Ever want to try out a small version of a Rawtarian recipe to see if you'll like it? Hate wasting expensive ingredients on large recipes? Have a big family or raw food business that you need to prepare large recipes for? Well you're in luck: you can now adjust recipe serving sizes up and down here on my recipes! Ingredient amounts will adjust automatically. Works with both cups/tbsp (customary) and ml/grams (metric)!

I have wanted this feature since 2009 when I first started this website! And I have certainly received countless requests for this, since it is so handy. And this feature is finally here and live on each recipe!

To use this feature, simply click on the small edit (pencil) icon near the "servings" section on each recipe - then you can select your desired serving size from a drop-down menu, and the ingredients will update automaticaly.  (Alternatively, click on the number of servings in the ingredients area, and this will get you to the same drop-down menu.)

I took care to manually set the minimum and maximum size for each of my 100 free recipes and my 115+ TRK recipes. This is because, as you can imagine, some recipes just will not blend or process properly if the size too tiny or too huge! Thus, the available serving sizes vary for each recipe--from as small as 1 serving to up to 50 servings in some cases!

Generally, though, the best bet is to use the serving size that is a best fit yet is as closest to the "default" serving size as possible. Because of course, when multiplying a recipe by, like, 20, things get a little sketchy! But doubling, tripling etc is usually a no-brainer.

For those of you with my apps, this feature will hopefully be included in the next app that I am working on, which will be a new and improved version of my "raw recipes" app.

If you have any problems, bug reports or thoughts about how to improve this adjustable serving-size feature, I would love to hear from you!

Contest now closed. Congrats to Kinsey for winning this sweet nuts.com prize pack!

Oh  yeah, it's time for another fine contest here at The Rawtarian! You know I like to spoil you with goodies, especially RAW GOODIES!

How does winning a raw nuts and sweets variety pack from nuts.com sound?

Pretty darn good? Then keep on reading...

Just a few of the things that are included in your prize pack...

• Organic almonds
• Organic cacao nibs
• Organic cacao goji energy squares
• Raw acai blueberry superfood cereal

And more!

Enter to win now!

To qualify for the giveaway, leave a comment below filling in the blank: "My favorite raw recipe that uses nuts is ____________!"

The winner will be announced on December 3, 2014, so stay tuned!

It’s the week of hearts as the love-fest gets closer. What mushy stuff am I talking about? Why, Valentine’s Day of course! And when you say Valentine’s, sweets are always the highlight on the table. Whether you spend this once-a-year occasion with your special someone or even on your own, wouldn’t it be nice to share some heart-warming raw sweetness with them? If you’re in search of dessert ideas to tug at some heartstrings, I have the perfect lineup for you.

Raw vegan cheesecake

Since Valentine's day is a day when you have an excuse to be “cheesy,” why not try making my delectable raw cheesecake recipe. It may look fancy and a little complicated, but it’s truly quite simple and totally worth it. First, make the crust by processing the dates and macadamia nuts in a food processor. Sprinkle the bottom of a glass pan with dried coconut then press the crust mixture down into the pan. Next, blend all the cream-cheese filling ingredients in a high-speed blender, adding water only as little as possible, and pour the mixture on top of the crust. While the crust/cream-cheese mixture is firming up in the freezer for about an hour, blend the strawberries and dates until they reach a smooth consistency. Take out the cheesecake from the freezer and top it with the strawberry and date mixture before putting it back in for another 5 hours or so. Enjoy this delicious raw cheesecake recipe right out of the freezer or you can defrost it a little before eating.

Raw vegan chocolate mousse

What’s a Valentine’s Day without chocolate? They’re the most romantic desserts for Valentine’s Day… or actually any day for that matter. This raw chocolate mousse recipe will not fail you since it is very easy and very quick to prepare. (I don’t think I can put more emphasis on the easy and quick part than that!) Just process all the ingredients together in your food processor until it’s really smooth and mousse-like, and then put into individual dishes to refrigerate for an hour or so. Next step? Eat it! Or you may pair it with your favorite red fruit like strawberries (they kind of like resemble the shape of a heart, which is fitting for the occasion!)

Raw vegan chocolate brownies

Oh boy, brownies! Most traditional desserts usually leave you feeling guilty after consuming a lot of them. And you may find it hard to resist eating lots of this raw brownie recipe this season. It might be so wrong but just so right since this recipe is full of good-for-you goodies. To make this recipe, start by processing the pecans into small and crumbly chunks in a food processor. Add the dates and process well until the mixture holds. Put in the rest of the ingredients with the mixture and process again until it becomes chocolatey brown, but don’t let the mixture get too thick. Press the brownie mixture firmly into a pan and let it chill for a couple of hours. You may add a little excitement by topping your raw brownies with raw chocolate icing and a little berry fruit. Don’t hesitate to be creative and make it more special, especially for Valentine's day!

Raw chocolate cheesecake hearts

Mmm, here's a sweet raw vegan recipe for Valentine's Day! Raw chocolate cheesecake hearts! Cashews, coconut oil and cocoa are the main ingredients in these tasty little morsels. This recipe is so easy: all you need is a blender. Mix it all up, then pour into your favorite heart-shaped molds and freeze. That's all there is to it! I use silicone molds - but feel free to experiment! Make sure to share these with your loved ones (don't eat 'em all up by yourself!).

Raw vegan chocolate cherry fudge cake

Another chocolate recipe, but, hey, it’s a happy food and this love month calls for a happy mood! Besides, you can’t deny that chocolate desserts are sexy. After all, raw chocolates are very rich in antioxidants and are also an aphrodisiac. To whip up your own “happy” chocolate cherry fudge cake, first blend the chocolate fudge base ingredients in a high speed blender, starting on low and gradually increasing the speed. Keep blending until it becomes smooth and creamy, then pour the mixture into pans/molds (heart-shaped ones, perhaps?) and place inside the freezer. While it’s firming up, make the cherry topping by blending cherries and dates until nice and smooth. And when the chocolate fudge is firm enough, spread the cherry topping on top and put it back in the freezer until it reaches your desired consistency.

Raw chocolates

Perfect for your love, these raw chocolates are super easy to make and all you need is a blender and a freezer.

Your chocolates must be kept in the freezer all the time, otherwise they will melt :)

Happy Raw Valentine's Day

So there you are, my raw vegan recipes that are filled with love for your raw desserts for Valentine’s Day! Maybe you can even make your date more special by making the desserts together for a more romantic feel. Or if you're on your own, blast the music and get rawkin'! 

The Story

You are on a bus full of people. It's traveling fast along a road. It's fun on the bus. Everyone is laughing and dancing and having a good time.

While dancing, you look out the window. You see a yellow sign whiz by. It says, "Caution: Road Closed Ahead. Danger!"

You turn to others on the bus. You say, "Did you see that sign? It said,  'Road closed ahead!'"

The others on the bus just shrug, laugh and keep dancing. "We didn't see a sign!"

You forget about it, and continue dancing. But as the bus rolls along you notice another street sign: "Caution. Road ends ahead. Steep drop. Extreme danger. Turn around immediately."

You turn to your seatmate and point, "There, did you see THAT sign? It said that the road is going to end. Didn't you see the sign?" Your seatmate says, "I didn't see the sign. Are you sure? You must be imagining things."

Next, you see a huge red billboard on the side of the road. "Road ends in 50 meters. Last exit before road drops off! Danger!"

Still, the others on the bus are oblivious to the signs. And the people on the bus start to think that you are the crazy one, imagining signs that they cannot see.

Asking the bus driver to stop the bus to let you off is hard. And watching the bus pull away while you're standing alone on the side of the road is a dark, lonely moment.

Your Journey

But once you start walking something beautiful will happen. You'll see a figure up ahead - another person walking ahead of you.

You pick up the pace to catch up. Finally, out of breath, you're close enough to talk. You ask, "Where are you going?"

They answer, "Well, I was traveling on a bus, but I kept seeing these signs..."

Are you still on the bus? Have you seen the signs? I will walk with you.

Yours truly,

Do you love eating fresh, green alfalfa sprouts? You can easily make them at home. And they are so cheap to make!

Let me explain how to grow sprouts (for example, alfalfa sprouts or lentil sprouts) at home using only a mason jar, some cheesecloth and sproutable seeds.

Step 1

• 1. Get a large clear mason jar (will hold approximately 3 cups water.)
• 2. Place two tablespoons dry sproutable seeds inside jar. (Example of seed types: alfalfa seeds, clover seeds, quinoa seeds, etc.)
• 3. Add 2 cups cold water.
• 4. Cut a piece of cheesecloth into a small round circle - about the size of a big hamburger bun. Place round cheesecloth on top of jar.  
• 5. Secure cheesecloth with the metal ring that came with the jar. (You don't need the round disc that also came with the lid. Discard it.)
• 6. Let sprouts soak like this on the counter for 8-24 hours.

Step 2

• 7. After soaking for 8-24 hours, take jar to sink. Tip it over, drain all water out into sink.  (You do not need to remove lid. Cheesecloth acts as strainer.)
• 8. Get a medium bowl. Place jar upside down inside cereal jar, leaning a bit to the side. (So that any excess drips will collect in cereal jar but the jar can still "breathe.")
• 9. Throw a teatowel or cloth over the jar, so it's in the dark. Let sit for 24 hours.

Step 3

• 10. After 24 hours, remove cloth. Your sprouts should be starting to grow! Take jar to sink. Add 2 cups cold water, then drain immediately. (The point is to moisten the sprouts a bit.)
• 11. Replace in bowl, similar to last time. Cover again with tea towel. Let sit for another 24 hours.

Step 4

• 12. After waiting another 24 hours, remove cloth again. Your sprouts should be getting big! Take jar to sink. Add 2 cups cold water, then drain immediately. (The point is to moisten the sprouts a bit.) Let sit for another 24 hours.
• 13. Your sprouts are now ready, or close to being ready!

Eat immediately. Feel free to let them grow for another 24 hours or so. (If you ever want them to stop growing, just put the whole jar in the fridge.)

I'm pretty much a pudding fan. Raw puddings are surprisingly easy to make, and I love their smooth creamy texture, mmm. Here are 5 recipes for you to check out, if you haven't already!

Note that the first 4 recipes use chia seeds to thicken, and cashews to add creamy texture. The last recipe uses avocado for both creaminess and texture. But one thing these raw pudding recipes do have in common is their extremely good taste!

Raw Rice Pudding

This Raw Rice Pudding recipe doesn't actually contain rice (sorry to disappoint!). Nonetheless, darlings, it will totally remind you of the rice pudding from your childhood.

Cashews and chia seeds and raisins (of course!) are some of the ingredients in this delightful pudding.

Creamy Raw Fruit Chia Pudding

You really must try this Creamy Raw Fruit Chia Pudding! It's fruity and chocolate-y, and oh so smooth and creamy... yum!

I use raspberries and strawberries here, but you can use whatever berries your little heart desires!

Orange Chia Seed Pudding

When I first made this Orange Chia Seed Pudding, my first thought was "creamsicle"! Bursting with orange flavor, and so creamy good, this pudding is a favorite of mine.

Make sure you use fresh juicy oranges for an optimum orange taste sensation!

Raw Chocolate Chia Pudding

I truly think this Chocolate Chia Pudding tastes like melted chocolate ice cream! But maybe that's just me. Even so, this is a delicious chocolate-y pudding that you'll love!

Cashews are key to making this pudding creamy good.

Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Believe me, this Chocolate Avocado Pudding will rock your boat! Who knew that avocado and cacao (plus a few other goodies) could meld into such a scrumptious dessert?

Actually, the secret sweetener in this recipe is dates. Amazing, really!

Pudding for dessert... or just because!

All of these recipes taste best when chilled for a little bit. This is so the pudding thickens and the flavors meld. But the little bitty wait is what makes these raw puddings so darned good. You won't miss the 'real' thing when you have these recipes on hand!

In fact, why wait for dessert? Pudding for a snack sounds good to me!

You may have noticed that some raw recipes include psyllium as an ingredient. Psyllium adds texture (think moist, soft and light - yum!) to recipes like my Moist Spongy Loaves, and can be used as a thickener in puddings, shakes and soups. But some of you might be wondering: what is psyllium and how much psyllium is safe to eat?

Psyllium is available in both 'husk' and 'powder' forms. (Note: I use psyllium husk in my recipes). It is an excellent source of fiber (derived from the seeds of the plantago ovata plant). It is commonly used to promote bowel regularity. (Check out the constipation section at a store and you'll see lots of psyllium products!) You can purchase it as a laxative or as a fiber supplement, or in bulk at your health food store.

Psyllium also has other health benefits, such as lowering cholestrol,  alleviating Irritable Bowel symptoms, and maintaining colon health. As you can see, psyllium fiber can be a beneficial addition to your diet.

Psyllium absorbs water as it passes through your intestines, which then bulks up your stool. It's this action that facilitates passage through your bowels. Most healthy folks who eat a varied diet to meet their fiber requirements will not have a problem adding psyllium to their diet.

However, if you eat too much psyllium, especially if you don't drink enough water or you're not used to it, you could run into trouble. Eating too much psyllium can cause problems like gas, bloating, intestinal discomfort, diarrhea, constipation, and even intestinal blockage. As with any fiber (or anything in life, really), too much isn't necessarily a good thing!

You know your own body. If you have a predisposition to intestinal problems (from surgery or other medical problems), check with your doctor first before charging out and buying a sack of psyllium! If you are on any medications, check to make sure that eating psyllium is okay (as it can interfere with absorption).

And if you don't have any issues, use common sense! Don't scarf back an entire loaf of Raw Sweet Bread (no matter how good it tastes!) or you may suffer the embarrassing (or worse) consequences!

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?

Ice cream is sooo good, even in its 'plain-Jane' form. You'd be surprised at how many people say that vanilla is their fave flave!  But you gotta add some excitement to your ice cream at least once in your life!

Here's a selection of raw vegan ice cream toppers that just may surprise you. Start the ball rolling with a serving of Raw Soft Serve Ice Cream or Raw Chocolate Ice Cream ...

Raw Brownies

Seriously, Raw Brownies make an ah-mahzing ice cream topper. Just make up a batch of brownies and DON'T put 'em in a pan! Keep the crumbled-up mixture in a container, and mix some in with your ice cream whenever the mood strikes.

Try it. And admit that you like it!

Raw Chocolate-Chip Cookie Dough Fudge

Here's another excellent ice cream topper. Raw Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge. The name says it all, dontcha think? Mix in fudgy chunks of goodness with your ice cream. Devour immediately.

Pair this topper with raw chocolate ice cream for a flavor extravaganza!

Raw Granola

If you're in a 'nutty' mood, try topping your ice cream with Raw Granola. Sunflower seeds, hemp seeds & pecans are just a few of the ingredients in this super yummy granola.

Always keep a batch of granola on hand for breakfast... and for ice cream!

Raw Caramel Sauce

Oh yeah, now we're talking! A Raw Caramel Sauce to drizzle over your ice cream. Oh, so sweet and simple!

Dates and cashews are the main ingredients in this sauce.

Raw Strawberry Sauce

Fruit lovers, don't despair.  Here's a delightful Raw Strawberry Sauce that will bring a smile to your face! Drizzle this sauce on top of your ice cream and garnish with fresh sliced strawberries. Yum!

Chia seeds are used to thicken this sauce, but you can omit for a more syrup-y consistency.

And you might also try...

You can also top your ice cream with a variety of fresh/dried fruits & berries, as well as your favorite nuts & seeds. The combinations are endless: cherries & raw cacao nibs, pecans & raisins, walnuts & blueberries... you see where I'm going, right?

What are your fave vegan ice cream toppers? Please do share!

If you are a raw food newbie, you might be asking yourself... what ingredients are essential to making great-tasting raw recipes?"  Good question! There are many raw products and ingredients out there in the big 'ol world--so what do you really need?

Now, think about a carrot for a moment. A carrot tastes good, it's crunchy and it tastes like a carrot! But what does it bring to a recipe? It doesn't really do anything but be a carrot (and we're totally fine with that!). The following must-have ingredients have attributes that contribute universally to a wide variety of recipes. They may add texture or sweetness or a unique flavor. Some add creaminess or thickness or body. Do you see where I'm going with this? :)

If you peek into my kitchen cupboard, you will for sure see these 7 raw ingredients...

Coconut oil

Hardens & adds texture

Coconut oil is liquid at room temperature, firm-ish in the fridge, and solid when frozen. This attribute makes it the most versatile and useful raw food must-have. Check out how I use it in this Raw Pumpkin Pie recipe. The filling is liquid-y to start with, but lo! after a stint in the freezer, the pie is ready to slice and eat. Yum!

Raw Cream Cheese Icing, on the other hand, is kept in the fridge. In this recipe, the coconut oil loses its liquid quality and nicely firms up so that the cream cheese is now spreadable. Like real cream cheese!

I also use coconut oil in its liquid form, as in this Raw Egg Nog. Here it adds texture (body) to the nog.

Olive oil

Adds flavor & texture

Here is another oil that I consider a must-have. Olive oil adds flavor and texture (body) to certain recipes. And it is versatile. It stands alone drizzled over a salad. Or it can be added to recipes - like this Simple Raw Garlic Salad Dressing!

Olive oil also ramps up the flavor and crisp-factor in this scrummy Raw Kale Chips recipe.

Sea salt

Adds flavor

"Flavor" pretty much sums up why sea salt is a must-have! Sea salt revs up any recipe, both savory and sweet.

Erm, not much more to say on the subject of salt!

Cashews

Adds creaminess & texture

Cashews are da bomb when it comes to adding creaminess & texture to recipes. When blended, the nuts take on a lovely, creamy texture that is perfect for a variety of recipes. Note that cashews don't add a lot of flavor- they are best used as a 'base' ingredient.

Blend cashews into soups -  check out this Raw Tomato Soup - and sauces for a nice, thick texture. Or use them in desserts and fillings like cookies, cheesecake, and Raw Fudgsicles!

Lemon juice

Adds acidity & flavor

You can't beat lemon juice for adding major zing to your recipes! Its tartness takes a recipe from ordinary to OH YES! Like these Raw Cranberry Lemon Cheesecake Bites. Lemon juice is the surprise ingredient that elevates the taste factor.

You can add lemon juice to recipes like smoothies, sauces and desserts. Our tastebuds can always use a little extra kick, yes?

Chia seeds

Thickens & adds texture

Ah yes, chia seeds. This ingredient definitely makes my must-have list. Chia seeds are tiny hard seeds that absorb up to 10x their weight in water. Hence their super-power ability to thicken anything you add them to! If you haven't tried chia seeds yet, get a move on! Here is a de-lish breakfast recipe for you to start with: Raw Porridge.

I use chia seeds in puddings, sauces and smoothies. A very useful little seed!

Dates

Adds texture & sweetness

Dates are never missing in action in my kitchen. Never! They add both texture and sweetness to raw food recipes. You won't miss white sugar when you use dates, trust me! Dates are 'sticky', which makes them ideal for binding recipes together, like my Raw Brownies. This recipe is a classic example of how dates excel in a recipe.

Besides using dates in many of my desserts, I also blend them into smoothies. Again, the dates add body to the smoothie, as well as sweetness. A total must-have ingredient!

Must-have ingredients... yes?

I hope I've given you some ideas here, though I'm pretty sure you have tried many, if not all, of these ingredients. You can see how important they are. What other must-have raw ingredients do you keep in YOUR kitchen?