So this is something that I have been relatively quiet about on my blog, and I am not entirely sure just WHY I have been so mum about it all. I guess you can count this post as a kind of culinary coming out? Haha.
Anyway, here it is! For the past few months, I have switched to a primarily raw, whole foods, vegan diet. *collective gasp from the blogosphere*
Its true! For my breakfast and lunch I chow down on raw, leafy green superfoods and fresh pressed juices, and I save my cooked nom noms for dinner with the carnivorous hubby… and sometimes we even share a raw dinner together! I have been about 50-80% raw for months now.
And guess what? As of writing this I am just ONE POUND away from my initial goal weight, making a grand total of 80 pounds lost since Thyme was born. You read that right. EIGHTY FRIKKIN POUNDS! Since switching to a primarily raw and organic food diet, my complexion is frikkin amazing, my headaches have gone away, and I am pretty sure the (unconfirmed) thyroid issues I was having are resolved. The only thing that is confounding me is that my menstrual cycle has gotten all out of wack, but from what I have read (sage Google scholar that I am!) that might just be from the weight loss.
But my point is, I am loving this improvement in my health and diet. It all started when I was trying to increase my intake of leafy greens, and salads were getting old. So old that I was preferring to skip meals altogether than make another boring salad.
I got the idea that I could buy a raw food cookbook, and try some of the recipes that looked mouth wateringly delicious as a means to increase my veggie consumption. I love to cook, and the recipes that I saw in raw cook books seemed to range from simple to complex, and that just really sparked my interest. I wanted something realistic for every day meals, but not so simple that it got old or boring or dull.
So I bought a raw cookbook (er, uncook book?) and the rest is history. Now I am HOOKED. I have even been making up my own raw recipes! While I found a lot of amazing recipes that required little to no specialized equipment, I started to realize that there are some basic kitchen items that make raw food prep a hell of a lot easier. In my quest for equipping myself and my kitchen in this new healthy lifestyle, I have stumbled upon some amazing resources, and Pure Joy Planet is one of them! Check it out:
About Elaina Love Pure Joy Planet
Pure Joy Planet was founded in 1999 by Executive Raw Chef Elaina Love. Today she is an Instructor, Lifestyle and Detox Counselor, and founder of Pure Joy Academy. (CLICK HERE to visit the site and learn more!)
Elaina Love has become known worldwide for her extensive raw food demonstrations on YouTube.com and internationally where she teaches a variety of raw gourmet creations.
She is the author of 3 recipe books and 3 DVDs, and has published recipes in a variety of the best raw food cookbooks to date. Her latest book “Raw and Beyond” is about the importance of Omega-3 oils, co-authored with Victoria Boutenko and Chad Sarno released in 2012. With a passion for sharing the knowledge she has attained through years of detoxing and cheffing experience, Elaina has helped people throughout the world bring about positive changes in their lives.
Her teaching and support empowers people to lose weight and gain energy by making positive lifestyle choices and incorporating more living, raw food into their diet.
Elaina is also the creator of the Amazing Nut Milk Bag, (CLICK HERE to purchase) which is sold and used worldwide as an integral kitchen tool for raw foodies, vegans and anyone wishing to make their own creative plant based milks.
Through the Academy, which now offers distance training ONLINE, Elaina Love has trained over 300 hundred students from 20 countries since 2010! The classes offer the highest quality immersive learning experience in the world of raw food.
To give an example of the offerings, I just sent in an application for this upcoming class:
4-Week Plant-Based Bootcamp
November 7, 2016 – December 5, 2016, Online Course
Motivated to start adding more plant-based recipes into your diet but need a little more help? Learn how to  immerse yourself in the lifestyle, make simple and easy recipes for daily living and get fit! Indulge in some of the best recipes on the planet while nourishing you and your family. Get the download on the most cutting edge nutrition and diet information and personal lifestyle guidance from Elaina Love. Learn all about superfoods and herbs and how to concoct your own medicinal teas and smoothies. Get the best plant-strong fitness tips, workouts and meal plans from our award winning fitness model, Ali Stringer. All recipes from the recipe book and video demonstrations are completely free of gluten, dairy, processed, and soy, so you can truly feel what it’s like to eat clean and be full of energy. Find out what it’s like to live in a healthy, vibrant body.
Pure Joy Planet Resources
In addition to recipes, online courses and online resources, I have recently had the opportunity to use the original Amazing Nut Milk Bag designed by Elaina Love, along with some USDA Certified Organic Coffee Essence and Blueberry Essence from Pure Joy Planet, all available at the Pure Love Planet online store.
The Amazing Nut Milk Bag is a large, 4 cup capacity, oval-shaped drawstring bag made of a very sturdy nylon, which works better than cheesecloth because it does not let pulp through. It also has a longer re-use life, as the nylon will not stretch out in the same way that organic materials will.
If you have not tried making your own nut milks, you need to remedy that ASAP. I think I only bought 3 cartons of boxed milk, before I made the switch to making my own nut milks, and the difference is astronomical in taste, quality, and freshness.
[Disclaimer: There are no affiliate links in this review. I am an independent product reviewer. I only review products I am truly interested in. I don’t accept payment for reviews. The products I take the time to jabber on about are either items I have personally purchased, or the product has been provided for review after me initiating contact and incessantly nagging for a sample. All of my reviews are unbiased regardless of how the item was obtained.]
It is SO EASY to make your own raw nut and seed milks. With a nut milk bag (this one is food grade certified, BPA free, and featured triple nylon seams for extra strength) you will NEVER go back to overly processed and preserved box store junk. (The bottles I am storing the almond milk in pictured above are BPA free glass bottles from Stanpac. I will be blogging much more about glass bottles and the importance of switching to food safe containers in the near future!)
But the items from Pure Joy Planet that really got me giddy are the organic extracts and essences! These organic flavor extracts are vegan, gluten free, raw and organic. In my raw food journey I have purchased and consumed raw desserts before, but I have yet to MAKE one. These little extract vials inspired me to try my hand at my first one! I gleaned the basics for this recipe from a Pinterest pin by This Rawsome Vegan Life Blog, and tweaked the rest to fit the coffee and blueberry flavors and what I had on hand in the kitchen (because I am lazy like that)… Check it out below and lemme know what you think!
Raw Coffee Crème Pie with Blueberry Caramel Drizzle
For the crust:
1 cup pecans
1 cup dates
2 tablespoons cacao powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
For the cashew coffee crème:
2 cups raw cashews
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons melted coconut oil
¼ cup agave syrup
1/8 teaspoon salt
5-8 drops of coffee essence (5 drops makes the flavor decidedly coffee, 8 drops makes it in your face coffee overload, which I love!)
For the blueberry caramel drizzle:
½ cup dates covered in enough water to cover them
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon almond butter
3 drops of blueberry essence
To make the crust, process the nuts into a rough flour in a food processor and add the other ingredients until you can press it together. Press this mixture into the bottom of a lined small springform pan.
To make the crème, blend all ingredients until smooth, and then spread it onto the crust in the springform pan.
To make the drizzle, blend the dates, water, salt, nut butter and essence until it is smooth and liquid. Drizzle onto the pie and garnish with coffee beans and pumpkin seeds if desired. Set it in the freezer or fridge to firm up.
That coffee essence sounds awesome! The dessert looks great! You’d never know it wasn’t a baked good. I sometimes make some raw balls to snack on. I’ve also tried a few other raw desserts that were delish.
Congrats on the weight loss and overall good health! 🙂
That coffee essence IS amazing! It is crazy how just a tiny drop goes such a LONG way to impart flavor. Glad my dessert doesnt look like poop, I was a little nervous making it since I am sooooo new to raw desserts. And thanks on the congrats… it has been a fun journey! <3
That looks like a pure joy! I wish I could have a small slice :-))
I kid you not Angie, I was thinking of you and your recipes when I was making this! I was going for the top textural appeal you have perfected.. 😉
I am moving down the path to veganism myself. Slowly, but the speed is picking up.
Yay you.
I dont know that I will ever fully move to a vegan diet, as I have no moral opposition to consumption of ethically raised dairy and select meat sources, so my raw vegan food choices are spurred more out of a nutritional choice. But I do love how I feel when I clean up my diet with raw foods, so it sways me in that direction!
Amazing job!
Thx for the recipe 🙂
xoxox,
CC
Thanks and thanks for stopping by Carrie! <3
This is all so interesting to me and that pie looks delicious!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
It is quite delicious! We have a tad bit left and I am thinking I want some for breakfast, RIGHT NOW! haha..
I’ve never heard before about coffee essence 🙂 Great recipe, thank you for sharing 🙂
You HAVE TO try some!!!! Seriously!!! I added a single drop to my almond milk protein shake yesterday and it was like having a fancy latte!
I love egg dishes so much I don’t think I could ever go vegan. That doesn’t mean that veggies don’t dominate our meals–they sure do. Both raw and cooked. Congrats on hitting your weight goal!
Yeah, we raise our own backyard hens, so eggs will always be a part of our diet… Ironically enough, my next blog post is gonna be about eggs! Check it out sometime this weekend! (Lots of cute pictures of babies and hens! haha!)
Amazing on the weight loss and feeling great, so happy for you! Raw is such a fun adventure and raw smoothies and salads are a huge part of my diet. I remember as well as a completion improvement, my skin turned an interesting shade of orange from such an increase in veggie consumption after going raw and has since gone more golden/tanned looking which I love.
Great recipe – can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
Thanks Christine! I am really enjoying me raw food journey.. would love to see my new diet more evident in my skin too, haha! <3
That pie looks delicious, and now, I’m curious about making my own nut milk 🙂
You should really give it a try, you will NEVER want to go back!!
Looks impressive, I would love to have a slice of that healthy cake..
Give it a try! It is sooooo yummy!!!
That’s really amazing!
Have a nice week-end!
Gil Zetbase
http://gilzetbase.com/
Thanks Gil!! You too hunny! <3
that cake looks amazing!
Thats cuz it IS!!! 😉
Nice!
Xx,
|| FLOORTJELOVES ||
http://www.floortjeloves.com
http://www.facebook.com/floortjeloves
Thanks for stopping by! <3 Glad you liked the post.
It looks so delicious that Coffee cream pie 🙂
Karen| http://www.chocolatyprints.com
Give it a try some time and let me know what you think!
Sounds interesting, Gingi. Your *uncook book* made me smile 😉
xox
Lenya
FashionDreams&Lifestyle
Yeah, I feel so weird calling them cook books, haha!
This sounds and looks delicious, need to try this .
xo
http://www.carinavardie.com
If you do, please do let me know what you think! <3
Wow! this really look nice and yummy, would love to try it someday. Thanks for sharing.
http://www.tessyonyia.com
Of course! Thanks for stopping by Tessy! <3 <3 <3
Lovely post! Maybe we could follow each other on GFC and instagram @djonovic_milica? If yes, follow me and I follow back as soon as I see it.
Let me know with a comment on my Blog
http://intonezzee.blogspot.com/
kisses
Sure thing sweetie! I will go check your sites out now! Thanks for stopping by!
It sounds like this lifestyle is working great for you. I love the look of the recipes too. Gemma
It really is.. it is such a fun transformation, and it is crazy how many people notice the change in your skin, your energy, and your happiness!
Raw eating has definitely piqued my interest before. No gasp from me–how people want to live their lives is fine with me! 😉
You should give it just a couple of days, and see how it works for you!
I’ve been curious about raw foods. That pie looks delicious!
Jill
Doused In Pink
RIGHT??!?!?!??!! It is so hard not to go to town on that thing, haha…
Wow, that’s amazing, girl! 80lbs!?! You should feel SO proud of yourself, that’s such a huge accomplishment! I’ve heard great things about the raw diet, though I haven’t fully switched over. We tend to eat more of a plant based diet, with little to know dairy because I just can’t tolerate it. We’ll see if we get there in this house to a raw lifestyle, your story is inspiring! Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you have the best week ahead!
XO,
Jalisa
http://www.thestylecontour.com
Thank you so much Jalisa, your comments always brighten up my day! I have been working so hard, and it is a joy to be eating such yummy foods along the way… but the best part of all is becoming healthier for my girls and my family! <3
This is so cool, I want to try raw foods
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
You should!!! Let me know if you ever do! <3
Very delicious!
Alessia
new post
Thanks Alessia! And thanks for stopping by! <3
this is my favorite recipe, look yummy
I posted a NEW OUTFIT, I’d love to know your opinion
would you like to pass from my blog?
fashion blogger
kiss
Sure sweetie! <3 <3 <3
Congratulations, Gingi! I’m not one bit surprised that you lost weight eating healthy plant-based foods. I’m a true believer!
Thanks for sharing the information and recipe. I’ve been wondering for a while about raw foods. I’ve learned about their health benefits, but apart from fruits and veggies, I’ve had a hard time incorporating it into my diet.
I know this really is the best way to eat, I wish I could say that I do this, but I don’t. But your photos and recipes are enticing me to up my healthy game!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com