Raw Pistachio Pudding (Vegan, GF)

I don't know why but I have been obsessed with pudding. The last time I made chocolate pudding, I noticed how pretty the green colour was before I added cocoa in. And thought, how can I make green pudding visually and appetizingly appealing?...Pistachios! The pistachios in this pudding should be peeled, unless you'd like extra fibre. Once they're soaked they are quite easy to peel, you just have to squeeze em every which way until it pops out of its skin. I put this in the freezer and it was really close to pistachio ice cream :) and it's raw!

1/2 cup soaked pistachios, peeled
1 avocado
Water, to thin
3 tbsp agave syrup (or to desired sweetness)
1/2 - 3/4 tsp vanilla extract or almond extract
1 1/2 tbsp ground chia seeds
Squirt of lemon juice

Process the pistachios until very smooth (takes a good few minutes) in food processor, add all other ingredients. Process until smooth. Let set in refrigerator for a few hours. Makes one serving.

I found this food timeline website and it shows when foods were introduced, I never knew pistachios were this ancient, see for yourself.

Smoked Salmon and Cream-Cheese Sproutwheels (Vegan, GF)

Jenn and I travelled to Montreal a few weeks ago to visit some friends and we went to Aux Vivres. We both were craving a substantial sandwich so she got the "BLT" with coconut bacon, it was actually not bad. And I got the Vegelox sandwich. I could not believe how much it tasted like salmon, we were floored! So, I was searching for a "mock" salmon salad and came across this blog and they had the ACTUAL recipe for vegelox posted, I don't know how they got it but I'm so glad I found it. So naturally I planned to make it, but instead of your everyday sandwich, I thought it would be fun in pinwheel form. I even made carrot juice, just to use the pulp, ya very eager. The tortilla used is a sprouted grain, which ISN'T gluten-free but it's the healthier alternative to a regular flour tortilla. If you'd like a Gluten-Free Tortilla, check out this recipe. These were so so good, I finally have somewhat satisfied my smoked salmon void...one step at a time...:)

Vege-lox:
1 cup carrot juice pulp
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp dulse flakes
3-4 dashes liquid smoke
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley


Combine all ingredients in a food process and process until combined. Taste and adjust condiments as necessary. 


Cream Cheese:
3/4 cup cashews, soaked
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt


Warm 2 sprouted grain tortillas (they must be warm or else it will be difficult to roll), spread a layer of cream cheese onto tortillas then spread on vegelox, I find its easier to spread it with your hands. Next layer any kind of sprout (I used alfalfa), and roll. Once rolled, cut into 1 inch thick slices and secure with toothpick. Makes 12-14 pinwheels.


To make these Gluten-free, wrap in our Brown Rice Flax Tortillas!


A perfect appetizer for your vegan friends!

Vegan Muffins Monthly: Carrot Cake (Vegan, GF)

For some reason Jenn has always "LOVED" carrot muffins even when she was little. She was kind of weird, I know. I would of course go for a sugar covered chocolate chip muffin like a typical sugar hungry kid. But now I kind of get why she loves them so much. Carrots have a high "sugar" content, making them really sweet tasting (try carrot juice, it is soo sweet) which deams them perfect for these fat free, gluten-free, vegan muffins. They are pictured here topped with apple butter and almonds.

*Adapted from Happy Herbivore's Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins

1 3/4 cups Gluten-free Flour Blend (see substitutions)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup sucunat
1 cup grated carrot
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside. Combine wet ingredients in another bowl. Pour wet into dry. Stir until combined. Add in carrots, stir until further combined. Spoon batter into greased muffin tins and bake for 26 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Makes 10 muffins.

Check out October's muffin!

Coconut-Chocolate Pudding + Stevia? (Vegan, GF)

I've been on a raw pudding craze these past few weeks, they are just so simple to make and so so satisfying. I've been doing banana-avocado-carob combinations with maple syrup and my oh my, maple and carob go soo well together, who knew?!
I recently went out on a limb and purchased stevia in liquid form, I haphazardly made the mistake of not researching the product before I bought it. And low and behold, I found out that buying liquid stevia is actually a huge rip off and that you can easily make your own with the powdered extract, which is cheaper.  I do like how it comes in a tincture and you can control the drops though. The brand that I bought was advertised to NOT have a bitter aftertaste, it IS slightly bitter, so the next time I will probably combine it with another sweetener. I also found out that stevia extract is quite refined, and that it's best to buy the dried and powdered leaves (the powder should be green, not white). All in all stevia seems to be safe, I mean it is a herb, and when I use it, I don't feel the sugar "rush" I tend to feel with agave or honey.

Anyway, I managed to make a yummy pudding out of it! :)

Coconut Joy!

1 avocado
1/2 cup lite coconut milk
1 1/2 tbsp chia seeds, ground
3 spoonfuls cocoa powder
8 drops stevia (or reduce drops and add other sweetener)
Water, to thin out
Squirt of lemon juice (to prevent oxidation)

Combine avocado, coconut milk, chia seed meal, lemon juice and stevia in a blender. Blend until combined, add water to thin to desired consistency, but be aware that the chia seeds will thicken it up quite a bit. Leave overnight in fridge to set. Makes 1 large serving.