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!

When hosting a party, the food on the table always makes the spotlight of the occasion. You want to wow your guests with your brilliant skills like you’ve just had a raw chef prepare what’s on the menu. In this post, I’ve got some fancy raw food ideas for parties that you can proudly show off to your friends. You just read fancy up there, but truthfully, the procedures in making these raw vegan dishes are nothing but simple and easy, your guests would never guess.

Raw pumpkin crumble

This raw pumpkin crumble recipe is downright perfect for special occasions, especially for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. (You can also bookmark this recipe for your next party. It’s never too soon to plan, is it?)

This recipe is fast and easy. Blend all pumpkin filling ingredients in a blender and set aside. Next, briefly process coconut, pecans and salt, then add your dates and continue processing until the crumble mixture turns into a fluffy coarse meal. To avoid it getting soggy, always store the filling and the crumble separately until it’s ready to eat. Add dried cranberries to the crumble for a more festive touch.

Raw cheesecake recipe

Next up – cheesecakes! They simply look classy, and everyone loves their flavor. Definitely perfect for raw desserts. But making this raw cheesecake recipe requires no magic or chef expertise, so don’t fret. Just place macadamia nuts, salt and dates in your food processor and process well, making sure the mixture is still airy. Layer the bottom of your cheesecake pan with dried coconut and press down your crust mixture into it. Blend your cream-cheese filling ingredients in a high-speed blender and pour it over the crust. Allow the cheesecake base to firm up in the freezer for about an hour while you blend the strawberries and dates in your blender. When the topping mixture is blended nice and smooth, pour it on top of the firm cheesecake base and pop it back in the freezer for five more hours or until it reaches your desired consistency. Before serving to your guests, you may want to defrost the raw cheesecake for about 10 minutes beforehand. (I doubt it will last long once served!)

Raw cranberry lemon cheesecake bites

Gotta love this twist on raw cheesecakes! These heavenly raw cranberry lemon cheesecake bites are sure to capture your raw food and non-raw food friends’ palates alike. All you need for this recipe are a few ingredients and your trusty high-speed blender. Dump all your lemon cheesecake base ingredients into the blender and blend your way up from slow to high speed. Pour the mixture into pans or fancy, decorative molds and allow them to firm up a bit in the freezer. Now blend your cranberries and dates into a nice and smooth texture, then evenly spread the topping onto the already firmed up cheesecake base. Freeze again for about five more hours and serve only when you’re ready to eat them, because it will melt quite quickly.

Raw chocolate superfood brownies

This is a pretty easy raw superfood brownie recipe that has a perfect chocolate taste. And paired with strawberry sauce? Divine!

And this one is super easy too. Just process most of the ingredients in a food processor, then mix in the goji berries, hemp hearts (and optional additional sweetener) by hand. Then press into two glass brownie dishes and refrigerate.

Which one will you choose for your next gathering?

There you have it. These are only some of many more fancy raw food recipe ideas for parties. I’m certain you can also come up with more creative ways to pretty up your raw food dishes. It’s always great to be able to prepare delicious food you love to guests who aren’t even raw fooders (and leave them in awe).

What occasion calls for loads more green than usual? Yes – it’s Saint Patrick’s Day! (Err, I realize the post title spoils it, but let’s just pretend you didn’t see that.)

For raw vegans, having lots of greens on the table may be already an ordinary sight. It seems like everyday might be Saint Patrick’s Day. But this occasion is extra special for many, so why not go the extra mile and whip up a few mean green recipes to enjoy all day!

Just something a little different and festive from the usual green salad, ya know?

Silky green smoothie

What better way to start your St. Patrick's day than with the Rawtarian's classic Silky Green Smoothie? It's big and it's green! And of course, it's extra smooth and oh, so good for you! Fill up a clear go-cup and take it with you to work. Wave it at people as you walk by, so they know YOU'RE celebrating St. Patrick's Day in style!

You must have a high-speed blender to achieve the ultimate silkiness of this recipe!

Raw broccoli soup

Keep up the festive theme for lunch (or supper!) with this surprisingly delicious Raw Broccoli Soup. Cashews provide this soup with its yummy creaminess. And broccoli being the numero uno ingredient, it is a lovely shade of green. So you're still rockin' St. Patrick's Day!

If you haven't made this soup before, give this recipe a try. If you love broccoli, you are going to totally love this soup!

Raw stuffed mushrooms

Impress your friends (or just yourself!) with these Raw Stuffed Mushrooms. They are stuffed with spinach and basil, so yes, this recipe still fits in with today's green theme! Pine nuts and red/yellow peppers are also included in the filling, so you can be assured, these little morsels are most delectable!

This recipe does require a dehydrator, so make sure you plan ahead (it's worth it!).

Raw sweet kale cheesecake

The vibrant green color of this cheesecake recipe is just perfectly fitting for a St. Patrick’s Day raw dessert. Even though it’s green and all, it’s surprisingly sweet and doesn’t even have that green flavor to it. This Raw Sweet Kale Cheesecake requires only a few ingredients and very quick and easy to follow steps: blend, pour and freeze.

What makes this raw sweet kale cheesecake recipe stand out is its lovely shade of green and its sweet flavor.

Surprising and delicious St. Patrick's Day recipes!

St. Patrick’s Day is looming just around the corner, and if you don’t have shamrocks or any creative green ideas to prepare, any of these green recipes will fit the bill! You can start your day with the silky green smoothie, and finish with the sweet kale cheesecake. Or serve up the broccoli soup and stuffed mushroom caps for a yummy lunch!

Do you have your own raw food green overload for the 17th ready?

Are you the type of person who likes to play jokes on April Fool's Day? If so, then congratulations! If not, then instead of a joke, try something a little different on April 1st. Why don't you "surprise" someone with one of these raw desserts?

Read on and find out why each dessert is so surprising...

Raw Sweet Kale Cheesecake

After your guests (friends, family?) finish off their slice of Raw Sweet Kale Cheesecake, shock 'em with the news that kale is the main ingredient! Watch their jaws drop as they process the news. Kale? That leafy green vegetable that no-one ever eats? (Except raw vegans, of course!)

Kale is what gives this cheesecake it's crazy green color. And it does NOT make the cheesecake taste green. It is sweet and delicious, and the texture is creamy (thanks to the cashews and banana). Plus, it's totally gorgeous. So, this April Fool's Day, serve it with confidence. Then drop the kale bomb after the last crumb is gone!

Raw Brownies

Here is another surprise dessert to whip up for April Fool's Day. Why are these Raw Brownies such a surprise? Because these brownies are are actually good for you! With the decadent chocolate-y taste and chewy texture, you'd be forgiven for thinking these are 'real' brownies. Not! Pecans, dates and coconut are the healthy ingredients in this recipe. No sugar, no butter, nada.

Make a batch of these brownies and you'll agree. These are the ultimate healthy treat that will fix your chocolate itch... without guilt!

Raw Cheesecake

Here's a classic raw cheesecake that will fool anyone into thinking it's the 'real deal.' This cheesecake is so rich and decadent, you'll be surprised that there is no dairy in this recipe! Well, you won't be surprised, but your guests will! After you tell them they are eating a raw, vegan cheesecake (cream cheese free!).

Instead of a cream cheese filling, this recipe uses cashews, coconut oil and agave (or honey), plus lemon juice and vanilla. See, no dairy! The crust is also divinely delicious as macadamia nuts are its primary ingredient. Yum!

Make one, or make all three!

Each one of these desserts is so good, another (pretty much predictable!) surprise will be if there is any left for the next day!

Did you know that The Rawtarian offers a wonderful variety of raw food courses? Newbies and experts and everyone in-between will enjoy these fun & informative courses. Each is broken up into easy-to-follow steps & modules. And each course (naturally!) is filled with mega tips and advice from The Rawtarian!

Better yet, all of these courses are free with your membership in The Rawtarian's Kitchen! Not only will you have access to all of these awesome courses, you will also have access to special members-only recipes, ebooks and videos!

Ready? Here we go... !

For starters:

Baby Steps: Go Raw Today!

Are you just dabbling in raw? Or are you trying to encourage a spouse, mother, daughter or friend to incorporate more raw foods into their life?

Join me on the Raw Baby Steps Program, a gentle course that shows you the ins and outs of raw - the easy way.

Raw Food Diet Plan: Full Course

The Raw Food Diet Plan is a comprehensive, day-by-day and meal-by-meal plan that you can implement right away in order for your body and energy to see the quickest and most profound results. It is structured to guide you through your first 30 days as a 100%, returning, or very high raw foodist.

The Raw Food Diet Plan Contains:

Raw Food Diet Plan: Abridged

The Raw Food Diet Plan: Abridged is the shortened version of the Raw Food Diet Plan.  This plan guides you through a 30 day journey into raw foods and provides you with detailed meal plans and raw food recipes for every meal of the day for 30 days.

It skips the first ten introductory modules of The Raw Food Diet Plan: Full Course, and gets you right into the meal plan.

Raw Food from A to Z

"Raw Food from A to Z" takes you through everything you need to know about going and staying raw. First, you'll go through The Rawtarian's 30-Day raw food program The Raw Food Diet Plan.

Then, when you're ready, she'll guide you through Raw Dehydrating 101.

How-to:

Raw Dehydrating 101

Raw Dehydrating 101 contains everything you need to make no-fail raw food dehydrator recipes that satisfy so that you can get the raw glow and stay that way.

This course includes the following:

Target your health:

Low-fat Raw Cleanse

Do you feel your eating habits need a little tweak? Have you been sliding a bit, and want to get back on track? This no fuss low-fat raw cleanse takes you through 7 days of easy, low-fat raw food meals. 

This course includes the meal plans, recipes and shopping lists for your 7-day cleanse.

Raw Food Summer Challenge

Whether you're experienced with raw food and are looking to reset, or you want experience the benefits of raw for the first time, you're going to love this 7-Day Raw Summer Challenge. This challenge is a crash course to guide you through eating raw - the easy way. And with a focus on lighter meals, these recipes will get you beach-ready in no time.

The plan includes recipes, meal plans and shopping lists.

Seasonal:

Christmas Raw Feast

When it comes to your holiday meal on Christmas, this mini course takes you through all the steps to make a delicious and robust traditional Christmas meal for yourself and your family, complete with your shopping list.

Let The Rawtarian walk you through your all raw Christmas!  

New Year 19: Raw Food Challenge

I hope you've had a lovely holiday season. But now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to refocus and refresh--and what better time than at the beginning of a new year? Whether you're experienced with raw food and are looking to reset, or you want experience the benefits of raw for the first time, you're going to love the New Year Nineteen Challenge.

The New Year Nineteen takes you through 19 days of easy, simple, satisfying raw food meals. But, like any good challenge, I've got some mini-challenges for you to begin before your 19 days start.

Take one, take them all!

Join The Rawtarian's Kitchen and you can start your courses right away! That's the easy part: the hard part is deciding which one you want to take first!

Join Now!

As "raw foodists," the way we define ourselves and talk about our reality is crucial because it defines how we think about ourselves and how others see us.

Growing up as a "normal" person who wasn't interested in health, weight loss, vegetarianism, or veganism, I now find it difficult to articulate what I am when it comes to eating since for the past 3 years I have only eaten rawfood. Am I a raw foodist? A raw vegan? A raw fooder? A vegan? A vegetarian? What should I call myself when it comes to eating? And further, should I mention to others that I subscribe to a certain way of eating - and, if I do tell others, why am I telling them?

In a newspaper article published about me earlier this year, a reader left a comment that really struck home with me:

"How can you tell if someone is a vegetarian? Don't worry; they'll tell you!"

This comment surprised me, although the reader does have a good point. In fact, I can remember shaking my head at "vegans" - whom I thought to be pretentious and over the top - before I became one by accident! Even worse, not only am I a vegan but I am a rawfoodist - an even more "extreme" type of vegan! But while I am a rawfoodist, I am one without wanting to be thought of as pretentious. In fact, if I had it my way I'd prefer not to have to talk about what I'm eating (or not eating) and why.

Those of us who subscribe to a certain way of eating - for reasons of health, weight loss, allergies, religion or other rationale do tend to make it known. However, in our defence it is really only out of respect to others - not a need to wave a flag or denegrate any one else's habits. In fact, although I am a blogger and YouTuber, I am actually a pretty private person when you meet me in person and I would prefer to keep my eating habits private. However, I don't because of two reasons: the curiousity of others and my own need to have my values understood accurately by others.

Curiousity

A main reason why it is necessary to mention one's food habits and restrictions is because the sharing of food is so pervasive in our culture and thus others are curious as to why you may not be eating like the rest. If I am invited to a barbeque or am offered an appetizer and I flat-out refuse to eat something without any explanation I will be considered terribly rude. Humans are naturally curious and won't take "I cannot eat that" as an answer. People want to know why you won't eat something - and rightfully so! Thus, we are put in a position to define ourselves as vegan, healthy eaters, or whatever you choose to define yourself as. It is not so much a need to brag, but to explain why our behaviour isn't conforming to the norm.

Perhaps I am reaching here, but I have an example of this from popular culture. If you recall the TV show "Seinfeld" (one of my favorite shows), there is an episode where one of the main characters has a new girlfriend who refuses to take a bite of his pie. With no explanation, the new girlfriend - when offered a bite - simply shakes her head vehemently and refuses to take a bite - without any explanation whatsover. This drives the main character batty because she won't offer an explanation of why she won't taste his pie. He quizzes her: "Do you not like sweets? Are you watching your weight? Do you have donuts in your purse?" And she doesn't offer an adequate explanation to any of his quizzing. His curiousity eventually gets the better of him, and the new couple breaks up over the issue. This is a perfect explanation of why a simple "No thank you" just won't suffice.

Eating Disorders

My health (and yours) is very important to me and a passion very close to my heart and it's important to me that I not be thought of as someone who has a negative relationship to food. Although I do eat a restricted diet by my own choice, I do not have an eating disorder nor a disordered approach to food, body image or anything else. I choose to eat this way because I feel fabulous, have clearer skin, a healthier body weight, I physically feel light and energetic and spritely, and I require less sleep when I eat this way. Also, when I stay away from junk food I find it easier to stay on the rawfood track so I choose not to "cheat" (or when I do "cheat" it's with something as ghastly as a nonraw salad dressing or some vegan sushi!).

I worry that when I refuse to eat something in a pressure-filled social situation that - if I don't offer an adequate explanation for my refusal - others will assume that I am anorexic or bulemic and will be dashing off to the washroom to abuse my body - which is very far from the truth. I love my body and I want to treat it as well as I can by feeding it good stuff and lots of it! Providing our bodies with healthful nutrients is a passion of mine, so it hurts me to have others think something negative about me that is very far from the truth.  Thus I want to explain my passion to ensure that others understand where I'm coming from because of my own need to be understood.

And so...

So for these two reasons - the curiousity of others and my own need to be understood, I do explicitly define myself as a rawfoodie, raw foodist, vegan, raw vegan or whatever else comes to mind. However, I do have one complaint about this way of eating. Can we please get a proper way to define ourselves? None of these methods of describing ourselves make any sense. I suppose back when I was choosing a name for this website I chose the concept of "rawtarian" - because most choices of eating seemed to end in "an" (vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, etc.) so "rawtarian" just made sense to me. However, I am not advocating that we all start calling ourselves "rawtarians" - I am just wondering whether we can't get a better word that fits the bill!

So after all that, what do you call yourself and when do you feel the need to share about your healhy habits? And does it matter? After all, we are all cut from the same cloth and what we eat doesn't necessarily define us. (Or does it?)

Who doesn’t love pie? These easy raw pie recipes are simple to make. Make ‘em for dessert, or for any time you please. For a sweet, creamy fix, try the raw banana cream pie. Whip up a raw pumpkin pie for a special occasion. For home-style taste, grab yourself a slice of raw apple pie.

At least one of these easy raw pie recipes will become your favourite!

Raw banana cream pie

-Pretty and pleasing, this raw pie will impress you with its banana-creaminess. Freezer-friendly & easy to make = the perfect raw pie choice!

Raw apple pie

–Great for a family dessert or casual get-together. This easy raw apple pie recipe is fast and tasty. You don’t even have to peel the apples!

Raw pumpkin pie

–Mmm. This raw pie tastes like real pumpkin pie! A must-have easy raw pie for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Or any time!

Raw chocolate cream pie

–Try this easy, one-step chocolate cream pie that's sure to delight!

 These easy raw pie recipes are fun to make, and a treat to eat. What are you waiting for?

Simple raw food recipes are the best raw recipes hands-down.

It's no secret that a raw diet requires a bit (or a LOT!) of planning and some advance preparation for certain dishes. However, that doesn't mean that your raw food recipes have to be complicated—in fact, quite the contrary is true! Eating a raw diet is definitely part of a lifestyle, but preparing meals doesn't have to consume your life.

Simple raw food recipes should be the back-bone of your daily eating routine, and here are four reasons why simple raw recipes are best:

1. Simple raw recipes save time 

A huge trap for people eating a variety of diets—from SAD all the way to vegetarians and vegans—is reaching for pre-packaged convenience foods. Why? Because they require little to no time to prepare, and can be easily transported when you're on the go.

By loading your arsenal with simple raw food recipes and utilizing a little menu planning, you can prepare simple, versatile foods to grab throughout the week, as well as have plenty of choices for when you need to whip something up quickly (or satisfy a craving)!

Try this simple raw recipe: Raw brownies in 10 minutes

2. Simple raw recipes mean that you'll stay versatile 

Most people thrive on variety (it is, after all, the spice of life), and it should definitely not be neglected in your diet. When making a drastic dietary change, it can be easy to get stuck in a flavor-rut, but by familiarizing yourself with simple raw food recipes you will open yourself up to a whole new world of raw culinary delights. The obvious beauty of following simple recipes is efficiency and easy, non-intimidating prep. However, as you master fundamental techniques and get comfortable with the raw diet staples and basic recipes, you can begin to experiment with different flavor combinations to create delicious and truly unique dishes.

Try this simple raw recipe: Creamy celery soup in 10 minutes

3.  Simple raw recipes are maintainable 

Blending, pureeing, chopping, chilling, dehydrating, sprouting, planning—it can become overwhelming if every meal is a chore. By having a strong foundation of simple raw food recipes to fall back on, you can take a break from heavy-prep and more time-consuming recipes without falling off the wagon. Knowing that you can take it easy while still maintaining your raw diet is crucial to your success. And it doesn't hurt to know that you can whip up some 1-minute raw chocolate fudge on a moment's notice, either!

Try this simple raw recipe: Raw chocolate fuge in 1 minute

4.  Simple raw recipes are best because success is contagious 

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't interested in hearing the secrets to your success—how you lost the weight, cleared up your skin, seem to have so much more energy—but much of our society is focused on quick-fix solutions and low-effort trends. The real “secret” is that there are no magic pills or food sprinkles that will make you feel as incredible as going raw will. And with simple recipes to follow, and real results to motivate, sharing this message is easy!

Try this simple raw recipe: Raw alfredo sauce

Find your own favorite simple raw recipe

Looking for simple raw recipes to start your raw journey? Check out The Rawtarian's Raw Recipe Index, for simple, satisfying raw recipes. Whether you are just beginning your raw food journey, or you're a seasoned veteran looking for something new (raw carrot cake, anyone?) you're sure to find something to delight your taste buds!

Who said blenders are just for smoothies and shakes? Is that what you think? Well, think again! Your blender is more than just that. It possesses the power to make puddings, soups, sauces, and smoothies (of course!). You can even whip up a batch of chocolate icing in your blender!

The blender is the most important appliance in your kitchen. If you haven't realized that yet, you will soon! I've compiled for you the 5 easiest raw vegan blender recipes. These recipes are all super dee-lish, and simple to make. Let's start with something sweet... 

Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Here is a pudding to die for, plus it's so darned good for you (what with the avocado and all!). This Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding is smooth and creamy, and so easy to make. Good enough to serve your guests, or better yet, keep it all to yourself!

You can eat it right away, or stash it in the fridge for a bit (tastes even better when chilled).

Raw Chocolate Icing

Even I was surprised at how divine this Raw Chocolate Icing tastes! How can four simple ingredients combine to make something so decadent and delicious? This icing would fit right in at a fancy vegan restaurant!

If you can stop yourself from eating this by the spoonful, spread this icing on a batch of Raw Brownies.

Raw Tomato Soup

Tomatoes and cashews combine to make this superb Raw Tomato Soup. I know you might think raw soup doesn't sound appealing. But trust me on this - this soup is sooo good! It's so easy to make (just throw ingredients in blender and blend 'er up!).

Bonus: the longer you blend, the warmer the soup gets - oh, so good!

Raw Alfredo Sauce

Okay, I know you're thinking, "Alfredo sauce? Really?" Yes, really! You can whip up a batch of the best-tasting Raw Alfredo Sauce that ever hit your palate. Cashews provide texture and creaminess to this recipe. You are so going to love it.

Serve over zucchini 'noodles' for a taste sensation!

Raw Macaroni and Cheese

Yes, there is such a thing as Raw Macaroni and Cheese! You will be surprised at how cheese-y rich this recipe is. It's so good, even your kids will love it! Toss with zucchini or kelp 'macaroni' and serve - I'll be right there!

This is one of my go-to fave recipes!

Not just for smoothies...

Your blender is a whole lot more versatile than you think. Don't just use it for smoothies! Heck no. After trying these easy raw vegan blender recipes, you'll see your blender in a whole new light. For realz!

Raw vegan dishes are always enjoyable. But when those “Brrr” months kick in, wouldn’t it be nice to have something warm on your plate? While some of you might scratch your heads wondering what I’m going on about, let me just say not all raw dishes are frozen or chilled. So there’s no need to despair about eating cold food in freezing temperatures. And no, you don’t have to cook and break your raw food streak at all. I’m talking about authentic raw food recipes for the cold weather. I’m going to share with you some clever ideas you can try, so grab your notepad and start listing down these favorites (or maybe you can just bookmark this page). 

Raw creamy carrot soup

Nice warm soups are perfect for cold days. And remember, there’s no cooking involved here.

To make your own raw creamy carrot soup recipe, place chopped carrots, cashews, water and sea salt together in a high-speed blender and blend until you reach a really nice and smooth consistency. And here comes the trick – continue blending for a little bit longer so that the heat from the friction and the blades warms up your soup. Once you’re satisfied, pour the carrot soup into a bowl and garnish with anything you want. You must consume the soup immediately to enjoy its warmth.

Raw cream of celery soup

Here’s another 5-star, yummy raw soup that you can make in your high-speed blender.

Simply blend celery, cashews, garlic clove, water and sea salt together, starting on low as you gradually pick up the speed all the way to high. As with the carrot soup above, blend for quite a while longer to warm it up nicely. Pour the concoction into a bowl with finely chopped celery and gently stir using a spoon. Garnish and enjoy this raw cream of celery soup while still warm!

Raw veggie burgers

Dehydrators are also a much appreciated piece of kitchen equipment in the cold months. It may take hours on end to before you can enjoy your delicious raw food but it’s definitely worth it.

This raw veggie burger recipe is pretty easy to make if you have a dehydrator. Just process all the ingredients in your food processor except for the hemp hearts and chopped vegetables. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, then add the hemp hearts and veggies and mix well with a spoon. Form patties using your hands and arrange on dehydrator trays lined with parchment paper. Dehydrate on high and reduce the temperature after an hour and a half. Continue dehydrating for five hours or more until you reach your desired consistency. These savory veggie burger patties make an awesome match with some crisp lettuce. A perfect winter meal!

Raw hearty walnut pate

This rather salty-flavored raw walnut pate is a delightful recipe to dig into during those cold weathers. It has only a few key ingredients, and it’s very easy to prepare.

Place pre-soaked walnuts, white onion, carrot, celery stalk and sea salt in a food processor and process into a nice and smooth cream-cheese-like consistency. Only add the soy sauce (do not omit it!) to the mixture near the end and continue processing. If you process a little longer, the mixture will warm up a bit. This pate is a perfect match with cucumber rounds. 

Raw chili

You can eat this chili on its own. Feel free to warm slightly in your dehydrator, although warming it is not necessary. (I don't bother warming it.)

This chili mixture also makes a nice salad topping. Plus, top with optional raw sour cream for yummy chili goodness! (In this picture I didn't take the time to make raw sour cream, but I did grind up cashews using a nut-grinder, which acts like parmesan cheese!)

To make this chili, first chop or shred the carrots and celery. Set aside. Then process the remaining ingredients. Combine and enjoy!

Raw recipes for cold weather

These are just a few ideas to get you going during a cold snap. And if you want to warm up some leftovers, you can also use a dehydrator for that. So don’t limit yourself to cold food, and don’t hesitate to try some of these  ideas. When you want some warm, cozy raw vegan meal, just take out your blender or pop your recipe in a dehydrator!