It's that most wonderfully festive time of the year! When decadent, richly hued Italian Spumoni cakes layered with pistachio cream, chocolate-hazelnut and cherry ice-cream step out dripping in ganache and festooned like royalty in crisp wafer crowns! Let me tell you, I felt like royalty simply having this gorgeousness lighting up my table… so beautiful it was difficult to slice into. However, once past it's exquisite beauty, a creamy slab of this luscious Spumoni Christmas Gateau is a divine flavor celebration fit for holiday Kings and Queens! Heavenly layers of pistachio cream, chocolate-hazelnut and cherry ice-cream studded with candied fruit, chopped pistachios & hazelnuts galore luxuriously dazzle the tastebuds in ultimate comfort and joy!
High Vibe Living Foods like this Italian Spumoni Christmas Gateau are the most gorgeous and delicious on the planet… and they leave us looking and feeling the same way! Italian Spumoni Christmas Gateau is a truly spectacular way to celebrate the Season with amazing raw food deliciousness that doesn't weigh us down but lifts us up… in Peace, Joy and Happiness!
Raw Vegan Spumoni Christmas Gateau w Chocolate Ganache
1/2 cup fresh young thai coconut meat or 1/2 cup soaked cashews
2 super ripe bananas
1/3 cup carob powder (or sub cacao or a combo)
1/2 t ceylon cinnamon
1/2 t vanilla powder
1/2 t celtic salt
stevia to taste
2 T + 1/4 cup hazelnuts, coarsly chopped
CHERRY CREAM
2/3 cup fresh young thai coconut meat or sub soaked cashews
2 super ripe bananas
2 1/2 T cherry juice concentrate or to taste
1/2 t vanilla powder
stevia to taste
pinch of celtic salt
1/3 cup dried, apple-juice sweetened cherries, lightly chopped as in halved – leaving several whole.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
1/4 c extra virgin coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup carob or cacao
2 T almond butter
Method
PISTACHIO CREAM
Blend all the ingredients in a Vitamix, except the extra 1/4 cup chopped pistachios, until ultra creamy. Taste to adjust flavors as needed.
Stir in the chopped pistachios.
Pour into the bottom of a 6 x 3" removable bottom cake pan and put into the freezer until set.
CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT CREAM
Blend all ingredients in Vitamix, except the extra 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, until ultra smooth and creamy. Taste to adjust flavors as needed.
Stir in chopped hazelnuts.
Pour onto 1st layer once it is set. Place back into freezer to allow 2nd layer to set as well.
CHERRY CREAM
Blend all ingredients in Vitamix, except extra 1/3 cup dried cherries.
Stir in dried cherries.
Pour onto 1st two layers once they're totally set. Place back in freezer to allow 3rd layer to set.
RAW VEGAN CHOCOLATE GANACHE
Whisk together all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Drizzle over cake once it has set. Add decorative toppings at this point so they'll stick. Pop back into the freezer.
RAW VEGAN SPUMONI CHRISTMAS CAKE ASSEMBLY
Well, it's practically finished! However, feel free to add your own special touch as I did, with raw vegan chocolate wafers, dried rose buds, chocolate shavings, a few more chopped pistachios & raw coconut.
Allow the cake to thaw for 45 minutes – hour (or longer just keep an eye on it as we don't want it to totally melt) prior to serving to maximize creaminess.
Enjoy a large slice of high vibe luxurious Christmas indulgence under the light of the tree!
Do you have a favorite "traditional" recipe you'd like upgraded into a beautiful Vegan & Raw version? Share it below for a chance to have me recreate it for you!
Banana Nut Branola (Brittle/Granola) with Goji, Dried Apricots & Buckwheat
As I sit here in my ever-rotating office (currently sprawled across the kitchen table) I am thoroughly enjoying this fabulously delicious Banana Nut Branola alongside my Kusmi BB Detox Green Tea. This raw vegan snack is crispy, sweet and totally decked out with the gorgeous superfood power of Goji's, Dried Apricots, Sprouted Almonds, Pecans & Buckwheat… plus a bit of Golden Flax to make skin glow and tresses shine! I call it Branola, aka Brittle + Granola, cause you can either break it into granola or leave it in rustic shaped brittle for no fuss early morning (or any time of day snacking) retrieval 🙂
Banana Nut Branola is perfect for that go-to snack that curbs appetite and provides amazing nutrition. There's something about it that is superbly satisfying (well, take a look at the amazing bennies below to explain that part). Knowing I've got a big jar of this crispy superfood bark on hand makes me incredibly happy – like having a snack security blanket. The days are cooler and I just find myself wanting the crunch and substance this raw food yumminess provides. Sprouted buckwheat is incredibly nutritious and yet suprisingly light. The banana-date caramel infused with golden flax serves as the perfect crunchy foundation. It takes 15 minutes to throw it together then simply letting the dehydrator (or oven) do all the rest.
Pssst!Have you checked out the StyleNectar Shop?! Be sure to stop by often for frequently updated equipment & ingredients used in my recipes in addition to favorite lifestyle items I love. I've done all the research so you don’t have to!
Benefits as always, these are just a few of them!
Goji – Goji berries are one of the most nutrient-rich foods on earth and have been used in Asian herbal medicine for over 5,000 years. They're a vegetarian form of protein, packed with essential amino acid, rich in vitamin A (beta-carotene) and over 20 trace minerals and vitamins.
Sprouted Buckwheat Groats - Sprouting nuts & seeds (buckwheat is actually a fruit seed of the broadleaf plant related to rhubarb, not a grain) releases enzymes which make them healthier and easier to digest. Sprouted seeds are among the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet. Buckwheat groats are a gluten free whole "grain" packed with nutrients, especially protein. While it is not a true grain, it is used like one & surpasses rice, wheat & corn on almost every measure of healthfulness (including the fact that rice, wheat, and corn are high on the glycemic scale, thus causing a quick spike in blood sugar levels, a proven cause of systemic inflammation). Buckwheat, on the other hand, ranks low on the glycemic scale. Buckwheat has more protein than wheat, corn, millet or rice and is high in essential amino acids lysine & arginine, of which primary cereal crops are deficient.
Banana –Bananas help prevent kidney cancer, protect the eyes against macular degeneration and build strong bones by increasing calcium absorption. They also help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin, the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter.
Dates - First and foremost, dates areeasily digested, allowing your body to make full use of their abundant minerals, vitamins, and health-benefiting phytonutrients. The fiber in dates helps move waste smoothly through the colon to prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol absorption by binding with substances containing cancer-causing chemicals. Dates' potassium, an electrolyte, helps control heart rate and blood pressure. B vitamins in dates like carotenes lutein and zeaxanthin, absorb into the retina to maintain optimal light-filtering functions and protect against macular degeneration. Dates also contain Vitamin A (which protects the eyes, maintains healthy skin and mucus membranes, and even protects the lungs and mouth from developing cancer) and Vitamin K (a blood coagulant which also helps metabolize your bones).
Raw Honey –Centuries of documentation describe honey's frequent use in soothing coughs, sore throats, burns, wounds and rashes and as a digestive aid, allergy treatment and a natural source of energy.
Dried Apricots – Dried apricots are often eaten prior to a meal to stimulate digestion because of the alkali that neutralizes acids. Dried apricots assist the digestive tract by acting as a mild laxative to flush out unwanted wastes due to the pectin and cellulose they contain. The cellulose acts as an insoluble fiber while pectin maintains water levels in the body during constipation. Dried apricots provide a very good source of potassium, a mineral & electrolyte useful to regulate proper fluid balance which helps in proper muscle function and heartbeat regulation. Dried apricots contain nutrients like Vitamin A which is required for good vision as it's a powerful antioxidant that helps to remove free radicals and maintain the health of cells and tissues. Free radical damage can cause injury to the human eye lenses which can lead to cataracts or damage the eyes, thus dried apricot intake reduces the risk of developing cataracts. Dried apricots can assist in treatment of anaemia due to minerals like iron and copper which produce haemoglobin. Dried apricots contain three times the potassium of bananas which helps reduce blood pressure due to potassium's ability to counter the water-retaining properties of sodium, keeping blood volume lower and thereby, protecting against heart disease.
Sprouted Almonds –Sprouted almonds are easier to digest than regular nuts because the soaking process releases their enzyme inhibitors enabling our body’s own enzymes to more effectively absorb all the nutrients they provide. A single ounce delivers 7 grams of protein and 4 grams of dietary fiber. Among commonly eaten nuts, almonds are the leading source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat which has been proven to lower LDL “bad” cholesterol levels and reduce risk for heart disease. Sprouted almonds can help regulate blood sugar levels, making them a great option for diabetics. Almonds are also abundant in antioxidants, protective compounds that fight free radicals and reduce risk for heart disease and stroke. They're also loaded with minerals like calcium and iron.
Sprouted Pecans –Pecans are in the top 15 foods known for their antioxidant activity, according to the USDA. One of those antioxidants is vitamin E, which scientists claim may assist neurological and cell protection. The vitamin E may also play a role in coronary heart disease prevention as it keeps blood lipids from oxidizing in the body, a process similar to rusting. Additionally, pecans contain a mega 245% RDA of manganese per serving, which is very good for the heart, 65% of the daily value for copper, critical for cellular energy production, 33% each in magnesium (for optimal immune & nerve function, heart rhythm, muscle & bone strength) and zinc (for health immune function, protein & DNA synthesis, wound healing & cell division). As if this weren't enough, pecans provide 48% RDA of thiamin (which assists cells convert carbs into energy while helping heart, muscle & nervous system function), 42% RDA in fiber, and 20% RDA of protein in a single serving. Of course the fact that these are sprouted means you'll actually absorb all of this goodness 🙂
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Delicious, beautiful raw food power that tastes amazing and makes us look and feel the same way! Just the way we like it 🙂
Recipe for Banana Nut Branola (Brittle + Granola)
Ingredients
3 1/2 cups sprouted buckwheat groats (to sprout: soak groats overnight w 1/2 t celtic salt, rinse well, then sprout in a towel covered colander placed in a bowl til 1/4 inch tails develop for 2 days, rinsing well 2 x day)
1/2 cup sprouted pecans coarsely chopped into halves & thirds (to sprout: soak overnight w 1/2 t celtic salt, rinse well, then sprout for a day in a towel covered colander placed in a bowl, rinsing 2 x day. No tails will develop. Dehydrate for 12 – 24 hours til completely dry then store in freezer. For this recipe you can add the pecans & almonds to the mixture in their softened state as they will dry during the dehydration of the Branola)
1/4 cup sprouted almonds coarsely chopped(to sprout: see pecans above)
1/4 cup apricots coarsely chopped
1/4 cup goji berries
3 bananas
8 dates
2 T raw honey
1/4 cup golden flax
1 T cinnamon
1 t vanilla powder
celtic or himalayan salt to taste
Method
Add the sprouted buckwheat groats, pecans, almonds, apricots and goji to a large bowl.
Blend the bananas, dates, raw honey, golden flax, cinnamon, vanilla and celtic salt in a high speed blender til smooth and creamy.
Add blended mixture to large bowl and fold the ingredients together til nicely combined.
Spread the mixture into a thin sheet across two dehydrator trays and dehydrate** for 1 hour on 135F, then turn down to 115F for another 8-12 hours, flipping over midway, until completely crispy and dry. Dehydration times will vary dramatically depending on season, climate, altitude etc., so check on your Branola often and gage time accordingly and to your desired crisp level.
Break into rustic brittle sized shapes for easy grab-n-go or crumble into smaller granola sized pieces. I store mine in a big glass mason jar in the fridge where it only lasts for 2 or 3 days cause we eat it all. Or put in the freezer where it may last longer since it's out of sight- lol- it will obvi stay fresh in the freezer for a longer time if you don't eat it 🙂
Store in a glass container in the fridge or freezer.
**If you don't yet have a dehyrator, spread the mixture on two silpat or parchment covered baking sheets with oven on lowest temperature & oven door propped open an inch, flipping over midway, til thoroughly dry and crispy. Check on the Branola often as the oven will still likely be much hotter than 135F & 115F and, therefore, the process may be much faster. Additionally, the product may not be truly raw as it would be using a deyhdrator.
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite "traditional" recipe you'd like upgraded into a beautiful Vegan or Raw version? Share it below for a chance to have me recreate it for you!
Perfect for St. Patty's Day - & every other day of the year!
Rich. Creamy. St. Patty's Day decadence…
That won't weigh us down the next day! In fact, this jar of deliciousness is an ultimate uplift to our body, mind & spirit. Breakfast, lunch, snack or dessert, Mint Chocolate Chip Supreme is so yummy we'll be making it long after St. Patty's Day's gone.
While our tastebuds revel in crazy deliciousness we'll feel even more amazing knowing this sweet treat is brimming with …
The power of Chlorophyll (!) … which aids in gastrointestinal problems, promotes formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells, treats bad breath, detoxifies toxins that cause cancer, benefits the assimilation of calcium while balancing other trace minerals to rebuild, replace, and exchange with new tissue, fights infections and possesses bacteriostic properties that kill harmful bacteria and antiseptic properties that kill germs by strengthening the tissues.
Easily assimilated plant protein from avocado which contains all the amino acids set for our metabolism to assemble into complete proteins. This takes a load off our pancreas from wasting cancer cell fighting proteolytic enzymes for breaking down meat proteins.
Natural vitamin E, avocado's powerful antioxidant that helps prevent cancer. Synthetic vitamin E can be toxic.
Avocado's ability to help the liver manufacture glutathione, considered the master antioxidant by health experts. Glutathione refreshes & recycles spent antioxidants from other sources.
Master mineral magnesium, involved with over 300 metabolic processes & abundant in avocado. Two masters in one tasty shake! Not bad.
Lutein, vitamin E and monounsaturated oleic fatty acid (which improves heart health & lowers blood pressure) all provided by, you guessed it, the avocado!
Brain function improvement. Did you know avocados are a close 2nd to blueberries for promoting brain health, according to Dr. Steven Pratt, author of Superfoods Rx: Fourteen Foods Proven to Change Your Life?
Health-promoting flavonoids and poly-phenolics, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, beta and alpha carotenes, from the banana, which act as free radical-gobbling antioxidants.
High vitamin C content, most known for its infection-fighting properties, again from our friend banana.
467 mg of potassium from the banana, important for controlling our heart rate and blood pressure.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) from the banana, providing around 28% of what is needed daily to help prevent anemia and coronary artery disease.
Fiber in abundance from the avocado, chia & banana helps keep our digestive system regulated.
Magnesium in the banana helps strengthen our bones and protects our heart.
An adequate amount of copper from that one banana to keep up the production of red blood cells.
And then there's the Chia Seed (Read hereto see some of it's amazing bennies)!
Recipe for Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothies (Serves 2)
*Bonus Recipes for Mint Chip Ice-Cream & Pudding at end!
Ingredients:
1/4 ripe avocado (or sub a Tbsp coconut oil)
1/2 reeeeeaaally ripe frozen banana
2 Tbsp mint flavored liquid chlorophyll(chlorophyll has great detoxification power & should be implemented gradually. Feel free to substitute peppermint extract or a handful of mint.)
2 Tbsp cacao powder (or carob powder)
vanilla powder to taste (or vanilla extract)
a touch of sea salt to taste
stevia or your favorite sweetener to taste
2 Tbsp white chia seeds (I don't recommend using black chia seed in this as it can have a stronger thickening action that's a bit too viscous for this application. However, if it's what you've got on hand try starting with just 1-2 tsp. The black chia does vary in it's properties from brand to brand so perhaps yours will work fine. I recommend Chia Seed from The Chia Co.)
4 cups fresh nut milk (more or less depending on your thickness preference. Filtered water works surprisingly well too. Feel free to add a few ice-cubes in place of some of the liquid on warmer days for even thicker shake consistency)
Cacao Nibs,reserved for garnishing (optional)
Method:
Nothing to it! Throw everything except the cacao nibs into a Vitamix and blend. Garnish with the cacao nibs and enjoy 🙂
*Feel free to pump it up with a handful of greens &/or your favorite green powder (or even some maca) like I do. Sometimes I'll sub additional chia seed if I'm out of avocado and it's just as creamy and delish.
If you're in the mood for Pudding: use 1 (or 2) whole room temp banana, 1/2 (to 1 whole) avocado, omit the chia, and scale the nutmilk waaaaaay back, adding just a touch of liquid to get the Vitamix moving- by using the tamper you may find you don't need any liquid at all.
Mint Chip Ice-creamyou ask? Of course! Simply blend 2 frozen bananas, a little stevia, 1-2 Tbsp cacao & mint extract using the tamper to move things along in your high speed blender (Vitamix recommended). Yummy!! So many options 🙂
Are you Irish? If so, Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!!
Fresh Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt Chia Cracker topped with home-made sauerkraut, mung sprouts, avocado & Dijon.
Light-n-Crispy Chia Crackers are perfection for SO many reasons…
Nutritional powerhouse
Boasting the richest vegetable source of beautifying omega-3's
Major calcium power (more calcium by weight than whole milk!)
Antioxidant rich(giving chia a shelf life of over 2 years!)
Packed with complete protein (all 9 essential amino acids!)
Fueling long lasting energy(Chia's slow conversion of carbohydrate in to sugar in the body provides a constant stream of energy)
Brimming with cleansing, satiating fiber
Oh so crunchy, crispy & light &
Totally customizable to suit your mood!
I've made both savory and sweet varieties including Sea Salt & Fresh Cracked Pepper, Garlic & Herb and Cinnamon-Vanilla Crisps. Even a fantastic Cheesy Jalapeno Dippers version(Which I hope to share soon- great with fresh nut cheese & salsa!) Depending how thick you spread the mixture you can make these thicker like crackers or super duper thin into airy crisps (my fav). I store my Chia Crackers & Crisps in an airtight baggie in the pantry to have on hand whenever a snacking mood strikes.
Slice up some banana to top Cinnamon-Vanilla Crisps. Or…
Avocado to top a few Sea Salt & Cracked PepperCrackers.
I love breaking the Cinnamon-Vanilla Crisps into a bowl with fresh nut milk, bananas & organic molasses for a protein, calcium, iron & omega 3 rich breakfast .
As always the options are endless and ridiculously simple. It's all up to your mood and imagination!
Let me know your favorite twist!
Recipe for Light-n-Crispy Chia Crackers
Equipment
Dehydrator (I like the Excalibur) If you don't own a dehydrator, try using your oven on the lowest setting with the door propped open.
Ingredients
1 Cup Chia Seeds
5 Cups Filtered Water
Sea Salt to taste
Optional: Fresh chopped herbs & spices. For a sweet variation try vanilla, cinnamon + your favorite sweetener, or cacao, maca, cinnamon, vanilla + sweetener. A chai flavor can be achieved with ginger, cardamom, clove &/or star anise and even a bit of dried tea ground together in spice grinder + sweetener. All of these sweet varieties delicious with a cup of tea in the afternoon 🙂
Method
Mix the 1 cup chia, 5 cups water(yes that's right, 5 cups – chia holds up to 10 times it's own weight in water)and sea salt to taste together in a large bowl. (If you plan to add any optional savory or sweet additions mix them in at step 1 as well.)
Allow to sit for 10 to 15 minutes until a thick gel has formed
Spread onto teflex sheets of your dehydrator as thick or thinly as you choose. Don't be worried about going too thin- the crisps hold together beautifully.
Optional: score the crackers or crips with a knife so that they break apart uniformly- or just leave as one mass and break apart when finished for an artisinal look which is just as yummy and easier too!
Dehydrate on 115 for several hours (amount of time depends on the humidity of the season, where you live etc. so check on them periodically to determine when the top is dry)then flip to dry the other side (just place another sheet on top and flip, then peel off the top layer of teflex)
