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Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Style

Pear Tartelettes with Dark Chocolate, Caramel & Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream

These festive and rustic Pear Tartelettes with Dark Chocolate & Caramel are so delectable it feels rather a feat to convey in mere words their divinity… nothing can possibly match the exquisite experience of biting into such a dream! Alas, proceed I must and, fortunately, their sheer memory has already made things easier…

Encapsulating holiday decadence, these tantalizing tartelettes glisten in caramel and drizzles of dark chocolate atop beautiful layers of dried pear tucked inside a cookie-crisp crust finished with clouds of rich, vanilla bean ice-cream. Pear Tartelettes with Dark Chocolate, Caramel & Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream (100% raw & vegan) are not only beautiful to behold I dare say they sing holiday carols to our taste buds with their incredibly vibrant and luxurious flavor. Joy to the World!

The apple (or pear in this case) doesn't fall far from the tree, as the inspiration for these beautiful Pear Tartelettes came from a traditionally cooked pie of the very same name which my husband used to request every holiday, birthday and other opportunity possible. Since he loved it so much it was a necessity to recreate a raw vegan version. Expectations were surpassed by far! This high vibe raw vegan delight is unbelievably BETTER! Of course, I act surprised, perhaps because once upon a time it truly seemed that cooked recipe could not be improved upon if one tried, and yet I'm not. Why wouldn't fresh, living ingredients with 100% of their life force essence completely blow us away!

Pear tartelettes are absolutely phenomenal even without the accompanying Vanilla Bean Ice-cream. However, I'm never disappointed when that small voice of persuasion steers me to take things a step further – and this was no exception. Vanilla Bean Ice-cream is a dream all in itself too! Clouds of pure heaven. And when two dreams unite, as in the case of magical tartelettes topped with pure clouds of heaven, well that's what we call a miracle, fit for celebrations! Both the Tartelettes and the Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream are simple to prepare, though undivided care and attention to each element and sourcing of the very best of ingredients is needed. However, if you're anything like me, cozy, soulful kitchen time when heavenly tastes are a necessary means to perfection, letting go into the process is the reward and the beautiful result is simply one delicious circle of love.

This is my submission to the Tinned Tomatoes & Lisa's Kitchen No Croutons Required + Bookmarked Recipes Challenges and Ren Behan's Simple & in Season!

Recipe for Pear Tartelettes with Dark Chocolate, Caramel & Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream (Raw & Vegan)

(Makes 2 tartelettes)

INGREDIENTS

Raw Vegan Pear Tartelette, Crust & Crumb Topping

3 Pears, peeled and thinly sliced (1/8")
1 1/4 cup oat groat flour (measure the flour not the groats, grind groats in Vitamix to get flour
3/4 cup dates, pitted
1 t vanilla powder
1 1/2 – 2 T water
3 T extra virgin coconut oil
2-3 drops lemon essential oil (edible grade only)
3/4 t himalayan salt
1/4 cup soaked/sprouted/dehydrated walnuts
2 T raw coconut crystals

Raw Vegan Caramel Filling

1 cup raw cashews soaked overnight
1/4 cup raw coconut nectar
1/4 cup full fat coconut milk + 1 or 2 T more as needed
pinch himalayan salt
1/2 t vanilla powder
1-2 drops lemon essential oil (edible grade only)

Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate

1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil, melted
1/4 t ceylon cinnamon
pinch of himalayan or celtic sea salt
stevia to taste (I use barely any here)

Raw Vegan Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream

16 oz frozen raw baby thai coconut meat
2-3 frozen super ripe bananas
stevia to taste
1/2 t vanilla powder

METHOD

Dried Pears

Assemble sliced pears on a teflex sheet of the dehydrator and dry at 115 for 2-3 hours. Alternatively, dry on lowest setting of your oven w/ oven door propped open an inch, for and hour.

Tartelette Crusts

Process Oat Groat flour, Dates and Vanilla Powder in a food processor until well incorporated and broken down. Add water, essential oil, coconut oil and salt and pulse until fully combined and dough sticks together when pinched between two fingers.
Take 1/3 of the above mixture and set it aside for latter use in crumb topping.
Press the remaining 2/3 into two 4" diameter 3/4" deep pie tart tins.
Place into the dehydrator at 135F for 1 1/2 hours. Turn down to 115 for another hour then remove and set in the freezer. Alternatively, use your oven on lowest setting w/ door propped open an inch for only 1 hour.

Crumb Topping

Toss the mixture set aside in step 2 above with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and 2 Tbsp raw coconut crystals until crumb topping coated lumps are achieved. Set aside.

Caramel

Blend all the ingredients in a Vitamix until smooth and creamy adding extra coconut milk as necessary to thin. Place mixture in fridge where it will thicken slightly.

Dark Chocolate

Whisk together all ingredients until completely smooth.

Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream

Blend all ingredients in Vitamix, using the tamper, until super smooth and creamy. Scoop out into an air tight container and set aside. If storing in freezer, allow to come to room temperature for an hour to thaw and make scoopable, before serving. I actually prefer storing mine in the fridge where it retains a whipped ice-cream texture. This ice-cream does not melt away like traditional making it very nice for entertaining!

Tartelette assembly

Smear a thin layer of the caramel across the bottom of each tart shell.
Neatly layer the dried pears inside the two tartelette crusts, smearing a bit of the caramel over each layer, including the top, as you go.
Sprinkle crumb topping over top.
Set tartes in freezer for 20 minutes to set.
Remove from freezer and drizzle tartes with dark chocolate.
Optional: Drizzle a very TINY amount (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) of coconut nectar across the top for an extra caramel topping affect. Don't go overboard or it will turn into a sticky ooey-gooey mess!
Place back in freezer for final set. Bring to room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
Tartelettes can be served whole or sliced into 4 – 6 pieces and topped with Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream. The Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream will not melt at room temperature making these perfect for entertaining!
Revel with pleasure on a cloud of Sweet Holiday Bliss!

Do you have a holiday favorite you'd like upgraded to a high vibe raw & vegan version? Share in the comments below for the opportunity to have me recreate it for you!

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All Love,

Juliane

Thank you for visiting 🙂

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Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Nutrition & Beauty

Chocolate Covered Matcha Smoothie

I was absolutely thrilled when Williams-Sonoma invited me to help kick off “Smoothie Week” with my favorite “Not Your Average Smoothie”. It was a match made in heaven: an over-the-top, mega delicious, rocket-fuel smoothie and my family’s favorite gourmet cookware specialty retailer – all coming together in one fabulous post! So without further ado, I present the delectable…

Chocolate Covered Matcha Smoothie!

When I want to get my day started off fueled with maximum deliciousness and powerful energy (which is every day!) you’ll find me whipping up some tantalizing variation on this baby in my Vitamix. We’re talking layers of the most decadent, smooth, creamy chocolate and matcha infused nice-cream… so sweet, so divine AND brimming with the Wild superfood power of Wild Edible “Weeds”, Peruvian Maca Root, Essential Oil of Peppermint and Matcha Green Tea!

Yes, that’s right. Here, shining in one of the most delicious concoctions ever, are some of the most powerful sources of nutrition on the planet, beautiful ingredients, which, when tucked into a smoothie like this Chocolate Covered Matcha, can make us look and feel as beautiful and powerful as they are!

Lets start with the Wild Edible “Weeds”. Here, I’ve used a handful of baby Dandelion Greens, Stinging Nettles & Chickweed straight from my wild edibles garden, still thriving the near freezing temps of November (a testament to how powerful they are). People, Wild Edible Weeds are the new Kale. They’re used routinely in cooking in Europe and around the world, and they’re slowly but surely making their way into the mainstream here in North America. You’ve probably noticed dandelion greens for sale at your local Whole Foods. Or, if you’re a gourmet foodie, perhaps you’ve eaten at Trump Tower’s 2 Michelin Star “Sixteen” where diners rave over the dishes incorporating chickweed, stinging nettles and salsify (belonging to the dandelion family).

Garden basket of baby dandelions, stinging nettles, wheat grass & nasturtium blooms.

Wild Edibles are the wild greens growing right in our own backyards! They’re so powerful they’re able to thrive despite the most adverse conditions, growing out of stone walls, between sidewalk cracks and in near freezing or low moisture conditions. They have incredibly long root structures, enabling them to pull incredible, intense nutrition from far below the depleted surface soil. All that magnificent power and nutrition goes straight into our bodies when we blend them up into a smoothie!

To make things even more fantastic, by blending these raw, living greens in a high speed blender such as the Vitamix Professional or Vitamix Personal Blender, we’re cracking the cell walls, unlocking far greater nutrition for our bodies than simple mastication or chewing a huge salad can yield. Therefore, we get way more nutritional bang out of our greens for a smaller amount used. This means we’re able to keep our smoothies super tasty because we don’t have to overload them with so many greens that they cease to be palatable. Additionally, compared to cooking, blending preserves essential vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Therefore, making delicious green smoothies, with even the most bitter tasting greens, is quite easy as only a handful will provide a HUGE level of nutrition due to the “pre-digestion” that occurs in the blender 🙂

Check out all these other great blenders too!

As if all that wild power weren’t enough, I’ve tossed in these amazing superfoods as well:

Peruvian Maca Root – Maca root has been used by indigenous Andean societies as a source of healing and nourishment for thousands of years. Studies have identified alkaloids present in maca which are known to nourish the endocrine system. Maca root has been used as a stress-fighting adaptogen to increase stamina, boost libido and combat fatigue. It’s a nutrient-dense whole food packed with vitamins, plant sterols and many essential minerals, fatty and amino acids.

Essential Oil of Peppermint (highest grade edible only) – “One of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion, it may also restore digestive efficiency.* Jean Valnet MD studied peppermint’s supportive effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists have also researched peppermint’s role in improving taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental sharpness. Alan Hirsch MD studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center, which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals. This powerful essential oil is often diluted before topical application. Peppermint may also be used to enhance the flavor of food and water. Peppermint has an approximate ORAC of 373,455.” (1)

Matcha Green Tea – Matcha Green Tea contains 10-15 times the overall nutrients and 100 times more antioxidants compared to traditional green, white, black, rooibos, and yerba mate teas. It has high concentrations of the amino acid, L-theanine which helps to improve cognition and mood while reducing physical and mental stress. Matcha assists to alkalize and detoxify via the powerful and renowned catechin EGCG and chlorophyll which help to alkalize and detoxify the blood. It contains potent antioxidants which help to strengthen the immune system by protecting against free radicals.

1) http://us.ylscents.com/ylo/shop/EssentialOilSingles/PeppermintEssentialOil

To say this Chocolate Covered Matcha Smoothie is incredible seems an understatement after all that! However, there is actually more great news…

It’s also a snap to make 🙂

Please enjoy!

Recipe for Chocolate Covered Matcha Smoothie (Serves 2)

Ingredients

4-6 super ripe organic frozen bananas
1 handful organic wild edible greens (such as dandelion, stinging nettles, plaintain or chickweed)
1 Tbsp matcha green tea powder
1-2 drops organic peppermint essential oil (edible, food grade)
1/2 tsp vanilla powder
1-2 Tbsp cacao or carob
1/4 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1/2 tsp maca powder
stevia to taste (or substitute dates or raw honey)

*Optional: 1 Tbsp coconut nectar, melted, whisked w/ 1/2 Tbsp cacao & a pinch of ceylon cinnamon to create dark chocolate crackly topping.

Method

Toss 2 or 3 of the frozen nanas, 1/2 handful of wild edible greens, matcha powder, 1-2 drops peppermint essential oil & 1/2 tsp vanilla powder into your Vitamix. Blend til irressitably smooth and creamy, using the tamper to assist. Dump into your fav smoothie jar or bowl.
Toss the other 2 or 3 frozen nanas into your blender along with the second 1/2 handful of wild edible greens, 1-2 Tbsp cacao (or carob depending on your preference), 1/4 tsp ceylon cinnamon, 1/2 tsp maca, and stevia to taste. Blend til delectably smooth and creamy. Layer atop the matcha nice-cream.
Optional: Drizzle all this yumminess with dark chocolate to make a divine crackly topping.
Get ready to have THE BEST, most MAGICAL DAY EVER!!!

You may also enjoy these fabulous smoothies:

Cleansing Quadruple Berry Acai Smoothie
Daily Detox Green Smoothie
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake
Chocolate Chip Mint Shak e
Epic Baby Thai Coconut Smoothie
Blueberry Coconut Shake
Delicious Green Smoothie
The Happy Shake

What’s your favorite ingredient to put in your “Not Your Average Smoothie” ?

Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube to stay current on all things SN!

All Love,

Juliane

Thank you for visiting 🙂

Comment, Like, Subscribe & Share!

Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Nutrition & Beauty, Style

ultimate rustic caramel apples w chocolate ganache

+ a simple no-fuss way to serve them at parties!

raw vegan caramel apples

Oh. my. goodness. These Rustic Raw Vegan Caramel Apples might be my favorite thing I’ve ever eaten to date… WOW! Like you’ve got to make these asap. So simple. So incredibly delicious. MMMMMMmmmmmmm.

Let’s just say I’ve ALWAYS had a thing for caramel… and this raw vegan version is way yummier! Smear it all over a crisp apple, roll it in your favorite toppings and then drizzle chocolate ganache all over – the ULTIMATE!

Forget that these are healthy, they taste BETTER than anything you’ve ever had. Forget that they’re filled with amazing nutrition and life force that is going to make you feel and look phenomenal, cause the pure utter enjoyment in every bite is enough on its own. Crisp, juicy apple wrapped in thick, gooey caramel, with a light crunch of chopped walnuts and dark, dark chocolate ganache. Again, I’ve gotta call this treat food fit for the Gods.

And a treat…

Perfect for Autumn, for kiddos, and wonderful for entertaining too! These Rustic Caramel Apples slice right up with ease for display on your favorite platter. Trust, they won’t last long!

mind-blowing raw vegan caramel apples w chocolate ganache

I almost skipped over how unbelievable these Ultimate Rustic Caramel Apples are for our bodies, minds and spirit… because they’re so darn delicious I don’t want anyone to be turned off thinking, if they’re so healthy how can they taste so great? However, here’s the thing…

Amazing flavor, ultimate health, pure joy and our highest potential beauty & vitality need not be mutually exclusive!

These Caramel Apples are enzymatically alive, containing all the power of life force, and they also happen to be incredible immune boosters thanks to the raw coconut nectar and oil. Coconut nectar is low glycemic (with a GI of 35), gluten free, dairy free, non- GMO, vegan, contains 17 amino acids, minerals, B-vitamins, vitamin C and has a nearly neutral pH. Unprocessed coconut products such as the coconut nectar and oil used in this recipe are brimming with health and immune boosting power including :(1) (2)

Heart Health: the healthy short chain and medium chain fatty acids along with large amount of lauric acid protect against heart disease.
Reduction of Sweet Cravings: insulin secretion & utilization of blood glucose is improved while the healthy fat in coconut slows down any rise in blood sugar helping to reduce hypoglycemic cravings.
Improved Digestion: Absorption of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and amino acids is supported while many symptoms and inflammatory conditions associated with digestive and bowel disorders are improved.
Quick Energy Boost: Coconut is utilized by the body to actually produce energy rather than to store it as body fat.
Promotes Healthy Thyroid Function: and helps to relieve symptoms of chronic fatigue.
Immune Booster: coconut is Hypoallergenic and contains Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal & Anti-parasitic healing properties.

1) http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org

2) http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/a-new-look-at-coconut-oil/

Please enjoy these beautiful and delicious, high vibration Rustic Raw Vegan Caramel Apples with the freshest most amazing flavor that also feeds our highest potential health, beauty and vitality!

RECIPE for RAW VEGAN RUSTIC CARAMEL APPLES w CHOCOLATE GANACHE (Makes 4-6 apples)

INGREDIENTS

4-6 clean, medium sized apples, stems removed
4-6 clean sticks from your yard (or use popsicle sticks) for handles
3/4 of a cup finely chopped walnuts (preferably sprouted & dehydrated- plus they taste SO much better this way!), coconut or your fav other toppings

Raw Vegan Caramel

1/2 cup liquified extra virgin coconut oil (to liquify: set a glass bowl over a small pot of boiling water, add coconut oil & stir til melted) Alternatively, you may sub equivalent dates or date paste which does make for easier adherance onto apple – I just love the taste of the coconut oil- tho both are super yum!
1/2 cup raw nut butter (such as almond, cashew, sunflower or pepita butter)
1/2 cup raw, organic coconut nectar
4 pitted dates
1/4 tsp vanilla powder
1/4 tsp himalayan salt

Raw Vegan Chocolate Ganache

1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil liquified
1/2 cup cacao or carob
1/2 cup nut butter
1/4 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1/4 tsp himalayn salt
a few drops of stevia to taste

METHOD

To insert the apple “handles” with ease, first make a slit about 1/3 the way down in the top middle of each apple with a sharp knife, then insert the sticks. Find a small platter and place a sheet of parchment or wax paper on it. You will be placing your apples on this during preparatin to catch excess caramel and chocolate. Place apples in the freezer for 10 minutes as this makes it easy for the caramel to adhere.
Blend together the caramel ingredients til smooth & creamy. Set in freezer to cool for 5 minutes while preparing chocolate ganache.
Whisk together the chocolate ganache ingredients until smooth and creamy. The mixture should not be overly runny, so adjust the amount of nut butter as necessary, slightly thicker is best for easy application. Set aside on the counter at room temp.
Remove apples from freezer and place on your platter. If any of them are unstable, slice a small piece off the bottom to stabalize. Remove caramel from freezer as well & give it a stir to loosen it up a bit.
With a small metal spatula apply the caramel to each apple, placing each apple on your platter as complete. Put the platter of caramel slathered apples back into the freezer for 5 minutes to set a bit. Don’t worry if some of the caramel slides down. Just pat it back up with your finger tips. We’ll be covering these babies up with your choice of toppings in a minute and they’re RUSTIC!
Remove apples from freezer once again & take this opportunity to patch any spots where you may want to add a bit more caramel. Roll in your choice of finely chopped nuts, coconut etc. Pop back in the freezer for 10 minutes.
Remove the apples from the freezer. Whisk your chocolate ganache to be sure it’s well incorporated, and then drizzle it about your apples. (If you happen to have a squeeze top bottle use it for even simpler ganache application. Alternatively, place the ganache into a freezer bag, snip the TINIEST of little snips off the corner and then squeeze out the ganache using the freezer bag like a pastry bag.) Once complete, pop apples back in freezer for 5 minutes to set. Then move to fridge for permanent storage.
For entertaining, slice the apples as shown and arrange on your favorite platter.

**Leftover caramel? Use it as a dipping sauce or smoothie topper! Leftover ganache? Pour into little molds (or onto a wax paper lined surface) & pop into the freezer for instant raw chocolates 🙂

Do you have any holiday classics you’d like to have me upgrade to a vegan or raw version? Let me know in the comments!

Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube to stay current on all things SN!

All Love,

Juliane

Thank you for visiting 🙂

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Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Nutrition & Beauty, Style

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

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)
1/4 cup cacao or sub a portion or all with raw carob powder
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)
raw coconut 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!

All Love,

Juliane

Thank you for visiting 🙂

Comment, Like, Subscribe & Share!

Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Nutrition & Beauty, Style

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

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!

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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Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Nutrition & Beauty

Strawberries-n-Cream “Nice-Cream” w Raw Brownie Topping (Banana Ice-Cream)

Strawberries-n-Cream Nice-cream with raw fudge brownie topping. Heaven.

Strawberries-n-Cream "Nice-Cream" with Raw Fudge Brownie Topping tastes too good to be true. So incredibly delicious on a hot summer day… Sweet, creamy goodness topped with chunks of rich chocolate brownie.

How did we get SO lucky?!

Proving once again…

we CAN have our

Smooth,

Rich,

Delectably sweet

"Nice-Cream" …

AND our

Moist,

Chewy,

Dark Chocolate

Brownies

& eat them too

AND devour every last delectable bite

with

absolutely. no. guilt.

Strawberries-n-Cream "Nice"-Cream with Raw Fudge Brownie Topping… um YUM!

In fact this luscious treat is a powerful meal like no other. Brimming with…

protein (walnuts, almonds, bananas)
heart, skin & brain boosting omega-3's (walnuts)
blood pressure stabilizing potassium (bananas)
antioxidants galore (walnuts, almonds, strawberries & cacao)
mood-boosting PEA (cacao)
bone building calcium & magnesium (almonds, bananas)
high levels of depression banishing & memory enhancing tryptophan (bananas)
prebiotics, natural antacid & blood sugar stabilization (bananas)
iron (cacao, bananas)
fiber (almonds, walnuts, bananas, strawberries)
folic acid, magnesium, riboflavin, Vitamin E & tocopherols (almonds)
anthocyanins, which stimulate burning of stored fat & boost short term memory by 100% over 8 weeks (strawberries)
C-reactive protein (aka inflammation) lowering power (strawberries)
biotin to build strong hair & nails, & ellagic acid to protect elastic fibers in our skin to prevent sagging (strawberries)

And that's just the tip of the 'Nice'-berg! The astonishing benefits of this deceptively delicious meal go on and on. However, let's get straight to the recipe before our tastebuds go crazy from all that drooling 🙂

So simple.

unbelievably delicious.

fabulous for our bodies, minds & soul 🙂

Strawberries -n- Cream Nice-Cream makes us beautiful from the inside out!

This is my submission to Healthy Living Blogs for this weeks Favorite Summer Recipe Roundup and to Tinned Tomatoes for July's Recipe Bookmark.

Recipe for Strawberries-n-Cream "Nice – Cream" with Raw Brownie Topping

(serves 2)

Strawberries-n-Cream "Nice-Cream"

Ingredients

5 or 6 reaaaaallly ripe frozen bananas *TIP be sure to peel your nanas before you freeze them!
1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries

Method

Blend all the bananas in a high speed blender such as a Vitamix, using tamper.
Scrape 3/4 of the mixture out of blender and set aside.
Add strawberries to remaining vanilla mixture to create a beautiful light-pink hue.
Layer into serving bowls/glasses in 3 layers, starting with a bit of vanilla "Nice-Cream" then the strawberry "Nice-Cream", ending with the rest of the vanilla "Nice-Cream" on top.

*This simplified recipe is absolutely fabulous as is. However, if you so desire, feel free to add some vanilla powder to the vanilla-cream base, & even some fresh, peeled lemon – yes, that's right, lemon! I love adding the lemon for a delish freshness you can't quite detect + more vitamin C power & it keeps the ice-cream from oxidizing too!

Raw Fudge Brownie Topping

Ingredients

1/2 cup walnuts (preferably soaked & sprouted scroll 1/2 way down link for instructions ~> here )
1/2 cup almonds (preferably soaked & sprouted scroll 1/2 way down link for instructions ~> here )
1 or 2 heaping Tblsp Cacao
7 or 8 pitted dates halved to assist food processor
pinch of sea salt
cinnamon to taste
vanilla powder to taste (if subbing vanilla extract instead, adjust amount of water added below)

Method

Pulse all the above ingredients in a food processor until well blended adding a Tbsp or 2 of water to moisten mixture so that it sticks together in a firm yet sticky mass.
Scrape mixture out and mold into one large rectangle using a pan to make it easier, or, alternatively, roll into balls.
Place in freezer for 15 minutes to set.
Cut into pieces to your liking, and top off Nice-Cream sundaes. Store leftovers in freezer.

Enjoy!

How is your Summer going?

Have you tried anything new (holistic health/food/art related or not) this Summer? I'm still learning about wild edibles, adding all the various types we've planted to our daily green drinks & salads. delish. and unbelievably energizing. And, at this point I can say I have become 100% Raw Vegan without even aiming for it. No more detoxing is occurring for me now- and that's a statement I once wondered if I'd ever be able to make! Here's to becoming a clean, mean detoxified machine 🙂

Another thing new I'm into is no more air conditioning! There's nothing like falling asleep to the soft, cool night breeze on my face, the sounds of owls, rustling leaves or a patter of rain in the night… awakening to the beautiful chorus of birds each morning. Bringing the outside in brings us in touch with the rhythms of the Earth, the Universe. That unity. experiencing the ebb and flow of temperatures throughout the day. no resistance. the night cools, the morning warmth. and the heat of the afternoon…

Are you reading anything you're loving? I'm loving The Essential Rumi. wow. on par with Shakespeare.

All Love,

Juliane

Thank you for visiting 🙂

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Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness

Mint Chocolate Chip Supreme

+ Bonus Recipes for Mint Chip Ice Cream & Pudding

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 here to 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-cream you 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!!

Do you have any plans for St. Patty's Day?

All Love,

~Juliane

Thank you for visiting!

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Food

Sexy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake

Sexy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake

This gorgeous, layered Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake, inspired by Pure Food & Wine, will make your sweetie (and you) very happy! Combining the sexy superfood maca, known for its aphrodisiacal qualities, with decadent chocolate and strawberries… well it just doesn't get sexier than that!

Treat your honey to this deliciously creamy treat for breakfast in bed or as a post-dinner aphrodisiac. Serve it layered as shown by using a large spoon to direct the top layer toward the edges of the glass (pouring right down the middle will cause the 2nd layer to dissapear into the first). Or just blend it all together- either way it will taste phenomenal!

Love,

Juliane

Sexy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Shake (Serves 2)

Recipe adapted from Pure Food & Wine

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 cup really ripe (dark spots everywhere!) frozen banana
3 cups almond milk
1 tablespoon maca powder
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
stevia to taste
pinch Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt
1 heaping tablespoon cacao powder (wait & add to second half)
a sprinkling of cacao nibs (for garnish)

Method:

Blend all the ingredients, EXCEPT the cacao powder and garnish, in a heavy duty blender (such as a Vitamix) until smooth and creamy.
Pour half the mixture into two glasses to form the bottom, strawberry colored layer.
Add cacao to remaining mixture in Vitamix and blend.
Pour 2nd half over 1st layer into glasses using a large soup spoon to direct the layers toward the edges of the of the glass, turning the glass as you pour to achieve a complete top chocolate layer. DON'T pour right into the middle of the glass or the 2nd layer will totally dissapear into the strawberry layer. Just go slowly and do your best. No matter what it looks like, it will be amazingly delicious.
Garnish with a sprinkling of cacao nibs & two straws. Trot yourself back upstairs and snuggle under the covers with your sweetie to enjoy your treats:-)

You may also enjoy…

Lemon Bavarois with Raspberry Syrup

Triple Berry Parfait with Cashew Cream

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Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness, Philosophy/Meditation/Spirituality

Macaccinos, Meditation & more…

Creamy Macaccino with Almond Milk!

(Warning, along with a nice recipe, this post is pretty self-indulgent, rambling and goes where I've never gone yet always wanted to…)

Hi Guys,

There is SO much I want to talk about today; tons of amazing recipes I've been making and want to share (keeping me so busy I haven't had a chance to post about them!) an incredibly easy, practically free way to grow your own sprouts, food combining- something new I've started paying attention to, my new morning green drink recipe, etc. I will do my level best to get it all on StyleNectar as soon as I can. I'm learning so much, it's quite fun and exciting!

I have been on an amazing journey, as we all are right? That's life! And lately I've been looking at a lot of things including the concepts of identity, presence, going through life with conscious awareness (versus autopilot) and the repeated & perplexing realization that I am quite solo in my fascination by any of these ideas. Most times I bring up discussions, they're with an interest in looking beneath the surface of what's commonly accepted, leading to one of the concepts above. And generally no one wants to go there:-( Consequently I've made many fine friends through the authors of great books who DO love these philosophical discussions- but that will take me on a tangent into literature- another post for later.

For a long time I was too nervous to share these thoughts I consider most valuable & important on StyleNectar. They wouldn't appeal to a very large audience. So I kept things surface, sharing my favorite healthed-up, yet non-vegan, mainstream food so as not to turn anyone off, silencing all the stuff I really wanted to yell from the mountaintops – with the exception of my paintings- they're honest and real- yet simultaneously wide open for interpretation and, therefore, safe. I suppose that's an appeal for an artist; the viewer need go only as far as they dare in interpretation. Plus, they're from the soul, so half the time they're a mystery to me also:-) However, choosing this overall "safe" approach with the rest of my blog was getting to me. I wanted to be authentic which meant representing only a sliver of who I was wasn't enough – plus of course I've since gone completely vegan. So, a few months ago, I tiptoed a bit further and decided to start putting the rest of myself out there, and I've been truly heartened by your enthusiastic response!

Historically, I've stuffed my artistic and spiritual philosopher side. Not that I wanted to- actually I think it was rather unconscious- a product of being sort of a chameleon/socially acceptable. I can count on one hand the number of individuals I've known throughout life who love to philosophize, my Dad being one of them, thankfully:-) Otherwise, I get blank stares if I mention my daily meditation practice, being vegan (watch Our Daily Bread or Earthlings & read Diet For A New America or Eat To Live & you'll be vegan too) or my fascination with economics/politics or Buddhist/Hindu philosophy (I'll stop there, the list goes on I'm afraid.)

So it won't come as a surprise that I don't at all agree with such directives as don't discuss religion and politics! What's wrong with asking why? Why the aversion to looking beneath the surface? What's the appeal to living a life like robots on autopilot? Answer: conditioning is VERY powerful, if not virtually impossible, to go up against. And yet, the various domino affects of a world of robots are very frightening and so I do hope a few more people will have the courage to open their eyes. Personally, I find living in a state of presence/conscious awareness the most beautiful way to go through life. Though I'm not saying it's easy and it's definitely a life's work. However, autopilot has NEVER and will never be interesting to me.

As a society we're obsessed with building and maintaining an identity- as if without one, we'd cease to exist and life would somehow be meaningless without constant activity, achievement & results. In my humble opinion this clinging to an identity, essentially making an I the center of the universe, is the root cause for all the suffering in the world. Though I'll be the first to admit it's a struggle for me too, because of the tremendous pressure of conditioning.

When I was about four years old I'd ask myself, "Who am I?" I just couldn't take myself that seriously and kind of wondered why anyone else did. Didn't you often question, when you were a far less-conditioned human at that young age, all the drama with which adults seemed to be constantly engaged? As pre-conditioned children we were still in touch with our present, peaceful, inner selves. Jesus said, "We must become as little children." A return to the peaceful, spacious, silence where we can regain perspective in a moment of presence.

Meditation is the way I practice presence. It trains me to transcend identity and live in the world with conscious awareness. It's my fast-track (yes, ironic word choice) approach to putting life into perspective in addition to having a host of additional amazing benefits. And I'm committed because it works quite frankly. If I didn't see results I wouldn't be motivated to do it.

There are centuries of evidence and myriad scientific studies linking the affects of meditation to everything from increasing the peaceful centers of the brain to improving one's ability to concentrate, make decisions and cultivate awareness practice. I'll go into awareness practice in another post. Generally, it's learning to become conscious of the patterns of habitual thought in one's mind in order to ultimately let them go and harness the power of the mind rather than live unconsciously according to it's unhelpful, incessant chatter.

During meditation I watch my thoughts go from fast forward to slow motion- a general tape loop of the same 4 or 5 subjects repeating over and over! Letting go of my own "self/identity" follows suit. And soon, I feel as I did when I was four, at one with my surroundings. Bathed in love. Completely at peace.

I don't feel like working on a good segway here so I won't bother. But doesn't all that correspond nicely with not wanting to eat animals or needing to drink coffee in order to be happy?

Jim and I don't drink caffeinated bevvies any longer. We don't miss them. At all. We actually have more energy than when we used to drink them. And I'm afraid that, yes, we are sleeeping better too. If I had to say we have a substitute for coffee, I'd say the rocket-fuel-like energy we get from our green drinks far surpasses (chlorophyll baby). We also imbibe in a spirulina shake almost daily which is seriously amaze. And these Macaccinos pack a nice punch too. They're my late morning snack- Jim heads to work with his in a travel cup.

Maca is an ancient root prized by the South American tribes for centuries for its ability to energize and take warriors into battle with great stamina. It's an adaptogen, meaning it creates a state of balance or normalization in the body which restores its natural homeostasis creating affects such as balancing hormones. Do read up on Maca and start with a very small amount, listen to your body and proceed gently as such ancient herbs are powerful medicine.

Love,

Juliane

Un macaccino pour madame s'il vous plait?

Macaccino Recipe (Serves 1)

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon Maca Powder
1 teaspoon Cacao Powder
sprinkle of cinnamon
stevia to taste
1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (for a lighter, yet still delish drink use 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup water)

Method

Heat the milk over a low heat until teeny-tiny bubbles start forming around the edge.
Whisk the dry ingredients together in a small bowl til incorporated.
Pour the warmed almond milk into the bowl, whisking until the dry ingredients are thoroughly combined into the milk.
Pour into your favorite mug, kick back and enjoy!

"To commune daily with God in deep meditation, and to carry His love and guidance with you into all your dutiful activities, is the way that leads to permanent peace and happiness."

~ Paramahansa Yogananda

In grace, light and presence

Love 💕

~Jayashrii

Live Beautifully

Be well

Jayashrii (Juliane) 💫

(Jayashrii is my Sanskrit Yogic name given by my teacher in India)

Set up Holistic Life & Wellness Coaching

Join my Saturday Zoom Yoga Classes~> All Levels Yoga Flow with Jayashrii

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You may also enjoy: "Water Night"

Japanese Seaweed Salad

If you liked this post, say thanks by sharing it.

Food, Health, Nutrition & Wellness

The Happy Shake

The Happy Shake, recipe created by Stacy Stowers

I don't know about you, but I definitely have a sweet tooth. I love (raw) chocolate… and (vegan) ice-cream… and all the sorts of things that make one energized, happy and feeling fabulous in body, mind and spirit. Wait! You say. That sounds too good to be true! Does something with all that actually exist? In fact it does. It's called…

The Happy Shake!

Inspired by supremely talented raw food chef, Stacy Stowers, this superfoods-galore smoothie, disguised as creamy, chocolate, soft-serve ice-cream, is so unbelievable it's become a staple at "Blissed Out", the Organic Juice & Smoothie Bar on Martha's Vineyard. So, next time you're visiting the Vineyard, make sure you stop in to try it out… just kidding, of course I have shared my version of the recipe below:-)

Jim and I enjoy The Happy Shake as a decadent morning kickstart. Be prepared to experience exuberant energy, an outstanding mood and satiation likely to take you well beyond lunchtime. When you wake up the next day, don't be suprised if you feel extraordinarily well rested. Perhaps you may even notice a new glow to your complexion…

then you'll know how this recipe got it's name 😉

The Happy Shake

The Happy Shake (Serves 1)

INGREDIENTS & METHOD: Make sure you follow the method exactly! You will need a high-powered blender such as a Vitamix.

1. Liquid Base.

Start with 1/2 cup water
Add 4 cups loosely packed spinach
Add a Good FAT. You need the good fat for metabolizing the spinach and keeping you satisfied for hours. You may choose from: 1 Tbs. Hemp or Chia Seed or 1/4 Avocado

2. The Happy Part…

1/2 Tbs. Maca Powder for stamina, endurance and mental clarity.
1 Tbs. Raw Cacao Powder for that HAPPY BLISS feeling.
A great option for some additional alkalizing GREENS… add 1/2 Tbs. Vitamineral Green Powder or Spirulina (I always add it)
Liquid Stevia to taste

3. DO NOT add fruit yet… Blend preceding ingredients into a green concoction FIRST!

4. Finally, add 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries & 1 frozen banana to your green concoction & blend into a chocolate, soft-serve ice-cream. BLUEberries + GREEN = Chocolate BROWN!

5. Optional: top with a teaspoon of cacao nibs.

Now go out and have the BEST Day Ever!

* Superfood Note: Super Foods like Maca and Cacao are very powerful foods bordering on medicine. This is a good time to do your own research on these two amazing foods. Start in small doses and listen to your body.

You may also enjoy: Poached Egg Topped Quinoa Cakes