Vegan Pizza FTW

 When people commit to a plant-based lifestyle they assume that sacrifice is inevitable. They believe that teeth-gritting will-power will be a necessity; how else will they manage to power through sans their favorite disease-inducing foods like pizza, hamburgers, and ice cream? The horizon looks bleak, marred by restriction, social anxiety (or fear of missing out), and tasteless rabbit food.

Hey, i'm all for rabbit food - lettuce, carrots, delish! Buuut, if you were to tell me that those were to be the two staples of my diet, I might just cry...no, I can promise you I would sob uncontrollably and be inconsolable for quite some time. Nobody wants to be reduced to carrots and lettuce, that I am sure!

Fortunately, this fear-based ideology surrounding the plant-based diet (surely bolstered by the meat and diary industry who desperately want you to believe the aforementioned in addition to the fact that you will without a doubt develop an array of deficiencies and become malnourished) is a bunch of nonsense! Plants are the most usable and absorbable proteins for the human body and with such an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables at our disposal, the body is able to get ALL the micro and macro-nutrients it needs from plants alone!

Yes, switching to this type of lifestyle DOES take commitment, but it's all in how you approach it. When I talk to people about adopting a whole foods, plant-based lifestyle I like to remind them that it isn't and never will be about RESTRICTION but, instead, SUBSTITUTION!

Once that negative, doubting frame of mind is ousted - the possibilities are endless!

For example, my husband's favorite vegan and non-vegan junk food was and is, you guessed it: Pizza.

I have watched him eat entire pizzas himself, nay, multiple pizzas. Pre-vegan he could polish off boxes of Red Baron Bagel Bites without blinking an eye. During college he was known to make late night calls to Dominos and order a large pizza and bread sticks for.him.self. and eat the entire thing. This year during the Los Angeles Pizza Crawl he ate vegan pizza from dawn 'til dusk, in various thicknesses, with and without cheese - and at the end of the day he still wanted more.

To please him with homemade pizza, one that is high carb, low fat with no oil or salt is a daunting task. Especially since he is bananas for Diaya cheese (which is really just creatively solidified fat + color).  And i've been promising to wow him with my Cheese-Less Bombin' Veg Pizza for a looong time.

At Whole Foods I found a great gluten-free pizza crust that was made from just brown rice and water called Nature's Hilights. This meant I was able to switch out a crust that otherwise would have contained wheat, yeast, oil, and added sodium. And it's always a plus when you can find products that have a short ingredient list because it means they are less processed.

Next, I bought a BPA-free can of Bionature no salt added tomatoes. It is important to look for low or no-salt when you are buying canned tomatoes. Tomatoes are salty by nature so added salt is really unnecessary and often takes away from the great flavor imparted by all your toppings.

I crushed up the tomatoes by hand, added chopped fresh basil. parsley, thyme, and 1 teaspoon of onion powder.

Then I prepared my veggies! Feel free to make this as simple or as complex as you desire. Get creative and a little adventurous.

A good tip for parents or adult picky eaters: introduce new and different tastes in vehicles that eaters will be familiar with. This will make them less hesitant to try it because they already know, for example, what pizza crust tastes like even if say, this is the first time they are trying red bell pepper. 

 I topped Kevin's pizza with organic mushrooms, artichokes, & red bell pepper. The crust needs to be fully defrosted first and the oven pre-heated to 500 degrees. I popped it in for 10 minutes before I put the toppings on just to make sure it was cooked all the way through. Then I covered it in sauce and veggies and put it back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes; occasionally checking to make sure it didn't burn.

 The result? A masterpiece of rustic deliciousness! #humblebrag The crust, according to my pizza savant of a husband, was crispy along the edges and chewy towards the center, kind of like wood-fired pizza lending itself perfectly to the gently roasted veggies from the saltiness in the tomatoes to the sweetness of the pepper, effectively complimented by the fresh herbs. Despite its cheese-less nature he was satisfied and in true Kevin fashion processed to demolish BOTH pizzas!

Tell me there is even a HINT of sacrifice here! I dare you!


*Bionature picture and Nature's Hilight Pizza Crust Picture from Google Images

#Respect The Chemistry

Yes, I am one of those crazily obsessed Breaking Bad people. And yes, I am 'stealing' a Breaking Bad tagline for my blog title, but what the hell, it applies. I'm mourning in my own way...

Whether we want to admit it or not, food-- (un)cooking (and baking, entirely) is a science. And there is an inherent chemistry that exists between carefully chosen ingredients that when combined, either make or break our chosen meal; much like when certain chemicals are combined they garner different types of chemical reactions. Some, result in an explosion (of flavor), while others fall flat and require tweaking until all the right proportions have been reached.

Luckily, as plant-based enthusiasts, what we are starting off with (organic, whole foods) tastes pretty darn good already-- so, for us, it's more about the synergy of our ingredients.

A good sandwich or wrap, specifically of the gluten-free, vegan, & raw variety epitomizes perfect chemistry; a synergistic pop of flavor where, say, the tomato juice mixes with your chosen sauce and dribbles down your chin just a little. Ya, chem-is-try!

Enter, my bread-less sammie of choice, the portobello. Honestly, it doesn't get more straight forward than this, except, for maybe a collard wrap, but even that requires some handy covert wrapping skillz. It's so literally just two portobellos, cleaned and stuffed with your most favorite ingredients.

I should tell you that I marinated my portobellos in the leftover soaking water from my sun-dried tomatoes. And then dehydrated them for about two hours. This is not necessary at all, but, I like how it changes the texture - making it more chewy...kind of like real bread.

Look at me, so very put together...and so very delicious!

 Like an open book...a friggin' tasty one, am I right?! 

Heirloom tomato, thinly sliced zucchini that was dehydrated overnight, & sun-dried tomato with oregano. On the flip side: red leaf lettuce & a sun-dried tomato and mango sauce with a touch of basil and oregano 

Ta da! She cleans up nicely, no?

But if you are aiming for a no-fuss sammie, I suggest you opt for the ever popular, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-stuffed-inside-romaine-hearts-sub. If you are traveling, and trying to stay raw, THIS should be your go-to meal. If you are trying out a plant-based RAW diet and miss your bread, THIS is what you should be eating. If you like food AT ALL, THIS is what you should be eating! It's BOMB-IN'!

Romaine hearts stuffed with heirloom tomato, champagne mango, zucchini, sun-dried tomato, scallion, & red bell pepper. No sauce necessary for me because the ingredients meld together perfectly, creating their own chin-dribblingly wonderful sauce. 

Frankly, Nature has her 'ish' together. She knows what she's doing by giving us these perfect little vessels with which to enjoy her bounty. Not to get crazy cosmic-ish on you, but seriously, we are species-specific eaters and that means we were designed to eat ripe, juicy, whole, plant-foods as such. 

It doesn't matter how raw we are, 50%-99.9%, what matters is that we are adding more fruits and vegetables to our current diet and thus, over time, gradually, cutting out nasties like meat, dairy, and processed, refined foods. Changing up your sandwich by replacing the meat with a really hardy heirloom, beefsteak tomato or exchanging your mayo for a creamy tahini sauce, or even just stuffing a head of lettuce with your favorite veggies is an excellent way to start! 

Seriously, #RespectTheChemistry, & eat sandwiches like these!

Raw Vegan Sorbet

Sorry if this seems redundant, but I've really been loving my soft serve ice kreams as of late. And who doesn't love ice kream? Cool, sweet, light & airy-- It's like infinite possibilities of deliciousness in a bowl.
 
I've always been kind of an ice cream freak. At the height of my disordered eating I could and would polish off a pint for lunch and then two or three bowls of "low carb" ice cream after dinner. In my eyes, low carb meant no impact. (Fat? Calories? Hahhaha!)

And if you weren't previously aware, even though I did give a nod to this in my previous ice kream post, here's why you should chose NOT to eat dairy:

 Dairy is perhaps one of the most deleterious foods. Despite all the hype, dairy is NOT good for building "strong bones." When metabolized, dairy is extremely acid-forming and your body actually has to release calcium from your bones to re-alkalize (counter-act the acidity) which over time causes osteoporosis. Dairy also packs a pretty fatty punch to the gut as it is high in cholesterol and saturated fat; heart disease anyone? Not to mention, it's like pure mucous- which can present a whole new host of problems from allergies, colds, fevers, ear-infections to eczema, acne, digestive distress, inflammation, and even type 1 diabetes.

No thank you! I don't know about you, but the mere mention of mucous, can turn me away from anything! And that's why plant-based ice kreams are the BOMB! You can get all that creamy, soft-whipped lightness of  dairy-laden soft serve without the fat, puss, and degenerative diseases that come with eating conventional dairy.

Now onto the goods, ahhh, summer fruit abundance!

Peaches and nectarines are finally in season and they have been awesome sauce; Hence their inclusion in just about all my ice kream dinners as of late!

 So, here it goes- 'scream on fruity friends!

Mango Peach Swirl 
with Freeze Dried Raspberries

Raspberry & Strawberry Kream

topped w. Frozen Raspberries

 

 Blueberry Raspberry & Mango Nectarine
 topped with Frozen Blueberries

 'Kookies & Kream' Banana Soft Serve

Let me tell you, seriously, there is nothing better than this. Guilt-free, cruelty-free, and readily affordable -- fruit-based ice kreams will transform your notion of traditional "ice cream" and you'll be wondering what took you so long!

Quit Caffeine with This Coffee Replacement!

Teeccino

 

 PLUS 

 Vanilla Hemp Milk

 PLUS

Stevia Sweet Drops

PLUS 

Ice 

Equals 

The best night time (or any time really) sweet summer treat! Like Starbucks without having to hand over your wallet! 

 

 Ironically, this just happens to be in a Starbucks mug, oops! 

Back in the good old days (er, high school and into college pre-vegan) I used to spend a pretty penny on frequent jaunts to Sbucks. Their frappes were delicious and the caffeine plus the loads of sugar kept me addicted and coming back for more...and more..and yes, sadly -- more. These babies were like full meals! I dreamed about them. 

Fortunately, there are quality replacements like Teeccino which make being coffee-free a breeze! No post-coffee crash, no-dehydration, no-adrenal fatigue-- win, win, win! 

So drop the crappy frap and try this as a replacement instead! 

Transform Your Salads

Salad is subjective; from the dressing to the individual components, my salad may very well not be your salad.

Truth be told, I'd really all but abandoned salads for the most part, preferring zucchini or cucumber pasta as my entree of savory delight. It isn't that I don't love salads, I'm a raw vegan, to not LOVE salad would be blasphemous! (It's bad enough I'm kind of anti-kale, lest it be the chip. I tried to like it, but it gets caught in my throat and feels like what I can only imagine a hair ball feels like to a cat.) It's just that salad can often be...boring..and unless you have a really maj. dressing it can often leave one feeling unsatisfied. (Most certainly if one is new to this way of eating. Substantiality is key!)

In the world of clean-eating we learn that the less crap we saturate our bodies with whether it be processed food, meat, dairy, dyes, artificial sweeteners, salt, spices, oils, vinegars, etc. the more we can taste the "real-ness" of the food we eat. And it's true, which is ultimately kind of scary, in that -"holy ish THIS is what {insert said food} tastes like"-kind of way.

This may or may not quantify as food snobbery, but to know how good a head of lettuce can taste or to be able to differentiate between the varieties of tomatoes, albeit be able to enjoy them alone, WITH NOTHING ON THEM, is something very special.

And while I have learned to appreciate and enjoy the taste of food prepared simply, with minimal ingredients, dressings are still important. Personally, I love me a good creamy dressing-- tahini, always being my fav. but these days I've been leaning more towards creamy, overt-fat-free dressings.

Enter, the most amazing salad of my life. Literally, transcendent.

Spinach & Arugula Salad w. Celery Banana Dressing and Fig "Cheeze"

Greens:
I chose spinach for its earthy taste and paired it with arugula which has a nice peppery bite that also balances out the sweetness from the dressing and the fig "Cheeze"

Dressing:
3 ripe spotty bananas
4 stalks of celery
Sprig of fresh dill, optional

{OK, before you click out of the blog because you're like, "bananas?? Dressing??? Wth is this girl on?! TRY IT!! It will blow your mind! This was the first time I used this combo and I couldn't believe it took me this long to try it. It is awesome sauce, most definitely for those of us who either A. Are addicted to fatty, creamy, oil based dressings or B. Have a hard time letting go of salad drenched in dairy and cheese. The banana is so creamy and the celery offers that nice punch of natural sodium making for an exceptionally delicious pair. Plus, you add your herbs and your set. Simple and tasty!)


Blend the bananas and celery until creamy and smooth. Then pulse in the dill or whatever herb you choose. Pour over greens and mix until all leaves are fully coated with the dressing.

Fig "Cheeze":
Process 1 cup of soft, dried figs in your food processor until it becomes a paste. Form into little balls or just leave as a paste and spoon into salad whe ready to use.

The sweet, peppery, earthy combination of greens plus fruit will literally transform your idea of what salad can be. It's a gem. It's delicious, full of healthy carbs, sodium, protein, and plant-powered sugars that will properly give you the energy you need and ultimately, leave you feeling satisfied.

For a slight variation, add in some more chopped bananas and a swirl of date sauce like I did!

How to Make Raw Vegan Banana Ice Cream

There is nothing more perfect than a bunch of ripe bananas, sunning on a window sill all spotty and friggin' awesome, begging to be turned into a big ol' bowl of creamy sweet banana ice cream.

God, I love ice cream. Always have, always will. But common, "real" ice cream (if we can call it that, because...no, no, I'm not going to go there with the graphic verbalization of what milk, cream, etc. actually is. I'll spare you, THIS time...it's a food post after all..) is soooo sup-par and it will never, ever love you the way you love it. Yes, ice cream of the barn yard variety, is an unrequited love story of sorts.

To which you should console yourself with some banana ice cream in all its many variations! Banana ice cream will love you back! Promise!

'Nanner ice cream is kinda like that though, it will never make you mucous-y, or give you acne or that inflamed skin rash that no one can pronounce but we know Kim Kardashian has. Nor will it cause sinus infections or strep throat or any of the other nasty afflictions that spawn from dairy consumption.

So here it is, in all it's glory, the one (the many)--

The Ice Cream:
7-10 spotty ripe bananas
Vanilla bean (powder)

Process your bananas In whatever manner you like; high-powered blender, food processor, champion juicer, hand blender.

Put back in the freezer until ready to eat. Especially if you haven't made the date caramel yet.

Date Caramel Sauce (Aka the how to get people to worship at your feet..sauce):

1lb. Of preferably fresh dates of your choosing
Coconut water, adjusted for desired thickness
Blend/process

Ok, so, I like to use a variety of my favorite dates like bahri, blonde, halaway, etc. and I pit/soak them in coconut water overnight (you can use any kind of coconut water, but the one that makes it taste like friggin' god is Amy & Brian's Coconut Juice- seriously, it's like marshmallow whip. I die.)

But, fear not, if you don't have time to soak them you can just blend them up with the coconut water and it will be just as good.

Serve it up! Ahhh, bliss!

I spoon on gross amounts of date caramel sauce as well as mixing it in. I'm not going to apologize either. I love my sugar and I love my carbs and the best thing about living a whole food lifestyle is that you never have to sacrifice or be a slave to calories and moderation.

The important thing to note is that the carbs and sugar I'm loading up on are fruit-based and not artificial or processed in any way. Remember, your brain runs on sugar (glycogen) and everything you eat needs to be broken down into sugar so that way it can be utilized as energy aka fuel. Why not go easy on your body and just give it the healthy whole food sugar it requires??

Besides, the caramel tastes like marshmallow graham crackers. And you can eat this for breakfast.. Or lunch...or dinner. Mind.Blown.

And then of course, I top it off with black and white mulberries. If you haven't tried black mulberries, get some. They are sweet, yet tart. And remind me of Berry Berry Kix.

And when I'm feeling really wild (ha ha) I like to get a little cray cray and mix in some carob with all my sauce-y 'nanner business. Which looks a little something like THIS:

Just follow the same instructions for making banana ice cream, but add some carob for a chocolate-y twist!

I've always been a Swirl kind of girl so I only mixed a bit with carob.

There are endless variations to banana ice cream! Be creative and "indulge" yourself without every having to feel guilty.

Food guilt is for the birds.

Evolution of The Cookie

Sweet, chewy, and dense. Tastebuds ablaze, THIS is the trifecta of what I deem, 'The Perfect Cookie', from vegan to raw to ultra fruitarian raw, the trifecta must remain in harmony and balance; the combinations endless.

Being that I personally do better with no nuts, as fat + sugar for me = death {e.g. Candida, bloating, and a bunch of other science-y reasons that will most likely send you for a snooze! ...for which you could just eat one of my cookies...}-- these cookies are just a mish-mash of my favorite dried fruits. However, (puts on super nerd glasses) adding a tablespoon or two of walnuts, pecans, or pumpkin seeds would be a suitable option, while still maintaining a 10% fat to carb to protein ratio.

MULBERRY FIG COOKIES

In a food processor you will want to pulse together the following ingredients, until all are fully combined, but leaving some visible chunks, which will add more texture/bite:

-Dried Figs (this is your base so fig-it-up, but feel free to use dates as the base or even raisins!)
-Dates
-Dried Banana
-Hunza Golden Raisins
-Mulberries
-Dried Longon (love these! If you haven't tried them, do so! Your cookies will taste just as good without them though.)
-Few dashes of cinnamon

Remove your "dough" and form into cookie shapes. I like to roll mine in mulberries that I have pulsed in the food processor to make a crumble.

Then, perhaps the best part, take 1-2 dates, pitted, and smoosh (yes, this is a very technical culinary term, I know) them on top of the cookie. Because I usually only get fresh dates* they are easy to smooth out over the cookie. See picture for visual aid.

This also makes your cookie look a bit rustic and that's typically my style. Rustic, in my opinion, equals personality. Or this could just be my convenient excuse for not caring whether or not my food looks visually appealing...

*(www.7hotdates.com Bautista Organic Date Farm -the best dates you will ever eat in your life! By the way, I'm talking ooey-gooey, life-altering flavor profiles that range from sweet to salty to caramel-y...just buy them come September 2013!!)

Either way these cookies are pretty damn amazing and you will quiver with delight as you slowly devour each scrumptious bite.

((Chew on that description Bon Appetite!!))