Kaki~Rediscovering this Amazing Fruit

Kaki

Kaki on the window sill is my first memory of having this fruit as a young girl.  Only available around this time of year, it was a great surprise when my dad would come home with a few in his shopping bag after doing the weekly shop.

Patiently my brother and I would watch and wait each day until that one day that they were ripe and ready to enjoy, raw and in its natural state of pure sweetness!

My dad continued this tradition with my daughters as they were growing up as well.  Bringing back all those memories of my childhood. 

If you are not familiar with the name Kaki, you are most definitely wondering what is it?

Diospyros kaki is a wonderful fruit,  in fact it is actually a berry based on its botanical morphology, known as persimmons.  There are many varieties of this fruit. Some heart shaped (Hachiya persimmon), and others flattened and shaped more similarly to that of a tomato (Jiro persimmon). They can very in tanginess and sweetness depending on the variety due to the amount of tannins present in the fruit.

Simply raw is how I enjoy this fruit each year, loving its sweetness and firm texture allowing myself that moment to savour each bite just as I did as a young child.

Here is another way you can enjoy this wonderful berry with family and friends!

Chocolate Dipped Kaki Slices

Peal and slice kaki to 1/4 thickness and dehydrate until they are fully dried.

Dip 1/4 of the slice in raw chocolate, allow to set.

Jiro Persimmons

Raw Chocolate 
1/4 cup cocoa butter
1/4 cup agave
1/3 cup raw cocoa powder

melt cocoa butter in a double boiler, low heat
add agave slowly and allow to warm completely
add cocoa and mix until smooth and silky

Partially dip dried persimmon slices and allow to cool and set in refrigerator.

Chocolate ~ Chilis and Raw Dark Chocolate

Giving another meaning to the term "hot chocolate" in my raw food kitchen today!

Need I say more?

Nope, I really do think the picture says it all!

Today's Green Smoothie

Mangos, pomegranates, almonds, spinach...yup that can definitely make a yummy tasting smoothie!

Here is my "Whatever Green Smoothie" recipe for today!

1/2 cup fresh mango
1/2 cup fresh pomegranate juice (if you can make your own, tastes so much better than store bought)
1/2 cup water
1 large handful spinach
10 whole raw almonds
4 or more large ice cubs

Blend everything together until smooth, top with pomegranate seeds and enjoy!

Keep rawk'n it !
Fortunata

Tis Pomegranate Season!

Pomegranates are in season!

An amazing superfood that can be enjoyed in sweet and savoury recipes or eaten as is!

How ever you have them they are pure goodness and the health benefits that go with consuming them are not too shabby either!

Seeded and all ready to go!

Here are 3 ways you can get your Pom in today!

Purely Pomegranate Juice (left),
Pomegranate Zinger (middle),
Pomegranate Vinaigrette (right)

Purely Pomegranate Juice
Title says it all doesn't it.  Seed and juice 1 pomegranate and enjoy!

Pomegranate Zinger
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1" slice of fresh ginger
1/2 cup soaked almonds
2 small apples (royal gala or other of your choice)

Pass the above through juicer starting with almonds first, followed by ginger, pomegranate seeds and apples.

Pour and enjoy!

Pomegranate Vinaigrette
1/3 cup Pomegranate Zinger
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2-1 tsp dijon mustard
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
a dash of salt and some fresh cracked black pepper

Blend well and enjoy over fresh field green salad sprinkled with a few pomegranate seeds and chopped walnuts.

Have a rawk'n Friday Everyone!

Sharing My Raw Food Passion~Special Thank You!

This past weekend I held my first raw food workshop and it was just such an amazing experience that I just had to share it with you!

The workshop was held in my personal kitchen and dining area.  Unfortunately I do not have any pictures to share for I was busy helping and teaching at the same time.

We made everything from breakfast items right through to sweet treats.  The bonus was that everyone had their hand in making, sampling and then taking them home to share with family and friends.   

The feedback so far has been phenomenal!!!!!

Thank you to all those who attended my first workshop and for making it such an amazing experience!  

Keep rawk'n it in your kitchen!

The Raw Food Yogini,
Fortunata

Mint & Chocolate: What's Not to Love? Continued!

Love early mornings as they allow for some "me" time and for my creative juices to flow.

With the holidays approaching I really want to be able to put something raw on a dessert table that isn't a brownie or a cake, even thought I really like both of these.

I mentioned the other day that there is nothing better than the combination of mint and chocolate!    Keeping those two flavours in mind I headed into my kitchen and using what I had available I came up with this recipe for Raw Mint Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies.

Mint Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies

11/2 cup almond meal, left over from making almond milk and not dehydrated
1/2 cup medjool dates, pitted (6-8 dates)
1/4 cup binding mix (binding mix: 3 parts yellow flax seeds, 1 part chia seeds, milled together)
1/4 cup agave nectar

Process all together until dough like consistency.

Divide dough in half.

Peppermint dough:
Add 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
Process until well combined.

Dark Chocolate Dough:
Add 1/4 cup raw cocoa (1/3 raw cocoa for a deeper chocolate flavour)
2 tablespoons agave nectar
2-4 drops peppermint extract
Process until well combined.

On dehydrator sheet spread dark chocolate layer and shape into a square approximately 1/4 inch thick.
Then shape peppermint dough to about the same thickness.  Place on top of chocolate layer and press gently together.  Smoothing as you go to thin out both layers together until thin enough to roll.

Roll and into tight log, place in freezer until firm (approximately 30 minutes), cut into 1/4 inch slices.
Place onto dehydrator sheet and gently shape them.

Dehydrate at 145° 1 hour.
Transfer from paraflex sheet onto dehydrator tray for even dehydration.
Turn temperature down to 110-118° for and additional 14 hours or until desired texture is obtained.

Note: I glazed the cookies with a small amount of agave half way through the dehydrating process to achieve a deep dark glossy look in the second picture! 

Mint & Chocolate: What's Not to Love?

One of my favourite combinations of flavours are mint and chocolate.  Love the fresh taste of mint in one of my favourite treats, chocolate.

Every so often and only at this time of year I do indulge in a peppermint mocha soy latte. To satisfy my mint chocolate craving I set out into my kitchen this morning to make my own version...

Peppermint Mocha Almond Latte

1 cup almond milk
Dash of vanilla
1 tsp agave (or more)
1 heaping tablespoon raw cocoa
2 drops peppermint extract or fresh mint to taste
2 drops of coffee extract

Blend until warm in a vitamix or on your stove top until it is warm to the touch.

Pure happiness and a fraction of the cost of a latte at the coffee shop!

Staying Raw During the Holidays

Everywhere I look there is a reminder that the holidays are fast approaching and for some they are already here as they make their way to office parities and such.

Keeping on the low and trying to stay raw at this time of year can be very difficult for me and maybe for you too.  My family and friends are big on making sweet treats for the holidays and some of my favourite savoury dishes too.

So how do you get around it?

I'm planning to continue eating 80% raw this holiday by following these simple guidelines that I put together for myself.

Here are My Staying Raw for the Holiday Guidelines

• Never go to a party hungry, have a nice big raw salad before you leave so that all the cooked comfort foods do not tempt you.
• Bring your own raw treats and while everyone is enjoying the yule log, you are enjoying and staying raw by having your own dessert.  In fact bring some to the party so that you can share with your non raw friends.  You would be surprised on how quickly they will go.
• Cocktail party no worries, make a batch of your favourite Raw cocktail by mixing fresh juices and berries with your favourite kambucha, add some sparkling water and enjoy.  
• Nori rolls, stuffed mushrooms, cucumber rolls, and so much more can be made and brought as appetizers.
• Offer to make and bring the salad and/or the veggie platter to your party and make your favourite raw dip to share with friends and family

Here is one of my favourite seasonal treat for the holidays!

Walnut Stuffed Figs

12 dried figs

12 walnut halves

Raw Honey or Agave
Cinnamon

Cut figs in half and place a walnut half on each half, warm in your dehydrator or for a few minutes in your conventional oven (at the lowest setting) before serving, place on your favourite holiday dish or platter, drizzle with a small amount of raw honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

FIELD TRIP!

I don't go shopping very often but today is the day I have to go pick up my supplies for a workshop that I'm holding next weekend.

My list is vast, but I'm sure I will find what I need.

I'm on a mission with my husband and daughter to find everything on my list!

I'm so excited about this workshop. It is my first and I am a bit nervous!  It's a unique workshop for it will be hands on.  I have a great group of women signed up and ready to try their hands on making raw food! Some have tried raw food others are just curious and would like to know more.  They will get right in there with me in my raw food kitchen as we make everything from hemp milk to raw lasagna! I have a feeling it's going to be noisy in my kitchen but it is going to be a whole lot of fun.   :D

The added perk....they get to take it all home with them so they have wholesome raw meals for the next few days!

Oh man, I wish I had an opportunity to take this workshop when I first started getting interested in raw food. It would have made life a bit easier and there probably would have been less waste as some of the recipes I tried where pure flops!

First yoga, then off I go on my shopping adventure!

Simple Hemp Creams

Smooth and creamy and ideal to top off your favourite raw desserts or as the cream in a raw Rose sauce for your zucchini spaghetti.

I prefer to make a small amount to be used up in a couple of days.

Here are a couple of suggestions for you!

Simple Hemp Cream
1/4 cup raw hemp hearts
1/2 cup filtered water

Blend in your high speed blender until smooth and creamy, filter through nut milk bag and refrigerate until ready to use. Shake as cream may separate during storage.

The following are great creams to top your favourite raw desserts 

Strawberry Cream
1/3 cup raw hemp hearts
3-4 fresh ripe strawberries
1/3 cup filtered water
1 tbsp agave
1 tsp vanilla

Blend and filter through nut milk bag

Cinnamon Cream
add 1/2 tsp cinnamon to Simple Cream recipe
1 tbsp agave

Great for raw apple desserts

Maple Cream
1/4 cup raw hemp hearts
1/4 filtered water

Blend and filter through nut milk bag

Add and mix in 1/8-1/4 cup maple syrup



From my raw food kitchen to yours!
Fortunata

Incorporate More Raw into Your Day with Ease!

Home, after taking a mini break to visit my dear cousin in Phoenix, Arizona.

During my visit I introduced her to raw food and how to incorporate raw eating into her day with ease so that it becomes a lifestyle change and not a "diet".

Easy, baby steps, will get you going!

• Incorporate kale into your mixed greens and enjoy a big helping with simple dressings for lunch or as a side at diner.
• Be creative and try a new vegetable into your salad, or use it in something that you normally would make, for example; jicama in your nori rolls instead of cooked rice.
• Breakfast fruit bowls with your favourite seasonal fruits, nuts, seeds, dried fruits such as raisins or dates. Top off with a nut butter of your choice and enjoy.
• Add some green into your smoothies, spinach, romaine lettuce, kale...what ever you have on hand!
• Make your own sprouts or just buy them and add them onto what ever is on your plate.

Start here and who knows where it will take you!