Craving some healthy sweetness right about now? Need some ideas for dessert tonight? Then take a gander at this fab selection of simple, fruit-based raw vegan desserts that will leave you wanting more!

Strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges and bananas: something for everyone!

Raw Strawberry Shortcake Pies

Oh my gosh, these Raw Strawberry Shortcake Pies are simply divine (and beautiful to look at!). Cashews, coconut, and dates transmogrify into a delicious crust, while strawberries, cashews, and coconut oil are 3 of the ingredients in the yummy filling.

Impress your guests with these easy-to-make delightful raw strawberry treats!

Raw Raspberry Crumble

If you're craving raspberries, then why don't you whip up this delicious Raw Raspberry Crumble. Coconut, walnuts, dates, and salt comprise the easy-to-make crumble, then toss in your fave berry, in this case - raspberries!

To rev up the flavor a notch, top with a dollop of Raw Whipped Cream!

Raw Apple Crumble

Here's a unique take on the traditional fruit crumble. If you're an apple fan, then you'll love this Raw Apple Crumble! Super easy to make, and surprisingly buttery-tasting!

Tip: you can store a batch of your dry "crumble" in a ziploc bag in your pantry for a few days.

Raw Orange Chia Seed Pudding

If you're in the mood for a smooth, sweet treat, then try this Raw Orange Chia Seed Pudding! Chia seeds thicken this pudding to its creamy consistency. Also in the mix: cashews and of course, oranges!

I love this pudding - it's reminiscent of an orange creamsicle!

Raw Banana Cream Pie

This Raw Banana Cream Pie is guaranteed to be a hit. With a cashew/coconut/date crust and creamy banana filling, this pie is both delicious and simple to make.

Keep one on hand in the freezer for dessert or guests or... midnight emergencies!

This Fruit's for You!

Hope you've enjoyed checking out these fruit-based raw vegan desserts! Any particular one strike your fancy?

The great thing about these recipes is that they're easy-to-make and they're good for you. Win-win!

Raw soup recipes are on of my favourite quick meals to make. They are just as easy as green smoothies, but they are perfect for when you want something savory instead of sweet. For many years I was a bit turned off by the "idea" of raw soup recipes. Somehow, I just didn't think that they would be appealing!

It was raw cream of celery soup (recipe linked below) that first got me enthused about the fact that raw soups could, in fact, be savory, creamy and so delicious.

You will notice that all of these soups call for cashews. That's the hidden ingredient to make them creamy and satisfying! All of these recipes are one-step raw soup recipes -  just throw in blender, blend and throw some chunky veggies in the bowl for added texture. Raw soup!

Here is a quick list of some of my favorite raw soup recipes:

Raw cream of celery soup recipe:

Raw cream of celery soup should really only be made in a high-speed blender since celery can be stringy. But this is a surprisingly tasty and refreshing soup.

Give it a try as your first soup if you have a high-speed blender (like a VitaMix or a BlendTec). If your blender isn't very good try to make cream of mushroom or tomato soup instead.

Raw cream of mushroom soup recipe:

Fancy something super creamalicious and filling? Try this raw cream of mushroom soup recipe.

I was raised on cream of mushroom soup as a kid, so this is something that I like to make when I want some raw comfort food.

Raw tomato soup recipe:

This raw tomato soup recipe tastes just like Campbell's Soup. I'm not kidding! Sweet and tart at the same time - this simple recipe is a delight.

This recipe calls for fresh tomatoes and one slice of sundried tomato.

Raw corn chowder recipe:

Corn chowder, creamy corn chowder in raw format. Yes, it's possible. Yes, it's sweet and creamy.

Ideally you would use fresh corn sliced right off the cob, but if you're in a rush you could try canned. Not truly raw but a great time saver.

Raw broccoli soup recipe:

Raw broccoli soup is last on my list because broccoli is not exactly everybody's favourite flavor. However, if you are already a pro at making raw soups and you already know how good they can be - then go ahead and whip up this raw broccoli soup if you are in the mood for a nice change and a deep broccoli flavor.

This can be a great way to use up a lot of broccoli if you need to eat it up in a hurry. 

Raw soup recipes 

Raw soup recipes are on of my favourite quick meals to make. They are just as easy as green smoothies, but they are perfect for when you want something savory instead of sweet. Give one a try!

Chia seeds: you’ve all heard of them! Most of you have probably used them in your recipes. But what exactly are chia seeds, and can you eat too many of them?

There’s something about chia…

The fancy name for chia is Salvia hispanica. Chia is native to central/southern Mexico, as well as parts of South America. Historically, it’s been an important food source, and is still used today in many of these countries. Chia is actually a member of the mint family. It has a very mild, nutty flavor, and is frequently used as a thickening agent in recipes like puddings and shakes. Chia also makes a tasty topping for cereal, yogurt, soups and salads (or whatever you please!).

The good news

Chia seeds are high in fiber, protein, healthy fats, and vitamins & minerals like calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. Fiber helps lower your risk for high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood sugar, as well as promote bowel regularity. 

One ounce of chia seeds (about 2 tablespoons) contains (approx):

• 136 calories
• 4.6 grams of protein
• 8.6 grams of mostly unsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids (higher than flax seed)
• 11.8 grams of carbohydrates
• 9.6 grams of fiber, or 38 percent of the daily value.
• Zero cholesetrol

Chia can be digested whole (unlike other grains) – it doesn’t have to be ground first. It is also high in natural anti-oxidants, so it can be stored (unrefrigerated) for a long time without going rancid.

But be aware...

Chia seeds absorb a lot of water (up to 10x their weight), so don’t go eating handfuls of them dry (not that you'd do that but you know what I mean!) else your bowels will NOT be happy (think constipation!). Presoaking whole chia seeds in water is good practice, plus it softens them up (milled seeds soften up quicker). Else make sure to drink plenty of fluids. Some people may experience gas and/or bloating with chia. As it is high in fiber, introduce chia slowly into your diet so your body has time to adjust.

One of the health benefits of chia is that it can lower blood pressure, however, if you have low blood pressure to begin with, or are elderly, this probably isn’t a good thing. The omega-3 fatty acids can also thin the blood, so you should avoid eating them if you are on aspirin, blood thinners, or have an upcoming surgery.

Allergies to chia are rare, but if you are allergic to sesame or mustards seeds, you might be allergic to chia seeds.

If you have any health concerns, ask your health care provider.

Can you eat too many chia seeds?

Can you eat too many chia seeds? Well, 2-3 tbsp a day are the recommended amount. But ultimately, the answer depends on your body and your health. And as with anything, moderation is key: don't rely solely on chia seeds for all of your fiber and protein. It's best to eat a variety of foods to provide your daily nutritional requirements. 

Raw food recipes for beginners are my specialty. I call them my simple, satisfying raw food recipes, which are perfect for beginners. But many people who love my recipes are not raw food beginners; they are simply busy people on the go who don't want to bother with too much fuss - just like me. Because of this, some avid rawfooders like to share my simple raw recipes with raw food beginners because my recipes are simple and taste great! But enough tooting my own horn, huh?

Eating raw has become increasingly popular as more people realize the many benefits associated with consuming whole foods in their raw state; but starting out can be daunting! Many recipes call for mysterious ingredients (think nutritional yeast, agave nectar, chia seeds, and on and on!) that most raw food beginners don't have in their pantries. While recipes that include such ingredients are great and I too use them, they are probably not where you want to start if you are searching for raw food recipes as a beginner.

Add more fruits and vegetables to your routine: Useful, but boring

If you are a real raw beginner who is just starting to dabble in raw recipes, think about how you can start adding more raw foods to your regular meals.

Salad is probably one of the easiest items to add, because it’s perfect as a side dish or as a full meal.

Start by adding a small salad to your lunch and dinner. And when it comes to salads please remember, people! The best salads only have a FEW ingredients! So don't put the kitchen sink in there - just be simple, like spinach, tomato and fresh basil, for example.

Similarly, breakfast can be a great opportunity to get some fresh fruit - whether it’s a smoothie or simply crunching down on an apple and some nuts.

For snacks, replace your granola bar or cookies with an orange or a banana. If you’re worried that these might not hold you over until dinner, then add some raw nuts and seeds. The complete proteins in the nuts will bind with the incomplete proteins in the fruit providing you with more protein, which will help you to feel full longer.

However, at this point you'll probably be lacking inspiration - and the only "raw" foods you'll be able to think of will be salads and raw apples. BORING!

Well then friend, you are now ready to try some raw food recipes for beginners.

Raw food recipes for beginners

So, where do you start? First, weed out those recipes that require crazy soaking times or dehydrators. If you are a beginner chances are you might have a crappy blender and a food processor - if you're lucky. So don't make anything too crazy. Start slow, yah?

Creating raw food recipes for beginners is where it gets fun. Why is it fun? Because you get to combine healthy ingredients, like dates, pecans, coconut and cocoa powder and make something amazing! Your friends will be impressed when they taste it and you explain that all that's in your raw recipe is whole, uncooked ingredients - no flour, refined sugar or dairy.

Here are some perfect recipes for raw beginners that are sure to turn out great:

• Raw brownies (most popular recipe ever!)
• Raw chocolate pudding made from avocado
• Raw lemon bars
• Raw chocolate fudge in 1 minute
• Raw chicken salad (raw and vegan - no meat!)
• Raw egg salad (raw  and vegan- no dairy!)
• Raw alfredo sauce
• Raw ranch salad dressing recipe

OR CHECK OUT ALL MY FREE RAW RECIPES HERE!

Final tips for beginners

These are just a few tips to help you master the art of making raw food recipes for beginners. Above all, remember to keep it simple!

Desserts – most people’s (if not everyone’s) favorite course of meal. They’re usually the best kind of raw food you show off to entice your non-raw friends, too! A lot of my raw food recipes are desserts, and some of the top-rated raw desserts I’ve shared are loved by many. If you haven’t tried them yet, I’m positive you’ll also find them irresistible.

Raw lemon bars recipe

These lemony bars have a lovely lemony sweet flavor, and are perfect for an afternoon snack or quick dessert. The food processor is your best friend in this recipe, so be nice to yours! First to process are the almonds.

Process well until they turn into a fine powder. Then add dates, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest, and process again until well combined. Set the mixture aside. Meanwhile, mix dried coconut and salt in a large bowl. Add the lemon bar mixture into the bowl and mix once again using your clean hands. Finally, press the lemon bar dough into a glass dish and pop it in the fridge for about an hour. You can cut your scrumptious raw lemon bars into small slices before serving.

Raw cheesecake recipe

This is one of my top raw dessert recipes of all time. Time for a fancy raw dessert! For something as fancy looking as this raw cheesecake recipe, it’s surprisingly easy to make.

Just process macadamia nuts, salt and dates in a food processor until well processed but still airy. Press this crust mixture down into pan sprinkled with dried coconut on the bottom. To make the raw cream-cheese filling, blend all the filling ingredients in a powerful blender, adding only as little water as needed. Pour the filling on top of the crust mixture and freeze for at least an hour. While the crust/cream-cheese is firming up in the freezer, blend strawberries and dates until nice and smooth, and pour it on top of the firm cheesecake that’s been in the freezer for about an hour. Place it again in the freezer for about five more hours. Serve chilled, straight out of the freezer.

Raw brownie recipe

Here’s the most popular of my top-rated raw desserts. This yummy raw brownie recipe tastes so much like traditional brownies it’s simply “brownie-licious”! One great thing about it is it doesn’t require too many ingredients, and there’s none of those laborious steps either. You will need a food processor for this one.

Step one is to process pecans into small and crumbly bits. Then add your dates and process again until it combines before adding the rest of the ingredients to the mixture. Continue processing until it turns into a chocolatey brown. Don’t over-process, otherwise, it will get too buttery. Firmly press down the mixture into a brownie dish using your hands and chill for a couple of hours.

This raw brownie goes perfectly well raw chocolate icing, too.

Raw chocolate chia pudding recipe

You can never go wrong with chocolatey desserts. Here’s another one you can add to your growing list. You’d be amazed at how this lovely raw chocolate chia pudding recipe tastes just like melted chocolate ice cream!

To make this chia pudding, place cashews and water in your blender and blend until nice and smooth. Add cacao powder, honey/other liquid sweetener, vanilla extract and sea salt and blend again. Pour the mixture into a bowl with chia seeds and mix well. Cover it and place inside the fridge for an hour or so to allow the chia seeds to plump up and thicken the pudding.

This raw dessert gets even better and thicker the longer its refrigerated. 

Raw chocolate shortbread bars

These freezer bars are a killer. (I mean that in a good way.) The zingy chocolatey flavor of these raw chocolate shortbread bars makes for a perfect (more adult) dessert.

For the shortbread procedure, process all shortbread ingredients in a food processor until well combined. Press down the mixture firmly into a pan to make your shortbread base. Next, blend all your chocolate mixture ingredients in a high-speed blender until very nice and smooth, and pour it on top of the shortbread base. Smooth the chocolate evenly with a spoon, and finally, freeze for an hour or so.

Let the bars defrost for about fifteen minutes before eating, but remember to always store them in the freezer.

Which top raw dessert will you try?

Talk about excellent healthy substitutes. With these top raw desserts, there’s no need to hold back when your sweet tooth cravings kick in. These top-rated raw desserts can absolutely satisfy them. Which divine raw dessert do you love best?

Now that I have been dehydrating for 5 years, I am happy to share my best dehydrator recipes with you!  Here are some of my favourite raw dehydrator recipes. These links all go to my own simple raw dehydrator recipes, which I share with you for free here on my website:

Kale chip dehydrator recipes

Kale chips - Throw some kale in a bowl, season and dehydrate... and you have kale chips! Crispy and full of flavour. Perfect for snacking in front of the boobtube! (I also have yam chip and zucchini chip recipes too, but kale chips are the best!)

Cracker dehydrator recipes

Crackers - I always have raw crackers on hand. One of the most useful of dehydrator recipes, raw crackers help you make a meal quick - just take a cracker, top with tomato, cucumber, sprouts and perhaps a nut pate or some sliced avocado. To die for and so easy!

Raw bread dehydrator recipes

Raw bread! Soft, moist and spongy. I am not kidding!

Raw onion bread: The best, most pliable and awesome onion bread. It's famous in the raw food community!

Raw veggie burger dehydrator recipes

Raw veggie burgers! Use some crisp romaine lettuce as a "bun" and top with sliced tomatoes and cucumbers and a dollop of raw mayonnaise and you are set!

Cake and loaf dehydrator recipes

Basic raw bread, zucchini bread, and raw sweet bread. Oh yeah! These dehydrator recipes use "psyllium husk" - which is the secret to dehydrating moist breads that turn out nice and spongy (not hard as rocks).

More dehydrator recipes

Lots more of my favorite dehydrator recipes here!

These are some of the best simple, raw dehydrator recipes that I have come across over my five years of dehydrating extensively. What are some of your favourite raw dehydrator recipes?

For the first three years of my raw food journey, I was 100% raw vegan.  I did not cheat.

Was I one of those weird, irritating people that just loves fruits and vegetables? Well, I am now, but I wasn't always this way. I used to hate vegetables!

Before I went raw, I absolutely loved chips and candy. I ate processed foods and loved them! I craved chips (All Dressed and Salt and Vinegar, mmm), donuts (apple fritters, mmm), muffins (lemon poppyseed or buttery blueberry, mmm), pasta (cheese please), candy (sour keys, Nibs, chocolates, mmm), and white bread products (doughy pizza bun, be still my heart).

But once I commited to going raw, I just gave everything up. Was it hard? Yes! Was it worth it, oh yes.........Because after a month of going 100% raw my tastebuds changed and I began to appreciate raw foods and vegetables.

You see, back when I wasn't raw and I ate all those very delicious (but kind of disgusting when you think about them) products, my tastebuds were used to all that processed food. I craved processed food, and food like fruit and vegetables just tasted bland, boring, and bitter to me.

Enter raw foods...

My journey into raw foods didn't happen overnight. I was vegetarian already, but, as you can tell, I ate lots of junk food. But one March I challenged myself to go 80% raw. I did it.  But then for the next five months I only ate about 50% raw, but I didn't think about food too much. Then one day I just decided that I felt like crap and I would go 100% raw, and I did.

When I was 80% raw, I was sort in a detox-state, and I didn't really know what was going on. Fruits and vegetables tasted alright, I guess. I didn't get excited about them though.

When I went down to 50% raw, eating fruits--and especially vegetables--seemed like a chore. I did it anyway, but I wasn't happy about it. I certainly didn't ever enjoy eating a salad.

When I went 100% raw (with absolutely no cheating) after about one month I realized that I actually liked--no, LOVED--some vegetables. That a tomato or an avocado with some sea salt on it was freakin' delicious. I realized that my tastebuds were changing. I was starting to get excited about the salads that I had for lunch. After my first month 100% raw I was actually craving salads.

Things I've learned:

• Eating SAD (standard American diet) foods screws up your palate and tastebuds. Don't cheat and eat SAD foods! You are only shooting yourself in the foot. You have to give your tastebuds time to adjust and to forget the old SAD foods. If you keep eating SAD food you are making it harder on yourself.
• You don't have to love eating raw fruits and vegetables. You won't love vegetables overnight. But you will discover them eventually. Trust me.
• It's all about flavour combining. Do I love to eat carrot sticks? NO! BORING! Do I love to eat a salad with shredded carrots, olives, fresh romaine lettuce, flavourful tomatoes, a delicious raw salad dressing and slices of avocado? HELL YES! See the difference? It's about combining foods to make them tasty.
• You've got to bring raw food with you whenever you go out. Make sure you have some trail mix or easy to eat fruit (bananas or apples) with you, because hunger strikes anywhere. Temptation is the worst for me when I'm out of my house.
• Yes, temptation still exists. But it's not worth it! And don't forget that.

The #1 reason why I don't cheat and eat SAD foods is because I don't want to screw up my palate. I see my going 100% raw as an investment, and I don't want to throw it down the tubes for a bag of chips.

The Raw Food Podcast is a free radio show hosted by Laura-Jane The Rawtarian. You'll find tons of raw food info and healthy inspiration in Laura-Jane's podcasts... and they are free to listen to.

There are several ways to listen to a podcast:

• You can play the podcast directly from within the episode.
• You can download the MP3 (link provided in the episode).
• You can also "subscribe" to The Raw Food Podcast in iTunes using your Apple smartphone, iPad, etc.
• If you have an Android device, you can also use a podcast app - Laura-Jane uses the free "podkicker" app - where you then search for "raw food podcast."

Raw Food Podcast Episode Guide

Raw Recipes:

RFP06: Raw alfredo sauce - In this podcast, Laura-Jane describes how to make a scrumptious cashew-based raw alfredo sauce.

RFP14: Raw Pizza - In this episode, Laura-Jane explains how to make delicious raw pizza!

RFP10: Raw cheese - Laura-Jane explains how to make raw cheese in your blender. She also dispels the myth of 5-day cheese.

RFP11: Raw veggie burgers - In this episode, Laura-Jane tells you how make delicious raw veggie burgers in your dehydrator! 

RFP03: Green Smoothies, Oh Yeah! - Laura-Jane dishes all the dirt on green smoothies! What's in them, what do they taste like, why cleaning your blender immediately is so important, and much more.

RFP27: Nut milks - Laura-Jane the Rawtarian talks about making nut milk. Topics covered: nut milk bags, cashew and almond milk, &  making recipes with leftover almond pulp. 

RFP20: Raw Soup - Don't shy away! - In this episode, Laura-Jane debunks the myths about why some people shy away from raw soups. She also shares the simple trick that ensures your raw soups are delicious every time straight out of the blender!

Raw Sweets:

RFP01: Raw Brownies - Laura-Jane shares her wonderful raw brownie recipe in this sweet episode!

RFP19: Raw Cakes - How to make 'em! - Laura-Jane offers very practical advice about how to make raw cake. She discusses a variety of options, including raw refrigerator cakes, raw freezer cakes and dehydrator cakes.

RFP12: Top Desserts in the Raw - In this episode, Laura-Jane shares the inside scoop on making raw desserts, five different types of raw desserts, and talks a bit about her raw dessert book.

RFP26: Frozen Raw Desserts - Laura-Jane The Rawtarian explains how to make raw frozen desserts such as raw fudge, raw chocolates, raw pies, raw cheesecakes and raw ice cream!

Raw Discussions:

RFP08: Finding Balance - Vegetarian, Vegan, Raw - Laura-Jane's husband, Cameron, shares how he started out as a vegetarian, and then moved to vegan and now to high raw. He brings a practical perspective to healthy eating and shares some great tips on how to find balance in your life. 

RFP09: Get off the bus! - Laura-Jane shares a powerful story about "riding a bus" as a metaphor for healthy eating. Lots of inspiration for helping you deal with people in your life who are not supportive of your way of eating.

RFP33: Raw or Not! - In this episode, Laura-Jane shares general principles shared by the raw food community regarding which ingredients are raw or not. She also answers FAQs regarding raw food.

RFP32: Decision-Free Living - Laura-Jane shares the concept of "decision-free living" and how implementing a simple rule can help you make better food decisions every single day with way less mental effort.

RFP24: How raw food changed my life - In this episode, Laura-Jane tells a longer version of her story of how she went raw many years ago and hasn't looked back since. What makes her story unique is that she had no plans of going raw for the long term! 

RFP25: New year, new you - Laura-Jane The Rawtarian ponders our love/hate relationship with new year's resolutions. She then details 3 changes you can focus on to help you make lasting change in your life when it comes to food.

RFP13: Vegan Protein - Laura-Jane  shares a simple concept of what protein is and where you can get proteins in a plant-based, vegan diet.

RFP23: How to eat healthy every day - In this episode, Laura-Jane shares some thoughts & tips about emotional eating.  Set yourself up for success by applying these tips to your raw food lifestyle!

The Rawtarian:

RFP15: Recipe Organization - App Launch - In this episode of The Raw Food Podcast, Laura-Jane talks about how she uses her recipes (cookbooks, printouts, eBooks, etc.). She and Cameron (her husband) also chat about The Rawtarian's Raw Recipes app.

RFP29: Zen and the Art of Cookbooks - In this episode, Laura-Jane celebrates her new print cookbook, which is a major milestone in her life. But this episode is more about the zen of achieving big goals (like publishing a cookbook or losing a substantial amount of weight or achieving another big "event") than about the cookbook itself. 

Raw Kitchen

RFP07: Raw Appliances -  Laura-Jane explains the order in which she purchased her raw food kitchen appliances, including cheap blender, food processor, high-speed blender and dehydrator. She also briefly touches on secondary appliances like spiralizers and juicers.

RFP16: How to Dehydrate - In this episode, Laura-Jane tells you how to successfully dehydrate!

RFP04: Food Processing -  Laura-Jane dishes all the dirt on making raw food recipes in a food processor! What's a food processor, how is it different from a blender, do you need both, and some examples of recipes you can make in a food processor.

Raw Tips & Techniques:

RFP30: Simplify your own recipes - Learn how to simplify recipes yourself! Laura-Jane outlines the main types of ingredient categories (sweeteners, thickeners, creamers, binders) & shares her top tips for ingredients you can eliminate to simplify your raw recipe! 

RFP02: How To Eat Raw on a Budget - In this episode, Laura-Jane The Rawtarian provides four tips on how to eat raw on a budget.

RFP31: Traveling and Eating Healthy - In this episode, Laura-Jane shares her tip & tricks for staying healthy 'on the road.'

RFP35: Sprouting The Easy Way - Learn how to grow fresh sprouts using only a mason jar, some cheesecloth, and sproutable seeds! For detailed instructions, check out her written instructions here.

RFP05: Nut Substitutions - Laura-Jane goes into detail on how to make nut substitutions in raw food recipes. She outline three main groups of nuts/seeds: creamy nuts, flour-like nuts, and oily nuts.

RFP34: Healthy Sweeteners - Laura-Jane outlines which raw sweeteners she uses, including fruits, maple syrup, agave nectar, unpasteurized honey and stevia.  Also, at the end of the episode she discusses low-glycemic and high-glycemic sweeteners.

Raw Guests:

RFP21: Guest David Backus, Raw Chef - In this episode, Laura-Jane chats with David Backus of Local Organic Lunch, a raw food accessible eatery in Denver, Colorado. They also discuss how important it is to visit your local raw and organic food vendors.

RFP22: Guest Jinjee from The Garden Diet - In this episode, Laura-Jane speaks with Jinjee Talifero, a homeschooling mother of 5 raw vegan children, the co-founder of www.thegardendiet.com and author of “Raising Raw Vegan Children.”

RFP28: Guest Gina Silvestri -  Laura-Jane interviews Gina Silvestri, a Life Coach, radio host and Certified Reiki Practitioner. Seven years ago, Gina weighted 300 pounds and had 17 official medical diagnoses. She healed herself naturally through raw food. 

RFP18: Guest Jodi Lebrun, Holistic Life Coach - Laura-Jane talks with Jodi Lebrun in this episode. Jodi is a Holistic LIfe Coach and a Yoga Lifestyle Educator whose passion is helping women to re-connect with themselves through Yoga, Ayurveda and Creativity. 

RFP17: Guest Andreea Fegan from Little Bites of Joy - Laura-Jane interviews Andreea Fegan. Andreea is a certified Raw Chef and Raw Foods Teacher (Levels 1-3), and a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, affiliated with SUNY. She also offers classes and workshops on raw and vegan topics.

Holidays are just around the corner! It's time to start thinking "party", and of course, "what's on the menu?". Whatever event or occasion you're celebrating, here are some simple and delicious appies to serve your guests.

Ready? Then read on, my friends...

Vegetable Platter & Raw Ranch Dressing

First, let's go for the obvious... throw together a big 'ol vegetable platter. Carrots, celery, broccoli, tomatoes... you get my drift! What's available at your local farmer's market? Be creative! Tempt your guests further by offering a Raw Ranch Dressing dip for their veggies. If you think nothing can compare to 'real' ranch dressing, think again! This is a must-have dip for your vegetable platter!

Fruit Platter & Raw Fruit Dip

And you can't go wrong with a fruit platter, especially when you serve it with a delicious Raw Fruit Dip. This cashew-based dip is sooo creamy and slightly tangy, with a cream-cheese-like texture. Perfect for slathering on strawberries, pineapple chunks and grapes.

Mmm, just writing about it makes me want to whip up a batch right now!

Raw Walnut Pate & Simplest Raw Flax Crackers

For snackies, my fave and easiest trick is to top cucumber rounds with a spread like Raw Walnut Pate.

You can also spread the Walnut Pate on crackers, too. Check out this Simplest Raw Flax Cracker Recipe to totally impress your friends!

Raw Guacamole & Raw Corn Chips

What's a gathering without guacamole? Guacamole is always on my must-serve list, so I'm sharing it with you!

Serve it up with these stupendously good Corn Chips and your holiday event will be the talk of the town!

Raw Strawberry Milk

Keep your guests hydrated (and delighted) with a smooothie like this awesome Strawberry Milk.  Frozen strawberries and chia seeds are the two main ingredients!

For a twist, you can also serve this smoothie up as a refreshing dessert!

Raw Cheesecake

But, if you want a 'proper' dessert, why don't you make one up the day beforehand & freeze? My top choice that you can serve right out of the freezer is Raw Cheesecake!

If some of your guests have any doubts about eating raw at this point, those doubts will be eradicated after just one bite of this wildly delicious cheesecake!

All Together Now...

Let's see now, we've got a vegetable plate, a fruit plate, flax crackers (and cuke rounds!) topped with walnut pate. Then there's the guacamole served up with crunchy corn chips. And for the sweet tooths in the gang, there's the strawberry smoothie plus cheesecake for dessert!

So get ready to enjoy your holiday in raw food style! And don't forget to invite me!

What's the difference between a dehydrator and an oven? Can you dehydrate in an oven? It's tempting to try to dehydrate in your oven, but will you get the same results?

The Rawtarian answers these burning questions for you in this red-hot post!

How hot is too hot?

First off, let's review a very basic definition of raw food. Raw food is preferably organic, vegan food that isn't cooked above 116°F (47°C).  This is to prevent valuable dietary enzymes from being killed off, as well as ensuring the food is fresh and retains all its nutrients.

Ovens are designed to cook HOT, while dehydrators most definitely are not! Even the 'keep warm' setting on an oven is 275°F(140°C). So you can see where this is going...

In this corner: the Dehydrator!

In this corner: the Oven!

The Rawtarian says...

Would you try to barbeque with a microwave? Would you try to vaccuum your floors with your hair dryer? Probably not. One tool is not like the other! So when your dehydrator recipe doesn't turn out because you've used an oven, don't be shocked. So instead, why not forget about dehydrating until you get a dehydrator? Or, instead, if all you have is an oven, look for baking recipes instead, since that's what an oven does!

You can certainly try dehydrating in your oven... if you have a convection oven, and you're willing to keep checking that the temperature doesn't get too high (usually by leaving door ajar and continual monitoring). People have done it - I've heard the stories! 

But if you want to ensure successful dehydrating, it's best to use a dehydrator. Because... well... that's what it's specifically made for! And you want those Raw Kale Chips to turn out crisp and perfect and yummy, don't you?