Let's Go Raw!

My eldest daughter has joined us this weekend on preparing (and eating) our entry. She's shy and asked not to be posted in any photos but she was a great help taking photos and preparing the food. I'm thank-full for all her help. We have a gluten sensitivity in our house so we often try to find different ways to make conventional foods and desserts gluten free. Raw food cooking is a fun and often gluten free so we decided to add a twist this week for the contest and cook raw. I hope you enjoy and maybe even learn a new way of cooking...by not actually "cooking" at all!

Why Raw

The act of cooking or heating your food above​ a certain temperature​ begins to make the good things in the food cook off. So, the major benefit of eating a raw food is you get more nutrients and enzymes from your food. It usually is way easier to prepare and easy to make. Here is our attempt​ at a cheesecak​e!

Raw Cheesecake Recipe

Filling Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups raw cashews or macadamia nuts
1 tbsp vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract, for a plain cheesecake)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or raw agave (honey will work, but not for strict vegans)
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp melted virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup water (plus more for soaking cashews)
1/8 tsp salt
optional: Blend strawberries with a little sweetener of choice for a sauce

The Crust Ingredients:

3/4 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup almonds
1/16 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
up to 1 tbsp water, if needed
Line a round 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper

After you make the crust you pour in the filling and put it in the freezer. It will look like this:

Leave it until it freezes solid. Then you get to finish it any way you want to. We choose our family's favorite fruit...Strawberries!

Serve and enjoy!!

I welcome and really enjoy your comments. Please don't be shy and let me know what you think and share your favorite raw food meal! Leaving you with blessings until the next entry!