“Raw for Dessert” by Jennifer Cornbleet

In a nutshell, because brevity is my hallmark lately,this book is great, yea, even Great.

All of her delicious creations are suitable for those avoiding wheat/gluten, dairy and refined sugars. By refined sugars I mean “table sugar” because she does use some maple/agave syrup- you could also sub honey. You could even sub cane sugar if you prefer it, still enjoying the goodness of the remaining components. It’s all about what changes you are ready for  🙂   She also uses dates to sweeten a lot of the desserts, and adds a little liquid sweetener by way of an extra kick.

The author has graciously posted some sample recipes from the book on her website here.

And I myself,  keep meaning to post the Brazil Nut Milk Cookies and Cream Ice Cream on here because it is so incredibly fantastic. I will, I will.

(I’m just waiting for summer to come- the sun was passing through this week, and I have faith it will return. I shall have my brazil nuts at the ready)

Here are a few examples of what she makes, made almost entirely with raw, whole, healthsome ingredients:

BASICS (This is not the whole list)

• Almond Milk
• Date paste
• Vanilla Cashew Cream
• Caramel sauce
• Chocolate ganache
• Coconut pecan frosting
• Almond pecan crust
• Chocolate cookie crust

FRUIT DESSERTS (A few of the many recipes)

• Strawberry soup
• Apple compote with golden raisins and pistachio
• Caramel apple stacks
• Mango raspberry crumble

SORBETS, ICE CREAMS AND SUNDAES (My favourite section- and the longest one in the book- this is a small handful)

• Bitter chocolate sorbet
• orange sorbet
• Strawberries and cream ice cream
• Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
• Coconut Ice Cream

CAKES,COOKIES AND BARS. To name but 3:

• Jumble Berry Upside Down Cake
• Red white and blue cheesecake
• Lemon, cranberry, pistachio cookies (My orange version featured here)

PIES AND TARTS (Did I mention there are more in the book?)

• Banana cream pie
• Chocolate cream pie
• Coconut cream pie with chocolate cookie crust
• Mince pie

CANDY. Among others:

• Dark chocolate truffles
• Pine nut caramels

Click here, to purchase from Amazon.  No, I am not on an affiliate scheme, indeed, I would  recommend you buy it from a private seller at half price  🙂 And make the cookies and Cream recipe first.

Sourdough Bread…

I miss bread. I miss it. When is Easter Sunday????? Lovely warm spelt bread with olive oil, or wholegrain toast with saad, or wholewheat pitta with hummous and raw veggies. I love you.

That said, I cannot fail to notice that for the last month I have not been afflicted with any stomach pains that I secretly suspected were triggered by certain foods.

Frankly, this makes me want to weep.

Sesame Ryvita is lovely, but..you know…….

Still, when Lent is over I shall do some experimentation with foods/quantities and so on, and close watching, and fear not- I will not be going into this again– who wants to hear peoples digestive issues???!!!

And as time is short (I need to make sandcastles with my son) I post a couple of links for anyone who is interested in making sourdough bread.

To be honest, just reading the instructions made me want to sit down with a herbal tea and some biscuits (oh- wait- no……)  It’s probably no more “faff” than sprouting- just patience and a couple of daily routines of no more than a few seconds. It’s just that instruction list seems SO long!

But not to put you off! Sourdough bread is supposed to be a great alternative if you struggle digesting regular bread (enough on digestion already!) Does it taste sour, I wonder? I am sure I will try this next month. Meanwhile, here is the link. It’s from Peas and Thank You.

Follow this link for the sourdough starter

Follow this for “The Ultimate Sourdough Bread recipe”

 

Happy Easter….almost……    😦

 

 

 

 

Purple

I love strangely coloured vegetables.

I found out recently that all carrots used to be purple,

until the imported orange variety became more popular.

Who would have imagined it?

Here’s another- it’s purple again!

Good heavens- and some more!

PURPLE CORN- I bet you never knew!

And the purple fest continues……

Purple kale- when purple=very green food.

What’s with the purple cruciferous thing?

So what’s my point?

Oh sorry- were you waiting for a point??  🙂

I was just celebrating purple plants,

because celebration of plants is what I do on this blog.

Beautiful nature,

beautiful purples,

beautiful plants.

In the current absence of inspiration…

I find comfort- and hope you do too- in the words of this tenacious little tangerine.  Wishing you a wonderful day…..