Raw Vegan Avocado BLT Wraps are over the top YUM! Shown here using a Collard Wrap.
Avocado BLT Wraps are so over the top delish it’s insane! We’re talking when I served them to my friend she couldn’t believe it wasn’t actual, real bacon inside! Loaded with strips of meaty, thick-cut ‘bacon’ brimming with smoky-sweet-salty deliciousness tucked alongside fresh, juicy heirloom tomato, buttery avocado, crisp green lettuce and a thick creamy hemp mayo – these Avocado BLT’s are built to please!
Avocado BLT Wrap shown here wrapped in Raw Nori Wrap – Jim’s fav!
While the best part about these dreamy Avocado BLT wraps is definitely their amazing flavor, these high-vibe living food wraps also deliver potent immune-boosting, beauty enhancing power to make our cells sing and our energy soar! Here are just a few of the fabulous gifts your body, mind and spirit will be receiving from this decadent Raw Vegan BLT Wrap…
Shiitakes:Widely referred to as “medicinal mushrooms”, shiitake mushrooms are able to enhance immune function bi-directionally, giving it a boost when needed, and cutting back on its activity when needed. Shiitake mushrooms provide what researchers refer to as “anti-cancer immunity” and are able to help macrophage cells achieve an activated profile so they can do a better job clearing potentially cancerous cells by suppressing their production and multiplication due to a compound in Shitake called lentinan. They’re rich in B vitamins—an excellent of pantothenic acid, a very good source of vitamin B2, and a good source of vitamin B6, niacin, choline, and folate. Shiitake are high in concentrated minerals, an excellent source of selenium and copper and a very good source of zinc. Shiitake mushrooms are also rich in highly absorbable iron which is useful in the body for improving oxygen circulation, production of blood in the bone marrow as well as healthy bones and gums.
Avocado: Rich in healthy monounsaturated fats. Provides close to 20 essential nutrients such as potassium (1 avocado has twice the potassium of a banana) which helps balance your vitally important potassium/sodium ratio.
Tomato: Excellent source of antioxidants such as lycopene, a carotenoid pigment which has recently been found to have an important connection to bone health. Tomato extracts have been shown to help prevent unwanted clumping together of platelet cells in the blood, a factor especially important in lowering risk of heart disease like atherosclerosis. High in Vitamin C (33% RDA per serving) & Biotin (24% per serving).
Nori: The seaweed that wraps sushi and our BLT Wraps! Nori is very rich in protein containing between 1-2 grams of protein per 2 gram serving making it the world’s richest source comparable in density to spirulina, chlorella and soybeans. Nori is high in fiber, comprised of approximately 33% fiber. It’s also high in iron, with 100 grams containing 88% of our daily value. Nori improves bone health as 100 grams of nori contains 28% of our RDI of calcium and 85% of our RDI of magnesium. Sea vegetables such as Nori are the plant world’s premier source of iodine which is crucial to thyroid health and a multitude of bodily functions. 100 grams of nori contains approximately 6 mg of iodine or, otherwise stated, one sushi roll wrapped in nori contains 92 mcg of iodine which is almost the full RDI. Nori also contains 288% of our vitamin A, 60% RDI of thiamine, 194% of riboflavin, 78% RDI of niacin and 475% RDI of folate.
And that’s just the tip of the ice-berg baby! There will be multitudes more AMAZING miracles happening to your beautiful self as you devour these divine Avocado BLT wraps!
I love using either Nori or subbing Collard Greens for an equally delicious wrap. Collards are remarkably mild in flavor, perfectly sturdy and when all slathered up in to LIVE for thick, creamy hemp-cashew mayo and stuffed with Avocado BLT fixings… mmm mmm it’s a party for our tastebuds!
Recipe for Raw Vegan Avocado BLT Wraps
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
Raw Vegan Bacon
3 cups sliced shitake mushrooms, stems removed (or sub 2 large portobello mushrooms, sliced)
2 heirloom tomatoes, sliced into long strips (not too thin not too thick we just want it to be easy to roll up)
2 avocados, sliced into long strips, or mashed w tines of a fork
green leaf lettuce
vegan bacon
hemp mayo
Method
Raw Vegan Bacon
Whisk together coconut aminos, sesame oil, sea salt, smoked paprika, and stevia. Taste to adjust seasonings.
Dump all your sliced shitakes or portobellos into a large ziplock along with the marinade. Massage carefully so as not to break the mushrooms. Marinade for 20 minutes flipping once.
Place mushrooms on a teflex sheet in your dehydrator on 145F for 1 hour, turning down to 115F for 2 more hours or longer til reach desired texture – the portobellos will take longer as they’re thicker. I personally like the ‘bacon’ a little meatier and moister as it has that thick center cut texture that way.
Hemp Mayo
Place all the ingredients in the Vitamix and blend til thick and creamy. If you want more of a cream cheese texture, which will be less drippy in the wraps, start with less water. Conversely, use more water for a mayo texture. As always taste to adjust seasonings to your preference.
BLT Wraps
Slather rough side of each Nori sheet with a Tbsp of Hemp Mayo. If using mashed avocado rather than strips, spread the avo on first, then top with the mayo.(Alternatively use 4 collard leaves de-stemmed and halved for rolling OR for burrito fashion: remove only thickest bottom part of stem, leaving collard leaf whole to be wrapped burrito style & cut diagonally into halves after stuffing/rolling.)
Place one green leaf lettuce leaf on each wrap.
Arrange a few tomato strips, avocado strips (unless using mashed avo) & shiitake (or portobello) bacon on each wrap.
Roll up tightly into a cone shape (Temaki-style), securing with a bit of water along one edge of nori. Or, role evenly into a cylinder and feel free to slice into sushi-sized bites. (If using halved collard leaves, roll & secure with a pretty party toothpick. If using whole collard leaves, roll like a burrito, folding top and bottom edges in first then rolling up left to right and cutting in half on a diagonal which will keep everything secured- use party pics if necessary.)
Serve any remaining Hemp Mayo on the side for dipping.
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite “traditional” recipe you’d like upgraded into a beautiful Raw Vegan version? Share below for a chance to have me recreate it for you!
Mmm-mmm, I've had a bit of a sweet tooth lately haven't I? Hey, knowing these delicious treats are all so incredibly good for me… why not make them all the time! I just love having a little piece of something after dinner or with my tea in the afternoon. These Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Nut Butter Cups are as heavenly as they look and delicious as they sound. They bring to mind a certain Easter candy whose first name rhymes with Bradbury… chocolate covered ooey-goey sweetness – minus the guilt and with all the glow!
Check it out…
The coconut nectar "caramel" is a tasty little miracle worker that's: low glycemic, non-toxic, low fructose, digestion improving, medium chain fatty acid boasting meaning it improves heart health, contains 17 amino acids, a host of minerals, vitamins B & C and is hypoallergenic, antiviral/antifungal/antiseptic/antibacterial & antiparasitic aka majorly immune boosting!
Sprouted Raw Nut butters likepecan and cashew contain easily digestible protein brimming with heart-healthy fatty acids, phenolic antioxidants, photo-chemical substances including the polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, B-vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and zinc.
And, should you be avoiding cacao for any reason (albeit extraordinarily healthy for many other reasons, cacao can be overtaxing to the adrenals for some individuals) simply swap it out with this amazing raw carob powder like I do. Carob is actually an evergreen flowering shrub belonging to the legume family and native to the Mediterranean region. Carob is loaded with iron and can help fight against osteoporosis due to its high content of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Carob contains polyphenols which lower cholesterol and account for carob's extremely powerful antioxidant properties. Finally, carob is caffeine and theobromine-free and contains Gallic Acid which works as an analgesic, anti-allergic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral and antiseptic.
As always with all raw vegan StyleNectar recipes, the list of amazing benefits is seemingly endless… so should you care to delve into the incredible features of extra virgin coconut oil check them out here.
Gourmet chocolates that make us look and feel as beautiful as they taste…
YUM 🙂
Recipe for Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Nut Butter Cups
Equipment: 12 mini muffin liners. Alternatively, use ice cube trays sprayed/coated with a bit of coconut oil to ensure easy release later.
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil, liquified (to liquify, simply place oil in a glass bowl over a barely simmering pot of water, stirring just til melted then removing immediately to keep raw)
a pinch of sea salt or himalayan salt or to taste (See it's benefits here)
your favorite healthy sweetener to taste (I used 1 tsp liquid stevia)
rawcoconut nectar - 2 or 3 Tbsp (Alternatively try substituting maple syrup or raw honey tho I've not tried either in this recipe yet so do so at your own risk.)
3 ounces cashew, macadamia or pecan butter ideally raw & sprouted (read about why I avoid peanuts & peanut butter here)
pinch of fleur de sel (or sub celtic or himalayan salt)
Method
Whisk together coconut oil, cacao, sea salt and sweetener until smooth and creamy. Taste to adjust flavors to your preference.
Place mini muffin tins into an 8 x 8 dish or other tray for stability.
Spoon a teaspoon of "melted" chocolate into each mini muffin tin, then place in the freezer for a few minutes to set.
Remove cups from freezer and spoon a tiny dallop of nut butter into each tin, followed by a teeny dallop of coconut nectar. Because coconut nectar is so stretchy, I assist the process by pouring with my left hand very carefully, and "cutting" the stream of nectar off w/ a knife in my right hand. Feel free to add the pinch of fleur de sel (or sub celtic or himalayan salt) at this point, or wait til step 6 and sprinkle it on the tops.
Place cups back in freezer for 20 minutes.
Remove cups from freezer and top with chocolate til covered. Sprinkle tops with a bit of Fleur de Sel (or celtic or himalayan salt) if you haven't already done so in step 4. Pop back in freezer for a good hour til fully hardened.
Store and eat directly from the freezer.
Enjoy!
What favorite sweet or savory indulgence would you like transformed into a beautifully delicious Raw Vegan version?
Share it below for a chance to have me recreate it for you!
Raw Vegan Chipotle Onion Rings with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce
Who doesn't love the delicious crunch of crispy, battered onion rings?! Get ready for guilt free indulgence with these rings of fire made mega-delish with spicy smoked chipotle paired with THE most amazing Creamy Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce you've ever had! Seriously, Jim and I can't get enough. They've become a weekly staple – actually I made two batches this week they're that incredible and easy too!
You'd never guess these Raw Vegan Onion Rings are chock full of superfood power!
Fiery Onion Rings with Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce win hands down for flavor, texture and satisfaction… plus they leave us feeling & looking our best too! I purposely created a nut-free(gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free) batter as even a Living Foods Raw Vegan diet is not healthy if it relies too heavily upon a high calorie, fat-laden, nut based approach. When it comes to fats, too much can be too much no matter the type – a pitfall new Raw Foodists often stumble into. Heavy, nut-centric meals can be very difficult for the digestive system and make it challenging to achieve ideal weight/fitness goals. We all want to look and feel our best while eating delicious, nutritious food, therefore, I aim to develop balanced recipes that deliver absolutely amazing flavor while simultaneously ensuring we don't have to worry about counting calories or offsetting meals with excessive exercise in order to enjoy them.
This Raw Vegan enzyme and nutrient rich recipe is full of incredibly powerful health & beauty enhancing plant-based superfoods. Check out some of the amazing ingredient fun facts & benefits you'll receive while enjoying this delicious combo…
Onions – Major cancer fighting power. major collagen/hair/nails building power.
Buckwheat Groats- (I sprouted mine however I include options for skipping sprouting below) – Not actually a grain at all, but a fruit seed. High in protein, flavanoids, magnesium, insoluble fiber, powerful phytonutrients proven to be more powerful than that found in fruits & vegetables, heart protecting lignans and more.
Chickpeas - (I sprouted mine however I include options for not sprouting below) – Excellent for supporting the digestive tract, contain uniquely powerful antioxidants, decrease risk of cardiovascular disease, regulate blood sugar, improve feelings of satiety, excellent molybdenum &, manganese, very good source of folate & copper, good source of fiber & protein.
Kale – More iron than beef, high in Vitamin K crucial for bone health, blood clotting and prevention of Alzheimer's, powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, reduces cholesterol levels, high in Vitamins A & C and Calcium, a great detox food filled with fiber & sulfur to keep the liver healthy.
Carrots – Excellent source of Beta-Carotene for beautiful skin & healthy vision. Carrots also contain falcarinol, a natural toxin that protects carrots against fungal disease and is found in scientific studies to stimulate cancer-fighting mechanisms in the body. Carrot extract has been found useful in combating cognitive dysfunctions and may offer memory improvement as well as cholesterol-lowering benefit.
Capsaicin in Chipotle (Chili) Peppers– Powerful anti-inflammatory, reduces cholesterol & triglyceride levels and increases body's blood clotting ability. Cultures who use hot pepper liberally have a much lower rate of heart attack, stroke & pulmonary embolism. Protects fats in blood from damage by free radicals, the first step in the development of atherosclerosis. Clears congestion from sinuses and congested lungs. Boosts immunity due to it's high content of beta-carotene and C. Kills the bacteria contributing to stomach ulcers while stimulating the cells lining the stomach to secrete protective juices.
Hemp Seed– A Super Food. A complete protein with a concentrated balance of proteins, essential fats, vitamins & enzymes with a virtual absence of sugar, starch & saturated fat. Increases and sustains energy, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, reduces inflammation. Improves circulation, immune system and blood sugar control. More easily digested protein than meat, eggs, cheese or other high protein food. High in perfectly balanced essential fats: omega 3, 6 & Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). High in antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, iron, zinc, carotene, B vitamins, Vitamin E. Can be eaten by those unable to tolerate nuts, gluten, lactose or sugar as there are no known allergies to hemp foods.
Mmm mmm divine! We just had these Fiery Onion Rings w Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce on the side of a super delish Raw Vegan Soft-serve Chocolate Shake for a to-live-for lunch!
And, people, let me just talk about the Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce for a sec. Yes, these onion rings are unbelievably fabulous enough to stand on their own, however, this Creamy Garlic Aioli is phenom! You'll be wanting to dip everything in it – or thinning it out to use it as salad dressing – or slathering it all over your veggie wraps.
To. Live. For!!!
So, a final brief comment before I get to the recipe… I made my onion rings using the absolute highest raw vegan method possible (and it was still super easy) meaning I soaked my chickpeas and buckwheat then sprouted them before turning them into the batter. However, I've included an Express Option for anyone that feels like skipping that step. But, let's be honest about soaking and sprouting – it's literally dumping something into a big bowl of water, letting it sit, draining, rinsing, and letting it sit in a colander and rinsing again. Easy. However, options are good. And, either way you make it, they'll still be brimming with amazing flavor and stunning health and vitality power!
Recipe for Raw Vegan Onion Rings & Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
Raw Vegan Fiery Onion Ring Batter
1 cup dried chickpeas soaked & sprouted* (for Express Method sub 1 cup chickpea flour)
3/4 buckwheat groats soaked & sprouted* (for Express Method sub 3/4 cup buckwheat flour)
6 kale stems (left over from salads/smoothies or just use 3 whole leaves stem & all. For Express Method sub 1 1/2 Tbsp of your fav Greens Powder)
2 medium carrots (for Express Method, sub 2 Tbsp Carrot Powder)
1 1/2 inch piece of dried chipotle pepper (or equivalent in powder, starting with 1/2 tsp & taste testing from there )
1 teeny tiny (they're like 1/2 inch long) dried habanero chili pepper (or chili powder to taste starting with 1/2 tsp & taste testing batter from there)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for Express Method omit or substitute 5 nuts like cashews/brazil nuts/macadamia – don't worry 5 nuts spread across the entire recipe is not a big deal)
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder (or to taste)
1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
1/2 Tbsp raw coconut sugar (or use raw maple syrup crystals, stevia, raw coconut sugar or your fav sweetener to taste adjusting to account for differences in the strengths)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika (reserved for garnishing)
*Soaking & Sprouting Instructions: Place Buckwheat and Chickpeas into two separate bowls, top with filtered water to 3 inches above. Let soak 8-12 hours or overnight. Rinse thoroughly. To Sprout: place Buckwheat and Chickpeas into two separate colanders inside 2 pots, add a 1/2 inch of water to each pot, cover with lids. Let sit for 2 to 3 days rinsing once in the am and pm until sprouts grow to about 1/4". Rinse again thoroughly and they're ready!
Onion Ring Soak
1 extra large sweet onion
1 1/2 cups filtered water
1 Tbsp raw apple cider vinegar (or sub fresh squeezed lemon juice)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp coconut nectar
1 tsp sea salt
Creamy Raw Vegan Garlic Aioli
1/2 cup hemp seed
1/4 + cup filtered water
2 cloves garlic (3 if you like it strong)
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (or sub fresh squeezed lemon juice)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
5 raw cashews
a touch of raw coconut sugar, stevia or your fav sweetener (start with 1/2 tsp & adjust to taste)
Method
Fiery Raw Vegan Onion Rings
Note: It's best to do steps 1-3 the day before. Then dehydrate your onion rings the day you'll be serving or even a day ahead if you choose as they "reheat" really nicely in 45 minutes in the dehydrator.
Place all the Onion Ring Batter ingredients into your food processor and pulse until everything is uniformly broken down and well combined, scraping down the sides of your bowl several times. You should have a nice dough when the proccess is complete. You don't want huge chunks of anything. (For Express Method process ingredients into a flour and skip steps 2 and 3)
Spread the mixture onto a teflex sheet of your dehydrator (I like the Excalibur) and dehydrate at 115 F for 4 hours or until dry, checking periodically as climate/time of year/altitude etc. can vastly affect drying time. Feel free to make the Garlic Aioli at this point.
Once dry, break the dough into chunks and place into your food processor or Vitamix to process into a fine flour. Divide the flour between two medium bowls and set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk together the Onion Ring Soak ingredients.
Separate your extra large onion into rings.
Dip each onion ring first into the Soaking Liquid, then into the Batter Flour shaking to remove excess, back into the soaking liquid and again into the Batter Flour shaking to remove excess once more. Place each battered ring on a Teflex Sheet Lined dehydrator tray.
Once all onions are battered, dehydrate on 135 F for 1st hour (Don't worry they'll still be raw as at this point they're throwing off water and the internal temp remains below 115) then turn down to 115F for 2 to 4 hours more, checking on them periodically, until reach desired crispness.*
Dust onion rings with smoked paprika to garnish.
*There is leeway as to how long you choose to dehydrate the onion rings. They're really delicious both a little moist and quite crunchy & everything in between. I like to remove them when the interior is still a bit moist resembling deep-fried consisency as we put the leftovers in the fridge and "reheat" them in the dehydrator the next day on 135F for 45 minutes which makes them warm and crispier allowing us to enjoy them both ways.
Creamy Garlic Aioli
Place all the aioli ingredients into your Vitamix and process until smooth and creamy.
Taste to adjust for seasonings and, if making in advance, add 1 or 2 Tbsp extra water for it to be a bit thinner than desired consistency as it will thicken considerably in the fridge.
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite "traditional" recipe you'd like upgraded into a beautiful Raw Vegan version? Comment below & I'll recreate it for you!
Earthing, also known as Grounding, eases inflammation.
There's a reason we're drawn to walking barefoot on the beach, plunging our hands into damp soil gardening, or simply falling asleep on the grass… it's why yoga is practiced with bare feet and Qi Gong is practiced outdoors… and it all has to do with a concept called Earthing, or, grounding.
The Benefits of Earthing
Essentially, if you're too busy to read through the forthcoming explanation, go outside and stand barefoot or lie down in your grass for ten minutes and you'll notice you feel much, much better! In fact, scientific research shows innumerable benefits from Earthing including:
Normalization of cortisol rhythm and melatonin secretion (aka increased daytime energy and ability to sleep at night)
And more… all with no side effects (though in certain cases medications for thyroid/blood thinning/pain etc. may need to be reduced/eliminated as a result, therefore consult with your doctor prior to implementing an Earthing program)
How Earthing Works
Our bodies benefit tremendously from direct contact (walking, sitting or laying down, particularly when humid or wet)with the earth's negatively charged surface. During such Earthing activities as walking barefoot on the grass, the earth's surface supplies a never-ending source of ions which are conducted through our bare skin and absorbed by the trillions. As electrons travel from the feet throughout the body via its conductive systems, an antioxidant* effect occurs which helps to optimize the immune system. It is proposed that these free or mobile electrons from the earth neutralize the positively charged free radicals (free radicals being what antioxidants scavenge out of the body) which are the hallmark of chronic inflammation and root of most disease… thus illustrating how these free mobile electrons serve as natural antioxidants. Food based antioxidants from plants, fruits, vegetables and supplements such as astaxanthin also supply antioxidants, however, the regular supply of electrons from the earth are free! *Readthe short explanation below on the relationship between antioxidants and free radicals for an even better understanding.
Why isn't Earthing More Well Known?
Why haven't you heard about Earthing til now? Funding drives what gets researched and since Earthing is free… need I say more? For example, Earthing has been proven repeatedly in solid scientific studies to have the same effect on our blood as aspirin, reducing clumping and thinning the blood, which is outstanding. Something totally free (Earthing) has the exact health benefit of aspirin but less risk. Yet, Bayer reports annual sales of over 1.1 Billion dollars per year.
Bottom line, often that which is not considered "mainstream" is deemed rubbish, yet before one falls for a belief in "scientific proof" or triple-blind studies as a means to "prove" validity or safety, consider how completely manipulated everything can be starting with who's funding the studies, research, resulting statistics and science.
How to practice Earthing
In modern times we've become quite separated from the earth. We spend most our time in insulated boxes, or travelling – once again in a box - from one to another. More recently we've transitioned from conductive leather or hide-soled shoes to thick, synthetic soled shoes incapable of transmitting Earth's free electrons. And, in just the last two decades we've been impacted by an unprecedented flood of electromagnetic waves, or, EMF pollution. Alas, don't fret! We need not live barefoot in caves in the middle of who-knows-where! Simply employ any of the following measures to bring our bodies back into a state of homeostasis, health and well being:
Standing/Walking barefoot on the beach
Standing/Walking barefoot on the grass
Standing/Walking barefoot on your concrete basement floor
Taking your shoes off for 10 minutes while golfing
Swimming in the ocean
Surfing
Ground by resting (shoeless) feet on steel studs while flying (offsetting EMF)
Walking in thin leather/hide soled shoes…
Or walking/running in Earthing Shoes such as these by Juil(love their styles & hope they create more vegan options) or these earthing shoes(love to try them too!)
Outdoor meditation has been used for thousands of years by advanced spiritual masters who understood the magnifying and synergistic effect of combining grounding with meditation.
Additionally, there are earthing products such as sheets, blankets and computer mats on the market which, admittedly, I do find rather intriguing. However, they're too pricy for me so I'll personally be spending as much time as possible in nature barefoot, meditating on the grass and eating an antioxidant-rich diet 🙂
* Antioxidants and Free radicals: "Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage – the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons which can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C…" as well as selenium, a trace metal. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet (or from earthing) 1. http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html
Please do your own research and come to your own conclusions. Here are a few additional resources:
https://stylenectar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/stylenectar.png00Juliane Porterhttps://stylenectar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/stylenectar.pngJuliane Porter2014-08-13 15:56:152025-12-06 15:00:27Get your Antioxidants for Free by Earthing!
Raw Vegan Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel
I'm not gonna lie, it's virtually impossible to not feel guilty eating such an insanely delicious Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel! Our brains are just conditioned to believe anything this utterly divine can't be good for us. And yet…
I'm enjoying this over-the-top decadence for breakfast, lunch, dinner – whenever I want -because this irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth lusciousness is actually completely amazing for us!
Dairy Free, Sugar Free Vegan Hot Fudge & Caramel Sauces in all their glory – Oh My Yum!
Whoever came up with the "You can't have your cake and eat it too" phrase definitely did not know what they were talking about! In fact, the more I learn, the more I realize the complete and utter falsity of that statement. It really appears as though the simpler we live – far, far and away from unnecessary chemicals, processing, faux scents, unnatural flavorings and animal derived products… and the closer we get to the flavor of REAL strawberries, REAL chocolate, REAL sweetness, with a REAL cherry on top, all of which have isn't it obvious SO much better flavor than some man-made replica… the closer we get to authenticity and the healthier and happier we make our bodies. The more living foods we eat, the more alive we become. Life force is that magic scientists still haven't been able to distinguish or identify! It's who we are. What makes us us. When we feed our cells fresh, beautiful, LIVING high-vibrational fruits, vegetables and plant based foods, we're putting that magic into our bodies, enabling us to operate on a higher level.
But hey, even if we're not interested in feeling, looking and living up to our absolute highest level – this sundae is so darn delicious, that's worth it alone 🙂
Complete with Chunks of Raw Vegan Fudge Brownies, Sprouted Walnuts & toppings galore!
So as if looking & feeling our best and sublime flavor weren't enough, I feel compelled to single out one more (super impressive) health benefit from the myriad we'll derive eating bananas, strawberries, coconut nectar, cacao, walnuts, almonds, dates and all the other healthifying/beautifying ingredients in this deceptively sublime dish of yum:
Banana Nice-Cream requires REALLY ripe nanas. I'm talking the kind covered in brown spots – in fact a fully brown banana is excellent because it means the banana is SUPER sweet and will make incredibly CREAMY Nice-Cream. Japanese scientists researching fruits and vegetables and their affects on health have discovered a substance in ripe (brown spotted) bananas called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which increases immune capacity; leading to the conclusion that eating ripe bananas has the potential to help prevent lifestyle-related diseases and carcinogenesis.[1] TNF acts as an anti-cancer agent by stimulating the production of white blood cells helping to fight abnormal tumor cells in the body… Making a Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel an anti-cancer powerhouse!! Kaboom!
Of course by now you're used to hearing all about all the other hair/skin/nail boosting phytonutrients, antioxidants & vitamins, bone/teeth building minerals, heart healthy omega-3's, and all the protein, fiber and etc. etc. fabulosity found in living plant-based recipes such as this one – and yes ALL of those things are in this dish too! So, rather than write a book here, I'll close it on that. However, should you have any questions or want further details on anything do post your fine question in the comments below.
[1] “Differences in Biological Response Modifier-like Activities According to the Strain and Maturity of Bananas” – Department of Medical Life Chemistry, Japan, 2008.
Recipe for Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split w/ Hot Fudge & Caramel
(Makes at least 2 large Sundaes with leftovers)
Ingredients
Neapolitan Nice Cream
12 frozen, super ripe bananas (PEEL your super ripe bananas first! Then freeze overnight. I peel & pack all of mine into a large BPA free plastic box, smoosh the lid on, then freeze. Each day I dump the whole block out on my cutting board cutting off the size chunk I need since frozen bananas are always sliceable. *PS. Super ripe doesn't mean you want to eat any nanas with cuts, scrapes or mold of course, as they would be harboring bacteria!)
10 ounces strawberries, frozen or fresh
2 Tbsp cacao (or sub carob powder)
your favorite healthy sweetener to taste (stevia, raw coconut nectar, raw honey, raw maple syrup, raw coconut sugar)
your favorite healthy sweetener to taste (I love raw coconut nectar & stevia)
optional: sea salt, cinnamon, vanilla powder
Caramel Sauce
3/4 cup raw coconut nectar(raw coconut nectar is low glycemic, non-toxic,low in fructose, improves digestion, boasts medium chain fatty acids which improve heart health, contains 17 amino acids, a host of minerals & vitamins B & C and is hypoallergenic, antiviral/antifungal/antiseptic/antibacterial & antiparasitic!)
Blend all the bananas using the tamper with your high speed blender (I recommend a Vitamix) until smooth and creamy, similar to softserve, but no where near totally melted like a smoothie. Alternatively, use a food processor. Dump 2/3 of the Nice-Cream out into a container and reserve in freezer for a moment.
Vanilla: You're done with the vanilla! If you want to add a bit of vanilla powder or sweetener to amp it up, go ahead. Dump into it's own container and place in freezer.
Strawberry: Dump 1/2 the reserved (2/3) mixture from step #1 into the vitamix. Add 10 ounces of strawberries and blend until creamy. Add sweetener to taste if necessary. Dump into its own container & place in freezer.
Chocolate: Without bothering to rinse your Vitamix, dump remaining 1/2 of the reserved mixture from step #1 into the vitamix and add 2 Tbsp cacao (or more if you like), a touch of sea salt, pinch of cinnamon if desired, and sweetener to taste. Blend until creamy. Place in a 3rd container in the freezer.
Hot Fudge
If your 1/2 cup coconut oil isn't already liquified (which it will be if your home is over 76F) place it in a glass mixing bowl over a barely steaming pot of water (creating a double boiler affect) and stir til just liquified. Remove promptly to keep raw.
Mix in the 1/4 cup cacao, sweetener of choice, sea salt and cinnamon to taste. Taste to adjust flavorings to your desired affect.
Pour into a lovely pourable container and set aside. *Store at room temperature to keep liquified. If solidification occurs just use the method above to liquify again- tho this won't be an issue unless you have leftovers.
Caramel Sauce
Coconut nectar is your amazing caramel sauce. Simply pour it into your lovely container of choice to serve alonside your Banana Split Sundae!
Assembly
Scoop 1 ball of each the 3 Nice-Creams into a sundae dish.
Slice a pretty banana in 1/2 and place halves on either side of the Nice-Creams.
Place 4 or 5 Raw Brownie Chunks around the dish.
Drizzle with Hot Fudge and Caramel Sauce
Sprinkle with a handful of chopped walnuts.
Add a dallop of Whipped Cashew Cream.
Top it with a REAL cherry and…
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite sweet or savory recipe you'd like transormed into a beautiful raw vegan version?
Share in the comments below and I'll recreate it for you!
Yes, it's Dairy Free, Sugar Free & totally tastes SO much better!
Gourmet Raw Dark Chocolate Bark (for Glowing Skin!)
Gourmet Raw Dark Chocolate Bark proves once again that delicious treats can and should be amazing for you! This absolutely delectable confection elevates indulgence to a whole new level. Rich, smooth chocolate in its freshest, most flavorful form packed with your favorite raw, sprouted nuts and divinely sweet, dried fruit… hey we've even tossed in some fabulous chia for an omega-3 boasting over-the-top crunch!
And Psssst… this recipe takes all of 5 minutes hands-on time 🙂
All this flavor, texture, creaminess and chocolate bliss stands on it's own – trust me, ours have barely lasted 2 days they're THAT GOOD – and yet these babies are ALSO going to make you GLOW! These little chocolate bars are packed with the power of cacao and all it's skintastic flavanols to fight free radicals keeping skin dewy, hydrated, thickened and protected from UV rays to boot! The addition of chia adds omega-3's, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and antioxidants. Coconut oil has it's own share of amazing benefits which you can read about here. And, as if that wern't enough to get excited about, your choice of sprouted nuts and dried fruits add even more superfood enzymes and antioxidant oomph to this veritable cocktail of beauty in a bar!
Who says we can't have our candy bars AND glow too… not us!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, these divine chocolates will put you into a great mood as well! Raw cacao contains the feel good chemical called PEA (phenylethylamine) which is the same chemical our brain produces when we fall in love. PEA acts similar to amphetamines such as dopamine or norepinephrine producing feelings of euphoria, happiness and love! It really doesn't get any better than this 🙂
Recipe for Gourmet Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Bark
Ingredients
1/4 cup cacao (or sub carob powder)
1/2 cup coconut oil
raw honey, coconut sugar, maple syrup, coconut nectar or stevia to taste (I used around 1 1/2 tsp liquid stevia & it was perfectly "dark chocolate" sweet. Use more for "milk chocolate" sweet.)
pinch of sea salt
1/2 cup of your favorite chopped nuts (preferrably sprouted more on that here) and dried fruit (I used sprouted walnuts & almonds and chopped apricots, dates & cranberries plus a sprinkling of chia)
optional: vanilla powder, cinnamon, maca, espresso powder, ginger, cayenne, raw flaked coconut or citrus zest ~ get creative!
Method
If your coconut oil is above 76F and not already liquified, place it in your mixing bowl over a pot of barely steaming water and stir just til melted. Remove immediately to keep raw.
Whisk in cacao, sweetener and optional add-ons until smooth. I used stevia which whisks right in, combining easily. If using maple syrup or coconut nectar you may want to use your food processer or blender to ensure emulsification & prevent separation of ingredients. However, as long as you pop this in the freezer immediately, you can probably get away with just whisking.
Stir in nuts and dried fruit.
Line an 8×8 glass baking dish with parchment paper leaving enough overhang to create "handles" on the sides for lifting out the chocolate once it's set. Pour chocolate mixture into parchment lined dish. Spread around distributing nuts & fruit evenly.
Let set in freezer for an hour. Remove and lift out of dish using parchment paper overhang "handles".
Break into pieces or cut into 8 or 12 uniform squares for your daily dark chocolate fix! Store your chocolates in the freezer and not in the cupboard where it will melt!
If we love, we have and feel love. If we’re kind, we have and feel kindness. Contrary to what conditioning tells us, we only ever have our own experience—people, places, and circumstances truly are irrelevant. Any of it can be icing on the cake, but they’re never the cake! – Cheri Huber
Things don’t change. You change your way of looking, that’s all. – Carlos Castaneda
We shall see but a little way if we are required to understand what we see. How few things can one measure with the tape of understanding! How many greater things might one be seeing in the meanwhile? – Henry David Thoreau
Success is not measured by what we accomplish or what we purchase. Our success is measured by the moments of joy we experience during our life. We become rich by restricting and adjusting our desires, not by letting them loose and chasing after them.
-Unknown
All things in moderation and Know thyself.
-Apollo, The Greek Sun God & The God of Medicine
“He who, forgetting self, makes the object of his life service, helpfulness and kindness to others, finds his whole nature growing and expanding, himself becoming large-hearted, magnanimous, kind, sympathetic, joyous, and happy; his life becoming rich and beautiful.”
— Ralph Waldo Trine
Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.
— Rumi
Once you have established yourself as a center of love and kindness radiating throughout your being, which amounts to a cradling of yourself in loving kindness and acceptance, you can dwell here indefinitely, drinking at this fount, bathing in it, renewing yourself, nourishing yourself, enlivening yourself. This can be a profoundly healing practice for body and soul. – Jon Kabat-Zinn
OMG I just had this Summer Salad with Raw Vegan Fresh Mozzarella Balls – and it was the BEST lunch ever!
Summer Salad with Fresh Vegan Baby “Mozzarella” (Bocconcini) is pure, over-the-top deliciousness! Perfectly ripe nectarines, multi-colored cherry tomatoes, golden corn and a punchy garden chive & cilantro vinaigrette whisked up with fresh lemon & olive oil are a perfect compliment to creamy, fresh baby “Mozzarella” aka Bocconcini.
I’m telling you, this is such heaven on a plate… and the best part is it’s actually dairy free!
And just like that, as if summer couldn’t get any better, it just has 🙂
I’d looked far and wide to no avail for a delicious raw vegan fresh mozzarella ball recipe and I finally created my own. It’s SO simple and incredibly worth it for delicious, versatile, healthifying, dairy free, hormone free amazingness. This pure, creamy goodness is made from raw cashews packed with copper (98% RDV per serving of cashews) phosphorus, manganese, bone-building magnesium, heart-protective monounsaturated fats, fiber and flavor galore!
And, though I tend always to think of my food as my medicine, what we eat is also the primary contributor to our external wellness as well. Nectarines, tomatoes, corn, fresh herbs, lemon & EVOO are all packed with concentrated sources of beautifying phytonutrients such as anti-aging antioxidants, lots of vitamin A for clear glowing skin, vitamin C for collagen building power, skin plumping healthy fats, hydrating, living water, plus minerals, fiber and tons of life force power we get from beautiful, living foods. Summer Salad with Baby Bocconcini is just as much a boon to our outward appearance as it is feast for the eyes, our internal health and tastebuds too!
Recipe for Summer Salad with Raw Vegan Fresh Mozzarella Balls
(serves 4)
Ingredients
Raw Vegan Fresh Mozzarella Balls (Bocconcini)
1 cup raw cashews, soaked 6 hours, drained & rinsed
2 tbsp fresh lemon juiced (aprox 1/2 lemon)
1/2 tsp sea salt (or more to taste up to 1 tsp)
a touch of stevia (I used about 1/4 tsp)
1/2 to 1 tbsp (depends on humidity/seasons) filtered water
Salad
2 ears fresh corn, sliced off the cob
1 cup fresh cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
4 ripe nectarines, cut into bite sized pieces
1/3 cup fresh chives, chopped (save a few for garnish)
handful fresh cilantro, chopped (save a bit for garnish)
1 lemon juiced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
sea salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste
1 cup raw vegan mozzarella balls (below)
Method
Mozzarella Balls
Blend 1 cup soaked cashews, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp sea salt (or up to 1 tsp to taste) and 1/2 to 1 full Tbsp filtered water (start with less as you can always add more) in a food processor until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
Dump mozzarella cheese mixture into a container and place in freezer for 10 or 15 minutes to firm up or in fridge for a couple of hours.
Once the cheese has firmed up, use a small melon ball sized spring-handled scooper to easily create tiny balls. Place all the mozzarella balls on a plate and put back into the freezer or fridge to keep firm while creating your salad.
Salad
Gently toss corn, tomatoes and nectarines together.
Stir together chopped scallion, cilantro & lemon juice . Next, whisk in olive oil.
Season dressing with sea salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste .
Pour 3/4 of dressing over corn/tomato/nectarine mixture and gently toss.
Top salad with fresh mozzarella balls and drizzle remaining dressing over mozzarella balls.
Garnish with a bit of leftover chives & cilantro.
Enjoy!
What is your favorite raw vegan swapout?
Do you have a recipe you’d like made over/upgraded to raw vegan? Leave it in the comments below… I’m ready to take on the challenge!
Bloomed Wild Rice Salad w Cranberries, Pecans & Citrus Dressing
Every so often, I'll stumble upon a game changer smack dab in the middle of writing a post on the very subject. Today was just one of those moments as I have just completely erased this entire post, to start over from scratch after making not one, but two new discoveries! A bit of background…
This week's Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad with Cranberries & Pecans incorporated an amazing and simple sprouting technique I've been excited to share with you for some time. Sprouting or "blooming" rice is a fascinating way to achieve a beautifully soft, fluffy textured rice without ever having to turn on the hot stove! This super cool (haha) process wherein each rice granual splits open and unfolds from the inside out, similar to a flower blooming and unfurling it's petals, to reveal the white, pillowy interior of each piece of rice.
I had made two versions of this delicious Sprouted Rice Salad, one using Wild Rice, the other using an organic Forbidden Black Rice. The Forbidden Rice produced perfectly consistent, soft kernals in only 12 hours of overnight soaking while the Wild Rice, a mixture of several different types, sprouted unevenly. Despite these differences, I'd felt both turned out absolutely delicious Raw recipes incorporating insignificantly different swapouts – NOT SO! While the organic Forbidden Black Rice I'd used is indeed a Raw Living Foods product, it turns out the Wild Rice is actually not raw at all- in fact it's not even rice! Here's the scoop…
Wild Rice is not rice, but the seed of a grass that grows in shallow lake waters and streams around North America. The seeds obviously start out raw at which point they're plump and green. However, Wild Rice is harvested according to traditional methods practiced by First Nations peoples which involves parching the rice, rendering the seeds into dark grained "rice" which is no longer raw. Thus, the term "blooming" is best for Wild Rice, since parching destroys the rice germ preventing it from ever "sprouting". This probably explains the MUCH better results I had blooming/sprouting the living Forbidden Black Rice. As far as I can tell, it's virtually impossible to purchase Wild Rice raw, as there are laws in place to protect the traditional techniques used to harvest & parch it.
Forbidden Black Rice, on the other hand, is indeed rice and can be purchased raw (I used the Lotus Foods brand). Legend has it this ancient grain got it's name because it was so nutritionally beneficial only the Emperors of China were permitted to eat it. Considered a superfood worldwide, Forbidden Black Rice is a gluten and wheat free whole grain rich in iron, protein, mangenese, vitamin E and complex carbohydrates as well as the minerals magnesium, molybdenum and phosphorus. According to Chinese herbal medicine, Forbidden Rice is also considered to be a blood tonifier. The striking black color of Forbidden Rice is due to its high concentratin of anthoycyanins, the highly potent antioxidants also found in blackberries and blueberries!
Personally, going forward, I'll be sticking with sprouting raw organic Forbidden Black Rice as the results were consistently fluffy and it's a living foods product filled with enzymes and life force! That said, Wild Rice is also a nutritional powerhouse boasting high amounts of protein, folate, manganese, zinc and fiber, and if eating raw isn't crucial to you it's a fine & delicious substitute.
Sprouted Forbidden Wild Rice – raw & full of living foods power!
Blooming is as easy as soaking 1 cup of rice overnight in a jar topped with 4 additional inches of filtered water, placed in a dehydrator at 105F. If you don't have a dehydrator simply soak for up to 48 hours or until all the grains have split open, rinsing every 12 hours.
Sprouted Forbidden Rice can be incorporated anywhere cooked grains are used, from salads to pilafs, wraps, raw vegan sushi rolls or even as a delicious breakfast with sprouted nuts, dried fruit, creamy nut milk & honey.
This colorful Sprouted Rice Salad with Cranberries, Pecans & Zippy Citrus Dressing can be enjoyed all year round as a colorful summer picnic dish or as a beautiful addition to a winter holiday table. Sprouted pecans (simply soak pecans overnight then dehydrate til dry - see more on sprouting nuts in this post.) provide a meaty crunch while dried cranberries offer a sweet contrast to the rich depth of the Forbidden Rice. A zippy citrus dressing adds a fresh twist with a note of ginger to make everything sing!
The Zippy Citrus Dressing adds a fresh twist with a note of ginger to make everything sing!
Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad with Cranberries, Pecans and Zippy Citrus Dressing
Recipe inspiration:Becoming Raw, Brenda Davis & Vesanto Melina
Recipe for Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad with Pecans, Cranberries & Zippy Citrus Dressing(Plan ahead to account for sprouting)
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
Sprouted Forbidden Black Rice Salad
1 cup Sprouted Raw Black Forbidden Rice or Bloomed Wild Rice. (Soak 1 cup of rice in a jar topped with 4 additional inches of filtered water in a dehydrator at 105F for 12 hours/overnight. If you don't have a dehydrator simply soak for up to 48 hours or until all the granules have split open, rinsing thoroughly every 12 hours. *See additional freshness note below.)
Gently toss together rice, red bell, chives, cranberries & pecans in a large bowl. Season with Himalayan salt to taste.
Toss all the dressing ingredients into a vitamix and blend til creamy.
Pour dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently til well incorporated.
*If using Wild Rice rather than Forbidden Black Rice, take extra care to use freshly purchased Wild Rice that hasn't expired or it may not bloom! However, if this does happen, do not despair, simply add water, and simmer for 10 or 15 minutes on the stove since it's not raw to begin with anyway 🙂 Personally, I found the Forbidden Black Rice bloomed beautifully and with incredible ease plus it's actually RAW so it's filled with living enzymes and life force power!
Have you ever tried blooming rice? What type did you use?
What's your latest holistic or raw food discovery?
Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick… + a side of my secret recipe Raw Vegan Onion Rings!
Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick is a celebration of summer in a bowl!
This simple and delicious recipe takes full advantage of local farmers' markets, currently overflowing with the plumpest, juiciest ears of succulent corn. Golden jewels so honey-sweet and tender they're best fresh off the cob. If you've ever eaten corn fresh, standing in the middle of (an organic)corn field you understand perfectly why subjecting these pale golden delicacies to steaming kettles of boiling water or smoking hot grills is a practical crime. Besides, who seriously wants to deal with hot steam or smoking grills on a beautiful summer day?!
**Do you spot my napkin (below) on which a vintage letter from Mark Twain is printed? More on this in my personal comments after the recipe 🙂
Beautiful, fresh foods brimming with life force have taken me to physical, mental & spiritual levels I never imagined possible!
This cool, creamy bowl of goodness boasts a wonderfully thick chowder texture, the freshest, sublime corn flavor and a perfect kick of smoked paprika & tabasco. I've paired it here with my Raw Vegan Onion Rings (the recipe for which I'm equally excited to share with you soon!). As with all StyleNectar raw vegan dishes, Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder is incredibly nutritious. Sweet corn is loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that promote healthy vision. Corn also contains significant amounts of vitamin B1, Folate, Vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Of course, this fantastic chowder needn't be relegated to summer months only. Simply substitute organic, frozen corn, which has been frozen at the peak of ripe flavor, retaining all it's amazing enzymes and nutrients, and warm up to 105F (the temperature of a baby bottle) to keep it raw.
Eating a Raw Vegan diet tastes and makes me feel so amazing, I could never go back. This is my submission to the lovely Jacqueline at No Croutons Required and Lisa of FoodandSpice.
Recipe for Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick
(Serves 2)
Ingredients
6 ears organic, sweet corn on the cob (make sure it's fresh, no more than 24 hours out of the field)
1/2 + cup almond milk (click here for nut milk instructions) or sub filtered water which is just as tasty (add additional liquid beyond 1/2 c, slowly, til reach desired consistency, I'll guide you thru this below)
a dash or two of your favorite hot red pepper (I used a tiny dried tabasco from last year's garden)
frehly snipped chives, chopped & reserved for garnish
smoked paprika, reserved for garnish (if you're a stickler for 100% raw use unsmoked)
Method
Place a kitchen towel over your cutting board and slice the corn off the cob with a sharp knife. The towel is a great trick to prevent the kernels from bouncing all over the kitchen 🙂
Reserve 2 ears worth of kernels and set aside.
Place remaining 4 ears worth of kernels into high speed blender along with 1/2 cup almond milk (or filtered water depending on what you're using) and a dash or two of your favorite hot, red pepper. Buzz it up til thoroughly combined. Taste to check & adjust seasoning/consistency. You'll probably need to add a touch more liquid til you reach your exact consistency. I start with 1/2 cup so as to not add too much too soon. This is a cream of corn chowder after all :)
Mound the reserved kernels from 2 ears of corn into each of the two serving bowls.
Ladle the blended chowder mixture carefully around the mounds.
Garnish with freshly snipped chives and a dusting of smoked paprika.
Enjoy!
~
An update on my summer adventures… living without air conditioning is still a dream come true. I simply won't tire of feeling the fresh breeze on my skin, the scent of nectar and rich soil deep in the lungs, twittering baby robins caressing my ear… The closer we are to nature the more abundance we experience. magical life force. that which scientists are still unable to discern. the mystery of life. and great unknown.
the challenge of uncertainty. in a perfectly, beautiful, big Adventure.
So what are my tricks to stay sane during these last few days of high humidity in the mid 90's? A couple well placed (and pretty)fans are key. Also, taking advantage of when it's cool… It's truly remarkable how much the temperature dips at night, so letting in all that fresh, clean goodness overnight creates a fantastic cooling affect in the home. Of course this nocturnal cooling creates for gorgeous mornings, so I take full advantage of the shady 6:45 am calm on a long walk serenaded by birds. After that, a refreshing cool shower. During the day… Fresh juices on the rocks, frosty smoothies, cool crisp salads, juicy fruits, chilled soups and creamy Nice-creams. So delicious and perfectly designed to keep body temperature balanced, hydrated and comfortable. (check out the StyleNectar Recipe Index for 50+ Juice, Smoothie, Chilled Soups & Salad Recipes!) The body grows responsive and adapts to the fluctuations of nature if we let it. We're part of nature after all – it's not as though there's the universe, earth and then MAN. No, we're all life, part of a cycle that works in harmony. By resisting the wisdom of life, in our futile attempts to control it, we cause ourselves much unecessary suffering. Conversely, letting go of all our conditioned (no pun intended)beliefs and assumptions allows us the spaciousness to tune into a much higher vibration of wisdom, an intuitive knowing with which we're all equipped. A peace and all-encompassing love in which all is perfect just as it is.
We have so many friends around us. The tiniest of spotted baby deer wobbles zig-zagging about after Mama. Black and white woodpeckers wearing great red beaks slide up & down tree trunks in stacatto calling out tropical cackles. A few days ago, Jim found a huge, slow turtle the size of a tire crossing the drive to reach the other side of the small brook that winds about our property.
love
this life.
PS. Did you happen to spot the napkin in my photos on which a letter from Mark Twain is printed?It's one from a vintage set by great authors including D.H. Lawrence, Jack London & Emily Dickenson. How fun to read correspondence with my lunch, trasported to London in the mid 1800's, via beautiful words from Mark Twain in New York. It's the sweetest of love notes. Here it is in entirety (click image to enlarge text & read):
A letter from Mark Twain with my lunch – what a treat!(click image to enlarge text & read)
Have you ever eaten corn fresh off the cob?
What's one of your favorite moments from summer so far?
All Love, Juliane
Thank you for visiting 🙂
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https://stylenectar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/stylenectar.png00Juliane Porterhttps://stylenectar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/stylenectar.pngJuliane Porter2014-07-02 13:48:072025-12-06 15:00:36Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick
Avocado BLT Wraps
Raw Vegan Avocado BLT Wraps are over the top YUM! Shown here using a Collard Wrap.
Avocado BLT Wraps are so over the top delish it’s insane! We’re talking when I served them to my friend she couldn’t believe it wasn’t actual, real bacon inside! Loaded with strips of meaty, thick-cut ‘bacon’ brimming with smoky-sweet-salty deliciousness tucked alongside fresh, juicy heirloom tomato, buttery avocado, crisp green lettuce and a thick creamy hemp mayo – these Avocado BLT’s are built to please!
Avocado BLT Wrap shown here wrapped in Raw Nori Wrap – Jim’s fav!
While the best part about these dreamy Avocado BLT wraps is definitely their amazing flavor, these high-vibe living food wraps also deliver potent immune-boosting, beauty enhancing power to make our cells sing and our energy soar! Here are just a few of the fabulous gifts your body, mind and spirit will be receiving from this decadent Raw Vegan BLT Wrap…
Shiitakes: Widely referred to as “medicinal mushrooms”, shiitake mushrooms are able to enhance immune function bi-directionally, giving it a boost when needed, and cutting back on its activity when needed. Shiitake mushrooms provide what researchers refer to as “anti-cancer immunity” and are able to help macrophage cells achieve an activated profile so they can do a better job clearing potentially cancerous cells by suppressing their production and multiplication due to a compound in Shitake called lentinan. They’re rich in B vitamins—an excellent of pantothenic acid, a very good source of vitamin B2, and a good source of vitamin B6, niacin, choline, and folate. Shiitake are high in concentrated minerals, an excellent source of selenium and copper and a very good source of zinc. Shiitake mushrooms are also rich in highly absorbable iron which is useful in the body for improving oxygen circulation, production of blood in the bone marrow as well as healthy bones and gums.
Avocado: Rich in healthy monounsaturated fats. Provides close to 20 essential nutrients such as potassium (1 avocado has twice the potassium of a banana) which helps balance your vitally important potassium/sodium ratio.
Tomato: Excellent source of antioxidants such as lycopene, a carotenoid pigment which has recently been found to have an important connection to bone health. Tomato extracts have been shown to help prevent unwanted clumping together of platelet cells in the blood, a factor especially important in lowering risk of heart disease like atherosclerosis. High in Vitamin C (33% RDA per serving) & Biotin (24% per serving).
Nori: The seaweed that wraps sushi and our BLT Wraps! Nori is very rich in protein containing between 1-2 grams of protein per 2 gram serving making it the world’s richest source comparable in density to spirulina, chlorella and soybeans. Nori is high in fiber, comprised of approximately 33% fiber. It’s also high in iron, with 100 grams containing 88% of our daily value. Nori improves bone health as 100 grams of nori contains 28% of our RDI of calcium and 85% of our RDI of magnesium. Sea vegetables such as Nori are the plant world’s premier source of iodine which is crucial to thyroid health and a multitude of bodily functions. 100 grams of nori contains approximately 6 mg of iodine or, otherwise stated, one sushi roll wrapped in nori contains 92 mcg of iodine which is almost the full RDI. Nori also contains 288% of our vitamin A, 60% RDI of thiamine, 194% of riboflavin, 78% RDI of niacin and 475% RDI of folate.
And that’s just the tip of the ice-berg baby! There will be multitudes more AMAZING miracles happening to your beautiful self as you devour these divine Avocado BLT wraps!
I love using either Nori or subbing Collard Greens for an equally delicious wrap. Collards are remarkably mild in flavor, perfectly sturdy and when all slathered up in to LIVE for thick, creamy hemp-cashew mayo and stuffed with Avocado BLT fixings… mmm mmm it’s a party for our tastebuds!
Recipe for Raw Vegan Avocado BLT Wraps
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
Raw Vegan Bacon
Hemp Mayo
Raw Vegan BLT Wraps
Method
Raw Vegan Bacon
Hemp Mayo
BLT Wraps
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite “traditional” recipe you’d like upgraded into a beautiful Raw Vegan version? Share below for a chance to have me recreate it for you!
Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube to stay current on all things SN!
Much Love,
Juliane
Thank you for visiting 🙂
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Salted Caramel Nut Butter Cups
Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Nut Butter Cups
Mmm-mmm, I've had a bit of a sweet tooth lately haven't I? Hey, knowing these delicious treats are all so incredibly good for me… why not make them all the time! I just love having a little piece of something after dinner or with my tea in the afternoon. These Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Nut Butter Cups are as heavenly as they look and delicious as they sound. They bring to mind a certain Easter candy whose first name rhymes with Bradbury… chocolate covered ooey-goey sweetness – minus the guilt and with all the glow!
Check it out…
The coconut nectar "caramel" is a tasty little miracle worker that's: low glycemic, non-toxic, low fructose, digestion improving, medium chain fatty acid boasting meaning it improves heart health, contains 17 amino acids, a host of minerals, vitamins B & C and is hypoallergenic, antiviral/antifungal/antiseptic/antibacterial & antiparasitic aka majorly immune boosting!
Sprouted Raw Nut butters like pecan and cashew contain easily digestible protein brimming with heart-healthy fatty acids, phenolic antioxidants, photo-chemical substances including the polyphenolic antioxidant ellagic acid, B-vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and zinc.
And, should you be avoiding cacao for any reason (albeit extraordinarily healthy for many other reasons, cacao can be overtaxing to the adrenals for some individuals) simply swap it out with this amazing raw carob powder like I do. Carob is actually an evergreen flowering shrub belonging to the legume family and native to the Mediterranean region. Carob is loaded with iron and can help fight against osteoporosis due to its high content of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Carob contains polyphenols which lower cholesterol and account for carob's extremely powerful antioxidant properties. Finally, carob is caffeine and theobromine-free and contains Gallic Acid which works as an analgesic, anti-allergic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antiviral and antiseptic.
As always with all raw vegan StyleNectar recipes, the list of amazing benefits is seemingly endless… so should you care to delve into the incredible features of extra virgin coconut oil check them out here.
Gourmet chocolates that make us look and feel as beautiful as they taste…
YUM 🙂
Recipe for Raw Vegan Salted Caramel Nut Butter Cups
(Makes 1 dozen mini's)
Equipment: 12 mini muffin liners. Alternatively, use ice cube trays sprayed/coated with a bit of coconut oil to ensure easy release later.
Ingredients
Method
Enjoy!
What favorite sweet or savory indulgence would you like transformed into a beautifully delicious Raw Vegan version?
Share it below for a chance to have me recreate it for you!
All Love,
Juliane
Thank you for visiting 🙂
Comment, Like, Subscribe & Share!
Fiery Onion Rings with Creamy Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce
Raw Vegan Chipotle Onion Rings with Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce
Who doesn't love the delicious crunch of crispy, battered onion rings?! Get ready for guilt free indulgence with these rings of fire made mega-delish with spicy smoked chipotle paired with THE most amazing Creamy Garlic Aioli Dipping Sauce you've ever had! Seriously, Jim and I can't get enough. They've become a weekly staple – actually I made two batches this week they're that incredible and easy too!
You'd never guess these Raw Vegan Onion Rings are chock full of superfood power!
Fiery Onion Rings with Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce win hands down for flavor, texture and satisfaction… plus they leave us feeling & looking our best too! I purposely created a nut-free (gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free) batter as even a Living Foods Raw Vegan diet is not healthy if it relies too heavily upon a high calorie, fat-laden, nut based approach. When it comes to fats, too much can be too much no matter the type – a pitfall new Raw Foodists often stumble into. Heavy, nut-centric meals can be very difficult for the digestive system and make it challenging to achieve ideal weight/fitness goals. We all want to look and feel our best while eating delicious, nutritious food, therefore, I aim to develop balanced recipes that deliver absolutely amazing flavor while simultaneously ensuring we don't have to worry about counting calories or offsetting meals with excessive exercise in order to enjoy them.
This Raw Vegan enzyme and nutrient rich recipe is full of incredibly powerful health & beauty enhancing plant-based superfoods. Check out some of the amazing ingredient fun facts & benefits you'll receive while enjoying this delicious combo…
Mmm mmm divine! We just had these Fiery Onion Rings w Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce on the side of a super delish Raw Vegan Soft-serve Chocolate Shake for a to-live-for lunch!
And, people, let me just talk about the Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce for a sec. Yes, these onion rings are unbelievably fabulous enough to stand on their own, however, this Creamy Garlic Aioli is phenom! You'll be wanting to dip everything in it – or thinning it out to use it as salad dressing – or slathering it all over your veggie wraps.
To. Live. For!!!
So, a final brief comment before I get to the recipe… I made my onion rings using the absolute highest raw vegan method possible (and it was still super easy) meaning I soaked my chickpeas and buckwheat then sprouted them before turning them into the batter. However, I've included an Express Option for anyone that feels like skipping that step. But, let's be honest about soaking and sprouting – it's literally dumping something into a big bowl of water, letting it sit, draining, rinsing, and letting it sit in a colander and rinsing again. Easy. However, options are good. And, either way you make it, they'll still be brimming with amazing flavor and stunning health and vitality power!
Recipe for Raw Vegan Onion Rings & Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
Raw Vegan Fiery Onion Ring Batter
*Soaking & Sprouting Instructions: Place Buckwheat and Chickpeas into two separate bowls, top with filtered water to 3 inches above. Let soak 8-12 hours or overnight. Rinse thoroughly. To Sprout: place Buckwheat and Chickpeas into two separate colanders inside 2 pots, add a 1/2 inch of water to each pot, cover with lids. Let sit for 2 to 3 days rinsing once in the am and pm until sprouts grow to about 1/4". Rinse again thoroughly and they're ready!
Onion Ring Soak
Creamy Raw Vegan Garlic Aioli
Method
Fiery Raw Vegan Onion Rings
Note: It's best to do steps 1-3 the day before. Then dehydrate your onion rings the day you'll be serving or even a day ahead if you choose as they "reheat" really nicely in 45 minutes in the dehydrator.
*There is leeway as to how long you choose to dehydrate the onion rings. They're really delicious both a little moist and quite crunchy & everything in between. I like to remove them when the interior is still a bit moist resembling deep-fried consisency as we put the leftovers in the fridge and "reheat" them in the dehydrator the next day on 135F for 45 minutes which makes them warm and crispier allowing us to enjoy them both ways.
Creamy Garlic Aioli
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite "traditional" recipe you'd like upgraded into a beautiful Raw Vegan version? Comment below & I'll recreate it for you!
All Love,
Juliane
Thank you for visiting 🙂
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Get your Antioxidants for Free by Earthing!
Earthing, also known as Grounding, eases inflammation.
There's a reason we're drawn to walking barefoot on the beach, plunging our hands into damp soil gardening, or simply falling asleep on the grass… it's why yoga is practiced with bare feet and Qi Gong is practiced outdoors… and it all has to do with a concept called Earthing, or, grounding.
The Benefits of Earthing
Essentially, if you're too busy to read through the forthcoming explanation, go outside and stand barefoot or lie down in your grass for ten minutes and you'll notice you feel much, much better! In fact, scientific research shows innumerable benefits from Earthing including:
How Earthing Works
Our bodies benefit tremendously from direct contact (walking, sitting or laying down, particularly when humid or wet) with the earth's negatively charged surface. During such Earthing activities as walking barefoot on the grass, the earth's surface supplies a never-ending source of ions which are conducted through our bare skin and absorbed by the trillions. As electrons travel from the feet throughout the body via its conductive systems, an antioxidant* effect occurs which helps to optimize the immune system. It is proposed that these free or mobile electrons from the earth neutralize the positively charged free radicals (free radicals being what antioxidants scavenge out of the body) which are the hallmark of chronic inflammation and root of most disease… thus illustrating how these free mobile electrons serve as natural antioxidants. Food based antioxidants from plants, fruits, vegetables and supplements such as astaxanthin also supply antioxidants, however, the regular supply of electrons from the earth are free! *Read the short explanation below on the relationship between antioxidants and free radicals for an even better understanding.
Why isn't Earthing More Well Known?
Why haven't you heard about Earthing til now? Funding drives what gets researched and since Earthing is free… need I say more? For example, Earthing has been proven repeatedly in solid scientific studies to have the same effect on our blood as aspirin, reducing clumping and thinning the blood, which is outstanding. Something totally free (Earthing) has the exact health benefit of aspirin but less risk. Yet, Bayer reports annual sales of over 1.1 Billion dollars per year.
Bottom line, often that which is not considered "mainstream" is deemed rubbish, yet before one falls for a belief in "scientific proof" or triple-blind studies as a means to "prove" validity or safety, consider how completely manipulated everything can be starting with who's funding the studies, research, resulting statistics and science.
How to practice Earthing
In modern times we've become quite separated from the earth. We spend most our time in insulated boxes, or travelling – once again in a box - from one to another. More recently we've transitioned from conductive leather or hide-soled shoes to thick, synthetic soled shoes incapable of transmitting Earth's free electrons. And, in just the last two decades we've been impacted by an unprecedented flood of electromagnetic waves, or, EMF pollution. Alas, don't fret! We need not live barefoot in caves in the middle of who-knows-where! Simply employ any of the following measures to bring our bodies back into a state of homeostasis, health and well being:
Additionally, there are earthing products such as sheets, blankets and computer mats on the market which, admittedly, I do find rather intriguing. However, they're too pricy for me so I'll personally be spending as much time as possible in nature barefoot, meditating on the grass and eating an antioxidant-rich diet 🙂
* Antioxidants and Free radicals: "Antioxidants are intimately involved in the prevention of cellular damage – the common pathway for cancer, aging, and a variety of diseases. Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons which can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C…" as well as selenium, a trace metal. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet (or from earthing) 1. http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html
Please do your own research and come to your own conclusions. Here are a few additional resources:
http://earthinginstitute.net/index.php/research
http://radianthealthtoday.com/GroundingReport.pdf
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/11/04/why-does-walking-barefoot-on-the-earth-make-you-feel-better.aspx
How familiar are you with Earthing? Do you/how do you practice it?
What are your thoughts on the subject?
All Love,
Juliane
Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel
Raw Vegan Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel
I'm not gonna lie, it's virtually impossible to not feel guilty eating such an insanely delicious Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel! Our brains are just conditioned to believe anything this utterly divine can't be good for us. And yet…
I'm enjoying this over-the-top decadence for breakfast, lunch, dinner – whenever I want -because this irresistible, melt-in-your-mouth lusciousness is actually completely amazing for us!
Dairy Free, Sugar Free Vegan Hot Fudge & Caramel Sauces in all their glory – Oh My Yum!
Whoever came up with the "You can't have your cake and eat it too" phrase definitely did not know what they were talking about! In fact, the more I learn, the more I realize the complete and utter falsity of that statement. It really appears as though the simpler we live – far, far and away from unnecessary chemicals, processing, faux scents, unnatural flavorings and animal derived products… and the closer we get to the flavor of REAL strawberries, REAL chocolate, REAL sweetness, with a REAL cherry on top, all of which have isn't it obvious SO much better flavor than some man-made replica… the closer we get to authenticity and the healthier and happier we make our bodies. The more living foods we eat, the more alive we become. Life force is that magic scientists still haven't been able to distinguish or identify! It's who we are. What makes us us. When we feed our cells fresh, beautiful, LIVING high-vibrational fruits, vegetables and plant based foods, we're putting that magic into our bodies, enabling us to operate on a higher level.
But hey, even if we're not interested in feeling, looking and living up to our absolute highest level – this sundae is so darn delicious, that's worth it alone 🙂
Complete with Chunks of Raw Vegan Fudge Brownies, Sprouted Walnuts & toppings galore!
So as if looking & feeling our best and sublime flavor weren't enough, I feel compelled to single out one more (super impressive) health benefit from the myriad we'll derive eating bananas, strawberries, coconut nectar, cacao, walnuts, almonds, dates and all the other healthifying/beautifying ingredients in this deceptively sublime dish of yum:
Banana Nice-Cream requires REALLY ripe nanas. I'm talking the kind covered in brown spots – in fact a fully brown banana is excellent because it means the banana is SUPER sweet and will make incredibly CREAMY Nice-Cream. Japanese scientists researching fruits and vegetables and their affects on health have discovered a substance in ripe (brown spotted) bananas called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which increases immune capacity; leading to the conclusion that eating ripe bananas has the potential to help prevent lifestyle-related diseases and carcinogenesis.[1] TNF acts as an anti-cancer agent by stimulating the production of white blood cells helping to fight abnormal tumor cells in the body… Making a Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split with Hot Fudge & Caramel an anti-cancer powerhouse!! Kaboom!
Of course by now you're used to hearing all about all the other hair/skin/nail boosting phytonutrients, antioxidants & vitamins, bone/teeth building minerals, heart healthy omega-3's, and all the protein, fiber and etc. etc. fabulosity found in living plant-based recipes such as this one – and yes ALL of those things are in this dish too! So, rather than write a book here, I'll close it on that. However, should you have any questions or want further details on anything do post your fine question in the comments below.
[1] “Differences in Biological Response Modifier-like Activities According to the Strain and Maturity of Bananas” – Department of Medical Life Chemistry, Japan, 2008.
This is my submission to Ren & Elizabeth at Simple and in Season!
Recipe for Neapolitan Nice-Cream Banana Split w/ Hot Fudge & Caramel
(Makes at least 2 large Sundaes with leftovers)
Ingredients
Neapolitan Nice Cream
Hot Fudge
Caramel Sauce
Toppings
Method
Neapolitan Nice Cream
Hot Fudge
Caramel Sauce
Assembly
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite sweet or savory recipe you'd like transormed into a beautiful raw vegan version?
Share in the comments below and I'll recreate it for you!
Gourmet Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Bark (for Glowing Skin!)
Yes, it's Dairy Free, Sugar Free & totally tastes SO much better!
Gourmet Raw Dark Chocolate Bark (for Glowing Skin!)
Gourmet Raw Dark Chocolate Bark proves once again that delicious treats can and should be amazing for you! This absolutely delectable confection elevates indulgence to a whole new level. Rich, smooth chocolate in its freshest, most flavorful form packed with your favorite raw, sprouted nuts and divinely sweet, dried fruit… hey we've even tossed in some fabulous chia for an omega-3 boasting over-the-top crunch!
And Psssst… this recipe takes all of 5 minutes hands-on time 🙂
All this flavor, texture, creaminess and chocolate bliss stands on it's own – trust me, ours have barely lasted 2 days they're THAT GOOD – and yet these babies are ALSO going to make you GLOW! These little chocolate bars are packed with the power of cacao and all it's skintastic flavanols to fight free radicals keeping skin dewy, hydrated, thickened and protected from UV rays to boot! The addition of chia adds omega-3's, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium and antioxidants. Coconut oil has it's own share of amazing benefits which you can read about here. And, as if that wern't enough to get excited about, your choice of sprouted nuts and dried fruits add even more superfood enzymes and antioxidant oomph to this veritable cocktail of beauty in a bar!
Who says we can't have our candy bars AND glow too… not us!
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, these divine chocolates will put you into a great mood as well! Raw cacao contains the feel good chemical called PEA (phenylethylamine) which is the same chemical our brain produces when we fall in love. PEA acts similar to amphetamines such as dopamine or norepinephrine producing feelings of euphoria, happiness and love! It really doesn't get any better than this 🙂
Recipe for Gourmet Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Bark
Ingredients
Method
Enjoy 🙂
Stay tuned … Salted Caramel Chocolate Mini's coming soon!
Do you have a favorite chocolate treat you'd like upgraded into a beautiful raw vegan confection?
Share in the comments below and I'll recreate it for you!
All Love,
Juliane
You may also enjoy: Fiery Onion Rings w Creamy Aioli Dipping Sauce (Vegan, Raw, GF)
Thank YOU for visiting 🙂
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July Inspiration Wall
If we love, we have and feel love. If we’re kind, we have and feel kindness. Contrary
to what conditioning tells us, we only ever have our own experience—people,
places, and circumstances truly are irrelevant. Any of it can be icing on the cake,
but they’re never the cake!
– Cheri Huber
Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.
– Richard Bach
The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind.
– Caroline Myss
“Any so-called material thing that you want is merely a symbol: you want it not for itself, but because it will content your spirit for the moment.”
— Mark Twain
The ultimate freedom for the nonexistent ego is to see that it is actually irrelevant.
– Adyashanti
The correct attitude to our “possessions” is gratitude, not ownership.
— B.K.S. Iyengar
Things don’t change. You change your way of looking, that’s all.
– Carlos Castaneda
We shall see but a little way if we are required to understand what we see. How few things can one measure with the tape of understanding! How many greater things might one be seeing in the meanwhile?
– Henry David Thoreau
Success is not measured by what we accomplish or what we purchase. Our success is measured by the moments of joy we experience during our life. We become rich by restricting and adjusting our desires, not by letting them loose and chasing after them.
-Unknown
All things in moderation and Know thyself.
-Apollo, The Greek Sun God & The God of Medicine
“He who, forgetting self, makes the object of his life service, helpfulness and kindness to others, finds his whole nature growing and expanding, himself becoming large-hearted, magnanimous, kind, sympathetic, joyous, and happy; his life becoming rich and beautiful.”
— Ralph Waldo Trine
Forget safety.
Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.
Be notorious.
— Rumi
Once you have established yourself as a center of love and kindness radiating throughout your being, which amounts to a cradling of yourself in loving kindness and acceptance, you can dwell here indefinitely, drinking at this fount, bathing in it, renewing yourself, nourishing yourself, enlivening yourself. This can be a profoundly healing practice for body and soul.
– Jon Kabat-Zinn
Which quote was your favorite?
Who is/are your inspirational hero/s?
Share your own favorite quote/s in the comments.
All Love,
Juliane
Thank YOU for visiting 🙂
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Summer Salad w Fresh Vegan Baby “Mozzarella” Balls (Bocconcini)
OMG I just had this Summer Salad with Raw Vegan Fresh Mozzarella Balls – and it was the BEST lunch ever!
Summer Salad with Fresh Vegan Baby “Mozzarella” (Bocconcini) is pure, over-the-top deliciousness! Perfectly ripe nectarines, multi-colored cherry tomatoes, golden corn and a punchy garden chive & cilantro vinaigrette whisked up with fresh lemon & olive oil are a perfect compliment to creamy, fresh baby “Mozzarella” aka Bocconcini.
I’m telling you, this is such heaven on a plate… and the best part is it’s actually dairy free!
And just like that, as if summer couldn’t get any better, it just has 🙂
I’d looked far and wide to no avail for a delicious raw vegan fresh mozzarella ball recipe and I finally created my own. It’s SO simple and incredibly worth it for delicious, versatile, healthifying, dairy free, hormone free amazingness. This pure, creamy goodness is made from raw cashews packed with copper (98% RDV per serving of cashews) phosphorus, manganese, bone-building magnesium, heart-protective monounsaturated fats, fiber and flavor galore!
And, though I tend always to think of my food as my medicine, what we eat is also the primary contributor to our external wellness as well. Nectarines, tomatoes, corn, fresh herbs, lemon & EVOO are all packed with concentrated sources of beautifying phytonutrients such as anti-aging antioxidants, lots of vitamin A for clear glowing skin, vitamin C for collagen building power, skin plumping healthy fats, hydrating, living water, plus minerals, fiber and tons of life force power we get from beautiful, living foods. Summer Salad with Baby Bocconcini is just as much a boon to our outward appearance as it is feast for the eyes, our internal health and tastebuds too!
This is my submission to The Vegetable Pallette for the Mellow Yellow challenge, to Sarah at Maison Cupcake, Helen at Fuss Free Flavours and Michelle at Utterly Scrummy, and to Ren & Elizabeth at Simple and in Season!
Recipe for Summer Salad with Raw Vegan Fresh Mozzarella Balls
(serves 4)
Ingredients
Raw Vegan Fresh Mozzarella Balls (Bocconcini)
Salad
Method
Mozzarella Balls
Salad
Enjoy!
What is your favorite raw vegan swapout?
Do you have a recipe you’d like made over/upgraded to raw vegan? Leave it in the comments below… I’m ready to take on the challenge!
All Love,
Juliane
Thank you for visiting 🙂
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Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad w Pecans, Cranberries & Zippy Citrus Dressing
Bloomed Wild Rice Salad w Cranberries, Pecans & Citrus Dressing
Every so often, I'll stumble upon a game changer smack dab in the middle of writing a post on the very subject. Today was just one of those moments as I have just completely erased this entire post, to start over from scratch after making not one, but two new discoveries! A bit of background…
This week's Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad with Cranberries & Pecans incorporated an amazing and simple sprouting technique I've been excited to share with you for some time. Sprouting or "blooming" rice is a fascinating way to achieve a beautifully soft, fluffy textured rice without ever having to turn on the hot stove! This super cool (haha) process wherein each rice granual splits open and unfolds from the inside out, similar to a flower blooming and unfurling it's petals, to reveal the white, pillowy interior of each piece of rice.
I had made two versions of this delicious Sprouted Rice Salad, one using Wild Rice, the other using an organic Forbidden Black Rice. The Forbidden Rice produced perfectly consistent, soft kernals in only 12 hours of overnight soaking while the Wild Rice, a mixture of several different types, sprouted unevenly. Despite these differences, I'd felt both turned out absolutely delicious Raw recipes incorporating insignificantly different swapouts – NOT SO! While the organic Forbidden Black Rice I'd used is indeed a Raw Living Foods product, it turns out the Wild Rice is actually not raw at all- in fact it's not even rice! Here's the scoop…
Wild Rice is not rice, but the seed of a grass that grows in shallow lake waters and streams around North America. The seeds obviously start out raw at which point they're plump and green. However, Wild Rice is harvested according to traditional methods practiced by First Nations peoples which involves parching the rice, rendering the seeds into dark grained "rice" which is no longer raw. Thus, the term "blooming" is best for Wild Rice, since parching destroys the rice germ preventing it from ever "sprouting". This probably explains the MUCH better results I had blooming/sprouting the living Forbidden Black Rice. As far as I can tell, it's virtually impossible to purchase Wild Rice raw, as there are laws in place to protect the traditional techniques used to harvest & parch it.
Forbidden Black Rice, on the other hand, is indeed rice and can be purchased raw (I used the Lotus Foods brand). Legend has it this ancient grain got it's name because it was so nutritionally beneficial only the Emperors of China were permitted to eat it. Considered a superfood worldwide, Forbidden Black Rice is a gluten and wheat free whole grain rich in iron, protein, mangenese, vitamin E and complex carbohydrates as well as the minerals magnesium, molybdenum and phosphorus. According to Chinese herbal medicine, Forbidden Rice is also considered to be a blood tonifier. The striking black color of Forbidden Rice is due to its high concentratin of anthoycyanins, the highly potent antioxidants also found in blackberries and blueberries!
Personally, going forward, I'll be sticking with sprouting raw organic Forbidden Black Rice as the results were consistently fluffy and it's a living foods product filled with enzymes and life force! That said, Wild Rice is also a nutritional powerhouse boasting high amounts of protein, folate, manganese, zinc and fiber, and if eating raw isn't crucial to you it's a fine & delicious substitute.
Sprouted Forbidden Wild Rice – raw & full of living foods power!
Blooming is as easy as soaking 1 cup of rice overnight in a jar topped with 4 additional inches of filtered water, placed in a dehydrator at 105F. If you don't have a dehydrator simply soak for up to 48 hours or until all the grains have split open, rinsing every 12 hours.
Sprouted Forbidden Rice can be incorporated anywhere cooked grains are used, from salads to pilafs, wraps, raw vegan sushi rolls or even as a delicious breakfast with sprouted nuts, dried fruit, creamy nut milk & honey.
This colorful Sprouted Rice Salad with Cranberries, Pecans & Zippy Citrus Dressing can be enjoyed all year round as a colorful summer picnic dish or as a beautiful addition to a winter holiday table. Sprouted pecans (simply soak pecans overnight then dehydrate til dry - see more on sprouting nuts in this post.) provide a meaty crunch while dried cranberries offer a sweet contrast to the rich depth of the Forbidden Rice. A zippy citrus dressing adds a fresh twist with a note of ginger to make everything sing!
The Zippy Citrus Dressing adds a fresh twist with a note of ginger to make everything sing!
Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad with Cranberries, Pecans and Zippy Citrus Dressing
Recipe inspiration:Becoming Raw, Brenda Davis & Vesanto Melina
This is my submission to Shaheen at A2K – A Seasonal Veg Table Eat Your Greens Round Up.
Recipe for Sprouted Forbidden Rice Salad with Pecans, Cranberries & Zippy Citrus Dressing (Plan ahead to account for sprouting)
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
Sprouted Forbidden Black Rice Salad
Zippy Citrus Dressing
Method
*If using Wild Rice rather than Forbidden Black Rice, take extra care to use freshly purchased Wild Rice that hasn't expired or it may not bloom! However, if this does happen, do not despair, simply add water, and simmer for 10 or 15 minutes on the stove since it's not raw to begin with anyway 🙂 Personally, I found the Forbidden Black Rice bloomed beautifully and with incredible ease plus it's actually RAW so it's filled with living enzymes and life force power!
Have you ever tried blooming rice? What type did you use?
What's your latest holistic or raw food discovery?
All Love,
Juliane
Thank YOU for visiting 🙂
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Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick
& a vintage letter from Mark Twain…
Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick… + a side of my secret recipe Raw Vegan Onion Rings!
Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick is a celebration of summer in a bowl!
This simple and delicious recipe takes full advantage of local farmers' markets, currently overflowing with the plumpest, juiciest ears of succulent corn. Golden jewels so honey-sweet and tender they're best fresh off the cob. If you've ever eaten corn fresh, standing in the middle of (an organic) corn field you understand perfectly why subjecting these pale golden delicacies to steaming kettles of boiling water or smoking hot grills is a practical crime. Besides, who seriously wants to deal with hot steam or smoking grills on a beautiful summer day?!
**Do you spot my napkin (below) on which a vintage letter from Mark Twain is printed? More on this in my personal comments after the recipe 🙂
Beautiful, fresh foods brimming with life force have taken me to physical, mental & spiritual levels I never imagined possible!
This cool, creamy bowl of goodness boasts a wonderfully thick chowder texture, the freshest, sublime corn flavor and a perfect kick of smoked paprika & tabasco. I've paired it here with my Raw Vegan Onion Rings (the recipe for which I'm equally excited to share with you soon!). As with all StyleNectar raw vegan dishes, Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder is incredibly nutritious. Sweet corn is loaded with lutein and zeaxanthin, two phytochemicals that promote healthy vision. Corn also contains significant amounts of vitamin B1, Folate, Vitamin C and dietary fiber.
Of course, this fantastic chowder needn't be relegated to summer months only. Simply substitute organic, frozen corn, which has been frozen at the peak of ripe flavor, retaining all it's amazing enzymes and nutrients, and warm up to 105F (the temperature of a baby bottle) to keep it raw.
Eating a Raw Vegan diet tastes and makes me feel so amazing, I could never go back. This is my submission to the lovely Jacqueline at No Croutons Required and Lisa of FoodandSpice.
Recipe for Fresh Cream of Corn Chowder with a Kick
(Serves 2)
Ingredients
Method
Enjoy!
~
An update on my summer adventures… living without air conditioning is still a dream come true. I simply won't tire of feeling the fresh breeze on my skin, the scent of nectar and rich soil deep in the lungs, twittering baby robins caressing my ear… The closer we are to nature the more abundance we experience. magical life force. that which scientists are still unable to discern. the mystery of life. and great unknown.
the challenge of uncertainty. in a perfectly, beautiful, big Adventure.
So what are my tricks to stay sane during these last few days of high humidity in the mid 90's? A couple well placed (and pretty) fans are key. Also, taking advantage of when it's cool… It's truly remarkable how much the temperature dips at night, so letting in all that fresh, clean goodness overnight creates a fantastic cooling affect in the home. Of course this nocturnal cooling creates for gorgeous mornings, so I take full advantage of the shady 6:45 am calm on a long walk serenaded by birds. After that, a refreshing cool shower. During the day… Fresh juices on the rocks, frosty smoothies, cool crisp salads, juicy fruits, chilled soups and creamy Nice-creams. So delicious and perfectly designed to keep body temperature balanced, hydrated and comfortable. (check out the StyleNectar Recipe Index for 50+ Juice, Smoothie, Chilled Soups & Salad Recipes!) The body grows responsive and adapts to the fluctuations of nature if we let it. We're part of nature after all – it's not as though there's the universe, earth and then MAN. No, we're all life, part of a cycle that works in harmony. By resisting the wisdom of life, in our futile attempts to control it, we cause ourselves much unecessary suffering. Conversely, letting go of all our conditioned (no pun intended) beliefs and assumptions allows us the spaciousness to tune into a much higher vibration of wisdom, an intuitive knowing with which we're all equipped. A peace and all-encompassing love in which all is perfect just as it is.
We have so many friends around us. The tiniest of spotted baby deer wobbles zig-zagging about after Mama. Black and white woodpeckers wearing great red beaks slide up & down tree trunks in stacatto calling out tropical cackles. A few days ago, Jim found a huge, slow turtle the size of a tire crossing the drive to reach the other side of the small brook that winds about our property.
love
this life.
PS. Did you happen to spot the napkin in my photos on which a letter from Mark Twain is printed? It's one from a vintage set by great authors including D.H. Lawrence, Jack London & Emily Dickenson. How fun to read correspondence with my lunch, trasported to London in the mid 1800's, via beautiful words from Mark Twain in New York. It's the sweetest of love notes. Here it is in entirety (click image to enlarge text & read):
A letter from Mark Twain with my lunch – what a treat! (click image to enlarge text & read)
Have you ever eaten corn fresh off the cob?
What's one of your favorite moments from summer so far?
All Love,
Juliane
Thank you for visiting 🙂
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