Raw Cookie Recipes

Cherry Walnut Sundae Cookies made into a Banana Split Sundae & Frozen Margarita Cookies

This is a version of a Peanut Butter Ball recipe I found online that had 4 Tbsp. Butter, 2 cups of Confectioners Sugar, 2 1/4 cup of Semisweet Chocolate Chips and the sweetened shredded coconut to roll in......... My teeth hurt just thinking about biting into one of these!!! I decided to make my own recipe and make it as a Raw version that is dairy and wheat free. Once I had these made I decided to convert them into "ice cream scoops" and make a Banana Split Sundae!! Obviously you don't have to make these into a Sundae or even roll them in coconut, be creative with your food and do with it what you want. Next time I may roll them in cocoa powder, or crushed macadamia nuts or add dried cranberries or dried blueberries to the processing. Make your own recipe.

My Recipe: Cherry Walnut Sundae Cookies

1 Cup Peanut Butter

1/2 Cup Fresh Cherries or dried

1/4 Cup Dairy Free Chocolate Chips (Chocolate Dream)

1 Cup Walnuts

6 Dates

6 Prunes

1 1/2 Tbsp Maple or Agave Syrup (that is not a lot of sugar)
1 Cup or less of the dried Coconut flakes for rolling

Food Process all ingredients, then roll into balls and coat in coconut flakes. Refrigerate till serve

Lets do another recipe, I found this in the cook book called Living Raw Food by Sarma Melngailis. Her Recipe is called Coconut-Lime Cookies and she dehydrates them. I changed the recipe up a little and call mine Frozen Margarita Cookies, you will understand the name when you eat them.

Frozen Margarita Cookies

1 Cup Cashews

1 Cup Almonds

1 Cup Shredded Dried Coconut

1 heaping Tbsp. Lime Zest

2 Tbsp. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Process all ingredients and roll into balls and place in freezer until ready to eat. There is nothing like biting into a cold refreshing cookie to cut your crave for a sweet.

You can process these more if you want. I like my nuts crunchy when I bite into my cookies.

Another note, I added dried Apricots to half my batch and they were really good and the whole Margarita flavor was still intact, plus it made them a bit easier to roll up. I bet dried mango or pineapple would really be great.

Thanks for stopping by and getting some healthy snack ideas. My sister is going to make these with her girls soon because they need more healthy treats in their diets, and they love foods that are poppers and that taste good! Enjoy!

Raw for Desserts!!

Healthy Desserts that require No Wheat, No Refined Sugar, No Baking required, No Guilt, and Yummy!!! Raw Desserts

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate  Fudge Ganache Topping

The Recipe

Cake

3 Cups Walnuts

pinch Sea Salt

16 Pitted Dates

2/3 Cup Cocoa Powder (Raw or Natural)

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Optional * 1 tsp. Vanilla Bean Paste

2 tsp. Filtered Water

Mix all the above in a food processor. Use a 6" cake pan. Cut parchment pater to fit into bottom of cake pan then press cake mixture into pan then flip out onto serving platter.

Ganache ( Chocolate Fudge Topping)

1/2 Cup Dark Agave Syrup or Maple Syrup

1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder (Raw or Natural)

3 Tbsp. Coconut Oil Melted

Pinch of Sea Salt

(you will have extra topping left over)

Put all ingredients for Ganache in Blender and blend up. Spread over Chocolate Cake.

Top with Sprinkled unsweetened Coconut flakes or Raspberries.

I have served this to people who are major Chocolate lovers and they actually didn't even flinch at this cake and even went back for seconds!

Adapted from "Raw for Dessert" by Jennifer Cornbleet

Easy Front Door Wreath

Summer Fun Front Door Wreath

I love to work with paper and create easy projects to show case as decorations for my house. This is easy and inexpensive to do.

First I cut a piece of cardboard, and covered it in wrapping paper. Then I stamped some cut-outs or make your own and taped them around the wreath. Don't forget to embellish. The birds are so cute I had to add them for some Summer Fun!

With the price of making this I can make new wreath for every month if I wanted. Fun and Easy. Go ahead try it, be creative and whimsical. 

Mid Day Snack

Vietnamese Cinnamon Iced Mocha Frap & Almond Frozen Cookies

Forget the blender go iced with this drink. I serve mine in a wine glass, hey it's less calories! The cookies are healthy and fun to make, paired with this luscious drink this is truly a mid day treat!

Mid Day Drink-
2 cups of Brewed coffee
2Tbsp of sugar or I use Sweetened Condensed Milk
Stir this in while coffee is hot- set aside


In a Saute pan heat on low till melted
1 Tbsp. Raw Honey
1/4 tsp. Vietnamese ground Cinnamon
1 oz more if you like of any dark Chocolate I used Lindt 70%


once melted add the coffee and whisk. Let it cool a little. I put ice in my wine glass and pour dink into. Top with whip cream and chocolate syrup! This recipe is enough for 2 drinks

Raw Cookies - No baking required!

1/2 cup of Almonds - Chop and pulse in food processor to get them small enough to roll cookies in later.

Food process: 1/2 cup Almond Butter (make sure some oil is incorporated in this)

1/4 cup raw honey or Agave

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Dash of Salt

Now freeze this for 30 min

Take out of freezer and roll into small balls. Roll the cookie into the ground Almonds. Freeze for 2 hours before serving. Yes serve cold.

These will keep for a month in the freezer in a sealed container.

Makes about 20 cookies

I make these all the time, and they go so quick a real crowd pleaser. I adapted this recipe from a Gormet Caterer I worked for in the early 90's. I never forget a good recipe!

Recipe

1 1/2 Cup of Light Brown Sugar

1 Tbsp. of Cumin

1/2 tsp. Chili Powder ( I don't use this so optional)

you can do a dash of cinnamon, I don't

MIX TOGETHER

Bread Sticks- break in half

Bacon- buy the thin cut (very important). Bring bacon to room temperature, and cut in half. Now dredge each peice of bacon in the brown sugar mixture and wrap around one end of the bread stick in a spiral way to keep some of the end of the bread stick exposed. This is so you can grab it without getting sticky fingers.

 Line a cookie sheet with foil and place the wrapped bacon bread stick onto a rack to bake at 375 for 10-15 min or until crispy. You can serve these right away or at room temperature. If you have to refrigerate, to serve just pop into microwave for 20 or so seconds to bring their color back.

These were featured on a couple Blogs.... my favorite Blog is www.facnyfrugallife.blogspot.com Lina is a friend of my sister. The last time I went to visit my sister I made these Bacon Bread Stick for a Mom brunch, they were a hit!

Croissant French Toast

This is so easy! Forgive me for not making them pretty....I had to eat!

Using Croissants instead of bread is a fun twist on french toast. You could even do one of those overnight french toast bakes with these. I was so hungry when I made these, I poured syrup on right away and started eating.

Slice your croissants in half and make them like regular french toast. I bought 3 croissants so I used 3 eggs and buttermilk in my soaking mixture.

The tops of the croissants showing and layered on a platter sprinkled with cinnamon and or powdered sugar and topped with a squirt of whip cream on each one would be a nice display if you want to make it fancy.

I actually got this idea from a little dive restaurant near where I live.

Strawberry Bruschetta

I made this for Breakfast along with a Matzo-Egg Pancake topped with Lingonberry Preserves (IKEA) and Sour Cream.

The Strawberry Bruschetta is so easy to make. Chop up Strawberries, some fresh Basil, Nectarine and or Grapefruit and a splash of Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar. Place on toasted French bread rounds.

For the Matzo - Egg Pancake just soak two sheets of the Matzo in warm water for 30 seconds drain and add 3 scrambled eggs, S&P and cook like a pancake. The sour cream and jelly on top give a nice depth of flavor.

Lent Dessert

I am not Catholic but a lot of people I know are. I made this to take over a friends house for Dessert.

Bon Appetit as a recipe on this in it's April Issue, but I changed mine up a lot by using Sorghum instead of Honey, using Roasted Sunflowers instead of Almonds and I added smoked paprika. The flavors are so earthy, sweet and spicy!

RECIPE

Cookie sheet- put parchment paper down and spray with cooking spray. Now line cookie sheet with 6 Matzo they can lay on top each other a little to fit.

Now in a Sauce pan put1 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup unsalted butter, 1/4 cup Sorghum, and 1/4 cup water on low until dissolves. Now turn up heat to med-hi and boil for 13-15 min. Do not stir. When it look dark Amber pour over the Matzo crackers.

Sprinkle with Roasted Sunflowers. Let this cool a bit. Now drizzle 5oz melted 72% Chocolate over the Caramel and last sprinkle a mixture of course Salt 1 1/2 tsp, 1/4 tsp Smoked Paprika & 1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper

Let this sit in room temp until the chocolate hardens 30 min or longer. Break it up with a knife and put in an air tight container until serving.



BLACK SESAME..........

DON"T BE AFRAID. Black Sesame-Pear Tea Cake is sooooo Delicious! We don't normally think Black when it comes to Baked Goods, but this works!

I would call this a Black Tahini Pear Tea Cake, because it really has that nutty Tahini flavor with a sweet crunch of the Demerara Sugar on top and the moistness of the pears inside. I could not put this down! I am having a piece of this with Ginger Tea right now, yummy. I personally think that really sweet cake matched with Tea takes away from the flavors of your Tea. Don't kill your taste buds with sugar! This "pearing" is a mild blend of flavors that work! 

Again this came from Bon Appetit magazine March 2012 issue page 67

I would try to make these into muffins because they are so moist. Hey add some dark chocolate!

Think outside the box when doing flavor mixing. I am so board with the same old stuff. Aren't you???? Have fun with baking, be creative!

Chocolate fun cake bon appetit

bon appetit is the best food magazine out there for recipes. The recipes actually turn out!!

I try to make at least 3 recipes from every issue of bon appetit. I have tried so many other recipes from other magazines and they are all either boring or never turn out and taste as good as they appear in the picture.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fun Cake is amazing. March 2012 page 70. I used Trader Joe's Cookie Butter in the frosting instead of peanut butter to change it up. WOW DELICIOUS!!! The cake batter is Vegan so if you wanted to make your own vegan topping that would be nice.

For the cake

nonstick spray the sides and the bottom of an 8x8x2 pan then lay parchment paper on bottom.

whisk in a bowl 1 1/4 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 3/4 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder, 11/2 tsp. kosher salt, 1 tsp. baking soda. Now add and whisk in 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, and 1 1/4 cup water. Fold in 1/2 cup of chopped dark chocolate.

Pour into pan, bake at 350 degrees for about 35-40 min until center is cooked. Cool on a cookie rack. When it is cooled flip over onto a decorative plate. Peel parchment paper off. Now decorate with whatever topping you want!!!! This cake is so moist and delicious!

ARTICHOKE DIP

Okay I use to make this recipe when I worked for a Gourmet Caterer Company in Baltimore Maryland.

We served high-end clientele and they always loved this simple delicious dip.



In a food processor combine

Artichokes 1 large can (drain) or 1 frozen bag from Trader Joe's

1 cup Mayo

2 Tbsp. Hot sauce

2 Tbsp. Heavy Cream (could substitute with sour cream)

Parmesan Cheese Shaved 5 oz  (save a little to sprinkle on top) can use a combo cheese with Romano & Asiago if want.

Salt & Pepper

After all mixed up put in a glass Pyrex and sprinkle top with little Parmesan cheese. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until bubbly. Sprinkle chives on top. Serve warm with  Pita chips or custini. You could serve this in a small warming pot for a party.


ENJOY!!!

Chalk Board Paint

Okay we all know about this fabulous paint, but you have to see how I used it!

Use Chalk Board Paint on Glass. These snowmen are adorable, my Nieces will love these filled with cookies and candy.

Once I had the paint out, I could not resist painting a new decoration for my kitchen. I took an old decorative board that said "Welcome" and painted over it. Now with the chalk board paint over top, I can change it up and draw pictures or write any phrase. Really it is endless what you can paint. 

This is so easy to use. Do at least 2-3 coats of paint to get good coverage.

ICE COFFEE

Iced Coffee is so delicious!

Sometimes in the middle of the day when I need a pick me up, I go for a home made iced coffee.

I found this Organic Sweetened Condensed Milk in a squeeze bottle at Trader Joe's. Just a little squeeze in my iced coffee makes a nice creamy and sweet taste.

I put a little cold coffee in a glass with about a teaspoon of this condensed milk, stir it up then add more cold coffee, ice and a little cream or almond milk.

Mmmmmm refreshing & and so delicious!!!

YUMMY LATTE

I LOVE ESPRESSO!

I make my own Latte every morning. Yes, I admit I am addicted to Coffee & Espresso. Shopping at Trader Joes today I found this amazing yummy Grinder, for me a Latte Topper. I will use this to top Cookies, Truffels, Hot Chocolate, Granola, Toffee, Popcorn etc. You have to get yourself some!

Block Decorations

Yard Sale Find - Made into Year Round Decorations

I found a set of Christmas decoration blocks at a yard sale and thought I could make 6 different special occasion sayings out of these blocks. I didn't want to do Christmas or Halloween because I have plenty of decorations for those holidays. Anniversary and a saying like "Celebrate Life " are nice to have in the house. 

Using craft paint, I painted each side of the blocks a different color, then used alphabet stamps in different colored inks for the wording. On the extra blocks that did not have a letter, I made decorations like hearts, stars, flowers, and Easter eggs.

I bought these blocks for $4.00 and now have transformed them into 6 decorations!

CANDLE MAKOVER

I am ready to give my mantle a new look.                        


BEFORE

 I was sitting in my living room looking at my fireplace mantle and decided it was time for a quick make-over. So, I thought of a fun way to change the look. I decorated my candles with paper and ribbon and changed the color of my candle holders with craft paint. This was an easy way to transform my fireplace mantle decor.

 Grab double sided tape, a paper cutter, decorative papers and ribbon. Cut the papers to different widths and layer them to create a design you like. Now tape the paper layers together at the back of the candle. Tie a fun ribbon for extra embellishment if you want. Since my candles are the plastic flame less, I can just take this design off and change up the look whenever I want.

For re-decorating the candle sticks, I just used craft paint and lightly brushed the paint over them for a new look. EASY!

                                                                     AFTER

Mini & Adult Bowden

Mini Bowden My Way.

My sister told me she loves Mini Bowden clothes for her girls but can't afford the price tag. Well, that got me thinking, I can make my own Mini Bowden clothes for kids and adults. I took a look at their web site for a couple ideas, but my Nieces know what they like so I decided to make my own versions of these clothes.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought 3 shirts a little dress and 2 Adult Tee shirts. Every item of clothing was under $6.00 that is a deal!

 

I went home and pulled out all the old scraps of fabric I had and started to draw simple designs on paper as a template. I put the fabric face to face, traced around the template design, then using my sewing machine I straight stitched following the design. Make sure to leave an opening to   turn the pattern right side out. From here I ironed and pinned the design onto the garment. Sew and it's done!   Really simple!

My Nieces are going to love these one of a kind clothes! 

I am so excited to wear my Butterflies!

These instructions are pretty easy.

Slivered Almonds Salad Topper

These Almonds are a GO TO recipe for me. I have to have crunch on my salad creations and these almonds are a special topper for any salad.  You can make these up a head of time because they keep in an air tight container for weeks. 

When I take a salad to a party or have guests over for dinner I always use these because they add a nice toasted  sweet crunch. These are home made and you can taste the difference.

When my sister and her family come to my house to visit they somehow find my stash of Almond Salad Toppers even when I hide them and eat them up as a snack.  As much as my family likes these as a snack in reality you could put these out as a snack. These Almonds could also be used like any nut in baking, inside cookies, crushed on top of toffee, in breads etc. I would even use these to for an almond encrusted fish dish. Endless possibilities!

RECIPE

1/2 CUP SLIVERED ALMONDS
3 TBSP GRANULATED SUGAR
SAUTE PAN - MED HEAT
WOODEN SPOON
WAX PAPER
AIR TIGHT CONTAINER


The sugar is starting to warm up - keep stirring

 For every 1/2 cup of silvered almonds 3 Tbsp of sugar. Of course you could cut back on the sugar. When the almonds are finished a good bit of the cooked sugar does stay in the pan so you really are not getting all the sugar on the almonds. I usually double or triple the recipe to keep on hand.



Golden brown almonds cooling on wax paper.

Put the almonds and the sugar into saute pan on medium heat. It may take a couple minutes before the sugar gets heated. I stir after one minute and continue stirring until they are done. You will notice as you stir the sugar loosens up and starts to coat the almonds. Keep stirring until light tan or golden brown. I prefer mine golden brown because I like the roasted nuttiness the almonds give off. Pour them onto wax paper to cool.  Please as tempting as it is.....do not grab one to eat! I do it every time and burn my mouth! Once they are completely cooled put in air tight container and store until you need them. Enjoy!

I made this for dinner tonight. I love salad and try to have one every night. My approach is like the Food Network Show "Chopped" I use up anything and everything  I have on hand and make it.  All my salads need a crunch element or they are just not exciting enough for me! I've never made a bad salad! 
Enjoy these Salad Almond Toppers.