My favorite thing? The raw food choices that accompany cooked dishes. Naturally there's fried fish, chicken and assorted animal organs but I opted for soups with noodles and let me tell you they were amazing.

On the side a fresh platter of cucumbers, green onions (eaten by bending back and forth a couple of times and then wrapping the green stalk around the white part into a knot), assorted leaves and herbs like mango leaves, dill and more. Have you ever eated a mango leaf? Who knew eating leaves would taste so good and be so good for you. Among the other raw food selections were the usual shredded cabbage and bean sprouts. A local said to us, "this is our medicine."

It wasn't the only time on our journey we heard this same refrain. Apparently the flower bud from a banana tree is eaten by some daily to ward against illness. And it tastes delicious.

2010 is the year for opting out of junk and opting into fresh local produce when possible.

Bon Appetite!

Sorry for the delay in posting. I just returned from a Southeast Asian tour. More on that later. In the meantime check this out. http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/12/farm_animal_rescue_group_picks.html

And thanks to everyone who checked us out during this month. We really appreciate all of the positive feedback. 

I can see now I'm going to be busy trying out new recipes and expanding my vegan menu.

And finally, thank you to Melinda for allowing me to guest post this month. It's really been fun.

2 medium tomatoes
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes soaked
1 clove garlic
1 handful cilantro
1 tablespoon chili powder (more or less depending on the heat you like)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon sea salt or herb sea salt

Puree these ingredients until smooth.

Then dice:

1/2 red bell pepper
1/4 cup green onion
1/2 avocado
1/2 tomato
1 handful of cilantro (chopped)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon lime juice
pinch of sea salt to taste
pinch of cayenne (optional)

Add this chunky mixture to the puree and stir well.

Serve with toasted brown rice bread and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.

1 1/2 cup walnuts14 large pitted (not soaked) dates
Powdered vanilla (teaspoon or to your taste)
1 tbls Mesquite powder (full of nutrition!)
1/2 cup Cacao powder (Not to be confused with Cocoa powder...there is a difference)
Pinch (Large pinch of sea salt)
1 or 2 pinches cayenne pepper. More if you really like hot chocolate! Ha.

I dust my brownies with a mixture of cacao nibs that have been ground with coconut sugar to taste.

Press the mixture into a pan and shape it to your desired thickness. Then put in the fridge or freezer to firm up.

Blend in a food processor the soaked cashews along with a generous squirt of agave nectar and the juice of one lemon. Blend until smooth and creamy. You may have to add more agave nectar or lemon juice depending on the consistency you desire.

I didn't really measure my mixture so I had to add more agave and lemon juice but I eventually landed with a super creamy icing that I used to spread on my hot 'one bite' brownie recipe which will post tomorrow.

1 fully ripe (black skin) banana
3 dates soaked and pitted
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1 teaspoon chia seed
3 tablespoon goji berries soaked
1 cup goji water (use the water you soaked your berries in)

Goji berries are high in beta carotene and other nutrients.

Blend until smooth. You might need to add filtered water for a better consistency. 

(This photo is of a smoothie made with the addition of 1 teaspoon spirulina powder. Therefore your drink may not be so dark green.)

1/4 cup wheat flour
1/4 cup white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons succanat
1/4 cup pure cocoa powder (regular cocoa powder is fine here. No need for the raw stuff.)
1/4 cup canola or olive oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons plain soy milk
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Combine dry ingredients and mix well. Combine wet ingredients and mix well. Combine the wet and dry and mix until ingredients are incorporated.

Spoon into an oiled 9 inch pan and bake for 15 to 20  minutes. A toothpick should come out clean when testing if the brownies are done.

1 cup water
20 soaked raw almonds
1 teaspoon cacoa powder (Remember, cacoa is not cocoa. Cacoa is raw)
4 prunes soaked and pitted
1 teaspoon prune water
1 teaspoon agave nectar
lemon juice to taste

Blend, strain and drink!

3 cups water
1 cup almonds
1 teaspoon honey or agave
2 cups broccoli
1 avocado
1/2 to 1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 green onion chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
pinch of black pepper

In a blender or Vita-Mix blend water, almonds and honey until smooth

Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until creamy

Season with more salt to taste.

This is an unusual recipe. Some might not like the texture as it can be a bit grainy if you don't have a Vita-Mix. It's super nutritious and very refreshing so maybe more of a summer soup.