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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!

 

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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!

 

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Raw Vegan Spumoni Christmas Gateau w Chocolate Ganache

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This is my submission to Ren Behan at Simple & In Season and Jacqueline at Tinned Tomatoes for No Croutons Required Festive Photos and Bookmarked Recipes. Check them out!  

 

Recipe for Raw Vegan Spumoni Christmas Gateau (Serves 6)

Ingredients

PISTACHIO CREAM

  • 1/2 cup fresh young thai coconut meat (or sub soaked cashews)
  • 2 super ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup pistachios, separated into 1/4 c & 1/4 c halved or coarsly chopped
  • 4 drops edible grade lemon essential oil (or sub fresh lemon juice)
  • 1/2 t vanilla powder
  • pinch of celtic salt
  • stevia to taste

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT CREAM

  • 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

  1. Blend all the ingredients in a Vitamix, except the extra 1/4 cup chopped pistachios, until ultra creamy. Taste to adjust flavors as needed. 
  2. Stir in the chopped pistachios.  
  3. Pour into the bottom of a 6 x 3" removable bottom cake pan and put into the freezer until set. 

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT CREAM

  1. Blend all ingredients in Vitamix, except the extra 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts, until ultra smooth and creamy. Taste to adjust flavors as needed.
  2. Stir in chopped hazelnuts.
  3. Pour onto 1st layer once it is set.  Place back into freezer to allow 2nd layer to set as well.

CHERRY CREAM

  1. Blend all ingredients in Vitamix, except extra 1/3 cup dried cherries.
  2. Stir in dried cherries.
  3. Pour onto 1st two layers once they're totally set. Place back in freezer to allow 3rd layer to set. 

RAW VEGAN CHOCOLATE GANACHE

  1. Whisk together all ingredients until smooth and creamy.  
  2. 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

  1. 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. 
  2. 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!

  

Be sure to follow me on FacebookPinterestInstagramTwitter YouTube to stay current on all things SN!

 

All Love,

Juliane

 

Thank you for visiting 🙂 

Comment, Like, Subscribe & Share!  

 

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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…

 

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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!

 

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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!  

  

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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.

 

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 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

  1. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Take 1/3 of the above mixture and set it aside for latter use in crumb topping.  
  3. Press the remaining 2/3 into two 4" diameter 3/4" deep pie tart tins.
  4. 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

  1. 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

  1. 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

  1. Whisk together all ingredients until completely smooth.

Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream

  1. 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

  1. Smear a thin layer of the caramel across the bottom of each tart shell.
  2. 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.
  3. Sprinkle crumb topping over top.
  4. Set tartes in freezer for 20 minutes to set.
  5. Remove from freezer and drizzle tartes with dark chocolate.
  6. 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!
  7. Place back in freezer for final set.  Bring to room temperature for 1 hour before serving.
  8. 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!  
  9. 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!

 

Follow me on FacebookPinterestInstagramTwitter & YouTube to stay current on all things SN! 

 

All Love,

Juliane

 

Thank you for visiting 🙂  

Comment, Like, Subscribe & Share!

 

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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?! 

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Proving once again…

we CAN have our

Smooth,

Rich,

Delectably sweet

"Nice-Cream" …

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AND our

Moist,

Chewy,

Dark Chocolate

Brownies

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eat them too 

AND devour every last delectable bite

with

absolutely.  no.  guilt.   

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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 🙂

 

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 So simple. 

unbelievably delicious.

&

fabulous for our bodies, minds & soul 🙂

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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

  1. Blend all the bananas in a high speed blender such as a Vitamix, using tamper.
  2. Scrape 3/4 of the mixture out of blender and set aside.
  3. Add strawberries to remaining vanilla mixture to create a beautiful light-pink hue.
  4. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Scrape mixture out and mold into one large rectangle using a pan to make it easier, or, alternatively, roll into balls.
  3. Place in freezer for 15 minutes to set.
  4. 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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