The Raw Mocha Angel's First Anniversary!!

Today is my blog's one year anniversary! Whoo Hoo! Blogging has become one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I have met many of my lovely readers via their comments and emails. I am so pleased that people get something positive from my blog, but trust me, I get so much from you all too. The love and positive energy that you all send my way fills my heart and is incredibly gratifying. Thank you so much for reading and sharing with me!

{{HUGS}}

Tomato-Cilantro Soup

Today, I share two easy recipes: Tomato Cilantro Soup and Homemade Tahini.

This soup is an Althea original. I have a bunch of small tomatoes and wondered what to do with them. I have a tomato soup recipe from the class I took with Lynda Carter of Alive and Raw, but I didn't have basil and oregano, nor did I have dates nor lime, but I did have cilantro, honey, and lemon. Here is my recipe:

3 small tomatoes
4 sundried tomatoes – soaked in hot water for 10 minutes
1 teaspoon honey
1 garlic clove, minced
7 sprigs cilantro
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons soy sauce
2 tablespoon olive oil
pinch cayenne pepper or red pepper chili flakes

Put all of the ingredients in a blender. Add just enough water to cover the ingredients. Blend.
Pour into a bowl. I added chunks of avocado. Whoo hoooooo this is good!

Homemade Tahini Prep

I was craving tahini. What else can I say?

Homemade Tahini

2 ½ cups sesame seeds

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

Put both ingredients in a food processor. Blend until smooth yet thick. You don't want it too thin. This tastes just like store bought tahini, but a little richer because of the olive oil. I was determined to find a way to make this. The version I found on www.mideastfood.about.com calls for roasting the seeds at 350 degrees. That defeats the purpose of raw. This version works just fine.

This made about 1 1/2 cups of tahini.

You want it like a puree, not thin like soup. Thick is better than thin and watery.

Alpha child drinking a tahini milkshake :-)

I made a milkshake after making the tahini. I didn't really measure, but here is what I did:

In a blender, put:

2 bananas

honey or agave

carob or chocolate powder

1-2 tablespoons tahini

1 cup of water

Blend!

It was wonderful. I'm drinking another one right now :-).

Thanks for reading, ya'll.

Love,
Althea

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The Raw Mocha Angel's First Anniversary!!

2 Simple Drinks

Apple Juice

Make this to your taste.

Juice the following:
-3 apples
-kale, however many leaves you want
-lemon, to cut the bitter taste
This is the bomb.com!

Write Love and Gratitude on your favorite cup to constantly remind yourself to remain in that state. I drink out of this glass all the time, so I am reminded to feel those feelings of appreciation daily.

Vanilla Shake

-2 frozen bananas
-honey or agave, to taste
-vanilla non-dairy milk of your choice: almond, soy, or rice,
about 2 cups
If it's a plain “milk” add vanilla extract.
Blend!

I buy very ripe bananas and put them in the freezer. I run them under hot water until I can peel them. Then I break them in half, with my hands, and put them into the blender. Another easy way to freeze bananas is to slice them and put them in storage bags in the freezer.

No one would know this shake didn't have ice cream in it. My dad was impressed with the chocolate version (add chocolate or cacao powder, to your taste). It's an easy and simple drink.

And yes, if you buy the non-dairy milks, rather than making them yourself, then you've entered the processed food arena, making this drink not-raw. It's still vegan, but not raw. And that is okay. Be grateful, rather than stressed, about the positive changes you are making in your diet.

Love,
Althea

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2 Simple Drinks