THE BEST DARN RAW-VEGAN CHEESE CAKE EVER!

I didn't wake up thinking today was the day I was going to create 'THE BEST DARN RAW-VEGAN CHEESE CAKE EVER" but that's what my picky 8 year old, Nina, says it is. She almost ate all of the 'cheesecake' filing before it got into the pan. I was nervous and excited at the same time though, my fingers were crossed the whole time because I didn't want to waste all the expensive ingredients I used, yeah!

Raw-Vegan Hawaiian Cheesecake

THE BEST DARN RAW-VEGAN CHEESECAKE EVER! (I was told to name it that)

Cashews

Macadamia Nuts

Crust

Cheesecake

Ingredients:

Crust:
1 cup almond flour/meal
4 medjhool dates

I used my fingers this time and just mashed it all together until it formed a sticky dough, I just didn't want use the food processor yet until the 'cheese' filling.

Cheesecake Filling:

2/3 cup macadamia nuts, soaked overnight and rinsed
2 cups cashews, soaked overnight
1/3 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup pineapples
1/2 cup mango
Juice from 2 large lemons or 1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup + Tbsp coconut oil
1/2 cup maple syrup (I use grade B maple syrup)
1/3 cup + 2 Tbsp water
16 oz fresh strawberries, sliced and set aside

Blend all ingredients except the fresh strawberries in a food processor with an 'S' blade until smooth. Pour half the filling over the crust and then layer with some fresh strawberries until whole surface is covered. Pour the rest of the filling over the strawberries and place your cheesecake in the freezer for about 2 hours until firm. Take out of the freezer, slice, drizzle with some chocolate sauce and enjoy. My daughter liked hers straight out of the freezer but I let mine sit for about 15 to 20 minutes before eating, I like it that way.

Chocolate sauce:

1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1 Tbsp cacao powder

Mix all ingredients well in a cup  and drizzle over cheesecake.


Remember to EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

FUTURE MOVIE DIRECTOR?

 DELICIOUS BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE:

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 cup frozen strawberries
2 ripe bananas
2 large handfuls spinach
1 + 1/2 cup of water
Juice of half a lemon

Blend all ingredients  until smooth and enjoy!

Caught on tape: Baby Ricky's new line is "...and action!" but when he's standing up he says it with so much enthusiasm that his whole body shakes hahahahaha, he also makes sure he is on his tippy-toes when he screams it. I am hoping to get him on video when he does the 'standing version' one of these days.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

 Baby Ricky's favorite green smoothie. Try it with your kids and let us know if they enjoyed it as well

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
1 cup frozen mango
1 big handful spinach leaves
1/2 to 1 cup of water (I like mine a little on the thick side)

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend till smooth.

Feel free to send me pictures of your little ones drinking their favorite green smoothies to bernice4fyr@gmail.com


Rick Lakota's Famous Lasagna

I told you there is usually two kinds of food cooking in my kitchen, well, today was no different. While Rick made some mouth-watering lasagna, I decided to create my own new recipe. And NO, I don't feel restricted because I didn't eat the lasagna...people always ask me that and the truth is, when I decide it is a vegan or raw-vegan day/ week (s) for me, I stick to it. When I do purely raw-vegan, I really don't miss cooked food, amazing how the body can adapt!


Mango-Pesto 'Pasta'

Ingredients

1/2 cup pine nuts
3 cups basil leaves (I used 1 bunch)
2cm ginger root
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup + 2Tbsp olive oil
pinch of salt or salt to taste
1 Tbsp fresh parsley
1 Tbsp almond butter (optional)
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 cups ripe mango chunks
3 cups of mung beans, rinsed and patted dry

Put all ingredients except the mung beans in a food processor with an 'S' blade and blend until smooth. In a separate bowl toss mung beans with about 4-5 Tbsp of mango pesto (I like mine drenched in the sauce). Save the rest of mango-pesto in tight container and place in the fridge. Garnish with some paprika and serve. YUmmy!

Verdict: I LOVE IT!


My FAVORITE Snack:

Ingredients:

1 granny smith apple, sliced
1 Tbsp almond butter (see brand I use below)

What a lovely GREEN day it's been :)

Remember to EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

"JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY..."

Dora Ako-Bryant

"Just another manic Monday, I wish it were...." Do you know that song? Prince wrote that fabulous song for the Bangles. Hope your Monday is beautiful and bright and that you woke up thinking that it would be your best day yet. My cousin came over for a few days and we had a blast as usual. I did her hair and Nina totally spoiled her with smoothies.

Dora and I

Photo by Nina Lakota

 Nina also got her very first check of $35 from selling her handmade earrings. She also gets orders through her facebook fan page as well--you can see more pictures of her beautiful jewelry there Nina's Facebook Fan Page. I have known from a very young age that this little wonder is an entrepreneur. I will never forget when at 5 years old, she made $60 in just a few hours from selling her paintings at $1 each. She was so enthusiastic, determined and she never let some one's "NO, thank you." stop her from going on to the next person. It was unbelievable to watch... So, if you want beautiful earrings (handmade) you can contact her though my bernice4fyr@gmail.com to  get more information. GO NINA!

Here are some of the tasty smoothies and juices we enjoyed over the past few days:


Nina's Strawberry-mango Smoothie:

Ready to blend

The best part of my little red head's morning is his breakfast smoothie... he stands by me with both arms outstretched  while I'm blending until his cup gets into his little hands

...And he won't drink it without  a straw, learned it from his big sister, Nina

Nina's Strawberry-Mango Smoothie (more like ice cream to me, yummy)

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen mango chunks

1 cup soy milk, vanilla flavored (add more milk if needed till consistency suits you)

Nina's Strawberry-banana Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen strawberry

1 banana

1 Tbsp lacuma powder

1/2 cup soy milk, vanilla-flavored (add more milk if needed)

Chocolate Veggie and Fruit Smoothie

you can replace the soy milk with almond milk or water

Ingredient:

1 ripe banana

2 cups frozen strawberries

1 cup soy milk

2 handfuls of spinach leaves

2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted

1 tsp cacao powder (option)

Bonus: Manic Monday Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 cups kale, stems removed
1/2 cup parsley
1 cup spinach
1 cup almond milk
1 cup ice
1 ripe banana
1 cup frozen mango chunks
1 cup pineapple chunks
2 cups frozen strawberries

Add all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend till smooth. YUMMMMMM

Remember to EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU'LL THANK ME LATER!

MY HUSBAND HAS GONE SEA FOOD CRAZY

Over the years my husband has cooked some of the most AMAZING dishes I have ever tasted. Sometimes I am almost convinced that he missed his true calling as a chef. He is very talented, he comes up with the recipes as he goes and "smells/tastes the the ingredients all together in his mind before they come together in the pot.." Amazing isn't it? Well, lately he has gone crazy with sea food. See, there is always more than one dish cooking in our kitchen, some people are trying to stay lean (me) and some are trying to bulk up (him). Dilemma? you tell me! when I smell his food I know how 'rich' they are, good for him, not so good for me :), but that doesn't stop me from trying some of his dishes and totally enjoying the ones that are good for me and my trying-to-stay-lean endeavor.

We did really enjoy this sea food extravaganza, it was messy, but he outdid himself on this one, whew: Mussels, clams, king crab, snow crabs and lobster, wao....



LET THE PICTURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES:

Crabs, clams and mussels...swimming

Poor Lobster :(

Just out of the freezer and into the boiling water

PINK=READY

Rick's sea food extravaganza

No one ate the corn, but Rick thought it's traditional to have corn, oh well, they look  pretty and shinny alright!

It was an amazing dinner he made for us all, his baked potato was Prrr-fect

Some Raspberry chocolate wine...

Baked Potato

Lobster tails are yummy

That was my plate....pretty huh?

Rick's garlic shrimp served on a bed of Lebanese Hushwee

Rick's garlic shrimps

another picture just in case you want to look again :0

I asked him if I could share one of his recipes on my blog and he said "Definitely!" Here it is for you all you sea food lovers and non-vegans....enjoy!!

Meet the AMAZING chef himself!

Rick Lakota's Scalloped-Spinach fettuccine in a white wine sauce with wild mushrooms

Ingredients:

1 pack spinach fettuccine, cooked al dente following instructions on package

White Wine Sauce:

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

Juice of 1 lemon

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup wild mushrooms, sliced

12 oz bay scallops

1/2 stick of butter

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt or to taste

1 Tbsp fresh or dry parsley

1/3 cup white wine

Directions:

-Saute onions in olive oil until translucent

-Add garlic, black pepper and salt

 Add mushrooms and cook for about 1 minute

Add butter and cook for about 2 more minutes

Add parsley and lemon juice, stir

-Add wine and scallops and cook on low to medium heat for about 3 minutes covered 

-Stir in pasta and let marinade while stirring for about 2 minutes

Serve and enjoy.

I saved some of this in the freezer for myself and one week later when I warmed it up it tasted even better! Let me know how you liked it if or when you do try the recipe over the weekend. Why not? make a date with that special someone and surprise them *wink*

Remember to EAT & DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH, YOU"LL THANK ME LATER!