Bookclub Girls | Italian Influence

Posted on December 3, 2015February 11, 2016 by carmenrawlove

So last night was my turn to host my fabulous book club girls.

Hostess me – is one very happy person.

It was one of those evenings when I wish I could record all the conversations and save it in a time capsule for those rainy days.

My Italian friends have a way of making any evening feel like the best evening ever! So I decided to add a little Italian flare to the menu.

It is officially summer in Cape Town , I wanted to make something the girls could enjoy without feeling guilty when they wake up the next morning … you know – food wise – no mention of the wild conversations and copious glasses of bubbles and vino 🙂

..and very important , I wanted to visit with my friends and not get stuck in the kitchen.

For a lovely starter , a cold gazpacho soup is always a winner – and my blend of fresh tomato, cucumber, black pepper, onion, red vine vinegar and a dash of Chardonnay was a huge hit. Straining the solution through a muslin cloth make for a very smooth silky soup. A little olive tapanade to go a red onion and flax seed crackers had the girls completely satisfied – and I could relax and be part of all the juicy conversations.

Main course was a big bowl of courgette pasta – drizzled with olive oil and served with a rich , garlicky arrabiata on the side.

My faithful NutriBullet makes sauces a pleasure to prepare – place one cup of sundries tomato, one red onion, 4 dates and three garlic cloves and blend till smooth – you can add water to make the consistency smoother.

Raw pineapple cheese cake, made yesterday – out of the freezer 20min before serving – with fresh lavender to garnish from the garden.

One happy, easy , stress free evening – with all yummy healthy food and even a few minutes at the end for a quick book swap – it is a book club after all !

Carmen xxx

Coconut Oil & Pineapple Vegan Cheesecake

Posted on December 2, 2015February 24, 2016 by carmenrawlove

Now , it is important to know that when the temperature hits 28degrees Celsius and every Capetonian runs to the beach .. I retreat back indoors and into the comfy surrounds of my kitchen.

The main excitement is that my number one cooking essential for every delicious dessert that you can imagine … my coconut oil – is in it’s yummy, runny , lovely to work with natural state. Just looking at the opaque liquid in it’s glass bottle on my kitchen shelf , hmmmmmm – my imagination is full of styled pictures of Raw Cheesecakes , Raw Chocolate tarts , Raw Avo Lemon tart …. you get the picture , right ?

It is as easy as blending 4 cups of pineapple , 1 1/2 cups of coconut oil , 1T lemon juice , 2T honey , pinch of salt and pouring that glorious oozing liquid over a tart base of 1 cup of walnuts , 3 cups of desiccated coconut , 1T coconut oil – ground in your favorite food-processor. Put the whole lot in the freezer for 4 hours.
This recipe works best when using the small individual metal pie dishes with the removable metal plate.
I normally take the little precious gems out of the freezer 30min before serving – just to soften the inside to resemble the soft cheesy center of a baked cheesecake.

When last have you been able to have your slice of cheesecake – and get right into that swim suit with not a guilty thought in site?

Coconut oil is low fat and anti-bacterial , anti-fungal – the perfect substitute for all those traditional cholesterol , calorie packed empty nutritional binding substances.

Carmen xxx

For the LOVE of Quinoa

Posted on December 1, 2015February 11, 2016 by carmenrawlove

A happy day it was when I first discovered quinoa , the protein packed , wheat free , super healthy alternative to every starchy comfort food you have ever known.

Even the most hardy of raw foodist has days when all you can think of is a warm , hearty bowl of solid goodness.

I could not think of a better “no guilt” treat as a lovely salad made on a bed of juicy greens, topped with warm quinoa , avo cut into chunks , topped with parsley hummus , chopped walnuts and a hand full of goji berries.

Walnuts , not only have the shape of a brain , but are also high in omegs-3 fatty acids – a well known brain food.

Avo has all the heart friendly fats , much needed in our every day diet.
Quinoa – the king of grains – with 16% protein , ranked the highest percentage protein.

Goji berries has been prescribed inChinese medicine since ancient times for it’s wisdom giving qualities.

I have always found winter times the most challenging to stay on a 80% raw diet. Quinoa is easy to make and keeps well for a good three days in the fridge – ideal for a busy working girl’s lifestyle!

Carmen xxx