Why yes...this IS as delicious as it looks!

Here it is RAW, VEGAN, ORGANIC Cheesecake.

It is also good for you...well I suppose in moderation.  I ate that whole piece you see right up there. That was not moderation, that was dinner! (Guess what's for dessert?)

The recipe is below.  It is very rich and delicious.  I used all organic ingredients in mine.  It is not necessary but organic nuts have a better taste and are one of the foods most effected by pesticides.

Try it for yourself!

Crust

1 cup raw walnuts

1 cup raw almonds

1 cup dates pitted

  

Filling

3 1/2 cups raw cashews (soaked in water overnight or at least 4 hours)

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup coconut oil, melted (place in a warm bowl to keep "raw")

a pinch of sea salt

Start by making the crust.  Blend nuts and dates in a food processor or good blender until they are consistency you can mash together.  Press it into a 9 inch pie pan making sure to press up the sides to the top.  Rinse blender before starting the filling.

Next drain the cashews from the soaking water, add them and remaining ingredients into food processor or good blender and blend until very smooth.  Here you can adjust flavor if needed.

Pour/scoop out the filling into the crust and smooth top.  

Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours.  Take out of freezer 10 minutes before serving.  

*While mine was in the freezer I placed 1 pint of strawberries and 1 tbsp maple syrup into the blender and made the fancy strawberry sauce.

Protein Packed Blog Post (recipes too)

Mini Pita Pockets with Faux Chicken

"Chicken" n' Dumplings Soup

It has finally been asked...How do you get your protein?  The first thing that comes to mind is to ask people in return how do you get your zinc?  Or how do you get your vitamin B3?  The reason for the return question is because most people just ask "Where do you get your protein?" due to the myth that you can only get the amount of protein that you need from animal products.

I will share with you what foods I get my protein from.  With the added challenge of helping a friend who needed some advice on getting enough protein in her diet without meat, dairy, beans, and little soy!  Don't worry I saw her today and she is not withering away. She is healthy, beautiful, and back to teaching yoga 4 weeks after having a beautiful baby girl (a baby girl who apparently wants to be vegan without the gas from beans :)

The average person weighing 150 pounds needs about 55 grams of protein per day.  That is even enough for athletes (or yoga rockstars).  Here is a list of some of my favorite foods and the amount of protein they contain: 

Peanut butter 2 tbsp 8 grams

Almonds 1/4 cup 8 grams

Edamame (not sure if you count that as bean or soy?)  68 grams per cup

Oatmeal 1 cup 8 grams

5 oz tofu 11 grams

3 oz of quinoa 14 grams

Almond butter 2 tbsp 7 grams (my fave)

1 Whole wheat wrap 6 grams

Chia seeds 1 tbsp 2 grams

Whole wheat pasta 3/4 cup 7 grams

Here are some fruits:

Avacado 4 grams

Banana 2 grams

Dates 1 cup 3.6 grams

Blueberries 1 cup 1.1 grams

Apple .47 grams

Grapefruit 1.45 grams

Grapes 1.09 grams 

Some veggies:

Artichoke 3.47 grams

Asparagus 1/2 cup 2.16 grams

Bok choy 1 cup 2.65 grams

Broccoli 1/2 cup 1.86 grams

Corn 1 ear 4 grams

Kale 1 cup 2.57 grams

Peas 1 cup 8.58 grams 

Potato 4.33 grams

Spirulina/seaweed 1 cup 64.37 grams

Swiss chard 1 cup 3.39 grams

Beans...gas included:

Lentils 1 cup 17 grams

Kidney 1 cup 16 grams

Black 1 cup 15 grams

Garbanzo 1 cup 14 grams

So, as you see there is protein in tons of stuff we all eat everyday.  All fruits and veggies have protein some just have a small amount.  Some people feel that the best source of protein is from meat like beef.  Cows graze and eat grass all day long.  The grass that cows eat contains one gram of protein per teaspoon, and that's only from the juice they chew out of it.  So, it seems that either way, you are really getting your protein from a plant source.

p.s.  Just in case it ever comes up some good sources of zinc are wheat germ, tahini, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, and peanuts.  Good sources of B3 aka Niacin are bran, peanuts, and sun dried tomatoes ;)

Here are a few recipes full of muscle building protein:  

Faux Chicken

1/2 Cup vital wheat gluten

1/2 Cup water

In a medium bowl stir together.  Knead dough for 5 minutes until elastic and set aside.

In a large pot add:

2 Cups water

1/4 Cup nutritional yeast

2 Tbsp tamari (optional)

1 Tsp onion powder

1 Tsp dried sage

1/2 Tsp dried thyme

1/2 Tsp salt

1/4 Tsp celery seeds

Bring to a boil.  Cut the dough into desired shapes/sizes and drop into the boiling water and spices.  Reduce heat and simmer for 50-60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes until all liquid is reduced completely.  *For a chewier texture place on a lightly oiled baking sheet after boiling and place in oven for 10-15 minutes at 350° F.

"Chicken n' Dumplings Soup

1 package faux chicken (I use Morning Star Meal Starter it boils up like chicken, has the same texture and 23g of protein per serving)

2-3 stalks of celery sliced

4 carrots sliced

1 medium onion diced

6-8 tsp of Better that Bouillon No Chicken Base

2 tbsp parsley (optional)

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Brown Chicken in an oiled pan, then place into a large pot.  Add the remaining ingredients then add 16 cups water.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook on medium until carrots are softened and onions are clear.  While cooking prepare the dumplings.

Dumplings

2 cup whole wheat or all purpose flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup unsweetened soy or almond milk

4 tbsp oil

Mix all ingredients together and knead for a few minutes making sure it is combined.  Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick.  Slice with a knife into desired size for dumplings 1-2  square inches.  Make sure soup is boiling and drop dumplings into soup stirring so the dough gets wet to avoid sticking.  Then cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Then let soup sit for 10-15 minutes and serve. 

Yummus

1 can of chick peas

1/4 cup water

3 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp olive oil

1/4 lemon juiced

1 clove of garlic mashed

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Place all ingredients into a food processor until smooth.  Then Yummus!  For a unique flavor use roasted garlic and or roasted red pepper.  Be creative!

Amazing Nut Butter Smoothie

1/4 cup apple juice

1 cup plain or vanilla coconut or soy yogurt ( I LOVE coconut yogurt)

1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp nut butter (USE ALMOND BUTTER YUM!)

1 banana

Mix it in the blender maybe add a bit of ice. So, yummy!

Enjoy :)

Smoothies <3

 

I really <3 smoothies.  I make one or two a day.  Some times I share them and sometimes I don't.  Most of them come out really yummy, and some not so yummy.  The ones that come out not so yummy I just add some maple syrup and tell myself how good greens are for me and drink fast. 

So you can imagine how sad I was Saturday morning when my blender bit the dust.  For a moment I wanted a smoothie more than ever (you know, because I couldn't have one).  Then in my mind I was like what will I do now?  Smoothies are my favorite meals, I have all the fresh fruits and veggies for them, they are going to all go to waste, and I may starve without my smoothies! Yes, I know a bit dramatic.  Then my wonderful husband, and of course hero, said, "Why don't you calm down and we will go buy a new one?".  Wow, he saved the day.

He also added that we should maybe get a better ons since I use it so much.  My mind again takes off into it's own world and says "Vitamix".  Then I realize that we can't skip a car note to buy a blender :(.  We compromised on the Ninja Professional Blender NJ600.  I used it this morning to make my Good Morning Green Smoothie and it worked like a charm.  I made one for my hero too.  There are 3 blades that go up the center of the blender and it blends so fast and smooth I am amazed.

I just wanted to share a couple of my favorite smoothie recipes in honor of my new blender.  Give them a try!

Good Morning Green Smoothie

2-3 Cups Spinach

1 Cup almond or soy milk

1-2 Cups strawberries

1 Cup blueberries

1 Banana

2 Tbsp Flax seeds

Get Your Engine Started Smoothie

1-2 Bananas

1 Cup almond or soy milk

1 Tbsp instant coffee or grain alternative

2 Tsp cocoa powder

2 Tsp maple syrup

Is it hard to be Vegan?

I get this question from so many people when they find out I am vegan.  That and where do you get your protein...hee hee.  Let me start with something I said to my cousin today who is on a very wonderful path of eating healthy and exercising.  Anything is only as hard or as easy as your mind tricks you into believing.  Yes, I know you can feel the yogi in me coming through.  I really believe its true.  Why can we convince ourselves that getting dressed, putting shoes on, putting on a coat, hat, and gloves, getting into the car, driving to a fast food place, waiting in line, placing your order, waiting some more, driving home, getting settled, and eating your take out at 10pm is easy?

It is our mind giving in to our craving and addiction to those foods that "taste" good but aren't good for you.  So before we can even begin to eat healthy we have to train our minds, even trick them, into being satisfied with healthy foods.  

Luckily there are TONS of recipes that make healthy foods into comfort foods!  There are lots of vegans who eat mostly raw foods and lots of salads and that is great if that is what works for them.  For me, I need something warm and yummy that will fill my tummy :) and satisfy my mind of the craving.

Another question that people ask me often is how I survive without milk, meat, and especially cheese.  My answer is we are living in 2012 with so many alternatives to all of those things that taste AMAZING! Along with so many fabulous recipes that fill any void and please every taste bud.  For example, tonight's dinner:  Pizzas on a whole wheat tortilla, lots of veggies, vegan pepperoni, and cashew cheese I made myself.  I am even amazed about the cheese thing.  I made cheese today...never thought I'd say that ever.  

 

I would have to say, like I did before, "easy" is an excuse your mind makes to help you give into your habits.  Like anything in life things get better and easier with practice.  If your goal is to practice eating healthier or exercising, the same applies.  

One more thing to remember is that we are all human, no one is perfect, and "life" easily throws us off track.  The important thing is to recognize when this happens and get ourselves back on track, whatever that may be.