Scallops" with Orange Pepper Cream and Blood Orange Salsa

Hello there!

It has been mighty chilly here in Winnipeg (duh, it's January!) but I have had an excuse to stay inside for the past week - STREP THROAT!  It was a fun-filled, first time experience for me indeed (fun, like someone stabbing you in the throat with a fork)!  I was mostly on a liquid diet but some softer foods made it onto my sick bed menu too (Avocado Carpaccio, anyone?).  And in my antibiotic/Advil stupor, I managed to create an outstanding dish that I am so proud of and so excited to share with you!  King oyster mushrooms are not always easy to find, but I have had no problem finding them in my friendly neighborhood Asian grocery store.  Blood oranges are easily substituted with regular, seedless naval oranges or even grapefruit.  This recipe should serve eight as a starter or four as a main dish.  

Raw Vegan "Scallops" with Orange Pepper Cream and Blood Orange Salsa
Ingredients: 
for the mushroom 'scallops':
- one dozen king oyster mushrooms, bottoms and caps removed
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp nama shoyu or tamari soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp agave syrup
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- S&P
for the bell pepper puree:
- 2 orange or yellow bell peppers
- 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 tbsp minced shallot
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
for the blood orange salsa:
- 2 blood oranges, rind and pith cut away with a sharp paring knife and diced (regular seedless naval oranges are fine if you can't find blood oranges)
- 1 minced shallot
- 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped (or parsley if you are a cilantro hater)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp macadamia nut oil, or pistachio oil or avocado oil or olive oil
- 1 chili pepper, seeded and finely diced (optional)
- S&P

Slice the king oyster mushroom stems into 1/2" thick "scallops".  Mix together all other ingredients and season with S&P.  Marinate "scallops" in the lovely marinade you just whipped up for 30 min - an hour, stirring occasionally.

Dehydrate the "scallops" at 104 degrees for two hours, basting occasionally with the marinade.  Alternatively, if you are not in possession of a dehydrator, but want to keep this dish raw, warm the medallions in an oven on it's lowest setting with the door cracked open.  If you are not in the least bit concerned about the rawness factor, sear the scallops in a pan with 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat until tender.

For the puree, combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and blend until silky smooth.  

For the salsa, toss all ingredients together and season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

To serve, put a few tablespoons of the bell pepper puree in the middle of each plate and swirl to make a nice circle.  Arrange the scallops in the center of the plate and put a spoonful of the blood orange salsa on top.  Garnish with a cilantro sprig if you like.

Enjoy!

XOXO
V.V.

Raw Vegan Oatmeal Hemp Macadamia Cookies

Happy Wednesday Sweeties!

Today I am offering a hump day treat that is as delicious as it is healthful.  ATM and I were craving a little something sweet after dinner last night so with a dash of this and a pinch of that, I whipped up these adorable and yummy-licious raw cookies!  I love learning about raw foodism, and while I find eating 100% raw doesn't work for my body, I try to consume as much food in it's natural raw state as I can.  Raw food is so nutrient dense and full of enzymes that are destroyed through the cooking process so your body a favor and try to incorporate more raw goodness into your daily diet!  I throw two big handfuls of raw organic baby spinach into my morning smoothie and it gives me and instant POW of energy and positivity - no kidding! 

And since we're on the topic of changes to the diet that do a body good, I have been steering clear of gluten for a few months and I must say, I feel FANTASTIC!!!  I have way more energy, my skin has cleared up (V.V. is prone to hormonal acne, blahhhh), I am rarely bloated and my weight is super easy to maintain (which is good news for a lazy bones like me!).  Every now and then, when ATM and I go out for dinner with her family to Santa Lucia's on North Main St, I do indulge in their spaghetti with marinara sauce. . . but otherwise I am G-FREE babes, and feeling amazing :)  Gluten is a protein found in wheat and some other grains like spelt, barley and rye.  Some people are very, very allergic to these proteins and can become terribly ill when they consume them.  Obvs, if this sounds like something you are experiencing, give your doc a call, okay honey?  

Okay, enough diet pep talk.  But before I get to the recipe, I just want to emphasize that diet is all about eating in the way that makes you feel your best!  It is a very subjective and personal thing, what works for Suzie might not work for Sherman, so listen to your body and do what is best for you!  For me, choosing a plant based diet is not only good for my body, but good for my animal friends, the Earth, and human kind, and that's something I feel wonderful about every day <3 

Now on to the eats!

Raw Vegan Oatmeal Hemp Macadamia Cookies

Ingredients:

- 2 cups oats (make sure they are uncontaminated if you have a serious gluten allergy)

- 1/2 cup hemp hearts

- 1 tsp cinnamon

- 1/4 cup raw agave syrup (or maple syrup)

- 1/2 cup raw macadamia nut butter (you could use any nut or seed butter!)   

- pinch sea salt

Put all the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until the mixture comes together.  It should stick together easily but still be slightly dry.  If you find the mixture is too crumbly, add a little more nut butter.  If you find it is too sticky, add a spoonful of oats at a time until you get the right consistency.  Scoop out a tablespoon of the mixture at a time and roll into little balls then place them on a lined cookie sheet and flatten them slightly into a cookie shape.

Chill the cookies in the fridge for an hour and then NOSH!  

The addition of some cacao nibs and chopped, dried cherries would be so good!

XOXO

V.V.