Love is in the air! Even though the month of February is in the middle of winter, already we are focusing on heartwarming things like romance and Valentine’s Day and the delicious seasonal produce that February offers, such as kiwi, cherimoya, Swiss Chard, arugula, grapefruits and oranges, and cauliflower. These recipes are extremely simple yet satisfying, and will serve you and your beloved well. Read the rest of this entry »

Happy New Year to one and all! During January in your local produce section, you will likely find that persimmons and pomegranates are still commanding center stage and are joined by wintry favorites such as navel oranges, collard greens and parsnips. Read the rest of this entry »

Hang on to your stocking caps, because December doesn’t disappoint when it comes to delicious raw produce to keep you creative and satisfied all month. There are a surprising number of fruits available in December including persimmons, tangerines, grapefruit and pomegranates. You will also find an assortment of nuts and of course, the omnipresent and omni-important leafy greens.

Carrot Falafel Wraps with Sweet Tahini Dressing (recipe and photo by Kelli Haines) 
These wraps come together in a matter of minutes, and these falafel won’t weigh you down and make you feel awful

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Fruits and vegetables that come into season in November provide an eye catching array of gorgeous colors, not to mention flavors, which makes November seem like Thanksgiving all month long. Try something new with the cleansing and nourishing foods that usher in the fall such as apples, cranberries, pears, oranges, carrots, pumpkin or other squashes. Read the rest of this entry »

Can it be that October is upon us already, with a slight chill in the air and the days suddenly becoming shorter? I was just getting used to the idea that September was here and enjoying the last of the summer bounty. Now, we have a few new seasonal crops to add to our repertoire such as pears, apples, figs, grapes, fennel, cauliflower and a new batch of leafy greens. It’s no coincidence that these cleansing foods are available at just the right time to coincide with your fall detox efforts so you can enjoy these recipes for their taste as well as their contribution to cleansing. Read the rest of this entry »

September is a haven for raw food lovers. Fresh, ripe and raw produce bursting with flavor, color and nutrition is to be found practically everywhere.

Avocado Boats

If you are transitioning to the raw food diet, avocado is likely a staple in your diet. You can prepare this simple, yet delicious and beautiful dish for any crowd, composed of raw foodists or otherwise.

Ingredients:
4 avocados
2 yellow bell peppers
1 orange/red bell pepper
3-4 medium tomatoes
3 green onions
1 bunch of fresh dill
3 tablespoons sunflower oil, optional
Sea salt to taste, optional

Cut the avocado in half, lengthwise (see picture). With a spoon, scoop out the avocado pulp. Do not discard the resulting 2 “boats” from each avocado. Chop the avocado pulp, bell peppers and tomatoes. Finely dice the green onions and dill. Stir everything together with the oil and add sea salt if needed. Using a spoon fill each “boat” and place on a serving plate. Enjoy!

Serves 2-4 Read the rest of this entry »

August is ripe with delicious fresh produce to help you beat the heat. Fruit is abundant this month with stone fruits such as peaches, apricots and nectarines as well as raspberries, and of course, watermelon. You will also find fresh basil and a rainbow medley of bell peppers begging to be used in your raw creations.

Recipe of the Month

Easy Nori Rolls
This recipe is adapted from my Beautiful on Raw: unCooked Creations. This easy version of the “sushi” rolls can be made very quickly and doesn’t even require a food processor.

Ingredients:
1 medium bell pepper, cut into long thin strips
6 raw nori sheets (sun-dried)
2 large carrots, cut into long thin strips
2 cucumbers, cut into long thin strips (English cucumbers work well for this recipe)
2 avocados, cut into long strips
6 green onions
sea salt to taste Read the rest of this entry »

It’s July: That wonderful summer month when celebrations really start to get underway and there seems to be fresh produce everywhere you look.  Fireworks, picnics, and fresh raw food go hand in hand. Some of the seasonal produce making its appearance on the scene this month include plums, melons, corn, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Luxurious Lasagna
I am usually one for whipping up quick simple dishes, but whenever my son, Nick, visits I always ask him to make this amazing dish from my book Beautiful on Raw-UnCooked Creations. This dish has such a rich flavor, you will definitely remember it for a long time to come. Not to be indulged in too often!
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In June raw food enthusiasts everywhere can delight in a variety of fresh, ripe produce beckoning us into the kitchen to create some delicious dishes! This includes apricots, cherries, figs, herbs such as basil, parsley and cilantro, young carrots and cauliflower. Enjoy these tempting creations and don’t forget that when you make and eat raw foods, you can improvise and substitute as desired; it usually always turns out scrumptious. This is a picture of my favorite summer soup: Gazpacho!
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May bestows its fruits and vegetable blessings on us with the season’s first harvesting of spicy and tempting greens such as arugula, collards, bok choy and spinach, as well as some tropical fruits like mangoes and pineapple that will lend a touch of variety and keep you well stocked with green smoothie options. My favorite dish these days is the Pasta Primavera made from zucchini. This is a great time of year to prepare it since zucchini is at its best between May and July. Read the rest of this entry »