Feel Good Guru

I took this to a recent dinner party, a little unsure whether anyone would go for it, wondering if I should tell my friends it’s a “raw carrot pate” which sounds so…healthy. I was in the middle of my late summer cleanse, and wanted to take a dish that would demonstrate through the taste buds how awesomely delish vegan cleansing could be.

One bite in, and everyone was going back for more, with accompanying mmm’s and oooh-what-is-this’s. I take delicious pleasure in watching non-cleansing, non-vegan, non-healthy-eating peeps enjoy really really healthy food. This recipe is easy-shmeasy, uses simple ingredients, and has been tested on a tough crowd for taste-worthiness. Enjoy! Oh, and if you have a sexier name for it, please shout it out – open to suggestions! (more…)

Happy June! Summer’s right around the corner, and along with the hot and sultry weather come cravings for fresh, whole fruits and veggies to quench your thirst and cleanse away internal cobwebs. The live food movement is growing like a weed, way beyond gag-inducing green smoothies and stringy sprouts. Raw restaurants are popping up from Arizona to Zanzibar and we’re starting to see uncookbooks claim an entire category of their own on the bookshelves – there’s never been a better time to get your raw on!

And there’s never been a more beautiful, more accessible book to satisfy your rawvenous appetite than the brand new Ani’s Raw Food Essentials, a gorgeous new offering from Ani Phyo, who also brought us Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen and Ani’s Raw Food Desserts. She makes raw food prep easy, with simple ingredients and elegant style. She was kind enough to grace FGG with a recipe sample from her book! Yummy! (more…)

Hummus, a lifesaving staple for chuppies, isn’t just for chickpeas. I like to make hummus with pinto beans, great northern beans, black beans or green lentils. For a totally raw and totally delish version of this yummy Mediterranean dip, grab a handful of organic almonds and whip up a fast batch of almond hummus. It’s easy-shmeasy.

Serve it with raw carrot sticks, endive leaflettes, corn chips or crackers, or use it as a spread on sandwiches or wraps, as a layer in terrines or raw lasagne, or as a side or accompaniment to just about anything, anytime. Here’s the easy how-to: (more…)

These easy-shmeasy Banana Almond Cocoa Coconut Gooey Crunchy Delicious Oat-free Oil-free Raw Date Squares are the perfect food to grab either before or after a workout or a hike or just about any time you need an energy boost and a powerful pick-me-up between meals.

They’re simple to whip up in a food processor in five minutes and ready to eat immediately. They won’t last long once they’re sitting out on the counter, but if you’re able to ration, they’ll improve with a little rest in the fridge or an overnight, counter-top. (more…)

These fancy little seasonal beauties are a cinch to prepare and they’re so good for you there’s no need for a special occasion to indulge.

I have some left over from a dinner party and discovered they’re awesome as healthy breakfast balls. They’re very lightly sweetened so the goodness of the main ingredients comes through.

Cranberries are loaded in antioxidants and phyto-nutrients, especially needed at this time of year to keep the winter nasties at bay. Raw cocoa is also incredibly rich in nutrients, raw coconut butter is so creamy, delish and full of enzymes, vitamins and protein, and don’t worry about the fat content in raw cashews – 75% of the fat in cashews is the same heart-healthy fat as found in olive oil. (more…)

It’s the end of July here in southern BC where I’m visiting friends before my great northern adventure and there’s a basil patch the size of Texas in their garden.

There are also some monster organic zucchinis taking over the world, and our other friends up the mountain gave us some incredible homegrown garlic…the perfect fresh-picked ingredients for Zucchini Linguini al Pesto.

Yes, it’s pesto season!!! The two vids below will show you how to make a fabulous vegan Hempseed Pesto and if you’re a raw freak (and who isn’t in this heat?) Zucchini Linguini. Enjoy! …and dig my Crocs;) (more…)

Ever wonder how those fancy shmancy raw food chefs make their no-fat raw veggie spaghetti? It’s not rocket science, nor is it toilsome.

It’s this handy little spiral slicer you can get for $39 from a guy named Matt Monarch who wants you to be a lifelong customer. How’s this for customer service: I ordered the spirooli spiral 3-in-one slicer from amazon, then three days later got a parcel in the mail with a hand written letter(!) from the seller thanking me for my order and telling me all about himself and his growing raw foods business. Matt’s 33 and has (more…)

By Living Libations. Nadine Artemis and partner Ron Obadia transform the pure ingredients of raw cacao, hemp, maca root, goji, vanilla, mangosteen, camu, blue green algae, yacon, pau d’arco, grapefruit, angelica and cococreme into something transcendent.

This delicious, exotic concoction is free from dairy, soy, nuts, roasting, refined butter and sugar. The metallic blue gift-wrapped package encourages you to “experience the bliss of pure source energy: real chocolate created with nutrient rich botanical super-foods.” Just a small bite will take you there. (more…)